《My Dear Wife, Please Be Gentle!》


 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Better Off Dead_1

    ?1: Chapter 1 Better Off Dead_1 1: Chapter 1 Better Off Dead_1 In the scorching heat of June, the oppressive heat was unbearable, and even the breeze was laden with an inescapable warmth.


    Especially at noon, when the sun was most vicious, no one ventured outside.


    But today, quite a few villagers braved the harsh sun to gather by the river because the foolish bride who had just married into the Tan Family had jumped into the river.


    The woman had been rescued and was now lying on a large rock, barely clinging to life.


    The onlookers chatted amongst themselves in various tones of lament and pity¡­


    An middle-aged auntie couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°This young bride is pitiable, with her simple mind, and yet her parents sold her for just one or two pieces of silver.¡±


    ¡°That Aunt of the Tan Family is the worst of all, disliking even her youngest son, who just after getting married broke his leg.


    Now this bride will have an even harder life,¡± another young wife said with sympathy.


    Her mother-in-law was also a tough one, so she could relate very well.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?


    But this fool isn¡¯t entirely foolish, knowing that on the other side she might suffer less.¡±


    ¡­


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt as if her head were splitting open.


    Who were these people chattering incessantly by her ear?


    There seemed to be so many people; it was irritating.


    Couldn¡¯t they be quiet for a moment?


    Her head was buzzing so much, it felt like it was about to explode!


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er had time to think further, all her senses were overtaken by her stomach.


    Her stomach swelled uncomfortably as if something was about to burst out of her mouth at any moment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tried to suppress that awful feeling, but often, impulses couldn¡¯t be controlled just because one wanted to.


    All she felt was her mouth opening, and a jet of water sprayed out. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With each expulsion, she felt a little more relief.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped holding back; she remembered lying on a soft, large bed, surely she was dreaming now.


    If one had to hold back even in a dream, then what was the point of living?


    ¡°Look, she¡¯s starting to spit out the water.


    Seems like she won¡¯t die,¡± one person remarked.


    ¡°Not sure if it¡¯s good or bad she didn¡¯t die.


    She¡¯s only been in the Tan Family for a few days and she¡¯s already not treated like a human, constantly beaten or scolded.


    I say it might have been better had she died!¡± another commented.


    ¡°What do you know?


    Better to live a bad life than have a good death.


    Wait until the bride turns into the mother-in-law, then the good days will come, won¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, she might die before the mother-in-law does!¡±


    The villagers continued their discussions, ultimately concluding that the foolish bride would have been better off dead.


    Alas, who knows which busybody went and saved her.


    In the meantime, Qiao Duo¡¯er had finally managed to expel all the water from her stomach, and the sensation¡­


    was extremely relieving.


    The next second, her head lolled to the side as she once again slipped into a deep sleep.


    In that fleeting moment before her consciousness faded, she couldn¡¯t help but criticize how absurd this dream was!


    ¡°Alright, with such hot weather, let¡¯s all not crowd here any longer.


    Da Niu, take her back,¡± the village chief said.


    The village chief of Big Willow Village was named Tie Niu, and in rural areas, the village chief¡¯s word carried considerable weight.


    Since the foolish bride was alright now and there was no more spectacle to witness, the villagers dispersed in twos and threes.


    As for Da Niu, she was Tie Niu¡¯s daughter, inheriting the Tie Family¡¯s trait of great strength.


    Even though she was a true tomboy, it didn¡¯t affect Tie Niu¡¯s doting love for her.


    Da Niu effortlessly picked up Qiao Duo¡¯er and couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Hasn¡¯t she eaten in a long time?


    She¡¯s light as a feather!¡±


    Tie Niu shook his head helplessly; this girl¡¯s fate was indeed a tough one.


    At her parents¡¯ home, she never had a single good day, and now at her in-laws¡¯, her life was hardly any better.


    Tie Niu and Da Niu quickly arrived at the Tan Family¡¯s home, which, despite having just welcomed a new bride, didn¡¯t even display a big red ¡®happiness¡¯ character, reflecting their contempt for the young bride.

 Chapter 2 - 2 2 _1

    ?2: Chapter 2 _1 2: Chapter 2 _1 The suitor Fourth Brother Tan was quite proud at heart, and probably didn¡¯t like his foolish wife either.


    Because to be honest, the foolish wife was not only foolish but also dark and ugly.


    Which normal man could fancy her?


    However, it was uncertain with Fourth Brother Tan in the future, as the doctor said that even if his leg healed, it would still be lame.


    So, he was probably destined to settle for that foolish wife for the rest of his life, or else which family¡¯s fine daughter would want to marry a cripple?


    Daniu placed Qiao Duo¡¯er beside Tan Zhenghong, and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s brows furrowed noticeably. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clearly, he was very averse to this foolish wife.


    But the reason was not because the wife was ugly or foolish, but because of the horrendous wedding night that he would never forget for the rest of his life.


    Actually, there were no wedding candles, just the wedding night¡­


    ¡°Fourth Boss, your wife wasn¡¯t thinking straight for a moment, but luckily someone found her and pulled her up.


    She just spit out the water and should be fine now.


    When she wakes up, you should talk to her and persuade her,¡± Tie Niu couldn¡¯t help but urge.


    With Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s bum leg, besides the foolish wife, who else could take care of him?


    So, even if he were thinking of his own interest, he should dissuade the foolish wife from such thoughts of desperation.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded faintly: ¡°Thank you, Uncle Tie.¡±


    The day before yesterday, he was forced by his parents to marry, and the next day he went hunting in the mountains.


    An accidental fall from a cliff led to the realization that his leg was beyond repair, and that had changed his demeanor.


    He seemed indifferent to everything as if there was nothing left in this world that he cherished.


    Perhaps one day he, too, would crawl into the river.


    Tie Niu didn¡¯t continue to persuade but led Daniu back home.


    He had said what he needed to say, and whether the listener took it to heart was beyond his control.


    In the room, Fourth Brother Tan looked at his foolish wife, and a resolution slowly formed in his heart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was awoken by the sound of water, and although her head was still throbbing with pain, she opened her eyes.


    She lived alone; how could there be such strange sounds?


    The next second, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately shut her eyes.


    No, that couldn¡¯t be right; she was an old spinster, how could there be a man beside her!


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Qiao Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re still looking!¡±


    This woman¡¯s way of thinking was really abnormal!


    He could excuse her first glance as an accident, but what did it mean for her to look again a second time?


    Suddenly, a flood of unfamiliar memories surged into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind, making her headache even worse.


    She quickly closed her eyes, waiting for the bout of pain to pass.


    When she opened her eyes again, the two sets of memories had already fused together.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt despair inside, and she had to admit a fact ¨C she had time-traveled!


    She didn¡¯t mind having time-traveled, but could she be allowed to experience it properly?


    What was going on with her situation now!


    She didn¡¯t need to pinch herself to prove she wasn¡¯t dreaming because the headache was sufficient to let her know she was awake.

 Chapter 3 - 3 3 In the Beginning_1

    ?3: Chapter 3 In the Beginning_1 3: Chapter 3 In the Beginning_1 Quite coincidentally, the original person also went by the name of Qiao Duo¡¯er and was nicknamed Silly Sister.


    Thinking about Silly Sister¡¯s life story, Qiao Duo¡¯er had the heart to kill herself!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was the eldest daughter of the Qiao Family.


    Her parents favored sons over daughters, and once they had a son, their daughter became as insignificant as roadside grass.


    Adding to that, Silly Sister¡¯s low intelligence made her an even greater nuisance to them.


    She couldn¡¯t get enough to eat, wasn¡¯t provided adequate clothing, and still had to work hard.


    Once she turned fifteen, she was sold to the Tan Family for only one or two silver coins.


    Silly Sister had heard people say that after getting married, life would get better, so she was always looking forward to it.


    But how could life be good with a wicked mother-in-law and a malicious brother-in-law and his wife in the family?


    It was more of a daydream than reality!


    And just her luck, on the second day after her wedding, the man Silly Sister married, having eaten his fill, went hunting in the mountains and was carried back home in the evening with an injury.


    When the doctor came to see him, he said the leg was broken, and he might become crippled as a result.


    The Tan Family members now had even more gripes against her, spreading word that she was a Star of Misfortune, a harbinger of bad luck.


    So their son slips and breaks his own leg, and it¡¯s the daughter-in-law¡¯s fault?


    The Tan Family had such logic, and this made Silly Sister¡¯s already difficult life even harder.


    Although the original person was not very intelligent, she wasn¡¯t negative and knew what it felt like to be heartbroken.


    She went to the main room to eat at noon, and before she could even taste her food, she was cursed out by her mother-in-law.


    Silly Sister felt very wronged and, in a fit of anger, jumped into the river.


    Silly Sister, not knowing how to swim, drowned.


    After she was saved from the river, the person inhabiting her body became the special agent Qiao Duo, which led to the spectacle of her spouting water.


    Alas, did she flip up God¡¯s skirt or something?


    To think she was being punished like this!


    Back in the day, she could freely go anywhere she wanted, she had never failed a mission, each year she was named a top agent, and she was a benchmark in the industry¡­


    Forget it¡­


    she¡¯s about to faint from hunger, what¡¯s the point in reminiscing about the past?


    Dammit, if she had known that a nap could lead to this, she would have preferred to go without sleep for seven days and nights!


    As her stomach growled, Qiao Duo guessed that the man who needed to relieve himself had tidied up, so she opened her eyes.


    ¡°Is there any food?


    I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Qiao Duo felt a bit shy; she, a top-level special agent, had been reduced to asking others for food and drink!


    She thought about dying, but she feared not being able to return to her previous life after death.


    So, she decided to remain alive.


    Living happily as an ordinary person in this life didn¡¯t sound too bad.


    Uh¡­


    not quite right, she indeed was an ordinary person, but aiming for happiness seemed a bit difficult.


    Tan Zhenghong still had a stern look on his face, ¡°There is a bun on the table.¡±


    Qiao Duo followed the man¡¯s gaze and saw a bun in a bowl on the table, but the man had a broken leg, meaning it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to eat but that he couldn¡¯t.


    He had just broken his leg and was already enduring this treatment?


    This wasn¡¯t the original person¡¯s fault but rather that this man wasn¡¯t favored by his mother, especially after he broke his leg, she cared even less about him.


    Qiao Duo swallowed and grabbed the bun, breaking it in half and handing it to the man.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± said Tan Zhenghong, turning his head away.


    He thought back to that night¡¯s events, and a trace of emotion appeared on his otherwise cold face. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Besides breaking his leg, he never thought he would have such an awful experience again in his life.


    Their marriage was simple: they paid their respects to heaven and earth, and then he was sent to the bridal chamber.


    His mother brought them two bowls of noodles, which served as their wedding dinner.


    Silly Sister¡¯s way of eating¡­


    she just poured the bowl into her mouth, getting noodle soup all over her face and body.


    After she finished both bowls of noodles, he didn¡¯t even have the desire for consummating the marriage, as she was too dirty for him to lay a hand on.

 Chapter 4 - 4 4 Do You Have a Grudge against Your Mother_1

    ?4: Chapter 4 Do You Have a Grudge against Your Mother?_1 4: Chapter 4 Do You Have a Grudge against Your Mother?_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s awkward face and quickly realized that he had just touched that¡­ and hadn¡¯t washed his hands, so he was reluctant to eat.


    She patted her rumbling stomach but still forwent the bite of the bun with a sigh of pain.


    After all, it wouldn¡¯t be right for her to eat while her husband with the broken leg watched, especially since it was his lunch.


    ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll go fetch some water.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said and walked toward the washstand.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but remind her, ¡°Be careful when you go out, and don¡¯t let mother see you.¡±


    He knew all too well the temper of his mother; if his foolish bride were seen by her, a scolding was inevitably in store.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, but as she was not a talkative person by nature, she simply nodded and left.


    After she left, Tan Zhenghong fell into deep thought.


    His foolish bride was still that dark, pimple-marked village girl, but she had lost her foolish air.


    Especially her eyes, which had changed from dull to bright and lively, were somehow captivating.


    What exactly had happened for his little wife to suddenly change as if she were a different person?


    But no matter what, this foolish bride was no longer foolish.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er came back carrying half a basin of water.


    She couldn¡¯t help but lament this broken body of hers, shaking so much from carrying just a little water¡ªcould she be any more useless?


    It was no surprise, though, as the original body had never had a full meal in her life; how could her health be good?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the basin in front of Tan Zhenghong and waited for him to wash his hands.


    Then, she peered into the basin herself.


    She successfully saw her own reflection in the water.


    So she had turned into this?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart felt as if it had been pierced full of holes.


    How was she supposed to accept this reality, transforming suddenly from a beautiful woman with a delicate face and a shapely figure to a dark, ugly woman with a flat body?


    Her face was covered in pimple marks; some were even festering, and she was dark as night!


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s utterly heartbroken expression, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Your eyes are very beautiful.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took another look and admitted that indeed, these black, shiny eyes had the elegance of her previous life.


    But¡­ planted on this face, they were completely wasted!


    She was hideous! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er truly felt like crying her eyes out.


    With a sigh, Qiao Duo¡¯er said mournfully, ¡°Did your mother marry you to me because she has a grudge against you?¡±


    Tan Zhenghong curved his lips in a rare smile, but a wave of bitterness surged in his heart.


    Maybe he and his mother did have some deep-seated hatred.


    Anyway, he had never been favored in his life.


    Even though he was the most outstanding among his brothers, his mother didn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°You look quite nice when you smile,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly blurted out.


    This man was quite handsome and seemed to have a nice build; any way you looked at it, marrying him seemed like a bargain for her.


    ¡°A fool despises a bargain,¡± that was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s motto, so she immediately decided to take advantage of the situation.


    Well¡­ this guy wasn¡¯t too bad; he was even willing to give her some bun to eat.


    She had no money and nowhere else to go, so she might as well settle here for now.


    After all, with his broken leg, the man posed no threat to her.


    Tan Zhenghong was covered with black lines, realizing he could hardly keep up with this woman¡¯s pace.


    ¡°Here you go.¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed the bun back into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand and then sat at the table to nibble on her own bun.


    The bun was dry and hard, scraping painfully against her throat.


    But she couldn¡¯t help her hunger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er would take a bite of the bun and sip water, softening it in her mouth before swallowing.

 Chapter 5 - 5 5 My offering to you_1

    ?5: Chapter 5 My offering to you_1 5: Chapter 5 My offering to you_1 Ironically, she still thought it was a delicacy of the world, when people are starving, anything edible seems like gourmet food.


    Looking at the man on the bed again, he still had half a bun in his hand.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not full, I still have some here,¡± Tan Zhenghong gestured for Qiao Duo¡¯er to come and take it.


    This silly wife could eat two bowls of noodles in one meal, how could half a bun possibly fill her up?


    No matter what, having married this young wife, if he didn¡¯t treat her well, who else could he expect to do so?


    Moreover, marrying him was already a grievance for her.


    Actually, he had never thought about marrying in his life, his mother didn¡¯t like him, she would surely dislike his wife even more.


    Knowing what the outcome would be, why should he allow someone else¡¯s daughter to suffer?


    But he did not expect that his mother would spend one or two silver to buy an ugly and stupid woman back home; she said, marrying a wife would repay her for giving birth to him.


    Indeed, this was his mother, one he didn¡¯t know how to describe.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed the last bite of her bun, still hungry, she nevertheless refused, ¡°I¡¯m full, you eat it.¡±


    This man had just broken his leg, how could he recover if he didn¡¯t have enough nutrition?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poured another cup of water for Tan Zhenghong, ¡°Stay here by yourself, I¡¯m going to stroll around the mountain.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the past during special training, they were often thrown into the deep mountains and forests, surviving an entire month solely on their own skills; if they couldn¡¯t hold out, death was the only other option.


    Now, she wasn¡¯t going for special training, just to find something to eat in the mountains ¨C that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    Having taken only a few steps, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned back.


    ¡°Give me the knife,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong.


    This guy had been hunting and rolled down from the mountain, breaking his leg ¨C as a hunter, could he not have a knife?


    The man subconsciously shook his head; the silly sister was just hauled out of the river, what if he gave her the knife and she went to kill herself again?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably, ¡°Just hand it over when asked, why all the fuss?


    If I wanted to die, can¡¯t I do it without a knife?¡±


    Tan Zhenghong bit his teeth and had no choice but to fish out a dagger from under the pillow.


    Why was this silly woman suddenly so fierce?


    Once Qiao Duo¡¯er got the knife, she quickly walked out.


    At this moment, Tan Zhenghong still hadn¡¯t figured out why he had listened to the words of a silly sister.


    You know, his dagger was given to him by his master, and he had never lent it out in his entire life!


    As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er walked out the door, a wave of heat hit her face; Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth but still walked out ¨C to live with dignity, she could not retreat.


    The Tan family actually wasn¡¯t poor, but Fourth Brother Tan wasn¡¯t well-regarded, to the point where even eating one¡¯s fill was a luxury for them.


    This was Big Willow Village, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the other side being the road leading out of the village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that Big Willow Village was a place with excellent feng shui.


    At least those rolling mountains appeared to her like treasure troves.


    With a weak body and the scorching sun overhead, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought she could cover the distance in fifteen minutes, but she ended up taking half an hour with all the stops she had to make.


    Alas, the body is the capital of the revolution; she needed to take care of her health first.


    However, no matter how difficult it was, Qiao Duo¡¯er never thought about retreating.


    In the dictionary of a special agent, there were never words for fear and surrender.


    At the foot of the mountain, a small stream babbled by; Qiao Duo¡¯er rushed over, scooped up some water to drink, and washed her hands and face, cooling herself down quite a bit.


    She sat on a stone, planning to rest for a while before ascending the mountain to search for treasure.


    The stream water was clear, the little fish in the river swimming merrily; Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but get an idea.


    She found a stick as tall as a person made of hard wood, then tore a piece of cloth from her clothes and fixed the dagger onto the stick.

 Chapter 6 - 6 6 A Delicious Meal_1

    ?6: Chapter 6 A Delicious Meal_1 6: Chapter 6 A Delicious Meal_1 Thus, she had fashioned a simple yet handy tool.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er held the tool in her hand and gestured with it, thinking it should work well.


    With this tool, she would soon be able to feast on roasted fish!


    The thought of delicious roasted fish suddenly energized Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Although her body was not as strong as before, her agility and judgment remained intact, so after a few attempts, Qiao Duo¡¯er was able to control her new body perfectly.


    Before long, she had speared three fish.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was not greedy, she set aside her rod and started to process her catch.


    Her fish cleaning was quick and efficient, and in no time she had scaled the fish, removed their guts, and rinsed them in the stream water.


    Once the fish were cleaned, Qiao Duo¡¯er stuffed them with wild mint leaves to reduce the fishy smell, even without any spices.


    Then, Qiao Duo¡¯er gathered some dry wood and used the flint from her bosom to start a fire.


    She had to thank her previous self for this item, as she couldn¡¯t remember where it had come from, only that it was a treasured possession always carefully hidden by her former self.


    Well¡­


    probably because the flint was her previous self¡¯s only private property.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er skewered the fish on branches and carefully roasted them over the fire, and soon the aroma of fish filled the air.


    The tempting scent triggered her appetite, and she swallowed her saliva, wishing she could devour the roasted fish in one bite.


    This was the first time Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that roasting fish was taking forever.


    After what seemed like an eternity, the fish were finally ready, and Qiao Duo¡¯er eagerly devoured her meal.


    The fish were crispy on the outside and tender inside, with a hint of mint fragrance, and although they were a bit bland, they were a feast for someone who hadn¡¯t tasted meat in a long time.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er had polished off one fish.


    She smacked her lips, still craving more, so she decisively roasted the remaining two fish.


    After finishing a second one, Qiao Duo¡¯er was full.


    She thought for a moment, then wrapped the last fish in a lotus leaf and tucked it into her bosom.


    Since that man had given her half a bun, she would return the favor, considering it as an expression of her gratitude.


    Having her fill, Qiao Duo¡¯er energetically made her way up the mountain, using the trunk she¡¯d used earlier as a walking stick, which saved her quite a bit of effort.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was glad she had been a special agent, well¡­


    in her previous life. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had not only accepted becoming an unattractive woman but was also capable of surviving in such harsh conditions.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Qiao Duo¡¯er to plan out her life for the near future.


    She recognized some common herbs and could collect them to trade for money, at least ensuring she could fill her stomach every day.


    Plus, she had an exclusive recipe for golden sore medicine.


    If she was lucky enough to gather all the ingredients, she could definitely make a fortune.


    Once she had earned some silver, she could soar high!


    The dream was beautiful, and Qiao Duo¡¯er firmly believed reality would be even more fulfilling!


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up.


    She had found a patch of Joint-Healing Grass!


    It would be perfect since there was someone with a broken leg at home, and it could be extremely useful.


    Mashed Joint-Healing Grass applied to the fracture and covered with fir bark, then secured with a splint, was the best for bone healing, but it was useless for comminuted fractures.


    She guessed the man at home had not sustained a crushed fracture since he had only rolled down a hill.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er cut enough Joint-Healing Grass and used her dagger to carve a piece of bark from a fir tree.


    While carving, Qiao Duo¡¯er was particularly careful not to cut down a full circle around the tree, as it would kill it.


    After securing these two items, Qiao Duo¡¯er headed down the mountain.


    And¡­


    next time, she would definitely bring a basket!

 Chapter 7 - 7 7 Not a Female Ruffian_1

    ?7: Chapter 7: Not a Female Ruffian_1 7: Chapter 7: Not a Female Ruffian_1 On her way down the mountain, Qiao Duo¡¯er picked some wild berries, so her pockets were all bulging.


    When she got home, Qiao Duo¡¯er handed the roasted fish to Tan Zhenghong.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong was about to say something, Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at him, and for some reason, Tan Zhenghong swallowed back everything he was about to say.


    This woman didn¡¯t need to say much to have a convincing power.


    However, Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t know that Qiao Duo¡¯er was actually a playful character inside, but in front of people she was not familiar with, she instantly turned into a cold queen, carrying an air that commanded submission.


    Speaking of which, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt wronged.


    In her last life, she didn¡¯t get to find friends or a beloved before she died.


    That is to say, she entertained herself all her last life. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally understood what ¡®life is short, enjoy it while you can¡¯ meant.


    Alas, her last life was lived in vain.


    Was it so unbearable to heaven that she was reborn?


    Thinking this way, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt more at peace.


    This life, without faith or the constraints of an organization, she was living for herself!


    However, personality isn¡¯t something that can be changed just like that; she needed time.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong obediently eating the fish, Qiao Duo¡¯er silently went to tidy up the Joint-Healing Grass.


    The Heart-Breaking Grass had already been washed, and what was left was to chop the herbs finely, which she did with her dagger.


    Then she found two rocks, one large and one small, placed the Heart-Breaking Grass on the large rock, and ground the herbs into a paste with the small rock.


    With that, it was all done.


    The effect would be even better if it could be soaked in alcohol for a while.


    ¡°Got any alcohol?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head and glanced at Tan Zhenghong.


    By then, Tan Zhenghong had already set aside the half-eaten fish, saving it for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s dinner.


    Hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s question, he hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s some under the bed.¡±


    Well¡­


    could he say that when Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke to him, he actually felt an ecstatic thrill?


    It must be because he had been lying in his room with a broken leg for so long that he felt lonely.


    Otherwise, why would he feel this odd sensation towards an ugly woman?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up lame, finish it,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er added.


    Bones needed a lot of nutrients to grow back, but how could they if this guy couldn¡¯t even eat enough to be full?


    Alas, she could only say that it hurts to meet parents who are partial.


    Tan Zhenghong was like that, and so was the original person.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips and weakly explained, ¡°You¡¯ll be hungry at night.¡±


    ¡°I picked some berries, if I get hungry at night, I can eat those,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s tone softened a bit.


    She had been a cold-blooded agent in her past life, and for safety, she had to keep everyone at a distance.


    No one had ever considered her like this before, and her heart fluttered slightly.


    Tan Zhenghong still insisted on not eating the fish, ¡°Hand me two berries.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was taken aback, then reached into her pocket, pulled out two berries, and passed them to Tan Zhenghong, before continuing with her own tasks with the alcohol.


    After soaking the herbs, Qiao Duo¡¯er stood by the bed and said from a height, ¡°Lift the bedsheet.¡±

 Chapter 8 - 8 8 Living Is Good_1

    ?8: Chapter 8 Living Is Good_1 8: Chapter 8 Living Is Good_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er straightened her attitude and undid the splint on his leg.


    His leg was bruised and swollen, looking somewhat fierce.


    But to Qiao Duo¡¯er, this was child¡¯s play; she calmly touched the fracture site.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s condition was not much different from what she had expected.


    It was simply a dislocated fracture, which in modern times would only require two months of bed rest to heal.


    But Tan Zhenghong was in ancient times, and that doctor actually hadn¡¯t set the bone back in place.


    It would be a miracle if he didn¡¯t end up with a disability afterwards.


    Could she criticize that quack?


    No, the Joint-Healing Method wasn¡¯t a secret art; any decent doctor would surely know it.


    Probably the doctor felt quite wronged himself; he was just a barefoot doctor and could only treat colds or headaches.


    There were competent doctors available, so the only explanation was that the Tan Family refused to spend the money and gave up on Tan Zhenghong, even skimping on his food.


    This guy was indeed a pitiful worm!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wiped some strong liquor on the fracture on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg.


    In the heat of summer, it was very easy to get an infection if you didn¡¯t pay attention to hygiene.


    ¡°Silly¡­


    are you Qiao Duo¡¯er?¡±


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but ask as he could be sure that Qiao Duo¡¯er today and the one from yesterday were completely different people.


    Yesterday, Qiao Duo¡¯er was just smiling at him foolishly, but today, her presence was powerful, her gaze sharp.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, ¡°Your wife jumped into the river and drowned at noon.


    I¡¯ve come back by borrowing her body.¡±


    She spoke as if recounting someone else¡¯s tale, her tone light and breezy.


    But Tan Zhenghong felt overwhelmed, for he didn¡¯t have the same emotional fortitude as Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Just thinking about the term ¡°borrowing a body to return¡± sent chills down his spine.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, ¡°I was living just fine when suddenly I ended up here.


    If you don¡¯t believe it, just pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Whether he believed it or not didn¡¯t matter to her.


    She just wanted to share her secret with someone.


    Tan Zhenghong was the first person she saw in this world, and he held a different meaning in her heart.


    Tan Zhenghong was silent for quite a while before suddenly asking, ¡°You suddenly came here; don¡¯t your family worry about you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any family; I am alone.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, but her smile made Tan Zhenghong feel a pang of heartache.


    ¡°I could be your family from now on,¡± he almost blurted out, but he knew he wasn¡¯t in any position to say such things right now.


    No, he was never in a position to discuss feelings.


    Silly Sister had jumped into the river just three days after marrying him.


    That was enough to show how unbearable life in this household was.


    It was a good thing that she had left.


    For her, it was an escape.


    Silly Sister had never lived a good life.


    She was bullied at her parent¡¯s home and scolded at her in-laws¡¯.


    He hoped that in her next life, she would find a better family.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a little sad.


    Although he had no affection for Silly Sister, it was natural for a person to feel such emotions. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised.


    ¡°Are you not afraid of me?¡±


    ¡°My master said this world is magical, each person is just a small part of this world, and we never know what kind of wonder may befall someone else.


    Perhaps ¡®borrowing a body to return¡¯ is your serendipity,¡± Tan Zhenghong said slowly.


    So, after a brief moment of disbelief, he chose to believe.


    ¡°More like an encounter than a wonder,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but retort.


    She was willing to travel through time, but couldn¡¯t the experience be a bit more dignified?


    Tan Zhenghong smiled bitterly.


    Coming to this family had indeed been an ordeal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong on the shoulder.


    ¡°But it¡¯s still good as long as you¡¯re alive.¡±


    To be alive was to have hope; death was when you truly had nothing.

 Chapter 9 - 9 9 Setting Bones_1

    ?9: Chapter 9 Setting Bones_1 9: Chapter 9 Setting Bones_1 Tan Zhenghong felt gloomy, and Qiao Duo¡¯er also had no intention of continuing the conversation, so they both immersed themselves in their own thoughts.


    After about half an hour, Qiao Duo¡¯er got ready to set Tan Zhenghong¡¯s bones.


    ¡°I¡¯ll push your bone back into its original place, and it will slowly heal, but it¡¯s going to be very painful,¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly, giving Tan Zhenghong a sympathetic glance.


    However, sympathy aside, she did not consider the man¡¯s wishes at all.


    Because even if he didn¡¯t agree, she would forcibly set his bones, as she suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder.


    Seeing that there was hope for Tan Zhenghong to stand up, yet he himself was unwilling to undergo treatment because he feared the pain, she would become very angry.


    The consequence of her anger would be to forcibly set his broken bones.


    In other words, no matter what this guy thought, the outcome would be the same, so there was no need to go through unnecessary motions.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at the woman¡¯s confident face and found himself involuntarily nodding.


    Was it really appropriate for him to entrust himself to a woman who was still a fool yesterday?


    Uh, wrong, she wasn¡¯t yesterday¡¯s Silly Sister.


    The current Qiao Duo¡¯er was a different person, but could she be trusted?


    She seemed a bit out of the ordinary, but they had only known each other for less than half a day, right?


    Forget it, after all, the doctor said that his leg would most likely be crippled in the future, so the worst outcome now was a ruined leg, so he might as well let her do as she pleased.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gathered the prepared items and thoughtfully handed a neatly folded towel to Tan Zhenghong.


    ¡°Bite this,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    She didn¡¯t want to hear any pig-slaughter-like screams later on.


    Tan Zhenghong turned his head away, saying nothing.


    A grown man like him, could he not endure this bit of pain?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Tan Zhenghong¡¯s refusal, but she didn¡¯t insist.


    After all, it wasn¡¯t her who was going to feel the pain.


    Tossing the cloth aside, Qiao Duo¡¯er reached toward the break, first to feel the state of the bones so she could determine the direction of force to apply. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was delicate work that couldn¡¯t afford the slightest deviation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er steadied her spirit, and her small hand suddenly exerted force, moving the dislocated fracture back into its correct position.


    The moment she exerted strength, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s body instantly tensed up, and after a muffled groan, he clenched his teeth tightly.


    This guy was a real man, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought to herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er checked the bones again, and after confirming they were set correctly, she applied Joint-Healing Grass on the wound, covered it with a layer of fir bark, and finally fixed the injury with a splint.


    ¡°Do you want to rest before I set the other leg?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong.


    His willpower was strong, but his body¡¯s reactions were not as easy to control.


    For instance, at this moment, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head was drenched in sweat, and his slightly trembling muscles were all indicating how much pain he was in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt pain even herself, and at this time, there was no anesthesia, not even painkillers, so no matter how painful it was, one could only bear it.


    Hmm¡­ she was glad it wasn¡¯t her leg that was broken.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, signaling Qiao Duo¡¯er to continue.


    Better to die early and be reincarnated, than to wait any longer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved her hands in cooperation and set the other leg as well.


    Tan Zhenghong, despite his best efforts to endure, couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft moan.


    He now had a deeper understanding of how setting bones was painful, more than when he had first broken his leg.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finished bandaging the second leg and finally breathed a sigh of relief; at last, the major task was accomplished!


    Those two legs would heal after some days and the broken parts would be even stronger than before.


    Tan Zhenghong this guy ought to be very thankful to her.


    It was a good thing she came in time; if the bones had healed on their own, she wouldn¡¯t have had any solution.

 Chapter 10 - 10 10 Take Good Care of Your Mother_1

    ?10: Chapter 10 Take Good Care of Your Mother_1 10: Chapter 10 Take Good Care of Your Mother_1 Upon looking at Tan Zhenghong, he was still in too much pain to recover his strength, but when Qiao Duo¡¯er had packed away everything, a gleam finally appeared in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes.


    Seeing his miserable state, Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel wonderfully painful?¡±


    ¡°An unforgettable experience.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong said, pausing with every word.


    However, if it could help him recover, the pain was worth it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curve upward; to move a bone and not expect pain would be a fool¡¯s hope.


    After being busy the entire afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er was exhausted and lay on the bed, unwilling to move again.


    Alas, her body would probably take years to recover to the state it was in her previous life.


    Tan Zhenghong laboriously shifted to the side to give Qiao Duo¡¯er more space.


    If she was willing to lie next to him, she probably didn¡¯t dislike him.


    This realization filled Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart with a trace of joy, and his previously dim and hopeless life instantly found hope.


    But someone had to oppose Qiao Duo¡¯er; as soon as she lay down, someone came calling, and upon hearing that person¡¯s voice, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body involuntarily trembled.


    She knew this was a remnant emotion from the original body¡¯s owner.


    ¡°The Fourth Boss¡¯s House, too lazy to attract maggots, not cooking at this hour, shouldn¡¯t you drown yourself!


    Cursed thing!¡±


    Wang Clan yelled at the doorstep; she was none other than Tan Zhenghong¡¯s biological mother and the current matriarch of the Tan Family, Wang Clan.


    This Wang Clan was a formidable figure known to the entire village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced lazily at Tan Zhenghong, ¡°Get your mother out of here; she¡¯s annoying!¡±


    Though her gaze was indolent, it carried a sharp murderous intent.


    The original owner of the body had committed suicide, and it wasn¡¯t unrelated to those who bullied her.


    Since she now inhabited this body, of course, she would seek revenge for her.


    Tan Zhenghong responded, ¡°Mother, Silly Sister has a fever from falling into the water, let her rest well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been plagued with misfortune for eight lifetimes, such a useless creature, and even spent One or Two Silver to bring her home, better to raise a dog¡­¡±


    Wang Clan cursed loudly until her voice faded away in the distance.


    ¡°Keep an eye on your mother next time, don¡¯t let her go around biting people.


    If there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll kill her!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with furrowed brows.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded hurriedly; he knew Qiao Duo¡¯er was not just talking.


    He didn¡¯t know about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s background now, but her presence was commanding; she was undoubtedly not a child from a simple peasant family.


    And his mother¡­


    was definitely no match for her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes, her facial expression becoming somewhat stiff.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong felt as though Qiao Duo¡¯er was distant from him; they had been able to talk a little just a moment ago, but now, she couldn¡¯t be bothered with him.


    Sigh¡­


    his mother¡­


    As night gradually fell, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s sister-in-law from the Hu Clan brought over two buns.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was the only person in this household who knew how to be grateful and repay kindness.


    Nevertheless, her life was not easy either.


    Having entered the family twelve years ago, she had only birthed daughters so far, and nobody in the Tan Family looked kindly upon her.


    ¡°Eat up quickly, I¡¯ve secretly saved an extra bun for you,¡± Hu¡¯s Clan whispered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately realized that without Hu¡¯s Clan, her and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s dinner would have consisted of only one bun.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, here, take these.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed a few wild berries and stuffed them into Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s hand; she remembered kindness in her heart, and for those who were not kind, she was not one to be trifled with!


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly tried to refuse, but Qiao Duo¡¯er, smiling, said, ¡°I picked them from the mountain; they¡¯re not treasures.


    Take them back for the children to enjoy.¡±


    Only when it came to Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s daughters did she accept the berries.


    After sending away Hu¡¯s Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but grumble, ¡°Your mother¡¯s heart must be black.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 11 - 11 11 Dislike Your Drool_1

    ?11: Chapter 11 Dislike Your Drool_1 11: Chapter 11 Dislike Your Drool_1 Tan Zhenghong could only muster a bitter smile because he had no way to refute.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t mention that person who upset her; she simply silently gnawed on the hard-to-swallow bun.


    Alas, such terrible buns, perfectly good flour completely wasted!


    In fact, this bun was the same as the one at noon, but it tasted bad now because she had eaten two fish in the afternoon.


    When one is not hungry, they become picky about food.


    Making buns is a delicate task that tests one¡¯s skill.


    How well the dough rises and how much alkali is added directly affects the taste of the bun.


    And the bun in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand lacked skill; one look and you could tell it wasn¡¯t made properly¡ªthe dough hadn¡¯t risen well, and there was too little alkali, making the bun both hard and sour.


    If it were up to her, she could make one a thousand times tastier even with her eyes closed!


    It¡¯s a pity that she didn¡¯t have even one tael of flour.


    The Wang Clan tightly controlled the food and silver coins at home, counting every single penny, and their sons¡¯ rooms were even cleaner than their faces.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Tan Zhenghong luring Bear Blind Man with wine, they wouldn¡¯t have had that jar of strong liquor.


    ¡°You eat some fish.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong handed Qiao Duo¡¯er the fish he had just put aside, which he had specifically saved for her.


    Now virtually powerless, the only thing he could do was save his own portion for Qiao Duo¡¯er. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had married him¡ªif he couldn¡¯t even satisfy the basic need of keeping her well-fed, how could he call himself a man?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but be silently moved, feeling a warm current slowly flowing through her heart.


    What a shame that Tan Zhenghong had such an unreasonable mother; otherwise, he would definitely be a perfect man.


    However, she had no interest in something that someone else¡¯s mouth had been on.


    So Qiao Duo shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t eat cold fish; it¡¯s too fishy.


    You eat it.


    If I want some, I¡¯ll catch more in the mountains tomorrow.¡±


    Seeing the look of disgust on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, Tan Zhenghong immediately understood.


    Being disdained by his little wife made him a bit sad.


    Tan Zhenghong ate the fish with a bit of dejection, silently thinking that in the future, he would definitely leave it untouched for his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a few wild berries and ate them with the bun.


    Although dinner was a bit unsatisfactory, it was enough to fill her stomach halfway.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her satisfaction.


    The original person lived for fifteen years without ever being satiated, a truly pitiful thought.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed the last bite of bun, and Tan Yuancheng, along with Wang Clan and their other three sons and daughters-in-law, came over.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s room was already small, and suddenly eight people crowded in, immediately filling the space.


    There were only two stools in the room, which Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan took.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s brothers found places to sit at the edge of the bed, and their wives could only stand to the side.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood to the side with her head down, reverting to the original person¡¯s foolish demeanor.


    She had no desire to get involved in this family¡¯s affairs.


    Because she disliked it, even an extra glance felt like a burden.


    ¡°Fourth Boss, how is your leg?¡±


    Tan Yuancheng looked at Tan Zhenghong with an uncertain expression, his eyes seemingly filled with guilt.


    While the others were preoccupied with their thoughts, only Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s gaze filled with sympathy when looking at the couple.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t want to give them false hope, so he said, ¡°Nothing special, it just hurts a lot.¡±


    He always thought of others, but nobody seemed to have considered his situation.


    In the eyes of others, Tan Zhenghong was seen as a burden to the family.


    In the future, without the ability to hunt, Tan Zhenghong and his simple-minded wife would still need to eat and have medical expenses¡ªnot to mention how much more troublesome it would be if they had a child.

 Chapter 12 - 12 12 Want to Split Up_1

    ?12: Chapter 12 Want to Split Up?_1 12: Chapter 12 Want to Split Up?_1 Tan Zhengyuan sighed, ¡°Fourth brother, I¡¯m afraid your leg is beyond use now.¡±


    He was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eldest brother, and like Wang Clan, had a pair of shrewd, triangular eyes that made him seem both astute and cunning¡ªa true reflection of his character.


    ¡°If it really can¡¯t heal, then it¡¯s fate,¡± Tan Zhenghong said, his gaze lowered.


    His leg was broken, and his heart was already filled with irritation and unease, yet his eldest brother still spoke such words.


    Tan Zhenghong was never a fool, and he felt a chill in his heart.


    Second Boss Tan Zhengyong gave his wife, Little Wang Clan, a meaningful look.


    Little Wang Clan was the niece of Wang Clan from her maternal side, and there were some things that only she could say.


    Her mother doted on her niece, and her father wasn¡¯t in a position to comment.


    ¡°Fourth brother, look at the state you¡¯re in; don¡¯t be a drag on us.


    You know our family doesn¡¯t have it easy, and Xiao Fu needs to begin his education.


    In our Old Tan Family, Xiao Fu is the only male grandchild; we can¡¯t let him down.¡±


    Little Wang Clan said with a coquettish laugh, making the purpose of their visit very clear.


    Simply put, she wanted to divide the family!


    Up to now, the eldest brother¡¯s family had birthed two daughters, Da Ya and Er Ya; Third Boss Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s family had Third Girl, with another on the way, the gender of which would only be known after birth, and the Fourth Boss had just gotten married, with nothing to say about offspring yet.


    Therefore, Xiao Fu from their second branch was currently the only golden grandson of the Tan Family.


    Before the Third Boss¡¯s family had a son, she had to secure her own child¡¯s possessions.


    Third Boss Tan Zhengzhong was not to be outdone: ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve laid a golden egg, you¡¯re above everyone else.


    You¡¯ve only had one child, after all.


    My Xiao Mei is still young; who says she can¡¯t have more?¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little Wang Clan, spoiled by Wang Clan, had caused quite some mischief, and Tan Zhengzhong had long been displeased with her.


    Now, his wife, Lady Li Xiumei, was pregnant, and who knows, it might be a healthy baby boy!


    ¡°Big talk.


    Let¡¯s see you give birth to one first,¡± Little Wang Clan retorted coldly, her tongue not one to be trifled with.


    Previously, the mother-in-law had sought a fortune teller who claimed that the Tan Family¡¯s destiny for heirs was meager, with only one golden grandson promised.


    In other words, besides her, no matter how much the others gave birth, they would only have girls¡ªwho would only incur losses!


    Given that her son was the Tan Family¡¯s sole male grandchild, how could she not brag a little?


    Tan Zhenghong, uninterested in the squabbling women, just looked at Tan Yuancheng and asked faintly, ¡°Father, do you mean to divide the family?¡±


    Ha, they must be worried that he would be a burden on them.


    Is this really a family?


    A family they lived with for a whole eighteen years couldn¡¯t compare to Qiao Duo¡¯er, who arrived just today!


    ¡°Mmm, a large tree splits, a large family divides; I have no choice,¡± said Tan Yuancheng with a sigh, but there was no hint of sorrow in his voice.


    His son¡¯s leg was broken; could he really be so indifferent?


    Tan Zhengyuan nodded: ¡°Fourth brother, father is right; it¡¯s time our house got divided.


    It will save us from people who only eat without working, always busy badmouthing others.¡±


    Humph, once the family was divided, some people would no longer have as comfortable a life as they do now.


    Little Wang Clan smiled and said, ¡°Look at what big uncle is saying, as if our family¡¯s hard work is all done by him alone.¡±


    She didn¡¯t like to work, but it wasn¡¯t up to the eldest to lecture her.


    Tan Zhengyuan was a wimp, and he didn¡¯t contribute more work than his wife!


    Tan Zhengyuan raised his hand as if to strike Little Wang Clan but was stopped by Wang Clan: ¡°Your father hasn¡¯t finished speaking yet; what are you fussing about?


    Let him finish his words.¡±


    Her words seemed to scold both Little Wen Clan and Tan Zhengyuan, yet her eyes told a different story.


    She was aiming her words at Tan Zhengyuan.

 Chapter 13 - 13 13 The Only Grandson_1

    ?13: Chapter 13 The Only Grandson_1 13: Chapter 13 The Only Grandson_1 Tan Zhengyuan, although resentful, did not have the courage to confront his own mother.


    He could only sulkily close his mouth and sit at the edge of the bed with his head hanging low.


    Little Wang Clan, proud as a peacock, wore a smug expression. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In this household, only a fool would dare to talk back to her.


    Wang Clan was both her aunt and mother-in-law.


    How could anyone bully her?


    Tan Yuancheng cleared his throat and said unhurriedly, ¡°Your mother and I have decided to live with Second Boss Tan Zhengyong¡¯s family from now on.


    They will take care of us in our old age.


    Do you have any objections?¡±


    Second Boss Tan Zhengyong had a talent for reading others and pleasing people.


    He was already the most favored among the four sons of the Tan family.


    After marrying Wang Clan¡¯s niece, Wang Clan became even more partial to his household.


    So it was not surprising that Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan had such plans.


    But Tan Zhengyuan was very displeased.


    Old couples usually lived on their own or with the eldest son, but his father and mother wanted to live with the second son.


    Wasn¡¯t this meant to embarrass him?


    If this really happened, people would surely say it was the eldest son who was unfilial for not taking care of his parents!


    Tan Zhengyuan said discontentedly, ¡°Father, if you and Mother live with Second Brother¡¯s family, won¡¯t others gossip about me?¡±


    ¡°Without a son, won¡¯t you just be bullied to death if you took us in?¡± Wang Clan said irritably.


    In a family, the one with many sons holds the power; without sons, prepare to be scorned.


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s face reddened instantly, as not having a son was his greatest sore point.


    In the countryside, having sons is important¡ªfor arguments, they speak louder, and for fights, they add more fists!


    With no son, how could he compete with others?


    Tan Zhengyuan could not help but glare at Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Wasn¡¯t it all because she was incapable?


    In other families, giving birth seemed as easy as laying eggs, so why was it so difficult with her?


    After all, she had given birth to two children who were nothing but financial burdens and couldn¡¯t even continue!


    Hu¡¯s Clan hung her head, her hands clenched tightly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, her eyes full of disgust.


    She found this hypocritical and greedy family nauseating to look at.


    However, she was pleased to see the division of the family property proceed, so she continued to remain silent.


    Tan Yuancheng knocked on the table, ¡°This is settled.


    We are farmers, and the land is our treasure, it must not go to waste.


    We will divide according to each household¡¯s labor.


    Your mother and I count as two, the First Boss¡¯s House and Third Boss¡¯s House count as two each, Second Boss¡¯s House counts as three, Fourth Boss¡¯s House¡­


    let¡¯s count it as one.


    There are sixteen mu of paddy fields and twenty mu of dry land in our family.


    Each labor unit gets one mu of paddy field and one mu of dry land.


    The rest will go to Xiao Fu, as he must pursue his studies; the glory of the Tan family depends on him entirely.¡±


    This set off the First Boss and Third Boss.


    So, most of the family¡¯s property was going to Second Boss?


    Just because the Second Boss had the only grandson in the Tan family?


    Such blatant favoritism was too much, treating them like fools.


    ¡°Father, the way this property is being divided isn¡¯t fair at all, isn¡¯t it bullying?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan argued with a flushed face.


    Tan Zhongzhong immediately chimed in, ¡°Right?


    My wife is still pregnant, and it might be a son.


    Why should all the benefits go to Second Brother?¡±


    Little Wang Clan sneered, ¡°My mother consulted a fortune-teller, and our Tan family will only have this one male grandchild from Xiao Fu!¡±


    ¡°Second sister-in-law, I¡¯m afraid those words are yours.


    You¡¯re really going to great lengths for the inheritance,¡± Li Clan said, hands on her hips, piercingly pointing out Little Wang Clan¡¯s intentions.


    Little Wang Clan was not to be outdone: ¡°Third sister-in-law, watch your words.


    Be careful not to twist your tongue.


    If another worthless girl is born, will you still have the face to stay in the Tan family?¡±

 Chapter 14 - 14 14 Hate Too Much

    ?14: Chapter 14 Hate Too Much?


    _1 14: Chapter 14 Hate Too Much?


    _1 Li Clan¡¯s eyes shifted, and the tone of her speech abruptly changed, ¡°If father really wants to divide the family assets like this, I¡¯ll have to discuss it with outsiders. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Take Fourth Brother Tan, for example.


    Half of our family¡¯s fortune was earned by him.


    Now that Fourth Brother Tan has broken his leg, and Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s wife has cognitive impairment, allocating them just two acres of land¡ªare you not forcing the couple to their deaths?¡±


    Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s leg had only just been broken, and they were already rushing to split the family assets, which was enough to outrage anyone.


    And they were dividing the assets so unfairly¡ªweren¡¯t they afraid of being drowned by others¡¯ spit?


    She didn¡¯t believe that the elderly couple of the Tan Family could afford to lose their reputation!


    It had to be said, Li Clan¡¯s tactics were far more shrewd than those of Little Wang Clan.


    But Little Wang Clan didn¡¯t care what others said; she would only claim, ¡°I have a son, and he is the Tan Family¡¯s only grandson.¡±


    Alas, as if having a son made one invincible, when in reality it was the height of stupidity.


    Seeing his wife faltering, Tan Zhengyong hurriedly jumped in to defend her.


    ¡°Right now, our parents are in charge, and however much wealth there is, it was all scrimped and saved by them.


    They can divide it however they want.¡±


    Tan Zhengyong stood righteous and seemingly without any selfish motives.


    But his lack of selfishness was because he had hoarded all the advantages!


    ¡°All the assets have been allocated to your house, of course, you¡¯re happy.


    Moreover, am I saying that father¡¯s division is unfair?


    I¡¯m just letting others evaluate the justice of it and see if it¡¯s me, the daughter-in-law, who is in the wrong.¡±


    Li Clan said indifferently, the threat evident between the lines.


    Little Wang Clan sneered, then turned her gaze to the inconspicuous Qiao Duo¡¯er, ¡°Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s wife, do you find two acres of land to be too many for your family?¡±


    If even the Silly Sister said it was too much, what ground would Li Clan have to continue with her bluster?


    Unfortunately for her, Qiao Duo¡¯er proved to be a disappointment.


    Did Little Wang Clan think her slight cleverness could deceive her?


    Did she even have the right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted her head and spoke slowly, ¡°Why don¡¯t we swap the lands assigned to our two families?¡±


    ¡°Second Sister-in-law, if you think two acres are not few, you should swap with Fourth Sister-in-law,¡± Li Clan said with schadenfreude.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s frustration was palpable.


    She tried to outwit a fool and had failed?


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the fool?¡±


    Little Wang Clan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, her eyes filled with inquiry.


    How could the Silly Sister suddenly speak so coherently?


    Had she been deceiving them before?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swayed slightly, already standing in front of Little Wang Clan.


    She stared intently at Little Wang Clan, her words deliberate and pronounced, ¡°If I hear you say it again, I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡±


    A chill seemed to envelop Qiao Duo¡¯er, her gaze sharp and piercing.


    Little Wang Clan felt her heart skip a beat, frightened into silence by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    ¡°The audacity!


    You uncultured thing!


    Is this how you talk to your sister-in-law?¡±


    The Wang Clan glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Since when could a fool of the Tan Family be so brazen?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled, ¡°A woman like that deserves to be sister-in-law?


    Even coveting the property of a brother with a broken leg, aren¡¯t you afraid of retribution?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Little Wang Clan retorted weakly.


    If this got out, how would she be able to face anyone in Big Willow Village?


    Tan Zhengyuan also stood by Qiao Duo¡¯er, ¡°Would it not be better if you killed all three of us brothers?


    Then not a single acre would be taken by anyone.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, it¡¯d be best to poison us all to death, then you¡¯d be rich and prosperous!¡± Li Clan also couldn¡¯t help but make a sarcastic remark.


    Little Wang Clan trembled with rage, unable to utter a word.


    In reality, she wasn¡¯t formidable, only riding on the coattails of the Wang Clan¡¯s influence.


    ¡°Enough, your father and I are not dead yet.


    We have the final say in how to divide our estate!¡± The Wang Clan declared, slapping the table for emphasis.

 Chapter 15 - 15 15 Any Dissatisfaction_1

    ?15: Chapter 15: Any Dissatisfaction?_1 15: Chapter 15: Any Dissatisfaction?_1 Tan Zhongzhong weakly said, ¡°Mother, we¡¯re not fools.


    Who would be satisfied with such a division?¡±


    Every member of the second son¡¯s family is cunning and deceitful.


    Why should they get so much?


    ¡°Exactly, we are also born of you.


    We understand that you can¡¯t hold the bowl steady, but you can¡¯t intentionally tilt it either!¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan also supported his younger brother, as he was not satisfied with this division either.


    Being all sons, why should what we get differ so much?


    Little Wang Clan glanced sideways at them and said, ¡°Each of you wants this and that piece of land.


    Why don¡¯t you give birth to a son?


    Do you plan to let the land go with your daughters to other families?¡±


    ¡°Wow, sister-in-law, you can tell fortunes too.


    Only you can have sons?


    You think you¡¯re valuable, selling sons¡¯ stuff!¡±


    Li Clan mocked sharply, as her family had only gotten four acres of land.


    How were they supposed to survive?


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s heart thudded.


    Alas, he knew such a division wouldn¡¯t work, and it seemed a change was necessary.


    After silently calculating for a while, he had an idea.


    Tan Yuancheng cleared his throat and spoke solemnly, ¡°The land can¡¯t lie fallow.


    We will stick to the original labor calculations¡ªone mu of paddy field and two mu of dry field per laborer.


    Anyone who complains again will get nothing.


    As for the houses, the second son and his family will stay in the Main Room, the eldest son will move to the east wing, and everyone else will stay where they currently are.¡±


    The Tan Family¡¯s courtyard, owned by Zhou Zheng, had five rooms in the Main Room and four rooms each in the east and west wings.


    With this division, the second son¡¯s family still had the advantage, as the Main Room was made of brick, whereas the wing rooms were merely thatched huts made of mud.


    The one who lost out the most was Fourth Brother Tan.


    His bride had just entered the door, and the couple occupied only one room.


    However, Tan Yuancheng¡¯s words were laid down, and they did not dare to say more. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for Qiao Duo¡¯er, she looked at the shabby house with disdain.


    She didn¡¯t even want it.


    What she wanted was to sever ties with these people and then quietly watch what would happen to these selfish and self-interested individuals.


    Seeing no one interjecting, Tan Yuancheng continued, ¡°Each family will also receive One Tael of Silver, and fifty jin each of rice and flour.


    Fourth Brother¡¯s leg is not yet healed, so he will get an extra bit of Hanged Money.¡±


    Fourth Brother was his son after all, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little compassion.


    How was a cripple and an idiot supposed to live?


    ¡°Father, over the years I have worked in the fields, gone hunting in the mountains¡ªwho did I fall behind?


    Now my leg is broken, and it¡¯s not even certain if it will heal.


    Are you so eager to cast me out?¡±


    Tan Zhenghong asked with reddened eyes.


    He knew how heartbroken he had been when his leg was broken.


    This was his own parents!


    Just because his leg was broken, they were ready to sweep him out of the house!


    Isn¡¯t there a saying about how even tigers don¡¯t eat their young?


    But his parents were pushing him towards death!


    Wang Clan rolled her eyes, ¡°Fourth Brother, you can¡¯t talk like that.


    We got you a wife, divided the land for you, and gave you a house; what more are you unsatisfied with?¡±


    She believed she had done a decent job as a mother!


    ¡°Fourth Brother, you are capable.


    Even if your leg is useless, you still have your hands; you can still make baskets.


    But your brothers don¡¯t have that skill,¡± Tan Yuancheng slowly said, trying to comfort himself.


    Tan Zhenghong laughed bitterly, ¡°You really are my good parents.¡±


    Wang Clan said sternly, ¡°Enough from you.


    Each of your brothers has little ones to raise.


    Just the two of you at home, isn¡¯t three mu of land enough to eat?


    Be conscientious, think more of others¡¯ difficulties.¡±


    According to her, dividing two mu of land would have been enough to deal with him.


    Now that Tan Yuancheng had decided to add another mu, wasn¡¯t he content?


    Tan Zhenghong turned his head away, no longer willing to speak.

 Chapter 16 - 16 16 The Fierce Woman Goes Berserk_1

    ?16: Chapter 16 The Fierce Woman Goes Berserk_1 16: Chapter 16 The Fierce Woman Goes Berserk_1 ¡°Fourth Brother, I¡¯m not as capable as you, and in the future, I still have to provide for Xiao Fu¡¯s education.


    It¡¯s tough for your elder brother too!¡±


    Tan Zhengyong spoke pitifully, but the smugness in the depths of his eyes was hard to miss.


    He got so much of the family property all to himself; who wouldn¡¯t be envious?


    Tan Zhenghong could only offer a bitter laugh, knowing he earned over ten taels of silver each year through hunting, nearly making all the family¡¯s income by himself.


    But in the end, after he broke his leg, this was all he got, and everyone still expected him to be understanding. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Who would understand the pain of his broken leg?


    His need for treatment?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, ¡°You all know how much Ah Hong has earned over the years, and all that he deserves.


    He even gave you a lot for free.


    Surely, Ah Hong doesn¡¯t have to provide for your old age and funeral now, right?¡±


    She didn¡¯t care about how much money there was, how much land; this was what mattered to her.


    Such words from a supposed fool caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    This time, they could finally be sure that Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t a fool anymore.


    Back then, the matchmaker said that this fool was only foolish at times, so perhaps now was not one of those times.


    But they never thought that it was just a lie spun by the matchmaker.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t foolish now because there was a different person inside.


    ¡°You talk about providing for the elderly and the funeral?


    Your brain only works right now, but won¡¯t you just be a big fool later on?


    It would be good if you could even fend for yourselves.


    Let me tell you, don¡¯t come to me when you have nothing to eat; I won¡¯t have any spare grain for you!¡±


    Wang Clan said irritably, thinking they should be worried about themselves!


    Could Fourth Boss¡¯s leg be healed for ten tales?


    No, even with ten tales, it couldn¡¯t be healed!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scoffed, ¡°Remember what you¡¯re saying now.


    If you ever step half a foot into my house again, I¡¯ll break your legs and let you taste what it¡¯s like!¡±


    ¡°You harpy!


    Oh heavens, how did the Tan Family come to marry such a creature?


    It¡¯s a sin.


    I¡¯m being bullied by this evil daughter-in-law!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of me even living?


    I don¡¯t want to live anymore!¡±


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart wiped her tears hand over hand, but despite her efforts, no tears were seen, the epitome of making a scene.


    ¡°You damned child, I am after all your mother, is this how you talk to me?¡±


    ¡­


    Wang Clan¡¯s voice was piercing, causing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head to ache.


    ¡°You don¡¯t dare to agree?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked disdainfully at Wang Clan; she didn¡¯t want to witness a shrew¡¯s performance, she just wanted an answer.


    Little Wang Clan chimed in timely, ¡°Mother, stop crying.


    The fourth sister-in-law has been unfilial, but heaven will take care of it.


    Won¡¯t you still have me to serve you in the future?¡±


    With those words, Wang Clan felt reassured.


    Her second daughter-in-law was her niece from her rural home¡ªcould she not care for her?


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I will never set foot here again!¡± Wang Clan declared resolutely.


    She might as well pretend she didn¡¯t have this son.


    ¡°Remember what you said today.


    I, Qiao Duo, mean what I say; don¡¯t come back later weeping and wailing!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said commandingly, effortlessly intimidating everyone present.


    Wang Clan came to her senses and prepared to wail bitterly again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blocked her path and said, ¡°Do you have anything else?


    If there¡¯s something, speak up; if not, scram!¡±


    ¡°You shameless wretch, you¡¯re just a daughter-in-law; beware of the heavens striking you with lightning!¡±


    Little Wang Clan spoke with her hands on her hips.


    Tan Zhengyong gave a meaningful glance to his wife, signaling her to quickly take his mother and leave.


    With the division of the property, it was certain none of the brothers felt good about it.


    Dragging it out any longer and they might change their minds, and then there wouldn¡¯t be such a good deal anymore!

 Chapter 17 - 17 17 Are You Disgusted By My Ugliness_1

    ?17: Chapter 17 Are You Disgusted By My Ugliness?_1 17: Chapter 17 Are You Disgusted By My Ugliness?_1 Little Wang of the Wang Clan was a shrewd woman, and she quickly understood what Tan Zhengyong meant.


    She had lost face because of Qiao Duo¡¯er and was feeling displeased, but what was face worth?


    Was it more important than fields or money?


    ¡°Mother, let¡¯s go, don¡¯t let a fool ruin your health,¡± Little Wang patted the Wang Clan¡¯s back, helping her catch her breath.


    However, Li of the Li Clan was not about to let the second house off so easily, her voice filled with sarcasm, ¡°Mother, why on earth would you be upset?


    You reap what you sow.


    If you hadn¡¯t been so hard on Fourth Boss, would Silly Sister have been so enraged?¡±


    Now that the person is no longer foolish, don¡¯t they have the right to resist?


    At this moment, she also made up her mind, if anything happened to the old couple in the future, she wouldn¡¯t bother!


    Let the second house obtain all the advantages; they could take care of any illness that arose in the future!


    Thinking this way, it seemed she was left with a sense of relief.


    However, a fuss still needed to be made¡ªafter all, no one would complain about having too much silver, right?


    Wang of the Wang Clan glared at Tan Yuancheng: ¡°Are you dead or something?


    Just watching these heartless bastards bully me!¡±


    The wife of the Third Boss was cunning.


    If she became obstinate, the house would never be divided!


    Come up with a solution quickly!


    Tan Yuancheng narrowed his eyes: ¡°Stop shouting, the family will remain divided as is.


    Your mother and I are still fine. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the future, whoever has a son to continue the Old Tan Family will receive an additional twenty taels.¡±


    They should have nothing to say now, he had given them a chance, if there was a son, there would be silver.


    But if they couldn¡¯t produce one themselves, they couldn¡¯t blame anyone else.


    This way, Li of the Li Clan¡¯s arrogance was suppressed.


    And Tan Zhengyuan, who had been resentful all along, could only sulk silently on the side, for a simple reason¡ªhe lacked a son!


    He was the eldest son and should have had access to the best resources.


    But because he had no son, he lost out to the second eldest and his family.


    Old Man Tan felt very pleased with himself, but still said with concern, ¡°If you are all fine, don¡¯t just stand around here.


    Fourth Boss has harmed his vitality, he needs to rest.¡±


    Hmph, he knew his son needed to rest, yet he chose this time to talk about dividing the family¡ªwhat was his intention?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently despised Tan Yuancheng, but still, she had to admit that he was the most capable one in the family.


    Soon, a crowd of people gradually filed out, and Qiao Duo¡¯er let out a long sigh of relief, finally enjoying some peace and quiet.


    Now only Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong remained in the room, and the atmosphere suddenly felt a bit awkward.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong and saw him looking dejected, as if his parents had died¡ªwhich, given the recent events, might have been preferable!


    ¡°Um¡­


    are you okay?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er asked timidly.


    In her past life, she was accustomed to being alone.


    In this life, suddenly having someone by her side, she really wasn¡¯t used to it.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was living in someone else¡¯s house, she might not have been able to stop herself from throwing this man out!


    Perhaps she was destined to be solitary, destined to live a life of loneliness.


    ¡°Duo¡¯er, let¡¯s divorce,¡± Tan Zhenghong spoke slowly.


    Ever since he found out that Qiao Duo¡¯er was no longer foolish, he had been contemplating this issue.


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind was normal, and she was still an unmarried maiden, she could certainly find a normal family to marry into, surely better than suffering and toiling with him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face darkened as she asked unhappily, ¡°Are you disgusted by my ugliness?¡±


    That was her first reaction, a question blurted out on impulse, as she was quite sensitive about her current appearance.


    After all, she had been a great beauty, a classic rich and pretty girl!

 Chapter 18 - 18 18 I Can Support You_1

    ?18: Chapter 18 I Can Support You_1 18: Chapter 18 I Can Support You_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er was deeply hurt.


    She could disregard social status and wealth, even accept being transported to this little mountain ravine, but this face¡­


    She truly felt powerless to complain.


    She always believed that a person lives for their face; the visage is the most important thing, after all!


    But now¡­


    gone!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted that she felt a tiny bit self-conscious, so when Tan Zhenghong suggested they divorce, her first reaction was that Tan Zhenghong found her ugly.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, ¡°No¡­


    I just didn¡¯t want to delay you.¡±


    His wife was a bit ugly, but her eyes were enough to make one overlook her appearance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes, trying to find a hint of pretense or insincerity on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face.


    These kinds of words sounded like a brush-off! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But there was none!


    Not a trace of deceit!


    Could it be that this man truly didn¡¯t care about her looks?


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong was sincere; he was purely considering Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s well-being.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit surprised.


    So there really were such men in this world!


    ¡°Delay my ass, where could I go without any money?


    You need to heal up first.


    Let¡¯s at least wait until your leg is better before discussing this, and besides, you still owe me my medical fee.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had killed quite a few people in her previous life, but those had been deserving of death; actually, her heart was still kind.


    Now that the family had divided their property, what would Tan Zhenghong do if she just left?


    After all, she couldn¡¯t rely on her cold-hearted parents; the only good person in the family, someone from Hu¡¯s Clan, was a pushover, as malleable as dough.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, suddenly realizing something in his heart.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er said she was not from here, she really had nowhere to go.


    If she went back to her parents¡¯ house, they would surely sell her off again.


    And they would sell her to whomever offered more Silver, without considering the man¡¯s character or his family¡¯s background at all.


    Looking at it this way, it still seemed better to stay with him.


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly said, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to stay with me, I¡¯ll work hard to make sure you have a good life.¡±


    Even if his leg was useless, he still had his hands and could still create a world for his wife!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand nonchalantly and said, ¡°With me here, I¡¯ll definitely be able to support you.


    Don¡¯t worry about that for now.¡±


    Her response left Tan Zhenghong feeling a bit awkward and somewhat disappointed.


    The awkwardness was because a woman had claimed she could support him, while the disappointment stemmed from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s refusal to stay with him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched lazily, getting a whiff of the sweat smell on her body, and couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Nowadays, one bathed using wooden tubs.


    There was a tub in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s room, but with nothing to provide privacy, was she meant to bathe in a strange man¡¯s room?


    No, she couldn¡¯t stand it; she had to take a bath!


    Hmm¡­


    Tan Zhenghong was lame, he probably wouldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took another look at Tan Zhenghong and thought the man seemed decent; a sense of restraint radiated from his stern expression, which made her feel even more reassured.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go boil some water,¡± said Qiao Duo¡¯er, informing him before she left.


    Now that the Tan Family had split their household, only the Main Room had a kitchen, so she still had to go there to boil water.


    As soon as she reached the entrance to the Main Room, she saw Wang Clan¡¯s sharp-faced matriarch.


    ¡°You little slut, didn¡¯t you want to sever ties?


    What are you doing in the Main Room?¡± Wang Clan complained bitterly; she was someone who couldn¡¯t stand to be slighted.


    How could she let Qiao Duo¡¯er off easily after being publicly humiliated by her just now?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Wang Clan and said slowly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go borrow a pot from someone else to boil some water.¡±


    With that, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around and walked away.

 Chapter 19 - 19 19 Rice of Friendship and Rice of Enmity_1

    ?19: Chapter 19 Rice of Friendship and Rice of Enmity_1 19: Chapter 19 Rice of Friendship and Rice of Enmity_1 Wang Clan gritted her teeth.


    If she let Qiao Duo¡¯er go borrow a cooking pot from someone else¡¯s house to boil water, wouldn¡¯t she be scolded to death?


    She was so angered she felt internal pain, but she could only let Qiao Duo¡¯er have her way.


    ¡°You used quite a bit of firewood today.


    Pick it all up and bring it back tomorrow!¡± Wang Clan said viciously.


    Having her pick up the firewood again meant no loss to her.


    Sigh, she could only comfort herself this way.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have no desire to owe you anything either.¡±


    After speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t bother with Wang Clan¡¯s expression and went straight to the kitchen to boil water.


    As she walked, she pondered about setting up a cooking range at home to avoid having to see other people¡¯s faces just to boil some water.


    The Tan Family had a total of two cooking pots, one large and one small; a typical rural kitchen configuration.


    The large pot for boiling water and cooking rice, and the small pot specifically for stir-frying dishes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed water in the large pot and expertly started the fire to boil it.


    All of this was familiar work for her original body, and even though Qiao Duo¡¯er had never seen a clay stove before, it didn¡¯t affect her operation at all.


    In no time, the water was boiling.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er transferred the hot water into a wooden bucket, refilled the pot with more water, and then carried the heated water back to her room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poured the hot water into separate basins for face washing and foot soaking, diluted with cold water, and then carried a towel to Tan Zhenghong.


    At that time, a towel was merely a slightly thicker piece of cotton cloth, far from ideal in terms of feel or cleaning ability.


    But then again, it was definitely pure cotton.


    ¡°Give yourself a wipe.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the basin where Tan Zhenghong could easily reach it from his bed, and then she headed back to the kitchen.


    She poured the remaining hot water into a bath barrel, which was quite large.


    The half bucket of hot water felt inconsequential when poured into it; she needed to boil more water to enjoy a comfortable hot bath. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The stove was still lit, so Qiao Duo¡¯er added some more firewood and then went to the door to pick willow branches.


    Hmm¡­


    Willow branches were for brushing teeth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently cheered herself on; living in this era was inconvenient in every aspect, but since she was here, she must make the best of it.


    With time, she would get used to this purely green lifestyle.


    Now, the second branch of the family was still living in the eastern wing, where Tan Zhengyong and Little Wang Clan were whispering to each other.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had excellent hearing and accidentally overheard them.


    Inside the room¡­


    ¡°If only we could get rid of that idiot, all of Fourth Boss¡¯s land would be ours,¡± Little Wang Clan said with furrowed brows.


    Fourth Boss was allocated only three acres of land, but it was worth more than ten taels of silver.


    Tan Zhengyong, with some reluctance, said, ¡°He¡¯s my younger brother.


    Don¡¯t you dare do anything reckless.¡±


    ¡°When he used to hunt to support the family, our lives were comfortable.


    Now he¡¯s just a useless person, unable to provide for us.


    If you don¡¯t think of something, do you want to watch your wife and child starve to death?¡±


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s resentment was sky-high; what could they possibly dig up from their own fields?


    Tan Zhengyong fell silent for a moment before asking, ¡°So what do you suggest we do?¡±


    ¡°Once Fourth Boss doesn¡¯t need anyone to take care of him, I¡¯ll have Mother sell that idiot off.


    Fourth Boss will definitely live with us.


    We¡¯ll just feed him three meals a day and get three acres of land for free.


    Isn¡¯t that a good deal?¡±


    Little Wang Clan was noisy with her calculations.


    Hu¡¯s Clan and Li Clan would definitely not come up with such a plan!


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea; Fourth Boss is handy and can also help with the family expenses,¡± said Tan Zhengyong excitedly.


    At this point, where could he even remember that Tan Zhenghong was his own brother?


    Shiny silver was much better than brotherhood!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip.


    This was the so-called grace at a rise in rice and enmity at a drop.


    Tan Zhenghong was simply too good to these worthless people.


    One by one, they had no abilities to speak of, yet their eyes were always on other people¡¯s possessions.

 Chapter 20 - 20 20 _1

    ?20: Chapter 20 _1 20: Chapter 20 _1 Their plans might have been clever, but the Qiao Duo¡¯er of today was no longer the person she used to be.


    Think they could calculate her moves?


    They might as well wait for the next lifetime!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted coldly before going to pick some willow branches, grabbing one and then heading back.


    After a few steps, she remembered there was someone else in the room and decided to pick a few more willow branches, so she wouldn¡¯t have to come back in the morning.


    By the time she returned to the kitchen, the water had already boiled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did just as before, carrying the hot water in a wooden bucket into the room.


    Inside the room, Tan Zhenghong wanted to wipe his feet but his leg hurt so much that he could only rest against the pillow.


    Hearing someone push the door, he quickly pulled the blanket over himself.


    But his actions were still slower than Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s, and before he could cover himself properly, she had already entered.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s healthy tan made it hard to tell when he was blushing, but Qiao Duo¡¯er could still feel his embarrassment.


    A grown man afraid of being seen?


    It wouldn¡¯t be a loss being seen by a beautiful woman like her, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered her current stature and suddenly felt that it was Tan Zhenghong who was short-changed.


    Well, it did seem like she was taking advantage of him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pretended she didn¡¯t see anything.


    She nonchalantly placed the willow twigs on the table and poured the water into the bath.


    After she finished, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but glance at Tan Zhenghong again.


    Out of a spirit of humanitarianism, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you well yet?¡±


    ¡°I¡­


    I¡¯m fine, you go ahead with your work.


    I¡¯ll be done wiping soon,¡± Tan Zhenghong shifted his gaze away, not daring to look directly at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips.


    Not sick?


    That must be a joke, right?


    One look at Tan Zhenghong and she knew.


    His leg was fixed in a splint, immobile, and he also happened to have long legs, unable to reach his feet.


    Should she offer to help? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, two little angels were quarreling.


    The white angel said: You should care for the disabled, go help him!


    The black angel, looking fierce and terrifying, said: You¡¯re a dignified secret agent, how can you stoop to wiping a man¡¯s feet?


    The white angel: What¡¯s wrong with being a secret agent?


    Can¡¯t agents have compassion?


    The black angel: No dignity left?


    You can kill, you can set fires, but you just can¡¯t wipe a man¡¯s feet.


    The white angel: Look how pitiful he is!


    He always thinks of saving the tasty food for you!


    ¡­


    In the end, Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and still took the towel from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand to wipe his feet for him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked rather pale; she had never wiped someone¡¯s feet in her life¡­


    And now, her first time in both her lifetimes combined was taken by a man with a broken leg!


    Tan Zhenghong weakly asked, ¡°Duo¡¯er, can you get me some Soapnut?


    I want to wash my hair.¡±


    His leg was hurting terribly, and he had sweated a lot, his hair clumping together.


    Although he knew Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be too pleased, the feeling was so awful that he couldn¡¯t help but make the request.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted.


    What could she say?


    Damn it, she might as well be a maid!


    After attending to his hair wash, Qiao Duo¡¯er could finally go take her bath.

 Chapter 21 - 21 21 Set up a Stove First_1

    ?21: Chapter 21 Set up a Stove First_1 21: Chapter 21 Set up a Stove First_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er used a bedsheet to encircle a corner of the room, thereby shielding herself from someone¡¯s gaze.


    Although she was a bit ugly, allowing Tan Zhenghong to take a peek would still be to her advantage, but as a girl, she needed to maintain some dignity.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her pockmarked face and suddenly felt a twinge of anticipation.


    There¡¯s a saying that one¡¯s fairness can cover up many flaws, and if she could improve her skin and nourish her body, avoiding being as thin as a twig, perhaps she could escape being categorized as an ugly woman.


    Her expectations weren¡¯t high; she would be content just to become an ordinary-looking person.


    Soaking in the warm water, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt all her pores open, the weariness washed away, and her mood began to soar.


    Actually, no one is indifferent to their own appearance.


    Ah, these humble days finally had a sliver of hope.


    After her bath, Qiao Duo¡¯er put on clean clothes and lay down beside Tan Zhenghong, wrapping herself in a bedsheet.


    She had considered sleeping elsewhere, but¡­


    there really was no space left in the room for that.


    The bed wasn¡¯t large, but with each person sticking to their own side, there was more than enough room for one more person in the middle, making the distance between them quite safe.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t used to going to bed early.


    It was only about eight o¡¯clock at most, and with someone else next to her, she really couldn¡¯t fall asleep!


    But without any form of entertainment, all she could do was lie in bed with her thoughts running wild.


    However, she never expected to fall into a deep, sweet slumber in no time at all.


    As a special agent, Tan Zhenghong was highly sensitive to the presence of others, but he seemed to be unaffected by Qiao Duo¡¯er, an observation that gave her a little surprise.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up hungry.


    Seeing that it was already daylight, Qiao Duo¡¯er got out of bed to wash up, and by the time she was done, Tan Yuancheng had already delivered the items from the division of the household.


    A bag of rice, a bag of flour, One Tael of Silver, and a String of Copper Money.


    ¡°Can you find someone to set up a stove?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er looked towards Tan Zhenghong, not wanting to face Wang Clan¡¯s disdain in the Main Room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er always thought of herself as someone who holds grudges, so with rice and provisions on hand, the first thing she did was not to cook something to eat, but rather to find someone to set up a stove.


    ¡°Go next door to Erhu; he¡¯s my brother,¡± Tan Zhenghong gestured towards the west. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    During his childhood, he and Sun Erhu used to sneak into private schools to listen to the teacher¡¯s lectures.


    When they grew up, they often went hunting in the mountains together and developed a close bond.


    It was Sun Erhu who carried him back after he broke his leg this time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, but before she could go find Erhu, he arrived carrying a wild chicken.


    ¡°Brother Hong, you know I¡¯m not skilled at hunting.


    I only managed to bag this chicken on my trip to the mountains yesterday, but I¡¯ve cleaned it all up for you.


    Sister-in-law, you can just stew it directly,¡± Sun Erhu said cheerfully.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked towards Tan Zhenghong, as she was not familiar with Sun Erhu and unsure whether to accept the chicken.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, ¡°We divided our household last night.


    For now, help your sister-in-law set up a stove.¡±

 Chapter 22 - 22 22 Loving Daughter-in-law_1

    ?22: Chapter 22: Loving Daughter-in-law_1 22: Chapter 22: Loving Daughter-in-law_1 ¡°What¡¯s the point of setting up a stove?


    Sister-in-law, just use mine if you need to.


    Look at this place, it¡¯s just one room.


    Where would you even put a stove?


    And you still need space for a table and such¡ªit¡¯s too much trouble.¡±


    Sun Erhu said with a grin, thinking he could also get a meal out of it.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, ¡°Duo¡¯er, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just set up a stove under the eaves; it¡¯s more convenient that way,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    Almost every farmhouse has a yard, and it¡¯s a hassle to go to the neighbor¡¯s, especially in summer when you need to boil water and have to carry it back and forth.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, ¡°Erhu, help us set one up then.¡±


    Sun Erhu was a bit surprised and struggled to find the words, ¡°Brother Hong, I had no idea you were one to pamper your wife.


    Alright, I¡¯ll do it!¡±


    In reality, he wanted to say, Brother Hong, you sure have a taste for unusual things, considering how your wife isn¡¯t much to look at, and yet, you treat her like a treasure.


    Sun Erhu would later be very grateful that he didn¡¯t speak his mind that day.


    Otherwise, he might have regretted it for the rest of his life.


    ¡°Erhu, lend me your stove for a bit; I¡¯ll go make breakfast,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said, looking towards Sun Erhu, who had already started to get busy.


    Probably Sun Erhu hadn¡¯t had breakfast either; it wouldn¡¯t be right to let him work on an empty stomach.


    Sun Erhu agreed readily, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ve got firewood, rice, oil, and salt.


    Hmm, there¡¯s also some bok choy in the yard.


    Help yourself, don¡¯t be shy!¡±


    He and Tan Zhenghong were brothers, and since his brother had accepted this woman, of course, he had to be a bit more polite to his sister-in-law.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and took some grains with her to Sun Erhu¡¯s yard.


    Well¡­


    in this life, to shake off all burdens and be an ordinary housewife¡ªit¡¯s quite relaxing.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s place was somewhat dilapidated, clearly lacking a woman¡¯s touch.


    The vegetable patch with its lush greens was reassuring to see, and Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to pull up some small bok choy and scallions for the kitchen.


    Once in the kitchen, although things were a bit messy, everything was still quite clean.


    Who would have thought that the burly man had a meticulous side?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scrubbed the pot clean, added some water just enough to cover the chicken, and then sat down in front of the stove to start the fire.


    This step is called ¡°flying water,¡± which scrubs away the dirt on the chicken.


    After washing the chicken clean, she refilled the pot with plenty of water and some green onion pieces, brought it to a boil over high heat, and then let it simmer on low heat.


    Making chicken soup has two key steps: one is ¡°flying water¡± to clean the chicken thoroughly, and the other is to wait half an hour before adding salt, so the resulting soup is whiter and more flavorful.


    While the soup was simmering, Qiao Duo¡¯er washed the rice to cook.


    The water from rinsing rice is full of nutrients and can eliminate grease, making it ideal for washing the face, which Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t pass up.


    She carried a basin outside, scooped some water, and carefully washed her face.


    Without a towel to dry herself, she simply let her face air dry.


    Whether due to psychological effects or the properties of the rice water, she felt her face became much fresher.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently hoped it was the rice water making the difference.


    With her unattractive face, she always felt awkward every time she saw people. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The soup continued to simmer, and with nothing else to do, Qiao Duo¡¯er tidied up the kitchen.


    When the chicken soup had turned a milky white, she added some salt, simmered it for a while until she estimated the chicken had absorbed the flavor, and then served the soup.


    She then added a little oil to the pot and quickly stir-fried the bok choy.


    About two hours later, breakfast was ready.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the table beside the bed, allowing her to eat while still taking care of Tan Zhenghong.

 Chapter 23 - 23 23 Both of You Need to Make up for Lesson 1

    ?23: Chapter 23 Both of You Need to Make up for Lesson 1 23: Chapter 23 Both of You Need to Make up for Lesson 1 ¡°Sister-in-law¡¯s cooking is truly superb, big brother, you must try it!¡±


    Sun Erhu placed a chicken leg into an empty bowl and passed it to Tan Zhenghong, his eyes full of envy.


    Although the sister-in-law wasn¡¯t very pretty to look at, marrying a wife in a farming household wasn¡¯t about having someone to look at; the key was that she could work hard.


    And the big sister-in-law ate her food quite elegantly, like the daughter of a wealthy family from town.


    So all in all, this sister-in-law wasn¡¯t too bad.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, ¡°Let her eat it, she¡¯s too skinny.¡±


    As soon as these words were spoken, Sun Erhu¡¯s ears turned red.


    Hm¡­


    Was he implying that his sister-in-law¡¯s figure wasn¡¯t good enough?


    But saying this in front of him wasn¡¯t quite appropriate.


    After all, he was still an unmarried child.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips; he really just meant that Qiao Duo¡¯er was too skinny and needed to take care of her health.


    He swore he really had no other intentions!


    Most importantly, although they were married, nothing had happened between them at all!


    Sun Erhu naively said, ¡°Big brother, just eat it yourself.


    There¡¯s still another chicken leg there, you two are newlyweds; you should both nourish yourselves.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, then began to focus on her meal.


    She had always thought people in ancient times were very conservative.


    She never expected them to make suggestive jokes.


    ¡°Um¡­


    Sister-in-law, eat up, or Brother Hong will be worried.¡±


    Sun Erhu continued to fan the flames; he just thought it was fun to embarrass both of them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth; she didn¡¯t understand anything, so what was there to be embarrassed about?


    The wild chicken could fly, so the meat on its wings was more delicate and had more texture; she decisively picked up a chicken wing into her bowl.


    With Sun Erhu looking after Tan Zhenghong, Qiao Duo¡¯er just needed to take care of herself.


    After eating most of her bowl of rice and drinking a small bowl of soup, she put down her chopsticks.


    The original body had always been in a state of hunger, and eating too much at once could easily harm the stomach.


    ¡°Duo¡¯er, eat some more.¡± Tan Zhenghong said with concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m full.


    You guys keep eating, I¡¯m going to buy some daily necessities from town.¡±


    They didn¡¯t have a single pot or pan; they couldn¡¯t always borrow from Sun Erhu¡¯s house whenever they needed something, otherwise, she¡¯d have to run back and forth three to five times a day.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, ¡°Be careful.


    The eldest sister-in-law should also be going to town to buy things, you can go with her.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er acknowledged and walked outside.


    Inside the house, Sun Erhu suddenly asked, ¡°Brother Hong, didn¡¯t you say that the sister-in-law was simple-minded?


    Why are you still letting her manage things?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense; your sister-in-law is fine,¡± Tan Zhenghong glared at Sun Erhu.


    As for letting Qiao Duo manage the household, he felt that it was appropriate.


    Sun Erhu seemed to mumble to himself, ¡°I also think sister-in-law is very smart, not stupid at all.¡±


    A simple-minded person would have a dull look in their eyes, but sister-in-law¡¯s eyes are bright and lively, not matching a simpleton at all.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t explain; he had no plans to let a third person know about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s situation.


    After all, it was too unbelievable, and if others knew, they might start treating Qiao Duo¡¯er like a ghost or a demon.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er walked out the door, she saw Hu¡¯s Clan coming out of her house with a basket too.


    ¡°Fourth younger sister-in-law, are you going to town?¡± Hu¡¯s Clan called out to Qiao Duo¡¯er. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded truthfully, and Hu¡¯s Clan said, ¡°I¡¯m also going to town.


    Wait for me a while.¡±


    The fourth younger sister-in-law wasn¡¯t too sharp, so with her accompanying, at least Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be cheated by anyone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er considered that going to town would take half an hour and thought that having company might be good.


    Moreover, she wasn¡¯t familiar with the prices in ancient times.

 Chapter 24 - 24 24 The Compensation Goods_1

    ?24: Chapter 24 The Compensation Goods_1 24: Chapter 24 The Compensation Goods_1 Seeing her mother about to leave the house, Er Ya asked, ¡°Mom, are you going out?¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan beckoned, and Er Ya joyfully tumbled into her mother¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Yes, Mom is going to town to buy some things and will be back soon.


    Can you be a good girl at home, Er Ya?¡± Hu¡¯s Clan stroked Er Ya¡¯s hair, her face full of tenderness.


    Er Ya was only five years old, the perfect age for playing and eating.


    Hearing that her mom was going to town, she immediately thought of the tasty treats she had seen at Xiao Fu¡¯s place.


    She looked expectantly at her mother: ¡°Mom, can you buy me some candy?¡±


    Her soft, sticky voice would melt anyone¡¯s heart.


    Hu¡¯s Clan, feeling sorry for her child, how could she refuse?


    Hu¡¯s Clan was about to nod, but without warning, yelling erupted from inside the room.


    Tan Zhengyuan pointed at Er Ya and cursed harshly, ¡°Candy?


    Such a hex!


    I truly cursed my own luck for eight generations by having you!


    Worthless thing, you can¡¯t do anything right and still want candy?


    Dream on!


    Watch out or I might just beat you to death!¡±


    Frightened by Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s outburst, Er Ya started to cry with pouted lips.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said quietly, ¡°Head of the family, why don¡¯t we just buy a couple of candy pieces to satisfy the child¡¯s craving?¡±


    But her plea only resulted in even fiercer scolding from Tan Zhengyuan.


    ¡°Satisfy what craving?


    Do you have too much silver?


    Just looking at those two money-losers infuriates me.


    It¡¯s enough that I keep them; they always want more.


    Why don¡¯t they just go die?¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s mouth opened, but no words came out.


    Her children were being cursed like this, and it was almost breaking her heart, yet she was powerless to do anything.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er indignantly said, ¡°Is this how you act as a father?¡±


    Isn¡¯t it normal for a child to want candy?


    Even if he didn¡¯t want to buy it, he shouldn¡¯t curse the child like that!


    ¡°What does it have to do with you, meddler!


    And you, you worthless woman, what are you mumbling for?


    Why don¡¯t you drop dead from laziness?


    It¡¯s just a girl, can she really cry herself to death?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan glared at Hu¡¯s Clan, his tone even more despicable.


    Shivering, Hu¡¯s Clan quickly said, ¡°Child, go help your older sister clean up the house.¡±


    The three of them had already moved from the Main Room to the east wing room.


    She had thought that if the children busied themselves all morning, their father might treat them a bit better, but nothing had changed.


    Having said that, Hu¡¯s Clan picked up her basket and hurriedly walked outside.


    Er Ya was still crying behind her, yet she didn¡¯t have the courage to even look back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt stifled; she had stood up for Hu¡¯s Clan, yet Hu¡¯s Clan had just turned and walked away!


    Was she being a meddler then?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked disapprovingly, ¡°Why are you so afraid of him?


    Can he really devour you and Er Ya?¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly wiped her tears away and said helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t have the ability to bear a son.¡±


    If she could bear a son, her and her daughters¡¯ lives wouldn¡¯t be so difficult; they could stand tall like Little Wang Clan.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with having a daughter?


    Isn¡¯t she also born from you?¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably, hating parents who didn¡¯t regard their daughters as human beings.


    Hu¡¯s Clan, with reddened eyes, said, ¡°Ah, they are all flesh from my body, how could I not hurt for them?


    But¡­


    what can I do?


    If the head of the house gets angry and sends Er Ya away, what then?¡±


    ¡°Being sent away might mean living a better life,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er muttered.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was taken aback and could only give a bitter smile.


    And Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped talking.


    What else could be said to a person who had given up?


    The most pitiful were the two children.


    What had they done to deserve such parents?

 Chapter 25 - 25 25 Persuasion_1

    ?25: Chapter 25 Persuasion_1 25: Chapter 25 Persuasion_1 As she walked, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt unbearably stifled. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was used to being alone, but not used to having someone silent as a mute beside her!


    Big sister, can we talk?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, unable to help herself, ¡°You are Er Ya¡¯s only support.


    I think Tan Zhengyuan is no good; better off without him.¡±


    If she hadn¡¯t seen wrong just now, it was the two daughters who were working, while Tan Zhengyuan sat at home, legs crossed, cracking sunflower seeds.


    When Er Ya said she wanted candy, he dropped the seeds and stood at the door cursing.


    This kind of behavior is loathsome even in a woman, let alone in a man.


    Doesn¡¯t he feel any shame?


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s conduct, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but think of the overbearing old ladies in the countryside.


    Constantly cursing, bullying the weak, preferring sons over daughters, and too lazy for anything¡­


    In short, a whole pile of flaws.


    If she were part of Hu¡¯s Clan, she would definitely give such a man a good beating.


    Beat him every time he didn¡¯t obey until one day he would be thoroughly convinced.


    ¡°Ai, younger sister-in-law, you¡¯re married now; you can¡¯t talk recklessly.


    How can we manage without a man in the house?¡± Hu¡¯s Clan said with downcast eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, ¡°How can we not manage without a man?


    Can¡¯t you support Da Ya, Er Ya, and yourself?


    Or is there something you can¡¯t do?¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan could certainly handle all sorts of chores; at home, she was like an animal put to work.


    With a look of helplessness, Hu¡¯s Clan said, ¡°We don¡¯t have our own land, we rely entirely on the household head for the land to cultivate.¡±


    In the countryside, everyone depends on the land for food.


    Without land, what would they eat?


    What would they drink?


    ¡°No land, then earn silver to buy it; no house, then rent one; no money, you can work in town, become an Embroidery Lady.


    After all, solutions are made by people.


    If you¡¯re determined, there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with some intensity.


    She was meeting a woman as timid as Hu¡¯s Clan for the first time and was nearly driven mad by it!


    Weak yet expecting others not to bully them¡ªis that possible?


    How many fools are there in this world?


    How many people don¡¯t know to pick on the weak?


    Tan Zhengyuan was just so brazen because he believed Hu¡¯s Clan and the two daughters couldn¡¯t survive without him, right?


    But in this world, who can¡¯t live without whom?


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, a hint of unusual brightness in her eyes.


    She had been in the Old Tan Family for a full twelve years, serving her in-laws and her husband since she first married in, and being bullied for not having a son; not a single day passed in peace.


    She was a living person too, she felt anger, she felt rage!


    Seeing that she was starting to understand, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt somewhat better.


    It was unrealistic to expect Hu¡¯s Clan to fight back now, but having such thoughts was good enough.


    Someday, in the right circumstances, she would explode.


    A while later, Hu¡¯s Clan suddenly said, ¡°Younger sister-in-law, your mind is much clearer now, and you¡¯ve put me to shame.¡±


    ¡°Now that Fourth Boss has broken his leg, if my head weren¡¯t clear, how many people would bully me?


    My parents sold me for silver; they¡¯re unreliable.


    The Tan Family is cold-hearted; we might not have survived,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er replied with a smirk, having heard all the plans of Old Tan¡¯s second son¡¯s family last night.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded in agreement, ¡°This time, our father and mother were indeed too much, and Fourth Boss is really pitiable.¡±


    ¡°With me here, he won¡¯t be a pitiable worm,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er winked playfully, anyway, that leg could be saved.


    As a physically healthy person, if one doesn¡¯t live happily, then it¡¯s their own weakness.

 Chapter 26 - 26 26 Heartache_1

    ?26: Chapter 26 Heartache_1 26: Chapter 26 Heartache_1 Hu¡¯s Clan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with envy, feeling a sudden rush of warm blood stirring within her.


    They were both women, so why could Qiao Duo¡¯er speak like that when she couldn¡¯t?


    Her needlework might have been average, but she had strength.


    Could she really let herself and her daughter starve to death?


    With these thoughts in mind, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s steps became much lighter.


    Soon the two of them arrived at the town¡¯s sundry shop.


    Pots, pans, ladles, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were all essentials.


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er had a room of her own, she only needed to buy enough to get by.


    So she bought five bowls, three plates, one soup basin, one ladle, and also purchased oil and other seasonings like salt.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er specifically weighed a pound of alkali flour to keep for making steamed buns.


    Finally, seeing that there was sugar cane for sale, Qiao Duo¡¯er bought a small packet of it too. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After leaving the sundry shop, they went to the blacksmith¡¯s to buy cooking utensils like a wok spatula, completing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s shopping list.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then went to the Cloth Shop and bought some fine cotton fabric.


    Passing by the butcher¡¯s, Hu¡¯s Clan bought two pounds of fatty meat.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was more selective, preferring meat that was seventy percent lean and thirty percent fat, which tasted great whether stewed or fried.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, it¡¯s good to buy some fatty meat.


    You can render oil from it for cooking later,¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan kindly reminded her.


    For farming households, meat was generally bought for such purposes, and two pounds could last a long time.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped; life was tough for farmers, and one couldn¡¯t make ends meet without being thrifty and meticulous.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and also ordered two pounds of fatty meat.


    Considering that the chicken from the morning hadn¡¯t been finished, she didn¡¯t buy any other meats, just two shank bones.


    Shank bones were perfect for making nourishing soup to help someone like Tan Zhenghong, who had suffered a broken bone, recover.


    After purchasing these items, the two headed back home.


    By the time they arrived, it was just about lunchtime.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, Big Brother asked me to set up a stove for your family too.


    You can set the pot on it, and I¡¯ll smear some lime around to finish it up so you can start cooking,¡±


    Sun Erhu wiped the sweat from his face, inadvertently adding two streaks of mud on his cheeks.


    Well, Tan Zhengyuan was neither missing arms nor legs, yet he stubbornly didn¡¯t come out to help.


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment and quickly expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, you should just eat with us at our home.¡±


    Sun Erhu hurriedly shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll just eat at Brother Hong¡¯s place.¡±


    ¡°How can that be?


    You¡¯ve been busy for most of the day; you shouldn¡¯t go without a meal,¡± Hu¡¯s Clan said apologetically.


    Sun Erhu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Sister-in-law, we¡¯ve known each other long enough, no need for formalities.


    Just set the pot up, and I¡¯ll get things done quickly.


    Don¡¯t want the kids going hungry.¡±


    Seeing that she couldn¡¯t be of much help, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the items and went back first.


    The two pots were quite heavy, but fortunately, Hu¡¯s Clan helped carry them on the way.


    Back in her room, Tan Zhenghong had placed two vegetable baskets and a carrying basket beside him, all of which he¡¯d woven that morning.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er return, his mood immediately soared.


    He didn¡¯t quite understand why he felt so happy, but he was indeed elated.


    But upon seeing his wife¡¯s face flushed with heat, his good mood instantly dimmed.


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot outside, you must be exhausted,¡± Tan Zhenghong said with concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a little uncomfortable.


    Was he actually showing concern for her family?


    This was a novel experience for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too bad, Sister-in-law helped carry a lot,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said truthfully.


    Tan Zhenghong muttered gloomily, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, if I had been more careful, you wouldn¡¯t have had to work so hard.¡±


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t focused on that, because she had been quite happy with the bustle.

 Chapter 27 - 27 27 I Fan for You_1

    ?27: Chapter 27 I Fan for You_1 27: Chapter 27 I Fan for You_1 ¡°Do you know how to make straw hats?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the delicate crafts Tan Zhenghong was making, clearly the work of skillful hands.


    Tan Zhenghong raised the semi-finished product in his hand, ¡°This one is for you, but even with a straw hat, you shouldn¡¯t go out when it¡¯s too hot.¡±


    It was the height of summer, the sun scorching.


    Too much exposure could lead to heatstroke.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; she was no fool, did he think she didn¡¯t know such things?


    Still, it was rather nice to have someone fussing over her.


    After walking around half the day, she felt like her throat was on fire, so she poured herself a big cup of water and gulped it down.


    But a cup of cold water did little to alleviate the summer¡¯s dry heat. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What hellish weather, it could bake a person alive!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er missed air conditioning and electric fans dearly, yet now she had just a palm-leaf fan at her disposal, waving it vigorously with far less effect than she had hoped for.


    Damn it, it was still hot no matter how much she fanned!


    ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll fan for you,¡± Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but say.


    Her efforts at fanning were strenuous and thankless; a lot of energy spent with little breeze to show for it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the palm-leaf fan, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat.


    After thinking it over, she obediently sat at the edge of the bed and handed the fan to Tan Zhenghong.


    Soon, a gentle breeze began to blow.


    The wind was soft, but constant, and very refreshing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes in enjoyment; it seemed that waving a fan was an art in itself, and her bargain of a husband was quite skilled at it.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, bring the pot over, I¡¯ll fix it for you.¡±


    Sun Erhu stood at the doorway and shouted, but upon seeing the couple in the room, he wished he could disappear on the spot.


    In broad daylight and with the door open, they were all lovey-dovey, and he had to witness it!


    Sister-in-law seemed to be living the good life, making him want to find a wife who could fan him too!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was no longer feeling so hot, so she got up to start her chores.


    Her task was to help hold the pot in place while Sun Erhu secured it on the stove with lime, ensuring the edges were sealed to prevent smoke from leaking when burning the fire.


    Sun Erhu was a handy man, promptly getting the job done.


    Seeing Sun Erhu¡¯s dirt-smudged face made Qiao Duo¡¯er laugh, but she kindly held it in, ¡°Go wash your face.


    I¡¯ll heat up the morning¡¯s meal; we can eat soon.¡±


    Sun Erhu had no objections.


    Even though he had eaten dry rice that morning, after building two stoves all morning, he was starving.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er washed her hands and moved on to prepare lunch.


    Without a refrigerator, the only option was to keep the meals in a bucket and hang it down the well for cooling.


    The natural chill of the well helped preserve the food, which is how that morning¡¯s meal had been kept.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the meals out and put the recently purchased bones and meat into the bucket.


    Back in the kitchen, she poured chicken soup into the pot, added some cold water, and placed the rice on the steaming rack.


    That way, as the soup boiled again, the rice would warm up too.


    Once the fire was lit in the stove, it didn¡¯t need constant tending, so Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the vegetable garden to pick some fresh green beans.


    After picking the beans clean and chopping some garlic into a mince, she was ready to make her favorite dish, green beans with garlic.


    Before frying, the beans needed to be blanched.


    Then, she would heat oil in a pan, toss in the minced garlic until it was fragrant, add the beans and stir-fry them, and finally sprinkle some salt before serving them up.


    The beans were cooked perfectly, and the soup and rice in the other pot were also heated.

 Chapter 28 - 28 28 Arent you sleeping_1

    ?28: Chapter 28 Aren¡¯t you sleeping?_1 28: Chapter 28 Aren¡¯t you sleeping?_1 When Qiao Duo¡¯er brought the food back, Hu¡¯s Clan had also started cooking.


    Outside, still helping were Da Ya and Er Ya, but Tan Zhengyuan was holed up at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s contempt for the man grew even stronger.


    His wife and child were extremely busy, and he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to take a look.


    Hmph, such a man should have been dragged out and hacked to death by random blades long ago!


    Yet, this piece of trash actually managed to get married and even have children; the world really made no sense!


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er washed the pots and pans, then cut off a piece of fat to rub the pot with, eliminating not only the metallic taste but also preventing rust.


    After rubbing it with lard and rinsing it with water, it was clean.


    Having wiped out the pot, she broke out into a sweat again. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking of the human flesh fan at home, she hurried into the room.


    Zheng Hong dutifully made way for Qiao Duo¡¯er and conscientiously picked up the palm leaf fan.


    With yesterday¡¯s experience, Qiao Duo¡¯er made no fuss and lay down next to him.


    The man proved to be quite dependable.


    Though¡­


    it might also be due to his inconvenient leg.


    Zheng Hong was very happy to fan Qiao Duo¡¯er, and with concern, he said, ¡°Duo¡¯er, you should sleep for a while.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    The gentle breeze was comfortable, and not long after, she felt drowsy and accidentally dozed off.


    When she opened her eyes again, Zheng Hong was still fanning.


    That is to say, he hadn¡¯t stopped while she was asleep and had been watching her the whole time.


    Uh¡­


    Wouldn¡¯t looking at this face cause indigestion?


    The key point was that Zheng Hong could actually watch for so long!


    Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sleep for a while?¡±


    ¡°I lie in bed all day without moving; how can I possibly fall asleep?¡± Zheng Hong said lightly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you spend all morning weaving things?


    I¡¯ll get up now, you sleep.¡±


    After speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose suddenly twitched.


    The stench of sweat penetrated her nostrils.


    Ah, the hardships of summer, especially with a disabled person lying in bed at home all day.


    She just couldn¡¯t stand it.


    She went to Sun Erhu¡¯s Home and brought back a pot of hot water, to which she added some peppermint leaves.


    After letting the water cool down a bit, she wiped down her half of the bed first.


    Once the wiped area dried, she changed the water and let Zheng Hong clean himself before moving him onto a clean mat.


    Then she wiped down his side of the bed.


    With all this effort, both the bed and the person on it finally felt fresh and even carried a hint of peppermint fragrance.


    ¡°Give me the bedsheets, I¡¯ll wash them.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed at the sheet wrapped around Zheng Hong.


    Zheng Hong hesitated; maybe he should keep what he was covered with?


    That would be too embarrassing¡­


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and tore off a piece of the newly bought cotton cloth for him.


    The corner of Zheng Hong¡¯s eye twitched.


    Could this really be okay?


    ¡°You might as well bring me a piece of clothing,¡± he said.


    Zheng Hong pointed at the wardrobe, and Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, immediately doing as he suggested.


    But even so, Zheng Hong still felt awkward.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently thought that she needed to make a couple of special trousers for Zheng Hong; otherwise, it always seemed odd.


    It was probably around two o¡¯clock, and the sun was still scorching outside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no choice but to carry the water back and sit on the threshold to wash clothes.


    This journey through time¡­


    came with a bit of pitifulness.

 Chapter 29 - 29 29 Try Not to Annoy Your Sister-in-Law_1

    ?29: Chapter 29: Try Not to Annoy Your Sister-in-Law_1 29: Chapter 29: Try Not to Annoy Your Sister-in-Law_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er finished washing clothes when Sun Erhu brought over two bundles of firewood.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, considering how hardworking I am, could you make me dinner?¡± Sun Erhu said with a grin.


    His parents had passed away early, and he was the only one left in the family.


    Unfortunately, his cooking skills¡­


    were less than commendable.


    After having eaten Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cooking twice, he had even less desire to prepare his own meals.


    Thinking about his own cooking, it was simply inedible!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, ¡°I¡¯m going up the mountain, keep Fourth Boss company, and you¡¯ll be taken care of for dinner.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What are you going up the mountain for, sister-in-law?


    Just let me know what you need, and I guarantee I¡¯ll get it done properly,¡± Sun Erhu said earnestly while patting his chest.


    With Brother Hong¡¯s leg not in condition, as a brother, he wouldn¡¯t shy away from helping wherever he could.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to gather herbs, coming?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er asked blandly.


    At this, Sun Erhu was completely silent, he was capable of chopping wood and hunting.


    But how was a rough man like him supposed to recognize any herbs?


    Seeing Sun Erhu¡¯s simple look, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at him.


    Then, with her basket and straw hat, she headed up the mountain, of course not without another reminder from Tan Zhenghong before she left.


    No sooner had Qiao Duo¡¯er left than Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Brother Hong, sister-in-law is really something, huh?¡±


    How many people can recognize medicinal herbs?


    Suddenly, a sharp gaze shot his way.


    Sun Erhu immediately shut his mouth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had heard him and was glaring at him.


    But he had spoken so quietly, how had she heard him?


    Tan Zhenghong said with a laugh, ¡°Better not to provoke your sister-in-law in the future, otherwise, I can¡¯t protect you.¡±


    Sun Erhu hung his head in agreement, feeling rather dejected.


    It was not easy for him to talk about someone behind their back, and he had actually been caught.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er went straight for the Joint-Healing Grass, collecting some of it and Bark of Oak Tree before looking for other herbs.


    There were quite a few herbs in the undulating mountains.


    However, she didn¡¯t dare to go deep into the mountains, in case she encountered any wild beasts¡ªher frail body wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it.


    Although her transmigration was a bit tragic, life was precious, so she decided to cherish it and live well.


    As the sun slowly set, Qiao Duo¡¯er sat by the river bank, planning to rest a bit before heading back.


    In this era, where one had to rely on their feet to go anywhere, she still had a half an hour¡¯s walk home.


    The mountain was cooler, with lotus leaves just starting to emerge above the water.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked straight towards them.


    Following the tender lotus leaves downward and finding a string of lotus root, she gave it a gentle tug, and the lotus root was pulled out of the water¡ªits white and tender fibers made Qiao Duo¡¯er very pleased.


    Stir-frying a dish of lotus fibers was so refreshing in the summer.


    Hmm¡­


    ¡®Lotus Whip¡¯ was another, rather risqu¨¦ name for it¡­


    But a lewd name couldn¡¯t stop food enthusiasts, as people ate things like bull whip and deer whip, didn¡¯t they?


    And besides, ¡®Lotus Whip¡¯ was not that kind¡­


    of something even more unseemly.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Qiao Duo¡¯er had plucked a handful of lotus fibers, which should be enough for three people for dinner.


    After some thought, she pulled up some water spinach from the river bank to take back home¡ªwith flour at home, they could make dumplings!


    With the ingredients for dinner ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er strode back home.


    Once home, she first sorted out the herbs.


    She then had Sun Erhu chop the Joint-Healing Grass while she went out to render lard.


    The process was simple.


    Add some oil to the pot, put in the diced pork fat, and simmer it gently.


    Before long, the amount of oil in the pot had increased.


    After rendering the oil, the pork fat turned a golden-brown color, becoming crispy bits, or cracklings.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tried one; it was crunchy and left an aromatic flavor in her mouth.

 Chapter 30 - 30 30 Returning Firewood_1

    ?30: Chapter 30 Returning Firewood_1 30: Chapter 30 Returning Firewood_1 But eating just the fried crumbs can get greasy; it¡¯s better to chop them up and wrap them in dumplings with purslane.


    Kneading dough is hard work, and this task naturally fell to Sun Erhu, who was more than happy to help since nothing beats delicious dumplings.


    Hehe, another tasty meal tonight!


    Sun Erhu had already silently decided to stick with his sister-in-law from now on.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blanched the purslane, washed off the mucus with cold water, and then set it aside in a basket to dry.


    If the water isn¡¯t dried out, the dumpling wrappers will easily break when you fill them.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered the incident from last night.


    ¡°Once you¡¯ve finished kneading the dough, start rolling out the wrappers.


    I¡¯m going to deliver firewood to the Main Room,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    She was a person of her word and couldn¡¯t stand it if she didn¡¯t follow through with what she said.


    Sun Erhu said helplessly, ¡°Brother Hong chopped a lot of firewood before, it¡¯s all piled up in the woodshed.


    There¡¯s enough to last two or three months, so you don¡¯t have to worry about them running out of wood to burn.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday I went to the Main Room to boil water, and they asked me to replace the firewood I burned,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands and stated the fact.


    Unless she was out of her mind, she surely wouldn¡¯t worry about the Main Room running out of firewood!


    Sun Erhu rolled his eyes, but he didn¡¯t try to stop Qiao Duo¡¯er anymore.


    He and Fourth Brother Tan practically grew up together, so he knew exactly the sort of person Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s mother was.


    That old woman really couldn¡¯t be offended; if Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t return the firewood today, she¡¯d have an earful to deal with later on, just like a monk chanting endlessly.


    In the Main Room, the Wang¡¯s Clan Mother-In-Law and Daughter-In-Law were both busy in the kitchen.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er directly delivered the firewood there.


    ¡°I¡¯ve returned all the firewood I used yesterday, and there¡¯s no need to return any extra.


    But make sure you remember clearly, don¡¯t say later that I still owe you firewood,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said, raising an eyebrow. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn¡¯t like owing people anything, and even less so, having them pick faults with her.


    Otherwise, when she got angry, the consequences could be severe; tied together, both of them weren¡¯t a match for her anyway.


    Having said that, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t pay any mind to how ugly the faces of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law turned; she simply went back to her own house.


    To her, these were all strangers with no connection to her whatsoever.


    However, thinking of the almost contorted expression on Wang Clan¡¯s face, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help humming a messy little tune.


    There was still plenty of water left; not wanting to wait for it to dry, Qiao Duo¡¯er simply squeezed it out by hand and then started chopping it on the cutting board.


    After chopping the purslane, she turned to the fried crumbs.


    Just as she was about to bring down her knife, the voice of a little boy rang out.


    ¡°Fourth Auntie, give me some fried crumbs to eat.¡±


    He was the only grandson of the Old Tan Family, Qiao Duo didn¡¯t know his given name, but his nickname was Xiao Fu.


    Being the only male grandchild, he was doted on with all the good food, which had turned him into a chubby child.


    His chubbiness wasn¡¯t the cute baby fat kind; it was just pure fat, and, well¡­


    he was a short and bulky boy, which was rather displeasing to the eye.


    She thought there was no need to be petty with a child, so she grabbed a few and gave them to him.


    Xiao Fu stuffed the fried crumbs into his mouth and swallowed them down after chewing a few times.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er inwardly criticized; no wonder he was getting fat.


    But then again, it wasn¡¯t her child to worry about.


    Suddenly, the pudgy hand reached out towards the chopping board, aiming for the fried crumbs.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s brain hadn¡¯t caught up when her hand moved instinctively.


    The newly bought kitchen knife came crashing down, but since Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t intend to hurt anyone, it nearly grazed the hand before chopping down onto the chopping board.


    After handling knives and weapons for so many years, she still had that level of precision.

 Chapter 31 - 31 32 Taking Advantage of the Situation_1

    ?31: Chapter 32: Taking Advantage of the Situation_1 31: Chapter 32: Taking Advantage of the Situation_1 Xiao Fu saw his fried dregs had been dumped into the portulaca, and he cried out as well. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those were his fried dregs!


    The courtyard boiled over like a pot about to burst, a total mess.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned.


    With the summer heat making everyone edgy, all this ruckus only sent her temper soaring even higher.


    Were they trying to get in her face?


    ¡°Auntie, this is specially prepared by my sister-in-law to help Brother Hong recover.


    Please stop making a fuss, Brother Hong¡¯s leg is still not healed, and he needs to recuperate in peace.¡±


    Sun Erhu came out to mediate.


    Weren¡¯t these people bullying his sister-in-law just because she had no one to back her up?


    Wang Clan glared at Sun Erhu: ¡°Erhu, this is a matter for our family, you stay out of it!¡±


    ¡°Auntie, my sister-in-law is working hard and taking care of Brother Hong, she¡¯s already exhausted.¡±


    Sun Erhu said patiently, if it weren¡¯t out of respect for his brother, he would have kicked these people out long ago.


    So his brother wasn¡¯t considered family now, huh?


    His leg got broken, forced to split from the family, and now people had the nerve to come and steal food!


    He had long been fed up with the way Mother and Daughter-in-law Wang behaved!


    Little Wang Clan said disdainfully: ¡°She should take care of her husband, shouldn¡¯t she?


    Who made her the Star of Misfortune?


    Right after she married Fourth Brother Tan, such a big accident happened.


    She¡¯s a jinx!¡±


    After she finished her words, she spat at Qiao Duo¡¯er, landing the spit right next to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s feet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth.


    Now that they were bullying her to her face, if she could still tolerate it, she might as well become a ninja turtle.


    She had no intention of being that pathetic!


    By this time, several neighbors had gathered in the courtyard to watch the drama unfold.


    With hardly any form of entertainment those days, whenever there was a squabble or fight in a household, they¡¯d all rush to spectate.


    Seeing them, Qiao Duo¡¯er had an even better idea.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smirked and shouted: ¡°Fourth Boss just got married and went hunting in the mountains, wasn¡¯t it because you said he owed you the silver for his bride, and you pressed him to repay it?


    If you hadn¡¯t pushed him, would his mood have been so foul?¡±


    So it was Wang Clan who was the real culprit behind Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s misfortune, fine!


    Wang Clan did indeed say something similar, but she wouldn¡¯t admit it even if hell froze over.


    Before she could even speak, Qiao Duo¡¯er continued.


    ¡°Fourth Brother married me, and I should take care of him, but which parents would have the heart to throw their son with a broken leg out of their house?


    They only gave him three acres of land and one tael of stringed coins as a settlement, go ask anyone in the village, who doesn¡¯t know that the Tan Family¡¯s wealth was accumulated by my Fourth Brother?


    Without him, you¡¯d still be renting fields to farm!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke quickly, like beans spilling out of a basket, saying everything all at once.


    Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan opened their mouths but could not get a word in.


    Their carefully guarded secret was out, just like that, because of Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    If the matter of their splitting the family became known to the entire village, people would point at their noses and curse!


    ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to take care of Fourth Brother, then I¡¯ll do it.


    He¡¯s in so much pain he doesn¡¯t have an appetite.


    I make flavorful dishes, hoping he can eat a bit more, but you¡¯re here to steal it instead!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was furious, completely oblivious to the fact that she was still holding a kitchen knife in her hand.


    This stance was a bit intimidating¡­


    Wang Clan, lacking confidence, could only yell back: ¡°You disrespectful thing!¡±


    ¡°I am ¡®disrespectful¡¯ because you are unkind!


    I, Qiao Duo, act with a clear conscience, my actions justifiable to heaven and earth.


    If you weren¡¯t so extremely bullying, I wouldn¡¯t be treating you like this!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated assertively, ¡°if someone offends me, no matter how distant, I will deal with them,¡± which was one of her life¡¯s principles.


    After all, in her previous life, she was an ace spy; dealing with these people was a piece of cake for her.

 Chapter 32 - 32 33 The Left Leg or The Right Leg_1

    ?32: Chapter 33: The Left Leg or The Right Leg?_1 32: Chapter 33: The Left Leg or The Right Leg?_1 The onlookers had already begun to point and whisper about the Wang¡¯s Clan mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.


    ¡°This family is truly heartless, could they have been comfortable without Fourth Boss working hard for them?¡±


    ¡°Fourth Boss has been hunting for six or seven years, and which year did he not bring home more than ten taels of silver?


    Now that he¡¯s injured, they just kicked him out.


    Can they really sleep at night?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, they have no shame!¡±


    Separating the family property is a common occurrence, especially in families with many sons; many split the household early on.


    However, splitting up the family when a son has broken his leg, they had never seen such a thing in all their years.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s eyes darted around before she smiled and said, ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯re new to the family and there are things you don¡¯t know.


    The parents had always said they¡¯d divide the property when Fourth Boss got married.


    It¡¯s just that nobody expected him to get injured all of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°Right, why would the whole family live together?¡± Wang Clan hastily nodded in agreement.


    She silently thought the second daughter-in-law was the clever one.


    If the youngest gets married and then they split the household, that seemed reasonable enough since many families in the village did the same.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly.


    Could these people have any shame?


    Regardless of the excuses they found, they weren¡¯t going to whitewash themselves in her eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, ¡°You can say whatever you want, but in the end, Fourth Boss only got one room, three acres of land, one tael of silver and hanged money, and fifty kilograms each of rice and flour.


    I haven¡¯t gotten anything wrong, have I?


    I distinctly remember the second sister-in-law asking if I thought it was too much!¡±


    At this, Little Wang Clan¡¯s face completely dropped.


    Especially with that last remark, wasn¡¯t it clear she was taking advantage of Qiao Duo being a fool?


    But Qiao Duo was not a fool.


    Not only was she not foolish, but her tongue was also sharp as a knife.


    Wang Clan glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, yet the facts of the division were as stated.


    What could she say?


    After this incident, the Tan Family was destined to be criticized.


    ¡°If you all start with unkindness, don¡¯t blame me for being unjust.


    On the day of the division, I said anyone who steps foot on my land will have their leg broken.


    Who wants to go first?


    The left leg or the right leg?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weighed the kitchen knife in her hand, her malicious gaze lingering on several people¡¯s legs.


    She looked like she was picking out pork at the butcher¡¯s.


    And she was not just making empty threats.


    The faces of both Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan turned pale with fright, knowing that even a superficial cut would be enough for them to suffer.


    ¡°How did the Tan Family¡¯s young bride change so much?¡±


    Someone said softly, wasn¡¯t she supposed to be a fool?


    ¡°The Tan Family must have made a mistake before, thinking they married a fool, only to find out they brought home a shrew.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with being a shrew?


    If she was still foolish, wouldn¡¯t the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bully her to death? sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Tan Family¡¯s old lady is no pushover; in her youth, which girl or daughter-in-law in the village could stand against her?


    Now there¡¯s finally someone to deal with her!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er heard every single word of the crowd¡¯s discussion without missing a beat.


    A shrew, is it?


    She found the title quite fitting.


    With a reputation like that, let¡¯s see who would dare to be presumptuous in front of her!


    She was not the kind to bear humiliation and burdens like the small young wives of this era.


    She came from the future world, an independent and self-reliant modern woman!


    Even in ancient times where men were considered superior, she intended to carve out her own piece of the sky!


    At this moment, Tan Yuancheng came out from the main room.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this overeating at this hour?


    Isn¡¯t it time for you to come back and cook?¡± Tan Yuancheng said sternly.


    He didn¡¯t want to get involved in a squabble among several women.


    But if he didn¡¯t intervene now, things would spiral out of control.


    Grasping at the lifeline Tan Yuancheng offered, Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan hurriedly headed toward the main room.

 Chapter 33 - 33 34 Where is your oil residue_1

    ?33: Chapter 34 Where is your oil residue?_1 33: Chapter 34 Where is your oil residue?_1 ¡°Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s wife, don¡¯t harbor any illusions,¡± said Tan Yuancheng in a gentle and persuasive voice.


    ¡°It was agreed before Fourth Brother Tan got married that the division of the family estate would happen.


    In our village, division is based on labor contributions, and our family is no different.


    It¡¯s just that Fourth¡¯s household is smaller in number, so naturally, they are at a bit of a disadvantage.


    But I¡¯ve already said that whoever has a grandson will get an additional Twenty Taels of Silver, which is enough to buy three or four acres of land!¡±


    The situation shifted with his words, making it seem as though Qiao Duo¡¯er was the one making a fuss.


    The rest of them had been planning according to their contributions, dividing the family estate accordingly.


    And in the future, once Fourth¡¯s household grew, they would even receive an additional Twenty Taels of Silver.


    Does it not sound generous?


    Do you not think Tan Yuancheng is being fair?


    If you ignore the fact that the Tan Family¡¯s assets were mostly accumulated by Fourth Brother Tan and also overlook his broken leg, then his words would indeed be perfect.


    Unfortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t about to let such crucial issues be overlooked!


    No matter how many years you¡¯ve planned, Fourth Brother Tan has only just broken his leg, and you shouldn¡¯t be talking about dividing the family now!


    ¡°I don¡¯t care when or how you divide the estate, and I won¡¯t want your silver in the future.


    I just hope you leave Fourth Brother alone and stop stabbing him in the heart,¡± Duo¡¯er said, pretending to wipe tears from her eyes.


    Tan Yuancheng spoke gravely, ¡°I am his father, how could I let him suffer?¡±


    ¡°Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s leg is unlikely to heal.


    In the future, he won¡¯t be able to go to the mountains or work the fields, yet he¡¯ll need medicine and food, which will burden the whole family and may even hinder Xiao Fu¡¯s studies.


    I understand all this.


    My request is not unreasonable, since we have already divided the family, let us live peacefully.


    We will not dwell on the past, and as for the future, let there be no more entanglements.


    Nobody is a fool; no one wants to be at a constant disadvantage,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a burst of candidness.


    Anyone with eyes could see that Fourth Brother Tan was at a significant loss this time.


    But they accepted their fate this time, and the price Tan Yuancheng and his faction paid was that they could no longer take advantage of Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s household.


    Anyone would curse out Tan Yuancheng for this, no matter to whom the story was told.


    With a sigh, Tan Yuancheng could only say, ¡°I will take better control of Xiao Fu.


    Now, folks, please disperse.


    It¡¯s all because Xiao Fu is unwise.


    I will discipline him properly later.¡±


    So, it was all Xiao Fu¡¯s fault?


    Fine, regardless, the onlookers all left.


    After all, Tan Yuancheng had dismissed them, and if they didn¡¯t leave, they¡¯d seem somewhat shameless.


    Qiao Duo flung her kitchen knife, and it planted itself firmly into the ground, splitting a wooden stick on the earth into two.


    ¡°Next time, let someone who doesn¡¯t value their life try to mess with me!¡± Qiao Duo said, exuding dominance.


    Both her posture and her tone were effortlessly cool.


    Next time, she wouldn¡¯t be so easy to talk to.


    But she had achieved her goal this time; the villagers were now all aware of these people¡¯s true faces.


    Having said her piece, Qiao Duo went back to seasoning the stuffing.


    Xiao Fu started to cry again, tugging at everyone¡¯s heartstrings: ¡°I want the fried pork scraps!¡±


    Mrs.


    Wang took a deep breath; with that fierce woman in the Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s household, she dared not provoke any further.


    But could she let her precious grandson cry?


    Suddenly, Mrs.


    Wang had an idea, remembering that the eldest¡¯s family had also just set up their stove and must sure have rendered lard too.


    If she asked them for the pork scraps, wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem?


    She took Xiao Fu with her to the eastern wing room: ¡°Eldest, where are your pork scraps?¡±


    ¡°Mother, we¡¯re practically starving to death; how could we afford to waste pork scraps?


    Of course, I ate them all!¡± Tan Zhengyuan said without a trace of embarrassment or shortness of breath. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had seen Xiao Fu going to the Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s place to ask for pork scraps and knew his own stash was in jeopardy.


    What to do?


    Naturally, he had to eat them quickly.


    Once eaten, could his mother expect him to regurgitate them?

 Chapter 34 - 34 35 All Eaten by Me_1

    ?34: Chapter 35 All Eaten by Me_1 34: Chapter 35 All Eaten by Me_1 Wang Clan glared at Tan Zhenghong, ¡°Have you gone completely blind to the existence of your own mother?


    Just now, standing by and enjoying the show without offering to help, not even leaving a bit of food for Xiao Fu, how have you not died of hunger?¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve got the second brother to support you in your old age, how could he not join in when you¡¯re quarreling?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan commented dismissively, were they only supposed to remember him when there were good times and use him when times were tough?


    Dumb enough to take that, did his mother think he was an idiot?


    Grinding her teeth, Wang Clan saw Xiao Fu pouting and about to cry, so she hastily consoled him, ¡°If you don¡¯t cry, tomorrow I will buy meat for you to eat, we don¡¯t have to eat mere scraps of fat!¡±


    With his demands met, a smile finally appeared on Xiao Fu¡¯s chubby face.


    With the smile, his eyes were almost squished shut by the flesh on his face.


    But in Wang Clan¡¯s eyes, her darling boy was still the cutest, no matter what anyone said, Xiao Fu looked too thin to her.


    Once Wang Clan had left, Hu¡¯s Clan weakly asked, ¡°Master, are there really no leftovers?¡±


    ¡°Are you objecting to my eating scraps of fat?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan asked furiously, he never showed a kind face to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Biting her teeth, Hu¡¯s Clan said resentfully, ¡°Da Ya and Er Ya haven¡¯t even tasted it, how could you not leave any for them?¡±


    What kind of father was he?


    Even though Da Ya and Er Ya were daughters, they were still his own flesh and blood!


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown quite bold, haven¡¯t you?


    Daring to talk back to me, do you believe I won¡¯t beat you to death?


    What¡¯s the point in ¡®those two liabilities¡¯ eating?


    If it wasn¡¯t for these two pieces of bad luck, would I be living in this shabby house?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan looked around the dilapidated earth house, his mood souring further, being the eldest son, wouldn¡¯t he be living in the Main Room if he had a son?


    How did he end up so unlucky, unable to produce even one son?


    No, it must be Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s fault for not being able to bear sons, always crying and whining!


    So annoying!


    He really wanted to divorce her!


    Da Ya pursed her lips, holding back the tears of injustice, unable to bear seeing her mother being scolded.


    ¡°Mom, Er Ya and I don¡¯t want to eat the scraps of fat, Er Ya, let¡¯s go to the vegetable garden and pick some vegetables to fry for dinner.¡±


    Er Ya wanted to cry but didn¡¯t dare to make a sound because Tan Zhengyuan was there.


    She had longed to eat those scraps of fat!


    Back before the family split, all the fat went to Xiao Fu, and she thought that after the split she would finally get a bite, but who knew her father would eat all the meat scraps himself. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought in the seasoned filling, and she suddenly remembered that the kitchen knife was still outside.


    ¡°Um¡­


    Erhu, could you bring back the kitchen knife, it¡¯s worth quite a few Wen!¡±


    Sun Erhu was startled for a moment, then hurriedly went to fetch the knife, how did he find his sister-in-law so endearing?


    Damn, somebody help him, there¡¯s something wrong with his eyes!


    Sun Erhu quickly returned with the kitchen knife and could not help but excitedly say, ¡°Sister-in-law, you were so cool today, I¡¯ve wanted to do the same for so long!¡±


    People like the Wang Clan deserved a good lesson long ago!


    ¡°When you have time, sharpen the kitchen knife.


    Next time they come around, I¡¯ll chop them up,¡± Qiao Duo said, squinting her eyes.


    Sun Erhu glanced at Tan Zhenghong and said timidly, ¡°Well¡­


    isn¡¯t that a bit harsh?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Qiao Duo looked at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong hesitated before saying, ¡°If it makes you happy, then it¡¯s good.¡±


    This answer satisfied Qiao Duo, and it also gave her a tiny pang of sympathy; to force her own son to say such things showed just how extreme Tan Yuancheng and his selfish cohort were.


    Actually, Tan Zhenghong should have been a filial son, but he had been forced to become cold-hearted.

 Chapter 35 - 35 36 Sensible Girl_1

    ?35: Chapter 36 Sensible Girl_1 35: Chapter 36 Sensible Girl_1 Sun Erhu, fearing that Tan Zhenghong might feel upset, quickly changed the subject.


    Thinking of Qiao Duo¡¯er, who had just married into the village, he started telling her about the situation in the village.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the dumplings were ready to be cooked.


    Sun Erhu volunteered to start the fire with enthusiasm, while Qiao Duo¡¯er was happy to relax.


    Having been here for only two days, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt as though she had done all the housework of her previous life.


    Sighing, she knew that to survive, she had to change herself and adapt to life here.


    So far, she was quite satisfied with her performance.


    Suddenly, she saw Da Ya and Er Ya, two little girls, squatting at the doorway picking vegetables, looking pitifully thin.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gestured to them, and the two girls, shy and wary, hesitated for a while before shuffling over.


    ¡°Fourth Auntie, do you have any chores for us to do?¡± Da Ya asked timidly.


    In this family, apart from their mother, no one else was kind to them.


    So when Qiao Duo¡¯er called them over, their first thought was that she wanted them to do chores.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly shook her head, ¡°I bought some candy in town this morning.


    Wait here, I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡±


    ¡°Fourth Auntie, I¡­


    we can¡¯t just take your things for nothing.¡±


    Da Ya couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, but she still remembered what her mother had told her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment and then said, ¡°How about this, you help me with some chores, and then it won¡¯t be like you¡¯re taking it for nothing.¡±


    ¡°Big sister, please agree.


    I want to eat candy, and I will also help Fourth Auntie with chores!¡± Er Ya said in a soft, sweet tone.


    They were all children; how could they resist the temptation of food?


    After some thought, Da Ya agreed.


    She and Er Ya could do a lot of chores.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then went back to the room to get the candy, and she gave Da Ya and Er Ya one piece each.


    ¡°Eat it quickly, and don¡¯t let your dad see,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered a reminder.


    If Tan Zhengyuan saw them, who knows what unpleasant things he would say, he might even snatch the candy away and eat it himself.


    Da Ya and Er Ya nodded and quickly popped the candy into their mouths.


    The sweet taste lifted their spirits, which had been somewhat downcast, in an instant.


    As they grew up, opportunities to eat candy were very few and far between.


    The reason was simple: whatever food there was, Xiao Fu always had to be fed first, and usually, there was nothing left after he finished.


    Seeing Da Ya and Er Ya¡¯s contented faces, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood brightened even more.


    Sun Erhu quickly boiled the water, and Qiao Duo¡¯er dropped the dumplings into the pot.


    When they were cooked, she scooped them onto a plate.


    By the time she had stir-fried the lotus root slices, the dumplings were no longer too hot to eat.


    The lotus root slices needed to be stir-fried quickly over high heat, so she instructed Sun Erhu to stoke the fire a bit more.


    Once the wok was hot, she poured some lard into it.


    When the smoke turned blue, she added the lotus root slices and the green peppers, quickly stir-fried them with a little water, and finished by adding some salt before taking them out of the wok.


    The white lotus root slices and the green peppers looked appetizing together.


    The simple stir-fried lotus root slices paired with the purslane dumplings had a unique flavor, and the three of them ate with great satisfaction. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saved a few dumplings, intending to give them to Da Ya and Er Ya.


    When the two girls left, they kept longing for the dumplings, but nobody said a word, showing consideration that tugged at the heart.


    Suddenly, she heard some noise outside and, thinking it was Xiao Fu coming to cause trouble, Qiao Duo¡¯er went out, bristling with anger.


    But, to her surprise, it was Er Ya tending the fire.


    ¡°Er Ya, you¡­¡±


    The girl had really come to work!

 Chapter 36 - 36 37 Earning Money to Support a Wife and Children_1

    ?36: Chapter 37 Earning Money to Support a Wife and Children_1 36: Chapter 37 Earning Money to Support a Wife and Children_1 Er Ya said with a smile, ¡°Auntie, I saw that you hadn¡¯t boiled water, so I came to help.


    You can take a hot bath soon!¡±


    The little girl grinned, her eyes squinting adorably, so much prettier than Xiao Fu, yet those blind-hearted people would only beat or scold the young girl.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a bit before praising with a smile, ¡°Er Ya is really capable!¡±


    ¡°Older sister is at home boiling water for a bath, and I had nothing to do, so I came to help you boil water,¡± she said.


    Er Ya suddenly felt a bit shy after being complimented; she had never been praised like this before as she grew up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced towards the eastern wing, where Hu¡¯s Clan was chopping wood and Da Ya was tending the fire, still without a sign of Tan Zhengyuan.


    She had grown accustomed to this sight; if she ever saw Tan Zhengyuan doing chores, it might just signal the end of the world.


    After a while, Sun Erhu gathered all the bowls.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took them over to wash herself, worried that Sun Erhu, a rough man, wouldn¡¯t clean them properly. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu continued making straw baskets with Tan Zhenghong, as his sister-in-law¡¯s cooking was delicious, but it came at no small cost.


    If they wanted to maintain such a standard of living, they had to save more money.


    Brother Hong said since Qiao Duo¡¯er married him, he had to at least ensure she was well-fed, and he strongly agreed with this.


    As a man, one must always put feeding and providing for the family first.


    If he still let a woman worry about the finances, that would be too feeble a man.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er began to worry because the pots and pans were greasy from the oily food, and she¡¯d forgotten to buy dishwashing powder.


    Should she really resort to using ashes?


    Adding ashes to the pot would make it difficult to clean, and she couldn¡¯t accept that¡­


    Suddenly, she remembered the baking soda she had bought in the morning.


    Couldn¡¯t that also remove grease?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly took some baking soda, and now she could easily clean the pots and pans.


    ¡°Er Ya, take a rest, I can take over the boiling,¡± she said.


    Seeing Er Ya dripping with sweat, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t bear to say, it was just for a piece of candy, yet the girl took it so seriously.


    Er Ya grinned and said, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m not tired, it¡¯ll be ready soon.¡±


    Seeing Er Ya¡¯s stubbornness, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave up trying to persuade her.


    She took a piece of bamboo from Sun Erhu; she needed to whittle a bamboo knife.


    Many herbs are delicate and quickly lose potency when touched by iron tools.


    ¡°Auntie, what are you carving the bamboo for?¡± Er Ya asked curiously.


    ¡°I need to cut those herbs,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er gestured towards the herbs spread out on the ground.


    Er Ya said admiringly, ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re really amazing!¡±


    At this point, Er Ya was no longer afraid of Qiao Duo¡¯er and became quite talkative, and the two of them chatted happily.


    Once Qiao Duo¡¯er had nearly finished carving the bamboo knife, Da Ya came over too, a little concerned, fearing that Er Ya might accidentally cause some trouble.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her work and brought out the dumplings from the house.


    ¡°This is for you two, eat up,¡± she said.


    Da Ya and Er Ya¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the dumplings, each grabbing one.


    They ate cautiously, as if they were savoring treasures of the world.


    The dumplings tasted great, but after finishing one, they didn¡¯t take another.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er urged them again, ¡°Eat up, don¡¯t be shy.


    Er Ya has been helping me with the fire for so long, and later I still need to cook the herbs, you¡¯ll have to help with that as well.¡±


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s encouragement, the two girls started eating again, but when there were only two dumplings left, neither of them would take another.

 Chapter 37 - 37 38 A little bromance_1

    ?37: Chapter 38 A little bromance_1 37: Chapter 38 A little bromance_1 ¡°Auntie Four, can I keep two for my mom?¡± Er Ya asked timidly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said cheerfully, ¡°Of course you can!¡±


    Er Ya thanked her quickly, then with one hand holding a dumpling, she trotted happily toward her own home.


    Inside the house, Sun Erhu said with a laugh, ¡°Brother Hong, your sister-in-law seems to really like kids.


    You should hurry up and have one with her, so she won¡¯t always be envious of other people¡¯s children.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong glared at Sun Erhu without amusement; he couldn¡¯t very well say they hadn¡¯t even kissed.


    And besides¡­


    he still wasn¡¯t sure about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s feelings.


    She was staying now, just because he had broken his leg and needed someone to take care of him, but maybe once he was healed, she would leave.


    Just the thought of Qiao Duo¡¯er possibly leaving one day made his heart sour.


    It had only been a few days since they met, yet she had already taken up such an important place in his heart, perhaps because she stood by him so steadfastly when he was most helpless.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, feeling ever since he had broken his leg, he had become increasingly sentimental.


    Soon enough, a large pot came to a boil, and Qiao Duo¡¯er carried a basin of water into the room.


    ¡°Everyone rest now, we¡¯ll continue weaving tomorrow.


    Erhu, you help Fourth Boss wash his hair and bathe, and remember not to move his leg.


    I¡¯ll change his dressing tonight.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled to herself; how could she not make use of Sun Erhu, this free laborer?


    After giving her instructions, Qiao Duo¡¯er went out; she still had to prepare the face-cleansing medicine.


    She certainly did not want to put up with a face full of scars every day in the future.


    Today she picked two kinds of herbs, Bai Ji and Bai Zhi, both of which are renowned for their whitening properties.


    The usage of these herbs was similar, taking their stout rhizomes, washing them clean, steaming them thoroughly over water, then cutting them into thin slices with a bamboo knife, and after they dried, grinding them into powder.


    Meaning from tomorrow on, she could mix the herbal powder with water into a paste to apply on her face, which would not only treat her sores but also whiten her skin.


    With an egg white face mask on top of that, the effect would certainly be even better.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could hardly contain her excitement as she imagined herself shedding the scars and becoming fair and tender.


    She would definitely be gorgeous!


    Suddenly, a burst of enthusiastic conversation came from inside the house.


    ¡°Be gentle, it hurts!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll be gentler.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up, why keep staring?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    As a fujoshi, her mind couldn¡¯t help but wander, hehe, the love between men is so adorable. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu were both robust men, each around one meter eighty in height; they were better suited as equals in a relationship¡­


    At this time, Tan Zhengyuan was walking around the village.


    The villagers, having finished their dinner, were in groups under the trees enjoying the cooler air and gathering to chat, which was nice to avoid boredom at home.


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan, they naturally thought of the Tan Family¡¯s division of property.


    One person asked with a smile, ¡°Big Brother Tan, I heard your family has divided up the property, eh?


    Tell us, what happened?¡±


    ¡°What is there to say?


    Fourth Boss got married, so of course it was time to divide the household,¡± Tan Zhenghong laughed it off, clearly indicating he didn¡¯t want to discuss the matter.


    The division was so close to his heart that it nearly broke him, and these people just had to bring it up, weren¡¯t they just adding insult to injury?


    But those people didn¡¯t care because the village only had so many happenings to talk about.


    ¡°How much did your family divide?


    I¡¯m really curious,¡± one person said, showing interest.


    Tan Zhengyuan managed his temper and said, ¡°How much could be divided?


    It was pretty much the same for Third Boss and Fourth Boss.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the eldest in your family, your parents must be living with you, right?¡±


    ¡°I saw them moving their stuff to the east wing today, they definitely aren¡¯t living with him.¡±

 Chapter 38 - 38 39_1

    ?38: Chapter 39_1 38: Chapter 39_1 ¡°Exactly, the Old Tan Family dotes on Xiao Fu as if he were the apple of their eye, they can¡¯t stand not seeing him for even a day.


    They¡¯re definitely going to live with the second son.


    If anyone is to blame, it¡¯s Big Brother Tan for not being good enough.


    If he could have a grandson, would the family be divided like this?¡±


    ¡°I think so too.


    Big Brother Tan, you¡¯d better hurry up and have children with your wife.


    Have a few more, and you¡¯re bound to have a son.


    Then, when you talk to your dad, you¡¯ll have some leverage.¡±


    ¡°You really need to hurry, especially since you¡¯re not getting any younger.¡±


    Everybody was chiming in, one after another.


    In those days, not having a son was a sin; no sons meant the end of the family line.


    The end of the family line meant there would be no descendants.


    No matter who it was, everyone felt entitled to urge them to have a son.


    As the subject of these discussions, Tan Zhengyuan felt very distressed.


    He was so troubled by this issue that he had wanted to take a walk, but who could have expected the walk would only make him feel more stifled?


    It was fine if his father and mother wanted to live with the younger brother, but why should they give him six acres of land?


    Why should all the benefits accrue to that bastard Xiao Fu?


    He was the eldest son, the one who would be holding the spirit tablet for the Old Tan Family in the future!


    ¡°Big Brother Tan, don¡¯t take it too seriously.


    It gets harder for a woman to have children as she ages!¡±


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan getting impatient, a lady couldn¡¯t help but add another comment.


    They were all trying to be helpful! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I know, the family just split up, I need to go back and tidy up.¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan was in an extremely bad mood.


    He knew the villagers wouldn¡¯t stop talking anytime soon, so he made up an excuse and left.


    He had no son, no son, no son¡­


    This had become his curse.


    ¡°Big Brother Tan, wait up!¡± Widow X¨² called out to Tan Zhengyuan.


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan stop, she sauntered over, swaying her hips.


    She had also watched the quarrel at the Tan Family today, and her mind was busy with thoughts.


    Tan Zhengyuan frowned and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    A man should not get too close to a widow, especially not Widow X¨², who was known to be anything but demure.


    He still had that much common sense, so he instinctively kept his distance from Widow X¨².


    But he couldn¡¯t stop Widow X¨² from moving closer!


    Widow X¨² smiled and asked, ¡°I heard that the Old Tan Family will give out an extra twenty taels to whoever has a son.


    Is that true?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with you?¡± Tan Zhengyuan grew even angrier.


    Damn it, don¡¯t talk to him about having sons!


    Widow X¨² didn¡¯t care about Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s attitude and just kept talking.


    ¡°You and your wife have been married for over a decade, right?


    I think she definitely can¡¯t have children now.


    Seems like you and those twenty taels are not fated to be together.¡±


    Widow X¨² hit a nerve, and Tan Zhengyuan clenched his fists, ready to punch her at any moment.


    Er Ya was already five years old, and there was still no sign of a baby in Hu Clan¡¯s belly, let alone having a son.


    Widow X¨² laughed with a handkerchief covering her lips, ¡°Brother Tan, you only got that little bit in the division.


    How can you be content with that?


    If only you had a son, but alas, what a pity!¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan gritted his teeth; he didn¡¯t want to admit it, but it was the truth.


    In this lifetime, he had lost because he didn¡¯t have a son.


    Otherwise, he would have received at least ten acres of land, lived in the main room, and all of the silver his parents had saved throughout their lifetime would have been his.


    Widow X¨² saw that Tan Zhengyuan was tempted.


    ¡°Big Brother Tan, do you want my help?


    A fortune-teller said my fate includes having noble sons.¡±


    She had been a widow for several years, the underlying meaning of her offer was quite clear.

 Chapter 39 - 39 40 _1

    ?39: Chapter 40 _1 39: Chapter 40 _1 Tan Zhengyuan was a bit taken aback.


    He was just very lazy, never willing to do anything at home, but he had no other flaws.


    For instance, he had never thought about getting involved with a widow inappropriately.


    At most, when his temper flared, he¡¯d consider divorcing Hu¡¯s Clan, that¡¯s all.


    Widow X¨² continued, ¡°Once a child is born, then we¡¯ll talk about what to do.


    If I can¡¯t give birth, I won¡¯t blame you, okay?


    What do you think?¡±


    Doesn¡¯t that sound like a good deal?


    If she couldn¡¯t conceive, his sleeping with her cost nothing, but if she bore him a son¡­


    it would be exactly as he wished.


    Widow X¨² was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her face beautiful.


    Seeing that her plan might work, Widow X¨² put even more effort into it.


    ¡°Look at you, without a son, bullied by your parents at home, laughed at when you go out.


    Are you satisfied with that?¡±


    ¡°If you ask me, your dad must be convinced you can¡¯t have a son, that¡¯s why he dared to give you twenty taels, right?


    We may not fight over bread, but we should fight for some pride, shouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s inner defenses crumbled.


    Wasn¡¯t she right?


    ¡°Brother Tan, let¡¯s go.


    I still have some chores unfinished at home.


    Why don¡¯t you help me?


    What¡¯s so special about your wife?


    She has a bad figure, and she¡¯s not interesting at all.


    Why not come over and sit at my place for a while!¡±


    Widow X¨² grabbed Tan Zhengyuan and headed to her house, and he agreed, albeit reluctantly.


    As soon as Tan Zhengyuan entered Widow X¨²¡¯s courtyard, she eagerly closed the gate and pulled him into the house.


    She was a woman who couldn¡¯t bear solitude.


    Moreover, the silver left by her husband was quickly running out.


    She had to find someone else to support her.


    After considering her options, she concluded Big Brother Tan was the best candidate.


    The Tan Family had only one grandson; if she could bear Tan Zhengyuan a son, she would definitely be able to marry into the family.


    Plus, the Tan Family¡¯s financial situation was quite good in the village.


    Widow X¨² had only been married for half a year before her husband died, and she hadn¡¯t even conceived a child nor done much work, so her figure was still like that of a young girl. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Noticing that Tan Zhengyuan was about to leave, Widow X¨² quickly grabbed hold of him.


    ¡°Brother Tan, what¡¯s the rush to go back?


    Nobody¡¯s coming here, what are you afraid of?


    Let me rest a bit, and we can go at it again in a while.¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan shook his head, ¡°I have to go back now, my wife is at home!¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid your wife will turn the house upside down?


    Even if you don¡¯t go back tonight, would she dare make a sound?¡±


    Widow X¨² said with a flirtatious laugh.


    Tan Zhengyuan thought about it, and wasn¡¯t that the truth?


    Even if he didn¡¯t go back, Hu¡¯s Clan certainly wouldn¡¯t dare make a fuss.


    She¡¯d even cover for him.


    So what was there to fear?


    Thus, Tan Zhengyuan plunged back into bed once more.


    !

 Chapter 40 - 40 41 Dont Care_1

    ?40: Chapter 41 Don¡¯t Care?_1 40: Chapter 41 Don¡¯t Care?_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er tidied up the Bai Ji and Bai Zhi before taking a bath and lying on the bed with slices of cucumber on her face, and Tan Zhenghong fanning her at her side.


    This was the most comfortable moment of her day.


    Feeling relaxed, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but hum a tune again.


    The girl¡¯s voice was quite good; whatever she sang sounded pleasant.


    ¡°Duo¡¯er, once we sell these baskets, you should go to the clinic in town,¡± Tan Zhenghong suddenly said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong, puzzled, ¡°Look at what?¡±


    Did the girl have some hidden ailment?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly searched the original body¡¯s memories and found nothing.


    No, that¡¯s wrong.


    The original body was a fool; her memories were definitely unreliable.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit nervous.


    It was tragic enough that she had transmigrated into a foolish bride; they weren¡¯t going to screw her over like this, were they?


    ¡°The sores on your face are poisonous.


    Go to the clinic and get some medicine to apply.


    It might just heal,¡± he explained.


    He knew that every girl wanted to be beautiful, and his bride was no exception.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be putting cucumber on her face.


    But did cucumbers really work?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t heal?¡±


    She was a bit touched, knowing there was only Eight Hundred Wen Money left and they had many expenses; they needed food and clothing, and they also had to tend to his leg.


    Yet he was willing to let her treat her face.


    Well¡­


    he was a good man.


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t heal, then it doesn¡¯t heal.


    You look quite good as you are now,¡± Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.


    What man doesn¡¯t like pretty women?


    If you think this face looks quite good, then I should be treating your eyes!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully.


    She didn¡¯t believe that was what Tan Zhenghong really thought.


    In her view, all men were visual creatures. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s just an outer shell, why care about it?


    You are the most beautiful in my heart.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt she had been foolish; it appeared that his level of thinking was higher.


    Alright, she admitted she was shallow.


    Although she didn¡¯t look good on the outside now, her spirit was beautiful.


    After all, Tan Zhenghong had become what he was, and she hadn¡¯t abandoned him, right?


    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Tan Zhenghong added.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, ¡°Yeah, I understand.


    It¡¯s late.


    Let¡¯s go to sleep early!¡±


    She felt a strange sensation that she couldn¡¯t describe, but she knew she didn¡¯t like it, so she chose to sleep.


    Once asleep, one will forget everything.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gaze dimmed instantly.


    From Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reaction, he interpreted that she didn¡¯t care about his opinion at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kept silent about her past, but he could tell that she was a proud person.


    She certainly wouldn¡¯t want to be trapped in this small mountain village for a lifetime.


    If that was the case, he would let her go and even prepare her travel expenses for her.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er still woke up at first light.


    It was a biological clock that had been formed over more than ten years by the original body, not easily changed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lingered in bed for a while, then got up full of energy.


    Another new day, and she had lots to do!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was busy at the stove.


    For breakfast, a pot of millet porridge and a plate of green vegetables would suffice, and then she needed to stew the pork bones bought yesterday so they would be ready by noon.


    After she finished making breakfast, Tan Zhengyuan came back swaying and staggering.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just glanced at him and didn¡¯t think much of it, then went next door to call Sun Erhu to eat breakfast.


    Sun Erhu was a good-natured and diligent man, much more likable than Tan Zhenghong¡¯s own brothers, and Qiao Duo¡¯er quite enjoyed dealing with him.

 Chapter 41 - 41 42 Heaven Does Not Accommodate Human Resentments_1

    ?41: Chapter 42 Heaven Does Not Accommodate Human Resentments_1 41: Chapter 42 Heaven Does Not Accommodate Human Resentments_1 During breakfast, Sun Erhu spoke in a hushed, mysterious tone, ¡°Do you guys know where Big Brother came back from this morning?¡±


    ¡°From outside, I saw him enter the door.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind twitched, and she blurted out an incredibly foolish response.


    If Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t come back from outside, could he have come from inside the house?


    Um¡­


    this must be the influence of her previous self; she would never say something so devoid of intelligence¡­


    Sun Erhu laughed quietly, but after being glanced at by Qiao Duo¡¯er, he immediately straightened his face.


    He had forgotten that he was eating someone else¡¯s food; how could he be so arrogant?


    What if his sister-in-law said to not come over for meals anymore?


    Wouldn¡¯t he cry to death?


    His sister-in-law¡¯s cooking skills were great; even the porridge she cooked tasted better than others¡¯.


    If he couldn¡¯t come over to freeload anymore, wouldn¡¯t he be losing out big time?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er would never reveal that the secret to her porridge was adding a bit of alkaline water, making it thick, fragrant, and tender.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, ¡°How could Big Brother possibly get up so early?


    You must have seen wrong.¡±


    His Big Brother was a complete sluggard; when didn¡¯t he sleep until Three Poles Day?


    ¡°How could I not recognize Big Brother?


    Didn¡¯t sister-in-law also say she saw Big Brother coming back from outside?


    Let me tell you, when I came back after setting the trap, I saw Big Brother sneaking out of Widow X¨²¡¯s Yard.¡±


    Sun Erhu whispered.


    This was a piece of big gossip, hmm¡­


    with a widow¡­


    this topic is explosive enough, right?


    Tan Zhenghong quickly said, ¡°Erhu, you can¡¯t talk nonsense like that.


    Big Brother is not that kind of person.¡±


    ¡°Brother Hong, don¡¯t be nervous; I¡¯m just mentioning it at home.


    I¡¯m saying that Widow X¨² is no good.


    She tried to seduce me.


    Luckily, my willpower is strong.


    But Big Brother, that¡¯s hard to say.¡±


    Sun Erhu was quite smug.


    He had high standards, not settling for a widow.


    But Tan Zhengyuan¡­


    his taste wasn¡¯t so good.


    Tan Zhenghong furrowed his brows, and before he could speak, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°I¡¯m eating breakfast here.


    Don¡¯t talk about things that make me lose my appetite.¡±


    Just hearing Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s name made her feel disgusted.


    Moreover, she guessed Sun Erhu definitely wasn¡¯t just making it up.


    Someone as disgusting as him hooking up with a widow wasn¡¯t anything surprising; she just didn¡¯t want to sully her ears by discussing it.


    Sun Erhu immediately kept his mouth shut and ate his meal seriously.


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er went up the mountain again to gather herbs and find some wild vegetables.


    The vegetables in Erhu¡¯s Yard were simply not enough for the three of them.


    As the saying goes, rely on the mountains when living by the mountains, and on the water when living by the water.


    Big Willow Village had both mountains and water.


    As long as one was diligent, one would definitely not starve.


    Looking at the villagers in Big Willow Village, one could tell that while they were not wealthy, they could at least eat their fill.


    At noon, when Qiao Duo¡¯er came back, in addition to the herbs, she also carried two fish and a bunch of lotus roots.


    This meant that lunch would be delicious: a plate of braised fish, stir-fried lotus roots, and bone soup.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er set the dishes on the table, and Sun Erhu was practically drooling.


    He immediately decided to hand over all the money he earned to his sister-in-law, as long as he was provided with three meals a day!


    The leftover food was placed into the well at Sun Erhu¡¯s Home, and it could be taken out and reheated for eating in the evening.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned the herbs over to sun them again.


    Today, Bai Zhi and Bai Ji should be thoroughly dried, and she would be able to use them for facial application! sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Haha, she would soon become pretty!


    However, the heavens seemed to have other plans and wouldn¡¯t let Qiao Duo¡¯er get her way.


    Just as she was about to take a nap, the sky suddenly turned overcast, and not long after, it began to pour heavily.


    Um¡­


    forget about sunning herbs; she couldn¡¯t even get to the mountain now.


    Was she supposed to stay at home and watch Tan Zhenghong?

 Chapter 42 - 42 43 _1

    ?42: Chapter 43 _1 42: Chapter 43 _1 Ah, forget it, a rainy day is most suitable for sleeping, maybe I can sleep the whole afternoon.


    But after two hours, Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her eyes.


    Although she got up early in the morning, she also went to bed early at night, so she couldn¡¯t sleep for such a long time during the day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed again, without a book, how would she kill this boring time?


    Without any entertainment devices, she could only chat with Tan Zhenghong.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get bored?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    This guy, with his broken leg, spent all day in bed; had it been her, she would have gone mad by now.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands were moving swiftly as he spoke, ¡°Not really.


    You have been busy these past few days, it¡¯s a good time to take a break now.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, she didn¡¯t feel tired at all!


    So, she simply sat up and watched Tan Zhenghong making things.


    This fella was really versatile, he seemed capable of everything, from farming to hunting and even weaving baskets.


    Why did she feel like she found a treasure?


    ¡°How about I teach you?¡± Tan Zhenghong glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately shook her head; she was not interested in that and didn¡¯t want to learn.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t push her.


    He only made the suggestion because he saw that she was truly dying of boredom.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw the quilt wrapped around Tan Zhenghong and remembered that she wanted to make him a pair of trousers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed a piece of blue cloth, along with scissors and needle and thread.


    With her limited skills, she couldn¡¯t make briefs, so she cut the cloth in the style of beach shorts; as long as the leg openings were wide enough, he would be able to wear them. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Next came sewing.


    She wasn¡¯t skilled in needlework, but her original body was, so this didn¡¯t pose a difficulty for her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sewed stitch by stitch, and after more than an hour, the beach shorts were almost done.


    The last step was to attach the elastic band.


    But in those times, there were no elastic bands, so she had to sew a thin strip of cloth as a drawstring; just pull it tight and tie a knot after wearing it.


    Making a drawstring was a hassle for the maker and the wearer, but that was the only option.


    After half an hour, the ancient-style beach shorts were completed.


    ¡°Try these on.¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er handed the shorts to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong looked embarrassed; he had never seen such short trousers before, and most importantly, his legs couldn¡¯t bend¡ªhow was he supposed to wear them?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only lift the quilt at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s feet, helping him slip his legs in.


    The rest was up to Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around, and only when Tan Zhenghong had finished did she turn back.


    ¡°Does it feel uncomfortable?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked responsibly; she made it, so she had to take care of the customer experience, right?


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s just too short.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem with your legs being out?


    It¡¯s cooler that way!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong, what¡¯s there for a grown man to be shy about?


    She used to be a devoted fan of ultra-short shorts because they were very cool.


    When she gets her own room in the future, she will also try making ultra-short shorts.


    Thinking it over, Tan Zhenghong still pulled the quilt over himself, but now he was a lot more casual about it.

 Chapter 43 - 43 44 He Is Shy_1

    ?43: Chapter 44 He Is Shy_1 43: Chapter 44 He Is Shy_1 Tan Zhenghong said weakly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Seeing that it was only around four or five o¡¯clock, Qiao Duo¡¯er made another one just like she had just done; after all, you definitely have to change your underwear every day in the heat of summer.


    When making the second one, Qiao Duo¡¯er was much more skilled, taking almost half the time it took to make the first.


    After she had made another one, Sun Erhu had heated up the food and brought it over.


    It was raining heavily outside, and the rain was sweeping into the stove under the eaves; if you were cooking outside, you would surely get wet.


    Seeing the pants Qiao Duo¡¯er had just made, Sun Erhu was extremely delighted.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯re so clever.


    I¡¯m going to cut the legs off my pants too; it¡¯ll be especially cool!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow and said with disdain, ¡°Fourth Boss thinks they¡¯re too short!¡±


    ¡°Sister-in-law, you don¡¯t understand.


    My Brother Hong isn¡¯t really complaining about the pants being short; he¡¯s just shy.


    But I said to Brother Hong, ¡®Why are you shy with your own wife?''¡±


    Sun Erhu teased, even winking at Tan Zhenghong.


    They were a couple, what hadn¡¯t they seen?


    Umm¡­


    that¡¯s not right, isn¡¯t it said that once a big guy gets married and the room gets round, he doesn¡¯t shy away from meaty or vegetarian talk?


    Why did he feel like his Brother Hong was still like a maiden?


    Could it be they hadn¡¯t yet¡­


    Cough cough, that was the couple¡¯s own business, and it was better he didn¡¯t meddle.


    Tan Zhenghong felt uncomfortable under Sun Erhu¡¯s gaze and threatened, ¡°Your mouth can¡¯t be stopped even by eating, maybe you shouldn¡¯t eat at all!¡±


    ¡°Save me, sister-in-law!


    Brother Hong is angry out of embarrassment!¡±


    Sun Erhu wasn¡¯t scared of Tan Zhenghong.


    Before, he couldn¡¯t beat Tan Zhenghong, so he had to tuck his tail and behave, but now¡­


    he could strut around as he pleased!


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath and could only glare fiercely at Sun Erhu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er secretly pursed her lips; Tan Zhenghong actually looked quite cute when he was angry.


    This man seemed cold on the surface, but actually, he was quite adorably silly.


    She could tease him when bored in the future.


    The three chatted and laughed while eating dinner, and then Sun Erhu brought over more hot water.


    He had already started heating the water before coming to eat, so it was ready after they finished their meal.


    To avoid Qiao Duo¡¯er enlisting him for more labor, he quickly said, ¡°There¡¯s still fire in the pot.


    I¡¯m going to tend the fire.


    Once the water boils, I¡¯ll bring it over.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After he said that, Sun Erhu hurried off.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes silently, but resignedly went to look after Tan Zhenghong.


    After Tan Zhenghong finished washing up, Sun Erhu brought more water.


    It wasn¡¯t enough for a bath according to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s needs, but on a rainy day, she wasn¡¯t so particular.


    She washed up swiftly and then lay down in bed.


    After lying in bed for a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er got up again to light the lamp.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    As she busied herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Making some dough to save for tomorrow¡¯s steamed buns.


    Erhu said he¡¯s going into the mountains.¡±


    He was going hunting in the mountains, and wouldn¡¯t be back until it got dark.


    If he didn¡¯t catch any game and didn¡¯t bring dry food, he might starve.


    The reason she got up just now was to prepare a starter dough.


    Without baking powder, everything relied on the starter to ferment.


    Making a starter was simple.


    She would prepare a small piece of dough now, let it ferment on its own, and by tomorrow it would become the starter.


    When making steamed buns, she would add the starter to the freshly mixed dough to speed up its fermentation.

 Chapter 44 - 44 45 Moved_1

    ?44: Chapter 45 Moved_1 44: Chapter 45 Moved_1 The oil lamp flickered dimly, and Tan Zhenghong simply could not tear his eyes away.


    Previously, he had said that Qiao Duo¡¯er was the most beautiful, and it certainly wasn¡¯t just talk, especially those lively black pupils that inadvertently made one lose their bearings.


    A small piece of dough was enough, Qiao Duo¡¯er finished quickly and then blew out the lamp to go to bed.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er still wasn¡¯t the least bit sleepy.


    She simply pulled Tan Zhenghong¡¯s quilt over and began to give him a gentle massage.


    Tan Zhenghong had been sleeping restlessly these past few days, but since he was bare below the waist, she had been too embarrassed to massage him there.


    After massaging for half an hour, Qiao Duo¡¯er started to feel sleepy and finally lay down.


    The rain drizzled throughout the whole night and stopped only the following morning.


    Animals would come out to forage after the rain, making it a prime time for hunting, and considering how quickly things dried in the summer, she estimated that it would take just two or three hours before Sun Erhu headed up the mountain.


    After getting up and washing herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly began to make dough.


    She first mixed the new dough well, then incorporated the old dough and kneaded it until it was even, waiting for it to rise.


    With the temperature being high, it would take no more than two hours for the dough to rise.


    While waiting, Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly washed her clothes as she too needed to go up the mountain that day.


    After washing her clothes, Qiao Duo¡¯er spread out the herbs to dry, thinking to herself that today, her beauty powder would surely be ready.


    Half an hour later, the dough had doubled in size¡ªproof that it had risen properly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kneaded the dough again to release the air trapped within.


    The fermented old dough had a sour taste, so she needed to add some alkaline powder to neutralize it.


    Finally, she rolled the dough into a long strip and cut it into evenly sized pieces, rolled them into balls, and then they were ready to be placed in the steamer to steam.


    After more than an hour of work, the steamed buns were ready.


    There were twenty large buns in total, ensuring enough staple food for the coming days.


    The buns were easy to preserve; dried under the sun, they could last for over ten days without any problems.


    After eating breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er packed two buns for Sun Erhu to take with him.


    Sun Erhu was so moved he was nearly brought to tears; aside from his mother, no one else had ever been so kind to him.


    He suddenly understood why Tan Zhenghong was so good to his sister-in-law; if he had such a wife, he would certainly hold her in the palm of his hand and cherish her deeply.


    In the morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er tidied up the house and then went to the mountain after lunch. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many mushrooms sprouted on the mountain after the rain, and Qiao Duo¡¯er picked a few varieties she recognized.


    By evening, she planned to catch a few fish and cook them into a soup¡ª it would surely be deliciously fresh.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had good luck today and even found a piece of wild ginseng in a corner.


    Although it was small, it could definitely fetch one or two taels of silver.


    As the sun set, Qiao Duo¡¯er returned home in high spirits.


    She started stewing the fish soup and then headed over to Sun Erhu¡¯s house to grind Bai Ji and Bai Zhi into powder with a mill.


    At this moment, Little Wang Clan from the main room was feeling disgruntled.


    ¡°Had I known, I would not have agreed to divide the family.


    Now, The Fourth Boss¡¯s House may even be working less.¡±


    Unable to hold back, Little Wang Clan complained.


    Had they not split the household, would it ever have been her turn to do the laundry and cooking?


    Tan Zhengyong said indifferently, ¡°You want to keep the family property in your hands and yet not do any work.


    Where could you find such good fortune?¡±


    Little Wang Clan pinched Tan Zhengyong¡¯s waist, retorting, ¡°Who am I doing all this for, huh?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I know it¡¯s for my benefit, and for the benefit of our son!¡±


    Tan Zhengyong hurriedly appeased her, well aware of his wife¡¯s explosive temper.


    Little Wang Clan huffed lightly, ¡°Your parents are also too lazy, just waiting around for their meals and doing nothing!¡±

 Chapter 45 - 45 46 Prey Delivered_1

    ?45: Chapter 46: Prey Delivered_1 45: Chapter 46: Prey Delivered_1 Tan Zhengyong stammered, ¡°They are the elders, it¡¯s only proper that they don¡¯t do anything.¡±


    Ever since his parents stopped working after their sons grew up, she knew all too well about it.


    Could it be that she still expected his parents to change?


    ¡°Proper my ass, look around, which old folks just sit at home waiting to be fed?


    Which one doesn¡¯t want to help their sons save a bit more money?¡±


    Little Wang Clan was furious, her own mother was still working to this very day!


    All the household chores now fell squarely on her, with no one else lending a hand!


    Tan Zhengyong withdrew his neck a little, and Little Wang Clan got even more annoyed.


    ¡°Did I say something wrong?


    After taking care of the young ones, I have to serve the old ones, too.


    Your parents are just too lazy to live, if it weren¡¯t for Fourth Boss, they wouldn¡¯t have saved a penny!¡±


    The more Little Wang Clan talked, the angrier she became.


    She was just someone¡¯s mother-in-law, but those who didn¡¯t know might even think she had become a deity!


    All they did was eat!


    And expect to be served with their meals brought right up to them!


    Plainly put, those two old things were just lazy, so lazy they could turn it into an art form!


    Why wouldn¡¯t they just die of laziness?


    It would save her the trouble of tending to them day in and day out. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyong quickly said, ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll go cook!¡±


    Having said that, Tan Zhengyong hurried out.


    If he kept getting nagged like this, his head was going to explode.


    Dividing the family was his wife¡¯s idea, and now it was as she wished, but she complained about having too much household work.


    After dividing the family, did she still expect someone else to help with the chores?


    Did he have any stupid brothers?


    Right after the division, everyone already felt uncomfortable about it, who would want to come over and work for nothing?


    Little Wang Clan cursed a few more times before finally heading to the kitchen.


    What kind of dinner could that fool Tan Zhengyong make?


    Sigh, her life was truly hard.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finished grinding the medicinal powder, and the fish soup in the pot had turned milky white.


    She added salt to the soup, threw another handful of straw into the stove to keep the fire going, and brought it to a boil to let the fish absorb the flavors.


    She ladled some soup into bowls, and she and Tan Zhenghong gnawed on steamed buns while having the fish soup.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were both not much for words.


    Without Sun Erhu to lighten the mood, the two of them quietly ate their meal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit down because she hadn¡¯t considered her own appetite when making the buns.


    One bun wasn¡¯t enough to fill her up, but two were more than she could handle.


    While she was still debating whether to eat another one, Tan Zhenghong tore a bun in half and handed half to her.


    ¡°Eat some more,¡± Tan Zhenghong said indifferently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head and quickly ate up half the bun.


    The remaining soup was kept warm on the stove, with two buns left over for Sun Erhu when he returned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t wait to take a bath, and then applied the medicinal powder she had prepared onto her face.


    She had just put the paste on her face when Sun Erhu returned.


    His haul for the day included two wild rabbits and a pheasant.


    Without giving it much thought, he brought all his game to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    As a rough and burly man with a big appetite, he couldn¡¯t just eat at someone else¡¯s house every day without contributing, could he?


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er firmly refused, ¡°Please take it back, you¡¯ve only been eating here for a few days.¡±


    Sun Erhu had just brought over a pheasant a couple of days ago and often helped Tan Zhenghong make baskets; how could she accept more from him?


    She wasn¡¯t like the Tan Family; she disliked taking advantage of others the most.


    ¡°How much help did Brother Hong give me in the past?


    Now that Brother Hong is in a tough spot, shouldn¡¯t I bring something over for him to nourish himself?¡±


    Sun Erhu declared carefreely.


    Having lost his parents at a young age, he had followed Tan Zhenghong around since childhood.


    If it weren¡¯t for his Brother Hong, he would have been bullied to death long ago.

 Chapter 46 - 46 47 Medicinal Powder_1

    ?46: Chapter 47 Medicinal Powder_1 46: Chapter 47 Medicinal Powder_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, ¡°I left some food in the pot for Erhu, I¡¯ll go get it.¡±


    Sun Erhu was grateful to Tan Zhenghong, so he let him make the decision.


    By the time she brought back the soup and steamed buns, they had already agreed on the outcome: they would share one of the hares and let Sun Erhu sell the rest in town, along with the baskets Tan Zhenghong had woven.


    This was a matter between the brothers Sun Erhu and Tan Zhenghong, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections to whatever they decided.


    After Sun Erhu had eaten and cleaned the pot, he returned to his own courtyard.


    Touching his full belly, his face was alight with a satisfied smile.


    To him, good food meant happiness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er washed off the medicinal powder from her face and replaced it with fresh cucumber slices.


    She lay on the bed and entered a Meditative State, because skin absorbs nutrients best when the body is relaxed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had intended to remove the cucumber slices, wash her face again, and then go to sleep, but perhaps because she was too exhausted from the day, she soon fell asleep by accident.


    Tan Zhenghong propped himself up and carefully removed the cucumber slices from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face.


    He didn¡¯t know if it was his imagination or if the medicine was working, but her skin seemed to have improved a bit.


    He always believed that kind-hearted people were looked after by the heavens.


    His wife might be reticent, but she had a kind and gentle heart; surely her face would heal.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er slept peacefully, the aura of ¡®keep out¡¯ surrounding her receding significantly.


    Her slightly pursed lips added a touch of playfulness to her, making it hard to resist leaning closer.


    However¡­


    he didn¡¯t yet have the courage to do so.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled faintly.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er stirred slightly, he quickly averted his gaze.


    His wife had keen senses, much sharper than his.


    If he stared too long, she would definitely wake up.


    Tan Zhenghong gently blew out the oil lamp on the bedside and then lay down as well.


    Having this wife, even if only for a while, made him completely content; but he knew that in this lifetime, it had to be Qiao Duo¡¯er for him.


    If not her, he would rather be alone for the rest of his life, spending his time in remembrance!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a good night¡¯s sleep and didn¡¯t open her eyes until the next morning.


    Suddenly remembering the cucumber on her face, she quickly felt her face, but the cucumber slices were nowhere to be found.


    Could it be that she had sleepwalked?


    ¡°I was afraid the cucumber would make you uncomfortable in your sleep, so I removed it for you,¡± Tan Zhenghong hurriedly explained.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face turned red involuntarily.


    As a special agent, falling asleep with cucumber slices on her face was an unforgivable mistake. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But even if her face was red, Tan Zhenghong probably couldn¡¯t tell, because her face was extremely dark.


    The original owner¡¯s parents were simply bastards, making her work even in the heat of summer, under the poisonous sun all summer long.


    How could she not be tanned?


    How could her face not have pimples and sores?


    Sighing, she hoped that in her next life, the original owner would be reborn into a good family.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, ¡°I¡¯m going to cook breakfast, is there anything particular you¡¯d like to eat?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you cook is delicious,¡± Tan Zhenghong shook his head, anything made by Qiao Duo¡¯er was fine with him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and got out of bed to start cooking.


    Early in the morning, Sun Erhu had processed two rabbits in his courtyard, planning to keep their fur.


    Come winter, he could have his sister-in-law make gloves or a fur collar, as it gets very cold here and a woman is sure to feel the chill.


    After rinsing the rabbit meat clean, Sun Erhu brought it over to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked him to chop the rabbit into small pieces, making it easier to cook and to soak up the flavors.

 Chapter 47 - 47 48 Send some meat to me_1

    ?47: Chapter 48 Send some meat to me_1 47: Chapter 48 Send some meat to me_1 Sun Erhu took the chopping board and kitchen knife and squatted on the ground to chop; if he did it on the table and used too much force, the table might just fall apart.


    Hearing the noise from next door, Li Clan¡¯s heart itched with impatience.


    These past few days, she had been smelling the meat from the Fourth Boss¡¯s house and was dying of craving.


    The Fourth Boss¡¯s household was living a pretty good life; they had only just split from the family and already they had chicken and fish, and today even rabbit!


    How could she sit still?


    She wasn¡¯t acquainted with the Fourth Boss¡¯s wife and couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask, but was she not familiar with Sun Erhu?


    With this thought, Li Clan came out of her room.


    It just so happened that Qiao Duo¡¯er had gone to Sun Erhu¡¯s home to pick vegetables, which made things even easier.


    Li Clan, with her hands on her hips and a coquettish smile, said, ¡°Brother Erhu, look at me, pregnant as I am, carrying such a big belly each day, it¡¯s really exhausting.


    Could you cook some rabbit and bring some over for me?¡±


    Sun Erhu, though reluctant, didn¡¯t want to lose face by refusing and could only nod.


    ¡°When my sister-in-law has cooked it, I¡¯ll bring a bowl over to you.¡±


    Li Clan said contentedly, ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re good, Erhu.


    It wasn¡¯t in vain that your sister-in-law doted on you.


    Once I give birth to this child, I¡¯ll definitely help you make a set of clothing.¡±


    Sun Erhu silently complained that she had been saying this ever since she entered the Tan Family¡¯s door.


    Now Third Girl was already four years old, and he hadn¡¯t even seen a piece of fabric.


    He figured he would never wear clothing made by her in his lifetime.


    ¡°No need, I have enough clothing,¡± Sun Erhu said slowly.


    Li Clan gave a forced laugh, ¡°Who would ever complain about having too many clothes?¡±


    Sun Erhu didn¡¯t answer, and seeing that he wasn¡¯t paying her attention, Li Clan went back to her room.


    After all, she was already getting the meat and couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste any more words!


    Being pregnant with this baby had exhausted her.


    After breakfast, while it wasn¡¯t so hot, Sun Erhu hurried to town.


    Today was market day, and instead of selling his baskets directly to the general store, he set up a roadside stall.


    This way, he could get two Wen money more for each basket.


    Tan Zhenghong was quite skilled, and the items he made sold well.


    By noon, everything was sold out.


    Sun Erhu then packed up and headed home, quickening his pace as he thought of the savory rabbit meat and soft steamed buns.


    Upon arriving home, he didn¡¯t care about the heat and quickly handed the money bag to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, the vegetable baskets are five Wen each, the carrying baskets eight Wen, and the straw hats three Wen, making a total of one hundred and twenty Wen.


    Count it,¡± Sun Erhu said cheerfully.


    Qiao Duo nodded, and without counting, she put it in the broken box in the wardrobe.


    She trusted Sun Erhu that much.


    However, she hadn¡¯t expected Tan Zhenghong to be so productive, earning over a hundred Wen in just a few days.


    As they started eating, Sun Erhu timidly said, ¡°Third sister-in-law told me to bring her some rabbit meat.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go on and send some over,¡± Tan Zhenghong nodded.


    His third sister-in-law wasn¡¯t a stranger, after all.


    Qiao Duo took an empty bowl.


    Though Li Clan did like to take advantage of small gains, she wasn¡¯t so annoying.


    Sending a little was okay.


    Only then did Sun Erhu put a few pieces into the bowl to bring over.


    Arriving next door, Tan Zhongzhong, Li Clan, and Third Girl were eating, consuming wild vegetable buns and a stack of pickles.


    In fact, there were plenty of vegetable varieties in the summer, so there was no need to resort to pickles.


    But no matter how many vegetables there were, it was hard to overcome laziness.


    Cooking a dish of pickles could feed a family for several meals; could other vegetables do the same?


    Seeing Sun Erhu, Li Clan¡¯s eyes lit up. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when she saw the bowl in his hands, her face fell.


    She had seen the size of the rabbit, so what did it mean to send her only this much?

 Chapter 48 - 48 49 Not Enough to Eat_1

    ?48: Chapter 49 Not Enough to Eat_1 48: Chapter 49 Not Enough to Eat_1 However, the Li Clan still took it, after all, a little meat is still meat, isn¡¯t it?


    Why not take the meat that costs nothing?


    ¡°In the future, your nephew will surely not forget his Uncle Erhu, who even brought him meat to eat,¡±


    Li Clan said with a smile, silently adding to herself, it was only a small bowl after all.


    Seeing Li Clan picking up her chopsticks again, Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but remind her, ¡°Sister-in-law, you need to give the bowl back to me.¡±


    Li Clan responded irritably, ¡°It¡¯s just a bowl, aren¡¯t it?


    Are you worried I won¡¯t return it or what?


    I¡¯m thinking to wash it before giving it back to you.¡±


    The corners of Sun Erhu¡¯s mouth twitched; did he not know Li Clan¡¯s true colors?


    If the bowl was washed, it would end up straight in her cupboard!


    She wouldn¡¯t miss any chance to stuff something into her own pockets, nor was she willing to easily take anything out.


    Although it wasn¡¯t outrageous, such behavior was truly disgusting.


    Seeing Sun Erhu standing still, Li Clan could only pour the rabbit meat onto a plate that had held pickled vegetables and give the bowl back to Sun Erhu.


    Only then did Sun Erhu take the bowl back to eat his meal, silently vowing never to bring them anything to eat again.


    He had good intentions, yet it turned out as if he owed her something.


    Li Clan grumbled discontentedly, ¡°Just because Fourth Boss gets a wife, even Erhu has become stingy.


    That ugly girl really has some tricks up her sleeve.¡±


    ¡°Have you not seen Erhu practically spending all his time at Fourth Boss¡¯s house now?


    Who knows what they do all day?


    Wife, you¡¯re still carrying a child, eat more meat,¡± Tan Zhongzhong said naughtily, winking.


    Fourth Boss has injured legs; he definitely can¡¯t do that job.


    Perhaps that ugly woman has hooked up with Sun Erhu.


    Li Clan nodded knowingly, ¡°Let¡¯s eat together, give Third Girl some meat to prevent her from drooling to death.¡±


    In dealing with her daughter, Li Clan was still pretty good.


    Her daughter was also her flesh and blood, and she loved her just the same.


    Third Girl spoke up in her milky voice, ¡°Mommy, so much meat!¡±


    ¡°If not for your Fourth Aunt, we would have had even more meat,¡± Li Clan said, rolling her eyes toward the wall. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wasn¡¯t the game hunted by Fourth Boss all theirs before?


    But despite her complaints, her pace of eating meat did not slow down.


    In the evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er was sorting the herbs.


    Sun Erhu, having nothing better to do, reheated the rabbit meat and steamed a few buns on top of it.


    That was to be dinner, saving his sister-in-law the trouble of reheating it later.


    No sooner had Qiao Duo entered the house than Li Clan came out, this time with a bowl in her hand.


    Li Clan put on her trademark smile, ¡°Smelling the meat, your nephew started fussing again, Erhu, you¡¯ve got to save a bowl for me, let the lad satisfy his cravings.¡±


    Sun Erhu frowned and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already bring you some at noon?¡±


    ¡°What can be done with that little bit of meat?¡± Li Clan complained dissatisfied.


    Such a tiny bowl, there are three people in their house, right?


    She had only eaten two pieces of meat.


    Through gritted teeth, Sun Erhu said, ¡°Nobody has enough meat, it¡¯s already good of me to send some to you!¡±


    In other households, isn¡¯t meat eaten behind closed doors, just among their own family members?


    He had already sent over a bowl of meat, and Li Clan was still unsatisfied.


    Wasn¡¯t that too greedy?


    ¡°Erhu, my child will also call you Uncle one day, and you can¡¯t even feed your nephew a little meat, will you be too embarrassed to respond when my child calls out to you?¡± Li Clan huffed.


    Sun Erhu was not good with words, yet agreeing would make him displeased.


    The wild rabbit wasn¡¯t fat; with its skin and fur, it barely weighed four or five pounds.


    How much meat could it possibly have?


    Why should Li Clan get so much meat just by moving her lips?

 Chapter 49 - 49 50 Is Every Man in the World Yours_1

    ?49: Chapter 50 Is Every Man in the World Yours?_1 49: Chapter 50 Is Every Man in the World Yours?_1 Just as Sun Erhu was feeling conflicted, a pleasant voice cut in.


    ¡°If your child wants to eat meat, why are you seeking him out?


    Is your child Erhu¡¯s offspring?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with no good humor.


    Did she really think her child was some precious treasure?


    Just because he calls someone uncle, he should have meat every meal?


    Whose family logic is that?


    Besides, it¡¯s not even certain whether Sun Erhu wants the child to call him uncle.


    Li Clan¡¯s face turned pale, and she immediately retaliated with great indignation, ¡°One can eat indiscriminately, but words must not be spoken carelessly, Erhu and I are innocent, don¡¯t wrong me!¡±


    ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing between you and Erhu, then is Erhu obliged to give you meat?


    If you want to eat meat, go find the child¡¯s father.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, thinking the whole world was her man?


    Why should everyone indulge her?


    If she¡¯s capable, then give birth to a child for all the men first, then come and strut around!


    Sun Erhu nodded vigorously, his sister-in-law was formidable!


    Such empowering words, he could never think of in his lifetime.


    ¡°After all, my child calls you auntie, do you really hate to see him well?


    You won¡¯t even give him a piece of meat!¡± Li Clan was very annoyed.


    She just wanted to eat some meat, why was it so hard?


    Why did Qiao Duo have to pop up out of nowhere?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, ¡°Is your child made of gold, or silver plated?


    Or will I become immortal if he calls me once? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If none of these are true, never let him call me again, the cost is too high.¡±


    Isn¡¯t it right for a child to call his elders?


    Why does it seem in Li Clan¡¯s view, her child has to be compensated for greeting someone?


    Sorry, please take your kid and roll away gracefully.


    In Li Clan¡¯s eyes, her child might be a golden or silver egg, but in others¡¯ eyes, it¡¯s nothing at all.


    Li Clan rolled her eyes: ¡°Little sister-in-law, the game was retrieved by Erhu, it¡¯s up to him to give it to me or not, what does that have to do with you, you¡¯re overstepping!¡±


    ¡°This is what I gave to Brother Hong Hong, how is it not related to my sister-in-law?¡±


    Sun Erhu finally managed to blurt out a sentence, he was not good at arguing with women, but when women went too far, he couldn¡¯t hold back.


    Isn¡¯t there a saying that even a rabbit will bite when cornered?


    If he¡¯s pushed to the edge, not to mention scolding women, he could even strike one!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er really wanted to shout that the Tan Family was full of demons!


    The old one was lazy and biased, the eldest was very lazy and all for male preference, the second family was selfish and malicious, and the third family was overly fond of taking little advantages.


    In short, besides Tan Zhenghong, there was not a decent person in this family!


    It¡¯s a wonder that Tan Zhenghong could still be a good person after growing up in this family.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat and said seriously, ¡°Erhu, if anyone comes to ask for meat again, send them packing.¡±


    ¡°Sister-in-law, rest assured, nobody is getting their hands on our meat,¡± Sun Erhu agreed immediately.


    His sister-in-law was right, the child was not his, so he had no duty to raise him.


    If someone else tried to freeload, he¡¯d be the first to refuse.


    Especially the likes of Li Clan, who felt entitled to eat for free¡ªhe would never consent!


    All of a sudden, seeing the large bowl on the stove, Sun Erhu became even more enraged.


    Did Li Clan think he was an easy target?


    Otherwise, why would she always come when his sister-in-law was not around?


    Li Clan suddenly chuckled, ¡°Hmph, I think some people are not so clear-cut with Erhu, yet have the nerve to sling mud at others, thinking everyone is as shameless as they are, already married yet still ambiguous with other men!¡±


    These words were directed at Qiao Duo¡¯er, just as Tan Zhongzhong had said at noon.


    In her eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er was up to no good!

 Chapter 50 - 50 51 You Two are Up to No Good_1

    ?50: Chapter 51 You Two are Up to No Good_1 50: Chapter 51 You Two are Up to No Good_1 ¡°Crazy!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Li Clan with disdain.


    Could she interpret Li Clan¡¯s behavior as being annoyed at not getting an advantage?


    So, it turns out there are really people in this world who feel short-changed just because they didn¡¯t get an advantage.


    Where do they get the nerve?


    With a loud voice, Sun Erhu said, ¡°My Brother Hong is still at home, don¡¯t go blabbering nonsense with your eyes wide open.¡±


    He swore he had never been alone in a room with his sister-in-law.


    How could such a filthy thing that Li Clan mentioned have happened?


    Even if he were to go his whole life without marrying, he wouldn¡¯t lay a finger on his Brother Hong¡¯s woman.


    ¡°Always keeping the doors shut, who knows what kind of shenanigans you get up to all day in the house, it¡¯s just pitiful for the Fourth Boss; not only did he break his leg, but his newlywed wife is not staying in line, flirting with her own brother all day long!¡±


    Li Clan stood with her hands on her hips, and then she just started spouting nonsense. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a righteous indignation, it was as if she had personally witnessed something indecent between Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu.


    The corner of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye twitched.


    With such a rich imagination, why didn¡¯t she become a storyteller?


    Sun Erhu was so angered he couldn¡¯t speak, his face turning red.


    To him, a grown man, reputation might not mean much, but if his sister-in-law¡¯s purity was tarnished, how would she live her life?


    As neither of them spoke, Li Clan became even more overbearing.


    In her eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu were guilty of scandalous behavior and were at a loss for words.


    ¡°I say, Erhu, you¡¯re really good for nothing.


    My Fourth Boss has treated you well, is this how you repay him?


    I think you two shameless ones should be drowned in a pig¡¯s cage!¡±


    ¡°Fourth sister-in-law, you too, it hasn¡¯t been long since Old Four got injured and you can¡¯t restrain yourself?


    How will you live with yourself after doing such a thing?¡±


    Li Clan was on a roll, and with a few words, she had made up Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu¡¯s crimes.


    ¡°Enough, haven¡¯t you finished yet?


    All this just because we didn¡¯t give you meat?


    Do you really need to slander people like this?¡±


    Sun Erhu growled lowly, he was about to explode!


    All over some food, was it really worth it?


    From inside the house, Tan Zhenghong said irritably, ¡°Erhu, if anyone else treats me like I¡¯m dead, beat them to a pulp!¡±


    His wife had worked hard for this family, and yet people were scheming against her; were they all blind?


    Seeing Sun Erhu¡¯s fierce appearance, Li Clan felt a bit guilty.


    ¡°Erhu, I¡¯m pregnant, and if you lay a hand on me, you won¡¯t get away with it!¡±


    This time, Li Clan finally said something sensible.


    She was pregnant, and if something happened to her, the consequences would be very serious.


    A heavy hand might result in the loss of the child, and then they¡¯d be stirring up even more trouble.


    And no matter how vile Li Clan was, the child was still innocent.


    ¡°Go and drag Tan Zhongzhong out here,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered indifferently.


    But Tan Zhongzhong was different, he was a man after all, surely more durable.


    Sun Erhu was so anxious he didn¡¯t know what to do, but of course, he followed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s instructions.


    Soon enough, Tan Zhongzhong was dragged out by Sun Erhu.


    ¡°What are you dragging me for?


    I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Tan Zhongzhong said anxiously.


    Not taking care of his own wife, letting her run about spreading rumors; didn¡¯t he deserve a beating?


    Even going easy on him wouldn¡¯t do!


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain.


    She simply said slowly, ¡°Erhu, do I need to teach you how to beat someone up?¡±


    ¡°Sister-in-law, just leave this rough work to me, I assure you, I¡¯ll take care of him properly,¡± Sun Erhu said eagerly, and then his fists began to greet Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s body.


    As a hunter, his strength was unquestionably formidable.

 Chapter 51 - 51 52 Its on Me if He Gets Killed!_1

    ?51: Chapter 52 It¡¯s on Me if He Gets Killed!_1 51: Chapter 52 It¡¯s on Me if He Gets Killed!_1 Tan Zhongzhong had barely taken two punches before he couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, ¡°Erhu, we are brothers, can¡¯t we talk this out? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why resort to violence?¡±


    ¡°Why would I talk nicely to you when your wife can¡¯t speak like a human being!¡±


    Sun Erhu, reminded of the nonsense spoken by the Li Clan, found himself unable to stop his blows, which became even more forceful.


    If he didn¡¯t sort them out this time, who knows what kind of tricks they might pull in the future.


    Li Clan was extremely anxious, but because of the child in her womb, she dared not step forward to intervene; just as Third Girl was about to step forward, she was effortlessly picked up by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    ¡°You wicked woman, let me go at once, don¡¯t you hit my dad!¡± Third Girl struggled violently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, ¡°Punishment is necessary for wrongdoing.¡±


    She, Qiao Duo¡¯er, was not one to use her hands lightly, but she wasn¡¯t a pushover either.


    Facing such slander, she had to seek justice for herself.


    Through tears, Third Girl cried out, ¡°My dad and mom did nothing wrong; everyone says that you and Uncle Erhu locked the door and messed around, just get out, my family doesn¡¯t want you.


    You are ugly and bad, a cheap woman, an idiot!¡±


    What does a child her size know?


    She could only parrot such words because Li Clan and Tan Zhongzhong must have said them; she was merely repeating what she had learned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, her expression cold, commanded, ¡°Erhu, make it snappy.


    If you beat him to death, it¡¯s on me.¡±


    Erhu acknowledged, and the very next second Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s cries of pain intensified.


    ¡°Mom, save me, I¡¯m scared!¡± Third Girl flailed her limbs wildly.


    But with Duo¡¯er gripping the back of her neck, she couldn¡¯t struggle free and could only scream her lungs out in tears.


    As Li Clan made a move towards Qiao Duo¡¯er, Duo¡¯er hissed, ¡°If you dare move one step closer, I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t do something to Third Girl!¡±


    Tan Yuancheng emerged from the Main Room, ¡°What¡¯s this ruckus?


    Have you no respect for your elders?¡±


    They had caused trouble for Qiao Duo once before, and now they dreaded her, but if he didn¡¯t intervene, how would they cope if Third Boss ended up beaten to death?


    ¡°You didn¡¯t teach your son properly, are you prepared to be punished too?¡±


    Qiao Duo said without courtesy; she had no good impression of Tan Yuancheng whatsoever.


    Hypocrite, and still preferring to pretend like a good person.


    Tan Yuancheng angrily retorted, ¡°Did your mother never teach you a daughter-in-law¡¯s duty?


    Is this how you speak to your elders?¡±


    ¡°You can talk to me about filial piety when you act like an elder,¡± Qiao Duo retorted, no longer paying attention to Tan Yuancheng.


    With such rotten morals, why bother pretending anything with him?


    Tan Yuancheng was choked with rage, but he was no match for Qiao Duo.


    He could only stew in his anger.


    He had thought marrying an idiot would allow him to manipulate her easily, but who would have expected they¡¯d be firmly controlled by the ¡®idiot¡¯ instead?


    When she got angry, no one could do anything about her.


    Tan Zhongzhong had taken quite a beating and hurriedly said, ¡°Xiao Mei, quickly apologize to Brother Erhu and your sister-in-law!¡±


    If this kept up, he might actually be beaten to death!


    ¡°Erhu, stop hitting, I was foolish to utter that nonsense.


    You mustn¡¯t harm Third Boss too badly; the three of us rely on him for our livelihood!¡± Li Clan hurriedly pleaded for mercy, relying on her pregnancy to assume that Erhu and Qiao Duo wouldn¡¯t dare hurt her.


    But how could she expect that they would take their frustration out on Tan Zhongzhong?


    And some damned person had locked the courtyard door, making it impossible for anyone to come and intervene.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said faintly, ¡°Continue.¡± She had yet to see anyone with the attitude of admitting their mistake.


    So, Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s only value was to provide for the three of them?

 Chapter 52 - 52 53 Swearing an Oath_1

    ?52: Chapter 53 Swearing an Oath_1 52: Chapter 53 Swearing an Oath_1 Li Clan immediately understood and raised three fingers without hesitation, ¡°I swear if I spout nonsense again, may lightning strike me dead!¡±


    Seeing that Sun Erhu had no intention of stopping, Li Clan remembered Third Girl.


    It must be because Qiao Duo¡¯er still remembered Third Girl insulting her, damn it, to think she¡¯d hold a grudge against a child!


    She¡¯s truly despicable!


    But the circumstances forced her hand, and she could only compromise.


    Li Clan hastened to say, ¡°Third Girl, quickly apologize to your Fourth Aunt, say you won¡¯t talk nonsense ever again!¡±


    ¡°Fourth Aunt, I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t dare to talk nonsense anymore, please let me go, I know I¡¯m wrong.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Third Girl sobbed, already terrified by her father¡¯s howling, where would she find the courage to insult someone like before?


    She just wanted that awful woman to put her down.


    It was only then that Qiao Duo¡¯er set Third Girl down and turned to Erhu, ¡°That¡¯s enough for today, but if anyone else gossips, the next time I see them, they¡¯ll get the same treatment!¡±


    Sun Erhu dropped Tan Zhongzhong, finally free to wipe the sweat off his brow, hitting people was indeed exhausting labor.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scanned the entire third branch of the family, satisfied only when she saw each of them shrinking back.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always said I¡¯m not to be messed with, and yet there are those who insist on courting death, what bad luck!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er dusted off her hands.


    Then she scooped up some rabbit meat into a bowl and gestured to Sun Erhu to bring some steamed buns back to the room.


    Back in the room, Sun Erhu took two buns and stood up, thinking it would be better for his sister-in-law¡¯s reputation if he didn¡¯t linger in Brother Hong¡¯s room for too long in the future.


    ¡°If you go out now, it¡¯ll seem like we have something to hide,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    Sun Erhu scratched his head, ¡°Then what should I do?¡±


    ¡°Why bother with such filthy minds?


    Filthy people can only see filth.


    Why should we care about them?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, and after all, even if Erhu didn¡¯t come by, those who wanted to spread rumors couldn¡¯t be stopped.


    Tan Zhenghong, with a stern face, added, ¡°If one is upright, they do not fear a crooked shadow, just eat your meal well, it¡¯s only my legs that are broken, not my eyes; I certainly won¡¯t let them fabricate stories at will.¡±


    This time, he was truly enraged and held even more contempt for those so-called relatives.


    Seeing that both Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong said so, Sun Erhu had no choice but to obediently sit down and eat his meal¡ªthough it was an uncomfortable one.


    Meanwhile, Little Wang Clan, who had been enjoying the spectacle, started to scheme.


    Hmph, with the handle delivered to her doorstep, not to make use of it would be a disservice to having a brain.


    In the Old Tan Family, when it came to cunning, no one was more adept than her.


    Li Clan, that fool, only knew how to focus on her next meal, her eyesight was far too shortsighted.


    After dinner, Sun Erhu immediately went back to his own yard, and Qiao Duo¡¯er began to boil water for a bath.


    Seeing Er Ya sweeping the yard with a broom, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood improved slightly.


    Da Ya and Er Ya were good girls; every time they swept the yard, they would also clean in front of her room.


    It was also Da Ya who had locked the door earlier.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er called Er Ya over to fetch her a steamed bun.


    Er Ya said softly, ¡°Fourth Aunt, don¡¯t be angry, you¡¯re my favorite.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯m not angry,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er ruffled Er Ya¡¯s head.


    Seeing Er Ya take the bun to find Da Ya, Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled.


    Mhm¡­


    there were still more good people in this world.


    Why despair over the whole world just because of the peculiarities of the Tan Family?


    Life, after all, wasn¡¯t it normal to have a few bumps along the way?


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood brightened, the atmosphere at home became less oppressive.


    After her bath and applying some medicinal powder, she lay in bed while Tan Zhenghong fanned her, continuing to live her lovely little life.

 Chapter 53 - 53 54 Heading to the Town Again_1

    ?53: Chapter 54 Heading to the Town Again_1 53: Chapter 54 Heading to the Town Again_1 Life in the countryside was very regular; everyone rose with the sun and rested at sunset.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er worked hard to adapt to this way of life.


    Here, there were no tasks, no wars, it was indeed leisurely and carefree, just sometimes a tad boring.


    However, as she gradually became acquainted with Tan Zhenghong, she could have casual chats with him, so time didn¡¯t drag too much.


    All in all, she was doing quite well.


    Who says going with the flow isn¡¯t an attitude towards life?


    Several days of clear skies had passed, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had collected quite an assortment of herbs.


    Plus, the household was running out of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, so she decided to make another trip to town.


    Before leaving, she tied up her hair with a wooden hairpin.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered it had been seven days since she started applying the medicinal powder on her face, which could be considered a full course of treatment.


    She didn¡¯t know what the effect was because there wasn¡¯t even a mirror in the house!


    Unable to resist the urge, Qiao Duo¡¯er scooped up a basin of water to use as a mirror and looked at her reflection.


    The effects of the medicinal powder were quite good. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sores and pimples on her face were now under control, and her skin had lightened a bit.


    In another month or two, her skin should be able to return to its best condition.


    With her skin getting clearer, her facial features began to stand out more.


    Ah¡­


    willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a high nose bridge, coupled with a small mouth, she actually possessed a fair amount of beauty.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt an urge to laugh loudly at the sky; dolled up, her face turned out to be quite pretty!


    She would no longer need to be shy about meeting people in the future!


    Heh, let her indulge in a bit of vanity for a moment.


    Tan Zhenghong noticed the change in Qiao Duo¡¯er as well, and while he was happy for her, he also felt somewhat uneasy inside.


    Was he still a match for such a Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    She was very outstanding, and he felt a bit inferior.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t notice Tan Zhenghong¡¯s emotions; she was thinking that the town had a market day every ten days, and it just so happened to be market day today.


    She could set up a stall with Sun Erhu and sell the things Tan Zhenghong had made.


    Considering the comments from the Li Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er also called Er Ya along.


    Er Ya was still young and couldn¡¯t do much at home, so Tan Zhengyuan thought about it and agreed.


    Without the girl at home, he wouldn¡¯t have to hear her crying, which saved him from irritation.


    Before long, the three of them arrived at the town.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er first helped Sun Erhu set up the stall properly.


    With Erhu and Er Ya watching the stall, she felt reassured enough to head to the pharmacy.


    There were two pharmacies in the town, Deji Hall and Ren Xin Hall.


    Deji Hall was a century-old major pharmacy, with a specific source for its medicinal herbs.


    Ren Xin Hall, on the other hand, had just started business not long ago and collected herbs brought in by the families from the landowner¡¯s properties.


    Upon arriving at Ren Xin Hall, the shop assistant asked warmly, ¡°Miss, are you here for medicine or a consultation?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to sell herbs,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er replied.


    The assistant nodded, taking the basket from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands, ¡°Just a moment, I¡¯ll have our doctor take a look.¡±


    Ren Xin Hall had only one doctor on duty, and at that moment, there were no patients waiting to be seen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had sorted and wrapped her herbs by category with paper.


    The doctor examined each one, sometimes smelling or tasting them.


    ¡°Miss, your herbs are of fine quality and well-preserved.


    I¡¯ll give you half taels of silver for this basket,¡± the doctor said.


    He praised her inwardly, thinking that the young woman must certainly have knowledge of medical theories.


    To have prepared the herbs like this, she was definitely not an ordinary village girl.


    With Ren Xin Hall not being a newcomer in the business and having a good reputation, Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections to the price.


    She nodded immediately, ¡°Thank you, sir.


    I also have a wild ginseng here for you to look at.¡±

 Chapter 54 - 54 55 Buying Fabric_1

    ?54: Chapter 55 Buying Fabric_1 54: Chapter 55 Buying Fabric_1 The doctor examined the mountain ginseng and then smelled it.


    He stroked his beard and said, ¡°Miss, the quality of this mountain ginseng is not bad, but it¡¯s a bit small, and therefore won¡¯t fetch a good price.


    You, miss, suffer from both qi and blood deficiency; it would be better if you took the ginseng home and consumed it slowly as thin slices to nourish your body.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mountain ginseng is a holy product for replenishing blood and qi.


    Eating it for a month or two would definitely make a difference in one¡¯s health.


    After considering for a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡±


    She had hoped to sell the mountain ginseng for three or two silver, but now it seemed unlikely to reach the expected price.


    Then again, why not just take it home and consume it herself?


    There¡¯s a saying that health is the capital of revolution.


    As long as she took care of her health, how much silver couldn¡¯t she earn back later?


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er put away the mountain ginseng, the doctor quickly handed her half taels of silver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly said, ¡°Sir, my family doesn¡¯t have any use for silver; please give me five hanged money instead.¡±


    The doctor, with a pleasant and agreeable expression, exchanged it for copper coins and added, ¡°Miss, if you have more herbs in the future, you can deliver them all to Ren Xin Hall.


    I will make sure the price will not shortchange you.¡±


    Ren Xin Hall is a small pharmacy that has always been known for its honesty, never cheating or swindling customers.


    ¡°No problem!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed readily.


    After all, she guessed that for a long time to come she would have to rely on gathering herbs to make a living.


    In a society that favored men over women to such a degree, it was difficult for women to find decent jobs.


    It was more comfortable to gather herbs.


    Moreover, she had a disabled family member at home, and every time she came to town, her mind was full of concerns for him.


    After securing the silver, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the grocery store to buy spices and then to the Cloth Shop to purchase fabric.


    Her clothes had to be remade; every time she washed them, it was a sad affair.


    Not to mention the many patches sewn on them, the fabric also tore easily because it was worn for too long.


    To Qiao Duo¡¯er, this was as uncomfortable as swallowing a fly.


    Women from landowner¡¯s families generally wore tops and skirts; she chose a piece of pink printed fabric and a piece of water red material.


    This would be enough to make one set of clothes, and the remaining fabric could be used to sew two undershirts.


    After selecting fabric for herself, she also picked out a piece of dark cloth; it was time to change Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes as well.


    He looked very handsome in dark colors.


    She could sew clothes in her free time, to avoid just staring at Tan Zhenghong with nothing to do.


    However, fine fabric was quite expensive, and the three pieces of material consumed most of the money she had earned from selling the herbs, but wearing comfortable clothes was worth it.


    Having finished her purchases, Qiao Duo¡¯er sought out Sun Erhu and Er Ya.


    When she arrived at the booth, she was surprised; she had only been away for half an hour at most, and yet most of the baskets and other items had been sold!


    Could Tan Zhenghong¡¯s handmade items really be so popular?


    ¡°They¡¯re selling that quickly?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Upon seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Sun Erhu immediately handed her the money bag.


    And as he explained, ¡°It was all because a big customer came.


    The Housekeeper from the Wang Family really liked Brother Hong¡¯s woven goods and snapped up the vegetable baskets and straw hats all at once, leaving only a few carrying baskets.


    Those will be sold soon as well.¡±


    With a delighted nod, Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t expected to return home until the afternoon; she had even prepared steamed buns and water.


    As they were talking, another customer approached.


    ¡°Young man, how much for this carrying basket?¡± asked a man.


    Sun Erhu hastily replied, ¡°Eight wen money.


    They are handmade by us and won¡¯t break for three to five years; very good quality!¡±


    The man examined it closely, saw that the quality was indeed good, and then paid the money.


    Indeed, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s craftsmanship was that good, and his goods were that popular!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but glance at the baskets and had to admit, he was indeed extremely skilled with his hands.

 Chapter 55 - 55 56 Sweet and Sour Ribs_1

    ?55: Chapter 56 Sweet and Sour Ribs_1 55: Chapter 56 Sweet and Sour Ribs_1 Before long, all the back baskets were sold.


    She saw that there was still time to return home to cook a meal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er told Sun Erhu and Er Ya to eat something before heading back, with a heavy purse tucked in her arms, she felt quite content.


    She thought that by saving basket frames for five or six days, she could surely earn a few hundred Wen Money.


    Passing by the pork stall, Qiao Duo¡¯er bought some pork fat and ribs.


    Ever since she arrived here, there had always been soup and water to drink, even though it was tasty, she had grown tired of it, so today, she decided to make sweet and sour ribs to mix things up.


    ¡°Er Ya, you did really well today, I¡¯ll cook some meat for you later!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er casually rubbed Er Ya¡¯s head.


    Er Ya was now quite familiar with Qiao Duo¡¯er and immediately nodded in agreement, ¡°I¡¯ll help you start the fire!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with Er Ya either, not freeloading was a good quality, worthy of praise.


    After returning home, Qiao Duo¡¯er got busy preparing lunch.


    She washed the ribs clean, put a small amount of oil in the pot, and saut¨¦ed the green onions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, then added the ribs to stir-fry. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the ribs turned slightly yellow, she poured the previously mixed sauce into the pot and just had to simmer them with water after they changed color.


    With Da Ya and Er Ya watching the fire, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to slice the Mountain Ginseng with a bamboo knife.


    Ginseng was a good thing, but since the original body was in serious deficit, she could only replenish slowly; otherwise, it would not only fail to nourish but even backfire due to excessive weakness.


    And the most warming nourishing method was to soak it in alcohol.


    As the Mountain Ginseng was already dried, she placed the ginseng slices directly into the alcohol jar to soak for three months, which would be ready for drinking.


    By then it would be autumn, not too easy to cause excessive internal heat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the alcohol under the bed, then went out to rinse and cook the rice, and cleaned the string beans and Portulaca oleracea.


    Portulaca oleracea was the most abundant wild vegetable of the season and had anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects, which were very beneficial for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s injuries.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er often made it in different ways, planning today to prepare a cold dish, cooled in the well after mixing ¨C perfect for summer.


    When the meal was ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er called Erhu, who was slicing Bamboo Strips, back to eat.


    Bamboo Strips were the material for Tan Zhenghong to make things, both Sun Erhu and Hu¡¯s Clan did the slicing; Hu¡¯s Clan was very strong and did not perform any less than Sun Erhu when it came to work.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked Da Ya and Er Ya to also invite Hu¡¯s Clan to join them for the meal, it was only right to not let someone help for nothing.


    Although Hu¡¯s Clan felt that the two girls often freeloaded meals from her, she voluntarily came to help, Qiao Duo¡¯er still could not accept this with peace of mind.


    Once everyone was present, they began to eat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked out some bones with cartilage and put them in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s bowl, it was now time for him to grow and strengthen his bones, so he needed plenty of calcium.


    There was a suspicious flush on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face; being cared for by his wife in front of so many people still made him a little uncomfortable.


    However, he felt rather happy inside.


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughters were all just eating with their heads lowered, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only say, ¡°You all eat up, the ribs are cheap and not worth much, you¡¯ve helped me a lot, I have nothing else to show my appreciation with, only inviting you for a meal.¡±


    In ancient times, the prices were indeed strange; bones and ribs were very cheap and often disliked.


    ¡°I should thank you, these two girls have caused you no small trouble,¡± Hu¡¯s Clan said with embarrassment, and indeed, both girls liked Qiao Duo¡¯er so much that she couldn¡¯t stop them.


    ¡°The two girls have been a great help, where is the trouble?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er winked at the two girls.


    Hu¡¯s Clan then took a piece and after eating it, she did not reach out for more.


    It was the same with Da Ya and Er Ya, it had to be said, Hu¡¯s Clan had raised her children well.

 Chapter 56 - 56 57 Rebellion_1

    ?56: Chapter 57: Rebellion?_1 56: Chapter 57: Rebellion?_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er felt sorry for the two girls and served each of them another piece, then coquettishly complained, ¡°Isn¡¯t the pork I cooked delicious?¡±


    She had used Gold Sauce for the dish, which was made with two spoonfuls of wine, three of vinegar, three of soy sauce, and four of sugar.


    Er Ya said softly, ¡°No, Auntie Er¡¯s cooking is the best!¡±


    But¡­ eating meat was a rare treat, how could she have the heart to eat so much?


    ¡°If it¡¯s delicious, eat more.


    It won¡¯t taste as good by evening,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    However, despite her words, the two girls were still very restrained.


    They had only eaten half of their meal when a barrage of curses erupted from the courtyard.


    The voice was unmistakably Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s.


    ¡°Are all of you dead?


    What time is it, and you still don¡¯t know to cook?


    All so lazy!


    I must have been damned for eight lifetimes to come across you lot!¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan swore and cursed in the courtyard, fuming with anger.


    He had come home for a meal only to find no one around and even the pot was still cold! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Didn¡¯t they know he was coming back to eat?


    Were they deliberately not cooking?


    Da Ya said weakly, ¡°Mom, dad¡¯s back.¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan clenched her teeth, ¡°Ignore him!¡±


    Other people were gossiping about the sordid affairs between Tan Zhengyuan and Widow Xu; she wasn¡¯t foolish and had long been aware.


    Without a doubt, he had gone to that woman again this morning, huh, and he still had the cheek to come back for a meal?


    Pfft, she wouldn¡¯t serve him!


    Da Ya and Er Ya lowered their heads to eat, and although they were still gnawing on the bones, their mood had deteriorated significantly.


    After Tan Zhengyuan shouted for a long while and no one answered, he went to find Fourth Boss¡¯s room, as the two girls and Fourth Boss¡¯s wife got along well, they must be there.


    And indeed, Hu¡¯s Clan was there too.


    Seeing the three of them eating, with shiny red pork in their bowls, made his mood even worse.


    What, they treated him like he was dead!


    ¡°All three of you bitches deaf?


    I¡¯ve been calling for half an eternity and no one answers!¡± Tan Zhengyuan said angrily.


    Hu¡¯s Clan put down her chopsticks and snorted lightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t that Vixen offer you a meal?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan surely went to help that woman with chores during the day, as he lazed around like a lord at home but was all too diligent in someone else¡¯s.


    Thinking of the grievances she had endured over the years made Hu¡¯s Clan even angrier.


    ¡°You, you dare to spout nonsense?


    What Vixen?¡± Tan Zhengyuan clenched his fists, wishing he could give Hu¡¯s Clan a beating.


    Was this a matter to be talked about brazenly?


    He had always feared others would find out about being dunked in a pig cage, yet he couldn¡¯t stand a day without going there, his mind filled with Widow Xu¡¯s coquettish ways.


    So every day he struggled with the decision of whether or not to go, but the end result was always the same ¡ª that he went again.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said furiously, ¡°Who in the village doesn¡¯t know by now?


    If you like that woman who¡¯s always flirting with men so much, then why don¡¯t you just go live with her?¡±


    Just like Qiao Duo had said, she could support her daughter on her own; why should she and her daughter have to endure Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s moods every day?


    ¡°Can you watch your words?


    She¡¯s nothing like what you say!¡± Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s forehead throbbed with prominent veins as he spoke with fiery temperament.


    Now, he was like a boy caught in the throes of passionate love, how could he allow anyone to insult his beloved?


    Hu¡¯s Clan glared at Tan Zhengyuan, ¡°Can¡¯t even curse at her?¡±


    ¡°You should look in the mirror; are you even qualified to scold her?


    She¡¯s a lot better than you!


    You can¡¯t even bear a son, and now you dare talk back to me?


    Are you rebelling?¡±


    Tan Zhengyuan reached out to grab Hu¡¯s Clan, prepared to drag the insubordinate woman back to give her a good thrashing.


    But today, Hu¡¯s Clan was livid; she wouldn¡¯t let him have his way.

 Chapter 57 - 57 58 Getting Away from the Scumbag_1

    ?57: Chapter 58 Getting Away from the Scumbag_1 57: Chapter 58 Getting Away from the Scumbag_1 Hu¡¯s Clan slapped away Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s hand and said irritably, ¡°Let that vixen bear children for you!¡±


    Little did she know that her words had coincidentally struck a chord with Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s thoughts.


    Just today, Widow Xu had said, ¡°You villain, I wish to see you every day.¡±


    With that said, Tan Zhengyuan felt an unbearable itch in his heart.


    ¡°Just wait, once Qiao¡¯er gives birth to a son, I will divorce you.


    Then you and these two money-losing goods can get out.


    I will not support you wastes who can¡¯t even cook!¡±


    After dropping these harsh words, Tan Zhengyuan stormed out in anger.


    Without Tan Zhengyuan around, Hu¡¯s Clan lost her bluster and tears involuntarily flowed out.


    However, with outsiders present in the house, she had to forcibly hold back her emotions.


    ¡°Da Ya, Er Ya, you two eat well, Mom is going back now.¡±


    After she finished, Hu¡¯s Clan walked out quickly, fearing that any delay might make her cry out loud in someone else¡¯s house, which would be an ominous thing.


    Although there were quite a few people sitting in the room, the only one who could comfort Hu¡¯s Clan was Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She understood Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s feelings, as now a woman did not dare to divorce; aside from being ridiculed, more importantly, they simply could not survive on their own.


    Generally, belongings from the husband¡¯s family could not be taken away, and the woman¡¯s own family would not want a daughter who had been divorced, their fate could well be imagined.


    They could only become beggars, or join a convent, or even seek death to end their suffering quickly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said to Da Ya and Er Ya, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will go check on your mom.¡±


    Da Ya and Er Ya nodded, but their faces still showed worry.


    In the east wing room, Hu¡¯s Clan was crying.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly, ¡°Without him, your days might even be more comfortable, what¡¯s there to cry about?¡±


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, at least Da Ya and Er Ya would not be subject to beating and scolding anymore.


    She understood all these principles, but just couldn¡¯t control her tears.


    She had thought that Tan Zhengyuan was just a bit lazy, but who could have imagined he was this kind of man?


    Hu¡¯s Clan wiped her tears and said chokingly, ¡°My mind is in such a mess right now.


    Sister-in-law, I¡¯ve never done anything to deserve this in my life, so why did I end up with such a person?¡±


    He did nothing at home, and she accepted that.


    But that he would be so indecent with a widow and even threaten to drive her and her daughter out!


    ¡°You should think about what to do in the future,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said coolly.


    Now was not the time to lament fate, how to survive was the most important thing.


    Tan Zhengyuan could certainly not be relied upon; following this trend, he would sooner or later move all the property to Widow Xu, and Hu¡¯s Clan would have to fend for herself.


    Hu¡¯s Clan bit her teeth and finally said, ¡°My family used to dye fabric, and I know a bit about it too.


    It shouldn¡¯t be hard to find work in a dye workshop.¡±


    ¡°As long as you can support Da Ya and Er Ya, isn¡¯t that good enough?


    If you really get divorced, you can at least get rid of one freeloader.


    Da Ya and Er Ya will have a more relaxed life, I think you are making a gain here,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help saying. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If she were Hu¡¯s Clan, she would be so happy she¡¯d be ready to take flight!


    Cherish life, stay away from scumbags.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, thank you, I really don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you,¡± said Hu¡¯s Clan, her eyes red.


    Ever since Qiao Duo¡¯er had that talk with her, she had been pondering it.


    She had always put up with everything for the sake of giving her daughters a home, but they were often beaten and scolded.


    Was it really worth it?


    This time, Tan Zhengyuan had done such a thing, and she could no longer bear it.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you have come to understand.


    You are not alone; you still have Da Ya and Er Ya, and you need to protect them,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said.

 Chapter 58 - 58 59 That

    ?58: Chapter 59 That¡­


    Saliva_1 58: Chapter 59 That¡­


    Saliva_1 Hu¡¯s Clan said with determination, ¡°Whether he lives or dies, I don¡¯t care anymore.


    As long as the two girls are fine, I¡¯ll be completely content!¡±


    ¡°Mother, don¡¯t cry.


    You still have us, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Da Ya spoke softly.


    She really couldn¡¯t rest easy about her mother, so she came back.


    Er Ya was still holding a rice bowl: ¡°Mother, eat some more.


    Didn¡¯t you say we can¡¯t waste food?¡±


    The tears Hu¡¯s Clan had just barely held back overflowed once again, but this time it was not from sadness, but from being moved.


    With such well-behaved daughters bestowed to her by the heavens, what more could she ask for? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She said with a choked voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.


    Mom will do more work in the future to buy you candy and meat!¡±


    Da Ya and Er Ya nodded, both crawling into Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s embrace.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw the three of them huddled together and then went back to her own room.


    The scene made her feel a bit teary.


    She had always thought herself to be a heartless person, but now she realized that might not be the case.


    Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t stand scenes that were too sentimental.


    Back in her room, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t have much of an appetite.


    She prodded at the rice in her bowl, not wanting to take a single bite.


    Just thinking about that scoundrel Tan Zhengyuan made her feel stifled.


    Tan Zhenghong took Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bowl: ¡°Don¡¯t eat rice.


    Have some more meat.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted.


    She didn¡¯t want to eat meat either.


    She was still pondering and hadn¡¯t noticed what Tan Zhenghong was doing.


    After a while, she suddenly realized that Tan Zhenghong was eating the leftover rice from her bowl¡­


    ¡°You¡­


    don¡¯t eat that.


    There¡¯s still rice in the pot,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly.


    They had sweet and sour pork ribs today, and there was still sauce and such in the bowl.


    It looked a bit¡­


    distressing, but Tan Zhenghong was eating it without a change in expression.


    Cough cough, isn¡¯t he disgusted?


    Tan Zhenghong said slowly, ¡°I saw you were having a hard time eating, so I helped you.


    Eat what you want.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips.


    She didn¡¯t want to eat anything now.


    The bowl had her saliva on it, and Tan Zhenghong had just eaten from it, which was embarrassingly intimate.


    However, seeing that someone was enjoying the food, she didn¡¯t say anything.


    If Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t eat it, the rice would have to be thrown away, an unforgivable sin in an era of scarcity.


    Tan Zhenghong finished the rice in the bowl in no time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, all the while not daring to look at Tan Zhenghong.


    After cleaning the pots and bowls, Qiao Duo¡¯er still felt awkward.


    But no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she needed to nap.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have the energy to work for the rest of the afternoon.


    Normally, Qiao Duo¡¯er slept on her back and would not move throughout the night.


    Tan Zhenghong was also a quiet sleeper, so for many days, the two did not disturb each other.


    But today, perhaps lacking a sense of security, Qiao Duo¡¯er moved to her side after a while.


    The bed was only so big.


    With any movement, she ended up leaning against Tan Zhenghong, and eventually, she outright hugged his arm in her sleep.


    In her dreams, Qiao Duo¡¯er had no idea what was happening.


    Tan Zhenghong tensed up, fearing he would wake Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He also didn¡¯t want to disturb this closeness.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, she was still holding an arm.


    She blinked her eyes, no wonder she felt so warm.


    Hmm¡­


    did his brain short-circuit today?


    Why was she holding Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hummed and turned over to continue sleeping, while continuously hypnotizing herself: she knew nothing, she hadn¡¯t just woken up, and most certainly did not know that she was holding Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm.


    Her little movements were all seen by Tan Zhenghong, but he just indulgently smiled.


    No matter what, as long as the little thing was happy, that was good.

 Chapter 59 - 59 60 Daughter-in-law Pretends Well_1

    ?59: Chapter 60 Daughter-in-law Pretends Well_1 59: Chapter 60 Daughter-in-law Pretends Well_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er had self-hypnotized herself for a while and, to her surprise, she actually fell asleep.


    Another half an hour passed before she woke up.


    Well¡­


    she just pretended as if nothing had happened.


    If not for her slightly evasive gaze, Tan Zhenghong would think that someone holding him as he slept was just his own illusion.


    Sigh, his wife was quite good at feigning innocence.


    In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t go up the mountain; she had to hurry and tailor the cloth properly.


    Because she didn¡¯t want to wear the coarse clothes for another day!


    Not to mention whether it was flattering or not, it was like the cloth was a blunt knife scraping against her skin, often causing pain.


    Sometimes, Qiao Duo¡¯er even suspected that she might as well be wearing a torn hemp sack.


    Tan Zhenghong continued to weave baskets, and both of them were doing their own thing, the silence only broken by the sounds of their work.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er finished cutting the shirt, the doctor arrived.


    Doctor Wu Youcai was the only one in Big Willow Village who knew medical skills.


    Everyone would go to him for minor ailments like headaches and fevers.


    His fees were reasonable, and he dealt with issues smoothly, making him quite popular in Big Willow Village.


    Upon seeing the doctor enter the house, Tan Zhengyuan asked, ¡°Uncle Wu, what brings you here?¡±


    He usually went to the doctor to get some medicine for injuries, so they were fairly acquainted.


    Doctor Wu¡¯s expression was complicated as he said, ¡°I went to Er Dan¡¯s house and took a detour to check on your leg.¡±


    Sigh, he just couldn¡¯t believe that such a good child¡¯s leg might never recover.


    ¡°Uncle Wu, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s much better now,¡± said Tan Zhenghong, his face relaxed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was changing his dressing every day, and it was quite effective; he could even feel the bone starting to heal.


    Doctor Wu was still not at ease and insisted on seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s wound.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then said, ¡°Let the doctor take a look; it will give you peace of mind.¡±


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong lift the blanket, allowing the doctor to examine him.


    ¡°Ah Hong, did your parents finally decide to hire a doctor from the town for you?¡± asked Doctor Wu, somewhat surprised.


    After opening the splint, he knew another doctor had already seen it.


    But he knew the Tan family couple¡ªthose two were heartless.


    How could they be willing to hire a good doctor from the town?


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head: ¡°It was my wife who did it; she knows a bit about medicine.¡±


    ¡°Your wife is quite clever,¡± praised Doctor Wu, and upon seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg, he said joyfully, ¡°Ah Hong, you are fortunate.


    The bones have been properly set back in place.


    As long as you take good care of it, you will certainly be able to stand again.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er gratefully.


    Without her, he would be crippled for life.


    Doctor Wu excitedly asked, ¡°Miss, how did you manage this?


    No, if it¡¯s inconvenient for you to say, I won¡¯t ask.¡±


    That must be their family secret, but as long as Ah Hong was healed, that was enough!


    ¡°Push the broken bones back to their original position, apply Joint-Healing Grass, cover with fir bark, and then secure with a splint,¡± said Qiao Duo¡¯er, not keeping it to herself after all.


    She hadn¡¯t planned to make money from setting bones, and telling Doctor Wu might help him assist more people.


    ¡°Thank you for sharing your knowledge,¡± Doctor Wu bowed his thanks to Qiao Duo¡¯er, excitement in his eyes. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± as it wasn¡¯t any secret.


    Assured that Tan Zhenghong was fine, Doctor Wu hurried back.


    He had to study this method!


    Just as Doctor Wu stepped out of the house, Tan Yuancheng happened to come out of the main room.


    ¡°Brother Wu, how is Ah Hong¡¯s leg now?¡± Tan Yuancheng showed great concern for Tan Zhenghong.


    Now that the Tan family was under scrutiny by others, he needed to make his concern appear genuine.

 Chapter 60 - 60 61 Spoiled Idea_1

    ?60: Chapter 61 Spoiled Idea_1 60: Chapter 61 Spoiled Idea_1 Doctor Wu said with a laugh, ¡°That child, Ah Hong, is a lucky one, and he didn¡¯t choose the wrong wife, either.


    She actually managed to heal Ah Hong¡¯s leg, and in two or three months, he¡¯ll be able to work in the fields.¡±


    Tan Yuancheng simply couldn¡¯t believe his own ears, ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re saying¡­


    Ah Hong is healed?¡±


    ¡°Yes, definitely no problem, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯m heading back first.¡±


    Doctor Wu was still excited about obtaining a secret method; he needed to go back and study it closely.


    No sooner had the doctor left than Tan Yuancheng¡¯s face instantly fell.


    Wasn¡¯t it said that Fourth Boss was definitely going to be disabled?


    Why is he suddenly fine now?


    He had also gone to see the Fourth Boss¡¯s bride at the time of purchase, and the Qiao Family¡¯s daughter would shrink back at the sight of strangers, not daring to speak a word, looking utterly foolish.


    The Qiao couple also said, ¡°Our daughter is a fool. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You give us One or Two Silver, and consider it repayment for raising her.


    After that, we¡¯ll have nothing to do with each other.¡±


    At that time, he thought getting a daughter-in-law for One or Two Silver wasn¡¯t bad since it could save him some trouble during festivals and such.


    What could a fool possibly do to heal Fourth Boss¡¯s leg?


    Even ghosts wouldn¡¯t believe it!


    Once Tan Yuancheng knew about this, it didn¡¯t take long for everyone living in the Main Room to find out.


    One by one, they couldn¡¯t help but criticize Tan Zhenghong.


    ¡°I think Fourth Boss colluded with the doctor to swindle us!¡± said someone from the Wang Clan, clearly irritated.


    Tan Yuancheng pursed his lips; he had the same suspicion.


    Fourth Boss must think he¡¯s been hard done by all these years and is scheming to divide the household assets.


    Otherwise, how could his leg suddenly heal?


    If the doctor hadn¡¯t said Fourth Boss¡¯s leg was beyond help, would he have thought about dividing the house?


    Would he have carelessly agreed to divide everything?


    Damn it, he had supported Fourth Boss till he¡¯d grown up, and hadn¡¯t enjoyed any benefits from him yet!


    Little Wang Clan raised an eyebrow, ¡°The wife at The Fourth Boss¡¯s House is quite shrewd.


    You should¡¯ve seen her with a kitchen knife ready to chop us, looking fierce.


    Maybe she really did heal him.¡±


    ¡°Who cares what she did?


    Her foolishness comes and goes in spells, who knows when she¡¯ll relapse?¡±


    The Wang Clan woman said in annoyance.


    Speaking of this made her incredibly angry.


    Which family¡¯s daughter-in-law would dare to threaten her mother-in-law with a kitchen knife?


    She didn¡¯t even fancy going out gossiping anymore, as people would mention how she¡¯d brought a shrew into the house.


    Now, she just hoped that Qiao Duo would be dumb enough to doom herself.


    Tan Zhengyong sighed, ¡°With Fourth Boss¡¯s wife around, what can we possibly plan?


    In the end, what belongs to Fourth Boss will be solely his, and we won¡¯t get a single hair of it!¡±


    That ugly wife is no common kind of fierce, every bit as formidable as his own wife.


    How could he dare to act recklessly?


    Seeing that those people were just grumbling incessantly, but couldn¡¯t come up with any substantial plan, Little Wang Clan proudly added, ¡°Just watch me, I have a way to drive that fool out.


    When that time comes, who can Fourth Boss count on to serve him tea and water?¡±


    She would make sure Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t survive in the village!


    Eventually, after selling Qiao Duo, Fourth Brother Tan would have no choice but to live submissively with them.


    And his savings¡­


    hmph, wouldn¡¯t they all fall into her pocket?


    ¡°Go on, tell us, what are you planning to do?¡± The Wang Clan woman looked at Little Wang Clan with anticipation.


    Her daughter-in-law was full of ideas; if she said she had a plan, she most certainly did!


    Little Wang Clan whispered her plan in a hushed voice, and those listening couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs-up.


    Indeed, what a good idea!


    Hmm¡­


    although a bit distasteful¡­


    Tan Zhengyong couldn¡¯t help but remind her, ¡°Wife, be careful though.


    Remember how the Third Boss got beat up last time.¡±


    ¡°Look at you, so spineless.


    Can¡¯t I handle a simpleton?¡±


    Little Wang Clan said, visibly annoyed.

 Chapter 61 - 61 62 The Purchased Servant_1

    ?61: Chapter 62 The Purchased Servant_1 61: Chapter 62 The Purchased Servant_1 Tan Zhengyong murmured, ¡°You¡¯ve already been taken advantage of more than once, haven¡¯t you learned your lesson?¡±


    But he didn¡¯t have the courage to say it out loud.


    Wang Clan squinted and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, we still have the two of us old folks here, she won¡¯t be able to turn the sky upside down no matter what.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, as long as we solidify this matter, let¡¯s see how she can still jump around!¡±


    Little Wang Clan was quite smug; she was already fantasizing about her schemes bearing fruit.


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was carefully sewing her own clothes, feeling very delighted. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You make that piece of fabric into your clothes too; I can wear anything at home,¡± Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but say.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, ¡°That color is too ugly; you wear it.


    Once I finish this one, I¡¯ll have money to buy new fabric.¡±


    She was back to being sixteen; of course, she had to wear something beautiful, right?


    Tan Zhenghong weakly said, ¡°Duo¡¯er, you are so kind.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, even I think I¡¯m kind!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a giggle.


    She admitted that she had never felt bad about herself.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t always focus on the needlework; it¡¯s bad for your eyes.


    Take a break.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go boil some water.¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er put down the needlework and went to boil water.


    In the future, she needed to buy a stove to bring home.


    It would be convenient for boiling water and stewing soups, rather than having to start a fire to heat the pot every time.


    Having lit the fire, Qiao Duo¡¯er also started to knead dough in a small pot, as the household had finished their supply of steamed buns, and it was a good opportunity to make more.


    Suddenly feeling someone behind her, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around to look.


    Xiao Fu was two meters away from Qiao Duo¡¯er, and seeing that he was discovered, he pulled a face at Qiao Duo¡¯er and cursed, ¡°Ugly woman.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, but didn¡¯t care to bother with him.


    Why should an adult like her quibble with a mischievous brat?


    However, Xiao Fu thought Qiao Duo¡¯er was an easy target; kids have a short memory, and he had already forgotten the lesson Qiao Duo¡¯er had taught him.


    He threw the stone in his hand at Qiao Duo¡¯er, but his strength was puny, and he didn¡¯t manage to hit her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression darkened a bit, but she still remained silent, giving Xiao Fu a look of disdain.


    If your skills are this terrible, why bother making a fool of yourself, right?


    ¡°Staring at what?


    Be careful, or I¡¯ll have my grandma come and beat you to death!¡± Xiao Fu retorted, sticking out his neck.


    This woman often secretly enjoyed good food, but she never gave any to him.


    So he was angry; he decided he needed to teach this woman a lesson.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a low voice, ¡°Get lost, you make me nauseous just by looking at you.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to pick on a child, but if the child was asking for trouble, she didn¡¯t need to be courteous.


    Xiao Fu snorted, ¡°This is my home; if anyone¡¯s going to leave, it¡¯s you.


    Who do you think you are?


    My grandparents spent ¡®One Tael of Silver¡¯ to buy you to serve me!¡±


    So he was saying she was just a Servant, what right did she have to talk to him like that?


    ¡°You?


    Worthy of my service?


    Why don¡¯t you take a look in the mirror and see what you¡¯re like!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes again.


    The fact that this unruly kid hadn¡¯t been beaten to death yet was a miracle.


    She really wanted to shout, ¡°Whose brat is this?


    Won¡¯t someone please tie him up?¡±


    ¡°You were dirt cheap, sold for merely ¡®One Tael of Silver¡¯; you¡¯re worthless!¡± Xiao Fu continued to taunt Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    ¡°Even if someone like you was given away for free, no one would want you!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    Xiao Fu pursed his lips, feeling wronged.


    And whenever he felt wronged, what should he do?


    Of course, he¡¯d bring out his amulet for protection.

 Chapter 62 - 62 63 Sell the Kiln!_1

    ?62: Chapter 63: Sell the Kiln!_1 62: Chapter 63: Sell the Kiln!_1 ¡°I¡¯ll tell my grandma about you!


    She¡¯ll sell you off to a brothel quickly, and once you¡¯re sold, I¡¯ll have meat to eat!¡±


    Xiao Fu squinted his eyes, his mood was very bright.


    His grandma said that Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t that ugly now, and she could probably be sold for two or three silvers.


    With so much silver, he could buy lots of delicious food!


    A warning bell suddenly rang in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart; the emphasis of Xiao Fu¡¯s words was to let the Wang Clan sell her quickly.


    Which meant that the Wang Clan already had the intention to sell her, and Xiao Fu¡¯s role was just to speed up the process, and more so, to sell her into that dirty place!


    Hmph, they sure have some nerve!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrow, ¡°Tsk, you just know to tell your grandma, can¡¯t you think of any other tricks? S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shameful!¡±


    While dealing with Xiao Fu, she had already made a rough plan.


    One night she overheard Little Wang Clan¡¯s intention to sell her after Tan Zhenghong no longer needed her care, which would then logically lead to their taking over Tan Zhenghong¡¯s land.


    But now that it was known Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t be left with any disability, the plan was pushed forward.


    At this moment, she only wanted to send those people two words: despicable!


    Xiao Fu was so angry he jumped: ¡°You¡¯re the disgrace!


    You shameless woman!¡±


    But insulting her wasn¡¯t satisfying enough for him, he suddenly set his eyes on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s clothes drying nearby, and the next second, he was waddling over to the clothes rack.


    In just a few moments, he pulled down the clothes and then his plump little body began stomping on them ferociously.


    It was as if it wasn¡¯t clothes under his feet, but Qiao Duo¡¯er herself.


    ¡°Bad woman, I¡¯ll crush you, ugly witch, dumb fool¡­¡±


    Xiao Fu stomped and cursed at the same time, having learned seven or eight parts of the cursing skills from the Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed Xiao Fu by the collar and lifted him up off the ground by his feet.


    ¡°Wash the clothes clean,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er commanded.


    Dammit, the clothes she finally got around to washing were just ruined like that!


    Xiao Fu screamed at the top of his lungs, ¡°Grandpa, grandma, auntie is going to hit me!


    Help, I¡¯m going to die!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, she really felt the urge to beat the life out of the little brat!


    But she hadn¡¯t even touched him before he started screaming like this, if she really hit him, he would probably scream a hole in the sky, that annoying brat!


    Then, the Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan burst out from inside the house.


    Seeing Xiao Fu lifted by Qiao Duo¡¯er, the Wang Clan said anxiously, ¡°Quickly put him down!¡±


    What if something happened to her precious grandson?


    However, she always bullied the weak and feared the strong, having been put in her place by Qiao Duo once, she didn¡¯t dare to be too presumptuous and could only stare with wide eyes.


    This further solidified her resolve to sell Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Little Wang Clan tugged at the Wang Clan, then smiled, ¡°Sister-in-law, Xiao Fu is young and mischievous, please be patient with him.


    They¡¯re just a few clothes, I¡¯ll help you wash them, wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem?¡±


    The Wang Clan looked at Little Wang Clan puzzledly, what was she doing, meddling in such nonsense?


    It was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fault her clothes were stepped on, why should they wash them clean for her?


    Little Wang Clan ignored the Wang Clan; these days, she was becoming increasingly displeased with her mother-in-law.


    Getting old also meant the mind wasn¡¯t as sharp, and worse, she liked to meddle too much, always pointing fingers and giving pointless orders day in and day out.


    Hmph, following her lead certainly wouldn¡¯t lead to any mistake!


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not disciplining Xiao Fu properly.


    How about I help you wash for three days¡­


    no¡­


    five days?


    Let it be my way of apologizing,¡± Little Wang Clan said pleasingly.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s attitude was very good, but Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t bring herself to be angry anymore.


    She couldn¡¯t well reprimand someone who was trying so hard to make amends with a cheerful face.

 Chapter 63 - 63 64 Unusual Occurrences_1

    ?63: Chapter 64 Unusual Occurrences_1 63: Chapter 64 Unusual Occurrences_1 ¡°There¡¯s no need to wash the clothes; as long as you keep an eye on him, that¡¯s fine.¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er looked disdainfully at Xiao Fu.


    At that moment she was very vigilant, aware that there was something odd about the situation.


    Who knew what Little Wang Clan was thinking?


    Therefore, helping her wash clothes was out of the question.


    She still wanted to stay alive.


    But Little Wang Clan wouldn¡¯t give up.


    She took a basin and began to gather the clothes, and even glared at Xiao Fu: ¡°Don¡¯t cause any more trouble in the future.


    How could you dare to trample on the clothes your fourth aunt cleaned?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I forbid you from washing her clothes.


    I want her to kneel down and apologize to me!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Fu said assertively, tugging at Little Wang Clan¡¯s clothes.


    He had now clashed head-on with Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Little Wang Clan smacked Xiao Fu on the buttocks: ¡°What are you babbling about, child?


    Don¡¯t be so disrespectful, or I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡±


    She really put effort into that smack, and Xiao Fu immediately opened his mouth and howled.


    ¡°You too, what¡¯s the point of hitting the child for no reason?¡± Wang Clan said, displeased.


    Little Wang Clan glared at Xiao Fu: ¡°Who told him not to learn his lesson?


    I think I didn¡¯t hit him hard enough!¡±


    ¡°Granny, I don¡¯t want mom, she¡¯s mean!¡±


    Xiao Fu cried and accused Little Wang Clan, having never been beaten like this before!


    Wang Clan, no longer caring that Little Wang Clan was her niece, said angrily, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak nicely when you have a problem?


    If you hurt my grandson of the Tan Family, can you afford to compensate?


    You¡¯re not this diligent at home, but you¡¯re so eager to do chores for someone else¡¯s family!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe that Little Wang Clan wanted to wash clothes for that fool!


    Little Wang Clan pressed her lips together, as upset as she was with Wang Clan, the woman was still her mother-in-law, so she dared not be too presumptuous.


    But in her heart, she had cursed Little Wang Clan many times over.


    ¡°Mom, you take Xiao Fu back first.


    This matter is Xiao Fu¡¯s fault,¡± Little Wang Clan said in a good-natured tone.


    Seeing Little Wang Clan yielding, Wang Clan¡¯s expression finally eased a bit.


    ¡°Xiao Fu, don¡¯t cry, Granny will take you home for some candy!¡±


    With that, she took Xiao Fu, who was still squirming, back home.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely get your clothes cleaned.


    You go and take care of other things,¡± Little Wang Clan said with a pleading smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and went back to kneading the dough.


    After she placed the dough in the basin to rise, Little Wang Clan had also finished washing the clothes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment, then headed toward the east wing room.


    Just then Da Ya and Er Ya were in the main room, and Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Da Ya, Er Ya, I need your help with something.¡±


    Both girls nodded their heads, certain they could complete any task entrusted by their fourth aunt.


    ¡°Keep a closer eye on the people from the Main Room,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a low voice.


    As Tan Zhenghong¡¯s recognized wife, the Main Room¡¯s people would need a plausible reason to betray her; otherwise, Tan Zhenghong would never agree.


    So she had to be extra careful recently, not to let the Main Room¡¯s people pull any tricks.


    But she couldn¡¯t spend all day at home keeping watch on them; she had plenty of other work to do, and it was too easy to get caught.


    Er Ya nodded: ¡°Fourth Aunt, don¡¯t worry.


    I¡¯ll definitely keep a close watch on them!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ruffled Er Ya¡¯s hair: ¡°Having you help means I can go up the mountain to gather herbs.


    Later, I¡¯ll buy you some candy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already grown up.


    I don¡¯t need candy,¡± Er Ya said obediently.


    Da Ya also said, ¡°You always give us treats; we¡¯re starting to feel embarrassed.¡±


    They were happy just to be able to help Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly and continued to chat with the girls for a while before she went back to her own room to mend clothes, wanting to finish them as quickly as possible.

 Chapter 64 - 64 65 Are You Biological_1

    ?64: Chapter 65 Are You Biological?_1 64: Chapter 65 Are You Biological?_1 Having returned to his own room, Tan Zhenghong wore a stern face, and even the basket he was halfway through weaving was tossed aside.


    ¡°Duo¡¯er, it¡¯s my fault that I¡¯ve dragged you down, but I will protect you at all costs,¡± Tan Zhenghong said through clenched teeth.


    If it weren¡¯t for his broken leg, how could Qiao Duo¡¯er have been bullied like this?


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er had never thought about letting anyone protect her.


    Even though her physical condition was far worse than in her previous life, she was sure she could protect herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you adopted?¡±


    But after thinking about it, Tan Zhenghong did bear some resemblance to Tan Zhengyuan and the others; he must be the biological child of Tan Yuancheng and the Wang Clan.


    However, he was tall and strong, and most importantly, he did not inherit the Wang Clan¡¯s narrow, triangular eyes.


    Instead, he had thick brows and large eyes, and lacked the sleazy and lazy aura of those people, making him much more pleasant to look at.


    Looks aren¡¯t everything when judging a person; the right temperament is far more important.


    Actually, aside from their eyes, those three brothers were also quite good-looking, yet they were raised to have the coarse demeanor of hooligans. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But if he was indeed their own flesh and blood, then it was even more inexcusable.


    Shouldn¡¯t the youngest be the most cherished?


    So why then, in the Tan Family, had the youngest become the one exploited by everyone?


    Tan Yuancheng said with downcast eyes, ¡°I was sent to a distant uncle¡¯s house shortly after I was born and wasn¡¯t brought back until I was eight, after the uncle died.


    I learned some martial arts, and I started hunting as soon as I returned.¡±


    As for the reason why his parents would send a child to distant relatives and not look at him for eight years, he didn¡¯t know.


    And he was also aware that if he couldn¡¯t hunt, his parents would not have allowed him to return.


    Qiao Duo nodded her head, understanding in her heart.


    Even if he was their biological child, how much affection could there be if he was not raised by them?


    To his other siblings, Tan Yuancheng was more like an outsider.


    Who else were they supposed to bully if not him?


    Alas, Tan Zhenghong was also an unlucky child.


    However, it was fortunate that Tan Zhenghong was not raised by that couple; otherwise, he probably would not be much different from those three brothers, and that would truly be a tragedy.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo noticed that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes were soiled with mud and sighed.


    It must have been Tan Zhenghong who got out of bed by himself, most likely by crawling.


    But without waiting for him to go out, the situation had resolved itself, and he must have moved back onto the bed by himself.


    Moving around with a bone injury, doesn¡¯t it hurt?


    ¡°I can deal with those people easily, what are you worried about?¡±


    Qiao Duo glared at Tan Zhenghong and then left the room.


    Fire was still burning in the stove, so she added more water to it, which should be hot by now.


    She brought the water back, along with clean clothes and a towel for Tan Zhenghong.


    ¡°Wipe yourself down.


    I¡¯ll help you rewrap your leg in a bit,¡± Qiao Duo said, clearly annoyed.


    But she couldn¡¯t ignore the sourness in her nose.


    She wasn¡¯t Lin Daiyu, able to deal with that trash with just a flick of her finger.


    Was there any need to torture oneself like this?


    Tan Zhenghong coughed awkwardly a couple of times.


    Wasn¡¯t he usually the one who was restless?


    Once Tan Zhenghong had cleaned up, Qiao Duo untied the bandages on his leg, removed the splint and the fir bark, and checked the bones carefully.


    Fortunately, there wasn¡¯t any serious damage.


    She cleaned his leg with a piece of clean cotton cloth soaked in liquor before applying a fresh layer of herbal medicine.


    ¡°Luckily the bones aren¡¯t displaced.


    Don¡¯t try to be tough next time, or else your leg will never heal in this lifetime!¡±


    Qiao Duo looked disdainfully at Tan Zhenghong.


    She figured this good-for-nothing thought her life was too peaceful, so he kept pestering her for no reason!


    But she was genuinely busy, with not enough time in her day!

 Chapter 65 - 65 66 _1

    ?65: Chapter 66 _1 65: Chapter 66 _1 Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a woman.


    Don¡¯t try to act tough in the future!¡±


    There was still a man in the house; his leg was just temporarily inconvenienced, not dead.


    Why did she have to take charge in everything?


    For his wife, even if he had to crawl, he would crawl out and beat up those people!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m much tougher than you think.


    You should worry about your own leg first.


    I¡¯m telling you, these two legs are mine; they are only allowed to serve me in the future.¡±


    From setting the bone to daily care, she had done it all herself.


    She wouldn¡¯t agree to anyone wanting her results!


    If Tan Zhenghong was so low as to offer himself to those people to order around, she would definitely break his legs!


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er calmed down a bit before coming back.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong looking at her, she immediately bristled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, or I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± Tan Zhenghong said sincerely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes countless times.


    Was he saying he didn¡¯t mean to flirt with her?


    She wouldn¡¯t accept that explanation!


    She sulked as she sewed the clothes, refusing to look at or speak to Tan Zhenghong.


    Even so, Qiao Duo¡¯er still felt uncomfortable all over.


    This was probably what they call¡­


    a feeling of ambiguity?


    She¡¯d rather go and torture the people in the main room, okay?


    At dinner time, Sun Erhu appeared promptly.


    He immediately noticed the strange atmosphere in the house and took the chance to ask while Qiao Duo¡¯er was getting bowls and chopsticks.


    ¡°Brother Hong, did you make sister-in-law angry?¡±


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips.


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense and go help your sister-in-law with the work!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to see what a faithless bastard you are,¡± Sun Erhu muttered, but he still went out to work.


    In fact, there wasn¡¯t much to do, just helping to carry some bowls and such.


    After taking a bath, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay on the bed, her face still flushing at the thought of what someone had said.


    Hmph, would they even let her live her life properly?


    Now she couldn¡¯t even sleep well!


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but explain.


    ¡°That¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I¡­


    have never said that to anyone else.¡±


    After speaking, he wanted to slap himself twice.


    Was that an explanation or an apology?


    It seemed like neither, so why did he say it?


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded indifferently, then turned over and went to sleep with her back to Tan Zhenghong.


    Since he hadn¡¯t said it to anyone else, she decided to forgive him.


    Tan Zhenghong was distressed.


    What did her ¡®hmm¡¯ mean?


    After a long while, Tan Zhenghong still couldn¡¯t figure it out and finally fell asleep with the question on his mind.

 Chapter 66 - 66 67 Offering Help When Not Asked

    ?66: Chapter 67 Offering Help When Not Asked 66: Chapter 67 Offering Help When Not Asked The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er went up the mountain early, which was always better than staying home and being harassed by Tan Zhenghong.


    You never knew when he would suddenly decide to tease her again.


    Once she reached the mountain, Qiao Duo¡¯er searched carefully; now that she knew the prices of herbs, she of course looked for the more expensive ones.


    By around noon, her basket was quite filled with herbs, so she went down the mountain.


    When she got to the pond, she couldn¡¯t resist checking her reflection, hmm¡­


    her complexion looked much better now, and her face was a bit smoother than the surface of the moon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very pleased; her face was finally presentable.


    As she stood up, she happened to see the Ye Ling Jiao Teng and remembered it was the season to eat it.


    Excitedly, she walked over to the Ye Ling Jiao Teng; her noontime meal could have an extra dish today.


    Since Ye Ling Jiao Teng didn¡¯t grow large, the only edible part was the vine.


    Back home, she plucked off the leaves, keeping only the vine, rubbed it vigorously in water to wash away the astringent taste, then fried it with chili peppers ¨C it tasted just as good as purslane.


    Lately, there were no lotus root stalks left, so they had been eating a lot of purslane; it was time for a change in flavor.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived home it was noon, and she greeted Tan Zhenghong before starting to prepare lunch.


    Today, Sun Erhu had gone up the mountain, so lunch could be simple.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just reheated yesterday¡¯s sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried a plate of Ye Ling Jiao Teng, and warmed a few steamed buns, and that was lunch.


    During the meal, Tan Zhenghong suddenly said, ¡°Little Sister-in-law came today to wash the clothes.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the basin where the dirty clothes were supposed to be, and indeed there wasn¡¯t a single garment left.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s actions were too strange!


    ¡°Do you think she truly realized her mistake?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong, after all, he knew Little Wang Clan better.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s easy to change rivers and mountains, but one¡¯s true nature is hard to alter.¡±


    His sister-in-law was a shrewd person, never at a disadvantage.


    Moreover, she was not a diligent person; previously with household chores, she always chose the easy and shunned the tough, leaving the dirty and tiring work to her elder sister-in-law or third sister-in-law.


    ¡°I think so too, this time she even went so far as to beat her own son, she¡¯s really made a big investment,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with narrowed eyes.


    Tan Zhenghong frowned and said, ¡°You need to be careful these next few days.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if she dares to scheme against me, I¡¯ll make sure she regrets it!¡± replied Qiao Duo¡¯er confidently, and besides, there was Er Ya keeping watch at home, so nothing should go wrong.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, but he still worried about his wife getting the short end of the stick.


    He knew the tactics of his mother and sister-in-law.


    His little wife had a good heart; how could she be a match for them?


    ¡°No matter what, you must tell me everything, I will protect you,¡± Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, to avoid giving Tan Zhenghong reasons to worry all day.


    Plus, handicapped people tend to have fragile hearts, and she needed to be considerate of that.


    No matter what schemes the old mansion¡¯s people were concocting, Qiao Duo¡¯er carried on with her activities as usual, but the one change she made was washing her clothes early in the morning. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clothes are easily damaged if dried all day, and since the sun was at its peak at noon and there wasn¡¯t much else to do except for a nap, the rural households were accustomed to washing clothes at midday.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t want Little Wang Clan¡¯s charitable gestures; wearing clothes washed by Little Wang Clan made her uncomfortable.


    As the saying goes, he who takes a gift seldom measures, and Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t want to owe Little Wang Clan a favor.


    For three consecutive days, everything was calm.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er even began to doubt if she was overthinking, but she still instructed Er Ya to stay alert.


    It was better to keep watch for two days for nothing than to be caught off guard one day.

 Chapter 67 - 67 68 _1

    ?67: Chapter 68 _1 67: Chapter 68 _1 Qiao Duo¡¯er never expected that she wouldn¡¯t be sought after by the Main Room, but instead she was the one to have issues.


    At night, after Qiao Duo¡¯er took a bath, her face looked a little ugly, and she walked with her waist bowed.


    Damn it, it was too painful, as if there was a sharp knife scraping inside her lower abdomen, the pain was indescribable, but it was truly torturous!


    Why was she so unlucky?


    She had accepted her fate as a peasant girl, and she had accepted being both dumb and ugly, but she couldn¡¯t stand the pain of her period anymore!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very irritable from the pain, but what could she do?


    Tan Zhenghong noticed something was wrong with his wife right away, and he anxiously asked, ¡°Duo¡¯er, what¡¯s wrong with you?


    I¡¯ll have Erhu go get the doctor.¡±


    As he spoke, he was also thinking about getting out of bed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­


    I¡¯m fine!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said.


    Tan Zhenghong persuaded patiently, ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself, let Uncle Wu have a look, you will feel better after taking some medicine.¡±


    If she said she was fine in this condition, what would it take for her to admit she wasn¡¯t?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her teeth and finally said, ¡°I really am fine, it¡¯s just my ¡®time of the month¡¯.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong, who seldom had contact with women, naturally did not understand this euphemistic phrase, ¡°What ¡®time of the month¡¯?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes, she just wanted to be quiet for a while, but Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t let her, she even felt the urge to throw him out!


    ¡°You look so pained, we must see the doctor, otherwise I won¡¯t be at ease,¡± Tan Zhenghong was very determined.


    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®that time of the month,¡¯ something that happens to every woman each month.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er threw caution to the wind, it wasn¡¯t shameful to speak of this natural physiological phenomenon, right?


    Sigh, that¡¯s how she consoled herself.


    But in reality, she wanted to find a crack in the floor to crawl into, firstly for the quiet, and secondly because she was too embarrassed to face anyone.


    She sighed and took some clean white cloth and sewing materials and sat on the bed.


    Without sanitary pads, she could only sew a cloth pad to use as a substitute.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like cursing, was there anyone more unlucky than her?


    And her original body¡¯s mother was just too terrible, not even giving her a cloth pad when she got married.


    Okay, she admitted she was a bit of a clean freak, she wouldn¡¯t use something used by others, even though that ¡®other person¡¯ was also this body.


    Watching Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands shake with pain, Tan Zhenghong took the needle and thread from her hands, ¡°Tell me how to sew it, and I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Can you really?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er was very skeptical, a grown man using a needle and thread?


    The idea alone seemed bizarre.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, ¡°A little, but I¡¯m not very good at it.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes were probably mended by himself.


    Probably no other woman¡¯s stitches were as ugly as his, uneven in length and messy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth; she really wasn¡¯t in a state suitable for sewing, so she let Tan Zhenghong go ahead.


    After all, the requirements for the stitching of a pad weren¡¯t very high.


    ¡°Just sew around the edges,¡± she said.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, then started sewing with the needle and thread, clumsy but serviceable, although slow.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a bit awkward; he had never sewn anything for a woman before, and the first time was for Qiao Duo, and for¡­


    that.


    He guessed he was probably the only one who would ever have this honor in this lifetime.


    But thinking about it, why did it feel a bit bittersweet? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 68 - 68 69 You Can Be On Top_1

    ?68: Chapter 69 You Can Be On Top_1 68: Chapter 69 You Can Be On Top_1 It didn¡¯t take long for Tan Zhenghong to finish sewing, and after handing the cloth bundle to Qiao Duo¡¯er, he consciously turned his back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach hurt so much that she couldn¡¯t be bothered with the specifics, and she could only change into clean pants on the bed and then pad it with the cloth bundle.


    The touch of the cotton felt alright, but the thought that Tan Zhenghong had sewn it made her a little uncomfortable.


    After changing her clothes, she lay in bed and curled up a little, which finally brought some relief.


    This was a sign of malnutrition.


    Her menstruation only came once every two or three months, or even half a year, and each time it came, the pain was just unbearable.


    So for her, not having her period was actually a relief.


    Sigh, she really needed to take good care of this body.


    ¡°How can it not hurt so much?¡± Tan Zhenghong felt deeply concerned and wished he could bear the pain for her.


    But as a man, he had no such ability and couldn¡¯t suffer the pain in place of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wrapped the sheet around her stomach.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll just warm it up a bit and that will help.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth and then placed his hand on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just felt someone press against her back, and then a warm current seeped into her belly.


    However, he had placed his hand in the wrong spot. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was on her period, and it was her lower abdomen that was hurting, not a case of indigestion, yet Tan Zhenghong was warming the area around her belly button.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only remind him, ¡°Move your hand down a bit.¡±


    At this moment, she wasn¡¯t concerned with propriety between men and women.


    All she wanted was for her stomach to stop hurting so much.


    Tan Zhenghong responded with a grunt and quickly moved his hand downward, but moving any further down¡­


    cough cough¡­


    he shouldn¡¯t be touching her carelessly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er impatiently pulled his hand to her lower abdomen.


    Because of the warmth, the pain finally eased a little.


    Hmm¡­


    having a man around was somewhat useful after all.


    But Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t finding it so easy to bear.


    As a normal man, and a newly married one at that, placing his hand in such a sensitive spot inevitably brought some thoughts to mind.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was lustful, but rather it was human instinct.


    With a hoarse voice, Tan Zhenghong asked, ¡°Is it more comfortable now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just keep it there and don¡¯t move, otherwise I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said through gritted teeth.


    Even though she was menstruating, she was not someone to be trifled with; she was pretty sure she could handle him if necessary.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a full head of sweat, ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person, I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡±


    With her period and the unbearable pain, could he even think of touching her?


    Even if he was dying of frustration, he couldn¡¯t just do whatever he wanted!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes and said incredulously, ¡°Even if you were that kind of person, do you think you could succeed?


    Your leg is still broken, and all you do is have all these thoughts.¡±


    ¡°You could be on top,¡± Tan Zhenghong said weakly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er elbowed him back, and only after hearing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s muffled groan did she feel satisfied.


    Cough cough, she guessed that guy must have been holding back for too long.


    His wife was right beside him, yet he couldn¡¯t do anything and also couldn¡¯t resort to Lady Five to take care of his needs, leading to a mind full of unhealthy thoughts.


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, ¡°Duo¡¯er, please stay with me, okay?


    I will make sure you have a good life.¡±


    He would work hard, trying his best to hunt and weave baskets to make his wife the happiest woman in the world.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    She was still dwelling on the fact that Tan Zhenghong had teased her; if it happened once and twice, wouldn¡¯t a third time be close by?


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, ¡°I feel like I can¡¯t even live without you.¡±


    He was a rough man, and this was the first time he had ever said something so¡­


    tender¡­


    mushy.

 Chapter 69 - 69 69-70 Stay with Me_1

    ?69: Chapter 69-70 Stay with Me_1 69: Chapter 69-70 Stay with Me_1 Before long, Tan Zhenghong finished stitching and handed the cloth bundle to Qiao Duo¡¯er, then turned away conscientiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach hurt so much she couldn¡¯t care about anything else.


    She could only change into clean pants on the bed, and then place the cloth bundle underneath.


    The touch of the cotton was not bad, but just the thought of Tan Zhenghong sewing it made her feel slightly uncomfortable.


    After changing, she lay on the bed and felt a bit better curled up.


    This was a sign of malnutrition; her former self¡¯s period would only come once every two or three months, or even half a year, and each time it was excruciatingly painful.


    So for her, not having her period was actually a good thing.


    Sigh, she really needed to take good care of this body.


    ¡°How can you make it hurt less?¡± Tan Zhenghong felt so distressed, he wished he could take the pain away for her.


    But as a man, he didn¡¯t have that ability and could do nothing to ease Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wrapped the blanket around her belly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯ll get better if I just warm it up.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his teeth, then placed his hand on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach.


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, ¡°Duo¡¯er, would you just stay?


    I¡¯ll make sure you have a good life.¡±


    He would work very hard, go hunting tirelessly, weave baskets diligently, to make his wife the happiest woman in the world.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    She still dwelled on the fact that Tan Zhenghong had teased her before.


    There was a first and a second time, could a third time be far behind?


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, ¡°I feel like I can¡¯t live without you.¡±


    He was a rough man and this was the first time he had said something so¡­


    mushy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes, feeling her bones churn with disgust.


    In this world, who couldn¡¯t live without whom?


    This guy was being overly sentimental.


    Hmph, and he was supposed to be a big strong man!


    ¡°Duo¡¯er, I don¡¯t want anyone but you,¡± Tan Zhenghong added.


    He had made up his mind long ago.


    Even if one day Qiao Duo¡¯er left, he wouldn¡¯t settle for another woman for the rest of his life.


    He said he would make sure she had a good life and wanted only her.


    What more could a woman ask for?


    There should be nothing more.


    And Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t just talk; he worked very hard every day.


    Even now, though he could barely walk, he strived to make baskets for money.


    As for his fidelity, perhaps it was just his nature.


    Maybe¡­


    she should save his life?


    He did say he couldn¡¯t live without her, right?


    She was a kind person; how could she stand by and do nothing?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er softly uttered a sound of agreement, but that was enough for Tan Zhenghong to be overjoyed; his wife had agreed!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Duo¡¯er, are you agreeing not to leave me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so annoying, my belly hurts, and I want to sleep,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes.


    As a woman, she kept her word.


    But did she really need to repeat herself?


    She might think of herself as a tomboy, but that didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t feel embarrassed!


    Tan Zhenghong obediently shut up, afraid of angering Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    His wife had barely agreed to stay with him; if he unwittingly drove her away, wouldn¡¯t he be devastated?


    Tan Zhenghong dared not move recklessly and continued to keep Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach warm with great care.


    Despite the layers of clothing, he could still feel the cold seeping from her belly.


    No wonder it hurt.


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Duo¡¯er, are you in too much pain to sleep?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grunted.


    She had been trying to sleep seriously, but still couldn¡¯t drift off.


    ¡°Then talk to me, distract yourself,¡± Tan Zhenghong said, squinting his eyes.


    He too was too excited to sleep tonight.


    Hehe, his wife couldn¡¯t escape now!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, ¡°I¡¯d rather sleep.¡±


    Tan Zhenghong lost his spirit.


    He knew his wife wasn¡¯t someone who liked to chatter, so better stay quiet.


    After a quiet moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Tell me about your childhood.¡±


    Stimulated by that request, Tan Zhenghong instantly felt revitalized.


    ¡°As a child, I was sent to live with a distant uncle and grew up with my cousin.


    At the age of three, I started learning martial arts from Grandpa Bai Beard in the village¡­¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Truthfully, there wasn¡¯t much to tell about his childhood except for some trivial tales such as stealing peaches from the neighbor¡¯s, taking bird eggs, and killing snakes, things that most country boys have done.


    But for Qiao Duo¡¯er, these were novel experiences, and she listened with great interest.


    The life of a farming family really wasn¡¯t bad.


    Perhaps one day she would be grateful for her choice.


    After all, a human life spans only a few decades, what¡¯s more important than being free and following one¡¯s heart?


    Like now, reflecting on her past life, she mostly remembered training and missions, never having experienced a romance, which she found regrettable.


    As they talked, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s breathing became light and shallow.


    Tan Zhenghong carefully tucked her in, then returned his hand to the same position.


    That night, no matter how hot it was, his hand remained there.

 Chapter 70 - 70 71 Brown Sugar Ginger_1

    ?70: Chapter 71 Brown Sugar Ginger_1 70: Chapter 71 Brown Sugar Ginger_1 The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er got up a bit late.


    Her stomach still hurt, but it was much better than yesterday.


    When she got up, Sun Erhu had already cooked a pot of white rice porridge and exchanged a bowl of it for a plate of pickles from Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Because his taste had been spoiled by Qiao Duo¡¯er, he couldn¡¯t stomach anything he fried himself, and even thought the pickles made by Hu¡¯s Clan were distasteful.


    Sun Erhu silently decided that his only requirement for a future wife would be that she must be good at cooking.


    After all¡­


    one can¡¯t bring one¡¯s wife over to someone else¡¯s house for meals after getting married, can they?


    Duo¡¯er ate half a bowl of plain porridge listlessly before putting down her chopsticks.


    After breakfast, she got to work right away.


    She minced some ginger, mixed it with brown sugar, and put it in a pot to steam over water.


    With the fire on low, she quickly went back home to sew another cloth pouch, this time adding a strip of cloth to secure it.


    Otherwise, she worried that the thing might fall out if she took a few steps, which would be rather embarrassing.


    Duo¡¯er quickly sewed another one, and the ginger and brown sugar mixture was ready in the pot.


    She then boiled a pot of hot water, scooped a spoonful of ginger and brown sugar into it, and dissolved it with boiling water¡ªa great remedy for driving out the cold.


    She remembered from a palace drama she watched, where the ladies would drink this for health.


    Um¡­


    it had to work.


    After drinking a bowl, her stomach felt warm, and the pain seemed to lessen a bit.


    Whenever she felt uncomfortable, Duo¡¯er would quickly change the pouch.


    She also took the chance when her stomach hurt less to wash her soiled clothes with warm water.


    Since it was her first time dealing with her period in such a primitive way, Duo¡¯er ended up changing her clothes three times that day.


    Although cotton was quite absorbent, it was easy to leak through, and sitting for too long would stain the trousers with blood.


    This left Qiao Duo feeling helpless.


    The only solution was to make several more cloth pouches and change them frequently.


    That day, Duo¡¯er obediently stayed at home, sewing cloth pouches and mending clothes and making ginger tea whenever her stomach hurt.


    The ginger tea was effective, but her constitution tended to be cold, so even in the summer, drinking ginger tea could provide relief for only half an hour.


    This body was a mess; she had no idea how the original owner had managed.


    By evening, lying in bed, the pain from her period had finally passed, and Qiao Duo let out a long sigh of relief.


    This feeling¡­


    was like the General winning a battle.


    The feeling of no more stomach pain was truly blissful!


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯s complexion had improved greatly, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mood also lifted.


    Otherwise, seeing Qiao Duo¡¯s pained expression had been heart-wrenching for him.


    By the third day, Qiao Duo was back to full health.


    After breakfast, she picked up her tools, ready to head to the mountains.


    Tan Zhenghong said sternly, ¡°You¡¯ve just started feeling better today, stay at home and rest well.¡±


    Qiao Duo shook her head, and Tan Zhenghong continued, ¡°If you go to the mountain today, I¡¯ll come looking for you up there.¡±


    Qiao Duo pouted.


    She hadn¡¯t realized that he could be so domineering.


    And seeing his expression, he was serious, which meant she could only stay home for another day.


    Since there wasn¡¯t much else to do, Qiao Duo had a sudden inspiration to make some flatbread to eat.


    She hadn¡¯t had an appetite the day before, but now that she felt better, she was hungry.


    Making flatbread was simple.


    First, you knead the dough, add some starter, and then knead until smooth, just like making steamed buns.


    In the meantime, you can prepare the shortening. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once the stove is lit, keep the heat low.


    When the pan is hot, add some oil and then scatter in the flour, stirring constantly.


    When it smells fragrant, the shortening is ready.

 Chapter 71 - 71 72 Flaky Baked Buns_1

    ?71: Chapter 72 Flaky Baked Buns_1 71: Chapter 72 Flaky Baked Buns_1 After scooping the flaky pastry into a bowl, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to Sun Erhu¡¯s home to pick a handful of green onions, finely chopped them, and added some salt before setting them aside in the bowl.


    Once the pastry cooled down and the dough had risen, she added some baking soda, kneaded it again, rolled out the dough into a thin layer, then poured the flaky pastry on top, spreading it evenly with a small brush.


    She then rolled up the dough and cut it into evenly sized pieces.


    Next, she wrapped the green onions into the pieces, rolled them out with a rolling pin into rounds, and thus the raw pancakes were ready.


    The remaining task was to cook the pancakes; she heated up the pan over low heat, and once the pan was hot, she brushed both sides of the pancake with oil and stuck them to the pan.


    After three to five minutes, she flipped them, and once both sides turned golden brown, they were ready to come out of the pan.


    This was the flaky green onion pancake¡ªvery fragrant and flaky with a hint of green onion aroma.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a bite and was very satisfied.


    However, if she could sprinkle on some sesame seeds and add a bit of meat to the filling, the flavor would be even better.


    But since she had traveled back in time, Qiao Duo¡¯er had learned a term: to make do.


    Having enough to eat and wear here was already quite good.


    Being too demanding would only break her own heart.


    After the pancakes were ready, she used the hot oil to make a pot of egg soup.


    When Sun Erhu returned from the fields, he salivated at the smell.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, your cooking is truly the best,¡± Sun Erhu sincerely gave her a thumbs-up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, ¡°Look at you, just eat!¡±


    ¡°I cleared the weeds from my field this morning.


    I can help you with weeding this afternoon,¡± Sun Erhu nodded vigorously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong.


    That¡­


    she really didn¡¯t know how to farm.


    Sun Erhu waved his hand, ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t be a stranger, I can finish that bit of work in half a day.


    You just stay at home comfortably.


    You¡¯ve finally gotten a bit fairer; don¡¯t get sunburned again!¡±


    His blunt words made Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head fill with black lines; she felt she had already become much fairer¡ªhow could it be just a little?


    Hum, this guy must have poor eyesight!


    However, she admitted that she was about the same color as Sun Erhu.


    ¡°What I mean is¡­ S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    now that you¡¯ve become prettier, there¡¯s no need to distress yourself by working in the fields.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you saying I was ugly before?¡±


    Sun Erhu hurriedly shook his head; he truly didn¡¯t mean that!


    Although, to be fair, she really was¡­


    quite unattractive before, but he had never said anything of the sort!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help laughing; Sun Erhu was really quite adorable.


    Sun Erhu finally let out a sigh of relief, ¡°You¡¯re not angry, are you?


    You had me so worried!


    Well, that settles it.


    I¡¯ll go work in the fields, and you¡¯ll make me these to eat in the evening.¡±


    These pancakes were not just good¡ªthey were exceptionally delicious!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; she wanted to say it wasn¡¯t because she was making Sun Erhu work, but rather that she genuinely didn¡¯t know how to do farm work.


    Being able to cook was because she loved to eat.


    Being able to gather herbs in the mountains or catch fish was because she used to be a special agent.


    As for farming¡­


    who would have guessed she¡¯d end up in a ravine?


    Sun Erhu devoured three pancakes and drank two bowls of egg soup in one go.


    After eating, he patted his round belly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made a whole basin of pancakes; there¡¯s no shortage of food,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    Without any care for his image, Sun Erhu let out a satisfied belch, ¡°You have no idea, I was starving all day yesterday.¡±


    ¡°So unambitious!¡± Tan Zhenghong scolded him playfully.


    Sun Erhu didn¡¯t mind, mainly because he was too stuffed to even want to talk.


    After resting for a while, he slowly made his way back to his own courtyard.


    Ah, if only he had Brother Hong¡¯s good fortune, then he¡¯d never have to worry about going hungry in the future.

 Chapter 72 - 72 73 Stealing Clothes_1

    ?72: Chapter 73 Stealing Clothes_1 72: Chapter 73 Stealing Clothes_1 Her stomach wasn¡¯t hurting that day, but the flow was a bit heavy, so Qiao Duo¡¯er washed her clothes three times, and as a result, the clothesline outside was loaded with garments.


    By evening, Er Ya snuck into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s room, crouching low.


    Er Ya sneakily glanced at Tan Zhenghong; she was still very afraid of this uncle who often kept a stern face.


    With a chuckle, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, just tell me, okay?¡±


    Er Ya nodded, then leaned in close to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Today, Second Auntie came to steal your clothes.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, steal her clothes?


    She hadn¡¯t even finished making her new clothes and was still wearing worn clothes full of patches¡ªwho would desire her garments from the Little Wang Clan?


    After all, Little Wang Clan wore fine cloth garments, and at most they were only half-worn.


    Doesn¡¯t that just show the Tan Family¡¯s decent standard of living?


    ¡°Did you see which clothes were stolen?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with curiosity.


    Er Ya muttered hesitantly, ¡°It was¡­


    the bellyband; my mother told me to hurry and tell you!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, ¡°This must be kept absolutely secret.¡±


    Er Ya instantly agreed and sneaked back to her own home; as soon as she left, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face instantly darkened.


    Little Wang Clan stealing her bellyband had a simple motive: to set her up.


    If the accusation of her being involved with another man turned out to be true, whether she¡¯d end up drowned in a pig cage or sold off would come down to their word alone, even Tan Zhenghong would have no say in the matter.


    Hmph, Little Wang Clan¡¯s intentions are truly vicious! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Did my mother and the rest do something again?¡± Tan Zhenghong asked with a serious face.


    After thinking it over, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to tell the truth, utterly speechless with Tan Zhenghong and his extended family.


    ¡°I¡¯ll chop her!¡± Tan Zhenghong bit his teeth fiercely, having forgotten about his broken leg in his anger; he started to get out of bed as he spoke.


    If he didn¡¯t kill his second sister-in-law this time, he would be unworthy of being a man!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, quick to react, immediately grabbed Tan Zhenghong.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated such an extreme reaction from him.


    This looked like a fight to the death!


    ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, murder will cost you your life!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er urged in a hushed tone.


    She had her own plan for the situation, and now they couldn¡¯t let anyone else know about it.


    ¡°You are my wife, and I can¡¯t let anyone insult you, even if I have to risk my life!¡± Tan Zhenghong said with eyes bloodshot.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er soothed him gently, ¡°Is it worth exchanging your life for hers?


    Calm down.


    We should use their own strategy against them and teach her a lesson.¡±


    Death was not difficult.


    With the swing of a blade, a life could be taken¡ªalthough that would be too easy on Little Wang Clan.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, ¡°Use their own strategy against them?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded earnestly, ¡°Of course I trust you, but I¡¯m the man and I have to protect my wife!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, her face unconsciously heating up.


    It was enough that Tan Zhenghong had the intention to protect her, but for the time being, she could handle the situation herself.


    She was brimming with confidence, but Tan Zhenghong was still brooding with anger, hating his own leg!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s nothing fun around here anyway, so let¡¯s amuse ourselves with her as a distraction.


    Also, you need to save up more money¡ªonce we move out, they won¡¯t be able to bother me anymore.¡±


    Besides, just having this one room to live in was far too suffocating.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded seriously; that he could definitely do.


    But as a man, failing to this point was too much for him¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even stand himself!

 Chapter 73 - 73 74 Catching the Adulterer_1

    ?73: Chapter 74 Catching the Adulterer_1 73: Chapter 74 Catching the Adulterer_1 Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re already doing very well.¡±


    At least she was satisfied, and it was normal for Tan Zhenghong to feel frustrated now, after all, both of his legs were disabled, so she allowed him a moment of vulnerability.


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lips, how could he not feel unworthy of Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes but still said good-naturedly, ¡°If I can¡¯t deal with those people, then I¡¯ll let you go chop them up, that way you¡¯ll seem more formidable, right?¡±


    ¡°If someone mistreats you, you must tell me.¡± Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but emphasize.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turning up into a smirk, hehe, the feeling of having someone to rely on wasn¡¯t too bad!


    Now that Tan Zhenghong had labeled her as his, anyone who dared to try to steal her away was on a path to their own demise!


    In order not to miss the exciting performance at the Old Tan Family residence, Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately waited at home.


    But by the second day, the entire morning passed without anyone from the Main Room leaving the house.


    Could Little Wang Clan be the legendary fetishist?


    And she fancied women¡¯s undergarments?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a brainwave, no, she forgot there was still someone else in the Main Room, and that was Xiao Fu.


    As Xiao Fu was always playing outside all day, Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t thought much about it when he left.


    If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, her undergarment should already be in Sun Erhu¡¯s yard by now, just waiting for her to walk into the trap.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but hook the corner of her lips up, then took a bowl and filled it with several crispy-fried pastries to deliver to the east wing of the house.


    Soon, Da Ya and Er Ya got busy following Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s instructions.


    Only after Da Ya and Er Ya returned from outside did Qiao Duo¡¯er take her sickle and go to Sun Erhu¡¯s yard to cut some leeks.


    It wasn¡¯t long after she entered Sun Erhu¡¯s yard that the clamor began outside.


    Indeed, one could hear their noises before seeing their faces.


    ¡°Oh heavens, what sin did our Old Tan Family commit to let this bitch enter our doors?


    Fourth Boss, which deity did you offend?¡±


    Wang Clan wailed and sobbed as if her heart was tearing apart, matching her beating chest and stomping feet theatrically.


    Little Wang Clan also said angrily, ¡°You are too much, do you even care about Fourth Brother?


    You¡¯re nothing but a lowlife!¡±


    ¡°Star of Misfortune! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How dare you cheat behind Fourth Boss¡¯s back!


    I won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡±


    ¡°Mother, you mustn¡¯t let this woman off, could our Old Tan Family be so unlucky if not for her?¡± Little Wang Clan continued to instigate the situation.


    Wang Clan nodded, ¡°Of course!


    This woman will never step foot in the Tan Family¡¯s door in the future!¡±


    The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo had been suppressed by Qiao Duo¡¯er for so long, always losing face every time they argued, nearly suffocating them with frustration.


    Now they could finally breathe easy and were eager to curse thoroughly!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood up and waved the sickle in her hand, ¡°I just came to cut some leeks, and you¡¯re already pinning crimes on me?¡±


    At first glance, seeing her holding the sickle, Wang Clan was intimidated.


    Her actions were despised by Little Wang Clan, what good was this old thing good for besides eating?


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er was caught red-handed by them, what was there to fear?


    Today, no matter how capable Qiao Duo¡¯er was, she¡¯d have to obediently be sold off!


    Unfazed, Little Wang Clan immediately said, ¡°Sister-in-law, who are you trying to scare?


    Doing such filthy and disgraceful things and still daring to wave a sickle around, I¡¯ve never seen someone so brazen!¡±


    In her heart, she silently added: Let¡¯s see how long you can stay smug!


    ¡°I too, have never known someone could tell such blatant lies so confidently!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said, squinting her eyes.

 Chapter 74 - 74 75 Are You Itching Again_1

    ?74: Chapter 75 Are You Itching Again?_1 74: Chapter 75 Are You Itching Again?_1 Little Wang Clan put her hands on her hips, ¡°Qiao Duo¡¯er, I clearly saw women¡¯s clothing drying in Erhu¡¯s Yard just the other day.


    Weren¡¯t they yours?


    It¡¯s only because Fourth Boss is lame that he¡¯s easy to deceive!¡±


    The two of them made quite a fuss until Sun Erhu came out with a dark face.


    He had planned to sleep in the morning so he could go hunting in the mountains in the afternoon, but he had not expected someone to come to his door slandering him and Sister-in-law Hong!


    Really, this was never going to end!


    Sun Erhu said with a rough voice, ¡°Keep spouting nonsense, and I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart; don¡¯t think I won¡¯t hit you!


    My Brother Hong is still fine, when did it become your turn to scheme against my sister-in-law?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, even the adulterer is so arrogant,¡± Little Wang Clan loved a good show and didn¡¯t fear making it bigger.


    ¡°Damn you, what nonsense are you talking about?


    When have there been women¡¯s clothes in my yard?¡±


    Sun Erhu¡¯s face turned red immediately.


    He was currently alone, so how could there be someone else¡¯s clothes?


    He hadn¡¯t even seen them, okay!


    Remembering the last time he dealt with Tan Zhongzhong, he felt his fists itching again.


    His sister-in-law was right; some people just needed a good beating to behave!


    Damn it, instead of living peacefully, they insisted on causing trouble!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Sun Erhu, ¡°Erhu, don¡¯t be rash. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If they don¡¯t produce evidence today, I won¡¯t let them off easily either!¡±


    This time was different from the last time Third Boss and the others caused trouble; they came prepared.


    To use force now would just make them appear guilty.


    What¡¯s more, she had other purposes today; if they fought, her other goals would not be achieved.


    And just beating them up, how could that mend her wounded little heart?


    ¡°Evidence?


    That¡¯s easy.


    I saw women¡¯s bellybands hanging in Erhu¡¯s Yard; I might even find them!¡± Little Wang Clan was very proud, her face full of an uncontrollable smirk.


    She had already had Xiao Fu sneak the bellyband into Sun Erhu¡¯s Yard in the morning; as soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er entered Erhu¡¯s Yard at noon, they would come over to catch the adulterers.


    Hmm¡­


    This plan was simply flawless!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips, ¡°You need to be responsible for your own words, and don¡¯t be telling lies with your eyes wide open every day.¡±


    ¡°And what if I find your bellyband?¡± Little Wang Clan glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er sideways.


    In her eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er was just making her last stand; the outcome was already sealed, and she could change nothing!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a bit, then said, ¡°If you find evidence, you can do whatever you want with me, but what if you don¡¯t find any?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Little Wang Clan¡¯s eyes swiveled, ¡°I will kneel and knock my head in apology!¡±


    Since she was certain of victory, there was no way she could fail!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised a finger, ¡°Kneeling is too simple; besides that, I want Fourth Boss to sever ties with you.


    Can you do that?¡±


    Little Wang Clan readily agreed, ¡°No problem!¡±


    ¡°What you say doesn¡¯t count; let her say it.¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed to Wang Clan standing by the side.


    Little Wang Clan was just a junior daughter-in-law, not yet a mother-in-law; her words were worthless!


    Wang Clan hesitated, because severing ties was no trivial matter¡ª if it really came to pass, it meant she would lose a son.


    Little Wang Clan whispered to Wang Clan¡¯s ear, ¡°Mother, just agree to her.


    We¡¯re definitely going to drive her out!¡±


    Li Clan, who came to enjoy the commotion and still held a grudge against Qiao Duo¡¯er for the beating Third Boss took last time, was happier than anyone to see the mother and daughter-in-law giving Qiao Duo¡¯er trouble.


    She immediately supported her back and said, ¡°I think there¡¯s something fishy between her and Erhu as well.


    Just agree to it!¡±

 Chapter 75 - 75 76 A Pair of Wild Mandarin Ducks_1

    ?75: Chapter 76 A Pair of Wild Mandarin Ducks_1 75: Chapter 76 A Pair of Wild Mandarin Ducks_1 Wang Clan only appeared fierce on the surface but was actually indecisive.


    Seeing both daughters-in-law speak this way, she agreed too.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er once again confirmed, ¡°This is a serious matter.


    Have you thought it through?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I have wronged you, I will certainly sever the mother-son relationship with Fourth Boss!¡±


    Wang Clan¡¯s voice trembled slightly, betraying her emotions at that moment.


    She believed that what was fake was fake and that the truth would reveal itself.


    With Wang Clan¡¯s words, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt relieved.


    If Wang Clan had refused to speak, she would have had to go to more trouble.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too interesting with only so few people here.


    Erhu, go invite the village chief over.¡±


    Little Wang Clan was a bit incredulous.


    Did someone really seek death like this?


    Inviting the village head over would certainly turn this matter into a big deal!


    Showing rare kindness, Little Wang Clan said well-meaningly, ¡°Have you thought this through?


    Don¡¯t throw yourself out and then seek death or life again.


    Last time you didn¡¯t die jumping into the river because you were lucky, but you won¡¯t always have such luck!¡±


    Sun Erhu¡¯s steps halted upon hearing this, and he looked uncertainly at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The whole village knew about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s suicide attempt, and because of it, the Tan Family had been criticized by the villagers.


    The reason was that none of the Tan Family Members showed up when Qiao Duo¡¯er jumped into the river.


    In the end, it was the village chief who had his eldest girl send Qiao Duo¡¯er back home.


    Tan Zhenghong had a broken leg and lay alone in his room, completely unaware of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s despair.


    But were the others lame too?


    Indeed they were lame, but it was their heart that was crippled.


    ¡°The decision is mine.


    Whatever the consequences, I will bear them alone.¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated resolutely, her attitude giving Sun Erhu a great deal of courage.


    Erhu nodded seriously, ¡°Yes, we are clear and innocent.


    We don¡¯t need to fear false accusations; even if it costs me my life, I¡¯ll protect you for Brother Hong!¡±


    He had received so many kindnesses from Brother Hong, and all his martial skills were taught by him; now was the time to repay him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did not say much more.


    What if Little Wang Clan noticed something and they changed their mind at the last moment?


    There¡¯s a good saying: Life is like a play; it all depends on the acting.


    Seeing how Erhu was protecting Qiao Duo¡¯er, Little Wang Clan felt even more displeased.


    ¡°True to the saying, a pair of adulterers, facing imminent death and still so reluctant to part.


    Why not go and talk to Fourth Boss and make it happen for you two wild lovebirds!¡±


    Little Wang Clan said with a sarcastic tone.


    Li Clan laughed, ¡°Second sister-in-law, what are you babbling about?


    The younger sister-in-law was bought with silver.


    Now we¡¯ve tarnished the reputation of the Old Tan Family, do we also want to lose the silver as well?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about?


    Does Sun Erhu think he can marry a bride without spending silver?¡±


    Wang Clan glanced at Li Clan; that was a reasonable point indeed!


    Reputation she could do without, but the silver was non-negotiable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke discontentedly, ¡°You¡¯re all so noisy.¡±


    The weather was already hot.


    Combined with these people¡¯s endless chatter, it made her even more irritable.


    Little Wang Clan wiped some sweat away, ¡°Younger sister-in-law, there¡¯s still time for you to admit your fault and salvage your reputation.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you speak softly?


    That few know of this?¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unable to restrain herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes dramatically.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s Home was already full of onlookers.


    Wasn¡¯t her reputation already being dragged through the mud?


    Little Wang Clan said with insincere concern, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for being nosy, sister-in-law.


    It just pains my heart to see the Tan Family lose face.¡±


    Qiao Duo scoffed and said no more.


    They all thought she was being defensive; she didn¡¯t bother to explain.

 Chapter 76 - 76 77 Discussion_1

    ?76: Chapter 77 Discussion_1 76: Chapter 77 Discussion_1 It didn¡¯t take long for the crowd of onlookers to grow, the shaded area was already packed with people.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er estimated that people from the head and tail of the village had all come over.


    Those who arrived later asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s up with the Tan Family again?


    They cause trouble every few days.¡±


    Once one person spoke, others also began to discuss.


    ¡°This time it¡¯s different than the usual quarrels, this time the Second Boss¡¯s household is claiming that there are women¡¯s clothes hanging in Sun Erhu¡¯s yard, and they even say the clothes belong to The Fourth Boss¡¯s House.


    Judging by Second Boss¡¯s family¡¯s demeanor, it¡¯s probably true.¡±


    ¡°Could Erhu take an interest in The Fourth Boss¡¯s woman?


    Not to be rude, but The Fourth Boss¡¯s is just too shabby.¡±


    ¡°Just look for yourself, The Fourth Boss¡¯s woman has become much better looking.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, her skin has gotten whiter, her facial acne has cleared up a lot, and her complexion¡¯s better than before, she¡¯s definitely passable now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your eyes, what are you staring at?


    You wanna be like Erhu or what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of person I am?


    I¡¯m just taking a look at how that ugly wife has changed, nothing more.¡±


    The Li Clan¡¯s woman was also busy spreading Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ¡°glorious¡± tales. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Let me tell you, my sister-in-law is something else.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s there all day in her house, eating three meals a day, and Erhu is quite reliable, he does everything from chopping wood to carrying water, and all the game he catches goes to her.¡±


    D¨¤l¨ªn, who was on good terms with Erhu, immediately objected, ¡°Erhu is not like that, Fourth Boss is currently disabled, Erhu is just helping out!¡±


    He¡¯s not like some people, ungracious and ungrateful!


    Fourth Boss broke his leg, how many people from the Tan Family have helped him?


    ¡°Brother D¨¤l¨ªn, do tell, with just two people in The Fourth Boss¡¯s House, what¡¯s there to help with every single day?


    At this rate, there might even be a kid soon!¡±


    ¡°If you ask me, it¡¯s certainly fishy.


    Nobody¡¯s a fool, who would be so generous as to give away all their stuff?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, I even asked Erhu for a piece of meat and didn¡¯t get any.


    He said it was for his sister-in-law!¡±


    With the Li Clan¡¯s woman advertising like this, everyone got a new understanding of the whole affair.


    The surrounding people were abuzz with talk, and many had already concluded that Sun Erhu and The Fourth Boss¡¯s wife were involved with each other.


    Don¡¯t they say nothing¡¯s better to eat than dumplings, nothing¡¯s better to fool around with than¡­ a brother¡¯s wife¡­


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was unconcerned with what others were saying, because this is what you call a plot twist.


    The more embarrassing she was in others¡¯ mouths now, the more the Wang Clan mother and daughter-in-law would be despised later.


    After a while, the village head arrived, accompanied by Doctor Wu Youcai and Academician Zhou.


    These three men held sway in the village.


    Now, Little Wang Clan felt even prouder.


    In fact, she hadn¡¯t intended to make such a scene, but it was Qiao Duo¡¯s own doing, and she couldn¡¯t stop her!


    Tie Niu glanced over the crowd and asked seriously, ¡°Why this commotion instead of cooking lunch?¡±


    The Wang Clan¡¯s matriarch immediately said, ¡°It¡¯s The Fourth Boss¡¯s wife; she¡¯s been up to no good with Sun Erhu from the moment she entered the door, it¡¯s infuriating!¡±


    Tie Niu frowned and looked towards Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    ¡°Is what she¡¯s saying true?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands, ¡°Erhu and I are completely innocent, but my sister-in-law insists there are women¡¯s clothes in Erhu¡¯s yard, and she¡¯s certain they¡¯re mine.¡±


    Little Wang Clan said with a light laugh, ¡°Who would admit to having done such a thing?¡±


    Of course she¡¯d deny it!


    So isn¡¯t it a pointless question?


    Unperturbed, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, ¡°Uncle Tie, my sister-in-law just said that if they find my undershirt here, then I am at their mercy.


    If not, she has to kneel and apologize and sever ties with Fourth Boss.


    I need Uncle to bear witness.¡±

 Chapter 77 - 77 78 Are you stupid_1

    ?77: Chapter 78 Are you stupid?_1 77: Chapter 78 Are you stupid?_1 Tie Niu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is it really true?¡±


    Little Wang Clan nodded, ¡°Uncle Tie is always fair, so we¡¯ll trouble you to give testimony.¡±


    Ha, she¡¯ll surely make Qiao Duo¡¯er regret her actions!


    ¡°Just now, they all heard it, of course it¡¯s true.


    Sister-in-law, you should start searching without delay, and don¡¯t let me down,¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a wink.


    The look on her face seemed more like she was hoping Little Wang Clan would manage to find something.


    Alas, it looks like there¡¯s something wrong with this girl¡¯s mind again.


    Madness truly comes and goes in waves, but why did it have to flare up at a time like this!


    To know that once it¡¯s confirmed that she and Sun Erhu have had an improper relationship, her fate will be very miserable.


    Everyone in the Tan Family is greedy for money, and they will undoubtedly sell Qiao Duo¡¯er off.


    Where could a married woman who fails to behave decently be sold?


    It doesn¡¯t take much thought to realize, but a place like Qing Building¡­ S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How many women could enter there and come out unscathed?


    Not to mention serious matters like miscarriages and sterilization, how many could escape without catching some vile disease?


    If they run into a pervert, it¡¯s even harder to speak of the consequences; how else to describe it but tragic?


    ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll go right now!¡±


    Little Wang Clan immediately agreed, and with things having developed to this stage, it was impossible to regret it now.


    Whether Qiao Duo¡¯er was pretending to be calm or whatever, she had to bite the bullet and move forward.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, ¡°To prevent you from framing me, I¡¯ll have to accompany you during the search, is that alright?¡±


    The request was quite understandable; if Little Wang Clan brought over a bodice, wouldn¡¯t she be wronged?


    Regarding this, Little Wang Clan was well-prepared.


    Sun Erhu was a bachelor, and it was normal for his yard door to be open, so she had Xiao Fu hide the bodice in his place.


    She was, in fact, hoping the more the merrier to follow her; in the end, it was Qiao Duo¡¯er who would be embarrassed.


    The bodice was already in the yard, and she was sure to find Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bodice.


    Sun Erhu said sternly, ¡°You can search if you want, but tidy up afterward, or my fists won¡¯t spare you!¡±


    ¡°Brother Erhu, you really are growing quite temperamental.


    Don¡¯t be so nervous¡ªjust talk nicely with Fourth Boss, he might even bless your relationship!¡±


    Little Wang Clan said smugly.


    Tan Zhengyong also chimed in, ¡°There isn¡¯t just one man here; if you¡¯ve done something wrong and still dare to act tough, the menfolk here are not here for show!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s first find this bodice, then speak; I¡¯m not someone who can be bullied by just anyone!¡± Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully looking at Tan Zhengyong.


    Without wasting any more words, Little Wang Clan immediately went to search for the bodice, starting with the bedroom.


    Both the Wang Clan and Li Clan hated Qiao Duo, so naturally, they also helped with the search.


    Many onlookers also helped keep an eye out for any corners that might have been overlooked.


    Later, a woman who was close friends with Little Wang Clan simply started to help out too.


    Catching adulterers, everyone was enthusiastic.


    Especially because the claims made by Little Wang Clan and her group were so detailed, there was a chance they could really be true.


    Sun Erhu lived alone, with very few possessions.


    There were just two or three old cotton quilts in the wardrobe, along with two sets of seasonal clothes for changing, plus some odds and ends under the bed and in the bottom of the storage chest; there wasn¡¯t much to go through.


    Before long, they had searched the entire bedroom.


    Never mind a bodice, they didn¡¯t even find a piece of cloth.


    ¡°Could it be that the Li Clan deliberately framed The Fourth Boss¡¯s House?


    Besides hiding it in the bedroom, could it possibly be in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°Are you dumb?


    Little Wang Clan wouldn¡¯t recklessly talk about this baseless matter!¡±

 Chapter 78 - 78 79 Search in the Living Room_1

    ?78: Chapter 79: Search in the Living Room_1 78: Chapter 79: Search in the Living Room_1 ¡°Erhu isn¡¯t brain-damaged, if he really had an affair with someone from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, would he leave evidence at home?¡±


    After all, once adultery is discovered, the consequences would be severe.


    Leaving the bellyband in his own yard, and brazenly drying it in the open, isn¡¯t that simply courting death?


    Someone immediately retorted, ¡°This can¡¯t be ruled out, Erhu¡¯s brain is fine, but is that idiot from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the Second Tan Family that¡¯s sick, getting full and framing their own sister-in-law.


    They might even be able to squeeze out some silver, considering the Tan Family¡¯s ways, it¡¯s very likely they¡¯d pull something like this.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!


    I think so too!¡±


    Little Wang Clan, gritting her teeth, said, ¡°Let¡¯s search the main room again.¡±


    She had earnestly told Xiao Fu, the bellyband must somehow be placed under Sun Erhu¡¯s bed for the best effect.


    Xiao Fu also went back saying he had placed it, but how could it have disappeared?


    Today, Xiao Fu had been on constant watch, he hadn¡¯t seen Sun Erhu come out, nor did he see anyone enter Sun Erhu¡¯s Home.


    Therefore, she was almost certain the bellyband was still in Sun Erhu¡¯s Home, hmm¡­


    Erhu must have found the bellyband and then hidden it away!


    No way, she would turn the place upside down to find that bellyband!


    Otherwise, where would she put her face?


    ¡°Hey, if it¡¯s really in the main room, these two are quite the players.


    Let¡¯s go, we should all take a look, maybe it¡¯s actually there!¡±


    Having good bedrooms but not using them for business, and instead choosing the main room, what a peculiar hobby indeed!


    ¡°Haha, that it is, really novel indeed!¡±


    The crowd subsequently left the bedroom.


    In the main room, Little Wang Clan lifted the rice cabinet and even shoveled out the grains with her hands, thinking that Sun Erhu most likely hid the object there.


    Apart from her, she doubted anyone else could think of such a perfect hiding spot.


    Wang Clan¡¯s triangular eyes scanned like radar, and suddenly, she spotted something.


    She burst out angrily, ¡°What is this?


    You slut, still trying to argue?


    Daring to cheat as soon as you enter the door, you must be tired of living!¡±


    Beneath the rice cabinet, a red corner was exposed¡ªwasn¡¯t that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bellyband?


    Yesterday, when Little Wang Clan took the personal clothing back, she had seen it; it was this kind of red that had been washed white.


    Little Wang Clan, following the direction Wang Clan pointed, her heart instantly dropped back into her stomach.


    So it was Sun Erhu who had brought it here!


    ¡°What is this?


    Why are you so angry?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, spreading her hands, said innocently, ¡°I really don¡¯t know what this is!¡±


    Little Wang Clan, taking pleasure in Duo¡¯er¡¯s misfortune, said, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t know, just take it out and we¡¯ll all know then!¡±


    After saying this, she pulled the object out, her mood reaching peak satisfaction¡ªQiao Duo¡¯er was finally under her foot! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the next second, she was stunned.


    As it turned out¡­this was not Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bellyband at all, just a piece of tattered cloth.


    ¡°Why have you stopped talking?


    Are you not looking for the bellyband anymore?¡± Qiao Duo asked innocently.


    Running out of steam so soon?


    That¡¯s too boring.


    Fortunately, Little Wang Clan was up to snuff; she tossed away the tattered cloth and continued searching¡ªshe simply couldn¡¯t believe the bellyband wasn¡¯t there!


    But they turned Erhu¡¯s House upside down and still didn¡¯t find what she was looking for.


    Did she really have to kneel and apologize to Qiao Duo?


    Did she really have to break ties with Tan Zhenghong?


    No, neither was acceptable!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg would heal soon, and he would be able to go hunting in the mountains.


    By then, not only would there be silver, but also some feasts to enjoy!

 Chapter 79 - 79 80 Do You Dare to Swear_1

    ?79: Chapter 80 Do You Dare to Swear?_1 79: Chapter 80 Do You Dare to Swear?_1 ¡°Sun Erhu, are you still a man?


    You can¡¯t even admit to what you¡¯ve done!¡± Little Wang Clan¡¯s words targeted Sun Erhu with a sharp tone.


    The bellyband definitely couldn¡¯t be found now, so there was absolutely no chance to give them an explanation!


    ¡°The Fourth Boss must have been blind to treat you so well.


    If it weren¡¯t for our family¡¯s Fourth Boss, you would have starved to death.


    Yet you are so ungrateful, doing such a thing to the Fourth Boss¡¯s wife!¡±


    Little Wang Clan went on relentlessly until Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, and raised his hand to give Little Wang Clan a slap.


    He was furious, and the slap was not light.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s head turned from the slap, and a thread of blood seeped out.


    When she came back to her senses, she shouted like a madwoman, ¡°Sun Erhu, who do you think you are?


    You dare to hit me, why don¡¯t you go die?!¡±


    When had she ever been treated like this in her life?


    ¡°Keep shouting, and I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± Sun Erhu¡¯s temper also flared up.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s body trembled involuntarily, and Tan Zhengyong said through clenched teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t go too far!¡±


    But Sun Erhu just did, what could he do?


    He couldn¡¯t beat Sun Erhu, so he could only exert his verbal prowess.


    Sun Erhu said nothing and simply readied himself for a fight. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat and slowly spoke, ¡°Fellow villagers, let me explain this matter to everyone.¡±


    ¡°You all know about the Tan Family¡¯s division, right?


    On that very night, I heard people from the second branch say that once the Fourth Boss no longer needed someone to take care of him, they would sell me.


    Then, the Fourth Boss would have to live with his parents, and his land would go to the second branch.¡±


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could continue, Little Wang Clan spoke up angrily, ¡°What are you babbling about?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, the Fourth Boss is my brother.


    How could I cheat my own brother?


    I¡¯m afraid of being struck by lightning!¡± Tan Zhengyong also quickly made his stance clear.


    Such things were meant to be said behind closed doors between husband and wife.


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er was bringing it up in front of so many people, wasn¡¯t she intentionally making it impossible for him to show his face?


    ¡°If those words were indeed said by the two of you, would you accept it if you were cursed with no sons and grandsons?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a cold laugh, knowing too well that the couple from the second branch, no matter how heartless, were truly very fond of their child, Xiao Fu.


    Little Wang Clan said furiously, ¡°What are you, daring to curse my child?¡±


    ¡°When did I curse your child?


    If those words just now were said by me, then let me be the one cursed with no sons and grandsons, right?


    Hmm, why am I willing to say it but you aren¡¯t?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her curiosity regarding the answer to this question.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be true!


    If it is, then the couple from the second branch are really heartless!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, the Fourth Boss only came back home at the age of eight.


    As soon as he returned, he hunted and farmed, never doing worse than others.


    They enjoyed the fortune brought by the Fourth Boss for so many years, and even when his leg was broken, they didn¡¯t spare him!¡±


    ¡°I think it must be true.


    Didn¡¯t you see how the Second Boss¡¯s family¡¯s faces turned black when they saw that piece of rag just now?¡±


    Isn¡¯t this the classic reaction of a guilty conscience after doing something bad?


    ¡°What the Fourth Boss¡¯s House said isn¡¯t right either.


    The Fourth Boss¡¯s leg hasn¡¯t healed yet!¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, ¡°The Fourth Boss¡¯s leg hasn¡¯t healed, but Uncle Wu said it could get better.


    They want to drive me away and then continue to have the Fourth Boss earn money to support them.


    Moreover, they think the land they got from the family division is too little.¡±


    Some people are just never satisfied with what they¡¯ve gotten for free, and feel aggrieved if they think it¡¯s not enough.


    In short, they have their own twisted logic.


    All eyes turned to Wu Youcai.


    What they cared about was whether the Fourth Boss¡¯s leg could really heal?


    Wasn¡¯t it said that the Fourth Boss¡¯s leg might be permanently disabled?

 Chapter 80 - 80 81 The Desire to Die_1

    ?80: Chapter 81 The Desire to Die_1 80: Chapter 81 The Desire to Die_1 Wu Youcai nodded, ¡°Ah Hong¡¯s leg will be fine after another two months of rest.¡±


    Most of the households in the village are composed of kind people, and since Tan Zhenghong is quite popular, the majority were quite happy.


    Wu Youcai continued, ¡°Ah Hong¡¯s wife knows the joint-healing method.


    It¡¯s thanks to her willingness to share that I¡¯ve gotten a bit of insight.


    This is a great thing.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a fool.


    How could she possibly know anything about the joint-healing method?


    Uncle Wu, don¡¯t harm the villagers!¡±


    Tan Zhengyong kindly reminded, as he certainly did not believe such nonsense!


    Wu Youcai replied, ¡°Just wait two months and see Ah Hong¡¯s leg, then you¡¯ll all know.¡±


    A villager chimed in, ¡°Maybe this time it was just a fluke¡ªa blind cat running into a dead rat¡ªand next time won¡¯t be so lucky!¡±


    ¡°I also find it unlikely.


    How could a woman possibly know how to do that?¡±


    ¡°My medical skills may be modest, but I am not one to spout nonsense.


    I wouldn¡¯t speak carelessly about something I¡¯m not certain of.¡±


    Having served as a doctor in Willow Village for over a decade, Doctor Wu had earned some reputation, so the skeptical voices instantly grew softer.


    Nevertheless, many people were still harboring doubts.


    Could a fool really surpass Uncle Wu¡¯s medical expertise?


    Even wiggling your toes would help you see the answer to such a simple question.


    Little Wang Clan heaved a sigh of relief at last; now that everyone was preoccupied with this issue, the previous incident would surely be left unresolved.


    But she forgot that Qiao Duo¡¯er, although disliking trouble, was not someone to be bullied.


    Now that the feud had been openly declared, Little Wang Clan should not expect to walk away unscathed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve just seen someone set bones a few times before.


    Fourth Boss getting better was indeed lucky, but Uncle Wu is cautious and will take responsibility for the villagers.


    However, we should still continue discussing the earlier matter today.¡±


    As for medical skills, she did not care, because she knew she was only half-skilled and had nothing to justify.


    What interested her more was severing ties with a bunch of shameless people.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er redirect the conversation back to the previous topic, Little Wang Clan felt like dying.


    Without a word from Little Wang Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er slyly spoke, ¡°Second sister-in-law, your silence is making me a bit nervous.¡±


    Griding her teeth, Little Wang Clan said, ¡°The other day, I even saw belly bands hanging in Erhu¡¯s yard.


    Don¡¯t think you¡¯re safe just because you¡¯ve hidden them away!¡±


    She knew the belly bands were in this very yard, but she just couldn¡¯t find them!


    This feeling was truly maddening!


    ¡°So, second sister-in-law witnessed it with her own eyes?


    Then why didn¡¯t you come over to catch the act at that time?¡±


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was curious because making a scene days later was not the usual practice.


    Normally, upon seeing it, one would catch the person immediately, or else pretend to know nothing and bring it up casually during a chat with other women.


    And this woman was just asking for it!


    The slap just now didn¡¯t diminish her fighting spirit one bit.


    ¡°I¡­


    I was giving you face,¡± Little Wang Clan stammered in explanation. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood, ¡°Then, I should thank you, second sister-in-law.


    But why aren¡¯t you giving me face today?¡±


    Little Wang Clan clenched her teeth; she considered herself a smooth talker.


    But with Qiao Duo¡¯er, she was still lacking some skill, and in her haste earlier, she almost blurted out the truth.


    ¡°I felt bad for Fourth Boss.


    He¡¯s disabled and has to weave and sell baskets all day long, and yet you go around stealing other men!¡±


    Li Clan came to Wang Clan¡¯s defense¡ªthe woman was slow-witted and still dared to make a fuss like others!


    After all, she believed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s involvement with Sun Erhu was suspect.


    Now that she had the backing of Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan, she, of course, became more audacious.

 Chapter 81 - 82 Let Me Say a Few Words_1

    Chapter 81: Chapter 82 Let Me Say a Few Words_1Otherwise, could Sun Erhu have left all the meat for Qiao Duo¡¯er to eat?


    Or could he have finished all the work for her?


    If they were innocent, why didn¡¯t Sun Erhu finish all the work for her family?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Li Clan and said with a light laugh, "Sister-in-law, I¡¯ve heard that women who like to gossip never end well. I suggest you take it easy."


    "Ha, those who cheat and provide for their lovers end up even worse!" Li Clan retorted dismissively.


    Li Clan also gave Sun Erhu a look, full of provocation.


    Sun Erhu said sternly, "I, Sun Erhu, grew up in front of everyone here. Don¡¯t you all know what kind of person I am? I¡¯ve eaten food made by Brother Hong, worn clothes mended by Brother Hong, even the skills I use to earn a living were taught by Brother Hong. Now that Brother Hong is in trouble, should I not help his wife?"


    Sun Erhu spoke righteously.


    He was a man, an upright and honest man. He knew gratitude and never did anything against his conscience!


    "Erhu is a good kid. I brought him food a few times in the past, and he still remembers it, never forgetting this old woman when something good comes up!"


    Granny Zhang said with a smile, being one of those who stood up for Erhu.


    Erhu truly is a good kid!


    D¨¤l¨ªn nodded, "I helped Sun Erhu once before, and he has always been good to me."


    "I haven¡¯t seen the Second Boss¡¯s House present any evidence. I reckon it¡¯s all her nonsense."


    Aside from them, the attitudes of the others present had also changed.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s words were full of holes, while Qiao Duo¡¯er remained calm and composed. It was clear who was more believable.


    Just then, someone carried Tan Zhenghong over.


    The person carrying Tan Zhenghong, seeing everyone looking at him, explained, "I saw Ah Hong at the gate, so I carried him over."


    "How did you come here?" Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded Tan Zhenghong with a playful glare.


    Couldn¡¯t this guy just stay at home obediently? She had the situation under control here!


    "You¡¯re my wife; how could I stand by and watch you being bullied?"


    Tan Zhenghong said somewhat awkwardly, because there was a crowd gathered in the courtyard, which was a little embarrassing.


    But could he still call himself a man if he stayed at home comfortable while his wife suffered outside?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg, "Does it hurt?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head foolishly. Of course it hurt, the pain of a broken bone piercing his heart and lungs, but no matter how much it hurt, he had to protect his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, and just then Sun Erhu brought over a chair, so she helped Tan Zhenghong sit down.


    "Wait until we get back ¨C if your bone doesn¡¯t heal properly, see if I don¡¯t kill you!"


    From beginning to end, their interaction was witnessed by everyone else.


    "Look at the couple; they¡¯re so close. How could it be like what they described?"


    Someone looked disdainfully at Little Wang Clan. Who in the world could be so cheerful after being cuckolded? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I always thought the Fourth Boss was hard done by, but now his wife seems quite good."


    "The Fourth Boss¡¯s House¡¯s wife goes up the mountain to gather herbs, never neglecting household chores. If my future daughter-in-law could be as capable as her, I¡¯d wake up laughing from my sleep."


    ...


    Hearing others praise his wife, Tan Zhenghong was extremely proud.


    His wife was the best woman in the world, worth his protecting with his life!


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, "Fellow villagers, please quiet down. Let me say a few words."


    Hearing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s words, many people kept quiet. Having intimate knowledge of the matter, what Tan Zhenghong would say was bound to be right!

 Chapter 82 - 83 Do you deserve to be a mother? _1

    Chapter 82: Chapter 83 Do you deserve to be a mother? _1"Duo¡¯er had just married into the family when I got injured. I was afraid of being a burden to her and wanted to divorce her, but she refused without hesitation. She said spouses should face adversity together. She not only healed my leg but also took care of me all the time. Marrying her is the luckiest thing in my life," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong involuntarily glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, with her by his side, all was well.


    "Erhu is my good brother, a brother for life. He has helped me and Duo¡¯er a lot, and I am very grateful. He simply wanted to be kind to me and had no other intentions."


    "I hope everyone can discern right from wrong. My wife and Erhu are both trustworthy and value loyalty and righteousness deeply!"


    Towards the end, Tan Zhenghong could not hold back his tears.


    Sun Erhu hurriedly said, "Brother Hong, don¡¯t talk like this, it¡¯s what I should do!"


    Tan Zhenghong still felt thankful to Sun Erhu.


    When he first returned to the Tan Family, the Tan Family members did not like him and often beat and scolded him.


    The neighbor, Sun Erhu, also often got bullied by the Tan Family Three Brothers, which naturally led them to play together. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since he knew how to fight, he taught Erhu, and later on, they went hunting in the mountains and worked in the fields together.


    Whoever had food would share it with the others.


    Such loyalty built up over time could not be replaced by anyone.


    After speaking, he looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er again, the one who would accompany him for the rest of his life, the one he swore to protect.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. What was the meaning behind that look?


    Whimper... she couldn¡¯t see!


    Wang Clan said discontentedly, "It¡¯s true what they say, marrying a wife makes you forget your mother. It¡¯s a sin, oh how hard my life is! If I had known, I would never have given birth to such an ungrateful child!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attention was diverted when she saw Wang Clan¡¯s demeanor, her fighting spirit instantly surged.


    "Do you even deserve to be a mother? When you sent the Fourth Boss to distant relatives, did you think of yourself as his mother? When the Fourth Boss worked from dawn to dusk to earn money for the family, did you think of yourself as his mother? When the Fourth Boss¡¯s leg was just broken and you wanted to split the family, did you think of yourself as his mother?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er choked her with a retort, having such a mother was really something!


    She felt nothing but heartache when she heard about Tan Zhenghong¡¯s childhood from him.


    Yet as his birth mother, she could still bully Tan Zhenghong without any qualm!


    Her heart must be made of iron!


    Wang Clan sighed and wiped away her tears.


    It took her a good while to get her emotions in order.


    "Do you think I wanted to give my son away? I almost lost my life giving birth to him. We had no food at home, if I didn¡¯t send Ah Hong away, he would have starved to death!"


    It seemed... that she sent Tan Zhenghong away truly out of desperation.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er did not believe it.


    If it truly had been out of desperation, when Tan Zhenghong returned home, he would have been treated like a treasure, not like a slave.


    "So you had someone else raise the Fourth Boss for you, and when he grew up, you brought him back to support the family?"


    "Right, did you give them silver when you brought the Fourth Boss back? Oh, you couldn¡¯t have possibly taken back the child they raised without giving anything in return!"


    Tan Yuancheng quickly said, "Ah Hong¡¯s uncle passed away early, but we did handle his cousin¡¯s marriage entirely on our own."


    That should be considered as repaying their kindness.


    "At the time, it was agreed that Ah Hong would be the uncle¡¯s child henceforth. How come you brought Ah Hong back again? Could it be that you also bought a son-in-law for his cousin with One Tael of Silver?"


    There was a burst of laughter around them; people couldn¡¯t stand the Tan Family¡¯s behavior.


    Tan Zhenghong did more by himself than the Tan Family Three Brothers combined, yet he received the worst treatment amongst them.

 Chapter 83 - 84 Kneel Down!_1

    Chapter 83: Chapter 84 Kneel Down!_1Of course, the villagers¡¯ outrage was largely thanks to Big boss Tan Zhengyuan.


    He often visited neighbors, and he was never one to keep his mouth shut, speaking the blunt truth whenever questioned about his affairs.


    So, everyone in the village knew that Tan Zhenghong did most of the work in the Tan Family, and virtually all the income was earned by Tan Zhenghong.


    But what did Tan Zhenghong get for it?


    They spent a Tael of Silver to marry him to a simple-minded wife, divided three mu of land for him, and a dilapidated thatch-roofed house. The Tan Family really had some nerve.


    "Who has a son like Ah Hong and doesn¡¯t treasure him as if he were a precious gem?"


    "Exactly. If I were in charge, I wouldn¡¯t let him do any work, just ensure he gets things done during the busy farming seasons."


    "Same in my household, if we don¡¯t cherish our own, who will?"


    "Do you not know what kind of people the Tans are? A whole nest of lazybones, yet they still want to live in comfort! If someone else does all the work for them, they¡¯re only too happy. Why would they care if others are overburdened?"


    "A family with black hearts, if it were me, I would disown such parents and siblings!"


    "Didn¡¯t the wife of Fourth Brother Tan just say she wanted to cut off relations? It looks like it¡¯s about to happen this time!"


    Tan Yuancheng and the Wang Clan both had a sickly look on their faces, clueless on how to respond to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words.


    Just bringing back a son who was supposed to continue the lineage for someone else was enough to attract heaps of scolding; they feared that continuing to speak would only add to their list of transgressions.


    How was this woman able to find faults in every single thing about them?


    It was exasperating how she always seemed to be the only one in the right!


    Public opinion had already tilted in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s favor, and the second branch of the family had become the laughing stock.


    Tan Yuancheng and the Wang Clan had already lost their fight, and Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to the Little Wang Clan, "Second sister-in-law, can you produce any other evidence? Or maybe you should continue searching for that bellyband, since Ah Hong can¡¯t sit for too long with his leg injury."


    "Don¡¯t call her second sister-in-law, she doesn¡¯t deserve it," Fourth Brother Tan stated indifferently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, then restated, "Wang Cuihua, hurry up and bring out the evidence!"


    Tan Zhenghong narrowed his eyes, feeling that this was exactly the right attitude to have towards these people.


    Now he saw clearly that there was no warming their hearts; no matter how much he gave, they always felt shortchanged.


    Better to draw a clear line, to secure a peaceful life in the future.


    The face of the Little Wang Clan changed color. What other evidence could she have?


    The bellyband had been premeditated by her, and now it had mysteriously disappeared; what other evidence could she possibly find?


    Her silence was already an admission of the truth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow and said, "Why are you still standing there like a fool? Are you waiting for someone to bring you a meditation cushion?"


    A meditation cushion was a circular seat woven out of cattail rushes, commonly used in households for kneeling during worship.


    Naturally, the Little Wang Clan was reluctant to kneel; she immediately brought out her own rationale.


    "Don¡¯t you understand the principle of respect for the young and old? I am your second sister-in-law, do I deserve your kneeling? Be careful, or you might bring bad luck upon yourself and shorten your lifespan!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and muttered to herself, "You make a bit of sense, but what should we do? Can we just let you off so easily?"


    "The second brother¡¯s household is shameless. Now she remembers she¡¯s a sister-in-law?"


    "Talking about seniority now? She set her own terms, and now she can¡¯t live up to them, she resorts to excuses. Isn¡¯t that disgraceful?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Like father, like son¡ª isn¡¯t that what they say? The second brother¡¯s wife is a niece of Tan Yuancheng¡¯s wife, could she be any different?"


    With a stern face, Tan Yuancheng said, "Second brother¡¯s wife, apologize quickly and stop spreading rumors in the future, or our Tan Family won¡¯t let it slide!"

 Chapter 84 - 85 The Most Shameless Person_1

    Chapter 84: Chapter 85 The Most Shameless Person_1His reason for being so harsh towards Little Wang Clan was that he didn¡¯t want to sever his relationship with Tan Zhenghong.


    Though they had divided the household, he was still Tan Zhenghong¡¯s father, and he could still press down on Tan Zhenghong, but if he severs the relationship, from then on, he and Tan Zhenghong would become strangers!


    Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t become disabled, and he would undoubtedly need him in the future!


    Just take the simplest example, if he hunted some game in the future, the Fourth Boss ought to at least bring a bowl of meat to pay respects to him, right?


    So, he needed to play the part of the good cop well.


    Tan Zhengyong also came to understand the twists and turns, and he said, "You apologize to the Fourth Boss¡¯s wife."


    If it was just an apology, Little Wang Clan would have agreed.


    But this time it wasn¡¯t just about saying sorry and getting done with it, she had to kneel down! And kowtow to Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    She wouldn¡¯t do it!


    Even if it killed her, she wouldn¡¯t kneel before Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    However, Wang Clan hadn¡¯t figured it out, and she only felt that Little Wang Clan was being bullied.


    "Why kneel? Can¡¯t they prove they¡¯re innocent if the evidence isn¡¯t found? I must sell this Star of Misfortune today no matter what!" she exclaimed.


    "So, that¡¯s the logic, then can you provide evidence that you haven¡¯t been stealing men to keep?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    Wang Clan¡¯s face turned red, and she said indignantly, "What right do you have to defame me?"


    Tan Yuancheng glanced at Wang Clan with disdain, and said impatiently, "This is the second wife¡¯s mistake, is she wronged by apologizing?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "Don¡¯t rush yet, at this moment, she¡¯s still my sister-in-law, she doesn¡¯t deserve her kneeling."


    After saying that, Qiao Duo¡¯er approached Academician Zhou.


    In these times, only scholars could wear long robes, while those who worked the fields could only wear short attire, so seeking him was definitely correct.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er respectfully said, "I would like to ask the elder to write a Relationship Termination Letter for me."


    Academician Zhou stroked his beard and kindly reminded her, "Fourth Boss¡¯s House¡¯s matter, this is no joke, have you thought it through?"


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, for my sake, please forgive your mother and them; I apologize on their behalf, they must have been instigated by someone to do this."


    Tan Yuancheng eagerly persuaded, indeed as he had anticipated.


    The reason Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t accept Wang Cuihua¡¯s kneeling was because of the family tie, but if the tie was gone, then they could kneel and kowtow as they wish!


    "Do you even have any face?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a sidelong glance at Tan Yuancheng.


    The most disgusting person in the Tan Family was Tan Yuancheng, right! He wanted to take advantage and still pretend to be a good person, is there such a good deal in the world?


    If she remembered correctly, she had heard Little Wang Clan complaining to someone before, saying that after the division of the family, all the land and silver coins ended up in Tan Yuancheng¡¯s hands.


    Little Wang Clan probably regretted it by now; for the second branch, dividing the household was worse than not dividing it at all!


    It might appear as if they gained quite a few advantages on the surface, with everything belonging to the second branch, but in reality, they didn¡¯t have possession of any of it.


    Tan Yuancheng gritted his teeth, he hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Duo¡¯er to deny him face so much!


    After all, he was an elder, and she had the audacity to defy him like this!


    "Fourth Boss, you talk to your wife, we¡¯re all family, it¡¯s just because of a small matter, why make things so unpleasant?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, the meaning in her eyes was very clear.


    That was, if Tan Zhenghong dared to speak a word, she would turn against him instantly! S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Grandpa Zhou, please do as my wife asks," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    He was the son of Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan, and his words carried a different weight and credibility compared to those of a daughter-in-law.

 Chapter 85 - 86: Is it really yours?_1

    Chapter 85: Chapter 86: Is it really yours?_1Tan Yuancheng spoke in a fit of rage, "Fourth Boss, are you abandoning your parents?"


    "You unfilial thing, I knew I should have strangled you the moment you were born! Heartless creature, even forsaking your own parents, you think your wife is someone decent? Those flirtatious women, they¡¯ll meet a bad end!"


    Wang Clan cursed with reddened eyes, her eyes not red from sorrow, but from anger.


    To have her own child asking to sever ties, how could she face anyone in the future?


    She could just imagine how others would laugh at her!


    "Fourth Boss, think this through. I am your mother, you crawled out of my womb. If you¡¯re not filial, beware of being struck by lightning!"


    Tan Yuancheng suppressed his anger, "Fourth Boss, you¡¯ve always been the most filial. Don¡¯t make a foolish mistake this time or you¡¯ll be the laughing stock of everyone!"


    As he said this, he shot a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er, certain she was the instigator.


    Fourth Boss used to be silent and only cared about his work, but ever since he took a wife, he dared to speak of severing ties, such an ungrateful statement!


    All because of this damned woman!


    He should have never been penny-wise, pound-foolish, spending just one tael of silver to bring back such a thing!


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath, "Mother, you carried me for ten months, and I¡¯ve repaid you by working like an ox and horse for ten years. Whatever I owed you... should be settled now."


    His words made many feel a pang of heartache, prompting sighs from the crowd.


    "Is Fourth Boss really their flesh and blood?" someone couldn¡¯t help but doubt Tan Zhenghong¡¯s origins.


    An irritated person nearby said, "We all saw the Tan Family¡¯s pregnant belly back in the day. After the birth, I even gave two eggs to help with breastfeeding, so of course he¡¯s their own child!"


    "Even a child found in a haystack shouldn¡¯t be treated like this."


    "What¡¯s the use of talking to them? They just need someone to do the work. Otherwise, would they have brought Ah Hong back?"


    "A family of black hearts, they should sever ties sooner for some peace of mind!"


    "Right? I think they still want to take advantage of Fourth Boss!"


    "Both members of the Fourth Boss¡¯s couple are practical folks. If they separate from the family, they¡¯re sure to live a prosperous life."


    People¡¯s hearts are biased; it¡¯s impossible for a family to treat everyone equally, but the Tan Family¡¯s excesses are beyond the pale.


    The elder couple of the Tan Family would skin Fourth Boss alive and tear his bones apart if they could, all to feed their second son¡¯s family.


    "Are you... still blaming me for sending you to your uncle¡¯s house? I truly had no other choice. If we had one more mouth to feed, our whole family would have starved to death!" Wang Clan said pitifully, tears streaming down her face.


    Besides throwing tantrums, she had another ace up her sleeve: first crying, then causing a scene, and finally threatening suicide.


    She could switch between these two states with ease¡ªshe was so slippery! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All the years she lived weren¡¯t for nothing, nor were the many arguments she had stirred up!


    "Have you ever treated me like a son?" Tan Zhenghong asked, enunciating every word.


    In this family, he was never a person.


    After returning to this family, besides doing the laundry and cooking, almost all other chores were his responsibility. He even had to hunt in the mountains during his free time. If he caught little or nothing, he would return home to find no food, and at that time, he was only an eight-year-old child!


    He too longed for his parents¡¯ love and care, but what was the outcome?


    No matter how much work he did, he never received a word of praise; any mistake would immediately attract a torrent of abuse.


    He had had enough of such days!


    But it was different with Qiao Duo¡¯er. She cared for him, she cherished him, she would consider him in everything.


    This was what a family should be; these were the people worthy of his love!

 Chapter 86 - 87 Isn’t it just more work?_1

    Chapter 86: Chapter 87 Isn¡¯t it just more work?_1Wang Clan cried even louder, "They say ¡¯raise sons for your old age,¡¯ but when I make my son do a bit more work, he complains like this. Does he even consider me his mother anymore?"


    "Fourth Boss, I¡¯ve wronged you, I don¡¯t deserve to be a mother, I might as well die, as long as you forgive me, that¡¯s all I want."


    Wang Clan took a breath, then continued bawling.


    Wiping away tears, she began walking toward the wall.


    Being bullied by a daughter-in-law who had just stepped through the door, what was the point in living? She might as well be dead!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes silently; with that speed, was she really trying to hit the wall?


    She wouldn¡¯t die from that, probably wouldn¡¯t even get a bruise, please, if you¡¯re going to act, put some heart into it!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed the back of Wang Clan¡¯s clothes and said indifferently, "You just promised with your own lips to sever your relationship with Fourth Boss, how come now you can¡¯t accept losing?"


    Why act so innocent now?


    She was not one to be swayed by tears. Even if Wang Clan cried herself to death, she was determined to sever ties!


    Time was precious; she didn¡¯t want to tangle with this kind of drama queen all day! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You... you¡¯re talking nonsense! Fourth Boss is my flesh and blood, even if you talk till the sky falls, you can¡¯t change our relationship!"


    Wang Clan stubbornly denied it, what could Qiao Duo¡¯er do to her?


    But she quickly realized there was a problem with what she said; there weren¡¯t many, but there were indeed cases of severed relationships.


    Moreover, Qiao Duo¡¯er had mentioned drafting a Relationship Termination Letter.


    No, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let her succeed!


    "Oh heavens, why did you give me such a daughter-in-law? She¡¯s always stirring up trouble between my son and me; do I have it easy? My life is hard, I haven¡¯t had a single good day, yet now I¡¯m being manipulated by my daughter-in-law!"


    The word ¡¯filial piety¡¯ is very useful. With such a big hat to wear, everyone had to compromise!


    Tan Zhenghong said with a dark face, "Don¡¯t push everything onto my wife; it was you and dad that disappointed me."


    "Over the years, have I let you go without food or clothing? Your brothers are not in good health, they can¡¯t compare to you who practices martial arts, and so you¡¯re heartbroken because you had to do a bit more work?"


    Wang Clan wiped her tears and regained her assertive demeanor.


    She did not appreciate what Tan Zhenghong was saying; what unforgivable sin had she committed?


    Was it just a bit more work? Could that kill a person?


    "I¡¯m a grown man; I don¡¯t care about my share of food and clothes, nor how much work I do, but how did you treat me when I broke my leg? When my wife and I were both suffering, you only sent one bun!"


    Tan Zhenghong remembered the days right after his injury, and he still felt a pang in his heart.


    Back then, Qiao Duo was still a foolish girl; even if he didn¡¯t eat a bite, the foolish girl couldn¡¯t get enough to eat.


    When she asked for more food, she would be scolded, and in the end, she took her own life in humiliation.


    In fact, he always blamed himself; if the foolish girl hadn¡¯t married him, she would surely still be alive.


    Tan Yuancheng also wiped away old tears, "Fourth Boss, weren¡¯t we saving money to get you a doctor? Why are you holding a grudge against us now? We are your parents; would we really harm you? This woman has only been in our family for a short while. She¡¯s inciting us to sever ties, who knows what scheme she¡¯s plotting?"


    "Exactly, that heartless woman, she just can¡¯t stand to see our family do well."


    Tan Yuancheng and his wife were set on not severing the relationship, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er with no choice but to look towards the village chief.


    In the countryside, the village chief¡¯s words carried some weight.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the village chief, "Uncle Tie, you heard what my sister-in-law said just now, I ask you to be just and uphold fairness for Fourth Boss and me."


    Uncle Tie was a bit distressed; after all, severing relationships was not a small matter.


    Even as the village chief, he couldn¡¯t make such a decision for others.

 Chapter 87 - 88 Too Lazy to Have a Child_1

    Chapter 87: Chapter 88 Too Lazy to Have a Child_1"They were wrong, but after all, we¡¯re all family. We have to live together. Let your mother-in-law and second sister-in-law apologize to you, and then let¡¯s put this matter behind us,"


    Tie Niu said stubbornly, knowing that what he said wasn¡¯t quite right.


    If he were Fourth Boss, he would have turned his back on them long ago.


    But as the village head, he had to ensure harmony in the village, so he generally urged reconciliation rather than separation.


    "Folks, today my mother-in-law and second sister-in-law slandered me. If I don¡¯t sever ties, who knows what trouble they might cause in the future? Please, everyone, give me some justice!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shifted her strategy, now she was just a little daughter-in-law, trying to manage the situation through a more indirect approach.


    "Older sister, give Fourth Boss a break. It¡¯s not easy for the child!"


    "We all heard you admit it, you¡¯re not a young person anymore, stop making a scene."


    Many here were from the younger generation; for Wang Clan to make such a fuss really showed she had no shame. They just wanted to ask, aren¡¯t you embarrassed?


    "The Fourth Boss¡¯s House didn¡¯t pressure you, you agreed on your own, and now that you¡¯re trying to renege and still protect your second daughter-in-law, it would be odd if Fourth Boss and his wife weren¡¯t angry! They are not fools!"


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s Wife isn¡¯t a fool anymore, how can you bully her?"


    The villagers chimed in with comments here and there, embarrassing Wang Clan and Tan Yuancheng.


    Little Wang Clan said annoyed: "This is our family¡¯s business, what are you meddling for!"


    She remembered that these people had followed her to find the undershirts, waiting for Qiao Duo¡¯s embarrassment; now how did their attitudes change so quickly?


    "Ah, so now even speaking fairly is not allowed."


    "Second brother, your wife is no good, and you don¡¯t manage her. Just because she gave birth to a son, she thinks she¡¯s above everyone. What about us who have four sons? Shouldn¡¯t we be soaring to the heavens?"


    Wuwu... Why didn¡¯t she have the same good fortune as Little Wang Clan?


    Little Wang Clan had only one son and was nearly being worshipped at home, whereas she still had to work from dawn till dusk.


    "You only have four, I¡¯ve had six! Ah, just thinking about finding brides for them gives me a headache!"


    That¡¯s six dowries, six houses!


    "Your husband is impressive, and your sons are sensible, what¡¯s there to worry about not finding brides? Look at the Tan Family, those three lazybones didn¡¯t end up as bachelors!"


    "Isn¡¯t there Fourth Boss? Without Fourth Boss, they¡¯re nothing!"


    "You¡¯re right, if it weren¡¯t for Fourth Boss saving up the land, who would marry their daughters into the Tan Family?"


    "You¡¯re saying they¡¯re too lazy, too lazy even to have sons!"


    His comment made everyone burst into laughter¡ªit might really be the case.


    Having sons is not something that happens just by wishing; it takes hard work!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips¡ªhad the topic drifted off course?


    The villagers were mostly on her side, so if the village head wanted to gloss over the matter, he needed to think carefully.


    Maintaining a harmonious atmosphere was right but considering the direction of public opinion was essential.


    If the Tan Family¡¯s elder couple acted so outrageously without facing any punishment, could that really satisfy the community?


    "Grandpa Zhou, Uncle Tie, Uncle Wu, you all are respected elders in the village. Please speak a fair word for me, or else Fourth Boss might still have to support those three brothers of his in the future."


    Academician Zhou stroked his beard: "I actually think this Relationship Termination Letter is well written. Fourth Boss is a good man who should not be bullied." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If good people are bullied, who would dare to be good in the future?


    If every household was as toxic as the Tan Family¡¯s, could life in Willow Village go on?


    With the Academician¡¯s words, the rest was much smoother.

 Chapter 88 - 89 Wishful Thinking_1

    Chapter 88: Chapter 89 Wishful Thinking_1Wu Youcai also nodded, "You old couples shouldn¡¯t feel wronged either. Outsiders like us can¡¯t stand to see you treat Fourth Boss this way. Fourth Boss broke his leg, and you all kick him while he¡¯s down. No wonder he wants to do this."


    "Elder Mr. Zhou, please write a Relationship Termination Letter for these two kids." Tie Niu also let out a sigh of relief.


    It¡¯s no wonder, given that the Tan Family Members were too much, the villagers couldn¡¯t stand by.


    Their words were merely a reflection of public sentiment.


    Wang Clan said angrily, "This is the Tan Family¡¯s business. You outsiders should keep your noses out of it!"


    Who are these people to be pointing fingers, as if they had any right to? Tan Zhenghong isn¡¯t their child!


    "I¡¯m just here to make sure you keep your word. You should know this basic principle at your age, without needing me to teach you!"


    Tie Niu spoke sternly, very angry that he, a village head, wasn¡¯t given even a shred of respect!


    Today, he had truly witnessed the shamelessness of the Tan Family Members!


    Elder Mr. Zhou spoke with disdain, "Just for that remark, Xiao Fu no longer needs to come to me for enlightenment."


    "Sir, don¡¯t mind her. She¡¯s not thinking straight at the moment. Please forgive her," said Tan Yuancheng, hastening to apologize. This foolish woman was like a brainless person, always blabbering, causing him trouble all her life!


    Didn¡¯t she realize that with the village head and the others having spoken out, the matter was as good as settled?


    What¡¯s more important, Xiao Fu was the only male grandchild of the Tan Family, and he was counting on Xiao Fu to bring honor to the family. How could he not go to school?


    Wang Clan stood to the side with her head lowered, not daring to speak out again.


    With Xiao Fu¡¯s education being a top priority for the Tan Family, she didn¡¯t dare cause a scene.


    Elder Mr. Zhou¡¯s beard twitched; he genuinely disliked Xiao Fu, who was fickle and full of bad habits.


    But he said nothing more, as they were all part of the same village.


    He hoped that these people would learn their lesson and educate Xiao Fu properly in the future.


    Some eager villagers had already brought over writing brushes and ink, because the Tan Family Members had disgusted them!


    The elder took the pen and before long, he had finished writing the Relationship Termination Letter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er respectfully accepted the thin piece of paper, which was just a sheet of paper, yet she felt so overjoyed she could fly!


    From now on, these annoying people would have no right to come knocking on her door! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong, who could read, looked over the Severance book and his expression dimmed, but he still pressed his red fingerprint on the paper. It was probably for the best; now nobody would bully his wife anymore.


    And as for such parents... it¡¯s probably for the better without them.


    Tan Yuancheng was still hesitating, while the onlooking villagers began to berate them again, calling them lazy, deserving it, shameless, and the like.


    However, what he dreaded most was the words said by Elder Mr. Zhou, so he clenched his teeth and pressed his handprint as well.


    With that, the Relationship Termination Letter took effect!


    Meaning that if they showed up again, she could throw the Severance book in their face!


    And then she could defiantly say, "I have no relations with you, what are you even worth? Hurry up and get out!"


    The old couple at home and the people from the second household looked pale as lettuce, just like that, they had severed ties with Tan Zhenghong, to their own disadvantage!


    But they hadn¡¯t anticipated that there were other matters waiting for them.


    Besides ending the relationship, they had to make Little Wang Clan kneel and apologize!


    If Little Wang Clan dared to play such dirty tricks, she should have anticipated the consequences of being exposed.


    Qiao Duo looked towards Little Wang Clan, "Now you can kneel down, no need to worry about shortening my life or anything."


    Little Wang Clan glared at Qiao Duo hatefully; she didn¡¯t want to kneel, because it was too humiliating!


    But with Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan having compromised, what else could she say?

 Chapter 89 - 90 The So-Called Family_1

    Chapter 89: Chapter 90 The So-Called Family_1Little Wang Clan¡¯s Heart knew she couldn¡¯t escape kneeling, but she still couldn¡¯t get over her pride.


    She was the most respected daughter-in-law of the Tan Family, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was nothing more than someone bought with silver. When Qiao Duo¡¯er got married, there wasn¡¯t even a wedding banquet; what right did Qiao Duo¡¯er have to make her kneel?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t in a hurry either; she just quietly waited.


    Could she say she was enjoying the process of Little Wang Clan¡¯s Heart struggling?


    Hmm... Ever since she encountered these wonderful people, she had become a bit twisted.


    The old her would never have reveled in another¡¯s misfortune.


    Tan Yuancheng furrowed his brows, "Look at the mess you¡¯ve made, spouting nonsense all day after stuffing yourself, apologize to her quickly, or else don¡¯t bother coming back!"


    Still not embarrassed enough? Still think the matter isn¡¯t big enough?


    You should know that if your attitude is a bit better now, there might be a sliver of a chance to mend things with Tan Zhenghong later.


    "It¡¯s all your fault, thinking up such rotten schemes, and you won¡¯t kneel yourself but expect someone else to do it for you?"


    Wang Clan was also dissatisfied with Little Wang Clan. Who was it that beat their chest and guaranteed they could definitively get rid of Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    Who said that Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t so ugly now and might sell for three to five taels of silver?


    Now look, not only did they not manage to sell Qiao Duo¡¯er, but they also lost the most capable son!


    Little Wang Clan gave Tan Zhengyong a look, hoping her own man would speak up for her and save her from this embarrassment.


    But Tan Zhengyong just lowered his head, not uttering a single word.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s heart instantly sank to the bottom of the valley; she knew she couldn¡¯t count on these people anymore.


    Hmph, these were her family members!


    When it was time to share the benefits, no one refused, but now that things had gone awry, the blame suddenly became all hers!


    "Well, get on your knees, everyone¡¯s waiting. Weren¡¯t you acting all high and mighty just a moment ago? You almost fooled all of us!"


    "Don¡¯t brag too much in the future, be careful not to throw your back out!"


    Little Wang Clan bit her lip in resentment and then slowly knelt down.


    "I wrongly accused you, I¡¯m sorry," Little Wang Clan enunciated each word.


    With each word she spoke, her resentment towards those people deepened. Never again would she naively consider them family!


    She would remember today¡¯s humiliation and seek retribution for it later!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "Let¡¯s leave it at this for now, but if I hear another rumor, I will not let you off!"


    As she spoke, she swept her gaze over the people standing aside.


    This matter was most likely concocted by Little Wang Clan, but at the very least, these people had also agreed to it.


    Wang Clan pursed her lips, looking ready to breakdown crying.


    "Although the Relationship Termination Letter has been written, if you sincerely reform, Ah Hong won¡¯t hold it over you," Tie Niu remarked.


    He believed in Ah Hong. If they treated him a bit better, it wouldn¡¯t have come to this. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tie Niu then addressed the onlookers, "Alright, folks, it¡¯s the middle of the day, hurry home and cook. The adults might handle hunger, but the children can¡¯t bear it."


    The village chief had spoken, and the excitement was over, so the villagers gradually dispersed.


    Erhu¡¯s courtyard finally returned to tranquility.


    Sun Erhu plopped down on the ground, he was almost scared to death, but fortunately, it was just a false alarm.


    "Stop daydreaming, hurry up and carry Fourth Boss back!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand in front of Sun Erhu. Fourth Brother Tan was a strong man, something she couldn¡¯t handle alone.


    Sun Erhu snapped back to reality and immediately hoisted Tan Zhenghong onto his back.


    The sun was already tilting westwards; Qiao Duo¡¯er also walked back quickly, guessing it was already one o¡¯clock, she needed to hurry up and cook!


    Apart from stir-fried chives and eggs, she also made a vegetable soup. Both dishes were quite plain, perfect to go with crispy pancakes.

 Chapter 90 - 91 The Most Important Mom_1

    Chapter 90: Chapter 91 The Most Important Mom_1After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er went up the mountain, but meanwhile, the scene in the main room had become tumultuous.


    Because Little Wang Clan had silently packed her things and left for her maternal home.


    The moment she knelt before Qiao Duo¡¯er, she could no longer face anyone in Willow Village.


    And the attitudes of the Tan Family Members had chilled her heart.


    Back at her own home, she was doted on by her parents and her brothers were also good to her. Rather than serving others and being aggrieved in the Tan Family, it was better for her to return to her own family!


    "Mother, you better start cooking, we might go hungry, but Xiao Fu definitely shouldn¡¯t starve."


    Tan Zhengyong glanced at his child, Xiao Fu, who was famished and wilted.


    This was the only grandchild of the Tan Family, even if they were angry, they couldn¡¯t neglect him, could they?


    "What temper are you throwing here? Xiao Fu has just begun his enlightenment, he needs more nourishment for his active mind, and you¡¯re letting him go hungry? What does that look like?" Tan Yuancheng said reproachfully.


    The Wang Clan spoke irritably, "I must owe you all. At my age, I still have to worry about cooking!"


    Wang Clan rolled her eyes. It was boiling hot in the midst of summer, and she had no desire to cook!


    Ever since she became a mother-in-law, she hadn¡¯t stepped into the kitchen.


    It had been well over a decade, and now, suddenly, she was being asked to cook. How could she be willing?


    In the past, the most she did was pick vegetables or the like.


    She was already troubled by cutting ties with Tan Zhenghong, and now Little Wang Clan had stirred up this mess.


    Hmph, these daughters-in-law were reaching for the skies one after another!


    Wang Clan still hadn¡¯t moved. Tan Zhengyong rubbed his stomach, then brought up another matter.


    Every time the topic of Cui Hua¡¯s parents came up, his mother got impatient. Surely, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she headed to the kitchen to cook.


    Um... he was really too clever.


    "Mother, maybe you should think about how to explain things to Flower Lady, so I can bring her back."


    The daughter of his daughter-in-law¡¯s family could always be trusted to be the apple of their eye. Now that Little Wang Clan had been wronged, the Yue Family would certainly not let the matter rest.


    And with family relations intertwined, it was even more complicated.


    With a snort, Wang Clan said, "Explain what? If her own daughter wasn¡¯t taught well and was sent to my family, I haven¡¯t even begun to settle accounts with her!"


    She was almost enraged to death!


    A daughter-in-law who couldn¡¯t even handle a little displeasure, what good was she?


    Besides, wasn¡¯t it her who came up with this wretched idea?


    Making her kneel to Qiao Duo was only what she deserved. What was she so delicate about?


    Xiao Fu pouted his lips, "Grandma, if you scold my mother, I won¡¯t stay in this house either. I¡¯m going to find my mother!"


    Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan both doted on Xiao Fu, but in his little heart, his own mother mattered most.


    Having said that, he ran outside.


    Tan Yuancheng knocked on his pipe and said, "Didn¡¯t you see Xiao Fu running out? Why don¡¯t you hurry and bring him back? What would we do if something were to happen to him?"


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s maternal home was just in the neighboring village, about half an hour¡¯s walk away.


    But Xiao Fu was still a child; how could they rest easy letting him go alone?


    Tan Zhengyong nodded and hurriedly chased after him. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But as soon as father and son left, they did not return. Wang Clan finished cooking, yet no one was there to eat, and this made her even more furious.


    "It¡¯s all your fault. Back then, you talked about adding relations upon relations. Look at us now, didn¡¯t see any closeness, just attracted a ton of trouble, and running off to the maternal home at every turn!"


    Wang Clan was extremely disdainful; she should have disagreed from the beginning!


    If it weren¡¯t for her giving birth to a son for the Tan Family, she wouldn¡¯t have given her so much favor!


    Tan Yuancheng sighed, "Xiao Fu is already so big, what use is your complaining? Do you really think the second son can divorce his wife? Just calm down, there are so many people laughing at the Tan Family¡¯s expense!"

 Chapter 91 - 92: Sit Next to Me_1

    Chapter 91: Chapter 92: Sit Next to Me_1"What¡¯s so funny? Their family doesn¡¯t have problems?" Wang Clan spoke dismissively.


    Tan Yuancheng sighed. He thought about the problems other families might have, but which family in Willow Village could have more than the Tan Family?


    Wang Clan didn¡¯t care that Tan Yuancheng ignored her, and she simply kept going on her own.


    "The second son and Xiao Fu are no better. I always think of them when there¡¯s something good, yet they followed that woman and didn¡¯t even bother to say goodbye!"


    All the sons she had borne were corrupted by their wives!


    It was the same with Fourth Boss; now the second son was following suit. How much sin must she have accumulated in her past life?


    Tan Yuancheng, having heard it all too many times, had become numb and quietly ate his meal.


    If there¡¯s one thing he regretted most in life, it was marrying such a woman; she would be the death of him, sooner or later!


    Wang Clan glared at Tan Yuancheng: "It¡¯s because you sowed poor seeds. Look what you¡¯ve produced!"


    Tan Yuancheng continued to maintain his silence. Wang Clan loved to nag; the best way to deal with her was silence. As long as he ignored her, she couldn¡¯t go on for long.


    By evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er had returned.


    This time, in addition to medicinal herbs, she also brought back a basket nearly full of almonds.


    She had visited the grocery store and saw that preserved fruits were selling for twenty wen a pound, which was not only expensive but also not very appealing.


    Today, while she was in the mountains, she saw some almost-ripe almonds, so she picked some to make her own dried almonds and almond paste.


    Make plenty of dried almonds, and they would last till winter.


    Almonds needed to be soaked in water for half an hour, so after setting them to soak, Qiao Duo began cooking dinner.


    She planned to cook a pot of white rice, coupled with West Lake vinegar fish and a cold salad of purslane; not only delicious but also rich in nutrients.


    After preparing dinner, she washed the almonds thoroughly and placed them in a basket to dry. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At dinner time, it was just Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong now could let his legs dangle off the side of the bed, so Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t need to sit beside him to help him with his food anymore.


    Looking at the empty spot beside him, Tan Zhenghong weakly said, "Duo¡¯er, come sit over here."


    He had been hurt a lot today and now needed someone to comfort him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and moved to sit next to Tan Zhenghong with her bowl in hand.


    "Feeling down?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er showed concern. After all, breaking off relations was a scene she had caused.


    "No, just feeling abandoned by dad and mom," Tan Zhenghong murmured.


    Seeing his expression, he resembled an abandoned pet dog, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but feel pity; she knew Tan Zhenghong must be very sad.


    Because Tan Yuancheng and Wang Clan were his parents, the people he once longed to be close to.


    But the outcome disappointed him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her chopsticks, held Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face in both hands, "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t abandon you. Hurry up and heal your leg. There are still many things waiting for you to do!"


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly responded: "Thank you."


    Goosebumps rose on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s skin; she felt that their interactions should just stay as distant as before.


    No need for such sentimental drama.


    However, to take care of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s emotions, Qiao Duo¡¯er still smiled faintly.


    "Hurry up and eat, eat more so your leg heals faster."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded but still scooped some of the fish belly meat onto Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s plate.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hesitated but ate it anyway.


    Wondering if someone else¡¯s saliva on the chopsticks could be poisonous, she decided not to stab Tan Zhenghong in the heart with her thoughts.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for this fellow to have grown up so big; but with her, he would definitely be fine in the future!

 Chapter 92 - 93: The Reticent Man_1

    Chapter 92: Chapter 93: The Reticent Man_1After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er began sewing clothes.


    Tan Zhenghong, on the other hand, was using a small knife to split almonds, which had a seam on their bodies. He needed to cut the almond along this seam into two halves and scoop out the kernel.


    His movements were swift, and in no time, he had split more than half a basket of almonds.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced over and was very satisfied.


    Making dried almonds was simple¡ªjust lay the almond flesh out in the sun to dry for a few days, making sure they dried continuously.


    When they were about seventy to eighty percent dry, pile the dried almonds together to let them moisten again, then rub them to make them shiny and pack them into jars.


    Almond paste wasn¡¯t troublesome either. Just layer the almonds with white sugar in a basin, cover with cloth, and hang in a well to marinate overnight.


    The next day, take them out and simmer over low heat for half an hour.


    After processing all the almonds, Qiao Duo¡¯er finished her ablutions and lay down on the bed.


    Tan Zhenghong squeezed closer to Qiao Duo¡¯er and as soon as she gave him a glance, he explained, "It¡¯s not good to fan the air from too far away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mentally scoffed, letting him be; surely the air could still be fanned from a distance, right?


    Hmph, just take advantage of my soft heart and bully me then!


    This was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s inner monologue.


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong became even more presumptuous, wrapping one arm around Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "If you lean on me, I might have to beat you up!" Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned and said, not having stomach pain today, why lean so close?


    Tan Zhenghong said aggrievedly, "Right now, I¡¯m like a child with neither father nor mother, pitiable enough, you shouldn¡¯t bully me."


    "Just for tonight," Qiao Duo¡¯er said awkwardly.


    Tan Zhenghong silently thought, matters of tomorrow can wait for tomorrow. It¡¯s good enough to have someone to hold today.


    Thus, Qiao Duo¡¯er slept in his arms for the night.


    She thought she would have trouble sleeping, but unexpectedly, she slept quite well, waking up the next day still nestled in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms.


    A certain man had already awakened early; Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face turned red involuntarily, and she hurriedly got dressed and out of bed.


    She took out the almonds, set up those to be dried, and began to simmer the rest over a low flame.


    She also found another bottle, boiled it in hot water for about ten minutes, which would thoroughly sterilize the bottle.


    Once the almonds were simmered to a sticky consistency, she turned off the heat.


    When the almond paste had cooled slightly, she poured it into the cleaned bottle, capped it, and set it aside.


    Because it had not been exposed to bacteria at any point, the almond paste could be kept for ten days to half a month without a problem.


    After she had breakfast, the almond paste had completely cooled, and she put it back down the well.


    Upon returning from the mountains at midday, the first thing Qiao Duo¡¯er did was to take out the almond paste, scoop a little into a bowl with a clean spoon, and after trying a taste, her face was all bliss.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered the pain from her last period, realizing it¡¯d be wiser to eat less of anything cold.


    But this was so delicious, sour and sweet, she couldn¡¯t bear to let it go.


    After a moment of indecision, she still handed the bowl to Tan Zhenghong.


    Almond paste wasn¡¯t just for spooning out and eating; it had many uses like stewing with pork ribs or meat, or even used as a dipping sauce. She¡¯d eat it like that from now on.


    Tan Zhenghong took a taste with the spoon she had used, then generously gave a thumbs up, "Wife, you are amazing!"


    "Humph, thought you were a straightforward guy, didn¡¯t expect you to be so smooth-talking!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong; this man was becoming more and more coy by the day, even learning how to act cute.


    Sigh, the problem was that she seemed to be no match for him. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 93 - 94 Always Beautiful_1

    Chapter 93: Chapter 94 Always Beautiful_1Time flew by, and after a month, the weather was still unbearably hot and dry.


    As it happened, it was market day in town, and she was getting ready to go. This time, Qiao Duo¡¯er donned the fine cloth dress she had just made.


    Cough cough... It wasn¡¯t that she was slow; it was just that now, a certain bastard kept staring at her.


    That guy wouldn¡¯t do any weaving at night; instead, he just watched her, and he would continue until she got into bed and let him hold her. Only then would he withdraw that weird look in his eyes.


    She was deeply embarrassed; she could tear apart ghosts with her bare hands, but she was utterly helpless against Tan Zhenghong.


    Since Tan Zhenghong had been good to her, always fanning her and leaving the tasty bits of food for her, could she really beat him up?


    Certainly... not!


    This directly resulted in her taking a whole month to finish the dress.


    Wearing the fine cloth dress, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s entire demeanor had transformed.


    "Sister-in-law, you look really beautiful today!" Sun Erhu gave a generous thumbs-up without reluctance.


    Because he saw her around every day, he normally didn¡¯t think much of it, but today, when he suddenly recalled the Qiao Duo¡¯er who had just married his Brother Hong, he couldn¡¯t believe she was the same person!


    The change was too drastic!


    The old Qiao Duo¡¯er was even darker than him, with facial bumps that looked like... a toad.


    Hush... this simile must never reach his sister-in-law¡¯s ears.


    Now, sister-in-law¡¯s skin had lightened, all the acne gone, leaving only some faint scars. If she could heal those scars, she would be even more perfect!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes sarcastically: "I¡¯ve always been beautiful, sigh, you really have poor sight!"


    She had just been a bit self-conscious a few days ago. Once she accepted the reality of time-traveling, she realized her facial shape and features were quite good!


    It¡¯s just that ordinary people didn¡¯t notice her strengths because the flaws were too obvious.


    Forget it, let¡¯s focus on the positives. She¡¯s made quite a journey, and she can become even more beautiful!


    Why?


    Because her current figure couldn¡¯t be considered perfect, and her complexion wasn¡¯t too good either.


    If she could nurture a rosy white complexion and fill out a bit, she would be nothing short of a goddess.


    But maintenance is a long-term process, and can¡¯t be rushed.


    "Ignore him, he doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate," Tan Zhenghong also held Sun Erhu in disdain.


    Sun Erhu chuckled awkwardly, then quickly changed the subject: "Sister-in-law, the weather isn¡¯t good today, let¡¯s head to town early."


    Well... when she had first married into the family, beauty was the last word anyone would have used to describe her.


    It was only Brother Hong who hadn¡¯t minded.


    But none of those mattered now. What was important was that sister-in-law had become beautiful and was very kind to Brother Hong. Brother Hong wasn¡¯t at a loss at all, so he wouldn¡¯t say that Brother Hong was blind.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Sun Erhu a scornful look, then started to pack up her things to go to town.


    They needed to go early and return early.


    The summers here were unbearably hot; even though there was no sun, the stuffiness made it even more uncomfortable.


    Appetites usually waned in this kind of weather, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but think of the mouth-watering braised snacks. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back in the day, she was particularly fond of a braised food store¡¯s soy-sauce duck and would often run over to buy some.


    She remembered the shop owner¡¯s wife being very warm and good-looking. Although she had a child, her figure was like that of an eighteen-year-old. Admiring beautiful women, she would strike up extra conversation.

 Chapter 94 - 95: Want to Eat Braised Food_1

    Chapter 94: Chapter 95: Want to Eat Braised Food_1*Cough cough*, getting back to the point, she just wanted to nurture a pot of marinade because she craved authentic soy sauce-marinated duck.


    Since coming here, the seasonings were very basic, lacking even chicken bouillon; she¡¯d grown utterly tired of it.


    The beautiful proprietress told her the method for preparing the marinade because she wanted her twin sons to learn Taekwondo from Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Keeping a marinade is a patient affair; it took about six months to cultivate a pot, and most importantly, the key was the recipe¡ªwithout it, everything was in vain.


    Therefore, the proprietress wasn¡¯t worried about Qiao Duo¡¯er stealing her craft.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er had been a special agent, with a keen sense of taste, and could approximately guess the seasonings used just by tasting.


    Amen, she was thankful for the proprietress, thankful that she had once been a special agent.


    Maintaining a marinade was a hassle, and she had not been inclined to bother with it in her past life.


    But this life was hers to spend at her leisure and, once established, enjoying marinated delicacies would be effortless.


    On a hot summer night, slicing a plate of marinated meat to accompany a bowl of white porridge was a thought that filled her with joy.


    Besides, having been here for almost two months, she had grown accustomed to the life and it was time to think about making money.


    Otherwise, how could she afford a new house by just selling medicinal herbs?


    It was said that there was a dock in town where the boatmen docked to purchase supplies; marinated meats would probably sell well there.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was the kind of person who acted once she set her mind to it, and no sooner had she set up her stall than she got moving.


    After selling the medicinal herbs, she bought some herbal seasonings for taste from the pharmacy, such as galangal, tsao-ko, Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, fennel, licorice, and dried tangerine peel.


    For the remaining five-spice powder, sugar, chili, soy sauce, and yellow rice wine, she would need to go to a grocery store.


    This time the medicinal herbs had been gathered for almost a month, netting her One or Two Silver; Qiao Duo¡¯er thought it over and then went to a Cloth Shop to buy fabric.


    For her now, dressing and eating well were the most urgent matters.


    By the time she returned home with a back basket full of items, Sun Erhu had already sold half of them.


    "Sister-in-law, we¡¯ll be done in One or Two Hours," Sun Erhu wanted to continue selling for a while longer.


    "No need to wait, let¡¯s head back," she replied.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head; the sky was growing intensely dark, so going to the grocery store seemed more reliable.


    Making a few less copper coins was better than getting caught in the rain.


    And there was Er Ya; with the child¡¯s weak immune system, it would be problematic if she fell ill.


    On the way back, Qiao Duo¡¯er steeled her heart and bought two cuts of spare ribs, two pork knuckles, and two pig tails.


    A good marinade required a fair amount of meat and animal organs to cultivate; she had heard the gorgeous proprietress mention that their family marinade had been maintained for five years.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bold spending left Sun Erhu utterly astonished.


    His sister-in-law was truly exceptional; she had stunned him twice already that day. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister-in-law, can we really finish all this meat? We still have the pheasants I hunted at home," he remarked.


    And there were two of them!


    Sun Erhu kindly reminded her, while they were still near the pork shop, in case she had second thoughts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "I have a use for it when I buy it."


    Seeing his sister-in-law¡¯s firm decision, Sun Erhu fell silent.


    He surmised she was simply craving meat, having heard that she led a bitter life before marriage; probably she had never had a satisfying meal from childhood.


    No worries, the money he and Brother Hong earned was more than enough for her to spend.


    Once home, Qiao Duo¡¯er started prepping the marinade.


    Before doing so, she swiftly sewed a cloth bag and washed it thoroughly with clean water.


    Since she had washed and dried the fabric upon purchasing it, one more rinse meant it could be used right away.

 Chapter 95 - 96 Braised Meat_1

    Chapter 95: Chapter 96 Braised Meat_1With the cloth bag ready, they could begin braising things.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er washed various seasonings to dry them off. During this time, she needed to crack the tsao-ko and chop the green onions, ginger, and garlic. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then she added a bit of lard into a small pot to fry the seasonings until fragrant, before stuffing them into the cloth bag for later use.


    Next, she washed various kinds of meat and cut them into pieces. She cut a rack of ribs into three large sections and put pig¡¯s trotters, pig¡¯s tail, and wild chicken whole into a pot, added some cold water to boil, then removed the meat and rinsed it with cold water.


    She repeated this three times until the meat was clean, then put all ingredients except the pig¡¯s tail into the big pot.


    Pig¡¯s tail cooks quickly; if it is boiled too early and becomes too tender, the texture would be unpalatable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er added the cloth bag to the pot, along with some soy sauce, sugar, and salt among other seasonings, and then filled the big pot with plenty of water before stopping.


    When braising meat, it was crucial to add enough water at once. If water was added midway, the meat¡¯s essence wouldn¡¯t emerge in the cooking.


    After completing these tasks, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s work was done.


    The task of tending the fire was handed over to Er Ya. Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed her to start with a high flame to bring it to a boil, then shift to a slow simmer on low heat.


    Er Ya patted her chest, "Fourth Aunt, go busy yourself with other things!"


    "Hmm, Er Ya is the best!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, Er Ya was really beyond reproach.


    The pot of food had to stew for an hour and after turning off the heat, it needed to soak for half an hour to be thoroughly infused with flavor. It definitely wouldn¡¯t be ready in time for lunch.


    Preparing the meal and stir-frying dishes meant there weren¡¯t enough pots in the house, so Qiao Duo had to take the ingredients to the east wing.


    Just in time for lunch, she could eat with Hu¡¯s Clan and Da Ya.


    It was also a perfect time to scrounge some vegetables from Da Ya¡¯s place, as Erhu¡¯s Yard was nearly out of vegetables.


    Um... she wanted a new house, a vegetable garden.


    Occasionally enjoying wild vegetables was a treat, but eating them every day could breed a bit of resentment.


    With Hu¡¯s Clan and Da Ya¡¯s help, lunch was quickly prepared, and Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried back to check on the pot.


    Lifting the lid, the aroma of the braising liquid alongside the meaty fragrance was even richer, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva.


    She really wished she could eat the braised meat right away, but she knew that being impatient wouldn¡¯t get her any hot tofu; the meat had to be braised thoroughly to taste good.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed a couple of logs in the stove and called Er Ya in to eat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ate lunch absentmindedly; her whole heart was on the braised meat.


    Tan Zhenghong knew his wife was fixated on the meat, so he kept silent.


    Eat less now, and there would be more room for meat later!


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er boiled a few eggs, cooled them in cold water, peeled them, and added them to the pot.


    Eggs braised in the broth used for the meat would taste even better than the meat itself.


    After finishing with the eggs, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally went to take her afternoon nap, but she found she couldn¡¯t sleep!


    Tan Zhenghong tapped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, "Little foodie, I¡¯ll make sure none of the meat goes missing; go to sleep."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grumbled, "You¡¯re the foodie, huh. Just wait until you try it; then you¡¯ll know."


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled softly. He knew by the smell that the flavor must be spot on, and he also knew that his wife had other plans in mind¡ªhis leg... ah, when could he really be of help?


    Seeing his wife bustling about every day was almost too much for his heart to bear.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t even know when she fell asleep¡ªwas it really Tan Zhenghong¡¯s patting that lulled her to sleep?


    She wasn¡¯t a three-year-old child, yet she was soothed to sleep by a burly man.


    But by the time she woke up, the pot of braised meat was also ready.

 Chapter 96 - 97 Opinion Reserved_1

    Chapter 96: Chapter 97 Opinion Reserved_1Qiao Duo¡¯er fished out a pig trotter and a pig tail from the pot, leaving the rest to soak.


    She first cut off a small piece to taste, it was fatty but not greasy, tender and flavorful. The taste was genuinely good!


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt she could eat an entire pig trotter by herself.


    She wasn¡¯t the only one eyeing the meat. As soon as Sun Erhu woke up from his nap, he rushed over. His nap had been torturous, with nothing but the scent of meat tickling his nose and tormenting his heart. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he arrived, Qiao Duo¡¯er had just finished cutting the trotter.


    Seeing the two plates of glistening red meat, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    It looked so delicious!


    "You¡¯ve come at the perfect time, take this inside. I¡¯ll send some to Da Ya and Er Ya," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, squinting her eyes.


    Sun Erhu grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit shy as Qiao Duo¡¯er saw right through his thoughts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently thought to herself: Do you really think you can hide your little tricks from my eyes?


    The two inside waited for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s return before they started eating.


    After asking the two, and since they were more interested in the pig trotter, she decisively polished off her favorite pig tail.


    And she did so without cutting it, as it just wouldn¡¯t feel the same otherwise.


    Forgive her, for this once, she indulged in eating by herself.


    By the time she finished the pig tail, there was still half the meat left on the plate, but Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu had put down their chopsticks, presumably saving the rest for her.


    But she had already eaten a pig tail, how could she possibly have room left in her stomach?


    "I¡¯m not a pig, how can I eat so much?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a furrowed brow.


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly replied, "You only had half a bowl of rice at noon, you need to eat more meat."


    "Exactly, you¡¯ve been busy all day; you should eat more."


    Sun Erhu added, even though he hadn¡¯t taken a wife yet, he knew how to take care of a woman.


    His sister-in-law was getting prettier, and it would be even better if she could put on some weight.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Just eat if you¡¯re told to eat, where¡¯s all this nonsense coming from? There¡¯s still more in the pot outside!"


    It was only then that Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu picked up their chopsticks again, though they ate much slower this time.


    As she ate, Qiao Duo¡¯er shared her plans, "I¡¯m planning to sell the braised meat in town, what do you think?"


    "I think it¡¯s a great idea, it will definitely fetch a good price!"


    Sun Erhu supported her without hesitation, as the flavor was much better than that of the restaurants!


    Tan Zhenghong thought for a moment before saying, "You could sell it to Fu Manlou; the shopkeeper there is nice, and the prices are fair."


    He and Sun Erhu had always taken their hunted game to Fu Manlou.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I want to set up a stall by the docks."


    She didn¡¯t like having too much to do with others; she was a special agent, a lone wolf of a special agent. Being able to hang out with Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu was already quite a feat for her.


    As for dealing with the Fu Manlou shopkeeper, she thought better of it.


    Plus, having her own stall would help her pass the time, so she never even considered directly collaborating with a restaurant.


    "No way, the weather is too hot now, it will ruin you," Tan Zhenghong objected, aware of how tough it was to run a stall.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still stood firm, "I¡¯ll go in the evening, what sun will there be to worry about?"


    Tan Zhenghong wanted to say more, but Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately gave him a fierce glare, and he promptly closed his mouth.


    It was only then that he realized Qiao Duo¡¯er was merely informing him of her decision. His opinion would be noted but not taken into account.


    Tan Zhenghong felt heartbroken.

 Chapter 97 - 98 Are you going to compensate if you break it?_1

    Chapter 97: Chapter 98 Are you going to compensate if you break it?_1So it was under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forceful insistence that the decision to set up a stall at the dock was made.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought out the box where she kept the money, and took out all the scattered copper coins and broken silver; this was all that she and Tan Zhenghong had for their entire wealth.


    When they divided the family assets, they received just over one tael of silver. Tan Zhenghong¡¯s handcrafted goods sold for about one tael of silver, and Qiao Duo¡¯er earned two taels of silver from selling medicinal herbs.


    However, their expenditures were also significant, so they hadn¡¯t managed to save too much silver.


    Now, Qiao Duo¡¯er still had two taels of broken silver left and, additionally, over two hundred assorted copper coins.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out fifty wen to give to Sun Erhu, asking him to take the money and buy eggs from another family.


    The eggs from landowner families were usually saved up to be sold at the market, for one wen each. With the money from the eggs, they could buy essentials like rice, grains, cooking oil, and salt.


    Fifty eggs should be enough to last one day.


    For her first attempt, she didn¡¯t prepare too many ingredients, in case they couldn¡¯t finish and it went to waste.


    After a while, a heart-wrenching cry came from the main room, and the owner of the voice was Little Wang Clan.


    "Grandma, I want to eat meat! Hurry up and get it for me!"


    Little Wang Clan cried and pleaded; he was extremely aggrieved.


    Ever since he smelled the aroma of meat, he had been pestering Wang Clan to eat meat and to ask Fourth Aunt for some, but Wang Clan just wouldn¡¯t agree.


    So all he could do was to cry out loud, lying on the floor; it was a trick that had worked well in the past.


    But this time Wang Clan couldn¡¯t afford to lose face and was unwilling to compromise no matter what.


    They had just broken off relations with Fourth Boss, and the eyes of many were upon them, waiting to see her become a laughingstock.


    Wang Clan said in an annoyed tone, "I told you, the meat from their household is poisoned; eating it can kill people. Why won¡¯t you believe me, child?"


    "You¡¯re lying, they¡¯re all eating it, even Da Ya and Er Ya got some!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little Wang Clan persisted stubbornly.


    Little Wang Clan had a volatile temper and immediately grabbed Little Wang Clan by the ear and scolded, "You good-for-nothing, always thinking about eating. What is there to eat? Why didn¡¯t you get choked by it?"


    She realized the situation wasn¡¯t right just by thinking about it briefly; it was all because of Little Wang Clan¡¯s gluttony.


    It was he who went to the east wing room and ate a pancake, after which the money pouch vanished.


    If not for his greediness, would things have turned out this badly?


    Ever since the break with Fourth Boss, relations with the main room had become delicate.


    Little Wang Clan had lost her affection for that family of three, and Wang Clan had many complaints against Little Wang Clan; mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were often at odds in secret.


    However, Little Wang Clan was Little Wang Clan¡¯s mother, so for the time being, they had not had a full falling out.


    Wang Clan disdainfully said, "When has it become your turn to scold my Tan Family grandson? All you have left is a mouth. Apart from scolding the child, what else are you good for?"


    She used to think that the second son¡¯s wife was good, now she can¡¯t stand her no matter where she looks!


    Little Wang Clan snorted softly, "Little Wang Clan, roll back to your room! If I hear you whining about eating again, I will tear your mouth apart!"


    "You heartless wretch, if you harm Little Wang Clan, can you afford to compensate for it?"


    Wang Clan was so agitated that she hopped in anger but still watched helplessly as Little Wang Clan was carried off to the room by Little Wang Clan.


    Wang Clan could only turn to Tan Zhengyong who was enjoying the drama on the side: "Are you blind? Just watching her beat up your son?"


    "Mom, Cui Hua is Little Wang Clan¡¯s mother; she wouldn¡¯t really hurt him, you know? Stop worrying unnecessarily," said Tan Zhengyong nonchalantly. His wife had been angry and hadn¡¯t let him touch her for a month; how could he dare to make her even more upset?


    If he kept feeling frustrated like this, he might as well become a monk!


    After a while, the sound of Little Wang Clan¡¯s crying could be heard from the room.

 Chapter 98 - 99: Who the Hell Wants That!_1

    Chapter 98: Chapter 99: Who the Hell Wants That!_1Wang Clan¡¯s Heart¡¯s heart ached terribly, but Little Wang Clan had barred the door, so she couldn¡¯t get in and could only fret helplessly at the doorway.


    "Look at your daughter-in-law; does she think she can reach the heavens? Does she even consider me, her mother-in-law, anymore? And she dares to hit Xiao Fu, did I agree to it?"


    "Mom, why don¡¯t you just go and ask Fourth Boss for some, look how pitiful Xiao Fu is."


    Tan Zhengyong said, rubbing his hands together as he spoke.


    This was his nervous tic, something he did unconsciously whenever he harbored ulterior motives.


    Mainly, it was because the smell was too tempting; he too wanted a taste.


    At the moment, he also blamed Little Wang Clan for offending Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Wang Clan replied irritably, "With that vile woman there, do you think I could even enter her home? And ask Fourth Boss for it, what a joke!"


    "Mom, what are you afraid of, Dad and you worked hard to build that house."


    Tan Zhengyong replied irritably.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er was unwilling to take out the meat, then they could just drive them away.


    Fourth Boss still couldn¡¯t walk now, he didn¡¯t believe Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t compromise; no matter how fierce she was, she¡¯s still a woman, could she turn into a house?


    Wang Clan still shook her head: "If you want to go, then go by yourself, I don¡¯t even care about that shabby little house!"


    They already said that if she set foot on their territory again, they would chop off her legs. It wasn¡¯t worth losing her legs just to have a taste of meat.


    Furthermore, Tan Yuancheng specifically instructed them to avoid provoking Fourth Boss¡¯s family for now, wait until Fourth Boss¡¯s legs healed, and then go apologize and show some attentiveness; maybe then the Relationship Termination Letter would become invalid.


    Tan Zhengyong¡¯s eyes darted about and then he said, "Mom, why don¡¯t you go buy some? You love Xiao Fu the most, could you bear to let him go hungry?"


    These words hit Wang Clan right in the heart.


    Xiao Fu had grown up never facing hardship, and now to see him beaten so badly, she was dying of heartache.


    But the thought of giving money to Qiao Duo¡¯er, she couldn¡¯t stand it.


    Wang Clan replied with irritation, "Always thinking about eating, you don¡¯t have Fourth Boss¡¯s capabilities yet you¡¯re always fixated on eating, where would the money come from in the house?"


    "Isn¡¯t it because I feel sorry for Xiao Fu? Alas, my poor son can¡¯t even have a bite of meat!"


    Tan Zhengyong quickly added; after all, wasn¡¯t the meat mainly to be eaten by Xiao Fu?


    At most, he could only hope to get some scraps after Xiao Fu had his fill. Sigh, he felt his role as a father was quite tragic.


    But there was nothing to be done; he didn¡¯t want to work, and without relying on his parents, could he own so much land, live in such a nice house?


    Wang Clan was undecided, still hesitating at the door.


    Xiao Fu¡¯s crying got louder; Little Wang Clan must have really beaten the child violently this time, Wang Clan couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore and immediately grabbed her purse and headed for the west wing.


    It was embarrassing, sure, but as long as Xiao Fu stopped crying, that was all that mattered.


    If he kept crying and something happened to him, what then? He was the Tan Family¡¯s only grandson!


    Upon reaching the doorstep of the fourth room, Wang Clan called out, "Fourth Boss, come out quick!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes silently; didn¡¯t they know Tan Zhenghong still couldn¡¯t walk?


    However, now Wang Clan was a lot more respectful than before, in the past, she would have barged in directly, but this time she knew to stay at the door and shout.


    Considering this, Qiao Duo¡¯er went outside.


    "What is it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked indifferently.


    "Give me some meat, Xiao Fu wants to eat," Wang Clan said somewhat awkwardly.


    Actually, she was still hoping Qiao Duo¡¯er would give her some for free...


    Getting closer and smelling it only made it more enticing, no wonder Xiao Fu was making such a fuss.

 Chapter 99 - 100 Shall I buy something for you too?_1

    Chapter 99: Chapter 100 Shall I buy something for you too?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly, "This meat is reserved for sale, the trotters and pheasant, thirty wen; ribs, eighteen wen; chicken eggs, two wen each. What would you like?"


    "You must be crazy for money, selling at such high prices. Why don¡¯t you just go rob someone?"


    Wang Clan said irritably. The meat in town wasn¡¯t even this expensive!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain. She and Tan Zhenghong had discussed and agreed upon these prices together with his younger brother.


    Once the meat is cooked, its weight lessens; a pound of raw pork ends up weighing just over six taels after cooking, while ribs would be just over seven taels. With the trotters¡¯ central large bones removed, their price is naturally higher.


    If Wang Clan found it too expensive, she was free not to buy. After all, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t forcing anyone to buy or sell.


    But to expect her to give it away for free¡ªthat was out of the question!


    Wang Clan knew this deep down, which was why she had hesitated for so long, and she wouldn¡¯t have brought her purse if she hadn¡¯t been planning to pay.


    Her earlier complaint was simply an attempt to drive the price down.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t budging, and bargaining was out of the question, leaving Wang Clan a bit disheartened.


    Remembering Xiao Fu still at home crying, she bit her lip and said, "Give me half a pound of trotters and five... no, make it four, chicken eggs."


    If Little Wang Clan dared to defy her like this, then she could do without eating!


    With a full belly, she¡¯d be more able to beat Xiao Fu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sliced off not quite half a trotter, which surely weighed more than half a pound, but since Wang Clan was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mother, as long as Wang Clan behaved properly, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t going to nitpick over every last detail.


    After all, she needed to establish herself in the village; if things got too out of hand, it wouldn¡¯t reflect well on her either.


    "That will be twenty-three wen in total."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er packed the meat and eggs into a bowl and waited for Wang Clan to hand over the copper coins.


    Wang Clan was aware that Qiao Duo¡¯er had given her extra meat and, feeling intimidated by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡ªknife in hand¡ªshe certainly didn¡¯t dare cause trouble.


    She immediately took out the copper coins from her purse, counted them twice, and then handed them to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "I¡¯ll have Xiao Fu bring the bowl back to you later," Wang Clan said before carrying the bowl back with her.


    Li Clan, who had been watching from the doorway, snorted softly. She hadn¡¯t expected that old lady to actually hand over the money so easily¡ªwhat a pushover!


    She had actually hoped to get a bowl of meat for herself while the old lady caused a scene.


    Alas, it was a shame for her cravings as a pregnant woman.


    Yet with Qiao Duo present, she simply didn¡¯t have the nerve to ask for some.


    Tan Zhongzhong was still watching from the door, hoping for a different outcome.


    In his mind, his mother was never someone easy to talk to, and she would never willingly spend her own money on others.


    Unfortunately for him, his mother had entered the Main Room.


    Li Clan gritted her teeth, "Stop looking. We can¡¯t get any; you, without Fourth Boss¡¯s capability and also lacking Second Boss¡¯s charm, are really useless!"


    Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s face fell, but he could not muster any words of rebuttal.


    "Shall I buy you some to satisfy your craving?" Tan Zhongzhong asked good-naturedly.


    Li Clan rolled her eyes, "Where would we get the silver for such luxuries? Better save that silver for everyday needs. We always need silver, don¡¯t we?"


    However tasty the meat might be, it¡¯s still just meat. What¡¯s so special about it?


    "Then tomorrow, I¡¯ll go to town and get us some meat. Even if we don¡¯t eat, the child in your belly still needs it," Tan Zhongzhong quickly added.


    Li Clan was noncommittal and only rolled her eyes before heading inside. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhongzhong touched his nose and quickly followed her inside. Though he got the cold shoulder despite his warmth, with Li Clan due to give birth in two months, of course, he¡¯d concede to whatever she said.

 Chapter 100 - 101: Braised Meat Stall_1

    Chapter 100: Chapter 101: Braised Meat Stall_1Duo¡¯er sent Wang Clan away, then scooped the braised meat out of the pot, removed the impurities from the sauce with a strainer, boiled it again on high heat, and finally poured it into the thoroughly cleaned jars.


    To prevent any mischief, Qiao Duo¡¯er carried the braised meat and sauce back into the house, where she would wait for them to cool before hanging them in the well.


    After finishing up these tasks, Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed some dried apricots to cut through the greasiness.


    She had inadvertently eaten too much today and felt as if her stomach was filled entirely with meat.


    While eating the dried apricots, Duo¡¯er was also sewing new clothes for Tan Zhenghong, with her speed, by the time Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg healed, he¡¯d be able to wear them.


    She suddenly realized that she seemed rather idle now, as if she had completely degenerated into a country wife.


    But well... as long as she was happy.


    Early the next morning, Sun Erhu returned from the town.


    He had ridden back on Uncle Huang¡¯s ox cart¡ªUncle Huang went to the town every day to sell vegetables, and given Erhu¡¯s good relationship with everyone, Uncle Huang was also happy to have someone along for the company.


    He brought back the pork, pig¡¯s feet, and hocks that Qiao Duo¡¯er had requested.


    Seeing pig tails, he bought those as well because his sister-in-law loved them.


    By the time Erhu returned, Qiao Duo¡¯er had also been busy all morning, and they sat down to have breakfast together.


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er started to work on the braised meat.


    She saut¨¦ed the spices until they were fragrant and put them in a cloth pouch, then poured the sauce she had used the day before into the pot, followed by the cleaned pork, hocks, and feet. She then added enough water and let Er Ya take care of the fire.


    From now on, Er Ya would earn Two Wen money every day for tending the fire.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also borrowed the large pot from the eastern wing and boiled the eggs. After the eggs were cooked, she peeled them, ready to be put in the cold brine once the meat was ready.


    After a while, Sun Erhu came back with a wheelchair.


    "Look at this. With this, we can take Brother Hong with us!" Sun Erhu said excitedly.


    They must bring Brother Hong along when selling the braised meat because neither he nor his sister-in-law knew how to weigh things correctly.


    And leaving Brother Hong alone at home would worry him, and others would gossip.


    Duo¡¯er examined it closely; the wheelchair was nothing more than a regular chair with wheels in place of legs, with no other functions, but Qiao Duo was already very content.


    With this, taking Tan Zhenghong to the town would be much more convenient.


    It must have been around three or four in the afternoon; the sun wasn¡¯t so harsh anymore, so Qiao Duo¡¯er gathered the goods to prepare for the trip to town.


    She hadn¡¯t prepared too many of each item, but when piled together, the assortment was substantial. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu loaded the goods onto a trolley while Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong on, and the three of them set off.


    Zheng Hong had been cooped up in the house for a long time and was so happy to be outside it seemed like he might take flight.


    Qiao Duo felt as if she was walking a large pet dog that had been locked up for too long.


    After all, Zheng Hong was also capable of acting cute and sly.


    When they arrived in town, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu set up a table together, carefully placing the basins one by one.


    After setting up the braised meat stall, Sun Erhu also set up another stall to sell baskets and wickerwork crafted by Zheng Hong.


    Three people watching over a single stall was a waste of manpower; thus, he decided to sell baskets and wickerworks on his own.


    Besides, he would be idle otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he?


    The wharf area had not only boatmen and farmhands moving cargo but also people living there, so it should be a good place to sell.


    The aroma of the braised delicacies was strong and widespread, and as dinner time approached and stomachs growled, who could resist the enticing smell?


    So without any need for Qiao Duo to call out, customers were drawn to the stall by the fragrance.

 Chapter 101 - 102: Men and Women Working Together_1

    Chapter 101: Chapter 102: Men and Women Working Together_1However, nobody had ever seen Qiao Duo¡¯er or any of the Lu Rou before, so they were all in a wait-and-see state.


    Seeing this, Qiao Duo¡¯er called out, "Delicious braised meat, taste before you buy! If you like it, then pay for it. You can¡¯t lose, and you won¡¯t be deceived!"


    As she spoke, she quickly sliced some lean meat, cutting them into thin slices for everyone to taste.


    "Come on, give it a try, and then let¡¯s talk if it tastes good!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted everyone enthusiastically.


    A cautious woman asked, "Miss, if we taste it, you won¡¯t insist that we buy it, will you?"


    "My dear sister, you jest. Business is all about mutual consent. If I were to force you to buy, it wouldn¡¯t be fun at all, and this tiny piece of meat isn¡¯t worth much money anyway."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was sincere in her expression. She was in it for the long haul; how could she be so unscrupulous?


    Tan Zhenghong also timely said, "We are just from a nearby village. How could we do something like that? If you like it, please tell others about us, and my wife and I would be very grateful."


    Seeing that the husband and wife duo didn¡¯t seem to be the cunning type, a few brave souls took a slice of meat to taste.


    As for the taste of the braised meat, needless to say, everyone was praising it non-stop.


    "Boss, how much is this?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled as she introduced the various prices of the seasoned meats, which were the same as the ones she offered to the Wang Clan. Today, she had added lean meat and pig¡¯s trotters, pricing everything at twenty Wen per jin.


    Immediately, there was a collective gasp. The price was indeed not low.


    Many murmured, "The taste is good, but it¡¯s too expensive."


    Tan Zhenghong explained, "This is a secret recipe passed down from my wife¡¯s ancestors. Then we chose the best ingredients and simmered it for several hours to get this flavor. As you know, the longer you cook meat, the more weight it loses, so the price is absolutely worth it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong; this guy sure had a way with words. Bringing him along was indeed the right decision.


    "That¡¯s true. I went to the pork store this morning to get some meat, and lean meat was eight Wen money per jin. After cooking, one jin of meat is left with just six liang, and they only sell it for twenty Wen. It¡¯s not expensive at all."


    With this woman¡¯s explanation, everyone seemed to agree.


    After this reasoning, it didn¡¯t feel expensive anymore.


    "I see the eggs look good. Madam, please pack four eggs for me."


    "Give me half a jin of this meat and two eggs. When I get back, I¡¯ll make a pot of wine. It¡¯s definitely going to be delicious. It¡¯s also a hassle to cook on the boat anyway!"


    "Isn¡¯t that right? Pack me two pig¡¯s knuckles. I can eat an extra bowl of rice for dinner."


    They earned quite a bit of silver working on the boats, but drifting on the river all the time was tough. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially in the summer, food couldn¡¯t be kept fresh, so basically every meal on the boat was just pickled vegetables and salted meat.


    It was only when they docked that they could buy something different to eat.


    Moreover, the heat was unbearable during the day, and by evening, they would lose their appetite. But the Lu Rou stirred their appetites immensely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took each order and then wrapped up the customers¡¯ items in wax paper before passing them to Tan Zhenghong for weighing.


    After weighing, Tan Zhenghong quickly calculated the price in his head, stated it, and collected the money, while Qiao Duo¡¯er was responsible for slicing the meat for those customers who needed it.


    The pair were happily busy when suddenly a phrase popped into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind.


    That was, men and women working together makes the work not tiresome.


    Pfft, she didn¡¯t feel less tired because she worked with Tan Zhenghong; it was because they were making money!


    After sending off the first wave of customers, they took a short break. Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied, not expecting the business to pick up so quickly and that the sales would be quite good.

 Chapter 102 - 103 Daughter-in-law Waiting to Eat_1

    Chapter 102: Chapter 103 Daughter-in-law Waiting to Eat_1"How¡¯s your leg doing?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong. This guy¡¯s leg hadn¡¯t fully healed yet, and he was already eager to come out.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "It¡¯s nearly there. Besides, I¡¯m sitting right now, so it¡¯s fine." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t believe his nonsense. While sitting, some of his body weight would still press down on his leg, which would definitely torture a bone that hadn¡¯t healed properly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took two bamboo baskets from Sun Erhu, turned them upside down on the ground, and had Tan Zhenghong rest his leg on them.


    It might look a bit unseemly, but it was certainly less uncomfortable.


    "I¡¯ve told you, these legs are mine. If you dare not to take good care of them, I won¡¯t spare you!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said through gritted teeth, and unexpectedly thought about the matter of the "third leg."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded agreeably. He was a good husband who listened to his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still not appeased, but more customers came to buy goods, so that issue was put aside for the moment.


    But one customer after another arrived, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had no chance to scold Tan Zhenghong.


    The braised meat sold well; soon, only half a braised chicken and a few eggs were left.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then called Erhu to pack up the stall. After a day¡¯s hard work, keeping half a chicken as a treat for themselves was nice.


    They had only put half away when a young man hurried over.


    "Boss, are you still selling braised meat?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Not anymore; what¡¯s left is for us to eat."


    She intended to whet people¡¯s appetite. If they were always in short supply, customers would be more eager to buy.


    "My wife is pregnant, and she¡¯s been craving the sight of braised meat others are eating. Please, sell me some. She¡¯s waiting at home!"


    The man said anxiously, afraid that Qiao Duo¡¯er would refuse him.


    His wife had been having pregnancy cravings lately and hadn¡¯t eaten well for several days. Now, at last, she wanted something, and how could he not buy it?


    It wasn¡¯t easy for a woman to carry a child. Qiao Duo¡¯er relented, "Alright, how much do you want?"


    "Give me what¡¯s left; I can pay you extra!" the man said eagerly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wrapped the remaining chicken and eggs in wax paper, "This is freshly caught wild chicken from the mountains, thirty wen a pound, two wen money each for the eggs. We¡¯ve packed everything up, so we won¡¯t weigh it, just give me forty wen."


    "How can I accept this..." The man scratched his head.


    The wild chicken looked to be more than a pound, and with five or six eggs, it definitely added up to more than forty wen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said plainly, "Hurry back now; your wife must be getting anxious."


    They say women with cravings feel an urgent need to eat whatever they desire, and a second¡¯s delay can feel unbearable.


    The man quickly paid and thanked her, then hurried back home.


    "Let¡¯s also pack up and head back soon!" Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    Sun Erhu promptly responded, and after quickly packing everything, the three of them headed home.


    By the time they got home, it was already dark.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had specially left dinner for them. The meal was simple: rice porridge with side dishes, but it was quite satisfying for the three hungry people.


    If only they had had some braised dishes, it would have been even better, but unfortunately, everything had sold out.


    However, the joy of a good sale was even better than eating it themselves.


    After they had eaten their fill, Hu¡¯s Clan had already tidied everything up, and Da Ya and Er Ya had also prepared the hot water.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought a mere verbal thank you was inadequate; they deserved something more substantial.


    But it was already late today; other matters could wait until tomorrow.

 Chapter 103 - 104 Wages_1

    Chapter 103: Chapter 104 Wages_1Qiao Duo¡¯er first fetched water for Tan Zhenghong to wash up, while she turned her back to count the Silver Coin.


    Today, they had prepared a total of six pig¡¯s trotters, six jin of lean meat, eight jin of spare ribs, two pheasants, five pig¡¯s elbow joints, and fifty eggs, which altogether sold for Seven Hundred Forty Eight Wen.


    The cost included Fifty Wen for eggs and roughly Ten Wen per jin for pork, totaling Three Hundred Fifty Wen, and Eighty Wen for pheasants.


    Then there was the labor cost¡ªshe planned to give Sun Erhu Thirty Wen and fifteen Wen each to the mother and daughter of Hu¡¯s Clan.


    In this way, she could keep Two Hundred Wen, which was her net profit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite satisfied with today¡¯s results.


    Tomorrow she could make more, and she was certain she could earn even more money!


    With such a good start, on the second day, everyone worked with even greater enthusiasm.


    Sun Erhu was still responsible for procuring supplies and came back looking excited. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister-in-law, Butcher Chen said that if we go to buy from him every day, he¡¯ll give us the pig offal for free, and he¡¯ll give us a discount on the meat."


    Today he had already saved Fifty Wen!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then tell him that from now on, we¡¯ll buy all the ingredients for our marinated meat from him!"


    Having a fixed supplier was very important; there were no worries about running out of ingredients, and quality was assured.


    "Alrighty!"


    Erhu immediately agreed, ready to tell Butcher Chen when he went to make purchases the next day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er prepared to process the ingredients, but upon seeing the pig¡¯s large intestines, she felt like crying.


    Many people liked marinated pig¡¯s large intestines, and she planned to make some herself. Now that the marinade was ready, it wasn¡¯t troublesome to marinate whatever she wanted.


    But... she had forgotten that pig¡¯s large intestines needed to be cleaned.


    It was too dirty; she didn¡¯t know where to begin. How should she clean it?


    She didn¡¯t particularly like to eat this, and on the rare occasions she did, it was only after buying it clean from others, and if she wasn¡¯t reassured, she¡¯d scald it in hot water twice more at home.


    But these were still in their raw state!


    With a troubled expression, Qiao Duo¡¯er wondered why she had let Sun Erhu buy the large intestines. Wasn¡¯t she just digging her own grave?


    "Younger sister-in-law, let me do the cleaning," Hu¡¯s Clan said weakly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want Hu¡¯s Clan to help with cleaning, but having her wash it... would make her feel uncomfortable.


    Everyone is the same, who wouldn¡¯t be repulsed by dirt?


    Hu¡¯s Clan continued, "It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m used to doing these kinds of chores. Just get me some flour and rice vinegar, and I¡¯ll make sure to clean it thoroughly!"


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t mind doing this job at all, Qiao Duo¡¯er then said, "Then I thank you greatly, elder sister. From now on, you¡¯ll help me with the washing, and I¡¯ll give you Fifteen Wen Money."


    "No, it¡¯s not worth so much money just to wash this little bit."


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly declined, and besides, she hadn¡¯t come to help just for the money!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "You¡¯re not just helping out for a day or two, and besides, you still have to cook for us in the evening. Where is that too much?"


    After saying that, she went to fetch flour and rice vinegar for Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was a sincere person; she would certainly not slack off after receiving her wages.


    Didn¡¯t Hu¡¯s Clan tidy up the pots and everything yesterday?


    Therefore, paying someone like her a wage didn¡¯t require any pettiness or stinginess.


    With Hu¡¯s Clan washing the offal, Qiao Duo¡¯er started processing the chicken, lean meat, and elbow joints, as these ingredients didn¡¯t have a special odor and could be marinated together.


    The large intestines and pig¡¯s liver had a strong flavor and could easily contaminate the marinade, so they must be marinated separately with some of the seasoned marinade taken out.


    Otherwise, a pot of good marinade would be ruined.


    There were quite a lot of items to marinate this time, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was busy until noon.


    After eating lunch and tidying up inside and out, and then finishing with the marinade, another two hours had passed. She could rest a bit before setting out.

 Chapter 104 - 105: Making Trouble_1

    Chapter 104: Chapter 105: Making Trouble_1Upon arriving in town, Qiao Duo¡¯er sliced a small plate of meat for customers to taste, just like yesterday.


    The dock was teeming with transients, making this tactic viable for a while.


    But today, it seemed as if the heavens were jealous of her booming business, for it wasn¡¯t long before someone was sent to cause trouble.


    "Madam, why don¡¯t you cut some more? My grandson hasn¡¯t had his share yet!"


    A woman complained discontentedly.


    Her face of disdain seemed to say: What kind of person are you, so stingy? There¡¯s barely any meat here, who¡¯s it enough for?


    Black lines formed on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead; had her grandson even had time to swallow the meat in his mouth?


    She wasn¡¯t blind, she figured that little boy had eaten nearly half a plate of meat already.


    "Auntie, I¡¯m just running a small business here. If you keep eating like this, I might as well hand over the stall to you," Qiao Duo¡¯er joked half-heartedly.


    Normally, with a comment like that, anyone would have held back.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er forgot, would a normal person do something so shameless in the first place?


    She just felt that being too nit-picky at the start of business was not good, but who could have expected someone to be this outrageous? S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The woman spoke with dissatisfaction: "Can¡¯t you, a little daughter-in-law, speak properly? I¡¯m going to buy, aren¡¯t I? Just letting my grandson have a taste, what¡¯s wrong with that? Do you, a business owner, no longer understand that amiability brings wealth?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mentally rolled her eyes countless times; so it was all her fault, was it?


    "Look at my poor... husband, he fell and broke his leg while hunting in the mountains, and we really can¡¯t keep things going, so we had to set up a stall," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with pitiful affect.


    Wuwu, saying "husband" felt so awkward.


    She almost bit her own tongue off!


    The people didn¡¯t need her to say more, they understood the situation clearly.


    The man did indeed have a splint on his leg, and here was this woman taking advantage of their predicament. Wasn¡¯t that too much?


    The moment Qiao Duo¡¯er served the meat, that child reached out, grabbed a handful, and shoved it in his mouth.


    His manner was as if he hadn¡¯t seen meat in hundreds of years, utterly lacking manners!


    "You really are something, aren¡¯t you? The young lady cut the meat for us to taste, and your grandson has eaten half of it. Isn¡¯t that enough?"


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, where is there half?"


    The woman retorted with dissatisfaction, feeling that her grandson had eaten too little!


    "We are not blind. Maybe you should pay for that plate of meat just now. That¡¯s at least two or three taels of meat."


    "Hey, how much meat did you buy? Does your grandson eat that much? People need to save face!"


    "Why bother talking to her? If she¡¯s shameless, can you even bite her?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly, "Everyone, let¡¯s calm down. This matter is over. Once my husband¡¯s leg is better, our days will improve."


    She wore a dejected look, performing her part perfectly.


    The woman couldn¡¯t save face and skulked away with her grandson.


    "Young lady, you can¡¯t do business like this. Aren¡¯t you just inviting people to bully you?" a kind-hearted sister reminded her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly nodded: "Thank you, big sister. If someone does this again next time, I¡¯ll grab a stick."


    "That¡¯s right, we don¡¯t bully others, but we can¡¯t let others bully us either!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er strongly agreed with this statement. She always believed in not initiating trouble, but being ready to retaliate if troubled.


    And another saying went, if someone troubled her, justice would be met, no matter how far!


    When she was packing eggs for the big sister, she added an extra one on purpose, and she charged less to those who had just defended her, so everyone liked Qiao Duo¡¯er even more.


    This young lady knew how to run a business, and with the delicious stewed meat as well, how could she not make money?


    It wouldn¡¯t be long before they could enjoy better days.

 Chapter 105 - 106: Any Girls?_1

    Chapter 105: Chapter 106: Any Girls?_1After sending off several customers, someone finally showed interest in the pig intestines.


    Like other foods with strong odors, some people wouldn¡¯t touch pig intestines, but others loved them very much.


    So as soon as they saw the marinated pig intestines, they couldn¡¯t walk away.


    "Young lady, are these pig intestines cleaned properly?" someone asked, feeling uneasy.


    Nowadays, people seldom ate pig offal, one very important reason being that pig offal is difficult to clean properly, and any lingering smell can be quite off-putting.


    So the most pressing question on their minds was whether it had been thoroughly cleaned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately responded, "Certainly clean, you should try some first, and it¡¯s cheap too, only eight wen money per jin."


    Hu¡¯s Clan had cleaned it very well, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had instructed her to scrape all the fatty meat and oil from the inside of the pig intestines, so there was absolutely no odd smell at all.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than she had cut a section of the intestine, put it on a plate, and offered it for the customer to taste.


    After everyone tasted it, they all gave a thumbs-up, confirming that the pig intestines were very clean and tasted quite refreshing.


    The families in town lived more comfortably than those in the countryside, but no one would say no to extra silver.


    Thus, the affordable pig intestines became the first choice.


    Today, Butcher Chen slaughtered two pigs, resulting in only two sets of pig offal, which were sold out before long.


    Those who arrived late felt regretful and immediately said, "Ma¡¯am, you have to save some for me tomorrow, I will definitely come earlier."


    "No problem, but you better come early, or else others might get upset with me for not selling to them!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    The old man promptly agreed and also picked up a few other items, as they were his grandson¡¯s favorites.


    Today, Sun Erhu had also made a few deals, mostly from people who were buying braised meat and decided to buy his goods as well, and he suddenly felt that his sister-in-law was a lucky star.


    Not to mention that he and Brother Hong had put on weight, but Da Ya and Er Ya¡¯s complexions had improved a lot as well.


    In short, those who treated his sister-in-law well would be treated even better by her.


    "We need to bring more straw hats tomorrow, boatmen like to buy those."


    Taking advantage of a quiet moment, Sun Erhu struck up a conversation with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "We still have plenty of stock at home. Oh, and tomorrow you should ask Butcher Chen to see if we can get more pig offal."


    "I can just buy it from another pig stall, everybody¡¯s pig offal is hard to sell."


    Sun Erhu said nonchalantly, after all, it didn¡¯t matter which stall he bought from.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    "That won¡¯t do, you just said today you would buy from Butcher Chen from now on. If you go to someone else tomorrow, won¡¯t Butcher Chen get the wrong idea?"


    It would be best for Butcher Chen to buy from others, that way Butcher Chen would be happy, and it would also save Sun Erhu the trouble of going around.


    Sun Erhu thought it over and saw the point, saying, "Sister-in-law, you are really smart, you think of everything."


    "That¡¯s right, she is my wife after all!" Tan Zhenghong said proudly, finding Qiao Duo¡¯er more and more to his liking the more he was with her.


    Sun Erhu scoffed, "Look at you showing off, you¡¯re just a blind cat that ran into a dead mouse. By the way, sister-in-law, aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to your sisters?"


    Seeing how outstanding his sister-in-law was, he figured her sisters couldn¡¯t be too far off.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about it, she indeed had two sisters, Qiao Hua¡¯er the second sister and Qiao Mei¡¯er the third sister. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the original host¡¯s memories only included being bullied.


    So those two sisters were definitely no good!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "I¡¯m afraid if I introduce them to you, you¡¯ll come after me with a knife."

 Chapter 106 - 107 _1

    Chapter 106: Chapter 107 _1Sun Erhu immediately grasped the situation and stopped talking about that topic.


    Some time passed, and the braised meat was all sold out.


    Looking at the sky, it was even earlier than yesterday, but by the time they got home, it was still a bit dark.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a money bag. As the owner of a small workshop, she was ready to pay the wages!


    "Erhu, you earn thirty Wen a day, and I take one Wen for each basket sold, making seventy Wen in total for two days. Sister-in-law¡¯s wages are fifteen Wen, plus twenty-five Wen given yesterday, and both Da Ya and Er Ya earn three Wen per day, so each gets six Wen. Right, and there are also two wild chickens..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er listed the wage details for several people, and before she could finish, she was interrupted by Sun Erhu.


    "Sister-in-law, I¡¯ll take the wages, but if you say anything else, I¡¯ll quit!"


    Sun Erhu said earnestly. He felt he shouldn¡¯t take a single copper coin.


    But he knew his sister-in-law¡¯s character. If he refused to take anything, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have it, so he accepted the wages.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only nod her head, "Just this once."


    As she spoke, she counted out the copper coins and handed them to each person, and everyone who received their wages was very happy. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The happiest were Da Ya and Er Ya, for this was the first time they had earned a reward with their own labor.


    Hehe, finally, they had their own money!


    "Fourth Aunt, I will definitely help out from now on!" Er Ya said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Good, let¡¯s all work hard. We¡¯ll earn more and more in the future!"


    Feeling awkward about taking the wages for nothing, Sun Erhu took Tan Zhenghong back first, helping him wipe down and wash, so his sister-in-law could rest a bit more.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, still in the east wing room, said earnestly, "Sister-in-law, this money is your and Da Ya and Er Ya¡¯s security for the future. Make sure to keep it safe."


    Since that day Hu¡¯s Clan had not cooked for Tan Zhengyuan, he hadn¡¯t come back.


    So, he definitely couldn¡¯t be relied upon anymore; Hu¡¯s Clan could only depend on herself from now on.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll hide the money well. From now on, I won¡¯t count on him, nor will I interfere with him."


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan understood, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t say more.


    She just hoped that when the time came, if any trouble arose, Hu¡¯s Clan would be able to make firm decisions.


    Hu¡¯s Clan wasn¡¯t alone; she had two daughters to protect.


    After a while, Hu¡¯s Clan suddenly said, "Younger sister-in-law, thank you."


    She was very grateful to Qiao Duo¡¯er, for so many reasons, but being the least articulate, she couldn¡¯t express the specifics.


    "We¡¯re all family, and besides, this is what you¡¯ve earned for your labor," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slight smile.


    She believed that all hard-working people should be compensated for their efforts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat in the east wing for a while, figuring that Tan Zhenghong had finished bathing; only then did she head to her own room.


    After her bath, Qiao Duo¡¯er applied a face mask made from egg whites and medicinal powder. With Tan Zhenghong fanning her, she blissfully closed her eyes.


    "Duo¡¯er, my leg is healed," Tan Zhenghong said, gazing intensely at Qiao Duo¡¯er, making her feel quite uncomfortable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "The bone is almost mended, but it will take some more time to recover to the original level."


    If he starts walking too soon, it might cause lasting damage.

 Chapter 107 - 108 I’m willing..._1

    Chapter 107: Chapter 108 I¡¯m willing..._1He felt he was close to dying of suffocation!


    Wuu wuu, he was clearly married, and his wife was right by his side, but he still felt like he was suffocating. Could anyone be more pitiful than him?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a darkened face, "You want to top me on our first time?"


    After all, she was a woman from the future who had observed a few action films; she was definitely dirtier than Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thought was simple: only by being dirtier than Tan Zhenghong could she suppress any naughty ideas he had. But after saying it, her face felt so hot.


    This was her first time using such straightforward words to tease a man...


    So shy... So embarrassed... She felt like she couldn¡¯t show her face to anyone.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard and after a moment of silence, he said, "I... I am willing."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, and it took her three seconds to digest Tan Zhenghong¡¯s words.


    He said he was willing!


    Dammit, as a man, shouldn¡¯t he care a lot about his pride? Shouldn¡¯t he feel humiliated to be topped by a woman?


    This Tan Zhenghong really didn¡¯t follow the usual path!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth, her mouth opened several times, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak.


    Tan Zhenghong was willing to let her top him, but she wasn¡¯t willing to do it yet!


    Awwoo, although he had a nice body and she quite liked him, there was still some distance from wanting to top him.


    After all... they only knew each other for two months, hadn¡¯t even dated properly, nor had he proposed nicely!


    As Tan Zhenghong waited a long time without getting a response from Qiao Duo¡¯er, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Duo¡¯er, are you unwilling?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong and noticed that his face was flushed all the way to the neck. Suddenly, she felt a bit like laughing. Were the two virgins competing on who could be more embarrassed?


    The two of them were ridiculously matched, and she felt her brain must be abnormal.


    Should she just top him?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but recall some unhealthy thoughts. Tan Zhenghong was quite manly, with a good figure, and the size was sufficient; she felt she wouldn¡¯t be at a loss.


    But considering her chastity for two lifetimes, how could she just give it away so casually?


    The key was her first time had to be perfect, a bit romantic, otherwise, what if that thing suddenly pressed down on his leg...


    It¡¯s said that when men are in pain, that area will shrink up. Should she continue or not?


    Does Tan Zhenghong want to continue or go get bandaged?


    Just thinking about that awkward situation is so embarrassing! So now is not a good time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly realized her mind was filled with discordant thoughts; she was actually considering when would be the best time to... with Tan Zhenghong.


    She was stunned by herself, she was clearly so pure, when did she change?


    Now her integrity was shattered all over the place, impossible to pick up!


    "I¡¯m going to wash my face!" Qiao Duo¡¯er bounced up, hastily putting on her shoes to go wash her face.


    The medicinal powder on her face needed to be washed off in time, or it would absorb the moisture from her skin, making it even drier. Mhm... she needed to wash her face, she had to take good care of her little face.


    Watching his little wife, Tan Zhenghong felt wronged.


    Was he being rejected? Just now, she looked at him shaking her head and nodding, what did that mean?


    Did she agree or not?


    Anyway, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. A woman¡¯s thoughts are too hard to guess! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dawdled and washed her face, but no matter how slowly she took, there was a time when she would finish.


    After washing her face, she could only lie back on her bed, slow and leisurely.


    Tan Zhenghong was still fanning, still using his arm as a pillow for Qiao Duo¡¯er, but his mood was very low.


    His look of silent resentment made Qiao Duo¡¯er feel like she had committed a crime.

 Chapter 108-109 _1

    Chapter 108: Chapter 108-109 _1"I¡¯m going to wash my face!" Qiao Duo¡¯er sprang up, hurriedly put on her shoes, and went to wash her face.


    The medicine powder on her face had to be washed off in time; otherwise, it would absorb the moisture from her skin, making her skin even drier. Hmm... she had to wash her face; she had to take good care of her little face.


    Watching his little wife, Tan Zhenghong felt a pang of resentment.


    Was he being disliked? Just now, she was shaking her head and nodding at him. What did that mean?


    Did she agree or not?


    Anyway, he didn¡¯t understand; women¡¯s thoughts were too hard to guess!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er washed her face slowly, but no matter how slow, there was always a moment when it was done.


    After washing her face, she could only lie down on the bed slowly and leisurely.


    Tan Zhenghong was still fanning himself, still using his arm as a pillow for Qiao Duo¡¯er, but he was feeling quite down.


    His woeful expression made Qiao Duo¡¯er feel like she had committed a crime.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath before saying, "Once you¡¯re better... cough cough, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll press on your leg."


    With these words from Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong felt there was finally something to look forward to.


    As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to recover from bone and tendon injuries, and he had already endured most of that time.


    "Can I... kiss you then?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips; well, if she refused even this request, it would seem too cruel.


    So, she simply closed her eyes and waited for Tan Zhenghong to kiss her.


    Tan Zhenghong was a bit nervous, just as nervous as Qiao Duo¡¯er, but how could he miss the hard-won opportunity?


    Determined, he leaned his head in and gently pecked Qiao Duo¡¯er on the lips.


    It took a while before Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her eyes, only to see Tan Zhenghong still smiling.


    His silly, happy expression made her wonder if he had gone foolish with joy.


    She asked sternly on purpose, "What are you laughing at?"


    Tan Zhenghong was pursing his lips, and after a while, he said softly, "Wife, you¡¯re really sweet, even sweeter than sugar!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now Qiao Duo¡¯er was at a loss for words.


    Just from that one peck, he could taste that she was very sweet? She didn¡¯t believe that!


    But after that night, the relationship between the two of them took another step forward.


    Early the next morning, Sun Erhu handed her two paper packages before leaving the house.


    One was for Uncle Huang, since Sun Erhu had been hitching rides with him for a few days, it was only proper to thank him.


    The other was for Butcher Chen, as she wanted to cooperate with him, and she had to show him there was hope.


    Sun Erhu admired his sister-in-law even more and immediately did as Qiao Duo¡¯er had instructed.


    Uncle Huang said with a smile, "Why are you being so polite, child? It¡¯s just a ride on the way, that¡¯s all."


    "If it weren¡¯t for Uncle Huang, I would have had to walk a long way. My sister-in-law specifically instructed me to thank you properly. Auntie, the meat has been kept in the well overnight. You can stir-fry it with some green peppers or something at noon, it¡¯s good for drinking or eating with rice."


    Sun Erhu placed the meat in Aunt Huang¡¯s hands.


    Aunt Huang complained playfully, "You two are too polite, don¡¯t do this next time!"


    "All right, Uncle, let¡¯s hurry to the town!"


    Uncle Huang nodded, not forgetting to tell his wife to prepare some vegetables to send to Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s family, and then they set off with the ox cart.

 Chapter 109 - 110 Long-term Business_1

    Chapter 109: Chapter 110 Long-term Business_1Upon reaching the town, Uncle Huang took a detour specifically to drop Sun Erhu off right in front of Butcher Chen¡¯s pork stall.


    Seeing Sun Erhu, Chen Dazhuang greeted him, "Brother Erhu, what are you looking to buy today? These are two pigs I just butchered last night, they¡¯re really fresh!"


    "No rush today, Brother Chen, you should try the braised pork my sister-in-law made first."


    Sun Erhu shook the item he was carrying, and Chen Dazhuang invited him into the shop.


    "This braised pork is something my sister-in-law specifically saved for you!" Sun Erhu said proudly.


    Chen Dazhuang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, immediately unwrapped the butcher paper, took a slice of the meat with his chopsticks to taste, and his face lit up with surprise.


    If the meat could be cooked to taste like this, would there still be worries about not being able to sell it?


    No wonder Sun Erhu¡¯s demand for meat had been increasing so much in just two days!


    Chen Dazhuang immediately had an idea.


    "Erhu, are you in this for the long haul?" Butcher Chen asked for confirmation again.


    If Erhu kept buying meat from him, he¡¯d have a steady income, which was something every businessman longed for.


    Especially when competition between the three pork stalls in town was still so fierce.


    Sun Erhu nodded, "I don¡¯t have that kind of skill, this is my sister-in-law¡¯s craft. We¡¯ll be depending on it to make our living from now on. Brother Chen, I¡¯ve been thinking about you for this good opportunity, do you want to make money together?"


    Chen Dazhuang replied on the spot, "Brother Erhu, if you trust me, just tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll deliver it to you the next day!"


    He was being sincere enough, wasn¡¯t he?


    That would save Sun Erhu the trouble of running back and forth.


    "Of course, but you¡¯ll have to make it cheaper, and the meat must be fresh, or else I won¡¯t accept it."


    Sun Erhu raised his eyebrows, there were three meat stalls in town after all.


    Chen Dazhuang knew well that if he didn¡¯t handle this properly, the benefits would immediately go to someone else. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He nodded right away, "Rest assured, I¡¯ve been selling meat in this town for so many years, don¡¯t you know what kind of person I am?"


    "Don¡¯t misunderstand, Brother Chen; the key is this meat is for My Brother Hong. If the meat isn¡¯t good, or the price is too high, My Brother Hong will beat me up," Sun Erhu said with a smile.


    "We businessmen value our credit, I definitely won¡¯t put you in a tough spot!" Chen Dazhuang said, patting his chest.


    Sun Erhu then discussed with Chen Dazhuang about collecting offal.


    Chen Dazhuang said immediately, "With your word, I can roll up my sleeves and get to work. I won¡¯t hide it from you, as butchers, we can barely butcher two pigs a day, surely not enough for your sales. I have a bit of a relationship with the others, I¡¯ll speak to them, let them prepare what you need first!"


    "I need it urgently today, so I went to another store. From tomorrow, I¡¯ll trouble you, Brother Chen."


    Chen Dazhuang had no objection to this, as it was getting late, and what if he delayed someone¡¯s business?


    After discussing what he wanted to buy, Chen Dazhuang quickly wrapped up and weighed the items.


    "It¡¯s a total of six hundred thirty-seven wen, just give six hundred wen!"


    Chen Dazhuang said generously; making a little less on one deal was fine when it was for a long-term business.


    After seeing off Sun Erhu, Chen Dazhuang said joyfully, "Truly, the ancestors are looking out for me!"


    Having sealed this deal, why would he worry about not making money in the future?


    Having taken care of this matter, Sun Erhu was in high spirits.


    From now on, he wouldn¡¯t have to go into town early in the morning; he could go hunting in the mountains. After all, as a stout man, he had no worries about being able to support himself.


    Once back home, Sun Erhu immediately told Qiao Duo¡¯er everything, and she unhesitatingly gave him a thumbs up.

 Chapter 110 - 111 Am I Fierce?_1

    Chapter 110: Chapter 111 Am I Fierce?_1Children from poor families take on responsibilities early in life, particularly Sun Erhu, who was an orphan. He handled matters even more tactfully, so there was no need to doubt his capability.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s spirits brightened even more with affirmation, as his sister-in-law would say, he walked as if he carried the breeze with him.


    After exchanging a few jokes with Sun Erhu, Qiao Duo¡¯er got busy.


    By the time they reached the town, there were already quite a few people waiting.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit surprised but also thrilled.


    It was only the third day, and people were already waiting for her to set up her stall; it seemed like a good start.


    Most of those waiting were there to buy pork intestines because they cost just eight Wen money, which was more economical than buying meat to eat at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Everyone, please line up. There¡¯s plenty of intestines, everyone will get some."


    Despite her assurances, everyone was still eager.


    Many of them were people who had arrived too late yesterday to make a purchase.


    Today, Sun Erhu had bought four sets of pig intestines, and they sold out quickly, leaving latecomers with no choice but to either go without or reluctantly buy something else.


    After packing up the stall while the sky was still bright, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to buy some condiments.


    Sun Erhu was sent to the grocery store for salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and other basics, while she went to the pharmacy.


    The most crucial part of the marinated food recipe was the herbs that could be used as both medicine and seasoning, so Qiao Duo¡¯er purposefully bought some additional herbs to mix in.


    This way, even if someone came inquiring about the herbs she purchased, they couldn¡¯t guess the recipe.


    As for the herbs... she chose ones that could be used for foot soaks.


    After leaving Ren Xin Hall, Sun Erhu had not yet arrived, and Qiao Duo¡¯er waited on the roadside with Tan Zhenghong.


    She suddenly noticed a bun vendor on the side of the road, and her stomach grumbled twice right on cue; she decisively went and bought five buns.


    After giving one to Tan Zhenghong, she herself took one and started eating with relish.


    In ancient times, things were more substantial; after eating just one bun, she was full, and the bun had a thin skin and abundant filling; it just lacked a bit in flavor. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why hasn¡¯t Erhu come yet?"


    Looking towards the direction of the grocery store, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed it wasn¡¯t far from Ren Xin Hall; he should have been back by now.


    Tan Zhenghong said, "Erhu knows his limits, he will be here shortly. Sit with me for a while."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er coughed uncomfortably. Brother, they were in the middle of the street!


    Was it really okay for him to invite her so openly to sit on his lap?


    She feared she would be scolded to death!


    "I can stand a while longer, my leg is almost healed," Tan Zhenghong quickly explained.


    The misunderstood Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed even more deeply; she simply turned her head away, ignoring Tan Zhenghong.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong was about to stand up, Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed him down and said fiercely, "Stay seated properly. If you make any more trouble, I won¡¯t take you out tomorrow!"


    Their interaction was witnessed by passersby who couldn¡¯t help but talk about it.


    "That woman is fierce! If my wife dared to talk to me like that, I¡¯d teach her a lesson!"


    "Me too, it¡¯s like the world¡¯s been turned upside down!"


    ...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, "Am I really that fierce?"


    Tan Zhenghong quickly shook his head, "My wife is the gentlest, not fierce at all."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong, and after a while, she teased, "Your eyes and brain must be sick, do you want me to take you inside for a checkup?"


    She glanced at Ren Xin Hall, which was right in front of them; if they wanted to see a doctor or something, it was just a few steps away.


    First, he thought she was beautiful, and now he thought she was gentle...


    Such thoughts, in this whole wide world, probably only Tan Zhenghong had them.

 Chapter 111 - 112: Stolen_1

    Chapter 111: Chapter 112: Stolen_1"I¡¯m just fine," Tan Zhenghong said innocently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was amused by Tan Zhenghong and couldn¡¯t help but rub his head, "Hey, how can you be so silly?"


    It finally dawned on Tan Zhenghong, and he couldn¡¯t help but be exasperated.


    Alas, indeed, women are as unfathomable as the needles at the bottom of the sea; even compliments are wrong. What should he say?


    "I¡¯ve heard that people in love have zero IQ, um... that means when you like someone, you become particularly stupid. Are you the same?" teased Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "You might as well just call me dumb in a roundabout way!"


    Hmph, it¡¯s not like she¡¯s unaware that he likes her!


    So, he had indeed become stupid, but wasn¡¯t it all because of her?


    This woman wasn¡¯t moved at all and even mocked him!


    "Then you come chase me!" Qiao Duo¡¯er ran a few steps away, creating a gap between her and Tan Zhenghong.


    Now, standing for a while wasn¡¯t a problem for Tan Zhenghong, but running was still a bit beyond him, so Qiao Duo¡¯er was fearless.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, wishing he could gobble Qiao Duo¡¯er up, but well, he had to hold back a little longer, until he could catch up with her!


    A little while later, Sun Erhu came to join them.


    "Today¡¯s just my unlucky day. I ran into a woman crazy as a rabid dog, grabbing me and insisting on knowing who you are, refusing to let me go if I didn¡¯t tell her," Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip, "What does she want with me?"


    "Who knows? When she saw I was about to hit her, she quickly let go."


    Just thinking about that woman made Sun Erhu¡¯s blood boil.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Maybe she fancies you and wants to take you back as her son-in-law."


    "Pfft, I wouldn¡¯t dare!" Sun Erhu rejected the notion with utmost disdain, then sternly warned, "Sister-in-law, lots of people are jealous of your braised meat skills; you should be careful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I know, go on and fill your belly first."


    Ordinary people thinking of messing with Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    She could only send them four words: biting off more than they can chew!


    Sun Erhu was also hungry and gobbled down a bun in no time before they continued on their way back.


    Business grew smoother after that, the marinade aged and became more fragrant, making the braised meat even more delicious and, naturally, more popular.


    For several days in a row, the pork intestines were always the first to sell out, leaving latecomers without so much as a whiff.


    This led to longer and longer lines each day.


    It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately played with people¡¯s cravings; Chen Dazhuang had already brought all the pig offal from the town butchers, and it still wasn¡¯t enough to sell.


    All she could do was shrug her shoulders, expressing her helplessness.


    Before she knew it, she had been setting up her stall in town for half a month and the envious ones couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    One day, like always, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to fetch the aged marinade.


    When she lifted up the bucket, Qiao Duo¡¯er had a bad feeling.


    After pulling up the bucket and taking out the jar, she immediately checked and, as expected, the aged marinade inside was gone!


    A marinade aged only about ten days wasn¡¯t considered a treasure, but having her hard work stolen left Qiao Duo¡¯er in a foul mood!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows and immediately asked, "Erhu, have you locked the courtyard gate these past couple of days?"


    "Yes!" affirmed Sun Erhu.


    Now he made sure to lock the door whenever he went out and to bolt it when he slept, without fail. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn¡¯t want to have a repeat of last time, when someone like Little Wang Clan sneaked in to frame him, which was truly annoying.


    He suddenly remembered something, hurried over to Qiao Duo¡¯er and saw an empty jar for himself.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s expression darkened at once, "Who did this?"

 Chapter 112 - 113 Who is the Thief_1

    Chapter 112: Chapter 113 Who is the Thief_1Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, but it was just that she didn¡¯t know for now.


    The person who stole a whole jar of marinade wouldn¡¯t do it just to eat marinated meat themselves, but likely to try selling it, so that person wouldn¡¯t take long to resurface.


    Otherwise, if making marinated meat were that easy, wouldn¡¯t everyone just go and make it?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed Sun Erhu¡¯s expression and suddenly felt that Sun Erhu seemed even sadder than her.


    All she could do was comfort him, "It¡¯s fine, child, it¡¯s just brine from ten days, not gold, we¡¯ll have more in a few days."


    Since it had already been stolen, they had to face reality.


    Sun Erhu said gloomily, "Sister-in-law, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault for not keeping a good watch."


    "Come on, it¡¯s not a big deal, you believe me, the thief will not end up well," Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes.


    When she first discovered the theft, she indeed felt a bit down, but now she had completely come to terms with it.


    Sun Erhu nodded, but his heart was still uneasy.


    It was a unique secret recipe, after all; the reason her marinated dishes were so delicious was because of this jar of old brine.


    Now that the brine was stolen, wouldn¡¯t there be others competing with them for business in the future?


    However, believing in his sister-in-law¡¯s words, he took his tool and went up the mountain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her fists, then cleaned the jar with well water, intending to scald it with boiling water several times when she got back.


    Who knew if that thief had put something dirty inside the jar?


    After bringing the jar home, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Da Ya light the fire, while she silently began making a new batch of marinade.


    The flavor of the new marinade would definitely be inferior to the old one; she put the meat in the pot and then set out to make steamed buns again.


    Those people spent all day on the ship, where steaming buns was not easy, and most crucially, not everyone¡¯s steamed buns tasted as good as hers. Fortunately, she had saved some old dough when she made steamed buns the day before yesterday.


    In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er, with two baskets of freshly steamed buns and marinated dishes, went to the town.


    No sooner had they set up their stall when familiar faces approached - it was the Li Clan, Tan Zhongzhong, and a woman Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t recognize.


    But Sun Erhu knew, it was the mother of the Li Clan.


    Then it all became clear; the Li Clan and Tan Zhongzhong had stolen the marinade and taken it to the Li Clan¡¯s maternal home.


    The most shameless thing was that they made marinated meat and even set up a stall right across from them!


    Sun Erhu, young and hotheaded, couldn¡¯t help himself and confronted them.


    "You¡¯ve got no shame, stealing our marinade!" Sun Erhu said angrily.


    The Li Clan¡¯s woman touched her belly, "Brother Erhu, what are you talking about? This is my mother¡¯s family heirloom recipe. Surely it¡¯s not that only you can sell marinated meat and no one else is allowed."


    "Who are you to talk nonsense here? Go look around the streets, with so many restaurants, do you think they all stem from theft?" the mother of the Li Clan, Zhou Clan, said indignantly.


    To have a daughter like the Li Clan¡¯s woman made it obvious that she wasn¡¯t someone easy to deal with either.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s eyes widened in anger as he exclaimed, "You...you¡¯re too shameless, it was clearly you who stole it!"


    "If you continue to slander us, I won¡¯t be polite anymore!" Tan Zhongzhong said threateningly.


    They thought a crowded dock would be good for business, but who would have anticipated Fourth Boss would be there too?


    Such rotten luck; they just wanted to make some money, why did it have to be so hard? S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a stern face, "Third brother, have you no shame? A grown man should not be such an embarrassment!"


    Qiao Duo called out, "Enough, don¡¯t bother arguing with them!"

 Chapter 113 - 114: Malignant Competition_1

    Chapter 113: Chapter 114: Malignant Competition_1No matter what, they would never admit the stew was stolen; they would even bite back, claiming they were the ones being framed.


    People were already coming to buy pork intestines, and continuing the dispute would only affect her business.


    Sun Erhu was still fuming, but upon hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er call him, he could only return.


    "Miss, did they really steal your stew?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly said, "The stew is missing, but since we didn¡¯t see who stole it, we can¡¯t make unfounded accusations."


    Another more outspoken young woman said, "I think it was them. Girl, don¡¯t be shy, just smash their stall. Otherwise, won¡¯t they steal your business?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also wanted to do this, but it was too barbaric to act like this in broad daylight.


    She would crush them, make it impossible for them to do business, and frustrate them to death!


    "We¡¯re all relatives here; there¡¯s no need for that. Buy a bit more today, spend a total of fifteen wen and get a steamed bun for free. There are only two baskets, and once they¡¯re gone, that¡¯s it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, having decided on the spot to not sell the buns but to offer them as a promotion instead!


    Let those people across from her cry!


    A woman immediately responded, "Those steamed buns look good. Miss, give me two or three jin of pork intestines!"


    Spending fifteen wen and getting a steamed bun for free was a bargain no matter how one looked at it! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No problem, if you can¡¯t finish it tonight, just hang it in the well. Frying it again tomorrow is also fine."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke, she cut a few sections of pork intestines and wrapped them up.


    The woman who got a free bun said, "Miss, listen to me, just smash their stall and see how they can still act arrogantly!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a noncommittal response, but she was truly grateful for those who gave her ideas.


    Meanwhile, at the Li Clan¡¯s side, there was complaining: "You dumb pig, why didn¡¯t you buy the pork intestines? Look how well they are selling!"


    "I went to three shops, and none of them had any pig offal."


    Tan Zhongzhong felt quite wronged. Could he be blamed for this?


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to buy them.


    It was normal that he didn¡¯t manage to. Chen Dazhuang had given a heads-up to several butchers, and they had reserved all the offal and trotters for him in advance.


    Who wouldn¡¯t like such steady business? It¡¯s not only profitable but also hassle-free.


    In other words, whatever Tan Zhongzhong managed to buy was what Butcher Chen left behind.


    Now that their business was extraordinarily poor, the Zhou Clan had Tan Zhongzhong cut his prices, hoping to attract some customers that way.


    As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er sold out her pork intestines, a few scattered customers finally went over to them.


    However, because Qiao Duo¡¯er had a promotion, she also sold quite a bit of other goods along with it.


    At Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s stall, the prices kept dropping lower and lower until they had gone down by a full ten wen per jin, which amounted to vicious competition.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her small hand and packed up to head home!


    Having dropped the prices by ten wen, there wasn¡¯t much profit to be made, so let them struggle as they would.


    Once they counted their takings upon returning, they would discover that they hadn¡¯t made any money. What expressions would they have then?


    On her way back, Qiao Duo¡¯er even went out of her way to speak with Butcher Chen, asking him to reserve some pig offal for Tan Zhongzhong the next day.


    Yes, she was the good person, taking care of her competitors.


    The pig offal was left for them; it was just to see if they had the ability to clean it properly.


    After all, Hu¡¯s Clan was quite skilled at processing pig offal; she first removed any foreign materials from the intestines, then turned them inside out, added some flour and rice vinegar and rubbed it in, washed them with water, and repeated the process several times until they were clean.


    Looking at the Li Clan¡¯s group, they didn¡¯t seem like the sort to do this kind of work.


    And they surely wouldn¡¯t want to remove the fat from inside the pork intestines; then, well, hehe...

 Chapter 114 - 115 It’s all your fault!_1

    Chapter 114: Chapter 115 It¡¯s all your fault!_1Sun Erhu said resentfully, "Sister-in-law, you¡¯re not planning to rob the rich to help the poor, right? We¡¯re very poor now, too, you mustn¡¯t go soft on those people!"


    He felt that they should do just like others said and smash Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s stand!


    "Do you think your sister-in-law can still be bullied?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong raised his eyebrows, he still had confidence in his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a kind heart, but she also despised evil, she was not a soft touch.


    Tan Zhongzhong and his wife stole from her, Qiao Duo¡¯er had no reason to help those people; her actions now could only mean she had other plans.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled and said, "That¡¯s right! Erhu, don¡¯t worry, revenge must be taken with brains."


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er brimming with confidence, Sun Erhu nodded, "That¡¯s good, we can¡¯t let them off!"


    Seeing Li Clan¡¯s face when collecting money made him fume with anger!


    He was not eloquent, cursing the same few phrases over and over. If he had the oratory skills of the Wang Clan, he would definitely have scolded them to the point of hiding from the public.


    But since his sister-in-law said she had a way, he¡¯d just wait and enjoy the show.


    That evening, Li Clan made it home with much difficulty, heavily pregnant and near exhaustion.


    After resting on the bed for a while, Li Clan summoned her energy to count the silver coins. After deducting the costs, they had earned a mere thirty Wen!


    The three of them toiled all day for just thirty Wen, no matter how they crunched the numbers, it was a loss.


    Thinking about having to give her mother ten Wen, Li Clan¡¯s rage was even more uncontrollable.


    "You¡¯d better go early tomorrow and be sure to buy the pork intestines back!" Li Clan said angrily.


    Tan Zhongzhong nodded quickly, "Wife, rest easy, I¡¯ll get up early tomorrow and will definitely be able to buy them. Besides, it¡¯s only our first day today. Earning that much is already good, won¡¯t our business get better and better in the future?"


    Reassured by Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s words, Li Clan felt somewhat better.


    No matter what, they had earned some money and most importantly, they were getting the hang of it!


    She hoped that Tan Zhongzhong would be able to buy the pork intestines tomorrow so she could take over all of Qiao Duo¡¯er, that little wretch¡¯s, business!


    After a while, Zhou Clan brought dinner.


    "Daughter, how much did we earn today?" Zhou Clan asked eagerly.


    Li Clan sighed, "Only thirty Wen."


    "How come it¡¯s so little?"


    Zhou Clan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She wondered if her daughter would even deceive her.


    Hmm... this girl has always been cunning since childhood; maybe she doesn¡¯t want to share the money with her!


    "It¡¯s all because of you, insisting on lowering the prices. The meat costs us money, not making a loss is good enough." Li Clan said irritably.


    Zhou Clan pursed her lips, "I saw the Fourth Boss¡¯s House didn¡¯t sell much either. Tomorrow we can just sell it two Wen cheaper."


    It was her first time doing business too, so it wasn¡¯t all her fault.


    Besides, when she suggested lowering the prices, they agreed to it; how much was her call.


    Zhou Clan wanted to say more but was cut off by Li Clan. They had only earned thirty Wen, and she was reluctant to share with others!


    "Okay, Mom, if you have nothing else, please leave. I¡¯m exhausted," said Li Clan.


    After Zhou Clan left, her face fell. So she wasn¡¯t tired?


    Hmph, she had done quite a lot of work and hadn¡¯t even seen a copper coin. Did they think she was a fool?


    Zhou Clan resolved that if she still didn¡¯t see any money tomorrow, she would stop working, no matter if Li Clan was her daughter or not.


    She just thought about making money for her husband¡¯s family and never felt sorry for her own mother!

 Chapter 115 - 116 Meat Bun_1

    Chapter 115: Chapter 116 Meat Bun_1She was busy all day long, and she still had to bring dinner to her daughter¡¯s room in the evening, who could be more aggrieved than she was?


    No wonder people say that a married daughter is like spilled water, and now she believed it!


    In the room, Tan Zhongzhong weakly said, "Wife, why didn¡¯t you give your mother the money? It seems like she¡¯s not too happy."


    "Hmph, if she¡¯s happy then I¡¯m not!"


    Li Clan started eating with the bowl and chopsticks in hand, seeing this, Tan Zhongzhong didn¡¯t say anything else.


    He wasn¡¯t stupid either and didn¡¯t want to give money away.


    The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er headed to Uncle Huang¡¯s place.


    Uncle Huang went to the town to sell vegetables every day, so his home was never short of vegetables, and Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to buy some to take back.


    If pickled vegetables were sold cheaply, there would definitely be people willing to buy them.


    When Aunt Huang saw Qiao Duo¡¯er come to buy vegetables, she immediately listed all the vegetables they had at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bought some cabbage, bean sprouts, peanuts, and soybeans, all of which tasted good after being pickled.


    "Just take them back directly, these are all grown ourselves, they¡¯re not worth much," Aunt Huang said politely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still stuffed thirty copper coins into Aunt Huang¡¯s hand, "I¡¯ll give you this much for now. I¡¯m going to try selling them today, and if it goes well, I¡¯ll come back to buy more."


    "That¡¯s very kind of you, wait here, I¡¯ll pull some fresh vegetables for you to take back and eat," Aunt Huang said.


    Aunt Huang hurried into the field to pick the fresh vegetables.


    Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s family didn¡¯t even have a vegetable plot after dividing the family property, so bringing some vegetables back for Qiao Duo¡¯er would definitely please her.


    Now that Fourth Brother Tan was selling braised meat and the business was doing well, she intended to get along well with his family.


    After packing up her things, Qiao Duo¡¯er bid farewell to Aunt Huang and then went to the Zhang Family, which made tofu in the village.


    Tofu, dried tofu, and tofu skin also tasted good when pickled, and with the weather being hot, the Zhang Family didn¡¯t make too much, so Qiao Duo¡¯er bought up all of their tofu products.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had just arrived home when Chen Dazhuang happened to deliver meat.


    "Today, Third Brother Tan came to buy pork offal, and I gave him one set and charged him twenty wen," Chen Dazhuang reported the situation to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Normally, a set of pork offal only cost ten wen, who would have thought that Third Brother Tan would actually pay twenty wen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head; her only concern was that Tan Zhongzhong wouldn¡¯t buy from them. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hmm... She was very curious about what kind of pickled flavors Li Clan would be able to produce today.


    Chen Dazhuang was still thinking about the business at the shop and, after a brief chat, left.


    Thinking it over, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to hang the lean meat in the well, planning to make it into meat buns.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er started making the buns.


    Making buns and steamed buns was almost the same; the only difference was the final step, where steamed buns went straight into the steamer, while buns needed fillings wrapped inside.


    With the help of Hu¡¯s Clan and Sun Erhu to knead the dough and chop the fillings, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in charge of directing the operation.


    Then Qiao Duo¡¯er encountered an embarrassing problem¡ªshe didn¡¯t know how to wrap buns.


    In her imagination, pinching the pleats was a very simple task, just a matter of fussing about a bit, and it was done.


    But in reality, it was a skillful job, and far from simple.


    "It¡¯s rare to find something the sister-in-law doesn¡¯t know how to do," Sun Erhu said with a smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Both big sister-in-law and Fourth Boss wrap them better than you, and they don¡¯t show off."


    Sun Erhu closed his mouth, indeed his were the ugliest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er regained her spirits and went to pickle the vegetables and bean products.


    By the time she finished her busywork, Sun Erhu and Hu¡¯s Clan had also completed the buns. Looking at the time, it was about time for them to head to the town.


    Thinking about how she was about to outshine both Tan Zhongzhong and Li Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er was thrilled to bits.

 Chapter 116 - 117 Blackened Heart_1

    Chapter 116: Chapter 117 Blackened Heart_1When they arrived at the town, Sun Erhu specifically looked around but didn¡¯t see Tan Zhongzhong and the Li Clan setting up their stall.


    Sun Erhu felt a bit disappointed, today his sister-in-law had made so many preparations, and they were certain to completely defeat them, but who could have imagined that Third Boss and his folks wouldn¡¯t even show up!


    Even with good business, if they didn¡¯t come, something seemed to be missing.


    "Don¡¯t just stand there daydreaming, young man, hurry up and pack up four meat buns for me."


    A burly man couldn¡¯t help but urge, and Sun Erhu quickly snapped back to reality and got busy with the business.


    Vegetables were cheap, only costing two or three wen money per jin, and everyone was scrambling to buy them. Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were so busy that he had to help sell buns.


    The buns were also selling well, probably thanks to yesterday¡¯s success with steamed buns.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s steamed buns were fluffy and delicious; today¡¯s buns were sure to be no different, and many people were willing to buy a few.


    Ah, it was just a pity that those shameless ones couldn¡¯t see this.


    Taking advantage of a quiet moment, Sun Erhu quickly asked, "Sister-in-law, do you think they might have moved to another spot today?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "They shouldn¡¯t have." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Li Clan was a fiercely competitive person and would undoubtedly fight to the bitter end with her.


    The most critical thing was that she had been running her business here for a long time and had already established a stable customer base; for someone as lazy as the Li Clan, the most desirable thing to do was to steal the fruits of someone else¡¯s labor.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stolen her marinade.


    With a smirk, Sun Erhu said, "I even feel like calling them over, just to piss them off for sure!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, she shared the sentiment.


    Meanwhile, at this very moment, Tan Zhongzhong and the Li Clan were still dawdling on their way.


    "Mom, why don¡¯t you let Third Boss take a turn pushing the cart for a while?" the Li Clan couldn¡¯t help but say.


    There was still a good distance to the dock, and as Third Boss grew tired, his pace slowed down¡ªwhen would they ever arrive!


    Zhou Clan said irritably, "Humph, I¡¯m an old bag of bones who has walked this far with you. How could you have the gall to ask me to push the cart?"


    "Mom, aren¡¯t I pregnant?"


    The Li Clan frowned and complained; was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a bit of money?


    "Even if you weren¡¯t pregnant, it would be the same; you have turned your heart black. With this spare time, I would rather be busy in the fields, at least I could gather more grains."


    What was the point of following them? She couldn¡¯t even get a kind word in edgewise!


    Thinking this way, Zhou Clan grew even angrier, snorted through her nose, and didn¡¯t even want to give Li Mei a glance.


    They say a man forgets his mother when he takes a wife, but here her daughter had forgotten her mother after getting married.


    "Mom, how can you say that? When I have a good thing, you¡¯re the first one I think of!"


    She and Tan Zhongzhong had stolen the marinade and come over for this very reason; wasn¡¯t it to help her own family get rich together?


    And now, all she got for her good intentions was resentment!


    Zhou Clan spoke disdainfully: "You think of me when you have a good thing? I think you just want someone to work for you. How could I have given birth to someone as foolish as you? If I¡¯d listened to your grandmother, I would have drowned you!"


    Then she wouldn¡¯t be so troubled now.


    Saying such a thing as a mother, it was a bit too much¡ªwhat kind of monster could drown her own daughter?


    The Li Clan said indignantly, "Am I not considered a person?"


    Seeing the situation turning sour, Tan Zhongzhong quickly interjected, "Let¡¯s hurry up and get going, we mustn¡¯t delay the business. Mom, Li Mei was just too tired yesterday to give you the silver coin."


    She was so tired last night, but what about today during the day?


    She had waited an entire day, and yet neither of the two had mentioned the matter of the money!


    The Li Clan rolled her eyes: "Tonight after we finish selling, I¡¯ll give it to you, alright? Not a single wen will be missing!"

 Chapter 117 - 118 Finally Arrived_1

    Chapter 117: Chapter 118 Finally Arrived_1"I am your mother, how can you speak to me like that? When you first came, what did you say? It was as if I¡¯d taken advantage of you, you three of your family have been eating my food and living in my house, and I haven¡¯t even started charging you!"


    Zhou Clan was just as nitpicky, if not worse than Li Clan.


    She would get angry over the smallest things.


    Her only goal was to make it known to Li Mei that she hadn¡¯t gotten a single wen of advantage from her!


    It was actually Li Mei who had dragged her family here to freeload, claiming they could earn big money, but now not to mention big money, they hadn¡¯t seen a penny!


    Li Clan was getting impatient as she listened; how much could her family of three possibly eat?


    She immediately retorted with sarcasm, "My life is so hard, oh, it¡¯s me taking money off you to support your useless sons!"


    "How can you speak like that? No matter how useless my brothers are, any children they have will still bear the Li surname. Who could be like you, wishing you could change your own surname?"


    Zhou Clan snorted lightly; she was even more biased towards her sons now. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No matter what, her sons were still her own flesh and blood, not like Li Mei, who was elbowing her way out of the family!


    Li Clan became even angrier, ready to explode.


    Tan Zhongzhong quickly gave her a sign with his eyes, his voice also involuntarily rose a bit.


    "Xiao Mei, Fourth Boss must have been selling at the market for half a day now, and you¡¯re still caught up in bickering? You¡¯re also born of your mother, wouldn¡¯t she love you? Those words just now were said in anger, how could you take them seriously?"


    Now his wife was pregnant, and in just over a month she would be giving birth; they were counting on her mother for a lot of things.


    If they fell out, how could he manage on his own?


    It was certain he couldn¡¯t rely on his own mother when his wife was in her confinement period.


    Li Clan clenched her teeth but managed to suppress her temper.


    Tan Zhongzhong then said to his mother-in-law, "Mother, Xiao Mei is pregnant and her temper isn¡¯t good, don¡¯t take it to heart."


    "It¡¯s the son-in-law who is sensible," Zhou Clan finally felt satisfied.


    Li Clan silently rolled her eyes, but still didn¡¯t say a word.


    With Tan Zhongzhong mediating, they could finally head to the town smoothly.


    The moment they appeared, Sun Erhu excitedly said, "Sister-in-law, they¡¯re finally here!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked into the basin at the remaining items and said helplessly, "But we¡¯re almost sold out, let¡¯s come back tomorrow to crush them."


    Who knows what their marinade will be like tomorrow.


    Maintaining the marinade was a delicate task; each time, new seasoning had to be added to the meat, with precise measurements, or the taste would be affected.


    Strong-flavored items had to be cooked in separate marinade, and once used, that marinade was discarded.


    It was necessary to clean out the residue daily and boil it before storing it in a container.


    She asked Butcher Chen to set aside a pig¡¯s large intestine for Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s family as a way to meddle with the taste of their marinade.


    Sun Erhu was sharp-eyed and quickly reported back, "Sister-in-law, look, they didn¡¯t make marinated large intestine."


    They stuck to the same old items today: marinated lean meat, front hocks, and pig¡¯s trotters.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also glanced over and indeed, there were no pig¡¯s large intestines; hadn¡¯t Tan Zhongzhong gone out early to buy the intestines?


    This... they had been given the opportunity, so why didn¡¯t they make good use of it?


    "Sister-in-law, do you think they know that pig¡¯s large intestine can¡¯t be cooked in the marinade?"


    Sun Erhu frowned and asked, as that would ruin his sister-in-law¡¯s plan, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "It¡¯s not that it can¡¯t be cooked, but they just had to take some marinade and cook it separately. I guess they have no one to wash it."

 Chapter 118 - 119: Listen to the Wife’s Words_1

    Chapter 118: Chapter 119: Listen to the Wife¡¯s Words_1I have to say, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s guess was very accurate.


    They wanted to sell pig intestines, but who would clean them?


    With Li Clan pregnant, she couldn¡¯t stand the smell of pig intestines, and Tan Zenzhong certainly wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. Zhou Clan would be able to clean them, but she was unwilling to do so because of the wage dispute.


    So that set of pig intestines was still hanging in the well at this moment.


    There was no way to sabotage their stew today.


    But well, there were other ways to deal with them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes and immediately shouted, "Discount on stewed dishes! Selling them off and then going home!"


    After all, she had only a little left, not aiming to make a profit, just wanting to sell out quickly.


    But it was different for Third Brother Tan¡¯s stall, they had just arrived, and if they started discounting from the beginning, how could they withstand that?


    If they lowered their prices, wouldn¡¯t all the customers go to them? Originally, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stall had more customers!


    No way, they also had to lower their prices! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And they had to lower them more than Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Tan Zhenghong asked indulgently, "How much Wen per jin do you plan to drop the price by?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gestured with her hands, and Tan Zhenghong also followed suit in shouting, "Stewed meat discount, dropping Ten Wen Money per jin, come and buy!"


    "Is it nice to trick your brother like that?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, this way they¡¯d end up busy for nothing today as well.


    Tan Zhenghong said carelessly, "Didn¡¯t you write me a Relationship Termination Letter? Besides, I don¡¯t have a brother like that, it¡¯s embarrassing!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in approval, "That¡¯s a decent realization."


    "Of course, I only follow my wife¡¯s lead," he said.


    ...


    Watching the two whispering to each other, Sun Erhu felt ten thousand points of distress!


    He better just stick to selling his goods!


    "Delicious stewed meat for sale at a discounted price, not much left, hurry up, come and buy, or even just to try!" Sun Erhu shouted with all his might.


    Could he say they only had about half a jin of pig¡¯s knuckles and one stewed pig¡¯s trotter left?


    Even if they were given away, Qiao Duo¡¯er certainly wouldn¡¯t be heartbroken.


    Soon, the shouting came from Third Brother Tan¡¯s stall too.


    "Stewed meat discount sale, dropping Ten Wen per jin! Come take a look, come buy!" Third Brother Tan also started to call out.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er had Sun Erhu pack up and head home just after a few shouts, leaving Third Brother Tan with a cryptic smile.


    Her message: Fool, you¡¯ve been duped!


    It was only after Qiao Duo¡¯er left that he realized he wasn¡¯t going to make any money today either!


    You can shout about lowering prices and lower them freely, but when you want to go back to the original price, others won¡¯t be happy about it.


    "Mother, stop shouting nonsense, do you still want to make money or not!" Li Clan pulled on Zhou Clan, who had just dropped another Ten Wen Money, they were almost at the point of losing their initial investment!


    Zhou Clan also came to her senses and complained, "That sister-in-law of yours is too ruthless, deliberately setting us up!"


    "Mother, stop talking, I¡¯m so annoyed!"


    Li Clan said impatiently, how could they continue to do business like this? If they didn¡¯t lower the price, they certainly wouldn¡¯t sell, but what¡¯s the point of lowering it if they¡¯re not making any money!


    Seeing Zhou Clan¡¯s displeased face, Tan Zenzhong hurriedly added, "Wife, don¡¯t be anxious, let¡¯s wait a while longer to sell. Who will know we discounted by then?"


    "Are you silly? Look, it¡¯s getting dark, wait any longer and everyone will have gone home. Who will buy then? Hurry up and shout, drop it by Eight Wen per jin!"


    Li Clan expressed disdainfully, dropping by Eight Wen Money would still leave them with a bit of profit.


    Tan Zenzhong looked at the sky, realizing it was indeed not early. He didn¡¯t dare to delay any longer and immediately began calling out for customers.


    But even so, by the time it was dark, there were still two to three jin of meat unsold.

 Chapter 119 - 120 Don’t Think About Touching My Meat_1

    Chapter 119: Chapter 120 Don¡¯t Think About Touching My Meat_1Zhou Clan rubbed her aching back. "I don¡¯t think anyone else is coming to buy, so let¡¯s leave the rest for your brother to eat. They¡¯re living such a hard life, they¡¯ve probably forgotten what meat even tastes like."


    Li Clan was already upset by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude, and not being able to sell the meat was making her mood even worse.


    And Zhou Clan¡¯s words only added fuel to the fire.


    Li Clan immediately retorted, "Who hasn¡¯t lived a tough life? If my brother wants meat, tell them to come and buy it!"


    Humph, she was carrying a child too, and had only eaten meat two or three times herself!


    Her brother¡¯s family had ten acres of land¡ªeach of them lived a better life than her. Why should she give them meat for free?


    "We have so much meat left today, and you can¡¯t eat it all. If you don¡¯t give it to your brothers, do you want it to spoil?"


    Zhou Clan glanced at Li Mei with disdain. The more she looked at her stingy daughter, the more she disliked her.


    "Even if it spoils, I won¡¯t give it to them!"


    In fact, there wasn¡¯t much meat left. Couldn¡¯t their family of three eat it all if they tried?


    It was just that she didn¡¯t want to eat it all at once, so she planned to save some to satisfy their own cravings and put the rest in the well to sell the next day.


    But here her mother was, taking matters into her own hands, planning to give the meat away. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Did she think she was dead?


    This time, Tan Zhongzhong did not try to stop the argument. He was displeased himself and was happy to see his wife make a scene.


    Why should only her uncles benefit from every good thing?


    The meat was bought with his money, so it certainly shouldn¡¯t be given away for free!


    "You heartless thing! Who¡¯s like you? Getting married and forgetting all about your own family¡ªnot even willing to give your brother some meat! Is it going to ruin you?"


    Zhou Clan kept up the scolding, her finger nearly poking Li Mei in the face.


    Back in the day, if she had something nice to eat, she always thought of her brothers.


    Li Mei fought back just as hard, "When Dad passed away, he said there was five liang of silver for my dowry, but you only gave me three liang. Now you want to scrape more off me? You think I¡¯m a fool? There¡¯s no way I¡¯m giving the meat to my brothers."


    "So you¡¯re not afraid anymore, huh? You dare to talk back to your mother like this? I tell you, I¡¯m not going to cater to you anymore!"


    Zhou Clan was done with it.


    In truth, she was just trying to force Li Clan to compromise. Li Mei, heavily pregnant, found it difficult to work, and Tan Zhongzhong was no good at household chores.


    Wouldn¡¯t the couple have to beg her in the end?


    Li Clan said disdainfully, "Who needs your help!"


    "Then give me my wages, and from now on, your family can¡¯t stay at our house anymore!"


    Li Clan, defiant as always, pulled out her purse and leaned on Tan Zhongzhong as she counted today¡¯s earnings.


    The prices were a bit higher today, but they still had some unsold meat, so the profits were about the same as the day before.


    Li Clan gritted her teeth, counted out twenty copper coins, and shoved them into Zhou Clan¡¯s hand.


    "Mother, here is your wage. From now on, pretend you didn¡¯t give birth to me, and don¡¯t even think about taking advantage of me!"


    "Li Mei, what do you mean by this? I¡¯ve been busy working to the bone for two days, and this is all you give me? Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?" Zhou Clan immediately protested.


    Ten wen money a day, does she take her for a fool?


    Li Mei scoffed lightly, "All you did was stoke the fire for a bit. I asked you to wash the tripe, and you didn¡¯t. I asked you to push the cart, and you didn¡¯t. Giving you ten wen is pretty good! And you have the nerve to say it¡¯s not enough, have you no shame?"


    Zhou Clan was taken aback, unable to believe that Li Mei would say such a thing to her.


    No matter what, she was still Li Mei¡¯s mother!


    It took a while for Zhou Clan to recover, "You ungrateful wretch, I should have never had you! I was blind to have raised such a creature!"

 Chapter 120 - 121 _1

    Chapter 120: Chapter 121 _1Li Clan stiffened her neck and said, "If you have the guts, just strangle me to death! Being born into a mother like you, I surely have bad luck piled up from hundreds of past lives!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But did Zhou Clan dare to strangle her to death?


    Zhou Clan glared with anger in her eyes, yet, due to Li Mei¡¯s imposing manner, she didn¡¯t dare to act rashly.


    Li Clan glanced at Tan Zhongzhong, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pack your things to go home!"


    The home she was referring to this time was Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s three-room thatched cottage.


    Tan Zhongzhong just wanted to speak, but he didn¡¯t dare to move recklessly because Li Clan was on a tirade.


    Zhou Clan, looking at the two¡¯s backs, said annoyedly, "Hmph, you better never come begging to me again in your lives!"


    Hmph, just wait till she has the baby, then she¡¯ll be asking for help again!


    When the Third Girl was born, she went to wash the sheets, the diapers, serve tea, and fetch water, only to end up without a single word of thanks!


    This marked the collapse of the cooperation between Li Clan and Zhou Clan, and they each returned to their own homes.


    Alas, once money becomes involved, many relationships become extremely fragile.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was searching for something at home.


    "Wife, what are you looking for? If you don¡¯t bathe now, the water will get cold," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "Have you seen the bedsheet that was hanging there? I just washed it yesterday."


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "I haven¡¯t seen it, isn¡¯t it in the yard either?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, not willing to give up, opened the wardrobe again.


    But inside there were only a few clothes, really nothing else she could use as a cover, was she truly going to bathe like this?


    "Aren¡¯t you going to look?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, why did she feel he was somewhat unreliable?


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed, "Wife, you¡¯ve known me for so many days, when have I ever lied to you?"


    "Hmph, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re always scheming to take advantage of me!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot Tan Zhenghong a contemptuous look.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed softly, she definitely had to bathe, and she¡¯d have to put out the oil lamp before doing so!

 Chapter 121 - 122 _1

    Chapter 121: Chapter 122 _1Qiao Duo¡¯er, due to her special identity in her previous life, had grown more accustomed to the dark, and bathing without any light was no challenge for her at all.


    "You bastard, don¡¯t peek!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er warned him. Although Tan Zhenghong had only sneaked a few glances, she could still feel it.


    After being caught, Tan Zhenghong quickly averted his eyes, feeling his face burn with discomfort.


    Alas, his wife had caught him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to glance at Tan Zhenghong and saw that he was facing the wall.


    Her movements were swift, after all, she was trained.


    Tan Zhenghong felt he had been quick, but he still missed the scene he most wanted to see.


    By now, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already sitting in the bathtub, her back to him.


    His wife¡¯s face had gotten much whiter, but compared to the skin on her body, it was still quite different.


    "Tan Zhenghong!" Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help grinding her teeth, really wanting to bite Tan Zhenghong to death!


    Tan Zhenghong said sheepishly, "Wife, your skin is really nice."


    "You idiot, be careful or I¡¯ll kill you!"


    "Wife, if you kill me, you won¡¯t have a husband," Tan Zhenghong said with a pained expression.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was the plain truth; without a man, she would live a freer life, at least she wouldn¡¯t have to bathe in fear and trepidation.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly turned his head away, "Wife, I was wrong, I promise I won¡¯t look again, please don¡¯t leave me."


    The wistful tone in his voice made Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curl upwards involuntarily; knowing that scaring him could result in a peaceful bath, she would have spared all the pointless talk.


    Today, while looking for sheets, Qiao Duo¡¯er had left her outer clothing by the bed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er steeled her heart, put on her undergarments, and walked over to the bedside.


    Tan Zhenghong turned his head for a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er and quickly looked away again ¨C would his wife leave him if she saw him looking?


    Seeing his shy demeanor, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt playful and brazenly lit the oil lamp.


    Tan Zhenghong sneaked a peek, and his wife didn¡¯t react.


    After testing her a few times, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gaze began to follow Qiao Duo¡¯er openly.

 Chapter 122 - 123: You Owe Me a Wedding_1

    Chapter 122: Chapter 123: You Owe Me a Wedding_1Tan Zhenghong weakly said, "Wife, can you put on your clothes?"


    "It¡¯s too hot, I don¡¯t want to. Let me check your leg first."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er sat on the edge of the bed, Tan Zhenghong felt a pang of pain in his leg and couldn¡¯t help but gasp, "Are you... are you trying to murder me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said innocently, "I was just pinching to see how the bone is healing. That¡¯s it, you won¡¯t need a splint anymore, and I¡¯ve also solved the trouble I caused."


    Hmph, she seemed to do it on purpose!


    But she controlled her strength well, just causing Tan Zhenghong a momentary pain without damaging the freshly healed bone.


    Well... I should still look for where that sheet went tomorrow.


    Tan Zhenghong anxiously said, "Wife, didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d consummate the marriage once my leg healed?"


    "I¡¯ve changed my mind now, hmph, did you think just by spending One Tael of Silver to buy me back that I would be your wife? There wasn¡¯t even a wedding!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, she really was a bargain of a wife, just One Tael of Silver...


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Once my leg is healed, I¡¯ll marry you again!"


    "Then I¡¯ll be waiting for you!"


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke, she put on her clothes, thinking that having a leg was not enough to marry a wife, one also needed Silver!


    This would give her an excuse to delay things for a while; maybe the feelings hadn¡¯t reached that stage yet.


    After pouring out the water, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay down on the bed.


    Tan Zhenghong leaned towards Qiao Duo¡¯er and said, "Wife, I will make you the most beautiful bride."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, thinking to herself... that attitude of his was enough.


    Tan Zhenghong pecked on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face and then asked, "Duo¡¯er, do you want to take back the advantage from me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, this guy learned his tricks pretty fast.


    However, she had no interest in taking that advantage back.


    S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 123 - 124 Nice Skills_1

    Chapter 123: Chapter 124 Nice Skills_1Early the next morning, Er Ya brought Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s quilt cover.


    "Auntie Fourth, I noticed that your quilt cover had a hole in it, so I took it and had my eldest sister patch it for you. I just forgot to give it to you last night," said Er Ya with embarrassment.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er received the quilt cover, she saw that the torn spot had been mended. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You all are so capable, thank you!"


    Er Ya replied shyly, "It¡¯s nothing, Auntie Fourth. I¡¯ll head back now, and I¡¯ll come to work in a bit!"


    After saying this, Er Ya left, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er alone, pondering the events of the previous night.


    Heh, last night Tan Zhenghong was so well behaved!


    As morning advanced, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others had already been bustling about, the Li Clan finally got up, moving lazily.


    The previous day, by the time she wearily made it home, it was nearly midnight, as she had walked too far and even started spotting on the way back.


    She was still dreadfully tired now, and she truly didn¡¯t want to get up, but who else would do the work if not her?


    Alas, she somewhat regretted falling out with her mother.


    Seeing the Li Clan rise, Tan Zhongzhong nervously spoke up, "Wife, don¡¯t get up. The child is what¡¯s important."


    "What child can you have without money!" the Li Clan retorted irritably.


    Tan Zhongzhong muttered, There was enough silver coin in the house to spend, and they had several mu of land; there would definitely be no problem providing for the family.


    But to his wife, it seemed as if they were about to be unable to make ends meet any day now!


    Always talking like this just needlessly irritates people.


    It made him have to head to the Yue Family early this morning to pick up Third Girl and also move some items back home, not to mention he still had to go to town to buy meat.


    But Tan Zhongzhong dared not voice these thoughts aloud, his wife was carrying a child after all.


    The Li Clan found a mask to cover her nose and mouth, then laboriously sat on a small stool and began washing pig intestines.


    Without those intestines, her business would always be inferior to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s.


    Even if they used the exact same brine and meat, why should she earn less than Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    Seeing the Li Clan busy at work, Little Wang Clan couldn¡¯t help but say sarcastically, "My, my, sister-in-law, you have quite the skill, it tastes just like the ones made by the Fourth Boss¡¯s House. I think once you make it, you should also send some to father and mother to try."


    She knew that the recipe had been stolen from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, so her words were laden with veiled threats.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that they had already been secretly competing for a few days.


    "Are these for father and mother to eat, or for you and your son?"


    Xiao Fu, who had grown into such a fool, was only treasured like a precious gem by those idiots in the Main Room.


    Little Wang Clan said with a mocking tone, "Our parents are really pitiable. All of you, one by one, are so unfilial. What will become of them in the future?"


    "When we divided up the household, didn¡¯t our parents say that you would take care of them in their old age, without us having to worry? Second sister-in-law, has your memory grown so poor now?"


    "You can¡¯t just say things like that. Third Boss is also a child our parents bore."


    Little Wang Clan hurriedly interjected, for she was simply fed up with living with those two old things and wanted to push them off on someone else.


    The Li Clan, dropping all pretenses along with her mask, retorted mockingly, "You¡¯re just looking to take advantage at every turn. Fourth Boss¡¯s leg has just been broken, and I am about to give birth, yet you instigated the division of the household. Having reaped all the benefits from the division, now you refuse to support our parents? Keep being so unreasonable, and I¡¯ll have to bring this up to the village chief!"


    These were all truthful words, but it was inappropriate to blurt them out so bluntly.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s face turned red and then white from the rebuke.


    The Li Clan was fierce, and each time they argued, Little Wang Clan never gained the upper hand, and this time was no exception.


    Defeated, Little Wang Clan skulked away, silently cursing to herself.


    It was just a brine recipe, after all.


    Give her a few days, and she was sure she could get her hands on the formula!

 Chapter 124 - 125: Freckle-Removing Prescription_1

    Chapter 124: Chapter 125: Freckle-Removing Prescription_1As soon as Little Wang Clan left, Li Clan began to retch twice, with no one to distract her, she noticed the smell of the pig intestines.


    Li Clan quickly said to Third Girl, "Quick, help your mother put on the mask, so it doesn¡¯t suffocate your little brother."


    Third Girl hurriedly put the mask on Li Clan, then ran off in a flash.


    Her mother was so dirty and smelly at the moment, she really didn¡¯t want to get close!


    After Qiao Duo¡¯er finished preparing the marinade, the rest could be left to Hu¡¯s Clan, and she went up the mountain with her basket on her back.


    Now that the acne on her face had healed and her skin had whitened a bit, she thought that she could cure it by continuing to apply Bai Zhi and Bai Ji to her face, but she didn¡¯t anticipate a bigger problem coming, which was freckles.


    All she did was use the water surface as a mirror, which didn¡¯t reflect very clear images, and with her darker skin, she had not noticed them and still proudly thought of herself as a beauty.


    It was only upon looking carefully one time that she discovered those patches of freckles, and once she did, she felt completely unwell.


    Thinking about her face covered with spots like quail eggs made her feel incredibly stifled inside. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She needed to concoct a recipe for removing freckles, which included Kang Song, Shan Nai, Mao Xiang, Bai Ji, Bai Lian, Zi Fu Zi, Pearl Powder, Mung Bean Powder, etc., mixed into a powder.


    These were old freckles that she had, and it would take a long time to remove them completely just by external application.


    If she wanted to get rid of the freckles faster, she would also have to use Ear Acupuncture Therapy, also known as the legendary acupuncture.


    Acupuncture could regulate the body and improve blood circulation, achieving a balance of yin and yang, thus eliminating freckles, which was a method that treated the root cause, so it was more effective.


    It just so happened that the good-for-nothing at home could also use acupuncture to unblock meridians and speed up bone healing.


    So she needed to buy a set of Silver Needles.


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er was eating well and had regained her strength, her pace was much faster, and before long, she was already on the mountain.


    The mountain was covered with interlaced trees, which made it much cooler than outside.


    Suddenly she looked up and saw a bird¡¯s nest in the tree.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her basket and quickly climbed up the tree.


    She confirmed once again that after this period of recuperation, her body had recovered quite a bit.


    But to reach the level she had in her previous life, she would still need to spend a lot of time on recuperation and exercise.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully approached the bird¡¯s nest, which contained a total of seven eggs that looked rather appetizing.


    If it had been before, she would have snatched them away without hesitation.


    But this time, when she saw the spots on the eggs, she suddenly felt nauseated.


    Forget it, she wasn¡¯t lacking food now, it was better to leave them alone.


    In fact, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered something someone had told her in her past life, that raiding bird nests would cause her to grow spots on her face just like those on eggs.


    Even though she knew this was a lie, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help believing it, her face was already tragic enough, it couldn¡¯t withstand any more torment.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er came down from the tree empty-handed and continued on her way with her basket on her back.


    Rather than bird eggs, she should hurry to find some medicinal herbs to treat her face.


    In no time, Qiao Duo¡¯er had found six kinds of medicinal herbs, she would have to buy the rest from the medicine shop.


    After all, not all medicinal herbs could grow in this region, nor were they all harvested in this season, so she was already quite satisfied with what she had found.


    Passing by the pond, Qiao Duo¡¯er got the urge to catch some fish and shrimps.


    She had been eating marinade for several days and was tired of it, it was time for a change of taste.


    She found some large leaves and wrapped the fish and shrimps before heading back.


    While catching fish and shrimps, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed that the Water Caltrop in the river was nearly ripe, scientifically called Trapa natans, it¡¯s a good thing for nourishing the body.

 Chapter 125 - 126: Tan Zhenghong Presents a Treasure_1

    Chapter 125: Chapter 126: Tan Zhenghong Presents a Treasure_1It¡¯s said that euryale seeds can strengthen the kidney, consolidate the essence, and eliminate dampness and leukorrhea.


    To put it simply, it means that after eating it men become stronger and last longer, and women become healthier and more beautiful.


    What¡¯s more, this stuff is delicious, so I definitely want to pick some to take back when the time comes.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er returned, Tan Zhenghong was sitting in the courtyard, occasionally glancing towards the entrance, eager to see his wife. Upon seeing her, he immediately said, "Wife, you¡¯re back!"


    It felt quite good to be welcomed home.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her basket, she asked, "Have you been waiting long?"


    "Well... not too long, I just came out a little while ago,"


    Tan Zhenghong hemmed and hawed, it was indeed not a long wait, just a bit more than an hour.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was well aware but didn¡¯t point it out, saving Tan Zhenghong from blushing and making it seem like she was flirting with him.


    Tan Zhenghong was sitting next to the water jar, and Hu¡¯s Clan had just fetched water for him to wash his face; the basin and towel were by his side.


    He scooped half a basin of water for Qiao Duo¡¯er and presented it as if offering a treasure, saying, "Wife, come wash your face."


    Having walked back from the mountain, her face was covered in sweat. Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t refuse and used the water Tan Zhenghong had drawn to wipe her face, feeling much cooler afterwards.


    Meanwhile, Sun Erhu silently complained; Brother Hong now knew how to pass off another¡¯s courtesy as his own.


    The water was what he had fetched; the basin and the towel had been brought by his sister-in-law; the only thing he did was scoop up half a basin of water.


    Hmph, he really knows how to please his wife!


    But now he could take a leaf out of his book, it would surely come in handy one day.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had already started cooking the rice. All Qiao Duo¡¯er needed to do was to fry two dishes, and after resting for a while, she got busy.


    However, after having worked all morning on the mountain, no one was willing to let Qiao Duo¡¯er busy herself.


    Tan Zhenghong was responsible for washing the shrimps, a tedious process involving deveining, removing whiskers, and chopping.


    But for him, it was a piece of cake; the dagger had been with him for many years, and he was very skilled with it.


    Hu¡¯s Clan wasn¡¯t idle either; she cleaned the fish.


    Seeing that there was nothing for her to do, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to sort out the herbs.


    Before long, Hu¡¯s Clan had cleaned the fish. She quickly went to scrub the pot and light the fire.


    "Big sister, you should take a break,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with a smile, "I¡¯m not tired; it¡¯s all routine work for me."


    She and the two maids were paid for their work and often received extra food as well; how could she not work a little harder?


    And the tasks she now performed were much less than before the family division.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and let Hu¡¯s Clan continue, for in her heart, she had a sense of measure and would never mistreat Hu¡¯s Clan.


    The shrimps were not yet finished cleaning. Once done, they would need to be seasoned with scallion, ginger, garlic, salt, wine, and vinegar to marinate for a while. So, Qiao Duo¡¯er started by simmering the fish soup.


    Before simmering the fish soup, she rubbed the bottom of the pot with ginger to prevent sticking.


    After rubbing the pot, she added a bit of oil, fried both sides of the fish until golden brown, and then added water to simmer slowly, making the soup as white as milk.


    Once the fish soup was ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er ladled it into soup bowls, scrubbed the pot, poured in some oil, and tossed the shrimp with the seasoning into the pot to stir-fry.


    Soon, the scent of the shrimp filled the entire courtyard.


    Once the shrimp changed color, she added a splash of water and covered the pot to bring it to a boil, then quickly served it; otherwise, the shrimp would become tough.


    After stir-frying the shrimp, Qiao Duo¡¯er used the same pot to fry the green beans, infusing them with the shrimp¡¯s savory flavor, making them more delicious than usual. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With three dishes and one soup, it didn¡¯t take long to serve the meal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cooking skills were beyond doubt, achieving a perfect balance of color, fragrance, and taste, and the combination of meat and vegetables was excellent. Everyone ate until full before putting down their chopsticks.

 Chapter 126 - 127: Help Me Get It Out_1

    Chapter 126: Chapter 127: Help Me Get It Out_1After having their fill, Hu¡¯s Clan insisted on washing the bowls.


    The midday heat was unbearable, just moving a bit would drench one in sweat; besides taking a nap, there wasn¡¯t another suitable activity.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er firstly prepared a basin of warm water for Tan Zhenghong and fetched him clean clothes, then she went behind the curtain to wipe herself down. Otherwise, she¡¯d be covered in the smell of sweat and couldn¡¯t possibly fall asleep.


    Since Tan Zhenghong was always the first to finish washing, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t think twice before lifting the curtain and stepping out.


    But today was different from usual; today, there was a surprise waiting outside the curtain.


    Someone was completely naked, moving one hand up and down on a certain part, engaged in an indecent act.


    When he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er come out, he withdrew his hand, leaving only that certain part standing erect. It seemed to have been startled and even shuddered twice.


    Could this be what they call "trembling in the wind"?


    Both of them were mortified to death, but what had been seen could not be unseen; it was time to face the facts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth; had she known, she would have stayed inside a little longer.


    Tan Zhenghong grabbed a blanket to cover that part and weakly explained, "I was just trying to wipe a little..."


    It turns out he was just innocently trying to wipe a bit, but the sounds of water from inside, coupled with what he had seen the night before, made it difficult for him to control himself.


    He didn¡¯t expect that after only a few strokes, Qiao Duo¡¯er would come out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "It¡¯s... fine, carry on, I¡¯ll go pour the water out."


    "You scared it limp; I can¡¯t continue," Tan Zhenghong said with a woeful expression.


    Hmm... ever since he got married, he had started to live like a monk, and just when he finally broke that abstinence with his hand, his wife caught him in the act.


    He felt like dying!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, innocently saying, "How was I to know you¡¯d be doing... this in broad daylight? And now you blame me?"


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat, "You don¡¯t help me with it at night."


    "You finish wiping up and put your pants on, or I¡¯ll open the door and let everyone come see your physique!" Qiao Duo¡¯er threatened.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a pitiful expression, but Qiao Duo¡¯er simply ignored him and went back behind the curtain.


    Outside was hot like a furnace; she didn¡¯t want to go out there.


    Now, Tan Zhenghong had no choice but to obediently wash up and then change into clean clothes.


    Sigh, he just wanted to know why his wife¡¯s heart was so hard?


    "I am dressed now; you can come to sleep," he said.


    Only when Tan Zhenghong said this did Qiao Duo¡¯er come out.


    Once she lay down on the bed, Tan Zhenghong sneakily glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er several times, only to find her turned away from him.


    He said in a low voice, "Wife, I¡¯m uncomfortable."


    "And then?" Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Tan Zhenghong mustered his courage and said, "Could you touch me a bit?"


    "Touch what?" Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind was still clouded with the scene she had just witnessed, so her thought process hadn¡¯t returned to normal. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong took his wife¡¯s small hand and drew it toward that spot, while saying, "Just like what you just saw, a little movement will do."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around and slapped Tan Zhenghong¡¯s thigh.


    "Handle your own business, you were doing just fine by yourself a moment ago, don¡¯t lean on me, it¡¯s too hot!"


    "Wife, please help me!"


    Tan Zhenghong snuggled up to Qiao Duo¡¯er; this way, he felt a bit more comfortable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat up, her eyes shining like brilliant stars, as she gazed steadfastly at Tan Zhenghong, "Do you really want my help?"


    Tan Zhenghong eagerly nodded, "Just use your hand for a bit, I promise I won¡¯t do anything rash."

 Chapter 127-128 _1

    Chapter 127: Chapter 127-128 _1Having eaten her fill, Hu¡¯s Clan insisted on washing the dishes.


    The midday heat was unbearable, and the slightest movement would cover one in sweat; aside from taking a nap, there was nothing else suitable to be done.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er first prepared a basin of warm water for Tan Zhenghong, then fetched him clean clothes before she too wiped her body behind the curtains; otherwise, with the smell of sweat all over her, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at all.


    Since it was always Tan Zhenghong who finished washing up first, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t think twice before lifting the curtain and stepping out.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er awoke, Hu¡¯s Clan had come with her two daughters. There was still pickling vegetables and soy products to do in the afternoon, but with everyone working together, it didn¡¯t take long to finish.


    Glancing at the sun, there was still half an hour left to rest before heading to town.


    Yet, Li Clan next door was miserable; being pregnant, she was naturally prone to feeling hot, and yet she was stuck doing all the work on her own.


    The damned Tan Zhongzhong was too lazy to even keep his eyes open and had shirked the work of stewing meat entirely onto her. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Carrying a grandchild for the Old Tan Family, shouldn¡¯t she be cherished and held in the palm of someone¡¯s hand?


    Instead, her belly had swelled up, yet she was treated no better than grass; ignored by her mother-in-law, unloved by her own mother, and her husband was useless.


    "Elder sister-in-law, come help me stoke the fire for a while, my body is terribly tired."


    Li Clan called out to Hu¡¯s Clan, who was about to head back.


    Hu¡¯s Clan pursed her lips, but still made her way towards Li Clan, thinking that being pregnant did indeed make things difficult.


    To Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s actions, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only curse inwardly, "Bun."


    Before Hu¡¯s Clan was halfway there, Qiao Duo¡¯er called out, "Elder sister-in-law, come over here, the work isn¡¯t done properly."


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she hurried back.


    Li Clan snorted lightly, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, what do you mean by that?"


    "Elder sister-in-law works for me. If the work isn¡¯t done well, shouldn¡¯t I have her redo it? Or how about this: you offer a wage, and elder sister-in-law can help you with your work," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, raising her eyebrows.


    "Hmph, do you think I¡¯d believe you¡¯d be willing to pay even a copper coin for wages?" Li Clan was disdainful of the idea.


    "Not much, just twenty-five Wen a day right now."


    Li Clan¡¯s face twisted. She only earned twenty to thirty Wen a day, so a day¡¯s wage would be twenty to thirty Wen? Was she a fool?


    Seeing Li Clan looking reluctant, Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke up, "If you¡¯ve got nothing to say, I¡¯ll have elder sister-in-law get back to work then."


    Li Clan gritted her teeth and had no choice but to continue stoking the fire.


    The spices were stolen from the Fourth Boss¡¯s room, and the fact that she had barely said a word showed she was feeling guilty; otherwise, she¡¯d definitely have argued with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    With trepidation, Hu¡¯s Clan asked, "What hasn¡¯t been done right? I¡¯ll redo it immediately."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked helplessly as there was of course nothing that hadn¡¯t been done well; she was simply bluffing Li Clan.


    Once Hu¡¯s Clan understood, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and rested for a while in Fourth Boss¡¯s room before going back to her own.

 Chapter 128 - 129 Redeem Silver_1

    Chapter 128: Chapter 129 Redeem Silver_1In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er specially asked Sun Erhu to leave early, for she had to visit the bank to exchange some silver and could also drop by Ren Xin Hall to buy some medicine and silver needles.


    The stewed meat earned only copper coins, which not only took up space at home but also posed a safety risk.


    Each night, Qiao Duo¡¯er would count the copper coins, threading one hundred of them with a red string to make a hanged money, and she now had saved up to one hundred hanged money.


    According to current prices, that was exactly enough to exchange for a silver ingot.


    Arriving at the bank, Sun Erhu carried the basket filled with copper coins inside.


    A basket full of copper coins was quite heavy, and it required someone with considerable strength to handle it.


    As soon as they entered the bank, a clerk came over to greet them, "Honored guests, what can I do for you?"


    The two people who came in might be wearing tattered clothes, but the basket they were holding was hefty¡ªit might be filled with a basket of coins.


    So, it was necessary to provide proper service regardless.


    Sun Erhu put the bamboo basket down from his shoulders, pulled away the cloth covering it, and then said, "Young man, please exchange these for whole silver coins."


    The clerk hurriedly agreed, "Alrighty, do you want to deposit this silver? Your copper coins are neatly counted, and if you¡¯re not depositing, I will charge you two wen money, but if you are, there¡¯s no charge."


    If it were a basket of loose copper coins, they would typically charge ten wen money.


    They couldn¡¯t just count the money for others for free, could they?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over two wen money to the clerk, "Please hurry, we have other matters to attend to."


    "Rest assured, it will be counted shortly. Please take a seat, and I¡¯ll have someone bring it over in a moment."


    The clerk promptly carried the copper coins inside.


    Before long, the silver coins had been counted, and the clerk brought over a silver ingot.


    "Honor guest, that¡¯s exactly ten tales, which has been converted into ten tales of whole silver."


    After securing the silver, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to meet up with Tan Zhenghong, who had been eagerly waiting by the cart under a tree. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Passing by the pharmacy, Qiao Duo¡¯er also went in to purchase some herbal medicine and a set of silver needles, spending five hanged money in the process.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er finished her shopping, the group made their way to the dock, where the Li Clan and Tan Zhongzhong had also arrived.


    Learning from yesterday¡¯s lesson, they had followed Qiao Duo¡¯er when they saw her set out.


    However, because Mrs. Li was pregnant, she walked slowly and was soon left behind.


    But because Qiao Duo¡¯er had stopped at two additional places, they arrived around the same time.


    Mrs. Li was in high spirits today, as she had finally concocted her solution.


    But still, there were more customers at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stall because people preferred the cheaper vegetables and soy products and could even enjoy the taste of meat!


    Mrs. Li¡¯s face twisted a bit, as Qiao Duo¡¯er always had more ideas and earned more than she did.


    "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and shout!" Mrs. Li pushed Tan Zhongzhong. All he ever did was daydream!


    Tan Zhongzhong shouted energetically, "Intestines for sale, delicious and affordable, come and buy now!"


    Upon hearing that intestines were also for sale over here, finally, a few people came over to buy some.


    Two people bought some and left, but there were always those who were not reassured and took a sniff first.


    "These intestines haven¡¯t been cleaned properly, they stink, I don¡¯t want them, give me my money back!" complained the customer.


    Tan Zhongzhong hastily said, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, I¡¯ve cleaned these intestines very well, don¡¯t slander me."


    The customer retorted discontentedly, "You don¡¯t believe me? Smell it for yourself. I have no grudge against you; I just came to buy something. Why would I slander you?"


    Tan Zhongzhong couldn¡¯t help but lean in for a sniff, indeed, there was a smell of pig intestines!

 Chapter 129 - 130 This is Retribution_1

    Chapter 129: Chapter 130 This is Retribution_1The pig intestines had been sitting in the well for an entire day, and they already had a strong odor. But with Li Clan¡¯s inadequate cleaning, the smell was enough to make one¡¯s stomach churn.


    "Dear customer, I¡¯m really sorry. How about I replace the intestines with something else?" Tan Zhongzhong said, apologizing with a smile.


    If he couldn¡¯t appease this customer, he might as well not bother with his business anymore.


    Yet the customer insisted, "Just give me a refund. I¡¯ll go stand in line over there." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the crowd there, he had chosen to come here where there was no line, but who would have thought the difference in taste would be so great!


    Tan Zhongzhong had no choice but to give the customer a refund.


    "This reeks, we¡¯d better stop selling this stuff. Isn¡¯t it just ruining our own reputation?"


    Grumbling, Tan Zhongzhong realized he had to throw away the entire batch of pig intestines.


    Li Clan glared and retorted, "I told you to wash it, but you wouldn¡¯t. Now it can¡¯t be sold, and it¡¯s my fault?"


    "No, that¡¯s not what I meant!"


    Tan Zhongzhong hastily shook his head. Well, he thought, might as well count this batch of intestines as a loss.


    Turning to look at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stall, which was swarming with people, he felt even more distressed. He had to admit that stolen goods were indeed stolen.


    After a long wait, another customer finally came.


    "Boss, cut some of that sliced meat for me to try first. If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll buy some."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll cut some for you right now!"


    Tan Zhongzhong handed the meat to the woman, then waited for her to declare how many pounds she wanted to purchase.


    He had tasted it yesterday; the flavor of the meat was quite good. It was just bad luck that he hadn¡¯t made money the previous days.


    "What¡¯s wrong with this meat, what kind of taste is this!" the woman frowned deeply, disdain on her face as she threw the meat away, even spitting out the bit she had tasted.


    Li Clan, annoyed, said, "If you don¡¯t want to buy, then don¡¯t taste."


    "Are you even in business anymore? Your meat doesn¡¯t taste good, and you blame others for not buying. What kind of person are you? No wonder you don¡¯t have any business. You might as well close shop now!"


    As she scolded, the woman walked away.


    She had shopped many times before, but this was the first time she had encountered a seller who got aggressive over a dispute.


    And it¡¯s not like she was causing trouble on purpose; their marinated meat was simply bad!


    Tan Zhongzhong cut a piece and tasted it, frowning immediately, "Wife, this is bad, the marinated meat also has the flavor of intestines. It can¡¯t be that our marinade..."


    The intestines had been cooked in the marinade, so the marinade must be tainted with the same odor!


    Before Tan Zhongzhong could finish speaking, Li Clan asked urgently, "Are you sure it really smells?"


    "Yeah, didn¡¯t you taste the meat before taking it out of the pot?"


    With a pained expression, Tan Zhongzhong asked. If they had noticed this at home, maybe they could have figured out a way to salvage it.


    "I thought it was my hands that weren¡¯t clean enough, what do we do now?"


    Li Clan¡¯s face fell, weeping. If the marinade was ruined, how would they make marinated meat in the future?


    The key issue was that they hadn¡¯t made any money but had spent what they had for today¡¯s meat, totaling more than two hundred wen!


    If only they had known, they might as well have stayed home and watched; messing with this was not only a hassle, but it also cost them their seed money!


    Li Clan¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably, "It¡¯s all your fault, you¡¯re useless, can¡¯t do anything right. I must have been blind to marry a good-for-nothing like you..."


    Tan Zhongzhong felt aggrieved too and just plonked down on the roadside.


    The idea was Li Clan¡¯s, the intestines were washed by Li Clan, the marinated meat was made by Li Clan. So how did it all end up being his fault?


    He might be useless, but was that any reason for her to berate him in the middle of the street?


    Without Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s placation, Li Clan cursed even more vigorously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw all this and huffed. Aha, dare to steal from her? This was the price to pay, this was the swift retribution!

 Chapter 130 - 131 You Two are a Perfect Match_1

    Chapter 130: Chapter 131 You Two are a Perfect Match_1After packing up, Qiao Duo¡¯er even made a point to gloat for a bit.


    She always believed in returning the favor, an eye for an eye.


    "What are you all sitting around for? Are you not selling anymore? I didn¡¯t have enough to sell¡ªshould have known to borrow some from you. Maybe I could have made an extra thirty or fifty Wen."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the meat in the basin with pity for them.


    In ancient times, when productivity was low and resources were scarce, it was unforgivable the way these people wasted food.


    "You, shameless woman!" Li Clan glared furiously at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Shameless refers to someone of low status and poor conduct. Our status is quite similar, but my conduct is much better than yours, so who is the shameless one?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was not annoyed and kept a smile on her face.


    Li Clan gritted her teeth and said, "Who said you¡¯re the only one with a braised meat recipe?"


    "I never said I¡¯m the only one with a secret braised meat recipe. What are you getting worked up about?" Qiao Duo¡¯er responded innocently.


    At the right time, Sun Erhu chimed in, "Because she stole the marinade, feeling guilty, that¡¯s why."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in understanding, "So that¡¯s how it is!"


    "My smart wife, we¡¯ve sold everything, but look at them¡ªthey still have so much left. Let¡¯s head home and not get in the way of their business."


    Tan Zhenghong pretended to be the good guy, but his words were stabbing knives into Tan Zhongzhong and Li Clan¡¯s hearts.


    Dare to steal his wife¡¯s stuff, were they asking to be scolded?


    "Alright, counting money every night is such a nuisance, it¡¯s driving me crazy!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but complain, though it was a sweet burden.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a hint of distress, "My dear wife, you¡¯ve worked hard. Take a rest tonight, and I¡¯ll count the money."


    "Okay, then let¡¯s have you count it." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They played off each other so well that it made those two onlookers ache with anger, yet they couldn¡¯t get a word in.


    Only when Qiao Duo¡¯er and her group had walked a distance away did Li Clan come back to her senses, and she couldn¡¯t help but curse at their retreating figures: "You make up lies with your eyes open, you won¡¯t die a good death!"


    Even from so far away, Qiao Duo¡¯er heard her.


    She turned around and shouted back, "The ones who steal should be more careful¡ªdon¡¯t bump into ghosts when walking at night!"


    Having said that, Qiao Duo¡¯er continued on her way back stylishly.


    She just wanted to say that some people are doomed by their stupidity. She hadn¡¯t said anything yet, and they¡¯d already confessed everything.


    "Thinking about their angry faces makes me want to laugh. Serves them right for always scheming!" Sun Erhu said excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "What goes around comes around, that¡¯s their retribution."


    A few people chuckled softly, and after a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded, "Erhu, make sure you keep a close watch on your well from now on!"


    "I know, now before I leave the house, I always set rabbit traps in the yard. Anyone who dares to sneak in will never return!"


    Sun Erhu was confident in the traps he had set up. If someone was foolish enough to try stealing again, they¡¯d surely be caught red-handed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Sun Erhu a thumbs-up; it was a good idea.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly suggested, "The effect would be even better if you used wire instead of a string."


    "And you could apply some chili water or saltwater on top," Qiao Duo¡¯er eagerly added.


    When the wire cuts through skin, the chili water and saltwater will really come into play, making the person float in agony!


    Sun Erhu looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, then at Tan Zhenghong, and after holding back for a moment, finally blurted out, "You two are a perfect match!"


    When it came to pranking others, their smiles were identical.


    The three of them chatted and laughed, and soon they arrived home.

 Chapter 131 - 132 _1

    Chapter 131: Chapter 132 _1In the evening, the moment Tan Zhenghong had been anxiously waiting for finally arrived.


    His wife had already taken a shower, and following her usual routine, she would apply medicinal powder to her face before going to bed!


    Yes, everything was just right.


    However, after a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t apply the powder to her face, but instead brought over freshly sterilized silver needles, their slender forms gleaming coldly, which were somewhat unsettling to look at.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, "Take off your clothes and lie down."


    "Wife, let¡¯s just forget about it," Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said.


    In the future, couldn¡¯t he just behave himself? He promised he wouldn¡¯t tease his wife ever again!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I¡¯m going to give you acupuncture, what are you thinking about!"


    Tan Zhenghong knew his wife was not joking and immediately undid his shirt and lay down on the bed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed needles at several acupuncture points. Inserting the needles required not only accurate positioning but also proper depth, and she was very careful.


    Actually, she had only learned for three months while infiltrating the medical institute for a mission. Later, she found it quite interesting and learned some systematic acupuncture techniques. She never expected they would come in handy now.


    Once all the needles were in, Qiao Duo¡¯er waited for a quarter of an hour before removing them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "How does it feel now?"


    "My legs feel much lighter," Tan Zhenghong replied truthfully; his legs still felt warm.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, that was exactly the effect she wanted!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er soaked the silver needles in alcohol and then prepared to give herself acupuncture to remove freckles.


    Guan Yuan, Yinlingquan, Di Ji, Sanyinjiao, Qihai, and Danzhong are all acupuncture points for removing freckles.


    The order of inserting the needles was face first, then legs, and finally the Danzhong point.


    After finishing with her face, she had to lie flat while the remaining points could be marked with a cross using her fingernail for Tan Zhenghong to insert the needles.


    Having marked the final position, it was now up to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, but the silver needle did not come down for a long time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but remind him, "Don¡¯t shake your hand, and make sure you don¡¯t hit the wrong spot, that can be very painful."


    "Wife, I can¡¯t bear to prick you." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong was very nervous. It was his first time holding a silver needle, and he had to insert it into Qiao Duo¡¯er. How could he bring himself to do it?


    "Didn¡¯t I just prick you too? Hurry up and do it," Qiao Duo¡¯er urged.

 Chapter 132 - 133 _1

    Chapter 132: Chapter 133 _1Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "Even if you hit me, I¡¯d be happy, but... I can¡¯t hurt you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently rolled her eyes. Was a little acupuncture considered hurting someone?


    And... cough cough... does such a burly man need to be so squeamish?


    She was getting goosebumps all over!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, "Just aim for the center of the cross, even if you jab the wrong spot, I won¡¯t blame you."


    "Wife..." Tan Zhenghong was still very conflicted.


    "Are you still a man? Just do it quickly!" Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s temper flared up, if he dawdled any longer, the needles on her face would be for nothing!


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong grit his teeth, "Wife, if it hurts you, just yell and I¡¯ll pull out the needle."


    "I¡¯m not stupid, just hurry up and do it."


    Tan Zhenghong wondered silently if his wife couldn¡¯t wait any longer?


    Looking at the silver needle in his hand, Tan Zhenghong quickly banished the messy thoughts from his mind.


    He had to concentrate, or else it would be easy to make a mistake.


    Tan Zhenghong steadied his mind, the needle inching closer to Qiao Duo¡¯er, until at last it pierced the skin.


    "Does it hurt?" Tan Zhenghong asked nervously.


    "No, push it half an inch deeper," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded indifferently.


    Actually, seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face almost pressed against her, she couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. The spot was already determined, was it that terrifying?


    Perhaps he really was worried about hurting her?


    Thinking of this possibility, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curled into a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong held the silver needle between two fingers, rotating and applying force downward, the needle slowly entering the skin with his movements.


    "Wife, is this okay?" Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice trembled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Not bad technique, keep going." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, Tan Zhenghong reached the last needle, by now much more composed.


    Tan Zhenghong hastily complied, "Wife, get ready, I¡¯m going to start the procedure."

 Chapter 133 - 134: Blushed and sprayed..._1

    Chapter 133: Chapter 134: Blushed and sprayed..._1"My stuff is hard and yours is soft, and it¡¯s also white as snow," Tan Zhenghong said naively, his crude words somehow feeling out of place.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, "You¡¯re clearly a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Does it not tire you, pretending? You think you can fool me? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot?"


    Tan Zhenghong said with a wretched look, "Wife, I¡¯m not a wolf."


    "How are you not a wolf? You¡¯re a horny wolf! You keep looking; if you look again, I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out!"


    After inserting the last needle, he just kept staring at her chest. How dare he claim not to be a wolf?


    He was nothing short of a lust-filled wolf!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt frustrated, having thought that Tan Zhenghong was a simple and honest guy, only to find out that was just a fa?ade!


    "Wife, you just said that during acupuncture you need to keep a calm mind or else the effects could be detrimental, and there¡¯s even a risk of blood reversal, which is quite dangerous," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong kindly reminded her to not get angry, no matter what.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath and closed her eyes, ignoring Tan Zhenghong.


    Now her face was spotted with freckles mixed with acne scars, and yet Tan Zhenghong¡¯s libido seemed to be going strong. She supposed she should be happy, right?


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t stay in one spot but began to roam over her.


    Her chest soft, her waist slender, her legs straight, and her feet petite...


    No wonder he was smitten with his wife; she was beautiful everywhere!


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er felt enough time had passed, she had Tan Zhenghong remove the Silver Needles.


    She reckoned someone had had his fill of ogling. Damn it, it was just acupuncture, and he had to turn it into something so lewd. She was definitely drunk on disbelief!


    "Wife, you¡¯re bleeding," Tan Zhenghong said with alarm.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied indifferently, "It¡¯s normal to bleed a little during acupuncture. It won¡¯t be a problem; it¡¯ll be fine after I clean it up."


    "No, my hands are dirty; I¡¯ll take care of it," Tan Zhenghong insisted urgently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought he meant her legs and let him do his thing, but she didn¡¯t expect a head to lean towards her chest, followed by a warm and moist sensation...


    So, if hands are dirty, the solution is to use the mouth!


    Indeed, a man who¡¯s been pent up for too long will be full of unhealthy thoughts!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, who had been patient all night, slapped Tan Zhenghong on the head, "You¡¯ll be the death of yourself!"


    While scolding, she buttoned up her clothes. If this were her previous life, she would have killed him a hundred and eight times over!


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with pitiful eyes, "The fire rises again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arched an eyebrow, "Then lie down."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately complied. After being toyed with all night, he deserved a reward, right?


    But why did his wife take up the needle again? What did that mean?


    Was she really going to stab him with it?


    "If you don¡¯t want it to hurt, stay still and don¡¯t move," Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give Tan Zhenghong an opportunity to speak.


    Tan Zhenghong closed his mouth, leaving himself at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mercy.


    Before long, he started to feel hot all over, as if all sensation was converging on that one spot. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ooooh... why was it like this?


    His wife was supposed to be giving him acupuncture, but he felt as though he was in the throes of lovemaking!


    He was done for; if his wife didn¡¯t relent, he was truly beyond saving!


    After a short while, the sensation grew stronger. Tan Zhenghong tried to endure, but he couldn¡¯t hold it in.


    His mind slowly ceased to accommodate any other thought, the feeling was so intense that he had to firmly bite his lip, or else he would certainly make a sound.


    Finally, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mind went blank, as if he was floating on a cloud.


    His body trembled uncontrollably for a moment, and, uh... he shyly sprayed...

 Chapter 134: The 134-135th Chapter_1

    Chapter 134: The 134-135th Chapter_1Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a disdainful look, "You¡¯re clearly a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Aren¡¯t you tired of pretending? Did you think you could fool me? What, do you think I¡¯m an idiot?"


    Tan Zhenghong said with a sense of grievance, "Wife, I¡¯m not a wolf."


    "How can you not be a wolf?!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt depressed, thinking Tan Zhenghong was an honest guy, but turned out it was just a facade!


    "Wife, you just said that when doing acupuncture, you need a peaceful mindset, or the effects won¡¯t be good. You even mentioned there could be a dangerous reverse flow of blood," he reminded her kindly. So, getting angry was definitely off the table.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and ignored Tan Zhenghong.


    Now her face was covered with freckles, interspersed with acne scars. She should be happy, right?


    True to his wife, beautiful in every way!


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er figured enough time had passed, she had Tan Zhenghong remove the silver needles.


    "Wife, you¡¯re bleeding," Tan Zhenghong said anxiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied indifferently, "It¡¯s normal to bleed from acupuncture; it¡¯s fine, it will heal after I wipe it off."


    Only after Tan Zhenghong had tidied himself up did Qiao Duo¡¯er come out to pour away the water and then lie down on the bed.


    After all that fuss, it must have been around ten o¡¯clock. Qiao Duo¡¯er yawned and got ready for bed.


    Suddenly, she found the night unusually quiet. Could it be that Tan Zhenghong had already fallen asleep?


    "What¡¯s wrong with you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong and belatedly realized that he seemed unhappy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to her side, "Stop being sad, will you?"


    Tan Zhenghong remained silent. Sad? He was angry, so angry he could die!


    "Tan Zhenghong, why are you so petty? I didn¡¯t do anything to you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully.


    Just a few needle pricks; it¡¯s not like it affected his virginity. Why the sorrow?


    Besides, the only reason she poked him with needles was because he insisted on her helping him!


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth and said, "I¡¯m angry precisely because you did nothing to me."


    "Then what should I do to make you not angry?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said through gritted teeth, suddenly longing for the days when she lived alone.


    Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "You could apologize to me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied annoyedly, "Why don¡¯t you just go to heaven? I¡¯m done with you; I¡¯m going to sleep!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 135 - 136 Where Did You Go Wrong?_1

    Chapter 135: Chapter 136 Where Did You Go Wrong?_1No one acknowledged Tan Zhenghong and he was confused. Wasn¡¯t he the one who was angry? How come it seemed like his wife was the one upset now?


    Looking over at Qiao Duo¡¯er again, all he could see was the back of her head. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wife, I feel insulted by you. You¡¯re just discriminating against me, refusing to consummate our marriage, and even refusing to touch me there. You still don¡¯t like me, do you?" Tan Zhenghong said with a sense of grievance.


    "I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for today, yet you dismissed me with just a few Silver Needles."


    "Look at how many times I¡¯ve compromised, and I never really touched you each time."


    "Can¡¯t you just use your hand to help me this once? I really want to be closer to you."


    "Wife, talk to me, please."


    The situation had turned on its head, Tan Zhenghong, who had been angry and unwilling to speak, became chatty, while Qiao Duo¡¯er was giving off an air of aloofness.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, realizing his mistake¡ªhis wife was angry!


    At that moment, he could hardly care about his own grievance and quickly said, "Wife, please don¡¯t ignore me."


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er by the shoulders to face him, and there she was, cold as ice.


    "I know I was wrong, please forgive me, wife."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately raised the white flag. Seeing his wife angry made him anxious.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked indifferently, "Then tell me, what did you do wrong?"


    "I... I shouldn¡¯t have touched your chest without your consent. I shouldn¡¯t have made you help me... you know. Wife, I really know I was wrong."


    Tan Zhenghong admitted his mistakes¡ªhe was the kind of child who knew to correct them when he recognized them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Is that all?"


    Tan Zhenghong thought hard and finally nodded. He really couldn¡¯t think of anything else he did wrong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything, giving Tan Zhenghong plenty of time to think it over.


    After quite a while, Tan Zhenghong then said, "I realize now, I promise I won¡¯t lose my temper at you again, and I dare not ignore you. From now on, everything will be my fault, and whatever you say is right, wife."


    This guy really had no shame left, Qiao Duo¡¯er silently judged.


    However, what he said were indeed mistakes, just not the main reason she was angry.


    With a stern face and no response from Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong felt a headache coming on.


    He really couldn¡¯t figure out what else he could have done wrong!


    Tan Zhenghong drew Qiao Duo¡¯er into his embrace, coaxing, "Wife, if there¡¯s anything else I¡¯ve done wrong, just tell me, and I promise I¡¯ll change."


    "Figure it out yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er coldly threw back three words at him.


    Such glaring mistakes, and he still didn¡¯t realize where he went wrong¡ªit was unbearable!


    Tan Zhenghong rubbed his face against Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s neck, "I really can¡¯t think of anything."


    "If you can¡¯t figure it out, from tomorrow on, you¡¯re sleeping on the floor!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    "Wife, my leg still isn¡¯t healed. If I sleep on the floor, I¡¯ll catch a cold, and that¡¯ll lead to lingering issues," Tan Zhenghong pleaded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly, "I don¡¯t care. After all, I don¡¯t like you, what does it have to do with me?"


    Tan Zhenghong really felt hurt, but he quickly came to a realization.


    "Wife, I shouldn¡¯t have doubted that you don¡¯t like me. I started talking nonsense as soon as I got anxious."


    "You¡¯ve taken care of me ever since I broke my leg, not minding the dirt or the tiredness. If it weren¡¯t for you, my leg would have been done for. You must have some feelings for me because otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t do all this for me."


    Tan Zhenghong sincerely admitted his mistake, yet his heart felt sweet.


    His wife was annoyed with him because he said she didn¡¯t like him.


    Which meant, the opposite must be true¡ªshe must be fond of him, right?

 Chapter 136 - 137 Brain is full of you_1

    Chapter 136: Chapter 137 Brain is full of you_1Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him. "You do have a bit of conscience. It¡¯s so hot, go away, I want to sleep."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly picked up the fan. "If I fan you, you won¡¯t be hot anymore. Anyway, I¡¯m going to be leaning on you."


    "Can¡¯t you have some decency?" Qiao Duo¡¯er complained.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm tightened even more, leaving no chance for Qiao Duo¡¯er to escape.


    All he wanted now was to hold his wife and sleep!


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong suddenly said, "Wife, you¡¯ve liked me for a while now, haven¡¯t you? Actually, I¡¯ve liked you for a long time too. Your eyes are so beautiful, they¡¯re like they can speak."


    "You look so fierce on the outside, but you¡¯re actually the best, I know it¡¯s because no one cared about you before, that¡¯s why you were so cold."


    "Don¡¯t worry, from now on I will care about you, protect you, and won¡¯t let anyone bully you. With me around, you don¡¯t have to pretend to be tough."


    "It was me who fixed your leg. From now on, whether you hit me or scold me, I¡¯ll still follow you."


    With such a wonderful wife, he suddenly felt he was the luckiest man.


    "Will you die if you don¡¯t talk?" Qiao Duo¡¯er, having her thoughts exposed, was indignant and embarrassed.


    When did she start liking Tan Zhenghong? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That guy even had the nerve to say she had liked him for a long time, wasn¡¯t that blatant nonsense?


    Tan Zhenghong quickly said, "Wife, I¡¯ll just say one last thing, my mind is full of you."


    When she woke up again, Tan Zhenghong was staring at her intently.


    "Why are you watching me sleep?" Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her face away, feeling too embarrassed to be watched like that.


    It was only after Qiao Duo¡¯er opened the door that she realized the sky was ominously overcast, definitely a sign of impending heavy rain. Hmm... she even suspected Tan Zhenghong had bribed the weather gods.


    She and Chen Dazhuang had agreed not to deliver meat when the weather was bad, so she wouldn¡¯t set up her stall today. That meant she could only stay at home and sew clothes.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s trousers would be ready in half an hour.


    Meaning, very soon, that guy could change into his new trousers.

 Chapter 137 - 138: The First New Clothes_1

    Chapter 137: Chapter 138: The First New Clothes_1After breakfast, as the rain began to pitter-patter down, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out her needle and thread to sew clothes.


    She was still wearing those dirty trousers, no... she simply couldn¡¯t stand the smell in the house.


    Before long, Tan Zhenghong had put on the trousers hand-sewn by his wife.


    The trousers fit just right, not too big, not too small.


    "Wife, you are the best woman to me in this world," Tan Zhenghong said delightedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I just don¡¯t want to see you running around the streets bare-assed, embarrassing both of us, it¡¯s not because I¡¯m good to you!"


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t mind Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sharp tongue at all.


    Was it really so embarrassing for her to admit that she was good to her husband?


    But then again, he knew his wife was good to him, and that was enough.


    "Anyway, you¡¯re the first person to ever make me new clothes, Duo¡¯er, thank you!"


    Tan Zhenghong said excitedly, and if you looked closely, you could see that his eyes were slightly reddened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed and asked in disbelief, "You mean... you mean you¡¯ve never worn new clothes as you grew up?"


    For someone who had never lacked clothes or food, the idea of never having new clothes in a lifetime was sheer fantasy.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s first reaction was that Tan Zhenghong was teasing her.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded seriously, it was the truth.


    In the past, life at his distant uncle¡¯s place wasn¡¯t good; a single man raising two children wasn¡¯t easy, and since he wasn¡¯t his own flesh and blood, he just wore clothes picked up from other people¡¯s homes.


    After returning to the Tan Family, he had three older brothers and it was even less likely for him to get new clothes.


    "You are really pitiful," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, patting Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled faintly, "What¡¯s there to mind? It¡¯s almost the same for children from a landowner¡¯s family; we all wear hand-me-downs. Wearing new clothes is even happier than the New Year."


    It¡¯s just that someone his age who had never worn new clothes was unique to Big Willow Village.


    At least other people got new clothes when they got married.


    "Then you should be satisfied, look, your very first piece of clothing is even made of fine cloth," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she felt the trousers, which were much more comfortable than coarse cloth.


    Tan Zhenghong hugged his wife, "The most important thing is that you made the clothes."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, meaning to scold Tan Zhenghong a few words, but in the end, she swallowed her words.


    Given that he had never worn new clothes for so long, she would forgive him this once. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their life together was quite harmonious, except for the annoying rain.


    It seemed never-ending, right?


    It didn¡¯t stop until the next morning, but the sky was still not clear, and it looked like it might rain again soon.


    The bad weather, though, couldn¡¯t stop some people¡¯s stirring nerves.


    This time, it was a young girl who knocked on the door.


    She wore a brand-new, lotus root-colored fine cloth blouse and had her face powdered and eyebrows drawn, obviously having taken care to dress up before coming.


    Originally from the neighboring village, Qiao Duo had married into Big Willow Village and didn¡¯t know the people here.


    After crossing over, Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t made much contact with the villagers, sending Sun Erhu on errands instead, so she didn¡¯t recognize this girl.


    The girl looked fair and clean, and appeared to be quite fetching.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t like her, for no particular reason, perhaps just a clash of auras.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently criticized herself, wondering if now that she became uglier, she harbored an inexplicable animosity towards pretty girls with good figures?


    The world is so wonderful, yet she was so narrow-minded, not good, not good!


    As a girl on the path to becoming more beautiful, she needed to maintain a calm mindset, which would help nurture her own skin.

 Chapter 138 - 139: Do Not Like Her_1

    Chapter 138: Chapter 139: Do Not Like Her_1But that girl wasn¡¯t exactly likable; before Qiao Duo¡¯er could respond, she just walked in on her own.


    She acted as if she was entering her own house, not seeing herself as an outsider at all.


    What¡¯s more, it was as if she didn¡¯t even see Qiao Duo¡¯er and went straight to Tan Zhenghong.


    "Brother Hong, I just made some dumplings and brought a few over for you to try¡ªthey¡¯re really tasty!"


    The pretty young girl seated herself beside Tan Zhenghong¡¯s bed, her voice so syrupy it could almost drip water, and her eyes filled with endless tenderness as she looked at him.


    As she spoke, she also took out a bowl of dumplings from her food box.


    It looked like she intended to feed Tan Zhenghong herself.


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er realize a love rival had arrived; no wonder she found her so irritating.


    But coming to curry favor when Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg was almost healed¡ªwasn¡¯t that too late?


    Or... was she just here to stir up trouble?


    "I¡¯m not hungry, Biyu. You can take it back," Tan Zhenghong said indifferently.


    He wasn¡¯t interested in the dumplings, and even less so in the person.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er realized that this girl was named Biyu, definitely emitting a strong, bitchy vibe.


    And that "Brother Hong," it made her want to hit someone!


    Xiao Biyu said in a aggrieved tone, "Brother Hong, are you mad at me? I didn¡¯t mean to not visit you. You know how strict my mother is with me; it took me so much effort to come out this time."


    The first thing I did after getting out was to come and see you; I¡¯ve missed you so much! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It¡¯s just that, as a girl, she couldn¡¯t say something so brazen.


    "You¡¯re overthinking it," Tan Zhenghong said coldly.


    "Brother Hong knows you¡¯re upset. You don¡¯t know how worried I¡¯ve been, I¡¯ve cried so much I¡¯ve lost weight. Please don¡¯t be mad at me," she pleaded.


    Grinding his teeth, Tan Zhenghong said, "I am already married."


    While saying this, he glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, who stood to the side, smiling softly.


    She seemed very amiable, but Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart sank.


    He had never seen such an expression before, but one thing was certain¡ªit was bad news!


    This was the end; he had been utterly ruined by Xiao Biyu!


    His wife loved cleanliness so much that if Xiao Biyu touched him, he might as well be thrown out in a moment.


    Tan Zhenghong instinctively shifted further into the bed, determined not to let her touch him!


    "What¡¯s so good about that ugly freak? I forbid you to like her! She¡¯s not only ugly but also immodest, fooling around with Brother Erhu," Xiao Biyu disparagingly said.


    Her Brother Hong was the most handsome man in the village; only she was worthy of him, other women should keep their distance.


    Silly Sister wasn¡¯t even fit to carry her shoes; how dare she steal her man?


    Tan Zhenghong said with a stern face, "She¡¯s your sister-in-law, what nonsense are you spouting?"


    "Brother Hong, everything I said is true, who doesn¡¯t know about her and Brother Erhu?" Xiao Biyu snorted lightly.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why, despite being so ugly, Silly Sister was still defended by Tan Zhenghong.


    She was the prettiest girl in the village; there were so many suitors at her door they nearly wore the threshold down, yet why wouldn¡¯t Tan Zhenghong even give her a glance?


    "What do you know? If I say there¡¯s nothing, then there¡¯s nothing!"


    Tan Zhenghong defended his wife without hesitation; he would not let anyone speak ill of her.


    He had made things clear the day before he married Qiao Duo¡ªhe had told Biyu she should understand plain human speech, hadn¡¯t he?


    He said that he only saw her as a sister, that it was so in the past and would be even more so in the future, and that nothing else would ever happen!

 Chapter 139 - 140 A slap in the face_1

    Chapter 139: Chapter 140 A slap in the face_1Xiao Biyu pursed her lips and could only say, "Then let¡¯s pretend it never happened, but do you really want to spend your life with this woman? Don¡¯t you feel sick when you eat? Don¡¯t you have nightmares when you sleep?"


    "I love her," Tan Zhenghong said steadily.


    If his wife was willing to speak one more word to him, he secretly rejoiced, and if she was willing to lean a bit closer to him, he would be so happy he wouldn¡¯t know up from down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said falling in love with someone turns you into a fool, and he was truly so.


    But even as a fool, he was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fool alone.


    Indeed, if he couldn¡¯t see Qiao Duo¡¯er, he would have endless nightmares and lose his appetite entirely.


    If this wasn¡¯t love, what else could it be?


    Xiao Biyu seemed to have taken a tremendous blow, muttering, "No... It¡¯s impossible! She¡¯s ugly and foolish, just a cheap slave bought for One or Two Silver. How could you like her?"


    You¡¯re the cheap slave, your whole family are cheap slaves!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but curse her entire family.


    She couldn¡¯t get the man herself and didn¡¯t introspect, so why drag her into it?


    And this was her territory; this little bitch dared to be so presumptuous, not even considering whether she was qualified!


    "Don¡¯t worry, no one is cheaper than you. You¡¯re throwing yourself at men who don¡¯t even want you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said unhurriedly.


    When it comes to being cheap, she certainly couldn¡¯t beat Biyu here.


    Has this girl¡¯s brain not developed properly?


    An unmarried girl sitting by a man¡¯s bedside fawning over him only to be rejected still has the nerve to talk about others.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense! The person Brother Hong likes is me!"


    In terms of intelligence, she was much more clever than Qiao Duo, in terms of appearance, she was a thousand times prettier than Qiao Duo, and in terms of family background, her family was ten thousand times wealthier than Qiao Duo¡¯s!


    She was better than Qiao Duo in every aspect, so why on earth would Tan Zheng Hong like Qiao Duo?


    No matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn¡¯t come up with a single reason.


    Therefore, the reason must be that Tan Zheng Hong was angry that she hadn¡¯t visited him for so many days!


    In fact, she did want to visit, but initially Tan Zheng Hong preferred to marry Silly Sister rather than accept her proposal, so she felt angry and intentionally ignored Tan Zheng Hong.


    Later, her mother forbade her, watching her every day, no matter what she said, she wasn¡¯t allowed to go out.


    Qiao Duo glanced at Tan Zheng Hong, "You tell me, who do you like?"


    "Of course, it¡¯s you," Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s eyes were filled with eagerness to please.


    Ever since he had a wife, he never glanced at another woman!


    Xiao Biyu¡¯s eyes turned red, she had never been so humiliated in all her life!


    At this moment, she deeply regretted, why did she have a quarrel with Tan Zheng Hong?


    Otherwise, how could the Silly Sister have seized the opportunity?


    Since she was a child, she had been Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s little tail, and many people said they were a natural match, and she also firmly believed she was destined to be Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s wife.


    Tan Zheng Hong was handsome, and she was beautiful. It was clear they were the perfect couple, yet Silly Sister had butted in!


    Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow, "Do you have anything else to say?"


    "You... You whore, tempting my Brother Hong! You¡¯ve already hooked up with Sun Erhu, what right do you have to make Brother Hong like you! You idiot, your parents sold you off, why are you still alive? Just go and die, die far away..."


    "Slap!"


    A resounding slap twisted Xiao Biyu¡¯s head to the side. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied with the strength of her wrist, it was not in vain that she had taken great pains to condition her body.


    Even though she hadn¡¯t started training specifically yet, her strength was enough to hit a young girl.


    If you don¡¯t learn manners and show off, you¡¯re bound to suffer eventually!


    If this girl¡¯s parents won¡¯t teach their daughter how to behave properly, she¡¯ll just have to take on the job.

 Chapter 140 - 141: The Smell of Vinegar (Part 1)

    Chapter 140: Chapter 141: The Smell of Vinegar (Part 1)Xiao Biyu said in disbelief, "You... you hit me?"


    "Sorry, if I didn¡¯t hit you, you definitely wouldn¡¯t stop. I just want to tell you that you¡¯re a waste of air, a waste of land when dead; your dad and mom shouldn¡¯t have created someone like you."


    This woman was just too noisy, and she kept telling herself to die, but she was living just fine, why should she die?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was fierce, Xiao Biyu didn¡¯t dare to act rashly, but wasn¡¯t there another person in the room?


    Could her Brother Hong still like this woman after seeing her true colors?


    Dream on! Which man doesn¡¯t like a gentle woman?


    "Brother Hong, she hit me and cursed at me."


    Xiao Biyu looked pitifully at Tan Zhenghong, her frailty seemingly worthy of sympathy.


    But Tan Zhenghong never judged by appearances; he didn¡¯t like just any pretty face, he wanted only the one he was committed to.


    Tan Zhenghong asked, concerned, "Does it hurt?"


    This completely flabbergasted Xiao Biyu. Tan Zhenghong was very gentle, but what was the use? He was looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er when he spoke!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Not at all, what¡¯s a slap?"


    "Don¡¯t hit so hard next time, what if your hand hurts?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes were full of indulgence, and he silently thought, "That¡¯s what you get for insulting my wife. You¡¯re lucky she held back enough not to draw blood."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook off the goosebumps all over her body, but to infuriate that shortsighted thing, she decided to go along with Tan Zhenghong.


    "I won¡¯t let you touch my Brother Hong!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smirk, "Touching him, what about it? He¡¯s my man, am I not allowed to touch him? Watch closely, not only will I touch him, but I¡¯ll also kiss him."


    Saying that, she left a loud kiss on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cheek.


    "If one kiss isn¡¯t enough for you, I can go for a longer, more lingering one; do you want to see that?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, her clear eyes full of provocation.


    Some people humiliate themselves, and she couldn¡¯t stop them!


    "You whore! Just you wait! And you, don¡¯t forget what I told you in the grove!"


    With that, Xiao Biyu ran off in tears.


    She had never been denied anything she wanted growing up!


    The grove? There seemed to be some other story there.


    Since ancient times, the affairs that happened in the grove could fill an entire history book.


    Qiao Duo secretly fantasized, not wanting to think about it, but once she did, she felt her heart ache. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hmph, if that were true, she would definitely grant Tan Zhenghong a "yard of red silk" (a traditional Chinese symbol for cutting off relations).


    She was resolute in not accepting secondhand goods, not even if he just liked them; it wasn¡¯t okay!


    Don¡¯t ask her why, she had an almost obsessive persistence for male virginity; her man could only belong to her alone.


    Otherwise, how could he be worthy of her love spanning two lifetimes?


    After saying that, Xiao Biyu ran out while crying.


    Hmm... this woman had bound feet, too.


    With bound feet, one couldn¡¯t walk steadily, let alone work, so there were very few women with bound feet in Big Willow Village.


    So she was from a wealthy family, no wonder she was so arrogant.


    But she probably wasn¡¯t from a very rich family, at most she could be considered a well-off farmer.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er looking at the woman¡¯s bound feet, Tan Zhenghong explained, "She¡¯s the young lady of the Xiao Family; her dad and brother followed trade caravans and made some silver, they¡¯re one of the village¡¯s wealthy households."


    "Then should I clean myself up and become a son-in-law in their household?"


    Casually, the room filled with a thick scent of jealousy.

 Chapter 141 - 142 _1

    Chapter 141: Chapter 142 _1Tan Zhenghong quickly shook his head, "Wife, there¡¯s nothing between her and me, don¡¯t think too much."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong. "Then tell me, what were you doing with a woman in the grove?"


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare delay and immediately clarified the situation.


    Before the Xiao Family made it big, Biyu lived next to Sun Erhu, and since her brother wouldn¡¯t play with her, she followed Sun Erhu around.


    Later, he got to know Erhu better, and Biyu would tag along with him and Erhu, either to have them catch a bird or a bug for her, or to stand up for her when she was bullied.


    He always treated her as a little sister and would take her out to play whenever he had free time, and the three of them were pretty happy.


    But who knew, as Biyu grew up, she started having other intentions.


    However, as she became older, she didn¡¯t venture out easily, and after the Xiao Family grew wealthy and moved into a large mansion, they saw less of each other, so he didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Not until the night before his marriage to Qiao Duo¡¯er did Biyu drag him into the woods.


    At that time, Biyu, with red eyes, said, "Brother Hong, would you please propose to my family? I¡¯ve always liked you and wanted to marry you."


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong was taken aback.


    Could Biyu¡¯s parents possibly agree to marry her to him?


    That was just a pipe dream.


    The Xiao Family had lavished on their daughter, only to marry her off to a wealthy family in town as a young mistress. How could they fancy him, a hunter?


    Besides, he had only ever thought of Biyu as a sister, and never had such feelings for her.


    Biyu pleaded for a long time, but Tan Zhenghong still gave her three words in response: it was impossible!


    In the end, Biyu said viciously, "I will make you regret this for the rest of your life. I won¡¯t bother with you anymore, and I won¡¯t let you off easy!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What Biyu referred to just now was that last sentence.


    Today, she was rejected by Tan Zhenghong and even got hit by Qiao Duo¡¯er. How could she let them live a good life?


    After finishing his story, Tan Zhenghong quickly added, "That¡¯s all there is, wife. I truly don¡¯t like her."


    "You better know what¡¯s good for you! Otherwise, I¡¯d pack you up and send you to the Xiao Family right now!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said proudly.


    "Wife, my heart only belongs to you, and my body is yours alone, never to be touched by anyone else," Tan Zhenghong quickly assured her.


    In his heart, not even a fairy descending from heaven could compare to Qiao Duo¡¯er; he was utterly enamored with her in this lifetime.


    "Wife, are you not angry anymore?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Someone fancying you just means my taste isn¡¯t bad."


    So she allowed herself a moment of vanity, and with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s devotion, she felt like she could soar right away.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, seeing his wife happy made him joyful too.


    A while later, Tan Zhenghong said with concern, "Biyu definitely won¡¯t let things go easily. Wife, be careful when you¡¯re alone."


    Before Tan Zhenghong could finish, Qiao Duo¡¯er abruptly grabbed his ear.


    "Say that again!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said through gritted teeth.

 Chapter 142 - 143: Pulling Ears_1

    Chapter 142: Chapter 143: Pulling Ears_1"I¡¯m serious, Biyu is vengeful by nature, and this time you dumped her, so... Ah, wife, let go, it hurts!"


    Tan Zhenghong quickly protected his own ears, or they¡¯d be pulled off!


    And he wasn¡¯t wrong either; Biyu was the apple of the family¡¯s eye, pampered into a spoiled young lady, and quite ill-tempered to boot.


    "Hmm, good that you know it hurts. If I hear you calling any girl by her pet name again, I¡¯ll beat you so bad even your mom won¡¯t recognize you!"


    Still calling her Biyu, huh? Psh, as if you¡¯re that close with her!


    Tan Zhenghong hastily agreed, "I dare not do it again, just let me go first!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er applied a bit more force, and upon hearing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cries, she finally let go, feeling utterly satisfied.


    Tan Zhenghong rubbed his ear, feeling a burning sensation, oh how it ached.


    After this ordeal, he¡¯d never forget the rule that Qiao Duo¡¯er had set for him today.


    From now on, he absolutely wouldn¡¯t call another woman by her pet name!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er puffed out her chest and said, "I was a spy in my past life, just one Bi... What¡¯s her full name?"


    Damn it, embarrassing; she didn¡¯t even know the woman¡¯s full name!


    "Xiao Biyu," Tan Zhenghong quickly answered.


    Then Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, "Just one Xiao Biyu is nothing; even if there were a dozen, I¡¯d beat them up all the same, make them look for their teeth on the ground!"


    "Wife, what¡¯s a spy?" asked Tan Zhenghong timidly.


    Although he had no idea what a spy does, it sounded pretty cool.


    After pondering for a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally said, "They specialize in punishing evil, promoting good, and fighting injustice."


    As for the rest, she left unsaid; too gory for words.


    Besides, Tan Zhenghong, that old fuddy-duddy, wouldn¡¯t understand anyway.


    In this life, all she wanted was to be an ordinary person, guarding her little plot of land and living her simple life.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded; he believed her without hesitation. No wonder his wife had such a personality; otherwise, wouldn¡¯t she be bullied while roaming the martial world?


    Indeed, when his wife got angry, she really did have a bit of a hero¡¯s flair.


    He liked his wife¡¯s fierce spirit!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reveled in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s admiring gaze. It had been too long since she last stood out; making a bit of a splash every now and then wasn¡¯t so bad.


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er went back to sewing clothes.


    She had only one comfortable outfit and needed to make another one urgently.


    However, the Xiao Family was experiencing a completely different atmosphere at that moment.


    "Yu¡¯er, did you go to the Tan Family to see that boy again? How many times do I have to tell you to understand? You will be a lady in the future; why bother quarreling with a hunter..."


    Zheng Shi berated her disappointing daughter, but upon seeing Xiao Biyu crying, her voice came to an abrupt halt.


    "What¡¯s the matter? Quickly tell mother what happened!"


    At that moment, where could she still afford to be angry?


    Amidst sobs, Xiao Biyu said, "It¡¯s all because of Brother Hong¡¯s stinking wife; she hit me!"


    While speaking, she showed her cheek to her mother, surely reddened from the slap!


    Zheng Shi¡¯s face immediately darkened, "Hurry back to your room; I¡¯ll get some ointment for you. You really are too much, from now on, don¡¯t go near the Tan Family! A girl like you, do you still want to get married or not?"


    "Mother, am I still not your daughter?"


    Xiao Biyu pouted and asked, having been beaten, and yet her mother was still nagging uselessly!


    "If you weren¡¯t my daughter, I wouldn¡¯t bother with you!" Zheng Shi feigned anger as she spoke.


    Then Xiao Biyu nodded, "Mother, I don¡¯t want to be some mistress; I just want to marry Brother Hong, otherwise I¡¯d rather stay unmarried!"


    Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 143 - 144 Unwilling to Marry Anyone Else_1

    Chapter 143: Chapter 144 Unwilling to Marry Anyone Else_1Zheng Shi¡¯s face darkened instantly. Is that something a young lady should say?


    And to insist on marrying no one but Tan Zhenghong?


    If others heard this, who knows how they would gossip about her? Isn¡¯t she just asking to be laughed at?


    "Why won¡¯t you listen, child? What¡¯s so good about Tan Zhenghong? After the division of the family assets, he was left with only three acres of land. Marry him and you¡¯ll be left to the mercy of the northwest wind. Then you can wear rough clothes and forget about ever wanting fragrance paste for washing your face and hands!"


    As her mother, what am I doing if not considering what¡¯s best for Yu¡¯er? But why can¡¯t this girl understand?


    Her heart is glued to Tan Zhenghong all day long, but what¡¯s so good about that Tan Zhenghong?


    He¡¯s just a bit better looking, but can good looks be eaten like food?


    After marrying over, what can you do with just those three miserable acres? When the time comes that you can¡¯t eat your fill or dress warmly, will you be comfortable?


    And speaking of Tan Zhenghong, the last time he broke his leg, and what about next time? Maybe he won¡¯t even make it back alive, and there you¡¯ll be, left a widow to live an even harder life!


    That¡¯s why, no matter what I consider, I will not allow my daughter to marry Tan Zhenghong.


    Xiao Biyu pouted and walked into the room with an upset expression on her face.


    She had liked Tan Zhenghong for so long; if she couldn¡¯t marry him, she would never be happy in this lifetime! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zheng Shi kept muttering from behind: "That Tan Zhenghong is already married. If you go there now, you would be nothing but a concubine. Aren¡¯t you ashamed?"


    Xiao Biyu sat down on a stool with a thud: "I don¡¯t care about that. If I can¡¯t marry Brother Hong, I might as well die!"


    "Yu¡¯er, what nonsense are you talking about?" Zheng Shi¡¯s voice involuntarily rose.


    Stubbornness flared up in Xiao Biyu as she said on the spot, "If you don¡¯t let me marry, then just wait to collect my corpse!"


    "Even if you died, I would never agree!"


    Having said that, Zheng Shi, leaving behind the fragrance paste, went out.


    She was afraid Xiao Biyu would sneak off to the Tan Family again, so she specifically found a lock and locked the room door.


    Unless Xiao Biyu grew wings, she definitely would not be able to go out.


    Xiao Biyu¡¯s eyes reddened, and tears of grievance immediately began to fall. Her crying gradually grew louder until it became a loud wail.


    She had never felt so wronged in all her years of life; even her mother was sending her to death, so what was the point of living?


    She just liked Tan Zhenghong, was that a crime?


    Why didn¡¯t any of her family members support her?


    Xiao Lingchuan, who had just entered the door, asked, "Mother, why is little sister crying? Go and check on her quickly!"


    Grinding her teeth, Zheng Shi explained the situation to her eldest son, and when she finished, Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s face turned frighteningly dark.


    "Mother, you must speak properly to Yu¡¯er about this matter. We¡¯ve all been hoping for her to marry into town and live a comfortable life."


    Zheng Shi nodded, "I know, I won¡¯t let her make a fool of herself."


    After a while, the rain started falling again.


    The Xiao Family members were all at home, so it was a good opportunity for everyone to sit together and discuss the matter.


    They just couldn¡¯t understand it¡ªhow could a fine young lady become so fixated on a married man?


    "Good for nothing!" Zheng Shi couldn¡¯t help but curse.


    Xiao Dazhi glared at Zheng Shi: "Is that how a mother should act? Your daughter is already so upset, and instead of comforting her, you sit here making cold remarks!"


    "Haven¡¯t I tried to persuade her? Yu¡¯er won¡¯t listen, what can I do?"


    Who doesn¡¯t know Xiao Biyu¡¯s temperament? If she could be persuaded, would Zheng Shi be this anxious?


    After Zheng Shi said this, everyone fell silent. Once Xiao Biyu set her mind on something, it was hard to change it, and Xiao Dazhi¡¯s face was filled with misery.


    No one knows a daughter better than her father. How could Xiao Dazhi not be clear about what kind of person Xiao Biyu was?

 Chapter 144 - 145 She Wants to Go on a Hunger Strike_1

    Chapter 144: Chapter 145 She Wants to Go on a Hunger Strike_1During lunchtime, Xiao Biyu¡¯s second sister-in-law said anxiously, "Mother, Yu¡¯er refuses to come out to eat, she... she also said that if we don¡¯t give in to her, she will begin a hunger strike."


    Zheng Shi was also worried about her daughter, but reflecting on the girl¡¯s actions, she could only harden her heart and say, "Leave her be, if she starves to death, so be it!"


    "How about I bring her some food?" Xiao Dazhi said, with pity in his voice.


    "If you want to send it, then send it. From now on, since you indulge her whims, maybe she can even marry Tan Zhenghong."


    Being mocked in such a sarcastic tone by Zheng Shi, Xiao Dazhi also gave up the idea.


    If Xiao Biyu continued to be indulged, then her happiness for an entire lifetime would be ruined.


    Zheng Shi said restlessly, "What are you all staring at? Hurry up and eat!"


    No one dared to hesitate, as they all lowered their heads to eat.


    However, at that meal, aside from the two daughters-in-law, no one else from the Xiao Family had a good appetite.


    Xiao Biyu was the only daughter in the family, and had been the apple of her parents¡¯ and brothers¡¯ eyes since she was a child.


    The daughters-in-law who married into the family had it easier when they weren¡¯t involved with Xiao Biyu; their parents-in-law and husbands were quite easy-going and treated them well.


    However, Xiao Biyu, who loved to be jealous and petty, would always create chaos whenever she saw them leading a good life. It would be strange if they liked their young sister-in-law.


    But on the surface, they had to put on a worried facade because the Xiao Family liked her.


    The next day, the sun finally showed its face.


    Xiao Biyu was still carrying on with her hunger strike and had been restless throughout the night, causing the Xiao Family to have a bad night¡¯s sleep.


    "Eldest sister-in-law, leave your clothes here, I¡¯ll go wash them by the river," Zheng Shi called out to the eldest daughter-in-law.


    The eldest daughter-in-law, Qiu Clan, quickly said, "Mother, it just rained, and the riverbank is wet and slippery. Let me go instead, and you can rest at home."


    "You take good care of Yu¡¯er, no one is permitted to bring her food, and don¡¯t let her out either," Zheng Shi instructed, then picked up her basin and headed for the riverbank.


    Out of sight, out of mind for her now.


    Qiu Clan brushed off non-existent dust from her clothes and went to her room, luckily for her, she could enjoy some quiet time.


    Now, she actually hoped that Xiao Biyu would throw a few more tantrums.


    By the river, Zheng Shi pounded the clothes vigorously.¡¯


    Only in this way could she vent the anger bottled up inside her.


    Widow Xu was washing clothes next to Zheng Shi and, seeing her bad mood, commented, "Aunt of the Tan Family, who are you angry with?"


    What¡¯s it to you?" Zheng Shi said brusquely.


    The whole of Big Willow Village knew about the scandal between Widow Xu and the Tan Family¡¯s eldest.


    Zheng Shi detested women of dubious character, so naturally, she had no friendly face for Widow Xu.


    Unruffled, Widow Xu said in a good-natured way, "I saw Yu¡¯er go to the Tan Family yesterday. You¡¯re angry about that, aren¡¯t you?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You gossip, what nonsense are you talking? My Yu¡¯er is nothing like you!" Zheng Shi said through clenched teeth.


    Widow Xu, annoyed, said, "I was actually about to tell you something. Since this is your attitude, I won¡¯t bother."


    Unable to resist, Zheng Shi asked, "What is it?"


    "That Fourth Brother Tan makes a good amount of silver every day selling braised meat in town, he earns quite a bit more than your family¡¯s business." Widow Xu winked.


    But what concern was that to Zheng Shi?


    She was already annoyed with Tan Zhenghong, and Widow Xu was only prying.


    "Aunt of the Tan Family, think about it. If Tan Zhenghong makes one or two silver a day, that¡¯s more than three hundred a year. After a few years of selling, he¡¯ll have made a fortune. By that time, wouldn¡¯t he be a suitable match for your daughter?"

 Chapter 145 - 146 How Much Money Can You Make?_1

    Chapter 145: Chapter 146 How Much Money Can You Make?_1"Making a tael of silver a day? Who are you trying to fool?" Zheng Shi said dismissively.


    Her family¡¯s three men made a trip for goods once a month, and only earned around ten-plus taels silver. If they did that three to five times a year, their household would be quite wealthy.


    If Tan Zhenghong could make a tael a day, wouldn¡¯t he become a big landlord?


    Widow Xu rolled her eyes, "Would I lie to you? Just take pig offal, for instance, how much does it cost to buy? He sells it for eight wen money a pound, and selling four sets of pig intestines a day, how could the business not be profitable?"


    Zheng Shi, being a shrewd person, did the math in her head, and wasn¡¯t it just so?


    A set of cooked pig offal would weigh about seven or eight pounds, which meant just from pig offal alone, one could make a net profit of two hundred wen money!


    Plus, with other things added, maybe it really did amount to a tael of silver!


    "If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go ask Third Brother Tan. He set up a stall opposite to Fourth Boss for a few days, and he knows best how much he earned!"


    Seeing Zheng Shi¡¯s interest piqued, Widow Xu continued, "Tan Zhenghong hasn¡¯t made his fortune yet. If you marry your daughter off to him, wouldn¡¯t he remember your family¡¯s kindness?"


    "What¡¯s your angle in telling me this?" Zheng Shi was fortunate and wary as she eyed Widow Xu.


    Widow Xu was no good thing, she certainly wouldn¡¯t be telling her all this for no reason.


    Widow Xu said with a coquettish laugh, "What could I possibly have schemed? If Yu¡¯er marries into the Tan family, then later on I¡¯d be her sister-in-law, wouldn¡¯t it be right to help each other out?"


    "Big Brother Tan would marry you?"


    Zheng Shi glanced at Widow Xu. Who would want their son bringing home a widow?


    Probably Widow Xu was just desperate for a man.


    With a coquettish laugh, Widow Xu responded, "Why couldn¡¯t he marry me?"


    However, she was a widow, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to establish herself in the Tan family, so she had to prepare in advance.


    Zheng Shi didn¡¯t engage in the topic, and finding the conversation pointless, Widow Xu left first.


    After Widow Xu walked away, Zheng Shi¡¯s thoughts started to churn.


    Marinating meat could earn a tael of silver a day, so certainly the marinating recipe must be worth a lot of silver too. With that recipe in her daughter¡¯s hands in the future, would they ever have to worry about living well?


    Zheng Shi¡¯s cunning plans crackled in her mind, and when she snapped back to reality, she quickly picked up the clothes.


    If she kept washing like this, the clothes would tear apart.


    Zheng Shi gave the remaining clothes a few perfunctory scrubs and called it done.


    When it came to Xiao Biyu¡¯s lifelong happiness, she didn¡¯t dare make the decision alone; she had to go back and discuss it with the head of the household.


    Zheng Shi felt lucky, wasn¡¯t that Sun Erhu walking this way?


    "Erhu, what are you up to?"


    Zheng Shi asked with a smile, her attitude quite pleasant.


    Her smile caused Sun Erhu¡¯s heart to thump; usually Zheng Shi looked down on poor folks like them, yet today she was greeting him first. Could it be the sun rose from the west?


    Sun Erhu replied, "Auntie, I¡¯m off to buy some eggs."


    Zheng Shi glanced at the basket in Sun Erhu¡¯s hands, which had forty or fifty eggs in it.


    "You¡¯re selling the eggs in town, right? Doing business there, how much can you make in a day?" Zheng Shi asked the question she was most curious about.


    Sun Erhu said with a forced laugh, "It¡¯s just minor business; we barely make enough silver to cover expenses."


    "You should save up some silver too. You¡¯re not that young anymore; it¡¯s time to think about taking a wife," Zheng Shi said.


    Sun Erhu replied perfunctorily, "Auntie, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it in mind. I really should be going back now."


    After saying that, he hurried off. He knew all too well how important it was not to flaunt his wealth.


    Zheng Shi watched Sun Erhu run off with a glare. Hmmph, she wasn¡¯t asking to borrow money, so what was he running for?


    But now she believed Widow Xu¡¯s words even more. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 146 - 147 Got Kicked in the Head by a Donkey_1

    Chapter 146: Chapter 147 Got Kicked in the Head by a Donkey_1Zheng Shi went back and immediately spoke of this matter.


    Xiao Dazhi and the others, after discussing it together, all felt that this matter had some potential.


    Aside from Xiao Biyu¡¯s eldest sister-in-law, no one else had considered that the Tan Family¡¯s Tan Zhenghong might not be willing.


    When she voiced her thoughts, she was met with nothing but disdain from her in-laws.


    In the eyes of Xiao Biyu¡¯s parents and brother, their willingness to marry Xiao Biyu to Tan Zhenghong was a blessing he had cultivated, and the fact that they didn¡¯t make him kneel in gratitude was already generous!


    "Eldest daughter-in-law, go roll out some noodles and nest a couple of eggs; Yu¡¯er loves to eat that."


    Zheng Shi, still holding a grudge against her eldest daughter-in-law¡¯s words, sent her off to work.


    The eldest daughter-in-law grumbled inwardly but remained obedient on the surface. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once the noodles were cooked, Zheng Shi carried the bowl to Xiao Biyu¡¯s room, certain that her daughter must be starving.


    "Yu¡¯er, I cooked you noodles and nested two poached eggs for you."


    Lying facing the wall, Xiao Biyu responded, "I won¡¯t eat. If you don¡¯t agree with me, I¡¯d rather starve to death."


    She felt that the main reasons Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t give her a second glance were two-fold: one was that slut Qiao Duo¡¯er, and the other was the opposition of her parents.


    Therefore, she resented both her parents.


    "Agree with you? I just spoke with your father about it; he told me to go to the Tan Family and test the waters," Zheng Shi comforted her softly.


    At that, Xiao Biyu instantly sat up, asking excitedly, "Mother, you¡¯re not tricking me, are you?"


    "When have I ever tricked you? Eat up; don¡¯t starve yourself."


    "Mother, how can you still have the heart to make food? You should go to the Tan Family and ask them right away."


    Xiao Biyu was holding the bowl but couldn¡¯t help complaining to her mother a few times.


    Zheng Shi playfully scolded, "What are you rushing for, girl? Is Tan Zhenghong going to run away or something? You¡¯re a lady; don¡¯t be so eager to throw yourself at a man. Who would treasure a woman who offers herself up so readily?"


    Nibbling on the noodles, Xiao Biyu retorted, "I don¡¯t care!"


    Zheng Shi sighed deeply, wondering why it felt like she had raised her daughter for someone else¡¯s benefit.


    Well, never mind, as long as her daughter got what she wanted, she would be able to rest easy.


    Early the next day, Zheng Shi, prodded by Xiao Biyu, took some eggs to visit the Tan Family.


    Since Tan Zhenghong had broken his leg, bringing him some nutritious gifts was most appropriate.


    At the Tan Family home, Qiao Duo¡¯er had gone up the mountain and not yet returned, while members of the Hu¡¯s Clan and Sun Erhu were busy outside. Only Tan Zhenghong was in the house, weaving baskets.


    Seeing the pile of baskets at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s feet, Zheng Shi felt even more satisfied.


    With no other people around, it was a good time to speak.


    "Auntie, what brings you here today?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked up and greeted her, though without showing much warmth.


    After wiping her forehead, Zheng Shi spoke up, "I have something to discuss and wanted to hear your opinion."


    "Have a seat. I¡¯ll get Erhu to pour you a cup of tea," Tan Zhenghong offered.


    Zheng Shi hastily interjected, "No need to call him, I¡¯m not thirsty. Let¡¯s talk about the important matter first; once we¡¯re done, I can head back and get things ready."


    Get what ready?


    Of course, her daughter¡¯s dowry!


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, then quelled the thought of calling Sun Erhu over and waited for Zheng Shi to begin.


    "You and Yu¡¯er grew up together; you must be aware of Yu¡¯er¡¯s feelings for you. Our previous opposition was only because we hoped she could have a good life in the future. But that girl is so stubborn, she hasn¡¯t eaten in two days since returning from your place. Her father and I are thinking of fulfilling her wishes."


    Setting the eggs aside, Zheng Shi revealed her intentions.


    The more Tan Zhenghong listened, the more displeased his expression became. He seriously doubted whether Zheng Shi¡¯s mind had been kicked by a donkey.

 Chapter 147 - 148: Roll Away or Get Crushed!_1

    Chapter 147: Chapter 148: Roll Away or Get Crushed!_1He couldn¡¯t help but remind her, "Auntie, I¡¯m already married. Stop joking around with me like this."


    If it were a normal person, they would have taken the hint from Tan Zhenghong and backed down, but Zheng Shi was different; she was very confident in her own daughter.


    She simply refused to believe Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t like her daughter! S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know, but look at you, you¡¯re the handsomest man in Big Willow Village. It¡¯s such a waste for you to have married Silly Sister. If you divorce her, we¡¯ll pretend all this never happened, and in the future, you and Yu¡¯er can live a happy and harmonious life..."


    As Zheng Shi fantasized about the happy life to come, she spoke with animated expressions.


    Before she could finish, Tan Zhenghong interrupted her: "My wife is great, and I will never divorce her in this lifetime."


    "What¡¯s so great about your wife? She¡¯s so ugly she could scare away ghosts at the door!"


    Zheng Shi said discontentedly, and immediately a bamboo basket was placed over her head.


    That basket was the one Tan Zhenghong had just been weaving.


    Tan Zhenghong usually had a good temper, but now someone had insulted his wife, and even he couldn¡¯t hold his temper any longer.


    Actually, he wanted to smash her with it, but since Zheng Shi was quite short, instead...


    Zheng Shi quickly removed the basket from her head, pulling out several strands of her hair along with it, and her scalp was in pain.


    Damn it, Tan Zhenghong dared to throw a basket at her, his future mother-in-law!


    Did he no longer want to marry her daughter?


    She said angrily, "You... don¡¯t be ungrateful. You¡¯ve been married once and you¡¯re still so poor. You should consider yourself lucky to marry a daughter of the Xiao Family!"


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lips, clearly unimpressed.


    Marrying Qiao Duo¡¯er was the fortune of his eight lifetimes!


    This made Zheng Shi even angrier. Her daughter was perfect in every way; what right did Tan Zhenghong have to look down on her?


    "You¡¯re blind! Your wife is so unattractive, only you would treasure her like that. Look at Yu¡¯er. How could your wife ever compare to her?"


    Zheng Shi continued to harangue nonstop.


    "Get out of here!"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice rose higher, mixed with anger.


    Zheng Shi was taken aback by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shouting, but she felt humiliated and unwilling to leave like this.


    Before she knew it, she moved too slowly, and Tan Zhenghong threw another basket at her.


    Tan Zhenghong warned again, "Get out, or I¡¯ll smash you to death!"


    Zheng Shi didn¡¯t dare linger anymore, but she didn¡¯t forget to take the eggs with her.


    As she ran out, she looked as if evil spirits were chasing her.


    "Brother Hong, what did you do to Auntie Xiao?" Sun Erhu came in, concerned.


    Yet, there was a bit of a mischievous smile on his face, having just seen that the old woman¡¯s hair was disheveled. He wondered if Brother Hong had done something to her?


    Still angry, Tan Zhenghong said gruffly, "She must have been kicked in the head by a donkey to come here and make a scene."


    "I thought as much. You¡¯re already married to Sister-in-law, so you surely wouldn¡¯t be desperate enough to do something to Auntie," Sun Erhu teased. It was the first time he had seen Brother Hong lose his temper like this.


    Tan Zhenghong snorted disdainfully, "I¡¯d rather die."


    Erhu agreed, "That makes sense. Don¡¯t be angry anymore, Brother Hong. If she dares to come back, I¡¯ll beat her until she¡¯s on the ground looking for her teeth." Erhu said, then went out again to split bamboo strips.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at the semi-finished product on the ground and decided to start weaving again with new bamboo strips.


    Anything touched by that old hag was too dirty for him to handle!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s bad mood lasted until noon, but the instant he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er, he immediately forgot all his troubles.

 Chapter 148 - 149: Come Clean_1

    Chapter 148: Chapter 149: Come Clean_1"Wife, come over here, I¡¯ll fan you, and the water is ready."


    Tan Zhenghong smiled with his eyes nearly closed.


    His wife was truly the best, no matter how he looked at her, far superior to that Xiao Biyu by miles!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and had only taken a few steps when she ran into an obstacle. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Why did you throw your stuff here?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes darted around, trying to come up with an excuse.


    He struggled to find one, but lying to his wife felt like a huge pressure.


    The expression on his face, akin to one of constipation, made Qiao Duo¡¯er see right through him. Was this fool actually trying to deceive her?


    Quite bold, aren¡¯t you!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably, "You better explain yourself honestly."


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, having no choice but to tell her about Zheng Shi¡¯s visit that morning.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth, kicked the bamboo basket outside, and just as Sun Erhu was about to enter, he dodged quickly, narrowly avoiding being hit by the basket.


    Well, he¡¯s just an unlucky child.


    He decided to come back later to call them over to his elder sister¡¯s house for dinner.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but critique, "Look at the rotten peach blossom you¡¯ve attracted, I¡¯ve never seen anyone this shameless!"


    As she grumbled, she already started taking out the herbs, better to keep them safe from prying eyes. She still remembered the pickling incident from last time.


    Today, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s haul was quite bountiful; now that her body was no longer weak, she ventured deeper into the mountains.


    Deep in the mountains, she found a rather steep cliff, infrequently visited, which made it perfect for rock climbing training.


    Clearly overestimating her own strength, she had to use all her might, as if she were nursing, just to reach the mountaintop.


    But the hardship was not in vain, as there was a reward waiting for her at the top.


    The reward was a mountain ginseng, twice as large as the one she had found last time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no plans to sell the mountain ginseng; she intended to keep it to nourish her health.


    Her frail body was still deficient in both energy and blood. Today, halfway up the climb, her vision suddenly darkened, and if she hadn¡¯t grabbed a vine quickly, she might have ended up disabled.


    Considering the ginseng¡¯s sake, Qiao Duo¡¯er temporarily put the matter of Xiao Biyu behind her.


    She¡¯d deal with that inconsiderate family when they came looking for trouble, one by one!


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish her meal, the Xiao Family arrived at her doorstep.


    It was Xiao Dazhi and his three sons along with Zheng Shi, who, after entering, closed the Tan Family¡¯s gate.


    Usually, it¡¯s the man¡¯s family who visits the woman¡¯s home for a proposal. If the woman¡¯s side has an interest, it¡¯s common to let a matchmaker subtly test the waters first.


    But at her home... Not only did the daughter show up unannounced, but as her mother, she was also playing the fool. What would people think if they found out? They would laugh themselves to death!


    It¡¯s like acting as if their sixteen-year-old flower of a daughter couldn¡¯t find a suitor.


    "Tan Zhenghong, get out here, I¡¯m going to kill you!"


    Xiao Lingchuan stood in the yard and yelled.


    Xiao Biyu had been slapped by Qiao Duo, and Zheng Shi got hit by a basket from Tan Zhenghong. How could they just swallow this disgrace?


    Truthfully, they should have come to settle the accounts with them sooner, but they had been delayed by domestic affairs. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such matters at their home were due to Xiao Biyu fighting with her sister-in-law after finding out that Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t wish to marry her, insisting that her misfortune was due to her sister-in-law¡¯s ill-tongued curse.


    The elder daughter-in-law of the Xiao Family was also wronged beyond measure; all she did was speak some bitter truth, and for that, she got beaten up.


    If not for Xiao Lingchuan and her three children defending her, she might well have been beaten to death by Xiao Biyu.


    At this moment, she was lying in bed, secretly cursing Xiao Biyu.


    She hoped the brainless Xiao Biyu would marry Wang Ermazi from the village; old and ugly, there¡¯s no one more suitable for her than him.

 Chapter 149 - 150 Keep the Rhythm, Start Scolding!_1

    Chapter 149: Chapter 150 Keep the Rhythm, Start Scolding!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips, "I thought they wouldn¡¯t dare to come. Just wait, I¡¯ll go deal with them!"


    Having said that, she picked up the small stones that Da Ya and Er Ya played with and went out.


    These little stones could be used to play the "Catch the Dog" game, where each person had an equal number of stones to place on the ground. They decided the order by playing rock-paper-scissors. Then, when it was someone¡¯s turn, they would throw a stone into the air and try to catch more from the ground while catching the one they just threw. Whoever was successful kept the stones they caught.


    Da Ya was quick with her hands and had accumulated a pile of stones at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t play games; instead, these smoothly ground stones were handy as hidden weapons.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er stood at the doorway of the east wing room.


    She casually surveyed the people standing in the courtyard with a look as if she were eyeing cabbages.


    No, these people were worse than cabbages; at least cabbages could be eaten. They were, at best... four rotten cabbages.


    "Who said they wanted to beat up my husband?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked coolly.


    "It¡¯s not just Tan Zhenghong. I¡¯ll beat you up as well!"


    Xiao Lingchuan said irritably. How could someone from the Xiao Family let an ugly freak bully them?


    But despite that ugly freak being ugly, those eyes were lively and captivating. When meeting her gaze, those coarse words simply couldn¡¯t come out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scoffed, "Even hitting women, are you still a man?"


    "You go deal with Tan Zhenghong. I alone can handle this ugly bitch," Zheng Shi said with a stern face.


    Men hitting women wasn¡¯t quite honorable when heard by others; she had to consider her son¡¯s reputation.


    After all, Qiao Duo¡¯er was as skinny as a beanpole; one of her was more than enough to handle Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, "Old Granny, you¡¯re getting on in years. Just stay home and rest. Leave the fighting to the younger folks. What if you accidentally kick the bucket?"


    Wouldn¡¯t they blame her? And then expect her to pay silver? How would that be fair to her?


    She thought Xiao Lingchuan was quite good ¨C durable!


    "Who are you calling ¡¯Old Granny¡¯!"


    Zheng Shi glared. She had married early and given birth early; she was just over forty years old!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave her a look as if she were looking at an idiot, "Can¡¯t you see for yourself? Aren¡¯t you the oldest one here?"


    Zheng Shi wished she could burn holes through Qiao Duo¡¯er with her glare, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was unfazed.


    She continued, "Are you the Devout Granny? Sigh, you¡¯re doing wrong by doing this. No matter what, Xiao Biyu is still your daughter. Why do you treat your own child like this?"


    Devout Grannies were women who ran Qin Lou Chu Court, facilitating sexual transactions, also known as ¡¯procurers.¡¯


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like Zheng Shi came here looking to pimp someone out with her actions.


    "You... you..." Zheng Shi was so angry she couldn¡¯t speak coherently.


    Members of the Tan Family also came out to watch the fun. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Tan Family and the Xiao Family used to be neighbors, and both families¡¯ mistresses were not easy to get along with, often quarreling over trivial things, leading to a long-standing poor relationship between the two families.


    However, after the Xiao Family rose in prominence, Wang Clan had always been suppressed by Zheng Shi, and she had been seething with resentment for years.


    Now seeing Zheng Shi put in her place, Wang Clan was in high spirits.


    Hmm... it was the first time she felt Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fierceness was quite good.


    Keep up this pace and give her a good scolding!


    "My mother is still your elder, and this is how you speak to her? Today I¡¯ll have to educate you on behalf of your parents, you uncultured creature!"


    Xiao Lingchuan was impulsive. Seeing his mother and sister being insulted, he exploded immediately.

 Chapter 150 - 151 Such a Great Gift_1

    Chapter 150: Chapter 151 Such a Great Gift_1Qiao Duo¡¯er watched Xiao Lingchuan approach furiously, but she stood with casual grace, neither dodging nor evading. When Xiao Lingchuan was about five steps away from her, a small pebble flew out from between her fingers.


    Now, her wrist strength was not sufficient, and she could only be ten percent certain within a five-step distance.


    The pebble shot toward Xiao Lingchuan and struck him precisely on the acupoint, making his legs numb, and then, he lost all sensation in them.


    However, he had already stepped forward with one leg and couldn¡¯t withdraw it.


    So, all he could do was watch helplessly as he knelt down, in a posture of prostration on the ground.


    If he could, he really wanted to slap himself to death!


    "Chuan Bro, what are you doing? My wife can¡¯t afford such a grand gesture," said Tan Zhenghong hastily, although he clearly reveled in the misfortune.


    He wasn¡¯t particularly cultured, but he knew that a man¡¯s knees contained gold and couldn¡¯t just kneel on command.


    Xiao Lingchuan clenched his fists; kneeling made him lose stature, he wanted to stand, but his legs weren¡¯t obeying him.


    Today, he had thrown all his face to his grandmother¡¯s house!


    Xiao Lingshan helped his brother up and glared fiercely at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "I saw you throw a pebble at my brother, otherwise he would never kneel to an ugly bitch like you!"


    "Fourth Boss, how can such a big man be so weak?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was one of feigned innocence. Could a man as large as Xiao Lingchuan really be brought to his knees by a pebble?


    Would anyone believe such a thing if it were told?


    Although that was what happened, the villagers didn¡¯t understand the mystery of acupoints and naturally thought it was absurd.


    By then, Xiao Lingchuan had regained sensation, and he immediately lunged at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "You ugly bitch, I¡¯ll kill you!"


    The humiliation of kneeling before a woman was immense, and he had to retrieve his dignity at all costs!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er estimated that Xiao Lingchuan was about 1.8 meters tall and weighed around 200 jin; facing him head-on was not to her advantage given her current condition.


    She would have to use his force against him, and with her quick reflexes and various boxing techniques at her disposal, she would surely not be at a loss.


    Just as Xiao Lingchuan was about to touch Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t care less and immediately stood up.


    If Xiao Lingchuan dared to lay a finger on his wife today, he would skin and dismember the bastard!


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was faster. She stepped forward to the left and grabbed Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s arm, then used his momentum to execute a beautiful shoulder throw.


    The east wing room was originally occupied by the second branch of the family. Although it was a thatched cottage, the floor was paved with green bricks.


    When Xiao Lingchuan made contact with the ground, a muffled thud was heard, accompanied by a pig-like squeal.


    "Second Brother!"


    Xiao Lingshan hurried over to check, followed by the couple Xiao Dazhi and his wife.


    Zheng Shi nearly ground her teeth to dust, they had come to humble Qiao Duo¡¯er, but it seemed Xiao Lingchuan was the one who ended up being taken down by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Xiao Lingchuan, grimacing from pain, did not forget to say through gritted teeth, "I will beat her to death!"


    It was a wonder, considering how much pain he was in, that he still had the energy to shout threats. Wasn¡¯t he tired?


    Xiao Lingshan and Xiao Dazhi helped Xiao Lingchuan up, his face deathly pale, unable to stand steadily, his whole weight pressing on his elder brother, which was no small burden for Xiao Lingshan.


    Xiao Dazhi looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, his face dark with anger, and said, "You¡¯ve gone too far!"


    Accustomed to running goods with trade caravans, he seemed quite serious when angry. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he was facing Qiao Duo¡¯er, which did not intimidate her in the slightest.

 Chapter 151 - 152: Because You’re Asking for a Slap_1

    Chapter 151: Chapter 152: Because You¡¯re Asking for a Slap_1Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her hands as if to dust them off, and incidentally patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, asking him to obediently sit in his wheelchair.


    After doing so, she finally spoke, "Am I being unreasonable, or is it you? You even came to snatch my husband, and I shouldn¡¯t resist? Should I just obediently hand over Tan Zhenghong, so he can marry your daughter?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly, yet there was an undeniable force in her tone.


    She just couldn¡¯t understand how the Xiao Family could be so desperate for men that they would stoop to stealing another¡¯s husband.


    "Who is trying to snatch your husband? We came here today to seek justice for my mother. She meant well, but Tan Zhenghong injured her," Xiao Lingshan quickly retorted. The courtyard gate was closed, but people outside could still hear the noise.


    If someone outside overheard this, how could Xiao Biyu ever get married?


    Zheng Shi immediately caught on and joined in, "Exactly, I came here with good intentions to visit him, but to my surprise, he attacked me with a bamboo basket. Does he think the Xiao Family has no one to defend it?"


    In the village, everyone always treated her with courtesy.


    Yet Tan Zhenghong dared to throw a basket at her!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t say a word, simply watching the Xiao Family with a faint smile.


    She had seen shameless before, but this level of shamelessness was truly a first for her.


    "What are you staring at me for? Ask him, did he or did he not hit me!" Zheng Shi¡¯s confidence wavered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, "So what if he hit you? Isn¡¯t it because you deserved it?"


    Her acknowledgment was straightforward, catching the Xiao Family off guard.


    Zheng Shi, taken aback, then said, "You from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House shouldn¡¯t be fooled by Tan Zhenghong. He said he wanted to divorce you to marry my Yu¡¯er, but when I refused, he threw a bamboo basket at me."


    As long as Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong weren¡¯t united, there was room to maneuver.


    "Don¡¯t daydream, how could my Fourth Boss have such poor taste?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Besides being pretty, what other qualities did that Xiao Biyu have?


    Such a woman, if married into the family, would be nothing but a disaster!


    Tan Zhenghong nodded eagerly, "In my eyes, she isn¡¯t even worth one of your fingers. I would never marry her."


    With the Xiao Family acting this way, he saw no need to keep up appearances anymore.


    "Did you hear that? My Fourth Boss looks down on her, so if you want to pimp someone out, you should find someone else. My Fourth Boss is discerning, but there are many others in the village who would find her desirable," she said.


    Zheng Shi, fuming with anger, retorted, "I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart! You wretched woman!"


    How had her precious daughter been reduced to such terms in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth?


    Zheng Shi¡¯s nails were sharp, and a scratch from her would definitely leave a scar.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that her face was already tragic enough; if it were to be marred with claw marks, she might as well not live.


    So when Zheng Shi was still some distance away, Qiao Duo¡¯er kicked her away, causing Zheng Shi to lose her balance and fall on her bottom. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ow! It hurts so much! I¡¯m going to die, someone from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House is trying to kill me!"


    Zheng Shi took advantage of the situation to lie on the ground. Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er had struck her, this conflict was far from over.


    Xiao Dazhi immediately said, "You¡¯ve injured my wife; we are taking you to court!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, should she let herself be taken to court and conveniently vacate her position for Xiao Biyu?


    Hmph, nice thinking!


    The very next second, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already charged towards the courtyard door, quickly opened it, and then yelled to the people outside, "Everyone come and see, the Xiao Family is bullying others with their power, forcing the Fourth Boss to divorce and remarry!"


    If the Xiao Family wasn¡¯t afraid of losing face, then she might as well lend them a hand, right?

 Chapter 152 - 153: Dare to Hit Someone?_1

    Chapter 152: Chapter 153: Dare to Hit Someone?_1Xiao Lingshan¡¯s face darkened, and he immediately gave chase, his greatest worry being the damage to his sister¡¯s reputation.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was actually yelling at the door; wasn¡¯t she deliberately embarrassing the Xiao Family?


    Just as Xiao Lingshan was about to grab Qiao Duo¡¯er by the hair and drag her into the yard, Sun Erhu¡¯s fist had already greeted him.


    "Dare to touch my sister-in-law, asking for a beating!"


    Sun Erhu¡¯s fist aimed at Xiao Lingshan¡¯s face, and Xiao Lingshan quickly fell into a disadvantage.


    Seeing him at a disadvantage, Xiao Lingchuan also joined the fray.


    Sun Erhu started to struggle, barely managing to cope with the two brothers.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Dazhi took the opportunity to go after Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was that before he had even touched Qiao Duo¡¯er, he had already received two punches to the face, and then someone hit him with a stick from behind.


    Xiao Dazhi felt that he had never been so frustrated in his life; he came to hit others, not to be hit!


    The one hitting was Tan Zhenghong, whose leg hadn¡¯t fully healed and walked with a strange gait, but this didn¡¯t deter him from his determination to protect his wife.


    "Duo¡¯er, how are you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, protected behind Tan Zhenghong, felt a twinge in her nose, seemingly moved.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "I¡¯m fine, you step aside, he¡¯s no match for me."


    Tan Zhenghong firmly shook his head; as a man, he must stand in front of his wife.


    By this time, there were already quite a few people gathered at the Tan Family¡¯s Door.


    "How did they start fighting?"


    The Wang Clan immediately said, "You all don¡¯t know, the Xiao Family went too far, forcing our Fourth Boss to divorce his wife and marry their daughter."


    Compared with Zheng Shi, Qiao Duo¡¯er disliked Zheng Shi even more.


    Her disdain for Zheng Shi had reached the point where even if the Xiao Family was wealthy, she wouldn¡¯t want her son to marry her daughter.


    "That can¡¯t be possible, can it? The Xiao Family¡¯s daughter is so precious, why would they willingly marry her into your family?"


    "I heard that Liu Mufeng from the neighboring village came to propose and they didn¡¯t agree to it."


    "Haven¡¯t you heard what the Xiao Family said? This matter has to wait for Liu Mufeng to pass the Scholar exam before there¡¯s room for negotiation."


    "Am I lying to you? A couple of days ago, Xiao Biyu came over, but left in tears..." the Wang Clan explained with all her might, afraid that people wouldn¡¯t believe her.


    Her underlying message was look how shameless the Xiao Family¡¯s daughter is, even coming to throw herself at my son!


    The deeper implication was Zheng Shi, you can make it up to me!


    With the Wang Clan¡¯s words, everyone became even more curious, craning their necks to look inside, wondering if the Xiao Family was really that shameless.


    All those speculative comments fell into the ears of the Xiao Family, everyone grinding their teeth in anger; if this went on, Biyu¡¯s reputation would be completely ruined!


    Xiao Dazhi said in a deep voice, "Everybody stop!"


    The Xiao brothers stopped their actions with faces full of dissatisfaction. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Folks, don¡¯t listen to her nonsense," Xiao Dazhi glared at the Wang Clan.


    Qiao Duo let out a light snort: "Then let¡¯s clarify and see what the facts really are."


    Xiao Dazhi dared not speak anymore, for if he messed up, it would be his daughter whose reputation was ruined.


    Zheng Shi whimpered, "Are you all looking to die? I¡¯m injured and you don¡¯t even know to help me up, hurry up and fetch a doctor for me, otherwise I will be crippled, it hurts so much, I¡¯m dying!"


    "Are you unable to move?" Qiao Duo looked at Zheng Shi.


    "I can¡¯t move, and it hurts, I¡¯m dying!"


    Zheng Shi lied with her eyes closed, enduring pain; she had been lying under the sun all this while, her face now as red as if it was indeed the case.


    However, Qiao Duo knew very well, if it were really a broken bone, could Zheng Shi still make such a fuss?

 Chapter 153 - 154: I’ll Help You Set the Bone!_1

    Chapter 153: Chapter 154: I¡¯ll Help You Set the Bone!_1Xiao Dazhi was just about to help Zheng Shi when he heard Qiao Duo¡¯er say, "Don¡¯t move her carelessly, or she might end up paralyzed, and she might even die."


    "Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. Hurry up and carry me back with Shan¡¯er. I¡¯m in so much pain!" Zheng Shi wiped her sweat and her wails grew louder.


    But inwardly, she was cursing Qiao Duo¡¯er, thinking to herself, You¡¯re the one who¡¯s going to die!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er calmly said, "I¡¯m not scaring you. If you¡¯re not afraid, go ahead and carry her away."


    "My leg was set by my wife. We should listen to her." Tan Zhenghong also advised, for he had broken a bone before and could see right through Zheng Shi¡¯s act.


    You had your fun just now, but now that things are looking bad, you want to leave? It¡¯s not that easy.


    You should know, my wife is not someone who is easy to talk to.


    "Yeah, we should let the doctor take a look first. Don¡¯t cause a loss of life."


    "It looks like Aunt Xiao is in terrible pain. We definitely shouldn¡¯t move her carelessly. I heard someone in my mother¡¯s family fell, and because they moved her a little, she died."


    "What do you know? Look at her acting. She¡¯s probably faking it," someone said quietly.


    "The way her head is covered in sweat, it looks like she got heat stroke."


    Amidst the cacophony of voices, Xiao Dazhi couldn¡¯t make up his mind for a moment.


    Right now, neither moving her nor leaving her be seemed right.


    "Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I know what to do. Wait here while I go get some things," Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a look to Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu and immediately pulled the round Xiao Fu towards the Main Room.


    Xiao Fu was initially uncooperative, but when Qiao Duo¡¯er mentioned there was meat to eat, he obediently followed.


    "Xiao Fu, I¡¯ll trade you a pound of meat for ten small firecrackers."


    When strung into a long chain, these small firecrackers could become firecrackers sold to children.


    Xiao Fu¡¯s eyes rolled, "Give me two pounds of meat."


    "One and a half pounds," Qiao Duo¡¯er cursed silently at his greediness, but she was in urgent need, so she couldn¡¯t haggle over it.


    Xiao Fu nodded, "Deal!"


    Xiao Fu quickly brought over the firecrackers, and Qiao Duo¡¯er bundled them up, hiding them inside her sleeve, then she had Xiao Fu light a stick of incense for her.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er came out, a fight was about to break out.


    "If my mother¡¯s illness worsens because of the delay, can you afford to compensate? You heartless bunch, are you deliberately trying to kill my mother?" Xiao Lingchuan shouted.


    Tan Zhenghong remained calm and said, "We¡¯ve sent for Uncle Wu, and we will cover the medical expenses."


    "My Xiao Family isn¡¯t short of that paltry sum. If something happens to my mother, I¡¯ll kill you!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but speak up, "The reason you can¡¯t stand up is that the bone in your back is broken. I need to set it back in place. Don¡¯t move; it¡¯ll be fine in a moment."


    "How could you possibly set bones? If you kill me, who am I going to find?"


    Zheng Shi glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er; her bone wasn¡¯t broken at all, so what bone was Qiao Duo¡¯er trying to set?


    "Don¡¯t worry, if you don¡¯t recover, I¡¯ll give you my life."


    After saying that, Qiao Duo¡¯er stuffed a cleaning cloth into Zheng Shi¡¯s mouth.


    Although it was a rag, Hu¡¯s Clan had washed it very clean. Using it to gag Zheng Shi, she still felt it was a waste.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "Bite the cloth; it¡¯s going to hurt a bit."


    Her smile was harmless, but it made Zheng Shi feel a chill down her spine. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squatted down with her back to the crowd and then said to Sun Erhu, "You come and hold her hand down for me; don¡¯t let her move around."


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er take this very seriously, Sun Erhu didn¡¯t doubt her at all and immediately complied.

 Chapter 154 - 155 Exposed_1

    Chapter 154: Chapter 155 Exposed_1Qiao Duo¡¯er stood with a stern face and adjusted Sun Erhu¡¯s position so he could block Zheng Shi¡¯s line of sight.


    "Could everyone please take a few steps back? Otherwise, it might interfere with my work," Qiao Duo¡¯er requested the onlookers to move back.


    As it was a serious matter, everyone complied.


    Still, many people doubted Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ability. How could a woman know how to set bones? Don¡¯t let it result in a loss of life.


    "Fourth Boss, it¡¯s better to wait for the doctor for your wife," someone suggested.


    "Yes, if something goes wrong, it won¡¯t be easy to explain," another agreed.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled slightly, "You all see I¡¯m standing up now; it¡¯s all thanks to my wife¡¯s efforts. Let¡¯s give her a chance to try; nothing will go wrong."


    Everyone looked at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s legs, which indeed were not disabled; there was hardly any difference from before.


    With Tan Zhenghong serving as a living testimony, everyone felt somewhat relieved.


    "Uncle Xiao, don¡¯t worry. My house is right here ¡ª I can¡¯t run away. If there¡¯s a problem, you can come to find me. But if you disturb my wife now and something happens, it will be hard to clarify," Tan Zhenghong said with concern, seemingly out of worry for Zheng Shi.


    The Xiao Family father and son clenched their teeth; they trusted in Zheng Shi¡¯s acting skills to ensure Qiao Duo¡¯er would not cure her.


    Considering this, they opted to let Qiao Duo¡¯er proceed with her actions. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since the Xiao family father and son remained silent, no one else felt it proper to say anything, and all eyes turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was pressing down on the left side of Zheng Shi¡¯s body, then the right, casually asking her if it hurt, and Zheng Shi nodded in response uniformly.


    "Look at the Fourth Boss¡¯s house, she seems to know what she¡¯s doing."


    "Didn¡¯t Doctor Wu say last time that it was she who fixed Fourth Boss¡¯s leg? Didn¡¯t she say just now that if she doesn¡¯t cure it, she¡¯ll pay with her life?" someone recalled.


    "Hopefully so, although Aunt Xiao isn¡¯t likable, she¡¯s still a human life. We really hope nothing goes wrong."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly finished assessing and declared, "I¡¯m about to begin."


    Sun Erhu¡¯s breathing became cautious, afraid to disrupt his sister-in-law. Setting bones was no trivial matter.


    However, when he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er take out a handful of firecrackers, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his shoulders twice, luckily holding back his laughter after receiving a stern glance from Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    What if he laughed and gave it away?


    Zheng Shi, with her vision blocked by Sun Erhu¡¯s body, was unaware of what Qiao Duo¡¯er was doing beside her, but she had a bad feeling.


    After preparing, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu both stepped to the side.


    Their positioning was very particular, standing right in front of the small firecrackers.


    "Bang bang!"


    The sound of the exploding firecrackers terrified Zheng Shi, who immediately bounced up from the ground and ran away quickly.


    Zheng Shi¡¯s movements were nimble, showing not the slightest sign of a broken bone.


    By now if anyone still couldn¡¯t understand, they really were fools.


    "Oh my, I¡¯m dying of laughter, look at the Xiao Family man, his face is green!" someone laughed.


    "No kidding, look closely, the faces of all Xiao Family members are green. They really had it coming!" another added gleefully.


    "The Fourth Boss¡¯s house is really something, coming up with an idea like this!"


    Seeing Zheng Shi¡¯s flustered appearance, many people couldn¡¯t help but laugh unkindly, thinking she got what she deserved for trying to scam people.


    Qiao Duo and Tan Zhenghong exchanged glances, their eyes curving into smiles.


    "Aunt Xiao, how¡¯s your back doing?" Sun Erhu asked, unabashedly provoking her.


    Zheng Shi was nearly grinding her teeth to pieces, yet she couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    The Xiao Family members couldn¡¯t save face and hastily retreated.

 Chapter 155 - 156 _1

    Chapter 155: Chapter 156 _1The Xiao Family group left, and the onlookers dispersed as well.


    However, the incident just now gave them enough fodder for gossip for some time.


    In all their years, they had never seen someone dealt with in quite that manner.


    Quite a few young wives also got some ideas¡ªif their mothers-in-law pretended to be ill to manipulate them in the future, they wouldn¡¯t have to surrender without a fight.


    With the yard clear of bystanders, Sun Erhu helped Tan Zhenghong to his wheelchair, urging him to sit down quickly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face started to burn as she watched Tan Zhenghong¡¯s retreating figure.


    Once he stood up, the man¡¯s presence was even more striking. The only adjectives she could think of were broad-shouldered and tall, with an extraordinary aura about him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a couple of deep breaths and followed into the house. She needed a drink of water to quench her dry mouth and parched tongue.


    At this moment, Widow X¨² was standing at the door peering out, thinking that if the Xiao¡¯s scheme succeeded, she could count herself as a matchmaker and it wouldn¡¯t be too excessive to ask for some happy money.


    She had great confidence in Xiao Biyu. What man wouldn¡¯t like that gorgeous girl?


    "Why leave the courtyard door open? Aren¡¯t you afraid of people finding out I¡¯m here?" Tan Zhengyuan said in a hushed voice.


    Widow X¨²¡¯s lips curled in disdain.


    But since she hadn¡¯t achieved her aim yet, she put on a pleasant face and said, "I was just checking whether the Xiao Family had left. If the match between Xiao Biyu and Fourth Brother Tan works out, we¡¯ll be in luck too."


    At the mention of silver, Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    "How much do you think the Xiao Family will give us for our trouble?" Tan Zhengyuan asked, eyes gleaming.


    Widow X¨² thought for a moment before responding, "They should at least give us three to five taels, otherwise I¡¯ll spill the beans."


    Tan Zhengyuan couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs up, feeling even more pleased with himself.


    Widow X¨²¡¯s mind was buzzing with calculations, but she quickly caught sight of the Xiao Family members.


    Seeing their dejected expressions, she immediately closed the courtyard door.


    "A bunch of losers, can¡¯t even handle such a simple matter!" Widow X¨² said with contempt.


    Tan Zhengyuan tried to offer some comfort, "The Xiao Family won¡¯t let it go so easily. Maybe they¡¯ll succeed next time."


    "True. It¡¯s so hot, shall we go back inside and take a nap?"


    Tan Zhengyuan shook his head quickly, "I¡¯ll walk around outside. Later at noon when no one¡¯s around, I¡¯ll go up the mountain to collect some firewood to bring back."


    "Look at you, so cowardly. You¡¯ve been living here for over a month; who doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re here?" Widow X¨² rolled her eyes.


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan like this annoyed her. Was she really that shameful?


    Tan Zhengyuan gave a dry laugh, "Aren¡¯t I just afraid of dying?"


    Widow X¨² was even more disdainful. The X¨² household was solitary. Apart from her, everyone else had passed away; no one cared what she did. As for the Tan Family, the elders would rather have Tan Zhengyuan produce more sons. Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s wife was timid.


    So nobody would report them.


    As long as nobody made a fuss, everyone would turn a blind eye to their affair, at most gossiping behind their backs.


    Widow X¨² had a laid-back attitude¡ªlet those people talk. As long as it didn¡¯t bother her, she just wanted to be happy.


    But Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t have the same courage. He was not only afraid of dying but also afraid of being slandered. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 156 - 157 _1

    Chapter 156: Chapter 157 _1Xu Clan twisted her slender waist, "I¡¯m going to sleep for a while, you wash the bowls. If there¡¯s nothing else, go and pull out the weeds in the vegetable garden, and plant some other vegetables."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll come back and do it after I pick up some firewood."


    Tan Zhengyuan immediately agreed.


    Widow Xu cursed silently, calling him useless, but outwardly she remained composed as she returned to her room.


    Tan Zhengyuan washed the bowls, then leaned against the door to listen for a while. With no sound from outside, he sneaked out.


    Ah, how had he fallen to the point where he was ashamed to show his face?


    After walking a few steps, he suddenly remembered Hu¡¯s Clan and the two children; it seemed like a long time since he had been back.


    He had taken all the silver coins from home; he had no idea how the three of them were managing.


    Tan Zhengyuan hesitated for a moment, but still turned back.


    No matter what, that girl was his own flesh and blood.


    Just as he entered the courtyard, Tan Zhengyuan was lured by the aroma of meat; he had already forgotten why he had come back in the first place.


    He lifted the lid of the pot, used chopsticks to fish out a piece of meat, placed it on a plate, and began eating next to the stove.


    After just one bite, his eyes, which were usually dull, suddenly lit up; the meat was delicious!


    The meat was stewed until tender, the flavor of the spices permeated the flesh, and each bite left a fragrant taste in the mouth.


    Tan Zhengyuan squinted his eyes, eating with great satisfaction.


    These days while staying at Widow Xu¡¯s house, Widow Xu, who had a penchant for tasty food, also ate meat every few days.


    But each time, there were only one or two slices of meat; when could he have such big chunks in one go?


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to polish off a big chunk of meat.


    "If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have eaten so much at noon. Otherwise, I could have eaten another pound," Tan Zhengyuan grumbled discontentedly.


    Humph, he had been worried that woman and the two kids would starve to death.


    He hadn¡¯t expected them to be living well at home, the sight of the big pot of meat was comforting.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhengyuan remembered that there wasn¡¯t a single child at home, so where had the silver coins come from to buy the meat?


    In Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s mind, what was in his house belonged to his house and couldn¡¯t possibly belong to anyone else.


    The next second, Tan Zhengyuan burst into the room, grabbed Hu¡¯s Clan, who was napping, and beat her up fiercely, cursing as he did so.


    "You harlot, now I see your true colors, you filthy thing! Can¡¯t live without a man, can you?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan woke up, and seeing Tan Zhengyuan, her anger flared up.


    She could endure his absence for such a long time, but she couldn¡¯t stand being beaten up immediately upon his return.


    "What are you going mad for? Let go of me!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan struggled fiercely, but as Tan Zhengyuan was on top of her when she woke up, she was at a disadvantage and couldn¡¯t free herself from his grip.


    Enraged, Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t hold back in his assault, and soon Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face was marked with bruises and purple welts.


    Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 157 - 158 Save My Mother_1

    Chapter 157: Chapter 158 Save My Mother_1Hu¡¯s Clan dodged nimbly as Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t choose his spots, striking wherever he could.


    "You shameless thing, what disgraceful acts have you done while I was not at home?" Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s fists greeted Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s body.


    The commotion stirred up by their quarrel was not small, waking up both Da Ya and Er Ya.


    The two girls rubbed their eyes and seeing their mother being beaten, they became anxious.


    "I won¡¯t let you hit my mother!" Da Ya grabbed Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s arm, trying to stop him from hitting her mother.


    Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, "Get away from me!"


    After speaking, he flung his arm and Da Ya was thrown to the ground.


    Da Ya rolled on the ground and only stopped after hitting a table corner, her forehead struck and immediately started bleeding.


    Although it was painful, Da Ya bit her teeth hard, refusing to let herself cry out.


    Er Ya hurriedly got off the bed and helped Da Ya sit up: "Big sister, how are you feeling? Does it hurt?"


    Before Da Ya could answer, Tan Zhengyuan began hitting Hu¡¯s Clan again.


    "Tan Zhengyuan, you cursed wretch, you treat Da Ya like this, you¡¯ll surely not die a good death in this lifetime!" Hu¡¯s Clan cursed vehemently.


    Da Ya was also Tan Zhenghong¡¯s daughter, still so young, yet Tan Zhenghong threw her down without any hesitation!


    Was Tan Zhengyuan still human?


    Worried about her daughter, Hu¡¯s Clan fiercely bit into Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s arm until she tasted blood, then she finally let go.


    Tan Zhengyuan winced in pain and involuntarily stepped back two paces.


    Hu quickly got down from the bed, pulled Da Ya into her arms, and asked anxiously, "Da Ya, are you feeling dizzy? I¡¯ll take you to see the doctor!"


    Da Ya¡¯s face was ashen, but she still shook her head; her mother was in much worse condition than she was.


    "Did I tell you to leave? You better explain yourself to me!"


    While consoling her frightened daughters, Hu also interrogated them: "What on earth are you trying to do? If you want to go crazy, please get out and go crazy outside!"


    "You dare ask me why? You shameless thing, if I don¡¯t beat you to death today, my name isn¡¯t Tan!"


    How dare she have an affair! She must be tired of living!


    He wanted to go and report to the village chief, to get this flirtatious woman drowned in the pond!


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s eyes searched the room, and finally, he picked up a broom and came at her again.


    The broom handle kept falling on Hu¡¯s Clan, not caring in the slightest about possibly hitting Da Ya.


    Hu¡¯s Clan always kept Da Ya protected in her arms, not allowing her to be hurt in the slightest.


    Er Ya said crying, "Don¡¯t hit my mother! If you don¡¯t want us, go away, get out of our house!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t take her seriously at all, his blows getting even more ferocious, perhaps neither of these girls was his own, otherwise, why would they always irritate him?


    Thinking this, his gaze towards Er Ya grew even more fierce.


    Er Ya clenched her teeth and sneaked outside, then ran toward the western wing; her fourth aunt was so formidable, surely she could save her mother.


    "Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, my mother is being beaten to death by my father!"


    "Fourth Aunt, please, I beg you, go save my mother!"


    Hearing Er Ya¡¯s tearful voice, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately went out.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived, Hu¡¯s Clan had already bled from the corner of her mouth, her face almost contorted together, but she was still protecting Da Ya.


    Tan Zhengyuan indeed intended to beat Hu¡¯s Clan to death!


    "Stop it!" Qiao Duo¡¯er growled.


    Tan Zhengyuan glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er: "This is my house, get out!"


    He was aware that one should not air their dirty laundry in public; he did not want anyone to know about Hu¡¯s Clan having an affair.


    Qiao Duo grabbed the broom from Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s hand and said coldly, "Are you even a man?"

 Chapter 158 - 159: Fight Back_1

    Chapter 158: Chapter 159: Fight Back_1In Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind, a man might lack talent, but at no time and for no reason should a man hit his wife.


    Especially someone like Tan Zhengyuan, who tried to beat his wife to death, should never be forgiven!


    Tan Zhengyuan snorted lightly, narrowing his eyes as he said, "Whether I¡¯m a man or not, why don¡¯t you try and find out?"


    Before he could finish, a slap landed on his face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke with disgust, "Someone like you doesn¡¯t need to be looked at to know you¡¯re not a real man, tell me, what about you resembles a man?"


    Tan Zhengyuan tried desperately to yank the broom back, today he intended to beat Qiao Duo¡¯er as well!


    Suddenly spotting a trace of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fair arm, his hand reached out as if possessed.


    But the next second, his wrist was twisted in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s grasp and bent behind his back, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s positioning was perfect, and Tan Zhengyuan was rendered completely immobile.


    At that moment, Tan Zhengyuan had only one sensation, that his hand would be snapped off by Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    "Let me go quickly, my hand is going to break!" Tan Zhengyuan cried out, jumping in pain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er applied a bit more strength and then said coldly, "If I ever see you hit your wife or child again, I¡¯ll make sure your hand is useless!"


    "I won¡¯t dare again, I swear I¡¯ll never hit them again," Tan Zhengyuan pleaded repeatedly.


    At that time, where could he still care about his dignity, or maintain his face? All he wanted was for his hand to stay intact.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked toward Hu¡¯s Clan, "How do you wish to deal with him?"


    "I want a divorce," Hu¡¯s Clan said with a face full of despair.


    She feared that if she did not divorce him right away, her two children might be beaten to death by Tan Zhengyuan; the way he threw Da Ya moments earlier was something she would never forget in her lifetime.


    Yet Tan Zhengyuan spat out contemptuously, "You want to go find your lover? Wishful thinking!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before he could finish cursing, the intense pain in his wrist successfully shut him up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er threw the broom to Hu¡¯s Clan, "Whatever he did to hit you just now, hit him back with the same. Make sure he¡¯s beaten into submission today."


    A man like Tan Zhengyuan deserved a beating; once beaten, he would naturally become obedient, and then when the time came for a divorce, he would have no choice but to agree.


    Hu¡¯s Clan glanced at the broom, hesitant for a moment.


    Hit Tan Zhengyuan? She had never considered it before.


    When she saw her two trembling children huddled together, a fierce courage rose from within her, she grabbed the broom and started thrashing Tan Zhengyuan with it.


    Hu¡¯s Clan, who did all the housework and chores in and outside the house all year round, had built up quite the strength over time.


    Earlier, Tan Zhengyuan had taken the lead and took advantage of the moment when she was worried about Da Ya to strike, leaving her no chance to fight back, but now the situation was different.


    This time, the broom was in her hands, and with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s help, Tan Zhengyuan had no way to escape.


    "You wicked woman, how dare you hit me!"


    Tan Zhengyuan was furious; in the past whenever he beat and scolded Hu¡¯s Clan, she would never dare to resist.


    Now, emboldened by an adulterer, she dared to beat him with a broom!


    "You justify your adultery and bringing up another man? I will go tell the village chief right now, to have you, a shameless woman, drowned in the pond!"


    But no matter how loudly he shouted, it couldn¡¯t scare Hu¡¯s Clan because she knew she had never done such a thing.


    As for Tan Zhengyuan, he had plenty of sordid deeds to his name.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with hatred, "Then let¡¯s go to the village chief¡¯s house now, let¡¯s see if it¡¯s your shameless affair with Widow X¨² or something hideous I¡¯ve done that we need to talk about!"


    At the mention of Widow X¨², Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s momentum weakened significantly; this was his own doing, and he felt guiltier than anyone else.

 Chapter 159 - 160: It’s You Who Got Divorced!_1

    Chapter 159: Chapter 160: It¡¯s You Who Got Divorced!_1If Hu¡¯s Clan raised a ruckus at the village chief¡¯s house, he might lose his life!


    "You... what nonsense are you spouting?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan, with eyes reddened, growled, "You¡¯ve been mucking around with that vixen for a whole month, even ran off with all the household¡¯s silver coins without caring if the two girls lived or died. You¡¯re the one who should be drowned in the pond!"


    Thinking about all the bastardly things Tan Zhengyuan had done, she felt she didn¡¯t deserve this!


    Hu¡¯s Clan was very agitated, her chest heaving violently.


    The only two words swirling in her mind now were "divorce"!


    "Come, follow me to the village chief¡¯s house, I want to divorce you!" Hu¡¯s Clan dragged Tan Zhengyuan outwards.


    Tan Zhengyuan, who had been beaten up, was a lot clearer in the head now. He suddenly remembered the matter with the fourth room selling braised meat; that was the fourth room¡¯s.


    Hu¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t have a lover on the side, so he felt even more confident.


    "Everything in this house is mine, after divorcing you¡¯ll just take the two girls and go beg!"


    But this time, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s reaction was completely different from what Tan Zhengyuan had imagined. She pulled him out like an ox dragging Tan Zhengyuan outside. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was no room for negotiation in this matter!


    Tan Zhengyuan clenched his teeth, cursing Hu¡¯s Clan in his heart.


    This was going to drive him to his death!


    He stubbornly refused to go outside, but Hu¡¯s Clan was strong; she still dragged him, bit by bit, towards the door.


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan had already gained the upper hand, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Er Ya go fetch Doctor Wu. There were not enough medicinal herbs in her room to treat Da Ya¡¯s wound on her forehead.


    She had just settled Er Ya on the bed when another voice interrupted.


    "What are you doing? Are you trying to kill my son?" Wang Clan snatched Tan Zhengyuan away from Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s grasp.


    By this time, half of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s face was swollen, and Wang Clan¡¯s heart ached terribly for him.


    Although she usually didn¡¯t show Tan Zhengyuan a pleasant face, he was her son after all. How could she let others beat him?


    Before the Tan Family had split, Wang Clan had often made life difficult for Hu¡¯s Clan, either by denying her food at the slightest disagreement or tormenting the two girls, so seeing Wang Clan made Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s heart tremble with fear.


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurried to explain, "Mother, the eldest son has done such disgusting things, and today he even hit me and Da Ya."


    "Are you made of gold or jade? Can¡¯t bear a beating? He has no guts to have a son, but he¡¯s capable of hitting men!" Wang Clan scolded disdainfully.


    With his mother backing him up, Tan Zhengyuan immediately perked up.


    "I barely hit you, and now you want to kill me? You¡¯ve got some nerve! Let¡¯s see if I don¡¯t beat you to death!"


    "Tan Zhengyuan, I want a divorce."


    Hu¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t want to get entangled with their mother and son, always bringing up the lack of a son, her ears were nearly calloused from it!


    It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t want to have a son!


    But she just couldn¡¯t bear one; could she steal a son to bring home?


    Wang Clan spat out contemptuously, "You make it sound so nice, talking about divorce. The Tan Family is the one divorcing you. You can¡¯t even bear a son, what face do you have to stay in the Tan Family?"


    "Elder sister, let the village chief handle it. I¡¯ve yet to see someone immersed in a pig cage," remarked Wang Clan¡¯s Heart.


    Reminded by Qiao Duo, Tan Zhengyuan felt a chill run down his spine again, and Wang Clan also didn¡¯t dare to speak carelessly.


    The matter could be big or small; if Hu¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t complain, others wouldn¡¯t take it seriously.


    But once Hu¡¯s Clan made a fuss, the village chief would definitely have to deal with Tan Zhengyuan.


    Otherwise, if everyone took up with widows, wouldn¡¯t the village become a breeding ground for corruption?


    Tan Yuancheng cleared his throat, "Can¡¯t even live peacefully, always causing trouble, what are you trying to do?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t pay him any mind, only saying indifferently, "Er Ya has gone to get the village chief. You take your time thinking about what to do."


    Out of the entire Tan Family, she despised Tan Yuancheng the most. To oppose him was a most gratifying thing.

 Chapter 160 - 161: Divorce_1

    Chapter 160: Chapter 161: Divorce_1Hu¡¯s Clan was also too weak; they were clearly in the right, but Hu¡¯s Clan just couldn¡¯t stand up for themselves¡ªwho could help her?


    If she simply said she would make a fuss at the village chief¡¯s place or threatened to report them to the authorities, would those two dare to cause a stir?


    While they were scared, couldn¡¯t Hu¡¯s Clan easily demand money and a house? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Um... don¡¯t say this is extortion; this is Tan Family¡¯s compensation to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s eyes twitched, and he said, "Fourth Boss¡¯s House, this is the First Boss¡¯s affair; don¡¯t meddle."


    This person from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House was a troublemaker and never let things go when he thought he was right.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly, "What if I just like to meddle in others¡¯ affairs?"


    Tan Yuancheng clenched his teeth. What could he do to her?


    He simply couldn¡¯t handle this obstinate woman!


    The Wang¡¯s Clan mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had not spared Qiao Duo¡¯er their troublemaking, but hadn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er taken care of them neatly each time?


    Just like now, Wang¡¯s Clan dared to throw their weight around with Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Big sister, don¡¯t be afraid. You have to fight for Da Ya and Er Ya. You can¡¯t let two adorable girls be reduced to begging, can you?"


    Seeing Hu¡¯s Clan still motionless, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but remind her.


    Hu¡¯s Clan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Dad, Mom, I do not want anything else. I just want a room where I and my two children can live."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt helpless. Just one thatched hut?


    This was too modest indeed.


    But this was Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s choice, so she didn¡¯t feel it was her place to comment.


    Wang¡¯s Clan¡¯s eyes rolled, and she said, "Then clean up the storeroom and move in. First Boss, find some time to get someone to write up the divorce paper."


    The storeroom was a low shed next to the east wing room. When it was renovated due to lack of funds, the storeroom was left untouched.


    Once First Boss and Hu¡¯s Clan divorced, there would be no need to worry about someone exposing that shabby affair, and she wouldn¡¯t lose out either.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was stunned by Wang¡¯s Clan¡¯s words, but what shocked her even more was that Hu¡¯s Clan actually accepted the arrangement.


    And Hu¡¯s Clan moved swiftly, not even leaving her a chance to speak.


    "Thank you, Mother." Hu¡¯s Clan was very grateful.


    Even if it was only a storeroom, she and her daughters finally had a place to stay, without being homeless.


    Once she saved up some money, she could just renovate the place.


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan had no objections, Wang¡¯s Clan waved her hand dismissively, "Then, let¡¯s settle it like this."


    Suddenly, she glared at Tan Zhengyuan, "Stop being so cozy with some widow all the time. Behave yourself. If you cause any more trouble, I won¡¯t deal with you anymore!"


    "Mom, don¡¯t worry, I know!" Tan Zhengyuan hurriedly agreed.


    "If you dare to fool around with that woman again, I¡¯ll break your damn legs!"


    With this matter settled, Wang¡¯s Clan and Tan Yuancheng went back to the main room. It was still early; they could even get some more sleep.


    Meanwhile, Hu¡¯s Clan felt as though all her strength had been drained, sitting on the bed with vacant eyes, watching over Da Ya who had bumped her head.


    Was this how they were going to divorce?


    Perhaps it was for the best, yet she couldn¡¯t help feeling sad.


    She had always been cautious, silent even when she had to endure hardships and grievances, but in the end, she still became a cast-off wife!


    "The doctor will be here soon; Da Ya will be fine," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, thinking Hu¡¯s Clan was worried about Da Ya.


    Because in her view, successfully getting rid of Tan Zhengyuan was a cause for celebration.


    Hu¡¯s Clan wiped away tears and nodded hard.


    Tan Zhengyuan glanced at Hu¡¯s Clan, "Hurry up and move out. All this weeping¡ªyou¡¯ve made everyone unlucky. Just seeing you is annoying."


    But upon seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stern face, he didn¡¯t dare to be insolent and left immediately.


    However, he wasn¡¯t headed to Widow X¨²¡¯s, but to enjoy a meat feast instead.

 Chapter 161 - 162: Not Enough Medicine_1

    Chapter 161: Chapter 162: Not Enough Medicine_1Tan Zhengyuan already knew the meat belonged to the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, but what of it?


    This was his home, and whatever was in his home belonged to him.


    He was not only planning to eat more, he also wanted to take some back to Widow Xu later.


    As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er heard the noise outside, she immediately walked out and then saw Tan Zhengyuan salivating as though it was about to drip into the pot.


    For the sake of that pot of master stock, Qiao Duo¡¯er forcibly suppressed her temper until Tan Zhengyuan had taken out the meat and covered the pot. Then she kicked out.


    "Stealing again! You shameless thing!" she scolded.


    "This is my stove, how am I stealing?" Tan Zhengyuan began to play dumb.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhengyuan a disdainful roll of her eyes; in her view, Tan Zhengyuan no longer counted as a human being. Why keep persisting in breaking new grounds of shamelessness?


    Was Tan Zhengyuan really that afraid of being treated as human?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched the kitchen knife, knowing full well that it was pointless to reason with a rogue. It¡¯s more effective to suppress them with force.


    Tan Zhengyuan jumped violently at that, quickly saying, "I... I was just kidding with you."


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er had no intention of putting down the knife, Tan Zhengyuan didn¡¯t dare to linger and scampered away with his tail between his legs.


    There were one catty and six taels of braised meat left on the stove, and she had sent it over to Xiao Fu.


    Although the crowd in the Main Room was nauseating, she could not go back on her word.


    A little later, Er Ya and Doctor Sun came by.


    Sun Erhu took Da Ya¡¯s pulse. Luckily, she had only gotten a scrape, and would be fine after a few days of rest, which made Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s complexion improve a bit.


    All of a sudden, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered Tan Zhenghong. She quickly said, "Sister-in-law, take good care of the two children, the good days are ahead, I need to run back home for a bit."


    After speaking, she jogged all the way back to her own courtyard.


    Back in the room, Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but give him a nudge.


    She hadn¡¯t hit him too hard, had she, possibly breaking him? Thinking of this possibility, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to feel numb on her scalp.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong soon stirred weakly. He couldn¡¯t help but remember what happened before he fainted.


    Hearing Er Ya¡¯s voice, he immediately sat up, only to feel a sharp pain in the back of his neck, followed by darkness, and then he lost consciousness again.


    Without a doubt, it was the deed of his wife. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was a martial arts hero; knocking someone out was certainly an easy feat for her.


    "Wife, are you trying to murder your own husband?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a pitiful gaze.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er awkwardly cleared her throat, "Heh heh, I got anxious and... you know, your bones have just gotten better, now moving around too much, it¡¯s going to hurt when it rains or the weather turns cold."


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, knowing his wife meant well.


    But did she have to be so forceful?


    His neck was still hurting up until now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat on the bed, propping up Tan Zhenghong, "I¡¯ll rub it for you, I really didn¡¯t use much force."


    Tan Zhenghong sulked, without much force she had knocked him out.


    If his wife had really exerted herself, wouldn¡¯t his head be separated from his neck?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pretended to rub a couple of times, and when she looked at Tan Zhenghong again, she thought his expression resembled that of an abused young wife.


    At this moment, the two of them were so close that they could feel each other¡¯s breath, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arms were even resting on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulders.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but swallow. Why did she find Tan Zhenghong so delectable?


    Being a person of action, in the next second, she planted a kiss on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face.


    "Still hurt?" Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, feeling a sense of achievement like she was teasing a virtuous man.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "The dose isn¡¯t enough."

 Chapter 162 - 163 Life is So Long_1

    Chapter 162: Chapter 163 Life is So Long_1Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her hand, "Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t slap you to death!"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm shot out, and Qiao Duo¡¯er found herself in his arms, and only then did he feel safe.


    The vulnerable posture made Qiao Duo¡¯er extremely uncomfortable, and she quickly pushed Tan Zhenghong away.


    Recalling the haste of her return, she couldn¡¯t help but scold flirtatiously, "You¡¯re so shameless, not even closing the door!"


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at the open door, "Then would you close the door?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat down in a nearby chair and quickly poured herself a glass of water in the hope of cooling her face; otherwise, it¡¯d be hot enough to fry an egg.


    "How is everything with elder sister-in-law?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t resist complaining, "She got a divorce, being all foolish, she only took a shabby sundries space. How could anyone live in that godforsaken place?"


    "If elder sister-in-law had taken more, our parents and elder brother would¡¯ve taken revenge on her in the future."


    Tan Zhenghong sighed; Hu¡¯s Clan wasn¡¯t foolish, but had her own considerations.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, however, disagreed, "No matter what she does, she¡¯s bound to have trouble in the future unless she saves up more money and moves out quickly."


    "My leg is better now; I will earn a lot of money in the future, and we too will move out," Tan Zhenghong suddenly said.


    "Stop thinking about getting out of bed all the time. If there is a next time, I will knock you out again!" Qiao Duo¡¯er threatened Tan Zhenghong.


    She could understand Tan Zhenghong¡¯s desire to earn money, but what good was silver without a healthy body?


    Tan Zhenghong said gloomily, "You¡¯re working too hard."


    "Life is so long, and you can slowly repay what you owe me. What¡¯s the rush?"


    Having heard what Qiao Duo¡¯er said, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart brightened instantly. He wanted to be with Qiao Duo¡¯er for a lifetime!


    Today, after being bothered by the Xiao Family and Tan Zhengyuan twice, it was already late. Qiao Duo¡¯er complained a few more words before going out to prepare the pickled vegetables.


    Unexpectedly, she was only busy for a while when Hu¡¯s Clan came over to help.


    "Elder sister-in-law, you should go back and take care of Da Ya. I can manage by myself."


    With a forced smile, Hu¡¯s Clan said, "Both the children are asleep, and I¡¯m feeling stifled alone in the room. I might as well do some work."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, there were no hard chores that afternoon, so she let Hu¡¯s Clan be.


    Hu¡¯s Clan suddenly asked, "Duo¡¯er, do you think I¡¯m particularly useless?"


    "Not at all, you are already doing amazingly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke sincerely. Hu¡¯s Clan was Hu¡¯s Clan; she couldn¡¯t apply her own standards to her.


    In this era where marriages were often arranged blindly without knowledge of one another, many lived unhappily without even the courage to voice the desire for a divorce.


    They would just grow old in the day-to-day torment and finally be buried in the earth.


    These women are truly tragic, spending their whole lives without ever understanding what happiness is.


    Hu¡¯s Clan gave a bitter smile, "What¡¯s so great about me? I couldn¡¯t even protect Da Ya and don¡¯t have a son to show for it."


    "Pride isn¡¯t given by others; it¡¯s earned by oneself. You become strong, and naturally, no one will dare to bully you or look down upon you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, a statement that applied to anyone.


    Upon hearing these words, Hu¡¯s Clan felt a rush of fiery determination.


    She was determined to live hard, to make those who wronged her regret their actions!


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s spirits had lifted, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally felt relieved. Her biggest worry was that Hu¡¯s Clan wouldn¡¯t hold on, leaving behind the two children to a dire fate.


    The Tan Family favored boys over girls, and anyone could guess the miserable outcome for Da Ya and Er Ya if they were left in their charge.

 Chapter 163 - 164 Shy Young Man_1

    Chapter 163: Chapter 164 Shy Young Man_1"Is anyone home?" A fair-skinned young man knocked on the door.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Who are you looking for?"


    "I... I¡¯m looking for Qiao Duo¡¯er." The young man¡¯s face turned red quietly.


    For some reason, his heartbeat suddenly quickened, as if... it was because of the woman in front of him. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her face was clearly mottled like quail eggs, and her skin was rather dark, but he could not take his eyes off her. Could it be because of her clear, sparkling eyes?


    They seemed to draw people in...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "I am Qiao Duo¡¯er. Do you need something?"


    "I... I¡¯m from Tofu Zhang Family. My name is Zhang Ziwen, my father asked me to bring you something new to try."


    The young man handed the basket he was carrying to Qiao Duo¡¯er, and as she reached out to take it, his hands began to tremble.


    Not right... The Master said, ¡¯Do not look at anything that is against propriety.¡¯


    How could he look at a lady¡¯s arms?


    Zhang Ziwen hurriedly looked away, but his eyes, uncontrollable, kept returning. What a dilemma!


    Qiao Duo lifted the cloth and saw that it was filled with dried bean curd sticks.


    Perhaps due to the underdeveloped colorants in ancient times, the sticks were slightly yellowish, lacking the deep color of later times.


    This was indeed a good item!


    Cold mixed, stir-fried, stewed, or used in soup, it was all delicious, especially since it was a purely green food product, the taste was definitely even better.


    "Thank you. Does your family also sell this?"


    Zhang Ziwen nodded, "Yes... we have it. My father¡¯s intention was to ask if you would like some."


    As a scholar, he felt it wasn¡¯t quite right to market goods this way, but then again... they needed to earn money, otherwise his tuition fees would be unaccounted for.


    "Of course, I want some. Have your father bring ten pounds over tomorrow," said Qiao Duo¡¯er briskly.


    Zhang Ziwen¡¯s face turned red again, "It seems we don¡¯t have that much. My father has only just learned to make it from someone else, afraid that no one would want it, so he didn¡¯t dare make too much."


    "Then bring whatever you have, and by the way, how much does this cost?"


    Qiao Duo felt a bit helpless. Had the boy become so naive from studying? That he could blush just from talking to a girl? Sigh, can he even take a wife?


    Zhang Ziwen awkwardly said, "My father didn¡¯t tell me, but our stuff isn¡¯t expensive, you can be assured."


    Qiao Duo had been getting tofu from Zhang Family for a few days now. They were honest traders, so she didn¡¯t inquire further. She just worried this young man¡¯s head would droop to the ground.


    "Then have your father bring the tofu tomorrow and bring this along as well."


    Zhang Ziwen hastily agreed and ran off as if a ghost were chasing him.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but say, "That child is really funny, he even forgot his basket."


    "This Zi Wen is quite capable. He became a Scholar at just fifteen."


    Hu¡¯s Clan remarked. Who wouldn¡¯t want such an excellent son?


    Regrettably, she couldn¡¯t have one.


    If she had a son, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this position, but as Qiao Duo said, dignity is earned by oneself.


    And there were far more ways to vie for dignity than just having a son.


    Qiao Duo nodded, oblivious to the unusual emotions of Hu¡¯s Clan.


    This Zhang Zi Wen could be considered a top scholar of Big Willow Village, so she forgave his tendency to blush when speaking to a girl.


    The basket contained about two or three pounds of dried bean curd sticks. Qiao Duo thought it over and decided to soak most of it in water, saving the remainder to stir-fry for tomorrow¡¯s lunch.


    Stir-fried bean curd sticks with green peppers and a little meat sounded so appetizing that her mouth watered.


    And with this ingredient, her business was sure to improve.

 Chapter 164 - 165 My Man Has Eaten It_1

    Chapter 164: Chapter 165 My Man Has Eaten It_1After arriving at the town, Qiao Duo¡¯er found that many people had never seen the food known as ¡¯yuba¡¯.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sliced some and put them on a plate, and customers who were originally queuing to buy pork intestines were drawn to this novel item.


    "This is called yuba, it¡¯s also a soy product, a newly introduced item. We¡¯re not selling it today, just letting everyone have a taste, and it tastes really good!"


    "Can it really be eaten?"


    "I¡¯ve never seen such a weird thing."


    Many people were skeptical, and even with the free tasting, they hesitated.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, tired of smelling the braised foods every day, stuffed a piece of yuba into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth.


    "My man has eaten it, so now you can be at ease," Qiao Duo¡¯er winked.


    Tan Zhenghong chewed a few times and swallowed, "This is a vegetarian dish, made from beans, similar to tofu skin but tastier."


    Hearing Tan Zhenghong say this, someone picked a small piece to try.


    Those who tried it fell deeply in love with the food. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only regret was that the owner said the yuba was not for sale today, just for everyone to try.


    Ah, what a pity, nowhere to buy it even with money!


    "Young lady, please just sell some yuba to me. My grandson is coming home today, and he would surely love to eat it," a silver-haired old lady pleaded.


    Smiling lightly, Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "Granny, we¡¯ve only made so much today. Those who come later won¡¯t get to try it. How about this, you buy something else and I¡¯ll give you a few sticks of yuba."


    "That¡¯s wonderful. Give me a pork knuckle; slice it thin for me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed, then fetched a pork knuckle for Tan Zhenghong to weigh, and swiftly sliced it into thin pieces.


    "This young wife has really good knife skills."


    "Even I, who¡¯ve been cooking for decades, can¡¯t slice as beautifully as she does. You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but the last time I bought a pork knuckle to entertain guests, they kept praising me thinking I¡¯d prepared it myself."


    "Haha, that must¡¯ve embarrassed you to death!"


    "What¡¯s the big deal, I¡¯m not afraid of being laughed at!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cracked a slight smile. Her hands, which used to wield a knife to take lives, now found slicing meat a piece of cake.


    In just a moment¡¯s time, the pork knuckle was sliced. After wrapping the meat and yuba in butcher paper and securing it with twine, her task was complete.


    The old lady happily said, "Thank you so much. You all should hurry up and buy something or there won¡¯t be any yuba left to give away."


    Her words proved effective; those still tasting the yuba immediately made purchases.


    Many people, eager for Qiao Duo¡¯er to give them extra yuba, purposely bought more of other items, resulting in the stall closing in just over an hour.


    Since it was still early, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to buy some seasonings.


    Nevertheless, it was still slightly bright when she got home.


    At dinner, Da Ya and Er Ya hung their heads, reluctant to speak, and the rice in their bowls didn¡¯t seem to diminish despite eating for a long time.


    "What are you thinking about? You¡¯re not eating properly," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Blinking back tears, Er Ya couldn¡¯t help but cry out, "Fourth Aunt, does it mean we won¡¯t have a dad anymore?"


    At her words, Da Ya and Mrs. Hu also wiped away tears.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. She really felt like killing that scoundrel Tan Zhengyuan. How could he have the heart to hurt these two lovely girls?


    "If you had a piece of flesh that was rotten, causing you pain, and could make other flesh rot, would you keep it, despite the pain of cutting, or would you remove it?"

 Chapter 165 - 166 My Dad is Rotten Meat_1

    Chapter 165: Chapter 166 My Dad is Rotten Meat_1Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a good while before speaking, "No matter how much of a scoundrel Tan Zhengyuan is, he¡¯s irreplaceable in Da Ya¡¯s and Er Ya¡¯s hearts. Otherwise, those two girls wouldn¡¯t be this heartbroken."


    Er Ya blinked her eyes, "So my dad is that piece of bad meat, right?"


    "That¡¯s right, smart girl!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she ruffled Er Ya¡¯s head.


    Er Ya spoke earnestly, "Mom, older sister, since dad is the bad meat, we need to cut him off, or else the other meat will go bad too. If it all goes bad, it¡¯ll be the death of us."


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded hastily in agreement, "Good, we¡¯ll listen to Er Ya and cut him off."


    "Good, from now on, we don¡¯t need dad to come back home," Da Ya also agreed.


    "You can rest assured, mom will do lots of work from now on and won¡¯t let you go hungry," Hu¡¯s Clan said seriously.


    Without the Tan Family¡¯s land, the three of them, mother and daughters, would still be fine.


    Da Ya nodded, "Mom, I¡¯ll help you with work too, and we will have a good life together!"


    Da Ya and Er Ya both understood, and their spirits naturally lifted, though there was still a significant gap from their usual selves.


    But this is only human, to let them think it over gradually. They would come to realize that losing some people is actually a blessing.


    And losing that person wasn¡¯t because they were lacking, but because the person in question was blind to their worth.


    The next day, just before noon, Tofu Zhang delivered tofu. Zhang Ziwen helped carry some items.


    "Yesterday, my Ziwen told me you wanted ten jin of tofu skin, so I hurriedly made some. It¡¯s just that the sun was so high, it only dried up around this time," Tofu Zhang said somewhat embarrassedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er checked the tofu skin and, although it was made in a rush, the quality wasn¡¯t lacking at all.


    "It¡¯s no problem. I don¡¯t need them until the afternoon anyway, so a little delay is okay. How much is everything today?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed Zhang Ziwen following behind Tofu Zhang, still hanging his head, just as shy as the day before.


    Tofu Zhang replied, "Ten jin of tofu, fifteen jin of dried tofu, ten jin of tofu knots, ten jin of tofu skin. Oh, the tofu skin is four wen per jin, so just give me a total of one hundred and fifty wen."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and went inside to get the money.


    Doing business these days doesn¡¯t involve much scheming, especially with the straightforwardness of the local villagers.


    In the afternoon, when Qiao Duo¡¯er and her family arrived at the market, they found the queue longer than usual by thirty percent, all there for the tofu skin.


    The tofu skin had a bean aroma, and it was delightfully springy to eat, especially with the seasoning. It simply couldn¡¯t be any tastier. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The key point was that after finding out the price, everyone went even crazier¡ªit was only four wen per jin!


    The boatman looked at what Qiao Duo¡¯er had set out and couldn¡¯t help asking, "Hey, why aren¡¯t you selling steamed buns and filled buns anymore?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was taken aback. She sold steamed buns and filled buns just to crush Tan Zhongzhong and Li Clan, and now that they have been thoroughly defeated, the issue had slipped her mind.


    "We¡¯ve just been too busy to manage it," she said, brushing off the question.


    The boatman said helplessly, "Ever since I¡¯ve had your family¡¯s steamed buns, I can¡¯t swallow anyone else¡¯s."


    Seeing his reaction, Qiao Duo¡¯er was moved.


    In the future, she could have Hu¡¯s Clan help make buns in the afternoon, and she would raise her wages a bit.


    Currently, with not much money in hand, Hu¡¯s Clan was constantly on edge.


    If Hu¡¯s Clan could earn more silver coins and buy some land sooner, she would be more at ease.


    The stall was busy, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts were quickly jumbled.


    In just a quarter of an hour, all the tofu skin had sold out, while the previously most popular pig intestines had only sold half.

 Chapter 166 - 167 Are You Satisfied?_1

    Chapter 166: Chapter 167 Are You Satisfied?_1Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg had healed considerably, but because of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ruthless suppression, he could only sit obediently or lie down.


    It was a rainy day again, and Tan Zhenghong said he wanted to take a bath.


    He wiped himself down twice a day, but no matter how much he cleaned, he still didn¡¯t feel fresh. He was worried his wife would find him dirty, considering it had been over two months since he had bathed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed and quickly boiled two full pots of water for him.


    "Make sure you wash thoroughly," Qiao Duo¡¯er said after she had prepared everything for him, not resisting the urge to remind him.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately responded, "I¡¯ve heard that the Imperial Concubine has to be clean when attending to the Emperor¡¯s bed. Wife, are you wanting to gobble me up?"


    He felt that his wife¡¯s gaze had been emitting a green light these past few days. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We have an acupuncture session tonight," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a naughty smile, revealing two rows of neat teeth.


    Her cheeks and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s legs were both subject to acupuncture every other day, and tonight was the day for another needle session.


    After being pricked by the needle last time, Tan Zhenghong had become much more submissive.


    The effect was quite good, but it didn¡¯t last long; it had only been four or five days before his ailment acted up again.


    Tan Zhenghong fell silent, knowing what his wife meant. She was going to cure him again with the needles. Remembering that unbearable recollection, he decided he¡¯d better behave.


    The first time, the Silver Needle had taken it away, but the second time it had to be reserved for his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s understanding and immediately said, "Take your time washing, I¡¯ll go cook."


    Tan Zhenghong frowned in distress, actually, he didn¡¯t want to eat food, he wanted to eat his wife.


    But... he dared not say it!


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was alright, Qiao Duo¡¯er left the room.


    She looked at the vegetables at home, planning to make minced meat with green beans and mixed tofu with scallions, plus simmer a pot of porridge.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er started cooking the porridge first, then she took a piece of meat about the size of a palm, cut it into strips, and chopped it into minced meat.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could chop a few times, a noise of something heavy falling came from the room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart tightened, and she rushed into the room.


    She hoped desperately that he hadn¡¯t fallen over, as all the previous effort would be wasted, and re-breaking a bone could be life-threatening.


    After pushing the door open, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw a stark naked Tan Zhenghong standing there with a puzzled look on his face.


    She assigned him the following speech: Why did it fall? I didn¡¯t do anything! Oh, the innocence!


    The noise had been caused by her wooden frame for hanging curtains falling down, which then hit the washstand, making such a loud ruckus.


    Once she was sure that Tan Zhenghong was unharmed, Qiao Duo¡¯er realized the most critical issue was that Tan Zhenghong was completely naked!


    She immediately closed the door and then realized should she have gone out before closing it?


    Damn, she was going to be the death of herself with her own stupidity!


    When Tan Zhenghong saw Qiao Duo¡¯er standing there dumbstruck, he couldn¡¯t help asking, "Wife, are you satisfied?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er disdainfully replied, "Satisfied my foot!"


    However, the guy was indeed impressive: a handsome face filled with masculine charm, with a touch of delicacy.


    His physique was even more impressive; despite having been bedridden for nearly three months, his muscles were well-defined, exuding strong masculinity.


    No wonder Xiao Biyu couldn¡¯t settle for less. Although Xiao Biyu had an unpleasant personality, it was undeniable that she was beautiful. If Tan Zhenghong caught her eye, it meant he was definitely not lacking.


    "Wife, you despise me," Tan Zhenghong said with a drawn-out tone, successfully giving Qiao Duo¡¯er a case of goosebumps.


    Grinding her teeth, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Annoy me any more, and I¡¯ll throw you out right now!"


    Having said that, she opened the door and stormed out with great momentum.

 Chapter 167 - 168 You are a Wolf_1

    Chapter 167: Chapter 168 You are a Wolf_1Tan Zhenghong chuckled foolishly twice, quickly propped up the fallen items, and snickered, his wife¡¯s shy look was really cute.


    With that incident, acupuncture that evening became awkward.


    Once Qiao Duo¡¯er was done with the needles, she couldn¡¯t help but let her eyes wander. Before her was a handsome man wearing nothing but a pair of short shorts that were rolled up at the waist, revealing an undeniable physique. How could she not have her mind race with thoughts?


    She unconsciously swallowed, that dry-mouthed feeling returning.


    After watching for a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er impulsively reached out and touched his abs.


    Springy, firm to the touch, it felt pretty good.


    After pressing on the abs, her hand gradually moved up to the chest muscles, where she paused again, thinking about the flatness of her own chest, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt depressed.


    How could her chest be smaller than a man¡¯s? So troubling.


    The best way to enhance the bust is with red wine and papaya, combined with massage, and alternating hot and cold towels during showers...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind flooded with ideas, oblivious to the fact that her hand had been in place for quite a while.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke in a hoarse voice, "If you keep teasing me, I¡¯m going to die of blood reversal."


    Just caught red-handed, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit embarrassed, but that embarrassment lasted only for a few seconds before it vanished.


    "Then you must hold back, if you die, I¡¯ll remarry," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, her hand retracting slightly, remembering that someone had done the same to her once before. Now it was her turn for a little payback.


    Tan Zhenghong took a couple of deep breaths as during acupuncture, one must focus and keep calm, avoiding any wild thoughts.


    But with something feather-light sweeping over his chest, sending tingles straight to his heart, how could he not have thoughts?


    Previously, his wife had always been serious, never teasing him. It turned out she had been pretending all along, and today her true colors were finally revealed.


    Look at those gleaming, hungry eyes, as if she wanted to devour him whole. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This must mean his wife was quite pleased with his body, right?


    Too bad his wife was a paper tiger. Despite appearing powerful now, when he desired her, she would start playing coy.


    Each time she teased him until his blood boiled, and then she would turn and run, not caring that he was nearly suffocated.


    Well, his wife was certainly a little temptress!


    Tan Zhenghong kept taking deep breaths, suppressing the wicked fire inside him, and as soon as the needles were removed, the first thing he did was hug his wife and give her two firm kisses.


    "You have no self-control; you lack all self-restraint," she chided.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er used her sleeve to wipe the spots where Tan Zhenghong kissed her.


    Grinding his teeth, Tan Zhenghong retorted, "Starve a tiger for so many days, then tease it with a piece of meat, and see what happens?"


    "Wrong, you¡¯re not a tiger, you¡¯re a lecher," Qiao Duo¡¯er corrected, wagging a finger.


    All Tan Zhenghong could see were his wife¡¯s rosy lips. Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish her sentence, he leaned in and began to nibble at her lips.


    His technique was clumsy, making Qiao Duo¡¯er feel not as if Tan Zhenghong was kissing her but rather trying to devour her.


    Well, if a wolf he must be, as long as there was meat to eat, it was all good.


    No, that¡¯s not right; the meat could wait until after they were married. He couldn¡¯t shortchange his wife, but surely a little nibble was permissible.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong released her, Qiao Duo¡¯er gasped for air, her lips burning as if she had eaten a bunch of hot peppers.


    "Why don¡¯t you just ascend to the heavens?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    Embracing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "I can¡¯t bear to leave you."

 Chapter 168 -s 168-170 _1

    Chapter 168: Chapters 168-170 _1Tan Zhenghong chuckled foolishly twice, hurriedly propped up the fallen items, and hehe, his wife¡¯s shy appearance was really adorable. Because of this incident, acupuncture at night became awkward.


    Tan Zhenghong stole a kiss from his wife. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why don¡¯t you just fly to the heavens?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    Clutching Qiao Duo¡¯er in his arms, Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "I can¡¯t bear to leave you." Qiao Duo¡¯er, frustrated, wriggled free from his embrace using her hands and feet.


    "Hmph, I don¡¯t ever want to see you again!" Qiao Duo¡¯er was very angry, but seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s innocent expression, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to stay mad.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately scooted over, pitifully saying, "Wife, if I follow behind you, then you won¡¯t see me."


    Seeing him behaving like a loyal dog made Qiao Duo¡¯er lose her temper even more.


    "Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m going to start the acupuncture."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted defeat. If this were a contest of thick-skinnedness, she would certainly be no match for Tan Zhenghong.


    With a spirited step, Tan Zhenghong brought over the copper mirror, while Qiao Duo¡¯er had already pinched out a cross mark on all the other acupoints, the two of them working together in perfect harmony.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er lay flat on the bed, Tan Zhenghong swiftly inserted the silver needles into the remaining acupoints.


    With the experience from previous times, he was now very calm.


    After a while, when the time was just about right,


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, in a lazy tone, asked Tan Zhenghong to remove the needles.


    It was now the end of summer, but the weather was still fiercely hot. And even worse, it was incredibly stuffy.


    Tan Zhenghong kindly suggested, "Take off your clothes before you sleep, it will be cooler that way."


    Now, with his torso bare, he didn¡¯t feel so hot.


    "Wife, I have something to tell you," said Tan Zhenghong all of a sudden.


    "Go ahead," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Tan Zhenghong hesitated for a moment, "Then you have to promise not to hit me first."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, "Tell me what it is first, then I¡¯ll decide whether or not to hit you."


    "Then I won¡¯t tell you," replied Tan Zhenghong, pridefully, but his eyes still rested on Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Well... if he didn¡¯t speak up, he could at least feast his eyes.


    This time, the trouble wasn¡¯t his doing, his wife couldn¡¯t blame him for it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Fine, I promise I won¡¯t hit you. Just say it quickly."


    "Uh... cough cough, your clothes are torn."


    When they woke up the next day, Tan Zhenghong was sleeping soundly, a fan still covering his face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved the fan aside, and he still didn¡¯t wake up. She suddenly realized that last night it must have been Tan Zhenghong fanning her, otherwise, the breeze wouldn¡¯t have come in bursts.


    Well, she might as well forgive him for last night¡¯s episode.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned over and closed her eyes again, seizing the opportunity to sleep a bit more while the morning was still cool.


    The two of them slept until eight or nine in the morning. The matriarch of the Li Clan stood at the doorway, holding her waist, and couldn¡¯t help but mutter a curse about them being shameless.


    Tan Zhongzhong whispered, "Wife, don¡¯t set your sights on Fourth Boss again, we lost a lot last time."


    Thinking about the loss of more than a hundred wen made his heart ache!


    "What should we do then? We¡¯ve run out of rice and grain at home, we only have seven hundred wen left, and there¡¯s still a child to raise. Come up with a solution!" Li Clan said angrily.


    Now, with no income at home, and three mouths to feed, she was at her wit¡¯s end.


    But Tan Zhongzhong seemed carefree, just eating and sleeping all day!


    Tan Zhongzhong said nonchalantly, "Wife, don¡¯t worry, I had a dream that the baby in your belly is a boy. When the time comes, Father still has twenty taels, won¡¯t that be enough to spend?"


    Li Clan mumbled, "I also feel it¡¯s a boy, it feels different from when I was pregnant with Third Girl."


    With that thought, Li Clan felt much more comfortable.

 Chapter 169 - 171 Borrowing Some Silver_1

    Chapter 169: Chapter 171 Borrowing Some Silver_1"Isn¡¯t that good? By then we can buy some more land."


    After he said this, Tan Zhongzhong dragged Li Clan back to their room. It was almost time for the birth, and she was still wandering outside. If she tripped and fell, not only would they lose the child, but the silver coins would be wasted as well.


    If he didn¡¯t have those twenty taels, he¡¯d have to go out and do odd jobs!


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong got out of bed stealthily.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her eyes to glance at him, then closed them again. She felt completely drained and didn¡¯t even want to move a finger.


    Tan Zhenghong was busy in the courtyard, and Tan Zhongzhong just came out to fetch water.


    Seeing how briskly Tan Zhenghong moved, he truly believed that Tan Zhenghong was healed. The last time the Xiao Family visited, Tan Zhenghong clearly had difficulty walking.


    "Fourth Boss, your leg¡¯s okay now?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded: "It¡¯s already healed."


    "Since you¡¯ve made so much silver, you could lend me some. Your nephew is about to be born, and I still haven¡¯t figured out the silver for the full month celebration."


    Tan Zhongzhong said with a sarcastic tone.


    Tan Zhengyuan just gave him a glance, then started cooking rice on his own.


    At this hour, his wife must be starving.


    Tan Zhongzhong pursed his lips in disdain and continued: "Big brother doesn¡¯t have your skill, you still made money even with a broken leg, and our parents don¡¯t feel sorry for me. My wife and I are barely getting by. You have the silver at home doing nothing, so what¡¯s wrong with borrowing some between brothers?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong only wanted to punch his shamelessly extreme third brother.


    When Tan Zhongzhong spoke of borrowing, it always went one way, with no return. This much Tan Zhenghong knew well.


    Back then, he had struggled to save a sum of money, and Tan Zhongzhong came to borrow it, claiming his wife was about to give birth and he was short of cash.


    Not thinking too much, he lent it to him, but when he asked Tan Zhongzhong to repay it later, not only did he not pay back, he also told their mother about Tan Zhenghong hiding his private savings.


    Since then, he had never managed to save any private money again, because his mother kept an even tighter hold on the finances.


    "Tan Zhenghong, I¡¯m your brother after all. What¡¯s with your attitude?"


    Tan Zhongzhong raised his voice a bit.


    Tan Zhenghong calmly said: "The relationship severance book has already been written."


    Tan Zhongzhong gritted his teeth, he had indeed forgotten that detail, but he still wanted to get some money out of the third branch.


    "You¡¯re the capable one, Fourth, even severing ties with your own parents. I¡¯m just wretched, and can only think about it in this life."


    Tan Zhongzhong was as good at making snide remarks as any woman.


    Little Wang Clan happened to be passing by and chimed in: "Fourth Boss, no matter what, your parents gave birth to you. They still have to pay for your family¡¯s braised meat. You¡¯re really heartless!"


    Tan Zhenghong replied with annoyance: "Isn¡¯t it all thanks to you?"


    The idea of framing Qiao Duo for an affair with Sun Erhu must have been hers, and now she was biting like a mad dog.


    She really had some nerve!


    Thinking about that incident made Little Wang Clan¡¯s heart fill with even more hatred. That fool Qiao Duo had made her lose face!


    And even now, when she went out, people still whispered behind her back!


    Tan Zhongzhong gleefully said: "Second sister-in-law, many people say you¡¯re a troublemaker. If not for the bad water in your belly, the Tan Family probably wouldn¡¯t have divided."


    The division had favored the second branch greatly, a fact he would remember for a lifetime.


    Little Wang Clan clenched her fists, but knowing Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s temperament, she could only walk briskly towards the main room.


    After driving away Little Wang Clan with his words, Tan Zhongzhong returned to the topic at hand: "Fourth Boss, let¡¯s settle it then, you have to lend me a few taels of silver to tide me over until I have money to repay you."

 Chapter 170 - 172 No Money!_1

    Chapter 170: Chapter 172 No Money!_1"No," Tan Zhenghong said coldly, throwing out two words.


    Tan Zhongzhong said unwillingly, "Fourth Boss, we¡¯re brothers. It¡¯s too impersonal of you to just say no."


    The answer from Tan Zhenghong was still those two words: no.


    "How could I possibly not know whether you have silver? You sell marinaded meat and bamboo baskets. How could you not have any silver?"


    "No." Tan Zhenghong was getting a bit impatient.


    He earned silver to give his wife a good life, not to support these lazy people without a single bone of industry in them.


    And besides, most of the money in the family was earned by his wife; how could he make decisions about it without consulting her?


    "Look, your sister-in-law¡¯s about to give birth. Just lend me some to tide me over. Otherwise, your nephew will have no decent clothes when he¡¯s born. Can you really be so heartless?"


    Tan Zhenghong frowned in disgust, "You have hands, can¡¯t you earn money? That¡¯s not my child, what do I have to be heartless about?"


    Others who were fathers were willing to do it; why should he bother himself with this concern?


    "I thought you were someone who valued relationships and righteousness, but it turns out you¡¯re just as selfish as our second brother!"


    Tan Zhongzhong was a bit angry; the way Fourth Boss spoke now was just like that woman.


    In an unhurried tone, Tan Zhenghong said, "My house isn¡¯t a charity hall, do I have the obligation to provide for your son?"


    Having said that, he went to the stove to make a fire, feeling that even a glance at certain people was too much.


    He needed to hurry up and make money for a new house. He didn¡¯t want these rascals bothering him all day long.


    With Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cold attitude, Tan Zhongzhong could only return to his room dejectedly. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But did he think that Tan Zhongzhong would just give up like that?


    That was absolutely impossible!


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong had finished cooking the meal.


    It was the first time he had cooked for his wife; he hoped she wouldn¡¯t disdain it, as his skill surely couldn¡¯t compare to hers.


    Today, he had made what he considered his best dishes: steamed eggs and stir-fried eggs with green onions.


    Well... he hoped she would like at least one of them.


    Tan Zhenghong brought the food into the room, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was still asleep.


    He quickly put down the bowl and touched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, immediately becoming anxious.


    His premonition was correct; his wife had a fever!


    Tan Zhenghong immediately sent Sun Erhu to call the doctor over. Meanwhile, he fetched a basin of water and soaked a cloth, wrung it out, folded it neatly, and placed it on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead. Then he used another cloth to wipe her face and palms.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was somewhat flushed, her lips very dry. Tan Zhenghong used a small spoon to help her drink some water.


    After he had finished all this, Qiao Duo¡¯er seemed more comfortable; the frown that had been on her face slowly relaxed.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the doctor arrived.


    "Uncle Wu, please take a look at my wife quickly; she¡¯s running a fever," Tan Zhenghong hurriedly made room for the doctor.


    Wu Youcai didn¡¯t waste words and immediately checked Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse.


    Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu both stood by, neither daring to make a sound, fearing they might disturb the doctor.


    "Your wife was weakened in her earlier years, and she should be taking care of herself. However, she¡¯s been a bit impatient, leading to damp heat accumulating inside her body. Plus, the weather¡¯s hot, so she¡¯s come down with a fever. Actually, it¡¯s a good thing it came out; otherwise, it could damage the liver. I¡¯ll prescribe a formula to clear the heat, she¡¯ll be better after a couple of days," Doctor Wu explained Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition.


    Overall, this fever was not a bad thing; in the farmers¡¯ terms, it was ¡¯expelling the toxins,¡¯ meaning it was expelling the body¡¯s toxins.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Thank you, Uncle Wu, please write the prescription."

 Chapter 171 - 173: Soul Unsettled_1

    Chapter 171: Chapter 173: Soul Unsettled_1"There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯ll just say outright: your wife has a weak constitution, and it would be best if you waited for her to regain her strength before trying for a child. Otherwise, it¡¯s not good for either the adult or the child."


    Had he not had a good relationship with Tan Zhenghong, he would not have offered that extra piece of advice.


    Tan Zhenghong promptly agreed, taking the advice to heart seriously.


    Even if he had no children in this life, it wouldn¡¯t matter as long as his wife was well.


    After paying the consultation fee, Sun Erhu went back with the doctor to get the medicine, while Tan Zhenghong stayed by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s side all the time.


    Seeing how uncomfortable Qiao Duo¡¯er looked, he was almost consumed by self-reproach; his wife must have been completely worn out.


    It was his own uselessness; if he hadn¡¯t broken his leg, his wife wouldn¡¯t have fallen ill.


    When Sun Erhu returned, Tan Zhenghong was still in a daze. He had never seen Brother Hong so worried before.


    It seemed Brother Hong loved his sister-in-law more than he had imagined.


    "Brother Hong, sister-in-law just has a fever. She¡¯ll be okay," Sun Erhu tried to reassure him. A headache and fever were normal, weren¡¯t they?


    Tan Zhenghong murmured gloomily, "Yes, I know."


    But what good was knowing?


    He was just worried, fearfully anticipating losing her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said she was "reborn from someone else¡¯s corpse." No one knew when she came, so could she leave quietly as well?


    He couldn¡¯t share his worries with anyone and had to bear them alone, afraid others would think of his wife as some kind of a monster.


    "The big sister-in-law is preparing the medicine, Brother Hong, you should eat something first."


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head; how could he think about eating now?


    "I¡¯ll go cook some rice porridge."


    After he spoke, Tan Zhenghong headed out, but Sun Erhu quickly grabbed him. "Brother Hong, making some rice porridge isn¡¯t a problem for me. You just stay with sister-in-law; I¡¯ll heat some more water for you to use to wipe her down."


    Brother Hong¡¯s leg had just healed; he shouldn¡¯t be exerting himself needlessly.


    Sun Erhu pushed Tan Zhenghong back into the chair without further discussion and shoved a bowl of rice into his hands.


    "It won¡¯t matter if you starve, but don¡¯t let sister-in-law suffer from a lack of care!" Sun Erhu left the room after dropping that line, hurrying off to get busy.


    Tan Zhenghong ate a few bites of his meal absentmindedly before getting up to wash the dishes.


    "Your wife is sick?" Wang Clan came over to show concern.


    Now that Fourth Boss¡¯s leg was healed, she ought to visit more often.


    She wanted to let those idle gossips in the village know one thing: that the Relationship Termination Letter was nothing but a scrap of paper. Let¡¯s see who would dare to laugh at her after this!


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Uncle Wu has already taken a look. She¡¯s caught a bit of a cold, but rest for a few days should be enough."


    Little Wang Clan snorted disdainfully and said, "Well, it¡¯s good it¡¯s nothing serious. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t the whole Big Willow Village have to come and help out?"


    "If you can¡¯t speak properly, then just get lost," Tan Zhenghong snapped, fed up. He was almost out of his mind with worry, and this woman was spouting off cold words, asking for trouble, wasn¡¯t she?


    Without any hurry, Little Wang Clan retorted to her mother-in-law, "Mom, are you just going to watch him talk to me like this? After all, I¡¯m his sister-in-law!"


    "If you don¡¯t want to be here, you can leave," Wang Clan said, glaring at Little Wang Clan.


    Their relationship had been far from harmonious since the separation.


    Little Wang Clan resented the fact that Wang Clan only knew how to reap the benefits, while Wang Clan found Little Wang Clan to be a dawdler, taking ages to complete the simplest tasks.


    Clenching her teeth, Little Wang Clan couldn¡¯t believe Wang Clan would embarrass her like this, leaving her to awkwardly stand aside.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke indifferently, "I need to go in and take care of my wife." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, he entered the house, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation.

 Chapter 172 - 174: Administering Medicine_1

    Chapter 172: Chapter 174: Administering Medicine_1Wang Clan pursed her lips and sensibly returned to the Main Room.


    He didn¡¯t say much, but he was extremely displeased in his heart.


    Hmph, another one who forgets his mother as soon as he¡¯s gotten a wife!


    When the mother-in-law is sick, she¡¯s all fussing and busy, not even having time to talk to her own mother!


    After they had left, Erhu asked weakly, "Weren¡¯t they as close as can be before? How come they act like enemies now?"


    "It seems like the sister-in-law has been badmouthing mother behind her back, and mother overheard it," whispered Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Sun Erhu nodded, understanding that both had hearts as sharp as needle tips and were known to haggle over everything; there was no way they could get along well when left alone.


    At this moment, he felt like telling them: Serves you right!


    Who asked them to be blinded by money?


    Who asked them to be so heartless and to split the family apart at Brother Hong¡¯s most difficult time?


    If it weren¡¯t for sister-in-law suddenly regaining her clarity, he didn¡¯t even want to think about what might have become of them, but what about them?


    They were clearly Brother Hong¡¯s family, yet they only thought about their own benefits.


    Once Hu¡¯s Clan finished preparing the medicine, she brought it into the room, "You feed the sister-in-law in a bit, I need to go back and check on Da Ya."


    Tan Zhenghong thanked her, and Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly scurried back.


    After letting the medicine cool down a bit, Tan Zhenghong gently woke Qiao Duo¡¯er, who reluctantly opened her eyes, not wanting to move at all.


    She could taste the bitterness even before drinking it; she didn¡¯t want to drink the medicine.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to close her eyes again, Tan Zhenghong quickly propped her up to lean against him and brought the bowl to her lips.


    "Wife, wake up, you will get better after you drink the medicine," Tan Zhenghong coaxed his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows and then turned her head away.


    After thinking for a moment, Tan Zhenghong said, "There¡¯s warm water here. Drink some water after the medicine, and then I¡¯ll get you some apricot kernels, okay?"


    Seeing his earnest pleading, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only open her mouth and take a small sip, her brows nearly knitting together.


    "Wife, if you drink it all at once, you will be done," said Tan Zhenghong with patience. His wife had become as petulant as a child the moment she fell ill.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed downwards with her body; she didn¡¯t want to drink the medicine, she just wanted to sleep.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly supported her, "How about I drink it with you? We¡¯ll split it half and half."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted her mouth, but finally, she opened up and finished off the medicine in the bowl.


    It was bitter, with the bitterness reaching deep into her heart.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly put down the medicine bowl and passed her the warm water, only after two sips did the bitterness in her mouth diminish.


    "Erhu made rice soup, and it¡¯s just the right temperature. Won¡¯t you have a bit?" asked Zheng Hong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, and Tan Zhenghong could only let her lie down first, then he brought over a few apricot kernels, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still shook her head.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a sense of defeat; he had been taken care of very well by his wife when he broke his leg, but now that his wife was sick with a fever, there was so little he could do.


    "Then you sleep for a bit. If there¡¯s anything, just tell me. I¡¯ll be right here with you," he said.


    Before Tan Zhenghong could finish speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already closed her eyes.


    Her sleep was restless, filled with scenes from her previous life. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The brutal training, the merciless blades ¨C she was once again the decisive secret agent, capable of executing each mission flawlessly and always receiving commendations, but she disliked it all.


    For that world was cold, devoid of any warmth, as if life was continuously being lost all around.


    She didn¡¯t like this kind of life at all!

 Chapter 173 - 175 _1

    Chapter 173: Chapter 175 _1Qiao Duo¡¯er desperately tried to struggle out of that world, but every attempt ended in failure.


    That world seemed to have a powerful suction force she couldn¡¯t resist.


    Suddenly, she remembered Tan Zhenghong. She liked the way he smiled, the feeling of him liking her, and his indulgence toward her.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt someone tugging at her clothes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er abruptly opened her eyes and grabbed the person¡¯s wrist. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A murderous look flashed in her eyes, but her hand was so weak and soft that she couldn¡¯t muster any strength.


    Tan Zhenghong steadied himself and said softly, "Wife, you have a fever and your body is all sweaty. Let me wipe you down to make you a bit more comfortable."


    Hearing the familiar voice, Qiao Duo¡¯er then let go.


    Thank goodness she had struggled out of the dream, and thank goodness she was still in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s world.


    Without realizing it, she had become so attached to Tan Zhenghong.


    "Should I ask big sister-in-law to come?" Tan Zhenghong thought of Hu¡¯s Clan.


    They were both women, so his wife probably wouldn¡¯t object, right?


    But he hadn¡¯t anticipated Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reaction to be even more intense; this was her privacy, she didn¡¯t want anyone to see, regardless of their gender.


    At this point, Tan Zhenghong was at a loss, but then he heard Qiao Duo¡¯er say, "You do it."


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her eyes again, it was already evening.


    With every move she made, Tan Zhenghong would ask anxiously, "Wife, how are you feeling?"


    "I need to go to the toilet," Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly.


    She was the very definition of ¡¯falling ill like a collapsing mountain¡¯, strong as an ox just yesterday, and now so wilted that she seemed to lack the strength to even lift a cup.


    Tan Zhenghong understood, "I¡¯ll go get you a chamber pot."


    Soon, Qiao Duo¡¯er was sitting on the chamber pot behind the curtain.


    She had been carried there by Tan Zhenghong, and the thought made her face burn with embarrassment.


    "Tan Zhenghong, can you please step out for a moment?" Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly requested.


    The curtain might block the view, but not the sound. Thinking that Tan Zhenghong could hear what was happening inside, she found it impossible to relieve herself.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed and went to the doorway.


    After getting dressed, Qiao Duo¡¯er emerged from behind the curtain.


    Only after returning to the bed did Qiao Duo¡¯er call out.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you to wait for me?" Tan Zhenghong glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She was enervated from the fever. What if she had fallen accidentally?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly said, "Am I really that frail? I slept all day and feel much better."

 Chapter 174 - 176 Feeding Pigs! _1

    Chapter 174: Chapter 176 Feeding Pigs! _1"That won¡¯t do either, your complexion looks very bad. You should just lie down obediently, are you hungry? I will get you something to eat." Tan Zhenghong said in a domineering tone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, why did she feel like Tan Zhenghong was taking revenge? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The tone and expression he used were almost identical to hers when she ordered him not to leave the bed.


    Well... Spending a lot of time together really does influence each other.


    Before long, Tan Zhenghong brought over a bowl of rice porridge and the scrambled eggs he hadn¡¯t touched at noon.


    Worried that Qiao Duo¡¯er might be hungry, he kept the food warm in the pot so that she could eat as soon as she woke up.


    Tan Zhenghong picked up a piece of egg and said like he was offering a treasure, "Wife, eat quickly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er protested, "I want to eat by myself."


    She just had a bit of a fever, not a broken arm; did he really need to feed her?


    Tan Zhenghong said naively, "Wife, I just love feeding you. Try it and if you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll make it again."


    He just liked being a little closer to his own wife and doing things that only he could do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt somewhat uncomfortable; being fed by someone else was indeed a novel experience.


    But seeing the expectation in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse.


    So, hesitating, she still steeled herself and ate. The eggs were overcooked and a bit bland, but she was satisfied that Tan Zhenghong could cook them thoroughly.


    As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Wife, how does it taste?"


    "Not bad," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a neutral evaluation.


    "As long as you think it¡¯s not bad, I will learn to cook from you in the future, so you can still eat well when you are sick."


    Tan Zhenghong said immediately, sure that he could make meals as delicious as his wife¡¯s.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, feeling suddenly sweet inside.


    This guy... he really knows how to please.


    Tan Zhenghong fed Qiao Duo¡¯er another spoonful of porridge, causing her to frown deeply.


    Feverish people already lack appetite, and the flavorless porridge made it impossible for her to swallow.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er forced herself to take a couple of bites, "I want to eat hand-pulled noodles, this has no taste."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately agreed, "Alright, I¡¯ll make them now. If you¡¯re hungry in the meantime, just eat some egg to tide you over."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head emphatically; she only wanted noodles now.


    Kneading dough was no challenge for Tan Zhenghong. He quickly mixed the dough, rolled it out with a rolling pin, and then cut it into thin strips, and there were the noodles.


    "Go to Erhu¡¯s House and bring back the braising sauce, heat it up and then return it to the jar, but keep a small bowl¡¯s worth, add some water and bring it to a boil. Then put the noodles in, and when they are cooked, just sprinkle some green onions and they can be served."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed Tan Zhenghong on how to make the noodles, which should be quite simple.


    Tan Zhenghong remembered carefully and then went out to boil the noodles.


    Taking advantage of the fire in the stove, he also braved the rain to pull out two green vegetables from Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s vegetable garden.


    Otherwise, just plain white noodles would definitely not whet his wife¡¯s appetite.


    In no time at all, Tan Zhenghong brought the noodles in, and only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er feel hungry at the smell.


    However, seeing the full bowl of noodles, she couldn¡¯t help asking, "Surely that¡¯s not all for me, is it?"


    "Mhm, you haven¡¯t eaten anything all day."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er criticized with a disgruntled expression, "You¡¯re treating me like a pig, I can¡¯t finish such a big bowl of noodles in a day."


    Tan Zhenghong looked at his wife¡¯s thin little frame, having forgotten that his wife¡¯s appetite was very small; she usually only ate more than half a bowl of rice.


    "Then I will serve it in a small bowl for you to eat."

 Chapter 175 - 177 Feeding with the Mouth_1

    Chapter 175: Chapter 177 Feeding with the Mouth_1However, Tan Zhenghong still hoped his wife could eat a bit more; only by eating more could she regain her strength.


    By the time he had served the food, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already sitting by the table.


    She didn¡¯t like to eat in bed, which made her feel as if she was extremely weak.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked at a few noodles and ate them. The noodles were chewy and perfectly seasoned with the sauce, and the vibrant green vegetables tasted not bad.


    Although the taste was okay, her head was dizzy and swollen, and she put down her chopsticks after barely eating half a bowl.


    Looking over at Tan Zhenghong, he was eating the leftover rice porridge she had just been eating.


    "Why aren¡¯t you eating the noodles?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, puzzled.


    "I¡¯ll just have the porridge; the noodles are for you."


    Tan Zhenghong said without hesitation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about it carefully; it seemed like Tan Zhenghong had developed a habit of saving the delicious food for her. When she first came over, Tan Zhenghong wanted to give her the only steamed bun he had.


    Had it not been for that steamed bun, she might not have stayed.


    It was his gesture then that had moved her.


    "I¡¯m already full, you should eat the noodles. It¡¯ll be a waste if you don¡¯t finish it."


    Tan Zhenghong touched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead; she was still feverish, and at once, he said, "Tomorrow I¡¯ll go to the town and find a doctor."


    "No need, I¡¯ll be better soon."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head firmly. Having a town doctor come to the village would cost Half Taels of Silver just for the consultation fee.


    Tan Zhenghong said, undeniably, "Stop fussing, your health is more important. We can earn more silver."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I don¡¯t want it, even if the doctor comes, I won¡¯t let him see me."


    Tan Zhenghong did not argue with Qiao Duo¡¯er anymore. Anyway, if it wasn¡¯t better by tomorrow, he would directly bring the doctor over.


    After dinner, Tan Zhenghong prepared bath water for Qiao Duo¡¯er, and while his wife was bathing, he hurriedly decocted the medicine.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er leisurely took a bath, and just as she sat down by the bed, a bowl of pitch-black medicine arrived.


    "I don¡¯t need to take medicine; I¡¯ll be fine after I do a few acupuncture points myself."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head away, unwilling to even look at the bowl of medicine.


    She knew that not taking her medicine wasn¡¯t being a good child, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to drink it; the damned Traditional Chinese Medicine smelled so bitter.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, noting that Qiao Duo¡¯er was in a much better mood than at noon, making it somewhat difficult to get her to take her medicine. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He put down the bowl and firmly pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er into his embrace.


    "If you won¡¯t drink it, I¡¯ll feed it to you with my mouth." Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand mischievously brushed across Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips.


    Mouth-to-mouth to give medicine? Leave it to Tan Zhenghong to come up with that.


    Now Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to shout: Who¡¯s the idiot who said that ancient people were reserved?


    They¡¯re clearly so filthy!


    With no entertainment in ancient times, they must have focused on teasing women; meanwhile, people in modern times are busy with phones and computers, too busy to mess around. Thinking about it that way, ancient people really knew how to have fun.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slapped away Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand and said discontentedly, "I¡¯m already ill, and yet you¡¯re still bullying me."


    Holding the bowl to his lips, just as Tan Zhenghong was about to touch his lips to it, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "I¡¯ll drink it myself."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth, held her breath, and downed all the medicine.


    Tan Zhenghong took the empty bowl and handed her a cup of water, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still had a bitter expression after drinking it.


    "Get me some dried apricots."


    It didn¡¯t take long for Qiao Duo¡¯er to get the dried apricots, but she couldn¡¯t taste anything because her tongue was numb.


    How she missed Western medicine!

 Chapter 176 - 178 Clean Before Kissing_1

    Chapter 176: Chapter 178 Clean Before Kissing_1Tan Zhenghong looked at his little wife¡¯s tempting appearance and couldn¡¯t help but steal a kiss.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er only felt a warm thing brush across her lips; before she could savor the feeling, Tan Zhenghong dodged away.


    "It¡¯s really bitter," he said seriously.


    He wanted to say that he hadn¡¯t kissed Qiao Duo¡¯er on purpose, he just wanted to taste how bitter the medicine was.


    The conclusion was that it was very bitter; no wonder his wife was unwilling to take it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, "Covered in sweat, you stink to death!"


    After speaking, she vigorously wiped the spot where he had kissed her, making her lips even rosier and more tempting.


    "Then I¡¯ll go take a shower, and I¡¯ll kiss you again afterward," Tan Zhenghong ruffled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair.


    This was his reward to Qiao Duo¡¯er for obediently taking her medicine.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t been feeling so weak, she would have surely beaten him up by now.


    Did she ever say that he could kiss her just because he had washed?


    Hmph, his mind was full of fanciful thoughts, not even sparing her, a seriously ill person.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong came out wearing just a pair of boxer shorts.


    His hair was still dripping with water, adding a touch of wild and unrestrained sexiness.


    Tan Zhenghong came over with a clean towel, "Let me dry your hair; you need to sleep early since you¡¯re sick."


    While speaking, he gently began to dry Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t go to sleep without her hair being dry.


    With Tan Zhenghong¡¯s perfect pressure, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s headache eased considerably. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he often covered her face with his hair and the towel, it would have been even more perfect.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently thought: His technique is quite clumsy, I¡¯ll have to give him more opportunities to practice in the future.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll pour you another glass of water. After you drink it, you can go to sleep."


    Tan Zhenghong touched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair, very satisfied with his work.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. The water was still hot, so she watched Tan Zhenghong dry off his own hair.


    She must be delirious from fever; otherwise, why would she think that Tan Zhenghong looked so handsome that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him?


    Tan Zhenghong smiled and asked, "Wife, do you feel like you¡¯ve found a treasure?"


    "Ever heard of being modest?"


    "Sure, I listened in outside the private school with Erhu before, recognized quite a few characters too!" Tan Zhenghong said proudly.


    There weren¡¯t many literate people in the village, and he was one of them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Then why don¡¯t you know to be a little modest?"


    This left Tan Zhenghong feeling deflated; apparently, his wife was being sarcastic.


    Wuwu, was he really not good enough?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved the fan in her hand, "Come and fan me, I¡¯m about to die of heat!"


    Tan Zhenghong hung the towel on the washstand and got onto the bed. Lying side by side with her, they both felt instantly complete in life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still sick, so Tan Zhenghong dared not to be too forceful.


    "Tan Zhenghong, I can¡¯t sleep," Qiao Duo¡¯er mumbled.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a sense of grievance, "Wife, why are you still calling me by my name?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can¡¯t I call your name?" Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t understand.


    "We¡¯ve been married for so long; calling me by my name feels so distant!" Tan Zhenghong was quite dissatisfied.


    Clearly, when his wife argued with others, she¡¯d refer to her man as my man, my Fourth Boss, or my Ah Hong, but when they were alone, she¡¯d always call out Tan Zhenghong!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Oh, you want a loving nickname. Let me think about it."


    Tan Zhenghong looked at his wife expectantly; he was quite eager to hear it!

 Chapter 177 - 179 Am I Naive?_1

    Chapter 177: Chapter 179 Am I Naive?_1"My sister-in-law and the others call you Fourth Boss, Erhu calls you Brother Hong, and some even call you Brother Hong, what should I call you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt troubled, she had a headache and couldn¡¯t think about so many things.


    Glancing at Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong wanted to say that whatever his wife called him was fine, but considering her unpredictable temperament, he held back.


    "How about I call you Hong Hong?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Tan Zhenghong coughed lightly twice, that...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er came up with another idea, "Then how about Si Si?"


    "Can¡¯t we think of something more normal?" Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but interject.


    He was a man, a normal and masculine man, could Hong Hong and Si Si really describe him?


    They sounded ridiculously sissy!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. Was she supposed to call him ¡¯Sir¡¯ or ¡¯My lord¡¯?


    Damn it, she¡¯d rather die than call him that; the mere thought sent a shiver down her spine.


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally said, "Forget it, what does it matter what I call you? As long as you know it¡¯s you I¡¯m calling."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t manage to come up with anything suitable either, and let it go, it seemed that only Qiao Duo¡¯er called him by his full name.


    Looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er again, she was playing with her hair around her fingers, but her complexion didn¡¯t look too good.


    "Wife, sleep well and I¡¯ll pick peaches for you to eat tomorrow. The purple peaches from that tree are especially delicious, and I can string you a bracelet with the leftover pits; people say it wards off evil."


    Tan Zhenghong was talking to Qiao Duo¡¯er, but she felt like he was talking to his daughter.


    Was she really that childish?


    "Do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old child?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said discontentedly.


    "You don¡¯t cry or fuss, you just like to throw little temper tantrums. You must be at least five years old," he said with a chuckle.


    Tan Zhenghong was happy, he liked his feisty little wife. It meant she saw him as one of her own, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her hand to pinch his arm, but the man had already tensed his muscles, so her plan failed.


    Tan Zhenghong laughed softly, feeling quite pleased at the moment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed, "I don¡¯t want to talk to you, I¡¯m going to sleep."


    She had slept for a long time and was sure she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night, but after lying down for a bit, she felt sleepy again.


    No need to think, it was surely because of that bitter medicine she had drunk.


    In the middle of the night, Tan Zhenghong suddenly woke up and quickly touched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead. It was even hotter than before she went to sleep.


    His drowsiness vanished instantly and he hurriedly brought in cold water to cool her down.


    After changing the towel twice, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead was still burning hot.


    Tan Zhenghong then took out a pot of wine from under the bed. One contained ginseng wine, and the other was ordinary wine.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had used the ordinary wine to rub on his injured leg. His leg had healed, and the wine was almost gone¡ªhe poured out just over half a bowl. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at the small pot under the bed and quickly looked away.


    If he used ginseng wine to cool down his wife, she might kill him when she woke up.


    But if it really came down to it, he wouldn¡¯t be able to worry about that.


    Before untying the front of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s clothes, Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "Wife, I¡¯m going to rub some alcohol on you to bring down the fever, if you don¡¯t say anything, I¡¯ll take that as your agreement."


    Of course, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t respond, and only then did Tan Zhenghong carefully start unbuttoning.


    Thankfully, his wife was very quiet this time.


    He dampened the cloth with alcohol and wiped her chest, palms, and soles of the feet, followed by cold water. This way, her temperature was quickly reduced.

 Chapter 178 - 180 Cute Little Panties_1

    Chapter 178: Chapter 180 Cute Little Panties_1His wife clenched her teeth tightly the whole time, clearly in discomfort with such a high fever, yet she stubbornly kept silent.


    Tan Zhenghong said softly, "Wife, how about you don¡¯t play the hero anymore, okay?"


    He didn¡¯t care what Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s past life had been like, and he didn¡¯t care whether Qiao Duo¡¯er was willing or not; all he knew was that Qiao Duo¡¯er was his wife, and he would always protect her.


    From now on, she would just be a common little wife, responsible for being happy.


    Soon the temperature rebounded, and Tan Zhenghong repeated the action he had just done.


    After several such cycles, the temperature finally stabilized a bit.


    After doing all this, he went out to boil another half pot of water.


    Once boiled, he mixed the hot water with the cooled water from the kettle to make warm water and then fed it to Qiao Duo¡¯er. Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was very thirsty, drank two cups of water in one go.


    After she drank the water, she began to sweat, and Tan Zhenghong finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Sweating indicated that the fever would soon subside, but Tan Zhenghong became even more careful, knowing that excessive sweating could lead to dehydration.


    So whenever Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips became dry, he hurriedly fed her some water, making sure it was neither too little nor too much.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s clothes were all wet. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong wiped her down, the upper body was easier since he had seen it a few times already. Although still excited, he was able to restrain himself.


    Maybe just taking a couple more glances...


    When it came to the lower body, Tan Zhenghong hesitated.


    Should he remove them?


    Or not?


    If he didn¡¯t, she would certainly be uncomfortable, but if he did, he feared his wife might kill him.


    After much internal struggle, he bit the bullet, thinking being ¡¯killed¡¯ would be better than letting his wife catch a cold from wearing wet clothes.


    Besides, his wife probably wouldn¡¯t really lay a hand on him, right?


    Tan Zhenghong turned sideways and reached for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waistband.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued to sleep deeply, so Tan Zhenghong then moved to the foot of the bed to start pulling off her trousers.


    He kept his head down, afraid of seeing what he shouldn¡¯t.


    He really wasn¡¯t taking advantage¡ªhis actions were genuinely out of concern for his wife, who was ill, and he wouldn¡¯t let his mind wander to other thoughts...


    Tan Zhenghong did countless mental preparations, but still felt like a big pervert, even imagining Qiao Duo¡¯er scolding him when she woke up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shivered slightly, probably feeling cold, and Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare to hesitate any longer.


    After a couple of tries, he realized he couldn¡¯t pull them off.


    Having no choice, he had to sit in the middle of the bed. He needed to lift up his wife¡¯s buttocks to slide the trousers down to her ankles, and only then could he pull them off from the feet up.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands were shaking, and he couldn¡¯t help but despise himself.


    His wife was feeling cold, so what was there to hesitate about?


    She was his wife, and sooner or later he would see her completely, and they would do even more intimate things together.


    After taking a deep breath, he finally lifted Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist, and as he slid down her trousers, Tan Zhenghong was dumbfounded.


    How come there were clothes inside her trousers?


    It was a tiny triangular garment that just covered the important parts.


    He had seen his wife making this thing before, but he never imagined this was how it was worn.


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t tell if he was disappointed or relieved.


    He swiftly wrung out the towel, wiped her down, and then immediately dressed her in long trousers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slept comfortably, but Tan Zhenghong was wide awake, with the image of the tiny triangular panties floating around in his head.


    Although he hadn¡¯t seen anything specific, he was still aroused.


    It wasn¡¯t that his self-control was poor; it was that his wife was too tempting.


    Now, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s grievance was about why his wife had made that strange thing to wear?

 Chapter 179 -s 180-181 Anxious_1

    Chapter 179: Chapters 180-181 Anxious_1His wife had been clenching her teeth tightly all along, surely in much discomfort from such high fever, yet she stubbornly didn¡¯t make a sound.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke softly, "Wife, how about you stop being a hero from now on?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn¡¯t care what Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s previous life had been like, nor whether she was willing or not, he only knew that Qiao Duo¡¯er was his wife and he would always protect her.


    From now on, she would be an ordinary little wife, responsible only for being happy.


    Before long, her temperature rebounded, and Tan Zhenghong repeated what he had just done.


    After several such repetitions, her temperature finally stabilized somewhat.


    Having done all this, he went out to boil half a pot of water.


    After boiling it, he diluted it with the cooled water in the kettle before feeding it to Qiao Duo¡¯er. Duo¡¯er was so thirsty she drank two cups of water in one go.


    After drinking the water, she started to sweat and Tan Zhenghong finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Sweating indicated the fever would soon recede, but Tan Zhenghong became even more careful, knowing that too much sweating could lead to weakness.


    So whenever Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips became dry, he would promptly give her some water, careful not to give too much or too little.


    Figuring Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t wake up for a while, he decided to take this opportunity to head into the mountains.


    Tan Zhenghong grabbed a basket and left on tiptoe, marveling at how good it felt to be able to walk, all thanks to Qiao Duo. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t even bear to think of what it would be like if he were crippled.


    For Qiao Duo, coming here was an adventure, and it was the same for him!


    Walking briskly, Tan Zhenghong first checked the traps he¡¯d set for wild chickens in the mountains, and then picked some wild vegetables and mushrooms, even harvesting some purple peaches.


    Anxious about Qiao Duo¡¯er, he hurried back home after finishing his tasks.


    He had risen early, and upon his return, the Tan Family¡¯s home was still quiet, with only Hu¡¯s Clan up and about.


    "Fourth Boss, how¡¯s your wife doing?"


    Tan Zhenghong replied, "She had a fever again in the night, but it eased up by morning."


    After speaking, he strode towards his home, leaving Hu¡¯s Clan to sigh deeply. All were men of the Tan Family; why was the difference between them so vast?


    She truly envied Qiao Duo¡¯er, but Qiao Duo¡¯er deserved Tan Zhenghong¡¯s wholehearted devotion.


    Tan Zhenghong set down his basket, washed his hands, and immediately went to check on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition.


    Although she was still a bit hot, it was much better than during the night.


    Yawning, Tan Zhenghong felt sleepy after all the toil and lay down next to Qiao Duo¡¯er. Soon, he also fell into a deep sleep.


    The moment Qiao Duo¡¯er stirred, Tan Zhenghong awoke.


    He looked at her anxiously, "Are you feeling any better?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I feel much more comfortable now. Did I have a fever again last night?"


    She had been slightly aware during the night but her eyelids were too heavy to open. She was all hazy and couldn¡¯t remember what happened.


    Ah, why did this bastard have to be so nice to her? Now she felt pressured.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er got up and went behind the curtain to the restroom, this time she was in a hurry and didn¡¯t care that Tan Zhenghong was still in the room.


    When she came out, Tan Zhenghong was waiting expectantly outside the curtain.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said, "Wife, don¡¯t be angry."


    "Who said I¡¯m angry?" Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at someone, wondering why she felt like he was acting like he had gotten away with something.


    "Um... I picked some mushrooms and wild vegetables this morning, how would you like them? I¡¯ll cook for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced over, noticing the wild vegetables and mushrooms still wet with dew; she frowned at Tan Zhenghong, "You went into the mountains this morning?"


    "I didn¡¯t go far, just picked some vegetables around the edges."


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly explained, having forgotten the words his wife had told him¡ªnot to walk too much yet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression softened somewhat, "I¡¯ll go cook some porridge, you rest on the bed."

 Chapter 180 - 182: Puppy_1

    Chapter 180: Chapter 182: Puppy_1"Wife, my leg has truly healed," Tan Zhenghong saw that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression was off, immediately changed his words, "Wife, I¡¯ll just sit and boil the water."


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er agree, but once outside, Tan Zhenghong completely forgot his words. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He took over all the washing and cleaning chores, intercepting them immediately whenever Qiao Duo¡¯er reached out to do anything.


    As fate would have it, Hu¡¯s Clan had come over, so Qiao Duo¡¯er could only let him off for the time being.


    "Sister-in-law, Butcher Chen delivered some meat today, I saw you were all asleep and didn¡¯t disturb you. I¡¯ve already cleaned it."


    Hu¡¯s Clan was somewhat anxious, fearing that Qiao Duo¡¯er would find her meddlesome.


    "From now on, you can just receive those cuts of meat yourself."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er acknowledged with a sound; this wasn¡¯t a big deal to her.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded her head eagerly, "Then I¡¯ll have Da Ya record the weight from now on, so you can tally the accounts with Butcher Chen."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er trusted her so much; she couldn¡¯t let Qiao Duo¡¯er down.


    "Hmm, just put the meat in the pot and stew it, I¡¯ll come over and help after breakfast."


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly refused, "I can manage on my own, you need to rest as you¡¯re still sick."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t refuse further, "Then I¡¯ll send over the spices later."


    After Hu¡¯s Clan left, Tan Zhenghong had already washed everything that needed washing, making Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s job easier.


    She finely chopped the wild vegetables and diced the mushrooms, then poured a bit of oil into the pot, waited for it to heat up before tossing in the mushrooms to saut¨¦. When she could smell the aroma, she added water and rice.


    Tan Zhenghong put the firewood into the stove and then came out, using a small stove to start brewing the medicine.


    Seeing all this, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was so dark it could drip ink, but in the end, she said nothing.


    Well... she did not want to bother Tan Zhenghong again at night.


    With nothing else to do, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to wash the clothes for the past few days, as the recent rains meant they were nearly out of clean clothing.


    After hanging the clothes to dry, Qiao Duo¡¯er checked the pot; the porridge had become thick. Only then did she add the wild vegetables, seasoned with salt, and once it was boiling again, a pot of fragrant porridge was ready.


    Enticed by the aroma, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s stomach embarrassingly growled twice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said laughingly, "Go get some chopsticks and come eat!"


    Tan Zhenghong immediately grabbed some chopsticks, eager to taste the porridge his wife had made.


    Indeed, the taste was sensational!


    He had already memorized how Qiao Duo¡¯er made it and thought after a few more tries, he might be able to produce the same flavor.


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er packed the spices in a cloth bag and delivered them to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    She also checked on the marinade; the broth was clear and bright in color, its taste increasingly rich¡ªthe pot of marinade was well-maintained.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was reliable, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still needed to keep some secrets, such as the spice recipe and the tricks of the trade.


    To get a nice color for the marinated meat, she needed to fry some caramel coloring every few days and add it to the marinade.


    Frying caramel coloring meant stirring sugar in a pot until it melted and turned into a caramel color.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully fried the sugar until it turned color, just as a girl happened to pass by her door, her eyes red.


    "Chao Lian, what¡¯s happened?" Hu¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    "My dog Wang Cai gave birth to two puppies, my mother won¡¯t let us keep them, told me to get rid of them," Lin Qiaolian¡¯s eyes turned red again.


    Hu¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t know what to say to comfort her, knowing the girl cherished the dog as a treasure, but how could farmers who were struggling to feed themselves worry about dogs?


    Qiao Duo knew the girl; every time she passed by her house, she would greet her as sister-in-law, a rather shy girl.

 Chapter 181 - 183 You’re Not Being Honest_1

    Chapter 181: Chapter 183 You¡¯re Not Being Honest_1"How old is your little puppy now?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously.


    Her family threw away quite a few bones every day, so keeping a dog wouldn¡¯t be too bad.


    "It¡¯s forty-five days old and can already eat," Chao Lian¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, as she really didn¡¯t want to throw the puppy away.


    It was so young, it might not survive if abandoned outside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er peeked into the bamboo basket at the little puppies, one black and one white. Their dark eyes made them look quite cute and clever.


    "Why don¡¯t you let me take care of them?" Qiao Duo¡¯er reached out and touched the two little things.


    Heaven knows she had wanted to own a dog so badly in her past life, she could barely walk by one without stopping.


    But she used to travel all over the place and was often away from home for several months at a time for training, so she never got one.


    Chao Lian said excitedly, "Thank you, sister-in-law, they¡¯re very smart, never pee in the house, and even know how to watch the door."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the two little ones over, absolutely delighted.


    Chao Lian was both happy and sad. Wang Cai had given birth to these two, and it had always been she who took care of them. She had come to think of them as her own children.


    She knew the puppies would be better off in the Tan family than in her own home, but she still found it hard to let go.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t very familiar with the people in the village; she could count on her two hands the number of villagers she could name. Currently, she was ill, and had a load of plans for the future, such as building a house, opening a store, and so on, which meant she needed to find someone else to help out.


    Chao Lian was deft and skillful, an excellent candidate.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Chao Lian, would you like to come and help out at my place?"


    "You little rascal, why do you have to make everything your business? They¡¯re just two puppies, how precious can they be? Can¡¯t you do your own chores at home?"


    A voice suddenly erupted, and following it, they saw a woman who seemed quite fierce.


    Chao Lian timidly replied, "I... I¡¯ll go back right now."


    Sun Erhu had mentioned Chao Lian¡¯s background before. She was the child of Lin Jinshun¡¯s late wife, who had died of complications during childbirth. Later, Lin Jinshun took another wife, probably the one in front of them now.


    "Chao Lian, are you agreeing to what I¡¯ve proposed?" Qiao Duo¡¯er called out to Chao Lian.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan raised her eyebrows, "What were you discussing with my Chao Lian?"


    She looked as if bracing for a fight. Chao Lian was fourteen this year and of marrying age, but Jiang had always held her back.


    After all, Chao Lian was the one the household depended on for chores, and she could earn some money with her needlework.


    "I asked Chao Lian to help out at my house," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied noncommittally.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s spirits lifted, "From the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, huh? You want my Chao Lian to help out, how much would you pay per month?"


    "Mom, we¡¯re all villagers here, why talk about money?" Chao Lian weakly protested.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan shot Chao Lian a glance. The girl was indeed a financial burden, thinking of working for someone else without pay!


    Didn¡¯t she have enough chores at home?


    "I can give you ten Wen per day, you come at noon and stay for dinner."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er inwardly had little respect for Chao Lian¡¯s stepmother, who she could tell was nothing but trouble.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan replied indignantly, "That sounds a bit mean, doesn¡¯t it? You¡¯re earning so much, and you only offer my Chao Lian ten Wen."


    "Then I¡¯ll have to find someone else."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted that ten Wen was on the low side, but there were plenty of people in Big Willow Village who would be willing to help. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Most of the women in those days only earned a little money by selling their needlework, and even if they stitched from dawn till dusk, they might not make ten Wen.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan thought for a moment. If Chao Lian started at noon, she could still do some work in the morning and earn ten Wen. Surely it wasn¡¯t a bad deal.

 Chapter 182 - 184 Did You Say Something Wrong?_1

    Chapter 182: Chapter 184 Did You Say Something Wrong?_1"Ten Wen it is, then. She¡¯s just a girl; she won¡¯t be able to do much work anyway," Jiang¡¯s Clan said, frowning.


    Actually, she still felt like it was a loss, but when Qiao Duo¡¯er said she¡¯d immediately find someone else if she disagreed, Jiang¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t dare say anything more. After all, missing this opportunity would mean an even greater loss.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ignored Jiang¡¯s Clan and turned to Chao Lian, "Are you willing to do it?"


    Without hesitation, Chao Lian agreed; she just didn¡¯t want to stay at home.


    At home, her stepmother was harsh, and her father, oblivious; all she ever got was mistreatment.


    "Aren¡¯t you going back to work? You think you¡¯re some town lady, always waiting for others to wait on you!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Chao Lian will stay and work today. If you¡¯d like to help, I don¡¯t mind, but this is all the pay you¡¯ll get."


    "If you work well, that¡¯s great, but if you mess things up, don¡¯t bother coming back,"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan glanced at Chao Lian, then quickly went out.


    Chao Lian bit her lip, her face turning red with embarrassment.


    She was already a grown girl; why should she be scolded in front of others?


    "Don¡¯t mind her, come inside with me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t want to bother with Jiang¡¯s Clan, and cared even less for her words.


    Chao Lian noticed that Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t mocking her at all, and she finally relaxed a bit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also called for Hu¡¯s Clan; she planned to hold a small meeting.


    "From now on, you two will take over the work with the braised meat, including selling it," Qiao Duo¡¯er said straightforwardly.


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly waved her hands, "Sister, I... I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t do it well."


    "I haven¡¯t said I¡¯m not going to manage anything. There won¡¯t be any problems, and Erhu will also be helping. Big sister¡ªno, from now on I should call you Sister Lan, and you shouldn¡¯t call me sister-in-law; just use my name."


    Hu¡¯s Clan felt a tinge of sadness; she was no longer part of the Tan Family.


    But perhaps it was for the best; she shouldn¡¯t harbor any expectations anymore.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you."


    "I¡¯ll discuss the salary with you now. Sister Lan, Forty Wen a day; Chao Lian, Twenty Wen a day. It will be paid at the end of the month, and if we earn more, there will be a bonus."


    Lin Qiaolian was stunned, "Sister, did... did you misspeak?"


    Wasn¡¯t it agreed to be Ten Wen?


    "A girl needs to have some money for herself, to have some backbone in her own home and in her in-laws¡¯ home," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    The most important thing was that she couldn¡¯t stand Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s entitled attitude.


    Whether it¡¯s a birth mother or a stepmother, one should never be without a conscience.


    Unbidden, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought of her own biological mother; how heartless must a mother be to sell her own daughter?


    Sigh, she just hoped she would never have any dealings with that family again in this lifetime.


    Now, Chao Lian¡¯s eyes reddened even more; besides her mother, no one had ever considered her welfare like this.


    "Thank you, sister, but this is... too much..."


    Hu¡¯s Clan also nodded her head. Even the men going out to work only made Twenty to Thirty Wen a day; how could she accept Forty Wen?


    "There are no ¡¯buts.¡¯ In the future, we¡¯ll earn money together," Qiao Duo¡¯er said confidently.


    Only then did Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian nod. They would definitely work hard to deserve the wages that Qiao Duo¡¯er was offering.


    When they had gone, Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her forehead; it seemed she was feverish again, so annoying!


    She admitted that she might have been a bit too active recently, but did it have to be this troublesome?


    When Tan Zhenghong entered the room, he caught Qiao Duo¡¯er in the midst of sighing.


    "What¡¯s got you down?" he asked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "It¡¯s this wretched body; there¡¯s never anything good about it."


    Her period hadn¡¯t come for almost two months now, and on top of that, she was constantly plagued with headaches and fever. The very thought made her head ache even

 Chapter 183 - 185 I’m Your Man_1

    Chapter 183: Chapter 185 I¡¯m Your Man_1"Wife, don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll go to town later to find a doctor to take a look at you," Tan Zhenghong said softly. "But we can¡¯t rush things; if we nurse you back to health slowly, your body will surely recover."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, still in a bad mood.


    "Now that you¡¯re my wife, you¡¯re not any kind of hero. Having me to protect you is enough."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was covered in black lines. When had she ever been a hero?


    Uh... she was a special agent!


    Tan Zhenghong thought Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t agree, so he added, "If I can¡¯t even protect my own wife, what kind of man am I? You see, I¡¯ve learned martial arts, and I¡¯ve even caught wild boars and Bear Blind Man. I absolutely won¡¯t let anyone bully you!"


    "Actually, being sick hasn¡¯t been without its benefits. Look, the spots on your face have faded."


    With that said by Tan Zhenghong, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately found a mirror to look at herself, and indeed, the spots on her face had faded considerably.


    Without the quail-egg-like skin, her attractiveness immediately climbed a notch.


    This finally gave Qiao Duo¡¯er some comfort for her injured heart.


    The body of her original self was in terrible shape; it definitely couldn¡¯t be healed in one or two days, and dreaming of developing the physique of a special agent was even more fantastical.


    It had taken her last life ten years of hard training before she started taking on missions. Expecting to achieve that overnight was just wishful thinking¡ªher body would tell her that much.


    However, once she had recovered her health, she still planned to find a way to improve her combat power.


    In the future, if any Tom, Dick, or Harry came knocking on her door, she could beat them up, and just thinking about it felt exhilarating.


    "I¡¯ve set up a little nest by the stove. Want to go see it?" Tan Zhenghong smoothly changed the subject at the right time. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up, and she strode out to see.


    Tan Zhenghong had built a nest out of wooden planks and even made a thatched roof on top, making it look like a miniature wooden cabin, practical and pretty.


    The two little ones seemed a bit shy around strangers, but Qiao Duo¡¯er squatted down and stroked their heads.


    Seemingly sensing her kindness, they even wagged their little tails.


    "Wife, there¡¯s still a bowl of porridge from this morning, should we give it to them?"


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er looking delighted, the corners of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but turn up.


    Having two dogs to keep her company wouldn¡¯t be bad. Then, when he went hunting in the mountains, his wife wouldn¡¯t feel lonely at home alone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and found a chipped plate to serve as their food bowl.


    The two little ones joyfully ate together, and soon the plate was licked clean.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked their round bellies with a finger and said with squinted eyes, "You two greedy guts, from now on you¡¯ll be called Fatty and Fat Fat."


    The two small creatures didn¡¯t understand human words and thought Qiao Duo was just playing with them, so they wiggled their little butts and cuddled closer to her.


    One wonders how they would feel if they knew the real meaning of their names?


    After playing with them for a while, Tan Zhenghong finally urged her to go back and rest.


    With a smile, Hu¡¯s Clan said, "Those two little pups have found a good home, you can rest easy now."


    "Sister Duo¡¯er is really kind!" Chao Lian nodded vigorously.


    At the Tan Family, the two little ones would surely not be beaten or starve, and to the dogs, that would be a life of happiness.


    "Indeed, no wonder Fourth Boss is so devoted to her."


    "Seeing them together is really enviable, all smiles and so carefree."


    "You¡¯ll also come of age soon, and will be able to find a perfect mate yourself."


    "Sister Lan, how can you tease me too?"


    While Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian chatted and laughed, their hands didn¡¯t slow down, and they would surely finish braising the meat by noon.

 Chapter 184 - 186 I’m Blind!_1

    Chapter 184: Chapter 186 I¡¯m Blind!_1After lunch, when Tan Zhenghong was preparing to go to town to get the doctor, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered the treasure at home.


    It was the Wild Ginseng she had found last time.


    Ginseng is the king of all herbs, capable of treating all types of deficiency syndromes, and now it could come in handy.


    However, her body was too weak, so she had to control the dosage and replenish her body slowly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er steeped a slice of Ginseng in water, and after half an hour, she steamed it over the water for another half an hour; this was the legendary Ginseng soup.


    Actually, there is a specialized vessel for making Ginseng soup, with two layers of lids to prevent the Ginseng¡¯s essence from escaping.


    But without this tool, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only cover the bowl with another bowl to achieve some level of sealing.


    Once the Ginseng soup was ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er drank it while it was hot.


    Soon, a layer of fine sweat appeared on her body, and her cheeks turned rosy, as if she were drunk.


    Now, Tan Zhenghong, who had been skeptical at first, was relieved.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was suffering from a heat-induced illness, and sweating actually meant her body was cooling down.


    After drinking the Ginseng soup, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt energetic, but she still lay in bed for about half an hour.


    The Ginseng she had harvested this time must have been at least ten years old; although it wasn¡¯t as rare as the thousand-year-old Ginseng, it was still very precious. She would be wasting it if she started jumping around at this moment.


    When she got up, Tan Zhenghong had already washed the purple peaches, and just as Qiao Duo¡¯er was feeling particularly thirsty, she took one and bit into it.


    The purple peach was sour and sweet, just the way Qiao Duo¡¯er liked it.


    "Don¡¯t overeat. I¡¯ll pick more for you when you crave them again," Tan Zhenghong said seriously.


    He had heard from the elderly that people with heat-induced illnesses should eat fewer peaches; one just to satisfy the craving would do.


    Tan Zhenghong brought some to Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian as well, but knowing his intention, Qiao Duo¡¯er coquettishly said, "I don¡¯t want leftovers from others, you take a bite first."


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips; he didn¡¯t like sour things, and eating twelve purple peaches at once was a bit of a challenge for him.


    But could he refuse when his own wife had asked for just the peach pits he had bitten? Of course, the answer was no, so he started to eat, and only when his teeth felt like they were about to fall out from the sourness did he finally collect enough peach pits.


    Tan Zhenghong washed the peach pits and wiped them dry with a cloth, then used an awl to pierce a hole in each one of them.


    The peach pits, round and slightly larger than pearls, were not easy to pierce through.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought over a chair and sat next to Tan Zhenghong to watch, fanning him with a large palm-leaf fan when she saw him sweating profusely.


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong thought he would be willing to eat twelve purple peaches every day!


    It took Tan Zhenghong nearly half an hour to finish dealing with all the peach pits. Qiao Duo took out a roll of red cotton thread from the sewing box and braided it into a three-strand plait before threading it through the pits.


    When she was done, Tan Zhenghong personally adorned her with it.


    This bracelet had virtually no cost, but Qiao Duo¡¯er cherished it immensely because it was filled with sentiment.


    Tan Zhenghong held Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand and gently caressed the bracelet.


    At this time, Sun Erhu had also returned, and as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw a charming figure.


    For a moment, Sun Erhu felt a bit self-conscious.


    He had just come back from the mountains, with plenty of dirt on him¡ªit must look terrible!


    Sigh, if he had known, he would have gone back to take a bath before coming over.


    While Chao Lian was not paying attention, he quickly slipped into Brother Hong¡¯s room.


    The moment he walked in, he thought he was going blind!


    He swore he had no idea that in broad daylight, Brother Hong would be holding his sister-in-law¡¯s hand and acting so silly!


    Weren¡¯t intimate acts supposed to be done behind closed doors?


    S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 185 - 187 Bath Time!_1

    Chapter 185: Chapter 187 Bath Time!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er shot a glare at Sun Erhu. Hadn¡¯t this guy already kicked the habit of barging into rooms without knocking? Why was it happening again today?


    The sudden intrusion made her feel so embarrassed...


    Tan Zhenghong was very calm. Wasn¡¯t it normal for him to be holding his wife¡¯s hand? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that his Brother Hong wanted to speak, Sun Erhu immediately said, "I was wrong, I¡¯ll definitely knock next time before entering."


    "You better not forget again." Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was still slightly red.


    Sun Erhu nodded innocently; wasn¡¯t today a special case?


    Everyone wants to maintain a perfect image in front of the person they cherish, right?


    His apology was very sincere and he was immediately forgiven.


    Anyway, it was just a hand touch; they hadn¡¯t done anything too scandalous.


    "I set some traps at the foot of the mountain today. If you have time, help me collect them," Tan Zhenghong remembered his hunting traps.


    Sun Erhu agreed without hesitation, "Leave it to me. By the way, Sister-in-law, why is Chao Lian here?"


    "From now on, Chao Lian will help out here. Tonight, you, Sister Lan, and Chao Lian go to town together. Since they¡¯re both women, take good care of them," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but instruct.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at what he heard.


    Was he going to go to town with Chao Lian to sell braised meat from now on?


    Oh my, doesn¡¯t that mean he could see Chao Lian every day?


    Well, that¡¯s not quite right; he could actually see her every day already. What excited him was that he could spend so much time with Chao Lian from now on!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, afraid she misunderstood.


    The usually loud and carefree Sun Erhu was actually shy?


    Of course, Sun Erhu had a healthy wheat complexion, so you couldn¡¯t tell if he was blushing, but you could look at his ears.


    "Erhu, do you like Chao Lian?"


    Although Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s tone was questioning, it was filled with certainty.


    Sun Erhu muttered softly, "I don¡¯t... Sister-in-law, don¡¯t talk nonsense, I¡¯m off to collect the traps!"


    Having said that, Erhu ran off like a shot, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er touching her chin, thinking she unintentionally did a good deed!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled smugly, and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips twitched, but he swallowed his words down.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s genuine feelings would surely be fulfilled, though it might be a bit tougher for him than others.


    But what¡¯s there to fear?


    As long as you¡¯re with the person you like, it¡¯s all worth it.


    Sun Erhu brought back two wild chickens, and this time neither women from Hu¡¯s Clan nor Chao Lian were in the yard, probably resting.


    Still, just to be safe, he shouted, "Brother Hong, I¡¯ve left the wild chickens at the entrance!"


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t let him get his way.


    She had heard Sun Erhu entering the yard and promptly opened the door, just in time to see a fleeing Sun Erhu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, "Your Brother Hong heated up some water for you. Remember to wash up nice and fragrant, good luck, we¡¯re all rooting for you!"


    Sun Erhu cast a resentful look at Qiao Duo¡¯er before dashing off.


    If he didn¡¯t leave now, his face would bleed from blushing!


    By three or four in the afternoon, Sun Erhu and the group were ready to go to town.


    Anyone with eyes could see that Sun Erhu had made an effort to dress up. His hair was neatly groomed, and he had shaved his beard.


    Well... even his usually unruly nature had become a lot more subdued.


    "Erhu and Chao Lian are quite a match!" Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, then squinted his eyes and added, "Actually, we match even better!"


    "Your skin is thick enough to pull a carriage with."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but retort. They were discussing Sun Erhu and Chao Lian; why drag them into it?

 Chapter 186 - 188 Let me do it_1

    Chapter 186: Chapter 188 Let me do it_1Ever since Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg healed, Qiao Duo¡¯er had been living the life of a pig.


    Besides the occasional stir-fry, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t let her touch anything else.


    According to Qiao Duo¡¯er, the phrase Tan Zhenghong said most frequently every day was, "Let me do it."


    After drinking ginseng soup for a few days, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in much better health. Not only had her fever subsided, but the changes in her face were also quite noticeable. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.


    But that Tan Zhenghong still wouldn¡¯t let her go up the mountain, so she could only obediently stay at home sewing clothes.


    In the evening, when Tan Zhenghong had yet to return and Sun Erhu and the others had gone to town, even Da Ya and Er Ya had followed to sell bamboo baskets, the courtyard was very quiet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, looking at the needle in her hand and couldn¡¯t help but sigh again.


    She secretly decided that she must go up the mountain with Tan Zhenghong tomorrow, or else she was going to burst from frustration.


    She was so bored she had almost finished making two sets of clothes.


    A little while later, Fat Fat and Fatty began to cry out nasally and childishly.


    They were not even two months old, but when it came to guarding the house, they certainly looked the part.


    When strangers entered the courtyard, they would rush over regardless of the danger. However, they still had some sense of measure and wouldn¡¯t really bite anyone.


    "Wife of Fourth Boss, are you home?"


    Aunt Huang didn¡¯t dare to come close, so she had to stand by the entrance and shout.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried out from the house. Seeing her two little ones stop barking and just wag their tails against her, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    "Duo¡¯er, these are jujubes from my own garden. I¡¯m giving you some to snack on." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aunt Huang shoved the basket into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands. The basket was filled with jujubes, plump and rosy.


    These days, she and Qiao Duo¡¯er had already become close, so she straightforwardly called her by name.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er graciously accepted: "Then thank you very much, Aunt Huang."


    "No need to be so polite. I¡¯ve had plenty of your braised pork. In a few days, when the other tree¡¯s jujubes ripen, I¡¯ll bring you some more. Let me tell you, eating these is good for conceiving."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face flushed slightly, coughing, she thought that at fifteen, having children was too early.


    Having children too early wasn¡¯t good for her, and the children could also have more problems.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er shy away, Aunt Huang immediately said, "If you can¡¯t eat them all, you can dry them. Later on, they¡¯re good for making tea or cooking porridge."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, then poured the jujubes into her own basket, and put a few oil-drenched fried cakes into Aunt Huang¡¯s basket in return.


    In a landowner¡¯s family, when someone gives you something, you couldn¡¯t let them go back with an empty bowl or basket.


    "These cakes are made by Fourth Boss. They might look good, but they taste great," she said.


    Aunt Huang couldn¡¯t help but tease, "I didn¡¯t expect Fourth Boss to have this skill. They look delicious. Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m heading back to cook dinner. When you have some free time, come over with Zheng Hong and visit!"


    She had a son who had opened a small storefront in town, selling some fruits and vegetables, and it was just the two of them left at home.


    Sometimes she truly felt a bit lonely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed and even walked Aunt Huang out.


    Back in the courtyard, she first spread the jujubes out on a winnowing basket, then got ready to make dinner.


    The house still had a wild chicken left, which Hu¡¯s Clan had already cleaned before leaving. She just needed to cut the chicken into small pieces, scald it in boiling water, and then put it in a clay pot to stew.


    The clay pot distributed the heat evenly and had a bit of an insulating effect. Set over a low fire in the stove for a slow stew, after an hour and a half, it would be delicious.


    The soup would be savory, and the chicken tender. The mere thought made her mouth water.

 Chapter 187 - 189: Are You Blind?!_1

    Chapter 187: Chapter 189: Are You Blind?!_1"Wife, I caught a mountain muntjac today!"


    Tan Zhenghong said happily. A mountain muntjac is a type of deer. Although it is small, it is very valuable.


    Many wealthy families are willing to pay good money for one, a thirty-pound mountain muntjac could sell for at least twenty taels. The one he caught was also a male, which meant it could fetch an even higher price.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said excitedly, "Not bad, a big harvest today!"


    He carried two pigeons in his left hand, and on the right, he held a thirty-odd pound mountain muntjac that was still alive, just injured in the hind legs by an arrow.


    "Wife, from now on, leave the task of making money to me. You just need to be happy!"


    At this rate, he would soon be able to save enough money to build a new house.


    Tan Zhenghong secured the game and then sent Qiao Duo¡¯er away.


    "A hideous creature has a better life than me!" Li Clan grumbled sourly.


    She, a pregnant woman with a bulging belly, didn¡¯t get as good treatment as Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, "Can¡¯t help it, when you marry a good man, it¡¯s hard to be unhappy!"


    As for those who called her ugly, she could only return with, "Are you blind?"


    Now, although she hadn¡¯t fully recovered her original appearance, she had done so by roughly seventy to eighty percent. Not to be narcissistic, but she was at least prettier than eighty percent of the women in Big Willow Village.


    And she found that her appearance in this life was nearly identical to her last one.


    Li Clan gritted her teeth, "Humph, What are you showing off for? You¡¯ve been married for three months and haven¡¯t gotten pregnant!"


    She believed that Qiao Duo¡¯er just couldn¡¯t have children!


    Tan Zhenghong, who was making a fire, cleared his throat uncomfortably. It wasn¡¯t that his wife couldn¡¯t conceive, but that they... hadn¡¯t really done that ¡¯shameful¡¯ thing yet.


    Alas, if others knew about this, would they think there was something wrong with his body?


    "You can have children, Tan Zhongzhong married you to bear children, didn¡¯t he?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hit back without hesitation. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to argue with a pregnant woman, but Li Clan was too much.


    She didn¡¯t want to hold accountable the things Li Clan had done before, but now that Li Clan kept nagging, she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore!


    Li Clan clenched her teeth and went into the house, holding her lower back.


    Soon, Li Clan¡¯s nagging could be heard from inside the house. It boiled down to complaining that Tan Zhongzhong was useless and didn¡¯t know how to care for his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, meanwhile, circled the mountain muntjac, and looking into its round eyes, she suddenly couldn¡¯t bear to kill it.


    No, that¡¯s not right. Was she still the resolute and decisive Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips but couldn¡¯t help asking, "Tan Zhenghong, I want to keep it. Can I?"


    She attributed her reluctance to feeling an affinity for the eyes of the mountain muntjac.


    Tan Zhenghong paused, then responded, "Hmm, but it has to be raised at Erhu¡¯s house."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, understanding, of course.


    The only thing she and Tan Zhenghong had control over was a single house, and she certainly didn¡¯t want to sleep in the same room as the muntjac. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong wanted to tell Qiao Duo¡¯er several times about the price of the muntjac, but he held back because he saw that his wife really liked the animal.


    Maybe it was its silly charm.


    As for Li Clan, she was cursing Qiao Duo¡¯er in the house.


    Tan Zhenghong could catch at most two mountain muntjacs a year, and Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to keep one.


    Was this some kind of feud with money?


    Tan Zhenghong, however, was fully supportive. As soon as the pot boiled, he went to Sun Erhu¡¯s house to clean out a pigpen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also bandaged the muntjac¡¯s hind leg, then went to Old Lady Huang¡¯s house to buy carrots, sweet potato vines, and other vegetables. These weren¡¯t expensive, a whole basket only cost her twenty wen money.

 Chapter 188 - 190: Unexpectedly Not Looking Around_1

    Chapter 188: Chapter 190: Unexpectedly Not Looking Around_1The mountain muntjac was originally very cautious and refused to eat, but it must have been so hungry that it eventually devoured the vegetables completely.


    To others, they must have looked like they were so full they just needed something to do, probably even thinking they were sick in the head.


    Mountain muntjac skin can be made into deer glue, which is good for beauty treatments, tonifying the yin and fortifying the yang; mountain muntjac meat is also a tonic of the highest order, as well as deer whip and deer blood¡ª all excellent for enhancing virility.


    With so many uses, there was no doubt about the price of mountain muntjac.


    But what no one could imagine was that there was a secret to this mountain muntjac, and selling it would indeed be a huge loss.


    By the time Sun Erhu and the others came back, they started their dinner.


    The atmosphere during dinner was a bit strange; Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed that Sun Erhu was a little off. Usually talkative, he was silent as a clam today.


    Was this emotional frustration?


    Looking at Lin Qiaolian, she appeared the same as ever, quiet and calm, but even she seemed to be in low spirits today.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a desire to gossip, but since the main characters were present, she had to hold it in.


    Finding it hard to wait until Sun Erhu and Qiaolian had each gone home, Qiao Duo¡¯er then scooted over to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Sister Lan, what¡¯s wrong with Erhu?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan sighed, "If it isn¡¯t because of the heartless pair from the Lin Family, they want to marry off Qiaolian to the town, and Qiaolian¡¯s mother even said age doesn¡¯t matter much, the older ones can be caring too."


    So, did Jiang¡¯s Clan want to marry Lin Qiaolian into a wealthy family? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and said, "What awful people, they deserve to have their lineages cut off!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan agreed, but Jiang¡¯s Clan was lucky enough to have given birth to two sons, who were unrivaled within the household.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er returned to her room feeling gloomy, and Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but comfort her, "Wife, don¡¯t worry, as long as Erhu and Qiaolian want to be together, that¡¯s good enough."


    "How would you know?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked dully.


    "Qiaolian¡¯s mother said that marrying Qiaolian would cost at least eighty taels of silver, otherwise, no one would visit Qiaolian¡¯s house to propose."


    Tan Zhenghong explained; how long would a peasant family have to save to accumulate eighty taels?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gasped in shock; eighty taels... that was enough for Tan Zhenghong to marry eighty wives.


    Hmm... how could she be so cheap then?


    She actually sold for only one or two silver, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to feel resentful.


    "Wife, the bath is ready. Isn¡¯t there a saying that problems will resolve themselves over time? Us worrying so much now won¡¯t help," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong ushered Qiao Duo¡¯er into the curtain. He had prepared all the soapberry for washing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about it and realized he was right; as long as the two individuals remained steadfast, then no obstacle was insurmountable.


    Still, she couldn¡¯t shake off the upset feeling, which probably stemmed from the original owner¡¯s emotions.


    She had been sold by her own mother, and were it not for her plain looks, she certainly would have been sold to a rich family as a concubine too.


    After taking her bath, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally felt a bit better.


    Once Tan Zhenghong was done bathing as well, she brought out the silver needles.


    Utilizing the vigor from the ginseng to do the acupuncture, her freckles would fade faster; why would she miss this opportunity?


    Tan Zhenghong meticulously performed the acupuncture; surprisingly, he didn¡¯t leer at her, which made Qiao Duo¡¯er feel a bit uneasy.


    Was she actually looking forward to Tan Zhenghong flirting with her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly shut her eyes, forbidding herself from having any wild thoughts.


    Now that Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t need acupuncture, she could not take advantage of him anymore, so how could she let him take advantage of her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er calmed her heart down, knowing a serene state of mind could yield the best results from the acupuncture treatment.


    When Tan Zhenghong finished with the needles, Qiao Duo¡¯er then opened her eyes.

 Chapter 189 - 191 Human Nature_1

    Chapter 189: Chapter 191 Human Nature_1She caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of her eye, which finally satisfied her. It seemed that a certain wolf was still interested in her.


    She used to be so ugly, yet Tan Zhenghong was still enthusiastic; there¡¯s no reason for him to disdain her now that she has transformed into a beauty.


    Tan Zhenghong felt slightly uncomfortable under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze, his eyes darting around avoidantly.


    But some things really can¡¯t be hidden...


    His voice hoarse, he said, "I¡¯m going to get you some water."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the sight of someone¡¯s retreating figure because the way that someone walked was just too strange.


    As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er finished drinking the water, Tan Zhenghong immediately blew out the candle.


    Even though he knew Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyesight was good, the protection of the night made him feel less constrained.


    Only he knew how desperately he wanted to do intimate things with his wife, but right now, it was not suitable for her to get pregnant, so he had to restrain himself.


    Forgive the pure Tan Zhenghong, who in his understanding, has yet to grasp the concept of contraception.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Qiao Duo¡¯er fell asleep.


    Sewing is meticulous work, and it¡¯s exhausting too.


    Poor Tan Zhenghong, he simply couldn¡¯t sleep and didn¡¯t dare to make any movements for fear of waking Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    After an unknown amount of time, he finally drifted off into a fitful sleep.


    The next morning, Tan Zhenghong had dreamt about his wedding night with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong took a quick glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er. Mountain ginseng can calm and stabilize one¡¯s spirit, so Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleep quality was quite good these past few days.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed with relief and hurriedly got out of bed. The first thing he did after getting up was to wash the clothes.


    But... don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve destroyed the evidence, Qiao Duo¡¯er won¡¯t find out.


    The room still smelled of it, and looking at the extra-washed pair of trousers, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a meaningful glance.


    "Don¡¯t be shy, it¡¯s only natural," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smirked mischievously; this proved that her man was healthy.


    Cough cough, it¡¯s not like she hadn¡¯t seen it before. That time she pulled out the needle and ended up washing his trousers for him.


    Tan Zhenghong wished he could crawl into the stove; why had his wife still found out?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, "I¡¯m going to cut some leeks and fry them up; I hear they¡¯re good for your vigor."


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth; why couldn¡¯t this woman understand what was good for her?


    If she made him more... virile, he was afraid he might die from restraint.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that Qiao Duo¡¯er was reflecting on whether she had been too hard on him. Was it not nice to make her man this frustrated?


    After all, there were beauties in the village eyeing Zheng Hong, and if she didn¡¯t satisfy him, he might just go gallivanting.


    It wasn¡¯t that she doubted Zheng Hong¡¯s character, but some women were just too assertive.


    After breakfast, at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s insistence, Tan Zhenghong could only agree to go up the mountain with her. If he didn¡¯t take her along, she would always tease him about what happened at night.


    Well, he, Tan Zhenghong, had lost to Qiao Duo in this life.


    However, bringing Qiao Duo meant he had no plans to venture deep into the mountains; they were just going to hunt at the base of the mountain.


    Many people frequented the foot of the mountain, so naturally, there weren¡¯t any large wild animals, but there was no shortage of wild chickens, doves, and ducks.


    After Tan Zhenghong had set the traps, he saw Qiao Duo tying his dagger to a tree trunk to spear fish.


    "You... you caught the fish like this before?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked at his dagger with distress, not realizing that this was how Qiao Duo had been mistreating it while he was away.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "Yep, your dagger is of good quality. Watch me perform a trick for you!"


    Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 190 - 192: Can It Be Sold?_1

    Chapter 190: Chapter 192: Can It Be Sold?_1Having finished speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er put more strength into her wrist, and the direction of the fish spear shifted. In no time, she saw three fish skewered on her dagger, each weighing over a pound.


    Tan Zhenghong admitted that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s technique was masterful, but still he had three lines of concern furrowed across his forehead, thinking it was urgent to buy her a suitable tool, so she wouldn¡¯t treat the dagger made of cold iron as a toy.


    The frame next to Qiao Duo¡¯er was already half-filled with fish, but she showed no signs of stopping.


    Ever since she¡¯d been sick, she lost her freedom, so now that she had the chance, she was naturally keen to make the most of it. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was having great fun, and Tan Zhenghong, too, became thoughtful. Eel was delicious and nutritious, good for nourishing the blood and the qi. When his leg was broken, Uncle Wu even advised him to eat more eel.


    But after Qiao Duo¡¯er took care of him, with constant soups every day, he¡¯d forgotten about it.


    Thinking about it now, his wife would definitely benefit from eating more eel.


    After an hour, the bamboo basket was full, and only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er stop.


    "Um... If I were to sell these fish, would someone buy them?" Qiao Duo¡¯er revealed a rarely seen innocent charm.


    She¡¯d forgotten that the bamboo basket was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s. It was twice the size of the one made for her, and even if she made braised fish, there¡¯d be too much to finish.


    This was embarrassing...


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "You¡¯re lucky, as tomorrow marks the beginning of autumn, and someone will likely be interested in buying."


    As he spoke, he reached into a hole with one hand and coordinated with the other, quickly pulling out an eel.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was dumbfounded; he just plunged his hand down there without fear of snakes?


    All she could say was that bravery comes from mastery.


    Seeing the admiring look on his wife¡¯s face, Tan Zhenghong promptly explained, "Eels hunt at night and sleep in their holes during the day. You see, their holes have two openings, and before going inside, they spit out a bubble of white foam at the entrance."


    He continued this method, and soon caught several more eels. Eels have a strong will to live and can be kept in a clay jar for a long time, so catching more was no problem.


    Worried that the fish might spoil if kept too long, they decided to head back.


    As they passed Old Lady Huang¡¯s house, Qiao Duo¡¯er carried in two crucian carp and two eels as gifts.


    "What are you doing, child? Take them back and eat them yourself," Aunt Huang quickly declined.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly said, "These fish aren¡¯t for free. Today, Fourth Boss caught a whole basket of fish, and you need to help me ask who would like to buy them."


    Aunt Huang was well-connected and knew how to handle matters; asking her was definitely the right choice.


    "Done, there will definitely be people willing to buy!" Aunt Huang replied cheerfully.


    Then she stuffed some vegetables and fruits into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands before letting her leave.


    Aunt Huang called out to Uncle Huang to clean the fish, then hurriedly mobilized the wives in the village to buy fish.


    The start of autumn usually falls around the first day of the seventh lunar month, but this year it was the thirtieth day of the sixth month, which was tomorrow.


    In this place, there are traditions of nibbling autumn, which means eating watermelon, and adding autumn fat, which means eating meat, but the type of meat isn¡¯t specified.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fish were reasonably priced, at only four Wen Money per pound. Buying three to five pounds would be enough for a family meal.


    Aunt Huang was reliable, and before long, there were people coming to buy fish.


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, what kind of fish do you have? Show me," a young wife asked.


    The young wife was dressed neatly and had a round, pleasant face that was quite likable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed to a wooden basin on the side, "They¡¯re all in there. Take a look and pick whatever you want, and I¡¯ll catch it for you."

 Chapter 191 - 193 Brain-dead Pregnant Woman_1

    Chapter 191: Chapter 193 Brain-dead Pregnant Woman_1freew§×bno¦Íel.comThe young wife selected two grass carp, known for their thick flesh and few bones, tasty whether they¡¯re steamed or boiled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weighed the fish for her. The two carp came to a total of eight jin, costing thirty-two wen, but seeing as they were all village folks, she let the change slide.


    The young wife was delighted and immediately reached for her purse to count out the money.


    "Sister-in-law, I¡¯ve finally caught up with you today!"


    Sun Erhu was quite familiar with this young wife; she was Luo Clan, the wife of his other brother D¨¤l¨ªn, who had married into the family last year and was known for her good nature.


    The young wife blushed. She was pregnant and had some bleeding at the start, which kept her bedridden for three months.


    Now that the pregnancy had stabilized, she could finally get out of bed.


    If it weren¡¯t for hearing Aunt Huang say that Fourth Brother Tan was selling fish, she surely would have stayed quietly in the yard.


    Speaking of D¨¤l¨ªn, Qiao Duo¡¯er had some recollection of him.


    When Little Wang Clan slandered her and Sun Erhu, D¨¤l¨ªn had staunchly defended them, proving himself a man of honesty and loyalty.


    "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s my first time seeing you, please don¡¯t mind my previous ignorance."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke, she pushed the money into the young wife¡¯s arms, knowing who she was, she couldn¡¯t take her money.


    After all, she hadn¡¯t intended to sell fish for profit; she was simply scratching an itch today, having caught too many.


    Luo Clan quickly protested, "I haven¡¯t been out for three months, how could I blame you? But you are running a business; how can you not take the money?"


    "Someone else has come to buy fish. If you don¡¯t leave, it¡¯ll be awkward for me to do business. I¡¯ve heard that eating fish makes children smart, so consider this as a gift for my little nephew," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a playful wink.


    Luo Clan, hearing the chatter of others, took her fish and left.


    But she committed the favor to memory.


    More people started coming to buy fish, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was happily busy; today was like an unexpected fortune for her.


    Tan Zhenghong, worrying his wife might overexert herself, dropped his eel-slaughtering task and hurried over to help.


    Li Clan glanced at the bustling scene in the yard and immediately set aside her sewing.


    She hadn¡¯t tasted meat for a long time and was now drooling with craving!


    One thing Qiao Duo¡¯er admired about Li Clan was her thick skin; she would have thought that after the pickled child incident, Li Clan would have kept a low profile.


    However, Li Clan showed no self-awareness, often sneering and mocking the fourth household.


    But most of the time, Li Clan amused only herself, as Qiao Duo¡¯er refused to stoop to arguing with a brainless pregnant woman.


    "Sister-in-law, would you weigh two fish for me as well?"


    Li Clan couldn¡¯t help but salivate at the sight of a whole basin of fish.


    These two from the Fourth Boss¡¯s house were really something, coming back with so many fish after such a short while; why couldn¡¯t Tan Zhongzhong be this capable?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed the fish to the previous customer, with no intention of entertaining Li Clan.


    Li Clan chose the two biggest fish: "I¡¯ll take these two!"


    She had picked the largest ones with so many people watching, she didn¡¯t believe Qiao Duo¡¯er would have the nerve to ask her for money.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weighed them: "A total of fourteen jin, that will be fifty-six wen money."


    With others, she usually rounded down the price a bit, but with Li Clan, hmph, she wasn¡¯t about to let her take the slightest advantage!


    The fish were hers, and she could be as capricious as she liked!


    Li Shi was dumbfounded; she¡¯d thought it would go like this, Qiao Duo would say they were all family, and there was no need to talk about money, "Just take them home."


    "Wife of the Third Boss, surely you didn¡¯t come without money?" someone teased.


    "No worries, her house is right here, how much effort could it take to grab the money and come back?"


    Another old lady picked up the thread of conversation. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 192 - 194: Buying Things Without Paying?_1

    Chapter 192: Chapter 194: Buying Things Without Paying?_1fre§×we?novel.com"Other families are different from us; her husband and Fourth Boss are brothers. How could they pay like we do?"


    "Tsk, brothers my ass. I just can¡¯t stand her taking advantage like that!"


    Most of the women buying fish had been daughters-in-law and had sisters-in-law, so they understood the wife of Fourth Boss¡¯s actions well.


    The last time they blamed Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu, that woman was hopping mad, she had really exerted herself.


    If it were them, they might have just driven the person out directly.


    Li Clan glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, but Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give her an out.


    Tan Zhongzhong cleared his throat, "Fourth Boss, you let your wife do this?"


    "Third Brother, do you buy things without paying?"


    Tan Zhenghong claimed innocence. Isn¡¯t it natural for his wife to collect money?


    The people buying fish couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Third Brother Tan¡¯s skin is really thick, he¡¯s just short of saying give me two fish for free.


    Everyone was there when the Relationship Termination Letter was written, and yet some act as if it never happened.


    Li Clan said angrily, "Those two fish weigh fifteen pounds? Definitely short on weight, I don¡¯t want them!"


    After saying that, she stormed off and slammed the door violently.


    "Poor Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, you have a tough life," a middle-aged auntie said sympathetically.


    "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m used to it. Which one do you want? I¡¯ll give you a discount." Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled. Could she say that driving Li Clan away made her pretty happy?


    The auntie pointed to a fish, murmuring as she did, "If you ask me, you guys should build another house sooner and enjoy some peace."


    Qiao Duo nodded, then announced the price of the fish, giving a discount of five Wen Money.


    "Are the eels from your place for sale?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo nodded again, "Yes, but the price is a bit higher, Eight Wen money per pound."


    "Expensive is fine. I¡¯ll take some back to nourish my daughter-in-law, so she can give me a big, healthy grandson."


    Her words drew envious glances from many young wives.


    Before long, all the fish were sold out.


    There were also people who came too late; the fish were all gone, but Qiao Duo promised there would be fresh fish available in the evening.


    Once the courtyard quieted down, Qiao Duo began preparing lunch.


    There were a few eels left that Tan Zhenghong had cleaned in advance, which Qiao Duo planned to braise.


    The eel had to be "flying water" first, then after scooping it out, washing off its slime, and cleaning the pot used for "flying water", she heated it up, poured in the right amount of oil, and stir-fried the eel in it.


    Once the water on the eel¡¯s surface was fried off, she immediately added the sauce that was prepared during the "flying water" step.


    The sauce contained a spoonful of alcohol, a spoonful of salt, a spoonful of sugar, three spoonfuls of soy sauce, several bits of green onion, ginger, and garlic, and a special condiment, perilla.


    The flesh of the eel is tender and shouldn¡¯t be fried too long; just enough to color it and then add water and cover with a lid to simmer.


    With Uncle Huang delivering vegetables everyday, Qiao Duo had no worries about running out of greens. She stir-fried loofah with eggs, green beans, and garlic-spinach, each dish in a generous portion, more than enough to enjoy.


    On the other side, Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian finished stewing the meat and then helped clean the courtyard.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo calculated her morning¡¯s earnings.


    The basket of fish weighed over a hundred pounds and sold for a total of four hundred and twenty Wen plus change.


    Another basket in the afternoon, and she could earn an extra One or Two Silver today!


    Qiao Duo slept soundly after that, and before heading to the mountains, she made sure to check on the Mountain Muntjac; it was adapting well to the new environment, and its hind leg injury was healing slowly.


    She threw some vegetable leaves to it, and the Mountain Muntjac obediently ate them.

 Chapter 193 - 195 Turning into a Mangy Dog_1

    Chapter 193: Chapter 195 Turning into a Mangy Dog_1Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly saw bloodstains at the corner of the Mountain Muntjac¡¯s mouth. She shivered, could it be that this creature didn¡¯t just eat grass?


    "I¡¯ve seen it eat poisonous snakes and mice."


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly said something that changed the way Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the Mountain Muntjac. An animal that even ate poisonous snakes was not cute at all!


    But she was never one to give up halfway. Since she had decided to raise it, she would do it well.


    Once they were in the mountains, Qiao Duo¡¯er specifically asked Tan Zhenghong to set traps in the bamboo forest.


    She still remembered the Mountain Muntjac eating mice and wouldn¡¯t mind bringing back a snake if they encountered any.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was being insincere. She had stopped finding the Mountain Muntjac cute, yet she still cared about its food.


    After Tan Zhenghong set the traps, the two of them headed to the riverbank.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was responsible for spearing fish, while Tan Zhenghong took care of harvesting chicken rice crops from the pond.


    The chicken rice crop looked similar to a lotus, but it was covered with thorns, and the farm households called it Thorny Lotus Root.


    If one was not careful, getting pricked by the thorny lotus root would hurt for days, and most people would stay far away from it.


    Tan Zhenghong had never thought of eating this thing, but since his Qiao Duo had spoken, he would of course follow through.


    He tied the sickles to a tree trunk, extended it underwater to cut, then used the sickles to hook the Thorny Lotus Root closer. After that, he used tongs for cleaning out furnace ash to clip the Thorny Lotus Root into the basket.


    Having cut that patch of Thorny Lotus Root, he went to catch eels.


    In fact, he wanted to help his wife spear fish, but his aim was not as good as Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s, and he had been thoroughly scorned for it.


    When both of their bamboo baskets were filled to the brim, Tan Zhenghong told Qiao Duo¡¯er to rest while he went to check the snares.


    Today¡¯s haul wasn¡¯t bad: There were wild pigeons, wild rabbits, and wild ducks. The traps in the bamboo forest had caught three fat bamboo rats.


    Now, not only did they have to carry the heavy bamboo baskets, but they also had to hold their game, yet they felt secure.


    In this era, farmers had no security and depended entirely on the whims of nature for their sustenance; they had to save up whenever times were good.


    Just as they reached their doorway, Fat Fat and Fatty, two little creatures, came to greet them.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was not as pleased to see them as before.


    The reason was simple: Their fur had been cut, and the two little creatures now looked like two scabby dogs.


    Once inside the yard, Qiao Duo¡¯er put down the baskets and beckoned Fat Fat and Fatty to come over.


    Upon closer inspection, the two creatures looked even more pitiful, truly the Sharp Brothers of the dog world.


    "Dammit, who did this to you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very annoyed.


    Unfortunately, the two little creatures didn¡¯t understand her mood and lay on their backs on the ground, asking to be petted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her disdain. How could these fools, looking so miserable, still be so foolishly happy?


    Tan Zhenghong also felt his teeth itch with irritation. Dammit, wasn¡¯t this blatant bullying?


    The Li Clan always loved to stir trouble. Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s disgruntled face, she said with a smile, "Oh, aren¡¯t your dogs sick? Their fur is all gone, and they look so ugly!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at the Li Clan, at that moment she just wanted to tear her mouth apart.


    With a light snort, the Li Clan said, "What are you glaring at me for? I don¡¯t have the time to cut the hair of your mongrels." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯d better not be the one," Tan Zhenghong warned with a serious voice.


    The Li Clan stroked her belly, "Fourth Boss, you¡¯re a man after all. What¡¯s the point of always meddling in women¡¯s affairs?"


    With that comment, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face turned red, and he was at a loss for words.


    "Why can¡¯t my man hate to see me bullied?"


    Qiao Duo immediately retorted, which was the best way to deal with the Li Clan.

 Chapter 194 - 196 You’re not as good as my livestock_1

    Chapter 194: Chapter 196 You¡¯re not as good as my livestock_1Tan Zhenghong nodded, his wife really understood him.


    Li Clan had been married to him for four or five years already, and he knew exactly what she was like.


    Tan Zhongzhong listened to his wife, but he wasn¡¯t a considerate husband; he was much the same as Tan Zhengyuan, rarely seen doing any housework.


    Li Clan gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a disdainful look before continuing to pick vegetables.


    She also had her grievances but couldn¡¯t express them. Every time, they ended up talking about the men. Could they ever have a proper conversation?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, still feeling that those two were extremely glaring.


    Since the dogs were still young and hardly ever left the courtyard, she was almost certain that this was the handiwork of the Tan Family Members.


    Was it Xiao Fu or Li Clan?


    Or perhaps Little Wang Clan?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Xiao Fu sneaking peeks in this direction, so she immediately dragged him over.


    "Was it you who cut it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Xiao Fu a sidelong glance.


    Xiao Fu quickly shook his head: "Not me, really, it wasn¡¯t me."


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t miss the guilt in his eyes, and she threatened him by grabbing the front of his shirt: "Really it wasn¡¯t you? If you dare lie, I¡¯ll throw you into the river to feed the fish!"


    Xiao Fu had been disciplined by Qiao Duo¡¯er twice, and seeing her fierce look, he immediately crumbled.


    "Third Auntie taught me, she said the dog bit me and I didn¡¯t dare to fart, that I wasn¡¯t being a man. She also said she was sure I wouldn¡¯t dare to cut the dog¡¯s fur."


    Xiao Fu quickly confessed, saying that he had just finished cutting when Qiao Duo¡¯er came back, so he could only hide by the cucumber trellis.


    He just didn¡¯t expect that this woman had such sharp eyes, finding him immediately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled at Li Clan: "Is that so?"


    Li Clan immediately denied it: "How could that be?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ignored Li Clan, only asking Xiao Fu to hand over the scissors. Reluctantly, Xiao Fu handed them over.


    "If I find you causing trouble again, I will slash your face, turning you into an ugly freak!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made gestures with the scissors near Xiao Fu¡¯s face.


    Xiao Fu was so scared that he didn¡¯t dare to cry, his body shaking violently. He quickly said, "I won¡¯t dare anymore."


    Xiao Fu¡¯s attitude was good and he had achieved the goal of scaring him, so Qiao Duo¡¯er let him go. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to deal with Li Clan even more.


    It wasn¡¯t a big deal for the dogs to bark at Xiao Fu a couple of times; it was Li Clan who had instigated everything else.


    She took the scissors and walked over to Li Clan. Before Li Clan could react, Qiao Duo¡¯er cut her clothes twice.


    Li Clan, hearing the sound, wanted to stop her, but she was heavy and had difficulty even turning around.


    Therefore, she could only watch helplessly as Qiao Duo¡¯er cut her clothes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, being rather generous, only cut a few holes instead of turning it into a backless top.


    "They¡¯re just a couple of animals, why are you cutting my clothes?" Li Clan was very angry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly: "You really can¡¯t compare to my animals."


    Of course, she knew that clothes were precious, but without teaching Li Clan a lesson, such incidents would keep happening every few days.


    Li Clan sat at the doorway cursing away, wishing she could curse all of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ancestors.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t have the time to bother with Li Clan since people were coming one after another to buy fish, keeping her quite busy.


    By the evening, the fish had been sold out, and even the game brought from the mountains had been sold.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weighed her money bag, estimating there were about seven hundred wen.


    In the eyes of peasant families, the beginning of autumn was an important day, as it marked the start of the harvest season!


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er earn so much, Li Clan felt even more jealous, but what good was her jealousy?


    Instead of wasting time being envious, it was better to spend the time before dark mending her clothes.

 Chapter 195 - 197: Coming to Ask for Wages_1

    Chapter 195: Chapter 197: Coming to Ask for Wages_1Qiao Duo¡¯er locked all the copper coins in the cabinet; the bamboo basket inside was almost full. In a couple of days, she planned to go to town to exchange them for silver and buy some quilts and such.


    The start of Autumn was a watershed moment, even with the lingering heat of the late summer, the mornings and evenings held a hint of coolness.


    After securing the money, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t feel like cooking. Instead, she moved a small stool to the doorway to groom the fur of the two little ones.


    This was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s first time giving a dog a haircut, but her skills weren¡¯t bad; at least she trimmed the fur evenly.


    However, no matter how she looked at them, both dogs resembled little fools...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed. She felt that she had cut Li Clan¡¯s hair too lightly; she should have slashed her clothes into shreds!


    On the day of Liqiu, because of the custom of "sticking the autumn fat," Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others were extremely busy. Only when the meat was in the pot and cooking did they find a moment to rest.


    Early that day, Tan Zhenghong had bought a watermelon and hung it in the well; it was just right to eat now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t dare to indulge in the coolness and took a small piece to eat slowly.


    She had only taken a few bites when Jiang¡¯s Clan arrived.


    Upon seeing Jiang¡¯s Clan, Chao Lian¡¯s face instantly became unnatural; she was afraid of Jiang¡¯s Clan, and it had become a habit.


    "Oh, no wonder you came over so early in the morning; there¡¯s even watermelon to eat. It¡¯s just a pity for your two younger brothers¡ªthey don¡¯t even get a whiff," Jiang¡¯s Clan said sarcastically.


    In her view, Chao Lian should have taken the watermelon back for her son to eat. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chao Lian weakly explained, "Today is Liqiu, I came over to help out."


    "The Fourth Boss¡¯s House, you all really know how to calculate, don¡¯t you? Chao Lian is quite capable; she must have done so much work for you this morning for nothing," Jiang¡¯s Clan said, hands on her waist. Chao Lian might be a fool, but she wasn¡¯t.


    She wasn¡¯t about to let others take advantage of her family for free!


    Chao Lian hurriedly replied, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense; I¡¯ll do the house chores when I go back."


    "Hmph, I can¡¯t even say a few words to you? You like working for others without pay that much!" Jiang¡¯s Clan glared at Chao Lian, her eyes full of disdain.


    Sun Erhu waited angrily for Jiang¡¯s Clan; if it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was an elder, he would have given Jiang¡¯s Clan a good beating by now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lazily raised her eyebrows, "If you¡¯re so clear about the accounts, you might as well take Chao Lian back with you."


    It was no wonder she was so close with the Li Clan; birds of a feather flock together after all.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was taken aback, stammering, "You... I was just saying it casually, why would you take it seriously?"


    Yet, inwardly she cursed Qiao Duo¡¯er several times over. She was raking in a wealth every day, yet she had the nerve to pay Chao Lian such meager wages!


    Chao Lian couldn¡¯t find a more suitable job for the time being, so she had no choice but to get by here.


    In a few years, Chao Lian was going to marry, and she had to save enough money for her son to take a wife.


    A mocking smile played on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips, her face full of derisive amusement.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan laughed dryly twice, then continued as if nothing had happened to state her purpose for coming.


    Today was the thirtieth of June, the day for paying wages.


    "Wife of the Fourth Boss, today you should pay Chao Lian her wages, right? I¡¯m waiting for this money to go buy some things," Jiang¡¯s Clan said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s disdain for Jiang¡¯s Clan grew: "So you¡¯re waiting for Chao Lian¡¯s wage to support the family, I see."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan clenched her teeth, her face feeling somewhat hot.


    She wasn¡¯t stupid; she could hear the mockery in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, but she didn¡¯t care. As long as she could get her hands on the money, that¡¯s all that mattered.


    All those who called her heartless were just jealous of her! If those people...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a Hanged Money. Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s pancake face broke into smiles, and she quickly pocketed the money.

 Chapter 196 - 198: Marrying No One Else_1

    Chapter 196: Chapter 198: Marrying No One Else_1"I have other matters to attend to, I¡¯ll go back first," Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan left contentedly.


    Throughout the entire process, she didn¡¯t even glance at Chao Lian, as if all of this was only to be expected.


    The others felt disgusted as if they had swallowed flies.


    Although Qiao Duo¡¯er had anticipated that Jiang¡¯s Clan would take Chao Lian¡¯s wages and had prepared for it, she still felt an unpleasant taste in her heart.


    Of course, the most heartbroken was Erhu.


    "Chao Lian, what chores did your mother make you do?" Sun Erhu asked angrily.


    "Nothing much, just some odds and ends. I didn¡¯t have much to do this morning anyway," Chao Lian replied.


    She stated it in an offhand manner, but it broke the hearts of those listening.


    It seemed that Jiang¡¯s Clan had dumped all the housework on Chao Lian.


    Sun Erhu stamped his foot: "She¡¯s not even your birth mother, why are you so afraid of her? If she dares to marry you off to some good-for-nothing, I¡¯ll kill her!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately understood why Chao Lian didn¡¯t dare to offend Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Nowadays, the orders of one¡¯s parents and the words of the matchmaker were paramount; Chao Lian¡¯s father was a pushover, and when the time came, her marriage would be entirely up to Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    But the fear is that being overly compliant would not make Jiang¡¯s Clan think any better of her, but rather embolden her to squeeze Chao Lian even harder.


    Tears welling in her eyes, Chao Lian said, "Brother Erhu, I won¡¯t marry anyone else."


    Sun Erhu nodded vigorously; he would work hard to earn money, save enough silver, and marry Chao Lian.


    But suddenly recalling that many of his good friends were watching, he became shy and couldn¡¯t get the words out.


    Chao Lian¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she bowed her head, not daring to look at anyone.


    Seeing the unspoken understanding between the two, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt much better.


    Just like Tan Zhenghong said, as long as they have the will to be together, everything else is trivial!


    What was Jiang¡¯s Clan in comparison?


    Even if she were the birth mother, she couldn¡¯t stop people who loved each other.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the chance while everyone was resting to distribute the wages.


    The wages were settled on a daily basis until the end of June, and then switched to monthly, resulting in a backlog of ten days of wages.


    Sun Erhu received a total of six hundred and odd wen, which included his wages and the sale of game; Hu¡¯s Clan four hundred wen; Chao Lian still had a hundred wen left; Da Ya and Er Ya each twenty wen.


    Since they had taken up their tasks and none had caused any trouble, Qiao Duo¡¯er even gave an extra twenty wen money.


    Receiving so much pay at once brought brilliant joy to several of them.


    "Chao Lian, when you go back tell your mother that from now on you¡¯ll come to me in the morning. I¡¯ll add five wen to your wages. Also, when you go back, don¡¯t be foolishly busy with chores; I refuse to believe they can¡¯t live without you. And don¡¯t just meekly put up with everything. You must fight for what you should fight for, that¡¯s the only way to have a good life," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    Some people are just bullies who prey on the weak.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was probably so brazen because she saw Chao Lian didn¡¯t dare to speak up.


    "Duo¡¯er is right. To live is to stand up straight on your own," Hu¡¯s Clan said, deeply moved. A comfortable and satisfactory life had to be fought for.


    Chao Lian gratefully said, "Yes, I understand!"


    She had been working here as a helper for quite some time and had learned a thing or two about how Qiao Duo¡¯er conducted herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was straightforward; she repaid kindness with kindness and grievances directly. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Easy to say but difficult to do, yet she would try her best!


    Seeing Chao Lian on the verge of tears, Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly said, "Alright now, the bitter will turn to sweet. Don¡¯t just stand there, go and rest."


    There would be a lot to do in the afternoon!


    As for Jiang¡¯s Clan, who liked to reap without sowing, there would always be a chance to teach her a lesson!

 Chapter 197 - 199 Too Easygoing_1

    Chapter 197: Chapter 199 Too Easygoing_1In the afternoon, Sun Erhu and his group still headed to town, while Qiao Duo¡¯er kept a small portion of meat to sell at home.


    Unable to resist Xiao Fu¡¯s persistent nagging, Wang Clan brought money to buy meat.


    Because she indulged Xiao Fu, Wang Clan would come to buy meat every three or five days.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er always took the money, but out of respect for Tan Zhenghong, she would also give a little extra meat.


    Actually, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t really detest Wang Clan; aside from giving birth to Tan Zhenghong, there was little else to be grateful for.


    So as long as Wang Clan didn¡¯t cause trouble, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t be bothered to quibble over every detail.


    Wang Clan was aware of this fact and, having been intimidated by Qiao Duo¡¯er a couple of times, behaved herself in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s presence.


    "Today is a holiday, no need to pay," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she handed the meat to Wang Clan.


    Wang Clan was somewhat surprised but went along with the conversation, "Well, it¡¯s okay not to pay. You all should come to the Main Room for dinner tonight."


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "Erhu and the others still need to come back for dinner, so we won¡¯t be coming over."


    Wang Clan pursed her lips and left with the meat.


    Alas, she had to admit that in Fourth Boss¡¯s heart, his wife was much more important than his own mother.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was pleased with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s response. She was willing to give Tan Zhenghong face and be a bit nicer to those people.


    But that certainly didn¡¯t mean she had no bottom line or principles.


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, you¡¯re too easygoing. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t want to deal with them for the rest of my life!" A daughter-in-law snorted at the departing figure of Wang Clan. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you fuss over everything, wouldn¡¯t you just upset yourself to death?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a laugh.


    "How can a mother act that way towards her own son? When Fourth Boss was in such a bad state, she was heartless enough to agree to a family split."


    "But she seems to have changed her ways; didn¡¯t you see she was ready to pay just now?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t reply any further, as there was nothing to explain. She had Wang Clan in line, and naturally, Wang Clan didn¡¯t dare to be arrogant.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er sat lazily in her chair, not wanting to move after being busy for two days.


    At the moment, she was doing something quite satisfying ¨C watching Tan Zhenghong count money.


    Next to Tan Zhenghong was a pile of Copper Coin that had been strung together, but there were even more copper coins in another basket.


    The money was growing more plentiful, but what was more important was living comfortably.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was content with her current state of life.


    Some time later, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered she had forgotten to make ginseng soup to drink today; keeping up good health practices required consistency, and frequent interruptions could really affect the outcome.


    An idea struck her, and she brought out the ginseng liquor she had soaked.


    It was now autumn, and the nights were no longer so hot, so she could drink ginseng liquor to nourish her body.


    She poured herself nearly half a bowl; she certainly couldn¡¯t drink that much alone and decided to save some for Tan Zhenghong.


    At first, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought it was quite spicy, but the more she drank, the harder it was to stop.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong looked up again, Qiao Duo¡¯er had finished the wine in her bowl, her little cheeks flushed red.


    "Wife, how are you feeling?" Tan Zhenghong asked worriedly.


    He had never seen his wife drink alcohol before, and now she suddenly consumed nearly half a bowl¡ªwell... she was indeed his wife, unlike anyone else!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt light-headed and unsteady, thinking to herself, "Damn, I can¡¯t even handle this little bit?"


    But the truth was, she was drunk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "I¡¯m fine, just feeling a bit dizzy. Fetch me some water; I want to take a bath."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly supported his wife, and if it weren¡¯t for his quick reaction, Qiao Duo¡¯er would have already slipped to the floor.


    "Mm, I want to bathe!" protested Qiao Duo¡¯er.

 Chapter 198 - 200: Catching the Little Bird…_1

    Chapter 198: Chapter 200: Catching the Little Bird..._1Tan Zhenghong could only compromise. He made sure Qiao Duo¡¯er sat nicely on the chair and instructed her not to move around before he dared to walk away.


    After preparing the bathwater, Tan Zhenghong helped Qiao Duo¡¯er behind the curtain.


    "You go out, I¡¯m not drunk, I can bathe,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sent Tan Zhenghong out. She was just a bit unsteady on her feet but was sure she wouldn¡¯t fall!


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare leave. He stood in front of the curtain, ready to rush in at a moment¡¯s notice in case his wife needed him.


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er emerged, wearing only her bellyband and homemade underwear.


    It wasn¡¯t that she deliberately wore so little, but she had drunk too much ginseng wine and now felt unbearably hot. Wearing one more piece would make her feel so uncomfortable she¡¯d want to die.


    So, she came out looking quite cool and breezy.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly looked away. His wife¡¯s figure was getting better, and just one glance made him feel he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    But he couldn¡¯t touch Qiao Duo¡¯er, ah, he was almost going mad!


    Some people don¡¯t handle their liquor well, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was among them.


    Or perhaps alcohol gave courage to the cowardly. She simply did what she¡¯d wanted to do for a long time, emboldened by the alcohol.


    In any case, she just wanted to pin Tan Zhenghong beneath her and tease him mercilessly.


    With her eyes slightly glazed from drunkenness, Qiao Duo¡¯er said to Tan Zhenghong, "Stop counting, come sleep with me."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down. He forced himself not to look at Qiao Duo¡¯er, instead focusing on counting Copper Coins.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er repeated herself. Seeing Tan Zhenghong still unresponsive, she prepared to get out of bed.


    "Wife, wait a second, I¡¯m going to take a bath," Tan Zhenghong hurriedly compromised.


    He usually bathed very quickly, but today he dawdled for a long time. He hoped that by the time he came out, Qiao Duo¡¯er would have already fallen asleep, thus she¡¯d be safe.


    Otherwise, he feared he couldn¡¯t control himself and might do something excessive.


    When Tan Zhenghong came out, not only was Qiao Duo¡¯er not asleep, but her eyes were still bright.


    "You¡¯re so slow, I¡¯ve been waiting for you forever!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er muttered discontentedly.


    Tan Zhenghong struggled over to the bed, looking like a demure woman about to make a sacrifice.


    He was nearly torn apart. He really wanted to sleep with his wife, and even more, not just sleep innocently, but reason told him he shouldn¡¯t.


    Not until he lay in bed did Tan Zhenghong continue to struggle with his thoughts.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give him much time; she turned over and pressed him down.


    "Not bad-looking, let me kiss you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted her lips and moved towards him.


    Her lips grew closer, and finally, they lightly landed on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s.


    Mmm... soft and cool, they seemed delicious.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er extended her little tongue to lick, then pried open Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clenched teeth, and after that, Tan Zhenghong relented with a mix of reluctance and willingness.


    Because a kiss wouldn¡¯t result in pregnancy, they might as well deepen their communication. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After the kiss, Qiao Duo¡¯er panted softly.


    The ginseng wine made her feel hot all over, and just now, after exerting herself, she felt even hotter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand gradually slid down to her sash. Subconsciously, she wanted to untie it.


    "Wife, don¡¯t do that." Tan Zhenghong grabbed the misbehaving hand. If they played with fire like this, he really wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back!


    He was a man, a perfectly normal man, and he was nearly at his limit now!


    With eyes like silk, Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled her hand from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s grasp and continued downward, seizing a part of him that had been standing to attention.


    She asked mischievously, "Is it supposed to be like this?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s body suddenly tensed. His wife had actually touched that place!

 Chapter 199 - 201 Fiercely Love Her_1

    Chapter 199: Chapter 201 Fiercely Love Her_1He clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to let himself make any embarrassing noises.


    There was a time when he suspected his wife, Qiao Duo¡¯er, disdained him, unwilling to touch him.


    So, he fell into a slump and even began to doubt his life.


    But now, seeing his wife¡¯s excited demeanor, could it be that she liked it a lot?


    This realization brought Tan Zhenghong great pleasure.


    As long as his wife didn¡¯t disdain him, all was good!


    At the moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was only wearing an undershirt and panties. The exercise had caused her undershirt to loosen, and the scenery within was about to spill out.


    Although a bit small, they were the most beautiful in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes!


    Perhaps this is what it meant when they say beauty lies in the lover¡¯s eyes; to him, every inch of his wife was perfect.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips approached Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, her breath fragrant as orchids, driving Tan Zhenghong even more wild.


    "It¡¯s quite big, hehe, although I¡¯ve come to this godforsaken place, it seems I¡¯ve found a treasure."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered this into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear while playfully biting it.


    The faint pain made Tan Zhenghong tense even more.


    This little temptress, this sultry little temptress!


    In the past, whenever he heard others talk about the wedding night, it was always about the man¡¯s heroic prowess and the woman¡¯s shy compliance. How could it be completely different with her!


    He was pinned down by his wife, his part gripped in her hand, caught in a rhythm of being teased!


    But... he liked it...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s grip tightened again, and the sensation that came from that place was almost enough to consume Tan Zhenghong.


    Thinking it was his wife¡¯s small hand, he felt as if he was about to take off!


    Reason and desire fiercely battled within him. Tan Zhenghong was lucid one moment and crazed the next, and soon, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To him, at this moment, this was the sweetest punishment.


    But deep love would rather die than hurt her, let alone that he was not going to die now!


    He always remembered that to like was to be unrestrained, but to love was to hold back.


    Tan Zhenghong tightly gripped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, "Wife, your health isn¡¯t great right now. Getting pregnant wouldn¡¯t be good for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot Tan Zhenghong a disdainful look, "Even if we don¡¯t want to get pregnant, there is always medication, why are you needlessly anxious?"


    "You mean that drinking the medicine will prevent pregnancy?" Tan Zhenghong asked excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and took the opportunity to educate Tan Zhenghong about contraceptive pills, leaving him dumbfounded.


    "Tan Zhenghong, hurry up," she urged.


    That sentence was the last straw that broke Tan Zhenghong¡¯s rationality.


    His wife had made her desires so straightforwardly clear, and if he continued to ignore them, would he even be a man!


    The next second, he turned the tables.


    Seeing the little woman obediently lying beneath him, Tan Zhenghong suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.


    Soon, she would become his wife!


    Having such an amazing wife in this lifetime, he could die without regrets!


    "Wife, I want to be with you for a lifetime."


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly. After speaking, he bent down and left a light kiss on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips.


    This kiss sent Tan Zhenghong into an uncontrollable frenzy, with Qiao Duo¡¯er occasionally squirming to protest.


    Because Tan Zhenghong¡¯s skills were so poor, his kisses made her uncomfortable.


    Clothes scattered, Tan Zhenghong lovingly caressed his wife following the desires of his heart.


    Before long, with clothes strewn about and their skins touching, it felt as if all the flowers in the world had bloomed in that instant!


    Tan Zhenghong had but one thought: to love her, to love her, to fiercely love her with his actions!

 Chapter 200 - 202: Technology is too bad!_1

    Chapter 200: Chapter 202: Technology is too bad!_1Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong had a bad premonition. Hadn¡¯t his wife just been complaining about his poor skills?


    Why was there no reaction from her now?


    It couldn¡¯t be said that his skills had improved dramatically in an instant.


    He looked up at Qiao Duo¡¯er and, sure enough, just as he had imagined, she had fallen asleep!


    At this moment, he felt an urge to strangle Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Tan Zhenghong looked at that beautiful face and could only sigh helplessly in the end, getting dressed and out of bed.


    He needed to take a cold shower, otherwise, he might as well forget about sleeping tonight.


    Tan Zhenghong had finally extinguished the raging fire within him and had just lain down on the bed when Duo¡¯er came wrapping herself around him.


    With her soft and warm embrace, certain parts started to stir again.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, alas, he could only watch the culprit sleep sweetly.


    In the darkness, Tan Zhenghong suddenly pulled Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand toward a certain area. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And in her sleep, Duo¡¯er felt her hand moving up and down, not stopping until much later.


    Tan Zhenghong, finally satisfied, smiled wickedly and then fell asleep holding Duo¡¯er.


    Hehe, he deliberately hadn¡¯t cleaned up the mess; he wanted to see Duo¡¯er¡¯s reaction when she woke up.


    Waking up from a good sleep, Qiao Duo stretched languidly.


    Looking beside her, sure enough, it was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s private area.


    Cough cough, with his boxer shorts pulled down to his knees, he was quite the rogue.


    Duo¡¯er silently withdrew her hand and casually noticed some strange traces on it; she brought it close to her nose, and her face changed color instantly.


    Then looking down, she was not wearing a thread, and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand was shamelessly resting on her chest.


    Damnit, what exactly had happened?


    She racked her brain, but her head was so muddled from the drinking; she only remembered that she felt hot after drinking and wanted to vent on a man.


    And in this room, there was only one man¡ªTan Zhenghong...


    Without doubt, she must have teased Tan Zhenghong, but it seemed unsuccessful because she felt deadly sleepy and then had passed out.


    Hmm... would Tan Zhenghong chop her up later?


    "Wife, why did you fall asleep first yesterday?" Tan Zhenghong said with a sense of grievance.


    Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow, "When did I fall asleep?"


    "You were naked, I kissed where I should have kissed, and I touched where I should have touched."


    Tan Zhenghong, just woken up, was somewhat dazed, feeling both shy and annoyed when talking about last night¡¯s events, his emotions were a complex mix.


    Anyway, in Qiao Duo¡¯s eyes, he was just irresistibly cute.


    "And then you used my hand?" Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    However, because she was naked, her presence was weak, almost like she was coquettishly complaining, so Tan Zhenghong was quite at ease.


    "If I hadn¡¯t borrowed your hand, you might not be seeing me today."


    Tan Zhenghong felt wronged. Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t understand his urgency as a man.


    Qiao Duo pouted her lips, "Doesn¡¯t that just prove your skills are poor if you put me to sleep?"


    In reality, the issue was that he had been too hesitant. Had Tan Zhenghong taken action when Duo¡¯er got drunk, would he not have succeeded?


    What a pity that he had been as coy as a maiden, and then after kissing and nibbling, he busied himself for half the night, only to have Qiao Duo succumb to drowsiness without him getting to the main event.


    It can only be said that the kid... didn¡¯t know how to seize the opportunity!


    So, if Tan Zhenghong had suffocated from that sinful fire, it was his own fault, and he couldn¡¯t blame anyone else!


    Tan Zhenghong, seemingly to punish Qiao Duo, squeezed her hand a bit harder, causing her a bit of pain.

 Chapter 201 - 203 Clean Up the Bed_1

    Chapter 201: Chapter 203 Clean Up the Bed_1"Hmph, it¡¯s because your technique sucks!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swatted away Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands and added insult to injury with a withering look.


    Seeing the crestfallen expression on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face, Qiao Duo¡¯er patted his cheek, "Don¡¯t be sad, just go buy some erotic art to study."


    "Wife, I just need a bit more practice."


    Tan Zhenghong made as if he was about to pin Qiao Duo¡¯er down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swiftly got up and calmly began to dress at the other end of the room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked triumphantly at Tan Zhenghong, "Clean up the bed nicely, or else I¡¯ll snip you!"


    While speaking, she even bent over and flicked something in a particular spot.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, mentally vowing, "One day, I will have my way with you!"


    After dressing, Qiao Duo¡¯er went out to wash up. Brushing her teeth with a willow twig, she couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the previous night.


    She might have gone a bit too far, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself from smiling with pursed lips.


    That guy was all pent up again, still obsessed with the fact that she can¡¯t get pregnant right now. It¡¯s really something else.


    Mm... Her man must be one of those nearly extinct species in this world, a truly good man!


    "Wife, what are you laughing at?" Tan Zhenghong, squatting beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, immediately noticed her looking foolish with laughter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er casually took a mouthful of water, spat it out, and then replied, "Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯re dim-witted?"


    Tan Zhenghong felt like choking on suppressed rage¡ªwho was he going through all this for?


    Well, it¡¯s not like he wasn¡¯t used to being so carefree.


    "Wife, you mentioned birth control pills yesterday. Should we go to town and buy some?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er hopefully.


    "I forgot to tell you yesterday, that medicine is bad for your health."


    Every contraceptive pill comes with the trade-off of disrupting hormonal balance, and it inevitably affects the body, especially for someone like her who suffered from both blood and qi deficiency, making it even worse to take such medication.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head was covered in metaphorical dark lines, vowing never to believe the drunken nonsense again!


    Yet just last night, there had been a lengthy exposition on how birth control pills work.


    "You¡¯re relying on me feeling sorry for you!"


    Tan Zhenghong grumbled to himself, hmpf, and it was indeed true.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a stroke of inspiration¡ªif she ever had a spat with Tan Zhenghong in the future, instead of arguing with him, it would be better to hit herself a couple of times, guaranteeing he¡¯d promptly apologize.


    Ha-ha, it seems rather unscrupulous to do so though.


    When Sun Erhu walked into the yard and saw Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gloomy face, he couldn¡¯t help but tease, "Brother Hong, who got you down so early in the morning?"


    Tan Zhenghong replied indifferently, "Nobody."


    But internally, he acknowledged it was none other than the adversary at home!


    "Sister-in-law, did you bully My Brother Hong? Look how pitiful he is."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er washed the rice, she said, "Maybe he stepped in dog poop when he went out this morning."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s sense of grievance deepened, but he obediently went to make fire nonetheless.


    Sun Erhu chuckled twice, unable to figure out what was going on, but he felt there was an indescribable vibe between Brother Hong and his sister-in-law¡ªnot a bad thing, for sure.


    A bit of friction is normal for a young couple, but as the saying goes, "A quarrel at the head of the bed ends at the foot." Watching them exchange tender looks, it¡¯s certain they¡¯ll reconcile by night.


    Sigh, ever since he realized his feelings for Chao Lian, he¡¯s become so sentimental. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Love sure is tormenting.


    His Brother Hong transformed from a tough guy into a whipped husband, and he went from heartless to lovelorn.


    Sun Erhu and the others made small talk for a while before getting busy with their own tasks. Those who have goals are happy¡ªfor they wake each day to strive toward their aims, never resting until death.

 Chapter 202 -s 200-204: Useless Man_1

    Chapter 202: Chapters 200-204: Useless Man_1Tan Zhenghong could only compromise. He had Qiao Duo¡¯er sit properly on the chair and instructed her not to move around before he dared to walk away.


    After preparing the bathwater, Tan Zhenghong helped Qiao Duo¡¯er to the curtain behind which she would bathe.


    "Go out, I¡¯m not drunk, I can bathe myself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she shooed Tan Zhenghong out, confident she wouldn¡¯t fall even though she felt slightly unsteady.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare to leave and stood in front of the curtain, ready to charge in if anything happened to his wife.


    When Sun Erhu entered the courtyard and saw Tan Zhenghong¡¯s sulky face, he couldn¡¯t help but tease, "Brother Hong, who¡¯s got you holding a grudge so early in the morning?"


    Tan Zhenghong simply replied, "No one."


    Yet, in his heart, he thought, isn¡¯t it because of that nemesis at home!


    "Sister-in-law, did you bully my Brother Hong? Look how pitiful he seems," Sun Erhu chided.


    Tan Zhenghong felt an even deeper sense of grievance but obediently went to start the fire.


    Sun Erhu chuckled twice, not quite understanding the situation, but he felt that there was an indefinable atmosphere between Brother Hong and his sister-in-law; definitely not a bad thing, though.


    For a couple, there are bound to be some friction, but as the old saying goes, make up at the end of the bed after a quarrel at the head. Looking at how affectionately they gazed at each other, they¡¯ll surely reconcile by nightfall.


    Ah, ever since he realized his feelings for Chao Lian, he seemed to have become more sentimental.


    Love is really torturous.


    His Brother Hong went from being a tough guy to a whipped husband, and he himself evolved from being carefree to full of worries.


    Sun Erhu and the others chatted briefly before getting busy with their own tasks. People with a goal are happy because every morning they wake up with a purpose to strive for, never stopping until death.


    Before long, the courtyard of the Tan Family was filled with the aroma of braised meat.


    Today Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t going up the mountain; he planned to repair the roof of his house after lunch. In the morning, he was at home weaving bamboo baskets.


    His crafted goods sold well at the docks, and since it was a business with no capital required, Tan Zhenghong was reluctant to give it up.


    According to Qiao Duo¡¯er, a mosquito might be small, but it¡¯s still flesh; it¡¯s better to earn more whenever possible.


    "Fourth Boss, go quickly and fetch the Midwife, my wife is about to give birth!"


    Tan Zhongzhong ran out from the house in a panic.


    His wife had given birth to Third Girl when he was working on a short-term job in town. By the time he got back, Third Girl was already born, so this was a first for him.


    Although Tan Zhenghong and his family were annoying, when it came to a life-or-death situation, there was no time to hesitate, so Tan Zhenghong hurried off.


    Soon after, cries from Li Clan could be heard from the room, sending a shiver down Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s spine.


    In those days, with the medical practices being backward, childbirth was like walking a round at the Ghost Gate.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Grandma Feng and her daughter-in-law arrived.


    Grandma Feng was the only Midwife in Big Willow Village. She had given birth to nine children herself, all of whom survived, and she also knew a little bit of medicine, so she naturally became the Midwife.


    She seemed to be in her fifties or sixties and likely intended for her daughter-in-law to inherit her profession.


    The old lady went straight into the birthing room, leaving her daughter-in-law behind to prepare the necessities.


    Tan Zhongzhong, hearing the noises from inside, had already turned pale and collapsed to the ground, utterly useless.


    Ah, how useless can a man be!


    Known as Elder Sister Feng, the Midwife¡¯s wife said anxiously, "Hey, get up, will you? Your wife has done this before; do you have to be so scared?"


    Having assisted in many births, she knew well that each one was a close call.


    There wasn¡¯t a minute to waste, yet that man just wouldn¡¯t move.


    Elder Sister Feng couldn¡¯t help but curse under her breath, never before having seen such a useless man!


    Displeased by the sight, Hu¡¯s Clan spoke up, "None of you who haven¡¯t given birth before should get close; I¡¯ll go help."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in agreement; she had never witnessed childbirth and wouldn¡¯t be of help if she went.


    As time passed, the cries of Li Clan grew louder, making it hard for Qiao Duo¡¯er to concentrate.


    Chao Lian, who had seen her stepmother give birth, consoled her, "That¡¯s what it¡¯s like to give birth. My midwife said it hurts like that only when the bones need to spread."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, remembering that childbirth was one of the most severe pains.


    Even though she knew this, she was still shocked the first time she witnessed it.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands trembled as he wove the bamboo basket, silently thinking that perhaps he and his wife should avoid having children in the future.


    Wang Clan too entered the birthing room; after all, what if Li Clan gave birth to a son?


    About two hours later, Li Clan¡¯s energy to cry out had faded, and her voice grew weaker.


    Grandma Feng¡¯s daughter-in-law came out of the room and shouted at Tan Zhongzhong, "Don¡¯t just sit there, hurry to Doctor Wu¡¯s House and buy some ginseng, or your wife will be dead!"


    "What¡¯s wrong with her?" Tan Zhongzhong asked, shivering.


    "It¡¯s a breech birth, hurry and get the ginseng for revival!"


    Grandma Feng¡¯s daughter-in-law glared at Tan Zhongzhong, wishing she could slap him and send him flying out.


    Hadn¡¯t she just told him the mother was in critical condition? Yet he still sat there asking endless questions! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As if the woman inside wasn¡¯t his wife, the child wasn¡¯t his own!


    Spurred on by the scolding, Tan Zhongzhong jumped to his feet and ran out of the house, stumbling as he went.

 Chapter 203 - 205 What Breed?_1

    Chapter 203: Chapter 205 What Breed?_1fre§×we?novel.comHe had run only a few steps when Tan Zhongzhong turned back again. He was really in a panic; didn¡¯t The Fourth Boss¡¯s House have ginseng?


    Why did he have to go to Doctor Wu¡¯s Family and waste this unjust money?


    Tan Zhongzhong rushed to Qiao Duo¡¯er and said, "Your family has ginseng, bring it out quickly!"


    His attitude was very displeasing. Even Tan Zhenghong frowned, couldn¡¯t a man in his twenties understand what a Relationship Termination Letter meant?


    Moreover, considering all the things their family had done, by what right was he so brazenly demanding things?


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er unmoved, Tan Zhongzhong urged, "You are too stingy. If it ends up as one corpse and two lives, will you take responsibility?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kept a stern face, but Li Clan¡¯s voice grew weaker and weaker, so she went back to get the ginseng.


    But she never expected that as soon as she picked up the small jar, Tan Zhongzhong would barge in and try to snatch it from her hands without saying a word.


    Don¡¯t say Tan Zhongzhong was in a rush to save someone, as his eyes betrayed a hint of greed.


    Hmph, even in a life-or-death situation for his wife and child, he didn¡¯t forget to take advantage. What on earth is this species?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved even faster, lifting her foot to kick Tan Zhongzhong away.


    Tan Zhongzhong staggered backward several steps before steadying himself and could only watch Qiao Duo¡¯er resentfully.


    He wanted to rush forward and grab it, but he was also wary of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "If I give you the ginseng, it¡¯s out of kindness because I don¡¯t want to see one corpse and two lives, not because I owe you anything. Do you understand?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced sideways at Tan Zhongzhong.


    With a light snort, Tan Zhongzhong took the Mountain Ginseng slices and left.


    What good are just two slices of Mountain Ginseng? Forget it, I better take them to Elder Sister Feng first.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes and said to Tan Zhenghong, who had just entered the room, "What breed are all the men in your family?"


    He¡¯s begging for help with such a terrible attitude to start with, and after he got what he wanted, he even complained it was too little. I feel like I¡¯m being foolish!


    "Don¡¯t be angry. From now on, we won¡¯t give him anything from our house."


    Tan Zhenghong spoke soothingly, as he too had had enough of this third brother.


    Nobody owes him anything, yet he always acts as if the whole world is in his debt.


    Qiao Duo took a deep breath, not wanting to argue with such a person. She had given the ginseng slices to Tan Zhongzhong today to satisfy her own conscience.


    If she delayed and something happened, she would never have peace for the rest of her life. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Elder Sister Feng, come out and take the Mountain Ginseng!" called Tan Zhongzhong from the entrance.


    Why not deliver it inside himself?


    It¡¯s because everyone says the birthing room is dirty, and men who enter will be jinxed. Thus, Tan Zhongzhong had no intention of entering the birthing room.


    Elder Sister Feng came out and ordered, "Hurry and make food, preferably something with eggs or meat. Your wife needs strength to give birth."


    Tan Zhongzhong nodded quickly. Wanting meat was not a problem, wasn¡¯t there plenty at The Fourth Boss¡¯s House?


    Grandma Feng consoled Te Hengzhong with a few words. She had breech births that turned during labor and were born safely.


    The mood of Tan Zhongzhong improved slightly. After Grandma went in, he immediately went to ask for meat.


    "Fourth Boss, fill a bowl with meat for me. It¡¯s for saving a life!"


    But this time, Qiao Duo¡¯er was determined not to let him succeed. While ginseng was for reviving someone¡¯s energy, no other food could replace that, but meat wasn¡¯t necessary at this moment. Right now, Li Clan just needed to eat something.


    What exactly she ate wasn¡¯t that important.


    It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Duo¡¯er was heartless; some people just can¡¯t be indulged.


    Otherwise, they¡¯ll take advantage of you. Clearly, Tan Zhongzhong was one of them.


    "Bring money," said Qiao Duo¡¯er bluntly.


    With his neck stiffened, Tan Zhongzhong retorted, "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, don¡¯t go too far. Childbirth is a serious matter, and it can¡¯t be delayed."

 Chapter 204 - 206 Duo’er Takes Action_1

    Chapter 204: Chapter 206 Duo¡¯er Takes Action_1Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude was very firm, there was no way!


    Tan Yuancheng tried to persuade her, "This is a special situation, giving the Third Boss a bowl of meat, and you won¡¯t lose out."


    "My mother said that the meat from yesterday wasn¡¯t finished, so it would be just right to give it to the third sister-in-law now," Tan Zhenghong agreed.


    No matter who tried to bully his wife, it wasn¡¯t okay!


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s beard trembled, and his gaze towards Qiao Duo¡¯er became even more hostile. Every parent-in-law felt that it was the daughter-in-law who led their son astray.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er completely ignored Tan Yuancheng, feeling annoyed at the sight of this old mess!


    Tan Zhongzhong gritted his teeth, his little scheme having failed, he went back and got two eggs, which he washed with boiling water and brought in.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that Li Clan was very pitiful.


    She struggled with all her might to give birth to this man¡¯s child, but the man didn¡¯t cherish her at all. Was it worth it?


    It was only a while after she entered that Elder Sister Feng came back out again.


    She looked at Tan Zhongzhong seriously, "Your wife may not make it, you need to decide now, save the mother or save the child."


    Li Clan wasn¡¯t so lucky, the child just wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Upon hearing this, Tan Zhongzhong was completely stunned.


    Save the mother or save the child?


    Did this mean that no matter what he chose, one of them would have to leave him?


    No, it couldn¡¯t be like this!


    "Elder Sister Feng, please save my wife, please save my son, I can¡¯t lose either of them!" Tan Zhongzhong pleaded urgently.


    Elder Sister Feng shook her head, if there were any other way, she wouldn¡¯t have asked this question.


    The cervix was fully dilated, they couldn¡¯t delay any longer.


    Tan Yuancheng quickly said, "Of course, save the child, Feng Family, please!"


    Elder Sister Feng looked at Tan Zhongzhong, who was still undecided.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cursed under her breath and then walked toward the delivery room. She had once disguised herself as an obstetrician, but she had only learned a little bit, not even enough to count as the basics.


    An agent is like that, often having to disguise themselves as various people to complete their missions, so she knew a little bit about many things but was not an expert.


    But if she didn¡¯t go in now, Li Clan would breathe her last.


    The delivery room was filled with the smell of blood, and Li Clan¡¯s face was ashen, her screams of pain had even stopped. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone¡¯s faces were grim; it looked like this joyous occasion might turn into a funeral.


    "How is she doing?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked Grandma Feng.


    Grandma Feng sighed, "The cervix is fully dilated, the amniotic fluid is almost gone, it is very dangerous if the baby doesn¡¯t come out soon."


    "I have a method, but I don¡¯t know how effective it will be," Qiao Duo¡¯er said hesitantly.


    Now Grandma Feng was also out of options, Li Clan was in so much pain she was going back and forth between life and death, so Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words gave them a last straw to grasp.


    Grandma Feng instructed, "It can¡¯t take too long, in four hours both mother and child won¡¯t be able to hold on."


    After that, they would have to take forceful measures, choosing between the mother and the child.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, four hours should be enough.


    She had Li Clan kneel and arch forward on the bed, her buttocks raised high. For Li Clan, this was an immense torment, each and every muscle quivering with pain.


    "This is your last chance, you better hold on."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, whether or not it could turn around within four hours was up to fate.


    Every five to ten minutes of kneeling, Grandma Feng would check the baby¡¯s position. In between the waves of pain, Hu¡¯s Clan would feed Li Clan something to eat.


    After more than an hour of this back and forth, every person in the delivery room was sweating profusely, but finally, there was some good news.


    That was the baby had begun to turn.


    Li Clan took another sliver of Mountain Ginseng, knelt and arched forward for about ten minutes more, and the baby had turned into a breech position.

 Chapter 205 - 207 Mother and Child Safe_1

    Chapter 205: Chapter 207 Mother and Child Safe_1The so-called buttock position means the child¡¯s head is up, with the feet at the bottom.


    There are two dangers with breech delivery: one is that the feet get stuck inside, and the other is that if the mother doesn¡¯t have enough strength, the child can easily suffocate.


    But even that is much better than the transverse lie we had just a moment ago.


    A transverse lie means the fetus is lying sideways in the womb, a situation where at least one of them, the adult or the child, is guaranteed to die, with absolutely no room for turnaround, and the methods are very cruel.


    But now, it¡¯s not much different from the four hours that Grandma Feng mentioned; it had to be done this way.


    After a rough time, Li Clan looked as if she had been fished out of water, but the instinct to survive allowed her to exert force following Grandma Feng¡¯s rhythm.


    Before long, a tiny foot emerged.


    Grandma Feng steadied her mind, grabbed the foot and gently pushed it back in; this process now depended on the midwife¡¯s skill.


    Most of the younger generation in Big Willow Village were delivered by Grandma Feng; her experience was ample, and she was entirely capable of handling the current situation.


    Only when both tiny feet had come out did she breathe a sigh of relief.


    Both feet coming out together meant the rest would be much smoother.


    "Third Boss¡¯s wife, put in a bit more effort, the baby¡¯s feet are out, it¡¯s just a little bit more!"


    Grandma Feng said excitedly, thinking she¡¯d have to be the bringer of doom today, but to her surprise, there was such a turn of events.


    Li Clan spoke weakly, "I can¡¯t, I have no strength left."


    She was close to collapsing, having tried to exert force twice, but to basically no effect.


    "Put in more effort, if it takes too long, the child will suffocate!"


    Grandma Feng¡¯s good mood was long gone.


    As time ticked away, Li Clan¡¯s strength dwindled even more and she even stopped responding to Grandma Feng¡¯s words.


    Grandma Feng, holding onto the little feet, could only panic.


    If she tried to pull the baby out forcefully, it was very easy to break the umbilical cord.


    "You¡¯ve suffered so much; it¡¯s just the last bit left, hold on," Grandma Feng continued to encourage, but still to no effect.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought over the Silver Needle from inside the house and inserted it into several of Li Clan¡¯s acupuncture points, which was incredibly difficult because Li Clan was shivering.


    Fortunately, the needles were all correctly positioned.


    This set of needle techniques could strengthen contractions, making the uterus contract continuously.


    Thanks to this force, the baby was quickly born.


    The child had been stifled inside the womb for too long, its face a shade of blue-purple, with the little mouth tightly closed, causing a deep pang of distress for onlookers.


    Grandma Feng swiftly dealt with the umbilical cord, and after slapping the baby¡¯s buttocks a few times, the child finally cried.


    But its cry was not as clear as that of other babies; it sounded like the soft weeping of a kitten.


    But being alive was still a blessing!


    Grandma Feng said with a smile, "Congratulations, it¡¯s a big, healthy son!"


    Li Clan didn¡¯t hear her; she had already lost consciousness and fallen into a coma.


    After cleaning the baby and wrapping him in swaddling clothes, Grandma Feng went out to share the good news. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Elder Sister Feng helped tidy up the bed for Li Clan and kept a close watch on her condition. After such an ordeal, a major hemorrhage was very likely, so it was necessary to be careful.


    The birth room was stuffy and smelled terrible, so Qiao Duo went out for some fresh air first.


    Thinking about the recent danger, she still felt a bit apprehensive.


    As soon as she went out, Tan Zhenghong wrapped his arms around Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist; his wife was pale-faced and unsteady on her feet.


    "Wife, how are you feeling?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "A bit tired, but I¡¯ll be fine after some rest."


    She finally understood why the Hu¡¯s Clan had said that those who hadn¡¯t given birth should stay away because it was indeed terrifying enough to deter them from having children.

 Chapter 206 - 208: Person with Leverage_1

    Chapter 206: Chapter 208: Person with Leverage_1"Sister-in-law, Brother Zheng Hong, come and eat."


    It was already three or four in the afternoon, but because everyone was worried about Li Clan, no one had the appetite to eat. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The meal was very simple, just a pot of rice with several marinated dishes, to keep things simple, as Chao Lian and the rest still had to go into town afterwards.


    Hmm... Today, it was just her and Erhu going.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the shiny red-braised pork and was reminded of the scene she witnessed in the birthing room, causing her stomach to churn.


    She hurriedly covered her mouth and walked away, Tan Zheng Hong saw his daughter-in-law¡¯s pale face and didn¡¯t dare to urge her to eat more.


    Seeing his daughter-in-law upset, he too lost his appetite.


    Seeing how much Tan Zheng Hong doted on his daughter-in-law, Sun Erhu, with his sharp tongue, teased him a couple of times until he caught a glimpse of Chao Lian and immediately shut up.


    Looking at Chao Lian, her little face might as well have been buried in her rice bowl.


    No good, he now had his own weak spot too.


    Tan Zheng Hong had an idea and suddenly remembered the mushroom porridge Qiao Duo¡¯er had stewed before; taking it upon himself, he made her a small pot.


    Tan Zheng Hong had a good memory and the porridge he made tasted almost the same as the one Qiao Duo¡¯er had made.


    By the time the porridge was ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s spirits were much improved, and with the porridge being so refreshing, she drank a whole bowl.


    Tan Zheng Hong was very thoughtful; after preparing the bathwater, he asked, "Wife, do you want to drink ginseng wine today, or shall I stew some ginseng soup for you?"


    Just as Qiao Duo was about to respond, she felt a warm flow from below.


    Her menstruation, absent for over two months, finally arrived!


    Ginseng promotes blood flow, and drinking ginseng soup during menstruation could lead to heavy bleeding, so Qiao Duo refused Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s kind offer.


    However, after she had finished bathing, Tan Zheng Hong had already prepared a cup of ginger and red date tea, still steaming hot.


    Tan Zheng Hong offered it like a prized possession, "Wife, drink it while it¡¯s hot."


    Qiao Duo cleared her throat, "How did you know?"


    This kid is getting naughtier by the day!


    She still remembered having to explain it to Tan Zheng Hong for quite a while the first time.


    Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s face turned red and he sheepishly explained, "Didn¡¯t you just take that ¡¯thing¡¯ you... you know, use?"


    While speaking, his gaze inadvertently darted in a certain direction.


    Cough cough, recalling the beautiful sight he¡¯d seen that night, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, his mouth going dry with thirst.


    Alas, he had been just one step short.


    "You scoundrel, your eyes are only sharp when it comes to that," Qiao Duo chided gently.


    Tan Zheng Hong pursed his lips, an expression that made Qiao Duo struggle to suppress a smile.


    She wasn¡¯t really that stern, was she? Why did Tan Zheng Hong look like a schoolboy waiting to be scolded for his wrongdoing?


    "I¡¯m just concerned about you, does your belly hurt?"


    Tan Zheng Hong scratched his head, and with Qiao Duo teasing him like that, he couldn¡¯t help but blush, though the concern in his eyes didn¡¯t diminish at all.


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "It¡¯s not too bad this time. How are things over there?"


    As she spoke, she gestured towards where Tan Zhongzhong was.


    Li Clan had nearly lost her life with her ordeal this time; she wondered if Tan Zhongzhong would be reliable.


    "My mother slaughtered an old hen to send over, to help with her milk production, and Third Brother has been quite happy to take care of her, so you don¡¯t need to worry," he said.


    Tan Zheng Hong raised his hand and gently rubbed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, and she did not inquire further.


    She could only think that it was fortunate Li Clan had a son to the death; had it been a daughter, Wang Clan would not have sent over a chicken, and Tan Zhongzhong would certainly not have been as attentive.


    Without proper food, drink, or rest, she would surely succumb to various illnesses later in life.


    That¡¯s why one must be cautious in whom they marry, or else it could lead to a lifetime of suffering.

 Chapter 207 - 209: Obsessed with Money?_1

    Chapter 207: Chapter 209: Obsessed with Money?_1At nightfall, Qiao Duo¡¯er was very alert.


    After this period of recovery, her stomach no longer hurt as it did before, but there was still some mild discomfort that was enough to affect her sleep.


    Tan Zhenghong held his wife¡¯s soft body in his arms, gently rubbing her lower abdomen with his big hand.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll go look for a suitable homestead plot in the village tomorrow,"


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly said.


    Given the attitude of his third brother and father toward Qiao Duo¡¯er today, he no longer wanted to live here and unnecessarily let his wife feel wronged.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er calculated that in the village, a homestead plot could vary from five to Twenty Taels of Silver, depending mainly on the size and location.


    Now she had over thirty taels of silver, the homestead plot would definitely be the finest, probably costing around seventeen or eighteen taels.


    Building a house would be a bit tight, but they always had an income coming in, so the pressure wasn¡¯t too great.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Let¡¯s have a look first; we¡¯ve got to choose one with good feng shui so it will be comfortable to live in later on."


    Tan Zhenghong completely agreed, as that would be their own little nest in the future, naturally everything had to be the best.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er described the house she had in mind.


    A few red-brick rooms, a vegetable garden in the front yard, some poultry and livestock in the backyard, and a few fruit trees to plant so that their future child could pick fruit with them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had been frightened by the terrible scene of childbirth today, but the sight of the tiny baby gave her a glimmer of longing.


    She felt that having a little person who resembled both her and Tan Zhenghong would be a wonderful thing.


    "I don¡¯t want you to have children," Tan Zhenghong said resolutely.


    His reaction was intense and almost blurted out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with surprise; did even ancient times have the progressive notion of "DINK" (Double Income, No Kids)?


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arm a little closer to him and muttered, "Wife, isn¡¯t it enough just to have us two?"


    Why let his wife go through the agony of childbirth?


    He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her suffering in labor, nor could he bear the midwife asking him whether to save the mother or the child, at which point he would rather die!


    Therefore, he would rather that child never come at all. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You... sigh, not every childbirth is that dangerous,"


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively, "Even a one in ten thousand chance is not acceptable to me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong, thinking he was just scared for the moment and would get over it in a few days, so she didn¡¯t say anything more.


    But to her surprise, Tan Zhenghong was very serious this time.


    However, that was a matter for the future.


    Ever since having a son, Tan Zhongzhong walked with his head held high and chest puffed out, and he also became more generous with food.


    Since the wet nurse from the Li Clan didn¡¯t produce enough milk, the child was crying from hunger.


    In the afternoon, after Tan Zhongzhong soothed the child to sleep, he took his copper coins to buy meat.


    "Weigh me half a pound of meat."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands were precise, cutting exactly half a pound of meat, not a bit less, not a bit more, she swore it wasn¡¯t on purpose.


    Tan Zhongzhong said discontentedly, "Sister-in-law, no offense, but you¡¯re being too stingy. How would it be if you gave a little more? Would it fall through your eyes and turn into money?"


    "Don¡¯t get chummy; if you¡¯re not stingy, just make up for yesterday¡¯s ginseng and meat¡¯s cost," Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted irritably.


    Wouldn¡¯t she from the Li Clan have had a smooth delivery?


    Yet, they didn¡¯t even offer a word of thanks; yesterday¡¯s oversight might be excused by the chaos, but what about today?


    Humph, he has no consideration in his conduct, so she saw no need to be polite with him.


    Tan Zhongzhong clenched his teeth, clutching the copper coins tightly in his hand.


    He had come with copper coins to buy meat, but he never intended to pay, let alone make up for yesterday¡¯s silver debt.

 Chapter 208 - 210: Got a Son, Give Money!_1

    Chapter 208: Chapter 210: Got a Son, Give Money!_1?§Ôeewe?n?vel.comTan Zhongzhong had always felt that he and Tan Zhenghong were brothers, how could he have the nerve to ask for money for such trivial things?


    Seeing that Tan Zhongzhong made no move, Qiao Duo¡¯er prepared to pour the meat back into the pot; she wasn¡¯t willing to sell it to him anyway.


    Tan Zhongzhong immediately said, "I¡¯ll give you the money today, just give me the meat."


    It was fine if an adult didn¡¯t eat, but his son was still waiting for his milk!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waited for Tan Zhongzhong to place the silver coin on the stove before she wrapped the meat in parchment paper.


    "You could just use a plate, as if I¡¯m longing for your family¡¯s dishes."


    "I didn¡¯t say that," Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands, it was someone else who said it themselves.


    Tan Zhongzhong felt a bit uneasy, but his thick skin quickly made him seem nonchalant again as he took the meat and went back to his place.


    Watching Third Brother Tan¡¯s retreating figure, Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, what was this supposed to mean?


    Some people just bully the weak and fear the strong.


    Between looking after Li Clan and his son, Tan Zhongzhong was extremely busy, but even amidst all that, he remembered something very important.


    It was that during the division of the family, his father had said that whoever had the ability to have a son would receive additional silver.


    Now, with both the elder and the younger in his family in poor health, he was in urgent need of money.


    Taking advantage of the fact that both his child and Li Clan were asleep, Tan Zhongzhong headed straight for the Main Room.


    When he entered, Tan Yuancheng was in the hall smoking his pipe, and his mother was likely sewing in the room, which made it convenient for Tan Zhongzhong to speak.


    "Father, my son has already been named. I asked Master. Xiu Cai to help choose it, his name is Tan Mingfu, does that sound good?"


    Tan Yuancheng nodded, "It¡¯s a good name."


    After that, he showed no further reaction, and Tan Zhongzhong had to wait a little longer. Still, Tan Yuancheng didn¡¯t say anything else, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.


    Tan Zhongzhong had no choice but to remind him, "Father, what about the Twenty Taels you mentioned?"


    His eyes shone with eagerness because he¡¯d never seen so much silver in his life.


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s expression changed, "Xiao Fu has only just paid his tuition fee; the house doesn¡¯t have that much silver right now. Wait a few more days."


    Hmph, his father couldn¡¯t produce Twenty Taels? Not a soul would believe that!


    The only explanation was that he simply didn¡¯t want to give it.


    "Father, I¡¯m not a fool; how could I not know that this is just you stalling? Xiao Fu is only beginning his studies in the village. Master. Xiu Cai is the most generous, how much could he possibly charge for tuition fees?"


    Tan Zhongzhong immediately retorted; these past few days, the family expenses were high, and he had almost emptied his pockets.


    With no money now, he was feeling anxious.


    "You... you useless thing, do you still expect me, an old man, to support your son for you?" Tan Yuancheng took a couple more drags from his pipe.


    Damn it, why hadn¡¯t he fathered a few more sons as capable as Tan Zhenghong?


    Tan Zhongzhong wasn¡¯t annoyed and said, "Father, that¡¯s not fair. Both Second Brother and I are your sons. You supported Second Brother¡¯s child for so many years and even paid his tuition fees; why can¡¯t you support mine for a few years?"


    Tan Yuancheng did not expect Tan Zhongzhong to be so shameless and was left speechless.


    He even doubted whether Tan Zhongzhong was really a man.


    "Father, can you give me a definitive answer? I¡¯m still counting on this silver to organize the full moon celebration," Tan Zhongzhong urged.


    Tan Yuancheng angrily said, "Not right now!"


    "We should honor our words as human beings, Father. You said it yourself and so many people heard it!"


    His father had spoken those words in front of many villagers, who could all testify.


    Thinking of backing out now? No way! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You unworthy thing, do you also want to take apart this old bag of bones for money?" Wang Clan came out, cursing and swearing.

 Chapter 209 - 211 Dog Eat Dog_1

    Chapter 209: Chapter 211 Dog Eat Dog_1Tan Zhongzhong and his brothers were almost all raised by the hand of the Wang Clan, and to this day, they still harbored a shadow in their hearts.


    But what use was it to be afraid?


    The silver that was his due, he must still claim, otherwise wouldn¡¯t he be making it too easy for others?


    In the past, he had no son and no say, but now it was different, he even had one more daughter than Tan Zhengyong!


    "You unfilial thing, how much property do you think this family has? You still want twenty taels, we don¡¯t even have two taels of silver!" the Wang Clan scolded angrily.


    Ever since the family division, the clan¡¯s silver had only been diminishing, how could they take out another twenty taels?


    If they, the two elders, didn¡¯t clutch silver in their hands, who would take care of them in their old age and at their funeral?


    Tan Zhongzhong didn¡¯t dwell on the matter of the silver anymore.


    Truth be told, he didn¡¯t even set much store by that pittance.


    "You take out the land you gave extra to Xiao Fu¡¯s family and divide it evenly. They¡¯re all grandsons, don¡¯t be biased," Tan Zhongzhong said smugly.


    When they divided the estate, Xiao Fu had eight mu of paddy fields and four mu of dry land. If he could get half, converted into silver, that was more than forty taels!


    "No way!" the Wang Clan immediately said.


    "Aren¡¯t you still biased towards Xiao Fu then? I need to have a proper talk about this matter!"


    Tan Zhongzhong spoke with dissatisfaction, as long as the old couple could afford to lose face.


    Little Wang Clan also entered the main room; ever since Li Clan had given birth to a son, she had been watching Tan Zhongzhong closely.


    Sure enough, here it came.


    If Tan Zhongzhong took away twenty taels, she would lose twenty taels, and she was not willing!


    "At the outset, dad said those lands were for Xiao Fu¡¯s schooling. Don¡¯t even think about it!"


    "Is your child inlaid with gold? Just your child goes to school and others¡¯ children can only watch? I¡¯ve said nothing about mum and dad raising Xiao Fu all this time, but when it comes to studying, you can¡¯t continue to play favorites."


    Tan Zhongzhong gave Little Wang Clan a sidelong glance; he had made up his mind today to divide Xiao Fu¡¯s land!


    Otherwise, he would be failing his son!


    "Your son is frail. Who guarantees he will grow up?" Little Wang Clan said spitefully.


    Tan Zhongzhong instantly became furious; his son was his precious treasure. How could he tolerate such slander from Little Wang Clan?


    He immediately raised his hand and slapped her across the face.


    Half of Little Wang Clan¡¯s face instantly reddened.


    Tan Zhongzhong also warned fiercely, "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll kill you!"


    Little Wang Clan was no docile lamb that wouldn¡¯t fight back; she reached out to scratch Tan Zhongzhong, and soon the two were scuffling together.


    Tan Zhongzhong was tall and strong, whereas Little Wang Clan had nails ¡ª she excelled in scratching and pinching. Both had their own strengths, making it hard to tell who might prevail.


    Tan Yuancheng knocked on his smoking pipe, "Stop it, both of you, or I¡¯ll kick you out!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhongzhong withdrew his hand resentfully, but Little Wang Clan was not the least bit afraid and stretched out her hand to scratch Tan Zhongzhong once more.


    "Dad, if you¡¯ve forgotten, I¡¯ll fetch a few witnesses," Tan Zhongzhong said slowly.


    Little Wang Clan yelled toward the bedroom, "Tan Zhengyong, someone is robbing us blind under our own roof, and you¡¯re still sleeping? Are you a dead pig or what?"


    Tan Zhengyong quickly appeared, seeing the marks on his wife¡¯s face, he immediately asked, "Wife, what happened?"


    "Her mouth was asking for it," the Wang Clan said irately.


    Little Wang Clan gritted her teeth, but she still dared not offend the Wang Clan and could only suppress her rage.


    Each harbored their own schemes within the main room, and the row had roused Xiao Fu, who started to cry, yet no resolution was reached.


    Tan Zhongzhong returned home first to hold his son, but this by no means represented he would just give up.

 Chapter 210 - 212_1

    Chapter 210: Chapter 212_1The main room was in a total uproar, and with Er Ya as their inside informant, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others quickly learned what was going on.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered a saying, which was "a dog bites a dog, a mouthful of fur."


    Tan Zhongzhong was a relentless character, and, whenever he had a chance, he went to the main room to make a fuss. Under his incessant nagging and pressure, Tan Yuancheng could only take out the silver.


    Don¡¯t ask how Qiao Duo¡¯er knew that Tan Zhongzhong succeeded; the moment he got the silver, his tail was practically wagging to the sky.


    Wang Clan was bedridden with illness, and Little Wang Clan had gone back to her parents¡¯ home.


    In short, it was a mess.


    However, all these had nothing to do with Qiao Duo¡¯er. What she needed to do was to live her own good life.


    These past few days, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong had been looking at home sites. The one they liked most had a pond in the front and a hill in the back.


    With a hill and water, the scenery was beautiful, and living there must be comfortable.


    Having made up his mind, Tan Zhenghong went to the village chief Tie Niu¡¯s home to inquire. That piece of land was thirty-five taels of silver, and that included the small pond at the gate.


    Thirty-five taels of silver was not an insignificant amount.


    At night, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out all her family¡¯s savings.


    There were three ingots of silver, each ten taels, plus six taels of broken silver, and a bamboo basket of copper coins, amounting to a total of forty-five taels and some change. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her lip and decided to buy the land.


    One ought to live life with a bit of flair. When you come across something you like, and you have the means, you should buy it. The same goes for someone you like; there¡¯s no need for shyness.


    Tan Zhenghong took a few deep breaths before he finally said, "Wife, I¡¯m going to give you an acupuncture treatment, don¡¯t talk."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er achieved her goal and stopped teasing him, but Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reaction left her unhappy.


    After the treatment, they both lay in bed together. Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her back to Tan Zhenghong and didn¡¯t say a word, and even swatted away Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand several times.


    "Wife, are you in a bad mood?" Tan Zhenghong asked weakly.


    Wasn¡¯t his wife just fine just a moment ago?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed softly, unwilling to engage with Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong now confirmed that his wife¡¯s sudden silence was because she was angry.

 Chapter 211 - 213 Pure Little Fairy_1

    Chapter 211: Chapter 213 Pure Little Fairy_1Tan Zhenghong leaned in, anxiously saying, "Wife, did I make you angry? Just tell me, and I¡¯ll change right away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong away, then sat up and stared straight at him.


    Where was she merely angry? She was clearly furious!


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard, "Wife, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Are you saying you like someone else?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, and a murderous look overflowed from those jet-black, clear pupils.


    If Tan Zhenghong dared to nod, she would definitely choke him to death on the spot.


    By some twist of fate, he had become her man, and for various reasons, he had seen her in her entirety. There was no room for negotiation after that; he had to be her man, faithful and true, for the rest of his life.


    Thinking of having something with another woman?


    Only in his next life!


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, "I only want you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion finally improved a bit. She steeled her heart and asked again, "Then why are you staying so far away from me?"


    Cough cough, her self-esteem had taken a serious hit!


    She was now fair and gorgeous, yet Tan Zhenghong acted as if he was avoiding the plague. Was she that terrifying?


    Tan Zhenghong pouted, "Well... I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t control myself, and you might get pregnant."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head filled with black lines; it was all about the pregnancy issue. Tan Zhenghong had said he didn¡¯t want children, and she hadn¡¯t imagined he was serious about it.


    Tan Zhenghong had no idea about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s inner thoughts, thinking that her silence meant she was still angry.


    Ah, his intentions were good!


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to press his wife beneath him and love her fiercely; he was simply afraid.


    "Wife, you are too beautiful now. When I see you, I want to kiss you, touch you, and finish what we started last time. But Uncle Wu said you are frail and can¡¯t withstand the strain, and I can¡¯t bear to see you in pain," Tan Zhenghong said, blushing.


    But this scoundrel was only superficially shy; the words he spoke were very bold.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, wanting to stay serious, but she couldn¡¯t control the smile at the corner of her mouth.


    Alright, she forgave Tan Zhenghong.


    It didn¡¯t take long for her to remember something very serious.


    Well... "Sexual appetite also..." She didn¡¯t believe Tan Zhenghong could hold back. For instance, the little tent right now was betraying him.


    "So you¡¯re planning never to touch me for the rest of our lives?"


    Tan Zhenghong wore a pained expression. If there were no other way, that was indeed his plan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er flicked a certain spot playfully, her provocative action coupled with an innocent look made her appear like a pure little temptress, looking even more appetizing.


    In an instant, Tan Zhenghong tensed up. He was starting to think about doing that... thing again.


    Ah, what happened to his resolve?


    So much for previous bold declarations, overtaken by lust.


    That reaction was exactly what Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted.


    "Aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯ll hurt him if you keep him pent up? Hmm?" Qiao Duo¡¯er dragged out the last sound.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a tingling sensation, "Wife, are you doing this on purpose?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er showed her neat, white teeth, actually harboring a bit of a mischievous intent.


    The main reason was that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s embarrassed and conflicted demeanor was just too amusing, and she couldn¡¯t help flicking his little head.


    Anyway, she was sure that Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t lay a finger on her.


    "I know of a recipe. If you drink it, it can prevent pregnancy, effective for a month without any impact on the body. Want to know about it?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was said to be made from pure herbal ingredients, safe and without side effects, with a 99 percent effectiveness rate¡ªmuch more reliable than withdrawal or calculating safe periods.

 Chapter 212 - 214 Kiss that..._1

    Chapter 212: Chapter 214 Kiss that..._1Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, "Really? Can I?"


    Being able to do intimate things without getting pregnant is of course the best!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er leaned close to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear and said, "Say a couple of things I love to hear, and I¡¯ll magnanimously tell you."


    Tan Zhenghong nudged her with ¡¯that¡¯ part of his body, hard as iron, longing for her every day, craving her¡ªthat was the best answer.


    "Wife, it¡¯s yours to save, can you? He¡¯s been thinking of you, dreaming about you every night, burrowing into your body, in and out, until he spurts out, it¡¯s been hard."


    "You tell me, since the third leg is yours, and he only recognizes you, you¡¯re responsible for feeding him."


    Watching Tan Zhenghong speak such lewd words so seriously, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but giggle quietly.


    This guy... is simply unrivaled!


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand was grasped by someone and deftly slid into the waistband of his trousers.


    What followed was moving up and down, then endlessly repeating the motion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed hard, regretting that she had told Tan Zhenghong about male contraceptives¡ªcould he be this frivolous otherwise?


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t make any additional moves, but let Tan Zhenghong have his way.


    Because she liked him, because she loved him, she couldn¡¯t bear to see him in discomfort.


    This guy was ready to give up having children for her sake, even prepared to abstain for life¡ªhow could she not be moved?


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s silent consent, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s movements became even more vigorous.


    Her small hand was slightly cool, soft and silky...


    Courage grew from his brazenness, and Tan Zhenghong whispered, "How about you kiss it?"


    He wanted a kiss, not on the cheek, not on the lips, but on that part grasped by Qiao Duo¡¯er, and she got the message.


    Then she became unsettled¡ªso the ancients were this open-minded? She had always thought that particular kiss was an invention of the Island country.


    But she¡¯d rather die than do it.


    She just felt it was weird.


    Tan Zhenghong said pitifully, "Wife, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s inappropriate to be glaring like this right now?"


    During such a romantic time, his wife should be shyly burying her face in his chest.


    "Not only will I glare at you, but I¡¯ll also cut it off!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tightened her grip a bit, and Tan Zhenghong hurriedly surrendered, "Wife, I was wrong. Actually, your hand feels good!"


    If she cut it off, he¡¯d be done for, but then who would satisfy his wife?


    "Hurry up, I¡¯m falling asleep here."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head away, not wanting to watch her hand in motion.


    So discordant!


    Tan Zhenghong used his free hand to turn Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head towards him and kissed her fiercely.


    With the experience from the last two times, this time Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t bite Qiao Duo, he was just a bit wild, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was surprised to find that she liked it wild.


    Damn, does she have such a unique taste?


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s rhythm slowed, the kiss became gentle, and his hand quietly slid into her neckline.


    It was a poignant caress, but the passion didn¡¯t lessen.


    The night was still young, the night was long, and most importantly, he could keep going for a long time!


    And Qiao Duo¡¯er had only one sensation¡ªthat her hand was sore, eventually going numb.


    At the same time, she pondered a question¡ªwas having such an enduring husband a blessing or a misfortune? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She always felt she might end up staying up late to sleep, or perhaps go without sleep altogether?


    Cough cough... if that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t blame her fists. She might lack strength, but she¡¯s well-versed in moves and has plenty of experience, so Tan Zhenghong is definitely no match for her.

 Chapter 213 -s 213-215 Not Looking at Others_1

    Chapter 213: Chapters 213-215 Not Looking at Others_1Tan Zhenghong leaned in, his voice tense as he spoke, "Wife, did I make you angry? Just tell me, and I¡¯ll change right away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong away and then sat up, staring straight at him with wide eyes.


    She wasn¡¯t just angry¡ªshe was furious!


    Tan Zhenghong gulped nervously, "Wife, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Are you saying you like someone else?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, a murderous glint shining in those jet-black, clear orbs.


    If Tan Zhenghong dared to nod, she would definitely strangle him on the spot.


    He had become her man due to a bizarre twist of fate, and for various reasons, she had laid bare before him. There was no room for negotiation after that¡ªhe would have to remain her devoted man for the rest of his life.


    Thinking of having something with another woman?


    That would have to wait until the next life!


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, "I only want you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression finally softened a bit, and with a determined heart, she questioned further, "Then why are you keeping your distance from me?"


    Cough cough, her pride had taken a serious hit!


    Now that she was fair and beautiful, why did Tan Zhenghong act as if avoiding the plague? Was she that scary?


    Tan Zhenghong puckered his lips, "Well... I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get pregnant, and I hear giving birth is very painful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like facepalming. So, this commotion was all about pregnancy. Tan Zhenghong had said he didn¡¯t want children, but she didn¡¯t expect he was serious about it.


    Tan Zhenghong, unaware of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, thought her silence meant she was still angry.


    Sigh, his intentions were good!


    Alright, she forgave Tan Zhenghong.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong got out of bed, still feeling shy. As usual, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in charge of breakfast, while Tan Zhenghong took care of washing the sheets and trousers.


    "Brother Hong, aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll ruin the sheets by washing them?"


    The weather hadn¡¯t been that hot these days. Was there any need to wash the sheets so often?


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat before saying, "Your sister-in-law likes things clean."


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went together to the village chief¡¯s house.


    The village chief, also known as Li Zheng, was responsible for household registration, taxes, land sales, and the like; naturally, buying homestead land had to go through him.


    Qiao Duo, tall and slender with a graceful figure, and Tan Zhenghong, tall and handsome, made a visually pleasing couple as they walked together.


    The villagers all cast envious glances their way. Tan Zhenghong had always been dashing, but what mattered was Qiao Duo¡¯er. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If they had known how beautiful Qiao Duo¡¯er was, they would have bought her back with One or Two Silver long ago!


    But their harmonious appearance pained one person¡¯s eyes. That was Xiao Biyu.


    Her mother had been outwitted by Qiao Duo¡¯er last time, leaving her family embarrassed and Xiao Biyu herself the subject of gossip.


    She had been loved before, everyone doting on her, but this time everyone spoke up and forbade her from harboring any improper thoughts towards Tan Zhenghong.


    But how could one stop loving at will?


    She liked Tan Zhenghong and was determined to marry none but him in this lifetime.


    She was out to find Tan Zhenghong today, but unexpectedly, he was walking hand in hand with Qiao Duo¡¯er, laughing and talking. Didn¡¯t they have any decency?


    It was all because of Qiao Duo¡¯er, that vixen. Otherwise, Tan Zhenghong would never act like this!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke softly, "That smitten girl is following us from behind, aren¡¯t you going to say hello?"


    "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re trying to set me up. If I go over, later you¡¯ll probably give me hell."


    Tan Zhenghong indicated that he was aware of his wife¡¯s little schemes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a sidelong glance, "So what you mean is, you¡¯re too scared to go because of me being fierce?"


    "Not at all, it¡¯s just that I like you and I don¡¯t care for anyone else."


    Tan Zhenghong complied agreeably, not merely to please his wife, but because it was truly how he felt.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then nodded, hmm, a man with realization.


    "Seeing as you¡¯re so sincere, you can go buy medicine in town tomorrow," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a flirtatious look.


    It wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at the village chief¡¯s house.


    Once inside, Tan Zhenghong explained straight away that he and Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to buy the piece of land to the east of the village.


    Tie Niu naturally had no objections, but still reminded them, "That piece of land isn¡¯t cheap, are you sure about this one?"


    "Hmm, it¡¯s rare to like something, Uncle Tie. We want to buy it as soon as possible," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Just as Tie Niu was about to nod, a voice cut in, "Village chief, I want that piece of land."

 Chapter 214 - 216: Generous Gesture_1

    Chapter 214: Chapter 216: Generous Gesture_1The voice came from a charming young girl, it was Xiao Biyu, following closely behind Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted that plot of land?


    Humph, she might as well keep dreaming with her around!


    Xiao Biyu felt quite smug, for it was just a piece of residential land. To others, it might mean spending all their savings, but to her, it was merely a trifle.


    Tie Niu was in a difficult position and could only advise, "There are many other residential plots in the village, why don¡¯t you take a look at the others? There are many good ones in the village."


    "I want this one. How much silver?"


    Xiao Biyu asked imperiously, what she saw, she never failed to obtain!


    Tie Niu honestly replied, "Thirty-five taels, it¡¯s not a small sum, you should go back and discuss it with your family first."


    "No need, I¡¯ll give you thirty-six taels."


    Xiao Biyu waved her hand dismissively. What was thirty-something taels of silver to her? Besides, her family never opposed buying land.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Don¡¯t you understand ¡¯first come, first served¡¯?"


    "If you can put up the silver, I won¡¯t compete with you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, with Xiao Biyu driving up the price, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of getting the land, but she wouldn¡¯t make it easy for Xiao Biyu either.


    "I bid thirty-seven taels."


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er respond, Xiao Biyu was annoyed.


    The Tan Family had made some silver in recent days, but it was nothing compared to the Xiao Family.


    Her father had been running goods for nearly thirty years, and later her older and second brothers joined him. The amount of silver the Xiao Family had saved was something others probably didn¡¯t even dare to dream of!


    "Humph, you¡¯re trying to compete with me over who has more money? I bid forty taels," Xiao Biyu declared proudly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was not to be outdone, "Forty-one taels."


    Tan Zhenghong was getting a little anxious, their silver was almost all accounted for, they couldn¡¯t go on bidding. Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a reassuring look.


    Don¡¯t worry, she knew her limits.


    "This is killing me, you must be trying to go against me on purpose!" Xiao Biyu was getting angry.


    Tan Zhenghong had been snatched away by Qiao Duo¡¯er, and now she was even competing for a plot of land!


    Who was it again... that was snatching things?


    "Didn¡¯t you say the highest bidder wins? What¡¯s the matter, too expensive for you now? Is that all your family can do?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrow.


    Of course, Xiao Biyu couldn¡¯t admit defeat in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Humph, I bid fifty taels!"


    "Sixty taels." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two went back and forth, quickly driving the price up to one hundred taels, bid by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Xiao Biyu clenched her teeth, "I bid one hundred and fifty taels, do you still want it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "If you¡¯re so desperate, then it would be wrong of me to compete. Take it if you like it."


    One hundred and fifty taels for a residential plot?


    She could only sigh that rich families¡¯ daughters were indeed generous, something she herself couldn¡¯t afford to be.


    Ah, wasn¡¯t it a bit mean to bully a young girl like this?


    The answer from Qiao Duo¡¯er was that she had been too kind, anyone who dared covet her man deserved to be beaten to death!


    But killing someone was against the law, and it wouldn¡¯t be worth it if she had to pay with her life later on. So the next best thing was to outwit her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said to the village head, "Uncle Tie, I¡¯m letting Miss Xiao have this land. You can¡¯t sell it cheap, or I won¡¯t be pleased."


    Tie Niu disliked Xiao Biyu¡¯s behavior and immediately agreed.


    After all, the Xiao Family wasn¡¯t short on money, a hundred and fifty taels was just a drop in the bucket to them!


    Xiao Biyu¡¯s face turned red with frustration, she had never expected Qiao Duo¡¯er to suddenly stop bidding.


    To buy a mere residential plot for one hundred and fifty taels, she¡¯d get an earful from her mother when she went back!


    Xiao Biyu was far from happy, and didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of joy in defeating Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Instead, there was a feeling of oppression, as if she had lost a loved one.

 Chapter 215 - 217 I Have a Way_1

    Chapter 215: Chapter 217 I Have a Way_1Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied with the result and, after saying a word to the village head, she took Tan Zhenghong by the hand and went home.


    It¡¯s just a pity about that piece of land with good feng shui.


    Alas, who knows what sins that plot of land committed in its past life to be coveted by Xiao Biyu.


    But then again, it¡¯s still undecided which family will get that land in the end.


    Because unless the Xiao family has not a single fool among them, they won¡¯t agree to buy that homestead since it¡¯s utterly useless to them.


    As for Xiao Biyu, she wandered around the village for a while before heading back home.


    After hesitating for a long time, she still decided to go find Xiao Lingchuan, her second brother who doted on her the most. At most he would scold her until she bled, and then obediently think of a solution for her.


    She had only walked halfway when Xiao Biyu saw Xiao Lingchuan.


    She really was a lucky person, whatever she wished for would come her way.


    Xiao Lingchuan, after listening to his little sister, felt his anger surge uncontrollably, and couldn¡¯t help but spray a mouthful of abuse at Xiao Biyu.


    Being a rough man, he didn¡¯t care that Xiao Biyu was his sister; he hurled a barrage of curses involving parents, ancestors, and everything under the heavens at her.


    Xiao Biyu, though mentally prepared, was still cursed until her eyes reddened.


    When Xiao Lingchuan had had enough of cursing, they finally got down to business.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you not to target Tan Zhenghong anymore? Why won¡¯t you listen?"


    Xiao Lingchuan glared at Xiao Biyu, frustrated at her stubbornness.


    Just thinking about this mess made him angry again.


    Dammit, with so many men in the world, why must it be Tan Zhenghong?


    "Second brother, I just like him, otherwise I won¡¯t marry in this lifetime!" Xiao Biyu wiped away her tears.


    "Then don¡¯t marry, the Xiao family can support you!" Xiao Lingchuan said authoritatively.


    Xiao Biyu stomped her feet in urgency: "Second brother, if I don¡¯t buy that land back, that idiot won¡¯t know how to mock me." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you manage to buy it back, people will laugh you to death instead! One hundred and fifty taels can buy over twenty mu of paddy fields, but you, you just want a piece of worthless homestead. We might have some money, but we can¡¯t just burn it like this!"


    Xiao Lingchuan finished speaking and sighed heavily.


    How could he, being such a smart man, have such a foolish sister?


    "Then what should I do?"


    Xiao Biyu was anxious; buying was wrong, and not buying was also wrong. Whatever she did, Qiao Duo¡¯er would mock her.


    She finally understood why she was in a bad mood¡ªQiao Duo¡¯er had dug a pit for her, and she had jumped into it without a second thought!


    Xiao Lingchuan pondered for a moment: "I¡¯ll just have a word with the village head."


    The Xiao family had that much influence, after all.


    "No! I won¡¯t let that idiot Ruyi have his way!" Xiao Biyu refused without a second thought.


    Xiao Lingchuan was at a loss, his sister calling others idiots all day when in fact she was the biggest one!


    "Second brother, you¡¯re the best to me. Please, help me think of a way!"


    Xiao Biyu hugged Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s arm. She knew all too well how to win over her second brother.


    Xiao Lingchuan nodded: "As long as you don¡¯t buy that land, I promise to teach Qiao Duo¡¯er a lesson."


    "Second brother, what¡¯s your plan?"


    Xiao Lingchuan whispered in Xiao Biyu¡¯s ear, and once he was done, both their faces bore mischievous smiles.


    Xiao Biyu squinted with laughter: "Second brother, you always have the best ideas!"


    "Of course, just look who I am," Xiao Lingchuan said proudly, already picturing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s look of despair.


    He was... quite looking forward to it!


    Now with her second brother¡¯s plan, Xiao Biyu was finally satisfied.


    She could only say that the plan was very good!

 Chapter 216 - 218: Looking down on someone with a dog’s eyes_1

    Chapter 216: Chapter 218: Looking down on someone with a dog¡¯s eyes_1Xiao Lingchuan hastily barked, "Wipe away your tears before you go back, or I¡¯ll be dead meat!"


    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t wrong you!"


    Xiao Biyu blinked her eyes, then happily skipped back the way she had come.


    Xiao Lingchuan was speechless; he was grateful that he had come up with a method, otherwise he had no idea how his sister might have dealt with him.


    The matter of buying a house site had been temporarily shelved, so Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went to town together.


    As autumn arrived and the weather turned cooler, it was time to prepare cotton clothing for autumn and winter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er found herself in a predicament when she realized that both her former self and Tan Zhenghong were destitute, lacking even decent cotton clothes for winter. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She couldn¡¯t fathom how they were supposed to survive the winter without cotton clothing.


    The first thing upon arriving in town was to go to Ren Xin Hall because Tan Zhenghong was eager about the prescription Qiao Duo¡¯er had mentioned.


    Seeing his urgent demeanor, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but smile, thinking... she didn¡¯t believe love could be made, but it was certain that the more you do, the more you love.


    It had been quite a while since Qiao Duo¡¯er last sold medicinal herbs, but the owner of Ren Xin Hall still remembered her.


    "It¡¯s been some days since I last saw you. Are you here to sell herbs today?"


    The owner asked warmly, as the herbs Qiao Duo¡¯er brought were well-prepared and could be used immediately upon purchase, which he naturally preferred.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "No, I¡¯m here to buy medicine."


    "No problem, I¡¯ll give you a discount."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er listed a series of medicinal herbs, to which the doctor regretfully said, "I have every other herb you mentioned, but I¡¯ve never heard of Soap Grass or Star-of-Bethlehem."


    He had been studying medicine for a whole thirty years and had never heard of these two herbs.


    Not willing to give up, Qiao Duo¡¯er examined all the herbs in the shop yet failed to find those two.


    Unfortunately, these two herbs were indispensable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt hurt; she remembered that these two herbs weren¡¯t anything precious. How could they not have them?


    "Miss, you might want to check Deji Hall. They have a wider variety of medicines," the doctor couldn¡¯t help but suggest.


    Although Deji Hall was Ren Xin Hall¡¯s rival, the girl¡¯s look of disappointment tugged at his heart, making him feel as if he had committed some unforgivable crime.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, had the doctor prepare the other medicines, and then proceeded to Deji Hall.


    In her heart lingered a sliver of hope; Deji Hall was a century-old renowned pharmacy, and they might just have those two herbs.


    Deji Hall catered specifically to the wealthy people of the town.


    "Young man, do you have Star-of-Bethlehem and Soap Grass here?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked; the matter concerned his and his wife¡¯s happiness, so he was very proactive.


    The shop assistant glanced at Tan Zhenghong and said with some impatience, "No, I¡¯ve never heard of them!"


    Suppressing her temper, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "May I have a look at your herbs?"


    "I already told you we don¡¯t have them; you won¡¯t find them even if you look!"


    The shop assistant gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a disdainful look; these two, dressed in half-new clothes and carrying bamboo baskets, were clearly poor villagers from the neighboring area. How could they afford to consult a doctor from Deji Hall?


    Pfft, a bunch of poor people should hurry off to Ren Xin Hall!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly, "You don¡¯t even have all the herbs and yet still have the nerve to call yourself an old and reputable shop, it¡¯s a disgrace!"


    "As if people like you could afford medicine from Deji Hall?" sneered the assistant.


    Medicine was an expensive commodity; even ordinary medicines cost at least two or three Hundred Wen Money. They probably couldn¡¯t earn that much in a whole month!


    So, generally, the poor would just endure an illness, and if they couldn¡¯t bear it, they¡¯d find a local barefoot doctor to get a handful of herbs¡ªthat was all.

 Chapter 217 - 219 Can’t Wait?_1

    Chapter 217: Chapter 219 Can¡¯t Wait?_1The physicians at Deji Hall were highly skilled, with the young master being particularly remarkable with his magical hands, but countless people would die before ever stepping foot into Deji Hall.


    Why? It all boiled down to silver!


    "We truly intend to purchase medicine and will definitely pay for it," Tan Zhenghong said firmly yet humbly, immediately presenting himself with far more refinement than the apothecary¡¯s assistant.


    The assistant, unperturbed, retorted, "Do you think our Deji Hall is like Ren Xin Hall, satisfied with just a handful of wen money? We¡¯re legitimate businessmen here, so don¡¯t think about settling debts with something other than cash."


    As he spoke, he cast a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er. The woman was quite attractive, what a pity that she was married to a mere villager.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly, "I just want to tell you five words, ¡¯to look down on others with disdain.¡¯"


    No, calling him a dog would offend Fatty and Fat Fat.


    Even though they¡¯d been turned into mangy dogs, they were far more endearing than the man before her.


    The assistant gnashed his teeth with anger, but the woman¡¯s piercing gaze was as if she was flaying him alive; he couldn¡¯t muster a single word in rebuttal.


    This woman was fierce, and the man by her side, how pitiful!


    The assistant mumbled to himself, and with that thought, his expression became even more scornful.


    Meanwhile, inside Deji Hall stood two handsome men, one dressed in ice-blue silk embroidered with bamboo leaves, and the other in pure white, their complementary attire pleasing to the eye.


    "Yi Fan, the attendants in your shop are lacking," the man in green said, raising an eyebrow.


    "You flatter me," responded the man in white with a bow, readily accepting the fault without arguing.


    The current state of Deji Hall was all about chasing profit, with not the slightest hint of their noble mission to save the world with their remedies.


    Having said that, he strode towards the counter.


    "Chen Lin, you mustn¡¯t be rude," the man in white warned.


    As cool and detached as always, he carried an air of authority that demanded respect without the need for anger.


    The previously contemptuous Chen Lin quickly put on a different face: "Young master, what brings you here?"


    That was their Young Master Bai Yifan, seen by everyone as too soft-hearted, completely unconcerned with the financial prospects of Deji Hall.


    But since he was the young master and an extraordinary physician, they could only secretly complain in their hearts.


    Bai Yifan ignored the attendant, turning his attention to Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    "My apologies for the offense, I hope you¡¯ll forgive us."


    With an indifferent tone, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It doesn¡¯t matter. We just walked into the wrong place and even interfered with your business."


    Unwilling to entangle with these people any longer, she walked out of Deji Hall.


    Hmph, this place isn¡¯t worthy of being called a medical hall!


    Upon leaving Deji Hall, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s anger subsided, but she was still disheartened for not having gathered the Complete Herbal Medicines.


    Why was it so difficult to share an intimate moment with Tan Zhenghong?


    "Wife, if you already called him out for looking down on others, why bother with him anymore?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Do I look petty to you? It¡¯s not like Deji Hall¡¯s downfall would affect me in any way."


    So it wasn¡¯t about being looked down upon, but about not having found all the medicines?


    The slightly upset Tan Zhenghong instantly felt relieved. Hmm... he hadn¡¯t expected his wife to be even more eager than him.


    "Wife, knowing you¡¯re so eager to be with me... makes me quite content. It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s just take things as they come," said Tan Zhenghong, secretly delighted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes again, "Dream on!"


    Cough cough, even if he was spot on about her intentions, she wouldn¡¯t admit it¡ªit was just too embarrassing!


    She certainly wasn¡¯t desperate enough to make a move on Tan Zhenghong.

 Chapter 218 - 220 Didn’t Want to Sleep with You_1

    Chapter 218: Chapter 220 Didn¡¯t Want to Sleep with You_1"Well, then I guess I thought too much," Tan Zhenghong stopped trying to justify himself. After all, as a man, taking a bit of a loss isn¡¯t a big deal, especially when it comes to his own woman; there¡¯s really nothing worth fussing over.


    Who made him fall for her?


    Besides, the world is vast, but nothing is more important than his woman¡¯s happiness!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er widened her eyes, "What do you mean? It was you who overthought!"


    Tan Zhenghong just indulgently tousled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair, clearly not the answer Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly, "Tan Zhenghong, I really didn¡¯t intend to sleep with you."


    But as soon as she said it, Qiao Duo¡¯er regretted it. What was she implying? Was this not equivalent to declaring, ¡¯There¡¯s no silver here¡¯?


    "Alright, it¡¯s me who wants to sleep with you every day, to the point where my hair is turning white," Tan Zhenghong readily nodded in agreement.


    "Then wait until your hair turns white to do that," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, quite pleased with the idea.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, "You... are you sure that by then, I won¡¯t be all desire and no stamina?"


    "Well, that¡¯s your problem, I¡¯ve given you the opportunity," Qiao Duo¡¯er said cheerfully, enjoying the sight of Tan Zhenghong at a loss!


    Tan Zhenghong tugged at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve, "Wifey, I know for sure you wouldn¡¯t be able to bear leaving me in a bind."


    His wife appeared cold, but she was actually very caring. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t use her hands to... help him out with his physical needs.


    A suspicious blush spread across Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, hmmph, next time she¡¯d definitely leave him in the lurch!


    This was a classic case of being smug after gaining an advantage¡ªhis skin was really thick! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Out of the blue, Tan Zhenghong leaned close to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and whispered, "Wifey, I¡¯ll tell you a secret."


    "What secret?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously.


    "There¡¯s a treasure under my bed, we¡¯ll look at it together tonight," Tan Zhenghong was thinking to himself, his mind ticking away.


    That treasure was a book, one he¡¯d consistently been too embarrassed to mention, but now, as emotions peaked, he wanted to do those intimate things.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth twitched, and then she disdainfully said, "I thought it was something else. It¡¯s just erotic drawings, isn¡¯t it?"


    Ah, just a few pictures, huh?


    If he were to watch some Island country movies, wouldn¡¯t he get so excited he might have a heart attack?


    However, by nightfall, Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t look down on such cultural treasures anymore. It¡¯s a matter for the dark.


    "Wifey, we¡¯re on the street here."


    Tan Zhenghong reminded her, his wife being quite headstrong, but... with all the coming and going, it¡¯s better to keep a low profile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "It was you who started it."


    "Then let¡¯s go home and talk about it at leisure," Tan Zhenghong said, gripping Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand a bit tighter, seemingly afraid she might run away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong. He had a strong build and was quite handsome.


    As they talked and laughed, they arrived at the Cloth Shop. The shop assistant immediately greeted them, "Honored guests, our shop has coarse and fine cloths, as well as ready-made clothes. What would you like to buy?"


    "We¡¯ll just have a look first," Tan Zhenghong replied.


    They had been busy bickering on the way and hadn¡¯t thought about what they wanted to buy.


    The assistant nodded, "Alright, take your time. Let me know when you see something you like, and I¡¯ll get it for you!"


    Tan Zhenghong thanked him, that¡¯s just how interactions go.


    If someone treats him well, he reciprocates; if they look down on him, he won¡¯t demean himself. This is something Qiao Duo¡¯er agrees with and has always acted accordingly.


    Perhaps this is the most similar aspect of their personalities.

 Chapter 219 - 220-221 I Like What You Like_1

    Chapter 219: Chapter 220-221 I Like What You Like_1"Hmm, then I must have overthought it," Tan Zhenghong gave up the argument, after all, a man can take a little disadvantage, especially when it¡¯s with his own woman, there¡¯s nothing to fuss about.


    After all, who made him fall for her?


    Besides, what¡¯s bigger than the sky and the earth is the happiness of his own woman!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er widened her eyes, "What do you mean? You really did overthink it!"


    Tan Zhenghong simply doted on her by rubbing her head, which clearly wasn¡¯t the answer Qiao Duo¡¯er was hoping for.


    During their playful banter, the two had already arrived at the Cloth Shop, where the shop assistant immediately greeted them, "Welcome, customers, our shop has coarse and fine fabrics as well as ready-made clothes, what would you like to buy?"


    "Let¡¯s have a look first," Tan Zhenghong replied.


    They had been too busy bickering on the way there and hadn¡¯t thought about what to buy.


    The shop assistant nodded, "Sure, take your time, I¡¯ll get it for you when you make a choice!"


    Tan Zhenghong thanked him, that¡¯s just how human interactions are.


    If someone treats him well, he responds in kind; if they show disdain, he doesn¡¯t degrade himself. Qiao Duo also agreed with this and always acted accordingly.


    Perhaps this was the most similar aspect of their characters.


    Tan Zhenghong took Qiao Duo¡¯er to the section with brightly colored fabrics, as it was clearly for women¡¯s clothing.


    He could wear anything, but he wouldn¡¯t allow his wife to suffer any discomfort.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t shy either; after all, eating, wearing, living, and traveling are all important matters in life.


    After selecting her own fabrics, she then went to another section to choose for Tan Zhenghong.


    "What color do you like?"


    Tan Zhenghong replied with a light smile, "Whatever color you like me to wear, I like that color."


    "Humph, such smooth talk, what about this ink color and dark blue?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked out two dark-colored fabrics, which suited Tan Zhenghong¡¯s temperament, and of course, because men¡¯s clothing in this era was limited to just a few colors.


    "Cousin, are you also here to buy clothes?"


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around, she saw a Madam wearing a light red ruqun.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t have many relatives, so this must be the cousin with whom he grew up.


    That is, the daughter of a distant uncle, the one who had raised Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Duo¡¯er, this is my cousin, Cousin, this is my wife, Qiao Duo¡¯er."


    "Cousin, hello," Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted.


    Wang Yun¡¯er smiled slightly, "So this is the sister-in-law, such a beautiful woman. I was pregnant during your wedding, so don¡¯t be mad at me for not coming!"


    While saying this, she also touched her belly, which was visibly pregnant with a five-month-old.


    "The health of the Cousin is important, both Duo¡¯er and I understand," Tan Zhenghong replied.


    Wang Yun¡¯er then breathed a sigh of relief, "That¡¯s good to know. I will definitely have someone send a gift later."


    "Cousin, your kind thought is appreciated, but just take good care of my nephew. Don¡¯t worry about anything else," Tan Zhenghong graciously declined with a smile.


    His cousin had not had an easy time conceiving this child, so obviously, now she needed to focus entirely on caring for the baby.


    Wang Yun¡¯er pursed her lips, her mood brightening in an instant upon hearing Tan Zhenghong say she was carrying a son.


    However, before she could speak, her maid behind her interjected,


    "Yun Mother-in-law, being with child, you shouldn¡¯t overexert yourself, you should go back early."


    The maid appeared polite on the surface, but since when was it a maid¡¯s place to talk while her mistress chatted with relatives? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And to loudly call her Yun Mother-in-law, was she not embarrassing her own mistress?


    Wang Yun¡¯er¡¯s face had stiffened just then.


    But since Wang Yun¡¯er had already nodded in agreement, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er felt it wasn¡¯t right to say more.


    "Cousin, sister-in-law, let¡¯s get together when my condition allows," Wang Yun¡¯er managed to muster a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Cousin, if anyone bullies you, just tell me."


    "Who would bully me? I¡¯m fine. Well, I should get going. You two enjoy your shopping," she said.


    After that, Wang Yun¡¯er left with her maid.


    "Your cousin..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er watched Wang Yun¡¯er¡¯s retreating figure, at a loss for words for a moment.


    Although her cousin was a Mother-in-law, even a maid dared to bully her; she seemed too weak!


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, "My cousin¡¯s life with her mother-in-law is tough. I hope it gets better for her in the future."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything more. Having chosen a life of wealth, one must pay the corresponding price, and others couldn¡¯t help much if you are weak yourself.


    After this distraction from Wang Yun¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t in the mood to choose fabrics anymore, so Qiao Duo¡¯er just bought the two she had picked out earlier.


    After Tan Zhenghong paid, Qiao Duo¡¯er was ready to go home.

 Chapter 220 - 222: Must Care About Me_1

    Chapter 220: Chapter 222: Must Care About Me_1"Wife, don¡¯t we need to buy a quilt?" Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t hold back and asked.


    "You¡¯re not in the mood today, so it¡¯s not suitable for shopping," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with an indifferent expression, "Just go back first." Her mood was affected by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lack of enthusiasm. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong scratched his head, "Wife, I¡¯m fine."


    "I allow you to care about others, but you must care about me the most, understood?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat imperious, but to Tan Zhenghong, her words sounded extraordinarily sweet because his wife wanted to monopolize him.


    "Wife, I am all yours, from now on, I¡¯ll only care about others this much, okay?"


    Tan Zhenghong raised a little pinky finger; apart from that tiny bit, everything he had belonged to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was amused and teased, "Not worried about your cousin anymore?"


    "My cousin knew about Xu Feibao¡¯s philandering ways before she married into the Xu family and about how formidable the Xu family matriarch was. She still agreed to marry over, so she must have her own plans. My worry is pointless."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s tone was somewhat somber; after all, she was a relative with whom he had grown up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "That¡¯s called ¡¯you can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too.¡¯"


    "Wife, you really know a lot. Your words are so literary, but I understand the meaning of this phrase, it¡¯s about trade-offs," Tan Zhenghong said, his realization deepening that everyone should be responsible for their own life.


    "Stop with the flattery!"


    Tan Zhenghong broke into a natural smile, "Let¡¯s not talk about my cousin, let¡¯s go buy some cotton!"


    Seeing that his mood had improved, Qiao Duo¡¯er went with him toward the cotton shop.


    The business at the cotton shop was slow as it was just the beginning of autumn. The door was wide open, but no one was watching over the place.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shouted, and the proprietress came out to greet them.


    "Miss, I recognize you. You used to sell marinated meat at the docks, right? My husband just loves that!"


    "What a coincidence," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied.


    "Isn¡¯t it? Here to buy a quilt, are you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Yes, do you have any samples?"


    "Yes, just follow me. Let me tell you, you¡¯ve come to the right place. Our craftsmanship is hereditary; people from miles around prefer to buy quilts from us!"


    The proprietress was quite approachable, chatting away about her family¡¯s quilts as they walked to the workshop at the back.


    She dared to boast mainly because her quilts were indeed of great quality.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t dare to make such big claims!


    The cotton was clean and fluffy, uniform and soft to the touch, definitely comfortable whether used as a mattress or a cover.


    "Proprietress, how much are these quilts?"


    Tan Zhenghong, seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er liked them, inquired about the price.


    The proprietress immediately replied, "Our quilts are sold by weight, seventy wen per jin of cotton, including the processing fee."


    Cotton was expensive these days, but still, Qiao Duo¡¯er was startled when she heard the price.


    Buying three quilts, plus the quilt covers and all, would cost two taels of silver!


    No wonder the quilts in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest were so tattered that the Wang Clan couldn¡¯t bear to replace them.


    "Miss, cotton is expensive, and cotton carding requires both strength and precision. My husband and I can only produce two quilts a day; the price is really not high," the proprietress explained quickly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I want to buy three quilts; can you give me a discount?"


    Two ten-jin quilts, one to keep underneath and one to cover with, plus another six-jin quilt¡ªthat was a substantial amount.

 Chapter 221 - 223: The Handsomest Old Man_1

    Chapter 221: Chapter 223: The Handsomest Old Man_1The proprietress asked about the weight and cheerfully said, "I¡¯ll count it as twenty-five catties and charge you one thousand seven hundred and fifty wen."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes, "You can round off the change, I still need to buy some cotton for making winter clothes."


    The proprietress nodded, "You, young miss, really know how to live frugally. Come, take a look at our cotton. It¡¯s already fluffed up and ready to be stuffed directly into clothing, and it¡¯s not expensive, only sixty wen per catty!"


    Her prices were a bit higher than the market rate, but the quality was a lot better, which kept people coming back.


    "Then let¡¯s make it an even amount."


    Buying another five catties of cotton made it exactly two taels of silver.


    The proprietress was overjoyed to agree; she loved doing business with straightforward people!


    The cotton was fluffy. Though only five catties, it could pile up like a little mountain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to wait until the cotton quilt was made and then ask Uncle Huang to haul it back with his ox cart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er told the proprietress the size of the quilt and paid a deposit, concluding their business successfully.


    Since it was almost time for the busy farming season, Tan Zhenghong had gone to the iron shop to buy farm tools and also picked up a dagger and a harpoon for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    That way his wife wouldn¡¯t have to use his dagger to spear fish anymore.


    After finishing these important errands, it was nearing midday and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach timely rumbled.


    Tan Zhenghong led Qiao Duo¡¯er to a noodle shop for lunch and rested a bit before they continued strolling.


    Since her arrival, Qiao Duo¡¯er had never really had the chance to wander the streets properly. Today was a rare opportunity with company, one she certainly wasn¡¯t going to waste.


    The noodle shop was honest with its servings; both the dishes and noodles were generous portions. Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit stuffed, so she bought a candied haw stick to aid digestion.


    Gnawing on the sweet and tangy candied haw stick, Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted with joy.


    In her last life, she had never been able to live so carefree.


    The prospect of spending leisurely days with Tan Zhenghong as they grew old was quite pleasant.


    As she mused, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    "Wife, what¡¯s making you so happy?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes curved into crescents, "I¡¯m thinking about what you¡¯ll look like when you¡¯re old¡ªwith white hair and missing teeth, you¡¯re probably going to be especially ugly."


    "By the time I¡¯m old, your eyesight will be fading, and to you, I¡¯ll still be the most handsome." Tan Zhenghong boasted with pride.


    "The way you¡¯re growing, you¡¯ll definitely be the most handsome old man!"


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could bask in her happiness, she learned the meaning of "from joy comes sorrow," because she choked on her candied haw stick.


    There went her perfect image, ruined!


    Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t concerned with seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s disheveled state; he hastily patted her back and took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped coughing, the two who caught each other¡¯s gaze could not help but laugh.


    Tan Zhenghong lightly scraped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose, "How can someone your age still choke on their food?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted and passed the candied haw stick to Tan Zhenghong, "Have a bite, seal it with your mouth."


    Tan Zhenghong bit into the half-eaten hawthorn, then his brows furrowed.


    So sour!


    "Who asked you to eat the one without a sugar coat?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cheeks burned. She didn¡¯t even want to think about how she had just eaten that candied haw stick, but Tan Zhenghong seemed fine with it.


    After a struggle, Tan Zhenghong finished the hawthorn and then said, "Who knew you had licked off the sugar coat so cleanly, it¡¯s dreadfully sour."


    "Then have another one, the rest all have sugar coats."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shaked his head. Having had one unpleasant experience, he was likely to keep his distance from candied haw sticks for the rest of his life.

 Chapter 222 - 224 What’s Wrong with Him?_1

    Chapter 222: Chapter 224 What¡¯s Wrong with Him?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er bought more items like fragrance paste, pastries, and spices, and Tan Zhenghong paid willingly. It was rare for his wife to take a liking to something; no matter how expensive, he would buy it for her.


    It wasn¡¯t until their carrying baskets were packed full to the brim that Qiao Duo¡¯er returned home feeling completely satisfied. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the yard, Tan Zhongzhong was squatting beside the well washing diapers while murmuring to himself.


    He looked as if someone owed him several hundreds of silver taels.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er set down her carrying basket, just as Chao Lian brought in water, she casually asked, "What¡¯s gotten into Third Brother Tan?"


    Before, Tan Zhongzhong would wash his son¡¯s diapers with joy, wishing the whole village knew whenever his son had a bowel movement.


    Many people had said that he could not afford to raise his child, so he was proud to prove that his son could eat and poop well!


    Chao Lian lowered her voice and said, "Brother Zhongzhong is not a patient man, he has been unhappy with washing diapers for a long time. He just asked Sister Lan to help him, and when she refused, he cursed at her."


    "It¡¯s good that Sister Lan didn¡¯t agree," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say.


    If she had agreed this time, she feared the task of washing diapers would come her way every now and then.


    When it comes to shamelessness, the couple at Third Brother Tan¡¯s house ranked first and second; no one else even came close.


    "He¡¯s gone too far, constantly bringing up the fact that Sister Lan hasn¡¯t born a son. Sister Lan must be devastated," Chao Lian said indignantly.


    This was like rubbing salt into someone¡¯s wounds, wasn¡¯t it? Sister Lan, raising two children on her own, had it tough enough. She didn¡¯t expect help from Tan Zhongzhong, but he shouldn¡¯t speak such hurtful, cold words.


    After finishing the water in her cup, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "There will come a day when Sister Lan lives better off than they do."


    Chao Lian wholeheartedly agreed, always believing that eventually, heaven would be fair.


    Sister Lan was hardworking, her silver coins accumulating more and more, while lazy people who lived off their reserves would certainly not end up happy.


    After chatting for a while, Chao Lian went out to tidy up; they were going to town soon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment and then took a bag of candy to the low, miscellaneous room where Hu¡¯s Clan now lived with her two daughters.


    At that time, Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughters were picking vegetables by the door, probably for dinner that evening.


    "I bought candy for you girls," Qiao Duo¡¯er announced, placing the candy in Da Ya¡¯s hand.


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly responded, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯ve been looking out for us all this time; how can we let you buy candy for the girls now?"


    "Da Ya and Er Ya help out with chores every day, just a bag of candy¡ªI still feel like it¡¯s not enough for them," said Qiao Duo¡¯er with a smile.


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan wasn¡¯t particularly distressed, she felt relieved.


    The Hu¡¯s Clan of today was different from before; she was stronger, knowing well that she was the sole support for her two daughters, and that was good.


    Da Ya said shyly, "Auntie Four has already given us wages. Why don¡¯t we share the candy?"


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er nod, Da Ya immediately popped a piece of candy into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth.


    Then Da Ya gave pieces to Chao Lian and her mother, and made Er Ya give one to Tan Zhenghong, before the sisters finally had theirs.


    Da Ya and Er Ya were just that considerate, so thoughtful it tugged at the heartstrings.


    With such dutiful daughters, did Hu¡¯s Clan have to worry about not living well in the future?


    Just after they finished the candies, the village head came by; he must have been there for the housing foundation issue from earlier in the morning.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled the corner of her mouth. Was Xiao Biyu¡¯s fighting spirit that weak? To compromise in just half a day?


    That didn¡¯t seem like Xiao Biyu¡¯s style at all.


    However, since Tie Niu had arrived, it meant there was a turning point in the situation. Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly strode back.

 Chapter 223 - 225 Bargain Sale!_1

    Chapter 223: Chapter 225 Bargain Sale!_1Tan Zhenghong greeted Tie Niu to come in and sit down, and Qiao Duo¡¯er brought in a bowl of sugared water for him.


    In landowner families, sugared water was used to entertain honored guests.


    Tie Niu received it with a smile, having just become thirsty from his walk.


    After drinking a couple of sips of water, he brought up the matter at hand.


    "Ah Hong, today the Second Master Xiao came over and said it was his sister¡¯s follies, so I came to ask you if you were still interested in buying that piece of land."


    "Uncle Tie, my wife and I naturally like that piece of land, but we landowners always look for good omens, and I¡¯m afraid we might not be able to purchase it now," Tan Zhenghong said with regret.


    No sooner had they discussed buying the land than Xiao Biyu came to stir up trouble, wasn¡¯t that a bad sign?


    Tie Niu let out a sigh, "What a pity for such a good piece of land. Are you interested in any other foundation?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head; if it really didn¡¯t work out, he might have to look for a homestead in another village.


    Tie Niu felt even more regretful inside. The land had to be sold together with the pond, so the price was a bit steep, and nobody had inquired about it for so long.


    Just when someone finally showed interest, Xiao Biyu had to interfere. The deal was probably off now.


    Every year, the village chief also had a performance evaluation, and selling homesteads was a part of it.


    If he could sell this one, his scores for this category would surely surpass others by a lot.


    Alas, it was all Xiao Biyu¡¯s fault.


    The Xiao Family never had any intention of buying the homestead. She just had to run over to join in the excitement, even shouting out such a high price.


    Less Than an Hour had passed before Xiao Lingchuan came over.


    Although Xiao Lingchuan was very polite and even brought gifts, his every word seemed to say that Xiao Biyu was ignorant¡ªdidn¡¯t you know to stop her? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In all fairness, Xiao Biyu hadn¡¯t given him the chance to advise her at all!


    "How about this, I¡¯ll spend some silver to invite a master to change the Feng Shui, and we can let bygones be bygones," he offered.


    Tan Zhenghong responded helplessly, "It¡¯s not really about the Feng Shui for my wife and me, but we want to live peaceful lives. If the Xiao Family comes by often..."


    Tan Zhenghong doesn¡¯t finish his sentence, but Tie Niu understands.


    The village knew about the incident of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s little firecracker exploding on Zheng Shi, and he had naturally heard about it.


    "I can speak to the Xiao Family about this for you," Tie Niu promised.


    The Xiao Family, though wealthy, still had to give some face to him as the village chief.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Then thank you very much, Uncle Tie."


    Tie Niu waved his hand dismissively, "No trouble. If you really want to buy that land, then thirty taels it is. Keep the extra silver to hire a Feng Shui master for yourselves."


    After taking out his commission and the one tael of silver the Xiao Family had given, and after a little discussion with the official at the Guang House, that was about the right price.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "My wife and I will talk it over. If we decide to buy, we¡¯ll invite you and Grandpa Xiu Cai for a meal and have a deed drawn up."


    "That¡¯s great to hear, take your time discussing it. I¡¯ll head back now," Tie Niu said.


    Tie Niu nods his head, feeling that the deal was likely done!


    After sending off Tie Niu, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs-up: "My dear, you really have the foresight."


    His wife had said that the land would definitely be theirs. He hadn¡¯t believed her at the start, but now they hadn¡¯t just bought the land, they had also saved Five Liang of Silver!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er boasted proudly, "Of course!"


    But they still had to wait until the deed was written to truly rest easy.


    The village chief¡¯s words might work on other members of the Xiao Family, but they could have the opposite effect on Xiao Biyu.


    All of this trouble was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s fault¡ªwhat kind of bad love interests had he attracted?

 Chapter 224 - 226 _1

    Chapter 224: Chapter 226 _1fre§×webnovel.comTan Zhenghong felt very wronged; one wife was more than enough for him.


    But who knew what got into Xiao Biyu¡¯s head, insisting on clinging to him.


    Xiao Biyu was an unhappy topic, so after griping about it for a bit, the couple started planning for the next day.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to count the silver coins with the money box in her arms.


    Tan Zhenghong boiled water, first brewing ginger and date tea, then brought the water back to the room and mixed it with some cold water, before saying, "Wife, come take a bath!"


    Ever since his leg healed, he had taken over all such tasks, and his wife was merely in charge of looking as lovely as a flower.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "You go ahead; I¡¯ll be done counting in just a bit."


    Tan Zhenghong knew his wife treasured money, after all, they¡¯d been saving up for days and it would be gone tomorrow in one swoop; anyone would hate to part with it.


    While bathing, he thought about finding time to go hunting in the deep mountains, reasoning if he could hunt down a tiger or Bear Blind Man, his wife wouldn¡¯t fret over thirty taels.


    He was a man, and had to ensure his beloved lived well. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he wouldn¡¯t talk about these things; he would just strive to achieve them.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong finished bathing, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already put away the money box, and the slight gloom from earlier had vanished.


    To spend thirty taels on a piece of land of their own, and later build their own house on it, without all sorts of messy people hopping around in front of them.


    How carefree would that be?


    It didn¡¯t matter how much silver was spent, as long as it brought happiness.


    Tan Zhenghong dumped the bathwater while Qiao Duo¡¯er had already brought back more water for the bath.


    "Wife, from now on you¡¯re not allowed to do heavy work," said Tan Zhenghong earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong, "I¡¯m not made of paper."


    Still, the feeling of being treasured by someone else was quite nice, hmm... being a man¡¯s woman truly was bliss.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dwell on this topic either; in the future, he¡¯d just do all the tasks, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er with nothing to do even if she wanted to, right?

 Chapter 225 - 227: Discussing Posture_1

    Chapter 225: Chapter 227: Discussing Posture_1Tan Zhenghong immediately leaped out of bed and pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, "Wife, there¡¯s still water in the kettle; I just boiled it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly curled her lips, saying Tan Zhenghong had jumped out of bed, which was quite true; the guy seemed to have sprung up right in front of her.


    This is called human potential, right?


    Tan Zhenghong considerately poured Qiao Duo¡¯er a glass of water and even checked the temperature first.


    "Wife, it¡¯s not hot, just the perfect temperature to drink,"


    Tan Zhenghong said cheerfully, but actually, he wanted to say hurry up and drink, so we can go discuss the significant matters of life together!


    The wedding night is one of life¡¯s four happinesses, also called "the little imperial examination," and Tan Zhenghong was naturally in a hurry.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t eat his wife all up today; he just wanted to taste a little bit first.


    Um... he was such an easily satisfied child.


    Actually, Qiao Duo¡¯er had just finished drinking jujube tea and wasn¡¯t thirsty at all now.


    But under Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eager gaze, she had no choice but to drink it with a stiff upper lip.


    The cups in a peasant¡¯s house, like the peasants themselves, were straightforward, and after drinking, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt her stomach was full of water.


    She touched her bulging belly and silently cursed Tan Zhenghong a few times in her mind.


    Why had this guy become so sincere all of a sudden?


    Couldn¡¯t he see that she was shy? Besides, wasn¡¯t the jujube tea brewed by him? He should¡¯ve known she wasn¡¯t thirsty if he thought with his toes!


    After drinking a bellyful of water, how could she sleep at all later?


    No, worrying about this was premature; she should be thinking about what sort of bad ideas Tan Zhenghong was harboring.


    Who knows what kind of nonsense this guy had seen in that book.


    "Wife, it¡¯s very late, shall we go to sleep?"


    Tan Zhenghong sneaked a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er; the person with the bad intentions was him, yet he couldn¡¯t help blushing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t move, and only after Tan Zhenghong mustered some courage did he dare to take Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    His wife pretended to struggle a few times but eventually sat on the bed with a mix of reluctance and compliance.


    At this time, he had to admit that those who had watched action movies were ultimately defeated by those who had looked at spring palace art.


    Tan Zhenghong brought the tattered book in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er, and she accidentally caught a glimpse and also accidentally made out the content on the page.


    Besides the positions, there were textual explanations and diagrams illustrating the pros and cons of this position.


    So the content of this picture was so rich, she had learned something new.


    And incidentally, she learned a new position or two...


    Tan Zhenghong wickedly said, "Wife, look at this 69, doesn¡¯t it suit us especially well?"


    If his wife would cooperate with him just once, his life on this Earth would not be in vain. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rewarded Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back of the head with a slap, "Suitable my foot, hurry up and wash your hands, I¡¯m sleepy!"


    You never know how old that thing is, how many germs it might have, and he even brought it onto the bed, so dirty!


    Tan Zhenghong misunderstood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s intention; he thought that if he washed his hands, he could engage in happy activities, so off he went to wash his hands excitedly.


    He washed them very thoroughly, even took special care to use detergent.


    When he returned, Qiao Duo¡¯er was lying facing the wall. As soon as he approached, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately turned around.


    "Tan Zhenghong, you¡¯re dead slow!" Qiao Duo¡¯er complained coquettishly.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart nearly leaped out of his chest. His wife thought he was slow?


    He was utterly flattered!


    He had originally thought it would take some effort to get his wife¡¯s agreement, but it turned out she was even more eager than he was!


    Happiness had come so suddenly that Tan Zhenghong was somewhat caught off guard.

 Chapter 226 -s 227-228 Someone is peeping_1

    Chapter 226: Chapters 227-228 Someone is peeping_1Tan Zhenghong immediately jumped out of bed, grabbing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, "Wife, there¡¯s still water in the kettle. I just boiled it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly curled her lips, saying that Tan Zhenghong jumped out of bed, and that wasn¡¯t an unjust accusation at all, he seemed to have leaped to her side in an instant.


    This is called human potential, right?


    Tan Zhenghong considerately poured Qiao Duo¡¯er a cup of water and even tested the temperature first.


    "Wife, it¡¯s not hot, just the right temperature to drink."


    Actually, Qiao Duo¡¯er had just finished drinking red date tea and wasn¡¯t thirsty at all.


    But under Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eager gaze, she could only brace herself and drink.


    Like the peasant families they were, their cups were just as honest, and after drinking, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt her belly was full of water.


    Touching her bulging stomach, she silently cursed Tan Zhenghong a few times in her mind.


    How come he¡¯s so honest right now?


    Couldn¡¯t he see that she was just shy? Besides, wasn¡¯t the red date tea brewed by him? Even thinking with his toes, he should know she wasn¡¯t thirsty!


    With a belly full of water, how could she sleep later?


    No, that¡¯s too early to worry about right now. She should think about what Tan Zhenghong was up to instead.


    Who knows what evil he had read about in that book.


    "Wife, it¡¯s late. Shall we go to sleep?"


    But his mood quickly sunk to the bottom because Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed towards the window.


    Was there something outside the back window?


    The Tan family¡¯s house faced south with its back to the north, with Sun Erhu¡¯s home to the east, and the Zhou family to the west. There was a small alley about a meter wide between the Tan family and the Zhou family; if there was a problem, it would definitely be in the alley.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke in a delicate voice, "Why are you standing there? Aren¡¯t we going to sleep?"


    Tan Zhenghong, clueless, could only lie down as Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested, but his eyes never left that window.


    Suddenly, a shadow climbed up the window¡ªit seemed to be a hand.


    Under the watchful eyes of Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, the hand scratched a hole in the window.


    At this moment, Tan Zhenghong was immensely relieved that Qiao Duo¡¯er had discovered it in advance, otherwise, today there would only have been two outcomes.


    One was to be scared to death, and the other was to be peeped at.


    Holding a grudge, Tan Zhenghong went out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile¡ªwhoever dared to squat under her window was courting death!


    She was tired of the life on the edge of the knife and wanted to live a simple rural life, but this didn¡¯t mean her instincts had dimmed.


    Even now, she was particularly sensitive to the scent of people.


    This was a habit formed over many years because the existence of another person could have been the end of her life¡ªhow could she not be careful?


    Guessing that Tan Zhenghong had already reached the alley, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to act too.


    Suddenly she opened the window, and the person standing underneath didn¡¯t have time to evade, not even having enough time to pull his hand out of his waistband.


    Damn it, it was actually Tan Zhongzhong!


    When Tan Zhenghong saw the window open, he immediately covered the person with the quilt, then his fists started raining down like raindrops.


    Crouching under a newlywed¡¯s window, what could he be up to?


    So Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hold back at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still didn¡¯t feel it was enough and promptly said, "Hit hard, just don¡¯t kill him!"


    It¡¯s one thing to hit a few times, but if it leads to a fatality it would be hard to explain later, and they might even face imprisonment.


    The window suddenly opened, and immediately after, someone was beaten violently over the head. Tan Zhongzhong was confused, but the pain coursing through his body made him quickly realize what was happening. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because if he didn¡¯t speak up, he was going to be beaten to death!


    "Fourth Boss, it¡¯s me, I¡¯m your third brother, stop hitting me!" Tan Zhongzhong hastily revealed his identity.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips twitched, and after landing two more punches, he finally stopped.


    Tan Zhongzhong managed to remove the quilt from his head with his hands and feet, revealing his miserable, beaten face.


    Tan Zhenghong with a frown asked, "What are you doing squatting under my window?"


    Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s eyes darted around¡ªwhy was he squatting under Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back window?

 Chapter 227 - 229 Pants Fall Down_1

    Chapter 227: Chapter 229 Pants Fall Down_1"I was in a hurry to pee, so I came out to sort it out, why did you hit me?" Tan Zhongzhong complained.


    It¡¯s quite normal for a man to find a corner to relieve himself, right? His choice of location just wasn¡¯t very good, but there¡¯s no rule saying you can¡¯t pee under someone else¡¯s window, is there?


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but clench his teeth in frustration, and now the culprit had the nerve to accuse him first. Have you no shame?


    "So Third Boss likes to squat unlike the rest of us," Tan Zhenghong mocked.


    Tan Zhongzhong coughed unnaturally a few times: "Didn¡¯t I suddenly get a stomachache? Squatting for a bit, is it wrong to squat down?"


    "Then what were you doing picking at the paper of my window?" Tan Zhenghong¡¯s fists were clenched again; he just wanted to hit someone!


    Tan Zhongzhong couldn¡¯t find another excuse and his face turned the color of liver.


    At this unfortunate moment, his trousers betrayed him.


    In those days, they hadn¡¯t invented elastic bands yet, so they just used a rope tied around the waist. Just now, when Tan Zhongzhong reached into his waistband, he untied the drawstring.


    He had tried to dodge Tan Zhenghong¡¯s fist, and the movement was too big, leading to a tragic incident.


    His pants fell down, taking his underwear with them, right down to his heels.


    Tan Zhenghong reacted quickly, immediately shutting the window; he certainly didn¡¯t want his wife to see such a mess.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the window that almost hit her nose and pouted, but she was also relieved; she found Tan Zhongzhong disgusting.


    She secretly thought that a lazy bum like Tan Zhongzhong must be as thin as a matchstick...


    Outside, Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s face turned red as he hurriedly pulled up his pants.


    He had just managed to pull his pants up when a barrage of punches came his way. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that murder was illegal, Tan Zhenghong would have really liked to stab Tan Zhongzhong to death at that moment.


    There are many shameless people in the world, but there¡¯s only one like Tan Zhongzhong.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo, bored out of her mind, picked up an album and flipped through it casually, with Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s pleas for mercy filling her ears.


    This time Tan Zhenghong was truly furious, and he wasn¡¯t holding back in the beating.


    On a regular day, Tan Zhongzhong only did some farm work, and being beaten by Tan Zhenghong was his lot in life.


    During this, someone from the Li Clan peaked through the opened window.


    Hmph, she had gone through the tough ordeal of pregnancy, nearly losing her life to give birth, and for what?


    Wasn¡¯t it all for the continuation of the Tan Family¡¯s lineage? Yet Tan Zhongzhong had the audacity to crouch in a corner! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All she wanted to say was to beat him good, and if he died, he would have brought it upon himself!


    So she took a look and then closed the window, wrapping her arms around her child to sleep.


    Time passed, the Zhou Family lit their lantern, and people from the Main Room came over. After a group persuaded him, Tan Zhenghong was still reluctant to let Tan Zhongzhong off the hook.


    If he had really done something today, would he have any face left to see people in the future?


    Especially his wife, whose reputation would be completely ruined!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, boiling with rage, decided to open the window to catch some cool air and called for Tan Zhenghong to come back.


    "Fourth Boss, he didn¡¯t really see anything. Just give him a good beating as a lesson, and also make him compensate for the window paper," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed indifferently.


    Now windows were pasted with paper, and the hole Tan Zhongzhong created rendered the window paper unusable.


    That¡¯s when Tan Zhenghong¡¯s anger subsided; he understood his wife¡¯s intention.


    It wasn¡¯t worth it to land in prison for such a scumbag.


    Eager to avoid further beating, Tan Zhongzhong quickly said, "Third Boss, I¡¯ll pay you for the window paper right away!"


    After he spoke, he took out Five Wen Money from his sleeve pocket. Five Wen Money was more than enough to buy a sheet of window paper.


    But what did he care about that? As long as Tan Zhenghong stopped hitting him, he was content.

 Chapter 228 - 230 Pretending Not to See_1

    Chapter 228: Chapter 230 Pretending Not to See_1Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and took the copper coin, while he couldn¡¯t help but hit Tan Zhongzhong a couple more times.


    "Fourth Boss, why are you still hitting people?" Tan Zhongzhong felt wronged, he had already paid money to ward off disaster, what more did he want?


    Just in time, a member of the Wang Clan advised, "Your third brother just had a moment of foolishness, don¡¯t hold it against him."


    Then she glared at Tan Zhongzhong, "Look at the fine mess you¡¯ve made, not ashamed at all, and it¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have a wife!"


    Tan Zhongzhong silently grumbled in his heart, if you could get me a wife like Qiao Duo¡¯er, I¡¯d definitely stay by her side every day.


    After all, isn¡¯t there a saying: ¡¯A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stealthy affair, and a stealthy affair is not as good as one that isn¡¯t discovered¡¯?


    What he did wasn¡¯t an unforgivable sin.


    But with Tan Zhenghong right there, he could only weakly say, "I... won¡¯t dare to again in the future."


    Tan Zhenghong said coldly, "If there is a next time, I¡¯ll beat you to death!"


    Once he finished speaking, he walked away without looking back, feeling disgusted just thinking about what Tan Zhongzhong had done!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also closed the window and casually put the album back in its place, pretending she hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    "Stop looking, it¡¯s late, everyone go to sleep," the Wang Clan member said irritably.


    The members of the Zhou Family who slept in the east wing were the second oldest family and, apart from the parties involved, knew the details of the incident best because they were preparing to sow some seeds when the commotion started.


    The wife of the second oldest, a member of the Qiu Clan, loved gossip and opened the window at the first sign of commotion outside.


    Now, she already had several versions of the story in her head.


    Hehe, she would have something to talk about when visiting others¡¯ houses tomorrow!


    When Tan Zhenghong entered the room, Qiao Duo¡¯er subconsciously glanced at the album.


    Um... it should be placed like this, right?


    No, it doesn¡¯t seem that¡¯s how it was placed, never mind, Tan Zhenghong was already inside, and it was too late to move it now.


    Seeing the awkward look of his wife, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gloomy mood vanished, and he playfully asked, "Wife, how much did you learn?"


    "I wouldn¡¯t look at such childish stuff," Qiao Duo replied calmly.


    If she hadn¡¯t seen it, why would she blush?


    She would never admit that she had looked at the erotic pictures, nor would she admit that the content was quite comprehensive, and she had almost lost control while watching them.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t expose Qiao Duo, and only said, "Wife, I¡¯m going to take a bath, and then we can study together."


    The 69 he had been longing for was coming soon!


    The hot water had run out, so Tan Zhenghong had to boil water again.


    He tried to be as quick as possible, but by the time he got into bed, a certain young lady was already asleep.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was lying on her stomach asleep when Tan Zhenghong gently patted her little bottom, his eyes full of indulgence.


    He had vented the malicious energy in his body by beating Tan Zhongzhong today, so he decided to spare this girl for now.


    But, she was his wife after all, and she couldn¡¯t escape.


    Tan Zhenghong blew out the candle and softly lay down beside Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He lay on his side, his hand on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bottom, and the soft and bouncy touch made him sigh with satisfaction.


    In the darkness, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly opened her eyes, her face full of a sly smile.


    Hehe, she knew Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t bear to disturb her sleep. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was all Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s fault today, thinking of that hand poking through the window paper, all thoughts of intimacy vanished.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snuggled more into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms, *cough cough*, she didn¡¯t know when she started liking to sleep this way.

 Chapter 229 - 231: Still a Virgin_1

    Chapter 229: Chapter 231: Still a Virgin_1At this moment, Tan Zhongzhong was painfully kneeling beside the bed, while the matriarch of the Li Clan was nursing, still giving Tan Zhongzhong glares from time to time.


    It was bad enough that he went and crouched in the corner, but why did he have to tear someone else¡¯s window paper?


    What infuriated her most was that he had actually compensated five Wen Money!


    Now they had Xiao Fu, and they needed to send Xiao Fu to study, which would inevitably cost Silver.


    Tan Zhongzhong was miserably depressed, he was covered in injuries, and they hadn¡¯t even applied medicine to him, but at least let him lie in bed, otherwise, he really might die!


    But whenever his wife got angry, her milk supply was insufficient, so he could only kneel beside the bed to appease her.


    It had been half an hour, and his legs had gone from sore to numb.


    "Wife, please forgive me," Tan Zhongzhong pleaded.


    Li Clan let out a contemptuous snort, "What were you doing earlier? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind!"


    Ever since they divided the family, Qiao Duo¡¯er was almost like a different person each day, her face healed, her skin whitened, and her figure became fuller.


    Compared to her¡ªa plain Jane¡ªQiao Duo¡¯er was simply celestial. Could Tan Zhongzhong not have any thoughts?


    "Wife, it was Qiao Duo¡¯er who seduced me. You know how long I¡¯ve abstained for your sake and our child, and with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s seduction, I just got confused," he said.


    Tan Zhongzhong hurriedly explained himself. If he didn¡¯t shift the blame to someone else at this moment, he might just die kneeling by the bed!


    "She could seduce you? Are you even comparable to Fourth Boss?"


    Li Clan said disdainfully, not believing a word.


    Tan Zhenghong could hunt, make bamboo baskets, and crates. What did Tan Zhongzhong have that was better than him, apart from eating more?


    Even a blind person would know to reach out to Tan Zhenghong.


    "I¡¯m not lying to you, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s legs are close together, you can tell she¡¯s still a maiden," Tan Zhongzhong said earnestly.


    A girl¡¯s legs change somewhat after such an incident, but Qiao Duo¡¯er always kept hers the same.


    Li Clan furrowed her brow slightly, "They¡¯ve been married for so long, how could she still be a maiden?"


    "How else could she have seduced me? Wife, please forgive me. I won¡¯t dare to be foolish again. I swear from now on I won¡¯t take a second glance at anyone but you, or may lightning strike me dead!"


    Tan Zhongzhong raised three fingers, swearing fluently.


    When lice abound, one doesn¡¯t itch, and when oaths are often sworn, they become meaningless¡ªthat¡¯s why Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s words were as casual as if he were playing.


    Tan Zhongzhong had exceptionally sharp eyes. Three years ago, when he discovered a girl¡¯s premarital infidelity, he went to her in-laws and spoke of it.


    Upon investigation by the girl¡¯s in-laws, it turned out she had indeed been assaulted by a young master while working as a Maid in town, and the marriage fell through. After that, the girl went mad.


    Therefore, the Li Clan matriarch believed Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s tall tale.


    Which woman would willingly accept that her man is scum?


    It¡¯s more pleasant to hear that another woman seduced him.


    "A fly won¡¯t land on a seamless egg. I think you¡¯re no good either. Alright, clean yourself up and come to bed," she said. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Li Clan matriarch showed mercy, sparing Tan Zhongzhong from punishment.


    Tan Zhongzhong scrambled up hurriedly, washed his hands and face, haphazardly applied some medicinal wine, and then lay on the bed.


    The strength of Fourth Boss was not small; it left him nearly falling apart.


    Tan Zhongzhong couldn¡¯t fall asleep at all, and any movement brought intense pain, so he could only stare blankly.


    Unintentionally, the image of Qiao Duo¡¯er invaded his mind.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er was as he suspected, a virgin, and if he could sleep with her just once, even death would be worth it!

 Chapter 230 - 232 Buying a Homestead_1

    Chapter 230: Chapter 232 Buying a Homestead_1The next day was set for purchasing the homestead and writing the contract. After breakfast, the pair split up to take care of preparations, with Tan Zhenghong responsible for inviting guests, arranging wine, and other miscellaneous tasks, while Qiao Duo¡¯er handled setting up a table with wine and food.


    By around ten o¡¯clock, the guests began to arrive one after another.


    In rural communities, the purchase of land was given utmost importance, for causing delay to the host¡¯s affairs could lead to a tarnished reputation.


    Among those who came were Tie Niu, Scholar Zhou, Wu Youcai, and Uncle Huang, as well as D¨¤l¨ªn and Iron Bolt.


    Tie Niu represented the government office, and it was Elder Mr. Zhou, the Academician, who wrote the contract. Earlier, he had been the one to draft the Relationship Termination Letter. Wu Youcai and Uncle Huang were the witnesses.


    D¨¤l¨ªn and Iron Bolt had a close relationship with Tan Zhenghong; they had helped him out during his leg injury, so they were also invited to enjoy a meal.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Academician Zhou turned to the matter at hand.


    "Now that everyone is here, I shall begin writing the contract. Do you all agree?" Elder Mr. Zhou asked.


    It¡¯s better to do the official business first, so the drinking later on will be more enjoyable.


    Tie Niu nodded, "Of course, that would be excellent, please proceed, Mr. Zhou."


    Academician Zhou took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone¡ªwriting a contract was a serious affair, so he had brought his own equipment.


    Though he was advanced in age, his handling of the brush was precise, his small characters perfectly formed.


    It¡¯s said that one¡¯s handwriting reflects one¡¯s character; the elder scholar must surely be a meticulous person.


    Before long, he had written three copies of the contract.


    One copy was for Zheng Hong¡¯s Family to keep, another to be submitted to the Government Office, and the last for Tie Niu to hold onto.


    Tie Niu, Tan Zhenghong, Wu Youcai, and Uncle Huang all reviewed the contract and, finding no issues, affixed their handprints to it.


    In the afternoon, Tie Niu would take the contract to the Government Office, and the deal would be complete.


    Tan Zhenghong handed out red envelopes he had prepared in advance to the four men.


    Not only were they filled generously, but the red fabric pouches filled with copper coins were also neatly stitched, eliciting joy just by looking at them.


    Tie Niu politely tried to refuse, "We¡¯re all from the same village, lad. Why must you be so formal?"


    "I¡¯ve inconvenienced you all to make the trip, and truly I am sorry. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please, you must accept it," insisted Tan Zhenghong, politely responding.


    To decline the celebratory money would be to show disrespect to the host, so the men accepted the red envelopes.


    "Good lad, both you and your wife are capable. The best days lie ahead!" Wu Youcai said, patting Tan Zhenghong on the shoulder.


    Just a few months had passed and they had already secured the most expensive homestead in the village; he was envious indeed.


    Tie Niu spoke up in agreement, "In our village, it¡¯s Zheng Hong¡¯s Family I have the highest hopes for. Hardworking and righteous they are."


    While the mood here was cheerful and celebratory, the rest of the Tan Family felt quite differently. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, had they not divided the household, that silver for the land purchase would have been theirs.


    Wang Clan couldn¡¯t help but scold Little Wang Clan a little, blaming her for the bad idea in the first place.


    Now, what was the result? Not only had her son drifted apart from her, but they also missed out on the silver.


    "Mother, my wife has been back at her parents¡¯ home for several days now, what¡¯s the point of bringing this up?" Tan Zhengyong said discontentedly.


    This time his wife was genuinely upset; he had gone to her family¡¯s home to fetch her multiple times but had not even caught a glimpse of her.


    It was all his parents¡¯ fault. Why mention giving Ten Taels to have a son in the first place?


    Furthermore, why scold his wife for no reason?


    Wang Clan responded irritably, "She¡¯s spoiled because we let her be. If she doesn¡¯t want to come back, then so be it. Let her parents teach her some manners!"


    Ever since they started living together, she had found Little Wang Clan less and less to her liking.


    Tan Zhengyong retorted, "Mother, don¡¯t forget about my brother-in-law."


    "This time, I¡¯m not going to coax her to come back, not even if Xiao Feng becomes the top scholar!"

 Chapter 231 - 233 Giving Him Face_1

    Chapter 231: Chapter 233 Giving Him Face_1Wang Clan¡¯s attitude was firm; she simply wouldn¡¯t go.


    As the mother-in-law, every time it was she who admitted fault, how could she then stand her ground in this family?


    Tan Zhengyong sighed, deciding he should go again after all.


    If his brother-in-law got accepted as a Scholar, it would reflect well on him too, and it would spare the two families from looking bad later on.


    Moreover, his daughter-in-law had taken his son away, how could he ignore that?


    With a tone of displeasure, Wang Clan said, "Had I known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have given birth to you lot, the debt collectors. Each one of you forgets his mother after getting a wife!"


    The second, third, and fourth sons were all tightly controlled by their wives, especially the youngest, whose wife he obeyed without question. He¡¯d even boast that it was her who had ¡¯reattached¡¯ his legs, so he listened only to her commands.


    As for the eldest, he was so smitten with a widow he¡¯d lost all sense of himself!


    Thinking of her four sons, Wang Clan¡¯s heart ached deeply.


    "Stop the noise and go cook already!" Tan Yuancheng said impatiently. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Third Boss¡¯s family was already eating, while their stove remained cold.


    Wang Clan muttered discontentedly, "All you know is to eat what¡¯s ready. If I died, you¡¯d all starve to death!"


    Since no one responded to her complaint, she had to go and make food in silence.


    Looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s side, lunch was lavish, with six cold dishes, six hot dishes, two soups, fish, meat, chicken, and duck.


    For a peasant family, this spread was top-notch, not only in its balanced variety of dishes but also in its excellent taste.


    Who would have thought that Fourth Boss¡¯s wife had such skill? Those who were worldly couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs-up.


    And that lucky fellow Tan Zhenghong, even with his eyes closed, managed to marry a good wife.


    Before beginning the feast, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Tan Zhenghong deliver a bowl of meat dishes to the Main Room.


    This was a way to curry favor with the family; the Main Room might not care about niceties, but she didn¡¯t want anyone to find fault with her.


    Sure enough, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s actions earned everyone¡¯s praise.


    They all shared the belief that such a good daughter-in-law should not be troubled in the future; should there be any, it would certainly be the people of the Main Room causing senseless trouble.


    After two cups of wine, the atmosphere at the table grew even livelier.


    Seeing his wife bustling about, Tan Zhenghong seized the opportunity while serving dishes to offer his help.


    "You¡¯re the head of the household; what would it look like if you weren¡¯t at the table drinking with the guests?" Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly sent Tan Zhenghong away.


    It was all right to boss Tan Zhenghong around in private, making him wash clothes and cook without issue.


    But with guests present today, she needed to preserve his dignity.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but instruct her, "Eat something if you¡¯re hungry."


    "I know, I have saved some dishes for myself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a playful wink.


    She would not wait until the men had finished to pick at leftovers. First, she disliked others¡¯ saliva, and secondly, there usually weren¡¯t any leftovers.


    Seeing the small bowl set aside by the stove, Tan Zhenghong was finally at ease to sit at the table.


    With all the men around the table, the smell of liquor was strong; surely his wife wouldn¡¯t like that. Maybe she should have her own small table.


    When it came to serving the soup dishes, everyone was introduced to a novel ingredient.


    "This thing is quite fresh; I¡¯ve never seen it before and it has a hint of fragrance," expressed Tie Niu, examining a white round grain with his chopsticks.


    "This is water caltrop," Tan Zhenghong explained. It was the spiny thing he had cut from the pond.


    After harvesting, you would use a knife to peel off its hard shell. The peeled tender stems could be stir-fried and eaten, while the remaining water caltrops would be dried and stored at home.

 Chapter 232 - 234 Sleazy Uncle Guang_1

    Chapter 232: Chapter 234 Sleazy Uncle Guang_1D¨¤l¨ªn often wandered around the mountains and naturally knew what this thing was.


    "I know, these are thorny lotus seeds, the whole plant is covered in thorns; I got pricked by it when I was a kid, it hurt for many days. I still don¡¯t dare to mess with it to this day."


    Tie Niu had originally wanted to get some for his wife to cook, but after hearing what D¨¤l¨ªn said, he immediately gave up on the idea.


    Without some real skills, one truly wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke the thorny lotus. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he was a child, he got pricked by one while bathing in the river, and just like D¨¤l¨ªn said, it was an unforgettable experience throughout his life.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile, "Eat up, I put in quite a bit of effort to bring these back."


    "We¡¯ve had enough, we need to save some for your wife and the others."


    Tie Niu put down his chopsticks, Zheng Hong¡¯s wife and the others had been busy for half the day and hadn¡¯t even had a bite.


    "My wife has saved some dishes, you all must finish them, otherwise, she might think that you all are looking down on her cooking skills."


    Once the host had spoken, it wasn¡¯t long before the dishes on the table were devoured.


    After lunch, the guests dispersed, and Tan Zhenghong squatted next to Qiao Duo¡¯er to wash the dishes together.


    "Wife, tomorrow I¡¯m going to the government office with Uncle Tie to take care of some paperwork, and once that¡¯s done, we¡¯ll build a house and move out."


    Tan Zhenghong was very excited, soon they would have their own little piece of heaven!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but daydream as well, who didn¡¯t get upset just by looking at those people from the Tan Family?


    She really hoped that the house would be built quickly!


    In the evening, Tan Zhongzhong carried a urine-soaked cloth to the river to wash.


    Good news seldom spread beyond the door, while bad news traveled far and wide¡ªcoupled with Qiu Clan¡¯s big mouth, basically everyone in the village knew, and their looks towards Tan Zhongzhong were filled with contempt.


    What good could a man be if he couldn¡¯t even spare his sister-in-law?


    Seeing his face bruised and purple, almost everyone felt a sense of satisfaction.


    However, there were a few who were less than wholesome in their interest, such as the old bachelor of the village, who was quite intrigued by the event.


    As Tan Zhongzhong walked past his house after washing the cloth, the old bachelor called out to him.


    "Uncle Guang, what¡¯s the matter?"


    Uncle Guang wasn¡¯t actually surnamed Guang, and his name didn¡¯t include Guang either; because he was a bachelor, he had this nickname.


    Over time, everyone forgot his real name.


    "Third Boss, what did you see?" Uncle Guang smirked sleazily, clearly itching for some gossip.


    Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s face turned red, and he quickly shook his head: "I didn¡¯t see anything."


    "Then, you¡¯re pretty weak, aren¡¯t you? Got beaten up without even seeing anything. With that kind of skill, you dare to sneak around in corners!" scoffed Uncle Guang.


    Tan Zhongzhong huffed, "If I hadn¡¯t seen anything, would I have been beaten to look like this?"


    He had to act tough; otherwise, what was he if he let Uncle Guang despise him?


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife is now the most beautiful in Big Willow Village, come on, tell me what her figure is like!"


    Uncle Guang pulled Tan Zhongzhong into the yard, ready to have a more detailed chat.


    He himself had thoughts of doing such things before, but despite having the desire, he lacked the guts. He never expected Tan Zhongzhong to be bolder than him, even daring to lurk around his own brother¡¯s corner.


    That was shamelessness to an extraordinary degree.


    "She¡¯s really fine," bragged Tan Zhongzhong, "I¡¯m not going to chat with you anymore; my kid is waiting for me to go home and put him to sleep."


    Uncle Guang said anxiously, "Don¡¯t go yet!"


    But Tan Zhongzhong moved swiftly, and Uncle Guang couldn¡¯t grab him in time, only to watch him leave.


    Tan Zhongzhong hurried off, and as he left, he bumped into the doorframe¡ªright where he had been beaten the day before¡ªcausing him to grimace in pain.


    Yet thinking of Qiao Duo¡¯s face and figure, he shamelessly had thoughts again.


    The person was right there within reach; not to make a move would be to fail as a man!

 Chapter 233 - 235 Stab you to death!_1

    Chapter 233: Chapter 235 Stab you to death!_1Tan Zhongzhong never imagined that the opportunity would come so quickly. Tan Zhenghong and Tie Niu went together to the town, leaving only Qiao Duo¡¯er at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still in the room. Wasn¡¯t she waiting for him?


    Looking at the child sound asleep was a rare moment of quiet.


    Everything was just right. Seizing the chance, Tan Zhongzhong headed straight for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s room.


    "Fourth Boss¡¯ wife, I¡¯ve come to borrow a needle," Tan Zhongzhong said with a sycophantic smile, even giving Qiao Duo¡¯er a seductive wink.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a chill of disgust, almost throwing up her breakfast.


    Tan Zhongzhong was quite good-looking, but that was before he got beaten up by Tan Zhenghong. Now, with his pig-like face, it was hard to know where his confidence came from.


    But then again, if Tan Zhongzhong had any shame, he wouldn¡¯t be Tan Zhongzhong.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could speak, Tan Zhongzhong had already sauntered into the room.


    "I was sewing clothes for Xiao Fu and accidentally dropped my needle. Can you lend me yours?" babbled Tan Zhongzhong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was incredibly annoyed and just wanted to get rid of this fly. She took a needle from the pile of scraps.


    The corners of Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s mouth turned up, and he immediately reached out to take it, but his real target wasn¡¯t the needle at all.


    How would a big man like him sew clothes? He had just been looking for an excuse to slip in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes. She had thought that since Tan Zhongzhong had learned his lesson, she could let bygones be bygones. But now he was presenting himself to her again. Could she spare him? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clearly, she was not going to let him off easy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er flipped her hand not only to dodge Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s groping but also to prick him with the needle.


    It wasn¡¯t a deep prick¡ªjust half an inch in, not enough to pierce through the hand, but there was still a tiny piece of flesh caught on the tip of the needle.


    "Why did you prick me?"


    Tan Zhongzhong cradled his injured hand, tears nearly spurting out because it was so damn painful!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow: "Why? Weren¡¯t you asking for it?"


    As Tan Zhongzhong nursed the injured spot, it took him a while to recover.


    It was not a great start for him, getting pricked by Qiao Duo¡¯er as soon as he arrived.


    But how could he give up on such a good opportunity?


    "I understand now, you want me to poke you too, right? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be very gentle. I¡¯ll definitely not hurt you," said Tan Zhongzhong with a lecherous look, convinced that Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t possibly be stronger than him.


    With that belief, he advanced toward Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip; the world was full of idiots, and Tan Zhongzhong was one of the more severe cases.


    Meanwhile, Tan Zhongzhong kept talking: "I know Fourth Boss isn¡¯t up to it. Let me satisfy you."


    "You?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhongzhong, his skinny body, sallow complexion and murky eyes, making it obvious that he wouldn¡¯t perform well in that regard.


    "Don¡¯t worry, my thing works very well. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re taken care of," he said, reaching out to embrace Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was quicker. She stood up and deftly dodged to the side. Tan Zhongzhong, unable to stop, nearly banged his face on the back of a chair.


    If he hadn¡¯t steadied himself against the table, his face would have been even more of a mess.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, "With those skills, you dare to run around? Don¡¯t even know how you¡¯re going to die."


    Tan Zhongzhong stood up and lunged at Qiao Duo¡¯er again.


    Today, he was determined to show Qiao Duo¡¯er what he was capable of, to make sure she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the bed!

 Chapter 234 - 236 Unlucky_1

    Chapter 234: Chapter 236 Unlucky_1This time, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t dodge or flinch, but instead bent her knees just as Tan Zhongzhong was about to reach her.


    Farmers have resilient skin from growing up with bumps and bruises, very tough to beat, otherwise Tan Zheng would not be standing here but would be lying in bed healing from injuries.


    But even the toughest men have one place that¡¯s very vulnerable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved fast, in the time it would take someone else to bump into him, she had enough time to hit Tan Zhongzhong twice.


    "Ah!" Tan Zhongzhong doubled over, clutching that place, his face contorted with pain.


    It hurts, doesn¡¯t it?


    That¡¯s the effect she was going for!


    Seeing that Tan Zhongzhong was still glaring at her, Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her hand and slapped his face twice.


    Alas, Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s skin was so thick that her hand hurt from hitting him, but he seemed to feel no pain on his face at all.


    Probably the pain down there was so severe that it overshadowed the pain receptors everywhere else.


    Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian in the courtyard heard the commotion and immediately came over, Chao Lian, still a young maiden, blushed at the sight and hustled Da Ya and Er Ya away as they came over to join the excitement.


    This...The location of the injury is too sensitive for children to watch.


    Hu¡¯s Clan asked anxiously, "Duo¡¯er, are you alright?"


    "As if he could lay a finger on me," boasted Qiao Duo¡¯er with pride, and she kicked Tan Zhongzhong while she was at it.


    Did she look like someone everyone could mess with?


    "I¡¯ve always said I¡¯m not to be messed with, but you just wouldn¡¯t listen, whose fault is that?"


    She had been fierce for more than a day or two now, yet Tan Zhongzhong still brazenly approached her, she¡¯d be remiss not to teach him a lesson for his unfathomable self-confidence!


    In pain, Tan Zhongzhong said, "Sister-in-law... please get a doctor..."


    "Serves you right if it kills you!" Hu¡¯s Clan said with disdain.


    Just two days ago he was beaten up in the corner, and not only did he fail to learn his lesson, he even ran to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s room¡ªisn¡¯t that just asking for death?


    Chao Lian wasn¡¯t idle either, as soon as she stepped out, she rushed to find Sun Erhu to help.


    Who knew if Tan Zhongzhong would suddenly go mad?


    No, Tan Zhongzhong was already mad. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, would he do such a heinous act to his brother¡¯s wife?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had Sun Erhu carry Tan Zhongzhong back to his room¡ªmen other than the husband should not casually enter the room where a woman was recovering after childbirth, so Sun Erhu stood at the door and threw him inside.


    The thud of a heavy object hitting the ground, followed by a scream, was enough to make one¡¯s eardrums buzz.


    Sun Erhu said to Li Clan, "Third sister-in-law, you better keep your man in check, don¡¯t let him go around biting people!"


    Li Clan gritted her teeth; damn Tan Zhongzhong!


    She was so mad she felt like going crazy, but since she couldn¡¯t get out of bed, she could only pick up the bowl from beside the bed and throw it at Tan Zhongzhong.


    Daring to run to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s house in broad daylight, let¡¯s see if he still has the gall to claim that Qiao Duo¡¯er seduced him this time!


    Whether it was because Li Clan¡¯s aim was good, or Tan Zhongzhong was just having a bad day, the bowl hit Tan Zhongzhong right on the head.


    Though his forehead wasn¡¯t broken, it swelled at a visible rate.


    After several bouts of torment, Tan Zhongzhong couldn¡¯t take it anymore and blacked out.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily, maybe he should go find a doctor.


    He was angry, but he didn¡¯t want to be responsible for a fatality.


    All this commotion alerted the Main Room, and seeing her son¡¯s injuries were in critical places, Wang Clan quickly went to call for a doctor.


    No sooner had they dealt with Tan Zhongzhong than Zhang Ziwen hurried over in a frenzy.


    "Did Brother Zheng Hong go to town?" Zhang Ziwen had run all the way and was still gasping for breath as he spoke.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Zheng Hong and Uncle Tie went to the Government Office together. Do you need him for something?"


    "It¡¯s about the Xiao Family, I heard from Xiao Lingchuan that today Tan Zheng Hong is finished."

 Chapter 235 - 237 Despicable Person_1

    Chapter 235: Chapter 237 Despicable Person_1Zhang Ziwen was out of breath, but this matter was no joke, so he insisted on getting the message across.


    The situation was simple: while chopping wood on the mountain, he had unintentionally overheard Xiao Lingchuan talking with someone else.


    Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s exact words were, "So he bought a plot of land? He¡¯s gone to town today, and who knows if he can even make it back!"


    His tone and demeanor were not at all joking. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Ziwen felt something was off about these words, so he wanted to warn Tan Zhenghong, but he was still a step too late.


    No wonder Xiao Lingchuan was so sure, he must have known that Tan Zhenghong had already left the house.


    "Xiao Lingchuan often runs goods outside the village and knows quite a few shady characters. If on the way..."


    Sun Erhu felt it was bad luck to say more and quickly shut his mouth.


    This man might lack other talents, but his words of doom had an uncanny way of becoming true.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could almost guess Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s plan.


    Have those thugs take the silver by force, so they couldn¡¯t afford to buy the homestead, and he could get a cut because he provided the tip.


    Wouldn¡¯t that be killing two birds with one stone?


    "Xiao Family is the worst, could Brother Zheng Hong be in danger?" Chao Lian asked worriedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her fists tightly, thinking that after drafting the property deed, she could rest easy, but the Xiao Family still refused to let them be.


    She really wanted to curse: A bunch of assholes, truly fucking despicable!


    The daughter can¡¯t get married, can she? Always eyeing a married man, is that pleasing?


    Hmph, she, Qiao Duo¡¯er, was not someone who shied away from trouble; the Xiao Family had bullied them to this extent, if she didn¡¯t react, wouldn¡¯t that make others laugh their heads off!


    After thanking Zhang Ziwen, Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed the bow and arrows Tan Zhenghong used for hunting and ran out.


    "Sister-in-law, Chao Lian, you stay at home, I¡¯ll go see what¡¯s happening."


    Sun Erhu said and went home to grab his bow and arrows to follow her.


    Zhang Ziwen also wanted to join them, but a mad sprint had left him exhausted, and he could only sit in a chair and gasp for breath.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, slim and small, was not vague at this moment, fully keeping pace with Sun Erhu, even outstripping him a little.


    It was clear she was worried about Tan Zhenghong.


    Sun Erhu always felt it was his Brother Hong who invested more in their relationship, but now he saw reality was not as he perceived.


    His sister-in-law might appear somewhat aloof on the surface, but her heart was definitely hot with passion!


    Indeed, in this world, there¡¯s no love without reason.


    Between Big Willow Village and the town, there was a stretch of road through the woods, an ideal spot for misdeeds, which is why Qiao Duo¡¯er slowed her steps when she arrived there.


    She searched carefully and soon found traces of trampling on the grass.


    And it seemed there were quite a few people involved.


    Xiao Lingchuan indeed knew many people from the underworld, and since this was a money-making affair, plenty were willing to lend a hand.


    Without hesitation, Qiao Duo¡¯er plunged into the woods; her only thought was to rescue Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong, you¡¯d better be alright!


    She had walked about a hundred meters into the forest when she heard noises ahead.


    Crouching down behind a tree, she saw Tan Zhenghong and Tie Niu surrounded by a dozen or so people in the clearing.


    Those people looked like mountain bandits, each emanating a murderous vibe, armed with gleaming knives, and the one in charge even donned a flashy tiger skin skirt.


    Lucky that Zhang Ziwen was there, or Tan Zhenghong would have been in a real pinch today.


    Not that Tan Zhenghong was weak, but it¡¯s hard to defend against multiple attackers, especially when they¡¯re all armed with knives.

 Chapter 236 - 238 Xuan Eagle Mountain Village_1

    Chapter 236: Chapter 238 Xuan Eagle Mountain Village_1"Hand over the silver quickly, or I¡¯ll slaughter you all!"


    The leader¡¯s voice was hoarse and rough, with an edge of impatience that clearly marked him as a ruthless character.


    Tan Zhenghong was uncompromising, "If you don¡¯t release Uncle Tie first, I definitely won¡¯t hand over the silver to you."


    He feared that once he handed over the silver, these men would break their word anyway. If he was the only one involved, it wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue, and he wouldn¡¯t even need to hand over the silver.


    "Damn it, cut the crap. What qualifications do you have to negotiate with me when you¡¯re in my hands?"


    How could Tan Zhenghong, a man of iron and blood, be frightened by a couple of words?


    The refusal to release Tie Niu first only made him more convinced that these men wouldn¡¯t let him leave unscathed.


    As for whether he¡¯d be missing an arm or a leg, that depended on the buyer¡¯s intentions.


    "Despicable! You actually hired people from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village!"


    Sun Erhu cursed under his breath. Xiao Lingchuan was shameless!


    The involvement of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village wasn¡¯t just about the silver, for sure.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s puzzled face, he explained the origins of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was situated on Xuan Eagle Mountain and had been passed down for generations. The Guang House had always wanted to eradicate this den of bandits but had never managed to do so.


    The reason was that the leader of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had a secret method of training hawks, and there were at least a dozen eagles reared on the mountain now.


    Those beasts were fiercely violent. Each time troops tried to suppress them, they were scattered by the hawks¡¯ fierce attacks.


    Currently, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village controlled the farmlands around Xuan Eagle Mountain. They also took on commissions for seeking vendettas in exchange for a fee, so they were self-sufficient during good harvests.


    However, during poor harvests, they reverted to their bandit nature, descending from the mountain to rob wealth and, occasionally, to abduct women.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain was home to not just fierce hawks but also a group of desperate outlaws, each one ruthless and aggressive, making the nearby villages fearful of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, already formulating a plan in her mind.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had been a bandit lair for several generations, guarded by eagles, not a foe most people could afford to offend.


    She glanced at her own and Sun Erhu¡¯s clothing, which was of ordinary style.


    But the bows and arrows in their hands were problematic. What kind of farming household would have such things?


    Initially, she thought they were dealing with just some ruffians causing minor trouble, and that taking them down would be the end of it, but now it clearly wasn¡¯t so simple.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched the dagger at her waist, then without hesitation, hid the bow and arrows in the underbrush.


    "You hide your bow and arrows too," Qiao Duo¡¯er murmured softly.


    Sun Erhu understood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s intent, but hiding their bows and arrows meant they were even less likely to win.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Sun Erhu on the shoulder, "Relax, you and your brother aren¡¯t the only ones skilled in hand-to-hand combat. I can at least hold my own against him."


    Naturally, Sun Erhu didn¡¯t believe her words, but as long as his sister-in-law could protect herself, they had a chance to rescue the others.


    What was key was that being on the radar of these reckless people was worse than dying right now.


    Sun Erhu hid his bow and arrows and ripped two pieces of cloth from his clothing that could be used to cover their faces later.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed a few wildflowers and crushed them, smearing them over her face, which instantly became a patchwork of colors, almost unbearable to look at.


    "You protect Uncle Tie and leave first. Zhenghong and I will cover the rear," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    "No, if anyone is leaving first, it should be you."


    Sun Erhu stated resolutely. What kind of man would he be if he ran away first?


    If he did that, he would never have the face to marry Chao Lian!


    S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 237 - 239: Take That, You Tease! _1

    Chapter 237: Chapter 239: Take That, You Tease! _1Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t speak any further; instead, she crouched and began to approach the group of men.


    By that time, the man had lost his patience, and a knife gleaming with a cold light was resting on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s neck.


    How could she sit still?


    Tan Zhenghong was her man, the person she looked after; how could she allow others to bully him?


    At that moment, the man¡¯s thought was to first chop off Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm, searching him afterwards would be just as easy.


    After all, none of them could escape, so what did the order of actions matter?


    Tan Zhenghong forced himself to remain calm, "Who sent you? At least let me die understanding why."


    As he spoke, he was looking for a way out; the one on his left, skinny and sallow-faced, probably didn¡¯t have much fighting ability.


    He hadn¡¯t yet made his wife the happiest woman in Penang; how could he die?


    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you die, but you better behave, or else I¡¯ll kill this old man first," the leader of the men warned.


    The man signaled his subordinates with a look and two of them pinned Tan Zhenghong down, one on each side.


    The knife in the man¡¯s hand suddenly changed direction, slashing toward Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm.


    With the shiny knife coming down, Tan Zhenghong used his left hand with all his might, flinging the attacker away, and in the next instant, he twisted his body to pull the man on his right into the path of the blade.


    This series of movements was fluid; those who blinked would have no idea what had happened.


    Seeing the turn of events, the leader instantly reduced the force in his hand, but it was still a step too late.


    The knife struck his subordinate¡¯s arm, and although it didn¡¯t sever it, the white bone was visible and blood immediately gushed out.


    Blood sprayed onto Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face and body, making him appear somewhat ferocious.


    This version of Tan Zhenghong was one that Qiao Duo¡¯er had never seen before; gone was his usual gentleness, leaving only a chilling seriousness.


    "Mountain Pig!"


    "Mountain Pig, how are you?"


    Mountain Pig was rolling on the ground clutching his arm; how could he hear his companion¡¯s call? His arm was ruined!


    Angry, the leader said, "I¡¯m going to kill you!"


    The bandits had their own rules, the most important of which was not to harm one¡¯s comrades. With Mountain Pig slashed like that, the stronghold probably wouldn¡¯t be able to accommodate him anymore.


    He had fled to Xuan Eagle Mountain for manslaughter; without the protection of Xuan Eagle Mountain, he could only face beheading.


    Right then, the man was emotionally agitated, with only the thought of killing Tan Zhenghong first in his mind¡ªwhat better time than now to subdue him? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When it came to close combat, no one could outmatch Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly burst out, rewarding him with a Knife Hand.


    The man, just raising his knife, felt a numbness at the back of his neck, then darkness; he knew nothing else, not even who attacked him.


    Sun Erhu also leaped out, handing over the thick log he had just cut to Tan Zhenghong.


    The log was as thick as a baby¡¯s arm and about a meter long; with this weapon, the bandits¡¯ knives couldn¡¯t even reach their bodies.


    And their goal was clear; to knock these men unconscious.


    With the leader subdued and another nearly dead, the remaining henchmen¡¯s morale shattered; where was their fighting spirit?


    Therefore, the rest were easy to handle. The three of them all pulled out their trump cards.


    Soon, all twelve men were lying on the ground.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t feel relieved. She took the stick from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand and thrashed the leading man with it.


    Making him wear that flashy tiger-skin skirt!


    Putting a knife to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s neck!


    Wanting to chop off Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm!

 Chapter 238 - 240 Duo’er is very fierce_1

    Chapter 238: Chapter 240 Duo¡¯er is very fierce_1Qiao Duo¡¯er unleashed her fury, and that fellow could only endure the beating.


    The wooden stick struck the man over and over, leaving Sun Erhu and Tie Niu dumbfounded. Could the wife from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House have gone mad?


    If she hadn¡¯t gone crazy, then she was just too brutal.


    Indeed, brutal. Watching her beat the man was painful even for them.


    But what they felt even more was a sense of satisfaction. Wasn¡¯t this scoundrel arrogantly strutting around just a moment ago? How come he was now being beaten by a woman without being able to fight back?


    He¡¯s too weak!


    Looking at Tan Zhenghong, he didn¡¯t react at all, as if all that was happening was to be expected.


    With the crisis averted, Sun Erhu¡¯s brain sprang into action again.


    He hadn¡¯t believed Qiao Duo¡¯er when she said she could fight Tan Zhenghong to a draw, but now he saw it was true.


    Apart from the one whose arm was chopped, there were thirteen more. Qiao Duo¡¯er took care of six, and Tan Zhenghong handled five.


    So... he had only knocked out two. Cough cough, why did he feel like he was an extra?


    Could it be that behind closed doors, they did nothing else but practice fighting?


    My God, if that was the case, how pitiful would Brother Hong be?


    Sun Erhu looked sympathetically at Brother Hong, but Brother Hong seemed quite... happy?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was going all out as she beat the man, and after a few hits, there was a "snap"¡ªthe wooden stick broke.


    The quality of the stick was just too poor; otherwise, she was sure she could have gone on beating him forever!


    But after all the exertion, Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite tired, and with the stick broken, she decided to spare the bastard for now.


    She plopped down on the ground while Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu used the bandits¡¯ rope to tie up the men to trees.


    These people had committed no small number of vile deeds, and they still had to be delivered to the Government Office.


    After tying up the men, they found a small pool to clean themselves, and then they began talking about the screwed-up ordeal of the day.


    "Uncle Tie, how are you?" Tan Zhenghong asked, concerned.


    "I... I¡¯m alright."


    Tie Niu¡¯s lips were a bit pale; he had just been frightened.


    Tan Zhenghong said with guilt, "Nasir came for me, it was my fault for involving Uncle Tie."


    "What are you talking about? I am the Li Zheng; this is my duty."


    Tie Niu shook his head. He was not one to be ungrateful. Today, when things were so dangerous, Tan Zhenghong had insisted he leave first. How could he not remember such kindness?


    Sun Erhu said helplessly, "Let¡¯s not rush to be polite to each other for now. Let¡¯s think about how to deal with this issue first."


    Their involvement in beating the men could not be publicized, so how could they gloss over this affair? S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had to deliver the people to the Government Office, but they couldn¡¯t do it without an explanation, could they?


    Tie Niu was very serious; it indeed was a big problem.


    The Imperial forces had launched several campaigns to suppress the bandits, yet Xuan Eagle Mountain Village remained unscathed. This fact alone showed that Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was not simple at all.


    They were just a few ordinary villagers; how could they afford to offend Xuan Eagle Mountain Village? At least they couldn¡¯t afford it now.


    After thinking for a while, Tie Niu said, "Let¡¯s just say we were saved by two heroes. The heroes performed a great service without asking for anything in return and didn¡¯t leave their names. They only asked us to report to the authorities."


    Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu had no objections; it was the best plan.


    Only Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth twitched. Tan Zhenghong always felt she must have been a hero in her past life.


    Cough cough, this time she really did become a hero.


    With a plan in place, Sun Erhu quickly said, "You stay here and wait. I¡¯ll go to the Government Office to report the news and have them come over here quickly."


    He had been the most useless just now, so now he wanted to do something extra to make up for it.


    Before long, the Government Officials arrived.

 Chapter 239 - 241: A Way of My Own_1

    Chapter 239: Chapter 241: A Way of My Own_1"You¡¯ve worked hard," the arrest officer said courteously.


    Tie Niu quickly responded, "We don¡¯t dare take credit; all the merit goes to the two heroes. We just ran an errand."


    The government officials all looked skeptical. Where did all these heroes come from? And why were they conveniently waiting in the forest to rescue them?


    But it could also be that they just had dumb luck.


    As the village authority, Tie Niu might not be considered as significant as a green bean, but he was still a figure within the system, which made things much simpler with him involved.


    The government officials took them and the bandits to the Government Office, where the bandits were thrown into jail and they recounted the events. The Master took notes and then they just had to sign their testimonies.


    There was none of the courtroom drama that legends speak of; not even the presence of the magistrate, as today was an off-duty day.


    Tie Niu slapped his head in regret. How could he have forgotten about this?


    If he and Tan Zhenghong had come to the Government Office together tomorrow, maybe they would have avoided this distressing situation!


    The only consolation was that the Master was at the Government Office, so the matter of the house foundation could be settled there and then, saving them another trip tomorrow.


    Once the thirty taels of silver were handed over to the Government Office, his mind was at ease.


    On the way back, the land already belonged to Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Getting this land had not been easy, fraught with twists and turns, but fortunately, the end result was good. Otherwise, it would truly have driven people mad.


    "Brother Hong, the next time I see the Xiao Family, I¡¯ll be the first to beat them to death!" Sun Erhu said angrily.


    How could there be such enmity between people who were all neighbors?


    And it had always been the Xiao Family who acted unreasonably first, yet they had the audacity to get Xuan Eagle Mountain Village involved!


    The Xiao Family was definitely the most shameless household in Big Willow Village!


    Tie Niu snorted softly, "I have to have a serious talk with the Xiao Family about this."


    Speaking of the Xiao Family, he too was furious. It was bad enough that Biyu caused trouble when people were buying land, but now there was this mess. What on earth did the Xiao Family want?


    Did they not see him as the village chief anymore? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uncle Tie, we don¡¯t have any evidence. If you confront the Xiao Family, they won¡¯t admit to anything," Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him.


    They might even bite back, accusing them of slander.


    "So, what do we do? We can¡¯t just let this go!" Sun Erhu said, dissatisfied.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Brother Hong¡¯s good fortune, he might have lost an arm. Why should they get off scot-free?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a sly smile, "I have a way to deal with the Xiao Family, just wait and see!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er never took advantage of anyone, but she certainly wouldn¡¯t let herself be wronged either.


    "Sister-in-law, just tell us already!"


    Sun Erhu looked eagerly at Qiao Duo¡¯er, unable to wait to see the Xiao Family get what was coming to them from his sister-in-law.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully said, "Where¡¯s the fun in telling you now?"


    "Brother Hong, aren¡¯t you going to do something about Sister-in-law?"


    Sun Erhu voiced his discontent.


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose, "Who do you think is in charge between us?"


    "Brother Hong, you¡¯re too weak. You¡¯re a big man; how can you let a woman be in charge?" Sun Erhu said with a chuckle.


    Ha ha, he never thought he¡¯d see the day when Brother Hong would be like this!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "I¡¯ll mention this to Chao Lian later, that you don¡¯t like women being in charge."


    "Sister-in-law, you can¡¯t wrong me like this, I didn¡¯t mean that!"


    Sun Erhu quickly admitted defeat. As soon as Chao Lian was brought up, he instantly backed down, needing to maintain his perfect image.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "So, you agree to be bossed around by your wife-to-be, then?"

 Chapter 240 - 242 Show Affection, Torture the Single_1

    Chapter 240: Chapter 242 Show Affection, Torture the Single_1Sun Erhu clenched his teeth, knowing his eloquence was far inferior to Qiao Duo¡¯er, he boldly admitted it¡ªafter all, with his Brother Hong by his side, he wasn¡¯t alone.


    Since a maiden had married into his life to bear children and manage the household, he certainly couldn¡¯t treat her unfairly!


    Watching Tan Zhenghong tightly holding Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand along the way made him almost green with envy.


    He wanted to earn money, take a wife, and show off his love too!


    He wanted to be like his Brother Hong, merciless to enemies yet soft as boneless toward his own wife.


    On the way back, they ran into D¨¤l¨ªn leading six or seven people towards the town, each carrying tools like rakes and shovels in their hands. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong and the others were fine, they breathed a sigh of relief, chatted idly for a few moments, and then headed back.


    By returning earlier, there would be less worry for their families.


    Everyone found the matter very interesting, and Sun Erhu began to boast with a serious air.


    Unconsciously, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong ended up at the back of the crowd.


    "You look quite handsome when you¡¯re fighting," Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s manliness shone when he threw his opponents off, standing like an invincible general, commanding respect.


    Just thinking about it still caused her cheeks to flush and heart to race.


    Tan Zhenghong was anything but modest, "As long as you like it, wife. You truly are the hero, even more so than me."


    "I¡¯ll tell you one more time, I am a special agent, not a hero!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately corrected himself, yet he still felt ¡¯hero¡¯ suited Qiao Duo¡¯er better.


    The most important reason was that he couldn¡¯t quite grasp what a special agent did.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reached out and pinched Tan Zhenghong around his waist, "You¡¯re hopelessly clumsy!"


    "As long as my wife is smart, that¡¯s enough for me."


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but shout, "Brother Hong, Sister-in-law, could you please hurry up? Have that talk behind closed doors when you¡¯re home!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Sun Erhu, "You¡¯re the one in a rush to go find that... who."


    "Heh, Sister-in-law, my bad," Sun Erhu immediately switched to a different expression.


    Dealing with just one Chao Lian was enough for him, and it never failed.


    The others laughed along, and with conversations and laughter, they soon arrived at Big Willow Village.


    "Thanks for the help, brothers. If you don¡¯t mind, come to my home for a meal," Tan Zhenghong said to those who had lent a hand.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, however, had another idea in mind. These people knew the risks and still offered to help, so their kindness must be remembered.


    But now it was already midday, and nothing had been prepared in advance; how late would it be by the time the food was ready?


    She whispered something to Tan Zhenghong, who immediately nodded in agreement.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give them some meat to take home and share with their wives and children?


    "Zheng Hong, we didn¡¯t exert that much effort; we can¡¯t just take advantage of your kindness," D¨¤l¨ªn quickly demurred.


    "Don¡¯t be polite with my Brother Hong. If we hadn¡¯t met the hero today, we would¡¯ve relied on you guys for rescue. Also, next time you grab some meat, just make sure you run faster if there¡¯s trouble!" Sun Erhu chimed in.


    D¨¤l¨ªn immediately nodded, "Of course!"


    Fourth Brother Tan was generous, and they couldn¡¯t just take advantage of him, right?


    "Wait, don¡¯t come in yet!"


    Chao Lian stopped them at the door until Hu¡¯s Clan brought over the brazier, and then she let them cross over it.


    Crossing over the brazier symbolizes turning misfortune into fortune, repelling bad luck.


    "After crossing the brazier, evil spirits will stay far away," Chao Lian said happily, yet couldn¡¯t help wiping away a tear.

 Chapter 241 - 243 I’m Not Worried About You!_1

    Chapter 241: Chapter 243 I¡¯m Not Worried About You!_1She had been gone for more than half the day without any news, worrying herself sick, pitying that she couldn¡¯t be of any help, only able to fret at home.


    She really wanted to go and help like Qiao Duo¡¯er, but she knew that if she went, she would only cause more trouble.


    Sun Erhu became anxious and quickly said, "Haven¡¯t I returned? Look, I¡¯m fine!"


    "Annoying, it¡¯s not you I¡¯m worried about, I... I¡¯m worried about Brother Hong and his wife, afraid something might happen to them."


    Chao Lian stammered her explanation, feeling her face burn with embarrassment.


    Sun Erhu said aggrievedly, "Then I might as well go die again."


    Chao Lian kicked Sun Erhu in annoyance and then ran to the stove to fetch water.


    Although it was autumn now, the days were still hot, she had prepared the tea early, just waiting for them to return, thankfully they all had, and each was in good health.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, "What are you waiting for, don¡¯t you know to go help?"


    Sun Erhu touched his nose; so many people were watching, but it didn¡¯t matter, since Chao Lian had cried.


    It had to be said, Sun Erhu¡¯s ability to cheer someone up was no small feat, by the time Chao Lian brought over the tea, she was already smiling.


    A few people who were on good terms with them teased Sun Erhu a bit more.


    They only stopped teasing when Sun Erhu and Chao Lian hid away to the side.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s territory was only so large, with so many people squeezed together, it was claustrophobic, so after drinking a bowl of water, they took their meat and left.


    But Fourth Boss had bought an additional homestead, could good days be far off?


    In the future, with a house, land, Silver, and a beautiful and capable wife, his life would be considered fulfilled!


    They were just envious for a moment, but Tan Zhenghong deserved it, after all, he was the only one who could cherish Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was both simple and unattractive, in the palm of his hand.


    At lunch, the cursed voice of the Wang Clan came from outside, and the one being scolded was Tan Zhongzhong.


    All sorts of insulting words came pouring out, she seemed to have forgotten that she was Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s mother, and that the incident was not unconnected to her own teaching.


    So, what she really should be doing was self-reflection, not lashing out at others.


    Sun Erhu asked with schadenfreude, "What happened to that bastard Tan Zhongzhong?"


    The faces of the Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian were a bit off since the injury was in an awkward place; they didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Sun Erhu narrowed his eyes, secretly thinking, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t cripple him, did she?


    If that were the case, he would have to celebrate properly!


    Tan Zhenghong had a keen sense, immediately feeling that something was off.


    "Did something happen at home after I went to town?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly, "It¡¯s nothing, Tan Zhongzhong came over and acted like a hooligan, so I injured him."


    He probably couldn¡¯t use "that thing" for a year or two without proper rest.


    "I¡¯m going to kill him!"


    Tan Zhenghong immediately stood up, his fists clenched tight.


    The Hu¡¯s Clan quickly said, "Third Boss got his head smashed by his wife, and it doesn¡¯t look good, you better not attract bad luck."


    Tan Zhongzhong deserved to die, but if he died by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand, the Li Clan¡¯s people would surely not let it go.


    "Can¡¯t I handle Tan Zhongzhong? He¡¯s asking for trouble by provoking me, isn¡¯t he?" Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted her eyebrows, looking smug.


    Based on her performance today, was she someone who needed Tan Zhenghong to avenge her? sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s rage subsided somewhat, and he obediently sat down to continue eating.


    However, he had thoroughly come to hate Tan Zhongzhong. If Tan Zhongzhong provoked him again in the future, he wouldn¡¯t consider any brotherly feelings.

 Chapter 242 - 244: No Working Allowed_1

    Chapter 242: Chapter 244: No Working Allowed_1After a rest following the meal, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t wait to take Tan Zhenghong to the house foundation site.


    Many annoying things happened today, but standing on this piece of land that belonged to them made it all worth it.


    Thinking of this as their own little world, smiles spread across both of their faces.


    Tan Zhenghong shared his plan, "The busy farming season is just a few days away, and it¡¯s not easy to hire people right now. We¡¯ll have to wait until after the farming is done to start construction. But our family doesn¡¯t have much land, so I can start working on it first."


    "No rush, we still need to save up some silver," nodded Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "I¡¯m planning to use rammed earth for the house and add a ground dragon, so you won¡¯t be cold in winter. Think about if there¡¯s anything else you need."


    Understanding the ground dragon was easy; it worked wonders like the heated brick beds in the Northeast, relying on burning fire to raise the indoor temperature.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t know what rammed earth was.


    Finding something that Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t understand, Tan Zhenghong eagerly explained.


    Rammed earth is made by mixing lime, clay, and fine sand, making it sturdy and waterproof. In the rainy summers typical of the region where Big Willow Village is located, using rammed earth was essential.


    Especially for cellars. Without rammed earth, heavy rains could easily lead to leaks, endangering the grains stored there. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Let¡¯s draw up a design plan when we get back, and then we can start work following the blueprint."


    Tan Zhenghong had no objections. Whatever his wife wanted, he would find a way to obtain it.


    His wife chose to stay here all because of him, so why wouldn¡¯t he give her the best?


    Both being people of action, after a while of tender talk, they started to work.


    This place had never been inhabited, and the weeds were overgrown. Cleaning up the weeds alone would probably take days.


    It really isn¡¯t easy to move into a new house.


    As they pulled weeds and chatted, Qiao Duo¡¯er soon broke into a sweat, her face flushed with heat, which added a playful charm to her look.


    But Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t feel the same way; all he thought was his wife had been put to hard work.


    "Wife, you take a rest. I can handle these weeds by myself."


    Tan Zhenghong said with a pat on his chest. His wife was not well, how could he let her work in the fields?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "This is my home too, I should contribute. Besides, it¡¯s not heavy work, consider it physical exercise."


    "No, go rest!"


    Tan Zhenghong said in a commanding tone, leaving no room for discussion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted; she wasn¡¯t that weak!


    Now, Tan Zhenghong was fussing over her as if she was Lin Daiyu. Was that really necessary?


    Tan Zhenghong took the sickle from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, "You want to exercise, I¡¯ll teach you a set of boxing that can nourish your body."


    Now, with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion rosy and looking much healthier, it was a good time for her to learn boxing to strengthen her physique.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked resigned; she could be getting exercise through farm work, yet he insisted on her learning boxing. Wasn¡¯t this a bit superfluous?


    But with the sickle taken from her, she had no choice but to sit and watch.


    This man really is an all-capable husband; fit for the hall, adept in the kitchen, can fight bandits, and can farm. It seemed nothing could stump him.


    With such a man, there¡¯s peace of mind.


    When Tan Zhenghong felt Qiao Duo¡¯er had rested enough, he also began to pack up, ready to head home.


    He cleaned up the area designated for building the house quickly and efficiently.


    At this rate, they were sure to move into the new house this year!

 Chapter 243 - 245: Pooper Scooper_1

    Chapter 243: Chapter 245: Pooper Scooper_1After getting home, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought the freshly cut tender grass to the Mountain Muntjac.


    The Mountain Muntjac already recognized Qiao Duo¡¯er, and on seeing her with food, it made urgent cooing sounds, feeling very pleased.


    It had a good appetite and immediately started eating heartily when the leaves were placed in its trough.


    Mountain Muntjac is an omnivorous animal and isn¡¯t picky about things like leaves, tender grass, or fruit, but its favorites are bamboo rats and snakes, especially the more venomous the snake, the happier it eats.


    This creature sure has an exotic taste.


    Before long, the Mountain Muntjac had polished off the grass completely, wagging its short tail as if to thank Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Its endearing appearance made Qiao Duo¡¯er unable to resist giving it another handful of grass.


    "Wife, you can¡¯t feed it that much."


    Tan Zhenghong reminded her that the Mountain Muntjac had just been domesticated and didn¡¯t require so much food now that its activity level had reduced dramatically.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stuck out her tongue. Tan Zhenghong had told her several times not to overfeed it, and she didn¡¯t expect to get caught the one time she gave a little extra.


    "It seduced me with its cuteness," Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed at the Mountain Muntjac.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled, "Alright, I¡¯ll go teach this greedy fellow a lesson for tempting my wife into making a mistake."


    While talking, he stepped into the pigsty, claiming to scold the Mountain Muntjac, but in reality, he took on the task of shoveling poop.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a little embarrassed; after all, she was the one who had wanted to raise the Mountain Muntjac. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All she did was feed it, without considering that the muntjac had to defecate, let alone that someone had to clean the sty.


    So, the task of cleaning poop had always been Tan Zhenghong¡¯s responsibility.


    Um... Why did she feel like she was finding things for Tan Zhenghong to do?


    After Tan Zhenghong finished cleaning, seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er was still there, he said, "What are you doing standing there? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting smoked out?"


    "Then you¡¯re closer, it must be even smellier."


    A warm current flowed through Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t believe Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t bothered by the smell; he just didn¡¯t want her doing the dirty jobs, so he took care of them himself.


    Was he really not afraid of spoiling her?


    He wouldn¡¯t let her cut grass or shovel poop; as long as he was free, he wouldn¡¯t let her do any chores.


    After all, the wives in the countryside weren¡¯t like the pampered daughters of wealthy families; which one wasn¡¯t doing both household and outdoor chores?


    Tan Zhenghong said nonchalantly, "I¡¯m a man; I don¡¯t fear getting dirty."


    "What kind of logic is that? Hurry back, I¡¯ll draw water for you to wash your hands," Qiao Duo¡¯er chided.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and scampered after his wife to go back home.


    Having a wife was different; he even had someone to help him wash his hands!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t let Tan Zhenghong help with dinner, but she wouldn¡¯t admit that she was just being considerate of him. How embarrassing it would be to say it out loud.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up a piece of charcoal to whittle into a pencil, planning to draw a layout diagram.


    But she hadn¡¯t taken a nap in the afternoon and soon found herself yawning incessantly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still persevering as she wanted to finish it sooner.


    "Wife, we still have more than ten days before we start, take your time with the drawing, no rush,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head and tossed the wooden board and charcoal pencil aside, now too sleepy to even keep her eyes open; anything she drew would be useless.


    The place they were planning would be their little love nest; it had to be done with heart.


    Tan Zhenghong fetched a cloth, carefully wiping Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands clean, emptied the water, and then got into bed to cuddle with his fragrant and soft wife to sleep.


    Having his wife in his arms, even when doing nothing, felt blissful.


    Soon, the two of them were asleep in each other¡¯s embrace, both faces adorned with a faint smile.


    That night, their dreams were endless.

 Chapter 244 - 246 Hunger, Thirst_1

    Chapter 244: Chapter 246 Hunger, Thirst_1The next day, Tan Zhenghong was still ready to tidy up the homestead, but he got dragged up the mountain by Qiao Duo¡¯er instead, as the mountain muntjac hadn¡¯t had any meat for several days due to the recent busyness with the house.


    Tan Zhenghong first set up snares in the bamboo forest, and then he went up the mountain with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    While he hunted on the mountain, Qiao Duo¡¯er searched for medicinal herbs and picked mushrooms on the side.


    It was autumn now, and there were many mushrooms in the mountains, which, once picked and dried, could be eaten for a long time.


    Without modern greenhouse planting techniques and a less diverse variety of vegetables compared to future generations, there would be very few vegetables to eat in winter; that¡¯s when you really appreciate how delicious mushrooms are.


    The two of them worked on their own tasks yet occasionally kept an eye out to ensure the other was within sight.


    Occasionally, their gazes met, and a wave of indescribable emotion slowly began to grow.


    Before long, Tan Zhenghong had caught two wild pheasants, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s basket also contained half a basket of mushrooms, along with a significant discovery.


    "I found soap grass!"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, but his eyes lit up immediately¡ªit was one of the herbs they hadn¡¯t managed to buy at the herbal shop.


    Um... once he found Star-of-Bethlehem, he could love his wife without any reservations!


    Tan Zhenghong immediately ran over to where Qiao Duo¡¯er was, and on the ground was a plant that looked almost indistinguishable from the weeds around it.


    But in his eyes, it was even more beautiful than flowers! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wife, how do you dig this up?" Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart pounded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "However you like."


    Tan Zhenghong took the dagger from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, carefully dug around the dirt, then used his hands to clear the dirt around the roots, and a whole plant of soap grass was dug out.


    It was rare for a man to be so meticulous.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a mischievous smile, "That... didn¡¯t you notice that there¡¯s a cluster of it over there?"


    Soap grass wasn¡¯t rare at all; it grew in clumps in the primeval forest.


    Its primary use was to act as a spermicide, and now that everyone was trying hard to have children, there was no need for it, so it was normal that the herbal shop didn¡¯t stock it.


    Tan Zhenghong followed the direction Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed and indeed saw a large cluster of grass that looked just like the one he was holding.


    Woof... he suddenly felt like an idiot for treating this herb as if it were a treasure.


    "I was just too happy," Tan Zhenghong explained weakly.


    At that moment, all he could think about was that his wife found the soap grass; how could he have the energy to notice anything else?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to say that she hadn¡¯t noticed the cluster next to them either.


    Could it be interpreted that she, like Tan Zhenghong, was also looking forward to their wedding night?


    "Dig some more, it will still be effective when dried and stored," said Qiao Duo¡¯er somewhat unnaturally, feeling like she was indeed a lascivious woman!


    The normal thing to do would be not to tell Tan Zhenghong that it was soap grass, so she could keep delaying their consummation.


    But not only did she tell him, but she also asked him to dig some more, to keep for future use.


    Was she scared that they wouldn¡¯t be able to be intimate if they ran out of the herb later?


    Cough cough, she had been led astray by Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just wanted to sew her mouth shut now!


    Tan Zhenghong, unaware of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, swiftly dug up a small handful of soap grass and then asked, "Wife, is this enough?"


    "It¡¯s enough for you to eat for two years," Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes.


    Who needs so much? Her plan was to stop taking the herb after a year and have a little Bun.


    But Tan Zhenghong had no such thoughts and muttered, "That¡¯s good, we can come back to dig more next year."

 Chapter 245 - 247 Good Luck All The Way_1

    Chapter 245: Chapter 247 Good Luck All The Way_1This sentence made Qiao Duo¡¯er purse her lips, certain that the man had set his heart on not having children, but the initiative wasn¡¯t in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands.


    If she felt it was worth it, she would have a child, but that was a matter for after she had regained her health, so she shelved the thought for now.


    The day¡¯s good fortune didn¡¯t end with just the soap grass; before long, Tan Zhenghong also made a discovery.


    "Wife, look, there¡¯s tremella here!" Tan Zhenghong said excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then let¡¯s pick it together and take it back."


    The tremella that Tan Zhenghong was talking about was what would be called silver ear fungus in later generations, but Qiao Duo never understood why Tan Zhenghong was so excited.


    Silver ear fungus was just a common ingredient, most famously used in silver ear and lotus seed soup.


    "This is good stuff, these could sell for at least ten tales!"


    Tan Zhenghong also thought his wife¡¯s calmness was unusual.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was incredulous, she reached out to touch Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head, "You don¡¯t have a fever!"


    Could two or three pieces of silver ear sell for ten taels of silver?


    She admitted that the silver ear looked like white jade and was the size of a bowl, but no matter how good it looked, wasn¡¯t it still just silver ear? How could it be worth ten taels of silver?


    "Wife, my brain isn¡¯t damaged, it really can sell for ten tales. Tremella is rare, it¡¯s something that only wealthy families eat," Tan Zhenghong insisted seriously.


    Old Granny Bai, the richest person in town, loved this stuff and wished she could eat it every day.


    But tremella was scarce, so even the Bai Family couldn¡¯t afford to eat it daily.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er realized that the silver ear of her time was cultivated.


    The growth conditions for wild silver ear were harsh, and without artificially created comfortable environments, their number was definitely very limited.


    No wonder she had wandered the mountains for so long and only encountered silver ear twice; she had found two mountain ginsengs already.


    The last time she saw it, it was only the size of a fingernail, and now more than a month had passed; she didn¡¯t know whether the silver ear had grown larger or died.


    In any case, they had to go have a look.


    By then, Tan Zhenghong had already used his dagger to carefully cut down the silver ear, and the large piece looked very pleasing.


    "Wife, keep this safe," Tan Zhenghong handed the silver ear to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "I saw some in another place, let¡¯s go check it out!"


    Without finishing her sentence, Qiao Duo¡¯er headed toward the place she remembered.


    The mountain was vast, and it was several peaks connected together. After wandering through several twists and turns, Qiao Duo¡¯er still accurately found the spot.


    Fortunately, the silver ear had grown well, with five or six pieces flourishing on two rotting logs.


    It was lucky that her memory was good, as was her sense of direction, otherwise, she would have lost a lot of silver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong exchanged a glance and then quickly cut down the silver ear.


    Although the silver ear was scarce, the ones they found were large, and there were a couple they couldn¡¯t fit into the basket. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she was reluctant to get rid of the mushrooms in her own basket, as they had also been picked with effort.


    "It¡¯s all your fault for getting me such a small one, or else we could toss the soap grass, then we could fit another!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said while holding the soap grass, a mischievous smile on her face.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head; they couldn¡¯t throw away the soap grass!


    Plus, didn¡¯t he have another basket left?


    They would throw away nothing!


    Tan Zhenghong took out the pheasant, "I¡¯ll carry this. You put the mushrooms into my basket, and then there¡¯ll be space for the tremella."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, transferred the picked mushrooms into his basket, and her own basket now only contained silver ear and a bit of medicinal herbs.


    Tan Zhenghong covered them with some leaves, knowing the principle of not showing off wealth.


    Most of the people in the village were nice, but where there were people, there was society, and one had to be careful with everything.

 Chapter 246 - 248: To Erhu Yo_1

    Chapter 246: Chapter 248: To Erhu Yo_1Snow fungus is difficult to preserve; if not dealt with in time, it will discolor and rot, so after picking the snow fungus, they walked back home.


    Tan Zhenghong also conveniently cut some leaves that the mountain muntjac loves to eat.


    They arrived home just in time to meet Uncle Huang delivering cotton blankets.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly washed his hands, and together with Uncle Huang, they carried the cotton into the house.


    "The landlady really fancies the cured meat you sent, so she specially sent over a small roll of cotton, and she bought cloth as well, it¡¯s wrapped in that blue-and-white fabric," Uncle Huang explained.


    After seeing Uncle Huang out, Tan Zhenghong thanked him again and handed over a thank-you gift.


    Actually, it was giving away what they had received as a gift, passing on the leftover cotton the landlady had given directly to Uncle Huang.


    Uncle Huang reluctantly accepted the cotton after being unable to refuse it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help thinking how good it would be if her family had such an elder.


    The ideal is rich, but the reality is lean; at this moment, Wang Clan was frying medicine and cursing at the same time, and her words made everyone feel uncomfortable all over.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart was bitter; Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s family and the main room all depended on her for food, and on top of that, she had to fry medicine, wash diapers, and more¡ªshe never had a moment¡¯s rest from morning till night.


    However busy she was, no one lent a helping hand, no one at all.


    "Eldest, come help me with the medicine," Wang Clan stood up and rubbed her sore back.


    She hadn¡¯t done any chores for so many years, and now suddenly having to manage so many, she couldn¡¯t take it any longer.


    "Are you calling for Widow Xu?" Qiao Duo innocently responded.


    Wang Clan gritted her teeth; mentioning this shameful family matter, she could only shut up. Alright then, she would brew the medicine herself!


    But the more she thought about it, the more disgruntled she became; she had given birth to so many sons, each and every one of them got a wife, so why did she have to do the chores herself?


    Qiao Duo silently said to herself that it was deserved, then she and Tan Zhenghong went to Sun Erhu¡¯s yard to wash the snow fungus.


    "We really need to get our own yard soon, otherwise I¡¯m always worried about people stealing," Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but remark.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯ll finish our new house as soon as I can; living there will be more comfortable."


    This was true; so many people living together was bound to create problems, especially with his family members...


    In short, every additional day they lived there was another day of discomfort for his wife.


    Before long, the snow fungus was all washed clean; then, spreading it out on a sieve to dry would do the trick.


    By the time they had finished sorting this out, it was already lunchtime. After lunch, Qiao Duo called Chao Lian to a halt.


    "Chao Lian, can you take some time this afternoon to help me with some needlework?"


    Chao Lian nodded without hesitation, but when she saw it was a man¡¯s fabric, she quickly shook her head.


    "Sister-in-law, you¡¯re good at needlework too, much better than me. You should make clothes for Brother Hong yourself," Chao Lian was very tactful.


    Tan Zhenghong would definitely like wearing clothes made by his wife. What would it mean for her to make clothes for him?


    Qiao Duo laughed softly, "This isn¡¯t for Zheng Hong, it¡¯s for Erhu."


    Erhu only had two pieces of clothing to alternate, and yesterday, after tearing his clothes to cover his face, he definitely didn¡¯t have enough clothes to wear now.


    So Qiao Duo had Uncle Huang buy some fabric, planning to make a new set of clothes for Sun Erhu.


    "I... I..." Chao Lian hemmed and hawed for quite a while, and she didn¡¯t say whether she agreed or disagreed.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was unwilling, she was just shy.


    Qiao Duo stuffed the fabric into Chao Lian¡¯s arms, "Erhu may be a bit childish, but he¡¯s a good man. You should hold on to him, so you don¡¯t regret it later."


    Chao Lian nodded, her mind already busy planning what kind of clothes to make for Sun Erhu.


    And... Erhu would definitely be very happy wearing clothes she made. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 247 - 249 Flicking Tail to the Sky_Part 1

    Chapter 247: Chapter 249 Flicking Tail to the Sky_Part 1In the afternoon, Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu went to tidy up the homestead, discussing to first get the cellar in order.


    Farm households depend on the heavens for their sustenance, and when the harvest is poor, they rely on the grain stored in the cellar to survive, so the cellar is very important.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to help, but Tan Zhenghong refused her with a sentence, "This isn¡¯t women¡¯s work."


    In the following days, Qiao Duo¡¯er went up the mountain to pick mushrooms in the mornings, and in the afternoons, she sewed clothes at home together with Chao Lian. She hoped to find more white fungus, but she didn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of a shadow on the vast mountain.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er understood: rarity is the precursor to treasured value.


    So, she didn¡¯t just focus on white fungus; finding it last time was a matter of good luck, but how could such good fortune happen every day?


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chao Lian had started making new clothes, Hu¡¯s Clan also pulled out some fabric, preparing to make new clothes for Da Ya and Er Ya.


    Her sewing wasn¡¯t very good, so she could take the opportunity to learn some skills from Chao Lian and Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The three of them got together for sewing, and time passed quite quickly.


    Chao Lian was used to these tasks, and by the third day, she had finished Sun Erhu¡¯s clothes.


    "Once it¡¯s done, take it to Erhu quickly; he¡¯ll definitely be happy for several days," Qiao Duo¡¯er wickedly said, her eyes full of teasing.


    Now that Chao Lian and Sun Erhu met often, even going to set up a stall in town together, their relationship was developing rapidly.


    It was estimated that it wouldn¡¯t be long before good news arrived.


    Chao Lian said with a blushing face, "Sister-in-law, you¡¯re too mean, making fun of me."


    "How is this making fun? We¡¯re all hoping for the best for you two," Hu¡¯s Clan said with a smile.


    She had always treated Chao Lian and Qiao Duo¡¯er like her own sisters, and seeing them happy made her happy too.


    In truth, she envied the harmonious relationships she saw in others but just envied them. Now her heart was entirely focused on her two girls.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er firmly agreed: "Erhu has no clothes to wear; you should hurry and take them to him, otherwise, if he ends up running around naked one day, you¡¯ll be too late to regret it."


    "What bad things are you two saying about me?"


    Sun Erhu poked his head in and asked; he had to go to town that evening, so he returned home earlier in the afternoon.


    He had just heard his name, so he came to join in the fun.


    "Chao Lian has made you a new set of clothes, you should take them and try them on," Qiao Duo¡¯er said matter-of-factly, making Chao Lian instantly blush.


    Sun Erhu swaggered in, his smile more radiant than flowers, "Thank you, Chao Lian."


    "The fabric was bought by the sister-in-law, I just sewed it; you should thank the sister-in-law," Chao Lian said, her head lowered.


    Sun Erhu amiably replied, "Thank you, sister-in-law."


    However, he kept looking at Chao Lian while speaking, his intense gaze as if he wanted to devour her in one gulp.


    "I just bought the fabric, there¡¯s no need for thanks. It was Chao Lian who put a lot of effort into your clothes. You better try them on quickly, don¡¯t fail to appreciate the girl¡¯s kindness," Qiao Duo¡¯er joked.


    Sun Erhu handled the clothes carefully: "I¡¯ll wear them after I take a bath."


    He was dirty at the moment; how could he bear to wear new clothes?


    And most importantly, this was the first set of new clothes Chao Lian had made for him!


    After a while, Sun Erhu appeared, looking smug.


    Seeing his demeanor, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly thought of a saying¡ªthat if you gave him a tail, he would surely wag it to the sky.


    "Chao Lian, you¡¯re amazing. You know my size so well!" Sun Erhu complimented. But why did it feel like his words were flirtatious?


    Chao Lian meekly explained, "I...I don¡¯t know your size; I just took one of your old clothes to compare."


    sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 248 - 250 Rotten Peach Blossoms_1

    Chapter 248: Chapter 250 Rotten Peach Blossoms_1Sun Erhu chuckled twice, dumbly. He had just casually made that comment, not actually claiming Chao Lian knew the size of his "ding ding."


    Cough cough, he really was innocent!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Hu¡¯s Clan pursed their lips, chuckling secretly. They couldn¡¯t figure out whether Sun Erhu was genuinely simple-minded or not.


    Just because of what he said just now, they had reason to suspect that Sun Erhu was pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu hurriedly explained, "I mean the clothes fit very well, I really like them."


    "We all understand, it¡¯s only natural, don¡¯t be embarrassed," Qiao Duo¡¯er giggled as she teased because she liked him.


    Once upon a time, Tan Zhenghong even went too far, saying the third leg is yours too.


    Chao Lian stamped her foot, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.


    Sun Erhu touched his nose; he was not good with words and didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Thankfully, Qiao Duo¡¯er made a few jokes and decided to let them off the hook, "I¡¯ll go prepare some food, you guys eat up before heading to town."


    "I¡¯ll go," Chao Lian quickly said.


    Having Sun Erhu around made her feel utterly uncomfortable; she just wanted to get away and take a breather.


    "No need, you two rest a while," Qiao Duo¡¯er refused.


    The afternoon tea was very simple, just adding an egg to the big bone broth cooked at noon, then putting in some greens and noodles, and that was that.


    The noodles had been rolled out earlier, cut and dried to make homemade dried noodles, which could last ten days to half a month without any issue, ready to eat whenever, very convenient.


    So the noodles were ready in no time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made five bowls in total, one for each of the adults including Sun Erhu, one for Da Ya and Er Ya, and one more she packed in a basket to bring to Tan Zhenghong.


    That man worked as if his life depended on it, completely forgetting to take breaks.


    In just a few days, he got darker and thinner, and though he became more manly, Qiao Duo¡¯er was not pleased at all.


    She had managed to fatten Tan Zhenghong up with great effort, and now he¡¯d gone and lost it all in just a blink of an eye.


    However, this noodle delivery was not harmonious.


    From a distance, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Tan Zhenghong standing with a woman, whom she recognized as Xiao Biyu right away.


    A chill flashed across her eyes, and her steps quickened.


    Dammit, last time Xiao Biyu almost cost Tan Zhenghong an arm, and now she had the audacity to pester him again!


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er approached, she realized what was happening. Xiao Biyu must have purposely waited for Sun Erhu to leave before coming.


    She even brought food to curry favor, and her bright red food box looked much nicer than Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bamboo basket.


    But what does it matter how nice it looks? Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t even spare it a glance.


    "Brother Hong, I heard you encountered mountain bandits, are you alright?" Xiao Biyu said with concern.


    "He ran into mountain bandits all thanks to you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s previously gloomy expression lightened as he smiled and wrapped an arm around Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Wife, didn¡¯t I tell you to rest at home? Why have you come out?"


    "I did some calculations and foresaw you¡¯ve got a rotten peach blossom, so I rushed over to rescue you," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Xiao Biyu immediately retorted, "You¡¯re the rotten peach blossom. You don¡¯t care about Brother Hong at all. What right do you have to be his wife?"


    Why should Tan Zhenghong have to work out here by himself in this scorching heat?


    "Husband, have I not treated you well?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a coquettish look, along with that word "husband," making all his bones go soft.


    "Wife treats me the best," Tan Zhenghong responded without hesitation.


    With pride, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Did you hear that?"

 Chapter 249 - 251 The Young Lady is Not Bright_1

    Chapter 249: Chapter 251 The Young Lady is Not Bright_1Xiao Biyu saw the flirtatious glances exchanged between the two and felt incredibly aggrieved, but what could she say?


    Should she just lift Qiao Duo¡¯er aside and fling herself into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms?


    "If you keep pining for my man, I will go door-to-door and let everyone see just how shameless you are. Also, keep an eye on Xiao Lingchuan. Last time, he paid mountain bandits to kill Zhenghong; I have evidence in my hands. Be careful, or I¡¯ll take it to the Government Office, and your whole family will suffer!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously.


    She used to think Xiao Biyu was just a little girl obsessed with someone she couldn¡¯t have, and a slight warning would suffice. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now that Xiao Biyu posed a threat to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s life, there was no need for Qiao Duo¡¯er to be polite anymore.


    "Impossible, my second brother may know some mountain bandits, but he would never let them harm Brother Hong!"


    Xiao Biyu shook her head vehemently; her second brother had clearly promised to grant her wishes!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, wondering if there was something wrong with Xiao Biyu¡¯s mind. Her points of concern were rather bizarre.


    She suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for the Xiao Family people; they probably hadn¡¯t had it easy with Xiao Biyu causing trouble all these years.


    Then, a thought suddenly struck Xiao Biyu: a few days ago, her second brother mentioned losing Two Taels of Silver, which her mother and second sister-in-law had nagged about for days.


    Could it be that her second brother had paid off the mountain bandits?


    "Actually, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t believe it. The Government Office is currently interrogating the mountain bandits; it won¡¯t be long before we know who was behind it," Qiao Duo kindly reminded her.


    Xiao Biyu, her suspicion confirmed by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s earnest manner, bit her lip and immediately set off for home.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about Xiao Lingchuan being thrown into jail; she was angry about being deceived.


    Isn¡¯t it said that the girl¡¯s mind isn¡¯t quite right?


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but remark, "The Xiao Family is in for some trouble."


    "It¡¯s their own doing," Qiao Duo said with a slight sense of schadenfreude.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was being unkind; it was just that the girl raised by the Xiao Family was far too exceptional. Now that a daughter of the Xiao Family had come of age, it was time for them to taste their own medicine.


    "Wife, do you think the mountain bandits will really implicate the Xiao Family?" Tan Zhenghong asked expectantly, looking at Qiao Duo.


    If that were the case, the Xiao Family would definitely not be able to jump around anymore.


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "I was just scaring them. Those are just underlings. They probably just follow orders from above and wouldn¡¯t have access to any secrets."


    Otherwise, revealing their clients so easily would ruin their business. But since the Xiao Family is guilty, with my words, they will surely be in a state of panic and immediately offer a hefty bribe to the Government Office to handle it.


    Having smoothed things over with the Government Office, the Xiao Family will still fear her and won¡¯t let Xiao Biyu cause trouble.


    But Xiao Biyu has a rebellious nature; the more they try to suppress her, the more lively the Xiao Family will become, and when they start creating chaos, everyone else will live in peace.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs up, "Wife, you are truly smart!"


    Qiao Duo cracked a slight smile, then leisurely caught hold of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear.


    "You seemed pretty comfortable working there, even had a beauty delivering you food," Qiao Duo said, displeased.


    Tan Zhenghong got the hint; his wife was jealous. But truly, he hadn¡¯t given Xiao Biyu a second glance because not even a dozen Xiao Biyus could compare to one finger of his wife.


    He quickly replied, "The beautiful woman who brings food is my wife. What delicious food do you have for me today?"


    Qiao Duo gave his ear another hard tug before finally letting go, satisfied, and at the same time, handed over the bamboo basket.


    Noodles fresh out of the pot need to be eaten quickly, or they¡¯ll go bad.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but sniff, "It smells amazing!"

 Chapter 250 - 252 Can You Help Me Take a Bath_1

    Chapter 250: Chapter 252 Can You Help Me Take a Bath_1Tan Zhenghong found a stone and sat down with Qiao Duo¡¯er, then eagerly picked up the chopsticks to start eating.


    He had just lifted a few noodles but then put them down, "Wife, have you eaten?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I didn¡¯t move around at home this afternoon, not hungry at all."


    "You should eat a little bit. After you finish, then I¡¯ll eat," Tan Zhenghong passed the chopsticks to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    His wife was somewhat of a clean freak¡ªshe definitely wouldn¡¯t eat anything others had touched, but he didn¡¯t mind; eating what she left was fine for him. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Husband, I want to be fed," Qiao Duo¡¯er said coyly.


    "Wife, are you okay?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a weird expression; this didn¡¯t sound like something his wife would say.


    Could it be that there was another person inside his wife now?


    Please don¡¯t let it be so; he loved what was inside her. If the person inside changed, she wouldn¡¯t be his wife anymore.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt sad. She had just whimsically tried to act cute and coquettish; was it really that startling?


    Or did Tan Zhenghong just have a masochistic streak, enjoying being treated roughly?


    Seeing his wife glaring, Tan Zhenghong reassured himself and then picked up some noodles to her lips. Qiao Duo¡¯er cooperated and swallowed them.


    The bone soup was fragrant and perfect for noodles, plus the greens help cut through the grease, and while eating, she actually started to feel a bit hungry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ate satisfied, and Tan Zhenghong watched happily.


    "You eat too," Qiao Duo¡¯er said softly, feeling embarrassed having him watch her eat all the time.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly agreed; did this mean his wife didn¡¯t dislike him anymore?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently remarked they had kissed so many times already, sometimes even a French kiss¡ªif she still found him disgusting, that would be quite pretentious!


    Soon, the two of them finished a bowl of noodles together; hmm... the noodles were indeed delicious today.


    Afterward, Tan Zhenghong went back to digging the cellar, and Qiao Duo¡¯er went to have a look too.


    "Isn¡¯t this too big?" Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help asking.


    Tan Zhenghong explained, "Let¡¯s stock up on more grain. When the new crop comes in, we can sell the old grain. Sure, we might lose a bit of money, but no matter the harvest, we won¡¯t go hungry."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, not asking further. Tan Zhenghong knew much more about this than she did; what he said couldn¡¯t be wrong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er started pulling weeds next to the cellar, realizing only now that the homestead they¡¯d bought was too large; it would definitely take a long time to tidy up.


    But who would complain when it¡¯s their own home? She was happy to do it!


    When the sun dipped below the horizon, the couple walked back side by side on the ground glowing with golden light.


    Today, Sun Erhu and his crew returned early because the chef at one household had encountered a problem, and all the braised meat on sale in town had been sold out before they even got there.


    So they had the rare opportunity to eat dinner early.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er heated water for a bath, letting Tan Zhenghong shower first, perhaps influenced by Qiao Duo¡¯er; Tan Zhenghong had become a bit haughty.


    "Wife, could you help me scrub my back? My hands are injured."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled back the curtain and went in, seeing that both of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s palms had several blisters.


    "Does it hurt?" Seeing Tan Zhenghong nod, Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded, "You deserve the pain! I told you not to be too hard on yourself. Didn¡¯t you listen at all?"


    Tan Zhenghong admitted his fault like a good child, "I promise I¡¯ll listen to my wife from now on, so... could you help me with the bath today..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong but still bent down to wash him.

 Chapter 251 - 253 Integrity Shattered_1

    Chapter 251: Chapter 253 Integrity Shattered_1Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly finished washing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back, and when she got around to wiping his chest, she realized that a certain part had already risen.


    It¡¯s just a bath, how can it... It¡¯s totally shameless!


    Tan Zhenghong was a bit embarrassed but still fearlessly said, "Wife, it¡¯s greeting you, says it missed you a lot."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er twisted Beans a bit with her hand; this guy was getting more and more fluent in his lewd talk.


    This area was also one of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s sensitive zones, and he let out a muffled grunt when attacked.


    That sound... was almost like a woman moaning in bed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said, "Tan Zhenghong, you bastard, you have no shame!"


    "Wife, I want you," Tan Zhenghong said ingratiatingly.


    That... it¡¯s a normal reaction, right? It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t want to control it, but he really couldn¡¯t.


    If his wife¡¯s little hand moved around on him and he had no reaction, then surely his dick must be broken.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er through gritted teeth said, "I don¡¯t mind knocking you out first then washing you."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately became well-behaved; he vividly remembered what happened last time and didn¡¯t want to experience it again at all.


    But that certain part was still eagerly stirring as if to show off its prowess to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "The top is all cleaned; wash the bottom part yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she threw the loofah back into the bathing tub, deciding to let Tan Zhenghong fend for himself.


    She was afraid if she kept looking, she would get a stye the next day.


    Tan Zhenghong said pitifully, "Wife, I can¡¯t touch hot water with my hands. It feels like agony."


    Seeing him in that pitiable state, how could Qiao Duo¡¯er harden her heart?


    She said fiercely, "Then stand up, control your brother, or else I¡¯ll cut it off!"


    Since the wife had spoken, how could Tan Zhenghong not agree?


    Once he stood up, his face turned so red it looked like it could bleed, for little brother was now directly exposed to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s view.


    Wuuu... how embarrassing, just a moment ago there was water to hide behind, but now there was only air.


    Now, he had completely wilted, hanging down limply.


    This was not at all how Tan Zhenghong had imagined it; he thought standing up would allow him to tease his wife with impunity, but in reality, he seemed to be the one being teased...


    "To think you¡¯d act like a hooligan with that little stamina!" Qiao Duo¡¯er muttered, which was a classic case of empty braggadocio.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips; standing there naked, he had no presence to speak of, so he simply chose to keep quiet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er steeled her heart and took the loofah soaked with soap powder to scrub him down. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The water in the tub reached their knees. Tan Zhenghong cooperated by lifting his legs so that after scrubbing with the loofah, the soap powder had to be washed away with a cloth.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt something touch her face.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly covered that certain part: "Wife, I... I didn¡¯t do it on purpose."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er realized what it was and almost crushed her silver teeth, goddammit, can¡¯t you have a bit of decency!


    Tan Zhenghong said nervously, "Wife, if you cut me, there goes your sexual bliss."


    Seeing his wife¡¯s look of someone who wanted to devour someone, he was genuinely a little bit scared.


    "I¡¯m done, dry yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said angrily.


    She really wanted to castrate Tan Zhenghong and send him to the palace, but... considering he was her own man, she decided to forgive him this time.


    "Wife, that part hasn¡¯t been washed yet."


    That certain part shook itself twice as if to make its presence known.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong: "If your hand hurts, then wash with your pinky raised!"

 Chapter 252 - 253-254 I’ll Wait for You!_1

    Chapter 252: Chapter 253-254 I¡¯ll Wait for You!_1"I¡¯ve washed the top, now you wash the bottom yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er tossed the loofah into the bathtub, deciding to let Tan Zhenghong fend for himself.


    She feared if she continued to look, she might get a sty by tomorrow.


    Tan Zhenghong said pitifully, "Wifey, I can¡¯t touch hot water; it hurts like death if I do."


    Seeing him like a sad puppy, how could Qiao Duo¡¯er have the heart to be harsh?


    Wuwu...So embarrassing. There was water to block the view before, but now there was only air.


    At this point, he completely deflated.


    In Tan Zhenghong¡¯s imagination, it was not supposed to be like this. He thought once he stood up, he would be able to tease his wife without restraint, but in reality, he was more like the one being teased...


    "Some hooligan you are with that little ability!" muttered Qiao Duo¡¯er, a typical case of "all bark and no bite."


    With lips pursed, Tan Zhenghong stood there completely bare, lacking any imposing presence, so he simply chose not to speak.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er steeled her heart and picked up the loofah again, now with soap powder, to scrub him down.


    With water in the bathtub reaching the knees, Tan Zhenghong cooperated by lifting his legs, using the loofah to scrub off the soap powder, and then a cloth to wash away any residue.


    Seeing his wife¡¯s look as if she could eat someone alive, he felt a tiny, tiny bit of fear.


    "There, I¡¯m finished. Dry yourself off," Qiao Duo¡¯er said annoyed.


    Tan Zhenghong knew he had made a grave mistake. Despite his hand hurting, he still refilled the bathtub with fresh water so his wife could bathe after washing her face.


    Alright, he admitted that although his hand had blisters, the pain was still bearable. He was just a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing a moment ago.


    He just wanted to tease his wife, not expecting to end up teasing himself as well.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er washed her face several times.


    Glancing over to Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s room out of the corner of her eye, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt disdain as she heard a quarrel coming from inside.


    Listening for a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er understood that the Wang Clan had accidentally scratched the child while holding him, causing Tan Zhongzhong and the Li Clan to be unable to bear the heartache. The Wang Clan, after being scolded, threw her hands up in protest.


    The Wang Clan cursed a few words and stormed out, giving Qiao Duo¡¯er a fierce glare when she saw her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips dismissively, too lazy to bother with the Wang Clan, and simply wiped her face dry before heading inside.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong only reminded her of the incident that she¡¯d rather forget, so she immediately ducked behind the curtain. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After bathing, Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up a Silver Needle and walked over to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong sprang up from bed in a hurry, "Wifey, I really do see the error of my ways¡ªI won¡¯t dare do it again next time!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Give me your hand."


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed nervously, hesitating before eventually stretching out his hand.


    Would his wife give him a prick that could cripple him forever?


    He silently prayed, hoping his wife wouldn¡¯t be so cruel.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand, gently pierced the blisters on top, and let the blood out.


    With every prick, Qiao Duo¡¯er would press down hard, undoubtedly a bittersweet sensation.


    But she wasn¡¯t just out for revenge, she was also aiming to drain the bruised blood so it wouldn¡¯t linger and cause agonizing pain with every touch.


    "Wifey, you¡¯re too harsh," Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with pride, "Knowing it now is still on time; if you bother me again, I¡¯ll finish you!"


    Tan Zhenghong kept silent while pondering that if there was a next time, he would still do the same.


    Since needles were in use, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to give herself an acupuncture treatment to prevent spots from forming.


    As for Tan Zhenghong, he was brooding on the side, his hand too painful to touch anything.


    He could only watch helplessly as his wife buttoned her clothes.


    "Keep fantasizing like that, and your hand will never heal," Qiao Duo¡¯er said schadenfreudently.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, "Wait till my hand is healed, you won¡¯t be able to run away then."


    "I¡¯ll wait for you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er quirked an eyebrow, not minding at all to do something with Tan Zhenghong as long as he didn¡¯t have so many reservations.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a pang of internal injury; how he wished he could shout out and ask what was Star-of-Bethlehem and where on earth it grew!


    Before finding Star-of-Bethlehem, he could only satisfy his cravings with a kiss or a touch. Who could be more wretched than he was?


    Moreover, this wretchedness was self-inflicted, since he wanted to take good care of his wife.

 Chapter 253 - 255: A Little Perk_1

    Chapter 253: Chapter 255: A Little Perk_1Tan Zhenghong had not finished feeling gloomy when a certain part of him was caught by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Just as he was about to speak, his lips were again sealed by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    At this, his rationality completely collapsed, and all his senses concentrated on the two spots Qiao Duo¡¯er tenderly touched.


    The temperature in the room gradually rose, the air thick with ambiguity.


    Tan Zhenghong felt like he was going insane, driven mad by Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was putting in great effort; this guy considered her in every way, pampering her by placing her at the top of his heart. How could she bear to see him suffer like this?


    This was a little benefit for him, and she would also try hard to find Star-of-Bethlehem so they could be happy together.


    Once everything returned to calm, Tan Zhenghong smiled like a fox, heh heh, he knew his wife treated him the best.


    And Qiao Duo¡¯er buried her face in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest and pretended to sleep silently; she had really gone too far today...


    It seemed that even Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips were bitten through¡ªhow was he to face people tomorrow?


    Carrying such worries, Qiao Duo¡¯er fell asleep.


    Fortunately, the next morning Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips were just slightly swollen and it did not seem like last night¡¯s events were detectable, which finally put Qiao Duo¡¯er at ease.


    During breakfast, Tan Zhenghong ate exceptionally slowly because even a slight heat caused his lips to hurt.


    Tan Zhenghong simply put down his bowl, choosing to wait for the porridge to cool before eating.


    "Wife," he said, "your technique isn¡¯t great either!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a dark face, "Then you do it yourself next time!"


    "What I mean is I can practice with you a couple more times in the future," Tan Zhenghong cheekily replied.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless, disgusted with the topic being discussed so early in the morning, fearing it might weaken his kidneys.


    Tan Zhenghong let out a soft chuckle¡ªhow could he not love such an adorable wife?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly finished eating and grabbed her bamboo basket, ready to head up the mountain.


    Tan Zhenghong gulped down the porridge in a few moments; with his hand injured, he could only accompany his wife to pick mushrooms on the mountain.


    To prevent infection in his wounded hand, Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered him to stay at home.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll wrap it with gauze. It definitely won¡¯t touch the wound," he assured.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s repeated assurances finally convinced Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    They worked quickly, and in just a few days, they had picked hundreds of pounds of mushrooms which they sorted and laid out to dry at the entrance.


    Meanwhile, the Xiao Family was in turmoil almost every day, and the villagers took great delight in the family¡¯s notorious deeds.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er heard some stories: Xiao Biyu had beaten her eldest sister-in-law and cursed at the second one. Boss Xiao, unable to endure it any longer, had given Xiao Biyu a beating, which led Father Xiao to strike Boss Xiao in return...


    Basically, it was a riot of fighting, even more intense than Qiao Duo¡¯er had imagined.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly put it out of her mind, satisfied as long as the Xiao Family¡¯s drama didn¡¯t spill over onto her.


    With the autumn harvest approaching, Tan Zhenghong mentioned the crops in the fields looked promising and that it would surely be a bountiful year.


    Tan Zhengyuan, who had been out of the picture for a while, had returned and even brought Widow X¨² with him.


    Moreover, he chose to come back in the middle of the day, hoping to also grab a meal at the main room.


    The Wang Clan was having none of it.


    A widow¡¯s fate brings calamity and misfortune; what would they do if bringing one home cursed the household?


    Furthermore, Widow X¨² wasn¡¯t clean¡ªher husband had barely passed away, and she was already involved with someone else.


    Initially, she had warned Tan Zhengyuan that fooling around was fine, but to not even think about bringing any woman home. It seemed as if Tan Zhengyuan treated her words as a mere fart!


    Had she known this would happen, she would never have allowed Tan Zhengyuan to divorce his wife.


    Hu¡¯s Clan might not have been able to produce a son, but there wasn¡¯t a single flaw to pick on, and she was certainly better than a coquettish woman like Widow X¨².

 Chapter 254 - 256: Don’t Even Think About Coming In_1

    Chapter 254: Chapter 256: Don¡¯t Even Think About Coming In_1?§Ôeew§×bnovel.com"You shameless thing, get out of here!"


    Wang Clan didn¡¯t even give Tan Zhengyuan and Widow Xu a chance to speak before she started chasing them away with a broom.


    As long as she was there, Widow Xu could forget about setting foot in the Tan Family¡¯s house.


    Tan Zhengyuan stood in front of Wang Clan and said earnestly, "Mother, Li Niang is carrying a child, and the fetus is not yet stable; please don¡¯t scare her."


    "Who knows whose seed that is? If you won¡¯t move aside, you can roll out with her!" Wang Clan said disdainfully.


    "Mother, I¡¯m with Li Niang every day, if it¡¯s not mine, then whose could it be?"


    Wang Clan scoffed lightly, "What good could come from her? Nothing but a child conceived through deceit and trickery!"


    "Mother, it¡¯s okay to scold me, but how can you slander the child? He is your grandson!"


    Widow Xu was depending on her pregnant belly; it was her biggest leverage.


    But she came at the wrong time; had it been in the past, Wang Clan might have accepted this unfortunate affair for the sake of the child.


    Now, she had been tormented by Tan Mingfu so much that she was exhausted, and the child had been a worry from the start.


    And there was Xiao Fu, an ungrateful wretch!


    She would have given him her heart if she could, but instead, after following his mother for so many days, he had entirely forgotten about his grandmother.


    That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t care for the child!


    "You promiscuous thing, think you can reach the sky by carrying a bastard? Get lost, the Tan Family has no place for you!" Wang Clan swung her broom in an attempt to drive the two of them out.


    Tan Zhengyuan was struck a couple of times, then he seized the broom from Wang Clan¡¯s hand.


    "Mother, the child in Li Niang¡¯s belly is my son, do you really want me to end our family line?" Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s voice rose a bit.


    Was it wrong for him to want a son?


    Now, when he stepped out, everyone was mocking him; he had had enough!


    Wang Clan¡¯s attitude softened slightly, "It¡¯s not wrong for you to want a son, but she¡¯s a widow!"


    "Then can you come up with another dowry for me to marry a young maiden?" Tan Zhengyuan asked indignantly.


    Wang Clan fell silent; without Ten Taels of Silver, what family would be willing to marry their daughter to Tan Zhengyuan?


    Tan Zhengyuan continued, "If you¡¯re my mother, then let us in. We can talk about everything else after the child is born. Besides, we¡¯ve already divided the family, why are you minding my business so much?"


    Wang Clan gritted her teeth and let go of the broom in her hand.


    Seeing the opportunity, Tan Zhengyuan quickly pulled Widow Xu back into his room.


    Wang Clan muttered, "You better give birth to a son, or you¡¯ll still be kicked out!"


    Over here, Hu¡¯s Clan was chopping vegetables; if Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t called her, she might have cut her hand. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Lan, don¡¯t bother with them, go take a rest," Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with a bitter smile, "I¡¯m fine, I just got distracted for a moment."


    She efficiently finished chopping the vegetables. Her heart ached, but she always remembered the words Qiao Duo¡¯er had said, which were that respect is earned by oneself.


    As long as she and her daughters lived well, that was their respect.


    Chao Lian wanted to say something scathing, but considering Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s feelings, she swallowed her words.


    Sigh, she didn¡¯t even know how to comfort Hu¡¯s Clan anymore.


    In the east wing, Widow Xu was frowning deeply.


    "Look at your mother, she was almost ready to eat me alive. If I truly give birth to a son, will she be willing to pay Twenty Taels of Silver?" Widow Xu said worriedly.


    Didn¡¯t she entangle herself with Tan Zhengyuan just for that Twenty Taels of Silver?


    What a shame if she found out in the end that it was all for nothing.


    Tan Zhengyuan patted his chest and promised, "As long as you give birth to a son, I assure you I¡¯ll get those Twenty Taels back."

 Chapter 255 - 257: The Abacus is Well Played_1

    Chapter 255: Chapter 257: The Abacus is Well Played_1Widow Xu said firmly, "Remember what you promised. If you don¡¯t get Twenty Taels, I will go and tell the village head that you forced me."


    Coercing a widow was a serious crime; as long as she insisted on her story, Tan Zhengyuan would have no way out but death.


    "Don¡¯t worry, would I quarrel with my own Silver?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan squinted his eyes and said, it was the same for a child, there was no reason to give to Third Boss but not to him.


    Now, all he needed was a son.


    Seeing Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s confidence, Widow Xu¡¯s heart settled back into her stomach.


    She couldn¡¯t help but rub her stomach, hoping it would do her proud; if she bore a son, her good days would begin.


    Now Tan Zhengyuan owned six mu of land, and with the Silver he could buy four more. She had three mu, and with Tan Zhengyuan working the land, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest of her life.


    "I¡¯ll tidy up the bed for you to rest," Tan Zhengyuan said eagerly.


    Widow Xu nodded, rightfully enjoying Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s attentiveness.


    She knew her blissful times were only during pregnancy; once the child was born, who would care about her?


    Sigh, she actually regretted getting involved with Tan Zhengyuan.


    But then, she kept thinking about the Twenty Taels; she just had to endure it.


    Widow Xu had stayed in the room since her arrival, not because she liked the quiet, but because she was vomiting so much that she was completely drained.


    This made Tan Zhengyuan extremely anxious; he had tried all kinds of food, but Widow Xu would vomit at the smell of it.


    After missing several meals, what if his child starved?


    Under Widow Xu¡¯s instigation, Tan Zhengyuan thought of someone - Hu¡¯s Clan.


    And since he was inherently lazy, having worked hard for several days for the sake of his child was remarkable; now that there was someone to help, of course he would seek her immediately.


    When he came out, Hu¡¯s Clan was sweeping the yard.


    "Go cook for me; Li Niang is not feeling well, make something nice," Tan Zhengyuan commanded Hu¡¯s Clan as if it was expected.


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face turned pale in an instant; she never imagined that Tan Zhengyuan would be so shameless as to ask her to cook for that woman.


    If she agreed, she might as well be brainless!


    Hu¡¯s Clan remained silent, continuing to sweep the ground.


    Tan Zhengyuan said disgruntledly, "If anything happens to my son, I won¡¯t let you off!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan still remained silent for her own final dignity, but Tan Zhongzhong, who was sitting nearby basking in the sun, couldn¡¯t stand it any longer.


    He wouldn¡¯t be able to do a man¡¯s job for at least a year, and his older brother got to enjoy the widow; he felt it was unfair.


    He said sarcastically, "The new wife has already entered the door, and you still expect the previous one to work for you. Big brother has a good strategy."


    "Third brother, you should go to the town and find a decent Doctor," Tan Zhengyuan replied indifferently.


    This was Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s sorest spot; if it weren¡¯t for the pain that still made walking a torture, he¡¯d definitely beat up Tan Zhengyuan.


    Even if he was incapacitated, it shouldn¡¯t be mentioned so blatantly!


    Seeing that Tan Zhongzhong kept silent, Tan Zhengyuan was satisfied and urged Hu¡¯s Clan again.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said through clenched teeth, "Do you have no shame at all? I have nothing to do with you, why should I cook for you?"


    It would be more like her to give him poison!


    "Don¡¯t forget, if it weren¡¯t for me, you and your two girls wouldn¡¯t even have a place to live," Tan Zhengyuan threatened, implying he could still throw them out.

 Chapter 256 - 258 Biting Only Beasts_1

    Chapter 256: Chapter 258 Biting Only Beasts_1Hu¡¯s Clan was thoroughly irritated and made a show of walking toward the door, "Then I¡¯ll just open the door and talk about this properly!"


    She and her two daughters had moved into the storeroom, yet Tan Zhengyuan still wouldn¡¯t leave her be, seeking her out early in the morning to curse at her. What more did he want from her?


    Since she had no way out, she might as well fight desperately for a way to live! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You... you..." Tan Zhengyuan was so angry that his face turned red.


    If this matter got out, he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the house because wherever he went, a scolding awaited him.


    Yet the previously obedient Hu¡¯s Clan daring to talk back to him like this was intolerable; it was utterly humiliating!


    Hu¡¯s Clan was sweeping at the entrance of the west wing while Third Boss and Fourth Boss were watching!


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips at Fat Fat and Fatty, and the two dogs started barking at Tan Zhengyuan.


    The two little fellows had grown up on bones. Though young, they were sturdy, and their barks were loud.


    Tan Zhengyuan had been bitten by a dog in his childhood and felt a chill in his heart.


    "Fourth Boss, why do your dogs bite people?" Tan Zhengyuan took two steps back, and all his courage to speak with Hu¡¯s Clan vanished.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied indifferently, "My dogs don¡¯t bite people, only beasts."


    Calling Tan Zhengyuan a beast was probably an insult to beasts.


    Tan Zhengyuan wanted to explode but, helpless against the fierce dogs, could only leave a curse before sneaking back to his room.


    Not only were the two dogs not to be messed with, but Qiao Duo¡¯er herself was also a force to be reckoned with. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have managed to discipline his mother so thoroughly. Since he had always been afraid of his mother from a young age, this was like comparing trash to treasure.


    The aggravating man finally left, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was becoming stronger by the day, at least not letting Tan Zhengyuan take advantage of her anymore.


    The vigor drained from Hu¡¯s Clan, and she said helplessly, "I am just afraid he¡¯ll bully Da Ya and Er Ya, I have no other choice."


    They say once there¡¯s a stepmother, a stepfather follows. Tan Zhengyuan had never favored Da Ya and Er Ya, who knew what he might do?


    Da Ya came into the yard with a willow branch, and immediately noticed something off about Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Mother, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly said, "Nothing¡¯s wrong with me; I was just talking with your Fourth Aunt."


    "Did Father come to bully you again? I¡¯m going to find him!" Da Ya said angrily. She was determined to kill that bastard!


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly grabbed hold of Da Ya, "Let¡¯s not bother with him. Once we¡¯ve saved enough money, we won¡¯t live here anymore."


    Besides the work at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s place, she had rented a few acres of land to cultivate.


    For the sake of Da Ya and Er Ya, she didn¡¯t mind the hardship, and soon they would be able to move out.


    Da Ya nodded, "Mother, I will work harder from now on."


    "Big Sister, I¡¯ll work with you. If we do more, we¡¯ll have our own house sooner," Er Ya also spoke softly, looking forward to the time when no one would bully their mother.


    Hu¡¯s Clan, unable to hold back her tears any longer, hugged a daughter with each arm, and her breath eased.


    When Hu¡¯s Clan let go, Da Ya said, "Mother, let me help you sweep."


    "No need, only a little bit left, you and Er Ya go wash up," Hu¡¯s Clan shook her head.


    Da Ya didn¡¯t insist anymore, and she and Er Ya went back to prepare breakfast.


    Hu¡¯s Clan sighed, but her mood quickly improved.


    Now that no one was scolding Da Ya and Er Ya, the two girls had become much braver, laughed more, and their coin purses had become fuller. That was enough!


    Who Tan Zhengyuan favored or how many sons he had was none of her business. Why should she trouble herself for nothing?

 Chapter 257 - 259: Too Shrewd_1

    Chapter 257: Chapter 259: Too Shrewd_1Tan Zhengyuan perfectly illustrated what it means to bully the weak and fear the strong; as soon as the Hu Clan showed a bit of firmness, he stopped his pointless chatter.


    However, seeing Da Ya and Er Ya in their new clothes, he felt an itchy frustration.


    Why dress up two losers so nicely? Sooner or later, they¡¯re going to belong to another family!


    It was just that Fat Fat and Fatty were always in the courtyard, and those two dogs often followed the girls, so he dared not act rashly.


    Ah, who would have thought such a bastard could be kept so docile by a pair of dogs?


    It was a case of one thing overcoming another, wasn¡¯t it?


    In the past couple of days, the snow fungus had dried properly, and Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to sell it before the busy farming season, to keep those with ill intentions from eyeing it covetously.


    Having made the decision, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong got up early to ride in Uncle Huang¡¯s ox cart to head to town.


    When selling snow fungus, the Bai Family was the first choice. Not only did they offer a high price, but Old Granny Bai had specially instructed the servants that if anyone brought snow fungus, they should let the housekeeper handle the purchase, and to accept all comers.


    So, Uncle Huang had them stop right at the Bai Family¡¯s gate.


    "Wait here for a bit; I¡¯ll come back to pick you up," instructed Uncle Huang.


    Tan Zhenghong politely responded, "Then we¡¯ll have to trouble you, Uncle Huang."


    Uncle Huang said there was no need for thanks; he now had a steady income from delivering vegetables to the Fourth Boss¡¯s house every day, and in the afternoon, he took Erhu and the others to town.


    And he genuinely adored the couple from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House.


    Especially since his wife always lamented not having a daughter and envied having one like Qiao Duo in the future, claiming it would make her happy enough to wake up laughing from dreams.


    Unfortunately, they only had one son in their lifetime, and once their son married, he also had only sons.


    Tan Zhenghong knocked on the door of the Bai Family, and a clerk soon opened a side door: "What can I do for you?"


    "Brother, we¡¯re here to sell snow fungus, please inform the housekeeper for us," Tan Zhenghong said politely¡ªas the saying goes, ¡¯A gatekeeper at the Prime Minister¡¯s house is a third-rank official,¡¯ and the same principle applies to wealthy households.


    The gatekeeper clerk looked them over and then said, "Let me see the goods first, and if they¡¯re acceptable, I¡¯ll call the housekeeper." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong took out a box from his carrying basket and opened it to reveal neatly arranged snow fungus inside.


    There were six pieces in total, white and pure as jade.


    In fact, they had found a total of eight pieces, with two left at home for his daughter-in-law to eat.


    He¡¯d heard others say snow fungus was a good thing, that in winter, stewing it with lotus seeds and red dates into a sweet soup warmed the body and nourished the blood, which his daughter-in-law was sure to enjoy.


    Even if Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t like it, he would keep it for its health benefits for her.


    The gatekeeper clerk had been with the Bai Family for many years and had seen plenty of snow fungus, but he had never encountered such high-quality ones before.


    "Please wait, I¡¯ll go immediately to fetch the housekeeper," he said.


    After giving the instruction, the gatekeeper knew he couldn¡¯t delay as Old Granny Bai¡¯s status in the Bai Family was unrivaled.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were invited into the side hall.


    The housekeeper was a middle-aged man, immediately appearing astute.


    Moreover, he didn¡¯t try to hide it, giving an unsettling feeling, as if one might easily be outwitted by him.


    Tan Zhenghong presented the snow fungus, and the housekeeper examined and sniffed it, still keeping his face tight, seemingly unimpressed.


    "The quality of your snow fungus is only average. I¡¯ll offer you three taels for each piece, how does that sound?" the housekeeper squinted his eyes.


    The pair before him seemed honest and simple, so three taels per piece must surely be a high price to them.


    As for the actual value, he was well aware.


    If he managed to secure that box of snow fungus, the silver he¡¯d gain would far exceed theirs.

 Chapter 258 - 260 What does this mean?_1

    Chapter 258: Chapter 260 What does this mean?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly; did the housekeeper think they were fools to be played with?


    These past days, she had confirmed that silver fungus was a rare treasure, with even the inferior ones selling for at least four taels of silver each.


    When drying the silver fungus, she was extremely careful, ensuring that all six pieces were intact and undamaged.


    Furthermore, while drying, she soaked them in clean water every four hours, repeating this for three consecutive days, resulting in a very white color of the dried silver fungus.


    She was confident that these could definitely be considered premium quality.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could speak up, Tan Zhenghong said, "Housekeeper, this isn¡¯t my first time selling snow fungus. Please offer a fair price."


    He was only simple-minded in front of his wife; other times, he was very shrewd.


    Tan Zhenghong was remarkably supportive, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was happy to play the role of a hands-off boss; she never did like interacting with strangers anyway.


    "The price of everything fluctuates, and that is the price for snow fungus this year."


    The housekeeper insisted on the original price; after years of striving, he had finally become the housekeeper, naturally wanting to make as much as possible.


    Tan Zhenghong asked again, "Housekeeper, are you sure that this is the price for this year?"


    "Of course, no matter where you go, it will be this price¡ªafter all, the quality of this snow fungus is just so-so."


    The housekeeper glanced disdainfully at the snow fungus once more.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er remained silent, and the housekeeper continued, "The old madam of my household loves snow fungus. I¡¯ll give you two taels of silver; surely no other house would offer such a price."


    In his understanding of village folk, they would certainly agree immediately.


    Not only that, but they would also feel like they had snagged a bargain.


    After all, these people toil in the fields and leaping about all year long, they can save up no more than two taels of silver.


    Tan Zhenghong withdrew the case and prepared to put it back into his own basket after closing the lid.


    The housekeeper immediately asked, "What do you mean by this?"


    "If you¡¯re not earnest about buying, I¡¯ll have to find another buyer," Tan Zhenghong replied indifferently.


    Snow fungus always fetches a market but is priceless, and apart from the Bai family, many people want to purchase it. He could get a higher price anywhere else than here.


    The housekeeper¡¯s face changed instantly; he had not expected such a reaction from the pair.


    If they weren¡¯t satisfied with the price, they could haggle, couldn¡¯t they? Why pack up and leave without a word? S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Who wouldn¡¯t want to buy something cheaper? So his price gouging wasn¡¯t wrong, was it?


    "Young man, let¡¯s talk this over. You name your price, and if I can afford it, I¡¯ll buy it," the housekeeper said quickly, trying to keep them there.


    He sincerely wanted the snow fungus,


    but just... didn¡¯t want to spend the silver.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke unhurriedly, "Thank you for your kind offer, housekeeper, but I don¡¯t see the need for further discussion. We¡¯ll take our leave now."


    After he finished speaking, he began to lead Qiao Duo¡¯er outside. Why should they linger and allow themselves to be treated like fools by others?


    The housekeeper gestured to the people at the entrance, and immediately two men blocked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s way out.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at the housekeeper, "What does this mean?"


    "Don¡¯t misunderstand, we just want to discuss the price again. Besides, once you leave here, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to sell the snow fungus," the housekeeper said.


    The Bai Family was powerful, covering them from above. No matter how precious the snow fungus was, it was just food after all. Who would dare offend the Bai Family over some food?


    They might just end up not being able to eat it or sell it, walking off with it unsold!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled softly, "If we can¡¯t sell it, we¡¯ll just eat it ourselves, what¡¯s the big deal?"


    The housekeeper looked like he heard the world¡¯s biggest joke, his facial muscles twitching a few times. A village girl eating snow fungus was simply a waste of heaven¡¯s gifts!

 Chapter 259 - 261 We Won’t Take the Blame_1

    Chapter 259: Chapter 261 We Won¡¯t Take the Blame_1"Exchanging the snow lotus for silver should be enough for several years¡¯ food and drink for you all, so think it over carefully," the housekeeper kindly reminded.


    Snow lotus is precious, and it might take years to find a single one; this chance might not come again for a long time.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke indifferently, "But we cannot let ourselves be deceived."


    The quality of the snow lotus was evident, yet the housekeeper pretended not to see it, claiming the snow lotus was of only average quality.


    He believed it was not that the housekeeper couldn¡¯t recognize its value, but that it was intentional.


    What else was there to say at this point?


    The housekeeper said sternly, "The Bai Family has always been fair, how could we possibly deceive you? Don¡¯t slander us!"


    "Then how about we have someone on the street appraise the quality of the snow lotus?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, the key question being, would he dare?


    The housekeeper¡¯s face couldn¡¯t take it; anyone with eyes could see what was going on.


    At this rate, the reputation of the Bai Family would be ruined in his hands, and if word reached the old madam, he certainly couldn¡¯t escape the consequences.


    Just then, a young master clad in white approached; he was the Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family, Bai Yifan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still remembered him; when she was once scornfully dismissed by a shop assistant at Deji Hall, it was he who stepped in to resolve the issue.


    The second encounter was because his housekeeper wanted to take advantage, what else could she say?


    In any case, Qiao Duo¡¯er simply wanted to say that the people of the Bai Family were not of good quality!


    "What is going on here?" Bai Yifan asked, frowning.


    The two men blocking Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong immediately stepped back, bowing their heads, not daring to speak.


    The Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family had left home for eight years to study medicine and was now back, taking over the family business; if they offended him, they¡¯d be packing their bags and leaving for good.


    The housekeeper quickly said, "Young Master, what brings you here? These two people are here to sell snow lotus, and we are negotiating a price."


    Bai Yifan nodded, but looked at the two people standing by the door: "Do they need to be involved in price discussions?"


    The housekeeper wiped sweat with his sleeve, wondering what to do.


    He must have had some skills to rise to the position of housekeeper. After a brief moment of panic, he thought of an excuse.


    "These people are asking an exorbitant price, and they accuse the Bai Family of dishonesty. I was just about to have them escorted out," the housekeeper explained.


    After speaking, he signaled to the other two men to act quickly and definitely not to give the game away!


    But clearly, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t going to let him succeed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scoffed lightly: "We refuse to carry that pot." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong got the hint and immediately opened the box: "The housekeeper says that this snow lotus is worth three or two silver per piece. My wife and I refused to sell, so the housekeeper had people detain us, and we don¡¯t know what the housekeeper intends to do."


    Bai Yifan glanced at the snow lotus, then turned to the housekeeper: "Is this true?"


    "Young Master, don¡¯t be fooled by them, look at the color of this snow lotus¡ªit¡¯s not right, who knows what they did to it!"


    The housekeeper scrambled to defend himself. The snow lotus naturally turns yellow when dried, and these were lustrously white, definitely irregular!


    By his demeanor, it was almost as if he were about to outright declare the snow lotus poisonous.


    Qiao Duo spread her hands: "If that¡¯s what you say, I can¡¯t do much about it, Young Master, it¡¯s up to you to handle this matter."


    Bai Yifan picked up a snow lotus and looked at it closely. He was well-versed in pharmacology; if there were anything amiss, he would surely notice. But the snow lotus was normal in every way.


    The only explanation was that the housekeeper tried to press the price too low, and when the sellers refused, he intended to coerce a sale.


    "Apologize to them," Bai Yifan said coldly.


    The housekeeper had no choice but to comply: "My apologies to you both."

 Chapter 260 - 262 Fixed Price - 1

    Chapter 260: Chapter 262 Fixed Price - 1Tan Zhenghong humbly said, "No need for formalities, you¡¯re just trying to save silver for the main house."


    The housekeeper¡¯s old face turned red; he wasn¡¯t looking to save silver for the Bai Family, he was trying to line his own pockets.


    Wait, wasn¡¯t this reminding Young Master Bai to audit the accounts?


    Was this young man really so determined to make things difficult for him?


    Bai Yifan clasped his hands together and said, "I apologize for not managing my household well and causing you all amusement. Could you please tell me your asking price for the snow fungus?"


    "Not selling anymore," Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand.


    The snow fungus wasn¡¯t unmarketable, so why bother selling it to the Bai Family who she found extremely unpleasant?


    If really couldn¡¯t sell it, she would just take it home to eat herself; it could replenish blood and was also good for beauty and complexion!


    Apart from that, in her view, it was just white fungus¡ªwhat was so special about it?


    Bai Yifan was taken aback and, seeing the unhappy expression on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, he then realized, Qiao Duo¡¯er was still angry with the housekeeper.


    However, he understood her feelings; originally she came happily to sell snow fungus, but to have someone severely undercut the price would upset anyone.


    Therefore, Bai Yifan quickly said with a smile, "Snow fungus is most suitable for elderly to nourish their bodies. I intended to buy some as a gift for my grandmother, and I ask the lady to indulge me this filial gesture."


    "Young Master Bai, she¡¯s my wife," Tan Zhenghong corrected his mistake.


    This was like rubbing salt in his wound, considering his wife was still unmarried.


    Or perhaps this Young Master Bai had ill intentions and was trying to steal his woman.


    Either way, there was no good intention from Young Master Bai!


    Bai Yifan graciously nodded, "It was a slip of the tongue on my part, no other intentions, please forgive me."


    He was absorbed in medical practice, wanting only to save lives. He had not yet considered romantic pursuits, so this man was overthinking it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still not intending to sell; the Bai Family had grossly offended her. Now they wanted to buy snow fungus?


    No way!


    Don¡¯t say she wasn¡¯t considerate; it was simply that the Bai Family had too many messy people.


    The housekeeper saw his chance, and if he could help his Young Master acquire the snow fungus, perhaps he could make amends.


    "Madam," the housekeeper began regretfully, "my previous behavior was reckless, please forgive both of us. My family¡¯s elder mistress is not in good health, has a poor appetite, and really enjoys this delicacy. Please be kind, Madam."


    This time, the housekeeper was much more heartfelt.


    "Your Deji Hall is so capable, what illnesses can¡¯t you treat?" Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed.


    Bai Yifan caught on, weren¡¯t they the same couple who had been belittled by a clerk at Deji Hall the last time?


    Damn it, adding up new grievances with old, this was getting troublesome.


    "The clerk from last time has been dismissed by me, and today¡¯s incident is entirely the fault of the Bai Family. I apologize to both of you. I¡¯m sorry, and I promise such things will never happen again," he said.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s attitude was very sincere, and these two incidents had indeed caused him great embarrassment.


    Just as his senior brother said, if the Bai Family didn¡¯t change, they really wouldn¡¯t be suited for the medical business anymore.


    As it¡¯s said, a physician must possess a benevolent heart. Without that heart, a medical hall loses its soul and its heritage.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s attitude was commendable, making it awkward for Qiao Duo¡¯er to persist. She said, "One price, eight taels per piece."


    This price had been discussed with Tan Zhenghong and was not excessive in the slightest. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you," Bai Yifan said with relief, "I will have someone fetch the silver right away; please rest here for a while."


    Tonight his grandmother could finally taste her favorite snow fungus and lotus seed soup!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong sat down first. Bai Yifan ordered tea and pastries to be served, but neither of the two touched the pastries, only drinking the tea.

 Chapter 261 - 263 New Thing_1

    Chapter 261: Chapter 263 New Thing_1f?eewe?n?ve?.comBai Yifan nodded inwardly, thinking that these two could indeed make friends.


    However... he wasn¡¯t sure if they would be willing to be his friends.


    Soon, the housekeeper brought over the silver, a total of five silver ingots, which is fifty taels.


    Bai Yifan personally received the tray and handed it to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Madam, please check the silver. If there is no issue, we can proceed with the transaction: payment for goods."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out her purse and retrieved two taels of broken silver.


    "In total for the six silver fungus, you owe forty-eight taels. This is your change."


    "Madam, please keep the silver as an apology from me," Bai Yifan said with a light smile.


    It¡¯s still paying people off, but while some make one grit their teeth with hate, Bai Yifan just isn¡¯t someone you can easily despise.


    Perhaps it¡¯s mostly because he is handsome.


    People always have a higher tolerance for all things beautiful.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er accepted the five silver ingots, leaving the two taels of broken silver on the tray.


    "Young Master Bai, as long as you recognize your mistake and discipline your people properly, since I have forgiven you, I won¡¯t bring up these matters again," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly. She knew all too well that the two taels of silver were meant to seal her lips.


    If it had been two hundred taels, she might have accepted it, but for only two taels of broken silver, she would end up owing someone a favor, which was unnecessary.


    Bai Yifan politely responded, "That¡¯s not what I meant. I just wanted to express my regret."


    "Young Master Bai, you are too kind. We haven¡¯t suffered any loss, so there¡¯s no need for you to be troubled," Tan Zhenghong refused again.


    What is hers she never part with, and what isn¡¯t hers she never covets. These were Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s principles in life. As her husband, he most certainly couldn¡¯t hold her back.


    Bai Yifan didn¡¯t insist any further and his favorable impression of the two increased a little more. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With the deal concluded, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong took their leave. Watching the couple¡¯s retreating backs, Bai Yifan felt a bit stifled in his heart.


    As to why he felt that way, he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it.


    Oh well, maybe he was just frustrated by those two taels of broken silver.


    "If there¡¯s a next time, the position of housekeeper will need to be filled by someone else."


    Bai Yifan glanced at the housekeeper, giving him one final warning. Another incident like this, and he would be fired immediately.


    The housekeeper immediately nodded and bowed as he accepted the order, not daring to entertain any further thoughts of self-interest.


    Despite his gentle appearance, the young master was someone who held firm to his words.


    "Have someone stew the silver fungus. If the old madam feels like eating it, make it available every day. I¡¯ll find a way to buy more from other places," Bai Yifan instructed.


    The person he cared about most in this world was his grandmother. If the old madam wanted to eat silver fungus, he would spare no expense to satisfy her desires.


    "Yes," the housekeeper hurried off to follow the orders.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were leaving, Uncle Huang was already waiting for them at the door.


    Uncle Huang said with slight embarrassment, "I just remembered that my old lady asked me to buy some soap powder. If you are in a hurry, I can take you back first."


    "We happen to be going that way as well, and we need to do some shopping."


    At the grocery store, Qiao Duo¡¯er bought five pounds of salt, two pounds of white sugar, and one pound of brown sugar.


    Being able to buy so many seasonings in one go, and dressed in fine cloth clothes, they were certainly not from a poor family. The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes gleamed with hope.


    "Honored guests, the store has just received some new and interesting items. Come, have a look!" the shopkeeper eagerly led the way to the innermost shelves, where the new items were displayed.


    "This is called a toothbrush, to be used with tooth powder, capable of whitening your teeth, and this is called Poria, useful for washing hands and bathing, and it smells good, too. There¡¯s also this Hundred Fragrant Cream, which is something wealthy people love!"

 Chapter 262 - 264 Don’t Overthink It!_1

    Chapter 262: Chapter 264 Don¡¯t Overthink It!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied. With the toothbrush, she wouldn¡¯t need to use willow branches anymore, and poria functions just like soap, while Hundred Fragrant Cream isn¡¯t much different from moisturizing lotion.


    These were all items that could be used regularly, so she asked for the price. The shopkeeper hemmed and hawed before finally revealing the prices.


    The toothbrush and two boxes of tooth powder were priced at One or Two Silver, a piece of poria for Three Hundred Wen, and a box of Hundred Fragrant Cream for Five Hundred Wen.


    The truth was, he really didn¡¯t want to sell these things. It was his son who had gone to restock and had been easily persuaded to bring some of these items back to sell.


    Families without money were reluctant to buy them, and those with money wouldn¡¯t come to his shop.


    So, half a month had passed, and he had only sold two or three boxes of Hundred Fragrant Cream.


    Seeing that his wife was fond of the items, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, is it okay if we buy one of each?"


    "Shopkeeper, let¡¯s discuss this," Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    How had he suddenly turned so naive? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn¡¯t even know to haggle!


    The shopkeeper, a bit disappointed, said, "Alright, take your time to look around. I¡¯ll go attend to other matters first."


    There were other people in the shop, so the shopkeeper attended to them first, but he still kept an eye on this side because these two seemed like they wanted to buy.


    "If you like them, just buy them. Don¡¯t skimp on the silver," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I want two toothbrushes and four boxes of tooth powder, three pieces of poria, and two boxes of Hundred Fragrant Cream. At most, I can give Three or Two Silver."


    "I don¡¯t need it, you buy it for yourself. I¡¯m fine with willow branches; I¡¯ve been used to them for many years," Tan Zhenghong immediately said. The toothbrushes were so expensive, it was sufficient if his wife used them.


    "Then you¡¯re not allowed to kiss me," Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong.


    The man had very white and neat teeth, but they still needed to be properly cared for.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled mischievously. Did that mean he could kiss his wife if he brushed his teeth with the toothbrush and tooth powder?


    Hmm... he knew his wife loved cleanliness, so he would definitely clean the toothbrush well before kissing her.


    "Don¡¯t get any wild ideas!" Qiao Duo¡¯er feigned anger.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed; he wouldn¡¯t get any wild ideas. After he brushed his teeth that night, he would just give her a big kiss.


    "Shopkeeper, your goods are excellent, but they¡¯re just too expensive," Qiao Duo¡¯er said regretfully.


    The shopkeeper quickly said, "The price is negotiable. How about this, I¡¯ll give you a 20% discount."


    He just wanted to get rid of these troublesome items as quickly as possible.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had listed the items she wanted to buy, but when she mentioned Three or Two Silver, his heart sank again.


    Because at that price, he wouldn¡¯t make any money!


    "Miss, it¡¯s not easy for me to do business either. Could you add a little more?" the shopkeeper pleaded with a sad face.


    Feeling helpless, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It¡¯s not easy for us to earn money either. If it¡¯s more expensive, I won¡¯t buy."


    The shopkeeper still wanted to haggle, but seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er was ready to leave, he hurriedly called out to stop her, "Alright, consider it a favor for you. Please come back and support my business in the future."


    "I always shop at your store," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Her demand for spices was substantial, along with various other things, and she mostly shopped at this store for them.


    Despite saying so, the shopkeeper still felt the pinch.


    He had hoped that by selling so much, he would at least make Three to Five Hundred Wen Money, but now he even had to cover some of the shipping costs.


    Nevertheless, selling the items was still better than holding onto them; if they remained unsold, he wouldn¡¯t make even One Wen money.


    The shopkeeper quickly packed everything up. Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to reach out when Tan Zhenghong took all the items.


    Uncle Huang, following behind, could not help but laugh. No wonder everyone in the village envied them.


    Once seated in the ox cart, Uncle Huang said, "Sit tight, we¡¯re off!"

 Chapter 263 - 265: Failed Attempt at Stealing Chickens_1

    Chapter 263: Chapter 265: Failed Attempt at Stealing Chickens_1Qiao Duo¡¯er purchased an extra portion of poria and Hundred Fragrant Cream, which were meant for Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian.


    A woman¡¯s hands are her second face; they need to be well cared for. Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian immediately tried to refuse, as they could tell these items were expensive just by looking at them.


    "Sister-in-law, you should keep these for your own use," Chao Lian said.


    Hu¡¯s Clan also added, "We don¡¯t need them, you keep them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "Autumn is dry; women need to take good care of themselves. I¡¯ve kept my share, so you both should use them together."


    Unable to refuse any further, Chao Lian and Hu¡¯s Clan accepted the gifts, feeling immensely grateful to Qiao Duo¡¯er in their hearts.


    Thanks to Qiao Duo¡¯er, they now owned their very first beauty products in their lives.


    Actually, every woman wants to adorn herself beautifully; it¡¯s just that funds are limited.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand had fully recovered, and he went back to work reinforcing the cellar with a special clay mixture. He had to finish the cellar before the autumn harvest so that there would be a place to store the crops. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Additionally, he had hired someone to dig two wells, one deep and one shallow, one out in the open and one hidden¡ªspending a total of Twelve Taels of Silver.


    In times of drought, the hidden deep well would prove to be very useful, even becoming the life-saving source for the entire family.


    Tan Zhenghong did this because of a drought he experienced in his childhood.


    That year, the weather was extremely dry, and not a single drop of rain fell the entire summer. Countless families fought over a mouthful of water.


    To this day, the thought of it still sends shivers down his spine.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er was busy sewing and patching things up at home. The newly bought quilt needed a cover, and she and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes also needed to be made quickly.


    Once Tan Zhenghong finished with the cellar and the well, he could rest for a day before the harvest began.


    Barely having a day to rest, Jiang¡¯s Clan came over early in the morning.


    "Fourth Boss¡¯ wife, I have something to discuss with you," Jiang¡¯s Clan knocked on the door.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded lazily, "Just come in and talk."


    Although there were still ten days left until the end of the month, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s visit boded no good news.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan stepped in and said with a smile, "I¡¯d like to ask for a few days off for Chao Lian. The farming season is about to start and there¡¯s too much work at home."


    "How many days do you need?" Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed readily.


    The autumn harvest is more significant than New Year¡¯s to farmers; even the private schools would take a break. It would be unreasonable for her to keep someone from helping at home during this time.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was taken aback before replying, "About ten days, I suppose."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes; it appeared that Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s true motive for asking for leave was to negotiate higher pay for the work.


    Hmph, what a shrewd calculation!


    "Then, considering how busy your household is, it¡¯s fine. After all, my family¡¯s land is limited; I can manage the work," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan felt dissatisfied, as the workers in the town¡¯s restaurant received double pay during the busy farming season, but she was also afraid that asking for more might cost Chao Lian her job.


    She could only feign a smile and say, "Well... I¡¯ll try to get Chao Lian to come and help."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t expose the charade, letting Jiang¡¯s Clan talk herself into circles. Jiang¡¯s Clan had already taken advantage of Chao Lian and now wanted to gain an extra benefit from her, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only think: sorry, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan laughed dryly twice before taking her leave, feeling that Fourth Boss¡¯ wife was doing it on purpose.


    After Jiang¡¯s Clan left, she couldn¡¯t help but scoff: "Such poor acting; nearly all her thoughts were written on her face."


    "She just loves taking small advantages; don¡¯t sink to her level," Tan Zhenghong consoled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t angry; she just felt that Chao Lian must not have an easy life with such a stepmother.


    She guessed Chao Lian and Erhu would likely face many more hardships together in the future. Sigh, she hoped everything would work out for them.

 Chapter 264 - 266 Gossip_1

    Chapter 264: Chapter 266 Gossip_1After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er headed to the Yang Family at the head of the village to buy wheat seeds.


    Granny Yang was a daughter-in-law from out of town, skilled in seed soaking, and their two jin of seeds were one wen money more expensive than the grain store.


    Even so, everyone still preferred buying from the Yang Family because the germination rate of their seeds was high. You¡¯d have to scatter forty jins of seeds per mu of your own land, while seeds from the Yang Family required only thirty jins.


    By this calculation, buying seeds from the Yang Family didn¡¯t result in any loss at all.


    Her family had a total of three mu of land, one mu of paddy field and two mu of dry land.


    In winter, the paddy field could grow winter wheat, and the dry land could grow rapeseed, so she still needed to find some rapeseed from the Huang Family.


    The Yang Family¡¯s business was quite good, and when Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived, there were already a few young daughter-in-laws waiting.


    "The Yang Family¡¯s folks have gone to someone else¡¯s feast, they asked us to wait a bit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then I¡¯ll come back later."


    She could just drop by Old Lady Huang¡¯s House first, and by the time she got back, the Yang Family should have returned.


    No sooner had Qiao Duo¡¯er left than the women in the courtyard started to gossip.


    As the saying goes, with three women, you get a drama. Now with six women standing in the Yang Family courtyard, how could it not be lively?


    "That must be Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, right? Look at that face, that figure, totally different from when she just married here. I just can¡¯t take my eyes off her."


    A young daughter-in-law said enviously, for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s skin was delicate, her features exquisite and her figure slender. No wonder men couldn¡¯t look away.


    If she were half as pretty as Qiao Duo¡¯er, she could literally wake up smiling from her sleep.


    "What¡¯s the use of just being good-looking? I¡¯ve heard she and Third Boss have a scandal going on, and Third Boss even got beaten up by Fourth Boss."


    "You can¡¯t talk nonsense about that. It could cost someone their life!"


    The young daughter-in-law who had just spoken with Qiao Duo¡¯er warned, considering it involved a woman¡¯s reputation. How could one spread rumors?


    "I heard it from the people next door to the Tan Family. Weren¡¯t they saying before that she had something going on with Sun Erhu? That story must be true."


    "Whatever, I don¡¯t believe it. Fourth Boss is so good to his wife. If she were promiscuous, would Fourth Boss treat her like that?"


    "That¡¯s just a rumor spread by Second Boss¡¯s family. She even knelt down to apologize for that mess!"


    "I can read faces, let me tell you. Fourth Boss¡¯s wife has fine, long eyebrows, really bright eyes that slightly turn up at the corners, and a prominent nose. These are all the features of a promiscuous woman."


    "By your logic, does that mean all pretty women are loose?"


    "Why are you so smug just because you¡¯re a bit pretty?" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s clear you¡¯re just spouting nonsense. Oh, I get it now, you¡¯re just jealous because you¡¯re ugly and can¡¯t stand to see others who are pretty."


    The two of them started arguing, and the others quickly intervened to prevent the fight from escalating further.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already arrived at the Huang Family, but Old Lady Huang looked a bit unwell.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Aunt Huang, are you not feeling well?"


    "It¡¯s nothing serious, just a bit of heatiness. I got two doses of medicine from the doctor¡¯s house, and I¡¯ll be fine after taking them," Aunt Huang said truthfully.


    Her mouth was covered in a ring of sores. While it wasn¡¯t a serious illness, it hurt a lot when she ate.


    "I have some honeysuckle at home, I¡¯ll bring you some later. Drinking it as tea is the best way to cool down," Qiao Duo¡¯er offered.


    Aunt Huang hurriedly thanked her, "You¡¯re such a good girl, so thoughtful. By the way, you came today for the rapeseed, right? I have it all ready. I was thinking about asking your uncle to bring it over tomorrow."


    "Then I¡¯m very grateful to you, Aunt Huang."


    Old Lady Huang took out the rapeseed wrapped in an oilpaper from her home; afraid that Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband, being young, wouldn¡¯t know how to plant it, she even took the time to teach Qiao Duo¡¯er the method of planting.

 Chapter 265 - 267: Is There A Reward?_1

    Chapter 265: Chapter 267: Is There A Reward?_1Planting methods are actually quite simple. First, you scatter the rapeseed in the field, wait until the rapeseed grows to about fifteen centimeters, then transplant it to the dry land. Water it a little in the first few days, wait until the rapeseed has all taken root before applying a small amount of fertilizer, and add one more dose before winter sets in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took careful note and after expressing her thanks again, she took her leave.


    These days, her dealings with the Huang Family had become frequent; too much formal speech made things seem awkward.


    When she visited the Yang Family again, Mother Yang and her daughter had already returned, and the people who had been in the courtyard buying seeds had left.


    "Please weigh out thirty catties of seeds for me."


    Yang Ruoruo responded, "Mother, weigh another thirty catties of seeds!"


    The woman inside the house answered, and outside, Yang Ruoruo struck up a conversation with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Yang Ruoruo blinked and said, "You must be Brother Zheng Hong¡¯s wife, right? You¡¯re really pretty. Don¡¯t mind what those people say; they just talk nonsense all day!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit confused; what was this girl telling her not to mind?


    "You¡¯re very pretty too!" said Qiao Duo¡¯er with a smile.


    Yang Ruoruo happily said, "My name is Yang Ruoruo. Can I come to visit you sometime? I really can¡¯t stand Xiao Biyu; anyone who¡¯s her enemy is a friend of mine."


    Xiao Biyu was so haughty, which she couldn¡¯t stand at all.


    It was just that the Xiao Family was influential and wealthy; most people didn¡¯t dare to offend them lightly. It was rare to find someone who could make Xiao Biyu suffer a loss. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. The girl was lively and talkative, a likable personality. They would probably get along well.


    They had only exchanged a few words when a middle-aged woman came out with a winnowing fan holding thirty catties of seeds.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the cloth bag she had brought and, together with Yang Ruoruo, held it open for the woman to pour the seeds into.


    "That will be one hundred and eighty wen," said Mother Yang as she announced the price.


    After paying the money, Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the cloth bag in her basket and carried it on her back home.


    With today not being so busy, she could scatter the seeds in her field upon returning.


    After Qiao Duo¡¯er left, Mother Yang seriously advised, "Ruo Ruo, keep your distance from the Fourth Boss¡¯s wife in the future."


    Mother Yang was concerned because Ruo Ruo had reached the age for discussing marriage, and she feared that getting too close to the Fourth Boss¡¯s House could have a negative impact.


    "Mother, you really believe those silly rumors? I think Sister-in-law Hong is nice, much better than those gossips who just wag their tongues. I even want to ask her how she got Brother Zheng Hong to dote on her so much!" Ruo Ruo retorted dismissively, seeing jealousy in those women.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was pretty, and her husband adored her; how wonderful!


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense, girl!"


    Mother Yang glared at her daughter but also felt there might be some truth in her words, so she dropped the subject.


    Those shameless gossips dared to malign her daughter; she was no pushover herself!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly made it home, where Tan Zhenghong had also finished making the tools needed for rice harvesting.


    It was a square wooden device, wider on top and narrower at the bottom, with a worn-out mat wrapped around the sides, though its purpose was unclear.


    "This is called a rice thresher," Tan Zhenghong explained. After the rice is harvested and bundled, you grab the bottom half of the straw with both hands and vigorously beat it, so the grains fall out. The surrounding mat helps prevent the grains from scattering.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er now understood but could only think how outdated the technology was.


    No wonder every household treated the autumn harvest like a major event. Without sufficient rest, it would be tough to handle.


    Tan Zhenghong leaned in to tease, "Wife, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m impressive? Shouldn¡¯t you reward me for it?"

 Chapter 266 - 268 Self-Awareness_1

    Chapter 266: Chapter 268 Self-Awareness_1Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a dismissive roll of her eyes, "There¡¯s still a lot of work to do tomorrow."


    "Wife, all I¡¯m asking for is a kiss from you, which surely won¡¯t interfere with tomorrow¡¯s work. Hmm... are you perhaps thinking something unhealthy?"


    Tan Zhenghong leaned in close to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and asked. He realized his wife was far naughtier than he was.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "I haven¡¯t thought about anything. I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll get all heated up after the kiss and won¡¯t be able to sleep at night."


    The explanation was a bit far-fetched, but it would do.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving his wife.


    His wife had told him women back in her place were very open, showing off their arms and legs. Why then was she still so shy?


    So, she must be fooling him. If that were the case, wouldn¡¯t she have devoured him long ago?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kicked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s foot haughtily, "You¡¯re so bad!"


    Uh... she had let out that playful whine rather smoothly, Qiao Duo¡¯er critiqued her unreliable self and then proceeded outside with the rapeseed and hoe in hand.


    She was off to work and didn¡¯t want to deal with Tan Zhenghong anymore.


    Earlier in the morning, Tan Zhenghong had sharpened the farm tools; loosening the soil would definitely be easier.


    Tan Zhenghong came over and said, "Wife, just give me the stuff, and I¡¯ll go do it. That way you won¡¯t have to see me."


    "Quite self-aware, aren¡¯t you? Forget it, let¡¯s go together, we need to water the plants too."


    The truth was, she wanted to bring Tan Zhenghong mainly because she didn¡¯t know where her family¡¯s land was.


    Tan Zhenghong hurried back inside to grab a bucket and the straw hat he had woven for his wife.


    "Wife, the sun is pretty strong right now, don¡¯t get burned!" Tan Zhenghong planted the straw hat on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head.


    Right now, her skin was in great condition, but her face would turn red from sun exposure, likely a remnant of her past.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "It¡¯s not even summer now, how could it be that exaggerated?"


    "Better safe than sorry, otherwise you¡¯re the one who will suffer."


    After Tan Zhenghong said that, Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer felt like taking off the straw hat.


    After all, wearing it was no trouble. It was just a pity for her hairstyle; every time she wore the straw hat for too long and took it off, she felt like a fool.


    There was a patch of open ground in the dry field, ideal for scattering the seeds, making transplanting later on very convenient. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once at the field, Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a full head of question marks, asked, "What happened here?"


    In the dry field, soybeans were growing and starting to turn yellow. What surprised her was the patchy planting. How did this happen?


    "These two plots were probably planted by my second brother."


    Tan Zhenghong weakly explained, knowing that only Tan Zhengyong in the entire Tan family could do something this foolish.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips, "Even a three-year-old child could plant better than this."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded in agreement. It was true.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed. Well, from now on they would tend to it properly themselves.


    She picked up the hoe to begin weeding, and Tan Zhenghong went to fetch a bucket of water.


    After he returned, he also helped with the weeding. With his strength, he was doing the work of two Qiao Duo¡¯ers.


    Before long, they had the open ground ready.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scattered the seeds evenly across the soil, and Tan Zhenghong watered them, concluding the task successfully.


    Rapeseed and soybeans were the most common sources of cooking oil. With these two acres planted with rapeseed, they wouldn¡¯t worry about running out of oil.


    More precious was the tea oil, which they could obtain by picking tea seeds from the wild tea trees on the mountain and pressing them for oil. Tea oil was the healthiest kind of oil.

 Chapter 267 - 269 Are You Pregnant?_1

    Chapter 267: Chapter 269 Are You Pregnant?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er saw that it was still early, so she picked some osmanthus flowers from the trees by the field.


    Just a few days ago, Aunt Huang had brought over some glutinous rice flour, so she decided to go back and make some osmanthus cake.


    Once she arrived home, Qiao Duo¡¯er washed her hands and immediately got to work.


    After she cleaned the osmanthus flowers, Tan Zhenghong had already boiled the water as instructed, poured the osmanthus and sugar into the pot, added some starch, and simmered it for a few minutes, the osmanthus syrup was ready.


    Then, in a clean bowl, she mixed a small amount of flour, glutinous rice flour, and osmanthus syrup, and finally, stirred in a teaspoon of lard to steam it.


    Since there were no suitable molds, Qiao Duo¡¯er steamed it in a large soup bowl, and it would still work fine once cooled and cut open.


    She steamed two large bowls in total, which would definitely be enough. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The osmanthus cake was soft, chewy and delightfully fragrant; Qiao Duo¡¯er ate two pieces in a row.


    She contentedly patted her belly, feeling very happy when she was full.


    "Tan Zhenghong, take some to the neighbors, we can¡¯t finish so much, and also take some honeysuckle to Aunt Huang," she said.


    Tan Zhenghong grumbled, "You¡¯re still calling me Tan Zhenghong, I¡¯m not going."


    "Husband, please go," she coaxed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er acted coyly, hoping that would please Tan Zhenghong.


    "Wife, you¡¯re scolding me again," said Tan Zhenghong with a dark face.


    To him, ¡¯husband¡¯ was almost like ¡¯idiot¡¯, ¡¯dumbass¡¯, or ¡¯moron¡¯, words he couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    "Who¡¯s scolding you? ¡¯Husband¡¯ means ¡¯dear¡¯, that¡¯s how people from my hometown call it, you¡¯re so dense!" Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    Now she had finally understood what a ¡¯generation gap¡¯ was, or should it be a ¡¯chasm¡¯?


    Tan Zhenghong nodded in satisfaction, "Then you should call me that from now on."


    He was in a good mood and did exactly what his wife told him to do.


    When Tan Zhenghong returned, he brought some vegetables, wild fruits, and pears, ordinary little things, yet they were the most respectable things people could offer.


    During dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er ate some greens and nibbled on a couple of wild fruits and a pear.


    Sun Erhu stealthily glanced several times before he couldn¡¯t hold back and asked, "Sister-in-law, are you pregnant?"


    "Pregnant my foot, I just ate too much osmanthus cake!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er found Sun Erhu¡¯s IQ contemptible.


    Erhu weakly explained that he saw Widow Xu not eating meals, just snacking on fruits all the time.


    Chao Lian tugged at Sun Erhu¡¯s clothes, signaling him to shut up.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with a smile, "I¡¯m fine, it has nothing to do with me anymore."


    Da Ya promptly grabbed a slice of osmanthus cake and offered it to Hu¡¯s Clan, "Mother, please taste it, it¡¯s so delicious, and it¡¯s filling. I¡¯m so stuffed I don¡¯t want to eat anything else."


    "Mother, I¡¯m better behaved than big sister; I finished my meal even after having the osmanthus cake, big sister is shy," Er Ya proudly looked at her empty bowl.


    Da Ya quickly replied, "There¡¯s only a little rice left, I can finish it too."


    The two girls diverted the topic, livening up the atmosphere, and everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Tan Zhengyuan and Widow Xu¡¯s messy affairs.


    Other people¡¯s lives were none of their business; they just had to believe in the fairness of the heavens.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought up the plans for the autumn harvest.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had rented a few acres of land, but the agreement was to start in the next season.


    She had to wait for the current tenants to finish harvesting their crops before she could start sowing.


    So for the next few days, she wouldn¡¯t be busy and would still be responsible for the braised meat.


    She would join Qiao Duo¡¯er to sell food at the stall in the evening for double pay and take two days off when it was time for her to sow her seeds.


    With this arrangement, everyone was satisfied, and no one¡¯s affairs were neglected.

 Chapter 268 - 270 Other People’s Wives_1

    Chapter 268: Chapter 270 Other People¡¯s Wives_1The next day, just before dawn, Tan Zhenghong got out of bed; if he hurried, he could finish harvesting a mu of rice in a single day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, hearing the noise, also got up to dress, though her eyes were still closed.


    "Wife, don¡¯t get up, it¡¯s still early," Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted her lips: "No, I¡¯m going with you."


    She had never experienced it and found it novel, insisting on going along to see for herself.


    Because Qiao Duo¡¯er was so adamant, Tan Zhenghong could only let her have her way; they ate a few pieces of osmanthus cake and, with a kettle of water, went to the fields.


    They weren¡¯t the only ones up early; many hardworking peasant families were already toiling in the fields.


    Aside from the cooler weather in the morning, they all wanted to take advantage of the good weather to quickly bring the crops home.


    Otherwise, if it got late and it rained, it would delay time and the large humidity could cause the grain to fall to the ground, and some might even sprout, reducing the harvest.


    Thus, the life of peasant families wasn¡¯t easy; they had to guard against natural disasters, and human calamities, with no insurance for their lives or property.


    In the field, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er cut rice side by side.


    Harvesting rice was not difficult for the original body, and naturally, Qiao Duo¡¯er could do it too, but she was much slower than Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong had to help her from time to time to ensure their progress was somewhat similar.


    After working for half an hour, Qiao Duo¡¯er was tired, and the novelty had worn off, so she simply sat down on the straw.


    Tan Zhenghong, however, seemed full of energy, not slowing down at all.


    By now it was daylight, and Qiao Duo¡¯er saw the other families¡¯ daughters-in-law.


    She couldn¡¯t help feeling inferior; why were the other daughters-in-law so adept at working?


    Some of them were even faster than the men.


    "Tan Zhenghong, do you really wish you¡¯d married a more capable wife?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked tentatively, thinking that a capable wife would have finished harvesting and threshing by now, and brought everything home to dry.


    But with her, they could only cut and bind today, leaving the threshing for tomorrow.


    Tan Zhenghong said seriously, "What nonsense are you talking about? If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t want another no matter how capable they were."


    "Besides, Wife is more capable than them; you¡¯ll earn a lot of money, even more than me."


    Tan Zhenghong stood up to rest, and even gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a thumbs up as he did so.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s wounded little heart instantly recovered.


    She might not be as capable as others, but her husband was, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling proud comparing herself to them. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She felt quite lucky; she had her wilderness survival skills, and Tan Zhenghong was still making money even lying in a sickbed; their life was not too bad.


    After a rest, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw that the rice Tan Zhenghong had cut was neatly stacked behind him, so she volunteered to bind the rice.


    Following behind Tan Zhenghong, the two of them could chat, making it less boring.


    "Look at that couple, they are doing fine, I told you there was nothing to that rumor about Tan Zhongzhong."


    "Look at how showy she is, who knows what goes on behind closed doors? In any case, I know Tan Zhongzhong has been lying at home for a long time."


    "I also heard that he¡¯s no longer able to," one said.


    "It¡¯s not that he¡¯s permanently unable, it¡¯s just temporary, and he¡¯ll recover eventually."


    "Who believes such nonsense? Don¡¯t they say to the dying, don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get better soon?"


    Even though they were far away, the women lowered their voices to gossip.


    After idly gossiping for a while, they returned to cutting rice, for the rice was important; it was the sustenance and tax payment for the second half of the year.

 Chapter 269 - 271 Don’t Indulge Him_1

    Chapter 269: Chapter 271 Don¡¯t Indulge Him_1At around eight or nine in the morning, Tan Zhengyuan finally grabbed his sickle and headed to his own field.


    "Big Brother Tan, Fourth Boss has already harvested nearly half an acre, how come you¡¯re just now arriving?" someone jested.


    Tan Zhengyuan lazily replied, "I only have two acres of land, what¡¯s the hurry?"


    In his heart, he silently added, wasn¡¯t he supposed to wait until Fourth Boss finished cutting his own family¡¯s rice before coming to help?


    "Look how lazy he is, I wonder if he can even finish by tomorrow," a woman said mockingly.


    The most capable workers in the Tan Family were Fourth Boss and Hu¡¯s Clan, along with the couple from Third Boss¡¯s house.


    But this year, none of these four could be counted on, so there were bound to be some funny stories about the Tan Family.


    "It¡¯s a good thing there are no sons, otherwise who knows what they¡¯d have to scrape together for a son¡¯s wedding dowry!"


    Someone made a snide remark, garnering a burst of laughter from the others.


    Tan Zhengyuan hummed lightly, he now also had a son, but he would have to wait for Widow Xu to give birth before he could show off.


    It was not so much the fear of ten thousand possibilities, but the fear of that one in ten thousand; if a son wasn¡¯t born, those people would certainly laugh even harder.


    Although Tan Zhengyuan arrived late, he left early; when others were still thinking of cutting for a while longer, he was already carrying his sickle home.


    Now, even a fool would know his intentions.


    Half an hour later, Er Ya came to call them, and Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er finally went home to eat.


    "Fourth Boss, with your quick hands and feet, you must have finished that acre of land by now," an old lady said with a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "How could it be that fast? There¡¯s still quite a big plot left."


    However, with Qiao Duo¡¯s help, the progress was much faster than before.


    Qiao Duo tied the rice straw efficiently, her explanation being that she often ties people up, so tying rice straw was a piece of cake for her.


    "Let me tell you, Big Brother Tan only cut for a while this morning, and who knows how much he actually got done; probably he¡¯s just waiting for you guys," Sister-in-law Yan said, advising, "Don¡¯t you spoil that lazy bone, otherwise you¡¯ll have to provide for him your whole lives."


    The old lady advised fervently; Tan Zhenghong was a good child, but just too gullible, always bullied by the rest of the Tan Family.


    Even as an outsider, she couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Tan Zhenghong.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong married a good wife. This must be what they call good karma.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Sister-in-law Yan. I was planning to start building a house after this busy season is over. At that time, I¡¯ll have to ask Brother Kuan Zi for help," Tan Zhenghong said politely.


    "No problem, you and Kuan Zi grew up playing together, if your family needs help, Kuan Zi will definitely be there!" Sister-in-law Yan replied without hesitation.


    Who could refuse to help when someone was building a house, plus there was the opportunity to earn some wage.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and then heard Sister-in-law Yan add, "Once the house is built, you two can have a baby, and life will start picking up."


    "Let¡¯s hope your kind words come true," Tan Zhenghong said perfunctorily.


    Qiao Duo stood behind Tan Zhenghong, like a shy new bride. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sister-in-law Yan waved her hand, "I¡¯ll be happy if all you young people are doing well. It¡¯s getting late, you should hurry back to eat."


    After saying that, she also called her family to head home. The autumn harvest was important, but people¡¯s lives were even more so; they couldn¡¯t afford to work someone to exhaustion.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but marvel that there were still more good people in this world.


    Gathering such a bunch of good-for-nothings like the Tan Family was no easy feat.


    In the afternoon, Tan Zhenghong told Qiao Duo to rest at home, after all she still had to braise vegetables and go to town later. Going back to the field might just wear her out, right?


    Hu¡¯s Clan had been busy all morning on her own, and the two young girls had their little faces flushed red from the heat, so Qiao Duo agreed.

 Chapter 270 - 272: Buying Land?_1

    Chapter 270: Chapter 272: Buying Land?_1In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Hu¡¯s Clan sat in the courtyard plucking vegetables, only half done, when Tie Niu¡¯er hurried over.


    "Tan Family Four Sister-in-law, my dad asked me to come and ask if you want to buy land. It¡¯s paddy fields, right next to your fields, four acres total, six taels of silver per acre."


    Tie Niu¡¯er had blurted out everything her dad had entrusted her to say in one go.


    Having said this, she thought carefully again, making sure everything that needed to be said was said, without any omissions.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er called out, "Tie Niu¡¯er, come and sit down, I¡¯ll go pour you some tea, and I¡¯ll have a think about it."


    Though they had made quite a sum from selling snow fungus, she and Tan Zhenghong had started from scratch, and there were many expenses, such as the recent drilling of two wells, which had cost twelve taels of silver.


    Buying land at this critical juncture seemed a bit of a stretch.


    Tie Niu¡¯er shook her head, "Sister-in-law, I had some tea at home before coming here, don¡¯t trouble yourself, think it over quickly. That plot of land is very good. If you¡¯re too late, someone else will buy it."


    Her dad was repaying the kindness of Tan Zhenghong, who had let him go first, by informing their family first.


    Today, she had heard that quite a number of people had already inquired about it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still quickly made a bowl of sweet soup for Tie Niu¡¯er, and then asked, "That land is really good?"


    "Yep, it used to belong to the Song Family. It¡¯s very fertilized; every year, those are among the fields with the best yields."


    Tie Niu¡¯er spoke truthfully. What she said was the absolute truth, since her family would receive a commission regardless of who bought the land, so she had no need to deceive Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Alternatively, it would be okay if their own family bought that plot of land.


    Land is the very foundation for a farming family; how could anyone think they have too much land?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then asked, "So why are they selling the land?"


    "The Song Family is moving to the town. It seems their house is short of some silver, so they want to deal in silver, and the Song Family member wants to sell it all in one go."


    Hu¡¯s Clan chimed in at the right moment, "Are you talking about the land near South Mountain?"


    "That¡¯s right, it¡¯s close to the irrigation ditches, making watering easy, plus it gets plenty of sunlight." Tie Niu¡¯er added some praise.


    "Duo¡¯er, the Song Family¡¯s land should be good, indeed. It¡¯s worth buying."


    Hu¡¯s Clan expressed her opinion. If she had that much silver, she would have wanted to buy it herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly did the math, she still had forty-eight taels on hand, spending twenty-four taels to buy the land was possible.


    Currently, she and Tan Zhenghong only had one acre of paddy field, and the grain they planted was barely enough for their own consumption.


    "All right then, when can we write up the contract?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    "We can do it now. The Song Family member is waiting at my house right now. If you agree, I¡¯ll go call Grandpa Zhou to write the contract, but we¡¯ll need Brother Zheng Hong to be there."


    The Song Family was indeed in a hurry; they had harvested their crops a few days early.


    Now their belongings were all packed, just waiting to sell the land and set off for the town.


    Da Ya volunteered eagerly, "I¡¯ll go call Fourth Uncle!"


    Buying land was a very happy occasion. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "Thanks, Da Ya. Tie Niu¡¯er, finish your tea, and then we¡¯ll go to your house."


    Now that she had wrapped up the important matters, Tie Niu¡¯er could afford to notice other things. She remembered when she had brought Qiao Duo¡¯er back, she was as thin as a stick, her skin as dark as charcoal, with many pimples and sores that looked frightening.


    But now Qiao Duo¡¯er had a fair and beautiful complexion, just like a person in a painting.


    With an oval face, willow-leafed eyebrows, bright black eyes, a high and straight nose, and a small mouth, these features perfectly combined together, captivating to look at.


    When she spoke, her face was always accompanied by a light smile. Hmm... She was simply beautiful!


    Forgive her, for she had never been to school and didn¡¯t know how to describe Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s appearance.

 Chapter 271 - 273: Sis, I’ve Got You Covered! _1

    Chapter 271: Chapter 273: Sis, I¡¯ve Got You Covered! _1Anyway, if she were a man, she would definitely marry Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Sister-in-law, you... you are so beautiful. Do you remember? It was me who carried you back from the riverbank," Tie Niu¡¯er said timidly.


    If she hadn¡¯t seen Qiao Duo¡¯er again later, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to recognize her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had only woken up for a short while after being fished out of the water and then passed out, having no idea how she got back.


    She only remembered that when she woke up, there was a man by her side, and he was doing something embarrassing.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected that in just a few months, that man would become the person closest to her.


    "Then I must thank you properly," Qiao Duo¡¯er said politely.


    "It¡¯s nothing; if you really want to thank me, just tell me how I can become fairer. Look at me, I¡¯m so dark, and I have lots of spots on my face," Tie Niu¡¯er said, pursing her lips.


    She inherited her dark complexion from her father, and with her wild nature, she had been tanned to this state.


    Now a grown girl, she found it impossible to become fairer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tie Niu¡¯er and felt helpless about her wheatish skin tone, but she believed she could help with the spots.


    The spots on Tie Niu¡¯er¡¯s face were like hers, all sunspots, which upon closer inspection looked like quail eggs.


    "I used a medicinal powder that I mixed myself. If you don¡¯t mind, I can make some for you to try. If you get an allergic reaction, you should stop using it," she offered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke generously. She had prepared quite a bit of the medicinal powder, and now, applying it every three days, she used it slowly.


    And the medicinal powder would be less effective if it sat for too long, so it made sense to share some with Tie Niu¡¯er.


    She decided not to mention acupuncture; if the girl used it incorrectly, it could lead to serious issues.


    Tie Niu¡¯er said with a smile, "You¡¯re too kind. My face is saved! Look at me, I¡¯m all thick-skinned and tough; I definitely won¡¯t have an allergic reaction. Sister, don¡¯t worry at all!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was so excited that her words started to jumble, not even knowing what she was saying.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh; such a child she was.


    She got up and went inside. She wrapped up some medicinal powder for Tie Niu¡¯er in oil paper and also explained how to use it and the right amount.


    Tie Niu¡¯er, as if receiving a treasure, excitedly hugged Qiao Duo¡¯er: "Sister, I love you to death! Don¡¯t worry; from now on, I¡¯ve got your back. You can do anything you want in Big Willow Village with no worries!"


    She, Tie Niu¡¯er, was all about loyalty; once she acknowledged someone, they were friends for life!


    "Alright, then you must protect me if I get into trouble," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows playfully.


    That mischievous look was even more charming.


    Tie Niu¡¯er said enviously, "Sister, you¡¯re really beautiful. Look at me; I must have been mixed up at birth by my mother. I should have been a man!"


    With her large frame and dark skin, how could she resemble a woman?


    But in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s view, she wasn¡¯t that bad; Tie Niu¡¯er had something of a Western woman about her, with a noble quality in her brows.


    "You¡¯re beautiful too. I like this skin color; the most important thing is to be healthy, unlike me who can¡¯t help out in the fields," Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed.


    Tie Niu¡¯er nodded in agreement; that made sense, and thinking it through made her happy again.


    With her strength, farm families would surely value a daughter-in-law like her.


    "Sister, let¡¯s go to my house. It¡¯s also a good opportunity to let them know what¡¯s going on," Tie Niu¡¯er pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er by the hand.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I¡¯ll go back to get some things. Just wait for me a moment. Sister-in-law, I¡¯ll leave these to you."


    Today there were only a few vegetables to be pickled, including lotus root, Chinese cabbage, peanuts, and water spinach. Hu¡¯s Clan could manage, and she assured Qiao Duo¡¯er that everything would be fine.

 Chapter 272 - 274 Undisplayable_1

    Chapter 272: Chapter 274 Undisplayable_1Just as Big Sister had said, the Song Family members were sitting at the Tie Family¡¯s place, occasionally peering outside.


    Big Sister was actually eager to try out the effectiveness of the medicinal powder, but seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er looking very fragile, she worried that Qiao Duo¡¯er might be bullied, so she decided to stay.


    She didn¡¯t leave until Tan Zhenghong arrived.


    All young ladies love to look beautiful. Although she couldn¡¯t possibly be as pretty as Qiao Duo¡¯er, she hoped to at least be somewhat presentable.


    Tan Zhenghong was a fast walker. He had already gone over to South Mountain and confirmed that there was no issue with the land there.


    Before selling their land, some families would dig up the soil and sell it to brick kilns. His daughter-in-law might not know of such dirty deeds, but he knew them well.


    After waiting some more, Tie Niu and Academician Zhou also arrived.


    With all the necessary people gathered, Tie Niu spoke about the basic situation and pricing of the land, and both families confirmed that there were no problems.


    Although the Song Family was eager to sell the land, their attitude was firm: they insisted on selling at six silver taels per acre, not a copper coin less.


    So, the price was set at twenty-four silver taels in total.


    The village chief frowned involuntarily. He disliked the Song Family¡¯s attitude, as if moving to the town somehow made them superior.


    However, since they were about to move away, he didn¡¯t say much more.


    "Brother Song, if you are certain about selling the land, I will have Elder Mr. Zhou write the land deed," said the village chief.


    Song Ruohao nodded, "That would be very kind, Song is deeply grateful."


    Now was the time of autumn harvest, when every family¡¯s time was precious.


    Although Elder Mr. Zhou didn¡¯t work in the fields, he still had his great-grandson at home waiting for his care, so he promptly took up the pen and wrote the land deed.


    A land deed was not much different from a field deed, but it included phrases like ¡¯voluntarily selling the land to someone¡¯ and ¡¯will never regret it for eternity¡¯.


    Once Elder Mr. Zhou finished writing, Song Ruohao, Tan Zhenghong, and Tie Niu all pressed their handprints on the document.


    This transaction transferred the ownership of the land.


    Song Ruohao received the silver, counted the amount, verified its authenticity, and then tucked it into his sleeve.


    "I¡¯ve delayed everyone¡¯s time. I shall take my leave now," he said.


    Song Ruohao bowed his hands and left in a hurry, as if someone might snatch his silver.


    Tie Niu couldn¡¯t help but comment, "Just someone who can¡¯t hold his head high!"


    Academician Zhou stroked his beard in agreement, "Too impetuous, indeed not good."


    Following tradition, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out two red packets.


    This matter had come up suddenly, and there had been no time to prepare purses, so she had simply used red paper to wrap the copper coins. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said apologetically, "Grandpa Zhou, Uncle Tie, please don¡¯t mind the small amount. Once we¡¯re through this busy period, the Fourth Boss and I will invite you over for a meal, and you mustn¡¯t decline."


    "There¡¯s no need to be so formal," said Elder Mr. Zhou courteously.


    The last meal at the Tan Family was worth three meals at someone else¡¯s house. One must not be ungrateful for what they have.


    Tie Niu nodded as well, "Last time we really owed a lot to Zheng Hong. For just a gesture of help, you are again extending invitations and handing out red packets, I¡¯m quite embarrassed."


    "It¡¯s my fault for causing trouble for Uncle Tie. If Uncle Tie doesn¡¯t blame me, I¡¯m already secretly relieved," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    "Alright, it¡¯s all in the past now. Let¡¯s not talk about these unhappy matters anymore," waved Tie Niu dismissively.


    The whole mess was really the Xiao Family¡¯s fault for being too audacious, daring to collude with bandits!


    If possible, he truly wished the Xiao Family would move away soon too.


    At that moment, Big Sister emerged, her face still dusted with the medicinal powder Qiao Duo¡¯er had given her. Because it contained mung bean powder, the medicine appeared green, which was rather startling at first glance.


    "Dad, you mustn¡¯t take the money from Sister Duo¡¯er!" she exclaimed.

 Chapter 273 - 275 An Embarrassing Incident_1

    Chapter 273: Chapter 275 An Embarrassing Incident_1Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Big girl, don¡¯t make a fuss, this money should go to your father."


    "I¡¯m not being silly, Dad, look at the powder I got from Sister Duo¡¯er, it can remove the spots on my face."


    Big girl pointed to the stuff she had applied to her face.


    The stuff was green and looked quite scary, but anyone who used it knew, she felt very comfortable.


    Tie Niu stuffed the red envelope back to Tan Zhenghong, "Then I really can¡¯t accept this, I still need to pay you for the medicine."


    Medicine was frighteningly expensive, he had quite a few copper coins in his hand, but it definitely wasn¡¯t enough to cover the cost of the medicine.


    "Uncle Tie, you really can¡¯t do this, most of the powder my wife found from the mountain, it¡¯s not any treasure," said Tan Zhenghong in a hurry.


    Seeing the two of them politely refusing back and forth, Big girl spoke up, "This time, no one gives money to anyone, let¡¯s call it even."


    "Alright, let¡¯s all listen to Big girl," Tie Niu said with a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong also stopped fussing and stuffed the silver coins back into his wife¡¯s hands.


    He was a good man, who never hid any private money behind his wife¡¯s back.


    Big girl¡¯s teasing gaze flitted between the two, making Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face feel a bit hot.


    Tie Niu hastily changed the subject, "Today, I won¡¯t keep you guys any longer, once we¡¯re done with the farm work, I¡¯ll have your aunt prepare a table of food, and you all can come together."


    Tan Zhenghong politely thanked Uncle Tie and walked out with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Dad, can I go play with Sister Duo¡¯er?"


    Tie Niu¡¯er blinked, she was fourteen this year, and the family hoped she could stay fair skinned, so they were reluctant to let her go out casually. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But if she had to embroider her dowry at home all day, she was going to go crazy with boredom.


    Tie Niu thought for a moment, his daughter was carefree, while Fourth Boss¡¯s wife was meticulous and always spoke just right, interacting more with her could do no harm, so he agreed.


    He just hoped his daughter could learn to be a bit smarter, to avoid being bullied in her future husband¡¯s home.


    Big girl cheered and then heard Tie Niu say, "Don¡¯t go empty-handed, the persimmons in the backyard are ripe, pick some of the ripe ones to bring over."


    If the spots on Big girl¡¯s face could disappear, even if he had to send over two more acres of land, he was willing to do it.


    "Got it!" Big girl responded.


    However, she still had to wait a bit, Duo¡¯er said it would take half an hour before it took effect.


    She saw that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s house was quite busy, and it was the perfect opportunity to help out.


    If they helped her with the freckles and she didn¡¯t show any gratitude, she would definitely feel uneasy.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo walked back together, having just bought four acres of land, both of them were in a good mood.


    It was tough on Tan Zhenghong, though, with a sudden increase in farm work, but he was happy about it, their days were getting better after all!


    As they passed a cornfield, Qiao Duo¡¯s face turned so red it could drip blood.


    Those uh-uh... ah-ah... sounds, were surely a man and woman doing something in the cornfield.


    Sigh, in broad daylight... it was too damaging to public morals.


    Qiao Duo unconsciously quickened her pace, at this moment she was a bit upset about her excellent hearing.


    "Wife, what¡¯s the matter?" Tan Zhenghong asked weakly.


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "Nothing, just need to hurry home to use the toilet."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t suspect anything and quickly walked back with Qiao Duo.


    They walked quickly, not seeing Lao Guang emerge from the cornfield a bit later, pants in hand and slightly out of breath, but very satisfied.


    At his age, he had not managed to marry a wife, so he relied on unsatisfied women in the village to fulfill his needs.

 Chapter 274 - 276 Enough Roaming!_1

    Chapter 274: Chapter 276 Enough Roaming!_1So besides Lao Guang, he also had a nickname: Fire Rescue Team.


    Whenever any wife in the village was urgently in heat, just a bit of dirty talk would have him rush over to "put out the fire".


    After Lao Guang was satisfied, he would hum a tune on his way back home.


    As for that woman in the cornfield... in a few days, he would have to come back again.


    This time he met his match; his back almost broke, yet that woman still clung to his clothes asking him to continue.


    But, well, he liked such saucy women - they had flavor!


    After Tan Zhenghong dropped Qiao Duo¡¯er home, he went back to the fields, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er speechless; she thought Tan Zhenghong had come back to rest.


    She had only just returned from the village chief¡¯s place; surely she couldn¡¯t have been ¡¯snatched away¡¯ that quickly?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her face, telling herself not to laugh.


    Normally, she could wash the yuba in two to three minutes, but today Qiao Duo¡¯er took three times as long.


    Fortunately, she had sent Sister Lan to rest, or else it would have been embarrassing.


    "Duo¡¯er, you are truly diligent, busy in the fields and still you have chores at home. A woman must cherish herself; don¡¯t always act so tough."


    Suddenly, an overly sweet voice carried over.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip - it was Widow Xu, whom Tan Zhengyuan had brought back.


    "You¡¯re the one with good fortune, aren¡¯t you? After one man dies, you find another to do chores for you," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied.


    After speaking, she continued with her own work, focusing on marinating the yuba. She didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to her.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had just made a fire, and the bottom of the pot still had embers. Adding some leaves and fanning it with a fan quickly revived the fire - very convenient.


    Widow Xu adjusted her hair, pretending not to understand the sarcasm in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words and continued, "You and Fourth Boss are so capable, drying so many mushrooms, enough to last for years." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently cursed, stupid idiot; the mushrooms were for selling. Otherwise, with so many mushrooms, wouldn¡¯t they eat themselves to death?


    In the winter, when boats could sail for two months, vegetables were scarce; that¡¯s when mushrooms could fill the gap.


    "But sister-in-law, could you gather the mushrooms? I¡¯ve just become pregnant, and the smell makes me feel terribly nauseous."


    Widow Xu fanned her nose as if she found the smell repulsive.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er innocently asked, "Sister-in-law, where are you?"


    Widow Xu clenched her teeth - damn Qiao Duo¡¯er, she was obviously mocking her, wasn¡¯t she?


    Currently, she had no official status, but once she birthed a son, she would be Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s wife and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sister-in-law!


    "Duo¡¯er, I said I don¡¯t like the smell of mushrooms, asking you to put them away, otherwise, I¡¯ll vomit," Widow Xu repeated.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before responding, "You said you don¡¯t like this smell, but my mushrooms aren¡¯t dry yet."


    In fact, the mushrooms were already dry, and she was planning to put them away in the next couple of days.


    But just because Widow Xu disliked it, she decided to dry them a couple more days.


    Humph, what could Widow Xu do to her?


    "Can you move them somewhere else?" Widow Xu asked, trying to keep her patience.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "That¡¯s too much trouble; I won¡¯t bother, but I have a better idea."


    "Hmm?" Widow Xu played along and asked.


    "Go back to your own house."


    If you can¡¯t change others, can¡¯t you change yourself?


    Widow Xu clenched her fists. She had finally made her way into the Tan Family¡¯s house, and to think she would leave that easily? Not a chance!


    Since Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t make her see reason, she had to change her target. So she headed towards the third household, where Li Clan should be easier to deal with.


    Being a newcomer, she needed a companion to quickly secure her standing in the Tan Family.

 Chapter 275 - 277 I Have Support_1

    Chapter 275: Chapter 277 I Have Support_1Yesterday, she had overheard two old immortals gossiping and realized that being pregnant was not completely foolproof.


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s mother said that once she gave birth to a son, she would be driven out, and the child would be raised by Hu¡¯s Clan.


    If it was a daughter, both mother and child would be kicked out.


    In other words, no matter what she gave birth to, those Twenty Taels had nothing to do with her.


    Unfortunately, they miscalculated, for she was not someone to be bullied so easily!


    Before Widow Xu could enter the third room, she saw Hu¡¯s Clan approaching.


    "It¡¯s all because of you, a poisonous widow no one wants, inciting others against me once you saw I was pregnant. No wonder you can¡¯t have a son."


    Widow Xu pointed at Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s nose and scolded. As a widow, she had been in more quarrels over the years than Hu¡¯s Clan had had meals.


    Hu¡¯s Clan turned pale but didn¡¯t dare say anything back to Widow Xu.


    Widow Xu was pregnant now. If something happened to her, it would be her own fault.


    Now she and her daughter were dependent on others, and if they were driven out...


    Widow Xu continued, "Feeling guilty, are you? I knew you were up to no good. You think those rotten mushrooms could cause my child to miscarry? Dream on! My son is doing just fine!"


    "Don¡¯t go too far, or I¡¯ll report you to the village chief," Hu¡¯s Clan warned in a low voice.


    Widow Xu scoffed lightly, "Go ahead and accuse Tan Zhengyuan if you want to kill him. I¡¯ll have company on Huangquan Road; what do I have to fear?"


    "If your husband knew you were carrying someone else¡¯s child, he¡¯d be thrilled, wouldn¡¯t he?" Qiao Duo¡¯er shot back.


    To modern ears, this statement might sound like a joke, but to superstitious ancients, it had a lethal impact. She clearly saw Widow Xu¡¯s body shudder.


    Widow Xu¡¯s complexion turned terrible and she immediately fled in panic.


    Before he died, her man was a government official in the jail, known for his violent temper and fondness for getting physical. If she encountered him...


    She didn¡¯t dare think further about the consequences.


    Filled with remorse, Hu¡¯s Clan said, "I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault you¡¯re being wronged."


    "It¡¯s nothing, just a dog bite, really. It has nothing to do with you, no need to worry about it," Qiao Duo replied indifferently.


    Hu¡¯s Clan forced a strained smile and then went back to her chores. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After marinating the tofu skins, Qiao Duo and Hu¡¯s Clan were ready to head to town, just as Da Nier came over with a basket of persimmons.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, these are the persimmons from my house, they¡¯re delicious. You must try some. Oh, are you heading into town?" Da Nier said, handing the persimmons to Qiao Duo.


    Seeing Qiao Duo nod, Da Nier excitedly pleaded, "Sister Duo¡¯er, take me with you!"


    She could help sell the meat because she was loud.


    "That won¡¯t do. Your parents would be worried if they can¡¯t find you," Qiao Duo shook her head.


    "It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll just go tell my parents, and then it¡¯ll be fine. Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right back."


    Da Nier didn¡¯t give Qiao Duo a chance to respond before she turned and ran off.


    Hu¡¯s Clan asked uneasily, "What should we do now?"


    "We¡¯ll wait a bit then. It¡¯s even more worrying if she runs there alone," Qiao Duo said helplessly.


    The little girl was truly sincere, and Qiao Duo wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest that Da Nier would stand them up.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Da Nier ran back into the yard.


    "My dad agreed, and he said you can use our ox cart. Let¡¯s hurry, we mustn¡¯t delay your family¡¯s business. Otherwise, my dad will blame me."


    However, Qiao Duo had already borrowed the ox cart from the Huang Family, and everything was loaded up. Now that Da Nier had arrived, they could depart.

 Chapter 276 - 278: Giving You a Bonus_1

    Chapter 276: Chapter 278: Giving You a Bonus_1The ox cart was driven by Hu¡¯s Clan, with Qiao Duo¡¯er and the elder girl sitting in the back, keeping an eye on things and chatting about this and that.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, your medicinal powder is so useful, why don¡¯t you take it to the town to sell?" the elder girl asked curiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up. That was indeed a good idea.


    Selling cosmetics wasn¡¯t like selling braised meat. With braised meat, you could taste it right away and know the flavor, while cosmetics took time to show effects, so people definitely wouldn¡¯t hand over their silver so readily.


    But once a market was established, it would certainly bring in a steady stream of wealth that nobody could stop.


    The elder girl continued, "I know many sisters in town. If I introduce your medicinal powder to them, they will surely want to buy it. You can package it in palm-sized boxes, and each could sell for at least one tael."


    "I¡¯ll follow your advice, one tael per box. If you sell them, I¡¯ll give you a bonus."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently calculated. The cost of a box of face mask powder was eighty wen, if they sold, how far could silver be?


    The elder girl asked earnestly, "A bonus? You mean you¡¯re going to give me silver?"


    "Yes, if you sell one for one tael, I¡¯ll give you a hundred wen, and I¡¯ll provide you with an unlimited supply of the medicinal powder for free, how about that?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with narrowed eyes.


    The elder girl nodded eagerly, "Then you can¡¯t go back on your word, haha, I¡¯m about to become a rich little miss!"


    She had personally experienced the effects of the medicinal powder; it couldn¡¯t have been better. Plus, with Qiao Duo¡¯er, who had become a great beauty, the sales were bound to be good.


    By then... hehe, she would definitely count money until her hands cramped.


    "You have to work hard then!" Qiao Duo¡¯er patted the elder girl¡¯s shoulder.


    The elder girl patted her chest and said, "Don¡¯t worry, I, the elder girl, have a good reputation. Selling ten or eight boxes would be a breeze for me."


    Afterwards, the usually talkative elder girl fell into an unusual silence, thinking about how to sell the medicinal powder.


    Her initial intention was simple: to share quality goods with friends. Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er was offering her a bonus, she was naturally even more motivated.


    Once the elder girl had more or less thought it through, she returned to her chatty nature and kept talking to Qiao Duo¡¯er non-stop.


    After arriving at the dock, Hu¡¯s Clan set up their table, and the wooden basin was placed on top. Soon, customers gathered around.


    The braised meat stand was already well-known for its taste and fair prices¡ªalmost every day, many people waited at the dock. Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, many regular customers greeted her.


    "Young lady, we haven¡¯t seen you in a long time. Are you perhaps expecting?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "Family matters delayed me. What would you like, madam? I¡¯ll give you a discount."


    The madam didn¡¯t ask further and just asked Qiao Duo¡¯er to weigh two pig¡¯s trotters.


    Because Qiao Duo¡¯er charged her three wen less, the madam happily took her leave.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and Hu¡¯s Clan so joyously busy, the elder girl started to shout out loud, making the stand even busier.


    When there was a lull in customers, Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over a cup of water, "Elder girl, have some water and rest."


    With just a few gulps, the elder girl finished the cup of water and began calling out to customers again.


    Doing business was a novel experience for her, one that nothing could dampen her enthusiasm for.


    When she grew tired of shouting, she finally sat on the ox cart to rest.


    It was truly a case of ¡¯comparisons are odious.¡¯ She was only a year younger than Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was already skilled at earning money, while she... was still a freeloader.


    However, the elder girl was naturally optimistic and soon cheered up.


    If the freckle-removing medicinal powder sold well, by this time next year, she would surely be impressive too.


    Only two hours after arriving at the town, all the braised meat was sold out, and the elder girl helped to move the wooden basin and table onto the ox cart.

 Chapter 277 - 279: Feed Him First_1

    Chapter 277: Chapter 279: Feed Him First_1By the time they returned home, a middle-aged woman was already waiting at the door.


    "Mom, why are you here?" Da Ni¡¯er agilely jumped down from the ox cart.


    Feng Clan chided, "It¡¯s all because of you, you little monkey, I can¡¯t even take care of the work in the fields."


    Her daughter was just like a tomboy in nature, and if she didn¡¯t keep an eye on her for even a moment, she would cause trouble.


    Knowing that her daughter had gone to town, her heart was all aflutter; unable to bear the wait, she came here to meet her, thinking that if Da Ni¡¯er really caused any trouble, an apology in advance wouldn¡¯t hurt and would at least not be too rude.


    "Wife of Fourth Boss, my Da Ni¡¯er is quite wild, she must have caused you a lot of trouble," Feng Clan said apologetically.


    Da Ni¡¯er said discontentedly, "Mom, I¡¯m not that useless, look, Sister Duo¡¯er even gave me Ten Wen Work Money!"


    "Quickly give the money back to Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ll be thankful if you didn¡¯t cause trouble, you girl!"


    Da Ni¡¯er sighed heavily; she had finally done something meaningful today, only to be wronged by her mom like this.


    Alas, how frustrating!


    But she could only blame herself, who asked her to have so many "glorious achievements" in the past?


    "Sister-in-law Tie, Da Ni¡¯er didn¡¯t cause any trouble, she actually helped me and Sister Lan a lot," Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly defended Da Ni¡¯er, or else Da Ni¡¯er¡¯s mouth might hang a gourd of oil.


    Feng Clan asked half-believingly, "My Da Ni¡¯er really didn¡¯t cause trouble?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded again, and only then did Feng Clan believe her.


    However, she still insisted on not taking the work money; since they didn¡¯t disdain her daughter, she should pay them for their work.


    "Da Ni¡¯er worked hard all day, she deserves this work money, don¡¯t refuse it," Qiao Duo¡¯er insisted firmly.


    She always believed that those who put in the effort should be rewarded.


    With that, Feng Clan allowed Da Ni¡¯er to accept the money; this was the first time her eldest daughter had earned her own work money, so she let her keep it. The favor owed to the Tan Family would be repaid by the Tie Family later on.


    Da Ni¡¯er was now happy, "Mom, you can relax, I¡¯ll come and help again tomorrow, Sister Duo¡¯er, you won¡¯t despise me, will you?"


    "Very welcome," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Feng Clan poked Da Ni¡¯er¡¯s forehead, "Then you mustn¡¯t cause any trouble, otherwise I won¡¯t forgive you!"


    Da Ni¡¯er immediately agreed, just being able to come over was good enough.


    Before leaving, Feng Clan still gave a reminder, "Da Ni¡¯er¡¯s grandma said it might rain in a few days, you need to harvest your rice quickly."


    "Thank you, Sister-in-law, I¡¯ll mention it to Zheng Hong later," Qiao Duo said.


    It was said that the elderly could predict the weather, so Qiao Duo took this to heart.


    At nightfall, Tie Niu was embracing his wife. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Annoying, aren¡¯t you tired from all the work during the day?" Feng Clan twisted her body to avoid Tie Niu¡¯s big hand.


    "Did that little work tire me out? Wife, stop squirming," Tie Niu gasped a little.


    His wife was almost forty, still in the prime of her allure, and he didn¡¯t hold back at all, needing her almost every other day.


    Feng Clan pushed away Tie Niu¡¯s hand, "Stop moving, I¡¯m telling you, today Da Ni¡¯er went to town with the Wife of Zheng Hong, and the Wife of Zheng Hong even paid her work money, what should we do?"


    "No problem, once the rice is harvested, we¡¯ll invite them over for a meal. You cook some nice dishes, I¡¯ll also save some good land for them later on, and you can take them some Bi Jing rice, they certainly don¡¯t have this kind of seeds," Tie Niu said.


    He had never been so kind to anyone before, but the Tan Family deserved such treatment.


    After saying that, Tie Niu became even more restless. Feng Clan wanted to say more but was distracted by Tie Niu, she thought, let¡¯s satisfy him first.

 Chapter 278 - 280: People You Can’t Indulge In_1

    Chapter 278: Chapter 280: People You Can¡¯t Indulge In_1The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went to the field together, pulling a rice bucket, to thresh the grains.


    Threshing was simple: the bundled rice was smashed and hit against the horizontal wooden planks inside the rice bucket, causing the grains to fall into the bucket, while the remaining straw could be saved for fire.


    This method was primitive and its drawbacks were obvious.


    That was, too many grains remained on the straw, necessitating a subsequent manual check.


    While picking up grains, Qiao Duo¡¯er reminisced about the threshing machine she saw at the museum.


    That must be more advanced than this.


    It looked approximately like a cylinder with many small iron arches and a pedal which, when stepped on, would cause the cylinder to roll and dislodge the grains.


    Later, with the advent of electricity, the pedal-operated threshing machines were replaced by electric ones, but the basic principle was the same.


    If she studied it well, she should be able to come up with something. It would also be a benefit to humanity.


    Two hours later, the threshing was completed.


    With this, the rice harvest was complete; the next tasks were to plow the land and plant wheat.


    Tan Zhenghong transported the rice home and spread it out in the courtyard to dry.


    If it rained, he would pile it in a corner and cover it with a tarp, waiting for the sun to come out before drying it again.


    In this way, no matter the weather, his rice was safe and sound.


    "Fourth Boss, have you gathered your rice?"


    Tan Zhengyuan came over to ask; his eyes were gleaming, someone could be available to help him with his work.


    "My family just bought land and still needs to build a house; it¡¯s killing us."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t give Tan Zhengyuan a chance to continue; he knew this kind of person couldn¡¯t be indulged. If you helped this year, there would be next year, and when would it ever end?


    So, he refused to dig his own grave.


    Undeterred, Tan Zhengyuan shamelessly said, "I heard it¡¯s going to rain soon. If I can¡¯t finish cutting, what will I use to pay the taxes next half year?"


    "Then, big brother, you better hurry. Look at Tan Zhongzhong, he¡¯s not in good shape but still goes to work in the field."


    Tan Zhongzhong chimed in at the right moment: "Big brother, Fourth Brother, Second Brother¡¯s family has about ten acres of land and they like to shirk. Mom and dad are both out in the fields, you guys shouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. You should go and help out. I can only manage to take care of our own two acres."


    Only when it came time to work did you realize that Second Brother was the laziest, spending half a day in the field and cutting only two small bundles of rice.


    Now the old couple was infuriated; with eleven acres of paddies, how many days would that take to cut?


    Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t surprised in the slightest; Tan Zhengyong was that kind of person.


    His own dry land had been sown by Tan Zhengyong, and the yield of those two acres was less than what others got from one acre.


    Because, halfway through, Tan Zhengyong begrudgingly planted a soybean every meter, the most outrageous part being that you couldn¡¯t see a soybean plant for several meters.


    "When Second Brother didn¡¯t think the land was too much, why should I join in the fuss?"


    Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, recalling how the Second House used to brag so much.


    If he went to help now, wouldn¡¯t he be just degrading himself? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, it was another matter whether he could finish harvesting his own land.


    Tan Zhenghong said nothing. His parents... they had brought it upon themselves. What place did he, their estranged son, have to talk?


    Suddenly realizing he had gone off-topic, Tan Zhengyuan said again, "I¡¯ve only got two acres of paddy fields. I should¡¯ve had enough time, but this year I also have to help your sister-in-law collect rice, now I can¡¯t make it. Fourth Brother, you have to help me out."


    "If you can¡¯t finish harvesting in time, give the land to Sister Lan. Da Ya and Er Ya are both your daughters, don¡¯t go too far."


    Tan Zhenghong kindly reminded him, as in the future his big brother would likely have to rely on his two daughters for support.


    Blocking the way now, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

 Chapter 279 - 281: Are You a Pig Spirit?_1

    Chapter 279: Chapter 281: Are You a Pig Spirit?_1But Tan Zhengyuan walked further and further down the path of defiance, completely ignoring what Tan Zhenghong had said.


    Giving his land to his daughter? Wasn¡¯t that just setting him up for a fall?


    Not a chance!


    Tan Zhengyuan huffed, "If you don¡¯t want to help, forget it!"


    Having said that, he headed for his own house. Thinking about cooking for that woman made him burst with frustration.


    Forget it, for his son¡¯s sake, he would still do the work.


    After all, he and Tan Zhenghong were brothers; he didn¡¯t believe that when the time came, Tan Zhenghong would stand by and watch his crops get ruined by the rain.


    The elders in the village all said it would rain in three days, so those who had already harvested their rice could rest for two days.


    If they planted the wheat and then it rained, the seeds would rot in the ground.


    Everyone was preparing to wait and see for two days; after all, planting winter wheat a few days late wouldn¡¯t have much impact.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had asked Tan Zhenghong how the elders predicted the weather. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said it was because the elders suffered from chronic pains like back and leg aches, which flared up before it rained; they judged how many days until rain based on the severity of the pain.


    This method seemed a bit astonishing, but had been passed down from generation to generation.


    Tan Zhenghong was still busy; he had to order materials for building a house, like bricks and tiles, which all required his attention.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo was marinating meat at home, with Big Girl¡¯s help; this allowed Hu¡¯s Clan to free up some time to take care of the fields.


    Two days later, the grass clippings in the field had dried out.


    Usually, these grass clippings were burned in the field, along with the rice stubble left after harvesting.


    After eating, Tan Zhenghong went to the field with Qiao Duo to set a fire.


    Tan Zhenghong used a rake to gather the grass clippings together, trying to cover as much of the rice stubble as possible.


    "You look like Pig Bajie right now," Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled, "Who is Pig Bajie?"


    "He¡¯s someone who was mistakenly born into a pig¡¯s body, also known as the Pig Spirit. He uses a nine-tooth rake just like you," she explained.


    Now Tan Zhenghong understood. So Qiao Duo was calling him a Pig Spirit.


    He didn¡¯t argue, just threw the rake toward Qiao Duo, who reflexively caught it.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a mischievous tone, "Wife, you play the Pig Spirit for a while. I¡¯m going to get some taro from someone¡¯s place to roast for you to eat."


    Qiao Duo, left in the field, gritted her teeth. This guy was pretty quick on the uptake.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong returned with several taros still covered in mud.


    He gathered up all the grass clippings, put them into a pit he had just dug, lit a fire, and threw in the taros. Then he covered them with more grass clippings. When they were nearly done, he covered them with soil.


    "Once we¡¯ve finished with the five acres, we can dig them out and eat," he said.


    The roasted taros smelled delicious; his wife would certainly like them.


    Qiao Duo had been thinking about them as she worked. When they were done, she couldn¡¯t wait to dig out the taros and eat them.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong had said, the taros were perfectly cooked, but they were too hot. Qiao Duo touched one and immediately drew back her hand.


    Tan Zhenghong alternated hands to hold them, waiting for them to cool enough to peel.


    "Wife, try this, it¡¯s delicious!" Tan Zhenghong offered a taro close to Qiao Duo¡¯s face.


    Sympathizing, Qiao Duo took a bite. It was indeed fragrant and slightly better than roasted sweet potatoes.


    She wanted to take it herself but was stopped by Tan Zhenghong. The taro was still hot, and he could handle it with his rough skin; but Qiao Duo, with her delicate skin, definitely could not.


    So Qiao Duo had to eat it while being fed by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands.


    After finishing one, Tan Zhenghong peeled another.

 Chapter 280 - 282 I’ll Carry You_1

    Chapter 280: Chapter 282 I¡¯ll Carry You_1The two of them huddled together, eating and letting out joyful laughter from time to time.


    A local girl who came over to find someone couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "You two are so close in the field, you¡¯ve even made my face blush."


    "There¡¯s some more roasted over here, come and eat, it¡¯ll just shut your mouth," Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly.


    She didn¡¯t realize that her red ears had already betrayed her.


    The local girl shook her head, "This was specially roasted by Brother Zheng Hong for you, I won¡¯t join in on the fun. If I want to eat, I¡¯ll just have my dad and brother make it for me."


    I just don¡¯t know if taro infused with the taste of love is any more delicious?


    Tan Zhenghong stuffed the last piece of taro into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth, then asked, "Big girl, did you come over here for a reason?"


    "My dad and mom want you two to come over for dinner tonight, take your time eating, I¡¯m heading back first."


    The local girl winked playfully, all she wanted to say was she was so envious it could kill a person!


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband could respond, she hurried back. Ah, if only she had known these two were like this... she wouldn¡¯t have come!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "Hurry up and finish eating, we still have work to do at home!"


    The taro wasn¡¯t so hot anymore, and the two of them quickly finished eating it.


    "Oh no! My foot¡¯s gone numb."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned, she hadn¡¯t felt it while sitting, but now that she moved, it was as if countless needles were poking her.


    Tan Zhenghong helped Qiao Duo¡¯er up, then squatted down, "Wife, let me carry you."


    "I don¡¯t want that, it would be so embarrassing if others saw," Qiao Duo¡¯er said coyly.


    "You¡¯re my wife, what¡¯s there to be embarrassed about, get on!"


    Tan Zhenghong urged, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still didn¡¯t move.


    He leaned in closer to Qiao Duo¡¯er and forcefully picked her up on his back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hit Tan Zhenghong a couple of times, "Mmm... Tan Zhenghong, don¡¯t touch my legs, it feels so awkward."


    "Keep your voice down, or others will get the wrong idea."


    Tan Zhenghong advised, the long moan that just escaped her lips had turned his bones to mush.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want others to hear such a pleasant sound.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, bowing her head, bit down on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, this man could spout nonsense all day long!


    "Zheng Hong, what¡¯s wrong with your wife?" a young wife asked with concern.


    "Nothing, she just twisted her ankle by accident," Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly explained.


    If others knew the real reason, wouldn¡¯t they just die laughing?


    Even so, the young wife couldn¡¯t help but feel a touch of envy, are all the good men really other people¡¯s husbands?


    The young wife couldn¡¯t help but complain, "You useless thing, look at Zheng Hong, he¡¯s capable and also tender to his wife. Unlike you, I¡¯m worked to death and still you make me cut rice!"


    "If you were as pretty as his wife, I would worship you every day!"


    "You¡¯re gonna get it!"


    The young wife stood with her hands on her hips, holding a sickle, full of vigor.


    "His wife doesn¡¯t even hit people, unlike you, always so fierce every day!"


    With that, the man quickly took off to save his life.


    He hadn¡¯t gone far when the thunderous roar of his ¡¯tigress¡¯ at home reached him.


    The man quickly tried to please, "Wife, I was just joking, if you¡¯re tired, go sit down and rest a bit, I¡¯ll be done soon."


    "Hmph, good that you know what¡¯s good for you, hurry up and work, the sooner it¡¯s done, the sooner we can relax."


    The young wife went back to work, his words suddenly making all her hard work seem worth it.


    In fact, every home has its own happiness, there¡¯s no need to compare, no need at all. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 281 - 283 Exclusive Territory_1

    Chapter 281: Chapter 283 Exclusive Territory_1As Qiao Duo¡¯er lay on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s broad back, she felt a bit dreamy¡ªit was as if she had morphed into the heroine of an idol drama...


    Although Tan Zhenghong was no prince, he had given her the best of his affection, and she was content.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er assertively said, "You¡¯re not allowed to carry anyone else in the future."


    This place was hers now; from here on out, it would be her exclusive territory!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands, supporting Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s legs, tightened slightly, "Wife, I am all yours, everywhere!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in satisfaction, thinking if there was any part of him that wasn¡¯t hers, she would simply chop it off.


    She indeed had an illness, one called obsession with cleanliness.


    They were almost home, so she struggled to get down from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back to avoid being teased by the big girl once she saw them.


    Upon entering the yard, where the big girl was previously chatting with a member of the Hu¡¯s Clan, she promptly shut her mouth.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er looking at her with ill intent, the big girl had a brain fart, "Why didn¡¯t you two eat a little longer?"


    Wasn¡¯t she just outing herself for talking about them eating roasted sweet potatoes?


    The big girl then said, "Sister Lan, you just asked me to get the basket, right? I¡¯ll go get it."


    "It¡¯s okay; Duo¡¯er won¡¯t do anything to you."


    Mrs. Hu said with a smile, Qiao Duo¡¯er might be fierce at times, but it was always for a reason; she was actually very nice to people most of the time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er softly said, "That¡¯s under normal circumstances, but when it¡¯s not, I don¡¯t know what I might do." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, I know I was wrong; please spare me this time!"


    The big girl quickly begged for mercy, she was terrified of being tickled, and unfortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s One Finger Martial Art was formidable, so she surrendered before Qiao Duo¡¯er made a move.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "All right then, get to work quickly. If you¡¯re late, you won¡¯t be able to go to your family¡¯s house."


    The big girl stopped fooling around, "I¡¯ll get right to work, okay?"


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t go, her parents would nag her again.


    There was nothing the big girl feared more than being nagged at.


    In the evening, after selling the braised meat, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er went home to change clothes before heading to the Tie Family¡¯s house.


    The big girl had been urgent, and they had just managed to convince her to let them go home first.


    As soon as they arrived at the Tie Family¡¯s doorway, they were greeted by the Tie Niu Couple and the big girl, followed by three young men, her brothers.


    The eldest and the second had followed in Tie Niu¡¯s footsteps, both tough men.


    The Third Boss, the youngest in the family, was only around eight or nine years old, resembling the Feng Clan in both behavior and appearance and was said to be studying at a private school in town.


    "Uncle Tie, Sister-in-law Tie."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted them while handing over the gifts they had prepared.


    "Why are you kids being so formal, bringing gifts just to have a meal!" Mrs. Feng chided.


    The Tie Family had invited Tan Zhenghong and his wife to dinner to make up for the big girl causing them trouble, and now that they had brought gifts, the hosts felt even more embarrassed.


    "Sister-in-law Tie, this is just a small token from my wife and me, please accept it."


    Mrs. Feng took the box, "Then thank you both. But don¡¯t do this again. Come in quickly, you both must be exhausted from all the work today!"


    As soon as the big girl arrived home, she had started bustling about cooking. With the help of her daughters-in-law, all the dishes were already prepared.


    She gestured for Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong to take their seats.


    The Tie Family had not yet divided the household; the eldest and second sons had already taken wives and had children, resulting in a large number of family members. Therefore, Mrs. Feng simply set up two tables, with men and women sitting separately.


    That way, the men could enjoy their drinks, and the women wouldn¡¯t be bothered by the smell of smoke and alcohol. It was better for everyone.

 Chapter 282 - 284: Having a Treasure at Home_1

    Chapter 282: Chapter 284: Having a Treasure at Home_1Big Sis knew how to do business, and she had already hawked the medicine powder to the family like a good salesperson.


    All women love beauty, and the females in Big Sis¡¯s household were all straightforward types. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship in the Tie Family was also very harmonious, so there was an endless stream of chatter at the dinner table.


    Old Lady Tie also knew a bit of medicine, so she could chime in with a few words.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also shared with them several easy-to-follow beauty tips, such as soaking red dates in tea or using cucumber slices.


    All the Big Sis took them down seriously.


    They were having a good time chatting on one side, and on the other, they were having even more fun drinking.


    Except for Third Brother Tie, everyone else had switched to big bowls for drinking alcohol.


    Tan Zheng Hong had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but he hadn¡¯t drunk in a long while, so he was having a bit of trouble keeping up with Tie Niu, who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.


    After a few rounds of toasts, Tan Zheng Hong waved his hands, no longer wanting to drink.


    But Tie Niu pretended to be angry and said, "Zheng Hong, I¡¯m your elder, if I pour you a drink, you can¡¯t refuse!"


    "Uncle Tie, if I drink any more I¡¯ll be drunk," Tan Zheng Hong quickly said.


    "You old coot, don¡¯t get Zheng Hong drunk. It¡¯s busy farming season, so have some sense!"


    The Feng Clan hurriedly reminded him, as drinking like this would definitely make it impossible to get up the next day.


    Tie Niu had a thing for drinking, and because he had met someone he liked today, he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    Waving his hand, Tie Niu said, "What are you talking about? Zheng Hong, drink up. My mom said it¡¯s going to rain tomorrow, so we don¡¯t have to go to the fields. You can just cuddle with your wife and sleep all day, no problem."


    "You little rascal, drinking ruins your health, and you¡¯re not allowed to drink anymore!"


    As soon as Old Lady Tie spoke, Tie Niu became obedient and let Eldest Brother Tie put away the alcohol. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Feng Clan said with a smile, "It¡¯s still mom who has the final say. Our words are useless compared to just one of hers."


    "You just spoil him too much. Next time he gets drunk, just beat him with a stick, and I guarantee there won¡¯t be a next time!"


    Old Lady Tie felt helpless towards the Feng Clan who always failed to handle Tie Niu.


    She had no idea how many solutions she had proposed, and the Feng Clan never acted on them, always doting on her son.


    Probably, Old Lady Tie would never admit in her lifetime that her son was spoiled by his wife; she was contented in her heart.


    Dissatisfied, Tie Niu said, "Old Lady, I definitely can¡¯t be your real son, you¡¯re even inciting my wife to bully me!"


    "So now you call me old? I¡¯m only sixty!" Old Lady Tie was very angry.


    "Dad, don¡¯t talk nonsense, my grandma is still young, nowhere near as old as you, you antique!"


    "Grandma, don¡¯t be angry, you are the youngest."


    The women¡¯s table all supported Old Lady Tie, and seeing everyone say she wasn¡¯t old, her mood instantly improved.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but laugh, realizing that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law were not necessarily natural enemies.


    With the old lady being so open-minded and lovely, it was no wonder that the Tie Family, with more than a dozen people, lived so harmoniously.


    Having an elder is like having a treasure; Old Lady Tie was the best explanation.


    Although Old Lady Tie stopped Tie Niu from continuing his drinking antics in time, Tan Zheng Hong still had a flushed face, guessing he was still somewhat inebriated.


    When sending Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others out, the Feng Clan said apologetically, "I¡¯m really sorry. Later on, I¡¯ll definitely have a serious talk with Big Sis¡¯s dad. He¡¯s already at that age, and yet he is still so reckless."


    "Auntie, it¡¯s okay, Zheng Hong is all right. He just needs to sleep it off when we get home," Qiao Duo said.


    Qiao Duo glanced at Tan Zheng Hong, who cooperated by letting out a burp from the alcohol. He was really sabotaging the mood.


    The Feng Clan hurriedly said to Eldest Brother Tie, "You must escort them home. Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m really sorry about this."


    Eldest Brother Tie immediately proceeded to see Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zheng Hong home.

 Chapter 283 - 285: Escape by Oneself

    Chapter 283: Chapter 285: Escape by OneselfAfter returning home, Qiao Duo¡¯er rummaged through the basket of medicine and pulled out some kudzu flowers, also handing some to Eldest Brother Tie, "These are for sobering up, you can steep them in water and drink."


    "Thank you, I¡¯ll be heading back now."


    After saying that, Eldest Brother Tie left. Tan Zhenghong was drunk, a grown man like him shouldn¡¯t stay too long.


    Hot water that Hu¡¯s Clan had prepared was in the pots on the clay stove, two big pots full enough for their baths.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then washed the kudzu flowers and began to steep them on the stove.


    "Tan Zhenghong, can you bathe by yourself?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded dumbly, standing up to start undressing.


    Outer clothing, undershirt, and finally, even the big underwear were removed.


    The stark-naked Tan Zhenghong asked, "Wife, where do I bathe?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only grit her teeth; forget it, she wouldn¡¯t stoop to argue with a drunkard.


    Cough cough, actually, she had no place to criticize Tan Zhenghong since she had behaved much worse than him when she had gotten drunk last time.


    "Go behind the curtain; the water is already poured."


    Tan Zhenghong grunted affirmatively and obediently went behind the curtain, and only after a while did Qiao Duo¡¯er remember to bring in clothes and a towel.


    It was all due to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s great physique, she got absent-minded without realizing it...


    "Wife, why are you molesting me?" Tan Zhenghong flashed a smile at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Who¡¯s molesting you? Hurry up and wash, then get dressed before coming out."


    Was she trying to molest Tan Zhenghong? It was clearly he who had stripped himself, and she couldn¡¯t avert her eyes even if she wanted to.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong came out, the kudzu flower water was ready.


    Tan Zhenghong cooled the concoction with a blow before drinking it down, then went to sleep.


    His tolerance to alcohol was quite good; if it weren¡¯t for his severely flushed face and somewhat vacant gaze, no one would suspect that he was drunk.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s conclusion was premature; she hadn¡¯t been bathing for long when she heard the sound of the door.


    That guy better not have run away from home!


    Shocked by the thought, she hurriedly finished her bath, dressed, and went out to look for him.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong was only squatting by the well, brushing his teeth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er breathed a sigh of relief and simply squatted next to Tan Zhenghong to brush her teeth as well.


    By the time she was done, Tan Zhenghong was still brushing¡ªancient toothbrushes were very hard, not comparable to the later improved versions, and prolonged brushing could easily lead to bleeding gums, so she had to take it easy.


    With the way Tan Zhenghong was brushing, weren¡¯t his teeth going to be brushed away?


    "If you keep brushing, there won¡¯t be any teeth left to brush, let¡¯s go back."


    After washing up, Tan Zhenghong lay down on the bed again like a well-behaved baby.


    A little while later, Tan Zhenghong scooted over to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s side, "Wife, hurry and kiss me."


    "Get away!" Qiao Duo¡¯er swatted away Tan Zhenghong¡¯s restless wolf¡¯s paw.


    Tan Zhenghong pouted and moved closer, "Then I¡¯ll kiss you. I brushed really clean, you smell, there¡¯s a hint of mint."


    He was acting like a kindergarten kid looking for a sweet from the teacher.


    He was indeed looking for a sweet, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was his sweet.


    "Tan Zhenghong, don¡¯t move about, go to sleep right now," Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    If it had been before, he certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to move recklessly, but today, fueled by alcohol, his courage was much bolstered, and when Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t cooperate, he simply pressed down on top of her. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a darkened face, "Tan Zhenghong, if you keep this up, I¡¯m going to beat you."


    Before she could finish, her lips were sealed by something soft.


    So had he been vigorously brushing his teeth just to kiss her? It seemed that was the case.


    The one thing he couldn¡¯t stand was her being disgusted by him.

 Chapter 284 - 286 Taking Advantage to Do Evil_1

    Chapter 284: Chapter 286 Taking Advantage to Do Evil_1"Wife, you must be so hot, let me help you take off your clothes." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gaze seemed so innocent that one could hardly bear to refuse him.


    Pfft, how could he possibly be innocent if he¡¯s thinking about undressing a girl!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head to one side, her face involuntarily heating up, well... at most just that little bit.


    They¡¯d been married for so long, and this was naturally the next step; that nothing had happened between them so far was indeed rare.


    She comforted herself with these thoughts, but her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding uncontrollably.


    "Such a good girl!" Tan Zhenghong pecked Qiao Duo¡¯er on the face, taking her silence as consent.


    The next second, his wolfish paws moved towards the clasps, then to the waistband.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s movements were slow, as if he were handling a rare treasure, yet this pace was torturous for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Better to die early and be reincarnated quickly; it¡¯d be done faster rather than twisting and turning, but some people just dawdled.


    Even though he was slow, he still managed to strip Qiao Duo¡¯er down to just her bellyband.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered her bellyband with both hands, "Tan Zhenghong, getting frisky while drunk can harm your health, take it easy or you might not be able to use it later."


    "It won¡¯t stop working, it gets hard just by looking at you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er choked on her own saliva, the intoxicated Tan Zhenghong was really wild!


    Tan Zhenghong helped Qiao Duo¡¯er sit up; he was sitting, so Qiao Duo¡¯er could lean against his shoulder, and he suddenly discovered the bellyband¡¯s loose knot was right at his fingertips.


    As a man prepared to devour his wife, could he resist doing something?


    So, without any preparation on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s part, her bellyband gloriously fell off, leaving nothing hidden from view when looking down.


    The bastard took advantage of her when she was coughing!


    She thought she was always alert, yet she had no clue when he had undone the knot behind her neck!


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose, afraid he might get a nosebleed by accident.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "What¡¯s there to look at? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t seen it before!"


    "Wife, you don¡¯t understand, you look better each time!" Tan Zhenghong immediately praised without hesitation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes countless times, and after she had expressed her feelings, Tan Zhenghong pounced on her again, and she was pinned down.


    With his previous not-so-successful experiences and after researching the art of love-making, Tan Zhenghong had greatly improved his technique.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Qiao Duo¡¯er felt as though she were floating on clouds, completely losing the initiative.


    Two hours later, they finally quieted down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s breathing was unsteady, her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow, as moments ago Zheng Hong¡¯s kisses and caresses had compelled her to surrender.


    Even now, her mind was still ablaze with fireworks, bright and colorful.


    After resting for a while longer, she suddenly remembered something she wanted to clarify.


    "Were you pretending to be drunk?"


    "Wife, I wasn¡¯t drunk at all," Tan Zhenghong replied immediately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes; people who are drunk always say they¡¯re not drunk, while those who aren¡¯t drunk wouldn¡¯t say they are, so she was confused.


    At the very last moment, just when he was about to stop, he grabbed her hand.


    Could a drunk person have such self-control?


    But if he wasn¡¯t drunk, he often got confused, and right now he still looked sleepy.


    Tan Zhenghong curled Qiao Duo¡¯er into his arms, mumbling, "Wife, go to sleep, we have to wake up early to harvest the rice tomorrow."


    Now Qiao Duo¡¯er was sure, Tan Zhenghong had indeed had too much to drink.


    Otherwise, if their rice could go into the granary, why would he still be fixated on harvesting it?

 Chapter 285 -s 286-287_1

    Chapter 285: Chapters 286-287_1After resting a bit longer, she suddenly remembered there was something she needed to figure out.


    "Were you faking being drunk?"


    "Wife, I wasn¡¯t drunk at all," Tan Zhenghong quickly responded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes; people who were drunk always claimed they weren¡¯t, and those who weren¡¯t drunk wouldn¡¯t say they were, so she couldn¡¯t tell.


    Just when it was almost over, he had stopped and then grabbed her hand.


    Could someone who was drunk have such self-control?


    But if he wasn¡¯t drunk, he often got confused, and now he was still sleepy and groggy.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er into his arms and murmured, "Wife, go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow morning to harvest rice."


    Now Qiao Duo¡¯er was sure, Tan Zhenghong really had drunk too much.


    Otherwise, how could he still think about harvesting rice when their own was already stored in the granary?


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er was awakened by a series of knocks on the door, her eyebrows creasing in annoyance. Couldn¡¯t they let someone sleep properly?


    "Fourth Boss, haven¡¯t you gotten up yet?" Wang Clan shouted in discontent.


    Now she was even more certain that it was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face that had bewitched Fourth Boss, leaving him completely infatuated.


    If they hadn¡¯t gotten up yet, it must have been because they were up too late last night; no wonder Third Boss had come over to eavesdrop at the wall.


    Third Boss¡¯s wife was pregnant and couldn¡¯t move much, yet she had to hear all the noises from this room day after day, wouldn¡¯t that make her angry? Wouldn¡¯t she need to find a way to vent?


    In other words, Qiao Duo¡¯er had managed to wreak havoc on both her sons, truly shameless!


    Tan Zhenghong called out, "I¡¯ll be right up, whatever it is, we can talk when I come out."


    He got dressed in no time and tied his hair before heading out, with Wang Clan urging him twice in the meantime.


    As soon as the door opened, Wang Clan said irritably, "It took you ages to get up, don¡¯t get out of line with her just because you¡¯re young, or you¡¯ll regret it later!"


    "Mother, it was my fault for drinking too much yesterday. What is it you wanted?"


    Before Wang Clan could finish, Tan Zhenghong cut her off. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He just couldn¡¯t bear to hear a single word disparaging his wife.


    Only then did Wang Clan remember the pressing matter: "Your second brother still has six acres of land to be harvested, and the weather doesn¡¯t look good today. Looks like it¡¯s going to rain in the afternoon, so I came to ask for your help."

 Chapter 286 - 288: Teach Him a Lesson_1

    Chapter 286: Chapter 288: Teach Him a Lesson_1Just thinking about all that land to harvest gives her a headache.


    "That¡¯s my second brother and sister-in-law¡¯s land. It¡¯s up to them to figure something out, and even if I went, I wouldn¡¯t be able to harvest all six acres," Tan Zhenghong immediately refused.


    Why should he intervene when his second brother only cuts a few stalks a day and his sister-in-law is still staying with her own family? S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if it¡¯s his own mother, she shouldn¡¯t bully him like this.


    Wang Clan said angrily, "Fine, if you don¡¯t help, your father and I will harvest the fields. We won¡¯t return until it¡¯s done. If we die from exhaustion, don¡¯t you think about living a good life either!"


    Everyone would curse Tan Zhenghong for being unfilial!


    "Have you forgotten what this is?" Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a piece of paper.


    Originally, she didn¡¯t plan to intervene in a mother-son dispute, but the Wang Clan¡¯s sense of entitlement was too much for her to bear.


    If Tan Zhenghong were to help, it would be out of filial piety, not obligation.


    Wang Clan¡¯s face changed as she reached out to snatch the paper.


    What else could make Qiao Duo¡¯er smugly present it other than the Relationship Termination Letter?


    She dreamed of destroying this cursed document!


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er was quicker, lifting the paper above her head where she had the clear height advantage.


    Wang Clan jumped twice in an attempt to grab it but failed each time.


    Tan Zhenghong said resolutely, "Mother, I won¡¯t help my second brother with his behavior. You better hire someone instead."


    If they didn¡¯t hurry, it would be too late.


    Besides, his second brother would never learn today¡¯s lesson if he didn¡¯t suffer some hardships.


    "You... you¡¯re heartless! Even with that thing, you came from my womb. You¡¯re so unfilial; you¡¯ll be struck by lightning for this!" she exclaimed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded calmly, "With shameless people like you and my second brother-in-law around, why would my husband ever want to leave this world?"


    She loathed the argument that "I gave birth to you, thus I am your heaven."


    Did she give birth to children just to enjoy luxury and have someone to serve and enslave her?


    Tan Zhenghong was a human being, not an unfeeling beast!


    "You... you despicable wench, ever since you returned to the Tan Family, there has not been a single day of peace, Star of Misfortune!"


    Wang Clan had completely forgotten about the need to please Tan Zhenghong.


    She was impulsive by nature, and now, being consistently outmaneuvered by Qiao Duo¡¯er, she couldn¡¯t control her fury.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke with a stern expression, "If it weren¡¯t for my wife, I might not even be alive. If you have time, you should hire some help. Ninety percent of the village has already harvested."


    The rest either rented too much land or were simply lazy.


    These were few, yet the Tan Family accounted for two of them.


    He guessed that Tan Zhengyuan would show up before long.


    Wang Clan grumbled, "Don¡¯t think I¡¯m unaware of your intentions. Now that you¡¯ve made it, you look down even on your own brothers and parents!"


    Unable to gain an advantage here, she hurried out to find help. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t just let the rice rot in the fields, could she?


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s troubled face, Qiao Duo asked, "Do you think I¡¯m meddling too much?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "Not at all. I know I can¡¯t help with this. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll go make it for you."


    He wanted to say that his mother¡¯s behavior was mostly instigated by his sister-in-law, but considering all the things his mother had done, he was ashamed to say so.


    Qiao Duo was his wife; it was permissible for her not to be favored by his mother.


    But what about him? Even being her own son, wasn¡¯t she pushing him toward death?


    "If my mother doesn¡¯t cause any more trouble, I might consider treating her better," Qiao Duo said at last.

 Chapter 287 - 289 Heart Bleeding_1

    Chapter 287: Chapter 289 Heart Bleeding_1Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "You¡¯ve been good enough, I won¡¯t let them bother you anymore."


    Given another month, he would be able to move away from here with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Mm, go cook the noodles, my hands are sore, I can¡¯t work today." Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, as for why her hands were sore, that was a question for Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong scratched his head, "No problem, just call me if you want to do anything."


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er was enjoying the love-filled noodles made by Tan Zhenghong, topped with an egg.


    The simple egg noodles greatly appealed to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s appetite.


    "Why don¡¯t you have an egg in your bowl?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong honestly said, "My egg is at the bottom of the bowl."


    "If I find out there¡¯s no egg in your bowl, I¡¯m going to kill you." Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, someone¡¯s lying skills were seriously lacking!


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong confess, "There was only one egg left, I¡¯ll go to someone else¡¯s house to buy one later, we¡¯ll steam it for lunch."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally nodded, but still left the egg white for Tan Zhenghong, she never liked to eat alone.


    Tan Zhenghong ate the egg white with relish, silently swearing in his heart that he would be even better to Qiao Duo¡¯er in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was the person in the world who loved him the most, how could he bear to disappoint her?


    By this time, the Wang Clan had already settled on a price, her heart bleeding.


    Forty Wen per day, if it rained at noon it would be Twenty Wen, less than half a day would be counted as half a day, providing lunch.


    Moreover, work would stop if it rained, absolutely no working in the rain.


    It couldn¡¯t get any darker, could it?


    The usual rate for casual labor was at most Twenty Wen a day, now it was that price for half a day, but what could be done?


    If one was reluctant to spend the money, then wait for the rice to lie in the field, the grains to fall on the ground, either to rot or to sprout, by then the loss would be much more than just these wages.


    And these laborers were acting as arrogant as lords, saying with such a small field why don¡¯t you hurry up and finish harvesting?


    She was giving them money to earn, so why all the complaints?


    The Wang Clan clenched her teeth and could only nod in agreement. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She hired twelve people, so with her family¡¯s help, the rice should be harvested by noon.


    After the harvest, they would transport the rice home to thresh it. Even if it rained, they could still work, it was a bit troublesome, but that¡¯s how they could save some silver.


    Twelve people... it would cost at least Two Hundred Forty Wen Money, damn it!


    The Wang Clan returned home with a dark face, picked up a stick, and roused up both the eldest and second sons.


    She would normally let their laziness slide, but now it was the busy farming season, how could they be so slack?


    Still angry over the matter with Widow X¨², she only hired help for the second son¡¯s family, not caring how the eldest son¡¯s family would cope.


    Tan Zhengyuan hadn¡¯t even combed his hair, taking a pancake and grumbling about the unjust Wang Clan who favored one child so unfairly. He was the eldest son, the one who would hold the Spirit Tablet and toss the fire basin in the future, yet why was he always less favored than the second son?


    If it were about being lazy, wasn¡¯t the second son even lazier than him?


    He had harvested two acres of land these past few days, while the second son had at most harvested half an acre.


    To achieve his goal of getting help, he specifically went to the west wing to complain to Tan Zhongzhong.


    Tan Zhenghong should hear it and come to help, right?


    "We all have the same father and mother, so why is there such a difference in treatment? All the good things go to the second son¡¯s family, are we just destined to be unlucky?"


    Tan Zhengyuan spoke so vehemently that he sprayed Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s face with saliva.


    Tan Zhongzhong moved his stool aside and found a new spot, dodging Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s range of attack.

 Chapter 288 - 290: Freshly Baked Idiot_1

    Chapter 288: Chapter 290: Freshly Baked Idiot_1Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s attention had always been on the Fourth Boss¡¯s house, so he didn¡¯t notice Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s disdain as he continued talking.


    "I think our mother only gave birth to Second Brother, the rest of us seem to be picked up..."


    Tan Zhongzhong said impatiently, "Big Brother, I¡¯m not criticizing you, but for those few plots of land, is it worth all this fuss? I finished cutting in three days."


    "I¡¯ve forgotten that you got Twenty Taels of Silver, and our mother even helps take care of your child. Now only me and the Fourth Boss¡¯s house haven¡¯t gained any benefits."


    Tan Zhengyuan said sourly, you should know that Tan Zhongzhong used to be as close as brothers with him.


    And now he won¡¯t even speak up for him, just because he had a son?


    Fortunately, Widow X¨² was pregnant; otherwise, even his own brothers would look down on him!


    "My service wasn¡¯t free for our mother, I gave her One Tael of Silver. Besides, there¡¯s no use complaining; just hurry up and have Widow X¨² give you a son."


    Tan Zhengyuan snorted softly, "Xiao Fu was raised single-handedly by Mother, so why should we have to pay silver for Xiao Fu now?"


    "Ah, Xiao Fu is crying again, I¡¯d better go back and check."


    After saying that, Tan Zhongzhong hurried back to the house.


    Speaking of the One Tael of Silver, he still felt annoyed about it. That day, Xiao Fu had scraped his skin, and after saying a few words, it caused his mother to storm off angrily.


    It was hard to get her to agree to help again, and in the end, it took One Tael of Silver to settle the matter.


    Alas, they¡¯re all grandchildren, but they are treated differently in the end.


    Fortunately, he had his child early. By the time the eldest and the Fourth Boss have theirs, he probably won¡¯t get anything at all.


    Tan Zhengyuan cursed Tan Zhongzhong under his breath¡ªdamn it, now he was left all alone. How was he supposed to carry on with his act?


    Over there, the Fourth Boss¡¯s couple were each doing their part¡ªone splitting bamboo, the other tending the fire, and neither of them bothering with him!


    Realizing indirect tactics were fruitless, Tan Zhengyuan could only swallow his pride and approach them.


    "Fourth Boss, we¡¯re brothers after all. I still have three acres of land that I haven¡¯t finished cutting. Can you help me out? Just half a day¡¯s work, and it won¡¯t delay your own business," he said, followed by a couple of dry laughs.


    Thinking about his recent actions, he felt as foolish as a freshly minted simpleton. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The couple from the Fourth Boss¡¯s house must have seen right through his little scheme.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "If you want our help, that¡¯s fine. We get half of the rice we cut¡ªno, that¡¯s not right, we can¡¯t cut that much. We have to include Sister Lan."


    Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, "Why don¡¯t you just rob someone?"


    "I am robbing you. If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t ask for our help," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied lazily.


    Even the Wang Clan, with all their fierceness, agreed to pay people Forty in wages a day, right?


    This is what they call being forced by the circumstances. Understand?


    It took Tan Zhengyuan quite a while to squeeze out a response, "You... how can you have the nerve to ask for half?"


    "You know very well who earned the money to buy the land and who scattered the seeds in the field. It had nothing to do with you, right? Giving you half for free already, shouldn¡¯t you be the one feeling ashamed? But with your thick skin, I don¡¯t expect you to feel embarrassed," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her tone matching her occasional contemptuous glance.


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s lips twitched; he admitted that Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke the harsh truth.


    But how many people like to hear the truth?


    He clenched his fists, only to see Tan Zhenghong stand up.


    "Big Brother, what my wife wants is what I want. Don¡¯t bother her; she likes her peace and quiet," Tan Zhenghong declared.


    Tan Zhenghong, young and strong, radiated a much more imposing aura than Tan Zhengyuan, who had been indolent for years. Tan Zhengyuan immediately abandoned the idea of hitting Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    With one mouth sharp and the other fist strong in the Fourth Boss¡¯s house, he could only submit.

 Chapter 289 - 291 Was Teased Again?_1

    Chapter 289: Chapter 291 Was Teased Again?_1Tan Zhengyuan said resentfully, "Even brothers are unreliable, neighbors are more dependable." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So asking someone to come and help should do the trick!


    Hiring help for a day only costs forty wen, much cheaper than giving them half of the grain!


    "Husband, what kind of mischief are you thinking of? Hurry up and share it with me," Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong.


    The little guy, could she not know his petty schemes?


    He must be concocting some nasty plot!


    Tan Zhenghong said with a sly smile, "You go and tell Sister Lan to sharpen the sickles; we¡¯ve got work to do soon."


    "You mean Tan Zhengyuan won¡¯t find anyone to help?" Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately understood.


    "Yeah, the Xiao Family has over two hundred acres of land, all farmed by themselves; they only hire short-term laborers during the busy farming season. This time the rain came early, so they must have asked the village folks to help. Plus, with the others in the village not having finished reaping, there aren¡¯t enough hands available. And at this hour, where is he going to find people?" Tan Zhenghong explained softly, so soon Tan Zhengyuan would have to come back.


    The Xiao Family was known for being stingy; most villagers didn¡¯t think much of them, so everyone prioritized other places over the Xiao Family.


    But by this time, the remaining people had already gone to the Xiao Family to cut rice.


    The Xiao Family always paid by the acre; the earlier you went, the more money you could make.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said in dissatisfaction, "You sure know a lot about the Xiao Family¡¯s situation."


    "Wife, you¡¯re wronging me," Tan Zhenghong said, feigning hurt.


    This was common knowledge in the village, so why was it suddenly about him knowing the Xiao Family?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tiptoed and bit Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, "From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to talk about the Xiao Family!"


    His ear felt a warm sensation along with a slight sting, and Tan Zhenghong just felt all his blood rush to that area again.


    So his wife was teasing him again? And in the yard!


    "I¡¯m going to tell Sister Lan!"


    After saying that, Qiao Duo¡¯er ran off, legs fleeing fast; she was only here to stoke the fire, not to put it out. Any objections?


    Although they were already married, in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s view, they should be in the honeymoon phase of passionate love, and these flirty little moves were the best catalyst for affinity.


    After a while, just as Tan Zhenghong said, Tan Zhengyuan came back with his tail between his legs.


    "Fourth Boss, I¡¯ll pay you a day¡¯s wage, forty... no... would fifty wen per day be okay?"


    To Tan Zhengyuan, Tan Zhenghong was the last straw.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head: "No."


    He wanted to arrogantly say that his family wasn¡¯t short on money, but that wasn¡¯t his style, so he just said two words.


    "Tan Zhenghong, I¡¯m your older brother!" Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s voice rose a lot.


    He was already giving a lot of face by offering fifty wen, yet Tan Zhenghong was still acting coy. Did he really expect half of the rice harvest?


    Tan Zhenghong said with a light chuckle, "So what?"


    Tan Zhengyuan was dumbfounded; if Tan Zhenghong really didn¡¯t help, he would indeed be helpless against him.


    "Zhenghong, is this how your mother taught you to treat your brother? With no manners at all!" Widow Xu scolded.


    "Who are you?" Tan Zhenghong glanced at Widow Xu, his eyes filled with chill.


    Widow Xu straightened her back: "I¡¯m your sister-in-law; elder sisters are like mothers, can¡¯t I reprimand you a bit?"


    "Like hell you are, with a mother like you I¡¯d hide at home, too ashamed to see anyone!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t hold back at all; Tan Zhenghong was hers, and she dared someone to scorn her man. Did they really think she was vegetarian?


    "You... you..."


    Widow Xu stammered for a long time but failed to come up with anything to say.

 Chapter 290 - 292 Upper and Lower Mouths_1

    Chapter 290: Chapter 292 Upper and Lower Mouths_1"What do you mean ¡¯you¡¯? Take good care of yourself and the baby. If you give birth to a son, there might be something to discuss, but if not... heh, the wind is rather strong today, be careful not to twist your tongue."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly reminded, was she getting cocky too soon?


    To her knowledge, Wang Clan was still very dissatisfied with her.


    Widow Xu bit her lip until she could taste a faint hint of blood before releasing it.


    That Qiao Duo¡¯er just knew how to rub salt into wounds, how morally destitute was she?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t care a bit about Widow Xu¡¯s resentment, you¡¯re angry, that¡¯s perfect!


    "Tan Zhengyuan, decide quickly if you need our help, or Zhenghong and I will head into the mountains to chop wood."


    The rest was up to Tan Zhengyuan, if he didn¡¯t want the grain from those three acres of land, who could stop him?


    "You can¡¯t agree, that¡¯s my land, you want to give the grain away, give away your own."


    Widow Xu quickly made her stance clear, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let herself be at a loss.


    When she first hooked up with Tan Zhengyuan, he seemed dutiful, and she thought he had changed. Little did she know, it didn¡¯t take long for him to show his true colors.


    If it weren¡¯t for the child in her belly, she would have kicked this damned man away long ago!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, eager to stir up trouble, said, "You already have a child together, what¡¯s mine is yours, right? It¡¯s all the same who gives it."


    Widow Xu glared fiercely at Qiao Duo¡¯er. She only wanted Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s land to become hers; the idea of him wanting her land?


    Not a chance!


    Tan Zhengyuan steeled his heart, "I agree with you, now hurry up and go, it¡¯s getting late."


    Even giving them half of the grain was better than getting rained on, right?


    Looking at the sky, a heavy rain was inevitable, and then he would be the one suffering alone, with half the harvest.


    "You dare!" Widow Xu hastily tried to stop him.


    Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, "The household relies on me for everything, what do you have besides talking? Fine, you don¡¯t want to harvest, then you go when the rain comes."


    It was unclear whether his mention of "talking" was a slip of the tongue or had another implication.


    "Do you have no conscience? Isn¡¯t the child I¡¯m carrying your son? I¡¯ll kill him right now!"


    She had been so nauseous the past few days; wasn¡¯t it all for him?


    And now he could say such heartless words!


    Was she left with nothing but talking, eating food from above and men from below? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Widow Xu became angrier the more she thought about it, clenching her fists, ready to hit her own belly.


    "If you don¡¯t want to live this life, you can leave right now, that grain is coming out of my land anyway!" Tan Zhengyuan lost his patience, almost wishing he could give Widow Xu a couple of punches himself.


    However, for the sake of his son¡¯s face, he held back, intending to discipline this woman later, once the child was born.


    It was then that Widow Xu kept quiet, as long as her harvest was untouched.


    Tan Zhengyuan agreed to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s terms, and Qiao Duo¡¯er went to inform Hu¡¯s Clan, also giving a few instructions to Da Ya.


    Once in the fields, Qiao Duo¡¯er worked with full force, much faster than the last time she had been harvesting rice, and she persisted for a long time.


    To teach a scoundrel, you need this kind of energy!


    "Wife, you should rest for a bit."


    Zheng Hong handed a cup of water to Qiao Duo¡¯er, looking at the sweat beading on her forehead; he was almost heartbroken.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er drank the water, "I¡¯m not tired, I feel like I have endless strength."


    Hmph, she just didn¡¯t want to let Tan Zhengyuan, that pig, take advantage. Best to leave him just enough grain to pay the tribute.


    Thinking to reap without sowing? No such principle exists anywhere!

 Chapter 291 - 293: A Mouthful of Old Blood Stuck in My Heart_1

    Chapter 291: Chapter 293: A Mouthful of Old Blood Stuck in My Heart_1Tan Zhenghong persuaded patiently, "Wife, stop it, it¡¯s not worth it to wear yourself out over a bit of grain."


    Before he finished speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er was squatting and cutting the rice again.


    Tan Zhenghong had no choice but to continue working; after all, there was only so much rice, and the more he could cut, the sooner his wife could rest.


    With a push of effort, Qiao Duo¡¯er managed to complete the reaping of an entire two acres before she was ready to head back for lunch.


    Just then, Uncle Huang came by with his ox cart: "Fourth Boss, put your rice on my cart!"


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er began to move the cut rice onto the ox cart.


    Soon, the ox cart was piled high with rice like a small mountain, the result of their morning¡¯s work.


    They took the equivalent of one acre¡¯s harvest as a bit of interest, so to speak.


    Uncle Huang also helped to tie it down with ropes so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem if it got jostled on the way back.


    Tan Zhengyuan watched as the land was cleared, his heart aching as if it were bleeding.


    Just like that, an acre¡¯s grain was gone?


    "There¡¯s only half an acre left; you don¡¯t have to come this afternoon. I can finish it myself, and Uncle Huang, I trouble you to come help me gather the rice later," Tan Zhengyuan quickly said. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Three Wen Money a trip," Uncle Huang said with a smile.


    Tan Zhengyuan felt a lump of old blood stuck in his chest. Why was everyone bullying him?


    Even an outsider transported Fourth Boss¡¯s grain for free, and he had to pay?


    Uncle Huang was not insistent: "That¡¯s the price for today, if you think it¡¯s too much, I¡¯ll just let the ox rest. I¡¯ve already run back and forth so many times, I¡¯m exhausted."


    "Three Wen then, but you have to come quickly. If it rains, you¡¯ll have to compensate me," Zhengyuan said.


    Could he disagree?


    They were all conniving merchants with black hearts!


    "I¡¯ll definitely come before it rains, but you still have more than half an acre left. Are you sure you can finish cutting it all by yourself?" Uncle Huang asked considerately.


    Tan Zhengyuan waved his hand: "Don¡¯t worry about it!"


    He had already given away an acre¡¯s worth, and giving away more would truly enrage him to death!


    He believed that the rain wouldn¡¯t come until the evening, and he was sure he could deal with what was left in the afternoon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "It¡¯s perfect, we can rest well in the afternoon. Uncle Huang, let¡¯s head back."


    Uncle Huang nodded, cracked the whip, and the ox began to move, with Qiao Duo¡¯er and others following behind.


    While walking back, Qiao Duo¡¯er started to divide the spoils: "Sister Lan, we¡¯ll thresh this afternoon, and we¡¯ll split the grain we get."


    "That won¡¯t do, you¡¯ve put in more work, and my mother and daughter often eat at your place. This rice should all go to you," Hu¡¯s Clan said promptly, refusing the offer.


    It wasn¡¯t just without heart; how could she not remember Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s generosity?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about it and felt that it wasn¡¯t safe to keep it at Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s. Given Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s character, he might just snatch it away. It would be better to exchange it for Copper Coin, which Hu¡¯s Clan would definitely prefer.


    By the time they unloaded the rice, Da Ya had already prepared the meal.


    This was her first time cooking, and there was only rice, a large bowl of steamed water eggs, and egg soup.


    The meal was simple, but it was not easy for the little girl; she had put in a lot of effort to ensure they could eat as soon as they returned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed Da Ya¡¯s head: "Really impressive!"


    "I just threw it together, you mustn¡¯t find it bad," Da Ya said, embarrassed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded: "It¡¯s definitely delicious."


    As it turned out, Da Ya wasn¡¯t bad at cooking, having managed to get the seasoning right.


    Meanwhile, Hu¡¯s Clan turned away to secretly wipe away tears, her heart filled with emotion. She was grateful for the two young ladies; without them, she might not have survived.

 Chapter 292 - 294 It’s Raining!_1

    Chapter 292: Chapter 294 It¡¯s Raining!_1After a while, Uncle Huang had brought back all of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s rice.


    Widow Xu, unaware of the situation, gratefully said, "Uncle Huang, you are so kind, helping me out knowing my family¡¯s circumstances."


    As she spoke, she also glanced at the west wing room, meaning that he was much better than those so-called brothers.


    Uncle Huang said expressionlessly, "Three Wen Money, pay the money before unloading the cargo."


    "Three Wen Money? Why are you still charging money? And it¡¯s so expensive!" Widow Xu exclaimed in shock.


    "Of course I should get paid for working for your family."


    Uncle Huang couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing¡ªTan Zhengyuan and Widow Xu... he could only say that if they weren¡¯t one family, they wouldn¡¯t enter the same door; their love for taking advantage of any little benefit was all the same.


    No wonder Zheng Hong asked him to suffer for a few days, to help transport the bricks and tiles back.


    Living in the same yard with this kind of person was just asking for trouble.


    Frowning, Widow Xu said, "Where do I have the money? Big Brother Tan promised you this; let¡¯s wait for him to come back to discuss it."


    "That¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll drive the ox cart back first. Once Big Brother Tan gives me the money, I¡¯ll deliver the rice," Uncle Huang replied unhurriedly, well-aware of Widow Xu¡¯s intentions.


    If the rice got inside the house, then the responsibility would be shirked.


    Today, if it were someone else, he wouldn¡¯t charge, but for someone ungrateful like Tan Zhengyuan, he had to.


    Widow Xu rolled her eyes countless times, but Uncle Huang was a straightforward man, or to put it another way, a bit stubborn; it was difficult to change something he had set his mind to.


    So she had no choice but to go inside and bring out Three Wen Money.


    "Just pile the rice under the eaves; I¡¯m going to cook. I still need to deliver a meal to Big Brother Tan later," Widow Xu said irritably.


    Her attitude was a world away from her earlier enthusiasm.


    This was the classic mentality of feeling at a loss if not gaining some advantage.


    Uncle Huang pocketed the Copper Coin and then began moving the rice.


    He owned an ox cart and often helped others transport goods, but this was the first time he unloaded on his own. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Forget it, he wouldn¡¯t complain; after all, that was just the way Big Brother Tan¡¯s family was.


    It was Zheng Hong who noticed this and came to help. After unloading the rice, he invited Uncle Huang over for a meal.


    "Your aunt has saved some food for me, I have food to eat when I get home."


    Zheng Hong quickly said, "Today Da Ya and Er Ya cooked the food, made a bit too much, and they¡¯d be unhappy if it isn¡¯t eaten. Uncle, please don¡¯t decline."


    Only then did Uncle Huang agree, not wanting to upset the children.


    Seeing Uncle Huang coming over, Da Ya hurried to serve the rice, while Er Ya brought the chopsticks.


    Uncle Huang couldn¡¯t help but marvel; it was hard to believe that such a good girl could come from an unreliable person like Tan Zhengyuan.


    It is indeed hard on Hu¡¯s Clan and the children, but surely their good fortune lies ahead.


    After lunch, Uncle Huang praised the two girls before taking his leave.


    About a quarter of an hour later, it began to drizzle outside, and soon turned into a downpour.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wickedly said, "There goes half a mu of rice spoiled."


    She was referring to Tan Zhengyuan, who hadn¡¯t expected the rain to come so fast! If he hadn¡¯t been stingy, the remaining half mu would probably have been harvested by now.


    Wonder what sort of award-winning speech Big Brother Tan caught in the rain would have now?


    The Xiao Family suffered the same bad luck as Tan Zhengyuan; despite enlisting the help of half the village, they still had fifty mu of crops not gathered in time.


    Upon hearing this news, Qiao Duo only had one thought¡ªthat there really is divine justice!

 Chapter 293 - 295 Regret Is Too Late_1

    Chapter 293: Chapter 295 Regret Is Too Late_1After a while, Tan Zhengyuan came back in the pouring rain, looking like a drowned rat, with a big bundle of rice plants under his arm.


    Seeing his sorry state, Widow Xu hurried to heat some water for him and even stewed a bowl of ginger soup.


    The busy farming season hadn¡¯t ended yet, and Tan Zhengyuan just couldn¡¯t afford to fall ill.


    After Tan Zhengyuan took a bath and drank the ginger soup, Widow Xu started to complain.


    "That damned Huang Zhong, just because he sees The Fourth Boss¡¯s House is well off, he¡¯s always kissing up to them. As for us, he looks down his nose, his attitude is just so disgusting,"


    Widow Xu grumbled on and on.


    Tan Zhengyuan said irritably, "Can¡¯t you just let me eat my meal in peace? You gave the money to him, what¡¯s the use of complaining to me?"


    He had been counting on Widow Xu to default on the payment, but she was completely useless!


    "So you want him to drag the rice back? In the end, wouldn¡¯t you still have to deliver the copper coins to him?"


    Widow Xu retorted, unconvinced. At that time, the crops were loaded onto someone else¡¯s cart; what could she do but compromise? S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan grabbed a chopstick-full of pickled vegetables, then sullenly slurped his porridge.


    He didn¡¯t want to say a word about what happened today; his whole life, he, Tan Zhengyuan, had never suffered such a loss!


    "Right, don¡¯t tell me you just accepted this little bit of grain. The amount I collected in past years was at least three times more,"


    Widow Xu was most concerned about the harvest. She had visited the fields a month ago and saw that the crops were growing well.


    She had even planned to sell some of the grain to make new clothes for herself.


    Tan Zhengyuan slammed down his chopsticks with a snap, "The Fourth Boss¡¯s House took the grain of one mu of land, and there¡¯s still more than half a mu left in the fields. How much grain do you want to collect? I work myself to death, and this is what I get to eat when I come home, even pigs eat better than I do!"


    A bowl of porridge so thin you could see your reflection, a plate of fried pickles without a drop of oil¡ªno wonder the men in X¨² Family died early!


    If it went on like this, his own death wouldn¡¯t be far off.


    "If you want better food, you¡¯ve got to have the skills for it. You just gave me that bit of Silver, and it¡¯s already spent. If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d be out drinking the north wind right now!"


    Widow Xu lost her temper too. Money talks, and who¡¯s the boss here, it¡¯s not Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s turn to call the shots!


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s face burned with embarrassment; he had only received One or Two Silver when they divided the property.


    And he hadn¡¯t saved a single Wen; he had given it all to Widow Xu for safekeeping. What more did she want?


    Moreover, grains like rice and flour were already available, and they generally only bought some oil, salt, and meat. How could One Tael of Silver be gone so quickly?


    Tan Zhengyuan was suspicious in his heart, and with Widow Xu making a fuss nonstop, he lay down on the bed with a dark face and feigned death.


    No matter what Widow Xu said, he simply kept silent.


    Often, silence is the best weapon against an adversary, especially against a woman.


    It was at this moment that Tan Zhengyuan began to reminisce about the virtues of Hu¡¯s Clan. Hu was quick and efficient at chores, and before their separation, he was only responsible for eating and drinking.


    Widow Xu might be young and pretty, but after a while, that¡¯s all she was, neither helpful in the fields nor something you can eat.


    Sigh, he must have had water in his brain at that time!


    Widow Xu talked herself dry, and it was only then that she ceased her tirade against Tan Zhengyuan.


    Truth be told, she knew she had been alone for many years, and now she talked a bit too much, but she just couldn¡¯t control herself.


    What chilled her heart the most was Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s reaction.


    The fields were hers, and having collected only half the grain, wasn¡¯t she allowed to say a word?


    In the afternoon, Tan Zhengyuan felt a little dizzy and his head swelled, so he took advantage of the light rain and went to the Main Room.


    He considered that the fever medicine Xiao Fu had not finished the last time would be just enough to take some back, to prevent himself from suffering miserably in bed.

 Chapter 294 - 296 You’re Blind!_1

    Chapter 294: Chapter 296 You¡¯re Blind!_1"Mom, I got caught in the rain, make me some medicine to drink."


    "Medicine is so expensive now, and you¡¯re such a good-for-nothing, even giving it to you would be a waste!" Wang Clan glared at Tan Zhengyuan.


    A dose of medicine costs a fortune; normal people just grit their teeth through a fever, drinking more water and resting, and they¡¯re fine in a few days.


    It¡¯s only Tan Zhengyuan, this family ruiner, who wants medicine for the slightest discomfort.


    Tan Zhengyuan exploded. He was already in a foul mood because he hadn¡¯t harvested even half of his three acres of land, then Widow Xu had nagged him for ages when he got home, and now Wang Clan too!


    When would it ever end?


    Did they think he was made of clay, without any temper at all?


    "I admit I¡¯m useless, not as lucky as my second brother who dines and drinks every day without a worry, while I have everything on my shoulders."


    Tan Zhengyuan said sourly. They were both sons, so why was there such a big difference?


    "It¡¯s true, you¡¯re unfortunate, can¡¯t even have a son."


    Wang Clan said disdainfully. She always spoke her mind, without a care for others¡¯ feelings.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have managed to offend everyone in Big Willow Village.


    Tan Zhengyuan spoke deliberately, word by word, "Li Niang will bear me a son, you better prepare twenty taels."


    "Oh really, such big talk, look at yourself, you¡¯ve lost all face for the Tan Family! How dare you ask for twenty taels? Hanging around that damned vixen all day, don¡¯t you know she hooked up with others the moment her husband died? You must be blind and brainless!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Clan spoke quickly, spewing out a string of insults.


    After catching her breath, she blurted out a few more curses.


    Tan Zhengyuan insisted, "Mom, lots of people heard it, twenty taels for a son, are you trying to deny it?"


    "I don¡¯t recognize that cheap woman¡¯s brat. Get out, I get angry just seeing you!"


    Wang Clan pushed Tan Zhengyuan towards the door. Bringing Widow Xu into the family had almost driven her mad, and now he was bringing up the matter of silver again? Was he asking for trouble?


    She had only said that to shut people up, she hadn¡¯t expected everyone to take it seriously.


    In the past few years, Fourth Boss had saved quite a bit of money from hunting, but what was left after building a house and buying land?


    After the family split, they had a total of thirty taels of silver, but Third Boss had gobbled up a good chunk of it, otherwise Little Wang Clan wouldn¡¯t have been so angered she went back to her parents¡¯ house.


    After Tan Zhengyuan left, Wang Clan slammed the door shut.


    "Hmph, we¡¯ll see if you get to decide whether or not you get it then."


    Tan Zhengyuan muttered under his breath, then headed to his own room. He had ways to pry out what was rightfully his!


    Inside the Main Room bedroom, Tan Yuancheng was puffing on a hookah, having heard everything that his eldest had just said.


    His brows were furrowed tightly ¨C he¡¯d really dug himself a hole to bury himself in.


    Wang Clan spoke irritably, "Look at the sort you are!"


    "Didn¡¯t I come from your stomach? What¡¯s the use of blaming me only?" retorted Tan Yuancheng, equally irritated.


    "Fine, it¡¯s my fault. When Eldest comes to dig out the silver, you¡¯d better think of a solution yourself. He¡¯s not going to empty my coffin savings!" Wang Clan said, hands on hips.


    How could she get by without some silver in her hands?


    When she got old, she¡¯d need that silver for medical treatment, and then people would take care of her for the sake of the silver.


    Tan Yuancheng sighed once more and pressed his lips together, saying no more.


    The reason was simple: only Wang Clan could keep their sons in line in this house.


    If Wang Clan went on strike, what would he do?

 Chapter 295 - 297 Designing a Love Nest_1

    Chapter 295: Chapter 297 Designing a Love Nest_1Tan Yuancheng took a couple of deep drags on his cigarette, then decided to put the issue aside for now; discussing it when just two months pregnant seemed too early.


    What he was considering now was another matter: it was time for Xiao Fu¡¯s full-moon celebration.


    The customary gifts from the households of the landowning families weren¡¯t much, but they were still money, right?


    Listening to the rain outside, his thoughts began to wander, such as whom to invite over.


    The rain outside intensified, and those tending crops in the fields frowned with worry.


    The Xiao Family was hit the hardest, with a loss of nearly ten thousand jin from their fifty acres.


    At four wen per jin of rice, that amounted to forty-two taels, and with this year¡¯s doubling of labor costs, the loss was even greater.


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was discussing the design for the new house with Tan Zhenghong.


    "I want to partition off a bathroom in the bedroom for washing up and using the toilet; it would be best to have a flushing toilet."


    Tan Zhenghong was utterly bewildered: what the heck was a flushing toilet?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er drew a diagram of the toilet with a charcoal pencil and explained its various features.


    The principle of a flush toilet was simple, but the materials might not be available at that time.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s astonished face, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly added, "Of course, I don¡¯t expect it to be completely achievable; just tell me what you can manage."


    Her requirement was simple: as long as it could flush cleanly right away.


    "Asking a master who fires ceramics to make the shape is doable, and the plumbing isn¡¯t an issue; I would estimate five liang of silver. But this button is complicated, it might require using a basin to pour water," Tan Zhenghong thought for a moment before answering.


    The mechanism inside the button might be beyond the capabilities of an average craftsman.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I can try working on the internal structure, and if it really doesn¡¯t work out, we¡¯ll just use a basin to flush, and leave this spot open for now."


    After all, she wasn¡¯t flush with cash right now.


    In her previous life, when she had money, she would just leave it in the bank, spending as she wished, without a budget or restraint, as there was always enough.


    In this life, it was the same; she thought she had enough silver to spend.


    But it was only when she actually needed to spend it that she realized how scarce silver was; hence, earning more was necessary.


    "No problem, and this here, if you want to bring water directly from the kitchen, it¡¯s the same principle; and it¡¯s also troublesome to get the water to come automatically. I might as well fetch water for you," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Then you¡¯d have to fetch it for me for a lifetime."


    "I¡¯d be willing to for ten lifetimes!" Tan Zhenghong pledged, thumping his chest.


    "You¡¯re just boasting. By then, you¡¯d probably have completely forgotten me," Qiao Duo¡¯er said dismissively.


    She thought it was best to focus on this lifetime¡ª who knew about the next one?


    "Wife, I¡¯d recognize you even if you turned to ash."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth twitched. Recognizing her even as ash ¨C why did she feel like Tan Zhenghong was actually scolding someone?


    Hey, that¡¯s not right, Brother Hong, don¡¯t distract us with nonsense, let¡¯s focus on the matter at hand.


    Those sugary words can be saved for the evening!


    ... S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong was very familiar with house layouts and current technology, while Qiao Duo¡¯er had a knack for interior decoration. The two discussed and bargained, gave and took, interspersing their conversation with sweet nothings, and time flew by quickly.


    It took them an entire afternoon to finalize the rough outline.


    It was their love nest¡ªnot perfection demanded, but comfort needed, for a lifetime¡¯s stay.


    To avoid being an eyesore, from the outside, it would just look like Zhou Zheng¡¯s farmhouse, but inside, it was a world of its own, known only to those who dwelled within.


    Apart from the toilet, Qiao Duo¡¯er also planned to create some modern furnishings, like sofas and beds drawn from her own design plans.


    And then, thinking of the comfortable and soft bed that would come later... she blushed at the thought.

 Chapter 296 - 298 Who Took the Bribe?_1

    Chapter 296: Chapter 298 Who Took the Bribe?_1fre§×webnovel.comAfter dinner, Tan Yuancheng took a cattail fan and went to discuss the baby¡¯s one-month celebration with Tan Zhongzhong.


    They saw eye to eye on this because when Xiao Fu turned one month old, everyone would be busy planting wheat, and some might not come. If people didn¡¯t show up, they wouldn¡¯t bring gifts.


    It would be better to do it sooner rather than later. After all, they wouldn¡¯t be able to work the fields for a couple days even if the rain stopped.


    But an issue arose concerning who would receive the gifts.


    Being used to being the head of the family and having given Tan Zhongzhong Twenty Taels, Tan Yuancheng certainly wanted to pocket the money himself.


    "Dad, if you do this, it¡¯s just not right. We¡¯ve been separated for so long, and you¡¯re still trying to take the Third household¡¯s gift money?"


    Li Clan got angry first, also with a sharp tone.


    She had just had a child, and was already made half dead with anger by Tan Zhongzhong, so she was very irritable now.


    Tan Zhongzhong agreed and said, "From now on, the Third household needs to return gifts separately. We are organizing the banquet, if you take the gift money, we might as well drink the wind."


    "I, as a father, am not yet dead, and each of you has grown unbearably bold!"


    Tan Yuancheng was very displeased, but he was indeed wrong in this matter and could only invoke his status as a father.


    Li Clan quietly thought it was a good thing she didn¡¯t trust and had followed them; otherwise, who knows what losses their family might suffer. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn¡¯t it normal to divide the household? Third Boss didn¡¯t stand up for himself before because he had no son, but now it¡¯s different. If he has to rely on you for everything, wouldn¡¯t people laugh at him to death?"


    Tan Yuancheng was left speechless, unable to argue back. He could only say, "I can¡¯t be bothered with you all; handle this matter yourselves!"


    Since it had nothing to do with him, he even saved himself the trouble of showing up!


    "You are my child¡¯s grandfather, and if you manage nothing, people will certainly gossip."


    Tan Zhongzhong exploited the psychology that people who lack something care about it the most.


    Tan Yuancheng didn¡¯t have a great reputation in the village, being lazy, biased, afraid of his wife, and lacking backbone, so he desperately needed a good reputation.


    Seeing his goal achieved, Tan Zhongzhong continued, "Not to mention anything else, as a grandfather, you should at least prepare a big red envelope, right? You sending it alone is fine, or like others who¡¯ve divided their families, when one household has an event, the others contribute a gift. I¡¯m not picky."


    He silently added that no matter how it was handled, the gift shouldn¡¯t be modest.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be embarrassing to only give Twenty to Thirty Wen Money like others when his legitimate grandson celebrates his full month?


    "I¡¯ll go and discuss this with them to see what they think."


    Tan Yuancheng laughed it off before taking his leave.


    Expecting him to pay? He might as well dream on.


    Inside the house, Li Clan couldn¡¯t wait to ask, "Do you think he will be willing to chip in for a silver bracelet or whatever?"


    "If he were willing to buy that, he wouldn¡¯t be my father. I think he¡¯d probably use Eighty Wen Money at most."


    Tan Zhongzhong said this helplessly, as this was already the best-case scenario.


    Li Clan snorted lightly, "I think the longevity lock that the Village Chief¡¯s eldest grandson wore for his full month looked very exquisite. Our Xiao Fu isn¡¯t healthy, and he needs one of those."


    "I¡¯ll find a chance to talk to my dad. Even if it¡¯s not a longevity lock, we should at least get a bracelet like Xiao Fu¡¯s."


    Tan Zhongzhong quickly appeased his daughter-in-law. Ever since he temporarily couldn¡¯t perform his duties as a man, he was treated like a little boy in front of Li Clan.


    Whatever she asked him to do, he didn¡¯t dare do the opposite.


    Li Clan was finally satisfied and said, "I¡¯m going to sleep. You can change Xiao Fu¡¯s diaper later."


    Tan Zhongzhong outwardly agreed but inwardly felt extreme hatred.


    It was pathetic for a man like him to live like this!


    And it was all Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fault that he ended up in this state!

 Chapter 297 - 299: Save it for the dog?_1

    Chapter 297: Chapter 299: Save it for the dog?_1It only began to clear up on the third day, and that¡¯s when Third Brother Tan¡¯s family started preparing for the full-moon celebration.


    His plan was not to hire a chef, but to arrange everything themselves.


    They could buy at least half of the dishes from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, and then just find someone with good cooking skills in the village to take charge of the cooking.


    But who was going to negotiate with the Fourth Boss¡¯s House?


    It certainly wasn¡¯t going to be him, as he felt uneasy just thinking about that couple.


    In the end, it was Tan Yuancheng who took on the task, and he went to the Fourth Boss¡¯s House after lunch.


    "Zheng Hong, I¡¯ve got something to discuss with you,"


    Tan Yuancheng knocked on the door and only entered after hearing Tan Zhenghong respond.


    The interior remained the same, but now it was tidied and clean, making it quite comfortable.


    Tan Zhenghong moved a stool over, "Dad, sit down and talk."


    Tan Yuancheng felt embarrassed because throughout the whole conversation, Qiao Duo¡¯er was sewing clothes and didn¡¯t glance his way at all. Was he really that disliked?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sensed a gaze upon her and glanced over at the source.


    She didn¡¯t like Tan Yuancheng, and even one look at him felt draining.


    Caught staring, Tan Yuancheng felt very guilty and quickly took a sip of the tea that had just been poured.


    But, as soon as his lips touched the hot liquid, he pulled back, and in his haste, spilled some of the tea onto his leg.


    He winced in pain ¨C was this freshly boiled water or what?


    It hurt like hell!


    Tan Yuancheng held a grudge; at his house, they always drank well water, and in the winter, they rarely cared for warmth. Who could have expected the Fourth Boss¡¯s House to drink hot water, even in this weather?


    Tan Zhenghong offered a cloth, "I just poured the water into the teapot, don¡¯t scald yourself."


    "No need to wipe, it¡¯s just a few drops of water," Tan Yuancheng said, his face burning with embarrassment. How humiliating!


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and took back the cloth.


    Tan Yuancheng solemnly stated, "Fourth Boss, little Fu from Third Boss¡¯s family is about to have his full-moon celebration. Your third brother and I have discussed it and planned to take advantage of the damp conditions in the fields to hold the celebration." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong responded with a grunt; Tan Zhongzhong had been talking about it since early morning, and it would have been hard for him not to know.


    However, he had no intention of attending, so there was no reaction.


    "Third Boss wants to buy some marinated dishes from you for direct use. I¡¯ve come to ask what kinds of marinated dishes you have now."


    Tan Zhenghong checked with his wife, "Wife, are we making marinated meat tomorrow?"


    Qiao Duo nodded, and then Tan Zhenghong agreed, "It¡¯ll be roughly the same dishes, just with the addition of lotus root and mushrooms. Which ones do you want?"


    "Mushrooms, peanuts, tofu skins, lotus root slices, tofu bamboo, lean meat, chicken, duck, pig¡¯s trotters, pig large intestines, and pig¡¯s feet,"


    Tan Yuancheng listed them all in one breath, having prepared the list beforehand.


    A joyous banquet typically consists of eight plates of cold dishes, set up on the table before guests are seated, and eight bowls including six hot dishes and two soups, served while eating.


    The first eight are served as cold plates, while the last three, along with some vegetables, whether fried or boiled, along with meatballs, meat patties, and braised tofu, make up the hot dishes. The two soups are bone broth and vegetable soup.


    With this, a set of banquet dishes is complete, very straightforward.


    Tan Zhenghong mentioned the prices, and Tan Yuancheng¡¯s face immediately fell.


    Tan Yuancheng said sternly, "Fourth Boss, little Fu is your third brother¡¯s only child, and we¡¯re purchasing four tables¡¯ worth of food. You should give us a break."


    "I would make an exception for someone else, but not for him."


    Tan Zhenghong replied indifferently. He would never acknowledge having such a third brother in this lifetime.


    Just the thought of being cornered against the wall was disgusting enough, and then his third brother even tried to molest his wife. What use was a brother like that?


    Was he supposed to keep him around to continue harassing his wife or feed him to the dogs?

 Chapter 298 - 300 Brother Hong’s Stance_1

    Chapter 298: Chapter 300 Brother Hong¡¯s Stance_1"Blood relations like parents and siblings are certain, but not so much for others," Tan Yuancheng hinted.


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pretty face and attractive figure, could she really be content staying in this family?


    She¡¯s obedient now only because she hasn¡¯t come across anything better.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a grim face, "I don¡¯t want to hear this kind of talk again. She is my wife, and as long as I¡¯m here, no one is allowed to slander her, not even her own father!"


    Tan Yuancheng thought it through and realized that bargaining wouldn¡¯t do him any good, so he might as well let it be.


    Anyway, he certainly wouldn¡¯t admit that he was scared into silence by Tan Zhenghong.


    "Then let¡¯s settle on that price for a total of four tables," he agreed.


    Tan Zhenghong asked further, "Let¡¯s clarify the portion size of each dish, to avoid any reasons for dispute later."


    Tan Yuancheng felt a pang inside¡ªindeed, he had planned to let Tan Zhongzhong skimp on the amount slightly.


    He used to think that Fourth Boss was simple and unassuming, but now he realized that it was just an illusion; this Fourth Boss was actually quite shrewd!


    After discussing the matter of the dishes, Tan Yuancheng brought up another matter.


    "After the division of the family, gift-giving is generally of two kinds: either everyone gives separately or we pool together. Which do you think is better?"


    Tan Zhenghong laughed bitterly, truly wondering what kind of mindset his father had for expecting him to give gifts.


    After all the previous disputes, shouldn¡¯t normal behavior be to have nothing to do with each other ever again?


    Tan Yuancheng, not understanding Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reaction, continued, "Actually, I think it¡¯s good if we all pool together. Among the brothers, only your household is well-off. If you¡¯re willing, you should look after your brothers."


    "I won¡¯t go, and from now on, I won¡¯t help lazy people either," Tan Zhenghong declared his stance clearly.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was heartless, but his experiences told him that by indulging them, they would only oppress him more aggressively.


    In the past, when he was alone, he still had some illusions about familial affection, and he could endure it. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now he had Qiao Duo, and he wouldn¡¯t sacrifice her to satisfy the whims of his parents and siblings. That was his bottom line as a man.


    Tan Yuancheng opened his mouth, feeling that he should say something, but what?


    His original intention was for everyone to turn a blind eye and to act as if the Relationship Termination Letter didn¡¯t exist.


    But in reality, everyone else in the family thought the same, except for Tan Zhenghong and his wife.


    Now that Tan Zhenghong was enraged, thus the harsh words spoken today.


    "I am your son, born from you and Mom. If you have problems in the future, I won¡¯t ignore them. I¡¯ll contribute as much as the other brothers, but let¡¯s not discuss anything else," he added.


    Tan Zhenghong made another point, as a dutiful son, no matter how his parents treated him, he should not neglect them entirely.


    Tan Yuancheng said weakly, "Fourth Boss, about us..."


    "I¡¯ve made up my mind; it¡¯s settled. Please relay to the other brothers that if there¡¯s nothing important, so be it. But if someone again troubles me or my wife, I won¡¯t be so pleasant," Tan Zhenghong stated emphatically, and Tan Yuancheng had no choice but to take it seriously.


    The reason was simple: Tan Zhenghong was a man, his son.


    Tan Yuancheng didn¡¯t know how he left Fourth Boss¡¯s room, his emotions churning with a complex mix of feelings.


    He thought that there were no grudges that couldn¡¯t be left overnight among blood relatives, and that the problems would resolve themselves, but there are no absolute indestructible relationships in this world.


    That Severance book... it seemed it was going to be effective permanently.


    Tan Yuancheng sighed deeply; why on earth had he agreed to such a preposterous thing as dividing the family back then?


    He now wished he could slap his past self to death for initiating the division!

 Chapter 299 - 301: Trapping People!_1

    Chapter 299: Chapter 301: Trapping People!_1fr§×eweb¦Çovel.c?mIn the house, Tan Zhenghong sidled up to Qiao Duo¡¯er, and at this moment, he bore no remnants of the sternness he had just displayed; instead, he nearly resembled Fat Fat and Fatty, both seeking to be held in someone¡¯s arms.


    "Wife, you wouldn¡¯t blame me for taking matters into my own hands, would you?" Tan Zhenghong cautiously asked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "If I wanted you to disregard your own parents, wouldn¡¯t that make you just like them?"


    Tan Zhenghong felt very content, he knew his wife would support him.


    "I actually think you were very manly today," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but compliment him.


    When is a man most appealing?


    Of course, it¡¯s when he stands in front of his woman, shielding her from all the storms!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face flushed with the compliment; his wife¡¯s happiness was all that mattered.


    The next day, just as dawn began to break, Butcher Chen delivered the meat that Tan Zhenghong had ordered.


    He was a reliable man; to avoid delaying someone else¡¯s affairs, he had hurriedly slaughtered two pigs the night before.


    It was a busy day. Qiao Duo¡¯er asked Aunt Huang and the Yan Family Sister-in-law to come over and help.


    Sister-in-law Yan and Hu¡¯s Clan were tasked with cleaning the pig intestines, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Aunt Huang took care of washing the meat and vegetables, while Tan Zhenghong split wood as he stoked the fire.


    As for Da Ya and Er Ya, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave them a day off.


    No matter how sensible the two girls were, they were still children and should go out and mingle more with their peers.


    Around eight or nine in the morning, Yang Ruoruo and her mother brought over some wheat seeds.


    The Yang Family had a rule: a purchase over a hundred catties warranted home delivery.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others busily engaged, she stayed to lend a hand as well.


    After all, the Yang Family had ties with the Tan Family, and since she would be attending the Tan Family¡¯s lunch, it saved her a trip coming back again.


    And there was also the fact that Da Ya had told her about the face powder. She took the initiative to help out now, planning to brazenly ask for some to try later; if it worked well, she would buy some more to use.


    Hehe, but she kept this little secret tightly guarded.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er brought in so many people to help, Jiang¡¯s Clan felt a bit uneasy for not having her daughter Chao Lian called upon.


    She realized she might have annoyed Qiao Duo¡¯er with her actions last time and thus wouldn¡¯t need Chao Lian anymore.


    Wouldn¡¯t that mean her daily Fifteen Wen Money was just wasted?


    What should she do now? It was maddening!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan looked in the direction of the Tan Family¡¯s house a couple of times and even conspicuously loitered in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er, who pretended not to see her.


    Her suspicions confirmed, she hurried back home.


    "What are you still sitting around for, you useless girl? Why aren¡¯t you over at the Tan Family lending a hand? Qiao Duo¡¯er is alone managing the dishes for four tables; how can she handle it all by herself?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan scolded Chao Lian, who was still embroidering.


    Chao Lian spoke with an innocent tone, "But there¡¯s no pay for today, wouldn¡¯t you scold me to death if I went?"


    "Why would I scold you? Hurry up and go!" Jiang¡¯s Clan urged again.


    Chao Lian then put down her needlework and cheerfully headed to the Tan Family¡¯s house; the method Sister Duo¡¯er had taught her really worked!


    Hehe, from now on when she came to the Tan Family¡¯s house, her mother would have nothing to say.


    This method was quite sly but very effective! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once all the braised dishes were made and weighed, they totaled up to one thousand two hundred and thirty Wen Money.


    Tan Zhongzhong paid for the braised dishes and then said, "You need to help cut them up."


    "That¡¯ll be another Twenty Wen," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slyly.


    "You... you..." Tan Zhongzhong gritted his teeth. Was this a scheme to fleece him after his brother?


    Tan Zhongzhong hesitated for a moment, but ultimately took out Twenty Wen Money from his purse, "Here, I¡¯ll bring the plates over in a bit; it needs to be served properly!"

 Chapter 300 - 302: Duo’er Has Backing_1

    Chapter 300: Chapter 302: Duo¡¯er Has Backing_1Qiao Duo¡¯er received the money and made sure the work was beautifully done. She immediately moved out a table and borrowed some knives and chopping boards to bring back.


    The knife skills of several people were quite good, and it didn¡¯t take long before everything was cut up.


    Once the braised meat was served, Tan Zhongzhong actually said "thank you," which must have been the result of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s warning.


    After finishing these tasks, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to prepare their lunch.


    Guests gradually arrived, and Yang Ruoruo¡¯s mother had already come over to call her to see the baby.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, do you want to come with us?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I still have some work to finish, you go with your mother." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yang Ruoruo showed a bit of disappointment, but obediently left with her mother.


    Aunt Huang looked around and didn¡¯t see any sign of Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong going to the Third Boss¡¯s home for the meal.


    Could they have forgotten about it?


    Unable to hold back, Aunt Huang said, "Duo¡¯er, leave this work to us, it won¡¯t take long to finish. You and Zheng Hong should hurry to the feast. Don¡¯t miss the right time."


    "We¡¯re not going," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Aunt Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er aside.


    "Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t blame me for being nosy," Aunt Huang whispered.


    She genuinely treated Qiao Duo¡¯er as a junior and couldn¡¯t resist the urge to offer some advice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Aunt, just speak your mind. You know I¡¯m aware of how you treat me, how could I blame you?"


    "Everyone in the village knows about the trouble Third Brother Tan caused, and they are all scolding him. But no matter what, he is Zheng Hong¡¯s elder brother. It would be best for you to make an appearance, even if just to show your face."


    Aunt Huang spoke earnestly. She was worried that Tan Zhenghong would have complaints about Duo¡¯er in the future.


    She had seen brothers fall out and, after making up, blame their wives for it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed to Tan Zhenghong, "This is what Fourth Boss wants. If I go just for show, he¡¯ll definitely be upset with me."


    "Well, that¡¯s good. It seems Zheng Hong really cares about you. Now I can rest assured."


    Aunt Huang visibly relaxed when she learned it was Zheng Hong¡¯s idea.


    "It¡¯s just as well I talk to you about something, Aunt. We¡¯re about to start building a new house soon. Zheng Hong and I are young and don¡¯t understand many customs, so we¡¯ll bother you and Uncle for guidance when the time comes."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said humbly.


    It seemed that choosing an auspicious day to break ground, offering prayers to the heavens, and beam-raising ceremonies were all significant events.


    It was not that she was superstitious, but rather a matter of following local customs.


    Tan Zhenghong had told her to be cautious about her transmigrated identity, as she could easily be burned as a witch if she wasn¡¯t careful; hence, she needed to keep a low profile.


    Aunt Huang patted her chest, "Done! You can count on us. We¡¯ll surely come over to help when it¡¯s time!"


    As the guests of Third Brother Tan began to take their seats, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others also started their lunch.


    Although it was not as lavish as the feast, it was surely enough.


    Especially the pork belly cooked by Qiao Duo¡¯er, which was rich but not greasy, delicious, and great with rice.


    "Zheng Hong, you are really lucky to have a wife who is kind and beautiful and also skilled!"


    Sister-in-law Yan gave a thumbs up. She genuinely thought there was nothing to criticize about Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded proudly. He thought the same!


    Aunt Huang said earnestly, "I truly consider Duo¡¯er like my own daughter. If you ever mistreat her, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!"


    "If I ever treat her badly one day, I surely won¡¯t let myself off either!"


    "I¡¯ll remember what you said, you can¡¯t go back on your word!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bashfully hung her head while eating, feeling that at the moment, being a quiet little bride was just fine.

 Chapter 301 - 303 Establishing Rules_1

    Chapter 301: Chapter 303 Establishing Rules_1Taking advantage of the Third Boss¡¯s request for a full-month celebration for the child, the Wang Family also sent Little Wang Clan over.


    A girl who had married and still lived at her maternal home would be censured by others, and ultimately, it would be her own reputation that suffered.


    However, their visit this time was not solely to apologize.


    In the Main Room, the Wang Clan¡¯s in-laws and her own family sat together.


    "Sister, my daughter is willful; I hope you can be more patient with her in the future."


    Wang Dashi spoke with polite insincerity, but his expression carried hardly any hint of apology.


    In the past few years, he had made some money in the lumber business and saved a bit for the family.


    With a scholar in the family, he carried himself with his back straight no matter where he went.


    Wang Clan replied indifferently, "Besides being your daughter, she¡¯s also a daughter-in-law of the Tan Family. If she doesn¡¯t act the part, how is that acceptable?"


    This time she was determined to set rules for Little Wang Clan; otherwise, they¡¯d all start to walk over her.


    So even if her big brother personally delivered her, she wasn¡¯t going to acknowledge it.


    "Do you know how many people came to ask for my daughter¡¯s hand in marriage? If it weren¡¯t for fear of her being wronged, what would your youngest have to do with any of this?"


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s mother, W¨¨i Clan, was very displeased; she had always been against marrying her daughter into the Tan Family.


    What was the use of blood relations if she was still treated like an outsider?


    Wang Clan scoffed, "Big sister, when our families became related, we were nearly equals. If it hadn¡¯t been for my brother¡¯s good fortunes later on, where would you get the nerve to disdain my Third Boss?"


    "Your Third Boss is uneducated, can¡¯t farm properly, and to top it off, he has nothing but a good-looking face. Who wouldn¡¯t disdain him?"


    W¨¨i Clan spared no mercy with her sarcasm, for Tan Zhengyong was nothing but a coward!


    It¡¯s just a pity she hadn¡¯t seen through Tan Zhengyong¡¯s true nature earlier; she truly ruined her daughter¡¯s life.


    Wang Clan¡¯s expression grew ugly because it was indeed the truth.


    Thinking about the nearly ten taels of silver she frivolously spent made her feel a pang in her heart. If only he could be a bit more diligent and spend less money.


    Alas, but what could be done when the Second Boss was just like that?


    Tan Zhengyong clasped his hands in a salute, "Mother-in-law, your teachings are correct; I will definitely reform from now on." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You can change? You¡¯re set in your ways for life. Just don¡¯t give my daughter a hard time or expect her to do everything, and I, as her mother, will be content!"


    Tan Zhengyong coughed awkwardly, as after all, he was a man and deserved some face.


    He knew his mother-in-law looked down on him, but now that they had a child, what more could she want?


    Wang Dashi slapped the table, "Enough; we¡¯re all family here. Why quibble over such things? Can¡¯t we just live well together?"


    "Big brother is right; we¡¯re all one family, let¡¯s not dwell on this. I was wrong, please don¡¯t be angry," Tan Yuancheng quickly interjected.


    Since the other had put it that way, he couldn¡¯t let them lose face.


    Moreover, he really couldn¡¯t afford to offend his big brother.


    Wang Clan glared at Tan Yuancheng, "When we divided the family property, we left the best house and land for the youngest. My other sons are also my children. There¡¯s a saying that both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh; one mustn¡¯t be too biased, right?"


    "Daughter, don¡¯t be too headstrong. Your mother¡¯s right. If everything was left for you, what kind of division would that be?"


    Little Wang Clan nodded, "Father, I acknowledge my mistake."


    W¨¨i Clan opened her mouth, but was silenced by a glare from Wang Dashi, forcing her to swallow her words.


    Still, she felt her daughter wasn¡¯t in the wrong¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t want to draw silver into their own bosom?


    Twenty taels of silver weren¡¯t a small sum for her household.


    The Third Boss¡¯s family had a child, and who knew if they could even raise him, yet they willingly gave twenty taels; wasn¡¯t that

 Chapter 302 - 304 Knocking_1

    Chapter 302: Chapter 304 Knocking_1"I¡¯m not afraid to lay all my cards on the table with you. This time, Xiao Feng saved someone with quite a background. They¡¯ve said that no matter what, they can ensure Xiao Feng becomes a Scholar,"


    Wang Dashi added another sentence; his previous ones were subtle hints, but this one was a blatant threat.


    Once his son returned home as a Scholar, what would the Tan Family amount to?


    Wouldn¡¯t they have to address his son as Master Scholar?


    Tan Yuancheng quickly responded, "Then congratulations to you, elder brother. I¡¯ll be frank as well, from now on, whatever is mine, I¡¯ll leave it all to my second brother."


    If one became a Master Scholar, that would be quite an achievement!


    "With your word, I can rest assured. We¡¯re all people with one foot in the grave; isn¡¯t it all for the sake of our children and grandchildren?"


    Wang Dashi stroked his beard, his words carrying another layer of meaning, implying that he should hand over the family wealth.


    However, Tan Yuancheng replied with a smile, acting as though he was oblivious to the hidden meaning.


    Think he would hand over power now? No chance!


    So, the Wang Family could only achieve half of their goal, but that was still not bad.


    Not only did they send Little Wang Clan back to her parental home, but also, because of her brother¡¯s situation, everyone would have to regard her more highly in the future.


    However, Little Wang Clan was furious. What she wanted were house deeds, land deeds, and silver!


    Fuming, she returned to her room and started complaining to her mother.


    "Mother, didn¡¯t father say he could squeeze out both the silver and the land deed? Now look, we got nothing. Who knows who that old fool might give it all to next?"


    W¨¨i Clan patted her own daughter, "Calm down. Once Xiao Feng earns his title, he¡¯ll be eager to hand everything over, won¡¯t he?"


    The court examination at the end of the year would be their chance to hold their heads high.


    "I don¡¯t want to wait. You have no idea what I¡¯ve been enduring!"


    Little Wang Clan said angrily, irritated at the thought of how those two old fools had become so lazy!


    "When will you learn to change that temper? If you keep this up, I won¡¯t be there for you," her mother replied.


    Little Wang Clan nodded, "I¡¯ll listen to you, Mother."


    After a while, Tan Zhengyong also came in. W¨¨i Clan tactfully found an excuse to step out first.


    Tan Zhengyong tried to appease his wife, "My dear, are you no longer angry with me?"


    "Hmph, it¡¯s not that easy. Hurry up and tell me how much dowry your father brought this time." Little Wang Clan asked disdainfully, expecting it to be another considerable sum.


    Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tan Zhengyong said, "Not much was brought, I grouped up with big brother to give a total of eighty wen. Don¡¯t be upset, my wife, I¡¯ll tell you¡ªThird Boss suffered a huge loss this time."


    "How so?" Little Wang Clan was curious.


    Could it be that even the banquet resulted in a loss?


    "Just look at the dishes at midday; more than half were pickled dishes from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House. Holding a grudge over the last incident, Fourth Boss refused to budge on the price. I saw Third Boss handing over more than a thousand wen, and with the additional dishes, he would be lucky to break even," Tan Zhengyong said with a sly grin, having calculated the loss in advance.


    The Tan family normally collected around one thousand six hundred wen for a wedding banquet. After paying the Fourth House for the dishes, how much would be left?


    After deducting the cost of wine, labor, and a couple of main courses, it would be good to end up with twenty wen.


    Little Wang Clan immediately said, "You mean to say that Fourth Boss made all the money?"


    Tan Zhengyong was startled inwardly and quickly changed the subject. His wife couldn¡¯t stand seeing others make money, not Third Boss nor Fourth Boss.


    So what should he talk about? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He decided to discuss the scandal involving his eldest brother and Widow Xu, knowing his wife would certainly relish that topic.


    Sure enough, Little Wang Clan was exhilarated; there was always drama around a widow, mostly because people loved to watch them.

 Chapter 303 - 305: Delighting in Others’ Misfortunes_1

    Chapter 303: Chapter 305: Delighting in Others¡¯ Misfortunes_1Wang Dashi made a visit, and the effect was quite obvious. The Wang Clan no longer dared to sit back and wait for death to come, and Tan Zhengyong also became slightly more diligent, even starting to take the initiative in his work.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong took advantage of the clear weather to scrape some black soil from underneath the big trees on the mountain and brought it to their own fields.


    This black soil, formed from the decay of leaves, was as good as the typical farmyard manure.


    Most importantly, it didn¡¯t smell bad; Qiao Duo¡¯er absolutely refused to accept farmyard manure.


    She felt uncomfortable all over just seeing others handle it, let alone if Tan Zhenghong or she had to... she probably would go insane.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er still had to complain about the Wang Clan. No wonder she had to repay them even for half a bundle of firewood, yet they didn¡¯t say a word about using her family¡¯s toilet for free.


    In this world, there really are people who only know how to take advantage of others.


    Once they had enough fertilizer, it was time to plow the land and sow seeds. When the work with wheat was finished, it was also time to harvest the soybeans.


    The process for harvesting soybeans was similar to that for wheat.


    However, soybeans were pulled out roots and all, so the process was much faster than reaping wheat.


    After pulling them up, they were taken back home to dry. Then, a tool called a ¡¯gao¡¯ was used to beat the soybeans out of the pods.


    Beating the soybeans had to be done on a sunny day, which is why the Tan Family chose the same day to work together.


    Little Wang Clan loved to compete; naturally, she had to check out whose harvest was better.


    Sure enough, her family¡¯s harvest was the best. When she arrived at Fourth Boss¡¯s doorstep, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    "Fourth Boss, is this all you harvested from your two acres?" Little Wang Clan was very shocked; her own one acre had yielded about as many beans as what he had.


    Such a pitiful yield, wasn¡¯t it?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grinned, showing her teeth: "Don¡¯t you know what happened?"


    At that time, Tan Zhenghong was lying sick in bed, and she had just married into the family, unaware of the situation in the fields.


    In any case, since Tan Yuancheng had handed over the land deed, she didn¡¯t worry too much about it, always assuming that the land within one family wouldn¡¯t differ much.


    It wasn¡¯t until she saw the condition of the soybean plants that she realized she had been tricked.


    How had she been tricked?


    It was that everyone else knew the quality of crops in their fields; the good ones had already been picked out, leaving the lesser quality for her.


    Moreover, that land was particularly poor; otherwise, Little Wang Clan wouldn¡¯t have been so gleeful in her misfortune.


    "Besides, I heard that it was your man who farmed those two acres. If the harvest is poor, you should ask him about it. Sigh, even a three-year-old child would probably laugh at his skills," Qiao Duo¡¯er added.


    After all, anyone who knew what was going on would surely curse Tan Zhengyong as the ruination of the family.


    "You¡¯re making a killing now, so you¡¯re not concerned about this little bit," said Little Wang Clan sheepishly. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her man being so useless, she felt ashamed.


    After sending Little Wang Clan on her way, Qiao Duo¡¯er continued her work.


    She checked for any soybeans missed inside the pods; if there were none, she would bundle the stems, and if there were, she¡¯d remove the soybeans before bundling.


    Once the stems were sorted, Tan Zhenghong swept up the soybeans from the ground, moved them to a draught, and after winnowing the chaff, the task was accomplished.


    Soybeans had many uses; they could be sold, eaten at home, used to make oil, or you could take a bowl of soybeans to the Tofu Zhang Family to exchange for tofu or tofu skins.


    This year¡¯s harvest wasn¡¯t bad; Duo¡¯er¡¯s House already had a thousand pounds of paddy and three hundred pounds of soybeans in their granary.


    It seemed like a lot, but a pound of paddy only yielded seven taels of rice, and a pound of soybeans yielded just two taels of oil; after the calculations, it wasn¡¯t much.


    And with the need to hire people to build a house, it wouldn¡¯t last until this time next year.


    So, Tan Zhenghong went to buy another thousand pounds of paddy and two hundred pounds of soybeans from other families. They definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to eat all that, but it was better to be safe than sorry, because no one knew what next year¡¯s harvest would be like.

 Chapter 304 - 306: Breaking Ground_1

    Chapter 304: Chapter 306: Breaking Ground_1After the busy farming season, Tan Zhenghong began to organize the house construction.


    Uncle Huang also arranged for two ox carts from the neighboring town to help transport bricks and other materials. Three days later, all the materials were brought home. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fourth day was an auspicious day, good for everything, and the best time was at the Hour of the Dragon.


    So they set the time for the groundbreaking ceremony for seven o¡¯clock in the morning on that day.


    Aunt Huang and Uncle Huang came over early in the morning to help with the preparations.


    "Duo¡¯er, there are eight offerings in total, have you prepared all of them?" Aunt Huang asked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "All prepared, should we go to the homestead now?"


    Aunt Huang checked the time and then went with Qiao Duo¡¯er to the new homestead.


    Upon arrival, Uncle Huang had already set up the table, incense burner, and the Buddha¡¯s painting. Aunt Huang then instructed Tan Zhenghong to arrange the offerings on the table and to light three sticks of incense.


    "You and Zheng Hong bow your heads together, pray in your hearts for the safety and smooth prosperity of the home," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong did as they were told, while Uncle Huang sprinkled water on the side to drive away bad luck.


    After the kneeling and praying, Tan Zhenghong dug up a clump of earth with an iron shovel tied with a red cloth from the center of the main room and placed it sincerely before the altar.


    The people who came to help with the construction each took turns to kneel and pray, and the ritual was completed.


    "All right, let¡¯s start working!" Uncle Huang shouted at the top of his lungs.


    The crowd of onlookers around them applauded.


    "Fourth Brother Tan is really impressive; he¡¯s starting to build a new house not long after dividing the family property. He must have earned quite a lot of silver from selling braised meat."


    "That¡¯s for sure, with all the people coming and going at the docks, the business must be booming."


    "I bet the Old Tan Family is feeling regretful now!"


    ...


    The workers didn¡¯t dawdle either; they all rolled up their sleeves and got to work.


    Fourth Brother Tan and his wife were generous with wages, paying the masons¡ªa crucial force in house construction¡ªfifty wen a day, and those who helped out got twenty wen a day, including lunch. How could they not work hard?


    Tan Zhenghong was busy at the new homestead all day, and Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t idle either.


    Apart from bringing lunch to the workers, she had other things to do... and they were about making money!


    Da Ni¡¯er had successfully sold ten boxes of face mask powder, and she had quite a business mind, charging a deposit of a hundred wen from each customer.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, there were too many copper coins, so I exchanged them for silver to bring to you," she said.


    Da Ni¡¯er pulled out a tael of broken silver from her purse.


    Just a few days of using the face mask powder, her skin had improved; not only had the spots lightened, but her skin also became whiter and smoother.


    Now her friends couldn¡¯t sit still any longer; they all made purchases one after another.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed the silver back to her, "This is your reward. I will bring you the finished mask powder in a few days."


    "That won¡¯t do, I can¡¯t take my reward until I¡¯ve collected the remaining silver," she insisted.


    Da Ni¡¯er was adamant, for if someone were to change their mind halfway, wouldn¡¯t it be a slap in her face?


    Besides, with the Tan family starting the construction, funds must be tight, so she really couldn¡¯t accept the tael of silver yet.


    Only then Qiao Duo¡¯er accepted, "I¡¯m going to the town to buy some herbs, do you want to come along?"


    "Sure, I was so focused on selling the face mask powder when I went to my maternal family¡¯s place that I didn¡¯t get the chance to shop around. Oh, and you should get a pretty box, maybe you can sell it for an even higher price!"


    Da Ni¡¯er offered a suggestion, confident that with the powder¡¯s effective results, it could be sold for a high price no matter what.

 Chapter 305 - 307: Dead Loop_1

    Chapter 305: Chapter 307: Dead Loop_1Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, "Are there any good carpenters you can introduce to me?"


    "I just knew I couldn¡¯t keep anything from you, ah, I really am thinking of the mask powder!" Big Girl hurriedly explained.


    She wanted to recommend a carpenter, but it was just a slight suggestion; if Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t agree, she wouldn¡¯t mind.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er flicked Big Girl¡¯s forehead, "Why are you beating around the bush when talking to me? Isn¡¯t that going too far? Now speak up about that carpenter!"


    Packaging is always important, it has to be upscale and classy.


    "He¡¯s a relative from my mother¡¯s side, he used to make the scented powder boxes for Xiang Bao Zhai, but then Xiang Bao Zhai, looking to save money, found another carpenter to imitate those boxes. I figured our mask powder is better than Xiang Bao Zhai¡¯s, and if our boxes are more exquisite than theirs, surely we can sell better!"


    Big Girl became increasingly excited as she spoke, as if she could already see countless silver coins being thrown her way.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes and said, "Then why aren¡¯t we hurrying over?"


    Big Girl cheered, and immediately followed her.


    They first went to Ren Xin Hall; aside from buying ingredients, Qiao Duo¡¯er also purchased some dried mint and some spices for braised meat.


    Crushed dry mint could mask the scent of the other herbs in the mask powder, and the braised meat spices were there to confuse the trail.


    "How far is it from here to Feng Carpenter Shop? If it¡¯s too far, I¡¯ll hire a cart."


    Seeing Big Girl sweating profusely, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit bad.


    Big Girl said she came to town to stroll, but in fact, she was accompanying Qiao Duo¡¯er to buy medicinal herbs.


    Big Girl waved her hand, "It¡¯s close, we¡¯ll be there in no time, and look, I¡¯m not the least bit tired!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er checked again before walking side by side with Big Girl.


    As they passed by the sweet water stall, she dragged Big Girl to buy two bowls of pear sweet soup, feeling that even if they weren¡¯t tired, they should treat themselves.


    The pear sweet soup was refreshing and thirst-quenching, and after finishing it, the two continued on their way.


    As they were about to pass by Deji Hall on the way to Feng Carpenter Shop, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help stopping.


    The last time she tried to buy Star-of-Bethlehem, a shop assistant ridiculed her and she didn¡¯t succeed. Maybe she should go in and take another look?


    Deji Hall, with a hundred-year heritage, was under the stewardship of the disciple of the Divine Doctor, Bai Yifan, so perhaps she would find the Star-of-Bethlehem there.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, what¡¯s wrong?" Big Girl tugged at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit uncomfortable as she said, "Big Girl, wait for me a second. I forgot to buy something just now, and I can get it here."


    Without any suspicion, Big Girl stood under the shade of a tree waiting. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Maybe... it was possibly because Qiao Duo¡¯er felt awkward carrying the herbs bought from Ren Xin Hall into Deji Hall.


    On the other side, as soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er entered Deji Hall, Bai Yifan hurried over to greet her.


    "Madam, what do you need?" Bai Yifan asked politely.


    His grandmother was very delighted with the tremella mushrooms she had purchased from Qiao Duo¡¯er last time, saying it was worth her life to be able to eat such tremella. Therefore, he ought to treat her well both emotionally and rationally.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth before asking, "Have you heard of Star-of-Bethlehem?"


    "You came last time to buy Star-of-Bethlehem, right? It was also the first time I heard of it. I even researched ancient books, but couldn¡¯t find it," replied Bai Yifan, apologetically indicating that he had truly looked for it specifically.


    Unable to hide her disappointment, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought, does Heaven enjoy teasing her like this?


    Without finding the Star-of-Bethlehem, she couldn¡¯t make the contraceptive medicine, and without the contraceptive medicine, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t truly make a move on her, damn, it was a vicious cycle!

 Chapter 306 - 308 Can Help You Find _1

    Chapter 306: Chapter 308 Can Help You Find _1"Do you know what Star-of-Bethlehem looks like?" Bai Yifan asked.


    Actually, he didn¡¯t even need to ask, but he just felt uncomfortable when that woman was unhappy.


    "I only know what the flower looks like."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew that the contraceptive recipe was just a fluke. Back then, they were training in the primeval forest, and one guy who had drunk too much spilled the beans about his family¡¯s ancestral contraceptive recipe.


    The next day, he was pulled aside by his comrades for questioning.


    The brother, wanting the contraceptive recipe to be widely used, not only shared the recipe but also prepared the medicine and distributed it to a bunch of the men.


    It proved to be highly effective, and thus it became their exclusive internal medicine.


    In their words, it was a way not to wear a T and not harm the other half; there was nothing better than that.


    Looking back now, special agents are not entirely cold machines; when not on missions, they have their warm and endearing sides too. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Later, when she inadvertently saw that special agent preparing the medicine, he proudly explained the contraception recipe.


    The Star-of-Bethlehem was in bloom at that time, so she remembered it.


    Bai Yifan said with a smile, "You can draw the flower, and I can keep an eye out for it."


    "Then thank you in advance." Qiao Duo¡¯er was excited.


    Bai Yifan was a disciple from Medicine King Valley, and besides medical skills, Medicine King Valley had a mountain full of precious medicinal herbs. Perhaps they had the Star-of-Bethlehem she was looking for!


    With the Star-of-Bethlehem in hand, heh, the first thing she would do would be to ride Tan Zhenghong ten times!


    Cough cough, why was she so thirsty?


    Bai Yifan had someone bring over some paper and a brush, and Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly sketched a flower. At first glance, it looked a bit like a three-year-old child¡¯s drawing.


    Because the brush, this godly instrument, was truly too difficult to use!


    "It¡¯s more or less like this, only this big."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er drew a circle the size of a fingernail next to the flower.


    Her drawing skills might have been poor, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite satisfied with her memory.


    At that time, she thought she would never need this thing in her life, so she glanced at it briefly, but she managed to draw every detail.


    Which goes to show, she really was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lucky star!


    Bai Yifan took the paper and said, "When I have some news, I¡¯ll send someone to tell you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thanked him again and then took her leave. With Bai Yifan¡¯s help, she would probably find the Star-of-Bethlehem soon.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, why were you gone for so long?"


    The robust girl pouted, saying she thought she had been abandoned!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed involuntarily and hurriedly explained, "You know, there were a lot of people, so I got delayed a bit."


    "Why do I feel like you¡¯re lying to me? Hmm, I got it, did you sneak off to see the doctor? Are you pregnant? Or are you not feeling well and afraid Brother Hong would find out?"


    The robust girl¡¯s imagination took off, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er speechless.


    This child¡¯s imagination really was too rich.


    "I¡¯m telling the truth, Deji Hall was packed with people just a moment ago, I¡¯m neither sick nor have a child," Qiao Duo¡¯er emphasized.


    But she realized it was of no use, the robust girl continued to fantasize, convinced that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s behavior was simply too odd.


    That... was it a mistake that she just declined to hire a carriage?


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before they reached the carpenter¡¯s shop, and the robust girl finally returned to normal.


    The shop displayed various wood carvings and sets of furniture like tables and chairs. Qiao Duo¡¯er fell in love with them at first glance.


    If the price was right, she could order furniture for her home from this store.


    "Big cousin, come out quick!" the robust girl shouted.


    After a while, the curtain lifted, and the big cousin the robust girl had called for appeared.

 Chapter 307 - 309: A Piece of Fresh Young Meat_1

    Chapter 307: Chapter 309: A Piece of Fresh Young Meat_1Qiao Duo¡¯er always thought good carpenters were middle-aged because the bricklayers and carpenters assisting at her home were all uncle-level.


    But when Da Niu Er¡¯s elder cousin came out, Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit stunned.


    This... was too young, wasn¡¯t he? He looked no more than seventeen or eighteen, fair-skinned, and dressed neatly.


    He didn¡¯t look like a carpenter at all but rather a bona fide heartthrob!


    Luckily, Qiao Duo¡¯er was someone who kept her emotions in check. Although the waves churned inside her, nothing showed on the surface.


    Otherwise, she would have been embarrassed today.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, this is my elder cousin, Wind Liyang. Although he¡¯s young, his skills are really good. Cousin, this is my Sister Duo¡¯er; she wants to talk to you about the fragrant powder boxes," Da Niu Er introduced with a rising intonation since she was happy.


    She believed that as soon as the two met, their cooperation would be halfway to success.


    Wind Liyang gave a slight nod, "Hello, you might want to look at the finished products I have here before making a choice."


    "Alright," Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately agreed and reined in her astonishment.


    Wind Liyang invited Qiao Duo¡¯er and Da Niu Er to sit, then ran off to make tea, brought the tea over, and then disappeared again.


    Da Niu Er touched her nose: "Don¡¯t mind him, those wooden boxes are his treasures, and he always washes his hands before touching them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and sipped the tea patiently while waiting.


    After a while, Wind Liyang brought out a tray with six fragrant powder boxes on it. The boxes were the same size, but each had a distinct carved design.


    The patterns included dragons and phoenixes bringing auspiciousness, mandarin ducks playing in the water, and Guanyin bestowing children, all with auspicious meanings.


    Yet they were slightly different from what she had seen in the past, maybe to make carving easier.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, what do you think?"


    Da Niu Er looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er nervously. She was the most anxious at this moment.


    After all, she had a little selfish desire to look after her cousin¡¯s business. If her Sister Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t satisfied...


    Boo hoo, she wouldn¡¯t be able to play happily anymore!


    "The materials and carving are both excellent, but I wonder if it¡¯s possible to produce them in large quantities?"


    "Yes, I am responsible for designing the patterns. My father and my senior apprentices can produce them in large quantities," Wind Liyang said indifferently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then there¡¯s no problem. How is the pricing?"


    "The common materials for fragrant powder boxes are yellow pear wood, red sandalwood, Manchurian ash, and peach wood. The most expensive is the yellow pear wood for hundred Wen, red sandalwood for eighty Wen, and Manchurian ash and peach wood for sixty," Wind Liyang explained the general prices, and which wood to choose depended on the positioning of the fragrant powder.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said without hesitation, "Use yellow pear wood then, make twenty to start with."


    Loving beauty is human nature, and this nature is influenced by lifestyle, the richer and more leisurely, the more this nature shows.


    In other words, those who can¡¯t afford food and clothing wouldn¡¯t look at them even if they were cheap, while affluent women not worried about basic necessities would have the mind to care for their faces.


    Thus, the positioning of the facial mask powder was clear; it had to take the high-end route.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also chose four designs, just five of each kind.


    "Since you¡¯re Da Niu Er¡¯s friend, I¡¯ll charge you ninety Wen, and no deposit needed," Wind Liyang said slowly. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Indeed, when a handsome guy talks about money, it doesn¡¯t feel tacky at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t pretentious and expressed her thanks, finalizing the deal.


    She felt that Wind Liyang was reliable, and he thought the same of her, so doing business didn¡¯t involve too many complications.

 Chapter 308 - 310: A Concubine?_1

    Chapter 308: Chapter 310: A Concubine?_1On the way back, the girl brought up a very serious matter.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, from now on, I¡¯ll only charge ten wen money for a box of face mask powder," she said earnestly.


    For her, selling face mask powder was as simple as moving her lips, while her older cousin truly made quality wooden boxes with excellent craftsmanship, each selling for ninety wen while she took one hundred wen. Wasn¡¯t that just heartless?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "This was agreed upon beforehand, no one is allowed to back out."


    Cosmetics are a lucrative industry. The raw materials for each box of medicine powder cost a hundred wen, and the wooden box ninety wen, with the rest being profit. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t speak carelessly about such things. This was her trade secret, after all.


    "That won¡¯t do, if my dad and mom find out, they¡¯d surely beat me to death. How about this, I¡¯ll take fifteen wen, and I can¡¯t ask for more!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only say that a person¡¯s upbringing and character are indeed inseparable from their family.


    If it were the Tan family, they would definitely say, if it weren¡¯t for me introducing customers to you, could you even make any sales? At least give me half!


    The girl added pitifully, "Sister Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t rip me off. My dad can be ferocious, and my mom can be such a nuisance."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh: "Who ever complains about having too much money like you do?"


    "Earning money still requires a conscience. I consider you a good friend, I can¡¯t just gouge you."


    In the end, after much persuasion, they settled on a commission of thirty wen.


    Even so, the girl felt a little unhappy, thinking that she was taking advantage of someone else.


    Therefore, Qiao Duo¡¯er got plenty of help from the girl when it came to grinding the medicine powder.


    Anyway, the girl had strong arms and was quicker than Qiao Duo¡¯er, plus the powder she ground was finer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was really helpless with the honest girl, so she offered her an additional fifty wen in wages to be responsible for grinding the medicine powder because continuously working the millstone was also a test of strength.


    The girl said she was feeling depressed. Qiao Duo¡¯er herself was the fool here, wasn¡¯t she? She simply had to give her own money away to someone else.


    The third day was the day to fetch the boxes, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and the girl went to the town together as usual.


    This time, the girl¡¯s second brother happened to be going to town on business and could give them a lift in the ox cart.


    As soon as they reached the entrance to Big Willow Village, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Xiao Biyu with a sullen face, her gaze reminding her of a venomous snake.


    Yes, that kind of cold and malicious look.


    "Xiao Biyu, you little wretch, what are you glaring at?" the girl began to scold.


    Xiao Biyu rolled her eyes at the girl but looked as if she was wary of something and quickly left.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "Look at her, as if she wants to swallow me alive."


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, be careful these days. Xiao Biyu has just been promised to another household as a fill-in wife. She surely still has her mind on Brother Zheng Hong," the girl whispered. That explained the look in her eyes.


    "Isn¡¯t the Xiao family very fond of her?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was shocked; being a fill-in marriage really sounded unpleasant.


    Moreover, such a wife had to conduct rituals in front of the original wife¡¯s spirit tablet and would be buried next to the man, not with him and his original wife, after death.


    How could the Xiao family bear to let Biyu suffer such humiliation?


    The girl pursed her lips: "Biyu¡¯s mother said the first wife didn¡¯t have any sons and the relationship wasn¡¯t strong. Biyu will be treated just like the original wife once married there. But who doesn¡¯t know what their family is thinking? They¡¯re just eyeing the silver, aren¡¯t they?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sneered. Xiao Biyu getting married off as a fill-in wife wasn¡¯t her doing. What did Biyu¡¯s hatred for her mean?


    Forget it, no point dwelling on it. Anyway, everyone in the Xiao family has a screw loose!

 Chapter 309 - 311 Don’t Marry a Pig_1

    Chapter 309: Chapter 311 Don¡¯t Marry a Pig_1Xiao Biyu felt stifled and aimlessly wandered around the village.


    Before long, her mother found her.


    "Yu¡¯er, didn¡¯t I tell you to stay at home and embroider your dowry? Why did you run out again?"


    Zheng Shi scolded, now if Xiao Biyu was out of her sight for even a moment, she would worry incessantly, fearing that Biyu might cause trouble.


    If word got out to the intended in-laws, the marriage proposal could fall through.


    Furrowing her brows, Xiao Biyu said, "The marriage was arranged by you, whoever wants to marry should go marry him."


    "What way is that to talk, child? How is the Yan Family¡¯s Young Master not good enough for you?" Zheng Shi glared at Xiao Biyu.


    The Xiao Family unanimously agreed to this marriage, so it was set in stone.


    Moreover, only by marrying into a wealthy household like the Yan Family would she be spared from a life of hardship and toil.


    But Xiao Biyu thought otherwise, "Hmph, does he have anything besides money? Just look at him; he looks like a pig and is as dumb as a rock. Why should I marry him?"


    She had met the Young Master of Yan Family once; he wasn¡¯t taller than her, but at least three times her weight!


    How could she marry such an unsightly man?


    "Enough! If I hear this kind of talk from you again, I¡¯ll pretend I never had a daughter like you! Get back home now and wait obediently for the Young Master of Yan Family to marry you!"


    Zheng Shi said sternly, leaving no room for refusal.


    Because if Xiao Biyu didn¡¯t marry into the Yan Family, the Xiao Family would be ruined!


    "Mother, am I something you picked up? Am I worth less than thirty taels of silver?" Xiao Biyu questioned, tears welling in her eyes.


    Zheng Shi sighed; if only thirty taels could solve the problem.


    When Xiao Lingchuan asked Xuan Eagle Mountain Village for help, he said that Tan Zhenghong had thirty taels on him, which would all be generously given to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    He also repeatedly assured that there would be no issues, which is why Xuan Eagle Mountain only took two taels of silver from the Xiao Family.


    But the outcome was that not only did they fail to get the silver, but they also lost so many men. How could they let it go so easily?


    Those people were barbaric; reason meant nothing to them¡ªthey only recognized silver.


    The Xiao Family had saved some money, but it was far from enough to satiate them!


    Xiao Biyu stubbornly insisted, "Either way, I¡¯m not marrying that idiot. He¡¯s ugly and dumb; he can¡¯t even compare to a single finger of Tan Zhenghong!"


    "However good Tan Zhenghong is, it¡¯s of no use. He can¡¯t save your second brother. Have some conscience. Your second brother is being targeted by a gang of bandits because of you. Can¡¯t you think about him?"


    Zheng Shi said helplessly.


    Xiao Lingchuan was foolish; how could he have gotten involved with robbers and bandits?


    Impatiently, Xiao Biyu said, "Alright, stop talking, I¡¯ll marry him, okay? I just feel really stifled, don¡¯t follow me around, I just want to take a walk."


    "Do you truly no longer care for Tan Zhenghong?"


    Zheng Shi was extremely worried; any hiccup at this critical moment could spell disaster!


    Xiao Biyu nodded, "Of course, it¡¯s true. He wouldn¡¯t look my way anyway." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing her daughter¡¯s despondent face, Zheng Shi¡¯s heart ached terribly.


    After some thought, she agreed to Xiao Biyu¡¯s request, "It¡¯s good to take a walk, but you must come back earlier."


    Xiao Biyu continued along the country path, autumn scenery enchanting all around, but her heart had no room for appreciation.


    Because she knew her mother was still trailing behind her.


    Xiao Biyu walked slowly, harboring resentment within; if she couldn¡¯t be happy, why should they all live joyfully together?


    Her disguise was successful, and after following her for a while, Zheng Shi confidently went back home.


    They say once betrothed, one is considered an adult, and her daughter ought to be sensible by now.


    Actually, a walk might be just what she needed; to come to terms with her situation and marry into the Yan Family with peace of mind.

 Chapter 310 - 312 Not a Man!_1

    Chapter 310: Chapter 312 Not a Man!_1But Zheng Shi hadn¡¯t anticipated that just as she left, Xiao Biyu immediately turned around and headed towards the Tan Family.


    She took a palm-sized cloth bag from her sleeve, which contained a Silver Ring Snake.


    Because the cloth bag was soaked with medicine, the snake was limp and powerless, coiled up into a ball.


    But once it left this place, it would become an extremely poisonous snake, and once its venom entered the human body, death was certain.


    She had spent all her private savings to buy this treasure and had followed the snake seller¡¯s instructions to starve the snake for five days before releasing it into her enemy¡¯s house.


    That way, once food came into the Silver Ring Snake¡¯s field of vision, it would strike immediately and deliver a fatal blow!


    No matter how capable Qiao Duo¡¯er was, she couldn¡¯t be faster than a starving snake.


    By then, Qiao Duo¡¯er would only have a one-way ticket to death!


    Xiao Biyu slipped into the gap between the Tan Family and Zhou Family houses, gently pushed open a window, and released the Silver Ring Snake inside.


    At this moment, she could already imagine the ghastly scene of Qiao Duo¡¯er being bitten to death.


    She was going to marry a man who looked like a pig, but at least she was still alive and a young mistress of a wealthy family.


    That was definitely a better deal than Qiao Duo¡¯s situation!


    Seeing the Silver Ring Snake slowly slither into the room, Xiao Biyu finally closed the window carefully and tiptoed away.


    All she had to do now was go home and wait for the news; she might even be in such a good mood that she would send some paper money to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, this is what you get for stealing my man!"


    Only this thought remained in Xiao Biyu¡¯s heart, urging her to die quickly!


    She had only taken a few steps when a voice came from behind her.


    "Xiao Biyu, you¡¯re still not giving up? Let me tell you, my Fourth Boss and his wife are very close. You¡¯d better give up that idea. It¡¯s shameful for a girl like you."


    Xiao Biyu panicked and immediately turned around.


    Had she been discovered?


    It was Tan Zhongzhong who had just come out of the courtyard, and he probably hadn¡¯t seen what she had just done.


    Xiao Biyu took a deep breath, "It¡¯s just you. You¡¯re not even a man now, what right do you have to laugh at others?"


    Tan Zhongzhong asked indignantly, "What... What nonsense are you talking about?"


    "Heh, who in the village doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯ve been rendered useless by Qiao Duo? What kind of man are you?"


    Xiao Biyu looked at Tan Zhongzhong with disdain, her voice trembling slightly.


    Tan Zhongzhong snorted lightly, "That¡¯s still better than you pining for someone else¡¯s man!"


    "Qiao Duo slapped you, and you didn¡¯t even fart in response. How are you better than me? Shameless and spineless, you should just be sent to serve in the palace."


    Xiao Biyu was laughing as she spoke. She had always heard about eunuchs in the palace, but she¡¯d never seen one.


    Tan Zhongzhong and eunuchs were alike, both of them unable to use ¡¯that thing¡¯. They should belong to the same category!


    "Got nothing to say now? Why don¡¯t you find a mirror and take a good look at yourself!"


    After throwing another sarcastic remark, Xiao Biyu hurried back home.


    Today, she was not in the mood for a fight. She only wanted to leave quickly in case someone suspected her after Qiao Duo¡¯er was bitten to death.


    Tan Zhongzhong muttered gloomily, "A woman¡¯s pettiness is truly unstoppable by anyone. Too bad Fourth Boss is a blockhead who doesn¡¯t understand romance. Pity indeed."


    After that sentiment, he obediently went to the riverbank to wash the diapers. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, his entire purpose was to ridicule Xiao Biyu, knowing she¡¯d probably take out her anger on Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    That was Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s goal, so he didn¡¯t take the insults to heart. He just hoped Xiao Biyu wouldn¡¯t disappoint him.


    After all, Qiao Duo had been domineering in the Tan Family for too long. It was time she was put in her place.

 Chapter 311 - 313 Not a Swindler_1

    Chapter 311: Chapter 313 Not a Swindler_1At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was at Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop, where Wind Liyang had taken out all the wooden boxes. Each box was exquisitely carved and even colored, making them look even more pleasing to the eye.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t hesitate to pay the money and borrowed Wind Liyang¡¯s space to pack the facial mask powder into the boxes.


    The facial mask powder was something they had brought with them, and the reason they were in such a rush was that Darniu had promised the customers to deliver the facial mask powder to them today.


    After they had packed the twenty boxes of facial mask powder, they hurried off to the Feng Family.


    This was her first business transaction, and if she lost her credibility, future dealings would become difficult.


    When they arrived at the Feng Family¡¯s house, the person who had paid the deposit had already been waiting for a long time.


    Darniu¡¯s maternal aunt and grandmother had persuaded for quite some time before those girls and young wives finally agreed to wait.


    Seeing Darniu coming, a woman from the Zou Clan was so moved that she was about to cry.


    "Darniu, you¡¯re finally here. Otherwise, my house would have been taken away."


    She had said that children from the Feng Family wouldn¡¯t be scammers.


    Feeling guilty, Darniu said, "I¡¯m sorry, this is my first time doing business, and I lacked experience. I didn¡¯t calculate the time well, causing you all to worry."


    "I was just afraid you¡¯d be wronged. There¡¯s nothing else to worry about. You go ahead and explain to them, and I¡¯ll go make some tea," said the woman from the Zou Clan with a smile and hurried off to the kitchen.


    Suddenly, Darniu realized a problem ¨C Qiao Duo¡¯er, who she had been shielding behind her, had been overlooked.


    Wuu, how nice it would be if she were also delicate and small.


    However, this wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts, and Darniu quickly entered the main room.


    "Darniu, you didn¡¯t scam us, did you?!"


    One of the short-tempered young wives didn¡¯t even give Darniu a chance to speak; As soon as Darniu entered the room, she started interrogating her.


    Hundred Wen Money might not be a lot to her family, but it wasn¡¯t something to just give away for nothing.


    "Chun Er Sister, don¡¯t be angry. If I were scamming you, would I dare to come here? Wouldn¡¯t I have packed up and run away early on?"


    Darniu answered with a smile; it was her mistake, and making an apology was only right.


    One of the young wives nodded and said, "It¡¯s also our fault for being impatient. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ve been waiting for a while, and everyone was a bit worried."


    "Didn¡¯t I prepare everything for you? Here, take a look!"


    As she spoke, Darniu took out ten boxes of facial mask powder from a large trunk. The boxes alone were enough to amaze them. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, these boxes are beautiful!"


    "Yeah, and they¡¯re made of yellow pear wood; I¡¯m even thinking of buying two more boxes!"


    Darniu proudly said, "These are from my big cousin¡¯s shop; of course, they¡¯re beautiful. If not for these boxes, I would have come over earlier."


    "Darniu, we¡¯re really sorry for having misunderstood you," said the young wife with a red face, feeling that they had wronged Darniu.


    Wind Liyang¡¯s carpentry shop was famous for its meticulous work, and without knowing anything, they had malignantly labeled someone as a scammer, which was unjustifiable.


    "It¡¯s alright, misunderstandings can be resolved by talking it out. It¡¯s rather my fault for delaying you. Consider this wooden box as my apology, just this one time, though ¨C there won¡¯t be such an opportunity again," Darniu said generously. She was so easy-going that the atmosphere in the main room immediately lightened.


    "Come on, everyone, have some tea," the woman from the Zou Clan invited warmly.


    Now that Darniu had appeased everyone, the smile on her face was completely unforced.


    Someone pouted and said, "Auntie, can we not drink water? I¡¯ve nearly drunk a whole pot; if I shake my belly now, I can still hear water sloshing around in there."

 Chapter 312 - 314 Buy, Buy, Buy!_1

    Chapter 312: Chapter 314 Buy, Buy, Buy!_1Zou¡¯s touched her nose: "I was just about to go buy some, but you all forcibly stopped me from leaving. I¡¯m the one who feels aggrieved."


    "Who said we don¡¯t have anything else to eat? Our thoughtful Duo¡¯er has already made a purchase."


    Finally, Dany gave Duo¡¯er a chance to speak. Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the items on the table: "I¡¯m sorry to have kept you waiting. I hope you can forgive me."


    "That must be the girl who makes the face mask powder, she looks so lovely. Just looking at you, I can tell the face mask powder can¡¯t be wrong!"


    Someone hurriedly offered Qiao Duo¡¯er a seat.


    With pretty boxes and snacks, and the added bonus of becoming more beautiful, the earlier anger had already evaporated. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er called out: "Don¡¯t be shy. Eat and drink to your heart¡¯s content, and then go home to apply the face mask. We all need to look our most beautiful."


    "Dany, introduce her quickly, she¡¯s my friend from now on!"


    "She is Qiao Duo¡¯er. You can call her whatever you like, but don¡¯t call her ¡¯Miss¡¯ ¡ª my Sister Duo¡¯er is already married. If you give anyone the wrong idea and they hit me, I won¡¯t take responsibility, ha!" Dany said with a teasing and smiling face.


    The others nodded, but some still felt a bit disappointed in their hearts.


    Although they had not known each other for long, they had harbored little thoughts of making her a relative.


    Some were already eyeing the wooden boxes.


    A young girl asked timidly: "Sister Duo¡¯er, Sister Dany, may I have the one with the ¡¯joyful sparrow¡¯ design?"


    "Of course. Feel free to pick any, but there are only five of each design, so if you want a specific one, you¡¯d better hurry before they¡¯re gone," Dany said playfully, winking.


    "What if I want one of each?"


    "The face mask powder is made from medicinal herbs and will lose its effectiveness over time. Once you¡¯ve used up this batch, you can buy a different design next time."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chimed in, and this made the others look at her even more kindly.


    This was conscience at work. Other sellers wouldn¡¯t care if the effectiveness diminished over time; they just wanted to sell more.


    "Then I¡¯ll follow your advice. You must save one for me next time."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head and agreed.


    She added that Li Yang would definitely design many more beautiful patterns in the future.


    She estimated that by then, there would undoubtedly be die-hard fans eager to collect all the designs.


    The people Dany made friends with all had good personalities. They chose the designs they liked and paid the balance, totaling nine taels of silver.


    After receiving their face mask powder, the beauty-loving women hurried home to try it, bringing some peace to the Feng Family at last.


    Finally managing to see everyone off, the few of them were completely exhausted.


    Dealing with people is truly exhausting, especially for Qiao Duo¡¯er, who felt her face stiff from excessive smiling.


    Dany spoke earnestly, "From now on, I will definitely think things through before agreeing to any requests from others."


    "I think you¡¯re already doing great," Qiao Duo¡¯er commented, giving her a thumbs up.


    Dany was adept at handling matters and was quite impressive for her age.


    Zou¡¯s said with a smile, "It would be even better if you could curb your impulsive nature!"


    "I know, I promise there won¡¯t be a next time!"


    Dany nodded eagerly, already recognizing her mistake. So... please, no nagging.


    Her mother and aunt got along extremely well, mainly because they both were chatty and always had endless topics to discuss when together.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a box of face mask powder: "Auntie, you¡¯ve worked hard this time. This is a token of my appreciation. You must accept it."


    "It wasn¡¯t hard, and it¡¯s really my Dany who caused the trouble," Zou¡¯s quickly declined.

 Chapter 313 - 315 Waiting to Drink Wedding Wine_1

    Chapter 313: Chapter 315 Waiting to Drink Wedding Wine_1Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly stuffed the wooden box into the Zou¡¯s hands, "I haven¡¯t even had the chance to thank Daniu¡¯er yet, why add trouble there? Auntie, if you don¡¯t accept it, I will be upset."


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll shamelessly accept it, thank you so much." Zou took the wooden box and then said, "Right, you sit for a while, I¡¯ll go make some food for you."


    "Auntie, we¡¯re not hungry, and I need to get home too."


    Zou pretended to be angry, "Once you¡¯re here, you¡¯re like our own child, don¡¯t be polite!"


    After saying this, she hurried to the kitchen, while Daniu¡¯er pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er to the old lady¡¯s room.


    The Feng Family¡¯s old lady was also a kind old woman, always had a faint smile on her face, and it was very pleasant to be around her.


    After a while, Zou called them to eat.


    Worried about delaying Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s time, she cooked some noodles and stir-fried two simple home-cooked dishes.


    "I just made something simple, don¡¯t look down on it," Zou said humbly.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er and Daniu¡¯er picked up their chopsticks, Daniu¡¯er¡¯s second brother also came over, and it happened that Zou made plenty, enough for the three of them.


    Once they had eaten their fill, Zou walked them to the front gate.


    "Duo¡¯er, come and visit with Daniu¡¯er whenever you have time," Zou said with a smile.


    Even though she had only known Qiao Duo¡¯er for half a day, she liked her immensely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "Thank you for your hospitality, Auntie. When you go to Big Willow Village, come and visit my house too."


    "Auntie, we¡¯re heading back now, please go inside!"


    The ox cart slowly went on its way, and after about two hours, they reached Big Willow Village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er got off the cart in front of her family¡¯s new home foundation; she came to check on the progress of the new house and incidentally... later go back home with Tan Zhenghong.


    She hadn¡¯t come for two days, but the new house had undergone earth-shattering changes.


    The walls were already built up to about two meters high, and Tan Zhenghong was leading the workers in putting up a fence.


    At this rate, in another ten days or so, the construction would be mostly complete.


    "How did it go up so fast?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was shocked.


    D¨¤l¨ªn joked, "Zheng Hong said that once the house is done, you two will get married. We all want to work hard, don¡¯t we? We¡¯re looking forward to your wedding and the celebratory wine."


    "And me, don¡¯t forget about me when the time comes!"


    "Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sneakily glared at Tan Zhenghong, this guy really couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut!


    Tan Zhenghong said naively, "Wife, I¡¯ve already asked uncle to help pick a date, you can¡¯t back out."


    In other people¡¯s eyes, a bride who is welcomed is completely different from one who is bought.


    So, he was determined to marry Qiao Duo¡¯er in a grand and dignified manner.


    "I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m going to check out the shed you built." Qiao Duo¡¯er stamped her foot and fled in embarrassment.


    There was a small hill behind the house base; Tan Zhenghong had built a shed in front of the hill, which was dry and sheltered from the wind, the perfect place for the mountain muntjac to live.


    She planned to bring the mountain muntjac over to get used to the new environment when she had time.


    After wandering around, the new house was almost exactly like what Qiao Duo had imagined.


    When Zu Hong finished his work, he called his wife to go home together.


    For a couple to return home together was also a delightful thing.


    Just as they arrived at their home, a sharp scream suddenly came from inside, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong looked at each other, then immediately ran towards their house.


    The terrible scream had come from their house!


    Tan Zhenghong pushed the door, but found it was bolted from the inside.


    "Kick it open!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately did as she said, kicking the door twice and it swung open.


    sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 314 - 316 You Must Compensate!_1

    Chapter 314: Chapter 316 You Must Compensate!_1Tan Zhenghong kicked the door at the same moment Qiao Duo¡¯er had already picked up a stick from beside the wall.


    She remembered locking the door when she left, but it had been locked from the inside, a sure sign there was a problem.


    The moment the door opened, a snake shot out at an incredible speed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instinctively raised the stick and struck at the thing, her prediction was quite accurate, hitting the snake squarely in the body.


    The next second, the snake went limp on the ground.


    It struggled unwillingly a couple of times but was too weak to move again.


    A look at Little Wang Clan on the ground revealed her face ashen-white, having already fainted. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Beside her was a man at a loss, his face filled with terror, and a palm-sized wet mark at his crotch ¡ª which meant he had pissed himself.


    Now was not the time to ask why they were here, but to make sure no lives were lost.


    "How is she?" Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brow and asked.


    "Save her quickly, she¡¯s been bitten by a snake, she¡¯s going to die..." Tan Zhengyong trembled all over.


    He and Little Wang Clan had just entered when the snake darted out to bite, and if it hadn¡¯t been for his quick evasion, the person lying on the ground now would be him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked coldly, "Where was she bitten?"


    Tan Zhengyong shivered and said it was the calf, but at this moment, he did not even have the courage to roll up Little Wang Clan¡¯s trouser leg.


    "Zheng Hong, bring me the liquor, the Silver Needle, and the dagger," Qiao Duo¡¯er said while examining Wang Clan¡¯s wound.


    Within just a short time, the snakebite had turned into a bruise the size of a Copper Coin.


    Which meant that the snake that had bitten Little Wang Clan was venomous, and its toxicity was strong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tore a strip of cloth from Little Wang Clan¡¯s clothes and tightly bound it ten centimeters above the fang marks.


    Tan Zhenghong had already submerged the dagger and Silver Needle in the liquor, ready for use.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er first used the dagger to make a cross at the bite.


    Due to the violent toxicity, Qiao Duo¡¯er was forceful, cutting deeply, and dark blood gushed out immediately.


    But the bleeding wasn¡¯t fast enough, more was needed to squeeze out the venomous blood.


    At the same time, she used the Silver Needle to puncture a few major acupoints to prevent the spread of the venom.


    "Are you a pig? Don¡¯t you know to call the doctor?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but swear, besides shaking, he was useless!


    As if awakened from a dream, Tan Zhengyong hurriedly ran out.


    Doctor Wu knew the situation was urgent and came running over, and after taking Little Wang Clan¡¯s pulse, he took a pill bottle out of his medicine box and gave Wang Clan a pill to swallow.


    "Luckily your treatment was timely, pushing out most of the venom, otherwise, there would¡¯ve been no hope."


    Wu Youcai patted his chest, the venom was severe and a moment¡¯s delay could have cost a life.


    Tan Zhengyong quickly asked, "Does that mean my wife won¡¯t die?"


    "No, just drink the medicine for three more days and she¡¯ll be fine."


    "Thank you, Uncle Wu, make sure to pick the best medicine, no matter the cost, as long as it can save my wife. Also, my wife was bitten in the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, so you can ask them for the medicine fee."


    Tan Zhengyong finished his statement in one breath, now speaking very fluently, nothing like his earlier pitiful state.


    If it were only the first half, everyone would say he¡¯s a good man.


    But with the latter, he could only be described with four words: incredibly shameless!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip, she should not have intervened just now, and let Little Wang Clan die at that!


    Tan Zhengyong continued, "Uncle Wu, let¡¯s settle this, I¡¯ll take my wife home to rest now."


    Wu Youcai was not pleased with Third Brother Tan¡¯s attitude, but since Little Wang Clan was bitten in the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, it was indeed the Fourth Boss¡¯s responsibility to pay for the medicine.

 Chapter 315 - 317: Want to Deny It?_1

    Chapter 315: Chapter 317: Want to Deny It?_1Tan Zhengyong said discontentedly, "Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to deny it? My wife was bitten in your room, so you have to compensate."


    "I locked the door before I went out. How did you get in? What were you doing there?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked steadily at Tan Zhengyong.


    Tan Zhengyong immediately retorted, "The door wasn¡¯t locked, otherwise how would we have gotten in? We came in looking for someone, and that¡¯s when the snake bit us."


    "Is that so?" Qiao Duo¡¯er circled around Tan Zhengyong.


    Tan Zhengyong insisted on his version of events, that he was there looking for someone.


    Before he could repeat himself, Qiao Duo¡¯er reached into his bosom and pulled out a silver hairpin.


    Tan Zhenghong asked angrily, "What do you have to say for yourself?"


    The silver hairpin was the one he had forcibly dragged his wife into the jewelry store to pick out, so the situation was already quite clear.


    It turned out that Tan Zhengyong and his wife had come to steal things and had been bitten by the poisonous snake by accident.


    "You... you¡¯re slandering me! Do you think you can prove I¡¯m a thief just by stuffing a broken silver hairpin into my bosom?"


    "Indeed, it was taken from your bosom."


    Wu Youcai spoke a fair word, having witnessed the entire incident.


    Tan Zhengyong said bitterly, "Uncle Wu, even if you have a good relationship with the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, you shouldn¡¯t be so biased. Slandering me like this, do you have no conscience?"


    Doctor Wu¡¯s beard quivered with anger, but he was powerless against Tan Zhengyong¡¯s shameless behavior.


    "We¡¯ll discuss this matter when the village head comes. If needs be, we¡¯ll notify the authorities," Tan Zhenghong said slowly.


    Tan Zhengyong scoffed lightly, "Human life is at stake here. I¡¯ve advanced the cost for the medicine; I¡¯ll come back later to collect it from you!"


    "Uncle Wu, I¡¯m sorry to trouble you for a trip."


    Wu Youcai shook his head, "It¡¯s all right. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll let this go so easily. Be careful. When you go out, make sure to lock the door."


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, "The door was locked, but it didn¡¯t stop them."


    Wu Youcai couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for Tan Zhenghong and, after offering a few words of consolation, took his leave.


    Little Wang Clan was taken to the Main Room, and it was only then that Qiao Duo¡¯er had the mindset to check her own lock and the snake on the floor.


    The lock had been opened with a key; it must have been Tan Zhengyong or Little Wang who had stolen the spare key she had given to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    The snake was identified as a Silver Ring Snake, highly venomous, ranking fourth among terrestrial snakes.


    The Silver Ring Snake is typically docile and doesn¡¯t usually attack humans unless it is extremely hungry or frightened.


    "Wife, be careful, it¡¯s not dead," Tan Zhenghong quickly shielded Qiao Duo¡¯er behind him.


    "It wasn¡¯t dead to begin with, but paralyzed," she clarified. Just now, she had struck the snake at its vital three-inch section.


    This location was where the snake¡¯s spinal column was most fragile and easily broken; a spinal fracture would paralyze it.


    Tan Zhenghong remained on guard: "Such a poisonous snake is rare; I¡¯ve only heard about it once."


    "It must have been deliberately placed here," Qiao Duo¡¯er deduced.


    Poisonous snakes are not numerous and prefer to dwell in secluded places; it¡¯s almost impossible for them to appear in someone¡¯s room by chance. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, nothing is absolute in the world, but Qiao Duo¡¯er dared to speak this way because there was a scent of medicine on the snake.


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, "This time I must catch the hidden enemy behind this. Otherwise, we will be living in constant fear from now on."


    This time it was his second brother and sister-in-law who had come to steal, which shielded him from disaster. What about next time?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed wholeheartedly. Some people had become so deranged that they even thought up such sinister tricks as poisonous snakes!

 Chapter 316 - 318 - Is There Evidence?_1

    Chapter 316: Chapter 318 - Is There Evidence?_1Their opinions were unanimous ¡ª they had to report to the authorities.


    However, as night was falling, they could only go to the town the next day.


    To be safe, Tan Zhenghong informed the village chief about the incident.


    In the village, theft and releasing snakes to bite people were considered grave crimes. The village chief immediately declared that no matter who committed the act, they would be severely punished.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er packed the snake in a cloth bag and then placed it inside a pottery jar, which she hung inside the well.


    This way, the smell on the snake¡¯s body could be preserved to the greatest extent.


    The medicinal scent on the snake¡¯s body was an important piece of evidence. If it were not well preserved, it would be a great loss.


    As night fell, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Do you really want to report Tan Zhengyong?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "This time if he gets put away, at most he¡¯ll endure a few beatings as a lesson. If there¡¯s a next time, it might not be as simple as just a beating."


    It was a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkey, so to speak.


    He hoped that his brother would learn a lesson and refrain from committing such foolish acts in the future.


    Otherwise, if troubles kept emerging every three days, how could he and Duo¡¯er live in peace?


    "Whatever you do is right," Qiao Duo¡¯er said timidly.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled slightly, "When the time comes, there will inevitably be those who say we¡¯re heartless. You must be prepared."


    "Caring so much about what others think, how tiresome must our lives be? No matter what you do, there¡¯s always someone who won¡¯t be satisfied."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder to offer comfort.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled faintly, "The days are ours, let¡¯s not bother about them."


    He had fully let go. He had warned them over and over again, yet they refused to listen. What more could he do?


    His principle was to be kind, but not weak.


    The next day, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo got up early in the morning, and as they were getting ready to leave, Tan Zhengyong came over. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a night, he came again to extort money.


    "Hurry up and give me the silver. Three or Two Silver for the medicine, plus a nourishment fee, makes ten taels total. If you don¡¯t pay up, I¡¯ll have my wife come and stay at your place!"


    Tan Zhengyong said threateningly, intent on getting his way this time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sneered, "Keep dreaming!"


    "Then I¡¯ll just have to spread the word and let everyone see what kind of evil woman you are!"


    Tan Zhengyong pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose and began to curse.


    Tan Zhenghong said impatiently, "Haven¡¯t you finished yet? You came uninvited to steal. If you got bitten to death, it¡¯s nobody¡¯s fault but your own!"


    "You... What evidence do you have to prove I stole anything?" Tan Zhengyong asked defiantly.


    Yesterday, Qiao Duo¡¯er had caught him red-handed, and he, feeling guilty, had made a couple of excuses and then fled in panic.


    But that was yesterday. Today, he had no silver hairpin on him; this was tantamount to death without evidence. He intended to claim that he had been wronged!


    Ah, bless his parents for giving him such a glib tongue.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke slowly, "We have no evidence to prove that you¡¯re a thief, so we can only go and report this to the officials."


    Tan Zhengyong sneered, "Stop trying to scare me. You don¡¯t have the silver to make an official report. Do you think the Master Guang would even care about your case?"


    Isn¡¯t there a saying? ¡¯The character for ¡¯official¡¯ has two mouths¡ªthose with justice but no money should not enter¡¯."


    "You¡¯d be better off worrying about yourself."


    With that, Tan Zhenghong, along with Qiao Duo, left the house.


    A sense of dread struck Tan Zhengyong; Tan Zhenghong was indeed serious! But what to do now?


    If he were to be dragged to the Government Office... he would likely be flayed half to death!


    Curse it, it was just a lousy silver hairpin. He didn¡¯t even care about it!


    He wouldn¡¯t have bothered with it had he not seen a silver hairpin just lying around when he was out yesterday.

 Chapter 317 - 319 Bai Yifan Takes Action_1

    Chapter 317: Chapter 319 Bai Yifan Takes Action_1"Tan Zhenghong, you guys didn¡¯t lose anything, was there any need to report to the authorities? Are you just looking for trouble?" Tan Zhengyong chased after them.


    Wasn¡¯t this pushing him towards a dead end?


    After all, they were brothers, did they really have to be so hard on him?


    "You keep insisting you didn¡¯t steal anything, so why are you so nervous? You should be saying, ¡¯Please, go report to the officials quickly,¡¯ to clear my name."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced sideways at Tan Zhengyong. Unfortunately, did that man dare?


    Clenching his teeth, Tan Zhengyong said, "It¡¯s a slander against me! Who knows if that venomous snake was raised by you? You want to scare me after it bit my wife, but I¡¯m not afraid of you at the Government Office!"


    "I hope you clear your name soon. If you are wronged, the Lord County Magistrate will even make us pay you silver. Then you¡¯ll be rich."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er even mockingly cupped her hands in a salute.


    The corners of Tan Zhengyong¡¯s mouth twitched. He had nothing to say and could only watch helplessly as Tan Zhenghong and his wife left the courtyard. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stomping his foot, he quickly went back to the Main Room to discuss with his parents.


    Actually, he still harbored a sliver of hope that if he never admitted to the theft, surely no one would be able to do anything to him.


    Tan Zhenghong and Uncle Huang went to the town together.


    Qiao Duo didn¡¯t go directly to the Government Office, but first went to Deji Hall.


    Just relying on a small broken snake, the officials at the Government Office would definitely not be convinced. She needed to present other evidence.


    She arrived at Deji Hall and explained the situation to the shop assistant, who then led her to the back hall.


    When Bai Yifan saw that Qiao Duo had a troubled expression, he asked, "Madam, is there something wrong?"


    "Young Master Bai, I need your help examining this snake."


    Qiao Duo opened the cloth bag, and the snake inside was revealed.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s eyes lit up: "A Silver Ring Snake! This is a rare medicinal material indeed. Madam, I¡¯ll offer Twenty Taels!"


    He was so obsessed with medicine that he couldn¡¯t contain himself at the sight of a superior medicinal ingredient.


    The Silver Ring Snake was highly effective for treating rheumatic pain. However, it was rare, highly venomous, and very precious, especially since this one was still alive.


    Heh, this Qiao Duo¡¯er always brought him surprises!


    "I suspect someone bought this snake and put it in my house. I need you, Young Master Bai, to identify it. As for this snake, once the truth comes out, you are free to take it."


    Qiao Duo was very generous, she disliked snakes, and it was useless for her to keep it. It was better to make it a favor.


    Bai Yifan concentrated and carefully leaned in to smell the snake.


    "This prescription can make a snake listless. It must be the work of a Snake Catcher, but it¡¯s hard to say from which one." Bai Yifan said seriously.


    Qiao Duo was not surprised by this answer at all, and in fact, it was exactly the answer she wanted.


    Snake Catchers, like hunters, had a specialized profession and only passed down their skills to their own children.


    Hunters passed down trapping techniques from generation to generation, while Snake Catchers passed down their catching skills and snake-overcoming prescriptions.


    If they could now identify which Snake Catcher¡¯s medicine was used, all would be well.


    But now the scent of the medicine had already faded, and Qiao Duo could only seek help from Bai Yifan.


    "Could you recognize this scent if you encountered it again?"


    Bai Yifan looked disdainfully at Qiao Duo.


    He had been studying medicine since he was five years old, mingling with herbs every day, and at this moment he could name the prescription.


    Bai Yifan then said immediately, "Go and change your clothes."


    Snake Catchers wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with him because of his status, but Qiao Duo and the others were just ordinary folks. If they offended the Snake Catchers, they would invite retaliation.


    Plus, dressed as employees of his household, it would be more convenient to get things done.

 Chapter 318 - 320: The Snake Breeder_1

    Chapter 318: Chapter 320: The Snake Breeder_1Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er hesitate, Bai Yifan explained, "We¡¯re not people from the Guang House, so rashly investigating will only alert the enemy. Just come with us to buy medicinal herbs."


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er agree. Her initial hesitation was due to her fear of causing trouble for Bai Yifan.


    Disguised as buyers of medicine, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    The shop assistant quickly brought out two sets of clothes, which Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong changed into.


    For Qiao Duo¡¯er, it was a novel costume, except the clothes were a bit too large. She had to roll up the sleeves twice to expose her hands.


    Once everything was ready, they set off.


    Skilled Snake Catchers sometimes also bred snakes, but all relied on regular customers to introduce business.


    Following Bai Yifan saved them this trouble, as the pharmacy often needed snakes as medicinal guides and they were frequent visitors.


    Before long, they arrived at the home of the first Snake Catcher.


    The master of the house was surnamed Qian, the most formidable Snake Catcher in White Stone Town, with the biggest business.


    "Young Master Bai, if you need anything, just send someone. Why come yourself?" A middle-aged man came out to greet Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan clasped his hands in greeting, "You¡¯re too kind, Uncle Qian. This time, I want to buy a Five Poisons Snake, which is highly toxic. I was afraid that my servants might be careless and cause trouble, so I came myself."


    Qian Yao nodded, "That makes sense. I happen to have stock right now. Would you like to take a look, Young Master Bai?"


    Bai Yifan nodded readily, and seeing that Qian Yao seemed to have something more to say, he said, "Wait here, don¡¯t wander off."


    Qian Yao then gestured for them to follow, and the two quickly went to the backyard.


    "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s this person." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered close to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed, "This person is very cautious, unlikely to do something to bring disaster upon himself."


    Since they were now servants, they made small talk and obediently stood their ground.


    When Bai Yifan came out, he had an extra cloth bag in his hand, which contained the poison snakes he had purchased.


    "Thank you, Uncle Qian. I¡¯ll take my leave now." Bai Yifan called out to Qiao Duo¡¯er, and they both left.


    The result was as Qiao Duo¡¯er had imagined, not this one.


    After visiting four households, they found nothing.


    Bai Yifan still headed energetically to the next house, eager for the Silver Ring Snake that Qiao Duo¡¯er owned.


    He used the Silver Ring Snake as a medicinal guide, combined with other herbs to create a plaster, which was highly effective against rheumatism.


    It was the perfect remedy for his grandmother, so he was determined to have it.


    At the fifth house, Bai Yifan gave Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong a meaningful look.


    As expected, it was this house. They needed to be even more low-key to avoid giving themselves away.


    "Young Master Bai, you¡¯ve come at the right time. I just caught a Bamboo Leaf Green snake a couple of days ago, you¡¯ll definitely like it," Wu Cheng said proudly.


    He had just taken over the business from his father and had already secured two big deals. Who would dare to underestimate him now?


    Bai Yifan nodded, "Very good, may I have a look?"


    "Wait here. Young Master Bai, come with me, they¡¯re all kept in the backyard."


    This nearly confirmed their target. Wu Cheng was young and talented but also overly confident, which made him prone to slip-ups.


    The residual scent of medicine on the snakes was one such slip-up.


    All the Snake Catchers they¡¯d met had been cautious and humble, except for this one who carried a hint of arrogance.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Young Master Bai¡¯s visit today, his arrogance might have reached the skies.


    If Wu Cheng knew that the snakes were being bought for malevolent purposes, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape responsibility either. Such was the price of greed.

 Chapter 319 - 321 Taking Advantage of Me?_1

    Chapter 319: Chapter 321 Taking Advantage of Me?_1Having left the Wu Family by midday, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach embarrassingly grumbled.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er had already decided to treat Bai Yifan to a meal at the Welcoming Guest Building.


    The Welcoming Guest Building, the best restaurant in White Stone Town.


    "Thank you, Young Master Bai, for lending a hand. Duo¡¯er and I are truly grateful," Tan Zhenghong sincerely expressed his thanks.


    Bai Yifan waved his hand dismissively, "It was but a trifle, no need for formalities."


    Yet why did he feel a strange sense of unease? Wait, they are husband and wife, what is he getting worked up for?


    It must be because he saw too many snakes in the morning, making his head go funny.


    Bai Yifan shook his head, casting out the odd sensation.


    He ordered four dishes and a soup. Just enough for them to eat without waste, considering Tan Zhenghong¡¯s dignity, it was the perfect amount.


    While waiting for the food, Bai Yifan shared his plans for the afternoon.


    "I¡¯m an old acquaintance of the Qin County Order. I¡¯ll introduce you to him this afternoon."


    As the saying goes, having connections in high places makes things easier, and Tan Zhenghong once again expressed his gratitude.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s focus was elsewhere, "When meeting the Lord County Magistrate, can I refrain from kneeling?"


    "That depends on whether you¡¯re willing to endure the discomfort," Bai Yifan said with a smile.


    "Hmm?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    After all, the idea of kneeling to any living person made her entirely uncomfortable.


    Bai Yifan proposed as if he were bestowing a great favor, "Just say that you¡¯re my sister. If Qin Longyun dares to make you kneel, I¡¯ll take care of him."


    This would also neatly sever any tangled, messy thoughts he might have harbored.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted her cup of water, "Then I¡¯ll toast to you with tea instead of wine, big brother."


    "Tan Zhenghong, you don¡¯t mind, do you?" Bai Yifan looked towards Tan Zhenghong.


    "Having one more big brother to watch over Duo¡¯er is naturally something I¡¯m happy about," he replied.


    Tan Zhenghong also raised his cup, emphasizing that it was in honor of his older brother. He definitely would not approve of any more-than-sibling affection.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er is his wife, forever!


    "But you can only call me ¡¯Third Brother.¡¯ I¡¯m giving you Qin Longyun as the eldest brother, so no one in White Stone Town would dare touch you," Bai Yifan said with a laugh.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a darkened face, "Why do I feel like you¡¯re setting me up? And who¡¯s the other one?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Luo Qingfeng. If you want poison, you go straight to him. But he¡¯s unpredictable and I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s holed up. You should have met him, the one who was standing by my side the first time you went to Deji Hall."


    "I remember," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, narrowing her eyes.


    So, she should consider herself having gained three handsome brothers then, instantly elevating her status.


    Hmm... no matter how she looked at it, she wasn¡¯t losing out.


    Bai Yifan teased, "Now that you have kin, if anyone bullies you, just come to us."


    "Two of them don¡¯t even know I exist yet, let¡¯s talk about this later," Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed it off.


    Bai Yifan was sure that those two fellows would also accept Qiao Duo¡¯er. With such a sister, wouldn¡¯t they fiercely protect her when the time came?


    After lunch, Bai Yifan took them to wait at the teahouse.


    Not long after, Qin Longyun arrived, accompanied by his wife Chen Yiling.


    "Sister-in-law, you seldom leave your residence; it¡¯s a rare treat," Bai Yifan hurriedly greeted with cupped hands.


    Chen Yiling smiled gently, "I heard you intended to introduce a talented individual to us, so I came to join the fun."


    Being of high society, her every move was graceful and generous, making her a pleasant presence.


    "Here they are. This is Qiao Duo¡¯er, my sister, and this fellow here is her... my brother-in-law Tan Zhenghong. And these are Lord Qin and Lady Qin," Bai Yifan introduced them.

 Chapter 320 - 322 Your snake?_1

    Chapter 320: Chapter 322 Your snake?_1"Lord Qin, Lady Qin," Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong greeted them respectfully.


    Qin Longyun gave a faint smile, "No need for such formalities, you are Yi Fan¡¯s sister, so naturally you are my friend."


    He knew Bai Yifan¡¯s intentions, but to be the sister of Qin Longyun was not an easy title to hold.


    All he could say was not to rush, if she is worthy, there will be time to acknowledge her later.


    "Duo¡¯er, I am a few years older than you, you can call me sister," said Chen Yiling in a soft and delicate voice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily nodded, "Then I shall respectfully comply."


    Lord and Lady Qin were very polite, but there was a hint of distance in their manners, which was all within Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expectations.


    After all, it was their first meeting, and being too intimate would make one feel uneasy.


    She had never intended to easily recognize a new older brother; as long as she wasn¡¯t made to kneel during the legal proceedings, that was enough.


    As for the rest, they would interact in the future. If they got along well, they could form a heartfelt bond, but if they could not get along, then their relationship would end there.


    This was the way of noble friendships, where everything would follow the heart, without being forced or fake.


    Bai Yifan invited them to sit down and personally poured them tea.


    Qin Longyun went straight to the point, "Yi Fan, have you encountered some trouble?"


    Bai Yifan did not beat around the bush and spoke straightforwardly, "Someone purchased a Silver Ring Snake from Wu Cheng, attempting to use it to harm people."


    This was all he could investigate; the rest was up to Lord County Magistrate to take action.


    Qin Longyun furrowed his brows, the Silver Ring Snake¡¯s venom was potent, and such matters could not be ignored.


    "Lord Qin, there is another matter for which I would like to ask for your assistance," said Tan Zhenghong as he stood in front of Qin Longyun with hands folded in salute.


    Qin Longyun nodded, "Speak, let me hear it."


    "It is rather embarrassing to say that the mastermind behind this plot was targeting my wife and I. However, my second brother was bitten by the snake when he intruded uninvited, aiming to take my wife¡¯s hairpin. Now, the hairpin has been retrieved, but he has yet to recognize his mistake. I ask for your help to give him a warning."


    Tan Zhenghong was very candid; he saw this as an opportunity for a minor chastisement to serve as a warning.


    If he grew too bold, he might steal from others, and that would ruin his life.


    Qin Longyun squinted, "Do you have evidence?"


    "At the time, my wife found the Silver Hairpin on him, and the doctor from Big Willow Village also witnessed it."


    After mulling it over, Qin Longyun said, "I will conduct a private interrogation regarding this matter."


    "Thank you, my lord," Tan Zhenghong thanked him again.


    With Qin Longyun involved, the matter was handled smoothly, and within half an hour, they were in the court hall.


    Qin Longyun first ordered that Wu Cheng be brought up for questioning.


    "Wu Cheng, do you recognize this snake?"


    Qin Longyun had someone bring the tray in front of Wu Cheng.


    Wu Cheng¡¯s complexion changed drastically, but he quickly composed himself, "My lord, I do not recognize it."


    "Yet I have heard you caught a Silver Ring Snake similar in size to this one, and I¡¯ve also heard that you¡¯ve sold several venomous snakes recently, including this one. Is there any truth to that?"


    Qin Longyun looked at Wu Cheng, his presence commanding yet not visibly angry. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, although there are few of these snakes, there isn¡¯t just one. How can you be so sure it was me, my lord?"


    Wu Cheng immediately argued, knowing that as long as he denied that the snake was his, no one could do anything to him.


    Qin Longyun said indifferently, "Snake catchers use different medicines, leaving distinct scents on the snakes. Others may not detect it, but it won¡¯t elude Young Master Bai of the Deji Hall. Someone, please fetch Young Master Bai."

 Chapter 321 - 323 Looking for Trouble_1

    Chapter 321: Chapter 323 Looking for Trouble_1The Government Official responded and went out, and Wu Cheng¡¯s face instantly lost all color.


    "Wu Cheng, if you admit it now, we can still deal with it leniently," Qin Long hinted.


    "Lord, I did sell a Silver Ring Snake, but that was several days ago. If it were to bite someone, wouldn¡¯t it have done so long before today?"


    Wu Cheng wiped his sweat, even his voice changing.


    Qin Longyun spoke calmly, "Then let¡¯s wait for Young Master Bai to confirm. According to the laws of our dynasty, those who refuse to confess shall receive an additional twenty heavy blows with the Court Beating Wood as a warning once the evidence is complete."


    Wu Cheng shivered at the thought; the last thing he wanted was to be hit with the wooden beater!


    "Lord, it¡¯s... it¡¯s mine. You see, the snake¡¯s tail is broken; I accidentally caused that," Wu Cheng hurriedly confessed.


    "Do you remember whom you sold it to?"


    "I don¡¯t know," Wu Cheng confessed truthfully.


    Qin Longyun slammed the Court Beating Wood, "Which of you in this trade doesn¡¯t deal with regular customers? You¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t recognize them?"


    Wu Cheng felt as though he wanted to die; he should have listened to his father and conducted his business honestly.


    His father repeatedly stressed the importance of knowing exactly where the snakes went.


    Especially poisonous ones, they were not to be sold to just anyone, except for the most trusted buyers.


    Yet, he was only new to taking over the business and sold a poisonous snake to a villain because he could make twice the amount of Silver.


    Alas, the trouble he was in was all his own doing!


    "Lord, I really don¡¯t recognize her. I just know she was very wealthy. She gave me Sixty Taels of Silver in total. She also mentioned that she was waiting for the Silver Ring Snake to save someone. I didn¡¯t think much of it and sold her the snake," Wu Cheng said, trying to clear his name.


    Wu Cheng made it seem as if he was innocent indeed.


    Qin Longyun smiled slightly, "Bring him forward, give him ten heavy blows; it¡¯ll help him think better."


    The Government Officials on both sides sprang into action, one with a long bench and another with a thick wooden stick.


    "Lord, I really don¡¯t know, but I can help to look for her, please believe me," Wu Cheng begged urgently.


    With a wave of his hand, Qin Longyun ordered the Officials back to their original places.


    "This time, I will choose to believe you. Take him to Big Willow Village to search for the murderer. If the person cannot be found within two days, your crime will be the same as that of the murderer!"


    Wu Cheng quickly assured, "Rest assured, Lord, I will definitely catch the person responsible."


    "Court dismissed," Qin Longyun said, flicking his sleeves as he left first.


    Wu Cheng said that he still remembered what the person looked like, making finding the murderer simple, considering the person likely held a grudge against Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Back in the inner hall, Tan Zhenghong offered tea to Qin Longyun, "Lord Qin, you¡¯ve worked hard."


    "This is my duty. Alright, you all go back and rest; there will be news by tomorrow at the latest."


    Bai Yifan spoke up at the right moment, "Brother, my snake..." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is evidence. You can only take it after the case is closed," Qin Longyun said firmly.


    Returning the snake to Bai Yifan would have turned it into medicine powder in no time, how would he then continue the investigation?


    "Then you¡¯d better take good care of it; that¡¯s a valuable item!"


    Bai Yifan reiterated his point before leaving the Government Office with Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    As soon as they exited the Government Office, Uncle Huang came to meet them.


    "Zheng Hong, Duo¡¯er, is everything settled?" Uncle Huang asked worriedly; he had come to wait because he was concerned.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Almost, we should know who it is by tomorrow."


    "That¡¯s good. It¡¯s getting late; let¡¯s head back," Uncle Huang suggested.


    After saying goodbye to Bai Yifan, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong boarded the ox cart.


    A while later, Bai Yifan rubbed his chest, feeling a slight pain¡ªit must have been from the exhaustion of the day.

 Chapter 322 - 324 Dirty Eyes_1

    Chapter 322: Chapter 324 Dirty Eyes_1Not long after Qiao Duo¡¯er and her family arrived home, a government official also brought Wu Cheng to Big Willow Village.


    Tie Niu had all the villagers go to the threshing floor, stating only that there was an important matter, and no one but the children was allowed to be absent.


    The Tan Family lived quite far from the threshing floor, so as soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong received the news, they set off, accompanied by Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian.


    As they walked, they started asking about the day¡¯s events.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no intention of concealing anything, so she briefly recounted what had happened.


    "You¡¯re saying that the poisonous snake was really put in there by someone else?" Hu¡¯s Clan was shocked.


    This... This is just too malicious!


    Chao Lian also commented, "Yeah, we¡¯re all villagers here, who could do such a thing? If they¡¯re found out, their family won¡¯t be able to live in our Big Willow Village anymore."


    "We¡¯ll know who it is soon enough," Qiao Duo¡¯er hinted with a curl of her lips.


    Just as the saying goes, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road. It wasn¡¯t long before they ran into the Xiao Family, and enemies meeting was always a highly charged affair.


    "You¡¯re actually still alive?" Xiao Biyu couldn¡¯t believe her eyes as she looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    In her mind, shouldn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er have become a corpse by now?


    She had waited at home all day for news!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt helplessly speechless. With such intelligence, you want to harm people?


    She had previously only suspected Xiao Biyu, but now she was certain.


    Because it was as if it was written all over that person¡¯s face ¨C I want the snake to bite you dead. It would be impossible for her to pretend she hadn¡¯t seen it!


    Such low intelligence is truly pitiable; nearing death and still utterly oblivious.


    Xiao Lingchuan glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "What are you looking at? Is my Biyu someone you can look at?"


    "Of course I can¡¯t look," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded thoughtfully, "Wouldn¡¯t want to dirty my eyes without a way to clean them."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately supported his wife, "Indeed, it¡¯s better not to look. Dirty eyes are prone to illness."


    Xiao Biyu pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Are you just going to let her bully me like this? People who don¡¯t know might think the Xiao Family has no one left!"


    "A cheap woman sold to Big Willow Village thinks too highly of herself, trying to strut around without even having a family to back her?" Zheng Shi said with disdain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "I can strut around because I have a man. Husband, beat them up!"


    Tan Zhenghong stood beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, his fists cracking.


    His wife was his treasure, to be kept safe in the palm of his hand, to be cherished as gently as if she might melt in his mouth. When had it ever been the Xiao Family¡¯s place to ridicule her?


    Xiao Biyu gritted her teeth, "Big brother, second brother, beat that wretched woman to death!"


    She should have died yesterday; letting her live until today was already more than enough! S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why bother getting angry with her? You¡¯re only demeaning your own status by stooping to her level, and you¡¯re not allowed to lay a hand on her. Let¡¯s go!" Zheng Shi pulled Xiao Biyu away.


    Tan Zhenghong was highly skilled, making the Xiao Family Brothers no match for them. Losing a fight would only bring more shame to the Xiao Family, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Watching the Xiao Family¡¯s hasty retreat, Qiao Duo¡¯er taunted merrily, "Hey, why are you leaving so soon? Hmm, it must be because you know you can¡¯t win and have to run away."


    Xiao Biyu was even more infuriated, but with Zheng Shi holding her tightly, all she could do was curse loudly.


    Her voice could still be heard cursing from a distance away.


    "Wife, let¡¯s not get angry, eh? Someone will take care of them soon,"


    Tan Zheng Hong murmured in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    This matter had to be kept secret for the time being, otherwise Xiao Biyu might run away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, and with her mood lifted, her footsteps quickened considerably. It wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at the threshing floor.

 Chapter 323 - 325 Save Me_1

    Chapter 323: Chapter 325 Save Me_1By this time, most of the villagers had arrived, and they were chatting in groups of threes and fives.


    Generally, there were only two uses for the threshing floor: tax collection and conscription.


    But now was neither the time for taxes nor conscription, so what was the reason for this gathering?


    When almost everyone had arrived, the village elder stood on the temporary platform and announced, "Everyone remain quiet, stand still, no talking, and do not move around without permission."


    The noisy crowd quieted down, not because of the elder¡¯s words but because of the four sword-wielding officers.


    They had always treated those from the Government Office with a blend of respect and avoidance.


    Especially since the front two officers had their large swords placed against one man¡¯s neck, their faces fierce, looking rather intimidating.


    What exactly were they trying to do? Could they give a clear explanation?


    This way, at least they could spare themselves the needless worry!


    "I¡¯ve often told you, harboring ill intentions towards others is unacceptable. Everyone should mind their own plots of land, hugging your wife and child, and live peacefully. But some people just can¡¯t stay out of trouble and insist on stirring up issues, and this time you¡¯ve even alarmed Lord County Magistrate, which is simply seeking death! Let me tell you..."


    Tie Niu raised his voice in admonishment, fearing that the villagers would not cooperate with the government officials and misunderstandings could lead to trouble for the entire village.


    Therefore, he made the situation seem very serious to control the scene.


    The officers and a man wearing a hood were searching through the crowd, causing a number of people to feel uneasy.


    They hadn¡¯t made any major mistakes, but who hadn¡¯t stolen a handful of someone else¡¯s rice, a couple of small green vegetables, an egg, or pocketed some items they found... such trivial matters were not uncommon among them.


    The most frightened of all had to be Lao Guang, given that he had secretly slept with another man¡¯s wife.


    Could it be that someone had discovered it? If it was brought up in the Guan House, surely he could not escape being drowned in the pond.


    If they were indeed looking for him, how many people in the village would die?


    Widows and the like would mostly be those to perish, and then there were the lonely young wives... surely at least ten people would be implicated?


    Besides these, Xiao Biyu was already trembling.


    "Mother, my stomach hurts; I need to go relieve myself," Xiao Biyu whispered as she gently tugged at her mother¡¯s clothes.


    Zheng Shi nodded: "You must have eaten something spoiled, child. Go on quickly, there¡¯s nothing for you here. After you¡¯re done, just head home directly."


    Xiao Biyu couldn¡¯t wait to get as far from this place as possible; going straight home now would be best.


    But as soon as she made a move, the government officials noticed her, and even the man in the hood turned to look¡ªit was her!


    "Seize her!" the hooded man yelled.


    Finding this woman would allow him to offset his crimes. All he had to say was that he didn¡¯t know what the woman wanted with the snake, and he would be released without charge! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instinctively, Xiao Biyu thought of running, but how could she possibly escape so easily?


    The officers were skilled in martial arts and caught her in no time.


    Seeing her daughter being seized, Zheng Shi no longer cared about the presence of the officers.


    She hurried to protect Xiao Biyu: "What do you think you¡¯re doing? Have you no shame? Getting handsy in front of so many people, let her go, or I won¡¯t be polite!"


    "Mother, save me, please save me!" Xiao Biyu begged.


    She didn¡¯t want to go to the Government Office, she didn¡¯t want to be arrested!


    With a grim face, one official spoke, "We act on Lord Qin¡¯s orders; if you have anything to say, take it to the Government Office."


    "You bunch of good-for-nothings, when you can¡¯t catch the real criminal, you go after my sister; do you even count as men?" Xiao Lingchuan shouted as he grabbed one of the official¡¯s collar, preparing to strike.


    With a light snort, an officer already had his sword held against Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s neck.

 Chapter 324 - 326: Caught Away!_1

    Chapter 324: Chapter 326: Caught Away!_1Xiao Lingchuan suddenly fell silent; he estimated that if he spoke again, his head would likely part ways with his body.


    Xiao Dazhi had a bit more sense and hurried out to defuse the situation.


    "Gentlemen, let¡¯s talk this out, she is my daughter, who never sets foot outside the main gate nor the inner gate; I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re arresting her?"


    "She bought a snake to commit assault," the government official said coldly.


    Zheng Shi anxiously said, "How could that be possible? We¡¯re a decent family and can¡¯t possibly do such a thing; you must have the wrong person. Why not investigate further?"


    "It was her, I¡¯m certain I didn¡¯t mistake her!"


    Wu Cheng spoke up again¡ªhmph, he certainly didn¡¯t want to be made a scapegoat for someone else!


    The lead government official nodded, "Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll return to the government office to report."


    So Xiao Biyu was taken away just like that, experiencing for the first time the utter sense of helplessness when cries for help go unheard by heaven and earth.


    As soon as the government officials left, the villagers exploded into chatter; purchasing a snake for assault was unprecedented in Big Willow Village.


    "That Xiao girl is really something terrible, already so vicious at a young age. What will become of her in the future?"


    "Where do you think those vicious daughters-in-law come from? Aren¡¯t they taught by their parents?"


    "Xiao Dazhi, you owe everyone an explanation!"


    "Right, if not for the Fourth Boss¡¯s household¡¯s timely rescue, a life could have been lost!"


    There were just over sixty households in Big Willow Village, and one could easily find out who was bitten by the snake.


    "Stop them, don¡¯t let them go until they make things clear!"


    The Xiao family became the public enemy, surrounded by villagers in the middle of the village, unable to leave even if they wanted to.


    Xiao Dazhi said angrily, "I¡¯ve already said my Yu¡¯er is being framed. Can¡¯t you understand plain language?"


    "It must be Qiao Duo¡¯er; Tan Zhenghong has thoughts about my Yu¡¯er, Qiao Duo¡¯er harbors resentment in her heart, so she¡¯s framing my Yu¡¯er," Zheng Shi directed the blame towards Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Unfortunately, the villagers weren¡¯t fools.


    The County Magistrate of White Stone Town was famously fair and incorruptible; how could he let the government officials arrest someone without evidence?


    And to say Qiao Duo¡¯er framed Xiao Biyu was even more of a joke.


    That couple was so close as to seem as one, visible even to those who weren¡¯t blind.


    A woman spoke up unreservedly, "Oh, how come I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s your family¡¯s girl who is fixated on Hong Yazi? He and his wife are living well; yet your daughter insists on meddling."


    "Why bring it up? The Xiao girl is precious, how could you fabricate such things about her?"


    "It¡¯s simply shameless, the Xiao family looked down on the Tan family for being poor and didn¡¯t let their daughter marry, but who would have thought the daughter herself would shamelessly persist, uncontainable by anyone!"


    Many laughed out loud, leaving the Xiao family¡¯s faces ashen.


    The village head cleared his throat, "Fellow villagers, Lord Qin will definitely give us an explanation tomorrow; let¡¯s disperse for today." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only with the village head¡¯s intervention could the Xiao family disappointingly return home.


    It was as clear as day to them, they all knew that this incident was likely Xiao Biyu¡¯s doing.


    But they understood even more so that they could not admit to the crime; otherwise, how could the Xiao family ever stand in Big Willow Village again?


    What a sin!


    Why did they have to have such a debt-ridden daughter?


    Zheng Shi cried, covering her face, "Old man, you must think of something quick!"


    "I¡¯ll go beg the Yan family, there might be a glimmer of hope," Xiao Dazhi said helplessly.


    Just the thought of him, a man of such stature, groveling to others, was humiliating!


    But besides the Yan family, what other options did they have?


    "No way, if the Yan family finds out, Yu¡¯er¡¯s marriage will be off," said Zheng Shi.


    The marriage arrangement with the Yan family had come by with great difficulty; they absolutely couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity!

 Chapter 325 - 327: Too Many Faces?_1

    Chapter 325: Chapter 327: Too Many Faces?_1Xiao Dazhi said angrily, "How come your stupidity hasn¡¯t killed you yet? What¡¯s the Yan Family¡¯s status? How could they possibly not know? Sigh, you need to hurry up and prepare some gifts, and hope the Yan Family can lend a hand." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Biyu went to the Government Office just once and her reputation was ruined; the Yan Family will surely call off the marriage.


    It was their family that was in the wrong, without even the right to say no.


    Zheng Shi hung her head and said, "I was hoping that the bride price would make up for this autumn¡¯s shortfall, but now even putting everything into it isn¡¯t enough."


    Qiu Clan, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao Family, couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer, "Dad, Mom, I have no objections to you saving Yu¡¯er this time, but I want to split the family before you try to save anyone."


    With Xiao Biyu, that troublemaker, around, the Xiao Family was only going to become more unlucky.


    "Wife, Dad and Mom are still here; you cannot speak like that," Xiao Lingshan glared at Qiu Clan.


    Qiu Clan scoffed, "So I just deserve to be beaten by your sister? Look at the mess she¡¯s created, it¡¯s her own disgrace; why should we suffer for her mistakes? If you don¡¯t agree to split the family now, then divorce me right here and now, and don¡¯t even think about getting one Wen from me!"


    "You¡¯re out of line! Who gave you the right to speak in the Xiao Family?"


    Zheng Shi banged her hand on the table; wasn¡¯t calling for a family split at this critical moment just stirring up trouble?


    "I feel the same way."


    The second daughter-in-law had also expressed her stance; she also wanted to split the family.


    Zheng Shi grew even angrier, "Eldest, second, write the divorce letters right now, and get rid of these two ingrates!"


    The Xiao Lingshan brothers both kept silent, for they wouldn¡¯t do something so shameful as divorcing their wives.


    And besides, the children couldn¡¯t be without a mother; they too were fed up with a household in chaos.


    "You two have grown wings now, you don¡¯t listen to what I say, right? Why am I even alive, just to be disliked by everyone, my life is so hard!"


    Zheng Shi cried even harder.


    Xiao Dazhi furrowed his brows and said, "Isn¡¯t this already chaotic enough? Right now, the most important thing is to save Yu¡¯er. We can talk about everything else later."


    But with such a perfunctory response, neither daughter-in-law said a word.


    Over the years, the Xiao Family had managed to stay together, with everyone earning their own money and keeping it to themselves, just contributing to the household expenses on time each month.


    That is to say, most of the Silver was controlled by the two daughters-in-law.


    Xiao Dazhi¡¯s heart was troubled, and with a wave of his hand, he dismissed them all.


    Zheng Shi said unhappily, "It¡¯s a good thing we¡¯ve saved some Silver; otherwise, wouldn¡¯t we be taken to the cleaners by those two shameless women?"


    But now, having money made one the boss, and Zheng Shi could only curse a few words.


    At dinner time, the little grandson of the Xiao Family asked in a milky voice, "Why does everyone say Auntie is shameless? Is it because Auntie¡¯s face is too plentiful?"


    Zheng Shi slammed her chopsticks down on the table, "Is this how you teach your children?"


    "Wu Lang is so young, what does he know?" Qiu Clan responded indifferently.


    Wasn¡¯t it something the child heard outside?


    Wu Lang pursed his lips and said again, "I also heard that Auntie is going to marry Xiao Fu¡¯s Fourth Uncle; Grandma, Xiao Fu¡¯s Fourth Uncle can make cricket cages, they¡¯re so pretty, please agree!"


    Zheng Shi¡¯s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot; how could she eat this meal?


    She was so full of anger!


    She slammed her bowl down hard on the table and stomped back to her room in a huff.


    "Mom, why is Grandma angry?"


    Qiu Clan put a piece of meat into her son¡¯s bowl, "Grandma ate quickly, she¡¯s full, so you should eat fast too. Eating a lot is how you grow tall quickly."


    Little Wu Lang nodded obediently, gobbling up his rice.


    Seeing her adorable son, Qiu Clan felt a bit of consolation in her heart.


    She hoped Xiao Biyu would stay locked up forever so that she wouldn¡¯t have to be burdened with taking care of her for life.

 Chapter 326 - 328: Is there evidence?_1

    Chapter 326: Chapter 328: Is there evidence?_1Early the next morning, a government official came calling.


    Tan Zhengyong, as a victim¡¯s family member, had to go as well. His heart was pounding as he made his way to the government office. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He edged closer to Tan Zhenghong, his lips barely moving, when the government official gave him a warning look, "No talking."


    Tan Zhengyong laughed dryly twice, "Big brother, do you know what the lord wants me to do there?"


    "I don¡¯t know," the young government official shook his head.


    "I really don¡¯t know anything; it would be useless even if I went."


    "If the lord orders you to go, you go. Whether it¡¯s useful or not is not for you to decide," said the official with a cool expression.


    Glancing at Tan Zhenghong walking ahead, Tan Zhengyong asked discontentedly, "Why can¡¯t I talk to Fourth Boss when they can hold hands?"


    Isn¡¯t that just too unfair?


    The government official rolled his eyes, "If you were his wife, you could also hold hands."


    "I¡¯m his second brother; I just want to say a few words," Tan Zhengyong said weakly.


    "Shut your mouth, you¡¯re driving me nuts!"


    Tan Zhengyong shrank his neck and dared not utter another word.


    Alas, he could only silently pray that Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t spilled the beans about his petty theft.


    Upon arriving at the government office, Tan Zhengyong dutifully paid his respects.


    He looked like a mouse in front of a cat, not even noticing Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s failure to kneel.


    All the relevant people were present, and Qin Longyun announced the court session to begin.


    The first was Tan Zhengyong, whose role was to confirm that the snake on the tray was indeed the one that had bitten the victim.


    Since the snake was missing its tail, he could readily confirm it.


    Next was Bai Yifan; Bai Yifan reiterated that the scent on the snake came from the Wu Family and named a few ingredients from the potion. Wu Cheng inwardly agreed and admitted the snake was bought from his family.


    Otherwise, if Bai Yifan disclosed the complete formula, what would he live off of?


    Then it was time to interrogate Xiao Biyu, which was the key part of today¡¯s session.


    In truth, any clear-eyed person knew the truth, but a trial required evidence, so Qin Longyun didn¡¯t show the slightest negligence.


    "Xiao Biyu, Wu Cheng claims you bought this snake, do you admit to this?" Qin Longyun looked at Xiao Biyu.


    Xiao Biyu immediately shook her head, "It wasn¡¯t me; he¡¯s talking nonsense."


    "You¡¯re the one talking nonsense; you gave me sixty taels, although I asked for eighty, and you shamelessly begged me to sell, insisting you only had sixty!" Wu Cheng countered.


    "Do you have any evidence that proves it was her who bought the snake?"


    After thinking carefully, Wu Cheng replied, "The bag holding the silver was hers, it¡¯s very pretty. Lord, if she still denies it, why not give her a beating with the court beating wood to get the truth?"


    "Lord Qin, you can¡¯t force a confession with torture!" Zheng Shi started clamoring from outside the court.


    "Nonsense, Lord Qin is not that kind of person!"


    "Clearly it¡¯s your daughter who won¡¯t confess; how could it be Lord Qin forcing a false confession?"


    "If a daughter buys a snake to bite someone, what kind of person would her mother be?"


    ...


    Qin Longyun tapped the court beating wood, calling for silence, and the outside of the court became quiet.


    "First, administer five strikes with the big plank. If I have wronged you, I will take ten strikes here in this court myself," he said.


    Xiao Biyu quickly spoke up, "Indeed, I bought the snake, but who can say it was I who let it bite someone? The snake ran away after I brought it home."


    Could she be blamed if the snake itself went to the Tan Family and bit someone?


    With this thought, she found her resolve.


    So she was determined to clench her teeth and never admit that she was the one who had released the snake.

 Chapter 327 - 329 Last Move_1

    Chapter 327: Chapter 329 Last Move_1Tan Zhengyong¡¯s eyes shifted, "My third brother said he saw Xiao Biyu around the Tan Family, acting all sneaky, and that very day my daughter-in-law was bitten by a snake; she must have been there to release it."


    If he could help prove that Xiao Biyu was guilty, surely the Fourth Boss and his wife would have to thank him, right?


    By then, the business of him stealing would be wiped clean, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Xiao Biyu neatly rearranged her hair at the temples, "I was just passing by; don¡¯t falsely accuse me. Who says I can¡¯t go to the Tan Family!"


    "How could it be such a coincidence? Why did your snake not go somewhere else but to the Tan Family? Isn¡¯t it because you want to harm someone?"


    She still denies releasing it, who would believe that? Ghosts?


    Even a three-year-old child knows this; he refused to believe Lord Qin would believe Xiao Biyu¡¯s nonsense.


    But you can¡¯t write on the dossier that the murderer is guessed to be Xiao Biyu, can you? Isn¡¯t that openly declaring a miscarriage of justice?


    Qin Longyun¡¯s goal was to avoid wrongful cases, so of course, he couldn¡¯t slap himself in the face.


    Therefore, Xiao Biyu bore no psychological burden, and said with an unchanged expression, "Then I don¡¯t know, maybe snakes just like to bite vile people?"


    "If snakes knew who the vile person was, they would definitely bite you to death first," Tan Zhengyong accused, pointing at Xiao Biyu¡¯s nose.


    "If you insist your daughter-in-law is the vile person, then I can¡¯t do anything about it."


    Xiao Biyu said innocently, her resentment towards that vile person still fresh¡ªif it weren¡¯t for her going in, wouldn¡¯t the one who died be Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    She had cursed Tan Zhengyong and his wife hundreds of times, but it was all in vain.


    Qin Longyun clapped the Court Beating Wood again, "There shall be no disturbance in the court!"


    Tan Zhengyong shuddered and quickly knelt down again.


    He had gotten so excited that he forgot he was still in court... oh, please don¡¯t let them beat him.


    Qin Longyun said sternly, "Xiao Biyu, if you recognize your fault now, the sentencing may be more lenient. Think carefully about what¡¯s more severe."


    "My snake is lost; I don¡¯t know why it would be at the Tan Family."


    Xiao Biyu repeated her stance.


    Hmph, what could they do to her now?


    Even if she had released the snake to bite Qiao Duo¡¯er, so what?


    "My lord, the snake must have entered through the rear window. The ground between the Tan Family and Zhou Family Alley is loose; if someone did it on purpose, they would definitely leave footprints. Send someone to check, and we will know," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, looking confident.


    Xiao Biyu¡¯s heart jumped. She had been so focused on the snake at the time, how could she have noticed the ground beneath her feet?


    Qin Longyun nodded, "Keep a watch on everyone here; don¡¯t let the word get out. Send two more to collect the footprints."


    Xiao Biyu completely panicked; after all, she was just a spoiled and willful young lady. The fact that she had even come up with that idea was already a burst of intelligence and conscience.


    Now that the other side had a follow-up move, she was utterly confused. What should she do? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xiao Biyu turned to look for her family members; her mother, elder brother, sister-in-law, second brother, and second sister-in-law were all there.


    But they too looked anxious, helpless.


    Her heart gradually grew cold. Was she really going to admit her guilt?


    No, that¡¯s not right. Her father wasn¡¯t here; he must have gone to think of a solution, right?


    "Xiao Biyu, do you really want to remain defiant? Once the footprints are brought here, you won¡¯t have a chance," pressed Qin Longyun, continuing to erode Xiao Biyu¡¯s waning confidence until she would be left with no choice but to reveal the truth.


    Xiao Biyu kept silent, but her complexion became extremely unsightly.


    Had her father come up with a solution yet? Why wasn¡¯t he here?

 Chapter 328 - 330: What Innocence Are You Pretending?_1

    Chapter 328: Chapter 330: What Innocence Are You Pretending?_1"Xiao Biyu, you still have one more chance to admit your guilt voluntarily," Qin Longyun said sternly.


    Xiao Biyu turned her head to look again but still couldn¡¯t see her father¡¯s shadow. Indeed, how could he match the Guang House?


    She gritted her teeth and said, "It was me who put the snake in there. Wu Cheng told me to starve the snake for a few days before releasing it into someone¡¯s room. The snake would surely attack people. So, he¡¯s not a good thing either."


    Wu Cheng was flabbergasted. Was this girl too cruel? She was actually dragging him down with her!


    He had repeatedly warned her, telling her never to say that the snake came from him, no matter what.


    At the time, she had even sworn an oath, and now, she hadn¡¯t even been pressed, she had sold him out!


    Damn it, he was finished too!


    "Xiao Biyu, state your motive and the entire process of committing the crime clearly."


    "I like Tan Zhenghong. The person who should marry Tan Zhenghong should be me. What right does Qiao Duo¡¯er, a freak, have to be with Tan Zhenghong? She¡¯s the one who deserves to die!"


    Xiao Biyu spoke insolently. Now that she had decided to confess her guilt, what was there to hesitate about?


    She simply hated Qiao Duo¡¯er; she was willing to curse Qiao Duo¡¯er with her life!


    Suddenly, there were gasps outside the courtroom.


    Not only was this girl malicious at heart, but she was also blind to her own faults.


    There were two girls standing in the courtroom, one of them, other than Xiao Biyu, must be Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The most disdainful were Tan Zhenghong and Bai Yifan. Tan Zhenghong simply thought his wife was the most beautiful.


    Even when they first married, he had never thought his wife ugly.


    As for Bai Yifan, he silently admired Qiao Duo¡¯er, dressed in a pink gown, her skin more radiant than snow, eyebrows like delicate willows, eyes bright as stars, shoulders cut like a work of art, waist svelte as if bound by a ribbon, and from any angle, she was nothing less than perfect.


    The most remarkable was her natural beauty, which made her appear even more fresh and pure, not to mention the cold and refined temperament that surrounded her, making it difficult for one to look away.


    How could such a beauty be what Xiao Biyu had called a monster?


    Ah, women blinded by love could indeed be terrifying.


    Wu Cheng knelt on the ground and exclaimed loudly, "My lord, don¡¯t believe her. I didn¡¯t know she bought the snake to bite people. I really didn¡¯t know anything!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Think carefully before you speak. You¡¯ve already deceived me once yesterday," Qin Longyun said with a slight curl of his lips, his eyes filled with warning. If Wu Cheng were to tell lies again, he would face a heavier sentence.


    Wu Cheng was taken aback and could only say weakly, "I... I was blinded by the prospect of money. I swear I won¡¯t dare again."


    Qin Longyun announced loudly, "Now that the truth has come to light, Xiao Biyu¡¯s envy-turned-hatred led her to buying a snake and committing an assault, which left Tan¡¯s Wang Clan injured. Wu Cheng, knowing Xiao Biyu¡¯s malicious intentions, still provided her with the venomous snake. He is an accessory to the crime."


    "This court sentences Xiao Biyu to three years of imprisonment and a fine of eighty taels, while Wu Cheng is sentenced to one year of imprisonment and the confiscation of proceeds from selling the snake obtained through illicit means. Do you have any objections?"


    Wu Cheng knelt with his head bowed, one year of imprisonment... it was much better than he had imagined.


    But when he got out, he definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to get involved in this kind of trouble again.


    Tears involuntarily streamed down Xiao Biyu¡¯s face. She really didn¡¯t want to go to jail!


    Zheng Shi suddenly rushed into the courtroom: "Qiao Duo¡¯er, you harlot, you¡¯ve always had it in for Yu¡¯er, are you satisfied now? Are you happy?"


    While shouting furiously, she attempted to hit Qiao Duo.


    Before Qiao Duo could react, Tan Zhenghong had already grabbed Zheng Shi¡¯s arm.


    "Who are you putting on that innocent act for? It¡¯s your failure to educate your daughter that made us the victims!" Tan Zhenghong said irritably.

 Chapter 329 - 331: Where Is Your Integrity?_1

    Chapter 329: Chapter 331: Where Is Your Integrity?_1Zheng Shi, however, disagreed, "How are you the victims? You are all jumping around alive and well, while my Yu¡¯er¡¯s whole life has been ruined!"


    Three years, neither long nor short.


    But for a young girl, it is the bloom of her youth, and having been through jail, who would dare to marry her now?


    What is she to do in the future?


    "Are you questioning the judgment of this court?" Qin Longyun asked in a deep voice. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯re nothing but a corrupt official! How much did they bribe you with? I curse you to have an agonizing death, to never find peace in the afterlife!"


    Zheng Shi had long forgotten the saying that one should not fight against officials, and she was fixated on delivering her scolding.


    Qin Longyun turned to his assistant, "For causing a disturbance in the court and insulting an imperial officer, what should be her punishment?"


    "My lord, she should receive twenty slaps to the face."


    Qin Longyun nodded, and immediately a government official carried out the order.


    Zheng Shi was forced to kneel on the ground, while another official started to deliver blows from both sides.


    The officials were all in their prime, and their hands were powerful.


    After just a couple of hits, Zheng Shi saw stars and blood began to trickle from the corner of her mouth.


    Zheng Shi looked pitiable, but the pity always comes with something detestable.


    If you leave home without your wits, who else should be blamed but yourself?


    The slapping sounds were incessant, and Xiao Biyu glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er with hatred, blaming her for all of this!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er approached Xiao Biyu with a faint smile and whispered in her ear, "Actually, the soil in the alley was quite hard, there were no footprints at all. If you had just held out a bit longer, everything would have been fine. Alas, why were you so impatient?"


    The government official did not go to collect footprints; they merely went out, walked around, and returned with a blank sheet of paper.


    If Xiao Biyu had not become flustered and had stuck to her previous testimony, nobody could have done anything to her.


    Clenching her fists, Xiao Biyu spat out, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, just you wait, I will make sure you die!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just smiled faintly, as she had never considered Xiao Biyu to be her match.


    Even if there were to be a next time, she would still crush Xiao Biyu to smithereens.


    Before long, the official on the other side had finished carrying out the punishment.


    "Take Xiao Biyu and Wu Cheng into custody, while the others may stay for the time being. Close the doors of the court hall for now."


    Qin Longyun still remembered the promise he made to Tan Zhenghong; once the officials acted upon his orders, he tapped the court beating wood to signal.


    Tan Zhengyong immediately knelt down, "My lord, I confess; my wife and I sneaked into Fourth Boss¡¯s room, looking for some silver, but found nothing. There was only a silver hairpin, and I... I pocketed it. I swear I won¡¯t dare do it again, my lord."


    He understood clearly; Wu Cheng and Xiao Biyu had been quibbling all along, but facts are facts; they ended up in prison, didn¡¯t they?


    And as for him, with both witness and evidence present, and Wu Youcai having seen it all, there was no point denying it.


    So he did not bother to make an effort, and simply confessed his guilt.


    Qin Longyun cleared his throat; he had not even spoken a word and here was a confession?


    In his years of judging cases, he had never encountered someone so straightforward; he could hardly believe this man and Tan Zhenghong were brothers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked to the sky in disbelief, and Tan Zhenghong remained silent; was there no sense of integrity? At least wait for Lord Qin to exert some pressure.


    "Since you have admitted your crimes so readily, then you shall receive a punishment of five hits with the large plank as a warning."


    Tan Zhengyong¡¯s face turned pale, "My lord, I¡¯ve saved you so much trouble; can¡¯t you spare me the punishment?"


    The assistant glanced sharply at Tan Zhengyong, "Do you think you¡¯re haggling in a vegetable market? You are guilty, and without punishment, how will Lord Qin command respect in the future?"

 Chapter 330 - 333 Stop fighting!_1

    Chapter 330: Chapter 333 Stop fighting!_1Tan Zhengyong curled his lips. What did it have to do with him whether he gained the crowd¡¯s approval or not?


    All he wanted was to avoid a beating.


    But in reality, he hadn¡¯t dared to utter a word when he saw the government official coming over with a stool and a wooden stick. He still couldn¡¯t help but tremble pathetically.


    How much would it hurt to have that arm-thick stick beat his buttocks?


    Yet, as the official approached, there was no doubt he couldn¡¯t escape this ordeal.


    The government official cracked a slight smile, "Are you going to lie down on it yourself, or shall we assist you?"


    Tan Zhengyong swallowed hard and then slowly and reluctantly lay on the stool. Soon, the stick came down on his buttocks.


    The sensation... was as if the flesh on his buttocks had burst into bloom. Tan Zhengyong screamed without any dignity.


    "Ah, go easy, please! I¡¯m dying here!"


    "My dear brothers, please have mercy, stop hitting me, ah, it¡¯s killing me, mother, it¡¯s killing... ah!"


    "Fourth Boss, save me!"


    ...


    Tan Zhengyong¡¯s howls echoed throughout the courtroom, and even the official carrying out the punishment couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Wasn¡¯t this just like a buffoon?


    Daring to imitate the nobility while being no more than a clown, how absurd.


    After the five strikes were done, Tan Zhengyong¡¯s face had turned completely white. He rolled and crawled off the stool, grimacing in pain whenever he touched the beaten area.


    A government official, unable to watch any longer, helped Tan Zhengyong up.


    Tan Zhengyong looked at the official who had beaten him with resentful eyes, but the man ignored him, leaving him to sulk.


    "We have been lenient with you this time. You must behave yourself from now on. If you reoffend, you won¡¯t be so lucky. Moreover, your wife¡¯s medical expenses for the snake bite will be covered by the Xiao Family¡¯s fine," Qin Longyun instructed.


    Overwhelmed with joy, Tan Zhengyong said, "Thank you, my lord, I promise I will never steal again!"


    He had land and silver at home; it wasn¡¯t like he couldn¡¯t make ends meet. Why on earth would he debase himself to steal from others?


    "Inform me about the medical expenses later; I will provide the silver," the Master said timely.


    Tan Zhengyong nodded. The idea of asking for more quickly crossed his mind but was immediately dismissed. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cough cough, not being honest even within the Government Office would be digging his own grave, wouldn¡¯t it?


    He intended to live a few more years.


    After the court was adjourned, Bai Yifan took the poisonous snake and went home, not giving Qiao Duo¡¯er even a chance to say thanks.


    At noon, Qin Longyun finished his official duties and returned to the inner courtyard.


    As soon as he arrived back, the maid reported that Qiao Duo¡¯er had been there.


    Qin Longyun nodded, meaning Qiao Duo¡¯er had already left. So why hadn¡¯t his wife come out to greet him?


    As he grumbled and walked toward the room, the door opened from the inside before he could touch it.


    The moment the door opened, Qin Longyun jumped back a step, steadied himself, and then realized it was his wife.


    "Husband, you¡¯re back?"


    "Yi Ling, what is that on your face?"


    Qin Longyun cleared his throat. That green substance smeared all over her face was making him uncomfortable.


    Chen Yiling said with a coy smile, "Qiao Duo¡¯er came by just now, she brought a box of facial mask powder, it whitens and removes spots. I love it!"


    "If you like it, that¡¯s good."


    Qin Longyun said with a smile, no wonder Bai Yifan was so good to Qiao Duo; she truly was a gem.


    There are many beautiful women in the world, but few are both beautiful and intelligent.


    Like his wife, who only ever happily plays the fool, acting like a child at her age, and is easily swayed by something as simple as a box of facial mask powder.


    But it was quite alright. For him, to encounter a woman suitable for himself was already a great fortune in this lifetime.

 Chapter 331 - 334 I Can Be Worse_1

    Chapter 331: Chapter 334 I Can Be Worse_1In the evening, Tan Zhengyong brought over One Tael of Silver.


    "That... I... just wanted to thank you all. If it weren¡¯t for your timely rescue, my wife would have lost her life," said Tan Zhengyong, somewhat awkwardly.


    He had collected Two Taels of Silver from the Government Office today and felt somewhat elated.


    Tan Zhenghong smoothly accepted the silver, which made Tan Zhengyong feel even more as if his brain wasn¡¯t on straight.


    He was just being polite, but Tan Zhenghong actually accepted it?


    Everyone said Tan Zhenghong was honest and kind-hearted, but he didn¡¯t feel it at all. The man was clearly full of tricks!


    Tan Zhenghong then handed the silver back to Tan Zhengyong: "She was bitten in our house; this is compensation for the medicine. You take it."


    Holding the silver, Tan Zhengyong said, "I¡¯m really sorry for the trouble, thank you very much."


    After finishing his words, he was escorted out, and only then did he figure it out.


    Fourth Brother Tan, that sly fox, had played him. He took his silver only to return it, and himself didn¡¯t lose anything, gaining a good reputation for free.


    Forget it, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to think too much; his butt still hurt.


    In reality, he was just finding an excuse to keep lazing around; otherwise, what does a sore butt have to do with thinking?


    Inside the house, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh and gave Tan Zhenghong a thumbs-up.


    "Husband, I must look at you with new respect; how can you be so bad!"


    "Wife, I can be even worse; I¡¯m going to bolt the door."


    After securing the door, Tan Zhenghong pounced toward Qiao Duo¡¯er. The timing was perfect, best suited for doing something not so harmonious.


    Wrapped in the bedsheet, Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled to one side, causing Tan Zhenghong to miss his mark.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a mischievous grin, "Wife, you¡¯re really fast, but, you still can¡¯t escape the palm of my hand!"


    No matter how fast Qiao Duo¡¯er dodged, it was pointless, as the bed was only so big.


    However, he still underestimated Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s speed and predictive ability; he was always just a little bit away from catching her.


    He knew Qiao Duo¡¯er was doing it on purpose; if she wanted to, she could move even faster.


    After a few rounds, Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t gained any advantage, which was the trouble with having such a capable wife.


    After all the commotion and not even touching a corner of her dress, he was embarrassed to call himself a man!


    Ow, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cosmos erupted.


    "Wife, did you hear a noise?" Tan Zhenghong asked seriously.


    Probably due to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s past shadow caused by Tan Zhongzhong squatting by the wall, she earnestly searched for someone else¡¯s presence.


    The next second, Tan Zhenghong pounced without hesitation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swung her fist and struck Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest: "Damn you, how dare you trick me!"


    Tan Zhenghong grabbed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s little fist: "This is called military deception, wife. You¡¯ve lost tonight; shouldn¡¯t you let me do as I please?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What do you want to do?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced sideways at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong smirked, lowered his head, and sealed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips, while she blushed and allowed him free reign over her.


    "Wife, have you been practicing the boxing I taught you?" Tan Zhenghong asked earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong: "Why are you asking this?"


    The boxing Tan Zhenghong taught her was similar to Tai Chi Fist, good for nurturing the body and cultivating the temperament; she now practiced it with Chao Lian and Hu¡¯s Clan every afternoon, was there a problem?


    "You see how out of breath you are, your physical strength is still lacking."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth and kicked Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly said, "Wife, I¡¯ll practice boxing with you tomorrow."

 Chapter 332 - 335 Not Like I Haven’t Seen It Before_1

    Chapter 332: Chapter 335 Not Like I Haven¡¯t Seen It Before_1"Just kill me for my stupidity, you get out of breath when you¡¯re excited too!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er and eventually figured out what she meant; it happened to him when he was extremely excited as well.


    This discovery made him love his wife just like a moment ago.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er found herself in a state of bliss, finally biting down on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder and trembling.


    "Wife, does it feel good?" Tan Zhenghong was bursting with a sense of accomplishment.


    He had never known before that a woman could feel like this; it seemed as if his wife was about to take off just now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head away, unwilling to engage with Tan Zhenghong.


    So humiliating that she could die of embarrassment!


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t insist, only holding his wife¡¯s hand... and they were back at it again.


    When everything settled down, Qiao Duo¡¯er only felt a sticky sensation all over her body.


    "Is there more water? I want to wash," Qiao Duo¡¯er buried her head in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯ll get some water."


    As he spoke, he put on his clothes and soon brought back water; he twisted the towel, "Wife, let me wipe you down."


    "No," Qiao Duo¡¯er declined without hesitation.


    However, Tan Zhenghong insisted, "We¡¯ve seen everything already; what¡¯s there to be shy about?"


    Rolling her eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er nevertheless had sore arms, so she pulled the quilt over her head, leaving the rest up to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong was thorough, cleaning her upper body before changing the water to clean her lower body.


    Cough cough, Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to find a hole to crawl into; those secret places had all been laid bare by him.


    Tan Zhenghong was also struggling, with certain parts of him stirring again.


    At that moment, four words circled in his mind, "I want to go in!"


    But it was already very late, and his wife needed to sleep; the best way to replenish blood and qi was to eat well, drink well, and sleep well.


    After wiping her down, he helped Qiao Duo¡¯er get dressed, finally letting out a long sigh of relief.


    Truth be told, he wasn¡¯t trying to take advantage but rather feeling tortured.


    The next morning when Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, Tan Zhenghong had already disappeared, which was good in a way, sparing her the embarrassment.


    When she got dressed and went out, Tan Zhenghong had already made breakfast.


    He cooked longan and date porridge, and the two of them ate together, the sweet porridge filled with happiness.


    Xiao Biyu¡¯s capture didn¡¯t affect their lives too much. After breakfast, they both went their separate ways to handle their own business.


    Tan Zhenghong went to supervise the house construction, Chao Lian and Hu¡¯s Clan prepared braised meat, and Qiao Duo¡¯er ground medicinal powder.


    She planned to research a few different types of facial mask powders, as having just one kind was too simplistic.


    A little later, Sun Erhu came back from the new house site and mysteriously pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er into the room.


    "Sister-in-law, I have something to ask you," Sun Erhu whispered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Go ahead."


    Sun Erhu fidgeted with the hem of his clothes, hesitating for a long time without uttering a word; this was entirely unlike his usual demeanor.


    "Sun Erhu, when did you become so shy? Speak up if you have something to say!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but urge him, did he call her in just to watch him being shy?


    Sun Erhu took a deep breath, "How did My Brother Hong celebrate your birthday?"


    "I celebrated my birthday two days before I married him," Qiao Duo¡¯er told the truth.


    Sun Erhu scratched his head, "It¡¯s Chao Lian¡¯s birthday today, and I bought a small gift, but I feel like something¡¯s missing. Help me think of what to do."

 Chapter 333 - 336 Are the Tears from the Bad Taste?_1

    Chapter 333: Chapter 336 Are the Tears from the Bad Taste?_1"It¡¯s very simple, just treat them to a meal, give gifts, go shopping, and so on. Of course, the key is to see if Chao Lian likes it. I can give Sister Lan a day off," Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes.


    Sun Erhu propped his chin and thought for a while before saying, "How about I cook a meal for Chao Lian?"


    It was quite embarrassing to ask Lan to take a day off, and besides, Chao Lian was so focused on her business that she hardly had the mood for a romantic time with him.


    "Given your cooking skills, better not."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er threw cold water on his idea. After all, Sun Erhu could only boil some rice soup and rice.


    Sun Erhu stood up and bowed ceremoniously, "Then I¡¯ll trouble my sister-in-law to teach this little brother."


    "Well, I¡¯ll reluctantly take you as my apprentice then."


    The two quickly went to Erhu¡¯s yard, as the pots there were all stewing meat, so no one suspected they had other plans.


    At noon, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Chao Lian and Hu¡¯s Clan deliver food to the workers and specifically asked Tan Zhenghong to come home for the meal. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Tan Zhenghong returned, he saw a table full of black cuisine and quickly asked, "Wife, are you in a bad mood? Or are you not feeling well?"


    Normally, his wife¡¯s cooking was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, but today it was clear something was wrong.


    "It¡¯s Chao Lian¡¯s birthday; Erhu did all the cooking," said Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly.


    She had directed the whole process, but the result... was not promising.


    Tan Zhenghong then understood why Qiao Duo¡¯er had wanted him to come back. It wasn¡¯t because she missed him, it was because they were in trouble together.


    "Brother Hong, actually, it doesn¡¯t taste bad," Erhu said weakly.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "No worries, it will surely make your wife¡¯s birthday unforgettable."


    "Aren¡¯t we brothers? You really have a way of putting me down!"


    Erhu complained. Ever since Brother Hong got married, his remarks had become increasingly profound.


    Fortunately, he was clever enough to realize it wasn¡¯t a compliment.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er set the tableware, she said, "I¡¯m not mocking you, but how many unforgettable events does one have in a lifetime?"


    Erhu thought about it and realized she was right.


    Still, he was nervous because Chao Lian would be back soon.


    "Don¡¯t be nervous, Chao Lian will surely be happy that you made it yourself," Tan Zhenghong reassured him.


    After all, his own cooking skills weren¡¯t great, but his wife never complained.


    After a while, Chao Lian and Hu¡¯s Clan returned. Both of them had shocked expressions as they sat down at the table.


    At that moment, Sun Erhu brought out a tray with a cake and noodles on it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had said that one should have a cake for a birthday, so he followed her instructions and made one, separating the egg whites from the yolks, whipping the egg whites to a froth, then mixing the prepared batter, sugar, and egg whites together and steaming it over the pot.


    He had followed every step carefully, but the center of the cake still caved in.


    And the noodles, cut unevenly, looked... quite messy.


    But by then, it was too late to start over, so Sun Erhu braced himself and brought it over.


    "Chao Lian, happy birthday, give it a try," Sun Erhu said earnestly.


    Chao Lian was so taken aback by the surprise that she didn¡¯t even know where to put her hands.


    Sun Erhu handed the chopsticks to Chao Lian, and only then did she remember to take a taste. As she did, her eyes began to well up with tears.


    "Chao Lian, don¡¯t cry. The noodles might be a bit nasty, but they¡¯re not so bad as to make you cry," he said in a panic.


    Erhu was worried. Throughout the process, Qiao Duo¡¯er had guided him, and he had tried it himself, so it should be palatable, at least.

 Chapter 334 - 337: Caught a Little Hand_1

    Chapter 334: Chapter 337: Caught a Little Hand_1Chao Lian hastily wiped her tears away and said with a pout, "It¡¯s all your fault."


    "Hmm, it¡¯s all my fault, I was wrong, please stop crying for now."


    Sun Erhu nodded repeatedly, his simple demeanor made others unable to resist the urge to laugh covertly. If one word could describe him, it would be ¡¯naive¡¯.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and said, "Go squeeze a towel for her to wipe her face with, she¡¯ll be happy then."


    Chao Lian shyly lowered her head because Qiao Duo¡¯er had unintentionally voiced her thoughts.


    Her mother had passed away long ago, and after her father had remarried and had a son, he had completely forgotten about her. Who else cared for her as much as Sun Erhu did?


    It was then that Sun Erhu finally relaxed and decided to go out with Chao Lian.


    At the well, Chao Lian washed her face, and Sun Erhu handed her a freshly laundered towel, "Use this to dry your face; it¡¯s clean, I just washed it today, not dirty at all!"


    Chao Lian softly responded and wiped the droplets from her face.


    But the thought that it was Sun Erhu¡¯s towel made the parts she touched involuntarily feel warm.


    "Did I... make a fool of myself today?" Chao Lian asked softly, thinking about her silliness earlier, she almost wanted to slap herself.


    Sun Erhu immediately shook his head, "No, you look nice even when you cry."


    Chao Lian pursed her lips; she didn¡¯t believe that herself.


    "Chao Lian, this is for you. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll like it, but..." Sun Erhu took out a red cloth from his bosom, within it was a pair of exquisite Silver Lilacs.


    Chao Lian spoke up with a tinge of displeasure, "I don¡¯t need something like this, put it away quickly."


    "Why don¡¯t you need it? I love to see you looking beautiful, come here, let me put them on for you!" Sun Erhu insisted.


    Brother Hong had said making the one he loved happy was the most joyful thing to him, and now he wholeheartedly agreed.


    "Brother Erhu, I really don¡¯t want it," Chao Lian said earnestly.


    Seeing the look of dejection on Sun Erhu¡¯s face, she quickly explained, "If my mom sees me wearing this... she will definitely take it, and she might say some unpleasant things."


    Sun Erhu knew all too well Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s shameless nature, and thus he did not press Chao Lian any further.


    "Then I¡¯ll keep it for you, and when you become my wife, you can wear whatever you want in our home!" Sun Erhu said, his face full of anticipation.


    By then, if they had two or three children, his courtyard would be lively and bustling.


    "All you know is to talk nonsense; let¡¯s go in, they are waiting for us to have dinner," she chided.


    Sun Erhu nodded, aware that having been outside for so long, they would undoubtedly be the subject of jokes if they didn¡¯t return soon.


    Once inside, Qiao Duo teased, "You two should fill up before whispering sweet nothings, or you won¡¯t have the energy!"


    Sun Erhu and Chao Lian took their seats feeling a bit awkward and began to eat their noodles.


    Sun Erhu had put effort into the meal, and although it was not particularly aesthetically pleasing, it had a decent taste; Chao Lian had never felt this satisfied with a meal before.


    After eating their fill, Sun Erhu winked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Sister-in-law, you and Sister Lan have been busy all morning, you can go and rest, I¡¯ll wash the dishes."


    "It¡¯s no trouble, I¡¯ll help you," Hu¡¯s Clan said with eagerness.


    Qiao Duo tugged at Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s clothes, "Let Erhu do the washing, I still have some medicinal powder that hasn¡¯t been ground up, you go help me with that."


    Only then did Hu¡¯s Clan understand, if she stayed, who knew how Erhu would complain about her.


    Soon, only Erhu and Chao Lian were left in the yard, and with fewer people around, they both felt unease.


    Seeing Chao Lian tidying up the dishes, Sun Erhu hurried over to stop her, "Chao Lian, take a break. I¡¯ll be done with it in a moment."


    But inadvertently, he caught hold of Chao Lian¡¯s hand.


    Cough cough, he really didn¡¯t mean to. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 335 - 338: I Rarely Let You Touch_1

    Chapter 335: Chapter 338: I Rarely Let You Touch_1"That... I didn¡¯t mean to," Sun Erhu quickly explained.


    Chao Lian mustn¡¯t think he was taking advantage of her, ah, he was just too nervous, and then he... accidentally touched her.


    "You let go of me first," Chao Lian glanced at Sun Erhu¡¯s hand. Didn¡¯t he realize he had been gripping her hand all this time?


    Even now, claiming it was an accident, Chao Lian expressed disbelief.


    Sun Erhu hurriedly did as told, and to cover his embarrassment, he reached for a bowl nearby. Chao Lian also moved to grab it, but this time it was Chao Lian who grasped his hand.


    "I didn¡¯t do it on purpose either." Chao Lian quickly pulled back her hand.


    Sun Erhu nodded, "I know, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯m a big man, I¡¯m not afraid of you touching me, feel free."


    He was actually hoping Chao Lian would touch him again!


    "Who wants to touch you!" Chao Lian immediately denied, but even she felt guilty.


    Wait, why was she feeling guilty? She didn¡¯t intend to touch him, it was just a coincidence!


    Sun Erhu amiably nodded, "I know, it¡¯s I who long for your touch, it¡¯s my own wish, it has nothing to do with you."


    Chao Lian rolled her eyes at Sun Erhu but was too shy to speak.


    "Don¡¯t move around, would cleaning up a few bowls really tire me out?" Sun Erhu ushered Chao Lian to the side and swiftly gathered the bowls and chopsticks, then moved to the well basin.


    "Let me help you."


    Sun Erhu did not refuse, "Let¡¯s wash together, it¡¯ll be faster this way."


    Without thinking much, Chao Lian rolled up her sleeves a bit and started helping with the dishes, but when Sun Erhu touched her arm for the third time, she suddenly began to suspect his intentions weren¡¯t pure.


    Stealing a glance at Sun Erhu, he looked dead serious, not like someone with ulterior motives.


    Did he really have those thoughts or not?


    Chao Lian was a bit confused, she turned to look at Sun Erhu, wanting to see the truth, but because they were so close, her lips brushed against Sun Erhu¡¯s face.


    Or should she say... she had just kissed Sun Erhu?


    And Sun Erhu felt his body tingle, albeit unexpectedly, but whatever the case, Chao Lian¡¯s first kiss was his now!


    Chao Lian stomped her feet in shyness, wishing she could crawl into a hole.


    How... how could she have kissed Sun Erhu?


    "Chao Lian, are you okay?" Sun Erhu asked with concern.


    But he couldn¡¯t hide the smile on his face, looking like someone who got a bargain and was acting coy.


    "I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m going home, you wash up slowly." After saying that, Chao Lian fled home, she knew that her family was napping at this hour and that no one would see her embarrassed state.


    After closing the door, she hastily patted her face, so hot, so hot!


    Meanwhile, Sun Erhu touched the spot where he was kissed and smiled foolishly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uncle Erhu, are you okay? Why are you covering your face?" Er Ya asked in her milk-like voice.


    Sun Erhu quickly returned to normal, "It¡¯s nothing, I was just bitten by a mosquito."


    "You¡¯re lying, I clearly saw Sister Chao Lian kiss you!" Er Ya accused Sun Erhu with a look of indictment.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s face could no longer hang in there, "Er Ya, come here!"


    He got a pack of candy out, "You can¡¯t go around talking about what you saw today, it¡¯s our secret. And from now on, you mustn¡¯t call Sister Chao Lian ¡¯sister,¡¯ you must call her ¡¯auntie,¡¯ understand?"


    Er Ya obediently nodded, "Okay!"


    She then went off to share the candy, and everyone who ate the candy would keep the secret because she had been sent to spy.

 Chapter 336 - 339 Dirty Demon King_1

    Chapter 336: Chapter 339 Dirty Demon King_1Er Ya¡¯s eyes whirled, and she cunningly said, "Uncle Erhu, you¡¯re mistaken, I should be calling her Aunt."


    Her fourth uncle¡¯s wife is called Fourth Aunt, so how could Uncle Erhu¡¯s wife be called just Auntie?


    Sun Erhu had no choice but to give her a thumbs-up: "Er Ya is the smartest!"


    "Of course, where¡¯s my candy?"


    Er Ya spread her tiny hands, urging Sun Erhu to act quickly.


    Erhu complied right away, calling someone Auntie gave him a feeling of being married, haha, this way Chao Lian couldn¡¯t escape.


    After receiving the candy, Er Ya scampered away with a giggle; having candy to eat was the happiest thing for her.


    A while later, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already lying in bed, nibbling on a sweet and said, "Erhu¡¯s flirting skills are much more polished than yours."


    Ah, look at the way he holds her hand, the way he kisses her cheek, flirting just right, no woman could escape his clutches!


    "What¡¯s ¡¯flirting¡¯?" Tan Zhenghong curiously asked.


    "It¡¯s teasing a girl and then winning her favor," she explained.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s magic claws suddenly attacked her chest, swirling around a sensitive spot: "My skills are also gradually improving, have you noticed, wife?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just last night, one of his hands had been doing exactly that, causing his wife to shiver again.


    Mm... This showed that his wife really liked it.


    He could now confidently say that no one understood Qiao Duo¡¯er better than him.


    "That¡¯s not called flirting, I can only describe you with one term, ¡¯Dirty Demon King¡¯!" Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her disdain.


    Can¡¯t we have a decent conversation? He¡¯s always touching this and that!


    Tan Zhenghong looked bewildered. What was a Dirty Demon King? Some kind of demon?


    But it sounded powerful, being a king and all.


    Hopefully, it wasn¡¯t a curse word, although the possibility was almost zero.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had to explain again: "Dirty as in slanderous, demon as in monster, and king as in a great king. It means a pervert among perverts, excessively lustful, and it perfectly describes you."


    And Tan Zhenghong was naturally bad to the bone, hopelessly so.


    "If I weren¡¯t like this, you¡¯d definitely suspect that I didn¡¯t like you or that I was unwell, so you surely love that I am the Dirty Demon King."


    Tan Zhenghong brought out his own logic and secretly decided to be more ¡¯dirty¡¯ with his wife in the future¡ªdirty is healthier, after all!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er went to brush her teeth, leaving Tan Zhenghong with her retreating back.


    A few minutes later, she was back in bed, and Tan Zhenghong still wore that lascivious smile.


    Tan Zhenghong would never admit that he was still reminiscing about last night, savoring the moans of his wife when emotions ran high.


    Her voice was crisp, even more enticing than the Oriole¡¯s warbling.


    If it weren¡¯t for his self-control, if it weren¡¯t for his stamina, just listening to that sound would have made him lose it.


    "Wife, relax, I won¡¯t do that to you in the middle of the day," Tan Zhenghong said sincerely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips helplessly. Was she nervous?


    She was clearly trying to cultivate a sleep mood!


    After a while, she actually fell asleep. Her sleep quality was improving, a sign of getting healthier.


    With a bit more recuperation, she¡¯d be able to add some intense training¡ªthough she might never be a special agent again, she still yearned to be strong.


    Only by becoming stronger could she confidently face any sudden situation.


    Tan Zhenghong gently kissed Qiao Duo¡¯er and also slowly closed his eyes.


    Having his wife in his arms was better than anything else.

 Chapter 337 - 340: I Want the Recipe_1

    Chapter 337: Chapter 340: I Want the Recipe_1In the afternoon, a horse carriage stopped at the entrance of the Tan Family¡¯s Door, attracting many onlookers. Those who could afford a horse carriage were certainly not country bumpkins.


    Sure enough, a lavishly dressed woman alighted from the carriage, followed by a small Maid.


    "Look at those silk garments, she must be from a wealthy family!"


    "Father, just look at that fine horse, don¡¯t you know? Its size and vigor speak for it, could it possibly be cheap?"


    "What do you think she¡¯s doing at the Tan Family¡¯s place?"


    They had never heard of the Tan Family having such wealthy relatives, nor were there any unmarried girls or lads. They truly couldn¡¯t think of a reason.


    The crowd buzzed with speculation, each person craning their necks to get a better look inside.


    Although the carriage was luxurious, they were more curious to know what business it brought to the Tan Family.


    Maybe it was the Tan Family¡¯s lucky break, perhaps heralding a wealthy future. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, with just a bit slipping through the fingers of their benefactors, their own lives would greatly improve!


    Once inside the courtyard, the Madam¡¯s Maid haughtily inquired, "Is this the Tan Family known for their braised meat?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip, her first impression being that the quality of these two visitors left much to be desired.


    Even decked in gold and silver, they couldn¡¯t mask the unmistakable air of the nouveau riche.


    Chao Lian on the other hand, felt that as guests had arrived, they should be received with courtesy.


    She greeted them, "Yes, this is the Tan Family. May I ask what you need?"


    "Are you in charge here? My Madam has some business to discuss with the person in charge of your household," the Maid scanned Chao Lian.


    The girl seemed soft and unlikely to make decisions.


    Thus, the Maid¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t really on Chao Lian, but rather on the silent one beside her who seemed more intriguing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knitted her brows, "I¡¯m the one in charge. What business do you have?"


    The woman smiled and said, "My family name is Liang, and the Yuan Customer Arrival restaurant in town belongs to my husband¡¯s family. It¡¯s noisy here with many ears around. I think it¡¯s better to find a quiet place to talk."


    "Please, this way, Madam Liang," Qiao Duo¡¯er led the woman inside and then instructed Chao Lian to serve tea.


    Madam Liang waved her hand, "I¡¯m not accustomed to the tea from your family, so don¡¯t trouble yourself. Let¡¯s get down to business promptly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed, as she too wished to clarify matters and then hurry the visitor away.


    Just by the attitude of this woman, she didn¡¯t wish to have a deeper association.


    "I wish to purchase the recipe for your braised meat," stated Madam Liang straightforwardly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "Madam Liang, that is our family¡¯s secret recipe, I¡¯m afraid I must decline."


    So the visitor had come for their secret braised meat recipe, but she was bound for disappointment.


    The braised meat was not only the Tan Family¡¯s business but also the lifeblood of Hu¡¯s Clan, even their spiritual pillar. It was because of the braised meat that they believed life would only get better.


    What would they do if she suddenly decided not to sell the braised meat anymore?


    "I offer Thirty Taels of Silver," said Madam Liang.


    Madam Liang gave her Maid a signal, and the Maid quickly presented the silver note.


    One silver note was worth Ten Taels, and there were three in total.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently scoffed at the small-minded offer; Thirty Taels was merely three months¡¯ earnings from the meat stall.


    If she agreed, she would either be out of her mind or desperately poor.


    Or perhaps Madam Liang took her for a fool?


    Madam Liang tried to persuade her gently, "Young lady, think it over carefully. Thirty taels could cover several years of expenses for your family, and you wouldn¡¯t have to toil every day running into town."


    "I ensure a lifetime of expenses thanks to the braised meat," Qiao Duo¡¯er rebuked.

 Chapter 338 - 341 Limited Patience_1

    Chapter 338: Chapter 341 Limited Patience_1Madam Liang said with a stern face, "Young lady, you can¡¯t talk like that. Don¡¯t you get tired from running around all day? I¡¯m also thinking of your best interest. If you¡¯re not satisfied with the price, we can discuss it further."


    "Thank you for your concern, Madam, but the secret recipe is not for sale."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude was very firm because she had greater expectations for the braised meat.


    Her expectations were worth far more than thirty taels!


    The maid couldn¡¯t keep her composure anymore. "My Madam is the daughter of a Master in the Government Office, can you afford to offend her?"


    Now that her Madam has brought a silver note to buy the recipe, you¡¯d better hand it over quickly. Otherwise, if her Madam gets angry, you won¡¯t get anything.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip. That¡¯s the daughter of a Master?


    In the courtroom, it was clear that Qin Longyun favored her; the Master couldn¡¯t be unaware of that.


    The only explanation was that this daughter was acting on her own.


    Hmm... another troublemaker.


    Madam Liang feigned anger. "Green Screen, don¡¯t spout nonsense. We are here to do business honestly. What¡¯s the point of saying those useless things?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The reprimanded maid hung her head and dared not speak further; she knew her Madam was very self-satisfied and merely chose not to say it.


    Madam Liang looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er again. "Young lady, look at this, I¡¯ll add another ten taels of silver. Are you satisfied now?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still shook her head, her face showing not a hint of wavering.


    Forget about the daughter of a Master, even if the Master himself were here, she would not change her mind.


    After all, she had some connection with Lord County Magistrate. How could she easily compromise?


    Madam Liang glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, but what could she do when the other party was unyielding?


    "You might want to think carefully about this, young lady. If you change your mind, come look for me at any time. I don¡¯t have much patience left," said Madam Liang with a meaningful tone.


    Yes, it was an outright threat!


    She had been domineering since birth, and she had never seen anyone dare to cross her!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Take care, no need to see you out."


    "Sister-in-law, what should we do? They won¡¯t rest until they get the recipe," said Chao Lian worriedly. Commoners cannot oppose officials; if they really stirred up trouble, it would surely be them at a disadvantage.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was unconcerned. "You have so little faith in the Lord County Magistrate? With Lord Qin presiding over the matter, which criminal would dare to cause trouble?"


    Ever since Qin Longyun took charge of White Stone Town, everyone¡¯s lives had gradually improved. Everyone, including Chao Lian, had a good opinion of him.


    "That¡¯s right. If they continue to be obstinate, we¡¯ll go to the Government Office and report them."


    In the end, each one of them will end up just like Xiao Biyu, a prisoner kneeling down, and might be locked up for at least ten years!


    At this moment, inside the carriage.


    Green Screen spat angrily, "It¡¯s just a lousy recipe! They actually think it¡¯s a treasure and they don¡¯t even respect you, Madam. You really should teach them a lesson!"


    "I already said you were the Master¡¯s daughter, and she didn¡¯t take it seriously at all. Do you think there¡¯s something wrong with her head?"


    The maid didn¡¯t stop talking, and Madam Liang was pleased to hear it. If not for her own dignity, she would have liked to curse herself.


    "Who cares if she¡¯s crazy or not? If she gracefully hands over the recipe, then all is well. But if she refuses, I have plenty of ways to deal with her!"


    Madam Liang clenched her fist, the corners of her mouth curling into a cruel smile.


    Green Screen flattered, "Madam, you are so formidable. There¡¯s nothing in White Stone Town you can¡¯t have."


    Madam Liang raised an eyebrow, full of pride.


    She had every reason to believe that the braised meat recipe would be hers very soon!

 Chapter 339 - 342: No Way to Deal With Her_1

    Chapter 339: Chapter 342: No Way to Deal With Her_1Madam Liang had barely left when Chao Lian and Yang Ruoruo arrived together.


    Through their efforts during this period, they had sold another twenty boxes of facial mask powder, which were scheduled for delivery the day after tomorrow.


    Chao Lian had established the process of ordering before delivery, making everyone feel that the facial mask powder was scarce.


    Scarcity makes things seem more precious, and hence more likely to become fashionable.


    Chao Lian also told Qiao Duo¡¯er that she would pick up the new style of boxes from Wind Liyang the next day, which meant Qiao Duo¡¯er would have to find time to make the trip.


    After discussing the facial mask powder, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to ask about Madam Liang, who acted high and mighty.


    Chao Lian said with disdain, "That woman is really annoying, she¡¯s the daughter of the master, and she has an uncle who¡¯s an official at Ning Tian Mansion, ranked above Lord Qin. She bullies others around White Stone Town by throwing her weight around."


    "Moreover, their whole family is cunning and likes to take little advantages. Not even Lord Qin can do much about them," Yang Ruoruo added.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "No wonder she came with silver today."


    Madam Liang came directly to snatch the recipe for braised meat; Qin Longyun could have dealt with her.


    But since she came to buy, just offering a low price, even the highest officials could not intervene.


    In other words, this woman was quite smart; despite her greed, she stayed within the bounds that ensured her safety.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, you need to be very careful these days. That woman likes to play dirty, and she is well-acquainted with the ruffians and hooligans in town," Chao Lian said worriedly.


    Her biggest cousin¡¯s carpentry shop had encountered such an issue.


    Madam Liang wanted to buy furniture and came to negotiate with Li Yang, offering a very low price.


    Li Yang refused to make a deal at a loss and declined immediately. Then Madam Liang went around spreading messages, inciting ruffians to cause trouble, and even had mourners create a scene at the shop.


    In short, if she didn¡¯t get her way, she would make it impossible for you to carry on with business.


    The most infuriating part was the lack of evidence to prove it was her instigation; reporting to the authorities was not even an option.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but curse; this was just too damn disgusting.


    Chao Lian and Yang Ruoruo couldn¡¯t agree more. Madam Liang was like a maggot in a toilet, utterly revolting.


    But as she hadn¡¯t broken any laws, they had no choice but to let her continue to disgust people.


    "Who in town has a business background that can contend with the Liang Family?"


    After some thought, Chao Lian said, "Welcoming Guest Building should be quite formidable. It¡¯s the only place in town that¡¯s bigger than Yuan Customer Arrival, and I¡¯ve never heard of Madam Liang daring to bother them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; as long as there were natural predators, it was reassuring.


    After seeing off Chao Lian and Yang Ruoruo, Qiao Duo¡¯er also gathered her emotions.


    From now on, she would have to set up a stall in town personally; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t be at ease.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t too worried. After all, no matter how formidable Madam Liang was, she was still human. When the time came, one just needed to counteract whatever came their way.


    It was only by starting to retaliate that they could find evidence.


    Before heading to town, Qiao Duo¡¯er discussed the stakes with everyone, but not a single person backed down. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had been so good to them; they couldn¡¯t be ungrateful.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er reassigned the roles. Chao Lian and Erhu would sell bamboo baskets, while she and Hu¡¯s Clan would sell the braised meat. This way, they were less conspicuous and could support each other promptly.


    Madam Liang was very efficient in carrying out her plans. Not long after their stall was set up, troublemakers showed up.


    They were a group of burly men with a nasty look about them that made them instantly distasteful.


    "Two ladies daring to set up a stall here¡ªdid your men die?" The leader of the men said scornfully, eyeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and her companion.

 Chapter 340 - 343: Do You Need Assistance?_1

    Chapter 340: Chapter 343: Do You Need Assistance?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted lightly, "You better worry about yourself, instead of having your whole family wiped out."


    "Big brother, look at this girl, she¡¯s got a sharp tongue and doesn¡¯t look half bad. Why don¡¯t I grab her for you and send her to your bed tonight..."


    "That¡¯s a good idea. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and grab this old woman too. She looks like she could be a good hand at work."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slammed the kitchen knife down on the chopping board: "You¡¯re looking for death!"


    She originally wanted to negotiate with these people, but now there¡¯s no need.


    "Aiyo, little sister, I just love that you¡¯re so feisty." As he spoke, he reached out to touch Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cheek.


    That skin was smooth and delicate, surely a great feel to the touch.


    A slight smile tugged at the corner of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth, she was waiting for the opportunity to chop off one of his salty pig hands.


    Just as she was about to make her move, someone grabbed the man¡¯s hand, and then he let out a wail.


    Listening closely, one could possibly hear the sound of bones breaking, no wonder he was howling so ghostly.


    "Zheng Hong, how did you get here?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was surprised.


    Tan Zhenghong explained: "Da Ya was worried and told me that Madam Liang had come over, so I rushed here."


    He didn¡¯t expect that as soon as he arrived he¡¯d see someone trying to insult his wife, and without a second thought, he grabbed the man¡¯s arm.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was his Achilles¡¯ heel, to touch her was to court death.


    "Need help?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, these few goons were enough for him to handle.


    Besides, as a man of swagger, if he couldn¡¯t even protect his wife, wouldn¡¯t he rather die of shame?


    "Big words, there¡¯s still time for lovey-dovey, truly courting death. Brothers, attack! Kill the man, keep the woman!"


    At these words, the other thugs rushed forward.


    Tan Zhenghong let out a cold humph and took down the gang leader with one hand, then freed both hands to attack the others.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, this guy had good martial arts skills, if he took her as his master, she could assure him that he would fend off thousands single-handedly. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The battle was on the edge of eruption, and Sun Erhu, fearing Tan Zhenghong might be at a disadvantage, also joined in.


    There were many thugs, and some took advantage of the chaos to grab Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chao Lian.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted her foot and kicked the man in the chest, sending him flying two or three meters away.


    Hu¡¯s Clan pulled Chao Lian aside, knowing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s abilities; she and Chao Lian staying out of the way was the best help they could offer.


    "Yeah, sister is so powerful, kill the bad guys, go for it..."


    The little child on the side was excited, and even though his family was covering his mouth, he still waved his hands and feet in joy.


    Soon, the thugs were defeated and failed to get any advantage from Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu.


    "Stop fighting!"


    Suddenly a voice rang out, and the chaotic scene was immediately controlled.


    When the thugs saw clearly who had come, they shouted at once: "Brothers, run, it¡¯s Lord Qin!"


    But the government officials were not there to eat for free; they captured all of the thugs and brought them back.


    Qin Longyun surveyed the subdued men and spoke sternly, "You dare to commit such atrocities on my territory, do you have a death wish?"


    The thugs all bowed their heads in silence, where had their earlier bravado gone?


    All they wanted to do was curse their luck, how unlucky could they be to encounter the County Magistrate as soon as they stepped out the door?


    Who was Lord Qin? Ever since Lord Qin took office, the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had become much more restrained, and small households like theirs could only live with their tails between their legs.


    Today was their end!

 Chapter 341 - 344 Digging One’s Own Grave_1

    Chapter 341: Chapter 344 Digging One¡¯s Own Grave_1Qin Longyun snorted coldly again, and the thugs all knelt down begging for mercy, tears streaming down their faces by the handful.


    "Lord Qin, this is our first offense. Please show us some mercy."


    "I beg your mercy, I swear I¡¯ll never dare again!"


    "I have a family to feed. Please spare my life, Lord Qin, or else my whole family will be left with no choice but death!"


    "Now you know to beg for mercy, but it¡¯s already too late. You should not have messed with my sister, Qin Longyun. If anyone dares to harm her in the future, it will be the same as opposing me, Qin Longyun!"


    Qin Longyun said with a serious tone. His words weren¡¯t only for those present but also a warning to others considering similar actions.


    The thugs were even more disheartened now.


    Offending Lord Qin¡¯s sister, isn¡¯t that digging their own graves?


    But since when did Lord Qin have a sister? How come they didn¡¯t know about this?


    Qin Longyun waved his hand and the government officials immediately took the people away to the Government Office.


    "How are you all doing?"


    Qin Longyun asked with a sense of guilt, not expecting he¡¯d still arrived a step too late.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly shook her head: "Thanks to Lord Qin¡¯s timely arrival, we managed to come out unharmed. Thank you, Lord Qin."


    "Still calling me ¡¯Lord Qin,¡¯ isn¡¯t that a slap in my face?" Qin Longyun said discontentedly.


    He meant what he said, but it turned out Qiao Duo¡¯er was not playing along.


    "Then thank you, Brother Qin," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, changing her terms.


    Having the County Magistrate as a big brother meant that the riffraff should stay away from her, so in a way, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing.


    "There¡¯s no need to thank me," Qin Longyun said with a smile. "Ling¡¯er is bored at home all day; if you can spend some time with her when you¡¯re free, that would make me very happy."


    He admitted that he had selfish reasons for acknowledging Qiao Duo¡¯er as his sister: he hoped to provide Ling¡¯er with a companion.


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s maternal home was in Lin¡¯an city. If it weren¡¯t for marrying her, why would he have to come all the way to this White Stone Town?


    Here, she didn¡¯t even have one close friend, so now that he had found someone she got along with, what harm was there to indulge a bit? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ll definitely visit in the future," Qiao Duo¡¯er promised.


    "Very good. By the way, Madam Liang is used to being overbearing, so be careful with your stand in the future. I will also assign more men to the docks," Qin Longyun advised.


    Madam Liang was a headache for him, causing trouble in the community and bullying others, and the key problem was the lack of sufficient evidence.


    He hoped that the day would come soon when he could catch her in wrongdoing and bring her to justice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and thanked Qin Longyun again.


    Tan Zhenghong handed over some marinated meat: "Brother Qin, take these back to the Government Office as a treat for the brothers. They really put in a lot of effort just now."


    "Then I¡¯ll gratefully accept," said Qin Longyun as he took the offering openly.


    Since Qin Longyun still had to interrogate the thugs, he soon returned to the Government Office, and the customers gradually gathered to buy the marinated meat again.


    Perhaps because of Qin Longyun¡¯s presence earlier, the sales were very good today; even the time lost due to the thugs¡¯ disturbance was fully made up for.


    When the sun still had half a face showing, they began their walk back.


    After walking for a while, Tan Zhenghong suddenly said, "How about we close the stand for a few days? We¡¯re about to transplant the rapeseed and have the beam-raising ceremony, and we need to make preparations for the wedding. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to manage all these tasks."


    These tasks were all energy-consuming, and it would be better not to be distracted.


    Qiao Duo was a bit hesitant, for the marinated meat was their most stable source of income.


    "I agree. We can gradually save up money. The most important thing is to avoid those evil doers," Sun Erhu expressed his agreement.


    Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian also nodded in agreement and took turns persuading Qiao Duo¡¯er as well.

 Chapter 342 - 345 Waiting for the Prophecy to Come True_1

    Chapter 342: Chapter 345 Waiting for the Prophecy to Come True_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, but what she was actually more worried about was their refusal, which turned out to be an unnecessary concern.


    "Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m going to work in the fields and also plan to make a set of winter clothes for the two girls. Then I¡¯ll visit my maternal family. I¡¯m even thinking of renting a place to raise some livestock. I¡¯m more worried that there won¡¯t be enough time," she said.


    Hu¡¯s Clan understood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s worries, but with her own two hands and feet, how could she depend on others for everything?


    Even if she stopped selling braised meat, she wouldn¡¯t harbor a trace of resentment.


    "What I¡¯m not worried about is others; I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll overwork yourself to exhaustion," blinked Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Hu¡¯s Clan waved her hand dismissively, "I know my limits and won¡¯t work myself to death!"


    She hoped she would soon move into a new house with her two children, buy two or three more acres of land, and live to see her children grow up and get married. That would be enough for her.


    Back at home, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in charge of cooking, while Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian took care of the washing and cleaning.


    They needed to put away things that wouldn¡¯t be used for some time. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu, who was splitting firewood, felt a bit melancholic. Without making braised meat, seeing Chao Lian would no longer be as convenient.


    Feeling disgruntled, he started to complain about Madam Liang.


    "I tell ya, Madam Liang really isn¡¯t worth a dime. All she knows is how to grab the good stuff. But look at Yuan Customer Arrival; it¡¯s barely clinging to life, right? I say it¡¯s karma!"


    "Most of the businesses in town rely on the docks, all serving transient customers. Who knows that Madam Liang is the daughter of Master Xi? With no regulars and no good reputation, she¡¯ll have to close up shop sooner or later."


    Yuan Customer Arrival was known not only for undercutting competitors but also for fleecing customers.


    And travelers, being cautious by nature, often ask around before eating. It would be no surprise if Yuan Customer Arrival wasn¡¯t doing well.


    Sun Erhu nodded in agreement, "Then I¡¯ll just wait for Brother Hong¡¯s prediction to come true."


    Tan Zhenghong just smiled slightly; what was destined would happen to everyone eventually.


    Otherwise, how does the saying go, "Heaven¡¯s acts may be forgiven; one¡¯s own acts, not even able to live with oneself"?


    For two consecutive days, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t make braised meat but concentrated fully on the facial mask powder. She also passed the dimensions for the furniture to Wind Liyang and finished up the tailoring of the cotton clothes.


    But in the eyes of some, this was Qiao Duo¡¯er offending Madam Liang, resulting in her inability to sell her braised meat.


    Thus, they imagined Qiao Duo¡¯er in despair, spending her days in tears, which then allowed them to take pleasure in her misfortune.


    The representative of this group was Widow Xu.


    While Qiao Duo¡¯er was preparing dinner, Widow Xu, with her slightly plump waist, came twisting her way over.


    "Oh dear, little sister-in-law, your braised meat was selling so well, why did you stop? You mustn¡¯t oppose Silver; Silver is a good thing. Didn¡¯t your parents sell their daughter for Silver?"


    Widow Xu said in a sing-song tone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Even if I earned Silver, it wouldn¡¯t be for you, so what¡¯s it to you?"


    "I¡¯m only speaking for your own good. Fourth Brother Tan dotes on you because you can make money, right?"


    Widow Xu giggles, her voice with a hint of malice that made one uncomfortable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath and completely ignored Widow Xu.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Widow Xu was pregnant, she would have already raised her hand to her.


    Widow Xu, unperturbed, carried on, "I¡¯m speaking the truth, whether you like to hear it or not. Don¡¯t end up a divorced woman with nowhere to cry."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er refused to engage with such an idiotic topic. Having loved Tan Zhenghong, she was prepared to give him her complete trust.


    Widow Xu stamped her foot, and without appearing to exert much force, there came a sudden scream from her.

 Chapter 343 - 346: Bleeding!_1

    Chapter 343: Chapter 346: Bleeding!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Widow Xu, who was now clad in thin clothing, the bright red stain on her trousers becoming increasingly glaring, and there was a growing trend.


    A pregnant woman losing so much blood at once, it must be a miscarriage, right?


    Although Widow Xu was annoying, the child was innocent.


    "Save me, save my child, it hurts so much, so much..." Widow Xu¡¯s face contorted with pain, yet she forced herself to stand still, daring not to move.


    Because with every move, she could feel the blood flowing out from below, and every drop of blood that flowed out was the life of her son. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What have you done to my daughter-in-law? I tell you, if anything happens to my son, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!" Tan Zhengyuan ran over, glaring angrily at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied irritably, "You better spend this time carrying her into the room instead of wasting it, and I¡¯ll call Uncle Wu and Grandma Feng over."


    Angry as Tan Zhengyuan was, he had to do as she said.


    Right now, the most important thing wasn¡¯t to hit or scold anyone but to save his son!


    "Li Niang, hold on, our son will definitely be all right, won¡¯t he? He¡¯s going to be just fine!"


    Tan Zhengyuan kept muttering to himself, talking over and over about his son, entirely neglecting to comfort Widow Xu, who was suffering from stomach pain.


    Widow Xu¡¯s lips trembled; it turned out that what Tan Zhengyuan cared about most was always the child, and she was just a tool.


    But it was she who had made the choice, who was there to blame?


    Widow Xu didn¡¯t indulge in distracted thoughts for long; it felt as if there was a knife scraping inside her belly, leaving her with one sensation¡ªthat of pain, agonizing and heart-wrenching pain.


    After a while, Wu Youcai and Grandma Feng both arrived.


    Because it involved the reputation of a woman, Wu Youcai just took her pulse and then hurriedly came out.


    With Grandma Feng in the birthing room, there was no need for him to worry.


    "The child can¡¯t be saved anymore, I will prescribe a blood-activating medicine, you must brew it and send it in, make sure to expel the embryo completely, otherwise, it will leave a lingering ailment," said Wu Youcai with regret.


    "How could this be? She has been fine all along, how could the child be gone?" Tan Zhengyuan asked with reddened eyes.


    Ever since Widow Xu became pregnant, he had hardly let her do any work, his only demand being for her to take good care of their son.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhengyuan turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er: "It¡¯s all your fault, what have you done to her? I want you to pay with your life for my son!"


    "What does it have to do with me?" Qiao Duo¡¯er sidestepped.


    Wu Youcai sighed and said, "You... this isn¡¯t your first child, don¡¯t you know that you shouldn¡¯t fool around in the first three months? It¡¯s your fault; don¡¯t blame others."


    "I didn¡¯t!" Tan Zhengyuan immediately denied.


    "Grandma Feng has checked everything; you can ask her when she comes out."


    Tan Zhengyuan was stunned, then anger replaced the misery on his face.


    Ever since it was confirmed that Widow Xu was with child, he had never slept with her; how could it be possible that intercourse caused the miscarriage?


    But Grandma Feng was the only midwife in Big Willow Village, what hadn¡¯t she seen? She definitely couldn¡¯t have made the wrong diagnosis.


    The only explanation left was that Widow Xu had been betraying him behind his back... having an affair.


    That¡¯s right, Widow Xu had propositioned him, and he had refused, so she went to find another man?


    If that was the case... even the child in Widow Xu¡¯s belly might not be his.


    Alas, he too had failed in life, hadn¡¯t he?!


    All Tan Zhengyuan could do was laugh bitterly; the last thing he needed was for others to learn about this¡ªit would be the utter ruin of his reputation!

 Chapter 344 - 347: Making a Fuss Over an Excuse_1

    Chapter 344: Chapter 347: Making a Fuss Over an Excuse_1Wu Youcai quickly returned, and Hu¡¯s Clan had Da Ya fetch the medicine.


    The child was not saved, and the reason for the miscarriage was known, so it wasn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s concern anymore.


    But just as she was about to leave, Tan Zhengyuan grabbed her sleeve in one quick motion.


    "You, stop right there, my son died at your doorstep, you must take responsibility, you owe me a son!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly tried to mediate, "Quick, let go of Duo¡¯er, Duo¡¯er just said a few words to her, how is it related to Duo¡¯er?"


    "Shut up! You must be very happy now!" Tan Zhengyuan said with red eyes.


    He had divorced Hu¡¯s Clan; she must hold a grudge in her heart and was also jealous that Widow X¨² was pregnant.


    Hmph, perhaps her son died because of her curse!


    With this thought, his gaze towards Hu¡¯s Clan was filled with hatred.


    At this point, Tan Zhengyuan had lost his mind. He saw everyone as the murderer of his son, and everyone owed him money!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, "I¡¯m counting to three, if you don¡¯t let go then don¡¯t blame me for being rude."


    "You murderer, I¡¯ll take you to the Government Office!" Tan Zhengyuan said fearlessly.


    Some people are hell-bent on seeking their own demise, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only oblige him.


    The next second, her other fist slammed into Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s chest.


    "Your own lust caused her miscarriage, what face do you have to blame others? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, aren¡¯t you just trying to extort some money with this incident? Have you no shame?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed softly, her eyes full of disdain.


    Just now, Uncle Wu had been considerate of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s dignity, so he had kept his voice very low.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er had excellent hearing, she heard every single word.


    Never did she expect Tan Zhengyuan to exploit the situation, she didn¡¯t know what else to say about such scum.


    Exposed, Tan Zhengyuan felt his face burning with shame, while Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to pull Hu¡¯s Clan and Er Ya away.


    Back in the west wing room, there was still a large pool of blood next to the stove, which looked a bit unnerving, and since the blood had soaked into the ground, it could only be cleared by removing the top layer of soil.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought a shovel and a dustpan to start removing the soil.


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly took the tools away, "Duo¡¯er you haven¡¯t given birth yet, it¡¯s unlucky to touch this blood, let me do it."


    This blood carried the resentment of the child, if it wasn¡¯t handled properly, they could be cursed.


    "If he has any resentment, it should be directed at the person who caused his death," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Despite what was said, Hu¡¯s Clan still wouldn¡¯t let Qiao Duo¡¯er help.


    Hu¡¯s Clan first burned some spirit money beside it, sprinkled some fragrant ash and prayed for a while, and only then did she begin to clear the blood-stained soil.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fetched a basin of water, and had Hu¡¯s Clan wash her hands and face.


    Half an hour later, Grandma Feng carried out a basin of bloody water.


    "Take this out and bury it, then burn something valuable; truly a pitiable child," Grandma Feng said with sympathy.


    Tan Zhengyuan gritted his teeth and asked, "Grandma, is it true that my... Widow X¨²... miscarried because of intercourse?"


    "If you don¡¯t believe me, I won¡¯t say more," replied Grandma Feng with a grim look. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having been a midwife for so many years, she had never seen a miscarriage caused by excessive intercourse before.


    When is there a time when men and women can¡¯t do it? They had to do it during the first three months and with such vigor that they sadly lost the child. Are you satisfied now?


    Tan Zhengyuan clenched his fists, gave Grandma Feng some money, and then carried the basin of bloody water in a daze, thinking of his son.


    No, that¡¯s not right, he had to first ascertain whether the child was truly his son.


    Tan Zhengyuan placed the basin on the stove, wiped his face, and went into the house.

 Chapter 345 - 348: Is This My Son?_1

    Chapter 345: Chapter 348: Is This My Son?_1Widow Xu lay weakly on the bed and upon seeing Tan Zhengyuan enter, she said, "Get me some water, I¡¯m so thirsty."


    Tan Zhengyuan curled his lips, thinking she still expected to treat him like a slave even after losing his son?


    In her dreams!


    Feeling unsettled by Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s gaze, Widow Xu couldn¡¯t help but pull her quilt up a bit.


    As she expected, what Tan Zhengyuan gave her wasn¡¯t water, but his fists¡ªa beating she could have resisted or fled from on any other day.


    But now, having just miscarried, even the slightest movement caused her belly to ache terribly. What could she do?


    Fists rained down on her like falling drops, and Widow Xu¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat.


    "Help! Someone save me, he¡¯s going to beat someone to death! Help!" Widow Xu frantically cried for help.


    Panting heavily, Tan Zhengyuan demanded, "Who do you think will save you? Tell me, who is your lover? Is the child mine?"


    "Whose else could it be? You¡¯re with me all the time, whose child could I possibly bear?" Widow Xu retorted angrily.


    Every time she was with Tan Zhengyuan, she felt it was over before it even started, every time it was the same.


    Unable to bear the frustration, she had been with Lao Guang and Wang Mazhi.


    In her haste to have a child, she hadn¡¯t taken any contraceptive measures, so she herself had no idea whose child it was.


    Perhaps... each had a share.


    But she couldn¡¯t admit it now. If Tan Zhengyuan found out, he would definitely kill her.


    Seeing her unwilling to confess, Tan Zhengyuan slapped her twice more, "You won¡¯t talk? Do you think I don¡¯t know how the child was lost? It¡¯s because you and your lover were too intense!"


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense, I did not!"


    Widow Xu moved further inside the bed, evading Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s fists, but then she felt a warm flow¡ªit was surely blood.


    Grandma Feng had warned before leaving that if she bled again, she might not survive.


    The blood seemed to flow more and more, and she grew increasingly terrified.


    Widow Xu pleaded, "I¡¯m bleeding again, quickly find a doctor, I don¡¯t want to die!"


    "You deserve to die, just tell me if that was my son or not!" Tan Zhengyuan was only interested in the answer.


    "Save me... save me..."


    Widow Xu¡¯s voice grew fainter and fainter.


    Fury blinded Tan Zhengyuan to the emergency; he grabbed Widow Xu¡¯s collar, "Have you gone mute? You dare seduce other men, why can¡¯t you admit it? Speak!"


    Widow Xu¡¯s teeth chattered, she couldn¡¯t even speak.


    Tan Zhengyuan threw Widow Xu roughly back on the bed, and her silence surely meant she was guilty.


    That meant the son he had so yearned for wasn¡¯t his at all!


    Damn it, he had poured out his heart and been so careful for the child¡¯s welfare, only to end up with this!


    His rage found no outlet, his gaze inadvertently falling onto Widow Xu¡¯s belly.


    What use was keeping that belly? To bear children for another man? S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, the household from the Main Room just happened to return from the fields.


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly said, "Child¡¯s grandfather, you all need to see this, Tan Zhengyuan is beating Widow Xu."


    She had been anxious upon hearing the commotion inside, but Tan Zhengyuan had bolted the door, and she couldn¡¯t get in. Just as she was worrying, the people from the Main Room came back.


    Tan Yuancheng glanced at Hu¡¯s Clan, but quickly realized he didn¡¯t have the ground to be angry.


    After all, Hu¡¯s Clan had already divorced Tan Zhengyuan, and her willingness to inform them was already quite commendable.


    "Father, mother, let¡¯s go take a look."


    Tan Zhengyong reckoned that Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s uproar was for the Twenty Taels of Silver, could he not go?


    What if his father, in his confusion, gave away the silver again, what then?

 Chapter 346 - 349 Critical_1

    Chapter 346: Chapter 349 Critical_1Tan Yuancheng pushed the door and then said to Tan Zhengyong, "Hurry up and break the door down."


    "My butt still hurts from the injury, how am I supposed to break down the door? Look, Fourth Boss is back, let him do it." Tan Zhengyong immediately shook his head.


    He had become exceedingly lazy, never standing when he could sit, and never sitting when he could lie down.


    So, asking him to break down a door? Better wait for another lifetime.


    Tan Yuancheng glared at Tan Zhengyong and then called out, "Fourth Boss, your elder brother is beating Widow X¨², come and help quickly!"


    Seeing that Hu¡¯s Clan also looked anxious, Tan Zhenghong decisively lifted his foot and kicked the door open.


    "Fourth Boss, don¡¯t go in, Widow X¨²¡¯s child is gone." Hu¡¯s Clan grabbed hold of Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhengyong had sharp ears and, hearing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s words, did not go inside either. The child was gone, where did they have the face to ask for silver?


    Then he needn¡¯t worry any more, he would go home to sleep!


    Tan Yuancheng, Wang Clan, and Little Wang Clan had already rushed inside and saw Tan Zhengyuan getting ready to smash his fist into Xu Clan¡¯s belly with all his might.


    This punch, filled with all of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s strength, was certain to end the child¡¯s life if it landed!


    Tan Yuancheng hurried to stop him, "Don¡¯t be reckless, do you not want your son anymore?"


    Tan Zhengyuan said crossly, "All of you get lost, if I don¡¯t beat this whore to death today, I don¡¯t deserve to be a man!"


    Thinking of the green hat on his head and how he cherished someone else¡¯s son as his own treasure, rage filled his heart!


    If he couldn¡¯t vent properly, he¡¯d surely be angered to death!


    As for those who came to watch his spectacle, he wanted to tell them to get as far away as possible!


    Little Wang Clan said in her gentle voice, "We really don¡¯t care about you hitting someone, but look at her... you mustn¡¯t kill a person, it¡¯s very ominous, and you might even have to face a lawsuit!"


    By the end of her speech, her voice had changed, by then Widow X¨²¡¯s face was as white as gold leaf!


    She didn¡¯t know if Widow X¨² was dead, but the situation was definitely dire.


    "Have you gone mad?"


    Wang Clan lifted the blanket, only to see a large expanse of fresh red on the bed.


    No wonder she smelled a strong scent of blood as soon as she entered the courtyard.


    Tan Zhengyuan swiftly retreated a few steps, his face growing paler by the second, increasingly resembling Widow X¨²¡¯s.


    He couldn¡¯t have really killed someone, could he? Murder demanded a life in return!


    Wang Clan said angrily, "She is still breathing; she shouldn¡¯t be dead. What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get the doctor!"


    Tan Zhengyuan snapped out of it and ran out.


    Wu Youcai and Grandma Feng were called to the Tan Family again.


    Seeing Widow X¨²¡¯s state, they wasted no words and immediately began saving her.


    Widow X¨² had barely survived losing the child, already weak from blood loss, and now things looked grim. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Doctor Wu took out some hemostatic medicine from his medicine box, "Make the decoction quickly, there¡¯s no time to waste."


    "Are you a pig? You caused the disaster, yet there you sit, playing lord. Hurry and make the medicine!"


    Wang Clan threw the medicine to Tan Zhengyuan; she already disliked Widow X¨² and now was expected to help brew the medicine? That was wishful thinking!


    Tan Zhengyuan said word by word, "The child isn¡¯t mine."


    "At the start, I told you not to let her in, but you thumped your chest and said the child in her belly was surely yours. Whose fault is that? If you don¡¯t want to make the medicine, fine, let that man come and do it!" Wang Clan¡¯s attitude was terrible.


    Because this whole situation was entirely of his own making.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhengyuan slapped the table, "It¡¯s Lao Guang, it must be Lao Guang! I¡¯ll kill him!"


    Before Wang Clan could react, Tan Zhengyuan had run out.

 Chapter 347 - 350 Unreliable Man_1

    Chapter 347: Chapter 350 Unreliable Man_1Wang Clan cursed, "Debt-collecting wretch, useless thing!"


    Whom did she owe, anyway?


    After working in the fields all day, she had just arrived home when she saw Tan Zhengyuan punching Widow Xu¡¯s stomach, not to mention the large pool of fresh blood on the bed, which had nearly scared her to death.


    She now understood that the child was a result of Widow Xu¡¯s secret affair with another man, so it was her own fault.


    But if Tan Zhengyuan beat someone so severely that they bled profusely and died, he couldn¡¯t get away with it either! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She worried endlessly, and yet Tan Zhengyuan actually ran out to beat someone!


    Although Lao Guang was in his forties, he was strong and healthy; fighting him was surely asking for trouble.


    Forget it, it wasn¡¯t her business to care about so much!


    Curse as she might, a human life was of the utmost importance; she dared not delay and immediately went to the kitchen to decoct medicine.


    Tan Zhenghong was sent back by Hu¡¯s Clan and happened to run into Sun Erhu who had just come in.


    Sun Erhu asked curiously, "Brother Hong, what¡¯s going on at Brother Tan¡¯s house? Why is it so noisy"


    He had come back with Tan Zhenghong, he had just gone to change his shoes and seemed to have missed a lot.


    "The child is gone, Brother hit Widow Xu so hard she bled profusely, and now everything¡¯s a mess there," Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, having no idea how to help.


    Sun Erhu blinked, "Brother Tan did it?"


    Tan Zhenghong stammered out an explanation, then Sun Erhu suddenly realized.


    "A few days ago, I saw Lao Guang coming out of the cornfield, could it be that Widow Xu hooked up with him? But Brother Tan hit her too hard, even if the child wasn¡¯t his, it¡¯s not worth taking her life."


    And wasn¡¯t his affair with Widow Xu also questionable?


    Why didn¡¯t he beat himself to death first?


    "The adults brought this upon themselves, it¡¯s only the child I feel sorry for."


    "I think it¡¯s actually quieter this way. If not, with such parents, how could the child face anyone in the future? Wouldn¡¯t that be even more pitiful?" Sun Erhu voiced his true feelings.


    For the child, this might have been a release rather than a lifetime of torment.


    Everyone was lacking in appetite at dinner, during which Hu¡¯s Clan came to ask for a bowl of chicken soup.


    "Sister Lan, how¡¯s it going over there?" Sun Erhu hinted with a nod of his lips.


    "Uncle Wu administered an acupuncture treatment, and she just took her medicine. The bleeding has stopped. Uncle Wu told me to quickly get some food for her to eat, and if she makes it through the night, she should be fine," Hu¡¯s Clan said before hurriedly leaving, knowing Widow Xu was shameless and promiscuous, despised wherever she went.


    But it was a human life; she couldn¡¯t just watch her die.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer felt like eating and instead took some food to Da Ya and Er Ya.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had been so busy she surely hadn¡¯t had the chance to tend to her daughters.


    She just hoped that the person Hu¡¯s Clan had cared for heart and soul wasn¡¯t a thankless wretch.


    The commotion in the eastern wing lasted well into the night; after Widow Xu¡¯s complexion improved slightly, Wang Clan dared to go to bed.


    She thought about having Tan Zhengyuan take care of Widow Xu during the night, but suddenly realized he hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    Wang Clan said angrily, "I¡¯ve done what I had to do, and I¡¯ve done right by you. The rest is up to fate, who told you to choose such an unreliable man?"


    Before leaving, she gave Hu¡¯s Clan a rare glance.


    "You should stop sitting around too. Go back to sleep; my husband is taking care of her," she said.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded; it was indeed inappropriate to stay in Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s house so late.


    But going back, she worried that no one would take care of Widow Xu. Forget it, what she had done had already lived up to her conscience.

 Chapter 348 - 351 Arm Broken_1

    Chapter 348: Chapter 351 Arm Broken_1The next morning, the first thing Wang Clan¡¯s Heart did upon rising was to go check on the eastern chamber.


    Only Widow X¨² was in the room. Wang Clan¡¯s Heart silently greeted Tan Zhengyuan several times.


    She tiptoed cautiously to the bedside before reaching a hand toward Widow X¨²¡¯s nose, when suddenly, a hoarse voice sounded.


    "What are you doing?"


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart was startled, her hand retracting as if shocked by electricity, and she even took a few steps back. Seeing that it was Widow X¨² who had opened her eyes, she then patted her chest in relief.


    "Why did you start speaking out of nowhere? You scared me to death!"


    Widow X¨² lazily blinked her eyes, and was just about to say something when she fainted again.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart glanced around the room and realized that Tan Zhengyuan hadn¡¯t come back all night, which gave her a sudden ominous premonition.


    As her heart pounded erratically, someone knocked on the courtyard door.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart hurried over, and indeed, outside stood Tan Zhengyuan ¨C but he was being carried back by others.


    He was covered in mud and looked especially wretched.


    "Auntie, I saw Brother Tan lying by the roadside, it looked like his arm was hurt, so my big brother and I brought him back," Li De briefly explained the situation.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart thanked him and called for Tan Yuancheng and Tan Zhengyong to bring the injured man inside.


    Tan Zhengyong quickly examined him and found that the right arm was broken, and there was a bruised purple welt on the forehead.


    "The Fourth Boss¡¯s House knows how to set bones; if you have her take care of him, it could save some money," Tan Yuancheng instructed.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart gave an unimpressed look to Tan Yuancheng, "If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t you go invite her?" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Yuancheng cleared his throat uncomfortably and then left with his hands behind his back.


    By chance, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er, a married couple, were at the doorstep, one washing clothes and the other preparing breakfast.


    "Zheng Hong, your older brother has broken his arm, can you take a look?"


    Tan Zhenghong responded indifferently, "I am not a doctor, how would I know how to deal with this?"


    "Didn¡¯t your wife set your leg for you?"


    Tan Yuancheng stole a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He didn¡¯t actually come looking for Tan Zhenghong; he just thought it would be better if Tan Zhenghong asked Qiao Duo¡¯er to step in, but he hadn¡¯t expected Tan Zhenghong to play dumb even though he clearly understood the situation.


    "Without Joint-Healing Grass, my wife can¡¯t do anything. You should hurry and invite Uncle Wu instead, don¡¯t delay the treatment for my brother¡¯s injury."


    Tan Zhenghong spread his hands; everything he said was the truth.


    Tan Yuancheng took a couple of deep breaths, holding back a surge of frustration in his belly, but he still had to go and invite Doctor Wu.


    It was uncertain whether Wu Youcai could properly fix the elder brother, but it didn¡¯t matter much, considering the elder brother hardly ever worked anyway.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "So he didn¡¯t manage to teach a lesson to others, but instead got taught a lesson himself?"


    "Who knows?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head helplessly, being long accustomed to his older brother¡¯s unreliability.


    They chatted about this and quickly moved on, turning their conversation to the matter of the house construction.


    The walls of the house and the courtyard had been nearly completed; now they could prepare for the main event ¨C the beam-raising.


    The beam-raising ceremony is often scheduled during a full moon or high tide, symbolizing family unity and wealth flowing in like the tide.


    However, it was also necessary to consult a feng shui master to calculate one¡¯s birth characters because the time for the beam-raising should not clash with the family members¡¯ zodiac signs.


    Both Qiao Duo and her husband were clueless about these matters, so they had to ask Uncle Huang for assistance.


    While they were having breakfast, they suddenly heard screams like those from slaughtering a pig.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a chill at the back of his neck, remembering how he himself had endured the same pain when both of his leg bones were set at once.


    That blissfully painful memory... was indeed unforgettable!

 Chapter 349 - 352 A waste!_1

    Chapter 349: Chapter 352 A waste!_1Tan Zhengyuan was woken by the pain, but luckily Wu Youcai had someone hold him down beforehand, so he couldn¡¯t move at all.


    Otherwise, if the bones were displaced again, his arm might have been ruined.


    Wu Youcai followed the method suggested by Qiao Duo¡¯er, which was to first push the bones back into place, then apply Joint-Healing Grass, cover it with fir bark, and finally secure it with a splint.


    This was his first time operating on a person, and to make matters worse, there were screams that disturbed his composure, instantly increasing the difficulty.


    Honestly, he even thought about gagging Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s mouth.


    After all, he¡¯s a man, couldn¡¯t he endure a little?


    Fortunately, everything went smoothly without any mishaps, and after he treated the fracture and finished the bandaging, Wu Youcai¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat.


    "Brother Wu, when can my eldest brother¡¯s arm be expected to heal?"


    Wu Youcai stroked his beard, "As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to recover from bone and muscle injuries, so he must rest for three months at least."


    The faces of everyone in the room turned green¡ªthree months without being able to work meant he would be a burden to them!


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have given Tan Zhenghong only a bun at first and later suggested dividing the family.


    Tan Zhengyuan was the eldest son, so the Wang Clan would definitely treat him with a bit more consideration.


    But just a little bit more.


    Right then, she decided that just because Tan Zhengyuan had a broken arm, they shouldn¡¯t expect her to take on all the work.


    "Don¡¯t worry too much, Zheng Hong recovered using this method, and now you can¡¯t even tell, the eldest just needs to rest well, and he¡¯ll surely be as good as before."


    Wu Youcai kindly offered some consolation, but he quickly realized his mistake, and it was a huge one.


    Tan Zhengyuan had woken up, and Wang Clan wanted to ask him what happened.


    If he had been beaten up, they could claim medical expenses and even ask for nutritional and compensation fees¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be a total loss.


    But their wishful thinking was in vain; Tan Zhengyuan hadn¡¯t been beaten by anyone, but had been clumsy.


    When he went to find Lao Guang, he accidentally tripped over a vine, somersaulted twice, and fell into a ditch.


    When he fell into the ditch, he hit a rock, injuring both his head and his arm. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, he felt pain all over his body, but there was water in the ditch, and it took him the strength of nine bulls and two tigers to crawl out. After that, he blacked out.


    If it weren¡¯t for that burst of pain, he might not have woken up.


    "What good are you? You couldn¡¯t even have a child, and you even managed to fall into a ditch while trying to fight someone. You¡¯re really something, you¡¯ve opened my eyes indeed. How come you haven¡¯t choked to death when eating?"


    Wang Clan poked Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s head, wishing she could jab a hole in it.


    Apart from eating and excreting, what else could he do?


    He was simply a waste!


    Tan Zhengyuan said discontentedly, "My arm is broken, can¡¯t you say something pleasant?"


    "It¡¯s your own fault it broke. What did I say? I said widows bring bad luck and shouldn¡¯t be brought in, but you insisted on doing it. Now the child isn¡¯t yours, and you¡¯ve broken an arm to boot. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll still be as unruly from now on!"


    "If I were you, I¡¯d just crawl into a pond and die! What¡¯s the point in living?"


    Wang Clan cursed with spittle flying, embarrassing Tan Zhengyuan so much that he couldn¡¯t lift his head.


    Wu Youcai couldn¡¯t bear to watch and said, "He needs to rest quietly, if you have nothing to do, go outside, don¡¯t agitate him."


    Since there was an outsider present, Wang Clan restrained herself somewhat, though she still wore a displeased expression.


    Tan Zhengyuan, feeling wronged, dared not say more.

 Chapter 350 - 353 Not Marrying_1

    Chapter 350: Chapter 353 Not Marrying_1Uncle Huang was very efficient. Tan Zhenghong went to him that morning to discuss the matter, and he came to tell them the results right after eating lunch.


    The fortune-teller gave them the time of August 16 in the morning, during the "Morning" period, which was an auspicious day that comes once in a hundred years. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were still five days left until the beam-raising.


    With ample time, Tan Zhenghong had enough for preparing the materials needed for the beam-raising ceremony and could even transplant the rapeseed into the field in his spare time.


    "I also asked the master to calculate your Bazi. The master said you two are naturally meant to be together, and in the future, you could turn misfortune into fortune, becoming very wealthy and noble, in short, it¡¯s very good."


    Uncle Huang found it a bit hard to continue towards the end.


    The Feng Shui master had said a long list of things, and how could a rough man like him remember it all?


    Anyway, the general idea was that their destiny was set in the stars.


    No wonder their relationship was so enviable!


    Of course, fate was one aspect, and the mutual admiration between the two was also important.


    When Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg was broken, Qiao Duo¡¯er stayed by his side, took meticulous care of him, and managed to heal his leg.


    Tan Zhenghong had never despised Qiao Duo¡¯er for her appearance, treasuring her irrespective of beauty or ugliness.


    How many people could do that?


    Now Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg was agile again, and the sores on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face had healed; naturally, their hardships had turned to sweet outcomes.


    In a pleased tone, Tan Zhenghong said, "Thank you, Uncle. You must come to both the beam-raising feast and the wedding banquet. You can¡¯t consider us a bother."


    "What do you mean?" Uncle Huang was a little slow to catch on.


    Tan Zhenghong boldly stated, "I want to make up for the wedding ceremony."


    "Good, good, then I¡¯ll make another trip to see if there are any auspicious days after the beam-raising; personally, I think the sooner the better!" Uncle Huang agreed without hesitation.


    He had been young once and understood Tan Zhenghong¡¯s thoughts: To build a good house and give his bride a splendid wedding.


    But that anxious feeling doesn¡¯t allow for too much delay.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, of course, the sooner the better!


    He couldn¡¯t wait to complete the wedding rites and make Qiao Duo¡¯er his rightful wife.


    As the two discussed enthusiastically, Qiao Duo¡¯er silently complained: I don¡¯t seem to have agreed to marry yet, and you¡¯re already discussing dates, as if I don¡¯t exist!


    But she just thought to herself, how could she possibly disagree?


    Uh, no, a woman should be demure!


    So after sending Uncle Huang away, Qiao Duo¡¯er haughtily said, "Hmph, when did I say I would marry you?"


    Tan Zhenghong raised an eyebrow: "Marry or not, you are mine for the rest of your life."


    "Nonsense, who is yours?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arrogantly lifted her chin.


    "You have a mole on your left chest, and there is a leaf-shaped scar on your butt..." Tan Zhenghong recalled seriously.


    Knowing so many secrets, where could Qiao Duo¡¯er run off to?


    Seeing that he was going on and on, Qiao Duo¡¯er conceded, "Don¡¯t say anymore!"


    This man was incorrigible to the core.


    And yet, she was utterly ensnared by Tan Zhenghong. Alas, she was supposed to be an advanced person from the future, and yet she had fallen for an old relic!


    Truly freaking disappointing!


    Suddenly Tan Zhenghong bowed ceremoniously, "Wife, I¡¯ll trouble you with finding the Star-of-Bethlehem then."


    "Hmph, I won¡¯t find it for you; I¡¯ll let you be anxious to death." Qiao Duo¡¯er was very smug.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately wilted, "Wife, you¡¯re the best. Just help your husband find one. Once it¡¯s found, you can also enjoy a life of bliss. That¡¯s killing two birds with one stone, right?"

 Chapter 351 - 354 Invaluable Treasure_1

    Chapter 351: Chapter 354 Invaluable Treasure_1"Fat Fat, Fatty, lick him!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er commanded the two fat dogs, and the little ones pounced on Tan Zhenghong. They could already understand simple commands and only listened to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Watching Tan Zhenghong¡¯s helpless expression, Qiao Duo¡¯er proudly shook her head and then went out to feed the mountain muntjac.


    Competing with her, Tan Zhenghong was still far behind!


    Tan Zhenghong finally suppressed the rebellious little ones and couldn¡¯t help saying, "Little White-eyed Wolf, I¡¯m your owner too!"


    Why would they only listen to the female owner and not the male owner?


    Fat Fat and Fatty tilted their heads and then chased after Qiao Duo¡¯er together.


    Tan Zhenghong was speechless about the little ones and then also went to Sun Erhu¡¯s courtyard. The mountain muntjac had always been Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s responsibility to feed, and his to clean up after.


    "Do you think it would be alright if I took the mountain muntjac out for a walk?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked the mountain muntjac¡¯s head, already very familiar with it.


    Tan Zhenghong pondered and said, "It has been tamed, so there should be no problem, but you still have to be careful."


    "Then I¡¯ll take it into the mountains, maybe it can even lure a few female mountain muntjacs back for me."


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a strange expression. His wife was usually clever, so why wasn¡¯t she up to par now?


    Could it be that she, too, had fallen for him? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It must be so, for fools are lovers in love.


    A twitch formed at the corner of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye. She admitted that the idea was really stupid, but her attention was quickly diverted.


    "Look here, it seems like there¡¯s something," Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed to a spot on the front of the mountain muntjac.


    "Don¡¯t peek randomly," Tan Zhenghong said sourly.


    Although this mountain muntjac was just a beast, it was a male, and it shouldn¡¯t be ogled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong, "Stop joking, come here and look, do you think it could be a musk deer?"


    Those with fragrance are musk deer, and the musk they produce is known as musk.


    Even after the production of synthetic musk, natural musk is still more precious than gold.


    "I¡¯ve heard that musk is very valuable, a small piece can sell for Ten Gold..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly covered Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth, "Shh, it would be trouble if someone heard us."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded his head; he knew that wealth shouldn¡¯t be flaunted!


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er dared not get too happy too soon; what if she was wrong? That would be a false celebration. Better to find out for sure first.


    Besides, if they had to kill the mountain muntjac to get the musk, then she didn¡¯t want the silver.


    Tan Zhenghong pondered and finally decided to consult Academician Zhou.


    Academician Zhou had been a scholar in a private school, so he was more knowledgeable than others. Tan Zhenghong successfully got the answer he was seeking.


    Musk deer are smaller than other deer species, with fragrance at the navel, beginning to produce musk in summer, enjoying eating snakes and insects, and by winter, their fragrance pouches are full. After some time, the musk solidifies, and in spring, the musk deer will dig out the musk pouch themselves.


    The musk dug out by the musk deer themselves is known as mature musk, which is more valuable than the musk obtained by killing the animal.


    Musk is used not only in medicine but also as a precious fragrance ingredient.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had another concern, which was seeing in palace drama series that smelling a bit of musk could cause miscarriage and even infertility, which made her a little worried.


    However, she decided to ask Bai Yifan about the specifics.


    "My dear, we¡¯re lucky you decided to keep it back then," Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs-up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said uncomfortably, "I just thought it was small and that it would be pitiful for someone to kill it for meat."


    Regardless of the original intention, the result was that they kept an invaluable treasure.

 Chapter 352 - 355 This is Love_1

    Chapter 352: Chapter 355 This is Love_1That very evening, a new lock was added to the gate of Sun Erhu¡¯s house.


    However, no one let slip even a hint of gossip, fearing others would covet the mountain muntjac with malicious intent.


    The musk was fragrant and of good quality, but people were always too impatient to kill the muntjac for its musk, hence the population of musk deer dramatically decreased in later generations, with the genuinely wild ones nearly extinct.


    For the next two days, Tan Zhenghong went to work in the fields, a total of two mu of dry land which he could manage all by himself.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er took Chao Lian and the two girls to pick tea seeds in the mountains and look for Star-of-Bethlehem flowers as well.


    Though Qiao Duo¡¯er claimed she wouldn¡¯t help, in reality she was more earnest than anyone.


    After all... their wedding was on the schedule now.


    Her wish was simple, that on the night of their nuptial chamber, they could become true husband and wife.


    Ahem, why did she feel even more anxious than Tan Zhenghong?


    Probably because they hadn¡¯t reached the point of close physical contact, she always felt like something was missing.


    "Fourth Aunt, what are you looking for? Can I help?" Er Ya suddenly asked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed, "I¡¯m just looking around. Maybe I can find some herbs for making face mask powder. Hurry up and pick the tea seeds, tea oil is the healthiest oil and good for the body."


    "We¡¯re not eating it, we¡¯re saving it to sell."


    Filled with curiosity, Chao Lian asked, "Why sell it though?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After thinking for a while, Er Ya responded, "Sell it to buy my mom some rouge and face powder, to make her beautiful!"


    Da Ya quickly nodded in agreement, she too remembered Widow Xu mocking their mother as a ¡¯yellow-faced hag,¡¯ old and ugly.


    But their mother... sigh, was now looking after Widow Xu, which was irritating to think about.


    Yet they didn¡¯t know what to say and had no choice but to leave it at that.


    For three consecutive days, the mountain¡¯s tea seeds were completely harvested by the villagers.


    "Fourth Aunt, are we really not coming tomorrow?" asked Er Ya, tilting her head up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Of course, it¡¯s true."


    Er Ya cheered, "Big Sister, can we go stay at Grandma¡¯s house with mom tomorrow?"


    This way her dad couldn¡¯t command her mom to work anymore!


    Her subtle little schemes, of course, couldn¡¯t escape Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes. Despite her young age, Er Ya was the most resourceful, a trait Qiao Duo¡¯er admired!


    If one were to repay evil with kindness, then what should be used to repay those who have been kind?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Er Ya a thumbs up, "Take your mom and just stay comfortably at your grandma¡¯s house, when I need your help, I¡¯ll send someone to bring you a message."


    Er Ya nodded eagerly, her smile growing even brighter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a fruitful harvest, bringing back thirty jin of tea seeds, but there was still no news of the Star-of-Bethlehem.


    Once home, Qiao Duo¡¯er listlessly played with the two dogs, feeling lethargic in all her actions.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but comfort her, "Our wedding is on August 26th, there are still more than ten days left. Let¡¯s take our time looking for it, no rush."


    "Sigh, do you think I¡¯m useless?"


    "How could I? My wife is the best, she knows herbs and can read, nobody is as impressive as you!" boasted Tan Zhenghong proudly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that she definitely wouldn¡¯t let Tan Zhenghong off easy on their wedding night.


    Her body had recovered quite well already, so getting pregnant shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Besides, she couldn¡¯t be so lucky to hit the mark on the first try, could she?


    So when the time came, she¡¯d go for a bold move.


    Hmm... that seemed like a good idea, she must be satisfied with the result!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sneaked a glance at Tan Zhenghong and muttered to herself that this was love, not lust.

 Chapter 353 - 356 Buy a Cow_1

    Chapter 353: Chapter 356 Buy a Cow_1"Wife," he said, "I want to eat flaky baked cakes. I¡¯ve chopped up the meat and scallions; what do I do next?"


    Tan Zhenghong took Qiao Duo¡¯er to the stove, hoping to distract his wife from her worries.


    But he had a premonition that he would definitely find Star-of-Bethlehem before their wedding day.


    Perhaps his premonition was too strong; he wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    It was already the fifteenth day of the eighth month, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong had gone to town early to buy the necessary items for the beam-raising.


    The first step in the beam-raising ceremony was to worship the Big Beam, with offerings such as pigs, fish, geese, tofu, incense, and candles¡ªthey had to purchase all of these today.


    Before shopping, however, Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to first head to the cattle market to buy an ox cart.


    Uncle Huang and Old Niuniu¡¯s families had ox carts they were willing to lend.


    But it¡¯s always more convenient to have your own, and borrowing them often felt somewhat embarrassing.


    By now, they had sold forty boxes of face mask powder, netting over thirty Liang of Silver, more than enough to buy an ox cart.


    At the East Market, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo wandered and browsed.


    Besides oxen and horses, other poultry and livestock were also on sale.


    As they walked, Qiao Duo was already planning what to raise in their new home: about twenty to thirty chickens, ducks, and geese, buy four piglets, and stock the pond with fish fry.


    In this way, her home could be considered a small farm, completely self-sustaining.


    "Take a look at my ox, please. My brother is ill and needs money for treatment," a timid voice suddenly piped up.


    The speaker was a girl around twelve or thirteen, accompanied by a frail young boy.


    Seeing the siblings¡¯ plight, Qiao Duo¡¯er took a second look, igniting hope in the girl¡¯s heart.


    "Sister, please buy my family¡¯s ox. Otherwise, my uncle will definitely snatch it away," the girl said hopefully, looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Why would he snatch away your ox?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Our parents have passed away, leaving just the two of us. My uncle took everything else from our home; only this ox is left. Sister, please, buy this ox from me," the girl pleaded, wiping away tears.


    The sudden death of their parents left the children as pitiable orphans who had to fight desperately to keep just their ox.


    They had even had to ask a neighbor to help them bring the ox to the market.


    If their uncle found out, he would surely come to steal it.


    Even though the boy was scared, he mustered his courage and said, "My sister and I took good care of the ox; it¡¯s only a year and a half old but can already do a lot of work!"


    Tan Zhenghong examined the ox; it was of good quality, and crucially, ready to be put to immediate use¡ªexactly what they needed for their household.


    The ox was fine, and the children tugged at his heartstrings, so Tan Zhenghong decided to make the purchase.


    "Brother, you¡¯re not going to offer just One Tael of Silver for the ox like the others, are you?" the girl asked nervously.


    Tan Zhenghong hastened to shake his head, "I know this ox is worth Five Liang of Silver. I won¡¯t take advantage of you."


    The girl wiped the sweat off her face and said happily, "I knew you were good people. Little Treasure, once we sell the ox, we can buy your medicine, and then we¡¯ll go live with Grandma!"


    "Yeah, Uncle won¡¯t be able to bully us anymore!" Little Treasure was excited too.


    Tan Zhenghong handed over Five Liang of Silver to the girl. After taking the silver, the girl asked, "Brother, Sister, could you take us to the pharmacy?"


    The children holding the Silver was not safe, and it just so happened to be on their way, so Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed to take them along.

 Chapter 354 - 357: Who Cleans Up Whom?_1

    Chapter 354: Chapter 357: Who Cleans Up Whom?_1On the road, Qiao Duo¡¯er learned about the two children¡¯s backgrounds. Their parents made a living by boating and met with a landslide. Both parents were tragically killed, leaving behind two minors.


    Their uncle was addicted to gambling and had occupied the property of his younger brother¡¯s family. Niu Gang was only spared because he happened to be borrowed by a neighbor.


    Truth be told, the two children really were pitiable.


    Fortunately, their grandmother was still alive and treated them quite well; they could go to her for refuge.


    Once at their grandmother¡¯s house, things would be easier to manage. With the remaining silver from buying medicine and the little girl¡¯s sewing skills, they would certainly be able to support themselves.


    In no time, they arrived at Ren Xin Hall.


    The doctor, after hearing about the children¡¯s situation from Qiao Duo¡¯er, agreed to waive the consultation fee and only charge for the medication.


    The little boy had internal bleeding, which resulted in symptoms like coughing up and passing blood.


    However, it wasn¡¯t serious, and with a few days of medication, he would be completely healed.


    "You¡¯re from the same village as me. If you trust me, you can come back with me in the evening," said one of Ren Xin Hall¡¯s assistants.


    Seeing the children¡¯s hesitation, the doctor said, "Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s been with me for several years now; he¡¯s definitely a good person."


    With the doctor¡¯s assurance, the children let down their guard.


    They had silver in their possession, and the boy wasn¡¯t in great health. They were more than willing to have someone accompany them home.


    The little girl apologized, "I¡¯m sorry, we didn¡¯t mean to doubt you."


    "I understand. You¡¯re still young, and it¡¯s not wrong to be cautious around others," the assistant didn¡¯t take it to heart at all.


    Not only was he not angry, but he also thought the children were quite smart.


    Plus, he had his own reasons for concern. He was afraid the child¡¯s illness would worsen en route, so he waited until after the doctor¡¯s diagnosis before speaking up.


    Their journey to their grandmother¡¯s was settled, and the two children were delighted.


    They were only worried about the cow that they had raised from a calf.


    The little girl said to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Pretty sister, you must take good care of the cow. It¡¯s still young and can¡¯t do too much work for long periods, and it needs to be fed grass at night, so it can grow strong..."


    The little girl went on and on with advice about raising the cow.


    "OK, I will take good care of it," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded earnestly.


    The little boy was also reluctant to part with the cow, but knowing that the buyers were good people, he let them lead the cow away with peace of mind.


    After saying goodbye to the two children, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong began to stock up on supplies.


    Before long, the ox cart was piled up like a small mountain.


    Once finished shopping, Tan Zhenghong checked again to make sure nothing was forgotten, then they headed to Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop to look at furniture.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already provided the measurements and drawings to Wind Liyang during her last visit, but she still needed to check on the progress.


    After all, many of the pieces were modern-style furniture, and she was worried Wind Liyang might not be as imaginative.


    When they arrived at the carpentry shop, the assistant directed Qiao Duo¡¯er straight to the backyard.


    There, Wind Liyang was sawing wood shirtless, another case of "clothes make the man look thin, but the man¡¯s body reveals muscle without them."


    His muscles were well-defined, and his physique, simply perfect.


    Grinding his teeth, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, when we get home, I¡¯ll strip for you."


    He admitted that Wind Liyang had a fine body but still thought he was far behind him!


    "I see you every day, it¡¯s tedious!" said Qiao Duo¡¯er with disdain.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes widened, "Wife, I¡¯m jealous. Tonight, I¡¯ll definitely take care of you properly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er twisted his waist and was satisfied only when she saw his grimace in pain.


    Every time, it was someone¡¯s little buddy that couldn¡¯t hold back, so who would take care of whom was still up for debate!


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 355 - 358 Wind Liyang is Shy_1

    Chapter 355: Chapter 358 Wind Liyang is Shy_1Over there, as prompted by his clerk, Wind Liyang turned around and his face quickly flushed with blood when he saw who had come was Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He silently cursed the shop¡¯s clerks hundreds of times, even considering whether he should dock their pay.


    He had already said countless times not to let customers directly into the backyard, in case they saw something they shouldn¡¯t. It was not good.


    But they just let them in, treating every familiar face as a guest.


    Now, isn¡¯t that awkward? Isn¡¯t it embarrassing?


    Though a man¡¯s body may not be precious, it shouldn¡¯t just be shown to any woman!


    Wind Liyang cleared his throat and turned back to head inside the house.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that his mother, who was also Duo¡¯er¡¯s great aunt, had specifically instructed this, considering her son was too shy, never talking to girls except when doing business.


    Only heaven knows how anxious she, as a mother, was.


    Wind Liyang¡¯s mother thought it was quite simple¡ªlet people see him more, his skin would thicken, and then he could marry a wife and have children.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, puzzled, "What¡¯s wrong with him?"


    "The head of the household hasn¡¯t taken a wife yet. He must be shy," the clerk explained with a chuckle, "Please, take a seat inside and wait, honored guests."


    Wind Liyang didn¡¯t come out until he had dressed properly, and he still felt uneasy when he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    However, business had to be done; he led them into a room where sofas and beds were displayed.


    He had never dealt with these items before; though they looked similar to the blueprints, he was still uncertain.


    "These are the goods you requested. The bed is only half-made but you can already get a good idea of it. Let me know if there¡¯s anything that needs to be changed," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat on the sofa to test it out. The structure was fine, and Wind Liyang had made some adjustments to make it even more comfortable.


    "I¡¯m thinking of wrapping the sofas in animal hide and stuffing them with cotton. What do you think?" he proposed.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded in agreement, "No problem, Erhu and I have saved up a lot of rabbit skins."


    But after making the sofas, there might not be much left. They were initially meant for his future wife¡¯s rabbit fur coat. However, since it wasn¡¯t winter yet, he could just save up more.


    Wind Liyang¡¯s lips twitched. Were these two really not wastrels?


    He finally understood why Duo¡¯er got along so well with them¡ªthey all loved to cause a stir.


    The most unbelievable was Tan Zhenghong, who didn¡¯t even try to dissuade her, just indulging her whims.


    That must be true love, and Wind Liyang hoped he himself would meet a girl who would throw caution to the wind for him. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An idea suddenly sparked in Wind Liyang¡¯s mind, "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m thinking of making a few more of these sofas. If they sell, I¡¯ll give you a commission. What do you think?"


    Wrapping them in animal hide and stuffing them with cotton would make them a luxury for common folks, but a symbol of status for the wealthy.


    So he figured the sofas would definitely sell.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said it was fine with her; if they didn¡¯t sell she wouldn¡¯t take the risk, but if they did, she would get a free bonus. So, she wouldn¡¯t be at loss either way.


    Then... why not?


    It just suddenly seemed a bit unscrupulous to think this way.


    Wind Liyang was a man of strict yet charming principles; he insisted on drafting a contract with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The contract stipulated that for three years, Qiao Duo¡¯er would receive a thirty percent commission on all sofas and beds sold, the sofas being the main item, with the bunk beds as an afterthought.


    There was a reason behind the three-year term. Once the novelty of the sofas wore off and they became commonplace, Wind Liyang would rely solely on his own craftsmanship for income, and it would indeed be unscrupulous for her to continue taking a share of his money.


    This justified the saying, "A gentleman loves money, and should take it in a right way."

 Chapter 356 - 359 Preparation_1

    Chapter 356: Chapter 359 Preparation_1That day, when the villagers saw Tan Zhenghong driving the ox cart back home, every single one became restless.


    Could it be that Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s Family had a chicken that laid golden eggs?


    Purchase paddy fields, buy homesteads, they had just built a house, and now an ox cart, just how much silver did his family have?


    It seemed like they could never run out.


    Alas, that¡¯s what you call someone else¡¯s silver; you have to stretch and scrunch your own silver, otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t know how it¡¯s gone.


    "Wasn¡¯t it said that Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s Family couldn¡¯t sell their braised meat anymore? And I didn¡¯t hear Tan Zhenghong caught any game recently, how did he earn so much silver?"


    "Right, it couldn¡¯t just be savings from before, could it?"


    "Who knows? Didn¡¯t they say his wife is a fool? Maybe they¡¯re spending for two as if for one," a woman said sourly.


    "You spend for two as one, and maybe you can afford to build a house and buy an ox cart yourself."


    D¨¤l¨ªn retorted to the woman, you have to earn a lot to spend a lot, otherwise, the whole family might as well go drink the northwest wind.


    "When you wag your tongue about others, they are hard at work, don¡¯t they deserve to live better than you?" Another person chimed in his support. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anyway, no one heard about Tan Zhenghong stealing or robbing, so what did it matter to others where his silver came from?


    Many families in the village had their own ways of making money and didn¡¯t advertise it, did they?


    The woman was so annoyed she stamped her feet, but with so many people not taking her side, she could only slink away.


    The smarter ones didn¡¯t say much, but decided to visit the Tan Family more often in the future. Perhaps they could catch on to how the Tan Family made their money.


    If they could follow suit, they didn¡¯t need to earn as much, just scraping up some would do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ignored these people completely, went home to tidy up her things, and then went to clean the new house.


    Tomorrow was the day for the beam-raising, and they were not holding a big event, just inviting a few close neighbors and artisans.


    Tan Zhenghong estimated that it would be about four tables of people.


    The feast was to be prepared by the chef from the neighboring village, Zhang Luo, while he and Qiao Duo just needed to get the place ready.


    With the anticipation of moving into the new house soon, both were highly motivated and it didn¡¯t take long before the new house was all tidied up.


    By evening, Uncle Huang, not feeling reassured, came over specifically to check on the offerings.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had also steamed two baskets of buns, some to be used for the beam-raising ceremony, the rest for the artisans to eat, along with the flaky pastries made the day before. The staples were taken care of.


    The menu consisted of four kinds of braised dishes: meat, dried bean curds, lotus slices, and bean sprouts.


    The breakfast spread wasn¡¯t great, but it was passable.


    By the time they got into bed, it was already after ten, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still remembered to take care of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s needs.


    Yet exhausted from the day, Qiao Duo¡¯er fell asleep after a couple of touches.


    Tan Zhenghong was at the peak of speechlessness. How could his wife be so irresponsible?


    He had just started, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had already ended it.


    However, seeing how soundly Qiao Duo¡¯er was sleeping, he could only take a few deep breaths and then shut his eyes too, but it was quite a while before Tan Zhenghong felt the slightest hint of sleepiness.


    Ah, had he saved or destroyed the world in his last life?


    Meeting Qiao Duo¡¯er was the luckiest thing in his life, but at the same time, he was tormented.


    Having his beautiful wife sleep next to him every day within arm¡¯s reach, yet untouchable, was almost driving him to despair.


    Tan Zhenghong silently made a wish, hoping for the Star-of-Bethlehem to appear soon.


    But no matter when he found the Star-of-Bethlehem, he would wait for their wedding night to completely have her, only then would it be proper and fitting.


    This persistence might be a bit comic, but it had become his obsession.

 Chapter 357 - 360: Beam-raising!_1

    Chapter 357: Chapter 360: Beam-raising!_1The next day, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er got up early in the morning.


    Beam-raising is a big event in any household, so the craftsmen all arrived early on.


    The master carpenter had already chosen an auspicious day and prepared the big beam beforehand, which had been resting in the main hall. Tan Zhenghong would offer incense every day.


    Today being the actual day, the sacrificial ceremony was much grander.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laid out the sixteen offerings on the table at one go, while Tan Zhenghong inserted and lit the incense candles, then they burnt incense together, and both the family and the craftsmen knelt and bowed in succession.


    After the prayer, the carpenter responsible for the big beam chanted the beam-raising song while pouring wine over the big beam.


    This Master Jin was a carpenter of renown far and wide, and he was best at making big beams; people from ten villages and eight towns sought him out.


    The wine he poured over the big beam was evenly distributed; after covering the entire length from one end to the other, the wine jug was just empty, and this alone was enough to earn people¡¯s trust.


    Tan Zhenghong timely handed over a red envelope and expressed his gratitude.


    Master Jin felt the weight of the red envelope without showing much reaction, content in his heart.


    The Fourth Brother Tan¡¯s family was proper with their courtesies; thus, he too had to give his very best.


    With a gesture from Master Jin to those helping, they tied the red rope around the big beam, and then several men lifted it up together, continuously chanting for great fortune and prosperity. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Master Jin, with an axe wrapped in red cloth, climbed up, and Uncle Huang set off the firecrackers.


    By the time the firecrackers had burned out, the big beam had already been knocked into the mortise.


    Aunt Huang handed a red blanket to Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, which was another step in the beam-raising ceremony.


    She also instructed, "Later when Master Jin tosses the steamed buns from the big beam, catch them with the blanket. The more you catch, the better."


    Seeing that both of them understood her meaning, Aunt Huang then moved aside.


    Catching steamed buns was no trouble for the pair; one was a hunter, and the other was a former special agent in a past life¡ªboth were dead accurate.


    And so, the buns steadily and assuredly landed in the blanket.


    The craftsmen had attended many beam-raising ceremonies, but this was definitely the first time they saw a family catch all the steamed buns.


    Master Jin also congratulated them with clasped hands, "Congratulations, may the two of you be blessed without bounds, and your progeny be everlasting."


    Tan Zhenghong muttered in his heart that he didn¡¯t want those annoying little brats, but still, he humbly gave thanks on the surface.


    If he were to speak his true thoughts, others might think of him as a demon.


    Master Jin looked outside; the sun had already risen, so he called out to the onlookers, "We¡¯re going to throw the beam now!"


    Throwing the beam was the most lively part of the beam-raising.


    It meant that the host would toss auspicious items like peanuts, candies, and copper coins from atop the big beam for the crowd to catch, and whoever picked them up could keep them.


    The people outside all surged in, rubbing their hands together in eager anticipation.


    When the beam throwing began, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong climbed up on the beam, settled themselves, and started to throw items from the basket all around.


    The crowd below jostled for them, laughter and playful noise filling the air.


    In no time, both baskets were empty, and those with quick hands gathered plenty.


    "All right, it¡¯s time for the big beam to dry in the sunlight. Everyone, follow me out!"


    Master Jin led everyone outside.


    During this time, Sun Erhu delivered breakfast, and the craftsmen took their seats.


    After bustling about all morning, everyone was famished and praised the delicious meal they were now enjoying.


    After breakfast, Master Jin burned a brazier in the new house to symbolize warming the room.


    Watching the fire blaze, it marked the successful conclusion of the beam-raising ceremony.


    The craftsmen were all delighted that the entire process concluded without any accidents, certain that the family would give them a generous red envelope.


    Indeed, they were not disappointed, as the red envelope in their hands felt like an unexpected surprise.

 Chapter 358 - 361: Eight Trigrams_1

    Chapter 358: Chapter 361: Eight Trigrams_1The beam-raising was just about setting up the main central beam. We still needed to install the auxiliary beams and supports, and Master Jin said they had to finish all the roof beams before nightfall.


    So, everyone was putting their backs into it, not daring to slack off.


    The cooks came over in the afternoon, and Aunt Huang had also gathered some folks of similar age to help out. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That way, people could chat while they worked.


    But this made things tough for Qiao Duo¡¯er, because among a group of aunties, she was a complete outlier.


    "Aunt Li whispered, "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, you¡¯ve been married for a few months now, any news?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I have a cold constitution, I need to recuperate for a while."


    She thought this would shut the aunties up, but they immediately started sharing their own fertility tips, like eating fat meat every day and secret recipes for having sons.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath but still couldn¡¯t come up with a response.


    She knew these aunties meant no harm, but their methods were truly... a pain in the ass!


    Aunt Huang scolded, "I think you all just have too much free time. Duo¡¯er is still young, just got married not long ago, so what¡¯s the rush? The doctor said she has a cold constitution, so she should drink medicine to get better. Once she¡¯s healthy, the child will come naturally."


    "Right, you should listen to the doctor, don¡¯t just try any old remedy," another auntie quickly added.


    "What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t the wife from the Wang Family at the head of the village get pregnant after taking some fertility medicine? Look at her, with that pointy belly ¨C definitely a son."


    "I¡¯ve heard about it too, and she¡¯s due any day now. How come there¡¯s no news?"


    "What son? She gave birth to some sort of hermaphroditic freak. But they¡¯re keeping a tight lid on it back at their place. Ai, isn¡¯t that just creating bad karma?"


    The aunties gossiped in hushed voices, pitying the child who passed away barely two hours after birth.


    Grandma Feng said it should have been a girl, but the medicine made her that way.


    The Wang Family wanted to find the charlatan who gave them the medicine, but he had vanished without a trace.


    In any case, she felt those old wives¡¯ tales were just crooked paths and misleading practices that sometimes were downright harmful.


    Aunt Huang spat twice, "Today is a day for celebration, and if any of you speak nonsense again, I won¡¯t ask for your help in the future."


    Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong will definitely have a healthy baby.


    Having a child is also a matter of fate ¨C it¡¯s just not their time yet.


    With Aunt Huang¡¯s words, everyone quickly changed the subject; helping out at someone else¡¯s house was a plum job ¨C respectful families would give red envelopes, and even less generous ones would let you take some meat and vegetables home.


    If they were to lose such an opportunity next time, whom would they turn to?


    Aunt Huang was finally relieved and said to Qiao Duo, "Duo¡¯er, go back and bring some more oil. The cook will need it to fry meatballs soon."


    Qiao Duo nodded and hurried back.


    After all, with Aunt Huang there, nothing could go wrong.


    Once Qiao Duo had left, the aunties started chatting again.


    "I think you treat Fourth Boss¡¯s wife like she¡¯s your own daughter."


    "Whether she¡¯s my daughter or not doesn¡¯t matter; both kids from Zheng Hong¡¯s Family are good. They remember who treats them well, better than those ungrateful sons and daughters!"


    The aunties all nodded in agreement, indeed it was true.


    Fourth Boss¡¯s wife might seem cold, but she was well-mannered and not petty.


    How wonderful it would be to have such a daughter-in-law in their own family, but that was just wishful thinking.


    There¡¯s only one Qiao Duo¡¯er, and she¡¯s the Wife of Tan Zhenghong.

 Chapter 359 - 362 Who Did He Offend?_1

    Chapter 359: Chapter 362 Who Did He Offend?_1When Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived at the Tan Family courtyard, Tan Zhengyuan was standing there with an extremely ugly look on his face.


    "Did you see the girl¡¯s mother?" Tan Zhengyuan asked with furrowed brows.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head and then walked past Tan Zhengyuan towards her own room.


    This must be another one of Er Ya¡¯s masterpieces, the whole family sneaking off to her maternal grandparents and leaving Tan Zhengyuan to fend for himself, how utterly satisfying!


    "Damn it, are they trying to starve me to death on purpose? They don¡¯t even know what hour it is to start cooking!"


    Hearing this sentence, Qiao Duo¡¯er was so angry she laughed. There really were all kinds of people in this world!


    It was out of Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s good nature to care for those two ungrateful wretches, but some people not only took it for granted but also acted as if it was their right.


    Who did he think he was to have such a big face?


    Forget it, she didn¡¯t want to bother with Tan Zhengyuan. After all, one wouldn¡¯t die from hunger for seven or eight days as long as there was water to drink.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the oil jar and was about to rest when Sun Erhu hastily pulled her aside.


    "Sister-in-law, have you offended someone?" he asked urgently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was perplexed: "Who could I have offended? What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Do you remember I told you once that someone grabbed me and asked who you were? I saw her when I was coming back with nails. She was at the entrance of the village just now, do you think she¡¯s here to find you?"


    Sun Erhu was a bit panicked, the memory of being grabbed by that old woman still fresh in his mind.


    He¡¯d even had several nightmares over it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "The Xiao Family is the only one who might hate me, who else could there be? Don¡¯t scare yourself."


    Right, Madam Liang could barely count as one.


    But they definitely weren¡¯t the person Sun Erhu was talking about, because they hadn¡¯t made enemies at that time.


    Sun Erhu was still worried, but since he couldn¡¯t articulate his concerns, the matter had to be set aside for now.


    About a quarter of an hour later, the people had already arrived at the door.


    Immediately, Sun Erhu rushed over and whispered into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s them. Do you recognize them? I¡¯m telling you, that woman is fierce!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt these people looked a bit familiar, and upon taking a closer look, her heart thundered with rage.


    This... these were her biological maternal relatives!


    Her father Qiao Laixi, her mother from Liu¡¯s family, her two younger sisters Qiao Hua¡¯er, Qiao Mei¡¯er, and the only little brother Qiao Jingu.


    She had been in this world for so long and no one had mentioned her maternal family to her; she had even forgotten that she had a maternal family.


    Unexpectedly, they had timed their appearance perfectly, coinciding with the beam-raising event, was this not a joke?


    Sun Erhu had been waiting for a while without getting a response from Qiao Duo¡¯er, so he had to ask again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied in a low voice, "They are my maternal family."


    Scratching the back of his head, Sun Erhu wondered if he had just spoken ill of his sister-in-law¡¯s maternal family, would she beat him up for it?


    Walking towards the door, Qiao Duo¡¯er made Sun Erhu remember that these were Brother Hong¡¯s parents-in-law, and he needed to quickly go inform him!


    If he neglected them, his sister-in-law would definitely not be happy.


    Just in case it turned into a fuss, Brother Hong could also offer some help.


    "Miss, I¡¯m looking for Tan Zhenghong," Liu¡¯s family said with a grin, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat stunned. Could it be that Liu¡¯s family didn¡¯t recognize her?


    Right, hadn¡¯t Sun Erhu said that last time Liu¡¯s family had grabbed him to ask who she was?


    Now, Qiao Duo¡¯er was completely sure. But should she cry or laugh about it?


    Actually, it was normal. If they were people who cared about their daughter, how could they sell her to the Tan Family? S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 360 - 363 Relatives on Mother’s Side_1

    Chapter 360: Chapter 363 Relatives on Mother¡¯s Side_1Qiao Laixi was somewhat impatient, "Miss, is this the new house being built by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family?"


    At that time when she was still a maiden at home, she truly forgot to ask her son-in-law for his address, knowing only that it was the Tan Family from Big Willow Village.


    A few days ago, he heard someone say they were building a house at the Tan Family¡¯s, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask. It was indeed confirmed to be in Big Willow Village.


    And in Big Willow Village, there was only one family with the surname Tan, that must certainly be his son-in-law¡¯s family.


    Then the craftsman said they were nearly at the beam-raising stage, and, after some thought, he figured that it should be the beam-raising today, so he brought his whole family along.


    Since the Tan Family had prospered, as relatives, they could bask in some of that success; even if they hadn¡¯t, they could still enjoy the beam-raising feast.


    "Wife, what¡¯s the matter?"


    Tan Zhenghong was confused by the expression on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face.


    Liu¡¯s family said anxiously, "Are you Tan Zhenghong? Did you marry Qiao Duo¡¯er? No, who is this woman?"


    "I am Tan Zhenghong, this is my wife..."


    Before Tan Zhenghong could finish, he felt a sudden pain in his waist, and his voice stopped abruptly.


    But Qiao Hua¡¯er still picked up on something, could it be that the beautiful woman was Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    No, how could that be?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was clearly the ugliest woman in Dafeng Town, and a fool at that, how could she possibly be more beautiful than her?


    But the man in front of her was Tan Zhenghong, if his wife wasn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er, then who was she?


    Liu¡¯s family also came around, she lunged wanting to hug Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er dodged swiftly, leaving her hugging the air.


    "Duo¡¯er, I am your mother, have you forgotten me? You marry off and don¡¯t even know you have your own maternal family. Do you realize how worried I have been?"


    Liu cried out, yet there wasn¡¯t a trace of genuine sorrow in her voice.


    If she were still her foolish former self, she might have believed Liu¡¯s family. But sadly, she wasn¡¯t, so Liu¡¯s family was destined to return empty-handed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost, "Daughters sold away need not return to their maternal home."


    "Tch, only sold for One or Two Silver, all spent long ago, you¡¯re just useless!"


    The speaker was Qiao Jingu, who was only six years old this year. To be able to say such words, someone must have spoken them in his presence before.


    That someone was definitely a Qiao¡¯s Family Member.


    Because of that sentence, Tan Zhenghong also took a dislike to this family, because whether it was the former Qiao Duo¡¯er or the current Qiao Duo, they had never treated her like family.


    Just like how he felt at the Tan Family¡¯s, why bother to seek approval?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cast a cold glance over the Qiao Family Members, sending chills down their spines.


    Liu¡¯s family tugged gently at Qiao Jingu¡¯s clothes, signaling him to shut up quickly.


    Qiao Duo had changed, not just her face, but even her temper and personality were different. Most important was that she was no longer a fool, and tricking her would no longer be an easy task.


    In the past, no matter if they scolded or beat her, she always smiled. But now, her eyes seemed to hold knives. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mother, I didn¡¯t say anything wrong. Others¡¯ sisters can be sold for Several taels of silver, unlike her who hardly brought in any silver and only took care of her own food and drink. How does she resemble a sister?"


    Qiao Jingu said in an old-fashioned manner, his words not those a normal child would say.


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his fists, barely restraining himself from hitting the boy.


    This, a brother?


    He was nothing but an ungrateful wretch, and one who didn¡¯t even bother to hide it!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "If you¡¯re done talking, then hurry up and leave. You¡¯re not welcome here."


    Speaking with such people was simply a waste of life!


    If these people truly had no shame, then she would treat them just as she would the Tan Family Members, for she felt no affection for this group either.

 Chapter 361 - 364 Scare_1

    Chapter 361: Chapter 364 Scare_1Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about how her body was given life by those two, and she wanted to send her body over to be destroyed.


    But that was just a thought, because she still wanted to grow old with Tan Zhenghong! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu¡¯s eyes shifted, "Your father and I heard that your family was having a beam-raising celebration, so we thought of coming to help. Why don¡¯t you appreciate it?"


    "What about the beam-raising gifts?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a meaningful look at their hands, which were all empty. Did they really have the nerve to say they came for the beam-raising drinks?


    They were clearly here for a free meal and drinks!


    Seeing they all were at a loss for words, Qiao Duo¡¯er clapped her hands, "I have nothing to do with you guys; go back where you came from."


    Qiao Laixi said discontentedly, "Is there any daughter like you? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being struck by lightning? You heartless thing!"


    "Even if you¡¯re not foolish now, you¡¯re still my daughter. Now that you¡¯re living a good life, you want to cast us aside. There¡¯s no way!" Liu no longer pretended.


    This whole family truly consisted of petty people, with their disgraceful thoughts written all over their faces.


    Qiao Jingu was the only son of the Qiao family, but when they grew old, he would have to rely on his three sisters.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips. Now that things had come to this point, there was no point in arguing anymore.


    Catching sight of Aunt Huang going to pour water, she went over and took the basin from her.


    Water splashed at the doorway, with mud splattering all over them.


    Jin Gui was short and ended up being the most embarrassed, with even his hair covered in it.


    The expression on Qiao Laixi¡¯s face was unbearable, "You heartless thing! Even a dog knows to wag its tail; is this how you treat your own parents?"


    "Sister, I know you have grievances against our parents, but wasn¡¯t there no choice back then? Besides, no matter what, they are still your parents," Qiao Hua¡¯er said in a sarcastic tone, almost pointing at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose and accusing her of being unfilial.


    Tan Zhenghong stood in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Why should my wife treat you well when you¡¯re bullying her?"


    Aunt Huang also came to help, "What kind of ruffians are these? You don¡¯t know what selling a daughter means, do you? I heard the County Magistrate is well-read, a Saint¡¯s appointed Advanced Scholar. Perhaps I should take you to him and ask!"


    "What¡¯s it to you what I say to my child?" Liu said angrily.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t back down, "She¡¯s my wife; what¡¯s she got to do with you?"


    "Hey, stop your work everyone; come over and help. Let¡¯s take them to the Government Office!" Aunt Huang yelled.


    Seeing several strong men heading their way, Qiao Laixi felt a pang of fear in his heart.


    Once a daughter was sold, her birth, aging, sickness, and death were no longer her parents¡¯ concern according to the legal code.


    If this were taken to the Government Office, they¡¯d surely be in the wrong.


    The Qiao family¡¯s intentions were clear; they came to take advantage, but Aunt Huang scared them off just like that, and they left in a hurry.


    Aunt Huang said with a sense of guilt, "Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t overthink it; I really didn¡¯t mean that."


    "I know; it¡¯s I who should thank you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slight smile, yet there was a hint of bitterness in her heart for the original host¡¯s sake.


    Seeing his sister-in-law¡¯s attitude, Sun Erhu spoke up brazenly, "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t introduce your sister to me; otherwise, I¡¯d be in trouble!"


    He remembered mentioning this before. He thought his sister-in-law was capable both in the living room and the kitchen, so her sister would definitely be a catch.


    But after just hearing a few words from her sister, he knew that would have been a huge mistake!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Sun Erhu a sidelong glance, "Be careful or Chao Lian will find out."

 Chapter 362 - 365: Speaking from the Heart_1

    Chapter 362: Chapter 365: Speaking from the Heart_1"I... that was before I liked Chao Lian, it doesn¡¯t count!"


    Erhu explained anxiously.


    He hadn¡¯t even met her, so better not let Chao Lian know about this.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others chuckled quietly¡ªhad he not just revealed his true feelings? Had he not just admitted he liked Chao Lian?


    Suddenly, Erhu noticed an additional person in the courtyard¡ªhis beloved Chao Lian.


    Seeing her bashful appearance, he was sure she had overheard everything.


    Ooh, how embarrassing!


    "I... You did that on purpose!" Erhu declared firmly.


    Of all people there, Qiao Duo¡¯er had the best hearing. She must have known Chao Lian was coming and deliberately set a trap for him to fall into. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unfortunately, he had happily jumped right in.


    Face blushing, Chao Lian explained, "I... I came over to see if I could be of help, I¡¯ll go check over there."


    Erhu followed her anxiously, swearing that wanting to marry Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sister had been just a fleeting thought.


    Please don¡¯t be angry, because he didn¡¯t know how to sweet-talk a girl!


    Aunt Huang gave Tan Zhenghong a knowing look, then busied herself with other things.


    "Wife, don¡¯t mind them. You¡¯ll always have me to cherish you," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong, "I¡¯ve got nothing to do with them to begin with, I¡¯m certainly not going to get upset over them."


    You know... with us being an old married couple, there¡¯s no need for such mushy stuff, haha.


    If her original parents were good people, she wouldn¡¯t take over someone else¡¯s body for nothing. She¡¯d give them her all, caring for them in their old age. If they were bad, who were they to her?


    She wasn¡¯t born a saint with a heart of gold for everyone.


    Seeing his wife unaffected, Tan Zhenghong finally relaxed.


    Having sent off the Qiao¡¯s family members, the remaining tasks were dealt with smoothly.


    Everyone was happy with the newly built house.


    The banquet was lavish with delicious dishes, and plenty of alcohol¡ªeveryone could eat and drink their fill.


    Tan Zhenghong, the head of the household, toasted everyone twice, ending up slightly tipsy.


    After dinner, the craftsmen and guests dispersed. The helpers washed the dishes and had their meal with the cook before taking their red envelopes and leaving.


    Only Uncle Huang and his wife and Erhu were left to help tidy up the yard.


    "Let¡¯s call it a day. Everyone should head back early and rest. Thank you all," Tan Zhenghong said gratefully.


    Aunt Huang quickly waved her hand, "What are you talking about, child? We¡¯re more than happy to help you."


    Her son¡¯s family lived in town, and sometimes the two of them felt lonely at home.


    Having a younger person ask for their help was just the thing to alleviate that loneliness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed out the prepared red envelopes to them.


    "I don¡¯t want it. I eat and drink at your place for free every day and still get paid. If I took the red envelope too, others would call me heartless," she protested.


    Aunt Huang also refused, "We don¡¯t want it either. If you¡¯re going to be this formal, I won¡¯t help you with anything in the future!"


    "The old lady is right. I¡¯d be upset too if you continued like this," Uncle Huang added.


    With their firm stance, Qiao Duo¡¯er reluctantly took back the red envelopes.


    She didn¡¯t like owing favors, but here, she seemed to owe more and more.


    But that was normal. In this life, she was no longer living in darkness; she had a lover, neighbors, friends, and elders. It was natural to incur social obligations.


    She needed to learn to share her heart, not just maintain relationships with silver.

 Chapter 363 - 366 Door Slam_1

    Chapter 363: Chapter 366 Door Slam_1Before leaving, Uncle Huang suddenly remembered something.


    He seriously said, "After the beam-raising ceremony, the house cannot be left empty, and since you two are getting married soon, Zheng Hong, you should stay in the new house tonight."


    Tan Zhenghong was completely sober now. Did this mean that he could not live with his wife anymore?


    Before he could speak, Sun Erhu asked, "They¡¯re already married, isn¡¯t it alright for them to sleep together in the new house?"


    "According to traditions, the two parties should not see each other before getting married. Besides, if they live together, what about the bridal procession when picking up the bride?"


    Aunt Huang explained a bit, so the best solution was for Qiao Duo¡¯er to marry from the old house into the new one.


    It seemed to make sense when put that way. The bride is supposed to be carried in a bridal sedan chair. If they were both in the new house, wouldn¡¯t the sedan chair be unnecessary?


    If they were to make up for the wedding ceremony, shouldn¡¯t it be complete?


    But...


    All of Zheng Hong¡¯s good mood had vanished. The thought of being apart from his own wife for so many days made him feel like death would be preferable!


    He suddenly felt that the days when he could look but not touch were actually blissful.


    Because no matter what, his wife was right beside him, visible as soon as he opened his eyes.


    Aunt Huang held back her laughter and said, "It¡¯s just over ten days, it will fly by in a flash."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Alright, I understand."


    Taking into consideration the young couple¡¯s reluctance to part, Aunt Huang pulled Uncle Huang and Sun Erhu to leave first, allowing them to say their goodbyes properly.


    Tan Zhenghong locked the door of the new house and walked back with Qiao Duo¡¯er, shoulder to shoulder.


    The two of them held hands, a repressed atmosphere spreading between them.


    With ten days left until the wedding, and not even a glimpse of each other allowed, wasn¡¯t this intentional torture?


    Tan Zhenghong felt like he had a lot to say, but didn¡¯t know where to start, so they remained silent the whole way.


    Just as they entered the house, Tan Zhenghong pinned Qiao Duo¡¯er against the door.


    "Wife, I want to sleep with you." Tan Zhenghong rested his head on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s shoulder, his voice full of grievance.


    He looked like a child about to cry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully said, "That¡¯s possible, but then we wouldn¡¯t be married." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If we¡¯re not married, they¡¯ll say I bought you as a wife. They don¡¯t know anything; you¡¯re the most precious person in my heart. Even if they offered me a mountain of gold, I wouldn¡¯t trade."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice was muffled. They definitely had to get married, but he couldn¡¯t stand not being able to see his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and chuckled stealthily. How could this jerk be so adorable?


    If this continued, she wouldn¡¯t bear to let him move out.


    "There, there, isn¡¯t it just ten days? Once we¡¯re married, we can always be together," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head. It was fluffy and quite comfortable to touch.


    But Tan Zhenghong stubbornly said, "No, I¡¯m afraid even if I can¡¯t see you for just a moment."


    Because he knew his wife wasn¡¯t originally from this world, he was always afraid that one day she would leave silently, without a trace.


    "That won¡¯t happen; I still want to marry you," Duo¡¯er gave him a reassuring answer. She had been dissatisfied with her situation here, and had even considered returning to her own world.


    But that was all in the past. Now that she knew her feelings for Zheng Hong, she definitely wouldn¡¯t leave.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo close to his chest and kissed her fiercely.


    It seemed only this could comfort his restless heart.


    Just when Qiao Duo thought she might suffocate, Tan Zhenghong finally let go of her reluctantly.


    Lips, tingling...

 Chapter 364 - 367 Do You Need Help Undressing?_1

    Chapter 364: Chapter 367 Do You Need Help Undressing?_1"Wife, I¡¯ll sleep in the guest room first. We can sleep in the master bedroom together once it¡¯s ready."


    After he had the master bedroom renovated exactly as his wife imagined, he would bring his wife home. Then, they could... hehe...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Alright, it¡¯s getting late now. You should hurry up and rest. You have a busy day of laying tiles tomorrow."


    "Wife, do you find me annoying?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes. Where did he get the idea that she found him annoying?


    Tan Zhenghong rubbed against Qiao Duo¡¯er, "And here I am, heartbroken, because you¡¯re rushing me off to bed before I¡¯ve even taken a bath."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was at a loss for words. Just take the bath, can¡¯t we have a proper conversation?


    The next second, Tan Zhenghong said slyly, "Wife, you¡¯re going to have to take a bath with me today."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed hard. Before she could respond, Tan Zhenghong was out to heat the water.


    He moved quickly and soon had the bathwater ready.


    "You¡¯re so dirty, I certainly don¡¯t want to bathe with you," Qiao Duo¡¯er refused without hesitation.


    But Tan Zhenghong dragged her behind the curtain without a word.


    Thinking about being apart for ten days, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s boldness surged, and he asked naughtily, "Wife, will you undress yourself, or shall I help you?"


    His mischievous look suddenly made it hard for Qiao Duo¡¯er to look away. Could this be the ¡¯bad boys are irresistible¡¯ phenomenon?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t speak, and Tan Zhenghong took her silence as consent. He reached out to undo her knot.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, "Stop it, or I¡¯ll knock you out."


    "Hmm... then tomorrow I¡¯ll just say you couldn¡¯t bear to let me go and hid me at home," Tan Zhenghong said with a triumphant smile.


    Just as he expected, his wife was too shy to retort and could only grit her teeth.


    So he took the plunge and stripped her bare. Then he considerately carried Qiao Duo¡¯er into the tub.


    Yet the tub was only so big; fitting another person seemed somewhat difficult.


    Tan Zhenghong sulked briefly, then smugly said, "Wife, it¡¯s okay, I had Master Jin make a super-large tub. When we get to our new home, we can bathe together."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was powerless to protest, his words suggesting as if she was disappointed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was actually quite happy, wasn¡¯t she? Just thinking about sharing a tub for a bath made her feel uneasy all over!


    "Wife, let me help you with your bath."


    As Tan Zhenghong spoke, he picked up the washcloth and began to help Qiao Duo¡¯er scrub.


    Despite Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s protests, Tan Zhenghong ignored them all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very angry and wanted to bite Tan Zhenghong, that bastard, to death.

 Chapter 365 - 368: Can’t Go On Anymore_1

    Chapter 365: Chapter 368: Can¡¯t Go On Anymore_1After taking a bath, they crawled into bed and made a little noise before Tan Zhenghong finally rolled up the bedding and moved to the new room.


    Separation is a very normal thing, yet Tan Zhenghong managed to make it seem particularly tragic.


    Is it that serious? Isn¡¯t it just for ten days?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled softly, then she also went to bed to sleep.


    But she hadn¡¯t anticipated that she¡¯d spectacularly suffer from insomnia, feeling the emptiness beside her and even a slight chill.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er irritably messed with her hair. She was addicted, to a poison named Tan Zhenghong.


    After a while, Li Clan¡¯s scolding could be heard again, making Qiao Duo¡¯er toss and turn even more.


    In another bedroom in the west wing, Li Clan was furious. Having finished the two-month confinement, Tan Zhongzhong was eager to get intimate.


    But no matter how eager he was, it was useless because after much effort, that part was still limp, showing no sign of life.


    "Are you still thinking about that little vixen?"


    Tan Zhongzhong sat beside her, annoyed, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? If it doesn¡¯t work, what can I do?"


    "You still have the nerve to say it doesn¡¯t work. How can it not work? If you weren¡¯t fixated on your brother¡¯s wife, could you be impotent? I think you¡¯re nothing but a beast, shameless!"


    Li Clan straightened her clothes, and then she started cursing like spilling beans. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After about a quarter of an hour, she finally stopped. Tan Zhongzhong was still kneeling by the bed, and he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep for a good hour.


    Qiao Duo thought this was very good. The most terrifying thing was never death, but being slowly cut by a dull knife, being slowly tortured.


    Li Clan had a fiery nature, and having harbored improper thoughts during her confinement, there was already anger in her heart.


    Now that the physiological fire couldn¡¯t be quenched, her temper flared even more, and Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s misery deepened.


    One could foresee Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s future life: being scolded and forced to kneel every couple of days, then possibly developing a psychological shadow over this matter, leading to complete impotence. It was a vicious cycle with no solution.


    Uh, living such a wretched life as a man, really might as well be dead.

 Chapter 366 - 369: Delighted to Comply_1

    Chapter 366: Chapter 369: Delighted to Comply_1Qiao Duo¡¯er tossed and turned before she started to think of where the Star-of-Bethlehem might appear.


    It was all her fault for being so careless in her previous life. Such a useful thing, and she never figured it out. Now she was feeling frustrated, wasn¡¯t she?


    She had no idea if Bai Yifan had any news. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er struggled to fall asleep until late, but she still woke up early the next day.


    Since she was alone, she just cooked a bowl of noodles for herself.


    She also mixed some of last night¡¯s leftovers with the rice and gave it to the two fat dogs to eat. Seeing the little things eat with gusto brightened her mood significantly.


    Preparing for a wedding was complicated. Although there were still ten days left, it was time to start getting ready.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, together with Daniu and Yang Ruoruo, headed to the town. Tan Zhenghong was too busy at the new house, so the matter of wedding clothes and dowry could only be managed by Qiao Duo¡¯er herself.


    Just as they left the village, Qiao Duo¡¯er spotted Tan Zhenghong waiting under the big pagoda tree.


    Tan Zhenghong jumped onto the cart nimbly, his face brimming with radiant smiles.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Daniu; this had to have something to do with her.


    "We¡¯re going to pick out clothes today, how could Brother Zheng Hong know if they fit if he doesn¡¯t go? So I asked my brother to inform Brother Zheng Hong," said Daniu as she touched her nose, feeling like she had been caught after making a mistake.


    She knew that betrothed couples should not meet before the wedding, but to not see each other for a day felt like an eternity. For Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er, that was thirty years!


    Oh, how cruel that would be!


    So she took it upon herself to alleviate their sentence by three years.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er really did miss Tan Zhenghong a little, so she didn¡¯t say anything.


    And besides, Daniu had a bit of a point.


    Ji Xiangju was the largest cloth shop in town, offering everything from fabrics to ready-made clothes. Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to buy her wedding clothes there.


    "Ladies, what are you looking to buy?" The shop assistant hurried over to greet them.


    "We want to buy wedding clothes, and don¡¯t hide the good and expensive ones. Let me tell you, she¡¯s not short on money!" Daniu couldn¡¯t wait to say.


    Her Sister Duo¡¯er was beautiful and had an excellent figure. She was so eager to see her transformed into a bride.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s graceful demeanor, the shop assistant took out the best quality wedding garments in compliance with Daniu¡¯s words.


    The owner, seeing the arrival of important customers, came to serve them personally.


    "These are all made by our top embroidery ladies, and the fabrics are the finest. Please take your time looking," said the owner.


    After looking through all the gowns, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s favorite was a long dress with a waist-cinching design and a peony embroidered at the back of the waist. The front and sleeves were decorated with auspicious clouds, the style was unique and the embroidery was exquisite.


    The corresponding men¡¯s garment was decorated only with auspicious clouds, simple and elegant.


    "This young lady really has a good eye, picking our store¡¯s most expensive wedding clothes at first glance, and they suit your temperament so well!" the owner complimented.


    Daniu asked, "Can we try them on?"


    "Of course, you can. But this set of wedding clothes... costs a total of eight taels of silver," the owner said hesitantly.


    The visitors were dressed in fine cloth clothes, and while they were not poor, they did not appear to be from extremely wealthy families either. It was uncertain if they would be willing to spend so much silver on wedding clothes.


    Moreover, wedding clothes were worn only once. Many families preferred to borrow or rent to get by for the occasion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head. She very much liked them, and the price was within her acceptable range. So why not buy them?


    Having lived twice, she was only getting married this once; naturally, she wanted to choose the best within her means.


    Even though the wedding was just for a day, the memories would last a lifetime.

 Chapter 367 - 370 Fierce Duo’er_1

    Chapter 367: Chapter 370 Fierce Duo¡¯er_1"Please come this way," said the owner.


    The owner personally led the customers to the fitting room, which was quite simple, with cloth curtains separating the spaces.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong each entered a fitting room, and when Qiao Duo¡¯er came out, both Daniu and Yang Ruoruo let out an exclamation.


    At that moment, the only word in their minds was beautiful; she was stunning like a celestial being!


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, if I were a man, I would definitely marry you!"


    Hearing Daniu¡¯s exclamation, Tan Zhenghong also looked their way.


    In that instant, his eyes saw only Qiao Duo¡¯er, and everything else was irrelevant to him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked up to Tan Zhenghong. "Quick, tell me if I look good."


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly nodded. "My wife always looks the prettiest!"


    "Brother Zheng Hong, Ruo Ruo and I are still here," Daniu pointed out, clearing her throat. Actually, they were all close, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal if they saw each other.


    But the issue was the owner standing right there, his face turning red with embarrassment at his age. It was so rare.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "I didn¡¯t say anything untrue."


    Daniu shut up. Duo¡¯er was indeed beautiful, and Tan Zhenghong, dressed in red, looked magnificent. It was clear to anyone with eyes that they were a match made in heaven.


    But could they please not show off their love?


    It made her feel so itchy inside, as if she couldn¡¯t wait to get married herself. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The owner politely said, "If there are places that don¡¯t fit, the Embroidery Lady can alter it. It will only take about three to five days, which shouldn¡¯t delay the wedding of the two."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s outfit fit perfectly, while Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist was a bit loose. However, any alterations might affect the peony pattern on the back.


    The owner was also in a difficult position, worrying that it might not be easy to alter.


    Concerned, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Owner, is there any other solution?"


    His wife looked like a flower fairy in that outfit; if they couldn¡¯t buy it, she would be very disappointed.


    "Seeing that you both really like it, I¡¯ll go ask the Embroidery Lady how long it would take to make a new one."


    Before long, the owner had the answer and happily announced, "Our Embroidery Lady happens to be working on peony patterns, and we can have a finished garment in seven days. If time allows, we can tailor it specifically for you."


    With nine days until the wedding, there was enough time, so Tan Zhenghong took charge and agreed.


    After paying a deposit of Two Taels of Silver, the Embroidery Lady took their measurements.


    Ji Xiangju¡¯s service was excellent; once the wedding outfit was ready, the Embroidery Lady would personally deliver it, making it easier to handle any last-minute alterations.


    After buying the wedding outfit, Daniu and Yang Ruoruo decided not to follow Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er any longer, heading to Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop instead.


    Seeing the two of them so affectionate, they were beyond envious and didn¡¯t want to torture themselves anymore.


    Of course, they also wanted to give the couple some space.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er walked hand in hand to the jewelry shop.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to buy a set of silver jewelry as a token, since she hardly wore gold and silver jewelry and importantly, she didn¡¯t like them.


    But Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t have it, thinking Qiao Duo¡¯er was hesitant to spend the money, so he pulled her aside.


    He whispered in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, "Wife, I hunted a black bear last night that I can sell for more than two hundred taels of silver. I¡¯ll give it all to you for your dowry, buy whatever you like."


    However, the black bear was too conspicuous, so he planned to bring it to town with Sun Erhu during the less crowded noontime.


    "When did you go?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked fiercely.


    When Tan Zhenghong left last night, he hadn¡¯t mentioned it, so he must have gone up the mountain to hunt the bear at

 Chapter 368 - 371: Undress Here?_1

    Chapter 368: Chapter 371: Undress Here?_1Hunting a bear might take one or two hours, but venturing deep into the mountains and coming back out certainly meant no sleep for the night.


    And to dare to catch a bear in the dead of night, was he courting death?


    Tan Zhenghong scratched his head: "I... couldn¡¯t sleep, so I went up the mountain, and luckily I actually encountered a bear, so I brought it back."


    "If there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll beat you to death," Qiao Duo¡¯er threatened with her palm outstretched.


    "This lifetime I¡¯ll only get married once; there definitely won¡¯t be a next time."


    Tan Zhenghong spoke naively, but in fact, he had been marking the spot in the deep mountains for several days.


    After following the trail for a few days, he finally found the bear¡¯s lair and quietly raided it last night.


    With this bear, his wife could definitely have a grand wedding, and he wanted everyone to know Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s place in his heart.


    But these were things he would never tell Qiao Duo¡¯er, as he didn¡¯t want her to worry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slapped Tan Zhenghong on the back: "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? What use would all that gold and silver jewelry be to me if something happened to you?"


    His brow furrowed slightly, a tiny movement, yet it didn¡¯t escape Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear: "Are you injured?"


    After Tan Zhenghong hemmed and hawed and couldn¡¯t give a straight answer, Qiao Duo¡¯er knew he was almost certainly injured.


    The bastard, how dare he get injured!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately dragged Tan Zhenghong to Ren Xin Hall.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to borrow the inner hall, and the doctor readily agreed.


    "Take it off!" Qiao Duo¡¯er commanded succinctly and forcefully.


    Tan Zhenghong weakly said: "Wife, can¡¯t we just go home and take a look? It¡¯s really embarrassing to do this in someone else¡¯s shop, isn¡¯t it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at him, and Tan Zhenghong obediently reached for his waistband.


    The top certainly couldn¡¯t be removed; that only left the pants.


    "Are you still playing dumb? If you treat me like a fool again, don¡¯t blame me for not being nice!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips and obediently began to undo his top.


    He had already treated the wound himself, but since it was on his back, he hadn¡¯t been able to do it easily, so his bandaging was a mess.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a sourness in her nose but tried to remain strong as she said: "Still playing tricks with me when you¡¯re like this!"


    "It¡¯s alright, a kiss from you and it won¡¯t hurt anymore."


    Tan Zhenghong tugged at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, his face full of pleading.


    It¡¯s quite common to get hurt when bear hunting, and in a few days, it would be all healed up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no patience for nonsense and quickly called a shop assistant, instructing him to bring things to redress Tan Zhenghong¡¯s wound.


    When the old bandages were removed, Qiao Duo¡¯er clearly saw the wound.


    The entire back was scratched numerous times, but fortunately, the wounds weren¡¯t very deep. Through these marks, Qiao Duo¡¯er could fully imagine the scene of the fight.


    The shop assistant dealt with it efficiently and gave some advice.


    "This golden sore medicine recipe was given by Doctor Bai; it¡¯s very effective. The wound should scab over in a few days. During this time, absolutely avoid contact with water, make sure to change the dressing on time, and refrain from alcohol and spices, as well as fatty foods." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded: "Thanks, brother."


    "Don¡¯t mention it. You rest up, I¡¯ll bring the golden sore medicine over in a while."


    After the shop assistant left, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes were a little red. She was moved that Tan Zhenghong would do this.


    But more than that was fear, fear of losing Tan Zhenghong.


    From the moment she crossed over to the present, about to get married, Tan Zhenghong had seeped into her life bit by bit, becoming a part of her existence.


    If one were to use a slightly melodramatic phrase, losing him would make even her soul incomplete.

 Chapter 369 - 372 Spoil Him Once_1

    Chapter 369: Chapter 372 Spoil Him Once_1"I¡¯m fine, aren¡¯t I? Those were just superficial wounds. It only hurt at the time; now I don¡¯t feel a thing," Tan Zhenghong reassured his wife.


    He racked his brain but hadn¡¯t anticipated Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reaction.


    In the past, whenever he caught prey, his parents were very happy; no one cared whether he got hurt.


    No, that¡¯s wrong; his wife is not the same kind of person as them, and she shouldn¡¯t be compared to them.


    From now on, he would have to treat her even better!


    "You swear you will never do anything this dangerous again," Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard. His wife had never spoken to him like this before; it seemed she was really angry this time.


    "Okay, it¡¯s all yours. I swear I will never take risks again. Whatever I do, I will report to my wife first. If the wife agrees, then I¡¯ll do it; if not, I absolutely won¡¯t," he vowed.


    Only after Tan Zhenghong¡¯s promise did Qiao Duo¡¯er feel completely satisfied and then she stood up to leave.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly followed her, "Wife, look, I¡¯ve sworn already, please forgive me!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around and called him a fool before continuing to walk. She wasn¡¯t really angry at all.


    Really, no one had ever been so good to her in both her past and present lives.


    But it would be embarrassing to cry, so she needed to find a different place to distract herself.


    She was just that tsundere, not accepting defeat, ready for battle!


    Tan Zhenghong touched his head and then followed with a smile.


    Considering Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t slept all night and had an injury on his back, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t feel like shopping anymore.


    After collecting some medicine from Ren Xin Hall and paying for it, they went home.


    The new house was still having tiles laid, and it would definitely be too noisy to sleep, so Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to take Tan Zhenghong back to their old house.


    Lying in the familiar bed and smelling the familiar scent, Tan Zhenghong fell into a deep sleep very quickly.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the rabbit fur and began to sew it together, piece by piece.


    Tomorrow, Wind Liyang was going to deliver the furniture, and she wanted to finish the couch as soon as possible.


    When Tan Zhenghong woke up, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already sewn together a large piece of rabbit fur, but it was still far from enough to cover the entire couch.


    "Wife, what hour is it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head; she was so focused on working with the fur that she had lost track of time.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help being a little spoiled, "Wife, come and help me out of bed, please; I have no strength left from sleeping."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down the rabbit fur and rubbed her slightly sore shoulders before walking over to the bed.


    She knew that Tan Zhenghong was doing it on purpose, but given the fact that he was injured, she decided to indulge him just this once.


    Tan Zhenghong shamelessly hugged his wife, clinging like a koala.


    After receiving a damp wake-up kiss, Tan Zhenghong briskly got out of bed.


    Seeing that the sun was already around two or three in the afternoon, they prepared some simple food to eat.


    While they were eating, Aunt Huang showed up.


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was still there, she felt a bit helpless. Hadn¡¯t they agreed that they shouldn¡¯t meet before the wedding?


    Why couldn¡¯t they follow instructions?


    "I heard from the old folks in the village that meeting before the wedding can affect one¡¯s luck. You can¡¯t be reckless like this again, especially when there are only a few days left until the wedding," Aunt Huang earnestly advised.


    She had been young once too and knew the pain of longing, but traditions had to be respected, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong exchanged a smile; they didn¡¯t believe in these things. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Aunt Huang meant well, so they both obediently agreed at the time. However, the next morning, the two of them went to town again, this time without bringing anyone else.


    Yesterday, while shopping, Qiao Duo¡¯er realized something; she still hadn¡¯t purchased her dowry.

 Chapter 370 - 373 Setting up the Dowry_1

    Chapter 370: Chapter 373 Setting up the Dowry_1Yesterday, Erhu had already sold the black bear, getting a total of two hundred and sixty taels of silver.


    Tan Zhenghong managed to hunt a black bear, and Sun Erhu exerted a lot of effort, both going together at night, so sixty taels were divided between them.


    The remaining two hundred taels were all handed over to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Don¡¯t you need money for renovating your new home? Don¡¯t you have to pay silver when Wind Liyang sends the furniture over?"


    "No worries, I¡¯ll ask you for silver when the time to spend comes." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That way, he could see his wife again, and he even had a legitimate reason for it.


    Ah, who made these rules?


    He had to sneak around to see his own wife, which was really annoying!


    Nevertheless, Qiao Duo¡¯er still gave him some silver. If Tan Zhenghong truly loved her, no amount of silver would be too much to spend on her; if not, no matter how frugal she was, she couldn¡¯t keep his heart.


    Upon arriving at the jewelry store, Tan Zhenghong personally selected jewelry for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but tug at his clothes. One set of gold jewelry, two sets of silver jewelry, plus two pairs of clove earrings, two hairpins¡ªis it necessary to buy so much?


    Especially the gold jewelry, which barely ever gets used, mostly sleeping in the jewelry box most of the time.


    "I actually think it¡¯s not enough," Tan Zhenghong said indifferently.


    He knew his wife didn¡¯t fancy these flashy things, but having them displayed at home was also a matter of prestige.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only let Tan Zhenghong have his way. Tan Zhenghong knew her tastes well, choosing jewelry that was simple and generous, which suited her perfectly.


    Coming out of the jewelry store, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s purse had significantly deflated. The two hundred taels of silver bills had not even warmed up before they were almost halved.


    That hurts, doesn¡¯t it?


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er also came to terms with it; isn¡¯t the point of getting married to be happy?


    Both of them had the ability to earn it back eventually, so how much silver could they not make up for?


    Besides the gold and silver jewelry, Tan Zhenghong also planned to include the four acres of paddy fields and furniture he had just purchased into the dowry, plus two sets of bedding, two sets of clothes for each season, door curtains, rouge and powder, and the Four Treasures of the Study.


    After buying all these, there was still one hundred taels of silver bills left, which was the money hidden away for the bottom of the chest.


    Such a dowry was definitely one of the best in the village, and also a testament to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s deep affection.


    With the wedding dress and dowry arranged, Qiao Duo¡¯er once again devoted herself to searching for the Star-of-Bethlehem.


    Anyway, in the following days, the new house would begin renovations, and Tan Zhenghong needed to supervise personally; even if he sneaked over, it wouldn¡¯t be until night.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er packed up and headed into the mountains, where not long after, she found the Orchid Grass under a tree.


    This was an ingredient for the golden sore medicine, and she had been looking for it for a long time, but she was not at all happy.


    Because she knew that fortune was not given to one person in entirety by fate¡ªif she found one, would that mean she couldn¡¯t find the other?


    If that were the case, she would rather trade the Orchid Grass for the Star-of-Bethlehem.


    She could spend a lifetime slowly searching for Orchid Grass, but the Star-of-Bethlehem had to be found before the wedding or else it would feel incomplete.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath¡ªperhaps she was the darling of the heavens and would find both.


    She packed up the Orchid Grass and continued to walk deeper into the mountains.


    By what felt like noon, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already found quite a few herbs and had picked half a basket of soap pods.


    None of these were what Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted¡ªwhere could the Star-of-Bethlehem be?


    But she still had to eat, and just as she was about to head down the mountain, it suddenly began to rain.


    Fortunately, the cave was not far away; she picked a large leaf to use as a makeshift umbrella and then quickly ran into the cave.


    As she entered, she just caught an anxious voice.

 Chapter 371 - 374 Playing with Bai Yifan_1

    Chapter 371: Chapter 374 Playing with Bai Yifan_1"Young Master, what¡¯s wrong with you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er followed the sound and saw the person leaning against the wall was actually Bai Yifan.


    He was still holding food in his hand, his lips were purple and cyan, which clearly indicated that he had been poisoned.


    Without hesitation, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "How long ago did you eat it?"


    The attendant quickly replied, "He just ate it, and he started feeling bad after only a little!"


    "Do you have a Silver Needle? Right, first turn him over and use your hand to induce vomiting by sticking it down his throat," Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly.


    The attendant had long since lost his composure, but upon hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er speak, he immediately did as instructed. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Silver Needles are in my backpack, please Madam, take one for me. I¡¯ll make our Young Master throw up first."


    While speaking, he gritted his teeth and thrust his hand into Bai Yifan¡¯s mouth, hoping his master would be safe, and also that he wouldn¡¯t be killed by him if he survived.


    As long as his master could wake up, he was willing to die...


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to successfully make Bai Yifan vomit.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er roughly cut open his clothes and accurately inserted Silver Needles into various acupoints.


    Since there was nothing to sterilize the dagger with, she bit down hard on Bai Yifan¡¯s hand, and soon, black blood dripped from the fingertips.


    This acupuncture method was learnt from an ancient book; it could quickly remove toxins and was the same method she had used last time to save Little Wang Clan.


    It should also be able to save Bai Yifan¡¯s life.


    "Right, the Young Master has Condensing Frost Pill with him, which can detoxify."


    The attendant took out a medicine bottle and poured all its contents into Bai Yifan¡¯s mouth.


    "Is it okay to feed him that much?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked worriedly at Bai Yifan, fearing that her own medicine would kill him.


    The attendant said anxiously, "I... I don¡¯t know, should I make him vomit again?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, realizing that the poison that affected Bai Yifan must be extraordinary; perhaps it was appropriate to consume more of the antidote.


    After their turmoil, the elegant Bai Yifan was gone, leaving only a pitiful figure of Bai Yifan.


    His clothes were forcibly torn, his face was dirty with dust and grass, his hair disheveled; he looked more wretched than a refugee.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought to herself that Bai Yifan had been completely played with.


    "Move him over there, catch some rainwater to clean him up," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then went to a clean area, worried she might throw up herself.


    The attendant immediately nodded, also worried that upon waking, his master couldn¡¯t accept his disheveled appearance and might choose death again, which would make their efforts in vain.


    A little dirt could be wiped off, but the clothes ruined by Qiao Duo¡¯er could only be left as they were.


    Seeing the embarrassed look on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, the attendant tactfully said, "When my master wakes up, you can say it was me who did it."


    The attendant spread some dry grass on the ground for Bai Yifan to lie on, then lit a fire, and sat beside Qiao Duo¡¯er to warm themselves by the fire.


    With concern, the attendant asked, "Madam, is my master¡¯s poison cured?"


    "I don¡¯t know. He shouldn¡¯t die anyway. The rest we can discuss after he wakes up."


    Since Bai Yifan came from Medicine King Valley, as long as he woke up, figuring out how to detoxify shouldn¡¯t be a problem for him, or he could seek help from his martial brothers.


    "Madam, my name is Bai Qing. I will keep today¡¯s kindness in my heart," Bai Qing suddenly knelt on the ground.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "Bai Yifan is like a brother to me, isn¡¯t it natural that I should save him? Get up quickly, otherwise, I¡¯ll be angry."


    Bai Qing sat back down, but his admiration for Qiao Duo¡¯er was like an endless flowing river.


    Just now, he was scared out of his wits, yet Qiao Duo¡¯er, a mere woman, was unflustered in the face of danger.


    If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Duo¡¯er, his Young Master surely would have been dead.

 Chapter 372 - 375 Blood Incident_1

    Chapter 372: Chapter 375 Blood Incident_1Bai Qing started muttering again about the person who poisoned his Young Master, "My Young Master is the kindest and most generous of men, he has saved so many lives. I don¡¯t know which despicable miscreant wanted to harm my Young Master, but when I find him, I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s dead!"


    "If the Medicine King knew that his disciple was almost poisoned to death, he would surely be fuming with rage."


    Bai Qing strongly agreed, as the Medicine King was known for his fiery temper and would be hopping mad.


    The two chatted idly, not knowing when the rain would stop, nor when Bai Yifan would wake up.


    Then, something melodramatic happened.


    It all started when Bai Yifan coughed twice, and Qiao Duo¡¯er along with Bai Qing immediately went over to check on him.


    Bai Yifan seemed to regain a bit of consciousness and suddenly grabbed onto Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong, who was dressed in a straw raincoat, just happened to arrive at the mouth of the cave and from that angle, he clearly saw Bai Yifan holding Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    Everything was just perfect, as if it had been rehearsed in advance!


    It took Qiao Duo¡¯er quite some effort to shake off Bai Yifan¡¯s hand, and she quickly explained, "That... Don¡¯t misunderstand."


    But Bai Yifan murmured, "Duo¡¯er, Duo¡¯er..."


    What was this situation? Was this really the time to cause more trouble?


    Could it be... Bai Yifan liked her? That was impossible, wasn¡¯t it? The Eldest Young Master of the Bai Family had achieved so much at a young age, how could he be interested in her? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Qing quickly covered his Young Master¡¯s mouth, as he too was unwilling to believe that his Young Master was interested in Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Hmm... It must have been the poison from earlier that had messed up his Young Master¡¯s mind!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was indeed smart and beautiful, but she was already someone else¡¯s wife, and just for that reason alone, his Young Master should not be entertaining any thoughts about her.


    Tan Zhenghong saw Qiao Duo¡¯er and immediately rushed in, anxiously asking, "How are you? Did you get wet?"


    "I¡¯m fine, that... just now... it was an accident."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly explained, as misunderstandings were what she feared the most.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I know, and I believe you."


    He could feel that his wife loved him, and it was Bai Yifan who had other ideas, but they were futile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, so was this matter simply explained away?


    "How is Young Master Bai? Should we hurry down the mountain?" Tan Zhenghong said, turning to look at Bai Yifan.


    Bai Qing touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed as he said, "The poison has been temporarily suppressed; we¡¯ll go down the mountain once the rain stops."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and sat down beside the fire with Qiao Duo¡¯er, pulling out a steamed bun still warm from his body heat. It was already late, and his wife must be starving after being trapped on the mountain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er happily took the steamed bun and started eating it in large bites.


    Tan Zhenghong knew her best.


    After she finished eating, Tan Zhenghong scolding her with a stern face, "You are not allowed to sneak up the mountain by yourself in the future."


    When he found out she was not home, he was nearly worried to death.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stuck out her tongue, then leaned on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, "Don¡¯t talk, I¡¯m sleepy, I¡¯m going to sleep for a bit."


    She meant to fake sleep to avoid Tan Zhenghong¡¯s nagging, but after two nights of restless sleep, she truly fell asleep this time.


    The two of them snuggled up together while Bai Qing couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat upset.


    While they seemed to be as sweet as honey, it was clear that his Young Master was out of the running.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for his Young Master, who had always been chaste and free from desires. Finally, he had encountered someone he liked, but she already belonged to someone else.


    He could only hope that his Young Master would come to terms with it and not get hung up on one person.

 Chapter 373 - 376 Longing Torments the Soul_1

    Chapter 373: Chapter 376 Longing Torments the Soul_1The rain finally stopped after a while, and Tan Zhenghong woke Qiao Duo¡¯er up; the four of them descended the mountain together. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong even harnessed the ox-cart to rush them to town, his reasoning was simple: human life was of vital importance, and since Bai Yifan had helped them, they ought to repay the kindness like a spring that flows back.


    But no matter how great the favor was, they shouldn¡¯t even think about laying a hand on his future wife.


    Because she had gotten wet in the rain, Qiao Duo¡¯er developed a slight fever again.


    Uneasy, Tan Zhenghong asked Aunt Huang to come over to take care of her.


    Aunt Huang believed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s illness was due to the couple meeting before their wedding, so she was very strict about this matter.


    After taking medicine for three days, Qiao Duo¡¯er was feeling much better.


    She wanted to go up the mountain to look for Star-of-Bethlehem, but Tan Zhenghong disagreed, and Aunt Huang also wouldn¡¯t let her go out.


    Aside from sleeping and sewing rabbit fur, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt mushrooms were about to grow on her head.


    She had no idea what Tan Zhenghong was up to; she was still sick, and he didn¡¯t even come by, which was really terrible!


    Sigh, she must be going crazy; all she did was boredly think of Tan Zhenghong every day.


    Perhaps... maybe lovesickness is also a kind of tormenting illness, not painful or itchy, yet it keeps one restless day and night.


    There were only four days left until her wedding. Big Sister and Yang Ruoruo came early in the morning because today Qiao Duo¡¯er would finish working on the sofa.


    One was strong and the other had fine needlework skills; they would definitely be a great help.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered the sofa with rabbit fur and fixed the edges with iron nails.


    Then she filled it with cotton and sewed up the opening where the cotton was inserted, thus completing the great task.


    The rabbit fur was smooth and soft, and the cotton inside was fluffy; sitting on it would definitely be comfortable.


    But Big Sister and Yang Ruoruo were very circumspect since this was part of the dowry; before it was delivered to the new home, no one could sit on it and could only touch it with their hands.


    Now that the sofa had been completed, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt even less motivated.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay listlessly on the table, unable to muster any energy for anything.


    Big Sister couldn¡¯t help but tease, "Sister Duo¡¯er, in just a few days you¡¯ll be marrying Brother Zheng Hong, and then you¡¯ll be all lovey-dovey every day, maybe not even needing to leave the house for days!"


    "I think you want to get married too!" Qiao Duo¡¯er forcefully perked up and tapped Big Sister on the forehead.


    No wonder members of the Feng Clan looked worried all the time; this girl really shouldn¡¯t have been born in ancient times.


    Yang Ruoruo said with a smile, "Let¡¯s talk about business matters."


    "Ruo Ruo is reliable."


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er was praising Yang Ruoruo, she changed the subject before the words were finished.


    "If you¡¯re married and we don¡¯t see you for a few days, Big Sister and I, both half-baked, will be at a loss."


    "Ruo Ruo, do you think we should bring meals over when the time comes?" Big Sister asked with a mischievous smile.


    "I¡¯m not talking to you guys anymore," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with feigned anger.


    Big Sister said seriously, "Don¡¯t be mad, let¡¯s talk about something serious. I think the clients we have now basically have no purchasing power, so how about we open a shop specifically to sell skincare products?"


    Although the mask powder is a consumable, a box can be used sparingly for several months.


    Now that everyone who wanted to buy it had made their purchase and hadn¡¯t run out yet, sales of the mask powder had nearly stalled these past few days.


    At the same time, many people who heard from others that the mask powder worked wonders were eager to buy but didn¡¯t know how to go about it.


    Because she and Yang Ruoruo had limited energy and weren¡¯t in town all the time, it was difficult to meet everyone¡¯s needs.


    But if they had a shop and made the brand well-known, then more people would be able to buy the mask powder.

 Chapter 374 - 377 Star-of-Bethlehem?_1

    Chapter 374: Chapter 377 Star-of-Bethlehem?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I have the same intention, but I¡¯m afraid that given enough time, someone might impersonate us. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m tied down right now."


    "That attitude is good enough, you just focus on being a bride, and I can get my cousin to keep an eye on the shop space for us, and let you know when he finds something suitable."


    Daniu patted her chest, signaling she¡¯s got this matter under control.


    Moreover, setting up a shop isn¡¯t something that can be done in a day or two, it won¡¯t be too late to get started after the wedding.


    However, finding the right shopfront is difficult, so it¡¯s worth starting to look early, in case it takes up to half a year to find the right one.


    "Then please remember to thank your cousin for me."


    After discussing the important matters, Daniu went out to get a pear to wash, proudly grown at Old Lady Huang¡¯s House, both crisp and sweet, one could never have enough.


    As she stepped out the door, she turned and exclaimed, "Sister Duo¡¯er, you really have made Brother Hong come!"


    The next second, she truly wanted to sew her own mouth shut.


    Because with that shout, she alarmed Aunt Huang, who at that moment rushed to the doorway to intercept.


    "Zheng Hong, have you forgotten my words again?"


    "Aunt Huang, Brother Hong and his wife actually got married a long time ago, this time it¡¯s just to host a ceremony. Just turn a blind eye, please?" Daniu urged.


    Aunt Huang kept shaking her head, "No, no, these are the rules!"


    "Then do you have the heart to see Sister Duo¡¯er fall ill from longing? Look, she¡¯s already lost weight in just a few days," Daniu said, coquettishly clinging to Aunt Huang¡¯s arm. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yang Ruoruo also pleaded, "Auntie, please be kind."


    "Well... shall we go outside then?" Aunt Huang still hesitated, after all, she wasn¡¯t like Daniu or Yang Ruoruo¡ªmere children.


    Daniu and Ruoruo nodded their heads, immediately pulling Aunt Huang outside.


    Aunt Huang felt helpless; she could only say that this couple was too love-struck to bear being apart for even a few days.


    Inside the room, Qiao Duo¡¯er said with her head down, "You... why have you come?"


    "Missing you deeply, so I came over," said Tan Zhenghong naively. "I was worried Aunt Huang wouldn¡¯t let it happen, but I didn¡¯t expect I¡¯d really get to see you."


    It had only been a few days, and he was already so distracted, wishing he could skip straight to their wedding day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with disdain, "You¡¯re really shameless."


    "What¡¯s there to be ashamed of in missing my own wife? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m missing someone else¡¯s wife. Here, take this!"


    Tan Zhenghong pulled out a bunch of fresh flowers from behind, which he had picked along the way.


    He thought his wife would be overjoyed, but to his surprise, he caught a twitch on the corner of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye. Maybe she didn¡¯t like them?


    Tan Zhenghong smiled and said, "Wife, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t like them. Just tell me what kind you prefer, and I¡¯ll go pick them for you."


    "Where did you pick these from?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked out the least conspicuous flower from the bunch.


    Amidst the cluster of flowers, this single blossom caught Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye, as it was the very Star-of-Bethlehem she had been searching for so long!


    "Just by the roadside, there was a lot of them, why do you ask?" Tan Zhenghong asked nervously.


    Could it be that this type of flower was poisonous, and his wife had a bad premonition?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly stated, "This flower is called Star-of-Bethlehem."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, then after three seconds, he excitedly said, "Wife, what are you saying? That¡¯s impossible, right? They are just by the roadside, clusters upon clusters of them!"


    To think they had exerted so much effort for Star-of-Bethlehem, and he was now being told that this was it?


    But how could this possibly be Star-of-Bethlehem?


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t they have found it much earlier? Why would they have had to wait until now!

 Chapter 375 - 378: Want Ten Times_1

    Chapter 375: Chapter 378: Want Ten Times_1Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her nose, "Well... I only recognize the flowering Star-of-Bethlehem."


    These days should be the blooming season for Star-of-Bethlehem, and seeing the flowers she was able to identify them. Unfortunately, she had been kept at home all this time.


    The next second, Tan Zhenghong scooped up Qiao Duo¡¯er in a princess-style carry and even spun around twice on the spot.


    He exclaimed excitedly, "Haha, wifey, we¡¯ve found the Star-of-Bethlehem!"


    After he had calmed down, he caught Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s red lips and gently bit them.


    "Ah, what are you doing?"


    Tan Zhenghong feigned anger as he spoke, "Of course I¡¯m punishing you. Do you know how much I missed you? Every night I would fret and fume, and yet this thing was just growing by the road. How could I not be angry?"


    "Let go of me right now, if I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have told you the truth!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had her arms tightly wound around Tan Zhenghong¡¯s neck, afraid that in his excitement he might let her fall.


    If she got seriously hurt from a fall, their wedding night would have to be indefinitely postponed!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms tightened even more, "If you dare to lie to me, I... I¡¯ll just carry you out like this!"


    "Jerk!"


    "You¡¯re right, I am a jerk!"


    After messing around for a while, the two went off to look at the Star-of-Bethlehem again.


    "Wifey, is this flower enough?" Tan Zhenghong looked at the small flower the size of a fingernail cap, still harboring a tiny bit of doubt in his heart.


    "Star-of-Bethlehem is used medicinally for its rhizomes," Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly.


    The rhizomes could be harvested in any season, meaning they had waited in vain for so long, no wonder Tan Zhenghong was going crazy.


    Tan Zhenghong laughed sheepishly, "Then I¡¯ll go dig it up right now. Wifey, you¡¯ll have to make it up to me when we get married, I want three... no, I want ten times."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. Was Tan Zhenghong sure he could manage ten times in one night? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anyway, she felt certain that Tan Zhenghong would have the will but not the power.


    She remembered someone had a wound on his back, probably making even once difficult.


    Tan Zhenghong leaned in close to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and blew a breath against her sensitive ear, "You¡¯ll find out if it¡¯s possible when the time comes."


    He just hoped that his wifey wouldn¡¯t hit him, letting him fully indulge in the act of love.


    "Impertinent child!" Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted affectionately.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled softly, "Wifey, you rest well, I¡¯m off."


    What¡¯s he off to do?


    Naturally, to dig up the rhizomes of Star-of-Bethlehem. Once he had that herb, he could concoct a birth control remedy.


    With the birth control remedy, they could fully indulge on their wedding night!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er left behind and pouting, suspected that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s love was not for her, but for Star-of-Bethlehem.


    Nevertheless, she found an empty bottle to put the flowers in. Perhaps because the room felt more colorful, her mood brightened up as well.


    She had imagined countless scenarios of finding Star-of-Bethlehem¡ªby the riverside, on the mountains, in some secluded corner¡ªbut she never expected Tan Zhenghong to personally deliver it to her!


    If she didn¡¯t know Tan Zhenghong so well, she would suspect that he did it deliberately.


    How did he happen to come across the Star-of-Bethlehem just like that?


    But... finding it is great anyway!


    The big girl had been outside for a while before she came back, peeking her head in first.


    There¡¯s no trace of Tan Zhenghong inside the room, only Qiao Duo¡¯er grinning foolishly with her face all aglow.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, what did Brother Zheng Hong do to you just now? Your face is redder than a bride¡¯s!" the big girl said with a giggle.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "Child, don¡¯t stick your nose in adults¡¯ matters, or you might end up not getting married."

 Chapter 376 - 379 Enough!_1

    Chapter 376: Chapter 379 Enough!_1"Then I¡¯ll squat at your house every day so that whatever you do, you¡¯ll be tied hand and foot, and let¡¯s see who gets more anxious then!"


    The girl mischievously said, fearing that by then Brother Zheng Hong would be getting irritable and stare daggers daily.


    After that, they would scour the world to find her a suitable suitor, eagerly hoping to marry her off.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er imagined the scene and the smile on her face grew even wider.


    If that really happened, Tan Zhenghong would probably go crazy.


    After a while, Ji Xiangju¡¯s Embroidery Lady Shu Xiu brought over the bridal attire, which had been made anew to fit Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s measurements.


    The new bridal attire fit perfectly, and her waist seemed even slimmer once the dress was tightened.


    Shu Xiu looked over her work and was very satisfied, but she still politely asked, "Is there anything that doesn¡¯t fit well?"


    "It fits very well, thank you."


    "That¡¯s good to hear," Shu Xiu said with a smile, knowing she had been paid and ought to take the matter seriously.


    The girl brought out some pastries and candies, Shu Xiu tried a bit of each and then took her leave.


    After storing away the wedding dress, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to go out for a walk. Otherwise, sitting at home and giggling all day, she was worried she might turn into a big fool.


    As she wandered, she found herself at the new house, where Tan Zhenghong happened to be at the entrance, digging up Star-of-Bethlehem. The bamboo basket beside him was already full, yet he showed no sign of stopping.


    There were a total of thirteen types of herbs, enough to brew a bowl of medicine, not for him to take a bath with.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him, "You¡¯ve got plenty already."


    "I¡¯m clearing this space to plant some fruit trees," Tan Zhenghong explained.


    Star-of-Bethlehem was everywhere in Big Willow Village, and he could dig up as much as he wanted; he certainly wouldn¡¯t be silly enough to hoard so much of it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er casually selected a few stems to take back with her, and by evening, a packet of the herb was delivered to Tan Zhenghong.


    Sun Erhu asked with concern, "Brother Hong, are you feeling unwell? Should I call Uncle Wu to have a look at you? You definitely can¡¯t be sick when..."


    Realizing he misspoke, Sun Erhu immediately spat twice, surely Brother Hong¡¯s wedding would go smoothly!


    "I¡¯m fine, do I look unwell?" Tan Zhenghong quickly denied.


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was full of vitality, Sun Erhu was reassured.


    Still, he remained curious about the purpose of the herbs, since there was no illness. Why would his sister-in-law want him to give this to Brother Hong?


    Tan Zhenghong made up a random excuse, "Maybe it¡¯s for making face mask powder, I¡¯m not too sure."


    "That¡¯s possible, my sister-in-law does like fiddling with these things."


    With Sun Erhu¡¯s carefree nature, he didn¡¯t suspect anything and handed the herbs to Tan Zhenghong before heading home.


    Tan Zhenghong, however, looked at the packet of herbs and chuckled softly, thinking of it as a guarantee for a blissful married life. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the day before the wedding.


    According to custom, this was the day for the bride to add to her dowry.


    Adding to the dowry, also called displaying the dowry, involved the bride-to-be placing her dowry out in the courtyard, and everyone who saw Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s dowry marveled.


    There were six big red trunks, land and property, bedding and clothes, as well as gold and silver jewelry, and they guessed the silver coins at the bottom of the trunks were not few. This was definitely one of the top dowries in Big Willow Village.


    For a woman to be married off in such splendor was a life well lived.


    Having viewed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s dowry, everyone began to take out their own gifts to add to the mahogany trunks.


    The girl, Yang Ruoruo, and Old Lady Huang¡¯s House gave silver jewelry, Hu¡¯s Clan brought two bolts of fine cloth, while the others contributed purses, shoe pads, handkerchiefs, and the like.

 Chapter 377 - 380: Adding to the Dowry_1

    Chapter 377: Chapter 380: Adding to the Dowry_1Oh, and there was also the golden hairpin that Sun Erhu sent over this morning.


    Not many people knew about the bear-hunting incident, so Sun Erhu was extremely low-key, quietly sending a gift.


    A gift, no matter how valuable, represents one¡¯s sincerity, and Qiao Duo¡¯er thanked everyone accordingly, then brought out cakes and fruits to serve them.


    "Duo¡¯er, you are truly blessed, and you will surely lead an ever better life."


    "Tan Zhenghong is a good child, dotes on his wife tremendously, others can only be envious!"


    The room buzzed with people speaking such blessings, creating a lively atmosphere.


    Some time later, the First Lady entered the room.


    "Duo¡¯er, I hope I¡¯m not too late?" Chen Yiling asked with an anxious tone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried over to greet her, "Of course not, your timing is perfect, come in and have a seat!"


    "This is a little something from me, wishing you and Tan Zhenghong a harmonious union, till old age do you part,"


    Chen Yiling brought out a red brocade box that contained a pair of delicate golden bracelets.


    This was a unique addition to the bridal dowry, which made everyone even more aware of the lady¡¯s uncommon status.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt somewhat flustered, "Yi Ling, this really shouldn¡¯t be."


    "If you don¡¯t accept it, I will be upset. From now on, I won¡¯t accept any facial powder or mountain products from you," Chen Yiling said, pouting.


    Having no choice, Qiao Duo¡¯er had to accept the gift.


    The arrival of Chen Yiling made everyone in the room maintain silence, afraid to accidentally offend the noble person.


    "Hey, don¡¯t mind me, wasn¡¯t it very lively just now? Continue, I want to listen in,"


    She had been confined at home by that rascal Qin Longyun all day, and was finally happy to see so many people. But to her disappointment, everyone stopped talking when she arrived.


    "This is Lady Qin, she has a very good temper. You make her uneasy if you¡¯re too reserved, so just eat and talk as you normally would,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er introduced Chen Yiling to everyone.


    "Lady Qin, please sit here," a young girl offered her chair and squeezed herself onto a bench with others. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling nodded and sat down quite casually.


    Seeing that Chen Yiling wasn¡¯t putting on airs, others relaxed and continued to chat and laugh.


    After the guests had left, Chen Yiling finally got the chance to speak alone with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Today, I was fortunate to be able to come out thanks to you. It¡¯s so nice out here!" exclaimed Chen Yiling.


    It was way more interesting than the icy atmosphere of the prefecture office.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "That¡¯s because Lord Qin cares about you. With your innocent nature, the outside world is perilous. If you were deceived by someone..."


    "Stop right there! I¡¯ve heard such words until my ears have developed calluses. How come you sound just like that man at home? No wonder he acknowledged you as a sister; you speak exactly the same way," Chen Yiling complained.


    She was already married. What did innocence have to do with her?


    Engaging in indecent acts every day, yet he constantly spoke of her purity. Wasn¡¯t it blatant lying?


    Cough cough, she was mainly cursing at that man at home.


    Yielding, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Alright, I won¡¯t say anymore. Shall I take you to Old Lady Huang¡¯s house to pick pears?"


    Chen Yiling, having been pampered and raised delicately, found the idea of picking pears a novel experience, and she immediately agreed with excitement.


    As Sun Erhu and a few men helped to move the wooden chests into the house, Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t wait to drag Qiao Duo¡¯er outside.


    The Tan Family Members were peeking around, probably coveting Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s dowry.


    "What are you looking at? Whoever dares to lay a finger on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s belongings, I¡¯ll have you all thrown into prison!" Chen Yiling declared fiercely.

 Chapter 378 - 381 Almost Cried from Fright_1

    Chapter 378: Chapter 381 Almost Cried from Fright_1Scared by her, the Tan Family members all retreated into their own rooms.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er is becoming more formidable by the day, and who knows where she got her powerful backer from.


    Alas, they are becoming more and more untouchable now!


    The Wang Clan woman spoke resentfully, "From now on, we can only watch them enjoy good food, drinks, and living, while we suffer, such hard luck!"


    "What¡¯s the use of just complaining about your hard luck? You don¡¯t dare to reason with Tan Zhenghong, and you don¡¯t dare to ask Qiao Duo¡¯er for anything either," Little Wang Clan snapped back.


    What could they do? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They could only close their doors and speak some sour words.


    Upon arriving at the Huang Family, Aunt Huang hurriedly said, "Lady Qin, Duo¡¯er, come inside and take a seat, I¡¯ll go and make some tea for you."


    Aunt Huang was a bit flustered; she had secretly asked Qiao Duo about Lady Qin¡¯s status in the morning.


    After asking, she was shocked. Lady Qin was the cherished wife of the County Magistrate.


    She never imagined that the Lady of the County would actually come to her house. She was delighted, but what if her hospitality was inadequate?


    But the more flustered she became, the more rushed she was, and the more rushed she was, the more chaotic it got. Aunt Huang felt like crying.


    She had spent her whole life busy at the stove and in her own fields; how could she have imagined that she would meet such important people?


    Qiao Duo hurriedly grabbed hold of Aunt Huang, "Auntie, don¡¯t be busy. Just get me two baskets, and we¡¯ll go pick some pears."


    "What?" Aunt Huang was completely dumbfounded.


    She even doubted whether there was something wrong with her ears. The Lady of the County wanted to go pick pears?


    If she wanted to eat pears, she just needed to say the word, and Aunt Huang would immediately go pick them, wash them, peel them, cut them into small pieces, and bring them over.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo wasn¡¯t joking, Aunt Huang hurried to get the baskets, and she even specifically chose two brand-new ones.


    Chen Yiling comforted her, "Auntie, don¡¯t be afraid. I just think picking pears is fun and wanted to experience it. Did I scare you?"


    "No, not at all!" Aunt Huang shook her head frantically.


    Only heaven knew that she was almost scared to death.


    Qiao Duo suddenly felt she should have given Aunt Huang a heads-up to prepare her mentally.


    "That¡¯s good. My name is Chen Yiling, you can just call me Yi Ling. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go pick pears!" Chen Yiling smiled, her eyes creasing.


    She had none of the airs of the Lady of the County, and her smile was as bright as that of the girl next door. She didn¡¯t seem like a vicious person, so Aunt Huang finally felt a bit less anxious.


    At the Pearl Garden, Chen Yiling¡¯s laughter never stopped.


    "Duo¡¯er, can you pick that pear at the very top?" Chen Yiling looked up.


    Qiao Duo put down the basket on the ground, and in two or three movements, she shot up the tree and picked several pears from the very top.


    "You¡¯re so amazing, can you teach me how to climb trees?"


    Chen Yiling gazed at Qiao Duo in admiration.


    Qiao Duo cleared her throat, "If I teach you to climb trees, your husband would surely come after me with a vengeance. I¡¯m not ready to die yet."


    "I can protect you," Chen Yiling patted her chest, but quickly added, "Maybe... I better not learn."


    If Qin Longyun found out she had climbed up a tree, she wouldn¡¯t be able to protect herself, let alone Qiao Duo.


    She decided not to boast anymore; it would hurt too much if she got slapped in the face over it.


    Chen Yiling felt a bit disappointed. She really wanted to climb trees just like Qiao Duo¡ªit looked really cool!


    Qiao Duo then suggested another plan, "How about I pull down the branches for you to pick, would that work?"


    Chen Yiling leaned in and whispered to Qiao Duo, "In that case, won¡¯t others think I¡¯m bullying you?"


    "Of course not, aren¡¯t you helping me?"


    Chen Yiling nodded in response.

 Chapter 379 - 382: Impossible Person_1

    Chapter 379: Chapter 382: Impossible Person_1Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered Bai Yifan. There had been no news of him since he left Big Willow Village that day, and she wondered how he was doing.


    "Do you know about Bai Yifan¡¯s poisoning last time?"


    Chen Yiling nodded, "I know, he nearly lost his life, but thankfully you controlled the poison in time. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have lasted until Liu Erhuai got back. Although the poison was cured, his body was still weakened. He needs a good period of rest and care."


    There were some things she wanted to say but wasn¡¯t sure if she should.


    Seeing Chen Yiling stop mid-sentence, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help asking, "Is his condition not very good?"


    "Duo¡¯er, there are some things you¡¯d only worry about in vain if you knew. It¡¯s better not to know," Chen Yiling lightly skirted past the matter.


    Bai Yifan was fond of Qiao Duo¡¯er, but she was about to get married. They were destined to have no future together.


    Alas, it¡¯s a pity not to meet the right person at the right time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a clear understanding and immediately grasped Chen Yiling¡¯s meaning. Bai Yifan might be good, but he wasn¡¯t her destined match.


    In this lifetime, having Tan Zhenghong was enough for her. If there was a next life, she hoped it would still be Tan Zhenghong.


    There was no point dwelling on the impossible, so they quickly changed the subject.


    Aunt Huang wiped the sweat from her forehead, relieved to see the two enjoying themselves so much.


    And... she had to admit that she was getting old.


    Soon their baskets were full, and Chen Yiling felt a sense of accomplishment.


    Seeing her sweating profusely, Qiao Duo¡¯er took her back to rest, just in time for lunch.


    Chen Yiling fanned herself with a large palm-leaf fan while watching Qiao Duo¡¯er cook.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made several homestyle dishes: stir-fried string beans with pork, minced pork with vermicelli, sauerkraut fish, spicy chopped fish head, mushroom chicken soup, along with stir-fried vegetables and loofah. A mix of meat and vegetables, the quantity was also sufficient.


    Aunt Huang helped out by her side. Thankfully Qiao Duo¡¯er was there; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know what to do.


    "Madam... Yi Ling, it¡¯s hot in the kitchen. Why don¡¯t you go out and take a break?"


    Chen Yiling shook her head, "No need, I just want to see how Duo¡¯er cooks. I¡¯ll learn."


    Actually, she just wanted to watch the fun. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After spending the morning together, Aunt Huang had gotten used to Chen Yiling¡¯s way of doing things, so she let her stay in the kitchen.


    At lunch, Aunt Huang also called Daniu and Yang Ruoruo to join them. They were close to Qiao Duo¡¯er and of similar age; there was sure to be plenty of conversation when they were together.


    Aunt Huang made a wise decision. The girls chatted and laughed, enjoying their meal immensely.


    In the afternoon, Daniu and Yang Ruoruo took Chen Yiling to dig peanuts.


    When they came back, they enjoyed the rock sugar pear drink made by Qiao Duo¡¯er, which sweetened their hearts.


    And looking at Chen Yiling, she was resplendent with jewels when she arrived in the morning, glowing with beauty. However, now she was covered in dust, but the smile on her face was even brighter.


    As long as she had fun, that was enough.


    Aunt Huang bought a new bath barrel for Chen Yiling to bathe and change clothes.


    Her figure was similar to Yang Ruoruo¡¯s, so she changed into her clothes.


    By the time Chen Yiling got herself tidied up, Qin Longyun had already come to pick her up personally.


    "I¡¯m sorry for the trouble Yi Ling has caused you," Qin Longyun said apologetically.


    He could tell from his nose that Yi Ling had played very hard today; otherwise, there would be no need to change her clothes.


    Uncle Huang quickly replied, "You¡¯re too polite, young master. Madam is very likable. If you don¡¯t mind, please come visit us more often."


    Qin Longyun nodded, chatted with everyone for a while, and then took his leave.

 Chapter 380 - 383 You’re Too Saucy_1

    Chapter 380: Chapter 383 You¡¯re Too Saucy_1Having seen off the County Magistrate and his bride, Aunt Huang quickly patted her wildly beating heart.


    "Duo¡¯er, I didn¡¯t make any mistakes today, did I?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er assuredly said, "Auntie, you can rest easy. Ling¡¯er had a lot of fun today, and you didn¡¯t make any errors at all."


    "Lord Qin always has a stern face, never cracking a smile; it really scared me," Aunt Huang whispered.


    "Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s just how Lord Qin is."


    If Qin Longyun hadn¡¯t had such an unsmiling demeanor, how could he have subdued those extremely vicious criminals?


    Aunt Huang nodded her head and resigned herself to stop thinking about it, as everyone had left. Why bother with these pointless worries?


    "Child, you should rest early today. You need to be energetic for tomorrow is the day you¡¯ll get married," Aunt Huang instructed Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Just then, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nerves, which had finally relaxed, tensed up again.


    She had a bit of pre-wedding jitters, or else she wouldn¡¯t have played so wildly today.


    Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Chen Yiling sat with her head lowered obediently, her woman¡¯s sixth sense telling her this was the calm before the storm.


    Qin Longyun asked with a deadpan face, "What have you been doing all day?"


    Chen Yiling offered a pear like a treasure, "Husband, I picked it myself. Do you want to try it?"


    Qin Longyun glared at Chen Yiling, who stuck out her tongue and recounted everything she had done today. Sometimes she felt that Qin Longyun was not her husband, but her father.


    She was such a grown person; couldn¡¯t she have some freedom?


    "That¡¯s all?" Qin Longyun raised an eyebrow.


    Pouting, Chen Yiling said, "What else do you think I could have done? Could it be that I¡¯ve been robbing houses? Humph, you don¡¯t trust me. I won¡¯t bother with you anymore!"


    With a quick movement, Qin Longyun scooped his little wife up, and she found herself sitting on his lap.


    "I was wrong, would an apology work?"


    Chen Yiling snorted lightly, "How could I be so easily appeased?"


    Although she had beaten people up, bullied other children, and even set fire to someone¡¯s kitchen before, it was always because those people were too despicable or because of accidents.


    Not once had she been unreasonable without cause.


    She liked everyone she met today and had their company wherever she went; naturally, she wouldn¡¯t do such things.


    "Then tell me, what should I do so you won¡¯t be angry?" Qin Longyun asked indulgently.


    Chen Yiling thought carefully, "From now on, when I go to play with them, you¡¯re not allowed to stop me."


    Qin Longyun hesitated for a moment but still nodded in agreement.


    After all, were his wife to get into trouble, wouldn¡¯t he be there to cover for her?


    The moment he agreed, Chen Yiling wrapped her arms around Qin Longyun¡¯s neck and kissed him, "Husband, I knew you were the best!"


    Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Longyun¡¯s lips once again silenced her.


    Though they had been married for three years, he could never kiss her enough.


    "Wife, do you still have it?" Qin Longyun nibbled on Ling¡¯er¡¯s ear and inquired.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s face reddened as she nodded her head. This was a carriage; they surely couldn¡¯t engage in such intimate acts here, could they?


    Qin Longyun investigated for himself but found no peculiar objects and said mischievously, "You little liar, see how I deal with you when we get back!"


    Chen Yiling clenched her teeth, wishing the journey home could be a bit longer.


    She had played to exhaustion in Big Willow Village; if she were to be tormented further, how could she have the energy to attend Duo¡¯er¡¯s wedding the next day? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet, Chen Yiling felt the trip was shorter than usual, and before long, the carriage stopped at the side door of the Government Office.


    She was carried by Qin Longyun straight to the bedroom, and then they swiftly moved on to the main event.


    She remembered being told on her wedding day that Qin Longyun was a block of wood. She had longed for that cold and icy Qin Long.


    Now, this one was too flirtatious, often playing coy!

 Chapter 381 - 384 The Groom is Here_1

    Chapter 381: Chapter 384 The Groom is Here_1At night, Qiao Duo¡¯er just couldn¡¯t fall asleep.


    Because tomorrow she was to be married, and it all seemed a bit unbelievable.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to marry off herself just a few months after coming to this world; wasn¡¯t that too fast?


    But at this moment, her feelings were more of anticipation, and, of course, the long-awaited wedding night.


    It was the middle of the night, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was still staring at the ceiling with her eyes wide open, despising herself. Wasn¡¯t it just getting married?


    Was it so exciting that she couldn¡¯t sleep?


    A loud voice inside Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart told her the answer, and that was it definitely was worth the excitement!


    Early the next morning, just as Qiao Duo¡¯er felt she had fallen asleep, Aunt Huang woke her up.


    Aunt Huang and the Hu¡¯s Clan had already heated the water, and she stepped into the bath tub with her eyes half closed.


    After bathing, she first put on her everyday clothes, while Aunt Huang helped her dry her hair; Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to eat breakfast quickly.


    Today¡¯s breakfast was just a bowl of white porridge and two steamed buns.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt depressed, thinking such a bland breakfast must be to prevent bad breath, but she had no appetite early in the morning, and now she could eat even less.


    After eating half a bowl of porridge, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t eat any more.


    As her hair was almost dry, the Joy Grandma brought over the fragrant wedding dress, and Qiao Duo¡¯er changed into the bright red bridal gown.


    As the auspicious hour arrived, the Joy Grandma came to comb Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair and make her up.


    The person acting as the Joy Grandma was meticulously chosen; she had to have both parents alive, children of both genders, and a harmonious family¡ªonly someone with these qualities could bring good fortune.


    The Joy Grandma combed and sang the combing song, "First combing combs the head, no need to worry about wealth. Second combing combs smooth, without sickness or sorrow ..."


    By the time she finished singing, the hair was combed smooth and sleek.


    The key was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s smooth hair, which could be combed out effortlessly.


    "The bride has a delicate appearance and well-defined features, looking full of good fortune; today is also a good day. How about I do a lily bun?" The Joy Grandma looked to Aunt Huang.


    "Everything is up to you," Aunt Huang said hastily.


    A lily bun was complex, and the Joy Grandma would not casually offer to do it for someone; this was also a mark of Qiao Duo¡¯s status and good fortune.


    It took half an hour to finally get the hair done. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After that was the makeup, Qiao Duo¡¯er only felt layers upon layers being applied to her face. Once the Joy Grandma finished her work, Qiao Duo¡¯er barely recognized herself.


    Her face seemed plastered like a wall smeared with lime, and with lips as red as blazing fire, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought her sense of aesthetics was failing her.


    "This is the most radiant bride I have ever seen."


    The Joy Grandma was very pleased with the result, but Qiao Duo¡¯er found it strange since she was accustomed to a bare face, having never used cosmetics before.


    The trio of Chao Lian, Ruo Ruo, and Ling¡¯er, who had come at some point, showered Qiao Duo with compliments.


    Nearing noon, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach grumbled with hunger, but her lunch consisted only of a plate of fried greens and two steamed buns.


    Aunt Huang also made a point of warning, "You can¡¯t drink too much water; you can¡¯t go to the restroom before the unveiling."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had just half a cup, internally criticizing whether this was a wedding or a torture. It was outrageous!


    Why couldn¡¯t she have a good meal or drink her fill? It was too much!


    After lunch, Chen Yiling helped Qiao Duo¡¯er put on her jewelry, then they waited for the bridegroom to come and fetch her.


    Around two or three o¡¯clock, the sound of suona music came from outside, and Qiao Duo¡¯er felt her heart rise to her throat.


    It was Tan Zhenghong!


    "The bridegroom has come to fetch the bride!"


    Someone outside shouted.


    Daniu quickly led her Women Army to barricade the door from behind.

 Chapter 382 - 385 Test_1

    Chapter 382: Chapter 385 Test_1Sun Erhu looked at the tightly closed door, feeling a bit puzzled and he whispered, "Brother Hong, did we do something wrong that made the sister-in-law so angry she doesn¡¯t want the marriage anymore?"


    "This is a game city folks play, stuff the red envelope through, and the door will open,"


    Tan Zhenghong explained. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already given him a heads-up about this, so he was well-prepared in advance.


    Sun Erhu excitedly stuffed the red envelopes through, but even though they took the envelopes, there was still no movement from the door. Could it be that the red envelopes weren¡¯t enough, not enough to go around?


    Sun Erhu scratched his head and stuffed a few more envelopes through.


    "Dear sisters, please be generous. Let my brother go in quickly and pick up his bride!"


    "You have to make the groom shout out loud three times that he loves Qiao Duo¡¯er," the big girl said, pinching her nose.


    With her nose pinched, no one outside could tell who she was, so there was no chance anyone could seek revenge.


    Sun Erhu looked towards Tan Zhenghong; this was something Tan Zhenghong had to do himself.


    With a big crowd gathered around just to watch the fun, Tan Zhenghong felt his face burning. Did he really have to shout it out loud?


    Oh well, to marry his bride, what does face really matter?


    "Duo¡¯er, I love you, Duo¡¯er, I love you, Duo¡¯er, I love you!"


    Once he opened his mouth, the rest came out smoothly.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice grew louder and louder. He wasn¡¯t afraid of losing face; his only fear was that the person inside the house might not hear him.


    Onlookers pursed their lips to hide their smiles. This was new to their village, so many were seeing such a scene for the first time.


    But it was quite entertaining.


    Sun Erhu knocked on the door again: "Can the door be opened now?"


    "You only dealt with one person, there are several more challenges ahead," Chen Yiling chimed in, mimicking the big girl and pinching her nose.


    Sun Erhu grumbled about the difficulty of dealing with petty people and women but still asked nicely, "Whatever the demand, just say it, and I will meet it."


    For Brother Hong¡¯s happiness, he was willing to go all out.


    "Tan Zhenghong, I have a few questions for you. Think carefully before you answer," Chen Yiling continued.


    Upon hearing Tan Zhenghong agree, she began her questioning, "Three questions for you. When you and Qiao Duo argue, whose fault is it? Who would win if you and Qiao Duo fought? What would you do if Qiao Duo gets mad and runs back to her mother¡¯s home?"


    "Qiao Duo and I do not argue, do not fight, and certainly don¡¯t make her mad enough to run back to her mother¡¯s house,"


    Tan Zhenghong said confidently as these simple questions were no challenge for him.


    Chen Yiling bit her lip in frustration; he didn¡¯t fall for the trap!


    Her bright eyes rolling, she then said, "Then prove your love for Qiao Duo¡¯er in one sentence."


    "Duo¡¯er, if you don¡¯t come out, I¡¯m going to become a monk!"


    After all, he was tied to Qiao Duo¡¯er for life; except for her, he wouldn¡¯t marry anyone!


    The door slowly opened, signifying that Tan Zhenghong had passed the test and could now take Qiao Duo¡¯er home.


    Tan Zhenghong strode proudly inside, and the moment he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er, his eyes welled up with tears: "Wife, I¡¯m here to marry you."


    He had been longing for this day, and finally, it had come.


    "Good girl, you¡¯re getting married!"


    Aunt Huang shouted, then helped Qiao Duo¡¯er onto the back of Joy Grandma, who would carry her to the bridal sedan.


    Uncle Huang lit the firecrackers, and amidst the crackling sounds, the sedan was lifted and began its slow procession.


    Suddenly, he felt a sense of melancholy in his heart, as if he was truly marrying off his own daughter.


    As they distributed wedding candy, Uncle Huang took a moment to say to Aunt Huang, "This feeling in my heart is really something."


    "Me too, I almost cried," Aunt Huang shared the sentiment.

 Chapter 383 - 386: Laughing too lewdly_1

    Chapter 383: Chapter 386: Laughing too lewdly_1Halfway through the journey, Joy Grandma suddenly shouted, "Shake the sedan chair three times!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t reacted when the sedan chair started shaking violently, toppling her over. She steadied herself by reaching out for the window.


    Being in a sedan chair was already bumpy enough, but to shake it three times on purpose¡ªthat was just plain torture, wasn¡¯t it? Yet this torment had a pleasant-sounding name: a tradition meant to bring good fortune and ward off evil.


    Now she was just relieved she had eaten little at noon, or else she might have vomited from all the shaking.


    Afterward, the sedan chair shook another two times, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was prepared this time and didn¡¯t end up in such a disheveled state as before.


    When they reached the new house and the sedan chair finally came to a stop, Qiao Duo¡¯er let out a long sigh of relief.


    Joy Grandma helped Qiao Duo¡¯er out of the sedan chair and stuffed one end of a red cloth into her hand.


    The remainder of the journey was to be led by the groom, her role was simply to remind the bride of the steps.


    Before entering the door, they stepped over a fire basin; after entering, they stepped over a saddle, and then they arrived at the main hall where the smoke from the incense twirled and the red candles burned tall¡ªthe place for the wedding ceremony.


    On either side of the incense table sat two elders, known as Elders Quan Fu from the village.


    Both were well into their seventies with many children and grandchildren.


    If the groom had lost his parents or had severed ties, the Elders Quan Fu would sit in the place of honor.


    If this was the case, the bride need not perform the traditional kowtow, a bow would suffice.


    The master of ceremonies guided the couple to stand in the right place, then loudly announced the start of the wedding ceremony.


    What followed was similar to what¡¯s seen in TV dramas: first to pay homage to heaven and earth, then to the elders, followed by the couple bowing to each other, and finally leading them into the bridal chamber.


    Once they entered the bridal chamber, Joy Grandma passed the balance pole adorned with Red Flower to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong carefully lifted the red veil, and upon seeing his bride, he smiled broadly.


    Joy Grandma had Tan Zhenghong sit next to Qiao Duo¡¯er. They each cut a lock of hair, tied it into a lover¡¯s knot, and placed it on the incense table in the bridal chamber.


    Next came the scattering of the bed, with Joy Grandma uttering blessings while tossing auspicious items like grains, red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds onto the bed.


    These items weren¡¯t meant to hit anything, but sometimes they could hurt if they hit someone.


    Tan Zhenghong then shielded most of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body behind his, a gesture that even softened Joy Grandma¡¯s heart.


    So, she aimed all the items at Tan Zhenghong instead.


    After drinking the nuptial cup of wine, the ceremony was deemed complete.


    By this time, dinner had already started outside.


    Sun Erhu and Uncle Huang were busy tending to the guests, and only after Tan Zhenghong left the bridal chamber could they catch a break.


    "Brother Hong, everyone¡¯s waiting for you to give a toast. I¡¯ll be right behind you the whole time. Once you¡¯ve finished your cup, let me pour for you. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re lively and vigorous all night," Sun Erhu whispered. He had diluted the wine with water, so there was no way Tan Zhenghong would get drunk.


    Unable to contain his amusement, Tan Zhenghong said, "You have such a lecherous smile." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey, I¡¯m doing this for your sake. You two are so shy I¡¯m starting to doubt whether you¡¯ve managed to consummate the marriage," said Sun Erhu in a wronged tone, though some people took his goodwill for granted.


    To cover his embarrassment, Tan Zhenghong hurried off to give a toast.


    *Cough cough*, could it be that Erhu has seen through his frustration? Could his unsatisfied desires be that evident on his face?


    The yard was bustling with noise, but Sun Erhu didn¡¯t notice Tan Zhenghong¡¯s embarrassed face, or else he could have been certain his conjecture was absolutely correct.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly went through two rounds of toasting and then couldn¡¯t wait to get back to the bridal chamber, where he concocted a plan to pretend to be drunk.


    Inebriating the groom was a sure way to calm down those who wanted to tease him in the bridal chamber.


    Sun Erhu and D¨¤l¨ªn carried Tan Zhenghong to the bed and then quickly left.

 Chapter 384 - 387: The Bridal Chamber_1

    Chapter 384: Chapter 387: The Bridal Chamber_1Qiao Duo¡¯er closed the door, saw that Tan Zhenghong was still lying on the bed, and said irritably, "Still pretending."


    Tan Zhenghong sat up and said with a chuckle, "Wife, you¡¯re really smart." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Erhu¡¯s eyes gave you away a long time ago."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, Erhu was still too green, not knowing how to hide his gaze.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t care, pulling his own wife to sit on the sofa.


    "Let¡¯s eat, you must be starving today," Tan Zhenghong first served his wife a bowl of soup, his eyes filled with tenderness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "What kind of wedding is this? It¡¯s simply torture, let¡¯s eat quickly and go to sleep."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gaze instantly became fiery; his wife seemed in a hurry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like she was choking back a clot of frustration, but she was nearly starving to death, so she decided to fill her stomach first.


    Even though she was extremely hungry, Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped eating when she was seventy percent full, whereas Tan Zhenghong had already wolfed down two bowls of rice, now waiting for the work that would come later.


    Tan Zhenghong helped Qiao Duo¡¯er remove her jewelry, then subtly said, "Wife, you bathe first, I¡¯ll tidy the bed."


    Actually, what he wanted to say was let¡¯s split the tasks and strive to go to bed early.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er came out, the bed had already been changed with clean bedding.


    Tan Zhenghong tried to keep himself calm, but still uncontrollably darted into the bathroom.


    He washed quickly, but also didn¡¯t dare to be careless, cleaning himself thoroughly.


    This time, with the perfect combination of time, place, and harmony, if he couldn¡¯t handle his own wife, he felt he wouldn¡¯t count as a man.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the two of them lay down on the big red quilt.


    Cough cough... suddenly, it felt a bit awkward.


    After so many days of being together, they had become very familiar with each other, even intimate, but today both of them were still very nervous.


    Because today they would truly consummate the marriage, which was completely different from the previous intimacies.


    Tan Zhenghong stealthily looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed his gaze and looked back, but soon both of them averted their eyes.


    Um... hadn¡¯t they not started yet? Why were they already feeling shy?


    Right, both of them were introverted in their own bashful ways.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand slowly moved until at last he carefully took hold of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    Tan Zhenghong broke the silence, "Wife, I¡¯ve missed you so much, haven¡¯t seen you for many days, today feels like a dream, I¡¯m so happy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and sneakily chuckled, the sweet talk sounded a bit cheesy, yet it made her heart feel sweet.


    "Wife, I had my medicine the day before yesterday, so can we... today?" Tan Zhenghong looked at his own wife expectantly.


    "Is your wound healed?"


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly pressed down on Qiao Duo¡¯er, he would show Qiao Duo¡¯er with his actions that his wound was fine.


    "You..." Qiao Duo¡¯er instinctively tried to push Tan Zhenghong away with her hands.


    Tan Zhenghong grinned mischievously, "Don¡¯t move around, I¡¯ll be careful."

 Chapter 385 - 388 Continuing to be dirty in the morning_1

    Chapter 385: Chapter 388 Continuing to be dirty in the morning_1Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head away, not willing to look at Tan Zhenghong. At this moment, with nothing to shield her body, even her imposing aura seemed diminished.


    Tan Zhenghong was not in a hurry. The many days of acclimatizing had taught him where Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s no-go zones were.


    He teased her tirelessly. The night was still long; he could wait for his wife to surrender.


    When she hit a certain threshold, reason dissipated, leaving only instinct behind.


    The next second, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a sharp pain somewhere and bit down on Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong was incredibly patient, only ravaging her after she had gotten used to his presence.


    It was beautiful, harmonious...


    Not knowing how much time had passed, someone was still moving. Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t hold on and fell asleep first. Before she drifted off, Qiao Duo¡¯er only wanted to roar in anger, "Weren¡¯t we supposed to do it ten times?"


    To have engaged in such activity for so long and not to remember, how embarrassing!


    Nevertheless, there would be plenty of future opportunities. She would have to top him next time and make Tan Zhenghong faint!


    Tan Zhenghong lowered his head and gave a peck on his wife¡¯s face, ultimately speeding up due to his heartache for her and finished after cleaning them both up. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then lying back on the bed, he pulled his wife into his arms.


    "Wife, I want to make you the happiest woman in the world," Tan Zhenghong said softly but with unwavering determination.


    He was grateful that his wife had chosen to stay by his side, to become an ordinary person living an ordinary life. He would not let her down.


    They may not be filthy rich, but at least they would be carefree and content.


    That night, he felt incredibly satisfied.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er was awakened by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s burning gaze, which she couldn¡¯t ignore even if she tried.


    "What time is it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Wait, did she really just speak? That voice... was indeed hers, just hoarse from the night before.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head. "I don¡¯t know either, who cares. If you¡¯re still tired, keep sleeping; I¡¯ll stay with you."


    "Stop looking at me," Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes again.


    Tan Zhenghong moved in even closer. "I¡¯ll watch mine; you sleep yours."


    Disturbed by him, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t fall back asleep. Just then, her stomach growled, so she said, "Let¡¯s get up, I¡¯m almost starved to death."


    "Wife, I¡¯m hungry too."


    Tan Zhenghong shifted his waist, making Qiao Duo¡¯er feel his desire.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but grind her teeth. "Tan Zhenghong, are you really trying to kill me?"


    She felt she had been very cooperative the night before, yet she had still been worn out by Tan Zhenghong, which showed how formidable he was.


    "I would never want to kill you. I love you, wishing I could be inside you forever, never to part," Tan Zhenghong said with a lascivious smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wished she could bleed out of frustration. Inside her all the time... not afraid of wearing himself out to death?


    While they were talking, Tan Zhenghong began to get restless again, and Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him: "Pervert!"


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled lowly, "I said ten times. You couldn¡¯t handle it after three last night, you still owe me seven. When are you planning to pay me back?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned the back of her head to Tan Zhenghong. She was tired and hungry and sore, not in the mood to talk.


    "What¡¯s wrong, wife?"


    "I feel a bit... sore," Qiao Duo¡¯er said pitifully.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately pulled back the blanket. "Let me see, it¡¯s all my fault."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled up the blanket, covering herself tightly. "I¡¯ll be fine with some rest, go heat up some water, I want to take a bath."


    Tan Zhenghong obeyed immediately. Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed in relief; indeed, acting spoiled with him worked the best.

 Chapter 386 - 388-389 What are you stripping for?_1

    Chapter 386: Chapter 388-389 What are you stripping for?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er was woken up by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s burning gaze, which she found impossible to ignore.


    "What hour is it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Wait, was that really her speaking just now? Her voice... really hers, only hoarse.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head: "I don¡¯t know either, who cares about that. If you¡¯re still sleepy, just keep sleeping. I¡¯ll stay with you."


    "Stop looking at me." Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes again.


    Tan Zhenghong moved even closer: "I¡¯ll look at mine, you sleep on yours."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled the covers over herself tightly: "I¡¯ll be fine after a little rest. Go heat some water for me. I want to take a bath."


    Tan Zhenghong complied immediately, and Qiao Duo¡¯er breathed a sigh of relief. Acting spoiled with him really was most effective.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly went to heat the water, indeed he had gone too far last night.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong had prepared the bathwater and saw Qiao Duo¡¯er getting dressed, he cheekily said, "Why are you dressing? You¡¯re about to take a bath anyways."


    "To guard against a pervert peeping." Qiao Duo¡¯er said annoyed.


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose: "Don¡¯t soak for too long, be careful not to catch a cold. I¡¯m going to cook breakfast."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded and then stood up with her shoes on, but she found her legs trembling.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly stepped forward and carried Qiao Duo¡¯er to the bathroom, not even out of breath throughout the process.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t understand. Tan Zhenghong had been busy all of last night, yet today he was as lively as a dragon.


    As for her... she was so tired that she didn¡¯t even want to move a finger.


    Could it be that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s body was extraordinary? Anyway, she was filled with envy and jealousy.


    Only after Qiao Duo¡¯er sat down in the bathtub did Tan Zhenghong feel at ease to go and cook breakfast.


    In his mind, he was already thinking that he had to get his wife to exercise more in the future; otherwise, it would be very frustrating to always end things forcefully.


    To be honest, he had thought about going until dawn last night, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to fall asleep so quickly.


    It was a good thing he had waited until their new house was built before thoroughly enjoying his wife. Otherwise, last night would have ended even earlier.


    The leftover dishes from last night had been given to those who helped, but the kitchen was stocked with fresh vegetables, and meat hanging in the well, which should be enough for them to eat for two or three days.


    This... must have been Aunt Huang, worried they¡¯d be too tired, who had deliberately left it at their house.


    How could she be so understanding?


    Tan Zhenghong efficiently cooked breakfast: mushroom and chicken porridge, as well as scrambled eggs with Chinese chives.


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo¡¯er began to catch up on sleep, waking up only in the afternoon.


    Walking around the yard, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Tan Zhenghong tidying up the vegetable garden. She also went over to help. With seven or eight mu of homestead land, they had to make full use of it.


    "Wife, go and rest, leave this to me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "I¡¯ve almost slept for a day. If I don¡¯t move around, I¡¯ll turn into a pig." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What¡¯s wrong with that? I want to fatten you up, white and plump."


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at his wife, who was already squatting down to pull weeds, evidently having no intention of going home.


    Didn¡¯t this mean he could carry on with his "work" tonight?


    Now he worked with even more vigor, aiming to finish early so they could have dinner, bathe, and then head to bed.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er dawdled in the bathroom.


    She remembered that right before she entered, Tan Zhenghong gave her a meaningful glance, his eyes seemingly shining with a predatory gleam.


    She had seen wolves in the wilderness that looked just like that; the difference was wolves were after meat, while what Tan Zhenghong wanted was her.


    If she allowed him to succeed tonight, she¡¯d surely sleep away another day.


    Woo, she suddenly missed the abstentious Tan Zhenghong of the past.


    She regretted running around the world looking for Star-of-Bethlehem, not realizing it would end up torturing herself.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind was racing with thoughts, the bathroom door was pushed open, and a naked Tan Zhenghong came in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly averted her eyes and protectively covered her chest with both hands, afraid that if Tan Zhenghong saw anything he shouldn¡¯t, his animal instincts would take over.


    "Why are you undressed?" Qiao Duo¡¯er chided.


    "You wouldn¡¯t come out, so I thought you were waiting for me to join you for a bath," Tan Zhenghong said, blinking innocently.


    Then, with a step of his long leg, he was already seated opposite Qiao Duo¡¯er.

 Chapter 387 - 390 I Want to Be on Top!_1

    Chapter 387: Chapter 390 I Want to Be on Top!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong and was on the verge of tears. Could she knock Tan Zhenghong out?


    "Wife, I¡¯ll just take a bath with you," Tan Zhenghong said seriously, "I promise I won¡¯t do anything bad."


    At first, he just scrubbed and washed, and of course, most of the time he was washing Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But a quarter of an hour later, Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said, "You liar!"


    What happened to not doing anything bad? What was that thing that had slipped into her body now?


    Tan Zhenghong moved vigorously twice and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s willpower dissolved completely. She could only bite her lip to prevent herself from making embarrassing sounds.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a dagger stare, though at this moment her brows were tender and her eyes carried a springtime air, making it seem more like coquetry.


    "The water¡¯s gotten cold; I¡¯m freezing," Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arm over his shoulder: "Wife, hold on tight."


    The next second, he carried Qiao Duo¡¯er out of the water.


    Afterward, with one arm wrapped around Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist and the other holding a towel, he dried the droplets of water off their bodies.


    After drying off mostly, he hurried to the big bed.


    Throughout the process, they hadn¡¯t separated, which felt novel and thrilling. Tan Zhenghong made a mental note to try it again next time the opportunity arose.


    All of a sudden, Qiao Duo¡¯er said solemnly, "Don¡¯t move!"


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Tan Zhenghong became nervous. Had he hurt his wife?


    He had checked there before entering, and there wasn¡¯t any swelling or redness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke haltingly, "I want to be on top."


    Tan Zhenghong obeyed, and then Qiao Duo¡¯er felt her world turning upside down as she ended up in the position she wanted.


    Hmm... Being on top really gave her a sense of queenly authority.


    "I¡¯m going to love you properly; don¡¯t resist," Qiao Duo¡¯er scraped her finger across Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face.


    With thick brows and big eyes, a high nose bridge, and clear-cut features, the thought of being on top of a handsome man excited her inexplicably.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, unwittingly adding a touch of sexiness.


    Like a curious baby encountering a favorite toy, Qiao Duo¡¯er touched here and there, especially the two little beans that would pop back out when pressed...


    "Wife, hurry up," Tan Zhenghong said, breathing heavily. This was sheer torture.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced sideways at Tan Zhenghong: "I control the rhythm; no talking from you."


    Tan Zhenghong indeed stayed quiet, enjoying his wife¡¯s tender caresses.


    But could he not touch? Could they get to the main event quickly? He felt like one particular place was about to burst from the heat!


    This time was exceptionally long, and after it ended, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay on the bed gasping for air, feeling she had given too much of herself again.


    Initially, Qiao Duo¡¯er did feel like a queen, but when she no longer had the strength to move and wished to stop, Tan Zhenghong held her waist and continued the motion.


    It turned out it was not only hard to get off a tiger but also difficult to get off a wolf!


    Humph, she would never again try to take liberties with Tan Zhenghong!


    Not only had she failed to seize control, but she had also exhausted herself; wasn¡¯t that just asking for trouble?


    "Wife, do you want to go again?" Tan Zhenghong held his wife while his hands roamed naughtily over her body.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked and then bit down on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was exhausted, but she had slept too much during the day and had no hint of sleepiness now.


    Thus, a tangled affair began all over again.


    For the following two days, Qiao Duo¡¯er spent most of her time in bed, while Tan Zhenghong took advantage of the downtime to tidy up the vegetable garden. The two of them didn¡¯t step out of the courtyard at all.

 Chapter 388 -s 390-391 Is the Battle Intense?_1

    Chapter 388: Chapters 390-391 Is the Battle Intense?_1Thankfully, Aunt Huang invited them to come over for dinner the next day, since it was Aunt Huang¡¯s birthday.


    Actually, it had been three days since Qiao Duo¡¯er had gone back to her maiden home, and she was worried the child would feel uneasy.


    After taking a bath in the evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er sat in front of the mirror to comb her hair, when she suddenly discovered she was sporting two dark circles and her complexion was a bit yellow.


    This... this was a sign of indulging in excess!


    It¡¯s only the fourth day since the wedding, and she already looked like this, how was she supposed to face people tomorrow?


    Oh my God, she could almost picture the mockery from Big Sister and the others.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her teeth, instantly deciding that if someone was up to mischief tonight, she¡¯d knock him out cold to see what he¡¯d do then!


    Tan Zhenghong also knew he had gone too far, so he behaved himself that night and just held his wife to sleep.


    Even though she went to bed early, the dark circles didn¡¯t completely fade by the next day, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had no choice but to dab on some powder to cover them up.


    Ah, she felt like killing someone!


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong arrived at the Huang Family¡¯s place, Erhu, Chao Lian, Big Sister, and Ruo Ruo were there, as well as Chen Yiling.


    Seeing the couple holding hands as they made their entrance, everyone became unsettled.


    Sun Erhu teased, "Brother Hong, haven¡¯t seen you around these past couple of days."


    Thinking about the last three days without stepping foot outside, he felt an urge to nosebleed.


    Ahem, it seemed the battle had been fierce these past few days.


    Tan Zhenghong glared at Sun Erhu, "If you don¡¯t speak, no one will take you for a mute."


    Not only was Sun Erhu not annoyed, but he also laughed heartily; his Brother Hong was always so serious and rarely showed shyness. How could he let this chance slip by easily?


    Big Sister quickly made room to sit, "Sister Duo¡¯er, come and sit down. You must be exhausted these past days?"


    "Brother Hong, you really love your sister-in-law too much, huh? Take it easy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt helpless and could only pick up a cup from the table to start drinking water, while also sneakily glaring at Tan Zhenghong.


    It was all this guy¡¯s fault, acting like he¡¯d never seen a woman before!


    Tan Zhenghong coughed uncomfortably a couple of times, his ears turning red.


    Moreover, Sun Erhu had confirmed something: before their marriage, the two were undoubtedly pure, but now that they were married, his Brother Hong was showing his mighty prowess.


    "Stop teasing the two, or be careful they¡¯ll take their revenge when you get married." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aunt Huang came to the rescue, also bringing out freshly washed fruit.


    Sure enough, upon these words, everyone besides Chen Yiling instantly calmed down.


    They were still single, and one day they would surely marry. Qiao Duo¡¯er was one to hold grudges and had numerous tricks up her sleeve, so they really had to be careful.


    Chen Yiling found a kindred spirit and felt inclined to empathize rather than tease them.


    Because making fun of Qiao Duo¡¯er was nearly the same as making fun of herself.


    "You guys snack on some pastries and fruit first. Just don¡¯t eat too much, because we¡¯ll be having a meal soon," Aunt Huang advised.


    Sun Erhu stuck out his tongue at Tan Zhenghong, "Brother Hong, sister-in-law, I was just joking earlier."


    Tan Zhenghong gave him a knowing look.


    When the time came for Sun Erhu to get married, he only wanted to say two words to him: hold on, because his wife-to-be was no ordinary woman.


    Sun Erhu grimaced; why couldn¡¯t he keep his mouth shut?


    As mealtime approached, Huang Zhong returned with his wife and kids.


    Huang Zhong and his wife from the Bao family had two sons, nicknamed Big Dog and Second Dog.


    Both kids were healthy and boisterous and not the least bit shy. After Aunt Huang introduced them to everyone, they were soon playing merrily with the crowd.

 Chapter 389 - 392: Shallow Eyelids_1

    Chapter 389: Chapter 392: Shallow Eyelids_1But Bao¡¯s was dissatisfied and said in an odd tone, "Mom, I thought you specifically called us home for dinner today, but it turns out it¡¯s just in passing."


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense," Huang Zhong cautioned her.


    From his laxed tone, it was clear he was afraid of his wife.


    Aunt Huang forced a chuckle, "I thought since it¡¯s my birthday today, it would be nicer to invite more people over to liven things up."


    Usually, Huang Zhong and his family seldom visited except for on holidays, but to their surprise, the sun rose from the west today.


    Had she known they would come, she wouldn¡¯t have called others over to her home and avoided airing dirty laundry in public.


    "Mom, don¡¯t mind her, she¡¯s just kidding with you," he said.


    Huang Zhong forced a laugh, hoping to smooth things over with some muddling through.


    But he knew, even having said that, his mother¡¯s mood for her birthday had been completely ruined.


    Bao¡¯s, not taking the hint, said sharply, "Who has time for jokes? Who even knows how much food we have at home!"


    As she spoke, she glanced sideways at the people in the courtyard, not one of whom met her approval.


    Huang Zhong felt as if a clot of frustration was stuck in his chest, with guests present in the yard, what kind of heartless person would say such a thing?


    He just didn¡¯t understand how his once gentle and tender wife had changed into the person she was today.


    Now she was unreasonable, causing chaos over the slightest dissatisfaction at home.


    Everyone at home tiptoed around her, afraid of setting her off.


    But their tolerance only emboldened Bao¡¯s behavior, and he had thought of divorcing her more than once!


    Chen Yiling slipped a gold bracelet off her arm and said, "Aunt Huang, I came in a hurry today and didn¡¯t prepare any gifts. Please accept this and happy birthday to you."


    The gold bracelet was part of her dowry and was surely precious.


    But no matter how precious, it wasn¡¯t as important as standing up for Aunt Huang.


    Aunt Huang¡¯s kindness to her wasn¡¯t just because she was the Lady of the County, there was sincere sentiment too.


    Bao¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight of the bracelet, filled with disbelief.


    How could a woman in plain clothes pull out such a beautiful gold bracelet?


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Chen Yiling did not want to be too conspicuous, so she deliberately wore Ruo Ruo¡¯s clothes.


    Aunt Huang quickly declined, "Madam, you¡¯re flattering me too much. I am already happy with your visit, the gift is really too much."


    "Aunt Huang, since it¡¯s a birthday gift, how can it be refused? Or do you dislike it?" Chen Yiling asked, feigning annoyance.


    Aunt Huang, growing anxious, quickly gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a look to help persuade her.


    The gold bracelet was of great value, how could she possibly accept such a gift given the circumstances?


    On the side, Bao¡¯s was burning with impatience; was this old woman an idiot? The gift was being handed to her on a silver platter, and she was still refusing it!


    Such a heavy gold bracelet could be kept as a family heirloom!


    All of Bao¡¯s reactions were observed by Chen Yiling, who found her face utterly annoying.


    She finally saw what her husband meant by people with shallow foresight.


    Duo¡¯er held Chen Yiling¡¯s hand, "Yi Ling, Aunt Huang doesn¡¯t need this bracelet. Just put it away, and let¡¯s visit Aunt Huang more often. That would make her happier than accepting a gold bracelet." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright then, I¡¯ll owe the birthday gift for now. Next time, I¡¯ll bring something Aunt Huang can actually use," Chen Yiling said, as she put the bracelet back on her arm.


    Seeing Chen Yiling heeding the advice, Aunt Huang finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    As for the next time she brought a gift, Aunt Huang would deal with it then. Otherwise, she might offend Yi Ling.

 Chapter 390 - 393: What Does Your Mother Mean?_1

    Chapter 390: Chapter 393: What Does Your Mother Mean?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Aunt, I don¡¯t have much to give, so I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and cook a few dishes for you."


    Actually, except for Chen Yiling, no one came empty-handed, but if Bao¡¯s knew about it, she would definitely scrounge everything away from Aunt Huang.


    So everyone tacitly avoided mentioning it.


    Chen Yiling originally intended to find Qiao Duo, but unexpectedly met the big girl first and then followed her to the Huang Family.


    Aunt Huang secretly wiped away her tears. Why were all the good children someone else¡¯s?


    In the kitchen, Qiao Duo¡¯er took charge of cooking while Aunt Huang helped as the sous-chef.


    "I don¡¯t know what sins I committed in my past life to be mocked like this," Aunt Huang sighed.


    In her life, she always treated others with kindness, helping out wherever she could, but how did she end up with such a daughter-in-law?


    Chen Yiling disdainfully said, "Aunt, don¡¯t talk like that. It¡¯s just that some people are ungrateful. You shouldn¡¯t lower yourself to their level. Just hide your things well and don¡¯t count on them from now on."


    "Isn¡¯t my only son going to inherit everything in the future?" Aunt Huang said bitterly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted her, "I think Brother Huang Zhong is quite good; it¡¯s just that he has a soft temperament and is a bit indecisive."


    Aunt Huang didn¡¯t respond, but she liked this comment in her heart. As a mother, she naturally harbored a bit of bias, feeling her son was innocent.


    But she swore she had never spoken ill of anyone, so Bao¡¯s hatred towards her was somewhat bewildering.


    "Today is Aunt¡¯s birthday; let¡¯s not talk about these unhappy things," said Chen Yiling with a smile.


    Aunt Huang nodded vigorously, "Good, today I¡¯ll show off my skills to you all so you can taste my cooking."


    Everyone could ignore the recent incident and managed to create a seemingly pleasant atmosphere.


    But everyone knew that Aunt Huang had a thorn in her heart that no one could remove, causing her constant silent pain.


    Really, who wouldn¡¯t wish for a happy family?


    At this moment, in the bedroom.


    Bao¡¯s said angrily, "Huang Zhong, what is your mother implying? She¡¯s just afraid that I¡¯ll get my hands on something good, isn¡¯t she?"


    The gold bracelet was almost within her grasp, and now it was pushed away again!


    "What could my mother imply? That girl looked unfamiliar; she must not have been around for long. How can she accept such valuable gifts from strangers?" Huang Zhong earnestly advised.


    His parents had always been upright and refused to accept other people¡¯s gifts for a reason.


    Bao¡¯s snorted, "Inviting a stranger over for a meal, what¡¯s that about? Your mother is definitely trying to spite me!"


    "You...you, my mother is not that kind of person."


    Huang Zhong, tongue-tied and flushed with agitation, didn¡¯t know how to continue persuading her.


    "You always take your mother¡¯s side. Why don¡¯t you marry her and have kids with her then?"


    A vein throbbed on Huang Zhong¡¯s forehead. What did marrying his mother and having children with her mean? Such a thought was blasphemous, deserving of divine punishment!


    His hand lifted suddenly and slapped Bao¡¯s across the face.


    She could belittle his capabilities and say he was useless. She could spend her days doing nothing, but to slander his mother like that was absolutely unacceptable!


    Bao¡¯s, the firework ready to ignite, immediately grabbed Huang Zhong by the throat: "I haven¡¯t had a good day since being with you, and now I¡¯m expected to bear you a son. You dare to hit me? If I don¡¯t kill you today, then my name isn¡¯t Bao!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In all the years since their marriage, hadn¡¯t Huang Zhong always given in to her?


    Now he had the gall to hit her! Was he tired of living?


    "Who told you to talk nonsense? Even if you don¡¯t ask for a divorce this time, I will divorce you!"


    Huang Zhong had been holding back for years, and with Bao¡¯s once again crossing the line, he could no longer tolerate it.


    Hearing these words, Bao¡¯s grip tightened even more, her mouth spewing incessant curses, saying anything and everything vile.

 Chapter 391 - 394: Why Not Divorce Her?_1

    Chapter 391: Chapter 394: Why Not Divorce Her?_1Huang Zhong was accustomed to rough work, and with the great strength in his hands, he quickly overpowered Madam Bao.


    Unable to win the fight, Madam Bao could only shriek at the top of her lungs.


    Hearing the commotion inside the room, Uncle Huang hurried in to break up the fight, and Sun Erhu also helped to pull Huang Zhong away.


    Although he felt that a shrew like Madam Bao deserved a beating, if it actually led to someone dying, then Huang Zhong would have to sit in jail.


    "Help! Not only has my own family been bullying me, but even an outsider has joined in to bully me. How am I supposed to live like this? They all want my life!"


    Sun Erhu unconsciously released Huang Zhong, otherwise, wouldn¡¯t he become an outsider who bullied Madam Bao?


    By the time he tried to pull Huang Zhong back, Madam Bao had already received two solid slaps to the face.


    Sun Erhu swore it wasn¡¯t intentional, but... deep down, he felt quite satisfied.


    Aunt Huang entered the room to find it in total disarray. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you really intent on breaking this home apart?" Aunt Huang stamped her foot, her tears falling uncontrollably.


    Huang Zhong knelt before Aunt Huang, "Mother, I¡¯m sorry for making you and father suffer all these years! I also haven¡¯t lived like a man; please just agree to me divorcing this woman!"


    Over the years, the Huang Family had provided for her well, not asking for her gratitude, only that she live her life properly.


    But what was the result?


    They took a step back, and that woman took two steps forward¡ªit was a rhythm to drive them to their deaths!


    Madam Bao looked at Huang Zhong in disbelief. Was this really her husband?


    Hadn¡¯t he always been docile, nodding along to whatever she said?


    He was actually talking about divorcing her! And it seemed not just once.


    Uncle Huang let out a heavy sigh, "Big Dog and Second Dog can¡¯t be without a mother, your mother and I... Let¡¯s just endure and it will pass."


    Right now, the two beloved grandsons were out playing; it would be better to settle things peacefully, after all, they were still a family.


    "You raised me, scrimping and saving to set up a shop for me, and even slaving away for me all these years. If I didn¡¯t care about any of this, would I still be human?"


    "I¡¯m enjoying the good life in town, while leaving you to suffer and work hard in the village. That would make me an animal!"


    Huang Zhong pounded his chest, crying helplessly like a child.


    All the years of accumulated guilt surged out at once.


    Aunt Huang hugged her son with a heartache. With these words from Huang Zhong, she was willing to toil away for him for the rest of her life!


    What do parents want from their children?


    Isn¡¯t it the hope that they live well and be happy together for a lifetime?


    If the children are willing to care for them in their old age, their hearts are content; if not, they would just as well crawl into their coffins.


    But now her son was not happy, suffering every day as if he were in a boiling oil cauldron!


    Uncle Huang rubbed his nose forcefully, managing to keep his tears at bay.


    Perhaps... they should just comply with their son¡¯s request?


    Aunt Huang wiped away her tears, "Zheng Hong, go and ask the village chief to come over for me."


    "Okay," Tan Zhenghong nodded.


    Ever since he severed ties with the Tan Family, he felt that many matters should be dealt with decisively, or else they would drag on for a lifetime.


    And the longer they were dragged out, the more painful they became.


    The girl quickly said, "Brother Zheng Hong, you rest. I¡¯ll go home and call my father over."


    She had been considerate¡ªstill concerned about Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hardships at this hour.


    Huang Zhong seemed liberated, "Thank you, mother!"


    Seeing the situation turning against her, Madam Bao quickly said, "Huang Zhong, don¡¯t be angry with me. What I said was in anger; I know I was wrong and I will definitely change. Please forgive me."

 Chapter 392 - 395 Acknowledging the Mistake_1

    Chapter 392: Chapter 395 Acknowledging the Mistake_1Bao¡¯s felt prideful for so long, suddenly being made to lower her head filled her heart with resentment, almost tearing her clothes apart.


    But the circumstances were pressing, her natal family was absent, and the Huang Family members were united in heart; if she didn¡¯t want to become a divorced woman, she had no choice but to bow her head and admit her wrongs.


    The three members of the Huang Family all looked at Bao¡¯s, and this sudden change surprised them greatly.


    Bao¡¯s actually apologizing? How could this be possible?


    Seeing their disbelief, Bao¡¯s continued, "It¡¯s just that these past few days I lost money playing mahjong, I was so frustrated. If I didn¡¯t let it out, I felt like I would be stifled to death, so I really didn¡¯t know what I was doing."


    "I truly didn¡¯t do it on purpose, please forgive me this once. I swear I¡¯ll never do this again!"


    "I gave birth to Big Dog and Second Dog for the Huang Family, besides me, who would give their whole heart for their well-being? My methods may not be upright, but which of my actions wasn¡¯t meant to save more for them? I don¡¯t want them to have to work as hard as you in the future," she said.


    Bao¡¯s, with tears streaming down her face, spoke with utmost sincerity, and the Huang Family members calmed down.


    Because the mention of Big Dog and Second Dog struck a chord in their hearts.


    The matter of stepmothers harshly treating children happened often, how could they bear to let their treasures endure such hardship?


    Thus, the Huang Family¡¯s hearts softened.


    Suddenly, Chen Yiling spoke up, "Since your words alone lack credibility, how about I write a written pledge for you?"


    "Uncle, Aunt, I think Ling¡¯er is making sense," Qiao Duo¡¯er voiced her opinion.


    This was someone else¡¯s family matter, and she shouldn¡¯t interfere, but the Huang couple had been wholeheartedly kind to her and Tan Zhenghong, how could she stand idly by?


    Huang Zhong looked at his parents before saying, "If you dare to make a written pledge, we will let this go, but if you don¡¯t, we will sever ties."


    Bao¡¯s clenched her teeth, "I¡¯ll make the written pledge."


    They reached a unanimous decision, and Uncle Huang brought out paper and pen.


    They were inferior goods, kept for keeping accounts.


    Chen Yiling didn¡¯t mind, and regardless of the poor quality of the paper and pen, she could still write a beautiful script. It wasn¡¯t long before she finished writing the guarantee.


    The gist of it was that if Bao¡¯s showed any disobedience towards her in-laws again, she would be sent immediately to the Government Office to be punished for filial impiety.


    Bao¡¯s pressed her thumbprint, Chen Yiling checked it before handing it over to Aunt Huang, "Aunt, keep this safe. If she breaks her promise, you can take this to the Government Office and accuse her!"


    "Thank you!" Aunt Huang hastened to say.


    Bao¡¯s hung her head, her eyes filled with hatred, giving her a somewhat fierce look.


    Bao¡¯s was dissatisfied, but with the written pledge, this issue was temporarily resolved.


    But nobody was in the mood for eating anymore, and Aunt Huang forced herself to go to the kitchen. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The guests had all been invited; they couldn¡¯t just send them back without a meal.


    "Aunt, although she has admitted her wrongs, you still need to be cautious," Qiao Duo¡¯er said softly.


    Bao¡¯s was aggressive when causing trouble and did not hesitate to admit defeat, demonstrating how shrewd and ruthless this woman was.


    Aunt Huang nodded, "Good child, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll see how she behaves."


    "Actually, I think there was no need to even write that pledge. Just divorcing her would bring peace. My husband says that the nature of a person is hard to change. Once someone makes a mistake, they can¡¯t be trusted again," Chen Yiling earnestly voiced her thoughts.


    However, she also understood the Huang Family¡¯s perspective.


    It was not easy for ordinary folks to marry off a daughter, and even harder to become a family, which should be cherished.


    But the key point was that some people are simply not worth it!


    Aunt Huang slowly said, "How can one simply condemn someone to death like that? Since she has written the pledge, let¡¯s give her a chance. Perhaps she will truly reform."

 Chapter 393 - 396 I am under the control of my wife_1

    Chapter 393: Chapter 396 I am under the control of my wife_1"I think most people who lead ordinary lives aren¡¯t too bad," Chao Lian said weakly.


    She was a child harmed by a stepmother and felt that children with their birth mothers were very fortunate. Moreover, hadn¡¯t Bao¡¯s already apologized?


    Maybe it would be best to spare her this time, and perhaps the family could then be complete again.


    After all, it was none of their business, so Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling said no more.


    They only hoped that after being beaten, Bao¡¯s would be more honest.


    At lunchtime, Bao¡¯s came out to eat, but Huang Zhong, stubbornly holding a grudge, didn¡¯t bring her any food. Starving her for a meal was a form of punishment, I guess.


    Today¡¯s events had caused the Huang Family to lose face both privately and publicly, and their hearts were thoroughly wounded. From now on, he definitely wouldn¡¯t treat Bao¡¯s the same as before.


    Fortunately, both sons had inherited Huang Zhong¡¯s disposition. They might not be the brightest, but they were honest children.


    Uncle Huang and Aunt Huang each held a well-behaved grandchild, which brightened their moods substantially.


    After lunch, Aunt Huang personally saw the guests out.


    She apologized repeatedly, "It¡¯s all my fault. The meal wasn¡¯t great, and it upset you all."


    Chen Yiling waved her hand, "It doesn¡¯t matter, Auntie. Don¡¯t be too sad. We genuinely like you, and if you¡¯re ever treated unfairly, just let us know. We¡¯ll help you vent!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Holding things in can make you sick. I might not be able to do much to help, but talking about it can at least make you feel better," she added.


    Chao Lian was a bit worried because Aunt Huang seemed very haggard.


    Aunt Huang nodded, "Thank you."


    Ah, it was a pity that when Huang Zhong insisted on marrying Bao¡¯s, she hadn¡¯t stood firm against it. Otherwise, things wouldn¡¯t have come to this.


    If her daughter-in-law were even half as considerate as these children, she¡¯d wake up laughing from her sleep.


    After saying goodbye to Aunt Huang, they went to visit Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s new home.


    Everyone except Sun Erhu hadn¡¯t really looked around Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s place yet, so this was a good opportunity for a tour, and they also had to discuss the face mask powder business.


    Upon entering the yard, Sun Erhu was startled; the courtyard had undergone a huge transformation!


    "Brother Hong, you haven¡¯t just locked yourself up in the yard to fuss over this plot of land, have you?"


    He wasn¡¯t well-read, but he knew the saying that a spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces.


    And here was Tan Zhenghong, meddling with the vegetable garden right after getting married¡ªwhat a waste!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Chao Lian, Erhu has only that one thing on his mind. Think it over carefully before deciding to marry him."


    It seemed marrying Sun Erhu would be even more miserable...


    Chao Lian¡¯s face turned red in an instant. She... she hadn¡¯t said she wanted to marry Sun Erhu, had she?


    "Sister-in-law, I¡¯m just concerned about your well-being, okay? Don¡¯t you discredit me!" Sun Erhu was on edge.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked innocently, "I discredited you? No way, unless there¡¯s something else on your mind? Let¡¯s hear it."


    Sun Erhu took a deep breath, "Brother Hong, won¡¯t you put in a word for me with your wife?"


    "In my house, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s in charge of me."


    Tan Zhenghong tossed out the remark lightly, succeeding in making Sun Erhu so angry he was practically steaming.


    Sun Erhu secretly vowed never to interfere with their affairs again to avoid self-induced frustration. It was just a marriage, wasn¡¯t it?


    He would get married too!


    He would let his wife boss him around!


    After getting married, he certainly wouldn¡¯t concern himself with a vegetable garden. Instead, he¡¯d spend sweet days with his wife and then create a bunch of little ones!


    Seeing his near-breakdown, the others couldn¡¯t help but laugh without any pretense.


    There was no denying that Sun Erhu was a huge source of amusement; wherever he went, laughter was sure to follow.


    Sun Erhu was sulky for a while but then pushed the matter to the back of his

 Chapter 394 - 397: Focusing on the Wrong Thing_1

    Chapter 394: Chapter 397: Focusing on the Wrong Thing_1Qiao Duo¡¯er led them around and then they sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting; it was quite pleasant.


    Yang Ruoruo was the first to speak about the mask powder sales, "I and Big Girl got to know quite a few new patrons and sold a total of nineteen boxes, but many people said it¡¯s inconvenient and untrustworthy without a physical store."


    In the past, it was sold to people we knew, who paid up readily.


    But now that the business had expanded, they were dealing with strangers, and many were afraid that if there was a problem or no effect, they would have nowhere to turn for a complaint.


    So they kept asking questions and took a long time to decide whether to buy or not, and even once they had decided, paying was another hassle.


    In short, there was just one word to describe it¡ªexhausting!


    "I think we should find a shop as soon as possible," Big Girl nodded in agreement.


    "I heard that a shop will be vacant soon, but it¡¯s too small; it probably only fits a counter. It wouldn¡¯t be suitable for selling mask powder."


    Chen Yiling propped up her chin, somewhat helplessly.


    She had already asked many people to look around, but the results were hard to be satisfied with.


    "You¡¯ve already done amazing, good locations for shops are few, and shop premises are basically fixed; where can you find one so easily?" Qiao Duo¡¯er paused before saying, "I plan to let Wind Liyang carve names on the boxes to prevent counterfeiting, so we can take our time with the shop matter."


    Wind Liyang¡¯s carving skill was sharp and unique, impossible for others to imitate.


    This would prevent others from using fake products to deceive customers, who would then wrongly come to them.


    Chen Yiling clapped her hands, "That¡¯s a good idea, then I¡¯ll go back and tell them to sell the shop to someone else."


    "Don¡¯t rush, I think that shop could be useful for something else," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with narrowed eyes.


    A small shop might not work for selling mask powder, but they had more than just mask powder to sell, right?


    Tan Zhenghong immediately understood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s meaning, but there was a big problem.


    "Up to now, Madam Liang is still eyeing your braised meat recipe; isn¡¯t it inappropriate for us to suddenly open a shop?"


    Open attacks are easy to dodge, but secret ones are hard to guard against. If Madam Liang resorted to some underhanded tricks, it would be troublesome.


    "That woman is shameless, as slippery as an eel, and you just can¡¯t catch her," Chen Yiling began to vent.


    She dreamed of killing that damn Master and Madam Liang. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it weren¡¯t for their constant meddling, Lord Qin wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard.


    But they had been building their influence in White Stone Town for many years; it wasn¡¯t so easy to topple them.


    Big Girl said excitedly, "So you do know about being as slippery as an eel! I was planning to take you to catch one later, but now there¡¯s no need."


    Cough cough, her focus was somewhat odd.


    She chuckled awkwardly, "Just pretend you didn¡¯t hear that, let¡¯s continue."


    "It¡¯s settled then, don¡¯t cheat me, let¡¯s... finish talking about the serious matters before we go," Chen Yiling also changed her tune halfway through.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit like she was frustrated with their intransigence, but let it go, deciding not to nitpick.


    She hurriedly finished discussing the matters, then let them go play.


    "I believe that the law is clear; Madam Liang probably wouldn¡¯t dare to mess around, otherwise there will always be clues that let us catch her in the act."


    Just like the last time Xiao Biyu released snakes; if it had been someone else¡¯s home, they might have just cursed their luck, but when it came to her, despite going around in such a big circle, didn¡¯t they still find evidence in the end?


    Now, wasn¡¯t she obediently waiting in jail?


    "I agree, we should take the initiative. When they show their true colors, we¡¯ll drag them out into the light."


    Chen Yiling was very naive, not sensing any risk in this plan at all.

 Chapter 395 - 398 Sudden Change in Style_1

    Chapter 395: Chapter 398 Sudden Change in Style_1But indeed, taking the initiative wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Madam Liang is the Master¡¯s daughter, but Chen Yiling is still the County Magistrate¡¯s wife. What¡¯s there to be so smug about?


    There¡¯s one last thing to decide, though¡ªwhat name should we give to the facial mask powder?


    Or rather, what name should we give to the shop selling the facial mask powder?


    "Just call it facial mask powder, simple and easy to understand, easy to remember. Why bother making it so complicated?" Sun Erhu mocked with a nonchalant attitude.


    That earned him a lot of disdain from everyone present.


    The main customers of the facial mask powder were from rich and prosperous families, and these people were extremely picky about not only quality but also the name.


    You can¡¯t just say in conversation, "I bought a box of facial mask powder from the facial mask powder shop, the effects aren¡¯t bad, you guys should go buy it too," right? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just thinking about it was enough to trigger an onslaught of second-hand embarrassment!


    Sun Erhu obediently shut his mouth and listened to the names that others came up with.


    There were a few plausible ones, like Ju Xiangge, Ju Meige, Li Meixuan, and Beautiful Cottage, but it felt like these names lacked depth and soul.


    Finally, Tan Zhenghong settled the matter with a bang and named it Duo Meixuan.


    His wife happened to be the best testimonial for the facial mask powder, and she even could be considered a legend.


    This name won everyone¡¯s approval, and so it was temporarily decided upon.


    Sun Erhu was still stubbornly convinced that the name he came up with was the best. "What¡¯s this Duo Mei? Can¡¯t even understand what it means."


    Hey, is it meant to suggest Duo¡¯er is beautiful?


    He had to acknowledge that Tan Zhenghong, who eavesdropped on more lessons than he did, was truly a cultured man. His choice for the name was indeed imbued with meaning.


    After discussing the serious matters, the older girls took Chen Yiling with them to catch loaches.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help feeling itchy to join them, grabbing a fish spear and heading out too. It seemed like a long time since she had eaten fish, and she was craving it badly.


    Chao Lian and Yang Ruoruo were more introverted by nature, but seeing how much fun the other three were having, they quickly joined in.


    It wasn¡¯t clear whether they were so engrossed in their play that they lost track of time, or whether Qin Longyun was simply missing his wife terribly. Regardless, when he arrived at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s courtyard, he saw Chen Yiling looking like a little messy cat.


    Her hands held squirming loaches, and her face and body were smeared with quite a bit of mud.


    Chen Yiling impulsively asked, "Lord Qin, what brings you here?"


    Now Qin Longyun¡¯s face, already dark, grew even darker. What was she implying by calling him Lord Qin?


    Qiao Duo sent Chao Lian and the others a look, and they quickly sneaked away, leaving Yi Ling to fend for herself.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s face was stern as he asked, "Is this what you came here to do?"


    "I... you¡¯re being too fierce," Chen Yiling pouted, visibly displeased. "Look how nice Tan Zhenghong is to Duo¡¯er."


    "And how does Duo¡¯er address Tan Zhenghong?"


    Chen Yiling thought carefully, "I think she just calls him Tan Zhenghong? No, that¡¯s not right, they have a kind of telepathy, so they don¡¯t really call out each other¡¯s names."


    Qin Longyun brooded over whether he should have kept Yi Ling from getting too close to Qiao Duo. In the past, she used to affectionately call him ¡¯husband¡¯ so sweetly, but now she had abruptly switched to Lord Qin.


    Would she, in the future, stop addressing him altogether and simply ignore him?


    Chen Yiling wiped her face, which only made it messier: "I¡¯m not talking to you anymore. I¡¯m going to take a bath."


    With that, Chen Yiling ran off, not wanting to deal with his icy demeanor.


    He was always so stern-faced, smiling so seldomly that it was pitiful. She found herself preferring someone like Sun Erhu.


    Following behind Chen Yiling, Qin Longyun¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. Actually, he had only been a bit puzzled upon seeing her catching loaches.


    Chen Yiling had always been a well-bred young lady, so her sudden change of behavior had caught him off guard, but he wasn¡¯t angry.


    He even felt that she had never smiled so radiantly before, and his own mood lightened.

 Chapter 396 - 399: Posture Improvement (1)_1

    Chapter 396: Chapter 399: Posture Improvement (1)_1f?eewebnove?.co?When Chen Yiling entered the house, ChunTao followed her in.


    "Miss, the son-in-law is so good to you, he brought your clothes over himself, didn¡¯t let anyone else touch them," ChunTao said with a smile.


    The son-in-law of her house never lets any other men touch the young lady¡¯s belongings. If that¡¯s not love, then what is it? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling said insincerely, "Good? He¡¯s always putting on a stern face, like he¡¯s interrogating a criminal. If your miss weren¡¯t so gutsy, she would have been scared half to death by him a long time ago."


    ChunTao secretly chuckled. She wouldn¡¯t point out the young lady¡¯s true feelings.


    Wasn¡¯t she just verbally expressing dislike while cherishing him secretly in her heart?


    "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re laughing, hurry up and get my bath water ready," Chen Yiling rolled her eyes helplessly.


    ChunTao candidly grinned and said, "Miss, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll go now."


    Chen Yiling took a deep breath. She had been too nice to ChunTao, now even she dared to tease her.


    However, after ChunTao left, she sneaked a laugh, with all the mannerisms of a little girl.


    When Chen Yiling reappeared in the living room, Qin Longyun was chatting with Tan Zhenghong and the others.


    She knew her husband was once again assessing the people¡¯s sentiment. Not wanting to listen to that, she slipped into the kitchen where the delightful aroma of food had already filled the air, making her even hungrier.


    "Duo¡¯er, what are you cooking? It smells so good!" Chen Yiling rubbed her stomach.


    "It¡¯s all made with the stuff you caught this afternoon; we can start eating in a bit," Qiao Duo¡¯er intentionally kept her in suspense.


    Chen Yiling peeked into the pot, hoping to start eating soon.


    Seeing that DaNiu was washing dishes, she went over to help.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s idea of help resulted in... breaking two bowls, at which DaNiu hurriedly asked her to stand aside and watch.


    The household of Qiao Duo¡¯er had few bowls to begin with, and if a few more were broken, they would have to hold their food in their hands that evening.


    Soon, the dishes were all laid out on the table.


    Fried river clam cakes, braised prawns, boiled fish fillets, assorted fish dumplings, loach with tofu, plus a few vegetarian dishes, and a farm chicken bought from another family made for a full table.


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cooking skills, everyone stuffed themselves until their bellies were full.


    After dinner, having seen off Qin Longyun and the rest, Tan Zhenghong took over the washing up.


    He now wished there were no chores left for his wife, hoping she would last a bit longer at night.


    In the following days, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong lived a shameless life, just like conjoined twins. Qiao Duo¡¯er felt quite aggrieved.


    She thought that Tan Zhenghong, who had just started indulging in carnal pleasures, would only have the energy to frolic for a couple of days.


    But now, ten days since the wedding, if he had his way, he could go on until dawn.


    Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s enthusiasm for this matter must be because there were basically no entertainment activities available these days.


    After a night¡¯s bath, it was straight to sleep; what else to do but things one enjoys?


    If only she could find something else for Tan Zhenghong to do, that¡¯s it! The miscellaneous books and stationery she got as part of her dowry could come in handy.


    This way, not only could they pass the time, but they could also increase their knowledge. Qiao Duo¡¯er found herself impressed by her own cleverness.


    Only, she never anticipated that beside increasing knowledge, they could also improve their techniques.


    That night, Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled Tan Zhenghong to read with her.


    The sofa was soft, and it felt comfortable sitting on it in just their undergarments.


    The miscellaneous notebook, written in semi-vernacular Chinese, was a bit hard to follow, but they could understand it.


    The stories recorded inside were quite interesting, and the two of them read with great enjoyment.


    "Wife, what character is this?" Tan Zhenghong pointed to a spot.

 Chapter 397 - 400: Posture Improvement (2)_1

    Chapter 397: Chapter 400: Posture Improvement (2)_1Tan Zhenghong had never been to school and had only eavesdropped outside of private classes, at best he could be considered a half-baked scholar.


    Therefore, there were some complex characters he couldn¡¯t read, like one character comprising a person on top and meat at the bottom. Separately he knew them, but once combined, he had no clue what kind of ghost they were supposed to represent.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, believing that Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t recognize the word, but she was certain he knew what it meant. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, Tan Zhenghong was deliberately teasing her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, "It looks like someone¡¯s skin is itching for a lesson, isn¡¯t it?"


    Tan Zhenghong guiltily touched his nose, "Wife, I was wrong, let¡¯s continue reading."


    "No more reading!" Qiao Duo¡¯er snapped the book shut.


    At the same time, her face betrayed her as it began to blush, because the damn book actually contained a graphic description.


    It was similar to the part describing Pan Jinlian, sensual but not vulgar, stirring the emotions.


    Damn, she had successfully trapped herself today!


    "Alright, no more reading. Shall we go to bed then?" Tan Zhenghong put the book aside, stretched out his long arm, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was already in his embrace.


    "I certainly do not want to." Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately refused.


    The smile on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face grew even more rippling, "Then let¡¯s stay on the sofa."


    After Tan Zhenghong ate once, he let Qiao Duo¡¯er rest.


    Before sleeping, Qiao Duo¡¯er was thinking that she should still let Tan Zhenghong practice writing in the future.


    It was not only safe but could also cultivate one¡¯s moral character.


    Early the next morning, Tan Zhenghong got up on tiptoes. His movements were very gentle, but Qiao Duo¡¯er still opened her eyes.


    "It¡¯s still early. I¡¯m going to hunt in the mountains, you sleep a little longer," Tan Zhenghong said affectionately.


    Hunting was his main job. Previously he had been busy with house renovations, then with getting married, and after the marriage, he was busy being intimate with his wife and taking care of the vegetable garden, so he¡¯d had no time to go up the mountain.


    If this kept up, his hunting skills would deteriorate.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, who couldn¡¯t fall back asleep, sat up immediately, "Wait for me, I¡¯m coming too."


    She had been staying at home these past few days and was nearly going stir-crazy.


    In autumn, the hard-working villagers would go up the mountain to look for wild products, such as hickory nuts, Chinese wild dates, and shepherd¡¯s purse, which they could sell in town.


    Although they only fetched one or two Wen money per pound, little by little, that¡¯s how they saved up money.


    When more people entered the mountain, the animals, startled, would hide away.


    So Tan Zhenghong had to go deeper into the forest to hunt, and although he didn¡¯t want to take his wife, Duo¡¯er insisted, so he compromised.


    After breakfast, they set out for the mountain with water, dry food, and a mountain muntjac in tow.


    Once in the forest, Qiao Duo tied the mountain muntjac to a large tree with a three-meter-long rope, which was enough range for it to move around.


    As Tan Zhenghong had said, the mountain muntjac was already tamed; it quietly looked for something to eat.


    Tan Zhenghong said excitedly, "The footprints here are the same as the one we¡¯re raising. Male mountain muntjacs have their own territory and patrol it regularly. We can just wait here for them to walk right into our trap."


    Qiao Duo examined the footprints closely, "There are at least five."


    "Male mountain muntjacs are regarded as dominant, a male may have several female companions, but only the males are eligible for ¡¯taking the fragrance.¡¯


    Tan Zhenghong quickly clarified, worried that his wife would set her hopes too high and end up disappointed.

 Chapter 398 - 401 Huge Harvest_1

    Chapter 398: Chapter 401 Huge Harvest_1Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her opinion indifferently, "Of course I know that although females can¡¯t be used to extract fragrance, they can give birth to babies."


    Only with males and females can there be endless offspring.


    She had brought the Mountain Muntjac to the mountains with the initial intention of letting it charm a couple of female friends to bring home.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "My wife is still the smartest."


    The two of them hid behind the bushes, their ears perpetually attuned to the sounds around them.


    After a long wait with no movement, they simply leaned against a rock to catch a nap, as the crisp autumn air was perfect for sleeping.


    As Tan Zhenghong held his wife, he suddenly felt that even though the passionate times must come to an end, it¡¯s this quiet closeness that could last forever.


    Of course, the passion couldn¡¯t be lacking either, as it was the spice of affection.


    Hearing a disturbance, they both woke up simultaneously.


    Peeking out to check the situation, it was a group of Mountain Muntjacs!


    The male Mountain Muntjac walked in front, its large build and canine teeth prominent. The females followed closely behind, petite and without the large teeth, easy to distinguish.


    One male and four females, and there were also two little ones following, their sexes indiscernible.


    The group of Mountain Muntjacs circled the intruder, with the male continually emitting warning sounds.


    The tied-up Mountain Muntjac wasn¡¯t afraid either, ready to attack at any moment.


    This was a fight to the death, the victor would take over this territory, claim all the females, and then thrive and reproduce here.


    The male bellowed, ready to start its attack.


    Probably because its wife and kids were watching, it would have been embarrassing not to take the initiative.


    But how could it have anticipated that it only took two steps before an arrow suddenly shot towards it?


    The Mountain Muntjacs were startled and scattered, but no matter how fast they ran, they couldn¡¯t outrun the bows and arrows of Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    The arrows were coated with a tranquilizer, which was a method Qiao Duo¡¯er conceived after Tan Zhenghong was grabbed by a bear.


    She hadn¡¯t expected it to come in handy today.


    Assuming all the Mountain Muntjacs had fainted, Tan Zhenghong finally said, "I¡¯ll go collect the Mountain Muntjacs; don¡¯t wander far from here."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, and as Tan Zhenghong brought the Mountain Muntjacs back, she removed the arrows from them.


    When men and women worked together, the job was not tiring. Before them, the seven Mountain Muntjacs were lined up in a row.


    "This one is bigger than the other."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the male¡¯s Fragrance Pouch. This Musk Deer must be in its prime, secreting a lot of musk, the quality of which should not be poor.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a dark face, "Don¡¯t look there."


    "Your thoughts are unhealthy," Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted, but she obediently moved her gaze away.


    They had easily obtained so many Mountain Muntjacs, but now they faced a problem.


    Musk Deer were small, weighing at most about thirty pounds.


    But the number was too great; including the one brought from home, there were a total of eight Musk Deer.


    Moreover, seven of them were injured, and now, whether sneaking or blatantly, it was difficult to carry them back.


    Besides, this was a deep mountain and old forest; if any birds of prey appeared, they would be devastated.


    Qiao Duo furrowed her brow, and Tan Zhenghong quickly said, "Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He took out a dagger, chopped down two thick branches, and cut off a piece of the rope used to tie the Mountain Muntjac, creating a net-like structure fixed onto the branches, making a makeshift stretcher.


    Although crude, it should have no problem carrying a hundred pounds or so.


    Tan Zhenghong stuffed the male Mountain Muntjac into his own carrier, led the one they had brought along, and with the others carried on the stretcher, they could now easily head home.


    However, to avoid attracting attention, they decided to rest in the cave first and return to the village at night.

 Chapter 399 - 402: Be Good to Your Wife_1

    Chapter 399: Chapter 402: Be Good to Your Wife_1After they had settled the mountain muntjac, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went to the stream to wash their hands before returning to the cave to share their dry food.


    It was already two or three o¡¯clock, and they had been starving for a long time.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er disliked the dry flatbreads and only ate half before refusing to eat any more.


    "Wife, go find some dry wood to start a fire, I¡¯ll be back soon," Tan Zhenghong said as he stuffed the last piece of flatbread into his mouth and took a sip of water before leaving. When he returned, he was carrying a cleaned chicken in his hand.


    Regretfully, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It would have been great if we had some seasonings."


    "I brought some, there¡¯s salt and five-spice powder inside," Tan Zhenghong replied, taking out a small bamboo tube from his chest.


    His wife wasn¡¯t picky, she ate a lot of what she liked and less of what she didn¡¯t. As long as she didn¡¯t starve, that was enough.


    But as her husband, he had to find a way to fill her up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with her head lowered, evenly rubbed the seasoning all over the chicken. Tan Zhenghong leaned in and said, "Don¡¯t be shy, you¡¯re my wife. If I don¡¯t treat you well, who will?"


    Letting others be good to his wife meant pushing her away, didn¡¯t it?


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t do such a stupid thing.


    Although Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was tense, she couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her lips upwards.


    The chicken sizzled over the fire, and soon a tantalizing meaty aroma wafted through the air.


    Once the outside turned golden brown, the roast chicken was ready to eat.


    Tan Zhenghong tore off a piece of meat first, cooled it down, and fed it to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth, "Wife, how does it taste?"


    "It¡¯s delicious, you should try some too," Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled with her eyes half-closed.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, first tearing off a chicken leg for Qiao Duo¡¯er and then eating the meat from the carcass himself.


    Dissatisfied, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "You eat the chicken leg first. I can¡¯t finish that much, and it won¡¯t taste good when it¡¯s cold. We can always catch another one tonight if we have to."


    The two of them enjoyed their meal together until Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly said, "There¡¯s someone outside."


    Tan Zhenghong put down the roasted chicken and covered the mountain muntjac with dry grass.


    Just as the person outside was about to enter the cave, Tan Zhenghong casually sat down next to Qiao Duo¡¯er with a relaxed demeanor.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan looked in and smiled, "Who could it be? Is it Zheng Hong and your wife?"


    "Auntie, are you also here to gather mountain goods?" Tan Zhenghong asked nonchalantly.


    "Yes, it¡¯s good to be a hunter, you can always have meat wherever you go. Unlike us, we can only pick some walnuts and jujubes, all worthless stuff," Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s eyes kept drifting to the roasted chicken.


    Could the two of them finish a whole roast chicken?


    "You could let Xiao Shu learn hunting from me. We¡¯re all from the same township, I¡¯ll only charge you one tael of silver a year," Tan Zhenghong offered.


    Hunters rarely take on apprentices, and even if they do, the fee isn¡¯t small. He was already giving a neighborly discount.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan immediately shook her head, "Even if you didn¡¯t charge silver, I wouldn¡¯t let Xiao Shu do a life-risking job."


    Tan Zhenghong, as skillful as he is, didn¡¯t he still break his leg?


    If not for Qiao Duo knowing the joint-healing method, he¡¯d be a cripple for life.


    Her son didn¡¯t have the same skills as Tan Zhenghong. What if he lost his life? How could she let her child take such a risk?


    The expressions on Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s faces soured, but Jiang¡¯s Clan did not care, "I didn¡¯t say anything wrong. After all, hunting isn¡¯t a proper trade. Look at selling braised meat ¨C you make money without much hard work, and later we can call Chao Lian to make money together." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t want to engage with her because speaking with a fool could turn themselves foolish as well.

 Chapter 400 - 403 Homecoming Success_1

    Chapter 400: Chapter 403 Homecoming Success_1Jiang¡¯s Clan talked to herself, feeling bored and quite awkward.


    Never mind, the meat had nothing to do with her anyway, and they didn¡¯t intend to share any with her. It was pointless for her to look on; she might as well go and look for some mountain goods.


    But before she left, she still swallowed hard.


    That chicken smelled really delicious!


    After Jiang¡¯s Clan left, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Jiang¡¯s Clan had seen the Mountain Muntjac, by tomorrow the entire village would know about it, and the story would be blown out of proportion.


    As for the roasted chicken, she and Tan Zhenghong really couldn¡¯t finish it, but it could be fed to the Mountain Muntjac.


    That was certainly better than giving it to Jiang¡¯s Clan. If she ate it, wouldn¡¯t she have the energy to bully Chao Lian?


    The effects of the knockout drug would last six hours. After having their fill, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong picked young leaves in the forest cave.


    Suddenly, having seven more mouths to feed at home, they felt the pressure.


    During their rest, Tan Zhenghong also made a wreath, and Qiao Duo¡¯er, wearing it, looked even more like a fairy.


    Time flew quickly, and soon the sky darkened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong returned to the cave, ate some dried flatbread to fill their stomachs, and prepared to go home.


    Under the cover of darkness, they successfully made it back to their house.


    Mountain Muntjacs have a strong sense of territory, so Tan Zhenghong could only place the unconscious family members temporarily in the firewood shed to avoid unnecessary casualties.


    In the middle of the night, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er were awakened by noise; the seven Muntjacs, now awake, were restless, wailing and constantly ramming the walls.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth and had no choice but to knock them out again.


    The next morning, the two got up early. They had to hurry to build the lean-to properly.


    With the Mountain Muntjacs being so active, their enclosure was made of fences circled around an area with a small grass hut in the middle, which served as their shelter for sleeping at night or from the rain.


    Luckily, there were plenty of leftover fences from the house building, and to prevent the Mountain Muntjacs from escaping, the fences had to be nailed down deeply.


    After the sun rose, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought water to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong climbed down from the ladder and drank from the water cupped in his wife¡¯s hands.


    "I¡¯m going out, I¡¯ll be back to cook at noon. The water¡¯s boiled and left on the table for you, drink some if you¡¯re thirsty," she instructed before leaving to cut young leaves.


    By evening, the seven Muntjacs had settled into their new home.


    Clearly despising this freedom-less place, they tried escaping several times, failing each attempt and injuring themselves in the process.


    After two hours of commotion, they finally calmed down.


    With a day and night without food, they also ate a large portion of the leaves Qiao Duo¡¯er had fed them.


    Eating was the precursor to their coming to terms with the situation.


    Seeing one of the Muntjacs in the adjacent lean-to, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say, "It looks so pitiful."


    They were Musk Deer too¡ªone enjoying a group of spouses and children, the other solitary and alone. Why was there such a disparity?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted she favored the first Musk Deer, so she wanted to steal two wives for it from the other one.


    But having already captured and confined them, and then to snatch their wives¡ªthat would be incredibly immoral, right?


    "Just wait until next year, and we can introduce the younger one in," said Tan Zhenghong while rubbing his wife¡¯s head. Among the two young ones, there was a female, already over five months old; she could breed by the end of next year at the latest.


    Qiao Duo nodded, that was all they could do for now.


    They hoped they¡¯d be lucky enough to capture more Musk Deer in the future.


    That way, the original one could have its own wives, preventing the need for inbreeding later on.


    Inbreeding, with its similar genetic material, made it easy for offspring to be born with genetic defects, Musk Deer were no exception.

 Chapter 401 - 404 Complete Trust_1

    Chapter 401: Chapter 404 Complete Trust_1Two more days passed, and the seven mountain muntjacs had resigned themselves to their fate, their appetites steadily growing. Along with the ox, cutting grass now took a lot of time each day.


    Tan Zhenghong purchased tofu dregs from the Zhang Family and planned to go to town to buy some bran.


    In this way, a couple of hours of cutting grass would suffice for their daily feed.


    Conveniently, Qiao Duo¡¯er was going to find Wind Liyang, so the two set off for town together, driving the ox cart.


    Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop.


    "Duo¡¯er, I plan to use different pattern types on the wooden boxes to distinguish the functions of the facial mask powders, in four series total."


    The facial mask powders primarily had four functions: whitening, moisturizing, freckle removing, and wrinkle-reducing skin tightening, each corresponding to themes of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, with several styles under each theme, every one exquisitely detailed.


    No wonder the items carved by Wind Liyang were so popular; he put extraordinary care into every detail.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Brother Feng has taken great pains, this is very good."


    "As long as you¡¯re satisfied. The other day, Dani¡¯r mentioned something about the logo. I¡¯ve sketched a few, have a look and see which one is better."


    Wind Liyang passed over another piece of paper with three draft designs.


    "Brother Feng, could you come up with one more? That way it can correspond with the theme."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt she was being a bit troublesome.


    Yet Wind Liyang immediately agreed, "No problem, I¡¯ll show you once I finish drawing it. Once you approve, I¡¯ll have the craftsmen start working on it."


    "There¡¯s no need, from now on, all the packaging boxes for Duo Mei are fully entrusted to Brother Feng. You can do as you please."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, each new creation by Wind Liyang left her with nothing but praise. Whether she saw them or not made no difference.


    And Wind Liyang was the most sought-after carpenter in White Stone Town; he certainly didn¡¯t lack her compliment.


    Wind Liyang quickly declined, "Duo¡¯er, that doesn¡¯t seem right."


    "There¡¯s nothing wrong with it, I¡¯ll rely on you for this, Brother Feng. At the end of the year, I¡¯ll give you a share of the profits for your technical contribution," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    He had always harbored a thorn in his heart over the Xiang Bao Zhai matter, treating Qiao Duo¡¯er with great caution, fearing being deceived again. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet he didn¡¯t expect Qiao Duo¡¯er to trust him so much; in comparison, it seemed he was being a bit melodramatic.


    Wind Liyang said seriously, "I promise to satisfy you."


    "Then I thank you in advance." Qiao Duo¡¯er clasped fists in gratitude.


    Wind Liyang smiled knowingly. Doing business with such a straightforward person was his good fortune.


    He wasn¡¯t eloquent, nor did he fancy smoothing things over. Every time he had to negotiate a deal, it was a painful experience, but not so when talking with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If possible, he hoped they could collaborate for a lifetime.


    Wind Liyang found himself speechless. He never thought a simple business transaction could inspire thoughts of a lifetime commitment.


    After leaving Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop, Tan Zhenghong steered the ox cart toward the grain shop.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Wouldn¡¯t it be cheaper if we went directly to the mill to buy bran?"


    Bran, the husk of rice and wheat, was most plentiful at the mill¡ªso why go through an intermediary like a grocery store?


    It might not save much, but as they were planning to breed mountain muntjacs long-term, the savings would add up to a significant amount of money over time.


    "Let¡¯s check the mill first."


    Tan Zhenghong found the suggestion reasonable and turned the ox cart around, heading for the town¡¯s largest mill.


    At the mill, they learned it was Nine Wen Money for ten catties, while the grain shop charged One Wen Money per catty. Tan Zhenghong bought fifty catties, saving a total of Five Wen Money.


    As the number of musk deer increased, along with other livestock, the savings would amount to a substantial expense.

 Chapter 402 - 405: Who Pressures Whom_1

    Chapter 402: Chapter 405: Who Pressures Whom_1After buying the bran, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked to go to the West Market, and Tan Zhenghong immediately became anxious.


    The West Market sold poultry and livestock; what could his wife possibly want there?


    She would surely want to buy some to raise, which meant unavoidable worry and effort. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly said, "Wife, let¡¯s not buy those animals. I¡¯ll hunt more in the mountains. I can definitely earn a lot of money that way, surely enough for us to eat and drink."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er leaned in close to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear and said, "Buying these will actually make things easier for me."


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was unconvinced, she explained, "Winter is almost here, and we need to stock up on a lot of hay. How long will it take if we rely on cutting it ourselves?"


    Tan Zhenghong understood, realizing if they hired someone to cut the hay, it would certainly raise suspicions.


    If they bought some poultry and livestock, that would make sense then.


    "Then we can only buy sheep," Tan Zhenghong said assertively.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered in his ear, "If you don¡¯t let me buy what makes me happy, then you can¡¯t touch me for the rest of the month."


    Tan Zhenghong did the math. It was only the sixth of September. Not being allowed to touch her for the rest of the month¡ªthat was practically a death sentence!


    Well... he would wake up earlier from now on, make sure they¡¯re well-fed and prevent his wife from worrying. That would be the best of both worlds.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say, "Ah, you¡¯re so captivated by lust, it¡¯s in your bones, incurable."


    "I¡¯m only captivated by you, so much that it¡¯s imprinted in my soul. That¡¯s how I¡¯ll find you in our next life," Tan Zhenghong said, nibbling on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er trembled slightly, then pinched a soft spot on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s waist.


    "Wife, even if you pinch me, I¡¯ll still stick with you. This life and the next, always," Tan Zhenghong said shamelessly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed, amused. It seems it wasn¡¯t enough to love someone; one had to possess them across countless lifetimes.


    "What if we both become men in our next lives?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face went blank. "That... make sure you reincarnate accurately."


    "Where I come from, there¡¯s something called homosexuality, which means men can love men, and women can love women, and they can even get married."


    Tan Zhenghong was petrified. It took him a while before he managed to squeeze out, "Wife, you¡¯re teasing me, right?"


    For him, it was as bizarre as seeing a ghost.


    Marrying someone of the same sex would be chaos, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cheek, "Is it that you¡¯d dislike me if I turned into a man?"


    Tan Zhenghong was silent for a moment before saying with a grim face, "If it really were you, I could reluctantly accept it. But who would be on top?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless; it turned out Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t averse to the idea of same-sex relationships, but was instead worried about the physical aspects!


    That was a very valid concern indeed.


    "Wife, I suddenly feel so pitiful," Tan Zhenghong said with a woeful expression.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "Don¡¯t worry, we can take turns being on top."


    "You... Me... With our mouths?" Tan Zhenghong stuttered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to block the hand that was about to misbehave, then patted someone¡¯s bottom.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back tingled, "Wife, stop joking with me. I almost fell over just now!"


    "I¡¯m not lying to you. It¡¯s true."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er even nodded, indicating she was telling the truth, and she had always believed that true love was found in same-sex relationships.


    Tan Zhenghong was on the verge of tears, thinking about how his wife might become a man in the next life made him so sad. Well, if that was the case, he... he would just have to sacrifice a bit.

 Chapter 403 - 406 There’s still a little chrysanthemum..._1

    Chapter 403: Chapter 406 There¡¯s still a little chrysanthemum..._1"Wife, maybe I should become a woman, and I¡¯ll hold you down," Tan Zhenghong said with the resignation of a man facing his fate, reasoning that a man and a woman together was definitely better than two big men.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could no longer hold it in, and without any regard for her image, she draped herself over Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulders and laughed heartily until the tears streamed out.


    It was because she had imagined a scene where she poked Tan Zhenghong with a certain tool.


    The mental image was too beautiful, and she was overwhelmed.


    "Wife, are you disgusted with me?" Tan Zhenghong asked with a face full of grievances.


    In between her laughter, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Don¡¯t worry, even if you became a woman, you¡¯d be pretty, haha, I can¡¯t take it anymore!"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face showed defeat, and if it hadn¡¯t been for driving the ox cart, he really would have wished to die on the spot.


    The two of them drew countless sidelong glances, but they didn¡¯t care. They continued to do as they pleased.


    Chattering and laughing all the way, they reached West Market without feeling the passage of time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bought thirty chicks, ducklings, and goslings each, eight lambs, as well as a donkey. She planned to catch a few piglets from Old Lady Huang¡¯s house in a few days, and then they would be all set.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at the cartful of small animals behind them with a bit of helplessness.


    All these little things, and Qiao Duo¡¯er would certainly have to worry about them.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er was extremely satisfied.


    The homestead had six or seven mu of land¡ªenough to plan out a small farmstead and be completely self-sufficient.


    Seeing the Tan Family¡¯s enterprise, the people of Big Willow Village couldn¡¯t contain their curiosity.


    Could the Tan Family have a tree that grew Silver?


    But the Tan Family was always closing their doors when entering or exiting, and their courtyard wall was quite high, so even if people watched, they couldn¡¯t figure anything out.


    Tan Zhenghong was still worried, so he planted trees around the Mountain Muntjac¡¯s pen. This way, even if someone climbed the wall, they couldn¡¯t see anything.


    The muntjacs had a new pastime every day, which was reaching for the leaves on the trees to eat.


    With that, the muntjacs finally behaved themselves.


    At night, Tan Zhenghong was busy doing what he loved.


    Probably because of what Qiao Duo¡¯er had told him, the impact was so great that he kept mumbling about it. So, when he glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, she suddenly seemed to transform into a man.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mind cooled down quickly, and after a careful look, his wife was indeed still a woman, her cheeks pink and blooming with youth.


    Suddenly, he stopped moving, and Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "What¡¯s going on?"


    Didn¡¯t he know that stopping halfway was very annoying?


    Tan Zhenghong spoke seriously, "Duo¡¯er, you must not become a man. Promise me."


    "That¡¯s not something I can decide."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, not expecting him to still dwell on that.


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his teeth, "If you don¡¯t promise me, I¡¯ll stop moving."


    He saw Qiao Duo¡¯er getting a little anxious, so she would surely agree. Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her lip without speaking.


    "Hurry up and promise me," Tan Zhenghong pleaded softly while kissing Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a hint of beseeching in his tone. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong miscalculated, because soon he found himself pinned down by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "You can still think of other things during this? Can¡¯t you focus a bit?" Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a big eye roll.


    She also learned a lesson, which was the benefits of taking care of her own desires.


    After but a slight movement of her waist, Tan Zhenghong quickly forgot all those troublesome thoughts.


    After their passion subsided, Tan Zhenghong remembered it again.


    "Wife..."


    Before he could finish speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly said, "I¡¯ll try my best to remain a woman."


    Sigh, she just said it casually at that time, who knew it would linger in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mind for days?


    Tan Zhenghong got the answer he wanted, and only then contentedly cuddled his wife to sleep.

 Chapter 404 - 407: Probing the Depths - 1

    Chapter 404: Chapter 407: Probing the Depths - 1The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er went over to Old Lady Huang¡¯s House, hoping to ask Aunt Huang to help find a few reliable people to cut grass.


    Musk deer are omnivorous animals that can eat common tree leaves and the stems of crops.


    But they have a high standard for cleanliness, so the grass that is cut must be washed clean.


    The mountain muntjacs were fed three times a day, and each were likely to eat about six jin of fresh grass. Qiao Duo¡¯er roughly estimated that a total of 5000 jin was needed to ensure all the animals could safely get through the winter.


    As for the price, for every five jin of grass that met the requirements, one could receive One Wen money.


    The strong laborers in the village could easily cut 200 jin of grass a day, and with others helping to wash and dry the grass, earning thirty to forty Wen a day was no problem, which was much more profitable than working in town.


    Aunt Huang wasn¡¯t worried at all about people not taking the job; she was just concerned whether Qiao Duo¡¯er could really use so much grass.


    She kindly advised, "Your seven lambs are still young, and even with the cattle and donkey, they won¡¯t finish all that grass. You should collect less."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Auntie. Actually, besides those, we¡¯re raising some other animals as well. If anyone asks, I¡¯m hoping you can help come up with an excuse for me," said Qiao Duo¡¯er politely¡ªthat was her real reason for seeking Aunt Huang¡¯s help.


    Aunt Huang nodded, "That¡¯s easy to handle. I¡¯ll just say I¡¯m collecting a little on behalf of relatives."


    As long as Qiao Duo¡¯er kept track of everything, that was fine.


    "I¡¯m troubled by your help, Auntie."


    Aunt Huang scolded playfully, "What trouble? Just go home and rest easy. I¡¯ll go find people in a moment."


    After sending Qiao Duo¡¯er off, Aunt Huang knocked on several doors, all of trustworthy people, sure to be reliable workers.


    However, everyone thought the idea of buying grass a bit strange and were somewhat skeptical about whether it would really sell for money, so many of them brought a basket of grass just to test the waters first. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it really could be exchanged for money, then they would confidently cut more.


    When the grass arrived at the Tan Family¡¯s place, Tan Zhenghong weighed it, and Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly paid.


    Even if it was a liang or two short, she wasn¡¯t nitpicky and gave the silver coins generously. She also arranged for them to deliver the grass in the evening thereafter.


    Everyone expressed their thanks and then mobilized their entire families, young and old, to go cut grass.


    People who had been watching from outside the Tan Family¡¯s place saw others bringing in basket after basket of grass, and they couldn¡¯t help but smile as they left. Could they not guess what was happening?


    Thus, some came uninvited, bringing the grass they¡¯d cut.


    If it was clean, Qiao Duo¡¯er would take it without question. But some people tried to game the system.


    For instance, the Wife of Niu Er brought a basket of grass that was half full of mud.


    After Tan Zhenghong reported the weight, Qiao Duo¡¯er knew right away that it couldn¡¯t possibly be that heavy if it was just grass.


    Without a glance, she said, "You should take the grass back."


    "Wife of the Fourth Boss, that¡¯s not right. You¡¯ve taken everyone else¡¯s grass, why don¡¯t you want mine?" the Wife of Niu Er protested dissatisfied.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated indifferently, "I made the requirements for the grass clear before I started to collect it. Look for yourself, is there a single stalk in this basket that meets the conditions?"


    The Wife of Niu Er looked at the grass from other people and then her own, and her face started to show her embarrassment.


    She thought Qiao Duo¡¯er, taking one basket after another and paying for them, surely wouldn¡¯t notice the mud in her basket.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t even look at it before telling her to take it back.


    "Wife of Niu Er, were you trying to sneak some extra money by mixing mud in? Or is it that your pigs and sheep eat mud?"


    "If only mud could make them grow, there¡¯d be no need to bother cutting grass, right?" Another woman joked.

 Chapter 405 - 408: Kidneys are Very Good_1

    Chapter 405: Chapter 408: Kidneys are Very Good_1Wife of Niu Er retorted, "What are you talking about? All I did was... hear that her family was gathering grass. How would I know it needs to be washed clean? Wouldn¡¯t there be mud on it when dug out from the ground?"


    "But isn¡¯t there too much mud? There are clumps of it at the bottom."


    Someone couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. The Wife of Niu Er was known for her sneakiness and trickery, which is why no one would ask for her help.


    Wife of Niu Er glared at the person who had spoken and then turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Look, I¡¯ve even brought it here. Why don¡¯t you just accept it?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I might have just started my own household, but I¡¯ve grown up in Big Willow Village and everyone knows what kind of person I am. I¡¯m deeply grateful to anyone who helps, and I won¡¯t let them be taken advantage of. But anyone who treats me and my wife like fools, I won¡¯t stand for it!" Tan Zhenghong said sternly.


    Everyone nodded in agreement, thinking that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s way of dealing with people was very reasonable.


    If kind people are always bullied, who would dare to be kind in the future?


    "You don¡¯t have to worry, we have seen all the grass you have brought, and in the future, when there is work to be done, we¡¯ll make sure to ask for your help first," said Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly as she took the opportunity to set a rule.


    Most villagers were simple and honest, but there were no shortage of those who loved to take small advantages.


    "Wife of Zheng Hong, I washed my grass twice to ensure it¡¯s clean," one woman said, grinning sheepishly.


    She was an honest person, and this time it seemed that good people did get rewarded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Big sister, your work is always satisfying. I¡¯m just afraid that when the time comes, you¡¯ll be too busy and won¡¯t want to help."


    "How could I not come? Just give me the word, and I¡¯ll complete the work without sleeping if need be."


    "Me too, look at the grass I¡¯ve cut¡ªit¡¯s both plentiful and high-quality," another person chimed in.


    "Then thank you all in advance. Today, the grass is green and fresh, so I¡¯ll reward you with Three Wen Money," Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully.


    Now the mood was mixed, with joy from some who felt certain about getting the Three Wen Money, and anxiety from others regretting their laziness.


    Sister-in-law of Niu Er, feeling embarrassed, took her grass and slinked away.


    Not only did she miss out on the advantage this time, but she was also out of luck for any future good fortune with the Tan family.


    Alas, she had shot herself in the foot this time.


    This was just a minor incident, but after this, everyone made sure to bring cleaner grass.


    Three days later, Qiao Duo¡¯er had gathered all the grass she needed.


    In total, there were more than 5,500 pounds of it, which completely covered the front courtyard.


    After the grass had dried, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong bundled it into small sheaves and stored it in the utility room. The two of them toiled away for most of the day, and finally, the grass was inside the house.


    With the muntjac¡¯s fodder taken care of, Qiao Duo¡¯er could rest easy.


    They were lucky because it started to rain that night.


    The next day, after breakfast and tending to the little things around the house, Qiao Duo¡¯er dragged Tan Zhenghong to the room.


    "Wife, we just did ¡¯it¡¯ last night. Let me rest a bit, and we can do ¡¯that¡¯ again at noon," Tan Zhenghong pleaded with a smile, his intuition telling him that being brought to the room promised nothing good.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him an unimpressed look, "Cut the nonsense and get on with your calligraphy practice!"


    Tan Zhenghong grimaced, "Wife, let¡¯s continue reading the book we didn¡¯t finish previously."


    He was still more interested in that, his blood boiling at the mere thought of the scenes described. Unfortunately, ever since that night, his wife refused to touch that book again.


    She wouldn¡¯t read it herself and wouldn¡¯t let him read it either, claiming it was to prevent him from becoming kidney-deficient.


    Yet it was clear that his kidney was just fine because he could last half an hour each time.

 Chapter 406 - 409: Exercise in Bed?_1

    Chapter 406: Chapter 409: Exercise in Bed?_1"If you keep blabbering, I¡¯ll hit you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong down at the desk, personally laid out the paper for him, and even ground the ink.


    The service was so considerate that Tan Zhenghong felt embarrassed not to focus on his calligraphy.


    He had once longed to enter a private school, to be able to read and write, but now his hands were accustomed to the bow and arrow, trembling slightly when he held the pen.


    Unbidden, his eyes reddened a little.


    His reaction made Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart ache; this poor guy had not had an easy life growing up.


    Quietly to herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought that once their lives got a bit better, she would have two little buns, because she wanted to give them a carefree and happy life.


    "Let¡¯s have a contest to see who writes better."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought over another stool and grabbed her own paper and pen to practice writing too.


    She came up with this idea on the spur of the moment, afraid that if Tan Zhenghong had nothing to do, he would drag her to bed.


    Once on the bed, they could forget about doing anything else that day.


    Before long, Tan Zhenghong followed her lead and wrote two big characters.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er lean over to look, Tan Zhenghong immediately covered it... he would let her see when it looked better.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nonchalantly pushed her writing towards him, "Look at what I¡¯ve written¡ªwe¡¯re family after all, show me yours." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that they were both equally skilled, or lacking thereof, Tan Zhenghong also let go.


    Looking at each other¡¯s writing, both of them couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ªcrooked, uneven, it looked more like drawings.


    Trying to hold back her laughter, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "We should practice seriously. One day we will be proud of it, and you can even teach our son how to write then."


    "I don¡¯t want a son," Tan Zhenghong emphasized again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, "What about a daughter? My eyes and mouth are pretty, and your nose is good-looking. Our daughter would definitely inherit our best features and be as pretty as a doll."


    With her guidance, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but imagine it for a moment.


    But after a brief fantasizing, he shook his head, "No, having you is enough."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew this kind of thing couldn¡¯t be rushed and didn¡¯t press Tan Zhenghong; after all, there was no hurry for the time being.


    The couple spent the morning practicing their writing, and by noon, the rain had lessened. Tan Zhenghong donned a straw raincoat and caught two crucian carp from the river.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooked a pot of crucian carp soup, stir-fried a dish of wild vegetables, and their lunch was settled.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er still planned to practice writing.


    But Tan Zhenghong sidled up to her and said, "Wife, sitting for too long isn¡¯t good for your health, you need to get some exercise."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her innocent eyes, "Husband, are you talking about exercising in bed?"


    Her voice was enticing, and coupled with the seductive wink she threw his way, Tan Zhenghong felt his bones go soft.


    "Wife, you¡¯re the smartest!" Tan Zhenghong gave her a thumbs up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hooked her finger under Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chin, mischievously saying, "Husband, I must tell you something."


    Tan Zhenghong, already teased to distraction, nodded without hesitation.


    But nothing could delay his steps in cherishing his wife.


    "My period has started, do you want to continue?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked forward to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reaction, which was just as she expected¡ªif she bit his face now, it would certainly taste bitter.


    Tan Zhenghong asked in frustration, "Why has it come so soon this time?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled inwardly. Perhaps now they could rest for a few days, right?


    But how could Tan Zhenghong be so ignorant? Her period, also known as the monthly affair, was supposed to come every month¡ªit was a sign of good health.

 Chapter 407 - 410: Bloody Battle? _1

    Chapter 407: Chapter 410: Bloody Battle? _1Tan Zhenghong stared at Qiao Duo¡¯er fixedly, still somewhat unwilling to believe.


    The next second, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt the world spinning around her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clutched Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes nervously and asked weakly, "Husband, you¡¯re not going to fight a bloody battle, are you?"


    If that were really the case... it would be too beastly.


    Three black lines drooped on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s forehead; he just wanted to know if his wife was deceiving him.


    When they reached the bedroom, he placed Qiao Duo¡¯er on the bed and stretched out his hand to feel, indeed touching a soft cloth bag.


    "Husband, are you all right?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with concern.


    But within that concern, there was a hint of schadenfreude.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head; what could possibly be wrong with him? He was just a little sad.


    However, his wife¡¯s health was improving, which was at least some consolation, and he was even more pleased that this time Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t complain about a stomach ache.


    Even so, he still urged Qiao Duo¡¯er to rest quickly, and thoughtfully brewed some ginger and jujube tea.


    Previously, when his wife was in agonizing pain, he had made a point of asking Uncle Wu.


    Uncle Wu said that eating well, avoiding cold water, doing less work, and nurturing the body warmly for some days would lead to recovery.


    But he had not expected her to get so much better so quickly.


    Of course, he was happier than anyone else that his wife didn¡¯t have to suffer.


    After drinking a bowl of hot tea, Qiao Duo¡¯er fell asleep.


    Without her to drive Tan Zhenghong to distraction, he wrote characters with great care.


    After waking up from her nap, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed a clear improvement in the characters, at least they were written out.


    She pouted and said, "So I¡¯m the obstacle to your progress." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From then on, she would avoid being around when Tan Zhenghong was writing.


    "Not at all, it¡¯s just that the brush has become more comfortable to hold, so the writing doesn¡¯t look so ugly," Tan Zhenghong quickly explained.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lay beside him, watching Tan Zhenghong write, the room tranquil.


    Tan Zhenghong had once read about a term in books, "beauties adding fragrance to the sleeves," and he had always been envious of it.


    He never thought he could live this kind of life himself.


    As evening approached, Tan Zhenghong put down his brush; it was time to go to the back courtyard.


    A bunch of little creatures needed feeding, and their nests required cleaning, which would take some time for Tan Zhenghong alone. Since it was no longer raining outside, Qiao Duo¡¯er joined him.


    Considering she had insisted on raising them, it would be embarrassing for Tan Zhenghong to do all the work alone, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Besides, finishing chores earlier meant they could rest earlier, and she wanted to see Tan Zhenghong¡¯s dilemma over wanting to eat but not being able to.


    Dinner included snow fungus soup with dates and coix seed, specially prepared for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong ate the remaining dishes from lunch while Qiao Duo¡¯er scooped a spoon of snow fungus and handed it to him.


    Tan Zhenghong said proudly, "I don¡¯t want sweets."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er let out a nasal sound; snow fungus was rare, he should at least give it a try.


    Under her intimidation, Tan Zhenghong obediently opened his mouth.


    The snow fungus soup was sweet and warmed the stomach all the way down.


    But since Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t like sweet things, no matter how precious the snow fungus was, it didn¡¯t appeal to him.


    Tan Zhenghong, gentle and considerate, made Qiao Duo¡¯er completely forget her original intentions; seeing him in discomfort, she lent a hand to help him out.


    "Just five more days, I¡¯m so pitiful," Tan Zhenghong lamented.


    He promised to have a good feast after five days.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but tease, "Can¡¯t you be a little nicer to the little guy? You always make him spit."


    "Those are tears of happiness," Tan Zhenghong explained without a blush or breath.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wisely chose to shut her mouth, as men always seemed to have a natural talent for these matters.

 Chapter 408 - 411 Deserved to be Cucked_1

    Chapter 408: Chapter 411 Deserved to be Cucked_1The light drizzle that started during the night persisted until the morning rain finally ceased.


    Early in the morning, the chimes rang out in Big Willow Village.


    This was the village chief¡¯s way of summoning the villagers for a meeting; upon hearing the chime, everyone had to gather at the threshing floor.


    Tan Zhenghong thought for a while before saying, "Wife, I guess it¡¯s time to collect taxes. I¡¯ll go and see what¡¯s happening; you just stay at home."


    His guess was spot-on: this year¡¯s rental standard was one hundred catties of rice per mu of land, plus a poll tax of twenty catties of rice for each adult.


    If paid in silver coin, it was six wen money for every catty of rice.


    In recent years, peace prevailed throughout the land, and the weather had been fair. For the average family, the tax was within an acceptable range.


    But having to empty their pockets was displeasing to anyone. Naturally, some complaints were unavoidable.


    After grumbling, they still had to prepare the grain or money to hand over, waiting for Tie Niu and the government officials to collect from each household.


    In truth, no matter which emperor came and went, taxes were an annual certainty.


    The new dynasty had been established for only forty years, and the main goal was for the common people to recuperate and procreate. The tax wasn¡¯t considered high; they could still get by and have full meals, and with that, they were content.


    After learning this news, the relationship between Tan Zhengyuan and Widow Xu became even tenser.


    They hadn¡¯t even made it home when they began to quarrel.


    A month had passed since Widow Xu¡¯s miscarriage, and she was already fit as a fiddle.


    Tan Zhengyuan still wore a splint on his arm, putting him at a disadvantage in terms of intimidation.


    The reason for their dispute was that Tan Zhengyuan instructed Widow Xu to figure out a way to pay the tax, declaring that no one was allowed to touch the rice he brought back.


    "Tan Zhengyuan, if you don¡¯t give me the rice, I will accuse you of coercion!" Widow Xu said angrily.


    Damn it, the land belonged to her dead husband, so how did it fall on Tan Zhengyuan to claim the crops?


    Wasn¡¯t he afraid of ghosts knocking on his door at midnight?


    Tan Zhengyuan snorted lightly, "Many people saw with their own eyes that you willingly followed me home. My mother didn¡¯t let you enter the house, and you were shamelessly insistent. Have you forgotten?"


    Thinking back to that scene, he felt even more disdain for Widow Xu.


    There was no good in cheap goods, and Widow Xu, who threw herself at him, was even worse.


    "The truth depends entirely on my word. Just wait for the village chief to throw you in prison!" Widow Xu spoken venomously.


    Tan Zhengyuan was utterly unconcerned, "If that happens, you won¡¯t get away either. If you¡¯re not afraid, then go ahead."


    "I¡¯ve been sick of living, and now that you¡¯ve taken my rice, I don¡¯t even have a way to survive. I might as well die earlier," Widow Xu declared resolutely.


    After all, she wouldn¡¯t be at a loss - she had someone to take the fall with her.


    A chill ran down Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s spine; this damned woman was ruthless!


    "What exactly do you want?" Tan Zhengyuan asked, a hint of fear in his voice.


    Widow Xu¡¯s lips curled slightly, "Give me one thousand and five hundred catties of rice and compensate me with ten taels of silver. After that, I will no longer bother you."


    Being with a man like Tan Zhengyuan, she was better off living in her own courtyard.


    At least there, she could enjoy some peace and quiet, free from constant mockery and scorn.


    "Have you no shame? You committed adultery, lost your son, and the Tan Family cared for you after your confinement. We have been more than generous, and now you dare to extort me?"


    Tan Zhengyuan was truly infuriated, his voice growing louder.


    Many onlookers sent glances filled with gossip and whispered among themselves in hushed tones.


    Both parties were oblivious to the others; the only thing in their eyes now was their own self-interest. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mocking him, Widow Xu spat, "Tell me honestly, who took care of whom? Look at you, that ghastly appearance, having no silver, and your ding-ding is as tiny as an embroidery needle. What kind of man are you? You deserve to be cuckolded!"

 Chapter 409 - 412 Bad Idea_1

    Chapter 409: Chapter 412 Bad Idea_1Widow Xu whispered, "Don¡¯t go on about me having an affair every day, you have no proof, and though my own family is gone, I still have brothers at my mother¡¯s home, and they will not stand by and watch me be bullied."


    She was always very careful with her affairs; it was impossible for anyone to have seen.


    Lao Guang certainly wouldn¡¯t be so idle as to be distressed by egg pain and talk about women he had been involved with.


    As for the loss of the child, couldn¡¯t she have done it herself?


    Widow Xu, feeling confident and unafraid, guessed the reason behind Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s actions, and couldn¡¯t help but slap himself in the face.


    "I must have been blind to have fancied you, such a wanton woman!"


    Widow Xu sneered coldly, "What¡¯s the use of regretting now? Why didn¡¯t you think of this earlier?"


    Tan Zhengyuan almost beat her half to death, and she would not rest until this debt was settled.


    Widow Xu gave Tan Zhengyuan another disdainful glance.


    Having him around was almost the same as not; he was both poor and lazy. Only Hu¡¯s Clan could have tolerated him for so many years.


    She had just tamed Tan Zhengyuan when, unexpectedly, members of the Wang Clan came out aggressively, broom in hand, as she approached their doorway.


    "Get out of here, you dirty, bad-luck bringer!"


    While speaking, she brandished the broom as if to strike, and had Widow Xu not dodged quickly, she would have been hit by the broom handle.


    Widow Xu felt her anger rising¡ª meddlesome old Devout Woman!


    Seeing someone backing him up, Tan Zhengyuan straightened his spine and said, "Yes, ever since I met you, nothing good has happened. You¡¯re a husband-destroying jinx!"


    Widow Xu suppressed her anger, "Fine, you and your mother are in cahoots; I¡¯ll just have to find someone to talk some sense."


    With that, she made as if to leave, and Tan Zhengyuan immediately lost his nerve.


    "Let her go. A widow, not acting properly, seducing men every day¡ªshe¡¯s the one without a leg to stand on wherever she goes. Why be afraid of her?"


    The Wang Clan gave Tan Zhengyuan a disdainful look; for such a big man, he couldn¡¯t even handle this situation.


    If she hadn¡¯t stepped in, would Widow Xu not have walked all over him?


    Feeling reassured as if he had taken a calming pill, Tan Zhengyuan immediately abandoned the idea of chasing her back.


    Even three-year-old children mock him as a cuckold, and he has been so annoyed to death; as long as Widow Xu doesn¡¯t stir up trouble, he¡¯s more than happy to have her gone.


    Still, he needed to go out, maybe he would run into someone¡¯s eligible daughter.


    Though he was getting on in years, he had his face going for him; so many girls in the village liked Tan Zhenghong, it was unreasonable to think they wouldn¡¯t fancy him, right?


    "If you have free time, go and coax your ex-wife instead of roaming around, flirting with every Tom, Dick, and Harry and bringing all sorts of filth into the house," cautioned the Wang Clan.


    If he brought back another widow, she would break Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s legs without a doubt.


    Tan Zhengyuan said discontentedly, "She can¡¯t bear sons; why should I coax her?"


    "Idiot, she is competent and has saved quite a bit of money. If you can keep her happy, you¡¯ll have good days ahead. Later, when you find a suitable girl, you can just switch, can¡¯t you?"


    The Wang Clan whispered into Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s ear. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan nodded repeatedly, "Mother, you¡¯re truly clever."


    "Do you think I¡¯ve been eating for free all these years? Be more astute, don¡¯t act like a fool," said the Wang Clan, quite pleased with herself.


    She certainly wouldn¡¯t mention that it was Little Wang Clan who had reminded her of this.


    Tan Zhengyuan said humbly, "Mother teaches rightly; your son remembers."


    "When you benefit later, just remember to think of me," said the Wang Clan tartly.


    Tan Zhengyuan touched his nose but didn¡¯t join in the conversation.


    In truth, he wanted to say, "What does having a second child have to do with me?" But he swallowed the words; after all, his mother had just given him a good idea.

 Chapter 410 - 413 Wang Clan’s Calculation_1

    Chapter 410: Chapter 413 Wang Clan¡¯s Calculation_1Wang Clan, noticing it was still early, made her way to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s house.


    This was her first time seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s new house, and unpleasant emotions immediately welled up inside her.


    The new house, with its gray bricks and black tiles, was grand and imposing, inciting envy in those who saw it.


    If it weren¡¯t for Tan Zhenghong divorcing her in his heart, she would have been able to stay here for a few days.


    She would have stayed for a few days then brought Xiao Fu over, and later, arranged for her second son¡¯s family to join them, creating a truly joyful gathering.


    She had almost bled to death giving birth to Tan Zhenghong, and her second son had cracked his forehead open, so she¡¯d always seen Tan Zhenghong as a jinx and had simply given him away to be raised by another family.


    It was only after seeing him able to make money that she brought him back.


    She had never treated Tan Zhenghong well all these years, yet he had never had any complaints and had been absolutely obedient to her.


    But just after he had married, he made a fuss about not acknowledging his parents.


    So it must have been Qiao Duo¡¯er who whispered poison into his ear!


    Hmph, that vixen, now she had to knock on the door before entering her own son¡¯s house.


    The door was opened by Tan Zhenghong, who said indifferently, "Mother, what brings you here? Come in and sit down."


    Wang Clan glanced inside and quickly shook her head, "I won¡¯t come in. I just came to tell you that there¡¯s a leak in that room of yours. Better go and tidy up tomorrow, lest your things get moldy."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow," Tan Zhenghong replied, as it happened he had been planning to do so.


    Wang Clan glanced inside again, nervously saying, "I¡¯ll be heading back first."


    Tan Zhenghong gave a bitter smile; how could he not understand his mother¡¯s intentions?


    Did she really think she could drive a wedge between him and his wife like this?


    Such wishful thinking!


    In his heart, there was only one person whose life mattered more to him than his own¡ªhis wife.


    Wang Clan walked slowly, waiting the whole time for Tan Zhenghong to call her back, especially as it was almost mealtime; he should at least invite her to stay for dinner.


    Unfortunately, no sound came from behind even after she reached her own house.


    Alas, her son was raised in vain; once they¡¯re grown up, they all belong to their wives, who remembers their old mothers?


    The next day, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the old Tan family estate together.


    Having not returned for more than ten days, a layer of ash had settled on the outdoor stove, giving it an air of desolation, and both felt a sense of nostalgia.


    Tan Zhenghong had lived there since he returned to the Tan family at the age of eight.


    Qiao Duo, after crossing over to a different world, had opened her eyes to find herself there, making it the place she was most familiar with.


    The two had gone from strangers to acquaintances, from acquaintances to love, and finally decided to spend their lives together in that place, each moment deeply etched in their memories.


    They had once been eager to escape, but no one could deny that the place held a different meaning for each of them.


    The couple stood in front of the house for a while before opening the door and entering.


    Just as they were sorting out the useful items, the courtyard door was slammed with thuds.


    "Tan Zhengyuan, come out here!"


    "Open the door now, or I¡¯ll break down your courtyard door!"


    Wang Clan, fearing the door might be damaged, hurriedly opened it; after all, Tan Zhenghong was inside, and that made her feel safe.


    This was the real reason she had told Tan Zhenghong to come and get the things yesterday¡ªotherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been so kind-hearted.


    As soon as the door was opened, Widow X¨² burst in with a group of people. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Following her were members of her maternal family, including her brothers and sisters, and even her sisters had come to support her.


    The siblings of the X¨² family were not close, and there had been little contact over the years, but blood was thicker than water, and a little bribe had brought them all together.


    Pointing to the east wing, Widow X¨² said, "Brother, Tan Zhengyuan is staying in the east wing. Let¡¯s go find him."

 Chapter 411 - 414 Why Didn’t You Say So Earlier_1

    Chapter 411: Chapter 414 Why Didn¡¯t You Say So Earlier_1Wang Clan hastily blocked their way, "Aren¡¯t you just after money? Let me tell you the truth, the wealthiest in our family is the fourth son, and they¡¯re in that room. Go ask him for it."


    Cao Changgeng said roughly, "I¡¯m looking for Tan Zhengyuan."


    He was a man who made clear distinctions between gratitude and grudges, and debts had specific debtors. This matter had nothing to do with the dang fourth son.


    "They¡¯re brothers; it¡¯s all the same whom you ask," insisted Wang Clan.


    Widow Xu¡¯s eyes flickered, as she had already figured out her plan.


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s entire assets were only six acres, and he was in debt up to his ears. Compared to Tan Zhenghong, he was far behind.


    It only made sense to go after the fattest sheep first, which of course, was Tan Zhenghong.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face was gloomy, "We have been calculated."


    She and Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t want to get involved in this mess and had thought to slip out through the window, but unexpectedly, the window had been blocked by firewood. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Which meant Wang Clan had made arrangements early and had been quite thorough with her planning.


    "Wife, I really don¡¯t know anything about this," Tan Zhenghong said, lifting up three fingers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; she wasn¡¯t about to suspect Tan Zhenghong over such trivial matters.


    Since they couldn¡¯t hide, they might as well go out. Otherwise, being cornered in a room would put them at an immediate disadvantage.


    "Brother, it¡¯s the fourth boss¡¯s wife who picked a fight with me that caused me to lose my child," she said.


    Seeing her elder brother still hesitating, Widow Xu quickly fanned the flames.


    Now that they were at the Tan family, of course, she would grab as much as she could.


    Cao Changgeng looked at Widow Xu in astonishment, "What child do you have as a widow?"


    "Brother, I will explain this matter to you later. Simply put, there¡¯s not a single good person in the Tan family; they have all joined forces to bully me," she said.


    Widow Xu knew she had slipped up, but she could only quickly cover up.


    She had told her siblings that Tan Zhengyuan harassed her by climbing over the wall night after night and even damaged her courtyard wall. She had asked them to help her seek justice and demand the money for the repairs.


    Cao Changgeng¡¯s expression darkened; the fact might be much more serious than what his sister had said.


    If it was as he feared, he couldn¡¯t let the Tan family members off even more.


    Cao Changshou, pulling Widow Xu aside, demanded, "Sister, what exactly happened? Tell us clearly first."


    Widow Xu wiped her tears, "I was... by Tan Zhengyuan, and I even had a child. I thought having a child would be good for me as a widow, but the Tan family wouldn¡¯t accept me or the child. They feared the child would share their fortune."


    Seeing her cry so pitifully, the Cao family siblings became unsettled.


    "Sister, why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier?" asked Widow Xu¡¯s sister with tears in her eyes.


    Qiao Duo smiled faintly, "She is afraid her own disgraceful actions will be exposed; after becoming a widow, she didn¡¯t keep herself in check, first had an inappropriate relationship with Tan Zhengyuan, then messed around with rogues, lost her own child and still had the gall to blame others. Widow Xu, am I right?"


    Widow Xu said bitterly, "It¡¯s all because of you, you caused the death of my child, and now you¡¯re defaming me, I will kill you!"


    Seeing their sister¡¯s heartrending sincerity, Cao family members chose to believe their own sister.


    "Tan Zhenghong, your wife caused my sister to miscarry, and now she¡¯s insulting people. Don¡¯t you think you owe us an explanation?" Cao Changgeng looked steadily at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong said slowly, "She brought it upon herself and is to blame for no one else."


    He wouldn¡¯t speak of Widow Xu¡¯s actions because everyone has the right to choose their own path.


    But once a choice is made, one must bear the consequences. Now that Widow Xu wanted to shift the blame onto an innocent person, he could only utter two words: shameless.

 Chapter 412 - 415 The Greatest Benefit_1

    Chapter 412: Chapter 415 The Greatest Benefit_1"It¡¯s the Tan Family that deserves retribution, not me!" Widow Xu cried out. "You killed my child, slandered me for adultery, and nearly beat me to death. Are all these things I¡¯ve said fabrications?"


    Widow Xu took a sorrowful stance, tears falling like pearls off a broken string.


    Her younger sister consoled her, "Sis, don¡¯t cry. We¡¯re all here for you, no one will dare to bully you."


    Whilst speaking, she cast a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    As a mother herself, she had endured the pain of losing a child and sympathized even more with Widow Xu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, impatient, said, "Whoever caused the death of the child knows it in their heart, and if you committed adultery, you know it yourself. As for being beaten, take it up with the person who beat you. These things have nothing to do with us. If you continue to harass us without reason, don¡¯t blame me for being rude."


    Having said that, she pulled Tan Zhenghong and headed outside. If the matter couldn¡¯t be cleared up, she wouldn¡¯t mind settling it with her fists.


    The Cao Family had the numbers, but they were no match for her and Tan Zhenghong. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hold on!"


    Cao Changgeng extended his hand to block their path.


    Tan Zhenghong coldly replied, "My wife has made it very clear. Whoever has wronged your sister should be the one you seek."


    "You misunderstand. I just want to clarify things. Third Boss, Fourth Boss, go bring Tan Zhengyuan here," Cao Changgeng signaled his two younger brothers with a look, and they immediately went to do so.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clapped her hands and brought two small stools from inside the house.


    She sat down, ready to watch the drama unfold, thinking it a fair trade to clear her own name in the process.


    Before long, Tan Zhengyuan was dragged out.


    Li Clan stirred up trouble fearlessly, "Big brother, it wasn¡¯t Fourth Boss¡¯s child that Widow Xu bore; do you expect him to take the fall for you?"


    "Shut up! Go inside and take care of the child!" Wang Clan glared at Li Clan.


    How could she have the energy to gossip when she has a son constantly ill?


    Li Clan said sarcastically, "It¡¯s always nice to be a man. Even at the worst of times, there¡¯s still a mother to shield you. Unlike women, once they¡¯re in their husband¡¯s home, they become nothing but beasts of burden."


    Wang Clan gritted her teeth in anger, but thankfully Xiao Fu began to cry just in time, preventing Li Clan from spouting more nonsense.


    Cao Changgeng, with a darkened face, queried, "What¡¯s this about you and my sister?"


    "My father said whoever bears a son would get an extra twenty taels. She coveted the silver, seduced me, and claimed she could bear me a son," Tan Zhengyuan stated, even fabricating a lie about a prophecy of having a noble child.


    Xu Changgeng then asked, "Did you hit her?"


    "I¡¯m not to blame for that. She herself committed adultery in the third month and lost the child. She didn¡¯t even know if the child was mine. Even if I had beaten her to death, it would have been justified," Tan Zhengyuan stuttered through his account, managing to finish despite tripping over his words.


    "Brother, he¡¯s lying! He forced himself into my yard and took advantage of me. Only after I discovered I was pregnant did I reluctantly accept him. He didn¡¯t care about our child during the first three months, and when the baby was lost, he beat me. I¡¯m still not fully healed, but he made me work..."


    Widow Xu tearfully recounted her ordeals, some of which she fabricated, while the aftermath of the miscarriage was undeniably true. At the heart-wrenching parts, she was overwhelmed with sobs.


    Like when Tan Zhengyuan kicked her to the ground or when he seized her land deed and private savings of silver.


    Although Cao Changgeng resented his sister¡¯s lack of propriety, he was very clear about where to draw the line.


    There was fault on both sides in this affair, but neither had evidence, nor could either recount a clear version of events.


    In such a case, he had to secure the greatest benefit for his sister.

 Chapter 413 - 416: Go in and Move Things!_1

    Chapter 413: Chapter 416: Go in and Move Things!_1f§Ôeewebnov§×l.comA few members of the Cao Family whispered among themselves for a few moments and quickly reached a consensus.


    "You say my sister had an affair, do you have evidence?"


    Widow Xu¡¯s sister was the first to speak out.


    "Grandma Feng and the doctor both said she miscarried because she was messing around with a man, but I didn¡¯t do anything during those days."


    Tan Zhengyuan risked it all; wearing a green hat was a disgrace.


    Yet he wanted everyone to know there was a prairie on top of his head, so he wouldn¡¯t have to lift a finger and Widow Xu would be drowned by other people¡¯s spit.


    Widow Xu couldn¡¯t care less about her face anymore, "You were the one clinging to me, but it was short, small, and over quickly, like tickling."


    The yard went silent for three seconds before a collective gasp was heard.


    There were so many people listening, and her own brothers and sisters were present, couldn¡¯t she be more subtle?


    Tan Zhengyuan, having his shortcomings exposed, turned red and stammered out nonsense.


    Any man couldn¡¯t stand being mocked by his woman about his bedroom performance.


    "You¡¯re the one who couldn¡¯t perform yet always teased me. Couldn¡¯t I satisfy myself? How does that become an affair with someone else? And you hit me, causing me to be barren for life, oh heavens, why is my life so miserable?"


    Widow Xu simply sat down on the ground and started wailing.


    Cao Changping jumped out and said, "My sister is right, hitting someone is unacceptable. Do you think there is no law in this world?"


    "Exactly, you heartless man, you¡¯ve made it so my sister can¡¯t have children, how will you compensate?"


    The Cao Siblings chimed in one after another, not caring whether she had actually had an affair or not.


    They only knew that Widow Xu had been beaten and almost lost her life.


    Xu Changgeng helped Widow Xu to her feet and asked caringly, "What do you want to do?"


    "Brother, I now have lingering health issues, I want him to pay for my medical expenses and return my land to me. Brother, you must stand up for me, otherwise, I can¡¯t go on living!"


    "They say ¡¯catch a thief with the stolen goods, catch adulterers together¡¯; you¡¯re baselessly smearing my sister with empty accusations. We¡¯ll handle this as my sister suggests."


    Xu Changgeng had a naturally loud voice, and paired with his rugged appearance, he was quite intimidating.


    Tan Zhengyuan swallowed and braced himself as he said, "Dream on, you¡¯ll get nothing!"


    "Then we¡¯ll just have to go in and search."


    As Cao Changping spoke, he moved towards the eastern wing.


    "I¡¯ll see who dares!" Wang Clan blocked their way with her hands on her hips.


    The two Cao sisters casually moved Wang Clan aside, and everyone else entered the eastern wing.


    Tan Zhengyuan also wanted to go in to stop them but was held back by Xu Changgeng.


    Those inside turned the room upside down, taking anything that could be converted into money and getting ready to take it all away.


    "Can we leave now?" Tan Zhenghong asked, furrowing his brows.


    "I apologize for the misunderstanding. Truly sorry," Xu Changgeng bowed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "As long as the matter is clear, that¡¯s good. But everyone knows what is really going on, it¡¯s best to leave it at that."


    "Tan Zhengyuan hit my sister and took her property. As her brother, I can¡¯t let my sister be bullied."


    Xu Changgeng made his stance clear; his sister was no saint either, and if they pushed the matter, they wouldn¡¯t gain much.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, as long as the Cao Family wasn¡¯t excessive, he wouldn¡¯t interfere.


    Because someone like his elder brother deserved to be taught a lesson.


    Anxious, Tan Zhengyuan exclaimed, "Fourth Boss, have you lost your mind? You¡¯re my brother, how can you side with outsiders?"


    "I¡¯ve long since cut ties with the Tan Family; I have no brother like you!"

 Chapter 414 - 417 The Disappearance of the Land Deed_1

    Chapter 414: Chapter 417 The Disappearance of the Land Deed_1Tan Zhengyuan could only watch as Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the west wing together. After they grabbed some items, they left.


    Throughout the process, his father and the Second and Third Bosses didn¡¯t show up, and his mother was held back by two other women.


    At that moment, he was under the watchful eye of Cao Changgeng and could not make a single careless move.


    Was he really going to watch helplessly as his family¡¯s belongings were taken away?


    Tan Zhengyuan tried to move again, but Cao Changgeng glared at him.


    Soon, the Cao Family Members piled up the items they gathered in the courtyard.


    Actually, there wasn¡¯t much ¨C just a few hundred kilos of grain, some Copper Coins, and two pieces of clothing that were neither new nor old.


    Tan Zhengyuan nearly ground his teeth to dust, as these were the only valuables left in his room.


    Cao Changgeng said sternly, "Let it be this time, but if you dare have improper thoughts about my sister again, I will definitely kill you."


    "And me, I won¡¯t let you off either!" Cao Changping also showed off his fists.


    Tan Zhengyuan nodded hurriedly. Even if Widow X¨² came to his door, he wouldn¡¯t dare to touch a finger on her.


    The price of sleeping with her was too high.


    The Cao Family Members, satisfied with their gains, no longer lingered and left contentedly,


    Having finally sent off Cao Changgeng, Tan Zhengyuan couldn¡¯t help complaining, "Bringing the Fourth Boss over was useless. Even if I die one day, he won¡¯t give me a glance."


    "Fine, I¡¯m meddling where I¡¯m not needed. From now on, you handle your own mess!" Wang Clan¡¯s Heart said irritably.


    If it weren¡¯t for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s final warning, the disaster might not have been limited to the west wing.


    Tan Zhengyuan scoffed lightly. "You only exert effort when helping the Second Boss. You think I don¡¯t know?"


    And he, he was just an expendable existence, sufficient if only dealt with superficially.


    After his complaint, he hurriedly entered the room, not caring that the grain had been taken away. He just wanted to know if the Land Deed was still there.


    The Land Deed had always been kept in a secret place, but he needed one more look to be at ease.


    Tan Zhengyuan moved two stacked chests aside and opened the hidden compartment underneath, only to find it completely empty.


    He couldn¡¯t accept it and reached his hand in to feel around, but still touched nothing. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It must have been Widow X¨²; she must have spied on him putting the Land Deed away!


    Agitated, Tan Zhengyuan rushed out of the room, shouting, "Mother, quick, stop Widow X¨², don¡¯t let her leave!"


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart, who had not yet reached the Main Room, cursed irritably, "You wastrel, why are you still thinking about that lowly woman? If you dare to chase after her, don¡¯t bother coming back!"


    Had he forgotten so quickly that the house had just been emptied?


    "Mother, Widow X¨² took my Land Deed away," Tan Zhengyuan said urgently.


    Land is the fundamental asset of a peasant family; with land, one does not starve to death.


    Wang Clan¡¯s Heart¡¯s eye twitched, and she slapped her thigh. "Then what are you waiting for? Go after her quick!"


    She hadn¡¯t gone through the Guang House to save Silver, and if the Land Deed was lost, everything was lost!


    Anxiously, Wang Clan¡¯s Heart also ran out following Tan Zhengyuan; no matter what, they had to snatch back the Land Deed!


    But Widow X¨² had already left with her family in an ox cart; how could they catch up?


    Watching the distance between them grow, Tan Zhengyuan became more and more desperate. With no land, no food, how was he supposed to live?


    Tan Zhengyuan accidentally fell and sat on the ground, ranting madly, "I¡¯m finished, the grain is gone, the land is gone, the Silver is gone, and I still have to pay taxes, what am I supposed to do now?"

 Chapter 415 - 418 Can We Not Divorce_1

    Chapter 415: Chapter 418 Can We Not Divorce_1Afterwards, the Wang Clan rushed in and helped Tan Zhengyuan up, "Are you sure that Widow Xu took the land deed?"


    "It must have been her; my land deed was always well-hidden. Others couldn¡¯t possibly find it. Mother, what should I do?"


    Tan Zhengyuan couldn¡¯t help but weep aloud.


    The Wang Clan expressed her disappointment saying, "What else can you do? Go find Fourth Boss or your former wife."


    Having said that, she walked away as if avoiding the plague, fearing that Tan Zhengyuan would ask her for silver.


    Xiao Fu has now started his enlightenment and needs to pay tuition, buy brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones; the expenses are enormous. Where would extra silver come from?


    Moreover, Big Brother Tan was her own son, and she knew his temperament best. Lending him silver would certainly be throwing it away.


    Tan Zhengyuan clenched his fists, his face filled with indignation.


    Only now did he understand how Tan Zhenghong felt when he was driven out with both legs broken.


    He stood in place for a long while before heading home. Still unwilling to accept the situation, he turned the house upside down, but the land deed was nowhere to be found.


    Tan Zhengyuan cursed Widow X¨² and her family hundreds of times, which finally calmed him down a bit.


    With the land deed taken by Widow X¨², it seemed almost impossible to get it back.


    There would be no benefit in going to The Fourth Boss¡¯s house, so his only option was to target the Hu Clan, as his mother said. The Hu Clan was close to the Fourth Boss¡¯s House and must have saved a considerable amount of wages.


    He didn¡¯t fantasize that the Hu¡¯s Clan would purchase as many things as the Fourth Boss¡¯s House did; it would be enough just to pay the taxes and repay the medicine money.


    The next day, the Hu Clan returned from her parents¡¯ house with her two daughters.


    No sooner had she entered the door than Tan Zhengyuan came seeking her.


    "You girls go out and play; I have something to discuss with your mother."


    Tan Zhengyuan said disdainfully to his daughters, the sight of them becoming increasingly displeasing to him.


    Da Ya and Er Ya stole a glance at Tan Zhengyuan, seeing the fear and worry in each other¡¯s eyes. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Hu Clan forced a smile, "It¡¯s okay. You haven¡¯t been back in a long time. Go out and play with your friends, just remember to come home early for dinner."


    It was only then that Da Ya and Er Ya held hands and left, but instead of playing, they knelt under the window.


    They always felt that their father¡¯s arrival never boded well.


    Inside the house, Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s face was grave as he said, "You ran off to your mother¡¯s house without a word, just to avoid taking care of me, right?"


    "We have no relationship; why should I take care of you?" the Hu Clan retorted strongly.


    Tan Zhengyuan warned, "You better be sensible. Now that the Fourth Boss¡¯s house has moved out, see who will have your back in the future!"


    If you want to live here comfortably, be a bit nicer to me.


    The Hu Clan scoffed. She had capable hands and feet; why would she need anyone to have her back?


    Seeing that Tan Zhengyuan had come to pick a fight, the Hu Clan picked up her needlework again. She needed to mend her children¡¯s clothes.


    Tan Zhengyuan touched his nose, remembering the real purpose of his visit.


    He shamelessly said, "I¡¯ve come to discuss a very important matter with you."


    The Hu Clan nodded, motioning Tan Zhengyuan to continue.


    "If you can pay the taxes for me, we¡¯ll call off the divorce, and things will be as they were before."


    Tan Zhengyuan felt immensely superior, as if bestowing a tremendous favor upon the Hu Clan.


    The Hu Clan stopped her sewing and looked up at Tan Zhengyuan with a peculiar gaze.


    He¡¯s not divorcing? He suggests things go back to how they were before?


    The Hu Clan gave a bitter smile. Since the divorce, she had been living a much lighter life; her daughters started to smile more, and all three gained some weight.


    In other words, her current life was much better than before. Why would she want to return to her former life?

 Chapter 416 - 419 Don’t Take Our Money_1

    Chapter 416: Chapter 419 Don¡¯t Take Our Money_1"If you haven¡¯t woken up, go back to sleep. Don¡¯t come here to daydream!" Hu¡¯s Clan said disdainfully.


    "Then you¡¯ll see whether I¡¯m daydreaming or not."


    Tan Zhengyuan looked at Hu¡¯s Clan coldly, then walked over to the worn-out wardrobe.


    The storeroom was pitifully small, with only a bed and a wardrobe inside. The silver must definitely be hidden in the wardrobe.


    Seeing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s nervous demeanor, he became even more certain of his conjecture.


    Inside the wardrobe, clothes were neatly folded.


    Tan Zhengyuan hurriedly searched, and at last, he indeed found a purse in the corner.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to find what he wanted so easily!


    But the moment he picked up the purse, Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s face slowly darkened.


    Because, by his estimation, there was at most twenty to thirty wen money inside¡ªwhat¡¯s this amount of copper coins good for?


    Upon counting, there were twenty-five wen in total.


    "Is this all the money you have?" Tan Zhengyuan glared at Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Hu¡¯s Clan reached out to grab it: "I and the child have barely managed to save this much money. What will we do if you take it away?"


    "Do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old child? Fourth Boss and his wife have taken such good care of you and the child, even paying you wages. There¡¯s no way you only have this little. Hurry up and hand over the rest!"


    Tan Zhengyuan weighed the purse in his hand, grinning sleazily.


    He crudely estimated that Hu¡¯s Clan must have at least two taels of silver on her person.


    But Hu¡¯s Clan had only brought out twenty-five wen¡ªanyone with a bit of brains would know there¡¯s a trick.


    Hu¡¯s Clan, irritated, said: "Don¡¯t mother and daughter need to eat and wear clothes? Anyway, this is all we¡¯ve saved. If you think it¡¯s not enough, then give it back to us."


    While she spoke, she reached out to grab it again, as if the purse was more important to her than her own life.


    Tan Zhengyuan couldn¡¯t help but suspect that what Hu¡¯s Clan said was true.


    Otherwise, why would Hu¡¯s Clan be so anxious?


    At this moment, Da Ya and Er Ya also ran in, the two girls began to plead.


    "Dad, you can¡¯t take our copper money. Fourth Uncle¡¯s house has no work anymore. We need this money to buy food this month, or we¡¯ll starve to death."


    "Er Ya doesn¡¯t want to starve to death either. I want to eat. I don¡¯t want to be hungry!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan had already grabbed the purse, begging: "Please don¡¯t take the purse away, let me buy some food for the children."


    The reaction of the three of them forced Tan Zhengyuan to believe this was their only remaining copper money.


    Tan Zhengyuan tucked the purse into his own bosom: "Da Ya, Er Ya, do you want to live with dad in the future? That way, no one will bully you, and you¡¯ll have enough to eat."


    He squeezed out a smile that he believed to be kind, hoping to improve the girls¡¯ impression of him.


    He was short of silver now and needed someone to work, and Hu¡¯s Clan was the most suitable person for that.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was strong and hardworking; he hadn¡¯t realized what a blessing he had before.


    Er Ya immediately shook her head: "Da Sister and I only want mom. Dad, Aunt Xu, and our little brother are living together; they wouldn¡¯t care about us."


    Da Ya didn¡¯t speak, but her expression made it clear she felt the same.


    "Ungrateful wretches, not even acknowledging me as your father anymore! Believe it or not, I¡¯ll throw you out right now!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan looked at his daughters with hatred.


    He had often been mocked because of these two daughters, and now they dared to mock him with Widow Xu and even contemplated not recognizing him as their father. What use were such daughters?


    Suddenly, an idea popped into his head, growing stronger and stronger.


    He hoped that when the time came, no one would blame him¡ªhe really had no other choice.

 Chapter 417 - 420: Don’t Live with Dad_1

    Chapter 417: Chapter 420: Don¡¯t Live with Dad_1Tan Zhengyuan was dissatisfied with the meager gain, but couldn¡¯t find any other valuable things, so he had to give up.


    Only after he left did Hu¡¯s Clan and her two daughters breathe a sigh of relief, grateful that they had always buried the bulk of their Silver in the corner of the wall, leaving only a few copper coins for petty expenses outside.


    Otherwise, their entire family fortune would have been completely ransacked.


    "Mom, I¡¯ll help you with the work, and we¡¯ll earn lots of money, then we can build a new house like Auntie from The Fourth Boss¡¯s House," Er Ya said, tilting her head.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded vigorously, having their own house would mean they no longer had to live in such fear.


    When the tax collection day arrived, the village chief arrived with a Government Official.


    Tan Zhengyuan still only had Twenty Five Wen Money, but he wasn¡¯t worried at all, he knew that if he didn¡¯t have money, someone would naturally help him.


    True to his expectations, when the government officer arrived, the Wang Clan paid his share as well.


    Having lost over two thousand jin of grain, Wang Clan felt a pain in her chest.


    The Fourth Boss¡¯s House helped Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughters pay the tax; why wouldn¡¯t they help their own parents and brothers as well?


    Fool, always favoring outsiders!


    When she went out to fetch water and saw Hu¡¯s Clan washing vegetables at the well, Wang Clan finally found an outlet for all her pent-up frustration and rage.


    "From now on, either live with your eldest or get out, we need the storage room for other things," Wang Clan said from her superior position.


    What right did Hu¡¯s Clan have to live in the Tan Family¡¯s house for free?


    If she wanted to stay, she would have to pay the corresponding price.


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly said, "It was all agreed upon at the time of the divorce, allowing me and the kids to live in the storage room, how can you go back on your word?"


    "I¡¯m not here to negotiate with you; we need the storage room this year. Clear out within three days, or I will throw all your stuff out," Wang Clan declared uncompromisingly, clearly pleased with Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s pale complexion.


    She didn¡¯t believe that Hu¡¯s Clan had any other choice; in the end, she would obediently move to the east wing.


    With that, life for the main house would finally improve.


    "Mom, I don¡¯t want to live with Dad," Da Ya quickly objected. Ever since the last time Tan Zhengyuan beat them, they saw him as an evil demon.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, the divorce paper was already written; she would definitely not move over and live with Tan Zhengyuan.


    But she didn¡¯t have enough money to buy a homestead and build a house right now, what should she do?


    "Mom, can¡¯t we rent a house in the village?" Er Ya asked timidly.


    Hu¡¯s Clan smacked her forehead, "We can, Er Ya is the smartest. You and your sister stay home and watch the door, I¡¯ll go see whose house is willing to rent to us."


    Many families in the village had one or two empty rooms, and they would surely be willing to rent them out, and the rent wouldn¡¯t be too expensive either.


    Half an hour later, Hu¡¯s Clan came back; she had already made an arrangement with one of her sisters.


    Seventy Wen a month, and they could even fence off a piece of empty land to use as a yard.


    "Does that mean we can raise chickens and pigs?" Da Ya asked excitedly.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "Yes, but we¡¯re living in someone else¡¯s house, so we must keep it clean, and you must behave and not cause any trouble for anyone, understand?"


    "Mom, rest assured, we will definitely behave!"


    "We¡¯ve always been well-behaved, haven¡¯t we? We wouldn¡¯t make any trouble." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two girls quickly reassured her, eager to move out of this dreadful place!


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded contentedly, feeling a bit sad to leave the Tan Family at first, but seeing her daughters happy, she had long forgotten that sadness.


    After secretly paying the rent, Hu¡¯s Clan began to Zhang Luo the moving preparations.

 Chapter 418 - 421 Moving Out_1

    Chapter 418: Chapter 421 Moving Out_1"You need to go check on your wife; she¡¯s about to move out with the two girls," Wang Clan said anxiously.


    Tan Zhengyuan said indifferently, "Let them do what they want, what does it have to do with me?"


    "Have you forgotten what I discussed with you?"


    Wang Clan glared at Tan Zhengyuan; Hu¡¯s Clan was capable, a perfect match for a lazy man like Tan Zhengyuan, yet he acted as if it had nothing to do with him.


    Tan Zhengyuan said impatiently, "Mind your own business."


    He had his own plans for the situation; as long as Hu¡¯s Clan and the child still stayed in the village, that was enough.


    Wang Clan, having been met with a cold shoulder, stormed off in a huff, resolving not to cook for him again and definitely not to pay his taxes next year.


    Let him fend for himself; after all, Tan Zhengyuan himself had said she didn¡¯t need to bother with his affairs.


    During Hu¡¯s Clan move, Tan Zhengyuan merely glanced over once.


    The next day, Hu¡¯s Clan moved their belongings to their new home.


    She wanted none of the Tan Family¡¯s possessions, taking only her clothes and what she had acquired herself.


    "Aunt Gui, thank you for renting this house to us," Er Ya said sweetly.


    Gui Niang ruffled Er Ya¡¯s hair: "No need to thank me, rest up first. I will call you for dinner in a bit."


    "We¡¯ve already inconvenienced you, how could we have the nerve to eat at your house?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly refused, grateful for even being taken in.


    "Just remember you owe me, and that¡¯s enough for now. You¡¯re not staying just a day or two, and when you folks are free, I¡¯m definitely going to eat at your place," Gui Niang said with a wink.


    They weren¡¯t related by blood, yet she showed more kinship than their own relatives. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Er Ya squinted her eyes with a smile: "Mom, I like having Aunt Gui as a neighbor, she¡¯s a good person!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan completely agreed; Gui Niang was known in the village for her warmth, but they couldn¡¯t take unfair advantage of her hospitality.


    "Today, let¡¯s get the house sorted, and tomorrow shall we buy some meat and veggies to invite the people who helped us for a meal?"


    Fourth Boss and his spouse, Erhu and Chao Lian, as well as Yue Niang¡¯s Couple, had all given them a lot of help.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll invite folks over tomorrow,"


    Da Ya took on the task eagerly.


    Having reached a consensus, they began to arrange their new home, with the few missing things to be bought the next day.


    Arriving at a new place meant the start of a new life, and they had to work even harder.


    The next day at noon, Hu¡¯s Clan prepared a table full of dishes and even brewed some rice wine.


    At the table, Hu¡¯s Clan personally poured drinks for everyone.


    "Mom, I want to drink too," protested Er Ya, feeling ignored.


    "No, children can¡¯t drink alcohol, it¡¯s easy to get drunk, and it stunts growth," Hu¡¯s Clan urged quickly.


    "Just a little bit, okay?"


    Er Ya licked her lips; happy moments called for wine, and she was nearly ecstatic today, how could she be denied?


    Hu¡¯s Clan playfully glared at Er Ya but still poured a small sip of rice wine for the two girls.


    Da Ya and Er Ya sipped carefully, smacking their lips as if savoring the taste.


    Their endearingly clumsy mannerisms made everyone laugh.


    "I and my daughters truly thank you all; I don¡¯t know what we would have done without your help. Just tell me if there¡¯s anything, and I won¡¯t hesitate to lend a hand,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with teary eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke with a smile, "Sister Lan, we are family, so such formal words only create distance."


    "Right, I¡¯ll stop talking like that. Make sure you all eat plenty; you have to finish it all,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly dabbed away her tears, admitting that she had never been good with words; she decided it would be better to show her gratitude through actions in the future.

 Chapter 419 - 422: Running Away from Home?_1

    Chapter 419: Chapter 422: Running Away from Home?_1Lord Qin was busy with tax collection, and Chen Yi Ling flew to Big Willow Village like a bird out of a cage.


    When she arrived at the Tan Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er was hanging clothes in the courtyard.


    Chen Yi Ling ingratiatingly said, "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m going to stay at your place for a few days, you must take me in, or I¡¯ll be homeless."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "No problem, but can your Lord Qin agree?"


    "Don¡¯t talk to me about him. He¡¯s gone all day, and he keeps me locked up at home. I¡¯m almost bored to death."


    Chen Yi Ling sighed, her mood a bit downcast.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, "So your Lord Qin doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re out?"


    Um... this Yi Ling sure is bold.


    Isn¡¯t she afraid that Lord Qin will catch her and spank her backside?


    Chen Yi Ling looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er guiltily, took her arm and said, "Duo¡¯er, you won¡¯t betray me, will you?"


    If Lord Qin, who¡¯s only good at undressing her, finds out, he¡¯ll surely catch her and take her back right away.


    She didn¡¯t want to be confined at home again, bored out of her mind.


    Many people envied her because she was born the daughter of a Deputy Minister, doted on by all, her husband an Advanced Scholar appointed by the Saint, with a limitless future, faithful and tender to her.


    Yet, what she envied most was the simple life of farming, working the fields every day, managing the meals, two people always together, simple and fulfilling.


    Instead, she could only wait foolishly in her boudoir, waiting for her husband to return, as if he were the sole purpose of her life.


    It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t like Qin Longyun, but she felt her life could be more exciting.


    To live a life and not leave something behind would be doing herself an injustice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pinched Chen Yi Ling¡¯s cheek, "Stop daydreaming. I¡¯m going to Old Lady Huang¡¯s house in a bit to catch piglets, want to come along?"


    A smile instantly appeared on Chen Yi Ling¡¯s face; she definitely wouldn¡¯t miss out on this kind of thing!


    What Qin Longyun? Roll aside!


    "Then wait for me, I¡¯ll go grab a basket."


    After going inside, Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed Tan Zhenghong to go to town and inform Lord Qin about this, so he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the country and the people while searching the world for his wife.


    After giving these instructions, Qiao Duo¡¯er took two bamboo baskets and went out.


    "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re not making me carry the piglets, are you?" Chen Yi Ling said with a mournful face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Of course, you¡¯re not the Lady of the County right now, and you don¡¯t have the luxury of having meals brought to you."


    "That makes sense. Then I¡¯ll help you carry them this once."


    Chen Yi Ling readily agreed, eager to fully experience the simple life she had longed for, now that no one was there to supervise her.


    When they arrived at the Huang Family, Old Lady Huang was still a bit reserved, but much better than the first time they met. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old Lady, I¡¯m here with Duo¡¯er to buy piglets; please take us to see them!"


    Old Lady Huang nodded, "Then follow me."


    The pigpen was very clean, the piglets pink and clean, scampering to the food trough when they saw people.


    "They¡¯ve just turned a month old today, all very good eaters, and will surely be easy to raise," Old Lady Huang said happily. She had twelve piglets in this litter and was sure to get a good price for them.


    After selling them, she would buy her daughter-in-law a gold bracelet; she would definitely be pleased.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Chen Yi Ling, "See if there are any that catch your eye, we¡¯re buying four."


    "You¡¯re really letting me choose?" Chen Yi Ling was a bit incredulous.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er nod, she unceremoniously picked out four piglets.


    One could tell at a glance that Chen Yi Ling had never suffered; when it came to shopping, she never looked for what was practical but only for what was pretty.

 Chapter 420 - 423: I Didn’t Miss Him! _1

    Chapter 420: Chapter 423: I Didn¡¯t Miss Him! _1Aunt Huang quickly said, "When buying piglets, you should pick the bigger ones; they¡¯ll grow strong and yield more meat later on."


    She had let Qiao Duo¡¯er pick first, but to her surprise, Qiao Duo¡¯er chose the two smallest ones, the others being just average at best.


    "Duo¡¯er, let¡¯s just buy these, I really like them!"


    Chen Yiling looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a pleading face, she had just agreed to let her choose, and there were no take-backs!


    Aunt Huang wanted to offer more advice, but she heard Qiao Duo¡¯er say, "Could you please catch them for us, Auntie?"


    These four pigs were very healthy and full of life, they might not necessarily grow up to be smaller than the others.


    Aunt Huang soon caught the piglets, putting only the smallest one in Chen Yiling¡¯s basket.


    Chen Yiling said dissatisfiedly, "We agreed to come here to experience life, I want to carry as much as you."


    She tried to grab another one, but just as she was about to touch it, the little piglet suddenly squirmed and she quickly pulled back her hand in fright.


    "They might poo on the way, so it¡¯d be better if my husband brings them over to you."


    At Aunt Huang¡¯s words, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling both abandoned the thought of carrying the piglets back themselves; it would be disgusting if they pooed in the basket.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out one tael of silver and handed it over: "Auntie, please take this."


    "This won¡¯t do, the piglets you chose can¡¯t go for that price."


    Aunt Huang pushed it back hastily, especially since the smallest one would be lucky to fetch two hundred wen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed the silver back again: "If you think it¡¯s too much silver, you could send us some extra vegetables."


    "Sure thing!"


    Aunt Huang called Uncle Huang over with a carrying pole to pick up the piglets, and she herself went to the field to pull up some vegetables.


    After they arrived home, Uncle Huang casually placed the piglets into the pen.


    "Right now, feed the pigs three times a day, refill the water trough once a day, and after two months, feed them twice and refill the water twice..." Uncle Huang shared some pig-raising tips.


    "Thank you, Uncle, come in for a drink of water," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, very grateful.


    "I¡¯m not thirsty, I have to tell others to buy piglets from us. You better hurry up and feed the little pigs. Once they¡¯ve eaten, they won¡¯t be scared of the new environment anymore."


    After he had finished, Uncle Huang hurried off.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mixed soy pulp with bran to feed the pigs and watched the piglets eating heartily, while Chen Yiling was lost in thought looking at them.


    "It would be nice if I could take it with me when I go home," Chen Yiling suddenly mused.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a wry face, said, "Aren¡¯t you afraid that Lord Qin would hear pig oinks while he¡¯s judging cases?"


    Or maybe instead of a government official commanding silence during court, they could just use pig oinks?


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but picture the scenario, and the two exchanged glances before bursting into laughter at the same time.


    One has to wonder, what would Lord Qin¡¯s ice-cold demeanor turn into if he were to face such a situation?


    "Hey, don¡¯t mention that jerk in front of me, hmph, he¡¯s only got his subjects and the common people in his heart. A person like him should never get married!"


    Chen Yiling stamped her foot, that jerk didn¡¯t care about her feelings at all, and she didn¡¯t want to think about him! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, "If you miss him, you miss him, it¡¯s only natural, I promise I won¡¯t laugh at you."


    "I don¡¯t want to talk to you, sheep eat grass, right? I¡¯m going to feed the sheep."


    Chen Yiling walked away with a flushed face, she really hadn¡¯t been thinking about him!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled softly, humans truly are creatures that often say one thing and mean another.


    The two continued to laugh and joke as they went about feeding all the poultry and livestock.


    For Chen Yiling, interacting with these little creatures was a completely novel experience filled with her own undiscovered joys.

 Chapter 421 - 424 Your Family Member is Here_1

    Chapter 421: Chapter 424 Your Family Member is Here_1However, her enthusiasm for the little rascal waned the next day, and she went to find the big girl instead.


    The big girl was a tomboy, with numerous ways to play, like raiding bird nests, roasting sweet potatoes...


    Not until evening did the big girl bring Chen Yiling back.


    She had played so hard during the day that by dinner time she was completely wilted.


    "Be careful your Lord Qin might suddenly show up," Qiao Duo¡¯er warned.


    The big girl blinked, "Plus, you¡¯re a runaway from the Li family. If you get caught and taken back, you¡¯re done for. That guy of yours looks terrifying."


    Chen Yiling pouted; that guy was so busy he barely had time to touch the ground, let alone come looking for her.


    At the Government Office, she had seen how busy Qin Longyun was, wishing he could even time his meals.


    So she felt no burden at all and carried on as she pleased.


    However, what Chen Yiling did not expect was for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s foreboding words to come true so quickly.


    After another crazy day of fun, she came home to find Qiao Duo¡¯er waiting at the door.


    She cheered and gave a firm bear hug.


    The gesture reminded Qiao Duo¡¯er of her own Fat Fat and Fatty.


    Every time she entered the house, she would be tackled by the two little things; she tried to teach them a few times without success, and finally, she just let them be.


    "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m back, why are you waiting for me at the door today?" Chen Yiling looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er curiously.


    Could it be that she was so beautiful that even Qiao Duo¡¯er had fallen for her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squeezed her eyes together, "Your man has arrived, hurry inside."


    Chen Yiling¡¯s mouth fell open, then she covered her face and said, "It¡¯s over, Duo¡¯er, is there bathwater? I need to take a bath before I go in, otherwise I won¡¯t even know how I die."


    "Lord Qin has already been waiting for nearly two hours, if you take a bath now..."


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish, Chen Yiling had run inside.


    Having her Lord Qin, who managed countless affairs, wait for nearly two hours would surely make him furious.


    Seeing Chen Yiling come in, Tan Zhenghong immediately went out, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.


    With a face painted like a little flower cat and her body covered in plenty of mud, Chen Yiling stood in front of Qin Longyun with a sense of inescapable embarrassment.


    Lord Qin took a deep breath. Actually, at this moment, Chen Yiling looked a bit better than he had imagined, so he was not angry anymore.


    However, he still had to keep up appearances, otherwise, a certain little woman would certainly dare to run away from home again in the future.


    She might even start treating running away from home as a game.


    Chen Yiling quickly dusted off her dress, but it was almost futile.


    If she had known Qin Longyun was coming, she wouldn¡¯t have gone up the mountain to collect honey.


    "Why... why have you come so suddenly? Aren¡¯t you collecting taxes?"


    Chen Yiling was the first to break the silence. It was strange for the two of them to be face to face without talking.


    "I finished work early today and came over to see you," Qin Longyun squinted his eyes, "I had someone heat water for you. Go bathe quickly. We¡¯ll talk about other things later tonight."


    Chen Yiling¡¯s body shuddered slightly. What good could possibly be discussed tonight?


    "Lord Qin, I know I was wrong, please forgive me this time," Chen Yiling quickly begged for mercy.


    But Qin Longyun remained silent, with an unfriendly look on his face.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help lamenting, all men were no good, only knowing how to threaten women!


    With such a disparity in strength, she could only feel angry but dared not speak out. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Chen Yiling was all cleaned up, Qin Longyun took her hand, ready to head home.

 Chapter 422 - 425: Realized Your Mistake?_1

    Chapter 422: Chapter 425: Realized Your Mistake?_1"Brother Qin, are you really going to leave without having dinner?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked out of politeness, but it was merely a courtesy.


    After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and at this moment, Lord Qin must be eager to spend a world of two with Ling¡¯er. She didn¡¯t want to interfere unnecessarily.


    "Thank you, I do have things to tend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave now. I¡¯ll visit again another day to express my gratitude. Oh, and the shop will be available tomorrow; you can take a look then," Qin Longyun said, cupping his fist in a gesture of thanks.


    Chen Yiling, clinging to the window sill, said pitifully, "Duo¡¯er, you must come tomorrow!"


    After saying this, she added with her lips alone: Waiting for you to save me.


    If she had something to do tomorrow, Lord Qin would definitely hold back a bit tonight; at the very least, he wouldn¡¯t go so far that she couldn¡¯t get up the next day.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er agree, Chen Yiling finally retreated back into the carriage.


    Soon, the carriage began to move forward slowly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say, "Why do I feel like Ling¡¯er is going to have a rough night?"


    She decided to go after lunch tomorrow, just in case Ling¡¯er hadn¡¯t gotten up.


    "Wifey, I also want to make you have a rough night tonight," Tan Zhenghong said softly.


    "Last time you said it was tears of joy, so how come it¡¯s turning into bullying you this time?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced sideways at Tan Zhenghong, hmm...turns out men can be fickle too.


    Tan Zhenghong calmly replied, "If it lasts longer, that¡¯s called bullying."


    "You¡¯re overthinking it, my guardian is still here."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arched an eyebrow; running a red light should be resolutely resisted; after all, this was a hard-won day of truce she had been looking forward to.


    Tan Zhenghong put on a mournful face and said, "I feel like it¡¯s been quite a long time already, why isn¡¯t it over?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s only been five days. Maybe it will end tomorrow, or the day after,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hooked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chin, deliberately teasing him.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, then he decided that he would make dinner early tomorrow and then reclaim everything he was owed these past few days.


    On the carriage.


    Qin Longyun asked coldly, "Do you know where you went wrong?"


    "I shouldn¡¯t have left without saying goodbye, I swear there won¡¯t be a next time," Chen Yiling remorselessly admitted her mistake.


    Her husband could persuade the most ferocious person to open up; dealing with her, a mere good citizen, was even easier, so there was no point in asking for trouble.


    Qin Longyun harrumphed; he was quite dissatisfied with her almost perfunctory answer.


    Chen Yiling moved closer to Qin Longyun, tugging at his clothes she said, "I really know I was wrong. I know running away from home causes you a lot of trouble and distracts you from your work, but I was so bored."


    "Honey, you don¡¯t have anything going on now, right? Please don¡¯t be mad at me."


    Chen Yiling blinked her sparkling eyes, even deploying her ultimate move.


    That was to rub a certain place on Lord Qin¡¯s arm back and forth.


    Qin Longyun, seeing his wife had reflected enough, finally spoke, "What if there¡¯s a next time; what should be done?"


    "Any punishment is fine," Chen Yiling declared her readiness, expressing her true feelings.


    She just hoped Lord Qin would give a smile; otherwise, she always felt the urge to jump out of the carriage.


    Qin Longyun gently bit her earlobe, "If there is a next time, I¡¯ll lock you up at home, not letting you out for an entire year."


    Chen Yiling made a mournful face, hating the domineering man most!


    "Did you miss me?"


    Qin Longyun¡¯s long arm pulled her into his embrace.


    Chen Yiling was stunned before she hurriedly said, "Of course, I missed you. During the day I missed you, at night too, look I¡¯ve even gotten thinner thinking of you."

 Chapter 423 - 426: Carriage_1

    Chapter 423: Chapter 426: Carriage_1The journey was bumpy, but this time the carriage seemed even more violent than before.


    The coachman silently thought about checking the carriage once they got back, in case something had broken.


    It was not until they were near the Government Office that Qin Longyun finally declared an end to their activities.


    Chen Yiling saw herself stripped to the skin while Lord Qin remained fully dressed, her face growing even more charming and enticing.


    The only consolation was that the light inside the carriage was very dim, so Qin Longyun probably couldn¡¯t see clearly.


    "My dear, you¡¯ve worked hard. Let me dress you," Qin Longyun happily said.


    "Lord, Madam, we¡¯ve arrived," the coachman respectfully announced.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "My back is sore, and my legs are so weak I can¡¯t walk."


    More importantly, her clothes were in complete disarray, and anyone with eyes could tell what they had just been doing.


    Qin Longyun pulled out a cloak from a hidden compartment and draped it over his little wife: "I¡¯ll carry you home."


    "Miss, are you feeling unwell?" ChunTao asked anxiously.


    Chen Yiling buried her head in Qin Longyun¡¯s chest and mumbled, "I...I¡¯m fine, just tired from playing too hard in Big Willow Village."


    "Prepare the bathwater, and bring the meals to the room," Qin Longyun ordered.


    They had been married for quite some time, but Chen Yiling was still shy about matters between men and women.


    ChunTao giggled, "Lord Qin is so good to Miss."


    What did it matter if their master was a Small Official? As long as he was wholeheartedly devoted to Miss, that was enough.


    Those who mocked Miss for marrying beneath her, which of their households didn¡¯t have multiple wives and concubines? Which of them lived as comfortably as Miss?


    Chen Yiling secretly pinched Qin Longyun¡¯s arm: "It¡¯s all your fault, I¡¯m too embarrassed to see anyone now!"


    "Hmm, it¡¯s all my wrongdoing. I¡¯ll bathe you myself later, as an apology. Is that alright?" Qin Longyun chuckled lowly.


    Chen Yiling ground her teeth, sure that they would end up in bed again during the bath.


    However, this time Qin Longyun was mercifully restrained, not giving in to his desires.


    Even as she lay in bed, Chen Yiling still felt somewhat unreal and asked weakly, "Husband, are we really just going to sleep?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don¡¯t want to sleep?" Qin Longyun asked teasingly.


    Chen Yiling quickly shut her eyes and soon fell asleep.


    Qin Longyun gently stroked Chen Yiling¡¯s nose, his eyes filled with affection. If she hadn¡¯t been so tired, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have let her off easily.

 Chapter 424 - 427: For Sale, Not for Rent_1

    Chapter 424: Chapter 427: For Sale, Not for Rent_1The next day, Qin Longyun rose early from bed. The tax collection was not yet complete, and he had to preside over the Government Office, lest chaos ensue.


    He ate a simple meal, then set aside his chopsticks.


    Unexpectedly, for such a burly man, he was finicky. Without Ling¡¯er to accompany him at meals, he found the food tasteless.


    "Keep quiet, everyone. Let Ling¡¯er rest well," Qin Longyun specifically ordered.


    In Big Willow Village, Ling¡¯er had played recklessly, and being solely responsible for steadying the carriage ride yesterday must have exhausted her.


    ChunTao nodded, "Young Master, don¡¯t worry. I will take good care of our Miss."


    With Qin Longyun¡¯s orders, the backyard of the Government Office was silent. Everyone tiptoed around, afraid of disturbing Madam¡¯s sweet dreams.


    By the time Chen Yiling woke up, it was too late even for lunch.


    "Miss, this is your favorite lily porridge," ChunTao said happily.


    Chen Yiling picked up the spoon, "It¡¯s ChunTao who treats me the best. By the way, did Duo¡¯er come today?"


    "No, you eat first," ChunTao replied.


    Chen Yiling silently complained to herself that Qiao Duo¡¯er was unreliable. She had even said she would come to save her.


    Nevertheless, being so hungry she could eat a horse, she decided to satisfy her hunger first.


    Only after she had eaten her fill did ChunTao speak of the day¡¯s events. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss, Shopkeeper Zhu came by today. He said he needed to talk to you. He¡¯s still waiting in the parlor. Do you want to go and see him?" ChunTao asked.


    "It must be about the shop. You, girl, are getting bolder by the minute, not speaking sooner of such important matters," Chen Yiling chided, poking ChunTao¡¯s head in the process.


    Pouting, ChunTao said, "The Young Master ordered that no matters should be brought to you until you had eaten and were fully satiated."


    "Hmph, always bringing up the Young Master. Remember, you are my wedding dowry maid!" Chen Yiling retorted.


    Chen Yiling walked briskly. The shop affairs were almost settled, and she couldn¡¯t afford to have any last-minute mishaps.


    In the parlor, seeing Chen Yiling, Manager Zhu immediately stood up and bowed.


    Waving her hand, Chen Yiling said, "Rise. Didn¡¯t we agree that I would bring someone over to check on the shop today? Why did you still come here?"


    "I... Madam, forgive me, I¡¯ve decided to sell the shop," Manager Zhu confesses, kneeling down. He had pondered this for a long time, but still, he worried when he finally spoke up.


    Lord Qin¡¯s doting on his wife was common knowledge, shown in every indulgent and accommodating way.


    If Manager Zhu offended Madam, he¡¯d be in deep trouble.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s neat brows furrowed, "Didn¡¯t you say before that it was for lease? How can you just change your mind?"


    "Madam, please don¡¯t put me in a tight spot," Manager Zhu said helplessly, wishing he could keep the shop himself.


    The monthly rent was enough to get by, meager but steady.


    "How am I putting you in a tight spot? I told you clearly from the start that I was renting it for my friend. I¡¯ve already made arrangements, and now you¡¯re suddenly saying you want to sell the shop. How am I supposed to explain this to my friend?" Chen Yiling argued, her anger rising.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had finally come to her for help, and now she might fail her.


    Sighing, she castigated herself for being useless.


    "Madam, my family has elders and children to take care of, and the shop is our livelihood. Truly, I cannot afford to offend certain people," Manager Zhu explained anxiously.


    Taking a deep breath, Chen Yiling realized immediately that Madam Liang was behind the trouble.


    And as a mere commoner, Manager Zhu dared not cross Madam Liang. With this understanding, he didn¡¯t seem guilty after all.


    She also guessed that Manager Zhu was giving her face by coming to her directly; otherwise, he had no reason to make the trip specially.

 Chapter 425 - 428: Name Your Price_1

    Chapter 425: Chapter 428: Name Your Price_1Chen Yi Ling pondered for a moment, "Well, give me a price, and I¡¯ll buy it."


    After she purchased it, she could rent the shop to Qiao Duo¡¯er. She wouldn¡¯t have to go back on her word to gain weight, and Shopkeeper Zhu would not be put in a difficult position.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly intervened, "Yi Ling, don¡¯t be rash, if the Shopkeeper insists on buying, we can purchase it too."


    Chen Yi Ling got up and approached her, then said guiltily, "Duo¡¯er, it¡¯s all my fault, if I hadn¡¯t been so foolish, Madam Liang wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to take advantage."


    Madam Liang¡¯s most common tactic was to threaten, forcing others to make concessions against their will.


    But the detestable one was Madam Liang, neither Chen Yi Ling nor the Shopkeeper were at fault.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a slight smile, "But I want to take a look at the shop first, if we can buy it, we¡¯ll even save on rent in the future."


    "Are you serious?" Chen Yi Ling asked to confirm again.


    For her, buying a small shop was a matter of lifting a finger, but for an ordinary family, it was not easy.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a positive answer, Chen Yi Ling finally put her mind at ease.


    "ChunTao, prepare the horse... actually, forget it, Duo¡¯er, I¡¯d like to ride in your family¡¯s ox cart, let¡¯s hurry."


    Chen Yi Ling said uneasily, the thought of the carriage reminded her of last night¡¯s incident.


    It was embarrassingly mortifying, so better forget about it.


    "Did Lord Qin punish you in the carriage last night?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, realizing that the history of ¡¯car shaking¡¯ went back a long way.


    Chen Yi Ling immediately shook her head, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, nothing like that happened, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s attend to serious matters!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Chen Yi Ling a knowing look; if that wasn¡¯t the case, why else would Chen Yi Ling opt for an ox cart?


    An ox cart was inferior to a carriage, lacking a carriage compartment, being slower, and much more bumpy.


    Chen Yi Ling gritted her teeth, "I¡¯ve said nothing happened, why won¡¯t you believe me?"


    Her answer was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mischievous smile, causing Chen Yi Ling to pivot her head away, unwilling to engage with Qiao Duo¡¯er any further.


    They arrived at Boss Zhu¡¯s store quickly, it was just a small sundries store, all told about six or seven square meters.


    It was only space enough for a counter, a table, and a few stools.


    Small as it was, it was more than enough to sell stewed meat.


    After all, stewed meat was a small business; renting a larger shop would be a waste.


    Boss Zhu greeted them, "My shop is modest, please make do while sitting, I don¡¯t have much to offer for your comfort."


    "It¡¯s fine, how much silver would you want for this shop?" Tan Zhenghong politely inquired.


    "Well, since I was the one who breached the contract first, I won¡¯t ask for an unreasonable price, just Twenty Taels of Silver. You see, this shop¡¯s location is good, there¡¯s a lot of passing traffic, and many sailors come here to buy and sell goods, the business will definitely be good."


    Boss Zhu could hardly contain his sincerity; every word he said seemed heartfelt.


    Although the shop was small, its location was excellent. He was actually giving them a deal out of respect for Lord Qin and Madam.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong exchanged glances, deducing from their discussion that the deal wouldn¡¯t be a loss for them.


    "Young Master, Madam, my shop is indeed good, you will not regret buying it," Shopkeeper Zhu urged again.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "We definitely want the shop, but we didn¡¯t bring that much silver with us. Is it okay if we write the contract tomorrow?"


    "Sure, with your word, I¡¯ll certainly keep it for you."


    Shopkeeper Zhu readily agreed; after all, no one would carry around Several Tens of Taels of Silver in the streets.


    Chen Yi Ling waved her hand, "Why make it so complicated? If you want to buy, I¡¯ll front the Silver. You can pay me back whenever."

 Chapter 426 - 429: Can’t Help But Hit Someone_1

    Chapter 426: Chapter 429: Can¡¯t Help But Hit Someone_1Qiao Duo¡¯er, fearing that delays would invite trouble, nodded in agreement.


    Manager Zhu spoke up at the right time, "Then I will invite someone to draft the deed. Please wait a moment."


    Ever since he caught the eye of Madam Liang, he had been contemplating selling the shop.


    It was better than waiting for Madam Liang to snatch the secret braised meat recipe and then extend her vicious claws toward his shop. By then, he would be left with nothing.


    Manager Zhu invited a scholar who made a living by writing for others in town, and it did not take long for him to finish drafting the deed.


    This time, Tan Zhenghong personally signed his name. His handwriting was not yet perfect, but for a country villager, it was already quite remarkable.


    After obtaining the deed, they went together to the Government Office to register and complete the procedures.


    Once at the Government Office, Chen Yiling approached a familiar Government Official and asked, "Is Lord Qin here?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There was an attack on a Government Official in Qing Niu Village. It caused quite a stir, and Lord Qin went there to handle the situation. Madam, if you have pressing matters, I can summon him to return."


    The Government Official answered respectfully.


    Chen Yiling pursed her lips, "No need, I¡¯ll go see Grandfather Yin."


    Processing registrations and other miscellaneous tasks were originally Master¡¯s responsibilities. Wouldn¡¯t sparing him from work be giving him an easy ride?


    She just feared she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist hitting someone upon seeing Grandfather Yin¡¯s face.


    Because the old man always liked to look at people with a slant in his eyes, his gaze dark and hawkish, and every time she saw him like this, her temper flared.


    The Government Official led Chen Yiling and the others to the study room.


    Then he stood aside to wait, as instructed by Lord Qin.


    Lord Qin had said that they should not let Madam and Yin Zheng be alone together; otherwise, Madam might be sold out without even realizing it.


    "Madam, what brings you here today?"


    Yin Zheng stood up, looking quite deferential, but his eyes held a trace of disdain.


    Chen Yiling handed over the deed, "Grandfather Yin, please process some paperwork for my younger sister."


    The first thing Grandfather Yin noticed was the deed. He glanced over it roughly, and his expression instantly darkened.


    Damn it, they actually bought the shop!


    This way, getting their braised meat recipe became even less likely!


    He could use his little finger to figure out that Chen Yiling and Qin Longyun must have helped them.


    Humph, these two sure know how to spoil things!


    After a momentary lapse, he bowed slightly, "Congratulations to the two of you. This shop is excellent, I wish you booming business."


    "Thanks for the kind words, Grandfather Yin. You must come and support us when the time comes," Chen Yiling replied noncommittally.


    Again, that serpent-like cold gaze, giving her the creeps all over.


    "Certainly, certainly," Grandfather Yin murmured to himself, thinking, if I don¡¯t come, how can I witness your failure?


    Just then, the drums of grievance outside the Government Office were struck.


    Yin Zheng immediately said, "I¡¯m terribly sorry, but I need to go check on the front. If Madam is not in a hurry, please wait here for a moment. I will resolve this as quickly as possible. If you¡¯re busy, you may attend to your affairs, and have the Maid come over tomorrow. I assure you that everything will be managed properly."


    After saying this, he hastily left.


    It was surely a trivial matter, and his absence wouldn¡¯t matter.


    But he just had to vex them, to let these arrogant people know he was not to be trifled with.


    After a while, the Government Official came to notify them, "Master has begun to hear the case. Madam, it¡¯s best if you come back tomorrow."


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes, "He really thinks too highly of himself. By what right does he have to preside over a trial?"


    Thank goodness White Stone Town had her husband; otherwise, the Master would definitely climb his way to the Magistrate¡¯s position.


    "With Lord Qin away, it¡¯s only logical for Master to hear the case," the Government Official explained.

 Chapter 427 - 430: You’re Not Angry?_1

    Chapter 427: Chapter 430: You¡¯re Not Angry?_1Chen Yiling gritted her teeth and said, "But don¡¯t forget, as long as my husband is around, the Master will always be the Master!"


    "Madam, please forgive me, I was just speaking out of turn, don¡¯t take it to heart."


    The Government Official hastily apologized, Lord Qin¡¯s official position was there for all to see, and even the Master wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly in public, and yet he had had the misfortune to offend Lady Qin.


    Wasn¡¯t this plainly seeking death?


    "You receive the Imperial salary, you should know clearly who you ought to serve."


    Chen Yiling sternly lectured this ignorant Government Official.


    Her demeanor faintly bore a few traces of Lord Qin¡¯s grace, this must be the influence of one¡¯s close associations.


    The Government Official was choked up and rendered speechless, while Qiao Duo¡¯er quietly gave a thumbs-up.


    This Ling¡¯er looked so cool, so satisfying!


    But it was impossible to get Yin Zheng to handle the procedures today, so Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others could only first return to the back courtyard.


    Upon reaching the back courtyard, Chen Yiling was still seething with anger.


    "Damned Yin Zheng, he infuriates me, one day I will make sure he pays with his life!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously, "What¡¯s the story with that Master? How dare he be so arrogant?"


    This time Qiao Duo¡¯er had asked the right person, as Chen Yiling had been keeping a close watch on him, so she knew everything there was to know about Yin Zheng like the back of her hand.


    Speaking of Yin Zheng, that goes back to over twenty years ago.


    Back then, Yin Zheng¡¯s uncle was serving as the County Magistrate in White Stone Town, and after several failed attempts to pass the Scholar examination, Yin Zheng began working as a Master there.


    Latter, when Yin Zheng¡¯s uncle was promoted, Yin Zheng chose to stay behind. He gathered wealth in White Stone Town to manage connections for his uncle, and it could be said that his uncle¡¯s ascent to Magistrate of Ning Tian Mansion was greatly due to Yin Zheng¡¯s contributions.


    Two years ago, Qin Longyun took up his post.


    On the day before he arrived at his new post, the Government Office caught fire, and years of records and account books perished in the blaze, allowing Yin Zheng to evade justice from then on.


    In the past two years under Qin Longyun¡¯s watchful eye, Yin Zheng played it safe, or one could say there was no need for him to take any more risks.


    Nearly half the shops in the town were under Yin Zheng¡¯s control, with numerous private assets, so he had no need to dip into public funds.


    Finally, Chen Yiling sighed and said, "Yin Zheng has been operating in White Stone Town for so many years, his foundations are deep, even my husband wouldn¡¯t dare to touch him lightly."


    "Evildoers will eventually destroy themselves, let¡¯s not stoop to his level for now," Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted Ling¡¯er.


    Now that she knew Yin Zheng¡¯s true nature, she had no psychological burden at all.


    If she got mad, she could just dispatch him with a knife by night.


    She didn¡¯t believe a dead man could continue to harm the living, assassination was, after all, her old trade.


    As for today, she needed to order some counters and tables and chairs.


    She was going to open a braised meat shop, and no matter if it was Yin Zheng or Liu Zheng, no one would be able to stop her!


    Passing by Deji Hall, Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced inside several times.


    Qin Longyun said that Bai Yifan had already returned from Medicine King Valley, and to avoid worrying Old Lady Bai, he had been recuperating in Deji Hall. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since the last incident, she hadn¡¯t seen Bai Yifan again, afraid of embarrassment.


    But Bai Yifan had helped her, and he was also her acknowledged Brother Bai San, so if she didn¡¯t visit, she felt uneasy.


    Tan Zhenghong said understandingly, "Let¡¯s go in and have a look."


    "You... you won¡¯t get angry?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with some surprise, she couldn¡¯t believe he was so magnanimous.


    "Don¡¯t mention one Bai Yifan, even if there were ten, no one would think of snatching you away from me."


    Tan Zhenghong reached out and playfully tickled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose.


    "So confident? Bai Yifan is exceptionally skilled in medicine, elegant, and from a wealthy family, he¡¯s the dream lover of many young girls," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but argue.

 Chapter 428 - 431 Always Been Friends_1

    Chapter 428: Chapter 431 Always Been Friends_1Although Tan Zhenghong spoke the truth, his demeanor was asking for a beating, so she had to put him in his place.


    Tan Zhenghong earnestly said, "No matter how good he is, he can¡¯t compare to how good I am to you, in this world only I can make you stay."


    He still remembered when Qiao Duo¡¯er first arrived, she was as cold as ice, as if living in a world of her own.


    She wasn¡¯t lacking in money or attention, what she needed was undivided love.


    He was glad that he had successfully entered her world.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t often speak romantic words, but every sentence he uttered was heart-stirring. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, as if her heart had fallen into a honey pot, tasting nothing but sweetness.


    The two first went to the pastry shop to buy some Jin Si cake, then headed to Deji Hall.


    Tan Zhenghong explained their visit to the shop assistant, "We are friends of Young Master Bai, we¡¯ve come to see him."


    "Young Master is in the study, I¡¯ll take you there," said the assistant.


    Tan Zhenghong handed the box of pastries to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "I¡¯ll wait for you here."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a look and silently thought about settling this matter before properly dealing with that damn Tan Zhenghong.


    Hmph, is this how he shows he likes her?


    Tan Zhenghong was just a big liar, sweet-talking, but not really caring about her at all.


    Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he be jealous?


    In the study, Bai Yifan stood in front of the window, looking at the blooming hibiscus outside.


    Involuntarily, the image of that woman appeared in his mind again.


    She carried a touch of aloof coolness, but upon closer inspection, one could see her candor, kindness, and persistence.


    She was a good girl, the only regret being that she already had a place to belong.


    Ultimately, he was a step too late.


    "Young Master, Mrs. Tan is here," the assistant knocked on the door.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s brow furrowed, but then quickly realized the assistant was referring to Qiao Duo¡¯er, he hastily said, "Come in."


    He thought his tone was no different from usual, but the urgency of his voice had already betrayed his feelings.


    "Duo¡¯er, take a seat," Bai Yifan invited Qiao Duo¡¯er to sit down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat down gracefully and asked with concern, "Has your poison been resolved?"


    Bai Yifan nodded, "A few more days of recuperation and I should be fully recovered, I have to thank you. If I hadn¡¯t run into you that day, I would have been long gone."


    "Indeed, you were lucky. If it had been any later, I wouldn¡¯t have had a solution," she said.


    She still felt horrified when recalling the previous incident, the poison had been so fierce. Despite having timely drained the poisoned blood and feeding him a bottle of medicine, none of this had been able to wake him up.


    It was fortunate that his master was the Medicine King, otherwise it would have been a dead end for sure.


    Bai Yifan said with a wry smile, "Staying alive is a torment, I need to go to Medicine King Valley and go into secluded cultivation for three months."


    "You should just be thankful you¡¯re alive, plus, the Medicine King only punishing you for three months is already quite lenient!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with schadenfreude.


    The Medicine King, such a renowned figure, had a disciple who was almost poisoned to death, not being driven mad by it was already a sign of magnanimity.


    Having said that, the atmosphere turned a bit awkward.


    The incident in the cave remained a thorn in their hearts, unresolved, making it hard for either to let go.


    Fortunately, the assistant brought in tea, and Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to sip from her cup.


    Bai Yifan stole a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er before gathering the courage to say, "I lost composure last time, Bai Qing has told me about it; my mind must have been affected by the poison, too."


    "I hope we can always be friends," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly. If he continued to harbor other feelings, then they would have to part ways.


    Bai Yifan nodded, "I¡¯ll always be your Brother Bai San."

 Chapter 429 - 432 See You Tomorrow Morning

    Chapter 429: Chapter 432 See You Tomorrow Morning"You can pick it up and put it down; I respect you for being a real man, Brother Bai San," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, raising her glass playfully. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan played along, raising his glass too and downing the water in one gulp.


    After Qiao Duo¡¯er said her goodbyes, Bai Yifan leaned back in his chair, feeling bitter and astringent inside, but also a sense of relief.


    Ever since he had learned from Bai Qing about his ridiculous actions, he had been worried that Qiao Duo¡¯er would never talk to him again. He was relieved that they were still friends.


    "Young Master, Mrs. Tan has sent over some Jin Si Cake. Would you like to try some?" the helper asked timidly.


    Bai Yifan smiled slightly: "Sure."


    The sweetness of the Jin Si cake soothed his heart, and he felt much better.


    He would try hard to forget those feelings he shouldn¡¯t have, because Qiao Duo¡¯er said a true man should be able to pick up and put down.


    If he couldn¡¯t forget, then he would keep it in his heart and silently protect her.


    On the way home, Tan Zhenghong felt more and more sad the more he thought about it. He trusted his wife, but he couldn¡¯t help but think about it, this damn entanglement!


    After holding it in for a while, he couldn¡¯t help himself.


    "Wife, I¡¯m feeling a little down," Tan Zhenghong said with a grievance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her lip and snickered: "Feeling down now? Who was it that just now insisted on being generous?"


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose, his guts were almost turning green with regret.


    "If I hadn¡¯t let you go, would you have gone?"


    "No," Qiao Duo¡¯er answered honestly.


    In fact, if Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t let her go today, she wouldn¡¯t have gone because she was the least patient when it came to dealing with emotional matters.


    Having gotten his answer, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s world instantly brightened.


    But he quickly asked with worry: "Don¡¯t you think I am being too petty?"


    "If you don¡¯t feel aggrieved on your way back, just get ready to kneel on gravel when you get home," Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong.


    This had nothing to do with trust, nor the breadth of one¡¯s heart, but love is inherently selfish, instinctively rejecting anyone of the same sex who is a threat.


    Tan Zhenghong said seriously, "If someone else covets you in the future, I won¡¯t have such a good temper. I¡¯ll surely slap them away so they never get a chance to get near you again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections. If Tan Zhenghong could really do that, she would be more than happy to have some peace.


    Moreover, emotional debts are hard to repay, and she just happened to hate owing people anything.


    "I¡¯ve been troubled for so long, is there any compensation?" Tan Zhenghong asked expectantly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow: "Then, as compensation, you¡¯re not allowed to have dinner tonight."


    Tan Zhenghong readily agreed: "I¡¯ll just eat you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smacked him on the back of his head, suddenly feeling that the days protected by Aunt Flo were blissful.


    At night, unable to bear it, Qiao Duo¡¯er kicked Tan Zhenghong under the bed.


    Tan Zhenghong complained about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s misdeeds: "Wife, you... you actually hurt me."


    "Love is about hurting each other. I¡¯m warning you, if you mess around again, pack up and go sleep in the guest room!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    It had already happened twice, and if she hadn¡¯t kicked him off in time, it would have begun a third time.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed: "I¡¯m really pitiful."


    His wife was so fierce and wouldn¡¯t even let him eat his fill; he was the world¡¯s most pitiable man.


    "Come back tomorrow morning." After saying that, Qiao Duo¡¯er just wanted to cut off her own tongue. Was this what they called ¡¯asking for trouble¡¯?


    Tan Zhenghong was a serious child; if she said come back tomorrow, he would surely get up early to do it.


    Now Tan Zhenghong¡¯s gloominess swept away, hoping tomorrow would come sooner.

 Chapter 430 - 433 Grand Opening_1

    Chapter 430: Chapter 433 Grand Opening_1In the following days, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were busy renovating their shop, which was soon sparkling anew.


    All the furniture came from Feng Clan¡¯s Carpentry Shop, and the signboard was personally made by Wind Liyang.


    Just because of this furniture, Yin Zheng and Madam Liang couldn¡¯t sit still.


    "Little Water, have you arranged everything I instructed you to do?" Madam Liang asked her personal maid once again.


    If those people wouldn¡¯t take the toast, they should not blame her, Yin Yiliu, for resorting to tricks the next day!


    Green Water nodded, "I arranged everything a long time ago, you can just sit back and enjoy the show!"


    Madam Liang curved her lips into a smile; this was the answer she wanted. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On September 16th, Tan¡¯s Stewed Meat Shop had its grand opening.


    In front of the stewed meat shop, there were gongs and drums, dragon and lion dances, an exceptionally lively scene, attracting many onlookers.


    After the performance, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong pulled off the red silk from the signboard together.


    Simultaneously, the sound of firecrackers started, pushing the atmosphere at the scene to a climax.


    The crowd all widened their eyes, determined to take a careful look at the signboard.


    It was said that the signboard was personally crafted by Wind Liyang, and even more importantly, the calligraphy was done by none other than County Magistrate Lord Qin!


    "Look at those powerful strokes, the only one in White Stone Town who can write so well is Lord Qin!"


    "Is it necessary to talk nonsense? Many people saw Lady Qin deliver the calligraphy to the carpenter¡¯s shop."


    "Then this shop really has quite the backstory. Everyone knows that Lord Qin never involves himself in business, and this is truly unprecedented!"


    "Lady Qin has been helping out a lot these past few days. What do you think, doesn¡¯t that say something?"


    The crowd was buzzing with discussion, all very curious about the newly opened stewed meat shop.


    "Today is the opening day of Tam¡¯s Stewed Meat Shop, with samples for everyone to try today, and a thirty percent discount for purchases, limited to while stock lasts!" Tan Zhenghong announced loudly.


    "The first fifty customers will receive a gift from our shop, and you¡¯ll definitely get your money¡¯s worth with us!"


    Qiao Duo was also vigorously promoting it; this was her first business, and she had been involved throughout the renovation process, so it was of great importance to her.


    Someone in the crowd cheered, "A fool wouldn¡¯t take advantage of a good deal! I want to be the first in line¡ªshopkeeper, give me two pounds of lean meat and a wild chicken."


    After that, many people responded in kind, with a discount and gifts on offer¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t want that?


    But there were also some discordant voices, specifically those sent by Madam Liang to make trouble.


    "Hmph, what kind of meat is this? Even the cheapest meat costs over twenty wen money a catty, you¡¯re really too greedy! Do you think our money is just picked up off the ground?" one skinny monkey-like man was particularly irritated.


    Seeing him jumping up and down, people might think he had invested his entire fortune in this stewed meat shop.


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurried to explain, "Sir, the meat shrinks after cooking, and there are also the costs of spices and labor; we really haven¡¯t overpriced it, and today it¡¯s even thirty percent off. We¡¯ll actually be losing money on these sales."


    "Who are you trying to fool? With prices tripled, do you expect the meat to shrink to one-third of its original size?"


    The skinny monkey was still not satisfied, insisting on making a scene over this.


    The crowd felt helpless; the aim of doing business was simple¡ªto make money, wasn¡¯t it?


    Why was it when it came to him, making money seemed a mortal sin?


    A person nearby chuckled, "Brother, you better open a shop yourself and make sure you don¡¯t profit at all¡ªwe¡¯ll definitely go and support you."


    "I¡¯ll go too, I¡¯ll definitely buy extra!"


    "I want to take over his shop!"


    A ripple of laughter ran through the crowd, leaving the skinny monkey-like man blushing with embarrassment.

 Chapter 431 - 434: Lucky Draw_1

    Chapter 431: Chapter 434: Lucky Draw_1Tan Zhenghong clasped his hands together, "Don¡¯t worry, everyone, we are honest businesspeople, fair to young and old alike. Moreover, we aren¡¯t new to business; we¡¯ve been setting up a stand at the dock all along. Some of you must know that, right?"


    "I¡¯m a regular customer, I go almost every day. I was wondering why your stand wasn¡¯t there these days, turns out you were prepping to open a shop. That¡¯s wonderful news!"


    "Enough with the useless talk, hurry up and weigh half a pheasant and one jin of dried tofu skin for me."


    "I want some too. I¡¯ll take the pork intestines; they¡¯re delicious and not expensive. Before, I had to stand in line for a long time just to get some."


    Some of the onlookers were now tempted. It¡¯s just marinated meat, could it really be that miraculous?


    Even if it were delicious, they needn¡¯t get so excited about it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes twitched. The level of acting among the crowd was indeed something. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She quickly returned to normal, "Today, our store is introducing a special dish. Whoever can guess what this special dish is will also get an additional grand prize."


    Hearing about a grand prize, many people became enthusiastic.


    But the foods they could think of were all laid out in the cabinet. What other rare items could there be?


    "It must be dog meat!" someone said with certainty.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, another person continued to guess, "I think it¡¯s taro!"


    Before he could finish, someone else objected, "You¡¯re wrong, it must be mutton or sheep¡¯s stomach. Yes, and it could also be beef."


    He had checked all the ingredients and named everything that wasn¡¯t there.


    This way, the grand prize would surely be his!


    "All wrong. Come on, think harder. The reward is one tael of silver!" Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a tael of broken silver from her sleeve as a prize.


    The prize was substantial, causing those who were initially uninterested to perk up.


    People began guessing one after another, and it wasn¡¯t long before a variety of answers had been suggested.


    Those with vivid imaginations even came up with wild answers like lion, tiger, or black bear.


    But... all were incorrect.


    Just as everyone was at a loss, Chen Yiling arrived with her maid.


    "Duo¡¯er, is your roast duck ready? I¡¯ve arranged with my husband to add it to tonight¡¯s meal; you must save one for me," Chen Yiling said coyly, always maintaining her image as a lady in front of others.


    Watching her poised behavior, no one would believe she was the ¡¯little witch¡¯ who used to catch fish, shrimp, and beehive at Big Willow Village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong greeted her with a salute, "Madam, rest assured, we¡¯ve already saved it for you."


    Suddenly, Chen Yiling noticed the strange looks directed at her and couldn¡¯t help touching her face.


    Was there something dirty on her face, or did they think she was a demon?


    Why were they all staring at her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stuffed the silver into Chen Yiling¡¯s hand, "They were just guessing what today¡¯s new special is, and you were the first to give the right answer. This prize is what you¡¯ve won; make sure to keep it."


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er hand the silver to Chen Yiling, everyone felt discontent.


    Because Chen Yiling already knew the answer in advance.


    But she was the Lady of the County, and in White Stone Town, no one dared to offend her; as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.


    Forget it, if Chen Yiling hadn¡¯t said it, they might not have guessed the answer until evening, and it wouldn¡¯t have been theirs anyway.


    "It seems I was presumptuous. But don¡¯t be angry, everyone; please support us. Once the owner here has copper coins, I¡¯ll exchange the silver and share it with you; there will be a share for everyone who sees it!" Chen Yiling said generously.


    One tael of silver was a thousand Wen Money; it would certainly be enough to go around, though not many would get a big share. It was just for a bit of fun.

 Chapter 432 - 435: Catching Someone Red-Handed_1

    Chapter 432: Chapter 435: Catching Someone Red-Handed_1Tan Zhenghong brought out the roasted duck and lifted the lid; the fragrance immediately filled the air.


    "Boss, is this the roasted duck? Just the smell makes me unbearable, tell me quickly how much it is?"


    Someone asked excitedly, almost wishing they could lean in for a bite.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Twenty-five Wen per jin."


    This price caused many to take a sharp breath in surprise. It was outrageously expensive!


    "Everyone, wait a moment, and soon you¡¯ll be able to taste our shop¡¯s secret recipe roasted duck. Then you¡¯ll know if the money is well spent."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er skillfully sliced the marinated duck and placed the pieces on plates for everyone to taste.


    She had sold marinated duck before, but it didn¡¯t sell very well, so she thought of a new method.


    The improvement was quite simple, in fact: after marinating, she brushed a layer of honey on the duck¡¯s skin, sprinkled some fine salt and five-spice powder on it, and then roasted it in the oven.


    "Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, rich but not greasy, it¡¯s even better than Welcoming Guest Building¡¯s, and the price is not expensive at all!"


    "A roasted duck at Welcoming Guest Building costs over a hundred Wen, this is truly a bargain!"


    "I have to buy half a duck to take back for my wife and child to try something new. They will definitely like it."


    The trio that was speaking were still the same three from earlier, and if one word could describe their performance, it would be fake.


    Fortunately, the delicious roasted duck attracted most of the other people¡¯s attention, and they scarcely noticed these three abnormal fellows.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er was always keeping an eye on the crowd, she knew Madam Liang¡¯s tactics well and was certain there was more to come than just that earlier incident.


    Sure enough, soon someone stealthily stretched out a hand, and a black object flew out from it.


    It was a cockroach!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, and in the next instant, the chopsticks in her hand flew out, precisely flicking the insect back to the feet of the person who had thrown it. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those with keen eyes quickly asked, "What just happened?"


    "Didn¡¯t you see? That cockroach crawled out from the marinated meat shop, tell me how clean this place can be. Only you unfastidious people would dare to eat here."


    The one who threw the insect hurriedly said, intent on distorting the truth.


    "Exactly, I¡¯ll never have the guts to come here again after this!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sarcastically said, "Just now, someone tried to throw something into my stall, I merely flicked it out."


    "How can you be so annoying? I saw your little trick just now. A grown man like you doing such despicable things, aren¡¯t you ashamed at all?"


    Someone in the crowd immediately accused the person who threw the cockroach.


    Since he was standing right beside the man, everyone was inclined to believe what he said.


    "You...you¡¯re making it up!"


    "Am I? Then what is this? Could it be that the marinated meat shop is so unclean that it upset the cockroaches enough to crawl onto people and then commit suicide?"


    A bystander stretched out a hand and pulled several dead cockroaches from someone¡¯s bosom.


    Was he not caught red-handed?


    "What you¡¯re doing is just too low, it¡¯s a time for celebration of the shop¡¯s opening and you come to bring bad luck, you deserve it if you get beaten up!"


    "Look at you, you deserve to have a son without an a**hole!"


    The cockroach-thrower was then silent, but his actions had been so secretive, how could anyone have seen them?


    Yet somehow, the cockroach he¡¯d thrown was flicked back at him and someone immediately testified against him. Why was he so unlucky?


    Damned, he had finally managed to secure a job and he didn¡¯t even get to perform well. If things continued this way, he¡¯d die of hunger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a cold face, "Tan¡¯s Shop has always abided by the rule ¡¯do not provoke others unless provoked.¡¯ Now that someone is bullying us to our doorstep, I cannot let this go easily. I¡¯ll have to trouble a few young men to help send this person to the Government Office."

 Chapter 433 - 436 Meddling in Others’ Affairs_1

    Chapter 433: Chapter 436 Meddling in Others¡¯ Affairs_1The beauty of a shop owner spoke up, how many men could bear to refuse her?


    Immediately, a few robust men held down the despicable man, ready to deliver him to the Government Office.


    Just then, someone exclaimed, "Quick, look! Lord Qin and Young Master Bai are coming."


    Qin Longyun, seeing the commotion, inquired, "Why are you quarreling?"


    An old man with good intentions immediately explained the situation, without bias, and the onlookers all nodded in agreement.


    Qin Longyun, with an expressionless face, asked, "Do you admit to your crimes?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lord Qin, I was just joking around. It wasn¡¯t serious, was it? Why go after me and ignore the real villains?"


    Qin Longyun said indifferently, "You were about to throw a cockroach into someone¡¯s braised meat and you call that nothing? If I don¡¯t handle such matters, who will feel safe to do business in the future?"


    The man clenched his teeth but had no words to retort.


    The government officials soon took the man away, and the remaining crowd erupted in cheers of approval, agreeing that such a ruffian deserved to be locked up!


    Qin Longyun humbly stated, "This was my oversight, which gave him the opportunity to cause trouble. I will do my best to prevent this from happening in the future."


    This sincere show of responsibility left the crowd unaccustomed, thinking that there was probably no other official as good as Lord Qin left.


    "Lord Qin, how could we blame you? We all remember your contributions to White Stone Town."


    "Some people are naturally shameless, carrying out misdeeds and yet having the audacity to be brazen about it."


    Following one person¡¯s lead, the crowd knelt down, offering their thanks to Qin Longyun.


    Since Qin Longyun assumed his position, life in White Stone Town had improved significantly.


    Qin Longyun quickly pulled them to their feet, "This is my duty, no need for gratitude. Rather, I am very thankful that everyone visited my sister¡¯s shop today, and I hope this scoundrel hasn¡¯t spoiled your mood."


    "Thank you, Brother Qin, for your help," said Qiao Duo¡¯er as she bowed politely.


    "We¡¯re family; no need for formalities. I wish you great prosperity as you start your business," Qin Longyun said, presenting his gift.


    He prepared a Pixiu bronze statue. Pixiu, one of the Dragon Nine Sons, is known for ¡¯only taking in, not letting out,¡¯ and is regarded as a mascot by businessmen.


    Bai Yifan followed suit, "Duo¡¯er, I wish you a wealth of business and an abundance of profits every day."


    His gift was a delicate and exquisitely crafted Treasure Basin.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thanked each one in turn, and Tan Zhenghong appeared at the right moment, bringing the gifts inside.


    With Qin Longyun present, those with ill intentions grew subdued, and before long all the braised meat had sold out.


    "Husband, why don¡¯t you rest here for a moment? Duo¡¯er and I have something to attend to," Chen Yiling said, trying to please.


    Qin Longyun, on a rare occasion, did not stop her, and Chen Yiling quickly pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er out with her.


    They snuck into the back alley together, and by the time they arrived, three people were already waiting there.


    Chen Yiling said relievedly, "You¡¯ve all worked hard. For your excellent performance today, I¡¯ve decided to give you a reward of Twenty Wen Money and half a pound of braised meat."


    Madam Liang was the best at hiring people to cause trouble, but this wasn¡¯t exclusively her strategy; others could also hire a few to make a show of support.


    These were the people Chen Yiling had found, the very ¡¯extras¡¯ that Qiao Duo¡¯er had disdainfully referred to.


    However, no one could deny that if it weren¡¯t for them, today¡¯s issue would not have been resolved so smoothly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er distributed the money and meat to them, and the three were incredibly grateful, astonished that they could earn so much just by uttering a few words.


    "Madams, if there are any jobs in the future, be sure to call on us brothers!"

 Chapter 434 - 437: Keep It a Secret for Me_1

    Chapter 434: Chapter 437: Keep It a Secret for Me_1"No problem," Yi Ling agreed, then her tone shifted, "This matter must be kept secret, no one is allowed to speak of it!"


    Intimidating others was something Yi Ling was adept at, with no pressure at all.


    The children all agreed, "Don¡¯t worry, we people of the martial world prize loyalty above all, we would never sell you out."


    "Enough with that, you call yourselves people of the martial world? Don¡¯t scare me, just go now, and be careful not to be seen," Yi Ling instructed again.


    If people found out she used such methods, her lifetime of reputation would be utterly destroyed.


    Duo¡¯er chuckled, "The idea was mine, so stop being so nervous. We are just giving them a taste of their own medicine, nothing too terrible."


    To deal with a scoundrel, one must use the scoundrel¡¯s methods.


    Because scoundrels have no understanding of noble integrity.


    "But I was the one who found these people, it¡¯s not just your problem, you also have to keep it secret for me. If Lord Qin finds out I know all these unsavory characters, I¡¯m definitely going to have a miserable end."


    Yi Ling stuck out her tongue, just thinking of Lord Qin¡¯s stern face made her spine chill.


    "Your Lord Qin must know already, or how could you have been allowed out just now?"


    Duo¡¯er gave the silly Yi Ling a bit of analysis.


    No matter how shrewd Yi Ling usually seemed, mention Qin Longyun and her IQ would instantly drop to zero.


    Yi Ling said uneasily, "Really?"


    "Your Lord Qin is wise and mighty, do you think your little antics could escape his notice? Sister Ling¡¯er, just accept your fate!"


    Duo¡¯er patted Yi Ling¡¯s shoulder as a gesture of comfort.


    Yi Ling howled in despair, she was doomed!


    Lord Qin would definitely say with a stern face: You¡¯re not allowed to step out of the room at all this year!


    If that really happened, what was the point of her living?


    Boohoo, suddenly she was so envious of Qiao Duo. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong never restricted her freedom, indulging her in everything, even joining in her mischief.


    When they arrived at Tan¡¯s Shop, something even more dreadful occurred¡ªQin Longyun was standing at the entrance, waiting.


    Yi Ling felt sorrowful, and without thinking, she shrank behind Qiao Duo.


    It seemed he already knew.


    But Qiao Duo turned disloyal at the crucial moment, saying, "You two chat, I¡¯ll be off," before she ran away.


    Yi Ling felt betrayed, considering how much trust she had put in Qiao Duo, only to realize she was also a scoundrel!


    Qin Longyun asked slowly, "Back already?"


    After a start, Yi Ling quickly put on a smile, "Husband, why are you standing outside? Please come in and have a seat, I¡¯ll fetch you some tea."


    After saying that, she hurriedly entered Tan¡¯s Shop, where it was crowded and presumably safer.


    Qin Longyun watched Yi Ling¡¯s retreating figure, a hint of indulgence flashing in his eyes.


    Was he too harsh on her usually?


    Why did she react to seeing him like a mouse spotting a cat?


    But if Yi Ling were a mouse, she would be a scheming one, always trying to tease the cat, hoping to escape unscathed after doing so.


    However, her adversary was Qin Longyun, how could he possibly let her get away?


    Yi Ling, who had successfully escaped danger, glared cutely at Qiao Duo¡¯er, that heartless little thing!


    "I¡¯ve decided to treat you to a feast at Welcoming Guest Building today as an apology, okay?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    "That¡¯s more like it," Yi Ling said coyly, "I suppose I can accept that with much difficulty, but I eat a lot, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll eat you into bankruptcy?"


    "With that tiny frame of yours..." Qiao Duo¡¯er looked her up and down, "just eat to your heart¡¯s content, I¡¯ve got it covered!"

 Chapter 435 - 438: Preparing for a Marriage Proposal?_1

    Chapter 435: Chapter 438: Preparing for a Marriage Proposal?_1"A wealthy woman is indeed different, so magnanimous!" Chen Yiling gave a thumbs up.


    After fooling around for a while and having their fun, Chen Yiling finally remembered that Lord Qin was still behind her. She sneaked a peek at him; his expression was as usual. So, he wasn¡¯t angry then?


    Chen Yiling finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling an inexplicable joy as if she had escaped a disaster.


    Pah, how shameful is it to be so afraid of men?


    Hmph, besides, Lord Qin only has those two tricks: either he doesn¡¯t let her go out, or he takes her to the bed to teach her a lesson. She¡¯s not afraid!


    Qin Longyun asked indifferently, "Where¡¯s the tea?"


    "Just wait a moment," Chen Yiling turned timid again.


    She admitted she was scared of both tricks, scared to death, in fact.


    The others silently went about their business, pretending to know nothing.


    But in fact, each and every one of them was shrewdly observant. Who says that a domineering oppression isn¡¯t a form of love?


    Isn¡¯t there a saying that the deeper the love, the stricter the criticism?


    Gathering with good friends for drinks and lively chats is one of life¡¯s great pleasures.


    Sun Erhu was the first to raise his glass, "Brother Hong, Sister-in-Law, I toast to you, wishing that the Master and Madam Liang meet their demise soon."


    The toast was a bit odd, but it resonated with everyone.


    Yin Zhengming knew that Qiao Duo¡¯er was Qin Longyun¡¯s sister, but he dared to cause trouble on the opening day. This meant that Yin Zheng was no longer satisfied with just being the Master.


    Thus, a fierce battle was unavoidable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stared steadily at Sun Erhu. "Erhu, I think you¡¯re happy about more than just Tan¡¯s Shop opening today. Your face is glowing red. Tell me, are you planning to propose marriage?"


    Today, Erhu had been in high spirits all day, and if it wasn¡¯t because of Chao Lian, what else could it be?


    "I... I haven¡¯t," Sun Erhu weakly protested, but anyone with eyes could tell he was not being truthful.


    Chen Yiling mischievously said, "If you admit it generously, I¡¯ll introduce you to a matchmaker. Her gift of the gab is formidable; she¡¯ll make sure you get what you want."


    "Madam Qin, you¡¯re not kidding me, are you?" Sun Erhu asked expectantly.


    He had thought about proposing for a long time, but he had hesitated because Jiang¡¯s Clan was difficult to handle, and he had his reservations.


    Chen Yiling glanced at him sideways, "Do I look like a liar to you? Say something nice first if you really want to know."


    Sun Erhu was stumped, saying something nice?


    He was not good with words, and he wasn¡¯t very familiar with Chen Yiling; how would he know what she liked to hear?


    Especially since Tan Zhenghong looked completely clueless. He only knew his own wife¡¯s preferences; he didn¡¯t care or pay attention to other women.


    Seeing Qiao Duo touch her face, Sun Erhu immediately understood and knew that his sister-in-law was reliable.


    "Madam Qin, you are the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever seen, more beautiful than flowers, a national beauty and heavenly fragrance, capable of overturning states and cities, beauty that is ethereal, I wish you and Lord Qin grow old together and have children soon."


    Sun Erhu scrounged up all the nice things he could think of. That should be enough, right?


    But unexpectedly, his naive performance gave Chen Yiling the urge to tease him.


    "I¡¯m even more beautiful than your wife?"


    "Absolutely," Sun Erhu answered without hesitation.


    Chen Yiling spread her hands, "Then we don¡¯t need a matchmaker, because your wife isn¡¯t as beautiful as me. Why would you marry her then?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu was taken aback and quickly added, "In my eyes, Chao Lian is the most beautiful."


    "Liar! You just said I was the most beautiful, and you¡¯ve changed your mind in the blink of an eye," Chen Yiling feigned anger.


    Sweat formed a fine layer on Sun Erhu¡¯s forehead. He had thought his own sister-in-law was difficult to deal with, but Madam Qin was even more quick-witted.

 Chapter 436 - 439 Call Me Sister_1

    Chapter 436: Chapter 439 Call Me Sister_1I guess only someone as wise and unmatched as Lord Qin could tame her.


    Chen Yiling puckered her lips, "I¡¯ll give you one more chance. I¡¯ll ask you a question, and if your answer satisfies me, I¡¯ll tell you who that matchmaker is."


    Sun Erhu nodded vigorously, "Please ask, Lady Qin."


    "Am I prettier, or is Duo¡¯er prettier?"


    Sun Erhu glanced at the two women sitting next to him, downed a cup of alcohol fiercely before he honestly said, "Both are beautiful."


    "You can only choose one." Chen Yiling was unrelenting.


    Her hand was clenched on her own clothes, otherwise she feared she would burst into laughter.


    "This... this is hard to compare, you are different types. Just like you can¡¯t compare different flowers." Sun Erhu said sheepishly.


    No matter how he answered the question, he would offend the other person. Could he not answer?


    "Then why is the peony the king of flowers?"


    Sun Erhu was once again at a loss for words and could only rely on drinking to cover up his embarrassment.


    If he really had to choose one, it would definitely be his sister-in-law; not because of her face, but because her dignified aura surpassed the other by far.


    Bai Yifan spoke elegantly, "Yi Ling, stop giving him a hard time. If it were up to me, I¡¯d say he has to drink three cups as penalty."


    Sun Erhu was extremely grateful. Drinking was much simpler than speaking.


    After three cups, Sun Erhu¡¯s face was slightly flushed, "Lady Qin, can you tell me now?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "First, call me ¡¯sister¡¯ and let me hear it." Chen Yiling raised her eyebrows.


    For the sake of successfully marrying Chao Lian, he steeled his heart and called out, "Hello, sister, now will you tell me?"


    Chen Yiling nodded with approval, "That¡¯s more like it. Go to Xiping Street and look for Granny Li, say that you were sent by the Lady of the County; she definitely won¡¯t refuse."


    "Thank you, sister. I¡¯ll toast to you." Sun Erhu said joyfully.


    Chen Yiling lifted her cup, "Good brother, don¡¯t forget to invite me to your wedding banquet."


    "Of course. I¡¯ll also give you a big red envelope," Sun Erhu promised, patting his chest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Do I get one too? If it weren¡¯t for me letting you two sell marinated meat together, how could your relationship have progressed so rapidly?"


    "You¡¯ll get an even bigger one if you help me propose," Sun Erhu said confidently.


    The proposal should be made by the male¡¯s parents, but since his had passed away early and he was not close to other relatives, he could only trouble Brother Hong and his sister-in-law.


    There¡¯s truth in the saying ¡¯elder brothers are like fathers, elder sisters-in-law are like mothers,¡¯ and now was the time to count on them!


    Sun Erhu was in high spirits and, unable to control himself, drank too much.


    "You guys keep drinking, I¡¯ll take a nap and then join you again," Sun Erhu said, wiping his reddened face.


    Chen Yiling nudged Sun Erhu, "Are you drunk already? Don¡¯t sleep now; you still have to go find Granny Li."


    "Yes, I¡¯ll go,"


    Sun Erhu slurred a response, then collapsed softly onto the table.


    Chen Yiling curled her lips, "Go to your dreams, and find Granny Li there!"


    "I¡¯ll go in my dreams, Granny Li, Granny Li..." Sun Erhu muttered; he really wanted to go, but he was so drunk he was like a lump of mud and couldn¡¯t even speak clearly.


    Everyone was both amused and exasperated. How could Sun Erhu be so funny?


    Sun Erhu knew none of this because he had deeply fallen asleep.


    After dinner, it was Tan Zhenghong who carried Sun Erhu onto the ox cart. Halfway through, the cart hit a bump and Sun Erhu tumbled out.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly got down to check on him. Thankfully, Sun Erhu was tough and could take a fall.


    This time Tan Zhenghong placed Sun Erhu in the middle of the cart to prevent him from rolling off again.

 Chapter 437 - 440: Sleep With Me_1

    Chapter 437: Chapter 440: Sleep With Me_1In the Government Office, Bai Yifan and Qin Longyun were playing chess.


    After tonight, if they wanted to play chess together again, they would have to wait for three months.


    Because tomorrow Bai Yifan was to set off for Medicine King Valley.


    "Third Boss, do you really not plan to say goodbye to Duo¡¯er?" Qin Longyun asked seemingly casually.


    Bai Yifan nodded, "Saying goodbye would only add to the sorrow, and besides, I¡¯ve never been good at farewells."


    What difference would speaking make?


    He could tell that when Qiao Duo¡¯er was with Tan Zhenghong, she was relaxed, without any pretense or guard, something he had never seen before.


    There was only one explanation for that, which was that Qiao Duo¡¯er loved Tan Zhenghong¡ªwith all her heart and soul. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fourth sister is very good. I¡¯ve always felt she has many stories within her. Now it should be about returning to simplicity; she wants to lead a simple life, and with your unpredictable whereabouts and the Bai Family¡¯s complicated relationships, you are not suitable for her. You¡¯ve lost."


    Qin Longyun placed a chess piece down, and the outcome of the game was clear.


    Bai Yifan shook his head, "One shouldn¡¯t play chess with a perturbed heart, and I¡¯ve spoiled your mood."


    He didn¡¯t care about winning or losing; it was the reality Qin Longyun had spoken that pained his heart.


    He had always fantasized that if he had met Qiao Duo¡¯er before Tan Zhenghong, the situation would be the same.


    But the truth was, no matter who Qiao Duo¡¯er had met first, she would never have chosen him.


    "I hope next time we can fight a full and satisfying battle." Qin Longyun said with a slight smile.


    Bai Yifan responded, "I¡¯ll do my best."


    Falling for someone is simple¡ªmaybe it¡¯s because of a look, a gesture, or a certain quality.


    Forgetting someone is difficult because cutting an important person out of one¡¯s heart hurts.


    He had tried many times, firmly resolving himself each time, but then he couldn¡¯t help thinking of everything about her, so he decided not to force himself anymore. Letting things take their natural course was best.


    When Chen Yiling brought over the brewed tea, Bai Yifan had already disappeared.


    She couldn¡¯t help asking, "Why did you finish playing so early today?"


    "Yifan¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t in the game and he lost before long," Qin Longyun said with regret.


    He and Bai Yifan were evenly matched in chess, and regardless of winning or losing, they always found it exhilarating. But this time, he felt a tightness in his chest.


    Worriedly, Chen Yiling said, "It must be because of Duo¡¯er. You don¡¯t think Yifan will do something foolish, do you?"


    "He is not a coward. He will be fine after a while. You little goofball, don¡¯t meddle unnecessarily, or you might make things worse."


    Qin Longyun tousled Chen Yiling¡¯s hair.


    Now that both were friends, it wasn¡¯t right to take sides.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "I¡¯m not that foolish. Duo¡¯er and Zheng Hong are married now, they are a match made in heaven. What meddle could I possibly do? I just hope that Yifan will find the right person for him soon."


    "Let¡¯s not talk about them anymore. You¡¯d better explain to me how you got to know all those riff-raffs," Qin Longyun changed the subject, and Chen Yiling¡¯s face stiffened.


    She thought discussing matters of the heart was quite nice, but what riff-raffs?


    Could they no longer chat happily?


    Chen Yiling pursed her lips, "Husband, I¡¯m tired from the whole day, almost dead tired. Come and sleep with me, won¡¯t you?"


    "Really not going to speak?" Qin Longyun glanced at Chen Yiling half-jokingly.


    "I¡¯ll speak, all right? It¡¯s people I secretly met when I snuck out previously. I did them a small favor, and now when I need help, they all showed up," Chen Yiling quickly explained, always believing in being lenient with those who confess.

 Chapter 438 - 441_1

    Chapter 438: Chapter 441_1Just as Qin Longyun¡¯s eyes widened, he remembered his wife¡¯s nervous little gaze, and decided not to scare her.


    "I can forgive you this time, but if there¡¯s a next time, we¡¯ll settle scores after the fall."


    Qin Longyun¡¯s tone softened a bit, but Chen Yiling didn¡¯t notice at all, fixated on that familiar threat.


    In her heart, Lord Qin¡¯s image was already fixed; one or two instances couldn¡¯t change that.


    Qin Longyun felt quite frustrated and simply picked up Chen Yiling.


    Chen Yiling kicked her legs: "What are you doing? Put me down."


    "It¡¯s already late, of course it¡¯s time to sleep," Qin Longyun said, heading towards the bedroom. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes, knowing very well that sleeping at Qin Longyun¡¯s place meant two things.


    He said sleep but it meant first to bed and then to wake, with sleep being matters discordant, and only then rest.


    Even though he studied the Saint¡¯s Book, he didn¡¯t shy away from meaty or vegetarian topics.


    Would Confucius climb out of his coffin in a rage if he knew he had taught such a dissolute student?


    Chen Yiling struggled a bit before relenting, knowing full well she couldn¡¯t break free from his grasp, and the more she resisted, the more excited he became.


    "Ling¡¯er, we could play a game."


    Qin Longyun¡¯s magnetic voice resonated in Chen Yiling¡¯s ear, hmm... also filled with endless charm.


    Chen Yiling almost agreed, but thankfully she held her ground at the crucial moment.


    "You are so annoying, I don¡¯t want to deal with you."


    Gently, Qin Longyun pressed the little woman down onto the bed; he had just been joking.


    At this time, Tan Zhenghong was also full of naughty ideas.


    "Wife, you¡¯ve been busy all day, let me give you a massage," Tan Zhenghong said softly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grunted, lying on the bed, letting Tan Zhenghong knead her.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s massage skills had greatly improved. He applied just the right amount of force, neither too light nor too heavy, and his touches were spot on, quickly dispelling the exhaustion of the day.


    Suddenly, a strange sensation crept in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled over to dodge Tan Zhenghong¡¯s roving hands. Hmph, she should have known Tan Zhenghong was up to no good!


    This was hooliganism!


    "Wife, you used to tell me that a full-body massage is the best."


    Tan Zhenghong explained without a blush or out of breath.


    It took a lot to get your skin as thick as his.


    Even after being spurned by Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t discouraged. In a cheeky tone, he said, "Wife, I¡¯m all cleaned up, come and spoil me."


    "Really, you want me to?" Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze fleetingly swept to their belts.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed without a second thought, and Qiao Duo¡¯er touched his face: "Then don¡¯t regret it."


    Even if he ended up stark naked and bound, feeling very insecure,


    what if Qiao Duo¡¯er threw him out onto the street?


    He wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to resist. How would he face anyone after that?

 Chapter 439 - 442 Tied..._1

    Chapter 439: Chapter 442 Tied..._1Qiao Duo¡¯er made a shushing gesture, "If you say another word today, exert a bit more strength, don¡¯t ever think about touching me again."


    Tan Zhenghong quieted down and stopped fidgeting.


    After all, his wife cared about him so much, she probably couldn¡¯t bear to leave him on the street for everyone to gawk at.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body was half pressing down on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, her kiss slowly descending. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The peck was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming water, and just as Tan Zhenghong thought to raise his head to catch his little wife¡¯s lips, he received a roll of her eyes instead.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, not daring to use any force with his neck.


    The next day, when Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, Tan Zhenghong was still asleep.


    Her gaze inadvertently swept over a certain person¡¯s arm, and Qiao Duo¡¯er startled at the sight of a circle of bruises there.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also used her foot to kick away the blanket on the other side, and sure enough, there were bruises on the ankle as well.


    All of this was proof of how intense the battle had been last night.


    Cough cough, how could she have tied up Tan Zhenghong? How could she tie up Tan Zhenghong?


    That person last night couldn¡¯t possibly have been her; she must have been possessed by a ghost!


    Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, you said love is about hurting each other, now I believe it."


    "Stop with the nonsense, get out of bed quickly, and I¡¯ll help you apply medicine later." Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, her voice a bit hoarse.


    Probably... because she had been shouting a bit too long last night.


    Tan Zhenghong first fetched the ointment, and Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully applied it; her tender actions brought Tan Zhenghong immense satisfaction.


    In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er specially arrived at the town half an hour earlier.


    She left Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian to watch the shop while she went to Xiping Street with Sun Erhu.


    "Sister Lan, why do I feel like you all are looking at me weirdly?" Chao Lian was a bit confused, what exactly was going on today?


    She had a fever yesterday and couldn¡¯t come, but it was only one day; what could have happened?


    Hu¡¯s Clan innocently responded, "Nothing¡¯s weird."

 Chapter 440 - 443 Are You Hiding Something?_1

    Chapter 440: Chapter 443 Are You Hiding Something?_1Chao Lian grumbled, "But I¡¯ve always felt something strange. Are you guys hiding something from me?"


    "You¡¯re probably still not completely over your fever, which is causing you to have illusions," she said evasively.


    Hu¡¯s Clan awkwardly found an excuse, believing it would be better for Erhu to tell Chao Lian himself, since it was a matter between the two of them.


    Chao Lian was half-convinced but fortunately, there were more customers at the shop, so once she got busy, where would she find the time to ponder over this?


    On the other side, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu had already arrived at Thread of Fate; the name itself, implying threading together thousands of miles of fate, inexplicably gave people more confidence.


    Granny Li happened to be in the store, and after learning that they were introduced by Chen Yiling, she personally took care of the guests.


    "If you have something to say, don¡¯t hesitate to speak directly," Granny Li said bluntly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu was a bit shy but he eventually explained his purpose for the visit and also shared his difficulties.


    Slapping her chest, Granny Li promised, "Since you trust me, I¡¯ll make sure this marriage happens."


    Sun Erhu repeatedly thanked her, wishing he could kowtow to Granny Li a couple of times.


    "No need to thank me until you¡¯re married. I¡¯ve seen this kind of situation many times before. I¡¯ll make a trip to Big Willow Village tomorrow."


    Granny Li didn¡¯t consider it a difficulty at all; she had been a matchmaker all her life, dealt with many tough cases, but so far, there was none she couldn¡¯t handle.


    Granny Li, keeping her composure, weighed the red envelope in her hand, feeling its substantial weight, her smile growing broader.


    Given the red envelope, she had to get the job done swiftly!


    With the matter successfully settled, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt like an extra.


    Previously, Erhu said he would be shy, but it seemed his shyness had been defeated by his eagerness to marry Chao Lian.


    "Sister-in-law, let¡¯s hurry back to the shop!"


    Sun Erhu was as swift as the wind, as if he wished he could fly to Chao Lian¡¯s side.


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes, "Look at you, all in a rush. You might scare Chao Lian away if you¡¯re not careful, and then who will you cry to!"


    "Sister-in-law, you don¡¯t understand. Chao Lian likes it when I¡¯m like this," Sun Erhu said smugly.


    Qiao Duo covered half her face, "Goodness, it¡¯s so sweet it could kill a person even before getting married. What about after? Will we need to make an appointment to see you in the future?"


    Teased like this, Sun Erhu¡¯s face turned red, and he felt uneasy all the way back to Big Willow Village.


    He hadn¡¯t even married yet but already found himself preoccupied with the wedding chamber. What was going on with him?


    Upon arriving in Big Willow Village, Sun Erhu first sent Qiao Duo¡¯er home with the ox cart. Because Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s newly rented house was close to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s place, there was a stretch of road Erhu walked only with Chao Lian.


    Chao Lian asked anxiously, "Brother Erhu, are you unwell? You¡¯ve seemed off since you got back from outside."


    "I¡¯m fine, um... I¡¯ve asked a matchmaker to propose on my behalf to your family, and now I¡¯m still feeling like I¡¯m floating on air," Sun Erhu said, his lips unable to suppress a raise.


    Chao Lian weakly retorted, "That¡¯s not funny at all."


    "I¡¯m serious. This afternoon, that¡¯s precisely why sister-in-law and I went to see the matchmaker."


    Sun Erhu was still excited, but after a long time, Chao Lian remained silent. He asked anxiously, "Don¡¯t you want this?"


    Chao Lian, hanging her head, said, "I... I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m home now, I don¡¯t want to talk about it with you!"


    Watching her dainty figure walk away, Sun Erhu chuckled softly to himself.

 Chapter 441 - 444: The Cruel Stepmother_1

    Chapter 441: Chapter 444: The Cruel Stepmother_1The next morning, Granny Li arrived at the Lin Family in Big Willow Village. Once she identified herself, Jiang¡¯s Clan happily welcomed her in.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was unusually generous, entertaining her guest with brown sugar water and peanuts for the first time ever.


    Granny Li was the town¡¯s matchmaker, and it seemed possible that some young master had taken a fancy to the girl Chao Lian.


    Even if it was to become a concubine, that would turn the fortunes of the Lin Family around!


    "Thank you for your hospitality, Madam. I have been entrusted to come to your home to ask for a marriage proposal. I wonder if Miss Lin is betrothed to anyone."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan quickly shook her head: "No, we would be troubled and grateful for Granny Li to help with this matter."


    "Rest assured, I will surely introduce a good family for the child. The boy¡¯s parents have passed away early, and he has no brothers. Marrying over there, she won¡¯t need to serve parents-in-law, nor will she have any sister-in-law to compete with ..."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan hurriedly interrupted Granny Li before she could finish.


    "Are you talking about Sun Erhu from Big Willow Village?"


    Granny Li nodded: "That¡¯s right, Erhu is hardworking and down-to-earth, not flashy at all, a man suited for family life."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s face instantly fell. Why did it have to be Sun Erhu?


    No matter how decent Sun Erhu was, he was still a mere peasant. What prospects could he have!


    "Granny Li, not to speak out of turn, but my Chao Lian is pretty and hardworking, skilled in embroidery, and is known in the village for it, on top of being a filial child. She would be well-suited to a young master from the town," Jiang¡¯s Clan said proudly.


    Keeping Chao Lian was originally her calculation to marry her off to someone in town.


    Leveraging her son-in-law¡¯s influence, she planned to secure a bright future for her own children.


    Granny Li patiently advised: "High-status families pay much attention to matching social status; even if she marries in, her life won¡¯t be easy."


    "Life won¡¯t be as hard as living in this village. I can¡¯t stand to see her toiling in the fields for the rest of her life. Please help, Granny Li. It doesn¡¯t matter if the groom is a bit older or already has a child or two."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan clutched her chest, displaying an expression of heartache.


    In truth, she was simply worried that her many years of hopes would be dashed.


    As for what kind of life Chao Lian would lead later, she didn¡¯t care at all; in fact, if Chao Lian were to end up unhappy, she would be quite pleased.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was heartless, but rather that Chao Lian and her mother should have never existed.


    Granny Li knew all too well what was in her heart. What an evil stepmother, actually considering sending her stepdaughter to become a concubine!


    Even though a stepmother could not be expected to be like a real mother, she shouldn¡¯t be so wicked!


    Chao Lian, standing outside, bit her lip and immediately turned towards Sun Erhu¡¯s Home, where they were likely making cured meat.


    She didn¡¯t care for the riches of the town; she just wanted to marry her Brother Erhu.


    "Chao Lian, how come you¡¯re out here?" Sun Erhu asked anxiously.


    Ever since Granny Li went to the Lin Family, his heart had been in turmoil, not resting for a moment.


    Chao Lian said faintly, "I need to talk to sister-in-law about something."


    Being a girl, she couldn¡¯t just say, "My mother won¡¯t let me marry you, and I¡¯m so anxious," could she?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled Chao Lian to the corner so she wouldn¡¯t feel pressured. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chao Lian whispered, "My mother... she doesn¡¯t agree to my marrying Brother Erhu. No matter what the matchmaker says, she¡¯s adamant about not agreeing. She wants me to marry into the town."


    This answer was within Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expectations; it wasn¡¯t that Granny Li¡¯s skills were lacking, but that Jiang¡¯s heart was insatiable. She would never easily give up her prey.


    But luckily, Qiao Duo¡¯er had a plan.


    "I have a way, just relax and wait to become Erhu¡¯s bride," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, teasing Chao Lian until her face turned red, before she walked back towards the Lin Family.

 Chapter 442 - 445: Pretending to Be Gods and Ghosts - 1

    Chapter 442: Chapter 445: Pretending to Be Gods and Ghosts - 1When they arrived at the Lin Family¡¯s house, Jiang¡¯s Clan was laying down the law.


    "Granny Li, our family head feels the same way; no matter what you say, our decision will not change."


    Granny Li struggled to contain her temper as she said, "Whether to marry into town or stay in the village should depend on Miss Lin¡¯s wishes. How can you know if you don¡¯t ask her?"


    She believed that marriage was a once-in-a-lifetime matter for a girl, and at the very least, her thoughts should be considered.


    "You are a matchmaker; you should know that marriage is about the parents¡¯ commands and the matchmaker¡¯s words," said Jiang¡¯s Clan with disdain.


    Do the matchmakers in town have any other merits apart from their good looks?


    They don¡¯t even understand this basic principle!


    "Aunt Lin is right; marital matters should indeed be decided by the parents," Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly interjected.


    "Duo¡¯er is sensible. Granny Li, please take your leave," Jiang¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t help but show her out.


    Although she didn¡¯t know why Qiao Duo¡¯er had suddenly appeared and even spoken up for her, she was right!


    She was Chao Lian¡¯s stepmother, and of course, Chao Lian¡¯s marriage was under her control!


    But then Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "The ¡¯parents¡¯ command¡¯ refers to one¡¯s biological parents, and moreover, deceased ancestors hold the greatest authority. Therefore, we must also ask Chao Lian¡¯s birth mother; you have no right to decide."


    According to the customs here, taking a concubine requires performing a ceremony in front of the first wife¡¯s spirit tablet.


    If Chao Lian¡¯s mother spoke out, Jiang¡¯s Clan would have no choice but to obey.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan sneered, "Chao Lian¡¯s mother has been dead for many years, can she still speak?"


    "I have my ways; you need not concern yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan curled her lips mockingly, "Then I shall see how you make the dead speak."


    Before long, the village Taoist arrived; he set up an altar, invited Chao Lian Niang¡¯s spirit tablet, and lit candles and incense.


    Once the Taoist completed the preparatory work, the village head and Doctor Wu arrived as well.


    They held prestige in the village, and families often sought them as witnesses in their matters.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, what are you doing here?" Yin¡¯er asked, approaching Qiao Duo¡¯er as soon as she arrived.


    She had never heard of speaking with the dead before and found it quite mystical.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered quietly, "There¡¯s no time to explain now; remember to help make some noise when the time comes."


    This was an easy task for Yin¡¯er; she didn¡¯t want to distract from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s important business and promptly stood aside to watch.


    Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Taoist called out, "Chao Lian, come and kowtow to your mother."


    Chao Lian sincerely kowtowed, her eyes reddening involuntarily.


    If only her mother were still alive, she would undoubtedly be happy that she had found a place to call her own.


    The Taoist, meanwhile, continuously chanted and even burned a piece of talisman paper with a Peach Wood Sword, which looked quite authentic.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er struggled to suppress her laughter; she knew that the Taoist had shown up here because Sun Erhu had given him Half Taels of Silver, so he was merely putting on a show.


    Of course, being able to convincingly put on such a performance was a skill in itself.


    After a good while, the Taoist finally finished the ritual.


    "Fill it up."


    The Taoist took a bowl out of his pack, and Qiao Duo¡¯er took it with both hands, going to the well to fetch water. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once she placed the water on the altar, the Taoist instructed, "Chao Lian, Erhu, speak whatever is in your hearts. I have completed the ritual and invited Lady Lin into the spirit tablet."


    Chao Lian and Erhu nodded and softly murmured their inner thoughts.


    "Aunt, I really like Chao Lian; I want to marry her, cherish her for life, and never let her suffer the slightest grievance. Please give us your blessing," Erhu said.


    "Mother, Brother Erhu has been very kind to me. Don¡¯t worry, I will be happy with him," Chao Lian communicated.

 Chapter 443 - 446 Agreeing to Marriage_1

    Chapter 443: Chapter 446 Agreeing to Marriage_1"Everyone, look closely; if Chao Lian Niang agrees to Chao Lian and Erhu¡¯s marriage, this bowl of water will turn red," the Taoist explained.


    Once he finished speaking, the focus of the onlookers shifted to the bowl of water, with most expressing skepticism¡ªhow could it possibly turn red?


    They had lived for so many years and had never heard of such a thing.


    But the water truly began to change, it was now tinged with a hint of pink.


    "Look, it¡¯s turning red!" someone suddenly shouted. The water turned red¡ªwhat else could it be if not the spirit of Chao Lian Niang showing herself?


    Da Niu¡¯er quickly said, "The Taoist must be an immortal sage, truly summoning back Chao Lian Niang!"


    "It really is Chao Lian Niang coming back; she knows they¡¯ve been unkind to Chao Lian and will surely settle scores with them."


    "Lin Jinshun, that heartless man, deserves a lesson!"


    ...


    "What if Chao Lian Niang holds us accountable?" Lin Jinshun¡¯s face turned deathly pale.


    His dying wife had clung to his hand, unwilling to close her eyes, worried about leaving her daughter behind.


    But how had he taken care of his daughter over the years?


    All the dirty and exhausting tasks fell to Chao Lian, and whenever Jiang¡¯s Clan was upset, she took it out on Chao Lian with beatings and scoldings.


    He knew all this, yet never stopped it. His former wife and Chao Lian had always been Jiang¡¯s Clan thorn, and any concern he showed would lead to a huge row.


    For the sake of peace at home, he had always let Chao Lian suffer. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan huffed, "If she wanted to blame us, would she have waited until now? You¡¯re such a coward, what are you afraid of?"


    She spoke with a guilty conscience, knowing that offended spirits are the pettiest, and those who cross them meet with no good end¡ªshe had heard such stories throughout her lifetime.


    Suddenly, Lin Jinshun felt an intense pain and let out a sharp scream before collapsing on Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan tried to remain calm, "What¡¯s wrong, head of the household?"


    "I¡¯m in pain, so much pain! It¡¯s over, my wife must have come for me!"


    As Lin Jinshun rambled on crazily, Jiang¡¯s Clan was both scared and angered, only managing to support the trembling Lin Jinshun.


    The color in the bowl continued to deepen, now as red as fresh blood ¨C Chao Lian Niang¡¯s answer couldn¡¯t be clearer.


    Erhu immediately kowtowed, "Thank you, Auntie Lin, I promise to take care of Chao Lian for a lifetime."


    On the other hand, Lin Jinshun also recovered and quickly knelt down, "Xing Hua, I know I was wrong. I will listen to you; I agree to Chao Lian and Erhu¡¯s marriage, please don¡¯t haunt me."


    He didn¡¯t want to die; he wanted to live.


    "Master Lin, let¡¯s quickly discuss Chao Lian and Erhu¡¯s marriage. Perhaps if the Taoist and Madam speak with you, Madam might even forgive you," the matchmaker chimed in opportunistically.


    She too found the situation bewildering but still remembered her duty.


    Considering it a matter involving gods and ghosts, Tie Niu and Doctor Wu dared not to take it lightly and immediately expressed their intention to seek justice for Chao Lian, joined by a number of others with similar thoughts.


    In the main hall, a roomful of people were discussing Chao Lian¡¯s marriage.


    "Since the head of the household has spoken, I can¡¯t oppose it, but we can¡¯t accept less than eighty tales of silver for the dowry. Our Lin Family has raised a daughter with great hardship¡ªwe can¡¯t just let someone else get her on the cheap," Jiang¡¯s Clan said firmly.


    Although she was afraid of ghosts, she was more fearful of losing tangible benefits.


    "Lin Jinshun, your wife is too ruthless¡ªan eighty-tale dowry is enough to marry ten wives!" someone complained.


    For an average family, five liang of silver would be the utmost for both the dowry and wedding feast.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Sun Erhu about to speak and pinched the soft flesh of his waist.

 Chapter 444 - 447 Difficult to Send off a Ghost_1

    Chapter 444: Chapter 447 Difficult to Send off a Ghost_1Eighty Taels of Silver, Sun Erhu could definitely come up with that amount, but it would nearly clean out their savings. How would they live in the future, and with what would they raise their child?


    Moreover, Jiang¡¯s Clan had always abused Chao Lian, why should they give her silver?


    "Brother Hong..."


    Sun Erhu stammered out the name.


    Just as Jiang¡¯s Clan was about to relent, his sister-in-law silenced him, nearly driving him to despair.


    Tan Zhenghong patted Sun Erhu¡¯s shoulder, "Your mother-in-law has agreed, are you still afraid your bride will run away?"


    Only then did Sun Erhu¡¯s thoughts return to normal, and he understood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s intention.


    But the flesh around his waist was almost pinched off!


    "I¡¯ll be obedient, sister-in-law, please let go of your hand first," Sun Erhu said with an ingratiating smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a disdainful look, his mind was only on marrying a wife!


    "I entered the Lin Family when Chao Lian was five. If I hadn¡¯t taken care of her, she would have starved to death long ago. It was not easy to raise her to this point, to have her marry off, and for me to ask for some dowry money, yet I get cursed. What did I do wrong in my last life?"


    "An ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Even before you¡¯re wedded, your heart¡¯s already with someone else¡¯s home!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan covered her face and cried, her wailing was aggravating to listen to.


    Lin Jinshun felt humiliated and couldn¡¯t help but yell, "Why the mourning? Think I¡¯m not unlucky enough already?"


    Tie Niu looked at Lin Jinshun, "Normally, we outsiders wouldn¡¯t interfere in your family¡¯s matters, but Chao Lian¡¯s mother is already angry. If we can¡¯t soothe her, it¡¯s possible our entire Big Willow Village might suffer."


    The consequences of angering the spirits were severe; a natural disaster could spell doom for Big Willow Village! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The villagers firmly believed in the matters of ghosts and deities. Hearing what the village head said, everyone became anxious.


    "That¡¯s some dowry you¡¯re talking about! Aren¡¯t you afraid of biting your tongue? I¡¯ve never seen that much silver in my life!"


    "I remember your dowry was just Hanged Money. Do you think you were at a loss and now you want to recoup it from your stepdaughter?"


    "I think we should calculate Chao Lian¡¯s wages instead. She started doing laundry the moment she came in, in the dead of winter, too. I, an outsider, felt sorry for her. You, her father, slept soundly without any guilt!"


    "No wonder Lin Jinshun was in so much pain earlier. This is instant karma!"


    "Serves him right. If I were Xing Hua, I wouldn¡¯t let him live till now!"


    The crowd chimed in one after another, leaving Lin Jinshun flushed with embarrassment.


    Initially, he married Jiang¡¯s Clan for the sake of Chao Lian, but afterwards... how did everything change?


    It was all Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s fault; she was the instigator!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan glared at the crowd, "Don¡¯t scare me with your ghost talk. I hold the household registration for Chao Lian, without my agreement, she can¡¯t think about marrying anyone!"


    The Taoist, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, "I just tried to urge Chao Lian Niang back, but she¡¯s stubborn, insisting on waiting until this matter is resolved before she¡¯ll leave. If it¡¯s delayed for too long, it¡¯s bound to be a disaster."


    The Taoist¡¯s statement was more effective than a thousand curses from the villagers. Lin Jinshun recalled the excruciating pain that felt as if his heart was being torn apart.


    If he had to go through it again...


    No, he would rather die!


    Lin Jinshun cleared his throat, "I¡¯m the head of this household, and Chao Lian¡¯s dowry and bridal gifts will follow the customs of our Big Willow Village to the letter. I will not shortchange her in the slightest."


    "Empty promises mean nothing. Better to write it down on paper, which can also be useful when sending off the spirit."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan wanted to speak, but Lin Jinshun immediately slapped her.


    "You... you actually hit me!"


    Lin Jinshun gritted his teeth, "You nearly killed me. You¡¯re malicious-hearted. If it weren¡¯t for the sake of the children, I would have divorced you long ago!"

 Chapter 445 - 448 Waiting to Drink the Wedding Wine_1

    Chapter 445: Chapter 448 Waiting to Drink the Wedding Wine_1"Taoist, I¡¯ll have someone write the document right away, and when the time comes, I¡¯d trouble you to talk to Xing Hua and tell her to move on to where she should be."


    "That¡¯s an easy matter, just write three copies. Make sure everything is written clearly. Then burn one copy, place a bowl of water in front of the spirit tablet, and if the water doesn¡¯t turn red, this matter will be over. But if it turns red, you¡¯ll have to find another way yourself."


    The Taoist shook his head and spoke, clearly no stranger to deceiving people.


    Lin Jinshun dared not delay and immediately asked the village¡¯s old scholar to help write the document.


    The document was written clearly, following the customs of Big Willow Village.


    The groom¡¯s family would give a dowry of three Hanged Money, various jewelry, with the betrothal money left to the bride at her departure, and the jewelry included in the bride¡¯s dowry.


    Lin Jinshun promised the dowry would include two quilts, two sets of bedding, a set of clothes for all seasons, plus one Hanged Money as dowry money.


    By doing so, there wasn¡¯t much left of the bride price.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was so distressed she was gnashing her teeth, something that would have already made Lin Jinshun compromise in normal circumstances.


    But today was different; no matter how powerful a person was, they couldn¡¯t outdo a ghost. He was solely focused on getting rid of Chao Lian Niang, as for Jiang¡¯s Clan, she could go wherever it was cool.


    He would settle scores with her later!


    Lin Jinshun, following the Taoist¡¯s instructions, burned one of the documents and then carefully placed a bowl of water in front of the spirit tablet.


    "Xing Hua, in a moment of folly, I wronged Chao Lian. I admit my mistake; please forgive me..."


    Lin Jinshun rambled on, uttering a lot of words, yet the water in the bowl remained crystal clear.


    The Taoist breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, Chao Lian Niang has forgiven you. However, she remembers all that you¡¯ve said today, and if you go back on your word, you¡¯ll have to fend for yourself."


    Lin Jinshun quickly nodded, "I understand, I wouldn¡¯t dare."


    With this, the matter was perfectly resolved, except for Lin Jinshun and his wife, whose faces were as bitter as gourds, everyone else was quite happy.


    The village head waved his hand, "Alright everyone, go back. We¡¯ll just wait for Erhu to invite us to the wedding feast!"


    Back in his own yard, Sun Erhu still couldn¡¯t believe that everything that had happened today was real.


    The Lin Family had actually agreed to let him marry Chao Lian, and the bride price was only Three or Two Silver, something he would not have dared to dream of! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but pinch his thigh, nearly bringing tears to his eyes from the pain.


    So it was real!


    "Sister-in-law, how did you do it? Did Chao Lian¡¯s mother really come back? It¡¯s amazing!" Sun Erhu looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with admiration.


    Qiao Duo glanced at the young Taoist, "I just said something off the cuff; the Taoist did everything else."


    "Certainly not the real thing, just some charlatan tricks. If you had probed, I¡¯d be dead from starvation in the future!" Yun Xu humbly said.


    Sun Erhu scratched his head, "Huh? But I saw Uncle Lin almost faint from pain."


    "There¡¯s an acupoint on the body called ¡¯pain point¡¯."


    Qiao Duo snickered, she could send a stone flying over and give him enough pain to cope with.


    Sun Erhu guessed the gist of the situation and hurriedly stood up to bow, "I won¡¯t say thanks over and over, I¡¯ll treat everyone to lunch today!"


    "With your cooking skills, better not!"


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but tease, remembering Sun Erhu¡¯s lunch made with love.


    Sun Erhu looked at Chao Lian, "Future wife, will you help me out?"


    "I... I¡¯m here to work for sister-in-law; I can¡¯t neglect my duties," Chao Lian said with her head down.


    Sun Erhu grinned sheepishly, after all, Chao Lian hadn¡¯t denied being his future wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said generously, "I¡¯ll permit you to help him. Otherwise, the meal Erhu makes might poison someone to death."

 Chapter 446 - 449 What Have You Done?_1

    Chapter 446: Chapter 449 What Have You Done?_1The kitchen, Sun Erhu said with a face full of anticipation, "Besides the silver needed for our marriage, I have over seventy taels, how do you plan to use it?"


    Bowing her head and picking vegetables, Chao Lian didn¡¯t bother to acknowledge Sun Erhu¡¯s comment.


    Whoever counts the man¡¯s silver before getting married on how to spend it?


    "I¡¯m thinking of spending a few taels of silver to refurbish the courtyard, then buy ten acres of land, get some chickens and ducks, and give the remaining dozen taels or so to you. You can buy whatever you want, does that sound okay to you?"


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but start fantasizing about life after marriage, which would surely be as smooth as Brother Hong¡¯s honey-coated days.


    Oh right, his and Chao Lian¡¯s marriage arrangement could succeed, all thanks to his sister-in-law¡¯s clever plan. He must remember to thank her properly during the wedding.


    After waiting a long time without a response from Chao Lian, Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but move closer.


    "Chao Lian, did you hear what I said?"


    Chao Lian nodded, speaking softly, "That¡¯s your silver, you can use it however you want."


    And what Erhu said, she felt was pretty good; she was just an ordinary village girl with no grand desires.


    Having her own courtyard, enough land to feed the family, and raising some chickens, ducks, sheep, and pigs, she would feel quite happy.


    "Mine is yours, whatever you want, just tell me. Anything I can afford, I¡¯ll buy; for what I can¡¯t, I¡¯ll save up."


    Sun Erhu declared, patting his chest; he¡¯s the man, and he should accommodate his wife in every way.


    "You stay away from me, and you better get started with the fire. If you delay lunch, they¡¯ll definitely laugh at me again."


    Pushing the nearly sticking Sun Erhu away, Chao Lian thought, how could he be so close before they¡¯re even married?


    He didn¡¯t realize that whenever he got close, she became stiff all over, daring not to move.


    Sun Erhu quickly wrapped his arms around Chao Lian¡¯s waist: "I just want to be close to you, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ll have a family soon. In the future, we¡¯ll have several children, I¡¯ve been lonely for so many years."


    Especially during the holidays, when he envied those with families to accompany them.


    "I want four children, so that we all can play Ma Diao together; when we¡¯re gone, they can look after each other."


    Disturbed by Sun Erhu, Chao Lian¡¯s hand slipped, and the knife cut her other hand, blood gushing out immediately.


    Sun Erhu hurriedly picked Chao Lian up and walked outside, with so much blood, they had to find a doctor!


    Chao Lian struggled for a moment: "Let go of me!"


    But Sun Erhu completely ignored her and within a few large strides, he was already in the courtyard.


    "Erhu, what are you two doing?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked mischievously.


    Making a meal turned into a princess carry? She couldn¡¯t help but suspect something unspeakable had just happened.


    "Chao Lian is bleeding, I¡¯m going to find Uncle Wu."


    Sun Erhu briefly explained and continued to walk outside. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Weakly, Hu¡¯s Clan said, "Erhu, Chao Lian¡¯s injury seems to be on her hand, why are you carrying her? Couldn¡¯t you just bandage it up?"


    Sun Erhu blinked, it was just a small cut from the kitchen knife, what was he doing carrying Chao Lian?


    He fumbled for words: "I... I..."


    "You¡¯re so silly, put me down now. It¡¯s just a small cut!" Chao Lian finally got her words out.


    Haven¡¯t you seen how everyone is nearly bending over laughing?


    Sun Erhu quickly did as told, fetching hemostatic medicine and clean cotton cloth to bandage Chao Lian¡¯s hand.


    Once all this was done, Sun Erhu noticed the teasing glances from the others.


    He seemed to have acted too anxiously, but wasn¡¯t he just concerned about his future wife?

 Chapter 447 - 450 Gua Po Niang!_1

    Chapter 447: Chapter 450 Gua Po Niang!_1"*Cough cough*, get to work quickly; we¡¯ve already lost a lot of time today," Sun Erhu suddenly blushed, his face turning red. "It¡¯s all for me that you¡¯re busy. You rest; I¡¯ll go work."


    Having said that, Sun Erhu quickly made his exit; no matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer.


    Hmph, they¡¯re all too mean!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er winked at Chao Lian, "Chao Lian, your Erhu is really good to you, getting so anxious over just a little cut."


    Chao Lian felt her face burn with embarrassment; she shouldn¡¯t have agreed to help make dinner for Erhu!


    After a long time, she finally squeezed out a sentence, "I¡¯m going to make dinner."


    "You just rest well, don¡¯t make your Erhu worry," Hu¡¯s Clan quickly held Chao Lian back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also came over to help, and it wasn¡¯t long before the meal was served on the table.


    When they started to eat, Sun Erhu, under the gaze of Chao Lian that could kill, sat beside her and was once again the subject of much laughter.


    At this time, the Lin Family¡¯s kitchen was still cold and deserted.


    Lin Jinshun had been starving for a long time; many peasant families only ate twice a day, and the Lin Family was no different, meaning he hadn¡¯t eaten anything since this morning until now.


    But Jiang¡¯s Clan had folded her arms, with no intention of cooking at all.


    Lin Jinshun complained discontentedly, "Are you planning a rebellion, Gua Po Niang?"


    "If you dare, just divorce me, and when I jump into the river, I¡¯ll become an evil ghost and come to claim your life!" Jiang¡¯s Clan retorted irritably.


    Lin Jinshun had just hit her, and this matter was far from over!


    What was even more infuriating was that Lin Jinshun had actually agreed to marry off Chao Lian according to customs!


    Grinding his teeth, Lin Jinshun said, "Today, you¡¯ve even brought Xing Hua¡¯s vengeful ghost back; what more do you want?"


    "What do I want? If it weren¡¯t for your tricking me, would I have married you? Would I have become a stepmother as soon as I entered the family? Lin Jinshun, don¡¯t you get too cocky. You care about your daughter, so let her cook for you. Anyway, I¡¯m done serving!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was seething with resentment when bringing up the past; had she known he was a widower with a daughter, she definitely would not have married into the Lin Family.


    And speaking of Chao Lian, she was Lin Jinshun¡¯s daughter¡ªsince he himself didn¡¯t care for her, what could he expect from others?


    At this point, what right did Lin Jinshun have to blame her?


    He was the root cause of all this trouble!


    In terms of verbal sparring, Jiang¡¯s Clan was slightly better; seeing that Lin Jinshun had nothing to say made her feel quite pleased.


    "Mom, I¡¯m hungry," Lin Erbao wiped away tears.


    Lin Dabao also tugged at Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s clothes; he was nearly starved to death.


    Lin Erbao continued to plead, "Mom, I want to eat noodles, and I want eggs too; I¡¯m almost starved to death."


    Her two sons were the treasures of Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s heart, so she immediately went to the kitchen and cooked three bowls of noodles, even determinedly adding three eggs to them.


    It just so happened there was one bowl for each of them three, and Lin Jinshun had nothing to do with it. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had eaten only a little when Lin Jinshun followed the scent in; he couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, "You... what do you mean by this?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan gave Lin Jinshun a dismissive look and said to her sons, "Hurry and eat up, then I¡¯ll take you to your grandmother¡¯s house!"


    Lin Jinshun, unwilling to give up, lifted the pot lid to look inside and found nothing.


    He could only watch others eat while swallowing his own saliva.


    After a while, Lin Erbao said tenderly, "Dad, come quick, I¡¯ll give you mine."


    Lin Jinshun eagerly approached, about to praise his son, but found that aside from the broth, there was nothing left in the bowl.


    He fished with his chopsticks and found only a few bits of noodles left, which he quickly stuffed into his mouth, but they weren¡¯t even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.


    Gua Po Niang, you little rascals; if he doesn¡¯t work the fields, let¡¯s see what you eat!

 Chapter 448 - 451 The Wicked Takes the Lead in Accusing_1

    Chapter 448: Chapter 451 The Wicked Takes the Lead in Accusing_1The marriage arrangement had been settled, so Sun Erhu moved the house renovation to the top of his agenda.


    He might not match Tan Zhenghong in capabilities, nor could he compete with his sister-in-law, but he would do everything within his power to provide the best life for his future wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er simply gave Erhu and Chao Lian the day off, since Madam Liang was watching like a hawk, and she and Tan Zhenghong both needed to stay at Tan¡¯s Shop, which was too small to need that many people.


    Sun Erhu happily agreed, for he had only one thought on his mind: to fix the house as soon as possible and marry his bride.


    Otherwise, if too much time passed, the elderly couple from the Lin Family might heal and forget the pain.


    That day, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others arrived in town at the usual time.


    But there was already a large crowd gathered in front of the braised meat shop. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a furrowed brow, a member of the Hu¡¯s Clan asked, "Has something happened?"


    There had been people queuing at the door these past few days, but it had never been this rowdy.


    And they hadn¡¯t opened yet, so what could have happened?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er left a member of the Hu¡¯s Clan to watch the ox cart, while she and Tan Zhenghong walked towards the crowd.


    Qiao Laixi, being tall and standing on the steps, quickly spotted Duo¡¯er and her company approaching.


    He hurriedly sent a signal to the member of the Liu¡¯s family, indicating that the warm-up act was over and the real drama was about to start.


    Immediately, the member of the Liu¡¯s family exclaimed, "Look everyone, here comes my unfilial daughter. Tell me, is it excessive to ask for just one tael as a bridal price?"


    The onlookers turned around to look at the approaching pair.


    They saw Qiao Duo with peachy, blush-tinted cheeks, exquisite features, a well-proportioned body, and an air of aloof elegance¡ªsuch a daughter from a landowner¡¯s family was a rarity in a century.


    For such a young lady, even a dowry of eight or ten taels wouldn¡¯t be considered greedy.


    And the man beside her, with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, tall and well-built, was also a rare sight among the farming folk.


    Just as the woman had said, indeed, they had chosen a fine husband for their daughter.


    Most importantly, both of them were wearing clothes of fine fabric, nearly new, and they owned a braised meat shop¡ªa clear sign that they weren¡¯t from a family lacking money.


    Yet such people wouldn¡¯t even give the three ceremonial gifts to the bride¡¯s family¡ªwasn¡¯t that too much?


    Thus, many people¡¯s sympathies shifted toward the member of the Liu¡¯s family.


    No wonder the bride¡¯s family had come all the way here, appealing to passersby for justice.


    What parents would resort to such extreme measures if they weren¡¯t driven to desperation?


    "If it were me, even for twenty taels of silver I would marry her and I certainly wouldn¡¯t let her work!"


    Such a beautiful girl need only perform her duties in bed to satisfy.


    "If I had such a charming daughter, I wouldn¡¯t let her marry for less than twenty to thirty taels of silver. Maybe she could even marry into wealth and bring good fortune for life!"


    "If you demand that much for a dowry, wouldn¡¯t the family just get a knife and chop you up?"


    "Whichever son is lucky enough to marry her has fortune smiling on him; she has eyes only for her husband¡¯s family. If my daughter-in-law were half as good, I¡¯d wake up laughing in my sleep!"


    The crowd was buzzing with discussions, most of which were accusations or mockery directed at Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong was about to argue with the people, Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered, "You¡¯re not allowed to speak, watch me."


    Since the Qiao¡¯s Family Member had come, they should be presented with a grand gift; after all, how could they be let off without it for coming such a long distance?


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯s mischievous grin, Tan Zhenghong obediently closed his mouth.


    His mission was to protect his future wife, allowing her to play to her heart¡¯s content safely.


    Qiao Duo looked at Qiao¡¯s Family Members coldly, "What are you doing here?"

 Chapter 449 - 452 Full of Loopholes_1

    Chapter 449: Chapter 452 Full of Loopholes_1"You¡¯ve all seen for yourselves, my girl is heartless! When she got married, I gave her most of our family¡¯s savings as a dowry. The shop was bought with her dowry, but to my dismay, I haven¡¯t even received half a pound of marinated meat in return. All the silver has been fed to a pack of ingrates!"


    Liu¡¯s family covered her face, weeping bitterly as if truly heartbroken.


    At the same time, she was also a bit panicked.


    Only a few months into the marriage, and it was as if Qiao Duo¡¯er had become a completely different person, emanating a chilling aura.


    But it was too late for regrets; she had no choice but to brazen it out.


    With that thought, Liu¡¯s family cried even louder.


    Qiao Laixi also said with tearful eyes, "Duo¡¯er, your mother¡¯s health is failing. Please, for the sake of how she raised you, save her, give her some silver for medicine."


    "Big sister, I never thought you could be such a person!"


    Qiao Jingu pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose, his face full of indignation.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered correctly, this was the first time Qiao Jingu had ever called her sister.


    Whether it was her previous self or the last time they met, Qiao Jingu always called her a fool or an idiot, and only in somewhat kinder moments did he call her a foolish girl.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip, "Every one of you here has sons and daughters of your own. Did you give away most of your family¡¯s wealth when you married off your first daughter?"


    The crowd shook their heads; they would never do such a foolish thing.


    What about marrying off the younger sisters and brothers?


    Or does the family not need to live on as well?


    Liu¡¯s family slapped her thigh, "Weren¡¯t you the one who made it sound so appealing, saying you would make us proud by marrying off in splendor? That you would surely not forget us afterward? But now you turn your back on us. How am I supposed to live now?"


    "You say you gave me most of your wealth, and that¡¯s how I bought this shop. So how come the little that is left is not enough for you to buy medicine?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked innocently. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She felt anxious for them with such a flawed mistake.


    The others, upon closer thought, indeed found that the words of Qiao¡¯s Family Member did not hold water.


    But seeing the Madam weeping so desolately, it didn¡¯t seem like an act.


    "Mother, please take it easy, you mustn¡¯t injure yourself. If big sister is unfilial, you still have us!" Qiao Mei¡¯er consoled.


    No sooner had she spoken than Liu¡¯s family felt an urge to throw herself against the wall.


    Qiao Laixi and Qiao Mei¡¯er each grabbed one of Liu¡¯s family, preventing her from hurting herself.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er quietly stepped back two paces; she had been very low-key from start to finish. If others saw her aggressive demeanor, how could she get married in the future?


    Only Qiao Mei¡¯er was foolish, actually thinking their parents cared equally for the two sisters.


    In her eyes, it was clear that to their parents, the son was unique and precious, so even if they managed to get something from Qiao Duo¡¯er, it would have nothing to do with them.


    Sensing that Liu¡¯s family was on the brink of despair, some people had already forgotten their initial doubts and instead began to persuade Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband.


    "How can you be so heartless, child? After all, they are the parents who raised you. Just say something nice and wait for your mother to get over this tough period before discussing further."


    "If you drive your mother to her death, don¡¯t expect to have a good ending yourself!"


    "There are no grudges between mother and daughter that last overnight. Just apologize to your mother, and don¡¯t be ungrateful in the future. She will certainly forgive you!"


    "A woman¡¯s family is her support in her marital home. If you fall out with your family, you¡¯ll have no one to lean on."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swept a glance at Qiao¡¯s Family Member, they would support her?


    She almost laughed at the absurdity.


    Previously, Qiao Duo¡¯er would not have dared to retort, but now, she was no longer the person she used to be.


    She could not only not let Qiao¡¯s Family Member get their way, she also had to seek justice for the poor original self.

 Chapter 450 - 453: Seizing the Shop? _1

    Chapter 450: Chapter 453: Seizing the Shop? _1"If you want to know the truth, just go and ask around the village to see how I lived before I got married, to see what I looked like when I first got married."


    "At my parents¡¯ house, I cooked and washed dishes, fed the pigs and chickens, cleaned the house, washed clothes, did needlework, and never had a moment to rest. If there was work to be done in the fields, they would rush me to do it. I couldn¡¯t even get enough to eat, and if I was a bit slow, I¡¯d be beaten and scolded."


    "In the end, they sold me to pay for Qiao Jingu¡¯s medical treatment. When I entered the Tan Family, all I brought was two sets of tattered clothes. Under those circumstances, how could they afford to buy me a shop?"


    "They oppressed me before, and now they slander me. Should I not disown such relatives?"


    "Everything I have now, I¡¯ve earned together with my husband, and it has nothing to do with them!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said this, standing tall and proud, not taking a single Wen money¡¯s advantage from either the Qiao Family or the Tan Family.


    Perhaps influenced by the residual feelings of the original host, her eyes slightly reddened.


    This made her appear pitifully charming, and the tone of gossip began to shift somewhat.


    But the Qiao Family had the upper hand, and they still held an absolute advantage in public opinion.


    Qiao Jingu, with hands on hips, scolded, "You idiotic chatterbox, it¡¯s obvious you were lazy and gluttonous and unwilling to work. Otherwise, how could you be so pretty?"


    People who work hard have dark skin and rough hands. Look at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡ªher skin is delicate and tender, not at all like someone who does heavy labor.


    Even if you told people she was a young lady from town, no one would doubt it.


    The crowd looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er following Qiao Jingu¡¯s words and really couldn¡¯t see the misery she claimed to have endured.


    It must have been a lie to slander her parents.


    "Mr. Tan, I¡¯ll give you back the One or Two Silver. You return my daughter and her dowry. We, the Qiao Family, can¡¯t afford to be related to you by marriage!"


    As Qiao Laixi spoke, he began to pull out silver from his bosom.


    Now that his daughter had the braised meat recipe in her hands, did he have to worry about not having Silver to spend in the future?


    Whether the Qiao Family sold braised meat themselves or sold the recipe to Madam Liang, along with the reward money from Madam Liang, it would be enough to support them for decades!


    The most crucial point was, without Qiao Duo¡¯er at home, it just wouldn¡¯t work.


    Apart from Qiao Duo¡¯er, the other female members of the family cooked dreadful meals; they¡¯d carelessly forget to feed the chickens and ducks, and often they didn¡¯t have enough firewood, resulting in cold rice porridge just to get by, which was no way to live.


    Tan Zhenghong said without hesitation, "Duo¡¯er is my wife, and you have no right to decide her life."


    "This reminds me of something. My pure and innocent daughter is gone; how can I possibly give back the dowry? It seems to me that this shop should belong to my daughter!"


    Besides, now that Qiao Duo¡¯er has grown up beautiful, she could fetch a good price.


    This time they stood to gain not only the shop but additional Silver as well. What a windfall!


    Liu¡¯s family struggled to hide her true thoughts, but a hint of smugness still showed on her face.


    Qiao Laixi hurried to put the Silver back into his pocket. To save even One Tael, he would be more than happy!


    Qiao Jingu eyed Tan¡¯s Shop with disdain and pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose, "You good-for-nothing could only exchange yourself for such a small shop, totally worthless!"


    As soon as these words came out, the people looked at Qiao Jingu with strange expressions.


    Not to mention how Qiao Duo¡¯er had been treated, as a younger brother, Qiao Jingu shouldn¡¯t speak to his sister in such a manner.


    Moreover, many people struggle their entire lives without being able to afford a shop like that, so what made this young kid so bold as to utter such big words?


    Something¡¯s wrong here; why does this whole family seem to be out to take over the shop?

 Chapter 451 - 454: Snatching People_1

    Chapter 451: Chapter 454: Snatching People_1"Weren¡¯t you just saying how pitiable you were?"


    "Look at the attitude now; it¡¯s as though even a few more daughters and sons-in-law wouldn¡¯t be a match for them, right?"


    "But perhaps they are driven to desperation, with no choice but to do this."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a miserable voice, "In your eyes, am I just a tool to be traded for benefits?"


    "Heartless beast, disregarding parents and siblings, you can¡¯t blame anyone if you get sold!"


    Liu¡¯s family took the lead in speaking before Qiao Jingu, managing to smooth things over.


    Liu¡¯s family then pointed the finger at Tan Zhenghong, "You¡¯re the one who stirred up my daughter against her own family. Just by looking, I can tell you¡¯re no good. Hurry up and write the divorce paper, I want to take my daughter back!"


    "Impossible, I will never separate from my wife."


    Tan Zhenghong said resolutely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said, "It was you who wanted to sell me off, and now that my husband and I have finally started to make a good life for ourselves, you¡¯re here to break us apart. Aren¡¯t you afraid of divine retribution?"


    "Marriage should be decided by parents. What do I have to fear? Hurry up and come back with me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to bring out the ropes!"


    Liu¡¯s family gave Qiao Laixi and Qiao Mei¡¯er a look, signaling them to be ready to take Qiao Duo¡¯er by force.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said stubbornly, "My husband treats me very well. I don¡¯t want to leave him."


    Before she could finish speaking, Qiao Laixi came over to grab her.


    The moment he moved, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly leaned weakly against Tan Zhenghong and fainted.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes widened, "Damn it, what did you do to her?"


    After saying this, he supported Qiao Duo¡¯er with one hand, opened the store door with the other, and then laid Qiao Duo¡¯er on a table inside the shop.


    "Would some kind soul please go to Deji Hall and ask for a doctor? I would be immensely grateful," he said to the people around.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a saluting gesture to the crowd and then quickly went back to tend to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    In this era, people were simple-hearted; even if they thought Qiao Duo¡¯er was in the wrong, they couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch someone die.


    It wasn¡¯t long before a doctor from Deji Hall arrived.


    After taking Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse, he said, "This lady¡¯s body is severely depleted. She¡¯s been recuperating well recently, but she¡¯s still far from full recovery. You must not let her get agitated in the future; it could be fatal."


    "Thank you, Doctor. Does my wife need to take medicine?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    The doctor stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before saying, "I¡¯ll prescribe some sedatives for the lady. However, she also needs to continue to nourish her body according to previous methods, maintain a positive mood, and avoid extreme joy, extreme sorrow, and overwork."


    Tan Zhenghong thanked the doctor again, and a nosy person couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Doctor, why is her health so poor?"


    "Long-term malnutrition and overwork. If she hadn¡¯t been taken care of well these past six months, I fear... she wouldn¡¯t have made it to today."


    The doctor sighed, his tone filled with helplessness.


    Many people suffered from malnutrition, but he had never seen such a severe case before.


    The doctor¡¯s single statement was more effective than a thousand explanations from Qiao Duo¡¯er; many people started to believe what Qiao Duo¡¯er had said earlier.


    But... they still couldn¡¯t understand. Such a lovely girl received only One Tael for a dowry? According to the doctor, she should have been dead by now, but she looks quite well. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, who is telling the truth?


    The onlookers were bewildered. They divided into two camps, one supporting Qiao Duo¡¯er and the other her family. Each side stuck to their own arguments, each with their own reason.


    "Don¡¯t be fooled by them, they¡¯re colluding together, they¡¯re here to deceive everyone!" Liu¡¯s family shouted loudly.

 Chapter 452 - 455: The Truth Revealed_1

    Chapter 452: Chapter 455: The Truth Revealed_1Qiao Laixi also hurriedly explained, "This doctor is from Deji Hall, and the Junior Shopkeeper of Deji Hall is close with Qiao Duo¡¯er. They are colluding together, bullying my honest Qiao family!"


    "Deji Hall is a century-old shop that never practices deceit. If there is even half a lie in what I¡¯m saying, you can dismantle Deji Hall and I will have not a single word of complaint!"


    The doctor spoke each word with conviction; he had always been upright and had never done anything unscrupulous.


    He never expected to be slandered like this, and he would not accept it! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, someone emerged from the crowd.


    "I am a passerby from the docks, with a bit of medical knowledge. If you all trust me, I can verify this matter for everyone."


    Since the passerby had no vested interest in anyone, he was bound to be impartial, so nobody raised any objections.


    Tan Zhenghong graciously invited the doctor inside and before long, the pulse had been properly diagnosed.


    "My view is the same," the passerby said. "The Madam has long been suffering from malnutrition, compounded by overwork, causing toxins to spread throughout her body. If you all look carefully, you can still see the scars from toxin sores on the Madam¡¯s face. It¡¯s a good thing this came to light now; otherwise, once the Madam¡¯s health improved, she would have been wrongly blamed."


    "That ¡¯toxin¡¯ is heat toxin, caused by sun exposure in summer, manifesting as dark skin with toxin bumps all year round," added the doctor from Deji Hall.


    Sun in the summer can be scorching, but to develop heat toxin is not a matter of one or two days, nor even one or two months.


    Tan Zhenghong gratefully said, "Thank you both for clearing my wife¡¯s name."


    "Upright acts are our duty when we see injustice," replied the passerby.


    "Don¡¯t mention it. A healer must not lack compassion," said the doctor.


    Both doctors were very modest.


    "I won¡¯t hide it from everyone," Tan Zhenghong continued, "my wife used to be mentally unsettled and not fully coherent. Once, after nearly drowning, she was guided by a Taoist priest who helped her regain her composure. It¡¯s simply that my wife was a bit slow before, and her face used to break out with toxic sores, which is why she was sold for One Tael of Silver."


    Tan Zhenghong offered this explanation, which he had thought up with great difficulty.


    At this point, the truth was crystal clear.


    The Qiao¡¯s Family Members had abused Qiao Duo, causing her health to become exceedingly poor. Had she not met a good husband, she might well have died.


    Yet the Qiao¡¯s Family Members still had the audacity to come and try to snatch away the person and the shop, reaching the pinnacle of shamelessness!


    Somebody in the crowd, filled with righteous indignation, looked at the Qiao¡¯s Family Members and said, "You call others ungrateful, but it¡¯s you who have hearts as black as coal, treating such a fine daughter so harshly that she¡¯s barely recognizable as a person."


    "It seems like pure greed to me, coveting the young couple¡¯s shop, doesn¡¯t it?"


    "Really, what kind of people are you? How can you bear to see your daughter do well? Is she someone you picked up somewhere?"


    ...


    The Qiao family members were surrounded in the middle, and could have drowned in spit.


    The very people who had been so arrogant just moments before now looked as dejected as frostbitten eggplants, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.


    "You¡¯re a lucky man, buying such a lovely wife for One Tael of Silver," someone said enviously looking at Tan Zhenghong.


    He had always thought that marrying such a fairy-like girl would cost a fortune.


    Another person immediately said, "Didn¡¯t you hear the doctor mention she used to have poison sores on her face? Just for the bravery of taking her into his home, Heaven should bestow upon him good fortune."


    If it were anyone else, they probably would have been frightened to madness.


    He had seen people with poison sores; their faces densely covered with old and new bumps, some areas even pus-filled and oozing, causing onlookers to feel sick to their stomachs.

 Chapter 453 - 456: Someone’s Looking for Trouble_1

    Chapter 453: Chapter 456: Someone¡¯s Looking for Trouble_1"I¡¯m indeed very lucky, no matter if my wife is beautiful or not, she is the most important person to me, and I will protect her with my life, never letting anyone insult her."


    Tan Zhenghong boldly professed his love, having taken a liking to Qiao Duo¡¯er quite a while ago.


    It was probably when she asked him after setting his bones whether it felt painfully good or not.


    At that time, looking into her sparkling eyes, he felt the whole world light up.


    Or maybe even earlier?


    Well... it seems he can¡¯t quite remember himself...


    The crowd burst into applause, meeting such a man in this lifetime was well worth it!


    And as for the lady¡¯s attitude towards her family, that¡¯s the way it should be!


    Tan Zhenghong strode forward to Qiao¡¯s family, grabbed Qiao Laixi by the collar, and lifted him off the ground.


    "You don¡¯t deserve to be Duo¡¯er¡¯s relatives at all, if you dare slander my wife again, I won¡¯t care about family ties, I¡¯ll beat you to death directly!"


    Qiao Laixi¡¯s feet dangled in the air, his face turning beet red.


    Right now, he was regretting so much that his guts turned green. This man lifted him with only one hand; if they really started fighting, he¡¯d certainly be at a disadvantage.


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong let go of Qiao Laixi, who didn¡¯t stand steady and fell onto his buttocks.


    Qiao Jingu cursed unhappily, "You¡¯re an idiot for treating that moron like a treasure. You two are made for each other; I hope you both drop dead today!"


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hesitate to slap Qiao Jingu across the face, leaving handprints on both of his cheeks.


    "I didn¡¯t want to beat you since you are Duo¡¯er¡¯s younger brother, but you¡¯re asking for it!"


    Tan Zhenghong spoke slowly, his voice carrying a chilling deterrence.


    Qiao Jingu had already annoyed him last time; now that he was insulting Qiao Duo right to her face, how could he possibly hold back?


    What mattered most was that he said he would protect Qiao Duo¡¯er, and he wasn¡¯t just paying lip service!


    Liu¡¯s family member immediately rushed over to protect her son, but upon seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s raging temper, she forgot what she was going to do.


    "Young man, don¡¯t stoop to their level, it¡¯s not worth upsetting yourself over."


    "If they come to cause trouble again in the future, just kick them out right away!"


    ...


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath, "Are you waiting for me to send you off?"


    Liu¡¯s family member gritted her teeth, yet knew that there was no chance of success today.


    So she could only help Qiao Jingu and Qiao Laixi up, leading the family away in utter disgruntlement.


    "You damned girl, stop gawking and get home!" Qiao Jingu kicked Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    The Qiao family had already fallen from grace, yet that damned girl was still interested in watching men!


    And it was the very man who had hit him!


    Why doesn¡¯t she just drop dead?


    Hu¡¯s Clan took the opportunity and drove the ox cart to the front door.


    She was strong and in just a few trips, had moved all the marinades to the counter.


    "My apologies to everyone for the delay, to show our remorse, we are offering a 10% discount on all meat today. Please line up, available until sold out!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan shouted at the top of her voice, and the attention of the mob that was just harassing the Qiao family immediately shifted.


    One could always rely on Tan¡¯s Shop for fair pricing and delectable flavors, especially with a discount today, they had to buy something!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lay on the stiff table, pretending to be dead, her heart filling with more and more annoyance.


    It wasn¡¯t because of the Qiao family, but because of Madam Liang. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apart from the Qiao family, there were many others eyeing Tan¡¯s Shop, waiting to strike. Being stuck with these flies all day was really sickening.


    Today it was her original family, tomorrow it might be the Tan Family Members, and later it could be some unknown hooligans...


    Dammit, it just never ends!

 Chapter 454 - 457: Taking the Initiative_1

    Chapter 454: Chapter 457: Taking the Initiative_1Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth, deciding that instead of a slow torment, it would be better to make a bold move.


    "Big brother, my idea is to take the initiative and lure Yin Zheng into using his trump card so that we can defeat him in one fell swoop," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a curl of her lip.


    Yin Zheng had been operating in White Stone Town for so many years and had deep roots, but even the most formidable foes have their weak spots.


    Qin Longyun shook his head: "Duo¡¯er, dealing with Yin Zheng is a matter for me alone."


    If Bai Yifan knew that he was putting Qiao Duo¡¯er in danger, he would certainly concoct some poison for him.


    Then he would be in a terrible state, unable to live or die as he wished.


    "Yin Zheng has already disrupted the economic order of White Stone Town. If we do not contain him in time, I fear we won¡¯t be able to manage the fallout later. Madam Liang dares to snatch my things; she should be prepared to be dealt with."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her nose, her expression still carrying a hint of rascality.


    She never habitually hid behind others or suffered in silence after being bullied. None of that was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s style.


    With Qin Longyun around, her safety wasn¡¯t an issue, and she had prepared for the worst-case scenario.


    That would be leaving White Stone Town, or even departing Ning Tian Mansion. If things got really bad, she could go abroad. After all, the world was so vast, and she wanted to see it.


    Qin Longyun gave Tan Zhenghong a look, signaling him to convince Qiao Duo¡¯er to stop this nonsense.


    Dealing with that old fox Yin Zheng wouldn¡¯t be so easy.


    However, Tan Zhenghong said, "Without handing over the recipe, Madam Liang won¡¯t let us live in peace, but if we¡¯re forced to give it up, my wife will be unhappy."


    So, he supported Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s approach.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong approvingly. Cough cough... the bribe from last night was quite effective.


    Qin Longyun was helpless. Did Tan Zhenghong have no principles left?


    Chen Yiling patted her chest: "Husband, stop hesitating. At worst, we¡¯ll give up your official position, and we can enjoy farming in the countryside. Besides, my father is there; he surely won¡¯t just stand by and let anything happen to you!"


    Qin Longyun clenched his teeth and finally nodded.


    He had one year left in his term, and he had to deal with the Yin Family within this time.


    Otherwise, once a new County Magistrate arrived a year later, who knew what the situation would be? Perhaps it would be a world where Yin Zheng had power, bandits roamed freely, and the people suffered immensely.


    "Rest assured, as long as I am alive, I will definitely protect you all," he said.


    This was Qin Longyun¡¯s promise, and was also part of his duty as a father and government official.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded: "Thank you, big brother."


    Chen Yiling immediately had someone present a formal visit request. After lunch and a brief rest, she was eager to meet with Madam Liang.


    Sitting in the carriage, Chen Yiling started to discuss Madam Liang¡¯s background.


    Madam Liang, originally named Yin Silver Moon, was Master Yin Zheng¡¯s eldest daughter. She married Liang Hao but due to a clashing of personalities and disputes over taking concubines, Yin Silver Moon angrily returned to her parental home.


    Back at her family¡¯s home, Yin Silver Moon took over the Yin Family¡¯s business and through the years, it flourished under her management. Now, most of the Yin Family¡¯s business relied on her.


    "Ah, actually, Yin Silver Moon is pitiful too. Her husband doesn¡¯t care for her, and Yin Zheng only sees her as a tool for making money," Chen Yiling remarked wistfully.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, "There is something hateful about those who are pitiable. She¡¯s not a three-year-old child and certainly knows right from wrong. The only explanation is that she is inherently greedy."


    The Yin Family¡¯s businesses merely provided fertile ground for her desires to grow unchecked.


    Chen Yiling felt that this was indeed the case, and her fleeting sympathy vanished without a trace.


    Suffering brought upon oneself is not worthy of others¡¯ pity. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 455 - 458 The Cell is Almost Full_1

    Chapter 455: Chapter 458 The Cell is Almost Full_1Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the Yin Mansion.


    Since they had sent a calling card in advance, a maid was already waiting at the gate; seeing that it was the Lady of the County, she quickly welcomed them inside. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Yin Mansion was understated in every aspect, yet within its restraint flowed a sense of opulence, far surpassing the delicacy of the Government Office¡¯s backyard.


    Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er exchanged glances, both silently cursing, "Corrupt officials."


    After waiting in the parlor for a while, Yin Yinyue gracefully made her way over.


    She was over thirty, but well-maintained, and looked more like a woman in her early twenties.


    The only drawback was her narrow eyes, which, despite their astuteness, made her seem somewhat sharp and petty.


    She was clearly a formidable character.


    "Lady of the County," Yin Yinyue said perfunctorily as she performed a curtsey, "may I know what brings you to my humble home?"


    "I have nothing but idle time on my hands; what important matters could I possibly have? I¡¯m just killing time, and this is my husband¡¯s sister; her name is Duo¡¯er."


    Chen Yiling responded bluntly.


    "It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Madam Liang," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, executing a curtsy.


    Madam Liang nodded, "We¡¯ve met before. Have you finally come to a realization this time, Mrs. Tan?"


    "I¡¯ve always had a clear understanding. If it¡¯s mine, I will surely guard it well," Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    Madam Liang examined Qiao Duo¡¯er from top to bottom, her expression darkening as she spoke, "You¡¯ve got some nerve."


    "It comes naturally to me; thank you for the compliment, Madam," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied without any modesty, and then added, "But as for you, Madam Liang, don¡¯t you grow tired of these childish games after so many years?"


    "Duo¡¯er, how can you speak to Madam Liang like that? She¡¯s only been in charge of the Yin Family for a few years, the thrill of usurping must still feel novel to her," Chen Yiling commented sarcastically.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smoothly conceded her error, "It was a slip of the tongue; I misspoke."


    "So you¡¯ve come to declare war?" Yin Yinyue asked, squinting her eyes.


    "If that¡¯s what you wish to believe, then so it may be; but let me give you one piece of advice¡ªkeep your underlings from causing trouble, or the cells in the Government Office will soon be at capacity," Chen Yiling said in exasperation.


    Ever since Tan¡¯s Shop opened its doors, the Government Officials could apprehend hooligans causing trouble every day, but there were only so many cells in the Government Office.


    "To call it ¡¯declaring war¡¯ would be an inappropriate choice of words. You are too weak for us to bother declaring war," Qiao Duo¡¯er said immediately.


    Madam Liang kindly reminded, "Don¡¯t think that just because you have a little affinity and history with Qin Longyun, you can act recklessly in White Stone Town. You¡¯re still too green and won¡¯t understand your own insignificance until you¡¯ve suffered."


    The echelons of White Stone Town were treacherously complex. How many people regarded someone like Qin Longyun as insignificant?


    Only Qiao Duo¡¯er still treasured Qin Longyun as if he were a precious gem, thinking she had found a great treasure.


    "This is my concern, Madam; you¡¯d better look after your own matters. You have a busy schedule, and we wouldn¡¯t want to bother you any longer."


    Having achieved their goal, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling quickly took their leave.


    The maid couldn¡¯t help but complain, "They are truly overbearing!"


    "Don¡¯t fall for their tricks; they came here today hoping I would get angry and strike out at them harshly so that they could find something to hold against me," Yin Yinyue stated smugly. After years of struggling in the business world, would she lack such discernment to have flourished until now?


    "It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re smart, Miss; otherwise, you¡¯d have fallen right into their trap," the maid said, looking at Yin Yinyue with admiration. If it were her, she¡¯d have been deceived countless times already.


    Yin Yinyue waved her hand dismissively, "All you know is how to flatter. Quickly bring the ledger; I¡¯m waiting to look through it!"

 Chapter 456 - 459 Isn’t it too much?_1

    Chapter 456: Chapter 459 Isn¡¯t it too much?_1On the other side, Chen Yiling was dragging Qiao Duo¡¯er around the streets aimlessly.


    In truth, as the epitome of a well-bred lady, Chen Yiling¡¯s wanderings were limited to the perfume shop, Cloth Shop, and jewelry stores.


    Xiang Bao Zhai was the most famous perfume shop in town, and a must-visit destination.


    The shop was bustling with customers, and after the clerk presented some samples, he quickly went to attend to other patrons.


    Chen Yiling sniffed a few types of perfume powders, some of them were overpoweringly fragrant, more suitable for courtesans.


    She said disdainfully, "The quality of perfume powder here is really getting worse; Duo¡¯er, you should hurry up and open your Duo Meifang. When you do, I¡¯ll definitely be buying from your store!"


    "That will have to wait until we¡¯ve taken down Yin Zheng."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands helplessly, as the best shops in White Stone Town were all in Yin Zheng¡¯s hands, making it nearly impossible for her to get a share of the market.


    Moreover, up to this point, the Yin Family was still continuing to swallow up other shops.


    Such greed was unmatched.


    Chen Yiling put down the perfume powder and said somewhat dejectedly, "Ah, who knows if Silver Moon has taken the bait today; when will we be able to completely deal with her?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted her, "Don¡¯t worry, I refuse to believe she doesn¡¯t have something she cares about."


    "Exactly, my husband¡¯s foundation has stabilized, and with your help, that old bastard Yin Zheng is definitely going to be unlucky!"


    Chen Yiling clenched her fists; Yin Zheng¡¯s downfall was what everyone desired.


    Her husband always told her that evil cannot overcome good, and now Qiao Duo¡¯er was saying the same thing; it must be true.


    After leaving Xiang Bao Zhai, Chen Yiling, feeling tired, took a break at a teahouse.


    While sipping tea, they resumed their talk about Silver Moon.


    "How much do you know about Silver Moon¡¯s husband?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously.


    "That man is nothing but a frivolous wastrel, expert at horseback riding, cockfighting, and reveling; but he is handsome and comes from a good background, so there are plenty of women who like him. Although Silver Moon lives with her parents, she still has someone to keep an eye on him; she must be unable to let go of the past."


    Chen Yiling spilled everything she knew.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; Silver Moon¡¯s inability to forget the past must be true, otherwise, she would have sought a divorce long ago.


    Since that was the case, an idea suddenly came to her.


    Feelings were always a woman¡¯s most sensitive and vulnerable spot; as long as Silver Moon still loved her man, she couldn¡¯t rise above it.


    If someone instigated and caused Liang Hao to divorce her, where would Silver Moon¡¯s rationality be?


    But the specifics of this plan needed further discussion with Qin Longyun; the Yin Family had accumulated power over many years, one couldn¡¯t act rashly.


    Otherwise, if Yin Zheng were to act out of desperation, causing all his shops to close, what would happen to the townspeople of White Stone Town? They could do without jewelry and perfume powder, but not a day could pass without rice shops, mills, or general stores. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared her plan with Chen Yiling, asking her to convey it to Qin Longyun.


    "Duo¡¯er, how come you¡¯re so clever?" Chen Yiling only had admiration for Qiao Duo¡¯er; she figured she could never have come up with such a scheme in her lifetime.


    A bit malicious, but certainly effective.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er winked mischievously, "When it¡¯s all said and done, I want Xiang Bao Zhai, that¡¯s not too much to ask, right?"


    Even if Xiang Bao Zhai¡¯s collaboration with Wind Liyang fell through, worsening the packaging and significantly reducing the quality of the cosmetics, the customer traffic remained astonishing, including many wealthy families, which sufficiently indicated the excellent location of Xiang Bao Zhai.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had full confidence that as long as she could get her hands on the shop, Duo Meifang would surely replace Xiang Bao Zhai!

 Chapter 457 - 460 Unhealthy Things_1

    Chapter 457: Chapter 460 Unhealthy Things_1"Not at all excessive. When the time comes, I¡¯ll have my husband reserve a few good shops for you. This is what they call ¡¯keeping the benefits within the family.¡¯"


    Chen Yi Ling readily agreed, and with Yin Zheng brought to ruin, his shops would surely change hands.


    By then, based on her contributions, Qiao Duo¡¯er should be rewarded with three to five shops, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully said, "I¡¯ll remember that, and if your husband doesn¡¯t come through, I¡¯ll just kidnap you and make you my Camp Lady!"


    "You..."


    Can two women even do that?


    The thought of this embarrassing topic made Chen Yi Ling¡¯s face involuntarily flush red.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled softly, "Ling¡¯er, are you thinking of something unhealthy? Like you and Lord Qin at night..."


    "You¡¯re terrible! I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore!"


    Chen Yi Ling quickly denied it. She... really hadn¡¯t thought about Lord Qin having the ¡¯tools of the trade¡¯ while Qiao Duo¡¯er did not.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er barely managed to suppress her laughter. No wonder Lord Qin was so fond of her, she¡¯s so adorable!


    After a bit more teasing and laughing, they rested enough and then went their separate ways to take action.


    Chen Yi Ling returned to the Government Office to convey Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts to Qin Longyun, asking him to think about what exactly to do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er headed straight back to Tan¡¯s Shop. When she returned, Tan Zhenghong was standing at the entrance.


    "Wife, you¡¯re finally back. I was worried to death."


    Tan Zhenghong scanned Qiao Duo¡¯er from head to toe, relieved that she had returned safely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly said, "I was just strolling around with Yi Ling. The shop is so busy, why aren¡¯t you helping out?"


    "Wasn¡¯t I waiting for you? Besides, it¡¯s not good for Sister Lan and me to be alone in the shop."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood. People from rural families didn¡¯t strictly separate men and women, but still, there were differences, and being alone together could easily lead to rumors.


    She would have to be more cautious about this in the future, as Hu¡¯s Clan was not yet thirty and had a lot of happiness ahead of her.


    After Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s return, Hu¡¯s Clan felt much more at ease. Only then did she notice that today, there were no sneaky individuals around Tan¡¯s Shop looking for an opportunity to cause trouble.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said joyfully, "I think Madam Liang must have given up. From now on, we can do business in peace."


    Her wish was simple: to run the shop, earn a wage, and raise her two girls.


    "Sister Lan, just focus on your work. Zheng Hong and I will handle the rest," Qiao Duo comforted her.


    This was only the calm before the storm; things were bound to get rougher.


    But she would try her best to stabilize the stewed meat business.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "Yes, as long as the shop¡¯s open, I¡¯ll come help out."


    "Good, then you¡¯re stuck with us for life," Qiao Duo¡¯er confidently said.


    Who knows, maybe in the future they¡¯ll have more than just this one shop!


    Without Madam Liang¡¯s troublemaking, Hu¡¯s Clan worked even harder. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was already deep autumn, and the days were getting dark earlier. However, thanks to Tan¡¯s Shop¡¯s delicious fare and reasonable prices, they usually sold out before nightfall.


    Even so, by the time they reached Big Willow Village, it was pitch dark.


    When they got home, they could not rest right away as there were the household poultry and livestock to feed, especially the herbivores, which needed their ¡¯nocturnal grass¡¯ to fatten up, so this meal couldn¡¯t be neglected.


    After finishing the chores and freshening up, the night had grown deep. How could Tan Zhenghong bear to disturb Qiao Duo¡¯er then?


    So all he could do was hold his dry wife in his arms, and yet, his wife was becoming increasingly restless in her sleep, making his heart itch intolerably.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, thinking only of settling the score with Yin Zheng soon.


    Afterward, they wouldn¡¯t have to go to Tam¡¯s Stewed Meat Shop, and they could go to bed early every night!

 Chapter 458 - 461: Better Not to Stir Things Up_1

    Chapter 458: Chapter 461: Better Not to Stir Things Up_1Before Lord Qin could produce a set of regulations, Liang Hao took it upon himself to show up.


    "You¡¯re saying that it was this shop that made that tigress suffer?"


    Liang Hao shook his folding fan, his mood quite splendid. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Over the years, his dear wife had been invincible in battle, yet she had found her match in this little shop.


    Well... just thinking about it made him feel exhilarated!


    Liang Shun immediately bootlicked, "Young Master, this shop has avenged you too!"


    "This counts as revenge? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s letting that tigress off too easy?" Liang Hao snorted softly, not even death would quench his thirst for revenge against that woman!


    She had moved back to her maiden home, yet she knew more about the matters of the Liang Family than anyone else.


    The most infuriating part was that all the women he liked were sold off by her, and the absolute worst part was that the Silver Coins ended up in her purse.


    As a result, no woman dared to associate with her now, and he could only seek companionship in the Red-Light District.


    But as the Yin Family¡¯s Status Power continued to grow, the Liang Family could only stand aside, so even with Yin Yinyue¡¯s ferocity, he had to keep his mouth shut.


    What kind of bad karma had he accumulated in his last life?


    How did he end up with such a wife?


    Liang Shun chuckled dryly, "Regardless, the Madam must be fuming. Shall I go buy some braised meat as thanks to them?"


    "Looking for an excuse to satisfy your cravings, who did you learn that from? I¡¯m not as petty as that tigress. Go buy ten pounds of braised meat and share it with the brothers."


    Liang Hao glared at Liang Shun, thinking he could hide his little schemes from him?


    "Young Master is both wise and benevolent, in the future we¡¯ll surely follow you to the death!"


    Liang Shun seized the opportunity to suck up and then scampered off to buy the meat.


    Following the Young Master might mean the occasional punishment from the Madam, but the Young Master always treated them well.


    On top of rewarding them with food and Silver, he never excluded them from his escapades either, so they were all willing to serve the Young Master.


    Liang Hao¡¯s gaze caught a glimpse of an elegantly slender figure, and he immediately looked attentively.


    The woman was serene and cold, her demeanor as pure as a lotus, irresistibly drawing people in, a stark contrast to the tigress of his household!


    If he could marry such a lady in this life, it would not have been a wasted journey through this world.


    What was most important was that this family hadn¡¯t succumbed to Yin Yinyue¡¯s licentious power, which showed they weren¡¯t the timid and cowardly sort. So if he could bring this woman into his manor, Yin Yinyue would definitely be at a loss with her.


    Liang Hao¡¯s schemes rattled loudly in his head, and before he could finish his thoughts, Liang Shun had already returned with the braised meat.


    "You go check out that woman... no... find out who owns this shop," Liang Hao squinted his eyes.


    Liang Shun nodded vigorously, "Leave it to me."


    Having followed Liang Hao since childhood, how could he not know his Young Master¡¯s inclinations?


    But in all these years, which woman had escaped the clutches of the Madam?


    However, if the Young Master wanted to stir things up, he would be by his side, after all, it wasn¡¯t as if he had anything better to do to alleviate the boredom.


    That very night, Liang Shun got his answer.


    After hearing Liang Shun¡¯s words, Liang Hao couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily, "This woman also has a good relationship with Lord Qin Bai Yifan, truly remarkable, heaven has finally opened its eyes!"


    If they could have a son and daughter in the future, his parents wouldn¡¯t have to sigh and lament all the time.


    "Young Master, think it through. Based on what I¡¯ve found, Mrs. Tan is no easier to deal with than our own Madam," Liang Shun kindly warned.


    She had a bit of a background, but so did women with fierce reputations¡ªYin Yinyue was the classic example.


    Since it¡¯s the same wolf¡¯s den either way, perhaps... it¡¯s best not to make trouble.

 Chapter 459 - 462: Destined to be a Joke_1

    Chapter 459: Chapter 462: Destined to be a Joke_1The fortune-teller also said that their young master was fated to be henpecked, and to top it off, he had a wife-prospering destiny.


    Therefore, in street lingo, their young master was simply destined to be a joke.


    He coughed. To think such things seemed rather unkind, but that was just the way it was.


    Liang Hao slapped the table, "I¡¯d sign up for that face alone!"


    If he was going to put up with nonsense either way, why not find someone young and beautiful?


    At least his eyes would be pleased, and his heart would be content.


    After inquiring about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s background, Liang Hao swaggered into her place when Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t around.


    "This is the Eldest Young Master of the Liang Family, wanting to discuss a big deal with you," Liang Shun said draggingly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded indifferently, "Small business, hardly big deals. If there¡¯s anything you want to buy, just say it outright."


    Now that Yin Yinyue had temporarily given up on Tan¡¯s Shop, why had they sent over another rich punk with street smarts?


    Wait, Young Master Liang?


    Was he actually Yin Yinyue¡¯s husband, Liang Hao?


    "When Young Master Liang shows up, it¡¯s definitely a big business..."


    Liang Shun spoke at length, but seeing no response from Qiao Duo¡¯er, his face began to lose color.


    He could not help but raise his voice, "You dead woman, can¡¯t you hear me speaking? I¡¯m telling you, this is the Eliest Young Master of the Liang Family, Master¡¯s son-in-law, open your eyes wide!" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liang Hao hurriedly kicked Liang Shun, had that kid been held by an idiot when he was little?


    "Miss, he¡¯s had too much to drink, don¡¯t mind his nonsense. How about I buy twenty catties of braised meat from you every day, can Miss deliver it to our residence?" Liang Hao spoke politely and literately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, "Of course, but since the gentleman is ordering a large amount, a deposit must be made in advance."


    Liang Hao was a bit stunned. He thought he would have to work hard with his words, but he didn¡¯t expect the girl to be so clear-headed and agree just like that.


    That¡¯s good, too; it saved him the hassle. He certainly liked smart women!


    Liang Hao signaled Liang Shun, who then took out ten tales.


    "You must pick out the best to deliver. I¡¯m giving you the money for ten days in advance, starting from today."


    Liang Shun slapped the silver on the counter, his mannerism just short of having the words "I¡¯m not short on cash" written across his face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er accepted the silver, "No problem."


    "Thank you, miss. I will take my leave," said Liang Hao, bowing before swiftly dragging Liang Shun away.


    Tonight, his face had been completely lost, thanks to that idiot!


    Once they¡¯d walked a bit away, Liang Hao tugged at Liang Shun¡¯s ear and said, "Be more courteous when you talk to Miss Tan in the future."


    "Young Master, Mrs. Tan¡¯s maiden name is Qiao; it¡¯s her husband who has the surname Tan."


    Liang Shun hurriedly explained, and had his ear not still been in Liang Hao¡¯s grasp, he would have definitely laughed out loud.


    Liang Hao¡¯s face turned red, and his grip tightened.


    "Who needs all this nonsense? Don¡¯t I know what you know? If I catch you talking to her like that again, I won¡¯t let you off!"


    "I... I was just using my crude ignorance to contrast with Young Master¡¯s refined and cultured manners," Liang Shun explained.


    With that explanation from Liang Shun, Liang Hao instantly lost his anger, released Liang Shun¡¯s ear, and quickly straightened his own appearance.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er made him feel instantly younger, with a sense of spring stirring in his heart.


    In the braised meat store, the Hu¡¯s Clan lady anxiously advised, "Duo¡¯er, I think those two have ill intentions, you must not go there."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, I have plans."


    She had agreed to deliver the braised meat, not to personally deliver it. What was there to be nervous about?


    One can¡¯t just turn away silver delivered to the doorstep, right?

 Chapter 460 - 463: Played for a fool?_1

    Chapter 460: Chapter 463: Played for a fool?_1At that, Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, immediately prepared twenty jin of marinated vegetables, and wrapped them in oiled paper.


    To prevent the Liang Family from denying the account, Qiao Duo¡¯er also wrote the name, weight, and price of the marinated vegetables on each paper package, and then recorded a copy in her own ledger.


    Although Young Master Liang did not seem like someone who would quibble over ten taels of silver, it was still better to be safe than sorry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then found a porter to help with the delivery, purposely picking a big and burly man so that even if the Liang Family caused trouble, he would be fine.


    Hu¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t help but give Qiao Duo¡¯er a thumbs-up for this, as it was both profitable and safe.


    Liang Family, half an hour later, the gatekeeper came to report that someone had delivered the marinated meat.


    Liang Hao hurriedly straightened his hair and clothes, and quickly went out to greet them.


    "Young Master Liang, this is the marinated meat delivered on Tan¡¯s Shop¡¯s behalf. Please inspect it, and if there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll be leaving now!" said the burly man in a loud voice.


    Liang Hao¡¯s face turned green with anger, but the deed was done, and he could only accept the marinated meat as if he had swallowed a fly.


    Liang Shun said angrily, "Young Master, that woman is playing you, I¡¯ll take care of her!"


    "As a woman, she should be a bit more demure."


    Liang Hao disdainfully glanced at Liang Shun, who was truly a rough old man, always thinking about dealing with people.


    Could a blooming young lady be treated in such a manner?


    For three consecutive days, porters delivered the marinated meat, and Liang Hao had to admit that Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t grasp his underlying intentions at all, treating him just like any ordinary customer.


    On the afternoon of the fourth day, an impatient Liang Hao visited Tan¡¯s Shop again. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Young Master Liang, may I ask whom you¡¯re looking for?" asked Hu¡¯s Clan carefully.


    "I¡¯m looking for your Madam."


    Liang Hao¡¯s eyes roamed around, but the shop only had two country bumpkin girls, neither to his taste.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said apologetically, "Our Madam is unwell today and hasn¡¯t come to Tan¡¯s Shop."


    "When will she be well?" Liang Hao quickly asked.


    Hu¡¯s Clan shook her head, "I don¡¯t know."


    Liang Hao stroked his chin and left, feeling as if his heart was being scratched by a cat, not having seen the person he wanted to see.


    That damned woman, was she intentionally whetting his appetite?


    Otherwise, why was it such a coincidence that she fell ill right when he decided to visit her?


    Not long after he got home, the person delivering the marinated meat came again, and this time Liang Hao had no intention of coming out.


    "Young Master..."


    Before Liang Shun could finish, Liang Hao said impatiently, "Divide it however you want, from now on don¡¯t specially come to ask me about such trivial matters."


    He, the esteemed Young Master Liang, was certainly not meant to worry day in and day out about how to divide marinated meat.


    Liang Shun quickly said, "Young Master, please calm down, it¡¯s someone sent by Lord Qin."


    "You say Lord Qin?"


    Liang Hao dared not delay any longer, and personally went out to receive them.


    Liang Shun stomped his foot and muttered, "The Young Master must be obsessed."


    Soon the Young Master would see that the visitor was just a government official, and he was sure to curse profusely, as receiving a government official was an affront to his status.


    However, Liang Shun was overly concerned this time.


    Lord Qin was Qiao Duo¡¯s sworn brother, and if he was making introductions, the matter would certainly go through, even if the visitor was a government official, Liang Hao would treat him like an honored guest.


    Besides, the government official brought good news¡ªLord Qin invited him to meet tomorrow at Chunhua Building.


    Chunhua Building was a den of iniquity for the wealthy, resplendent and decadent, and one of Liang Hao¡¯s favorite places.


    It just never crossed his mind that Lord Qin, who was always upright, would take the initiative to invite him to such a place.


    Had Lady Qin suddenly changed he

 Chapter 461 - 464: Be Careful Not to Miss Out on Meat_1

    Chapter 461: Chapter 464: Be Careful Not to Miss Out on Meat_1This day was exceptionally leisurely, and Qiao Duo¡¯er began cooking dinner early.


    Someone had been pent up lately, so tonight would serve as compensation for him.


    Uh... how did she come up with such a terrifying thought?


    The soup had been stewing in a ceramic pot since the afternoon, and now she only needed to fry a batch of flaky flatbreads and stir-fry some bean sprouts. She estimated that in about half an hour everything would be ready, and by that time Tan Zhenghong should have returned as well.


    As soon as Tan Zhenghong stepped into the yard, a rich aroma of meat wafted towards him.


    It was a fragrance he had never encountered before¡ªhe couldn¡¯t quite place it, but the greedy worm in his belly had already begun to stir.


    Tan Zhenghong put down his tools and hurriedly washed his face before diving into the kitchen.


    "Wife, what delicious food have you made today? I could smell it from far away."


    Tan Zhenghong wrapped his arms around Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist from behind, resting his head on her neck.


    Just by holding his wife in his arms, his heart was at peace.


    "What¡¯s the matter? I feel like you¡¯re not happy," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    No matter how much a person might try to hide their feelings, they can never fool those closest to them.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong was about to shake his head, Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded, "Think carefully before you answer, be careful or you might end up without any meat later."


    She deliberately drew out the last words with a prolonged tone, suggesting not only the meat in the meal but also the ¡¯meat¡¯ she might offer the certain libido wolf later in the evening.


    As for how a lecher consumes meat, Tan Zhenghong was well versed.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately capitulated, "When I was coming back, I ran into my mother. She told me that my second brother¡¯s wife wants to split up the household."


    "Your second brother¡¯s wife?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised.


    It had been agreed upon at the time of the last division that the elderly couple would live with the second son, and the second son¡¯s household would take care of them until the end.


    How had it changed in just a few months?


    Tan Zhenghong helplessly nodded, "My mother went to give Tan Zhengyuan some grain, and was seen by my second brother¡¯s wife. They argued and it escalated to talk of splitting the household. I heard it got quite nasty."


    Since moving out, Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t paid attention to the Tan family¡¯s affairs and was completely unaware of these developments.


    All Tan Zhenghong could do was recount the story in full detail.


    Since Widow X¨² had taken away Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s property, the Wang Clan had been their source of food. Little Wang Clan felt aggrieved that her family¡¯s grain was being used to support someone else and had always been unhappy about it.


    Moreover, Little Wang Clan¡¯s brother, Wang Xiaofeng, had just passed the scholar examination, and, brimming with pride, she immediately started making a fuss.


    "I think your second brother¡¯s wife is just seizing an opportunity to act out, aiming to oust the elders and seize control of the household." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Tan family didn¡¯t have much wealth, but when put together it amounted to over a hundred Silver ¨C no small sum.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "Your father and mother can live in our former house. They can forget about the new house; and regarding support, we¡¯ll follow the custom of Big Willow Village, whatever others give, we will give the same."


    Her stance was perfectly reasonable, leaving no grounds for anyone to find fault.


    "Wife, how... how did you know?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes widened; when had his wife become so prescient? He hadn¡¯t mentioned a word about his mother wanting to move into their house because he would never agree to such an absurd request.


    Putting aside his parents¡¯ personalities, who knew when his mother might suddenly miss her beloved second son¡¯s family and even consider moving them back in again?


    This was his and Duo¡¯er¡¯s home, the place in this world he held dearest, and he would let no one ruin it!


    "What else could she be after except for taking advantage?"


    Members of the Tan family were just like the Qiao¡¯s family members. If it wasn¡¯t for their own benefit, they wouldn¡¯t bother visiting at all.

 Chapter 462 - 465: Let Me Help You Take It Off_1

    Chapter 462: Chapter 465: Let Me Help You Take It Off_1Tan Zhenghong chuckled bitterly, "From now on, it looks like our two pitiful kids will have to rely on each other for support."


    "I think we¡¯re very happy as it is. It¡¯s that bunch of fools who are pitiable,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er corrected Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mistake.


    If the Tan Family and the Qiao Family had been even slightly nicer to them, things wouldn¡¯t have escalated to the point of old age without any contact. At the very least, gifts would be sent for the three major festivals, and red envelopes given for hosting feasts and events.


    But perhaps they just wanted to save them some money, considering they started from scratch, which wasn¡¯t easy.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Everything my wife says is right."


    As for the people in the old residence, let them kick up a fuss if they wanted. He couldn¡¯t care less and didn¡¯t want to intervene, because... he had already severed ties with that family.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rebuked playfully, "Smooth talker!"


    Having voiced his thoughts, Tan Zhenghong felt relieved, and his attention was once again captivated by the alluring scent.


    Just through talking, the aroma had intensified.


    "You¡¯ll know in a moment. Hurry up and serve the rice; the bean sprouts are almost ready, and then we can eat," Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, deliberately keeping him in suspense.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard but immediately obeyed his wife¡¯s command.


    Soon enough, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought out a black jar, the source of the appetizing aroma.


    Upon lifting the lid, the fragrance was almost intoxicating.


    Seeing the expression on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s vanity was immensely gratified.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er served two bowls, and they each carefully savored the soup with their spoons.


    The broth was exceptionally savory and rich with a blend of flavors, fatty yet not greasy. The most marvelous part was how the ingredients infused into each other, creating a layered taste that made you want to devour even your tongue.


    After spending an entire evening savoring it, Tan Zhenghong finally took a moment to ask, "Wife, what is this called?"


    "Where we come from, it¡¯s called ¡¯Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,¡¯ but my version is missing a few key ingredients."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was already quite satisfied with the flavor, despite lacking several crucial elements like seafood and shark¡¯s fin.


    Aunt Huang had given her some dried bamboo shoots, so she added scallops, shiitake mushrooms, chicken and duck breasts, wild pigeon, ribs, pig¡¯s trotters and stomach, chicken and duck gizzards, and then she had inadvertently stewed a whole jar.


    "Let¡¯s save some. We can¡¯t finish all of this; let¡¯s send some for Erhu and the others to try," she suggested.


    Tan Zhenghong gestured dismissively, "No need, I can finish it all. Next time you teach me how to make it, then we can give some to them."


    He harbored a small selfish desire. Preparing this dish took a long time, and his wife must have been thinking of him while making it. The dish was full of Duo¡¯er¡¯s love; he didn¡¯t want to share it with anyone else.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt helpless, but seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s childish side was rare, so she indulged him.


    The combination of ¡¯Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,¡¯ with crispy pancakes and stir-fried bean sprouts, was utterly divine. Even Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but eat half an extra pancake.


    True to his word, Tan Zhenghong polished off the entire jar of soup, leaving him with a stomach that was nearly bursting at the seams.


    After dinner, the overly full Tan Zhenghong warmed up the floor heating in the washroom.


    Winter was fast approaching, and his wife had the habit of taking a bath every day. He didn¡¯t want her to catch a cold without the floor heating. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very pleased. For the last few days, she had to hurry through her showers because it was too late, but today she could leisurely soak in the bath.


    However, she didn¡¯t rush to undress.


    Just as she had expected, an hour later, Tan Zhenghong pushed the door open.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t see the partially exposed tempting shoulders he had imagined, and then he mischievously said, "Wife, are you waiting for me to help you undress?"


    "Pervert!" Qiao Duo¡¯er exclaimed in feigned annoyance.


    Tan Zhenghong took the hint. Since Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t asked him to leave, that meant she agreed, right?


    But in the next second, everything changed.

 Chapter 463 - 466: Bound Again_1

    Chapter 463: Chapter 466: Bound Again_1Because he had already been tied up by his wife, and the rope was also prepared by her in advance, or else she wouldn¡¯t have been able to join two belts together so quickly.


    So today he had fallen into the trap dug by his wife.


    Without thinking, he knew his consequences would be extremely severe.


    "Watch closely, be good."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently caressed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cheek. She had been ambushed once; could she not learn from it this time?


    Just hoping he won¡¯t spurt nosebleeds later, because too much blood loss can be deadly.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a surge of heat and blood. The beauty was undressing in front of him, yet he couldn¡¯t touch her. He was almost driven mad!


    Moreover, this heat would only grow more intense because Qiao Duo¡¯er was undressing slowly, and with each piece of clothing removed, he was one step closer to the most beautiful scenery!


    This little vixen... she actually stripped down to just her bellyband!


    Most importantly, this little vixen was very skilful; every move was enticing, yet she didn¡¯t reveal anything vital.


    Such as that place with no small triangle where one movement would normally reveal everything, yet he stretched his neck and saw nothing!


    Now, Tan Zhenghong felt like biting Qiao Duo¡¯er to death.


    What a bad thing! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo, just you wait, tonight I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t get out of bed tomorrow!


    Tan Zhenghong roared countless times in his heart, but the reality was he was tied up, and when he could be freed depended on his wife¡¯s mood.


    He still remembered once casually mentioning "Three Obediences and Four Virtues" to Duo¡¯er, who gave him a look as if he were an idiot.


    Then Duo¡¯er had enlightened him on the actual "three submissions and four virtues".


    The three submissions were "follow, obey, blindly obey", and the four virtues were "make-up must be patient, spending money must be generous, anger must be restrained, and birthdays must be remembered". But all these were requirements for men.


    Normally he would admit defeat, but now he was tied up by his own woman and even hung on a clothes rack, this was a great shame!


    That won¡¯t do, he had to revolt!


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly touched a knot; it was where the two belts were tied together!


    Never had he thought that his wife, usually so smart, could have a momentary lapse in judgment, giving him the chance he had firmly seized.


    Tan Zhenghong said ingratiatingly, "Wife, I haven¡¯t taken off my clothes, I¡¯m dying of heat."


    But obviously, his tone was much lighter now, and Qiao Duo¡¯er said discontentedly, "Stay put!"


    Tan Zhenghong responded pitifully and obediently stood still.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but look back at Tan Zhenghong, seeing him actually standing obediently, so she continued to bathe.


    No sooner had she raised her arms than someone grasped her shoulders. Qiao Duo¡¯er instinctively attempted to throw that person over her shoulder, and thus Tan Zhenghong was successfully knocked down into the bathtub.


    Tan Zhenghong rubbed the spot where he was bumped, saying with grievance, "You¡¯re trying to murder your own husband."


    "If I wanted to kill you, you certainly wouldn¡¯t see tomorrow¡¯s sun."


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to his wife show off her strength. He had been invited in by his wife, even if in a rather rough manner, which is why he wasn¡¯t afraid of her throwing a fit.


    Afterwards, he embraced his wife, washing and scrubbing, and the temperature in the washroom rose even higher.


    He had eaten a lot that night, and his wife had suggested he walk more.


    But the most digestible exercise was clearly his favorite activity, why bother with a longer route?


    Tan Zhenghong had all sorts of colourful thoughts, leading to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s soft grunting coming from the bathroom not long after.


    It was like a coquettish reprimand accompanied by a faint gasp.


    Familiarity was mutual. Qiao Duo¡¯er also brought out her queenly nature, immediately taking control and handling Tan Zhenghong¡¯s little brother until he was subdued and drooling.

 Chapter 464 - 467 Switching Places and Trying Again_1

    Chapter 464: Chapter 467 Switching Places and Trying Again_1"You¡¯re out of action just like that today?" Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned, clearly dissatisfied.


    In fact, the timing was just right, but she couldn¡¯t resist being a bit too talkative.


    Tan Zhenghong bit her neck in a punitive way, "The water has gone cold, I¡¯m just moving to another spot to continue."


    Starving him for a few days, how could he be satisfied with just one go?


    Plus, there was the grudge of having tied him up today to settle. Duo¡¯er, you¡¯d better pray for good luck.


    When Duo¡¯er was pressed back into the bed, she quickly said, "I need to go to the town tomorrow, and I have deliveries to make, too."


    "Thinking of other men in bed, it seems I need to try even harder," he said with a mischievous tone, and before Qiao Duo¡¯er could protest, he sealed her lips with his own.


    All she needed to do now was join him in the most wonderful activity in the world. Everything else could take a step back!


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er began to lose herself in the pleasure, Tan Zhenghong whispered in her ear, "You clearly love it."


    His voice had a wild breathiness to it, yet it was gentle and magnetic, as if it were the most enchanting sound in the world.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a tingle down her spine, followed by an overwhelming rush of pleasure.


    Once the dizzying ecstasy subsided, she immediately buried her face in the quilt, too ashamed to face anyone.


    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe she could climax just by listening to a voice. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Um... it must have been a coincidence just now!


    Noticing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reactions, Tan Zhenghong became even wilder, and always made some naughty remarks at critical moments.


    After the exhausting session, Qiao Duo¡¯er was tired, yet somehow more spirited.


    Probably stimulated by something very comfortable, or words like "I love you."


    "Wife, shall we chat?" Tan Zhenghong proposed naughtily.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a dismissive roll of her eyes, but it had no effect in the darkness.


    Tan Zhenghong beamed joyfully, "Tell me, wife, don¡¯t you love me very much? You see, you even go crazy for my voice."


    Unable to stand it anymore, Qiao Duo¡¯er pinched Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arm.


    "Wife, I have something serious to talk about. I hunted a few rabbits today, so when I prepare their fur, there will be enough for you to make another fur coat."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly begged for mercy, not daring to talk dirty again. He knew how terrifying it was when his wife got angry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with disdain, "Dummy, what do I need so many fur coats for?"


    "Your body is cold, I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll freeze later on."


    "I already have two coats. I¡¯ll make one for you, and the rest I¡¯ll use to make knee and hand guards. That way, you won¡¯t get frostbite when you go out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared her plans since Tan Zhenghong¡¯s leg had only recently healed, and not keeping it warm could lead to chronic cold leg issues.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯m not afraid of the cold, just take your time making it, and don¡¯t hurt your eyes."


    "Do you think there¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll hurt my eyes?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, gritting her teeth.


    She had only planned to pick up needle and thread at night, but Tan Zhenghong had scooped her up into bed already. It had been like this since they had confirmed their relationship, without exception.


    Back when there were no contraceptives, they couldn¡¯t really do the deed, but they still had to lie in bed to kiss, hug, and touch.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled, "I mean, staring at needlework all day can hurt your eyes."


    Ah, his wife¡¯s mind was preoccupied with such matters now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, turning her back on Tan Zhenghong.


    She had nothing to say to such a lustful wolf. She could at least go to sleep, right?


    Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t upset; this way, he could envelop her entirely in his arms, a feeling that comforted him because he could protect his wife from all adversities.

 Chapter 465 - 468 Lord Qin is Flirting_1

    Chapter 465: Chapter 468 Lord Qin is Flirting_1The next day, in the most luxurious private room of Chunhua Building.


    Liang Hao was dealing with Lord Qin alone for the first time. At first, he toasted with proper formality, but after a few drinks, his true nature came out.


    He had women clinging to his arms, one on the left pouring wine while another on the right fed him drinks, utterly at ease.


    This is the life a man should live!


    Qin Longyun sat upright and still, simply drinking the wine in his cup quietly.


    "Lord Qin, since we¡¯ve come to this place, there should be no reservations, just do as one pleases," Liang Hao cupped his hands before carelessly wandering his hands over the body of the woman in his embrace.


    Qin Longyun spoke dejectedly, "My tender wife at home keeps a tight leash on me, and her family is powerful, so I must be cautious."


    "Brother Qin, truly we share the same plight."


    These words struck right to Liang Hao¡¯s heart, and suddenly, he felt they were brothers in misfortune.


    Furthermore, Qin Longyun¡¯s situation was even more wretched than his own; at least he could still frequent the Red-Light District, while Lord Qin had to be extra cautious.


    Qin Longyun waved his hand, signaling the woman beside him to step back a bit; the heavy makeup smell gave him a headache.


    Compared to these gaudy women, his own Ling¡¯er was like a breath of fresh air, heavenly beauty personified.


    So, a man¡¯s own wife is indeed the best.


    Qin Longyun kept his head down as he drank, then suddenly asked after putting down his cup, "Do you think we can even call ourselves men?"


    "Why wouldn¡¯t we?" Liang Hao said roughly.


    They weren¡¯t eunuchs from the palace, so why wouldn¡¯t they be men?


    Qin Longyun, holding his forehead, said, "I¡¯m completely dominated by my Madam at home, she controls when I eat and sleep, and thinking about taking another concubine for leisure is utterly out of the question ¨C I¡¯m too embarrassed to even call myself a man."


    Liang Hao had a deep understanding of this; Yin Yinyue had bought off many people in his household, and she was thoroughly aware of his every move.


    When he first discovered that someone was reporting his whereabouts, he felt disgusted, but gradually he just accepted it as the way things were.


    However, when others mentioned it, he still felt bitter inside.


    He, a mighty man of stature, didn¡¯t even have basic freedom ¨C what kind of man was he?


    "You¡¯re right in a way, but you¡¯re still in a better position than me. At least the one you married is a lady of repute. My wife is nothing but a barnyard hen dressed up like a phoenix."


    Liang Hao frowned, his aversion to Yin Yinyue deepening.


    Perhaps he had intentionally overlooked Yin Yinyue all these years, masking his true feelings with a cynical demeanor, but when laid bare like this, he could no longer hide from it.


    After all, with Qin Longyun in a worse position, admitting it didn¡¯t seem so shameful.


    "What lady of repute? Only those from the Prime Minister¡¯s House could claim that title. But look, they went out with eight doll-like maids for the purpose of becoming concubines for their son-in-law," said Qin Longyun in a lowered voice.


    "Really?" Liang Hao asked, surprised.


    Qin Longyun nodded, "Of course, it¡¯s true. A true lady of repute is virtuous and gentle, treating her man as the heavens, always considerate and gentle, even taking the initiative to help her man take concubines. Not to mention, don¡¯t you know about Xu Yuanwai from White Stone Town?"


    This provocative statement was precisely aimed. Liang Hao pursed his lips, filled with resentment. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The daughter of the Prime Minister had eight maids to become concubines, but what was his own wife in comparison? Why couldn¡¯t he encounter such fortune?


    On the contrary, when he brought a Singer home, Yin Yinyue clapped her hands, turned her head to go back to her parental home, and hadn¡¯t returned for over a decade.


    Could it be that the virtues of ¡¯three obediences and four virtues¡¯ were merely for show?


    Qin Longyun lifted his cup, "Brother Liang, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. It¡¯s only with you that I can vent a little. Don¡¯t spread this around."

 Chapter 466 - 469: Divorce Letter_1

    Chapter 466: Chapter 469: Divorce Letter_1"I feel like you¡¯ve really hit the nail on the head. I¡¯ve been ridiculed for years because of that demoness of a mother." Liang Hao was very irritated.


    Just this morning, he heard someone pitying the young master.


    Though the Liang family couldn¡¯t compare to the really wealthy households, they were still considered well-off, and he was treated like a treasured child from birth. He never suffered a day in his life and was happier than many people.


    But now he was actually being pitied by a maid who served others! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun nodded, "All I think about now is climbing the ladder as soon as possible. Once my rank is higher, I can finally hold my head up."


    A surge of righteousness welled up in Liang Hao¡¯s heart, which is to say he felt an inexplicable self-confidence.


    Qin Longyun was oppressed by his father-in-law¡¯s rank, but what about him?


    Ever since Yin Yinyue moved back to her parental home and the Yin family started to aggressively take over other people¡¯s properties, his father had been transferring their family assets at top speed.


    That is to say, she had no leverage over him, so what was there to fear?


    Liang Hao said with an air of arrogance, "Brother Qin, I have nothing to worry about. I¡¯m going to break free from this suffering first!"


    Before Qin Longyun could react, Liang Hao had a younger brother bring in writing materials.


    Liang Hao had studied for a few years, but because he was too lazy, he had let it go to waste. Now, he could only write a few characters.


    Moreover, as a left-hander, his writing made others feel that it was difficult to read, as if they were struggling with constipation.


    Qin Longyun couldn¡¯t bear to watch, so he simply lowered his head and drank tea.


    Additionally, he wanted to say that Bai Yifan¡¯s restlessness powder was quite effective, turning the usually timid Liang Hao into a powder keg, set to explode at the smallest spark.


    After Qin Longyun drank two cups of tea, Liang Hao finally managed to pen a divorce letter in his unique scrawling style.


    "Send this to Madam," Liang Hao excitedly slapped the divorce letter on the table.


    He had been wronged for so many years, and he could finally look forward to a breath of relief.


    Liang Shun spoke hesitantly, "Young master, you¡¯ve drunk too much, don¡¯t act rashly."


    Once his young master sobered up, he would certainly want to kill his divorce-writing self, and even if he didn¡¯t, his wife surely wouldn¡¯t let him off.


    "I¡¯m a man; am I supposed to let a woman walk all over me? Send the letter quickly, or don¡¯t bother coming back!" Liang Hao said through clenched teeth.


    "Young master!"


    Liang Shun stomped his feet, still wanting to stop him.


    But he never expected Liang Hao to snatch the divorce letter from his hand and stagger out.


    Liang Shun bowed to Qin Longyun, "Lord Qin, please enjoy your time. My young master is drunk, and I have to chase him down."


    Qin Longyun nodded slightly, and Liang Shun hurried off like a shot.


    With today¡¯s drama over, Qin Longyun didn¡¯t stay any longer. After finishing the tea in his cup, he hurried to Tan¡¯s Stewed Meat Shop.


    He had been at Chunhua Building for so long; Ling¡¯er must be getting impatient.


    But Ling¡¯er wasn¡¯t just impatient; she was in the midst of a thunderous rage.


    "Hmph, scoundrel!"


    Chen Yiling slammed her hand on the table twice. The sound wasn¡¯t very loud, but it hurt her hand.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly tried to calm her, "Don¡¯t worry, Brother Qin wouldn¡¯t do such things. He¡¯ll be back soon."


    Chen Yiling pouted, knowing full well that her man had been in Chunhua Building and had been there for almost four hours. How could she not be worried?


    If he really did something, she would be the biggest fool in the world.


    Because she had approved of Qin Longyun¡¯s visit there.


    "If he does anything wrong, I¡¯ll help you slaughter him," Qiao Duo¡¯er brandished her Bone Cutting Knife.

 Chapter 467 - 470 Help You Castrate Him_1

    Chapter 467: Chapter 470 Help You Castrate Him_1The gleaming blade made Chen Yiling¡¯s little heart quiver a bit, but she still nodded vigorously, "Then I¡¯ll trouble you at that time, chop it into small pieces for me, and cook it for me to eat!"


    So Lord Qin didn¡¯t want to die a miserable death, it would be best to behave and be honest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, "Can you really bear it? Let¡¯s be more gentle and just castrate him."


    However, she had complete confidence in Qin Longyun; although he might be a bit fierce, there was no need to doubt his heart for Chen Yiling.


    Even if a fairy descended from heaven to Chunhua Court, Lord Qin probably wouldn¡¯t spare her a second glance.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s face turned slightly red, her anger diluted by her shyness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, realizing that a little shyness made the girl forget her anger, she was quite easy to appease.


    After waiting for a while longer and still not seeing Qin Longyun¡¯s figure, Chen Yiling suddenly stood up and kicked the stool away with one foot.


    "There¡¯s not a single good man, for all I know he¡¯s merrily tussling with some spring flower or autumn moon right now!"


    Lord Qin mischievously said, "Madam, you even know about girls named Spring Flower and Autumn Moon."


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes widened, and the next second she threw herself at Qin Longyun, pounding on his chest with her little fists, but her strength was only like tickling.


    Seeing that Lord Qin was still laughing, Chen Yiling¡¯s anger grew fiercer.


    He must have really done the deed, otherwise how could he still be laughing after being hit?


    "You... I want to go home!" Chen Yiling cried out like a child.


    She had always felt that Qin Longyun was different from other men, but now she realized he was just one of those foul men!


    Qin Longyun was stunned; usually, when his wife got angry, all he needed to do was let her vent, but why was it different today?


    Indeed, a woman¡¯s heart is as inscrutable as the needle at the bottom of the sea.


    He hurriedly looked to Qiao Duo¡¯er, hoping that she, being a woman, could help.


    "Big Brother, good luck on your own, we¡¯re heading home first. Lock the door when you leave."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cast a sympathetic glance at Qin Longyun; she almost sprained her eyes blinking, yet Qin Longyun didn¡¯t catch the signal, and now that things had escalated, no one but he could soothe her.


    All she could do was make some space for Lord Qin to do his best.


    Tan Zhenghong asked hesitantly, "Isn¡¯t it wrong for us to just leave like this?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, "Are all good men this clueless?"


    Compared to those, the smooth-talking men have got their sweet nothings down to an art.


    After all, Lord Qin was the main force in dealing with Yin Zheng, a little sacrifice was inevitable.


    Before long, only Lord Qin and his wife were left in the store.


    Qin Longyun frantically wiped away Chen Yiling¡¯s tears and explained, "I just went to have a few drinks, I didn¡¯t let those women get close, believe me, I only want to be with you, I only love you." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The situation was urgent, and he hurriedly rummaged through his mind for sweet words to say.


    But for someone brought up on the Saint¡¯s Book, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t muster many sweet nothings.


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes, "I don¡¯t believe your lies. You were clearly in a mess, no, I want to go home, I¡¯m going to pack my things right now!"


    With that, she strode towards the exit while the wise and valiant Lord Qin followed behind, chasing after her.


    Fortunately, the streets were dark and not crowded at this hour, otherwise Lord Qin¡¯s reputation would have been completely ruined.


    The coachman followed them the whole way, wanting to remind his madam that taking the carriage would mean Lord Qin surely couldn¡¯t catch up. Wasn¡¯t she intentionally giving Lord Qin a chance by doing this?

 Chapter 468 - 471: The Serf Turns Over_1

    Chapter 468: Chapter 471: The Serf Turns Over_1Just as the coachman predicted, his Madam, spoiled and pampered from birth, had only walked a few steps before being pulled back by Qin Longyun.


    Chen Yiling tried to shake him off a few times without success, so she said irritably, "What are you, a plaster? Didn¡¯t I tell you I don¡¯t want to deal with you!"


    Lord Qin¡¯s face turned momentarily ashen. Could he really be compared to a plaster?


    Well... if that was the case, he would be a plaster, and an even stickier one at that.


    With that, he reached out his long arm and trapped Chen Yiling in his embrace.


    Chen Yiling wriggled twice, to no avail.


    "Ling¡¯er, stop making a fuss. I swear to the heavens, if I truly harbored any ill intentions, may I be struck by lightning and not die a peaceful death, okay?" Qin Longyun said earnestly.


    Chen Yiling pushed Qin Longyun¡¯s hand away, annoyed, "Not okay!"


    She detested such inauspicious remarks the most!


    Because even if Qin Longyun really did something, she didn¡¯t want him to die!


    The most she would do... the most was to have Duo¡¯er castrate him, and that would suffice.


    A glint of inspiration flashed in Qin Longyun¡¯s mind: "If I¡¯m lying to you, in my next life I¡¯ll marry Yin Yinyue. That should make you believe me, right?"


    Chen Yiling¡¯s face almost cracked a smile as the corners of her mouth curved upward. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If he¡¯s talking about marrying Yin Yinyue, then he definitely hadn¡¯t done anything amiss. Since he was innocent, she should forgive him.


    But now that she finally had the chance to oppress Lord Qin, how could she let it go so easily?


    So, her expression fell once again, and she wriggled out of Qin Longyun¡¯s embrace.


    "Ling¡¯er, are you not angry anymore?"


    Qin Longyun still didn¡¯t dare relax completely. Typically, if Ling¡¯er smiled, it meant she was no longer angry. But Ling¡¯er was not herself today, and he had no confidence in the situation.


    "Not angry so easily? I want to ride in the carriage; you walk back!" Chen Yiling said haughtily.


    Lord Qin agreed without hesitation; as long as Ling¡¯er wasn¡¯t angry, he was up for anything.


    Sitting inside the carriage, Chen Yiling snickered secretly. She had finally turned the tables on her previous situation and started a life of oppressing Lord Qin!


    At this moment, her sole wish was for such a life to last a bit longer, even longer if possible.


    She was determined to claim back all the times Lord Qin had bullied her, with interest!


    But she didn¡¯t see the sly smile suddenly playing at the corners of Qin Longyun¡¯s mouth. He understood Chen Yiling¡¯s little ruses with just a bit of thought.


    Let it be, he would allow her to dominate for a while. Once he had dealt with Yin Zheng, her good days would come to an end!


    Meanwhile, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Liang Hao did something he had never dared to even think of before.


    After a momentous deed, darkness overcame his vision, and he lost consciousness.


    It wasn¡¯t until the next day, well into Three Poles Day, that he slowly came to.


    He sat up with difficulty, his hands cradling his throbbing head, and upon hearing his groan of pain, Liang Shun hurriedly rushed in.


    "Young master, are you alright? Did the Madam not do anything to you?"


    Last night his young master seemed possessed, dashing about as if his feet were on fiery wheels. By the time he caught up, his young master was already lying on the ground.


    And the Madam was like a wolf with green eyes, eager to tear a piece of flesh from the young master.


    Luckily Yin Zheng came just in time. Taking advantage of the moment he talked, he quickly carried the young master away.


    Liang Hao frowned and said, "No wonder my whole body hurts; I must have encountered a screeching shrew. No, that¡¯s not right. What brought the screeching shrew back?"


    Hadn¡¯t she resolved never to need him, a good-for-nothing, and never to return to the Liang Family?


    Wouldn¡¯t her returning now be like slapping herself in the face?


    Liang Shun, worriedly touching Liang Hao¡¯s forehead, said urgently, "Young master, don¡¯t scare me. Think carefully, you wrote a divorce letter yesterday and personally delivered it to the Yin Family."

 Chapter 469 - 472 Flirty Chat_1

    Chapter 469: Chapter 472 Flirty Chat_1Liang Hao blinked, taking quite a while to digest Liang Shun¡¯s words.


    At the same time, his memory slowly coalesced.


    He had actually guaranteed Lord Qin that he would show off his heroic spirit, and also listed Yin Yinyue¡¯s crimes clearly and thoroughly.


    There were six major sins, namely: childlessness, jealousy, not returning home, disrespecting his parents-in-law, lacking respect for her husband, and being solely profit-oriented.


    What¡¯s most terrifying was that Yin Yinyue, upon seeing the divorce letter, had not killed him; had the sun risen from the west?


    With a wail, Liang Hao said, "It¡¯s over, why didn¡¯t you stop me? Quick, what was the reaction of that she-devil?"


    He suddenly felt the rest of his life was going to be miserable. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liang Shun reported truthfully, "You might have nearly died; when I arrived, I saw you lying on the ground, and it took me a lot of effort to save you."


    Considering his own reward, Liang Shun purposely exaggerated his merit.


    "She actually wanted to kill me, that¡¯s too cruel, such a vicious woman deserves to be divorced!"


    Liang Hao clenched his teeth as he spoke. If she dared to plot against her own husband, what use was there in keeping such a woman around?


    Now that the divorce letter had reached Yin Yinyue¡¯s hands, and it was certain she had seen it, then... why not be done with it once and for all, and quickly marry a normal wife to have children?


    His parents had been worrying about their lineage, and their hair had turned white over these years.


    Thinking this, he hastily put on his shoes and was about to go out.


    He was still wary of Yin Yinyue, but compared to the joy of regaining his freedom, it hardly mattered.


    "Young Master, where are you going?" Liang Shun hurriedly asked.


    Early today, he had told the gatekeeper that no matter who knocked, they could not open the gate. Yet his young master, contrary to expectation, was trying to run outside¡ªwasn¡¯t that courting death?


    "That woman has been divorced, why fear her?" Liang Hao said carelessly.


    At least now he was someone who had a slight private rapport with Lord Qin.


    Liang Shun shrank back a little, "Young Master, I¡¯m not feeling well today, so I won¡¯t go with you."


    Disdainfully, Liang Hao said, "Coward, we are still going to climb over the wall to get out, it¡¯s very safe."


    After so many years, climbing out over the wall and entering through the main gate, wasn¡¯t that just the established norm?


    Liang Shun couldn¡¯t help but think bitterly, would they also have to climb the wall when bringing a new bride home?


    Well, the image is too beautiful...


    Liang Hao had Liang Shun wait at the gate, so as soon as Tan¡¯s Shop opened, he was on their doorstep.


    "Didn¡¯t you promise to deliver the braised meat to my residence?" Liang Hao reproached Qiao Duo¡¯er; he had been full of joy at the time, but little did he anticipate being doused with a bucket of cold water, chilling him to the core.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked in confusion, "Sister Lan, haven¡¯t the last two days¡¯ braised meats been delivered?"


    "Every day it¡¯s been sent, and I¡¯ve kept the accounts," Lan replied.


    Liang Hao had no reply and could only silently eat his words.


    Seeing Liang Hao¡¯s displeasure, Hu¡¯s Clan quickly brought out the account book: "Young Master Liang, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can take a look."


    "No need, you keeping it doesn¡¯t bother me. If you think it¡¯s too little, you can tell me, just as long as this young lady chats with me for a bit," Liang Hao said magnanimously."


    Indifferently, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "I see Madam Liang coming this way, are you sure you still want to chat?"


    Hearing the name Madam Liang, Liang Hao¡¯s legs went weak, but the mockery on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face made him suppress the urge to flee.


    If he ran away now, how could he face Qiao Duo¡¯er in the future?


    Besides, he had already handed over the divorce letter; she was no longer his wife, so what was there to fear?


    Liang Hao had not even realized that he had already taken two steps backward.

 Chapter 470 - 473 I am convinced by you_1

    Chapter 470: Chapter 473 I am convinced by you_1"What are you doing here?" Liang Hao struck first.


    Otherwise, the eyes of the she-demon seemed to stick to him, making his skin crawl.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude made him even more unsettled.


    Wasn¡¯t the meaning of that look in her eyes, "I¡¯m just waiting to watch the fun and see how the she-demon deals with you"?


    He decided to go for broke; he couldn¡¯t let Qiao Duo¡¯er look down on him!


    Yin Yinyue said coldly, "Take him back!"


    Liang Hao swallowed, "I remember I divorced you yesterday, where do you want to take me? Could it be the Yin family is lacking a son-in-law to move in?"


    "Don¡¯t go too far; you should know what I¡¯m capable of. Don¡¯t come to regret it later," Yin Yinyue warned in a low voice.


    She had not slept a wink since she received the divorce letter last night, nor eaten, intent on capturing Liang Hao to settle the score.


    She felt she had been very tolerant. Liang Hao was naturally lustful, and she had endured his fooling around with other women outside, but she would never allow him to bring a messy woman home nor tolerate any illegitimate children.


    Yet Liang Hao was still unsatisfied and even concocted six major charges to divorce her. Wasn¡¯t that seeking death?


    Seeing more and more onlookers, Liang Hao had an idea.


    He alone was no match for Yin Yinyue, but with so many people together, surely they could make her turn tail and flee.


    "Everyone, judge for yourselves. Yin Yinyue has been married to me for over a decade and has always lived with her parents. She wouldn¡¯t even let me take a concubine. Isn¡¯t she deliberately trying to cut off the Liang family line? I am the eldest son of the Liang family. How could we not have a son?"


    "Every time she talks to me, it ends in an argument, and she frequently orders people to beat me up. She never treats me like a husband. Shouldn¡¯t I divorce her?"


    "Look at how fierce she looks; does she even resemble a woman?"


    At this time, many boats were moored at the shore, and the people on the boats disembarked to make purchases.


    They were unaware of the situation in White Stone Town and knew nothing of Yin Yinyue¡¯s standing there; they found it all novel and began to chatter away.


    This way, they would have a topic to talk about when sailing the next day.


    Gossip has always captivated many people in any era.


    Seeing that they were interested, Liang Hao vividly recounted the story.


    With Yin Yinyue¡¯s already wayward behavior being retold through the victim¡¯s mouth, it sounded even more outrageous.


    With his portrayal, Yin Yinyue became a wicked woman who was beyond redemption, and the crowd grew frenzied.


    "This woman is really something else. She ran back to her parents¡¯ home for more than a decade. Wasn¡¯t she just asking to be divorced? She¡¯s like a hen that doesn¡¯t lay eggs." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s good that she was divorced. Bringing that disaster back home would surely disturb the household peace."


    The maid behind Yin Yinyue raised her hand and slapped a person next to her, saying viciously, "A bunch of pests, daring to mock my mistress!"


    This White Stone Town has always been Yin family¡¯s territory. Coming here to cause trouble, isn¡¯t that seeking death?


    "Which mistress is as barbaric as you? I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s a den of bandits in this area; are you perhaps from there?" a person said with a smirk.


    He felt his guess was pretty close.


    Especially that maid, with such low quality, she further lowered her mistress¡¯s status.


    "To me, she seems more like a Camp Lady based on her age. And that maid, at her age, still calling her ¡¯mistress¡¯ again and again, making others think her mistress is eternally eighteen."


    Honestly, it made the listeners¡¯ skin crawl.


    "Of all the people I¡¯ve heard today, you are the only one I agree with."


    ...

 Chapter 471 - 474 Deadly_1

    Chapter 471: Chapter 474 Deadly_1"Do you like her?"


    Yin Yinyue pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er, and it was not hard to notice that her hand was trembling.


    Liang Hao, mustering his courage, nodded. He dared to admit it, but he truly lacked the guts to say it in front of Yin Yinyue.


    "She¡¯s just a village girl who sells braised meat; aren¡¯t you ashamed and embarrassed!"


    Yin Yinyue asked angrily; she simply couldn¡¯t stand the sight of poor people and was even less able to accept the fact that she had lost to a village girl!


    Liang Hao gave a bitter smile; being embarrassed in public was still better than marrying Yin Yinyue¡ªin White Stone Town, even three-year-old children knew he had married a tigress!


    That year, when he and Mudan were in the middle of their affair, Yin Yinyue barged in. He only managed to put on his underwear and was still chased down the street by Yin Yinyue.


    Thinking back on this humiliating affair, he still couldn¡¯t help but feel ashamed.


    There were so many men out there seeking pleasure, but none seemed to have an end as miserable as his.


    Remembering the past, Liang Hao grew bolder: "Don¡¯t always flaunt that you¡¯re a Miss Housekeeper; no matter how powerful your uncle Yin Gang is, it won¡¯t matter. Your father is nothing more than a rankless Master, and I¡¯m not afraid of you!"


    What else could her uncle Yin Gang do besides reaching out for Silver?


    Verbally, it¡¯s said that Yin Zheng has been operating in White Stone Town for years and moving elsewhere to start over wouldn¡¯t make sense.


    But with Yin Gang¡¯s connections, wouldn¡¯t it be simple to get Yin Zheng a position as a County Magistrate?


    It was just that Yin Gang was unwilling to help.


    Because his own status grew higher and higher, the number of people flattering and bribing him increased, and the little Silver Yin Zheng gave him was simply not enough.


    "If Miss Housekeeper¡¯s daughter dares to be so arrogant, then a Princess must think she can sprout wings and fly in the sky, right?"


    "She can only throw her weight around here; once you leave White Stone Town, who would know what she¡¯s worth?"


    "Her father is no good either. Over the years, he has used his office for personal gain, and only after Lord Qin took office did he begin to show restraint. There¡¯s an old saying, ¡¯those who commit too many injustices will bring about their own destruction;¡¯ their end will surely not be good!"


    He had connections in the Government Office; he heard that the County Magistrate was preparing to deal with the Master.


    And whenever Lord Qin acted, he never came back empty-handed.


    "Miss Yin, you better not marry again, sparing one person a disaster is also accumulating merit for yourself."


    Yin Yinyue said with a gloomy face, "You people know nothing and talk nonsense here. Clearly, this woman got married and still can¡¯t settle down, seducing my husband!"


    From the way Liang Hao looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, she knew exactly what was going on.


    What was so good about this Qiao Duo¡¯er? She¡¯s not bewitched at all!


    "Young Master Liang only bought braised meat from me twice, how did I seduce him? Miss Yin, if you don¡¯t have evidence, I¡¯ll have to discuss defamation with you," said Qiao Duo¡¯er coldly.


    In this era, a woman¡¯s reputation mattered more than life itself.


    But Yin Yinyue, in front of such a large crowd, slandered her; she was probably out for her life.


    Just because she knew Liang Hao took an interest in her and then just whetted his appetite. Later on, it was Qin Longyun who persuaded Liang Hao to write the letter of divorce, and it was Qin Longyun who added the frenzy powder to the wine.


    How could Yin Yinyue sentence her to death like this? No matter how you looked at it, she was not the chief culprit.


    But then again, this was the effect they wanted to achieve. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If the Yin father and daughter operated watertight, and if she refused to sell her recipe and shop cheaply, the Yin father and daughter would definitely give up after weighing the options, as the shop was too small and there were many imitations of the recipe; it would not be worth the trouble to make a big deal out of it.


    If the Yin father and daughter were left unpunished, they would certainly continue to encroach on other people¡¯s shops, further controlling the economic lifeline of White Stone Town.


    Because the more the Yin Family controlled the direction of the economy, the more Qin Longyun would dread.

 Chapter 472 - 475 All-inclusive!_1

    Chapter 472: Chapter 475 All-inclusive!_1They just had to wait until Qin Longyun¡¯s three-year term was over, and once a weak and cowardly county magistrate was in charge, White Stone Town would be their playground again.


    Yin Zheng was deep and unfathomable, very difficult to pry open his mouth. The only breakthrough was Yin Yinyue.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and their plan was to use Liang Hao to provoke Yin Yinyue into doing something irrational. As long as they could seize on her mistakes and take the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Yin Family, they were bound to uncover the corruption from the past.


    At this point, everything was completely under their control.


    This was also thanks to Yin Yinyue¡¯s character flaws; she believed that everything that belonged to her was good, and others were always to blame.


    Like this time, it wasn¡¯t Liang Hao¡¯s problem that he wrote the divorce letter; it was that he was lead astray by someone else.


    "Slander? If you weren¡¯t so flirtatious, would my husband gaze at you so affectionately?"


    Tan Zhenghong shielded Qiao Duo¡¯er behind him, "If you continue to slander my wife, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!"


    He didn¡¯t easily hit women, but it didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t.


    "She¡¯ll only be your wife if you can control her, otherwise, she is bound to become someone else¡¯s!" Yin Yinyue said in a jeering tone.


    She also glanced at Liang Hao, her eyes filled with warning.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s forehead bulged with veins, and if it hadn¡¯t been for Qiao Duo¡¯er stopping him in time, his big fist would have smashed into Yin Yinyue¡¯s face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, "Do you think your man is so desirable that everyone is vying for him?"


    Now, Liang Hao was no longer timid and fearful. He had the divorce letter and the vocal support of many people, which gave him an instant surge of confidence.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er had finished her mocking, Liang Hao hurriedly bowed, "I¡¯ve already written my divorce letter, and she¡¯s accepted it. I beg you all not to call me her man anymore."


    Since marrying Yin Yinyue, his life had turned into a nightmare.


    He would rather die than go through it all again.


    Yin Yinyue bit her lip, overwhelmed with shame and anger, wishing she could immediately find a hole to crawl into.


    Ever since she received that divorce letter, she was no longer the proud Miss Yin, but a disgraced divorced woman!


    "Whether our business is legitimate, you¡¯ll know once you taste our braised meat!"


    At the right moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er inserted an advertisement¡ªsuch an audience was rarely gathered here.


    Madame Hu caught on and quickly cut a plate of braised meat and brought it out.


    They had adjusted the recipe for the braised meat once, and the flavor was even more enticing.


    Those who tried it mostly gave thumbs up, and many began to inquire about the price.


    Yin Yinyue felt like steam was about to erupt from the top of her head. She had lost face and unwittingly drawn a large crowd of customers for Qiao Duo¡¯er. Wasn¡¯t she just asking for trouble?


    Grinding her teeth, she said, "You all just wait!"


    She would make sure that they all ended up with nowhere to be buried!


    Trust her, she could do it! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was not easy to send Yin Yinyue away, but only after she was gone did Liang Hao heave a sigh of relief. Huh... his legs suddenly felt a bit weak.


    When he recovered, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others were busily selling the braised meat.


    Liang Hao blinked hard; why was he under the illusion that Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were a perfect match?


    Standing together, they felt so comfortable and peaceful.


    Liang Hao spit on the ground twice, asserting that Qiao Duo¡¯er and he were the perfect match.


    How could Tan Zhenghong, the country bumpkin, be worthy of Qiao Duo¡¯er, a fairy descended to earth?


    "Don¡¯t queue up anymore, I¡¯m buying all the braised dishes today." Liang Hao slapped a silver ingot onto the counter.


    The ten taels in the ingot should be enough to cover what Tan Zhenghong could earn in a year, right? So, in this game of pursuing a woman, he was destined to be the winner.


    "We¡¯ve been queuing up for half a day, and now we won¡¯t get anything because of you?"

 Chapter 473 - 476 Poisoned_1

    Chapter 473: Chapter 476 Poisoned_1"If you keep being so unscrupulous, be careful that woman from earlier comes back to find you!"


    "An eye for an eye, we shouldn¡¯t have wasted words earlier."


    Many people were feeling a little annoyed.


    They tolerated Liang Hao not queuing, but now he wanted to buy up all the pickled vegetables, wasn¡¯t he intentionally preventing others from buying?


    Liang Hao snorted lightly, "First bring out as much silver as I have, then talk to me."


    He was spending money to buy things, wasn¡¯t that perfectly justified?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed the silver aside, "Young Master Liang, please go to the back of the line."


    Liang Hao said with indifference, "You should realize, I¡¯m buying so much because I pity you."


    Damn woman, she really doesn¡¯t appreciate what¡¯s good for her!


    "No need." Qiao Duo¡¯er refused without hesitation.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke evenly and firmly, "We will earn money with our own hands, we don¡¯t need Young Master Liang¡¯s charity and sympathy."


    "No matter how you explain it, you can¡¯t hide the fact that you¡¯re poor, you can¡¯t even provide for a woman, and you need a woman to earn money for the household in public!" Liang Hao rolled his eyes at him.


    Tan Zhenghong stood up straight, "Without the Liang Family, what will you use to support a woman?"


    "I am the legitimate eldest grandson of the Liang Family, why would I leave the Liang Family?"


    Liang Hao looked innocently, his birthright was his biggest advantage, why would he reject this benefit?


    The Liang Family¡¯s silver was enough to support Qiao Duo for several lifetimes, did he need to worry about this?


    Qiao Duo spoke calmly, "So Young Master Liang is just a baby relying on his parents."


    Many people looked at Liang Hao, seeing that the boss had called him a baby, they all laughed out loud.


    Such a big baby indeed!


    "My husband is not as lucky as you, he doesn¡¯t have your family background, but he is hardworking and ambitious. With him, I can believe that our life will only get better and better, but you? Even if you have gold and silver mountains, your fortune will only decrease over time, until one day it is all gone!"


    Qiao Duo spoke forcefully, each word resonating with conviction.


    "Well said!"


    "Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, you may look wealthy now, but who knows what it will be like in the future!"


    The customers applauded in agreement.


    Qiao Duo gave Liang Hao a glance, her eyes full of contempt.


    A man in his thirties, idling his life away and still proud of it¡ªwhere did he get his confidence from?


    If only he had been a bit more assertive over the years, he wouldn¡¯t have become the laughingstock of White Stone Town.


    Liang Hao growled, "I¡¯m giving you face by being interested in you, don¡¯t be ungrateful!"


    Before he finished speaking, a gleaming pill flew from Qiao Duo¡¯s fingertip, landing steadily in his mouth.


    The pill dissolved as soon as it hit saliva, and by the time he thought to spit it out, it was too late.


    Her instincts told her it wasn¡¯t anything good.


    "What did you make me eat?"


    As soon as he opened his mouth, Liang Hao was taken aback, his voice had become so grating! It sounded like a steel knife scraping ceramic.


    "You were being too noisy, I just had to shut you up for a while," Qiao Duo said indifferently.


    Liang Hao tried to speak but found he couldn¡¯t make any sound.


    So was that his last voice?


    Liang Hao reached out to grab Qiao Duo, but Tan Zhenghong reminded him with a cold voice, "If you don¡¯t want to die from the poison, you¡¯d better behave."


    Liang Hao¡¯s movement abruptly stopped, his life was in someone else¡¯s hands, what could he do?


    He could only obediently listen, at the mercy of others.


    "Don¡¯t want to die?" Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow.


    Liang Hao hurriedly nodded, he had barely escaped Yin Yinyue¡¯s clutches, how could he just die now?


    Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 474 - 477 Sharpening the Knife - Part 1

    Chapter 474: Chapter 477 Sharpening the Knife - Part 1There was still a wonderful life awaiting him to enjoy!


    Liang Hao looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er pleadingly, hoping she would spare him this time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her chin. The round sensation made her pause for a moment¡ªwhen had she gotten so plump? She remembered that her chin used to be sharp, with not a bit of fat on it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, casting aside thoughts of her figure; there were more pressing matters at hand.


    "You like me?" she asked.


    Liang Hao was about to nod, but after seeing the expression on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, he didn¡¯t hesitate to shake his head. In his eyes, one needed to be alive to talk about love.


    And what he felt for Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t love, at most it was the astonishment he felt upon their first meeting.


    He admitted that Qiao Duo¡¯er was very beautiful and had a great temperament, but she wasn¡¯t the only beauty in this world.


    Why would he hang himself on a single tree?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, quite satisfied with his answer.


    "Then remember, don¡¯t show your face around me in the future. I¡¯m no ordinary person¡ªthe Medicine King¡¯s two proud disciples are my sworn brothers. As long as I see you, as long as I wish you dead, you won¡¯t even have a chance to fight back," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, lowering her voice to make it sound more menacing.


    Medicine King Valley was famous for its medical and poisonous expertise, producing many talents, and it was a force to be reckoned with in the martial arts world. Liang Hao quivered at the thought.


    How had he forgotten that Bai Yifan was the Medicine King¡¯s last disciple?


    Impatient, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Stop quivering. Did you understand what I said?"


    Liang Hao nodded as vigorously as if he were pounding garlic. If he could do it over, he would steer clear of Qiao Duo¡¯er the moment he saw her.


    Tan Zhenghong scoffed lightly, "You, a coward, drink a cup of salt water morning and night, and you will be fine in three days."


    As for those three days, they would serve as a lesson for Liang Hao.


    With a gloomy expression, Liang Hao left dejectedly with Liang Shun. They had walked quite a distance when he felt he could still hear others cheering.


    Liang Shun sneaked a glance at Liang Hao and said, "Young Master, I told you not to mess with that woman. Now you¡¯re in a sorry state. Drinking salt water gives you diarrhea, and you have to do it for three days."


    Liang Hao suddenly remembered he indeed had this problem. Wouldn¡¯t this ordeal cost him half his life?


    But if he didn¡¯t drink it, his voice wouldn¡¯t recover. He couldn¡¯t be mute for the rest of his life, could he?


    Oh, how bitter his fate was!


    He had barely escaped the tiger¡¯s den only to almost fall into the wolf¡¯s lair. Was he destined to clash with women in his life?


    Regardless, he had to steer clear of Qiao Duo¡¯er in the future.


    Otherwise, she could poison him over a small disagreement, and she had already threatened to poison him to death next time. If he wasn¡¯t careful, he would eventually die at her hand.


    Passing by a medicine shop, Liang Hao pointed inside, and Liang Shun immediately understood, entering to fetch a few herbal remedies for diarrhea.


    After sending Liang Hao on his way, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The net was now cast, and it was just a matter of waiting for the big fish to get caught.


    After the incident with Liang Hao, the business at Tan¡¯s Shop became even more booming.


    For her spirit of not flattering or pandering, they wanted to show extra support. If honest people were starved to death, the world would be left with only villains.


    This was also a form of resistance against the Yin Family. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From that day on, Qiao Duo¡¯er braced herself, waiting for Yin Yinyue¡¯s grand move.


    But three days passed in a blink and Qiao Duo¡¯er had not been guarding the braised meat shop, yet nothing unexpected happened.


    This made Qiao Duo¡¯er begin to doubt whether their plan had failed.


    Please don¡¯t tell her that after all their roundabout efforts and busyness, it was all just a futile bustle.


    That... would truly be a big joke.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit restless. She decided to put down her needlework and took a dagger to sit by the well, sharpening it.

 Chapter 475 - 478: Gained Some Weight_1

    Chapter 475: Chapter 478: Gained Some Weight_1With a knife in her hand, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt at ease.


    She wasn¡¯t living a life on the edge anymore, but in any era, strength was the ultimate truth.


    She couldn¡¯t outwit Yin Zheng with her schemes, but she could certainly kill him in secret.


    Considering it was a friend¡¯s favor, she¡¯d accept two shops as a reward after the deed¡ªthat was probably the cheapest her professional services had ever been.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was so engrossed in sharpening that she didn¡¯t notice time slipping away.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er like that, Tan Zhenghong felt a bit stifled inside.


    He was afraid of seeing her with a knife, for he feared she might miss her old life, and he feared he couldn¡¯t keep her.


    In Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart, there always lived a hero who was clear about love and hate.


    No matter, at worst he would roam the ends of the earth with her, fighting evil and promoting good.


    "Wife, when it gets cold, you¡¯re not allowed to touch cold water," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong took out a handkerchief from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s embrace and wiped her hands clean, then held them in his to warm them up.


    Winter was almost here, and she still had her hands in cold water¡ªwasn¡¯t that intentionally being harsh on her health?


    Besides, it was just a worthless dagger; what was the point of sharpening it now?


    With him around, Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t even think about running up to the mountains in winter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Touching cold water for a moment is fine, I¡¯m not that fragile!"


    Nowadays she insisted on practicing her punches daily, and when she felt like it, she would even spar with Tan Zhenghong, not to mention she was continually nourishing her body¡ªher health was almost fully restored.


    She had already decided to have a little treasure after spring; otherwise, the house felt boring with just her and Tan Zhenghong.


    "I wish you were fragile, then you would obediently listen to me," Tan Zhenghong said helplessly. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His wife was capable, had great ideas, and also had exceptional skills. Most of the time, he could only indulge her childishness.


    Pouting her lips, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Do you like obedient women?"


    "Not really. I¡¯m just afraid you¡¯ll catch a cold, and then suffer from stomachache when your period comes," he promptly clarified his stance.


    Ever since Qin Longyun¡¯s visit to Chunhua Building, he realized that women liked setting traps for men, and if men accidentally fell into them, they would suffer later.


    Look at the wise and mighty Lord Qin, now being bossed around by Chen Yiling.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong on the head, "Smart of you."


    "Of course!" Tan Zhenghong was not the least bit modest, "What do you want to eat tonight? I¡¯ll go cook it for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment and then said, "I¡¯ll make you something new today."


    The "new" thing she was talking about was fried noodles. She boiled the noodles in water until they were cooked, drained them, then started a new pot. First, she stir-fried shrimp and meat until they changed color, added mushrooms and bok choy to the mix, and finally seasoned the dish with some sauce before serving it.


    Hand-rolled noodles turned into fried noodles might not look very appealing, but they tasted excellent.


    The two of them ate from a large plate, and before long it was all gone.


    "I don¡¯t think I¡¯m full," said Tan Zhenghong as he awkwardly rubbed his stomach.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered her own concerns about gaining weight and immediately felt melancholic.


    She was happy her health was improving, but she was afraid she wouldn¡¯t control her figure and turn into a ball; then the bed might collapse during their physical activities.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Have you noticed we¡¯re both getting fatter?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er and then pinched his own arm, "Indeed, we¡¯ve put on quite a bit of flesh."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face instantly fell. She had actually been quite content with her previous weight.

 Chapter 476 - 479 Nice touch_1

    Chapter 476: Chapter 479 Nice touch_1"Wife, you¡¯ve gained weight where you should, and where you shouldn¡¯t have, it hasn¡¯t increased; your figure is just right now." Tan Zhenghong eyed Qiao Duo¡¯er with a lascivious look.


    Curvaceous and stylish!


    No wonder he thought of those shameful things whenever he had some free time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "Yeah right, like I¡¯d believe you."


    "I¡¯m serious, you don¡¯t believe me, go look in the mirror; you¡¯ve become so pretty now."


    In the past, they were both like parentless, love-starved children, thin as two monkeys; now that they had fleshed out a bit, they finally looked normal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately ran into the room to look in the mirror; as a woman, she inevitably cared about her appearance.


    The mirror reflected the image of a petite woman, with skin fair and tender, and chubby cheeks that invited a pinch.


    Right... She was like a freshly watered young scallion now.


    Looking at Tan Zhenghong again, he had become even more gentle, more like a warm man.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er flashed a grin, couldn¡¯t help but touch his pectoral muscles, even deliberately giving them a few playful pinches.


    The tactile sensation was great; she could feel the firmness even through his clothes.


    Tan Zhenghong said weakly, "Duo¡¯er, I look even better with a bit more weight, why don¡¯t you make me another dish of stir-fried noodles? Once I¡¯m full, I might even look more handsome."


    For his vanity, Qiao Duo¡¯er awarded him three words, no problem!


    Her plan was to fatten Tan Zhenghong up, because come winter, she¡¯d find out if the pillow wasn¡¯t soft enough, and that would be such a hassle.


    Soon, laughter and playful sounds echoed from the kitchen.


    The reason was, Qiao Duo¡¯er had made a sneak attack on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest; how could he let her off easily?


    By the time the stir-fried noodles were done, their playful scuffling finally came to a halt¡ªhow could they continue without being full?


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong snuggled in bed with their books.


    After reading for a while, she became lost in thought.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think about Yin Yinyue¡¯s little debacle; she felt Yin Yinyue wouldn¡¯t let things go easily.


    But why had there been no movement these past few days?


    "Wife, stop worrying, Yin Yinyue wouldn¡¯t start something big without good preparation, and besides, we¡¯ve done our best. If Yin Yinyue doesn¡¯t fall for it, let Lord Qin figure it out."


    Tan Zhenghong offered some reassurance.


    Lord Qin was the official charged with these matters; if they took care of what he should be handling, wouldn¡¯t it make Lord Qin seem ineffective?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "I know, I was just thinking about the shop."


    She had no interest in the concerns of the people; all she knew was that once Yin Zheng was punished according to the law, she would have her own shop.


    With a shop, she could open Duo Meifang.


    "It¡¯s not just White Stone Town where you can open a shop; come spring, we¡¯ll go to Mansion City. Right around that time, we¡¯ll also have musk, which is more valuable than gold. Maybe we can buy an even bigger shop than Xiang Bao Zhai, and then you¡¯ll be the envied boss!"


    Tan Zhenghong painted a beautiful picture for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The worst-case scenario was Yin Zheng ruining White Stone Town to the point of unbearable pollution, and they would leave to find another spacious and free place.


    After hearing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s comforting words, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit better.


    She turned to another page, but today she just couldn¡¯t get interested in the words.


    "If you¡¯re preoccupied, don¡¯t read." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind went blank for a moment, unable to grasp the meaning, "Huh?"


    Tan Zhenghong said mischievously, "I mean, let¡¯s go to sleep earlier; soon you¡¯ll forget all those troubles."


    Of course, there was something pleasant to do for the body and mind before sleeping.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t remember Yin Zheng and his daughter. She even forgot what evening it was...

 Chapter 477 - 480 A Silly Donkey_1

    Chapter 477: Chapter 480 A Silly Donkey_1Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up feeling much more relaxed.


    That¡¯s right, she was no longer an ace agent, she didn¡¯t have to carry responsibilities and missions, she was just an ordinary person wanting to live a good, simple life.


    She even had a very melodramatic thought, as long as Tan Zhenghong was there, everything was alright.


    Which is to say, the more time she spent with Tan Zhenghong, the more her fierceness was worn away.


    Sigh, even she disdained herself for that.


    But what could she do? Her heart enjoyed this kind of life.


    However, with this mindset, their life completely returned to normal.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the start of winter, signaling that winter had arrived.


    Early that day, Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried the stupid donkey to grind the medicine powder.


    But that day the donkey was in a mood, looking at Fat Fat and Fatty playing around, it just refused to work properly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patiently shooed away Fat Fat and Fatty, but the donkey kept stopping and turning its head, looking at something or other.


    "Daring to be lazy now!" Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at it.


    After winter began, the peasant families entered a time of rest and seldom worked in the fields, but who would have thought a donkey would also become so particular.


    She had treated this donkey quite well, seeing it was not even a year old, she only let it grind medicine powder, normally once every three days for no more than four hours each time.


    The most important part was that the medicine powder needed to be ground finely, so the grinding plate wasn¡¯t large and didn¡¯t require much effort.


    Yet it still didn¡¯t want to work earnestly!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pretended to smack its butt twice, but the donkey had such thick skin that it made her palms hurt.


    She spread out her hand and saw it was red; the stupid donkey still had an innocent face, seemingly not understanding what had happened.


    Alright, Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted that the force she had used just now was probably not even enough to tickle it.


    "Why are you getting angry with a donkey? Did your hand get hurt?"


    Tan Zhenghong tenderly took Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand and rubbed it for her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed and pulled her hand back, "I¡¯m fine." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The act of hitting the donkey seemed a bit foolish, especially since Tan Zhenghong had seen her do it.


    With a low chuckle, Tan Zhenghong said, "If you don¡¯t like it, we can just throw it away and buy a new one."


    The little dumb donkey blinked its cute, silly eyes and even let out two cries, seeking some attention.


    Tan Zhenghong glared at it, "If you annoy my wife again, I¡¯ll slaughter you!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took off the mill harness and said helplessly, "Fine, you¡¯re off the hook for today, go out and play!"


    Who could resist when it looked so adorable?


    Besides, the facial mask powder business was not too hot or cold, selling just three to five boxes a day, so there was no rush at this moment.


    Sigh, in the end, it was still the lack of a storefront that caused this trouble.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong lead the donkey out, Fat Fat and Fatty also came over.


    In her past life, she always wanted to have a pet for companionship, but due to her special identity, she could only dream about it.


    Perhaps to compensate for the regrets of her past life, she now enjoyed keeping those little things at home.


    Her backyard now also housed some wild chickens, wild rabbits, wild ducks, and bamboo rats, and it seemed likely that the number would continue to grow.


    She suddenly felt as if she had the d¨¦j¨¤ vu of being a zoo director.


    After settling the donkey in the stable, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in charge of feeding while Tan Zhenghong took care of the various shoveling tasks.


    Probably only Tan Zhenghong in this world would indulge her so, never stopping her from doing whatever she wanted.


    After tidying up the backyard, Qiao Duo¡¯er dived into the kitchen; there was a tradition of eating dumplings during Winter Solstice, and since she was here, she joined in the fun.

 Chapter 478 - 481: Refusing a Big Deal_1

    Chapter 478: Chapter 481: Refusing a Big Deal_1She prepared two kinds of fillings, scallion pork stuffing and cabbage pork stuffing, both of which were her favorites.


    Ever since Qiao Duo¡¯er came here, food had hardly ever been short, but dumplings had a kind of magical power that made people feel happy.


    As noon approached, Big Sister hurriedly ran over. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ve made a business deal, hurry inside and let me tell you about it!" Big Sister said, her face flushed, pulling Qiao Duo¡¯er out as she spoke.


    She also stole a glance at Tan Zhenghong, implying she didn¡¯t want him to know.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was puzzled, yet still let Big Sister drag her into the main room.


    Big Sister may seem carefree, but she was never one to act recklessly.


    Once they settled inside, Big Sister drank several cups of tea in succession.


    She had just returned from town, and had rushed here without even taking a moment to catch her breath.


    This time, Big Sister restrained her booming voice, speaking in a soft and gentle tone, "The Devout Granny from the Hundred Flowers Building came to me."


    The Hundred Flowers Building was a rising star on the Red-Light District, and the Devout Granny wanted to discuss a big business deal with Big Sister.


    The girls there often suffered from blood deficiency, which easily led to blotches on their faces, severely affecting the mood of the customers. The Devout Granny was considering preparing face mask powder for the girls.


    But the price for a box of face mask powder was too expensive, so she wanted to talk to Qiao Duo¡¯er about it.


    Big Sister thought this was a good opportunity to make some money, but she did not dare to decide on her own, so she rushed back in a hurry.


    After careful consideration, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Don¡¯t take this business deal."


    Clearly, this answer surprised Big Sister; she had expected there would be a dispute over the price, but she never imagined Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t even leave room for negotiation.


    "But the Devout Granny wants more than a hundred boxes, which is almost equal to our sales for a month."


    Hua Building might not be reputable, but its ability to rake in money was top-notch, especially the Devout Granny, who was never short of silver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated emphatically, "Big Sister, if someone asked you to wear the clothes of a Flower Lady, would you be willing to do that?"


    Big Sister shook her head without hesitation, "I certainly would not wear them; I¡¯m not that kind of dirty woman."


    "Exactly, in the future, our face mask powder is still going to be sold to noble persons¡¯ madams and ladies. If our face mask powder gets labeled as exclusive to Hua Building, it will be regarded as lower grade."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly, now relying on the face mask powder to bring in a hundred taels of silver a month, she felt it was quite satisfactory.


    Big Sister understood the reasoning but still couldn¡¯t let go of the glossy silver.


    For the first time, she felt a deep sense of regret.


    "Does that mean we¡¯ll never sell our face mask powder to those people?"


    "Of course, that¡¯s not what I mean; just don¡¯t supply in large quantities. When we have a store and divide the products into different grades, then we can cater to all kinds of customers. Oh, and don¡¯t get in touch with the Devout Granny in the future, we really can¡¯t afford to ruin our reputation."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er added a last piece of advice.


    Gossip could be incredibly damaging,


    Big Sister nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, my aunt has always been with me; I know my limits."


    Seeing that Big Sister wasn¡¯t alone, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt somewhat relieved.


    "It would be great if we could have our own store soon," Big Sister said, resting her chin in her hand, feeling a slight gloom.


    Just relying on herself and Yang Ruoruo, they could only attract a small portion of potential customers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "Don¡¯t rush things, what¡¯s meant to come will always find its way."


    Big Sister nodded, "I understand, let nature take its course, right? Sister Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m heading home now, I¡¯ll have my aunt turn down the Devout Granny this afternoon."


    Now she was spending almost all day in town and genuinely missed her family¡ªshe practically ran all the way home.

 Chapter 479 - 482: Is there anything else?_1

    Chapter 479: Chapter 482: Is there anything else?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er thought of Sun Erhu busily tidying up the house and decided to pack some dumplings and braised pork in a food box to send over.


    A few days had not passed, and Erhu¡¯s House had already undergone earth-shattering changes.


    The courtyard of Sun Erhu¡¯s was left to him by his parents, and he had originally wanted to fix it up before marrying Chao Lian.


    But with many areas in disrepair, Sun Erhu simply tore down the house and rebuilt it.


    He was building a brick house, which would be ready for roofing in another three to five days.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew Sun Erhu wanted Chao Lian to marry into a splendid home, to give Chao Lian the best life possible.


    Yet with such a project, he feared they would have a difficult life in the days to come.


    Chao Lian was not born to the Jiang¡¯s Clan and had once set a rift between Jiang¡¯s Clan and Lin Jinshun, how could Jiang¡¯s Clan remain peaceful?


    Today being winter, the people helping with the house construction were resting, and Sun Erhu was doing some miscellaneous work in the backyard.


    "Erhu, come and eat first," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    It was only then that Sun Erhu realized it was almost noon, and his stomach had begun to protest; he immediately washed his hands and went to eat.


    "Sister-in-law, you are always the nicest to me. By the way, I¡¯ve already asked Uncle Huang to pick an auspicious day. He checked for both the beam-raising and the marriage proposal together. I¡¯ll come and invite you and Brother Hong later!"


    Sun Erhu said with great enthusiasm.


    Now that he had a house and enough silver saved up to buy land, as well as a wife to marry, his life was finally complete!


    From now on, he would no longer be alone during festivals; his wife would prepare a big table of delicious food for him.


    "No problem!" Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed without hesitation.


    Suddenly, the courtyard door was pushed open, and Jiang¡¯s Clan walked in unabashedly.


    With her nonchalant demeanor, anyone unaware would have thought she was the mistress of the house.


    "You from The Fourth Boss¡¯s House are here too. Oh Erhu, you¡¯re already eating? I was about to call you over to my place for a meal."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan casually took a seat on a stool, her face showing not the slightest hint of embarrassment.


    Calling someone over for a meal at mealtime was a clear sign of not wanting the person to come, which was a very dislikeable behavior among the village folk.


    Sun Erhu apologized, "I¡¯ve already eaten today. I¡¯m sorry for making you take the trip in vain."


    "An old saying goes that brothers are like limbs, and it couldn¡¯t be more true."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan insinuated in a sarcastic tone, implying that Sun Erhu valued Tan Zhenghong more.


    Sun Erhu felt displeased. He had been brothers with Zheng Hong for so many years, and his sister-in-law had always taken good care of him.


    And Chao Lian was the love of his life, the one to spend the rest of his days with.


    The significance was different. Why did there have to be a competition?


    Despite his annoyance, Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s status meant he had to speak politely, "Aunt Lin, is there something you need?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan curled the corners of her lips, "Nothing, but you¡¯re about to get married, and you should be more mindful of your reputation, to avoid wronging my Chao Lian." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The rumors of Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu having an affair had been known by everyone in Big Willow Village, and yet they were now not avoiding suspicion.


    It was one thing to be in the same courtyard, but with the door shut, who knew what they were doing?


    Sun Erhu said sternly, "When my Brother Hong was injured, some took the opportunity to insult my sister-in-law, but now that my Brother Hong has fully recovered, if anyone talks nonsense again, my Brother Hong definitely won¡¯t ignore it."


    Given Brother Hong¡¯s protective nature, a beating would be the least of worries.


    "Make yourself clear. What do you mean?"


    Qiao Duo asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "I was just speaking off the cuff. If you don¡¯t like it, forget it. Erhu, Chao Lian said she wanted to eat meat. I didn¡¯t buy any today, so don¡¯t eat yours. I¡¯ll take it back for Chao Lian."

 Chapter 480 - 483: You go rob_1

    Chapter 480: Chapter 483: You go rob_1Having said that, Jiang¡¯s Clan went to pick up the bowl.


    Her target was not only the braised pork, but she also didn¡¯t spare the dumplings that Erhu had touched with his chopsticks.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth gaped open; she only wanted to say that there really were such shameless people in the world!


    Sun Erhu was even more embarrassed since the bowl was from his Brother Hong¡¯s house!


    What did she mean by taking everything away?


    Besides, was Jiang¡¯s Clan really getting the food for Chao Lian?


    "Hold on," Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped Jiang¡¯s path.


    With a sullen face, Jiang¡¯s Clan said, "What¡¯s it to you if I ask my son-in-law for some food to eat?"


    "This is food from my house; how is it not my business? Of course, Chao Lian helped me before, and it¡¯s fine to send her food, but you¡¯re not the one to be taking it back."


    As she spoke, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the bowl back from Jiang¡¯s hand¡ªshe¡¯d get a thank you from Chao Lian if she delivered it herself.


    At the Lin Family¡¯s house, Chao Lian was in her room embroidering her dowry when Qiao Duo¡¯er went directly to find her.


    In just a few days, Chao Lian had lost weight significantly.


    The flesh she had put on while working at the Tan Family had completely vanished.


    There was no need to guess that it must be Jiang¡¯s Clan using the excuse of the bridal couple not seeing each other before marriage to confine Chao Lian at home, making her work and not feeding her enough.


    Hmph, it was a good thing she had just stopped Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    She definitely didn¡¯t want the food from her home to end up in the stomach of someone as heartless as Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    "Chao Lian, eat up," Qiao Duo¡¯er put the bowl and chopsticks in front of Chao Lian.


    That dumpling had been eaten by Sun Erhu, but Chao Lian probably wouldn¡¯t mind, right?


    Chao Lian quickly said, "Sister Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ve made lunch, and when my dad comes back, we can eat. Please take this to Erhu, he¡¯s alone and surely just making do with something simple."


    "It¡¯s for you; eat up. Erhu will come to my house to eat later; I won¡¯t let him go hungry," insisted Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude was extremely firm, so Chao Lian obediently picked up the chopsticks.


    She was a child who had grown accustomed to oppression, following the lead of whoever was more assertive.


    Chao Lian had just picked up a dumpling but quickly put it down again, "Sister Duo¡¯er, this is too much; you eat with me. I¡¯ll get another pair of chopsticks."


    "Eat more, men like women with more meat on them."


    That one that Erhu had eaten, she wouldn¡¯t touch it.


    Chao Lian noticed Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze falling on a certain part of her body and immediately felt so shy that she couldn¡¯t speak, hastily eating her meal instead.


    Since she grew up never having enough to eat or proper clothes to wear, that part of her body hadn¡¯t developed well, with only two small protrusions showing. Would Sun Erhu despise her for it later?


    While doing laundry by the river, she had overheard people say that a wife with larger breasts was desirable to men.


    Well... she might as well eat up now.


    And after this meal, she didn¡¯t know where the next one would come from.


    Outside the house, Jiang¡¯s was so furious she wanted to scratch the walls.


    She had wanted to take the dumplings and meat back for her own son, but she didn¡¯t expect them all to end up in that little wretch¡¯s mouth in the end.


    "Mom, I want dumplings, make her stop eating!" Lin Xiaobao tugged at Jiang¡¯s clothes, determined not to give up until he got some.


    Jiang¡¯s scolded irritably, "You useless thing, if you want to eat, why don¡¯t you ask for them yourself?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don¡¯t care, you bring them to me!" Lin Xiaobao sat down on the ground and wailed with his mouth wide open.


    Jiang¡¯s was already annoyed and became even more exasperated by her son¡¯s nagging, so she gave Lin Xiaobao a couple slaps.


    Hearing her brother¡¯s crying, Chao Lian felt a bit of heartache; after all, he was her brother.


    Chao Lian weakly said, "Sister Duo¡¯er, should I send some to my brother?"


    "His own mother is willing to beat him; why do you care so much? They won¡¯t thank you anyway," Qiao Duo¡¯er held Chao Lian back.

 Chapter 481 - 484: Indirect Kissing_1

    Chapter 481: Chapter 484: Indirect Kissing_1Some people are ungrateful wolves that can never be domesticated, just like Qiao Jingu.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for selling Silly Sister, he might have kicked the bucket. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Qiao Jingu felt that it was all deserved, and even mocked Silly Sister because she only brought in One or Two Silver.


    The two sons of the Lin Family weren¡¯t that excessive, but they were showing signs of heading in that direction.


    Chao Lian wanted to say more, but after receiving a glare sharp as a knife, she swallowed all her words and continued to eat with her head down.


    Her submissive demeanor gave Duo¡¯er a headache¡ªhow could there be such an obedient girl?


    Chao Lian still didn¡¯t understand that others could only help her temporarily, and that she needed to become strong herself in the future, or else she would continue to be bullied.


    Furthermore, the ones bullying her wouldn¡¯t feel sympathy for her, let alone gratitude; they would just think she was a fool.


    But Chao Lian was too far gone, some things are better said to Erhu instead.


    Chao Lian was stuffed, yet she still obediently finished everything.


    Leaning close to Chao Lian¡¯s ear, Duo¡¯er whispered, "Erhu has just had a few dumplings, and I didn¡¯t even manage to change the chopsticks. You won¡¯t blame me, will you?"


    Engaged couples will inevitably be affectionate, so consider this as getting used to it early, otherwise won¡¯t it be more awkward on the wedding night?


    Chao Lian¡¯s face turned red at once, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.


    Now that she¡¯d eaten, it would be wasteful to throw it up, but not doing so left her face burning with shame.


    Duo¡¯er found Chao Lian¡¯s reaction amusing, but considering the girl¡¯s thin skin, she tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and went outside.


    She also considerately closed the door behind her, leaving Chao Lian to slowly savor the moment.


    In the courtyard, Madam Jiang couldn¡¯t help but berate Lin Jinshun, "Look at which family¡¯s daughter is like Chao Lian, eating good things behind closed doors. It¡¯s better to marry her off soon; otherwise, she will be the death of me sooner or later."


    Just now, Little Treasure cried his heart out, and not a single person showed any concern. What kind of people are these?


    "What¡¯s with all the nonsense? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed by yourself?"


    Lin Jinshun looked at her with disgust, feeling like he had swallowed a fly whenever he saw Madam Jiang now.


    She had brought shame all the way to her future son-in-law¡¯s family, yet this foolish woman still thought she was remarkable.


    Did her brain grow in crooked?


    With a sneer, Madam Jiang retorted, "I¡¯m the embarrassment? A big man like you who can¡¯t support his family¡ªthat¡¯s the real embarrassment! You expect a dowry when marrying off your daughter as if we have so much wealth. I¡¯ll tell you, from now on it¡¯s one meal a day. When you scrape together the Silver, that¡¯s when you eat twice!"


    "Mom, I¡¯ll starve if I only eat one meal!"


    Little Treasure wiped away tears, getting mud on his face and instantly looking like a calico cat.


    His dirty appearance didn¡¯t elicit sympathy; instead, it was off-putting.


    "What¡¯s the use of crying to me? Go find your father or your sister, because I don¡¯t have One Wen Money left!" Madam Jiang stood with one hand on her hip and jabbed Little Treasure¡¯s head with the other.


    Da Bao sniffled, "Stop fussing, we can eat less. We¡¯ll soon save up the Silver."


    "I won¡¯t, I want to eat!"


    Little Treasure cried out with a raised voice and finally lay on the ground, throwing a tantrum.


    The family of four staged a melodramatic play, but sadly, the audience was unmoved.


    Because the Lin Family¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t see any sorrow, only the anger of not having taken advantage.


    And their greed was precisely what Duo¡¯er detested most.


    Duo¡¯er coldly warned, "It won¡¯t be long before Chao Lian walks out that door. If she has a bruise or she¡¯s so skinny that only bones are left, think about how you¡¯ll explain it to the village chief¡ªor provoke something you shouldn¡¯t, Liu Village won¡¯t be able to accommodate you."

 Chapter 482 - 485: Never Empty-Handed_1

    Chapter 482: Chapter 485: Never Empty-Handed_1Speaking of Chao Lian¡¯s birth mother, Lin Jinshun¡¯s legs couldn¡¯t help but tremble uncontrollably.


    Even now, he would have nightmares where Chao Lian Niang would come to find him, saying that he never took good care of Chao Lian and wanted to punish her, followed by a pale face with a gaping blood-filled mouth lunging at him.


    He would always wake up in a fright just before being bitten, feeling cold sweat all over his forehead.


    Seeing that the Lin Family listened, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally took her leave.


    Outside the door, Sun Erhu had been lingering for a long time.


    "Sister-in-law, how is Chao Lian doing?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably, "Other than Chao Lian, none of them are any good. From now on, sneak some food to her through the back window."


    Sun Erhu clenched his fists, his face also turning red.


    Chao Lian took care of all the household chores and did needlework in her spare time without a moment¡¯s rest. She was already working so hard, and yet they still wouldn¡¯t let her eat her fill!


    At this moment, he had the urge to beat up Chao Lian¡¯s family and then take her away from this cursed place.


    But he couldn¡¯t do that; a wife was for marrying, a concubine was for taking. He couldn¡¯t let Chao Lian suffer such an indignity.


    "Don¡¯t just be angry, it will be over in a few days. You should think about the future instead."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan loved to take advantage of others, wishing they could wring the last drop of oil out of Chao Lian before letting her marry, but with the Taoist¡¯s "Soul Cleansing Technique," she was forced to agree to their marriage. The betrothal gifts were far less than what she had hoped for, and she certainly wasn¡¯t satisfied with the loss.


    In the future, annoying deeds like sponging and pilfering would keep happening.


    Unluckily, Jiang¡¯s Clan was Chao Lian¡¯s stepmother, so it was difficult for anyone to object.


    Erhu and Chao Lian had a good relationship. In the beginning, they wouldn¡¯t mind, but over time, the frequent troubles could inevitably lead to resentment between them.


    Sun Erhu tousled his hair. Marrying Chao Lian meant he was destined to be connected with Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Thinking of shaking her off? It was almost impossible.


    "Alas, just endure it, and it will pass," said Sun Erhu helplessly.


    "She¡¯s only a decade older than you guys. If you wait for her to die, you¡¯ll both be old too," Qiao Duo said bluntly, yet hitting the nail on the head.


    Sun Erhu pursed his lips and hung his head in defeat.


    Good people don¡¯t live long, disasters linger for a thousand years; maybe he and Chao Lian won¡¯t even outlive Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Then wouldn¡¯t they never get to enjoy a single good day?


    After arriving at the Tan Family, Tan Zhenghong also felt extremely melancholic when he heard about this matter.


    Initially, Sun Erhu should not have whimsically built a house; even buying a small courtyard in town would have been better.


    Now, the two families were separated by only a wall, just two steps away. Knowing that Sun Erhu had some assets, Jiang¡¯s Clan would be up to mischief every day if she didn¡¯t.


    Sun Erhu sighed. He had been so focused on marrying Chao Lian, he hadn¡¯t thought of this.


    Now that he knew, it was too late for regrets.


    Not to mention, ever since his house started being built, Jiang¡¯s Clan came at least twice a day, hardly ever returning home empty-handed.


    Even if it was just pulling out a vegetable from the garden, it seemed to give her some satisfaction.


    He had some silver at hand now, but left to Jiang¡¯s Clan, it would only be a matter of time before it was all gone. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong and his wife worried about him, Sun Erhu said with a smile, "Don¡¯t worry about me, I, Sun Erhu, am not so easily bullied!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan always liked to bully Chao Lian, and he had no intention of showing her any niceness.


    At worst, he¡¯d sell the yard and find another place to build a house where Jiang¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t find them, right?


    Tan Zhenghong patted Sun Erhu¡¯s shoulder, "We¡¯re men; we should bear more. Don¡¯t be in a rush. Let¡¯s think of something together. Maybe there¡¯s another way."

 Chapter 483 - 486: Solution_1

    Chapter 483: Chapter 486: Solution_1Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment and came up with an idea.


    "In the end, it¡¯s all about Silver causing trouble. If we can make Jiang¡¯s Clan believe that Erhu is penniless, not only will she find nothing to scavenge, but she might even have to support him. At that point, he¡¯ll definitely avoid her as much as possible."


    But how to make Sun Erhu become poor was something she still needed to think about.


    Fortunately, there was no rush for this, and she could slowly plan it out after they were married.


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs-up: "Sister-in-law, you are the most beautiful and intelligent woman in the world!"


    "How about compared to Chao Lian?" Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully asked.


    Sun Erhu cleared his throat: "Ahem, let¡¯s just eat. It won¡¯t taste good if it gets cold."


    Ever since he was tricked by Chen Yiling last time, he had vowed never to answer these kinds of questions again.


    With the solution in place, everyone¡¯s mood lifted again.


    After the Winter Solstice, Tan Zhenghong started leaving early and returning late every day.


    He had to hunt as much as possible before the weather turned freezing cold and also gather enough firewood for the winter.


    It was his wife¡¯s first winter in this place, and he wanted to be well-prepared, fearing she would struggle.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mentioned that in her world, there was a magical thing that could control the temperature of a room, making it either cold or hot.


    He couldn¡¯t find such a thing, but at least he could make the ground dragon nice and warm. That way, his wife wouldn¡¯t feel cold either.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was managing the ¡¯zoo¡¯ at home and occasionally reading books, so she wasn¡¯t bored.


    Just as she had finished feeding all the animals, Da Ya came over.


    With the lively treasure that was Da Ya around, Qiao Duo¡¯er was even further from boredom.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, these are the persimmon cakes my mother made. They¡¯re much tastier than those sold on the streets. You must try them!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t pretentious and graciously accepted them.


    "Remember to thank your mother for me."


    Da Ya stuck out her tongue: "My mother also told me to thank you properly. Otherwise, not only would I fail to make money, but I would also cause trouble for her everywhere."


    Thinking about her past foolish actions, she felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Um... How did she come to have such thoughts?


    Was it because she had been associating with the young ladies and madams in town?


    "I¡¯m going to deliver some spice packs to Sister Lan later, do you want to come with me?"


    Da Ya nodded her head eagerly, as she had no intention of going back early; her mother would surely make her practice needlework if she returned too soon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took ten spice packs and also brought a pack of candy.


    Those two girls, Er Ya and Da Ya, were as good as an adult, so Qiao Duo¡¯er had given them a raise and often bought them snacks.


    Now, Hu¡¯s Clan had completely recovered from the pain of her divorce and was like a different person.


    She often had a smile on her face, her complexion was ruddy, and she seemed at least ten years younger.


    Both girls were dressed in new winter clothes, Da Ya had grown taller, and Er Ya had put on a fair amount of weight¡ªthey were both charming.


    While picking vegetables, Da Ya whispered about it.


    "The people you get close to all become prettier and prettier. By the time you open your shop, I bet there will be a long line of customers waiting to buy your face mask powder!"


    "Keep flattering yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with feigned disdain. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If we talk about those who are close to her and have similar temperaments, Chen Yiling and Da Ya definitely come to mind.


    Da Ya touched her own cheek: "That¡¯s right, I¡¯m not buttering myself up¡ªI am naturally beautiful. If I could be a little whiter, I would be a great beauty too!"


    "You are already a great beauty. I¡¯m afraid you might be snatched away when you go to town," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with narrowed eyes. There were already many young men in the village who were interested in Da Ya, and matchmakers were coming in droves.

 Chapter 484 - 487 Hu’s Clan Good Man_1

    Chapter 484: Chapter 487 Hu¡¯s Clan Good Man_1It¡¯s just that the Tie Family was being cautious and still observing the situation.


    Da Ni¡¯er was the apple of their eye, having raised her with great care. With her simple heart and straightforward personality, she would definitely be bullied if not matched with a good family.


    As far as the Tie Family was concerned, their girl would rather remain unmarried than let anyone bully her.


    "Come at me if you¡¯re not afraid of dying. I¡¯ve learned all the moves you taught me and am just waiting for an opportunity to show off my skills," Da Ni¡¯er said proudly.


    Especially that knee-to-groin move, she was really curious to see its effects.


    "What are you two whispering about?" Ms. Hu asked curiously.


    Da Ni¡¯er said with a smile, "I was just thinking about which man in our village is worthy of our Sister Lan."


    She certainly didn¡¯t want Sister Lan to miss out on happiness because of scum like Tan Zhengyuan!


    Ms. Hu¡¯s face instantly turned red, and she scolded, "You little girl, all you know is nonsense!"


    Seeing the two girls sneak over with mischief, Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke up, "Today, Da Ni¡¯er and I will help out here; you two go out and play."


    They should not discuss matters of affection in front of the children.


    Plus, their presence put pressure on Ms. Hu.


    "Don¡¯t be shy. In the future, when Da Ya and Er Ya get married, you¡¯ll still need a man to support each other and share warmth¡ªit would be so good!"


    Da Ni¡¯er began to speak of grand principles, determined to find a good match for Ms. Hu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fully agreed, "Da Ni¡¯er is right. Sister Lan, if you have someone you¡¯re fond of, do tell us."


    "I¡¯m quite content now and don¡¯t want to be bothered," Ms. Hu said with resignation. If she found someone worse than Tan Zhengyuan, wouldn¡¯t she cry herself to death?


    Rather than being heartbroken again, it might be better to live life this way. Da Ya and Er Ya are considerate children¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t abandon her when she gets old.


    All of a sudden, Da Ni¡¯er said, "Isn¡¯t living all about creating a stir? I have a candidate in mind; take a look."


    "Who is it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked immediately.


    At this point, they had completely disregarded Ms. Hu, the person concerned.


    Da Ni¡¯er, feeling playful, raised her eyebrows and teased, "He¡¯s from Big Willow Village. Take a guess?"


    In Big Willow Village, there were only so many families, and even fewer were a match for Ms. Hu¡¯s status¡ªit shouldn¡¯t be hard to guess.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t interested in others¡¯ gossip, and Ms. Hu, always busy with the spiced meat business, had no time to pay attention, so it was quite a challenge indeed.


    After much thought, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only think of Lao Guang.


    But that man was unreliable, flirting with other men¡¯s wives all day long; he couldn¡¯t be taken even if he offered himself.


    Da Ni¡¯er, out of options, declared the answer, "You two dimwits. I was talking about Brother Huang Zhong from Old Lady Huang¡¯s house."


    "Did they get a divorce?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, surprised.


    Uncle Huang looked a bit haggard these days, and he said he wasn¡¯t feeling well, so Qiao Duo¡¯er had not thought in that direction.


    Da Ni¡¯er shook her head, "I think it¡¯s coming soon. Uncle Huang and his wife scrimped and saved to buy her a gold bracelet, but she complained it wasn¡¯t as pretty as Sister Ling¡¯er¡¯s. After a series of back and forths, Brother Huang Zhong argued with her."


    "Don¡¯t talk recklessly once you¡¯re out of this yard. Otherwise, even if Sister Lan jumps into a river, she won¡¯t be able to clear her name," Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly reminded. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their argument doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll divorce. If Da Ni¡¯er¡¯s words got out, the gossipers would say Sister Lan was a homewrecker.


    Da Ni¡¯er was startled, "Is it that serious?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded seriously; it could be even more severe than she had described.

 Chapter 485 - 488: Time to Send Someone Away_1

    Chapter 485: Chapter 488: Time to Send Someone Away_1The matters of men and women are delicate by nature, and when compounded by this era¡¯s harsh scrutiny of women, it¡¯s best not to speak carelessly.


    "I understand, but I¡¯ve heard that the Huang Family¡¯s shop has closed down now, and I reckon it won¡¯t get any better."


    Sister Lan lowered her voice, believing there might be something to this rumor after all.


    Sister Lan had encountered a cad, and Huang Zhong had met a shrew; if their fates were to intertwine and form a pair, they would surely cherish each other and grow old together.


    Moreover, Huang Zhong already had two sons; whether Hu¡¯s Clan bore children or not was immaterial.


    Most importantly, both Aunt and Uncle Huang were kind-hearted people who would certainly not mistreat Hu¡¯s Clan and her three daughters.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made a meaningful glance at Sister Lan, suggesting she too thought there was a chance, but now was not the time to elaborate.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had conservative beliefs, and pressuring her without subtlety might be more than she could accept.


    Then Hu¡¯s Clan said weakly, "If you keep making wild guesses, I will have to ask you to leave!"


    "Sister Lan, mercy! I won¡¯t dare anymore."


    Sister Lan immediately surrendered and hurriedly changed the topic to something else.


    At that moment, Er Ya, who was hiding near the kitchen doorway, asked softly, "Big Sister, is Huang Zhong the father of Big Dog and Second Dog?"


    Da Ya nodded and said, "Er Ya, would you want our mother to remarry?"


    "Of course I do. Mother is so kind; she deserves someone to care for her properly, just like Auntie Four and Auntie Chao Lian," Er Ya lisped earnestly.


    As for their father, forgive her for always having little attachment to him.


    "Then let¡¯s secretly find out more. If Uncle Huang Zhong is a good man, we¡¯ll ask Auntie Four and the others for help."


    Da Ya had made her decision as well.


    Although she feared a stepfather might not like them, just as Sister Lan said, they would marry off someday. Who then would be there for their mother?


    Seeing Auntie Four¡¯s reaction, she probably supported the idea, which meant Huang Zhong must be decent.


    Still, they decided it was best to observe the situation a little longer for caution¡¯s sake.


    Having settled on their plan, the two girls sneaked away.


    Ever since the topic of remarriage came up, Hu¡¯s Clan had felt uncomfortable. Seeing that Qiao Duo and Sister Lan were lost for words, they had no choice but to take their leave.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, did I mess up again today?" Sister Lan asked with a worried frown.


    Her heart was in the right place, but she hadn¡¯t considered how her words might damage Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s reputation.


    Reputation is of paramount importance to a woman. A tarnished reputation could even affect Da Ya and Er Ya.


    If that happened, she would be overcome with guilt.


    Qiao Duo did not stint in giving a thumbs-up, "You did the right thing, although it was a bit early. But it¡¯s also good to let her digest the idea subtly, so she won¡¯t be shocked when Aunt Huang comes proposing."


    Anyway, since the last commotion at the Huang Family¡¯s, she had always felt that Huang Zhong¡¯s wife was bound to leave sooner or later.


    The Huang Family owned a vegetable shop, slightly wealthier than most but not by much, hardly enough to satisfy the woman¡¯s vanity.


    "Then that¡¯s good."


    Relieved, Sister Lan was just glad she hadn¡¯t inadvertently caused trouble.


    As mealtime approached, Sister Lan said goodbye and headed home, while Qiao Duo took a detour to Chao Lian¡¯s House to give her the portion of her wages that Chao Lian had left with her.


    Providing her with the wages now was timely.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan certainly wouldn¡¯t prepare a dowry for Chao Lian, who had to rely on herself.


    The wages weren¡¯t much, merely one tael and some change, yet to Chao Lian it was a considerable sum, more money than she had ever held. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With this wage, she could even secretly make two sets of winter clothes for Erhu!

 Chapter 486 - 489 Inexplicable Hatred_1

    Chapter 486: Chapter 489 Inexplicable Hatred_1Chao Lian¡¯s thoughts made Qiao Duo¡¯er feel that no matter how nice Sun Erhu was to her, it was all worth it. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her dowry wasn¡¯t substantial, and most of it consisted of clothes and shoes prepared for Sun Erhu.


    Moreover, every stitch and thread was sewn by her personally, making the emotional investment quite significant.


    For that fool Erhu to find a wife like Chao Lian, he could be considered quite blessed by the heavens.


    "I got a few patterns from Ling¡¯er before, all the rage in town. I¡¯ll bring them to you later if you want," Qiao Duo¡¯er offered casually.


    Chao Lian quickly replied, "I can go and get them myself."


    "You¡¯re the bride-to-be now; you should just stay home and diligently work on your dowry. I have nothing else to do anyway, and it¡¯s no trouble for me to make the trip," Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly.


    Having agreed to do this, Qiao Duo¡¯er took some embroidery patterns to Chao Lian that afternoon.


    They had at most one month until their wedding, and she wanted to make two more winter outfits for Sun Erhu within that month, so she had to hurry.


    When she was still a few steps away from the Lin Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a pair of eyes gluing onto her.


    Those eyes were filled with intense hatred and murderous intent.


    Following her intuition, she looked in that direction and saw Xiao Lingchuan whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time.


    There were rumors that Xiao Family¡¯s daughter-in-law refused to use her silver to save someone, and it caused quite a stir at the time.


    Later, Xiao Lingshan took his wife¡¯s advice and decided to separate and live independently.


    Xiao Lingchuan, out of deep affection for his sister and provoked by Zheng Shi¡¯s instigation, divorced his wife.


    With the staunch support of the second branch of the family, the Xiao Family managed to gather five hundred taels of silver for bribes.


    In reality, Xiao Lingchuan never intended to truly divorce his wife; she was hardworking and had borne him children, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do such a foolish thing.


    His plan was to rescue Xiao Biyu first and then, after things had settled down, he would apologize to his wife. He expected that once her anger had subsided, she would willingly return home with him.


    This way, the Xiao Family would be reunited.


    But months had passed, and still, all of this was just as he wished.


    Xiao Biyu was still locked up in jail, and incredibly, his wife had gone off to become a concubine in a wealthy family.


    Now, having lost his wife and wasted the silver, Xiao Lingchuan had suddenly aged a great deal.


    And all of this was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fault!


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t married Tan Zhenghong and stubbornly clung to him, none of this would have happened!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fearlessly glared back, feeling not the slightest guilt towards the Xiao Family.


    Xiao Biyu was both foolish and vicious, and the Xiao Family members were overly protective, naively hoping to get Xiao Biyu off the hook, which led to their own downfall. Was this her fault?


    She felt that, all things considered, she was the most wronged party.


    It wasn¡¯t as if she should willingly step aside just because someone else coveted her husband, right?


    Within the few steps between them, their thoughts diverged wildly, turning over and over in their heads.


    "Slut!"


    As they brushed past each other, Xiao Lingchuan muttered the insult contemptuously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately tripped him, causing Xiao Lingchuan to fall face-first into the dirt. The sight left Qiao Duo¡¯er feeling quite satisfied.


    She had been attacked personally; was she expected to just turn a deaf ear as if nothing happened? That would be madness on her part.


    After being humbled several times and still feeling dissatisfied, continuing to present oneself for further humiliation was an utter stupidity.


    Xiao Lingchuan swiftly got back on his feet. He should have smashed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head in with a punch just now!


    But that woman wouldn¡¯t be arrogant for much longer.


    With that thought, Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s mood improved significantly.


    Once that person¡¯s plan succeeded, Qiao Duo¡¯er would be a prisoner, and he could do whatever he wanted to her!


    His wife had married someone else; in the future, he might as well make Qiao Duo¡¯er his concubine, considering that her face was quite appealing, after all.

 Chapter 487 - 490 A Bit Dirty_1

    Chapter 487: Chapter 490 A Bit Dirty_1Xiao Lingchuan was nothing more than a clown in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes, and once her anger subsided, she put him out of her mind.


    More importantly, she felt that Xiao Lingchuan wouldn¡¯t be able to cause any more trouble.


    Because he was not very smart and impulsive, which simply put, meant he was a bit simple-minded.


    In the following days, the weather was clear and not too cold at noon, which made Qiao Duo¡¯er feel that it would be a waste to stay indoors during such beautiful weather.


    So, after lunch, she shouldered a hoe and went up the mountain with Tan Zhenghong.


    After winter began, the winter bamboo shoots started to sprout, and she could dig some up from the bamboo forest, which would be perfect to make up for the lack of vegetable varieties in winter.


    Besides eating them at home, they could also be used to make marinated dishes.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er soon realized that things were not as easy as she had thought.


    She dug many small holes in the bamboo forest, but to her frustration, she didn¡¯t even see the shadow of a single winter bamboo shoot.


    Winter bamboo shoots are those that haven¡¯t emerged from the ground yet; by springtime, when they emerge, they are called spring bamboo shoots.


    Since there were so many spring shoots, she always assumed there must be plenty of winter shoots as well, so she thought she could just dig randomly. But reality taught her a lesson.


    This fruitless situation continued until Tan Zhenghong finished setting up his traps and came back. After working hard for half an hour, she had nothing to show for it.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er still busying herself to no avail, he couldn¡¯t help but be filled with frustration.


    Searching blindly like this was doomed to be in vain.


    There are many tricks to digging for winter bamboo shoots, such as looking for bamboo plants with low branches and thick stems, the ones where the bottom layer has a forked branch are likely to have more shoots, and another tip is to dig along the bamboo whip, starting from the eighteenth node of the old whip...


    Tan Zhenghong spoke at length about his experiences.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, "Why didn¡¯t you tell me just now?"


    She had been foolishly digging so many holes in the bamboo forest!


    "I thought you knew," Tan Zhenghong scratched his head.


    These things he had known since he was five or six years old, and he assumed that even if the current Duo¡¯er did not know, Silly Sister from before should have.


    But if Silly Sister knew everything, could she still be called Silly Sister?


    So, no matter how one looked at it, it was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s oversight.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably, "You did it on purpose! Hurry up and dig the bamboo shoots, or I¡¯ll kill you!"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded his head and immediately picked up his hoe to get to work.


    If he dug up a bit more, can he offset the blame with his contributions?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er relearned the tips and continued the battle, but the winter shoots were as if they were spiting her, and she couldn¡¯t find a single one. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Tan Zhenghong had already dug up a chubby little shoot.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stamped her foot, "Tan Zhenghong, you lied to me! I dug just like you said, and not even a ghost showed up!"


    Her patience had worn thin, and with Tan Zhenghong also present, her temper flared up early.


    After all, she was the favored one, and couldn¡¯t help but be a little petulant at times.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly came over to soothe his wife, "Don¡¯t be anxious, I¡¯ll check it for you to see what went wrong."


    He examined the area Qiao Duo¡¯er had been digging and quickly discovered the reason: she had chosen an old whip to dig around, and accidentally started digging toward a new whip.


    Since winter shoots grow from the lateral buds of bamboo whips, and new whips had only just started growing, their ability to sprout lateral buds was weak.


    It¡¯s like with having babies¡ªit takes a certain age to be able to have them.


    After listening to Tan Zhenghong for a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Don¡¯t you think what you¡¯re saying is a bit dirty?"


    Only Tan Zhenghong could turn digging for bamboo shoots into a conversation about having children.

 Chapter 488 - 491 Who is dirtier?_1

    Chapter 488: Chapter 491 Who is dirtier?_1"It¡¯s the same principle, I didn¡¯t say anything wrong,"


    Tan Zhenghong defended himself, and when he said it, he hadn¡¯t thought that much into it.


    If he was a bit dirty-minded, then his wife was dirty-minded to the extreme; he only said one thing, and she went on to fill in so much by herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but argue, "Then tell me which are male and which are female, who marries who, and then how the little bamboo shoots are born."


    In the end, she couldn¡¯t continue; it seemed like she was the dirtier one.


    Tan Zhenghong really wanted to pry open Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head to see what was constructed inside.


    What he meant was that bamboo shoots need to reach a certain stage before sprouting, and he didn¡¯t say anything about bamboo whips getting married.


    However, as a married man, Tan Zhenghong realized something, that is, never try to argue with a woman.


    Because they never argue logically.


    The only strategy is that the woman is always right, and the wrong, bad one is always the man.


    Tan Zhenghong ignored Qiao Duo¡¯er and swung his hoe, digging a few times in another spot, and the small tip of the shoot emerged.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried over and, because she didn¡¯t judge her strength well, ended up digging the shoot in half.


    Cough, cough, Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to bury herself.


    It was embarrassing enough not to have dug up a single one after searching for so long, and now that she finally found one, she broke it; she was too embarrassed to boast about her high IQ.


    "Wife, you¡¯re still learning. It¡¯s impressive that you can handle a hoe, so it¡¯s normal for you to dig up a bamboo shoot improperly."


    Tan Zhenghong smirked, not even sure himself if he was comforting Qiao Duo¡¯er or purposely teasing her.


    All he knew was his wife was pouting with her little face all red and flustered, which looked very cute.


    If they weren¡¯t outside, he would certainly lean in for a kiss.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hummed, "Then where should I dig next?"


    Tan Zhenghong quickly pointed out several spots; to keep his wife at ease digging bamboo shoots, he went back to his own spot.


    His wife cared about her pride. If he saw her messing up again, she might go crazy.


    Qiao Duo whispered to herself that he knew better, otherwise, she would seriously consider whether she should silence him for good.


    Most spots Tan Zhenghong pointed at did have bamboo shoots, with a success rate of nearly 100%.


    Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er had dug up three shoots, but she wouldn¡¯t admit that she had ruined another two with a shaky hand.


    With the harvest, her mood instantly brightened.


    Looking at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s side, the bamboo shoots he¡¯d dug up had piled into a small hill; okay, she felt dwarfed once again.


    "Wife, I have plenty here; come dig over here,"


    Tan Zhenghong was perceptive; by saying this, his wife wouldn¡¯t feel defeated.


    Qiao Duo had a good grasp of things, and with a teacher like Tan Zhenghong who genuinely had some skills, she picked up the knack pretty quickly.


    "I found them myself," Qiao Duo said proudly.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately gave a thumbs-up, "You truly are my wife. Go and rest a bit; once I¡¯ve dug up these few, we¡¯ll go home for lunch."


    His wife¡¯s health had improved a lot, but he still couldn¡¯t bear to see her doing physical work. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Qiao Duo was in the swing of it, unwilling to rest.


    Digging for winter bamboo shoots was like treasure hunting; no one knew when good luck might strike.


    If Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t dragged Qiao Duo¡¯er back home at noon, she wouldn¡¯t have even remembered it was time to return.


    After a simple lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t wait to get back to the bamboo forest.

 Chapter 489 - 492: Marrying a Wild Boar, Digging Up Bamboo Shoots_1

    Chapter 489: Chapter 492: Marrying a Wild Boar, Digging Up Bamboo Shoots_1Most of the bamboo shoots that sprout before winter solstice rot before spring, with only a few growing into bamboos; thus, digging for winter bamboo shoots won¡¯t harm the ecological balance of the bamboo forest.


    With this in mind, Qiao Duo¡¯er started digging without any burden.


    With the hands-on experience from the morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s speed had greatly improved, but she was still far behind Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er even suspected that Tan Zhenghong had X-ray vision; how else could he always dig in the right spot?


    "Working also relies on experience; you¡¯ve just started digging, so of course you¡¯re slow," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong saw through Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts at a glance. Now the more she thought, the more she seemed like a little woman¡ªa good sign.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo had an idea, "It would be great if there were an animal that could find the bamboo shoots and even dig them out."


    "Wild boars can. They have a keen nose but eat too much, so they aren¡¯t that useful."


    Adult wild boars have a huge appetite; the bamboo shoots they find each day are barely enough for their own consumption, and since there are no bamboo shoots in the summer and autumn, it would be pointless to keep them.


    "Not really," Qiao Duo¡¯er said lightly. "I think you¡¯re quite helpful and you don¡¯t eat that much."


    "If you marry a wild boar, you¡¯ll have to follow it; later, we can dig for bamboo shoots together," Tan Zhenghong said with a mischievous smile, as long as he had Qiao Duo¡¯er by his side, nothing else mattered.


    Even if it meant being a wild beast, he would willingly be one.


    This answer made Qiao Duo¡¯er scoff as she imagined the scene of them digging for bamboo shoots.


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be fine if I just don¡¯t marry you?"


    His own wife-to-be saying she wouldn¡¯t marry him, Tan Zhenghong could no longer care about digging shoots and quickly tossed aside his hoe and with a long arm scooped Qiao Duo¡¯er into his embrace.


    "Wife, what did you say?" Tan Zhenghong asked through gritted teeth.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er dared to repeat it, he would...


    Before Tan Zhenghong could decide how to punish her, she fearlessly said again, "I said I just won¡¯t marry you!"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand moved to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist, his tried-and-true tactic to handle her.


    He couldn¡¯t bear to scold his wife, let alone hit her, leaving him with only the options of tickling her and wearing her out with sleep.


    Making her fall asleep out here was impractical, so he had to resort to tickling.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er twisted her body to dodge and scolded, "Tan Zhenghong, you bastard, I¡¯ll kill you!"


    "Still talking tough, I¡¯ll show you how formidable I am!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s always the same with you; can¡¯t you change your tactics?"


    Tan Zhenghong continued using One Yang Finger; this move never failed him, why would he change it?


    Eventually, Qiao Duo¡¯er collapsed laughing in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms, no longer having the strength even to curse, at which point Tan Zhenghong proudly asked, "Still daring to talk nonsense?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes and took the opportunity to wipe away her tears.


    Tan Zhenghong was just too petty; she¡¯d merely made a joke and he¡¯d punished her so terribly.


    Seeing that his wife-to-be couldn¡¯t even stand steadily, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly had her sit on a stone to rest and passed her the water bag.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sniffled and accused, "You¡¯re simply no good, bullying a woman too!"


    "I only bully you, by day and by night." Tan Zhenghong teased as he lightly scraped her slightly red nose.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er never knew how enticing her unintentional simplicity was.


    Like poppies, one couldn¡¯t help but be drawn in, couldn¡¯t help but want to pick them, and the most fatal thing was that once tasted, one could never again stay away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her back to Tan Zhenghong as she drank water.


    She drank all the water, holding her breath; she intended to let that lustful Tan Zhenghong die of thirst.


    Tan Zhenghong laughed heartily; the foolish Duo¡¯er made him feel deeply loved¡ªDuo¡¯er said the more in love one was, the more foolish they became.

 Chapter 490 - 493 Ambiguous Sound_1

    Chapter 490: Chapter 493 Ambiguous Sound_1The two rested for a while before continuing to dig up bamboo shoots.


    "How long can bamboo shoots last?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked seriously.


    She could almost see the dark days ahead, which would be filled with winter shoots every day.


    Though bamboo shoots could be fried, saut¨¦ed, braised, stir-fried, or stewed in countless ways, no matter how they were prepared, they were still bamboo shoots. Could she not become sick of them?


    Shoots are lean, and they definitely need to be stir-fried in fatty oil, which would also mean soaking up a lot of grease. Consuming such a large amount of fats could be a significant burden on the body.


    Tan Zhenghong thought for a moment before replying, "Shoots can last for more than a month if they¡¯re wrapped in their husks and baked by a fire. If turned into dried shoots, they can last even longer."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately dug up a month¡¯s worth of shoots so that they wouldn¡¯t have to climb the mountain to dig every day.


    To also make some dried shoots on the side¡ªbraised pork with dried bamboo shoots had always been her favorite.


    With a goal in mind, Qiao Duo¡¯er dug with even more gusto, her hoe swinging even quicker.


    During this time, Tan Zhenghong reminded her twice to take a rest, but Qiao Duo¡¯er felt strong all over and didn¡¯t stop for a moment.


    Thanks to their swift movements, they had dug up a whole hundred pounds of winter shoots in just one day.


    Not wanting the winter shoots to become tough, they started working on them after dinner.


    They sorted out the shoots with intact husks and peeled the others, slicing them thin.


    The thin slices needed to be boiled for a few minutes in slightly salted water, while the shoots with intact husks were placed in the stove¡ªan efficient use of time.


    No, it was actually killing three birds with one stone since they could also take the chance to heat up the "Ground Dragon" in the washing room.


    The process of making dried shoots was somewhat complicated. After boiling the slices for a few minutes in slightly salted water, they were rinsed in cold water and then squeezed to remove excess moisture before being spread out on a sieve to dry in the daylight.


    There were too many slices, and they couldn¡¯t cram too many in each pot or the bitterness of the shoots would not be removed, affecting the taste of the dried shoots.


    So it took three large pots to finish the task.


    After fishing out all the slices, the shoots in the stove also became tender and ready to come out. The baked shoots were stacked in the corner with tongs.


    By the time they were done, it was already well into the night. Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly took a bath, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she plunged into a deep sleep.


    After a whole day of digging bamboo shoots, she was already exhausted.


    And to her chagrin, she even dreamt that she was carrying a hoe and continuing to dig for winter shoots¡ªshe felt like she was going mad. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t wake up until "Three Poles Day," rubbing her bleary eyes before reaching out to the spot next to her, which had become a habit.


    But before she touched it, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp.


    Every muscle in her body was sore and ached fiercely.


    The feeling... it was as if she had gone through her wedding night all over again, her bones almost falling apart.


    Just then, Tan Zhenghong entered the room and saw that Qiao Duo¡¯er was awake. He said softly, "Wife, how about eating breakfast and then going back to sleep?"


    "Give me a massage, my body feels terrible," Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted and said.


    "Who asked you not to listen yesterday? I told you to rest, but you wouldn¡¯t."


    Tan Zhenghong scolded her for a moment but his hands weren¡¯t hesitant, and he started massaging Qiao Duo¡¯er right away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes to enjoy it, occasionally humming a few times. She was a married woman, after all; she had to be a little spoilt.


    Outside, Sun Erhu scratched his head, "The courtyard gate is clearly open, so why¡¯s there no one around?"


    There was no one in either the front or back yard, nor inside the hall.


    He was getting desperate to find someone, yet his sister-in-law had said they shouldn¡¯t make a fuss in her house.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s ears twitched, his face reddening enough to drip blood¡ªthat sound... oh God, he had to leave fast, or he might be silenced for good.

 Chapter 491 - 494 Have you slept?_1

    Chapter 491: Chapter 494 Have you slept?_1He always remembered that when Brother Hong was kidnapped by the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, his sister-in-law was like a deadly force, swift as lightning, and he seemed easy to dispose of.


    But it wasn¡¯t entirely his fault, the main culprit was Brother Hong.


    Well...he could understand taking care of business during broad daylight, but could they at least lock the courtyard door?


    It was utterly embarrassing!


    He was still a very pure person, having kissed Chao Lian only once.


    Sun Erhu hurried along and accidentally kicked the doorframe, immediately grabbing his foot and hopping up in pain.


    "Damned bad luck..."


    Sun Erhu had only started to complain when he quickly shut his mouth.


    Before he could sneak away, Tan Zhenghong had already emerged.


    As their eyes met, Sun Erhu suddenly felt that he was the one too ashamed to face anyone.


    Touching his nose awkwardly, Sun Erhu said, "Brother Hong, I...I thought you weren¡¯t home. I didn¡¯t hear anything."


    After speaking, he wanted to kick himself. Wasn¡¯t this just admitting guilt?


    "Your sister-in-law was tired yesterday. I was just massaging her," Tan Zhenghong said frankly. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu was shocked. They must have been quite busy with love-making the day before.


    Otherwise, why would she be tired in the morning? To the point of needing a massage? His Brother Hong was really something!


    Tan Zhenghong smacked the back of Sun Erhu¡¯s head, "What are you thinking? Yesterday we went to dig bamboo shoots. Your sister-in-law is not used to working the fields. She was all sore, and I was just massaging her. Did you come here for something?"


    With that reminder, Sun Erhu suddenly remembered the important business.


    "Your home... I mean, where you used to live, they¡¯re about to divide up the property. They¡¯re nearly fighting over your room. Uncle Tie sent me to call you, saying the sooner you sort out the room, the sooner you can live in peace."


    Tan Zhenghong went into the house to speak briefly to Qiao Duo¡¯er, then left with Sun Erhu.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly got out of bed and headed to the old house too.


    She didn¡¯t care about the thatched cottage. She was willing to give it away to anyone.


    But if it was to be given away, it should be done gracefully, and at the same time, she had to secure the greatest benefit for herself.


    It would also prevent those who were envious of the wealthy from gossiping behind their backs, saying they were rich and heartless, ignoring their poor brothers and such.


    On the way there, Sun Erhu updated Tan Zhenghong on the situation.


    The trouble started when Third Brother Tan wanted to take over Brother Hong¡¯s straw hut, claiming his original house was too small now that he had a son.


    Little Wang Clan wanted to kick out the old couple and have them live in the straw hut instead.


    Using the excuse that Second Brother Tan didn¡¯t take care of their parents, Third Brother Tan roped in Big Brother Tan to propose a redivision of the property, which led to arguments and nearly came to blows.


    When Tan Zhenghong arrived at the old house, the Tan Family Members were arguing red-faced and ears steaming.


    "You and your wife can¡¯t even do anything at night. Why is it suddenly not good enough to live there?" Little Wang Clan hit Tan Zhongzhong right where it hurt.


    After being kicked by Qiao Duo¡¯er that one time, Doctor Wu said he couldn¡¯t consummate his marriage for at least three years.


    In fact, he might remain that way for the rest of his life.


    If the couple just slept together, what were they afraid the child might see?


    Tan Zhongzhong refused to back down: "Have you ever slept with me? How would you know something like whether I¡¯m capable or not?"


    "Do I need to sleep with you? Your wife complains every day that you¡¯re not a man; how could I not know?"


    While soothing Xiao Fu, Li Clan said disdainfully, "You eavesdrop on our private conversations, yet you say we¡¯re the ones who can¡¯t do it? Maybe it¡¯s your man who¡¯s the issue, not daring to let out a peep now!"


    Little Wang Clan glared at Tan Zhengyong. Her man was good at bad-mouthing others behind their backs, sprouting flowers with his words, but when it came down to it, he was as silent as a gourd.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her ability to speak up, their family wouldn¡¯t have anyone to rely on at all.

 Chapter 492 - 495 More Awesome Than You_1

    Chapter 492: Chapter 495 More Awesome Than You_1Tan Zhengyong finally squeezed out a sentence, "I can hold out for a quarter of an hour, even if your thing still works, it¡¯s far worse than mine!"


    The unabashed words left people dumbfounded, and several young girls and newly married daughters-in-law all blushed.


    Arguing about this in front of so many people, have their brains filled with water?


    Some women shooed their daughters away while they themselves waited excitedly to see how things would unfold.


    "Second Brother Tan, how do you know you¡¯re better than the Third Boss?"


    "Probably compared."


    "Maybe the Tan Family Members all like to eavesdrop at corners."


    And others would occasionally throw in a word, clearly enjoying the escalating commotion.


    The Tan Family really outdid themselves, airing their dirty laundry for all to hear, probably knowing that everyone gets bored in the winter and providing them with gossip.


    Tie Niu cleared his throat, "This house belongs to the Fourth Boss, your arguing is pointless. Fourth Boss, whether you want to sell the house or keep it, how much are you thinking of asking for it?"


    This statement was crucial, immediately giving Tan Zhenghong the upper hand.


    Now that Qiao Duo¡¯er had started receiving tasks from Qiao Duo, one could say she benefited greatly.


    And as her father, he felt grateful. Plus, comparing the character of Tan Zhenghong and his wife to those from the Old Tan Family, he naturally favored Tan Zhenghong even more.


    "This house belongs to the Tan Family, what¡¯s all this talk of selling?" Li Clan said discontentedly.


    Tie Niu said sternly, "The Fourth Boss has already severed ties with the Old Tan Family, they are no longer family. If you want someone else¡¯s house, shouldn¡¯t you pay for it? Even between brothers, you should settle accounts clearly!"


    Li Clan was unconvinced and retorted, "The Fourth Boss has moved into a big courtyard, why would he care about this broken house?"


    "Didn¡¯t see you sharing the wealth when you had money in your family either."


    A woman couldn¡¯t help but chime in, she couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Li Clan¡¯s attitude.


    Others treated her well, and she took it for granted, without the slightest notion of giving back, but who said others should always treat her well?


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, when did he ever have money? Look at the life they lead without Zheng Hong!"


    Li Clan¡¯s face alternated between red and white, struggling to find a reply.


    "Fourth Boss, just name your price. If it¡¯s reasonable, I¡¯ll help you sort out the paperwork today," Tie Niu gave Tan Zhenghong a meaningful look.


    Fussing over a broken house every day is not worth it. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It¡¯s better to just sell it quickly and enjoy some peace.


    Tan Zhenghong thought carefully, "It¡¯s just a thatched cottage and it¡¯s been built a long time ago, let¡¯s say Five Hundred Wen.


    "Are you crazy about money? You and Third Boss are still brothers, how can you have the heart to rip him off like this?"


    Li Clan became unsettled, she genuinely wanted the house but had never considered buying it.


    Now that the family¡¯s only income aside from the crops was gone, and both she and Xiao Fu weren¡¯t well and constantly needed medicine, they simply had no extra silver to spare.


    Then Qiao Duo¡¯er, who arrived later, said bluntly, "The house is mine to sell at whatever price I wish, and you have no say in it."


    This statement completely extinguished Li Clan¡¯s notion of getting the house as a gift.


    The Tan Family Members were best at overstepping their bounds. Give the thatched house away today, and tomorrow someone might demand the mansion or silver.


    Giving a greedy person a taste of sweetness will only lead them to endless demands.


    "Money grubber, even just the land alone is worth more than Five Hundred Wen!"


    "It¡¯s only because the Fourth Boss is generous that he¡¯s selling it. If it were someone else, even One Tael of Silver might not be enough."


    "It¡¯s because he¡¯s nice that people take advantage of him!"


    ...

 Chapter 493 - 496: Wild Ideas_1

    Chapter 493: Chapter 496: Wild Ideas_1Little Wang Clan said in a delicate voice, "Fourth Boss, you once told mother that you would leave this house for them to spend their old age, but now you¡¯re planning to sell it. Are you planning to take father and mother to live in your house?"


    She wasn¡¯t interested in the dilapidated cottage; she just wanted to send the two old things away.


    The two of them only ate without working and were constantly pointing fingers and making unwarranted criticisms.


    Every time she saw them, her anger would flare up uncontrollably.


    "When the property was divided, father and mother said they would live with the second branch, and they even wrote a Relationship Termination Letter. Are you still trying to push father and mother onto me?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked in a stern voice.


    He had long acted as if he had no parents, and now they wanted him to care for them until the end of their days? He could only say that he couldn¡¯t do it!


    Tan Yuancheng cleverly suggested, "Little Brother Tie, my mind was clouded by lard when we divided the property. Now, I want to divide it again. All the assets will be split into four, and my wife and I will take turns living with our four sons. What do you think about that?"


    He had always schemed behind Wang Clan¡¯s back, but this time he couldn¡¯t stay put.


    First of all, living with the second son would mean a miserable twilight, and secondly, he dreamed of moving into the house at The Fourth Boss¡¯s House.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was so angry she laughed, "Ah Hong and I have never said the severance book was invalid."


    Tan Yuancheng glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, then turned to Tan Zhenghong, "Fourth, forgive me for that one time. I was clouded by lard, but father and son, no matter how big the grudge, are still father and son, right? Let¡¯s just settle it like this, starting from the first day of the next month."


    The mistreatment of Tan Zhenghong had always been orchestrated by Wang Clan, so he probably didn¡¯t hate him; perhaps he would be receptive to his words.


    If Fourth agreed, the rest would be easy.


    When it was Fourth¡¯s turn, they could stay a few extra days, and Tan Zhenghong would surely be too embarrassed to kick them out.


    "My wife and I are the only ones who are family."


    Tan Zhenghong was adamant in his stance. Did they think they could slap him and then offer a sweet date?


    Sorry, but he wasn¡¯t accepting.


    If the honest and loyal Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t agree, then the others were even less likely to.


    Tan Zhengyuan said with a smile, "Father, don¡¯t think that we don¡¯t know you¡¯ve given all the good stuff to the second son. How much of the family wealth do you have now? Is it enough to last you until you die?"


    "When you say fair and square, do you mean you will first take back everything you¡¯ve given to the second son?"


    Tan Zhongzhong also shouted, his knowledge of the second son¡¯s thoughts clear as day.


    He reaped the benefits and then kicked the two old ones out, seeming to take all the good fortune for himself.


    But where in the world could you find such a cheap deal?


    Little Wang Clan let out a light sneer, "What benefits have we taken? We catered to them, eating and drinking for free for so long, even helping the eldest with our belongings. The eldest has hands and feet, how can he be comfortable accepting this?"


    "How dare you say you haven¡¯t taken any benefits? When the property was split, your house took the majority!"


    "That was for Xiao Fu, given by the old couple. Didn¡¯t you also get twenty taels when you had a son? Look at my poor memory. They also have six acres of good farmland; take it if you want."


    Little Wang Clan spoke indifferently, but the land left for Xiao Fu was off-limits to everyone.


    Wang Clan, pointing at Little Wang Clan, could barely keep her hand from trembling, "Give me back the land and the silver!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little Wang Clan told her brother, now a scholar, that registering the land in his name could exempt it from taxes.


    She thought the taxes were a major expense each year, and without them, life would be easier at home, so she agreed.


    Later, she was told that there was a deposit required to change the name, and she agreed to that as well.


    But as it turned out, she heard from others that scholars could only be exempted from conscription, not from taxes.

 Chapter 494 - 497: You Owe Me a Life_1

    Chapter 494: Chapter 497: You Owe Me a Life_1It means that from start to finish, it was Little Wang Clan who deceived her, with the purpose of seizing control of the family¡¯s wealth for herself.


    After clarifying this matter, Tan Zhengyuan and Tan Zhongzhong looked even more displeased.


    Now the situation had become clearer, and neither of them would accept being rotated as the caretaker.


    Among them, Tan Zhenghong might have had some justifiable reasons, but the most despicable was Second Brother Tan, who had drained their parents dry and was even thinking of throwing them out, while the other two brothers¡¯ indignation was also understandable.


    The matriarch of the Wang Clan sized up her four sons.


    Big Brother Tan was idle and without a wife, and would struggle to take care of himself in the future.


    As for the second one, needless to say, she had once been wholeheartedly devoted to him, yet he and his wife ended up driving them out.


    Third Brother Tan, having two invalids at home, might end up needing a subsidy from her were she to follow him.


    Only by following the fourth would she have food and drink, though his wife was quite fierce; but as long as she didn¡¯t provoke her, there would be no trouble.


    Therefore, the best solution was to have Fourth Boss take on the care of the elderly. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, Fourth Boss had a soft heart; she just had to wail a little and he would definitely give in. Having made up her mind, she sat down on the ground with a flop.


    "I carried you in my womb for ten months, endured hardship to give birth to you all, and the last time I nearly lost my life. Yet now when I¡¯m old, no one will take care of me. Oh heavens, why do you turn a blind eye?"


    "The sons I risked my life to raise have become enemies, only listening to their wives. If it weren¡¯t for you, a plague on this household, perhaps I could have had another obedient child!"


    Wang Clan wailed and sobbed, with her words blatantly condemning Tan Zhenghong.


    In Big Willow Village, the older generation all knew she had nearly bled out giving birth to Tan Zhenghong, never conceiving again afterwards.


    But to blame it all on Tan Zhenghong, how innocent was he?


    Unable to hold back, Wu Youcai spoke the truth, "You can¡¯t blame others. Back then, my father warned you to control your diet and move around more. You didn¡¯t listen, and would lie down right after eating, then get up and eat more. That you survived was fortunate enough!"


    Back in those days, the Tan Family ancestors had left quite a legacy, and Wang Clan never shortchanged herself when it came to eating.


    Wiping away her tears, Wang Clan said bitterly, "How much benefit have you taken from him? Is it wrong to eat my fill while pregnant? Besides, didn¡¯t I eat that much because he had a healthy appetite?"


    So, after all is said and done, it¡¯s still Tan Zhenghong¡¯s fault.


    Many present who had borne children were impatient with Wang Clan¡¯s twisted logic.


    Some might feel very hungry during pregnancy, but none would overindulge since too large a baby is difficult to deliver.


    "I¡¯ve told you long ago that if you feel Ah Hong owes you something, name your price. We¡¯re prepared to sell everything we have to gather the silver for you, but if you still want to take advantage of Zheng Hong, I absolutely will not agree!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er straightened her back, the petite figure exuding a powerful aura.


    As if she were the queen of this land, and everyone else had to bow their heads.


    Wang Clan said smugly, "You owe me a life, and that¡¯s worth at least one thousand taels."


    As soon as she said this, the crowd was in an uproar.


    Wang Clan sure dared to ask for a lot¡ªone thousand taels; she probably hadn¡¯t seen that much money in her whole life.


    "In the village next door, a man who accidentally fell to his death at the dock only received ten taels."


    "By that calculation, the Tan Family should even refund Fourth Boss, considering the family¡¯s current wealth is largely earned by him."


    "Zheng Hong is also unlucky, why did he have to end up with such a mother?"


    "Why quibble with your own child? Everything is in the past, and you¡¯re not allowed to mention it again."


    Tan Yuancheng glared at Wang Clan and cursed her for a fool under his breath.


    There had always been a rift between them and Tan Zhenghong; she couldn¡¯t even cajole him, and now she was pushing Tan Zhenghong away.


    She didn¡¯t see how Qiao Duo¡¯er defended Tan Zhenghong; no wonder he was so devoted to her.

 Chapter 495 - 498: Lame Explanation_1

    Chapter 495: Chapter 498: Lame Explanation_1Reluctantly, the Wang Clan shut her mouth, hoping she hadn¡¯t just made things worse.


    "Zheng Hong, don¡¯t lower yourself to your mother¡¯s level. She¡¯s always wanted a daughter, but she resented you a bit because she was hurt giving birth to you," Tan Yuancheng said, adopting a very humble posture and sincere tone.


    But thinking about his ulterior motives sent chills down people¡¯s spines.


    He only wanted to make Tan Zhenghong give in, to get Tan Zhenghong to support him in his old age.


    Noticing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s unease, Tan Zhenghong gave her a comforting look; at this moment, his heart was crystal clear.


    "I¡¯ve always been the first to rise and the last to sleep. I hunt desperately, and except when the weather is too severe, I almost climb the mountain every day, so your lives can improve and my guilt eases a little."


    "But what about you? No matter how much game I bring back, you only complain it¡¯s not enough. When I¡¯m injured or sick, nobody ever asks how I am!"


    "Ask yourselves, have you ever treated me like family?"


    "I¡¯ve endured these hardships for so many years, I dare say any debt I owed you has been paid off!"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s emotions became somewhat uncontrollable as he recalled the past.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tugged at the hem of his clothes, fearing Tan Zhenghong might lose his senses.


    Tan Zhenghong turned to look at his wife and said softly, "I¡¯m fine, child. It¡¯s all in the past."


    Once, his life was only shades of gray, and he even thought he would live in a daze forever.


    Until Qiao Duo¡¯er came into his life.


    She barged into his life at his lowest and most painful moments, setting bones, washing wounds, cooking meals, giving medicine, while often showing faint sympathy and concern in her eyes.


    That was the first time he felt the warmth of affection.


    Even now, Qiao Duo¡¯er was his only sunshine; only with her did his life feel alive.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er shared a deep love, while Tan Yuancheng was frantic like a cat clawing at walls.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had gone to great lengths to obtain the Relationship Termination Letter; she certainly wouldn¡¯t back down.


    Looking at Tan Zhenghong, it was clear he would prioritize her wishes.


    Tan Yuancheng gestured to Tie Niu with folded hands, "Little brother, I beg you to persuade Zheng Hong. He must not be instigated by outsiders. Being unfilial is a grave sin!"


    "You don¡¯t need to beat around the bush about my wife. Everything is my decision; it¡¯s got nothing to do with her," Tan Zhenghong said loudly, refusing to allow anyone to slander his wife!


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s face darkened instantly. Wasn¡¯t Tan Zhenghong slapping his face?


    However, given the special circumstances today, he could only hastily admit his mistake, "I misspoke in the moment, nothing more."


    He quickly made eye signals to Tie Niu, hoping Tie Niu would help persuade.


    Tie Niu didn¡¯t speak immediately. Having been the village elder for so many years, he had never encountered such... shameless behavior.


    If he weren¡¯t the village elder, he could have sent Tan Yuancheng two words directly: serves you right!


    But now he had to consider the village¡¯s morals. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If people started to follow this example, using their elders¡¯ mistakes as an excuse not to care for them, and the elderly were left without support, Big Willow Village would surely become a dismal place.


    After mulling it over for a while, Tie Niu finally spoke, "I witnessed Ah Hong write the Relationship Termination Letter, and I advised him against it. With that letter in place, he¡¯s under no obligation to take care of the elderly. You should discuss this with your other sons."


    Most farmers¡¯ families lead simple lives, and minor squabbles are common. Yet, it¡¯s rare for issues to escalate to the point of writing a Relationship Termination Letter; in all these years, only the Tan Family has done so.


    Once this reason is made clear, the vast majority of families can¡¯t follow suit.

 Chapter 496 - 499: Possessed by a Ghost?_1

    Chapter 496: Chapter 499: Possessed by a Ghost?_1"I don¡¯t know what this Relationship Termination Letter is, but Tan Zhenghong crawled out of my stomach, don¡¯t even think about not taking care of me!"


    Wang Clan, lacking a logical argument, began to cause a fuss and be unreasonably demanding.


    Tie Niu, with a stern face, said, "A Relationship Termination Letter is no trivial matter; the decision to write one signifies the permanent severing of all kinship ties. From then on, there will be no further connection. If someone takes this lightly, the law does not exist just for show!"


    Tie Niu¡¯s stance was clear, and Wang Clan could only sheepishly shut her mouth.


    But besides Fourth Boss, who else could they rely on? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other three brothers would love nothing more than to strip their bones clean; how could they even talk about enjoying their twilight years?


    Wang Clan held back her anger and said, "Since they all refuse to provide for us, I¡¯ll go ask the county magistrate what to do when old people have no one to take care of them!"


    The Emperor governs the world with benevolence and filial piety. Anyone found guilty of disrespecting and being unfilial to their parents will receive a beating at the least or, in more severe cases, imprisonment.


    In Lin County, a few years back, someone was sentenced to death for beating his parents.


    Because the laws of this dynasty are harsh, some people started feeling guilty as soon as Wang Clan mentioned going to the authorities.


    "Mother, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to provide for you. Look at how poor I am now; if you follow me, you¡¯ll only suffer in poverty. Isn¡¯t it because I can¡¯t bear to see you suffer?"


    Tan Zhengyuan immediately distanced himself from the situation.


    Tan Zhongzhong also made his stance clear, "I only have those two rooms. They¡¯re barely enough for my own family; there¡¯s no extra space."


    "We¡¯re all one family; we should discuss matters and come to an agreement. Resorting to reporting to the officials straight away¡ªdoesn¡¯t that just make us the laughing stock of outsiders?"


    Tan Zhengyong approached with a forced smile on his face, but he was cursing inside.


    To live together with parents meant they must not be offended, but one would still need to coax the wife, ultimately pleasing neither side, inciting resentment from one¡¯s mother and reprimands from the wife.


    But given the circumstances, he had no choice but to compromise.


    Wang Clan huffed, "It¡¯s too late for that now, you might as well save these words for the county magistrate!"


    Her target was Tan Zhenghong, but he didn¡¯t even glance in her direction.


    Damn it, how could she have given birth to such an ungrateful wretch?


    Tan Zhengyong understood his mother¡¯s intentions right away.


    He immediately cried out, "Fourth Boss, stop Mother, won¡¯t you? If this blows up, it won¡¯t look good for you either!"


    "It¡¯s none of my business," Tan Zhenghong replied.


    He wouldn¡¯t be like before, doing things he shouldn¡¯t have just for a word of affirmation.


    From now on, he would only do what he was supposed to do, only love those who love him.


    Wang Clan gritted her teeth and even pinched Tan Yuancheng.


    If it wasn¡¯t for him insisting on splitting the family, how could they have ended up like this?


    "You instigated me no less!" Tan Yuancheng retorted irritably.


    Had Wang Clan not constantly nagged about splitting the family, he never would have thought of it!


    Wang Clan gave Little Wang Clan a scornful look, "It¡¯s all because of you, a cheap woman, always coming up with bad ideas. Tan Zhongzhong really got unlucky marrying you for eight lifetimes!"


    "What does it have to do with me? You all said Qiao Duo was a fool, easy to manipulate once married, but what was the outcome? Hasn¡¯t everyone in the Tan Family been dealt with by him?" Little Wang Clan shot back at her.


    On hearing this, Wang Clan¡¯s face grew even uglier.


    Little Wang Clan had once mentioned this to her, similarly related to the silver, and then there was no further news.


    Tan Zhengyong quickly said, "Mother, I¡¯ll go and ask Master Yun Xu."


    Ever since the last Ghost Summoning Ceremony, Master Yun Xu¡¯s reputation had soared; people from miles around sought him for feng shui consultations and rituals.


    Master Yun Xu, living up to his name, was modest, and his newfound fame hadn¡¯t led him to raise his prices.


    "Be careful, don¡¯t let that woman see," Wang Clan warned.

 Chapter 497 - 500: Inviting Yun Xu Again_1

    Chapter 497: Chapter 500: Inviting Yun Xu Again_1If they could get Qiao Duo¡¯er to revert to her former foolish state, no one would stop them from moving into the big house!


    While the others from the Tan Family spoke fervently, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked Tie Niu a question.


    "Uncle Tie, can the house and land be put up for sale in the village?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course, they can. Later, I¡¯ll have Ah Hong register it at my place. Let¡¯s start with a price of one tael of silver. It¡¯s just that the buyers are hard to find; you will need a lot of patience," Tie Niu said with a flash of admiration in his eyes.


    This was a good plan. With the house in his hands, some of the Tan Family would be pacified.


    But the consequence was that this house might always be empty, as almost no one was willing to buy a homestead in someone else¡¯s yard.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smartly said, "I understand. If it¡¯s sold, then the money would be donated to the village for building bridges and paving roads."


    Her aim was not to sell the house; she just didn¡¯t want to be blamed for it being taken by someone else.


    The Li Clan¡¯s matriarch had been keeping up with the situation on this side. She said discontentedly, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, what do you mean?"


    The house was through Tie Niu¡¯s hands, the price had doubled, and there was an additional ten percent commission.


    In other words, six hundred wen money had suddenly been added to the same room!


    This malicious woman must be doing this to trap her on purpose!


    "Fourth Boss is not living in the house anymore, so I thought of selling it and doing something for the village in the meantime. What else could it mean?" Uncle Tie said impatiently.


    The Li Clan¡¯s matriarch snorted, "Your family has so much silver, and you say holding back one tael of silver is doing something for the village?"


    "You state your amount, and I¡¯ll give one hundred times more," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied, extremely calm, because she knew the Li Clan¡¯s matriarch wouldn¡¯t want to part with even one wen money.


    The Li Clan¡¯s matriarch clenched her fists but, thinking of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fierce reputation, along with Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu, she gave up the idea.


    If they really got into a fight, she wouldn¡¯t gain anything.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Got nothing to say? Then Ah Hong and I will head back first."


    "Stop right there!" the Wang Clan matriarch yelled sharply.


    Tan Zhenghong asked with a frown, "Mother, what else do you want to do?"


    "Even though you have the Relationship Termination Letter, I still gave birth and raised you. You should at least wait until your brothers give an explanation before leaving," the Wang Clan matriarch said, tugging at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s sleeve.


    With such a stance from her, Tan Zhenghong could only compromise.


    The Wang Clan matriarch had secured Tan Zhenghong, then she started talking again about support for the elderly, and they began to argue like a circus act.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhengyong appeared with Master Yun Xu.


    "Everyone quiet down. You all know that Fourth Boss has married a foolish daughter-in-law, but now she¡¯s very clever. Since she came, the Tan Family has been plagued with disasters. I suspect that something unclean has been brought in, so I have asked the master to perform a ritual," Tan Zhengyong proclaimed.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face was dark enough to drip ink; he hadn¡¯t expected them to resort to this!


    What sort of grudge did he have with the Tan Family?


    Why were they constantly scheming to ruin his happy life?


    Beyond anger, he felt more unease, because he was all too aware of the origins of his daughter-in-law.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes were red as he said, "You¡¯re talking nonsense!"


    "What¡¯s the rush, Fourth Boss? Master Yun Xu can communicate with the world of spirits, and he¡¯ll know at a glance," Tan Zhengyong sneered maliciously, seeing an expression called guilt on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face.


    Maybe there was really something fishy about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sudden change.


    Tan Yuancheng clasped his hands together, "Master, the Tan Family has recently had no peace in our home. Please help us see what the problem is. If you can resolve it, I¡¯ll repay you in my next life as a beast of burden," he pleaded.

 Chapter 498 - 501 Who Summoned the Ghost?_1

    Chapter 498: Chapter 501 Who Summoned the Ghost?_1Yun Xu replied in all seriousness, "Uncle overstates things. Exorcising demons is within my duties as a Taoist priest. I just heard that you suspect a woman has attracted some unclean entity?"


    Tan Yuancheng nodded and stole a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Women, due to their yin deficiency, are extremely prone to attracting filthy things..."


    Yun Xu, seeing the person behind him, changed his tone and said, "However, it depends on the individual. Some people are born with good fortune, and even if they encounter ghosts, the ghosts will go around them."


    So it was an old acquaintance, which made this matter much easier to handle.


    "This benefactor here has a complexion indicating wealth and prosperity, her face is rosy; it is impossible for her to be tainted by chaotic and sundry entities."


    Madam Wang Clan hurriedly said, "That¡¯s impossible. She was a fool before, always greeting people with a silly laugh, and now suddenly she¡¯s not foolish anymore."


    Yun Xu¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between Qiao Duo¡¯er and Madam Wang Clan, with no indication of what he was observing.


    It wasn¡¯t until a while later that he spoke up, "She¡¯s quite well, Madam. On the contrary, I see dark energy circling your forehead, which might indicate that you¡¯ve attracted something."


    "That¡¯s impossible, I¡¯m very healthy!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Madam Wang Clan denied anxiously, but her body trembled with fear.


    "It¡¯s simple to know if you¡¯ve attracted something or not. I will make two bowls of talisman water later, and each of you will drink it. If your bodies do not hurt, then there¡¯s nothing wrong; if the pain is unbearable, then something is causing trouble."


    Madam Wang Clan was still skeptical, as she didn¡¯t feel uncomfortable; how could she have attracted a ghost?


    Yun Xu added another sentence, "That thing absorbs human yang energy. If it¡¯s not cleansed in time, I¡¯m afraid your life will be at risk."


    When it came to the matters of ghosts and deities, as well as her own life and death, Madam Wang Clan dared not take it lightly.


    She quickly asked Tan Yuancheng to help set up an altar and placed two bowls of water on the table.


    Yun Xu, holding the Peach Wood Sword, jumped around performing what appeared to be divine invocations, and finally lit two pieces of the Talisman Paper and dropped the ashes into the water.


    Watching him so engrossed, it was really hard to associate him with a swindler.


    But the fact was exactly that, Qiao Duo¡¯er knew because this fellow had come begging for meat to eat. At that time, she saw that he was eloquent but without malice, so she gave him some meat to eat.


    Unexpectedly, she ended up helping herself in the end.


    "Drink it now," Yun Xu instructed.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly gripped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand tight, his eyes full of concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "There won¡¯t be a problem."


    She knew all too well about Yun Xu¡¯s juggling tricks.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood up straight, approached the altar, picked up a bowl of water and drank it in large gulps, though the muddy taste made her frown.


    Madam Wang Clan¡¯s demeanor was much diminished as she stood in front of the altar, hesitating for a long time before daring to lift up the bowl.


    "Madam, you will be fine once you drink this water," Yun Xu comforted her.


    Madam Wang Clan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, and seeing that she seemed unharmed, clenched her teeth and also picked up the water from the table to drink.


    Before she finished drinking, she threw the bowl down and began to cry out in pain.


    Yun Xu waved his whisk, mumbling words, but in reality, he had just pricked Madam Wang Clan¡¯s body with it while he was obscured behind it.


    It must be said, the trick he learned from Qiao Duo¡¯er last time was really effective.


    When Madam Wang Clan¡¯s pain subsided, Yun Xu had also finished reciting his incantations.


    "Madam, your physique is weak, and your yang energy is insufficient. From now on, you must do good deeds and keep a pure heart. If you harbor malicious thoughts again, the unclean entities will return looking for you," Yun Xu said gravely. He considered Qiao Duo¡¯er as his benefactor, yet this woman wanted to harm her. How could he not scare her a little?


    "Thank you, Taoist priest. Please accept this small token of my gratitude."


    Madam Wang Clan took out her purse and stuffed it into Yun Xu¡¯s hand.

 Chapter 499 - 502 Get Out_1

    Chapter 499: Chapter 502 Get Out_1Yun Xu bowed deeply, "Thank you for your kindness."


    Having driven the ghost away, Yun Xu had successfully completed his task. Before he left, he gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a knowing wink.


    The acupoint strike technique he had used was learned from Qiao Duo¡¯er. He applied it well, deceiving plenty of people.


    But he was a man of principles, and his rule was to never help the wicked do evil.


    Also, since he had provided such great help today, it wouldn¡¯t be too much to ask for two or three pounds of marinated meat in return, would it?


    "Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? If so, let¡¯s deal with them all at once," Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at those people. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Should this commotion not be enough?


    Tan Yuancheng¡¯s lips moved a few times, but he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    He had thought that his intervention would undoubtedly serve his purpose, but instead, he managed to tear apart his own dignity.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a stern face, "Fellow villagers, you all have seen that they plotted against my wife, not that I, Tan Zhenghong, am unfilial. It¡¯s that they have chilled my heart. From this moment on, I shall never set foot in this yard again!"


    With that, he began to walk away, pulling Qiao Duo¡¯er with him.


    "Serves them right! Zhenghong is such a good child, yet they forced him into this situation!"


    "They are asking for it; nobody can stop them. Both Zhenghong and his wife know how to make money. They just separated from the family and are already living a prosperous life; those who follow them will enjoy their blessings!"


    "If Third Boss hadn¡¯t done those awful things, or just said a couple of nice words just now, that house would have definitely been given to him for free."


    "It¡¯s no use saying anything now. If the Tan Family Members themselves don¡¯t understand what to cherish, who¡¯s to blame?"


    Wang Clan had a belly full of fire and nowhere to vent it, so she pushed Little Wang Clan, who was closest to her, causing her to fall backward.


    Tan Zhengyong said irritably, "Mother, it¡¯s not my wife who upset you; why take it out on her?"


    "If not your wife, who else? It¡¯s her who¡¯s full of schemes, urging for the separation, pressing Fourth Boss to write the Severance book, deceiving property from me, and now even wants to drive me and your father out. If she doesn¡¯t deserve to die, who does?"


    Just like pouring beans, Wang Clan listed all of Little Wang Clan¡¯s wrongdoings.


    Wang Clan always thought that since her daughter-in-law was her niece, she would look after her, favoring her all along.


    But who could have guessed that it would be she who was the most heartless!


    Little Wang Clan got up from the ground, brushing mud off herself, "If you can¡¯t make your own decisions, who else can you blame?"


    Tan Yuancheng said exasperatedly, "Keep talking to your mother like that, and you both can just get out!"


    Little Wang Clan didn¡¯t care one bit as now she had all the property in her hands. Guarding an old house would do them no good.


    Tie Niu couldn¡¯t bear to watch the scene of chaos any longer and couldn¡¯t help but speak up.


    "The Taoist just chased away the evil spirit, and yet you dare to do such heartless things. Aren¡¯t you afraid it will come back?"


    "Do exactly as we agreed upon when we separated. If something like this ever happens again, don¡¯t come to me; I am the head of Big Willow Village, not part of your Tan family!"


    "If there¡¯s more squabbling over this matter, go straight to the Government Office. The magistrate will definitely give you a resolution!"


    Tie Niu was a burly man, and his imposing physique alone was enough to intimidate others. Plus, with the stern words he had just laid down, not a single person dared to make a sound.


    Little Wang Clan silently cursed Tie Niu countless times in her heart, but outwardly, she could only nod in agreement.


    Wang Clan didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly either; Little Wang Clan loved stabbing people in the back the most, and if she was offended, those days ahead would not be worth living.


    Tie Niu spoke earnestly, "Family harmony brings prosperity to everything. A family should live together with understanding and help each other. Don¡¯t be like the Tan family, always in turmoil, making a spectacle of themselves. What¡¯s the point?"


    The crowd took his words to heart, saving them for a moment they felt like venting their spleen to think it over.

 Chapter 500 - 503 Zheng Hong Gets Angry_1

    Chapter 500: Chapter 503 Zheng Hong Gets Angry_1Outside, Tan Zhenghong walked a great distance in one breath before finally stopping.


    "Are you still my wife?" Tan Zhenghong asked cautiously.


    "Eh, Uncle, do you have any candy?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, tilting her head, looking utterly foolish.


    She didn¡¯t even need to pretend deliberately, as this expression was deeply engraved in her mind, for the original body had spent almost a lifetime with it.


    In that instant, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart sank to the bottom, his eyes filled with panic.


    This wasn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er, not his wife! S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that his wife had truly been driven away by the Water Talisman Paper? What meaning was left in his life then?


    Seeing the predicament, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Husband, don¡¯t scare me. Yun Xu is just fooling around with superstitions, how can you believe him?"


    She forgot that Tan Zhenghong was a man of ancient times, inherently a little superstitious, and given his concern had turned into chaos, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he took it seriously.


    Tan Zhenghong stared intently at Qiao Duo¡¯er, and only when he saw those lively eyes did he finally relax.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, you bully me as much as you want just because I care about you! Scare me to death, then see who else will love you the way I do!"


    Tan Zhenghong growled.


    "Are you angry?" asked Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly.


    Tan Zhenghong continued walking by himself, refusing to pay Qiao Duo¡¯er any mind.


    When he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s silly demeanor, he felt as if he had lost half his life to fright; not beating her up right now was already the extent of his rationality.


    Just now, he thought he saw the Silly Sister from their wedding night. Even though her face was the same, her demeanor was identical.


    Touching her nose, Qiao Duo¡¯er considered how to get Tan Zhenghong really angry. What should she do?


    It had always been him comforting her when she was upset. Was she supposed to lose her dignity like Tan Zhenghong now?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth; this was somewhat difficult.


    She had few flaws, but her pride was one; she would rather die than say those cheesy phrases.


    As she walked, lost in thought, her pace slowed considerably, and she didn¡¯t notice she had fallen far behind Tan Zhenghong.


    And Tan Zhenghong, not receiving the comfort he longed for, was almost internally injured by his anger.


    Did Qiao Duo¡¯er care so little about him?


    Or perhaps she preferred that more advanced and convenient world. After all, she grew up there, a place with many things he couldn¡¯t even imagine, and the carefree life that Qiao Duo longed for.


    Tan Zhenghong found himself stuck in a dead-end and couldn¡¯t find his way out.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived home, breakfast was already laid out on the table, but Tan Zhenghong had vanished without a trace.


    Surely a grown man wouldn¡¯t have run away from home.


    Still, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but look around. Sure enough, there he was, sitting in the study, practicing his calligraphy with a white bun in his left hand.


    She wondered how that white bun ended up with him; he bit into it fiercely, as if he was eating the flesh of an enemy.


    "Husband, won¡¯t you have breakfast with me?" asked Qiao Duo¡¯er, her face all smiles.


    But when no one answered after a long wait, oh momma, how embarrassing!


    Pouting her lips, Qiao Duo¡¯er thickened her skin and said, "You can¡¯t concentrate on two things at once, eat first then practice your writing. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be good at either."


    Tan Zhenghong put the bun aside, signaling he wouldn¡¯t eat it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, she was already being shameless, and yet that someone remained unapproachable; she was done too!


    "Fat Fat, Fatty, from now on, it¡¯s just us relying on each other," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, patting the heads of the two big dogs, suddenly feeling a sense of desolation washing over her.


    In this strange world, all she had left were two dogs. Poo

 Chapter 501 - 504: How to coax a man? _1

    Chapter 501: Chapter 504: How to coax a man? _1Tan Zhenghong lazily lifted his eyes to glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er, then continued to immerse himself in writing practice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was eating breakfast alone, feeling so wronged she wanted to cry.


    She tore off a piece of steamed bun and fed it to Fat Fat, and seeing Fatty approaching, she alternated between feeding the two dogs.


    Before long, a steamed bun had been polished off.


    "You two are just heartless creatures. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m in a bad mood? And still, you can eat so happily," Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the fluffy pair with disdain.


    They say dogs understand human emotions, but why not these two? Shouldn¡¯t they be coaxing Tan Zhenghong right now?


    Fat Fat wagged its tail and rubbed against Qiao Duo¡¯er, as if that were meant to be comforting.


    Fatty pawed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s leg, seeming to ask for a hug.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, "What do you think I can do to make your daddy stop being angry? It¡¯s killing me!"


    Just the thought of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s almost furrowed face drained her of all energy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wiped her face and tidied up the bowls and chopsticks before wandering back into the room. She sauntered around Tan Zhenghong, hoping to make her presence felt.


    But that guy, Tan Zhenghong, didn¡¯t even bother to lift his head to look at her!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt as if there was a clot of old blood stuck in her chest. She wanted to roll on the floor in frustration but refused to let herself do something so foolish.


    Throwing a tantrum and rolling around for comfort was a move reserved for Fat Fat and Fatty.


    Forget it, she picked up a book and lay on the sofa to read, still occasionally glancing at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s expressionless face.


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er regretted not watching more romance dramas in her past life. At least then she wouldn¡¯t be so anxious.


    After reading for a couple of hours, Qiao Duo¡¯er started to feel sleepy. She tossed the book aside and closed her eyes.


    Since Tan Zhenghong was ignoring her anyways, she might as well sleep!


    Half-asleep, she felt someone gently covering her with a blanket.


    Damn it, could he not be so kind to her?


    It almost made her die of guilt!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er racked her brains for a solution, but as someone almost clueless in matters of affection, she accidentally fell asleep.


    She didn¡¯t know how long she had slept; all she knew was that the aroma of food wafted into her nostrils.


    Without thinking, she knew it must be Tan Zhenghong who had secretly cooked and, due to his pride, brought the food over while she was asleep.


    Mm... A man who was extremely considerate even when he was angry. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After setting down the meal, Tan Zhenghong silently walked away, aware that Qiao Duo¡¯er had woken up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her protesting stomach and ate the meal without any pride.


    She thought that her eating would ease the tension between them, but the afternoon remained the same: one practiced writing while the other read, neither disturbing the other.


    This guy¡¯s temper was too much, actually giving her the cold shoulder all day long!


    Dinner was prepared by Qiao Duo¡¯er, who deliberately cooked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s favorite dish, stir-fried pork with spring onions.


    Someone ate quietly, then turned and entered the bedroom.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wished she could beat Tan Zhenghong up. A beating would probably end this awkwardness.


    But not only did she not hit him, but she also prepared a big pot of water with medicinal herbs.


    To prevent secret recipes from leaking, whether it was buying spices for braised meat or ingredients for facial masks, she had bought some foot-soaking medicinal herbs, accumulating quite a lot by now.


    Soaking the feet can speed up blood circulation, and with the blood flowing faster, one¡¯s mood can improve as well.


    With a better mood, he should stop giving her the cold shoulder.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poured the hot water, prepared the towel, and then called out, "Husband, come soak your feet."


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "No."


    Although it was a rejection, at least he spoke. Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted herself with this thought.

 Chapter 502 - 505: Zheng Hong is Hugged by the Princess_1

    Chapter 502: Chapter 505: Zheng Hong is Hugged by the Princess_1"Why don¡¯t we let it air for a while before soaking it, and I¡¯ll make you some tea, okay?" Qiao Duo¡¯er approached and asked.


    If it had been before, she could go half a month without speaking and it wouldn¡¯t matter.


    But now, having gotten used to chatting with Tan Zhenghong, she had switched into chatterbox mode, and holding it in for a day had been very uncomfortable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth, "I know I was wrong, can you stop being angry?"


    Tan Zhenghong snorted through his nose, he didn¡¯t accept such an insincere apology!


    "What do you want me to do? Even if you want the stars in the sky, I¡¯ll go and pluck them for you," Duo¡¯er¡¯s cosmos exploded.


    She had been acting like a grandchild all day, what more did they want from her?


    And she had deeply recognized her own fault and was very willing to correct it, so why the relentless nagging?


    Tan Zhenghong was taken aback, what did he want?


    In fact, he had not been angry for a while, but felt that not being angry would save face.


    Every time he thought about acting like a woman and throwing a tantrum, he wanted to slap himself to death.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no ill will in what she did; she was just trying to make a joke, all of which he knew. But his heart still wasn¡¯t comfortable.


    "Tan Zhenghong, are you still a man? I¡¯ve apologized, and you¡¯re still not letting it go!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t control herself and slammed her hand on the table a few times.


    Tan Zhenghong quietly considered just stepping down graciously, admitting he was a man, and not getting angry with a woman, okay?


    Before he could finish his thought, he suddenly felt light.


    When he came to his senses, he realized that Qiao Duo¡¯er had picked him up, and Tan Zhenghong was stunned.


    What on earth was this position?


    He had one arm draped over Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s neck, his entire body being carried sideways by her. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said, "Dead weight!"


    She had intended to take Tan Zhenghong to the bed, but it was too far, and she couldn¡¯t last that long, so she could only toss him onto the couch.


    When she was one step away from the couch and couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, she threw Tan Zhenghong over in a parabola.


    The couch was soft, but the sudden landing was bound to cause dizziness.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong came to his senses, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already started stripping his clothes off.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, I am a man!"


    Tan Zhenghong protected his clothes in front of his chest; being carried to the couch by Qiao Duo¡¯er had already damaged his pride!


    "Getting angry for a whole day, even more so than a woman! And being all coy about taking off your clothes, I can¡¯t tell you¡¯re a man at all."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong from head to toe with contempt.


    The couch was so small, and this certain little woman even squeezed herself onto it. The couch was tiny, the two of them were practically sticking together; did she not realize this could be lethal?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wickedly said, "If you¡¯re still angry, just hold it in."

 Chapter 503 - 506_1

    Chapter 503: Chapter 506_1Tan Zhenghong felt stifled, with beauty and warmth in his arms, and yet she kept teasing him, how could he possibly not react? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved her hand up and down; she didn¡¯t believe Tan Zhenghong could hold out!


    It wasn¡¯t long before someone¡¯s breathing became erratic, and what followed happened naturally.


    "Husband, give me a smile," Qiao Duo¡¯er coquettishly whined.


    She was bold and enthusiastic, her passion fiery.


    The woman daring enough to pull a man onto a sofa was probably only her, truly a bloody unforgettable and special experience.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er placed her hand against Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest, "Are you still angry?"


    "You..." Tan Zhenghong glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked innocent, "Why are you glaring at me? Wouldn¡¯t it be okay if you just said you weren¡¯t angry?"


    Tan Zhenghong said, word by word, "I¡¯m not angry anymore."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently withdrew her strength, and her arms instead wrapped around Tan Zhenghong¡¯s neck.


    Tan Zhenghong sealed her lips with a kiss, swallowing all protests.


    When the passion had subsided, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already fallen asleep. Tan Zhenghong tenderly cleaned her up and then carefully lifted her into bed.


    Looking at her tranquil sleeping face, Tan Zhenghong whispered, "I shouldn¡¯t have been angry, it¡¯s just that I care about you too much. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t even know why I¡¯m still alive."


    Without Qiao Duo, he would simply be a solitary being in this world, neither sad nor happy.


    Taking advantage of Tan Zhenghong turning off the light, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly opened her eyes, warmth swirling in her gaze.


    She hadn¡¯t expected her casual words to cause Tan Zhenghong such deep hurt; she didn¡¯t know such a rugged man could have such a tender heart.


    She silently vowed never to let Tan Zhenghong feel heartbroken and upset again.


    When Tan Zhenghong lay down on the bed, Qiao Duo¡¯er snuggled into his embrace. His arms were warm and wide, the place she cherished the most.


    If possible, she wished to always stay there.

 Chapter 504 - 507: Sleep with Me_1

    Chapter 504: Chapter 507: Sleep with Me_1Qiao Duo¡¯er soon fell into a deep sleep and had a peaceful night.


    "Mmm, don¡¯t move." Qiao Duo¡¯er tried to swat away the feather that was gently teasing her face.


    She was sleeping so well at the moment and didn¡¯t want to move at all.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a light chuckle, "Little Lazy Pig, you better let go of me, I need to get up and work."


    From the first day Qiao Duo¡¯er had come, they had been sharing the same bed.


    At first, Qiao Duo¡¯er would sleep on her back all night, maintaining the same position, then occasionally she¡¯d sleep on her side and turn over once or twice, and later on, she liked to burrow into his arms and cling onto him.


    This showed that she was gradually trusting him more, but it also made getting out of bed very difficult for him.


    "Stay with me a little longer." Qiao Duo¡¯er murmured.


    "I need to feed the animals in the backyard and cook breakfast. Can you sleep by yourself?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tightened her grip, "No, it¡¯s cold sleeping alone."


    Tan Zhenghong could only indulge Qiao Duo¡¯er, and by the time she was fully awake, it was already two hours later.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her eyes and suddenly realized she had been holding them up; she quickly put on her clothes, hurriedly washed up, and joined Tan Zhenghong in the backyard.


    The backyard was in total chaos, a cacophony of different animal calls merged together, causing headaches to anyone listening, probably because they were all starving.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly, "How about we feed them separately? It¡¯ll be faster that way."


    "Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t matter if we take a little longer, you start with the hay, I¡¯ll mix the bean dregs with the bran."


    The two worked together and it wasn¡¯t long before the pitiful screams in the backyard subsided somewhat.


    As they got to feeding the mountain muntjac, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed something off.


    The first mountain muntjac that Tan Zhenghong had hunted was always docile; it would approach them for a pet whenever someone came to feed it.


    But today, it kept on crashing against the fence, acting as if it wanted to escape.


    "What¡¯s wrong with it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with concern.


    Tan Zhenghong looked towards another den of musk deer, where they were engaged in discordant activities early in the morning. This one was lonely and could only watch in frustration from the side. It would be odd if it wasn¡¯t acting crazy!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er followed his gaze and instantly understood the situation.


    Well... she should have snatched a mate for it back then.


    "Do you think it could find a doe if we took it up the mountain?"


    Female animals in heat emit a particular scent or make special calls, and the males would then find them.


    In other words, they might be able to find a female mountain muntjac by following this male.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "Animals are too frenzied when in heat, it¡¯s better not to rashly take them into the mountains. However, the musk deer have been active lately, so we can try our luck."


    "I¡¯ll go get ready then, and we¡¯ll head to the mountains in a bit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was eager to try, as if she could already see a flourishing musk deer farm taking shape.


    "No," seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reluctance, Tan Zhenghong explained further, "The mountain is colder than the base¡ª it¡¯s easy for you to catch a cold there. And Erhu is about to propose soon, you should go shopping with him for the occasion."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke seriously, "It¡¯s not appropriate for me and Erhu to be alone together as a man and a woman."


    So she might as well go to the mountain.


    "You think you can hide your little schemes from me? Girls are most vulnerable to the damp and cold of the mountains. Wait till the weather warms up, and I¡¯ll take you up there to run wild," said Tan Zhenghong as he ruffled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair. He could indulge her in other matters, but when it came to her health, she had to listen to him.


    "Then you be careful, and come back early in the evening," Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯ll be home before dark, in time to have dinner with you."

 Chapter 505 - 508 Haven’t Grown Eyes?_1

    Chapter 505: Chapter 508 Haven¡¯t Grown Eyes?_1Because he got up late in the morning, Tan Zhenghong knew he definitely wouldn¡¯t make it back by noon, so he simply took two steamed buns with him up the mountain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about making some dried meat for him. Otherwise, how uncomfortable would it be to just gnaw on dry steamed buns?


    Tan Zhenghong had suffered his fair share before, and she had to make it up to him.


    After Tan Zhenghong went up the mountain, Qiao Duo¡¯er also locked the courtyard door and headed for Sun Erhu¡¯s home. Near Erhu¡¯s house, she saw Xiao Lingchuan again.


    This time, Xiao Lingchuan was much more restrained, but the hatred in his eyes was impossible to hide.


    "Sister-in-law, I was just about to call for you to go with me to the street to shop for things. I didn¡¯t expect you to have already come," Sun Erhu said with a naive smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked in a low voice, "Did Xiao Lingchuan just go to the Tan Family¡¯s place?"


    "He probably did. I wasn¡¯t paying much attention today, but Xiao Lingchuan has been visiting the Tan Family quite often lately. I heard he recommended a wife for Big Brother Tan from Lin County," Sun Erhu replied.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Who in the world is so blind as to even think of marrying their daughter to that scum!"


    Sun Erhu expressed deep agreement, affirming that marrying Tan Zhengyuan would indeed be worse than death.


    The two gossiped briefly and then forgot about it, after all, it wasn¡¯t their family¡¯s business, and whether it would happen was still uncertain.


    Before long, they were driving the ox cart to the town.


    According to custom, they should prepare six betrothal gifts: wedding cakes, four kinds of sweets, cloth, three livestock, wine, and jewelry.


    The three livestock included pairs of chickens and geese and a pig¡¯s head; the first two could be bought from Old Lady Huang¡¯s house, while Butcher Chen could bring the pig¡¯s head when delivering meat tomorrow. As for the rest, they had to purchase everything themselves.


    "Sister-in-law, don¡¯t try to save money for me. Pick the good stuff and buy it!" Sun Erhu said generously. This was the only time in his life he was getting married, and he couldn¡¯t let Chao Lian be wronged.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Alright, just don¡¯t regret it if I spend too much later."


    But that was just what she said. When it actually came time to buy, she was somewhat calculating. She needed to choose the good stuff for Chao Lian and Erhu, while just getting by with appearances for the Lin Family was enough.


    After all, with Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s disposition, no matter how fine a thing she bought, they would still find fault with it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu first went to the Cloth Shop.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could step in, someone bumped into her forcefully. If it hadn¡¯t been for Sun Erhu lending a hand, she would have inevitably become intimately acquainted with the ground.


    The perpetrator was a rich young lady. Seeing her mistress at a disadvantage, the maid immediately spoke up.


    "What¡¯s the matter with you? Don¡¯t you have eyes?"


    The maid sized up the people in front of her, clearly seeing they were villagers who didn¡¯t belong, hoping they hadn¡¯t dirtied the young mistress¡¯s clothes.


    Sun Erhu said with a dark face, "It was clearly you who suddenly ran out. How did it become our fault for not having eyes?"


    "Isn¡¯t it because you were blocking my mistress¡¯s path?" the maid retorted haughtily.


    Sun Erhu rolled his eyes in disdain, using power to bully others! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let¡¯s go inside, don¡¯t argue with them," Qiao Duo¡¯er tugged at Sun Erhu¡¯s clothes.


    They had a lot to buy that day, and it wasn¡¯t worth the delay for such classless people.


    The rich young lady said with disgust, "We¡¯ll let it go this time. Next time when you go out, bring your eyes with you. It¡¯s not everyone you can afford to bump into, you¡¯d better walk away quickly, the cloth here isn¡¯t for just anyone to buy!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew this woman; she was the one in the portrait in Brother Fan¡¯s study, whom she had seen him gaze at with infatuation several times.


    So this must be the woman Brother Fan was smitten with.


    No, she had to drive this woman away. She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Brother Fan see her!


    Otherwise, all her efforts over the past few days would have been for nothing!

 Chapter 506 - 509: Wedding Gift_1

    Chapter 506: Chapter 509: Wedding Gift_1"You all need to understand that you were the ones who bumped into someone. It¡¯s one thing not to apologize, but to actually have the audacity to complain first is disgusting. I think you are not only blind in eyes but also in heart!" Sun Erhu said, annoyed.


    Originally, the matter of buying betrothal gifts was supposed to be a joyful occasion, but unexpectedly, they ran into this lunatic.


    How vexing!


    Before Sun Erhu could finish speaking, another person, a handsome gentleman, walked out. He had a fairly good relationship with Qiao Duo¡¯er; he was Bai Yifan.


    According to the timetable, he should have already completed a month of seclusion.


    Having not seen him for over a month, Bai Yifan looked even more refined and otherworldly.


    "Mo¡¯er, stop making trouble. This is Duo¡¯er, my sister, and the other is Erhu, my friend,"


    Bai Yifan introduced calmly.


    However, his gaze lingered on Qiao Duo¡¯er, seemingly unintentional yet continuous.


    In the eyes of Li Mu¡¯er, this was tantamount to flirting.


    She wasn¡¯t a fool¡ªshe didn¡¯t believe for a second that ¡¯sister¡¯ nonsense!


    Li Mu¡¯er sized up Qiao Duo¡¯er and said perfunctorily, "I¡¯m sorry, is that good enough? Cousin, I still need to go buy some perfume powder, let¡¯s go quickly!"


    "You go ahead and wait in the carriage, I will come to find you in a moment,"


    Obviously, Li Mu¡¯er was extremely unwilling. Bai Yifan was already interested in that woman; how could she not stay and keep an eye on things?


    She had begged Bai Yifan for a long time to accompany her out. Before leaving, she promised to obey him.


    Therefore, Li Mu¡¯er dared not act recklessly; she definitely didn¡¯t want to be sent back by Bai Yifan.


    Stomping her feet, Li Mu¡¯er could only leave first with her maid.


    After all, with the bustle of the cloth shop, they couldn¡¯t possibly do anything too outrageous.


    "Duo¡¯er, sorry about that. That¡¯s my cousin; she¡¯s been coddled since she was young. Don¡¯t mind her," Bai Yifan apologized sincerely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "She seems like a rather adorable girl."


    The words, insincere yet polite, made Bai Yifan¡¯s heart even more lucid.


    Duo¡¯er belonged to someone else; he should not harbor any improper thoughts.


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but remind, "Young Master Bai, you should hurry over there, don¡¯t keep the lady waiting for too long."


    His anger came not only from the recent incident but also because his intuition told him Bai Yifan harbored improper feelings for his sister-in-law.


    Since he asked his sister-in-law for help in shopping, he had to bring her back safely.


    Bai Yifan nodded and completely ignored Sun Erhu.


    He thought that time would help him forget Qiao Duo¡¯er, but in reality, the longer he was away from White Stone Town, the more intense his yearning became; at this moment, he simply wanted to gaze at her a little longer.


    "This is your gift."


    Bai Yifan took out a redwood box from Bai Qing¡¯s basket.


    Originally, he had wanted to ask his sister-in-law to deliver it, but now that he had encountered her, not presenting it would seem pretentious.


    Immediately, Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head; she couldn¡¯t promise anything to Bai Yifan, hence she could not give him any hope.


    Bai Yifan smiled lightly, saying, "I missed your wedding, so this is my wedding gift to you. It would be rude of you to refuse it after calling me ¡¯Brother Bai San.¡¯"


    He spoke frankly; if Qiao Duo¡¯er were to insist on refusing, it would seem as though she had some ulterior motive.


    So, she bit her lip and accepted the redwood box.


    The box was made of fine materials and exquisite craftsmanship; even just the box itself was quite valuable.


    Although she was mentally prepared, when she opened it, Qiao Duo¡¯er was still shocked; inside the box were Lingzhi mushrooms and a Warm Jade Pendant!


    The size of the Lingzhi mushroom was as big as a bowl, rare to find, and the Warm Jade¡¯s quality was crystalline, without the slightest impurity, indeed priceless.


    How could she deserve such lavish gifts? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 507 - 510 You Are So Ugly_1

    Chapter 507: Chapter 510 You Are So Ugly_1"Brother Bai San, I can¡¯t accept this."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed the lid and returned it to Bai Yifan.


    "These two things are the best for nourishing the body, and besides, this isn¡¯t a gift for nothing, you have to give me something when I get married."


    Bai Yifan tried to persuade her, once given, there¡¯s no reason to take it back, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er insisted, "My health has improved a lot, better leave it for the old Madam."


    "Your health isn¡¯t that solid, it¡¯s not so easy to recover fully. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve prepared my grandmother¡¯s share. There are many prying eyes here, quickly put this away, and later on, give me a fair and plump nephew to make my efforts worth it."


    He was also waiting for his little nephew to carry on the legacy, Bai Yifan added in his heart.


    Apart from Qiao Duo¡¯er, there probably wouldn¡¯t be another girl in this world who could move his heart.


    Without a girl that stirs his heart, he won¡¯t have children.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only accept the box, "Then, thank you, Brother San."


    Bai Yifan smiled with satisfaction, while on the other side, Li Mu¡¯er was already growing impatient. Bai Yifan had no choice but to take his leave in a rush.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Sun Erhu entered the Cloth Shop, Sun Erhu still brooding over the recent events.


    He felt that the Young Master Bai really wanted to pursue his sister-in-law, which spelled some danger for his Brother Hong.


    "Sister-in-law, this Bai Yifan is quite good-looking, comes from a decent family, skilled in medicine, and is also generous..."


    Sun Erhu quickly spat twice, why was he complimenting Bai Yifan on all things?


    The way he talked about him, Sun Erhu felt that anyone not choosing Bai Yifan must be blind.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Seems like Brother Bai San really is better than your Brother Hong. I might have to reconsider."


    "No way, although my Brother Hong¡¯s conditions are slightly inferior, he is absolutely sincere toward you. Back when you were so unsightly, my Brother Hong never despised you. Although Bai Yifan is also good to you, you only met him after you became beautiful."


    Sun Erhu hurriedly explained.


    That¡¯s to say, Bai Yifan might be interested in Qiao Duo¡¯er for her looks.


    After all, how many men can resist a beautiful woman?


    It¡¯s just that his Brother Hong is an odd one, cherishing Qiao Duo¡¯er like a treasure even when her face was covered with sores.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted lightly, "Sun Erhu, you finally spoke the truth today. Don¡¯t expect me to pay attention to you from now on!"


    Sun Erhu was baffled; his sister-in-law¡¯s thoughts jumped too quickly, and he was struggling to keep up with the conversation.


    What truth had he just spoken?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was already browsing fabrics, and Sun Erhu rushed over, "Sister-in-law, did I say something wrong that angered you?"


    "Let¡¯s buy this one, this color complements the skin, Chao Lian will definitely look beautiful in it." Qiao Duo¡¯er picked a piece of peach-red cloth.


    Women should wear bright colors within the first year of marriage, and peach-red is appropriate.


    Moreover, peach-red isn¡¯t ostentatious, so it won¡¯t look fancy even after a year¡¯s time.


    Sun Erhu suddenly covered his mouth, realizing his mistake.


    He had blurted out that his sister-in-law was ugly!


    And the exact words were that you were so unsightly before!


    Sun Erhu quickly touched his own neck, relieved it wasn¡¯t twisted by his sister-in-law.


    "Sister-in-law, my mistake, please forgive me, you weren¡¯t ugly before, you were just sick. Now that you are healed, you have become a peerless beauty, like a fairy from heaven!"


    Sun Erhu hastened to butter her up. He still needed his sister-in-law¡¯s help with many things; he couldn¡¯t afford to have her mad at him!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously, "Have you ever met a fairy?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu felt like dying; could they even have a pleasant conversation?


    Why did his sister-in-law only hear the things that weren¡¯t the main point of his words?

 Chapter 508 - 511 The Most Suitable One

    Chapter 508: Chapter 511 The Most Suitable OneHis main point just now wasn¡¯t that his sister-in-law was ugly, but rather he was emphasizing how much Brother Hong doted on his daughter-in-law.


    This time he¡¯s praising his sister-in-law¡¯s beauty, saying she¡¯s like a fairy is just an exaggerated way of speaking!


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for Brother Hong, there was simply no way to communicate!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, Sun Erhu was about to get married, how could he still be so naive and adorable?


    Sun Erhu was a bit annoyed, but didn¡¯t know what to say, because no matter how he described his sister-in-law, there would be something wrong with it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly, "There¡¯s always someone better out there, what¡¯s this about being the best? I think as long as you find someone who is suitable for you, who you can grow old with and accompany for life, that¡¯s enough."


    Just like Tan Zhenghong, as long as being together feels happy, that¡¯s good.


    "In this world, I am only convinced by you, what you say makes sense, and you have a whole set of ideas!"


    Sun Erhu nodded vigorously, Bai Yifan¡¯s pretty-boy looks definitely weren¡¯t his sister-in-law¡¯s type.


    Otherwise, if his sister-in-law lost her temper one day, could his frail body withstand it?


    Better off with Brother Hong, who was tough-skinned and could take a beating without fuss.


    Cough cough... He was definitely praising Brother Hong! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, "I¡¯m not buying your flattery, always so slippery with your words, just take a look at these colors and see if they¡¯re suitable!"


    "Whatever you pick is good, Chao Lian will definitely like it!"


    Sun Erhu had no doubts at all, just by looking at Brother Hong, he knew his sister-in-law¡¯s taste.


    In the past, Brother Hong used to be just like him, wearing two sets of clothes a season, with layers upon layers of patches on them, looking very countrified.


    Now, Brother Hong¡¯s clothing colors and styles were very nice; you couldn¡¯t tell he was a hunter at all.


    The shopkeeper gave a thumbs up, "These patterns have just arrived in our store, and the quality is good too, you definitely won¡¯t regret buying them."


    "Then you have to give me a good price," Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully as she blinked her eyes.


    The shopkeeper agreed readily, "You are a regular customer of ours, I definitely won¡¯t overcharge you, three hundred wen per bolt of cloth."


    He had given this price because of the beauty¡¯s face.


    After all, everyone has a desire to look good, but he was nearly forty years old, he was just appreciating her purely.


    "The price is fine, but you have to throw in a few extra pieces of cloth for my brother, so he can make some new shoes to marry his wife."


    Scraps are leftover corner and edge pieces from the fabric, perfect for making a purse or the upper part of shoes.


    The shopkeeper brought out a basket of scraps, "These are leftovers from making satin clothes, if you see anything you like, just take it."


    "Then I thank the shopkeeper," Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    Qiao Duo picked a few pieces of fabric with nice colors that were slightly larger.


    Chao Lian was skilled with her hands, and there would be hardly any waste of fabric in her hands, these pieces would probably be enough for her to make four pairs of shoes.


    After Qiao Duo finished picking, Sun Erhu paid the money promptly.


    The shopkeeper hesitated repeatedly but couldn¡¯t help but give Qiao Duo¡¯er a warning.


    "In the future, if you see the young lady from just now, remember to stay away. Her father is a close advisor to the Emperor, and he has quite the power!"


    Just now, a shop assistant in his store had accidentally offended that noble lady, and he was still sweating bullets over it.


    Qiao Duo took the advice seriously, "Thank you, shopkeeper, I will be careful."


    If that woman really had such a strong background, killing her and Sun Erhu would be as easy as crushing ants, and even if they were killed, they couldn¡¯t expect justice.


    In this world, the one with the higher office has the stronger argument.


    This is a helpless reality, and to live in this world, one must accept it.

 Chapter 509 - 512 Harvest Plentiful_1

    Chapter 509: Chapter 512 Harvest Plentiful_1Coming out from the Cloth Shop, Sun Erhu muttered, "The world really isn¡¯t fair, why didn¡¯t I get a good dad?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deeply shared the sentiment. Having a good dad meant that even if someone was good-for-nothing, they could still act high and mighty.


    Nonetheless, those were just words, and what mattered most was living one¡¯s own life well.


    They then went to the Silver Shop, where Sun Erhu personally picked out two sets of silver jewelry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, on the other hand, chose a gold necklace with a small heart-shaped gold inlaid jade pendant, exquisite and luxurious, meant to add to Chao Lian¡¯s dowry.


    Afterwards, they bought wedding cakes, wine, and other items, heaping the ox cart full to the brim.


    On the way back, Sun Erhu hummed a tune the whole time, the engagement ceremony was the day after tomorrow, the beam-raising ceremony in ten days, and the wedding would follow in another ten.


    In just a short twenty-some days, his life would be complete.


    Sun Erhu sang joyfully, but Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ears endured the hardship.


    Reason being, the person in question was tone-deaf, and everything he sang was noise. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er helped store the betrothal gifts inside a red lacquer chest, and had to cut out double happiness characters to stick on the chest and the doors and windows, not returning home until the sun was slanting westward.


    Not long after, Tan Zhenghong came back carrying his spoils of victory.


    Today he had a big haul; besides a female musk deer, he also caught a white fox, and several bamboo rats and wild chickens besides.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er beamed with joy upon seeing this. The mountain trip had netted at least Ten Taels of Silver.


    Awooo, if only she had known, she would have gone along too.


    First, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw to the wound on the female musk deer, then she sent it into its new home.


    Inside the new home was its new husband...


    The male musk deer, which had been battering walls all day, immediately approached, circling the shivering female musk deer a few times.


    The female musk deer cuddled into itself, making pitiful cries.


    But the male musk deer couldn¡¯t care less about that; it had been provoked all day and only wanted to do some naughty business as fast as possible.


    "Have some decency!" Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded.


    Hitting the fence all day and now forcing itself on someone, could it have any self-respect?


    However, the musk deer was intent on doing what it wanted to do, and Qiao Duo¡¯er, thoroughly ignored, could only turn red-faced and deal with the other game.


    The bamboo rats and pheasants were locked in cages, whereas the white fox had been shot dead and only its fur could be taken.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s plan was to make a fur collar or hand warmer for Qiao Duo¡¯er with the fox fur.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately refused, "Fox fur is precious, and I¡¯d be afraid of someone stealing it. Better to keep it for now, who knows when it might come in handy for something else."


    "As you decide," Tan Zhenghong said indulgently.


    After all, their clothing for this winter was sufficient, and the fox fur would at most be a luxurious extra.


    "Then you deal with it, and I¡¯ll go make something delicious to reward you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her mouth curving up.


    "Fox meat needs to be soaked in alkali water for a night, today I¡¯ll just slaughter a bamboo rat and stew it."


    Tan Zhenghong was influenced by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood, his tone much lighter.


    Stewing meat in the dead of winter with a sip of ginseng wine is truly one of life¡¯s great pleasures.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered the gift from Bai Yifan.


    Sitting at the desk, she propped her chin with both hands, feeling increasingly vexed.


    Pondering over it, she felt that it would be best to return the gift, yet doing so would be too damaging to her pride.


    Tan Zhenghong came out from the washroom to see his wife looking dejected.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    He walked behind Qiao Duo¡¯er and asked softly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er opened the rosewood box and said weakly, "Today I ran into Brother Bai San in town, and he insisted on giving it to me. I couldn¡¯t refuse it."


    "This is Young Master Bai¡¯s token of affection; you keep it for now. We¡¯ll remember this kindness and find an opportunity to return the favor later," Tan Zhenghong reassured her as he patted her shoulder. With the net worth of their household growing, they would certainly be able to repay the gesture.

 Chapter 510 - 513 Yin Gang’s Letter_1

    Chapter 510: Chapter 513 Yin Gang¡¯s Letter_1Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyebrows were still furrowed, as she couldn¡¯t help but feel that something was amiss in her heart.


    It felt as if accepting Bai Yifan¡¯s gift was like betraying Tan Zhenghong. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think your mindset isn¡¯t quite right now, you have to treat him as a regular friend first, only then can you interact with him normally," Tan Zhenghong advised.


    Now, Qiao Duo¡¯er was always on guard, thinking that Bai Yifan harbored amorous feelings for her, so no matter what Bai Yifan did, she remained wary.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "Aren¡¯t you angry?"


    "These are all good for your health, what do I have to be angry about? You can accept them with peace of mind; I¡¯ll shoulder the debt of gratitude for you. If you¡¯re still worried, after I¡¯ve taken care of the White Fox Fur, I¡¯ll send it to Old Lady Bai first."


    The White Fox Fur was very precious, especially the one from their household, the quality of which was considered top-notch.


    Even though it was much less compared to Bai Yifan¡¯s gift, it still represented their sincere intentions.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently nodded, "Then I¡¯ll do as you say."


    With Tan Zhenghong¡¯s words, she had made up her mind to really let go and not bother anymore.


    She was never good at social exchange to begin with, and now she found someone willing to handle it, which was something she could only hope for.


    Tan Zhenghong smiled lightly and said, "Then stop frowning, you¡¯re almost looking like an old lady."


    "You¡¯re so naggy, you¡¯ve already become an old man!"


    "Does that mean we¡¯re a perfect match?"


    "Only a fool would match with you, don¡¯t flatter yourself!"


    The two of them teased each other for a while before going to bed early.


    ...


    For fear of injuring the Mountain Muntjac today, Tan Zhenghong had pursued it for half an hour, which had thoroughly exhausted him, so he fell asleep after saying a few words.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quietly watched Tan Zhenghong, listening to his gentle breathing, and suddenly thought of the words she had said during the day.


    Tan Zhenghong was the most suitable person for her, as even their breathing was so in sync.


    It was as if it was destined by fate...


    At this moment, in the Yin Mansion.


    Although the surface was calm these past few days, those living inside could feel the tension and the air of drawn swords and crossbows.


    Ever since receiving Liang Hao¡¯s letter of divorce, Yin Yinyue was obsessed with revenge.


    Fearing she would bring disaster, Yin Zheng forbade her from involving herself in the Yin Family¡¯s business, which was also an opportunity for him to take back control of the household.


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s appetites had grown increasingly large, and if not properly checked in time, it would surely become a threat in the future.


    The problem was that the Yin Family¡¯s business had always been managed by Yin Yinyue. Without her, all sorts of problems cropped up every day.


    Particularly since he had made several wrong decisions in a row, which almost damaged the vitality of the Yin Family.


    After receiving the news from Yin Gang during the day, Yin Zheng became even more unsettled.


    Yin Gang said that there was an opportunity for him to become County Magistrate, and if he could seize it, his future career would definitely be smooth sailing.


    It would just require quite a substantial amount of silver in greasing the wheels.


    After much thought, Yin Zheng could only ask Yin Yinyue to help manage things for a while.


    Because Yin Yinyue knew better than anyone which funds could not be touched and which could be temporarily diverted for urgent use, and also because the Yin Family¡¯s loyalties lay with her.


    With her at the helm, the Yin Family would undoubtedly remain stable.


    Once he became County Magistrate, or even a higher official, he could take back control of the household.


    In light of the many years Yin Yinyue had worked like an ox for the Yin Family, he would give her a large sum of money, ensuring she would never worry about clothing or food for the rest of her life.


    "Yue¡¯er, your uncle has sent another message, saying he will make a move for me today and hopes we can contribute more. How much silver can our family still spare? I need to reply to your uncle," Yin Zheng asked with a sycophantic tone, his nervousness weakening his presence.


    The fact that he could stand there at all took a great deal of courage.

 Chapter 511 - 514 Not Even One Tael!_1

    Chapter 511: Chapter 514 Not Even One Tael!_1Because at Yin Yinyue¡¯s most painful moment, not only did her father fail to offer comfort, he also snatched away her power to manage the household.


    However, Yin Yinyue had no time to resent him.


    In comparison, Yin Gang¡¯s actions were even more detestable.


    Yin Gang could say all sorts of nonsense when he wanted Silver, but once the Silver was in his hands, he acted as if he had amnesia, completely forgetting his solemn promises, didn¡¯t he?


    Yin Yinyue frowned and asked, "Uncle has deceived you for so many years, why do you still believe his lies?"


    "Your uncle¡¯s rank has been rising, he must be getting busier and busier. How could he think about my affairs every day?"


    Yin Zheng defended his elder brother.


    Yin Gang was his blood brother; he wouldn¡¯t ignore him completely.


    The reason there had been no movement these years was that Yin Gang¡¯s official rank wasn¡¯t high enough to have a say in the Prefecture Office.


    But now, things had changed. Yin Gang had become the head of the Prefecture Office, and securing a position as County Magistrate for him would be a piece of cake.


    However, when he said these words, there was an obvious lack of confidence. Yin Zheng knew deep down how Yin Gang had treated him over the years.


    But besides Yin Gang, whom could he trust?


    Yin Gang was his own brother, surely more reliable than outsiders.


    "Then why hasn¡¯t he forgotten to come ask us for money? How much did we help him to secure his position as Magistrate? But what about him? Has he done a single thing for you over these years? Let alone taking you with him to rise in rank and wealth, he hasn¡¯t even sent a token gift!"


    Yin Yinyue asked without holding back, having suppressed these emotions for years.


    She had worked hard to manage the family business, yet in the end, a large portion of the profits went into someone else¡¯s pocket. How could she not be angry?


    Yin Zheng said with a stern face, "He¡¯s your uncle, you must not talk nonsense!"


    "Am I talking nonsense? If only my uncle would put in a little effort, you wouldn¡¯t have been stuck as an assistant to the County Magistrate for a thousand years!" said Yin Yinyue with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.


    If her father had any real power, not to mention borrowing a few pieces of Liang Hao¡¯s courage, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to write a divorce letter. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yin Zheng couldn¡¯t hide his embarrassment; this had always been a sore point he didn¡¯t want to talk about.


    The Master, subordinate to the County Magistrate, was forever suppressed.


    The bitterness of it was indescribable to others.


    Yin Yinyue resolutely said, "Starting this year, I will not give Uncle a single tael of Silver, and as a divorced woman, I¡¯m inauspicious, so I will no longer entertain him."


    "Yue¡¯er, your uncle said that this time it will definitely work out. Let¡¯s trust him one more time."


    Yin Zheng pleaded patiently, just in case it was true this time.


    Yin Yinyue sneered softly, "Let¡¯s wait until you become the County Magistrate. Then, I will present ten times the Silver."


    "Do you think all this maneuvering doesn¡¯t require Silver Coin? I¡¯m still in charge of this family. Just do as I say!"


    Yin Zheng invoked the authority of the head of the family, attempting to suppress Yin Yinyue.


    Yin Yinyue said with a cold laugh, "The Silver I¡¯ve given him in the past few years could buy the position of ten County Magistrates. Don¡¯t try to scare me. I have control over the Silver. If I don¡¯t want to hand it over, none of you can do anything about it."


    Yin Yinyue held her head high, her features filled with pride,


    After years immersed in the world of business, if she hadn¡¯t possessed some skills, she would have been thoroughly devoured by others leaving not even bones behind.


    As for Yin Zheng, he had no chance of bringing her down.


    Yin Zheng felt he had already been quite patient, but being repeatedly disrespected by his daughter, his anger was naturally uncontainable.


    He finally lost his temper, "Your uncle will come to the province for a visit in a month. If the Silver isn¡¯t ready by then, you can just get out!"


    After saying that, Yin Zheng stormed off.


    Yin Zheng, this is perfect for you!


    Yin Yinyue swiped the tea set from the table to the floor, taking several deep breaths to suppress her rage.

 Chapter 512 - 515 Double Return_1

    Chapter 512: Chapter 515 Double Return_1Autumn Water stood to one side, indignant. Even she, a mere maid, couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore.


    "Liang Hao is really too much. He doesn¡¯t treat Miss like his own daughter at all. Has he ever considered that if it weren¡¯t for Miss, the Yin Family could not have accumulated so much wealth?"


    Yin Yinyue bittered a smile. "In this world, apart from oneself, who else can be relied on?"


    Yin Gang only wanted to benefit from them and was not willing to give anything in return.


    Her father was single-mindedly intent on getting a promotion and treated her only as a tool for making money; he was also looking for the right opportunity to kick her to the curb.


    As for Liang Hao... he gave her nothing more than a letter of divorce.


    "Miss, you really should start looking out for yourself," Autumn Water said with sympathy.


    These past years, their Miss had neglected her husband for the sake of the Yin Family; otherwise, how could he have divorced her?


    But the Yin Family kicked her when she was down at her most desperate moment!


    Yin Yinyue closed her eyes and let out a light laugh, filled with desolation.


    After a while, she opened her eyes again, and only clarity remained in them.


    From now on, she would live only for herself.


    Autumn Water called out uneasily, "Miss, are you alright?"


    "What about the face mask powder you inquired about a few days ago?" Yin Yinyue replied, seemingly changing the subject.


    The cost of a box of face mask powder was no more than a Hundred Wen, yet it could sell for One or Two Silver¡ªa truly lucrative business.


    However, the ingredients in the face mask powder were complex, and it even included perfume to mask the smell of the medicinal powder. She had consulted many perfume masters and famous doctors, and they all said they could not replicate it.


    Autumn Water shrank her neck. "The face mask powder doesn¡¯t have a fixed storefront; it relies on word-of-mouth to do business. Our people haven¡¯t found a way in yet."


    "If you handle it yourself, you¡¯ll be handsomely rewarded if this matter is taken care of," Yin Yinyue said slowly.


    Xiang Bao Zhai¡¯s business was getting worse and worse, now relying on the face mask powder to make a comeback.


    Autumn Water nodded and said, "Miss, don¡¯t worry. I will report immediately once there¡¯s news."


    Yin Yinyue waved her away, and only after Autumn Water left did she knead her throbbing headache.


    She suddenly felt tired¡ªwhat use were those white and yellow substances? Even if there were mountains of gold and silver, they were still inanimate objects.


    She just wanted a husband who cherished her, wanted several adorable children.


    So that when she was tired, she¡¯d have shoulders to lean on, and someone would go out of their way to make her laugh.


    But it seemed she would never have this experience in this lifetime.


    Unwittingly, her thoughts turned to Liang Hao.


    Her original plan was to move back to Liang Mansion once her father was promoted and she was no longer needed to manage the business.


    However, the arrival of Qiao Duo¡¯er had shattered all her plans and fantasies about the future; yet Qiao Duo¡¯er was living carefreely with her man.


    Yin Yinyue clenched her fists. The suffering she endured today, she would one day seek from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡ªall of it!


    No, she would return it double!


    "Autumn Water!" Yin Yinyue called out.


    Autumn Water entered at the call, and respectfully asked, "Miss, what do you need?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and let them know to leave two bags of the goods for me; I need it urgently," Yin Yinyue ordered.


    "Miss, you can¡¯t use those goods to get angry. Should someone find out, it¡¯s a capital offense!" Autumn Water lowered her voice, hoping her Miss would be more level-headed.


    Yin Yinyue said impatiently, "Just go if I tell you to, no need for so much chatter. Tell Xuan Ling to be cautious."


    Autumn Water could only nod, silently thinking if she got the reward money, she would buy her freedom and quickly leave the Yin Family¡ªshe wanted to live a good life!

 Chapter 513 - 516: Engagement Part 1

    Chapter 513: Chapter 516: Engagement Part 1At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was sleeping soundly, completely unaware that a poisonous snake had set its sights on her.


    The auspicious day for Sun Erhu to present his betrothal gifts soon arrived, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong attended as the elder brother and sister-in-law.


    Six red lacquer chests were carried into the Lin Family home, causing Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s face to darken by the minute.


    While the betrothal gifts looked impressive, only two hangs of money, three livestock, and two jars of wine would end up in her hands; the rest were either for the neighbors or were to be added to Chao Lian¡¯s dowry.


    Especially the two sets of silver jewelry that were displayed before her, which were not hers to keep.


    Wasn¡¯t this intentionally making her unhappy?


    "Stop drooling over them; you¡¯re embarrassing yourself!" Lin Jinshun said in disgust.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan retorted discontentedly, "Go on then, buy me some if you¡¯re so capable. You don¡¯t have the ability to do anything but nag all day long!" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Jinshun glared at Jiang¡¯s Clan, but restrained himself from acting out due to the large crowd of onlookers¡ªit would not do to beat her today!


    His household had not been short of income these past years, but they had never had savings, certainly because it all went into feeding her endless desires.


    Yet Gua Po Niang had the audacity to belittle him for his lack of capability.


    The chests were neatly placed in the courtyard, almost all eyes drawn to the silver jewelry.


    "What kind of damned luck has Sun Erhu stumbled upon? An orphan who has neither father nor mother can actually afford two full sets of silver jewelry!"


    "Moreover, they¡¯re of substantial weight and attractive, those must cost a good deal of silver!"


    "Now I bet numerous families are kicking themselves for not marrying their daughters to Sun Erhu, thinking he was a penniless bum. They can only watch others bask in blessings now!"


    Given how much Sun Erhu spoiled his bride, not asking for a betrothal gift would still be worth it.


    "That¡¯s not necessarily true, someone like Jiang¡¯s Clan would never let Chao Lian leave with so many belongings; her two sons are counting on Chao Lian¡¯s betrothal gifts to get their own brides."


    "She wouldn¡¯t dare hold back Chao Lian¡¯s dowry even if you lend her the courage, for angering Chao Lian Niang is no joke!"


    "In any case, I don¡¯t think things will be peaceful¡ªJiang¡¯s Clan is not one to let things slide."


    "Whether it¡¯s peace or trouble, one can¡¯t hide from it."


    They were just there for the show and didn¡¯t mind if things got out of hand; after all, there was nothing to do at home during the cold winter months.


    Amidst all the chattering, Qiao Duo suddenly noticed something odd about the chickens.


    Even if their feet were tied, their heads should not be drooping like that.


    Upon closer inspection, the two chickens appeared to be dead.


    If that were the case, there would surely be those who would make a big fuss about it.


    Before Qiao Duo could react, Jiang¡¯s Clan began to shout hysterically, "Sun Erhu, what do you mean by this? If you don¡¯t want to marry my Chao Lian, just say it¡ªwhy bring such bad luck to us?"


    Presenting dead chickens as a betrothal gift was a serious taboo; how could she let this go?


    It wasn¡¯t that she thought Chao Lian deserved better, but this was an opportunity to extort Sun Erhu for more betrothal gifts.


    Alternatively, she could simply call off the engagement and find a wealthier family for Chao Lian, which would bring everything back under her control.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s voice was loud, and everyone¡¯s attention shifted to the chickens.


    Someone prodded them a few times, but the chickens did not react at all.


    The chickens were indeed dead, quite thoroughly at that.


    Chickens wouldn¡¯t die without reason¡ªthis was surely a divine warning.


    "If the chickens die before entering the household, it¡¯s a sign that even the heavens disapprove of the marriage. We should call off the engagement right now."


    "It¡¯s true; my relatives had the same omen before, and there was a death in the family that year."

 Chapter 514 - 517 Supporting the withdrawal from betrothal_1

    Chapter 514: Chapter 517 Supporting the withdrawal from betrothal_1Jiang¡¯s Clan said helplessly, "Chao Lian¡¯s birth mother has already agreed to this marriage; I am merely a stepmother, what say do I have?"


    "Even if I have to be the villain, there¡¯s no choice, I cannot knowingly invite disaster into our home."


    "Isn¡¯t there still Shun Zi? He¡¯s Chao Lian¡¯s birth father, and he could handle the cancellation of this engagement. Besides, how can the wishes of the deceased completely dictate a marriage?"


    "It¡¯s been many years since Chao Lian Niang passed away, and it¡¯s inevitable that judgments about people may be biased. If you are not confident, you can invite a Taoist to conduct a ritual, explain the cause and effect to her thoroughly."


    The crowd was buzzing with numerous voices, with nearly everyone supporting the annulment of the engagement.


    Because everyone looks for a good omen for a wedding, yet what happened at Erhu¡¯s House was bad luck right at the threshold."


    "What¡¯s the deal with the chicken?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly asked.


    "I had reserved it a couple of days ago and only got it this morning; it was still lively and jumping about just a moment ago."


    Sun Erhu was a bit panicked; he had checked over and over, so how could such a mishap have occurred?


    Tan Zhenghong consoled him, "Keep your wits about you; I¡¯ll see what¡¯s happened."


    After saying so, he headed toward the bamboo basket adorned with shuangxi, reached in, and quickly discovered the cause.


    The two chickens had been strangled to death, evident by one whose neck had been twisted and broken.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan urged, "Head of the family, won¡¯t you say something?"


    "Everyone is saying this is an ominous sign; what else could I say? I will go and discuss with Erhu how we¡¯ll call off the engagement," Lin Jinshun said, spreading his hands.


    The chicken died by itself; Chao Lian¡¯s mother cannot be blamed.


    Tan Zhenghong said in a deep voice, "The chicken was strangled by someone, and its body is still warm."


    So, it wasn¡¯t Erhu¡¯s negligence; someone did not want Erhu and Chao Lian to get married.


    "What do you mean by that? I haven¡¯t gone out at all today; I didn¡¯t even get close to the chicken when it was brought into the yard; there was no chance for me to act," Jiang¡¯s Clan quickly defended herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Ah Hong didn¡¯t say it was you, what¡¯s your hurry?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan indeed did not have the time to commit the act, but she just couldn¡¯t stand her look of taking delight in misfortune.


    "Being a stepmother is hard; besides this incident, you all must suspect me of meddling. Should I explain myself first?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan even wiped away a tear, seemingly truly distressed.


    However, no matter how much she cried, no one had sympathy for her; everyone could see how Jiang¡¯s Clan usually treated Chao Lian.


    Honestly, Jiang¡¯s Clan really did not have the right to say that being a stepmother is hard.


    The man carrying the dowry suddenly realized that the distance from Erhu¡¯s House to Chao Lian¡¯s House was just a few steps; the chicken was fine at Erhu¡¯s House, but dead by the time it reached Chao Lian¡¯s House, which made him the most suspect.


    Because only he had touched the chicken along that stretch of road.


    He quickly said, "I really don¡¯t know when the chicken died; Erhu and I get along well, I was happy for his engagement and would never harm him."


    "I trust Brother Cheng as a person; it¡¯s definitely not him," Sun Erhu said seriously.


    Today¡¯s dowry carriers were all personally chosen by him--they managed a certain level of camaraderie with each other.


    "So it must have been a dead chicken all along!" Jiang¡¯s Clan scoffed, "Folks, be clear on this, do not betroth your daughters to a man without parents. Bringing a dead chicken for an engagement, he has no sense of propriety whatsoever!"


    "Erhu is pitiable, with no parents to help him manage things; it¡¯s bound to be lacking."


    "That¡¯s why one must find someone with parents, preferably older people, to help oversee things; then such incidents would never happen."

 Chapter 515 - 518 As Compensation_1

    Chapter 515: Chapter 518 As Compensation_1"I didn¡¯t dare to relax a bit when my son was getting married," he said. "I was so afraid something would go wrong. It wasn¡¯t until I drank tea served by my daughter-in-law that I finally felt reassured."


    "Everyone goes through it. Alas, it¡¯s a pity this marriage didn¡¯t work out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er solemnly said, "This matter has not been clarified yet; don¡¯t talk nonsense."


    "What¡¯s there to clarify? Sun Erhu brought a pair of dead chickens; everyone saw it with their own eyes. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m falsely accusing him. Anyway, I disagree with this marriage!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan kept nagging, not knowing who had killed the chickens, but it suited her just fine.


    Given the chance, she would definitely have to thank that person properly.


    "Wife of Zheng Hong, this is heaven¡¯s wrath. We cannot go against it."


    "I know you are close to Erhu, but no matter how close you are, you can¡¯t act recklessly by following your emotions, or else if you invite disaster, no one will be able to bear the consequences."


    The voices of the crowd drowned out Qiao Duo¡¯er, rendering her retorts weak and pale.


    Ancient people were superstitious and firmly believed in divine retribution and the supernatural."


    Sun Erhu clenched his teeth and said, "Enough! Chao Lian is my wife!"


    He didn¡¯t care about good or bad omens; even if retribution came the next day, he would marry Chao Lian!


    "Why won¡¯t you listen to advice, child? A melon forced from its vine is not sweet; if you insist on marrying her, it won¡¯t end well!"


    "Yes, you are the only hope for Sun¡¯s Family. If something happens to you, how can you face your deceased parents? There are plenty of good girls in the world, why can¡¯t you pick another one?"


    Perhaps heaven was trying to save Sun Erhu. Everyone knew what Jiang¡¯s Clan was like; taking Chao Lian back home would be asking for trouble.


    When Erhu¡¯s House was being built, Jiang¡¯s Clan took her two children to scrounge for meals, complaining and picky. And if they really got married, what then?


    Sun Erhu couldn¡¯t help but tear up¡ªhe didn¡¯t want a good ending or a good girl; he just wanted Chao Lian.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan looked at Lin Jinshun, and seeing that he had no reaction, she pinched him.


    "Quick, call off the engagement. If Da Bao and Little Treasure come to harm, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life," Jiang¡¯s Clan reminded him.


    They had been husband and wife for years; she knew exactly where Lin Jinshun¡¯s weak spot was.


    The couple had longed and hoped for these two sons; if any misfortune that had been invited befell the boys, he would certainly never forgive himself.


    Lin Jinshun dared not hesitate any further and brought up the matter seriously.


    "This marriage arrangement ends here. Take these belongings back. From now on, our respective children will marry others; we shall have no further involvement."


    It was just a pity for such a good young man as Sun Erhu.


    Anyway, he thought Chao Lian would have been well-off with Sun Erhu, not having to suffer or toil, but in the end, they could only be described as destined yet not fated.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan pinched Lin Jinshun¡¯s arm again. How could he not have been utterly foolish?


    The items had already been brought to the Lin Family, and how could she possibly miss out on any advantage? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Erhu, you¡¯ve tarnished Chao Lian¡¯s reputation. I think it¡¯s best to leave the Copper Coin and jewelry as an apology," Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s eyes gleamed with greed.


    The two sets of silver jewelry were worth at least Ten Taels of Silver, and with the Two Hangs of Money for the betrothal gift, that made a total of Twelve Taels of Silver!


    If she could really get her hands on it, they would be set for the year.


    Come spring, if she married off Chao Lian, that would be another income of silver.


    With these two sums of silver, she could send Little Treasure to a private school to study, and who knew, he might even bring back some scholarly honor.


    "Erhu is still a child, and this incident has already been heartbreaking enough for him. How can you still have the nerve to ask him for compensation? Besides, the betrothal has only just been delivered, and your daughter hasn¡¯t lost anything."

 Chapter 516 - 519: Female Bandit_1

    Chapter 516: Chapter 519: Female Bandit_1"Yes, why must you be so hard on Erhu? He didn¡¯t want any of this to happen either."


    "Earning money isn¡¯t easy for anyone, and here you are, demanding so much Silver. Who could stand for that?"


    The crowd unanimously criticized Jiang¡¯s Clan; compensation was understandable, but making such outrageous demands was insane.


    Ten Plus Taels Silver would be enough for Sun Erhu to marry another bride!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan angrily retorted, "So none of you have daughters, is that it? You make it sound so simple. If it were your own daughters today, would you be pleased?"


    With dead items among the betrothal gifts, many would say Chao Lian was bad luck, and wealthy families would likely refuse to let her through their doors.


    This was a tremendous loss!


    "Pleased or not, who else would be as heartless as you?"


    "Are you standing up for Chao Lian¡¯s suffering or just trying to make money for yourself? Demanding Silver and jewelry like this, have you gone mad from poverty?"


    Aunt Luo, who had always had a grudge against Jiang¡¯s Clan, was the speaker.


    Back when her own son had taken a liking to Chao Lian, she had gone to propose marriage, only to be scorned by Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Now seeing Jiang¡¯s Clan behaving like this, she was even more contemptuous.


    At this moment, she was incredibly relieved that Jiang¡¯s Clan had driven her away; otherwise, her family would never know peace.


    "What¡¯s so great about you? You¡¯re just jealous because you don¡¯t have a daughter and you can¡¯t stand others¡¯ happiness," Jiang¡¯s Clan parried back defiantly.


    "I can¡¯t even stand the sight of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. Why should they stand in the road and obligingly receive Silver from passersby, while I¡¯m treated like I¡¯m having a hysterical fit?"


    Aunt Luo said with a laugh, for in her eyes, Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s behavior was no different from that of bandits.


    They were both cunning and greedy, wanting something for nothing. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud¡ªJiang¡¯s Clan really should join Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; she¡¯d surely be an excellent female bandit.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan stopped arguing with Aunt Luo and turned to Erhu, "Erhu, just say whether you agree or not."


    Sun Erhu clenched his fists. According to the rules of Big Willow Village, this affair was doomed.


    Had all his dreams for the future evaporated?


    He just wanted to get married. Why was it so difficult?


    "Erhu, you¡¯ve ruined Chao Lian. She¡¯ll certainly be looked down upon at her husband¡¯s house. I have to prepare a better dowry for her so she can stand tall and not be bullied," Jiang¡¯s Clan added, dropping the jaws of many present.


    Erhu was to prepare a dowry for Chao Lian?


    Wasn¡¯t that just twisting the knife in Erhu¡¯s heart further? Only Jiang¡¯s Clan could come up with such a wicked idea.


    "Shun Zi, why don¡¯t you control your wife? Do you hear what she¡¯s saying? It¡¯s outrageous."


    "No wonder they¡¯ve brought back Chao Lian Niang. Who would let their daughter suffer like this?"


    "Actually, I think there¡¯s some merit to it. It was Erhu¡¯s negligence. He harmed Chao Lian; he should consider her future."


    "What merit is there? The chicken¡¯s death was suspicious; maybe Jiang¡¯s Clan deliberately killed the chicken to have a reason to break the engagement!"


    "You¡¯re slandering me. I haven¡¯t even left the house today. How much skill would I need to kill a chicken from a distance?" Jiang¡¯s Clan swore that she had nothing to do with it; it wasn¡¯t her doing, and she couldn¡¯t admit to it.


    She also feared that engaging in such deeds would curse her future sons to be without posterity.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s gaze grew gloomier. Since he was destined not to be with Chao Lian, he would do his best to ensure she had a good life.


    As long as she lived well, he would do whatever it took.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly intervened, "You are Chao Lian¡¯s happiness. Are you truly content to leave Chao Lian to this woman and a stranger?"

 Chapter 517 - 520: Planning a Rebellion?_1

    Chapter 517: Chapter 520: Planning a Rebellion?_1Sun Erhu shook his head; he was certain he was the person in the world who loved Chao Lian the most.


    Anyone else would not give him peace of mind!


    "What do you want to do at Zheng Hong¡¯s Family? Are you satisfied only when you cause our death?" Jiang¡¯s Clan asked with a dark face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brow, and immediately Tan Zhenghong defended his wife, "What my wife says is the truth; who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind?"


    "I just want to earn some dowry money, is there anything wrong with that? I¡¯m not the only one selling off a daughter!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan opened this topic, now no one could say anything, right?


    At this moment, Chao Lian was already sweating profusely.


    She had been eagerly anticipating her wedding day, yet the result was everyone objecting to her marriage.


    She took several deep breaths before finally pushing the door open and stepping out. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I want to marry Brother Erhu," Chao Lian said, word by word.


    Her nature had always been gentle, but if she wasn¡¯t more assertive now, she feared she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    Having finally found someone she wanted to spend her life with, no matter the difficulty, she had to persevere.


    "Chao Lian, why did you come out?" Lin Jinshun demanded with a dark face.


    "It¡¯s only because customs have become more liberal now, if this were the previous dynasty, a shameless girl like you would be drowned in a pig cage!" Jiang¡¯s Clan said harshly.


    She wouldn¡¯t say she just wanted to scare Chao Lian into giving up this absurd idea.


    What was so great about Sun Erhu, a mere poor lad?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mocked coldly, "The previous dynasty is already decades past, and you still have such fond memories of it; do you have some inappropriate thoughts?"


    Like thoughts of restoring the old dynasty, a crime synonymous with rebellion.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan awkwardly said, "I was just speaking off the cuff; it doesn¡¯t count for anything."


    "You¡¯d still be better off watching what you say," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a hooked lip, her tone containing a hint of warning.


    The laws of the current dynasty were much more lenient than the previous one¡¯s, except in regard to controlling speech very strictly, where a small misstep could invite disaster.


    The situation bore an uncanny resemblance to the Literary Prison of history¡¯s past.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan fell silent, and Lin Jinshun could only stiffen his neck and lecture his daughter, knowing well that it was embarrassing for a man to deal with these kinds of domestic issues.


    "What¡¯s the meaning of a girl being so forward? Get back inside immediately!"


    If it had been before, Chao Lian would have obediently complied, but this matter concerned her lifelong happiness; she could not compromise.


    Chao Lian stubbornly stood her ground, her attitude still determined.


    Lin Jinshun couldn¡¯t help but complain, "I brought you into this house originally just to raise Chao Lian, and this is how you bring her up?"


    In the future, whenever people mention the Lin Family, they will immediately think of two people: Jiang Clan¡¯s Shrew, and the shameless Chao Lian, who couldn¡¯t wait to run out and cry for marriage.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan rolled her eyes at that, devoid of good spirit. Chao Lian wasn¡¯t her own flesh and blood; what expectations could she have for her being diligent?


    Not starving her to death was already an enormous mercy.


    Chao Lian pleaded once more, "Dad, please agree to my marriage with Erhu, whether it turns out for better or worse, I will bear it myself."


    "What if bad luck befalls our home? Do you want to kill your father, your mother, and your brother?" Lin Jinshun said angrily.


    Once Chao Lian married, she would be like the water that¡¯s been poured out; what did her situation have to do with him?


    He simply didn¡¯t want the retribution to fall on his own and his son¡¯s heads.


    Chao Lian said with a bitter smile, "Have you ever treated me like your daughter? You would be glad if this woman could make me someone¡¯s concubine or a secondary wife, so you would have a lot of silver."

 Chapter 518 - 521 Who is the Murderer?_1

    Chapter 518: Chapter 521 Who is the Murderer?_1Before Chao Lian could finish, a slap landed on her left cheek.


    "Chao Lian, are you okay?"


    Sun Erhu quickly steadied Chao Lian, his eyes filled with distress and guilt.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for him, how could Chao Lian have suffered such humiliation?


    Chao Lian shook her head: "I¡¯m fine, Brother Erhu, don¡¯t abandon me; I won¡¯t marry anyone but you."


    "Alright, I was wrong just now, I shouldn¡¯t have had such thoughts," Sun Erhu quickly nodded.


    How could he have had such a terrifying thought just now?


    Chao Lian and Sun Erhu, so tender and affectionate with each other, made many onlookers¡¯ hearts ache.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her eyes and said loudly, "Let¡¯s not talk about who killed this chicken for now, let¡¯s talk about the superstition that having a dead thing in the betrothal gifts is inauspicious. Look at the Three Livestock set besides the chicken and the goose, there are also a pair of pig heads. Are you saying the pig heads are alive?"


    The pig heads were bloody and dismembered; in comparison, the chicken was just a minor detail.


    "This is our custom; it¡¯s been this way for many years."


    "But can you really bear to break them apart over a single chicken? Erhu and Chao Lian are in love; shouldn¡¯t they be together?" Qiao Duo looked at the two dead chickens.


    She really didn¡¯t think that two chickens could change anything.


    Chickens were meant to be eaten anyway, and now that they were dead, it was even less trouble.


    Someone sighed, "It truly is a pity, but it¡¯s better than meeting misfortune later on. How sad would it be if they ended up with a broken home and lost lives?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like she was going mad with frustration at these outdated and fatalistic attitudes, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger.


    "These two chickens were strangled to death; someone did this deliberately to stop them from getting married. Why are you insisting on blaming Erhu and Chao Lian? Why don¡¯t you condemn the murderer?"


    "Is it because Erhu and Chao Lian are easy targets that you bully them at will?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over everyone present.


    If Chao Lian and Erhu were separated, everyone present today would be an accomplice to the crime!


    Tan Zhenghong also chimed in, "Earlier, Erhu had a fortune teller calculate their compatibility. If their zodiac signs were in conflict, Erhu definitely wouldn¡¯t have proposed. All of this was the work of the person who strangled the chickens. I ask everyone to give Erhu justice."


    Together, they managed to steer the public opinion back on track; just moments ago, everyone had been led astray by Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Sun Erhu wiped away his tears, "My fellow villagers, I will go back and have Master Yun Xu redraw our astrological charts, but right now, I beg you all to help identify the culprit. Otherwise, such incidents might happen again in the future."


    "That¡¯s true; if someone targeted Erhu today, it could be someone else¡¯s turn tomorrow."


    "But who could have had their eyes on those two chickens? How are we supposed to find the murderer?"


    Qiao Duo took off a pair of Silver Lilac earrings, "The murderer could only have had the opportunity to act after the betrothal gifts were brought out and before they reached the Lin Family, especially during the time when Erhu was paying respects to his ancestors. Everyone, please share any clues you might have. This is a token of my appreciation, and whoever provides a key clue will get these."


    The pair of Silver Lilac earrings weren¡¯t worth a fortune, but they were still quite valuable to the families of the rural community.


    "Wife of Zheng Hong, can you really be so generous?"


    "Are you truly willing to give away Silver Lilac for Erhu¡¯s marriage?"


    Many expressed their skepticism; the Tan Family had come into wealth recently, but even so, it didn¡¯t seem right to just give things away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er confidently responded, "Although I am a woman, I always keep my word. Besides, today Zheng Hong and I are here, acting on behalf of Erhu as his elder brother and sister-in-law, it is our duty to be concerned about Erhu¡¯s marriage." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s promise, everyone¡¯s enthusiasm was ignited.

 Chapter 519 - 522 Traces of a Spider and a Horse_1

    Chapter 519: Chapter 522 Traces of a Spider and a Horse_1"Could it be Lao Guang? I remember when Erhu was paying respects to our ancestors, Lao Guang said he needed to pee urgently."


    "Lao Guang is only interested in other men¡¯s wives, why would he want to strangle someone¡¯s chicken?"


    "Don¡¯t go smearing people without any proof. If I had strangled someone¡¯s chicken, would I still be here enjoying the drama?"


    Lao Guang looked at the person doubting him with disdain.


    As someone used to being a troublemaker, didn¡¯t he know the rule to run away quickly after causing mischief? If he hadn¡¯t run, he would have been beaten to death by the men long ago.


    "Shuanzi, you were there too. Could it be you who did it?"


    "What nonsense. Why would I strangle a chicken¡¯s neck? If you don¡¯t believe me, I can swear on my life that if I had done it, I wouldn¡¯t die a good death. Now do you believe me?"


    "You¡¯re harsh enough, I believe it wasn¡¯t you."


    Now they were at an impasse. Who could it be?


    Tan Zhenghong reminded everyone, "Think about it, the Silver Lilac was right there, whether you can get it or not is up to your skills."


    "At that time, everyone was just excited about the commotion, who would notice who wasn¡¯t there?"


    "And there were a bunch of kids spectating, chattering away¡ªit made my head hurt from the noise."


    "The key point is, who would have thought that someone would go strangle a chicken? I¡¯ve lived for decades and have never seen such a despicable act!"


    It¡¯s a sad story, the Silver Lilac was in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands, but they couldn¡¯t get it.


    While they were heatedly discussing, Qiao Duo¡¯er was busy observing everyone¡¯s facial expressions.


    But everyone seemed pretty calm, suggesting that no one was lying.


    Damn it, who the hell did this?


    Sun Erhu pleaded, "Sister-in-law, in all my life I¡¯ve only admired one person and that¡¯s you¡ªyou have to help me this time."


    "I... will do my best." Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t dare to make any guarantees.


    These days, without fingerprint technology or surveillance footage, if the perpetrator didn¡¯t come forward, her psychological tactics were utterly useless.


    Lin Jinshun said impatiently, "Can you all just finish up and take your things and go?"


    But right now, everyone wanted the Silver Lilac, and nobody had time to deal with Lin Jinshun.


    "Could it be those damn kids? Go and ask them, maybe they know something," someone suddenly said.


    Quite a few people sprang into action, pulling their kids aside to ask.


    "Think hard. If you can help win back that Lilac, I¡¯ll cook you braised pork. But if you can¡¯t remember, I¡¯m going to spank you."


    The child hemmed and hawed for a long time without naming anyone, then the woman smacked the child¡¯s bottom twice.


    The poor kid immediately started howling, "I don¡¯t know, I really don¡¯t know!"


    This was getting too frightening!


    "Why are you scaring the child like that? The kid says he doesn¡¯t know, hitting him more is useless!"


    "You don¡¯t know either. What right do you have to spank a child?"


    The woman withdrew her hand begrudgingly, but she was still disappointed with her child¡¯s ineptitude.


    But there is no wall in the world that doesn¡¯t let some wind through. If someone commits a bad deed, there will always be one or two people who notice something suspicious.


    An attentive girl said, "I heard Lin Xiaobao cursing Uncle Erhu, calling him a toad wanting to eat swan meat, and said many other nasty things. After cursing, he didn¡¯t play with us."


    "What nonsense are you spouting? Just because my Little Treasure wasn¡¯t playing with you means he¡¯s the culprit?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan glared fiercely at the girl.


    The girl¡¯s mother was not pleased: "My Da Nier didn¡¯t say anything. Why are you being so fierce to her?"


    sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 520 - 523: Making a Big Scene_1

    Chapter 520: Chapter 523: Making a Big Scene_1Isn¡¯t that a clear sign of a guilty conscience?


    The little girl said weakly, "Everything I¡¯ve said is true, my mother says that children who lie will be carried off by wolves."


    "I was just coming home, I didn¡¯t strangle any chickens, if you dare to spout nonsense again I¡¯ll beat you to death!"


    Lin Xiaobao waited for Da Nier, his big eyes filled with hatred.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly noticed the hand Lin Xiaobao kept behind his back, and she subconsciously yanked it out.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan had dressed herself neatly, but Lin Xiaobao was a mess, his clothes so dirty that their original color was indistinguishable, and his hands made Qiao Duo¡¯er involuntarily frown, they were simply... as if he had been grabbing manure.


    But that wasn¡¯t the point, the point was the wounds on his hand.


    They looked like they¡¯d been pecked by a chicken, with uneven fingernails still trapping tiny feathers.


    "Are you still planning to make a scene?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Jiang¡¯s Clan. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, she just happened to be standing in front of Lin Xiaobao, so the onlookers had no idea what had happened.


    She thought Lin Xiaobao was still a child and that he would need to get by in life; if Jiang¡¯s Clan could be reasonable, then she would let this matter slide.


    Chao Lian and Erhu¡¯s wedding would go ahead as planned, and everyone would be happy.


    But Jiang¡¯s Clan simply couldn¡¯t understand, did she think that Jiang would just give in? No way!


    Furthermore, if they let the situation calm down now, everyone would surely guess the reason, and she wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to explain.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan scoffed lightly, "Don¡¯t think that a mere scratch can convict someone, I could also say that it¡¯s because your marriage fell through that you are framing my Little Treasure!"


    Who can prove that Little Treasure was injured by the dead chicken? Who can prove that the feathers are from that dead chicken?


    Big Willow Village isn¡¯t only home to those two dead chickens, okay!


    "You shameless woman, you¡¯re not Sun Erhu¡¯s parents, what right do you have to meddle in our family¡¯s affairs?"


    Lin Xiaobao snatched his hand back and even started cursing at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Lin Jinshun, standing to one side, turned green with anger. Had he married a donkey?


    She was already given a way out gracefully, but she insisted on making a big scene; wasn¡¯t that just asking to be scolded?


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was at a loss for why no one was helping her accuse Qiao Duo¡¯er, instead, everyone was criticizing her and Little Treasure!


    "So vicious at such a young age, how will he turn out when he grows up?"


    "At that young age, how could he be so cunning? It must have been his mother¡¯s doing; she must be obsessed with getting Silver."


    "All said and done, it¡¯s Jiang¡¯s Clan who¡¯s the scoundrel, she doesn¡¯t even measure up to Chao Lian Niang."


    "If she were my wife, I¡¯d beat her till she submitted, and then she could preach all her grand principles."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was furious, "Little Treasure definitely didn¡¯t do this, on what ground are you accusing him? Why would you say I¡¯m the one behind this?"


    "Your family doesn¡¯t raise chickens; if Little Treasure didn¡¯t strangle the chicken, then he must have been stealing chicken eggs from another¡¯s house, which is still despicable. Either way, he¡¯s up to no good!"


    "If it wasn¡¯t you, then who was it? You¡¯re too malicious. Chao Lian¡¯s wedding is a joyous occasion. It would have been fine if you hadn¡¯t helped with the arrangements, but you actually sabotaged them!"


    "Watch it, I¡¯ll tear those rotten mouths of yours! Always gossiping blindly!"


    Just as Jiang¡¯s Clan and the crowd were arguing heatedly, Chen Yiling jogged into the courtyard.


    "Are you not finished yet? That¡¯s great, I thought I was too late!"


    Chen Yiling said cheerfully, and also gave Qin Longyun a glance, she was late again, all thanks to him!


    Last time Qin Longyun went somewhere he shouldn¡¯t have, and she really bossed him around for a few days, feeling marvelous as if Lord Qin was her personal servant, bodyguard, and coachman combined.

 Chapter 521 - 524: Upholding Justice_1

    Chapter 521: Chapter 524: Upholding Justice_1free¦Øebnov¨¥l.c?mUnexpectedly, her mother suddenly came to visit her, and her happy life immediately came to an end.


    Because, aside from hearing her mother lecture her daily about the grand principles of "three obediences and four virtues," she was often scolded.


    For things like not respecting her own husband, not understanding her own husband, and making a fuss over trifles.


    Alas, it made her feel the impulse to find a little wife for Qin Longyun.


    Finally, yesterday she managed to send her mother away, but no sooner had her mother left than she was dragged into the room by Qin Longyun, and the battle raged on until late into the night.


    Wuwu, her life was nothing but a capitalized tragedy.


    Chen Yiling suddenly realized something was off with everyone¡¯s expressions and asked in a lowered voice, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained succinctly and, upon seeing Lord Qin¡¯s expressionless face, couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips.


    She had already given Jiang¡¯s Clan a chance, but since they didn¡¯t cherish it, they could hardly blame her.


    "Lord Qin, he is wronged and wishes for you to make a judgment on his behalf," Qiao Duo¡¯er said urgently, pushing Sun Erhu in front of Qin Longyun.


    This was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of someone¡¯s power¡ªshe must not miss it!


    Sun Erhu looked bewilderedly at Qin Longyun, not knowing what to say for a moment.


    "What is the injustice?"


    Qin Longyun asked expressionlessly.


    After all, he had dined with Qin Longyun several times, but bystanders couldn¡¯t tell at all.


    It was then that Sun Erhu remembered what to say, "Today, I went to the Lin Family to deliver the betrothal gifts, and the chicken from the Three Livestock was found dead. The Lin Family deemed it an ill omen and requested to call off the marriage. I ask you, sir, to seek justice for me and find the murderer."


    He was quite the wit, speaking without letting anything slip.


    Qin Longyun nodded and personally examined the two chickens that had turned stiff, asking several basic questions.


    "It can be confirmed that the chickens were deliberately strangled to death, and the timeframe is between the start of Sun Erhu¡¯s ancestor worship and their arrival at the Lin Family. Anyone who had contact with these two chickens during this period could be a suspect,"


    Lord Qin analyzed calmly.


    "Lord Qin, Lin Xiaobao was pecked by the chicken, and there are feathers on his hand, the murderer must be him!" a man carrying the dowry quickly said.


    If he didn¡¯t make himself clear, he would end up at the Government Office.


    After thanking the man, Qin Longyun continued, "Who is Lin Xiaobao?"


    "He is my Child; he¡¯s still young. If you have any questions, please ask me," Jiang¡¯s Clan said, trembling.


    "Is what they said just now true?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan nodded, "Little Treasure indeed has chicken feathers on his hand, but he must have gotten them while chasing chickens at someone else¡¯s house. He¡¯s only five years old; how could he kill a chicken?"


    Qin Longyun said indifferently, "Be silent, Lin Xiaobao, step forward."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was anxious as hell, if Little Treasure revealed the truth, they were doomed!


    But Lord Qin had spoken, and she could only keep silent.


    Meanwhile, Lin Xiaobao hid behind Jiang¡¯s Clan, not even daring to show his head.


    "Lord Qin, Little Treasure is just a child, not used to such scenes and probably scared silly. Don¡¯t take it out on the child," Lin Jinshun bowed and said humbly.


    Qin Longyun acknowledged his oversight with good grace, "Indeed, it is the official¡¯s negligence that frightened the child."


    "You are too kind, sir," Lin Jinshun said, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.


    Could it just pass with a laugh? If so, he¡¯d have to rush to the temple to offer incense!


    Qin Longyun changed tack, "The Saint said, ¡¯Rather demolish ten temples than destroy a single marriage.¡¯ Let no one think that killing two chickens today is a small matter. These two chickens have ruined a family¡¯s marriage, and that is an unforgivable sin. I will thoroughly investigate this case and provide everyone with an explanation."


    S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 522 - 525: Never Dare Again_1

    Chapter 522: Chapter 525: Never Dare Again_1"For the first time, I think what he said about the ¡¯Saint¡¯ is very cool," Chen Yiling muttered softly.


    Lord Qin¡¯s eye twitched, but in order to maintain his image, he could only pretend he hadn¡¯t heard.


    Hmm... such a naughty Yi Ling would have to be dealt with at night.


    Sun Erhu said sincerely, "Thank you, Lord Qin, truly a good official who loves the people like his own children!"


    The others echoed one after another, "Lord Qin is wise!"


    Ever since Lord Qin took office, life has been much better for everyone: less exorbitant taxes and levies, no wrongful or mistaken cases, and even the bandits from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village who used to be so arrogant could only occupy a hilltop and live their humble little lives.


    Lord Qin also vowed that he would stay here as long as Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and Yin Zheng were not eliminated.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan and Lin Jinshun were the odd ones out, their eyes meeting in mutual anxiety.


    If Lord Qin wanted to investigate, it would only be a matter of time before he turned his attention to Little Treasure!


    "Bring them back to the Government Office," he ordered.


    Qin Longyun picked out several people, and Lin Xiaobao was among them.


    Lao Guang said with a cheeky grin, "My lord, I¡¯ll definitely cooperate well since I didn¡¯t do it anyway."


    He figured that this trip would take a few days, and wondered whether some women would be able to stand the loneliness.


    Lin Jinshun said with a forced smile, "Lord Qin, my Little Treasure is still young, I swear on my integrity, this matter is definitely not Little Treasure¡¯s doing."


    "Dont¡¯ worry, I will not employ corporal punishment on the child and will ensure that he is well taken care of," Qin Longyun said slowly. In fact, his main purpose was to capture Lin Xiaobao, the others were just a formality.


    Lin Jinshun couldn¡¯t help but pinch himself. If he didn¡¯t agree now, wouldn¡¯t that make him appear guilty?


    All he could say to Lin Xiaobao was, "Little Treasure, don¡¯t be afraid. Once you get to the Government Office, just answer whatever the official asks you. Rest assured, Lord Qin is a good man and will definitely not wrong you."


    Lin Jinshun spoke cryptically, hoping Little Treasure would understand his hint.


    Lin Xiaobao clung to his father¡¯s clothes, "I don¡¯t want to go, I want to stay at home."


    "Little friend, please come with me," the Government Official said as gently as possible, afraid of scaring the child.


    But it was strange not to frighten the child when one hand held a knife and the other was reaching out to grab him.


    "Mom, save me, I don¡¯t want to be caught!"


    Finally, Lin Xiaobao couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and burst into tears.


    Being taken to the Government Office meant being punished with a wooden board and being locked up; he didn¡¯t want that at all!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan wiped her tears, "Little Treasure, be good. As long as you didn¡¯t strangle the chicken, you can come back immediately."


    Her intention was for Lin Xiaobao to deny everything, but Little Treasure was only five years old. How could he understand the deeper meaning?


    His understanding was, if you strangled someone¡¯s chicken, you won¡¯t be coming back!


    "Mom, save me, I know I was wrong, I won¡¯t dare to strangle someone¡¯s chicken again, help, I don¡¯t want to be beaten! I don¡¯t want my fingers pinched!"


    Lin Xiaobao cried pitifully, but it didn¡¯t arouse any sympathy.


    The Government Official asked hesitantly, "My lord, do we still need to investigate this case?"


    "You may leave," Lord Qin waved his hand, he hadn¡¯t actually planned to make a big fuss and drag a bunch of people to the Government Office. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sure enough, just as he expected, Lin Xiaobao confessed to everything when he was intimidated.


    "Why did you strangle someone¡¯s chicken?" Qin Longyun asked according to the regulations; he needed to understand the motive behind the crime.


    "Isn¡¯t it because of Sun Erhu? He wouldn¡¯t even give a dowry, and I don¡¯t want my sister to marry him!"

 Chapter 523 - 526 Is He Causing Trouble?_1

    Chapter 523: Chapter 526 Is He Causing Trouble?_1Jiang¡¯s Clan wanted to cover Little Treasure¡¯s mouth, but she was ultimately a step too slow.


    Little Treasure¡¯s shameless remarks made the onlookers curse under their breath, could he be any more brazen?


    "The betrothal gifts alone are worth several taels of silver, yet he says he begrudges the betrothal gifts? Could Little Treasure¡¯s brain be sick?"


    "Like mother, like son, it¡¯s no surprise given what Jiang¡¯s Clan is like."


    "What do you know? The betrothal gifts may look splendid, but the bulk of it goes out with Chao Lian. Didn¡¯t you see Jiang¡¯s Clan just now, trying to keep the jewelry for herself?"


    "Could it be that Little Treasure and Jiang¡¯s Clan have colluded?"


    Some among the crowd raised their eyebrows, what is there not to understand about this spectacle?


    Little Treasure¡¯s just a child who pisses under him, and if he¡¯s already thinking about wringing chicken necks, what¡¯s to stop him from murder and robbery in the future?


    So it must surely be Jiang¡¯s Clan who is pulling the strings from behind.


    But in fact, it was Little Treasure himself who did it. Even Jiang¡¯s Clan only found out after seeing the wound pecked by the chicken.


    With his neck outstretched, Little Treasure said, "My sister was raised by my mother. How could Sun Erhu offer my mother only this much money? Why would my mother agree to this marriage? She could sell a pig for a good sum of silver!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He suddenly felt justified, and his earlier fear was now gone without a shadow.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan and Lin Jinshun were kneeling on the ground, both could not stop trembling.


    "Lin Qiaolian is Little Treasure¡¯s older sister, how can you tolerate such insolence from him?"


    Chen Yiling said discontentedly, an elder sister is like a mother, and Little Treasure¡¯s nonsense was a form of filial disobedience.


    Lin Jinshun steeled his heart and slapped Little Treasure across the face.


    "What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat? Your sister raised you single-handedly, how could you talk about her that way? Kneel down and apologize now!"


    Lin Jinshun used half of his strength for the slap, Little Treasure¡¯s face immediately turned red.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was heartless, but without making it look serious, he had no way to explain to Lord Qin.


    Little Treasure covered his face, crying and saying, "I¡¯m not wrong, that¡¯s what my mother told you. Why don¡¯t you hit her and hit me instead?"


    Now, the Lin Family¡¯s reputation was completely sold out by Little Treasure.


    Turns out Lin Family raised Qiaolian just like raising a pig, just to exchange her for silver.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan, such greedy women like her deserve to have an ungrateful child like Little Treasure. Otherwise, how could you say that those who do not belong in the same family do not enter the same door?


    However, what goes around comes around. Jiang¡¯s Clan has Little Treasure to deal with, and Little Treasure will not end up with a good outcome.


    "If I tell you to shut up, then don¡¯t speak! I think you¡¯re just asking for it, deserving a good beating!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan made a show of hitting Little Treasure a couple of times. Little Treasure was bound to receive a beating today. If she did it herself, she could control the strength and at least not end up harming Little Treasure too badly.


    Little Treasure was beaten until it hurt, so he knelt silently beside his parents without a word.


    Yet he still didn¡¯t feel he was in the wrong, the one at fault was Sun Erhu.


    If Sun Erhu weren¡¯t so rich and stingy, not willing to give a bigger betrothal offering despite affording a house, lands, and jewelry, would he have strangled those chickens?


    "Lord Qin, Little Treasure is still a child, he was just being playful for a moment, please give him another chance!"


    Lin Jinshun was finding it hard to speak fluently.


    Qin Longyun stroked his chin, "This matter is of a vile nature, it can¡¯t simply be overlooked as child¡¯s play."


    "Shun Zi, didn¡¯t you just vouch for your son with your personal integrity, saying it wasn¡¯t Little Treasure who did it? How come now it¡¯s become a matter of being playful?"


    Someone couldn¡¯t help but say mockingly.


    Lin Jinshun was choked up and had no way to explain.


    "Lord Qin, this must be severely punished. Otherwise, other children may think that killing a chicken is as trivial as playing. If they all follow suit, what are we to do?"

 Chapter 524 - 527: Fine_1

    Chapter 524: Chapter 527: Fine_1Qin Longyun nodded, "Everyone be at ease, I will handle this properly and prevent such incidents from happening again."


    Jiang¡¯s Clan pushed Lin Xiaobao forward, "Quickly admit your fault, say you won¡¯t dare to do it again, and ask the Lord to spare you this time."


    "Hurry and admit your fault, or else they¡¯ll throw you into the big jail."


    Lin Jinshun lowered his voice to warn, and glanced at the Government Officials next to him, who were just about to make an arrest.


    Lin Xiaobao quickly bowed his head, "I won¡¯t dare to do it again, Lord spare my life, please!"


    Now he had only one thought, and that was not to be captured.


    "Sabotaging someone else¡¯s marriage is a serious crime, deserving of ten heavy beatings, but considering that Lin Xiaobao is still a child, he is to apologize to Sun Erhu and compensate five hundred wen," Qin Longyun firmly pronounced his judgment.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan finally breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Xiaobao was alright, it was all good.


    But she soon felt the pinch; just for pinching two chickens she had to compensate five hundred wen, wasn¡¯t she at a huge loss?


    "Lord Qin, those chickens were originally gifts for our house, it would¡¯ve been fine to just accept them as dead," Jiang¡¯s Clan said with a forced smile.


    Qin Longyun glanced at Jiang¡¯s Clan, "Are you questioning the judgment of this official?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan shrunk her neck and dared not speak again, rushing to take out five hundred wen from the two strings of money Sun Erhu had sent and handed them over to Sun Erhu.


    "Erhu, don¡¯t be too hard on Xiaobao, let¡¯s pretend today¡¯s incident didn¡¯t happen," Jiang¡¯s Clan said through gritted teeth.


    She was nearly infuriated to death!


    She thought she would be able to extort a large sum of silver, only to find out she was the one who ended up losing money!


    Damn it, she didn¡¯t even know what Qin Longyun was doing here! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today, the Lin Family lost face completely, and after the issue was resolved, they hid inside their house, wishing never to come out again.


    "Lord Qin is wise!"


    The villagers exclaimed in unison, genuinely pleased that the matter was resolved so satisfactorily.


    And Qiao Duo¡¯er fulfilled her promise, which was to give the Silver Lilac to the person who provided the crucial clue, which turned out to be the girl nicknamed Da Nier.


    "Thank you so much, if it weren¡¯t for you, we might not have found the culprit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sincerely thanked her, if it weren¡¯t for this clever girl, who would have thought of Lin Xiaobao?


    Da Nier¡¯s mother tried to give the lilac back to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "We can¡¯t accept this; my child just casually mentioned it, it doesn¡¯t count."


    "Sister-in-law of Niu Er, don¡¯t refuse it, it¡¯s what you deserve, but since Sister-in-law Hong helped me, I can¡¯t let her incur costs, can I convert it to a hundred wen for you?"


    Sun Erhu handed a string of coins to Da Nier¡¯s mother.


    For ease of counting, the copper coins were strung together with red string, a hundred to a string.


    Da Nier¡¯s mother felt a bit uneasy; her daughter hadn¡¯t helped much, but they were giving her a hundred wen, and she couldn¡¯t reconcile that with her conscience.


    Although her family didn¡¯t have much, she knew not to unjustly take what belonged to others.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helped to persuade her, "This is a reward for your family, sister-in-law, just accept it with peace of mind, and you can buy something nice for your daughter to eat and play with."


    With some others chiming in, the woman finally accepted the copper coins.


    "Brother Erhu, Duo¡¯er, thank you in advance," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently noted the woman, thinking that anyone who could remain this level-headed in the face of silver surely had good character, and she could call on her for help in the future.


    With Lord Qin present, no one dared to stay long. Lord Qin was a good official, but he was also known for his strictness and chill, so they quickly returned to their homes.


    Before long, the Lin Family¡¯s courtyard was quiet once more.

 Chapter 525 - 528: Jiang’s Clan Gets Beaten Up_1

    Chapter 525: Chapter 528: Jiang¡¯s Clan Gets Beaten Up_1Sun Erhu bowed deeply to the people who had helped him; he didn¡¯t know what he would have done without them today.


    Before he could speak, Chen Yiling understood and said, "Everyone knows you¡¯re not one for sweet talk, so hurry back, butcher some meat and serve some drinks, and let your wife go cook for us."


    "Wife, is that okay?" Sun Erhu leaned over to Chao Lian and asked.


    Chao Lian blushed and said, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense; I¡¯m not your wife yet."


    Chen Yiling smiled slyly and then gave Sun Erhu a push, sending him closer to Chao Lian.


    "Don¡¯t be shy, you¡¯ll be getting married soon. You need to practice now, or it¡¯ll be hard to get into character when the time comes."


    As someone with experience, Chen Yiling had quite a bit of wisdom to share.


    When she got married, it was her first time meeting Qin Longyun, and the wedding night was nearly an awkward death for her.


    Back then, Divine Martial Lord Qin was flustered and ended up not consummating the marriage that night.


    They slept in their clothes, and, being strangers to each other, caused many laughably absurd incidents.


    She guessed that was probably the most embarrassing night of Lord Qin¡¯s life.


    Chao Lian bit her lip, her pretty cheeks almost seemed to bleed.


    "Erhu, hurry up, I am about to die of hunger!" Chen Yiling protested unhappily.


    In fact, she wanted to say that flirting could be done in secret later on.


    Since the Lady of the County had spoken, Chao Lian didn¡¯t dare delay any longer and immediately followed to Erhu¡¯s house.


    When Jiang¡¯s Clan came out to pour water and heard the laughter and joy outside, she gritted her teeth in hatred.


    "Shameless!" she muttered under her breath.


    People say bad luck follows when the couple meets before the wedding; she wanted to see what miserable fate would befall that wretched Chao Lian!


    Lin Jinshun looked at Jiang¡¯s Clan with disdain, and she immediately bristled: "What are you looking at? Did I say something wrong? She hasn¡¯t even married and she¡¯s already running to a man¡¯s house; she¡¯s the one without shame, true to your blood, just like you!"


    "Shut your mouth; your son is no good either!"


    Lin Jinshun raised his voice, his anger rising. Would so many problems have arisen today if it weren¡¯t for Lin Xiaobao?


    But there was Jiang¡¯s Clan, still finding the time to criticize others.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan clenched her teeth and clawed Lin Jinshun¡¯s face, who was not one to take it lying down and started fighting back.


    He had had enough of these pathetic days over the years!


    Before, he doted on Jiang¡¯s Clan because she was new to marriage and quite beautiful, which he valued greatly, but after looking at her for so long, she just seemed so-so; nasty-tempered to death, he naturally hit a little harder.


    Lin Jinshun, fearing a spectacle, took Jiang¡¯s Clan back inside and kept covering her mouth, so the people outside couldn¡¯t hear any noise from inside.


    Well...even if they heard, so what?


    Probably a lot of people in Big Willow Village thought that Jiang¡¯s Clan deserved a good sorting out a long time ago.


    Chao Lian was quick to act; it didn¡¯t take long for her to prepare a table full of dishes.


    With the big event in his life settled, Sun Erhu was in good spirits, and with a few good friends accompanying him, he accidentally got rather drunk.


    "Chao Lian, take good care of Erhu; Lord Qin and Zheng Hong also drank quite a bit. We¡¯ll take our leave first," Qiao Duo said to Chao Lian with a wink.


    Chao Lian nodded hurriedly: "Erhu is really drunk; I won¡¯t see you out."


    Qiao Duo had no objections; that¡¯s exactly what she had intended, to give them time alone.


    After Qiao Duo and the others left, Chao Lian said softly, "Erhu, shall I take you to your room to sleep?" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Erhu immediately shook his head: "You have to sleep with me!"

 Chapter 526 - 529_1

    Chapter 526: Chapter 529_1Chao Lian¡¯s face turned a shy red as she playfully chastised, "You really just spout nonsense!"


    "I just want to sleep with you, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m too drunk to do anything but want to hold you as I sleep," Erhu said, scratching the back of his head.


    Before Chao Lian could react, Erhu had hoisted her up and carried her straight to the bedroom.


    Chao Lian called out nervously, "Put me down quickly!"


    "If you keep shouting, someone else will hear," Erhu kindly reminded.


    Chao Lian punched her fists into Erhu¡¯s shoulder a couple of times. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that Erhu seemed quite sober¡ª


    He was even flirting with a girl!


    Once in bed, Erhu obediently fell asleep, but his arm kept Chao Lian firmly in his embrace, preventing her from moving.


    What he said was true; every time he drank too much, a certain part of him would be too weak to do anything but sleep.


    Chao Lian tried to push him away, but after trying twice and getting nowhere, she resigned herself to nestling in Erhu¡¯s arms.


    She too fell asleep before long, and when she woke up, Erhu was gazing intently at her. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I... How did you wake up?"


    Chao Lian averted her eyes, unable to face Erhu directly.


    They weren¡¯t married yet, but they had already slept together. Surely, Erhu must think she was an easy woman.


    Erhu chuckled softly before replying, "I was awoken by someone¡¯s laughter. Wife, does it feel blissful to sleep in my arms?"


    In a room with just the two of them, the "someone" Erhu mentioned was evidently clear.


    Biting her lip, Chao Lian didn¡¯t know what to say.


    "You don¡¯t know how lonely I¡¯ve been these years, eating alone, sleeping alone, but all that¡¯s going to change now. You¡¯ll always be by my side, right?" Erhu gazed intently at Chao Lian.


    His anxious eyes tugged at Chao Lian¡¯s heartstrings, and she found herself nodding involuntarily.


    As long as Erhu was willing to stay with her, she would always be by his side.


    Because Erhu was the first person to make her feel happiness.


    Erhu stole a kiss on Chao Lian¡¯s cheek. "Thank you for giving me a home. I swear I¡¯ll only love you for the rest of my life," he declared.


    Chao Lian pursed her lips and nodded seriously once more.


    Erhu¡¯s mood was buoyant, and he planted a couple more kisses on Chao Lian, his drunkenness gone, as a certain part of him began to stir.


    Chao Lian often heard the married women utter lewd jokes while she was washing clothes by the pond. Having heard them often, she understood bits and pieces about the matters between men and women.


    Suddenly springing up from the bed, Chao Lian said, "It¡¯s really late, I need to go home."


    Erhu hurriedly reined in his desire. He didn¡¯t want to scare her away with his shyness.


    Moreover, they weren¡¯t married yet, and if he hurriedly took liberties, it would tarnish Chao Lian¡¯s reputation.


    Chao Lian quickly put on her shoes and straightened her clothes in a fluster.


    Throughout the process, Erhu just lay there propped on his arm, watching. This was the feeling of home, wasn¡¯t it?


    When Chao Lian finished, she lowered her head and said, "I¡¯m going home now. Heat up the leftovers from lunch tonight, and if I¡¯m free tomorrow, I¡¯ll make you something fresh."


    "I know. Also, take a bundle of firewood from my woodshed on your way back so you¡¯ll have an explanation," Erhu winked.


    Chao Lian rolled her eyes dramatically and trotted off.


    Erhu had thought it through; she hadn¡¯t gone home all afternoon, and if she returned now without anything, Jiang¡¯s Clan would surely gossip about her.


    There were just twenty more days till the wedding. They couldn¡¯t afford any more mishaps.

 Chapter 527 - 530: Owner Xuan San_1

    Chapter 527: Chapter 530: Owner Xuan San_1Yin Mansion.


    Yin Yinyue was scrutinizing Xiang Bao Zhai¡¯s account books by the lamplight, her headache magnified by the steadily declining business turnover.


    The only way to save Xiang Bao Zhai now was the facial mask powder.


    As far as she knew, many Madams and young ladies were inquiring about it, and if Xiang Bao Zhai could take the lead, why worry about future business? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In these times, women hardly ever stepped beyond their thresholds, and becoming beautiful was their lifelong pursuit; they would certainly buy it even if the price went up to ten tales per box from merely one or two tales.


    However, Autumn Water had been searching for days and still hadn¡¯t found the vendor of the mask powder.


    There was also no reply from Xuan Qing¡¯s side regarding the request for goods, and her father was pressing her more urgently to disburse some silver.


    Thinking of these troubles, Yin Yinyue picked up her teacup.


    "The tea is cold, and it¡¯s not good for a woman to drink it,"


    a deep and magnetic male voice resonated in the room.


    Heeding his words, Yin Yinyue set down the teacup and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"


    Her eyes remained fixed on the account books, masking the irritation simmering within her.


    In front of this man, she would not show the slightest bit of weakness, for he had only ever mocked her.


    If she had known what he was like, she would never have saved him in the first place!


    "Could it be that my face is not pleasing to your eyes?" the man leaned in close to Yin Yinyue.


    Although a bit older and his status not presentable, many women still cried to marry him just for his looks.


    Why didn¡¯t it work on her?


    He sighed. Whether she had any taste at all remained a mystery.


    Yin Yinyue looked up briefly. Annoying as he was, his face was undeniably captivating.


    With every glance came a different amazement.


    He looked like a young scholar with delicate features, especially his smiling phoenix eyes.


    Nobody would guess that this face belonged to the Third Master of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, Xuan Qing.


    But not many had seen his true face, for he favored wearing a silver mask.


    Yin Yinyue quickly composed herself and said indifferently, "Since you have seen it, Master Xuan San, please leave if there¡¯s nothing else."


    She lowered her eyes back to the books, clearly signaling she was busy.


    "Without any child, to whom do you plan to leave your hard-earned family business? Miss Yin, you may be willing to give selflessly, but the Yin Family won¡¯t reciprocate your dedication."


    Xuan Qing raised his eyebrows, his tone asking for a punch.


    He was not part of the Yin Family, yet he was well informed about everything happening there.


    Yin Yinyue took a deep breath. Based on experience, the more she entertained him, the more relentless Xuan Qing would be.


    Using his folding fan, Xuan Qing lifted her chin, examining her closely.


    He said with regret, "Look at this face, truly a fading beauty. Try this; it might still be salvageable."


    "What is this?"


    Yin Yinyue dodged his fan and leaned back, as if to keep some distance from the gift.


    Knowing Xuan Qing¡¯s character, could he offer anything worthwhile?


    Xuan Qing¡¯s face darkened instantly. He was a bandit, indeed, but never had he done anything detrimental to Yin Yinyue.


    In fact, he had assisted with many matters that she couldn¡¯t handle directly.


    Considering how she had always been cold towards him, he came to terms with her attitude.


    Xuan Qing unwrapped the outer layer to reveal an exquisite box.


    "This was hard to come by, facial mask powder. I heard your people were searching like headless flies, so I brought it to you."


    Yin Yinyue picked up the rosewood box and indeed found the mark of "Duo Meifang."

 Chapter 528 - 531: Strong, Superior_1

    Chapter 528: Chapter 531: Strong, Superior_1This mark comes from the hands of the woodcarving genius, Wind Liyang; each mark was personally carved by him, impossible to replicate by others.


    "How did you find it?" Yin Yinyue finally revealed a genuine smile.


    Xuan Qing said proudly, "As long as I want to find something, there¡¯s nothing in this world that I can¡¯t find. The day after tomorrow afternoon at Ruyi Tea House, I¡¯ve already arranged the meeting for you."


    The rest was up to Yin Yinyue; with her abilities, she was definitely capable of getting the job done.


    Yin Yinyue furrowed her brows, "Why not tomorrow?"


    "Yue¡¯er, don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m a bandit. You¡¯d do best to speak politely to me."


    Xuan Qing gently caressed Yin Yinyue¡¯s cheek. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had grown haggard over this time; more than a decade had passed, and the years had left many traces on her face, but in his heart, she remained as the first time he saw her.


    Back then, when he was being tortured under severe questioning and thought he was surely going to die, Yin Yinyue appeared.


    She, who had just gotten married, came to find Yin Zheng, pleading with him to stop the torture, and even secretly sent medicine for his injuries.


    His life had been saved by her, and he had remembered it all these years.


    Thinking that Yin Yinyue had been divorced, Xuan Qing¡¯s face drew closer and closer.


    Just as he was about to kiss her, Yin Yinyue covered his mouth with her hand, and coquettishly scolded, "Scoundrel!"


    Thinking about how she had almost been intoxicated by Xuan Qing¡¯s gaze, she couldn¡¯t help but get angry.


    Didn¡¯t she know that Xuan Qing was only toying with her?


    Because of Liang Hao, she had become unreasonable, like an ignorant, quarrelsome mistress of a deep house, still with the appearance of a wilted flower. How could she catch Xuan Qing¡¯s eye?


    "Don¡¯t refuse me."


    Xuan Qing¡¯s gaze was hazy, and his warm breath was all sprayed onto Yin Yinyue¡¯s palm.


    Yin Yinyue tensed her body, "Keep away from me. If you¡¯re in need, I can send someone to find you a few girls."


    "How could those women compare to you?"


    Xuan Qing, a martial artist, easily twisted Yin Yinyue¡¯s hand behind her back, and his cool lips pressed down soon after.


    Yin Yinyue tried to break free, but all resistance was subdued by Xuan Qing.


    Skilled like one who had traversed fields of flowers, it didn¡¯t take long before Yin Yinyue¡¯s breathing became heavy.


    After the kiss, Yin Yinyue said angrily, "Enough, Xuan Qing! I¡¯ve been divorced, and you¡¯ve seen how humiliated I am. Are you satisfied now? Get out, I don¡¯t want to see you!"


    "That¡¯s not enough; I want more," Xuan Qing said with a mischievous smile.


    With a slight movement of his fingers, Yin Yinyue found herself unable to move.


    "You shameless, what on earth do you want to do?" Yin Yinyue¡¯s eyes widened in alarm.


    "Since you¡¯ve called me shameless, of course, I must do some shameless things," Xuan Qing¡¯s gaze fell on the carved bed.


    His goal was simple: to possess her body, until she fell in love with him.


    Realizing Xuan Qing¡¯s intent, Yin Yinyue said angrily, "Are you even a man?"


    The corners of Xuan Qing¡¯s mouth lifted; he was determined, and nothing Yin Yinyue said would matter.


    He had indulged this woman for over a decade; had she been happy, that would have been the end of it, but what had she turned herself into?


    On the carved bed, Xuan Qing used all his expertise to please Yin Yinyue.


    To prevent Yin Yinyue from uttering any more mood-killing words, he simply sealed her mute point, now he could do as he pleased.


    When Yin Yinyue began to submit to the pleasure, he was ready for a heartfelt exchange between them.


    "Your eyes are as wide as copper bells. Got something to say?"


    Xuan Qing asked leisurely; the night had only just begun, and he was quite willing to tease Yin Yinyue first.

 Chapter 529 - 532 Enjoy Yourself_1

    Chapter 529: Chapter 532 Enjoy Yourself_1Yin Yinyue blinked her eyes, signaling Xuan Qing to release her acupuncture points.


    Xuan Qing nodded, "I can untie them for you, but you¡¯d better think carefully about what you should and shouldn¡¯t say, or else don¡¯t blame me for not being merciful."


    By the time he had finished speaking, Yin Yinyue had already regained her freedom.


    Yin Yinyue took a deep breath, "Why me?"


    "You¡¯re not an unmarried girl, what¡¯s the big deal about sleeping together?" Xuan Qing said irritably.


    Was he really so detestable? Why did she have to look as if her father had just died?


    Hadn¡¯t he done enough for Yin Yinyue over the years?


    Yin Yinyue bit her lip and resorted to her ultimate tactic, which was to stop talking to Xuan Qing.


    But this time, Xuan Qing didn¡¯t just let it go and instead reached under her robe.


    "You still say you don¡¯t want it? Or do you want to remain chaste for the man who abandoned you? I heard that Liang Hao has already found someone else, you mean nothing to him, so why do you treat him like a treasure?"


    Xuan Qing, biting Yin Yinyue¡¯s earlobe, spoke indistinctly.


    Yin Yinyue said word by word, "It has nothing to do with you."


    Seizing the moment when Xuan Qing was lost in thought, Yin Yinyue quickly pushed him away and jumped out of the bed, preparing to escape.


    Xuan Qing gritted his teeth; she was in his bed and thought she could escape?


    Now was the best time to make a move on Yin Yinyue, who was in the prime of her life and had been separated from Liang Hao for over a decade, on top of being in low spirits.


    Before Yin Yinyue could take two steps, Xuan Qing caught her from behind.


    With a slight exertion of force, he tore open Yin Yinyue¡¯s outer garments, and the dazzling white flashed before his eyes.


    A woman in her thirties is at her most alluring.


    "Must you humiliate me like this?" Yin Yinyue turned her head away, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Xuan Qing chuckled lightly, "However you feel it is, that¡¯s how it is. In any case, I¡¯ve made up my mind about you today, just enjoy it."


    Having said that, he carried Yin Yinyue back to the bed.


    The woman Xuan Qing wanted had never escaped his grasp! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss, Second Master Xuan is here," the Maid came to report.


    Xuan Qing said impatiently, "Tell my second brother that even if the sky falls down tonight, he should not disturb me."


    Green Screen¡¯s heart tightened, "Master Xuan San, don¡¯t bully my miss. If you don¡¯t come out, I¡¯m going to call for help!"


    "It¡¯s too late for that. If you don¡¯t want your miss¡¯s reputation ruined, you¡¯d better get lost right now!" Xuan Qing warned.


    What needed to be done had been done; nothing could be changed anymore.


    Green Screen stamped her feet in frustration, If only she had known Master Xuan San could be so shameless, she wouldn¡¯t have gone to the kitchen to stew bird¡¯s nest!


    What should she do now?


    Green Screen called out anxiously, "Miss, please say something! How are you?"


    But Yin Yinyue¡¯s acupuncture points were sealed, and she could not make a sound, leaving her at the mercy of Xuan Qing.


    Xuan Qing pecked at Yin Yinyue¡¯s lips, feeling very content with having obtained the woman he wanted.


    This day had been thirteen years in the making.


    But no matter what, he still got to see this day, Yin Yinyue finally became his woman!


    Green Screen¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. How could Master Xuan San lack such decorum? Knowing there were people standing outside the door, he still made such a racket! How shameless!


    After thinking it over, Green Screen decided to quickly stand by the courtyard entrance, having witnessed Master Xuan San¡¯s ruthlessness. If she offended him, she was sure to meet a dreadful end.


    Nothing happened tonight, Second Master Xuan did not come over, and her miss certainly was not taken advantage of by Master Xuan San!


    Yes... that¡¯s it!

 Chapter 530 - 533: No Contraceptives Allowed_1

    Chapter 530: Chapter 533: No Contraceptives Allowed_1Xuan Qing withdrew from her, satisfied.


    However, his good mood vanished in an instant when he inadvertently noticed Yin Yinyue¡¯s tears.


    He always left women ecstatic, curling up in his embrace after the deed, murmuring sweet nothings with soft voices.


    But Yin Yinyue actually cried. Couldn¡¯t she give him some face?


    "Don¡¯t play innocent after taking advantage; I haven¡¯t even minded that you were married before. It¡¯s your honor that I deigned to touch you; don¡¯t be ungrateful!"


    Yin Yinyue pulled the blanket over herself, leaving only her back visible to Xuan Qing.


    She would never admit that at first, she had been forced by Xuan Qing, but later on, she also got lost in the sensation.


    Xuan Qing gritted his teeth, "You stubborn woman, I¡¯ve never scorned you for being married, so why act so prudish? If I didn¡¯t satisfy you, just groan and I¡¯ll do you two more times."


    "Get out!" Yin Yinyue said coldly.


    Was once not enough to bully her?


    Or had Xuan Qing taken bullying her as his lifelong career?


    Xuan Qing snorted lightly, "I¡¯m leaving first. You better obediently wait for me tomorrow. Your ¡¯place¡¯ is still like a young girl¡¯s, you¡¯ve lived in vain!"


    Yin Yinyue bit her lip hard; if she had a knife now, she would definitely stab the bastard to death!


    He has so many playthings, and the girls at the Qing Building don¡¯t even charge him, so why does he bother her?


    Xuan Qing dressed himself, then leaned over the bed to kiss her twice before saying, "If you miss me, send a hawk to me."


    His reply was met with silence, but Xuan Qing didn¡¯t care.


    He added another comment, "If you¡¯re too shy to send a hawk with a message, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll come often, and won¡¯t give you the chance to miss me."


    Yin Yinyue still didn¡¯t react, apparently, she wouldn¡¯t bother with anyone tonight.


    Xuan Qing held back his irritation, but there was nothing he could do when Yin Yinyue ignored him.


    How was it that even he, the imposing Third Master of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, couldn¡¯t win over a woman¡¯s heart by lowering his stance so much?


    Never mind, doing it a few more times would surely make her devoted to him.


    As Xuan Qing stepped out, Green Screen lowered her head even more. She truly hadn¡¯t seen anything, she prayed he wasn¡¯t thinking of killing to silence witnesses!


    This reaction pleased Xuan Qing, if the maid feared him, many things would become more convenient in the future.


    He walked leisurely to Green Screen, looked down at her, and asked in a high-handed tone, "You¡¯re Silver Moon¡¯s personal maid, Green Screen? Lift your head and answer my question."


    Green Screen trembled slightly but obediently raised her head.


    "The servant is Green Screen."


    "If you dare give her contraception, I will make you regret it for a lifetime," Xuan Qing said coldly.


    The silver mask glinted with a cold light, and his hawk-like piercing gaze had enough presence to intimidate most ordinary people.


    Unfortunately... Green Screen was one of those ordinary people.


    She nodded frantically, then timidly asked, "What if... the young mistress asks me for a concoction?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Idiot! Give her some tonic to drink," Xuan Qing instructed.


    Seeing that Third Master was about to leave, Green Screen quickly called out, "Master Xuan San, wait a moment."


    "What now?"


    Green Screen nodded and stuttered, "It¡¯s Master Xuan Qing, Master Xuan Qing is in the guestroom waiting for you and said... to find him after you were done."


    Xuan Qing was a bit surprised, something must be important for his second brother to wait for him for two hours. He stopped dawdling and hurried to the Yin Family¡¯s guestroom.

 Chapter 531 - 534 Have you never slept?_1

    Chapter 531: Chapter 534 Have you never slept?_1Xuan Qing cleared his throat, "Second brother, what do you need her for?"


    "Yin Silver Moon sent someone to say that she wants two bags of goods. Persuade her to give up this idea," Xuan Ling said seriously.


    He had originally thought that Yin Silver Moon intended to intimidate regular merchants, so he agreed.


    Latter, he always felt uneasy, so he sent someone to investigate, only then did he discover that the person Yin Silver Moon wanted to deal with was the sworn sister newly acknowledged by Qin Longyun.


    That sworn sister was Qiao Duo¡¯er, and she also had a deep connection with Chen Yi Ling.


    Wasn¡¯t this like running headlong into a knife?


    Having heard the news, he rushed over immediately, only to find that his younger brother was here making uninvited romantic advances on someone.


    "If she wants them, you give them to her. I just trained a batch of hawks, and it¡¯s a good opportunity to test their power,"


    Xuan Qing said dismissively. If Silver Moon wanted to deal with someone, it must be because that person needed to be dealt with, and he wholeheartedly approved.


    Xuan Ling gave Xuan Qing a stern look, "Little brother, the person she wants to deal with is Qin Longyun¡¯s sister."


    "Even better, if it weren¡¯t for Qin Longyun, would we need to be holed up in the mountain all the time? Just send the goods over with confidence. I even want to find a reason to get rid of you,"


    Xuan Qing was excited; he had been eager to declare war on Qin Longyun.


    For years, they had been constrained in all their actions; he had been stifling!


    Qin Longyun, barely in his twenties, was just a destitute scholar before becoming the County Magistrate. How capable could he be?


    Xuan Ling said firmly, "Talk to our eldest brother about this matter. If he gives the nod, I¡¯ll have no objections."


    "Waiting for our eldest brother to agree to oppose Qin Longyun, I might as well wait for my next life,"


    Xuan Qing said helplessly. His eldest brother¡¯s caution sounded good on paper but boiled down to timidity!


    Yet the only influence he had in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was in training hawks.


    "Little brother, don¡¯t act rashly. We can¡¯t afford to provoke the forces behind Qin Longyun; don¡¯t forget his father-in-law is the Minister of the Household Department!"


    Xuan Ling reminded him.


    The three of them were the leaders of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and they could not act solely on their own will.


    More often, they had to consider the safety of everyone in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Therefore, he always aligned himself with the eldest brother.


    Xuan Qing said disdainfully, "Forget it. Anyway, I don¡¯t have a say in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. I¡¯m tired, I¡¯ll go rest."


    "Tired from sleeping with girls?" Xuan Ling teased.


    "You¡¯ve slept with them before, don¡¯t you know if it¡¯s tiring or not?"


    Xuan Qing retorted, and after the brothers joked for a while, they got into the carriage and sped off towards Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Meanwhile, in the room, Yin Silver Moon was soaking in a bathtub, cleaning herself and changing into fresh undergarments.


    "Green Screen, go to the pharmacy tomorrow and fetch some medicine. From now on, lock the door tightly at night, and call two more maids over for night duty. Don¡¯t let Xuan Qing come in again,"


    Yin Silver Moon instructed seriously; one time could be an accident, but twice would be unforgivable.


    Green Screen lowered her head, "I¡¯ll see to it right away."


    But she knew in her heart that Xuan Qing was not someone they could stop.


    If Xuan Qing came, they would have no choice but to obediently open the door; all they could do was make sure their miss locked the door herself. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Master Xuan San always wore a cold expression with others, only showing his tender side in front of their miss.


    Seeing Green Screen¡¯s lack of concern, Yin Silver Moon became furious, "Useless thing, get out!"


    Green Screen hurried out and even closed the door for Yin Silver Moon.


    After such an incident, it was normal for her miss to feel embarrassed, but her complexion looked much better after being "nourished."


    She thought that regular visits from Master Xuan San wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing.

 Chapter 532 - 535: Punished by Kneeling_1

    Chapter 532: Chapter 535: Punished by Kneeling_1The room was left with only one person, and everything that happened today burrowed into Yin Yinyue¡¯s mind.


    "Damn it, was I poisoned by Xuan Qing?"


    "Why do I think of him every now and then?"


    Just like Xuan Qing said, she wasn¡¯t an unwed maiden, so what was there to overthink about being slept with?


    Yin Yinyue gave her waist a fierce pinch, and tears of pain sprang to her eyes.


    That finally chased the discordant images out of her head.


    Yin Yinyue sat at her desk, where in the past, looking at account books when she was troubled would calm her heart.


    But today she could barely focus for a few lines before her mind wandered again, and what she hated most was that every time she moved, something would flow out, all left behind by Xuan Qing.


    "Die, Xuan Qing, may you die a horrible death!"


    The next morning, Yin Zheng arrived early at the courtyard where Yin Yinyue resided.


    His face was a bad color, and he made straight for Yin Yinyue¡¯s room.


    "Master, the miss stayed up late to look at the account books last night and only went to sleep very late. Why don¡¯t you wait for the miss to wake up? I¡¯ll tell her, and she¡¯ll definitely come to pay her respects to you," Autumn Water blocked Yin Zheng¡¯s path.


    She was changing the Green Screen on her night shift when she saw that the light in her miss¡¯s room was still on, so she must not have woken up yet.


    Yin Zheng shook his sleeve, "No need, let her kneel at the ancestral hall for four hours." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the head of the family, he knew perfectly well what had happened last night.


    There was a custom in this area: a daughter who had married could not consummate in her parents¡¯ home, as it would affect the family¡¯s fortunes.


    Yin Yinyue could not have been unaware of this custom, yet last night she¡¯d allowed Xuan Qing into her room, no doubt as a deliberate act of revenge against the Yin family.


    Such a malicious person was unwelcome in his house!


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care about his daughter, but he cared more about the Yin family¡¯s bloodline and legacy.


    "Master, the miss didn¡¯t want last night to happen either. How could you punish her like this?"


    Autumn Water muttered under her breath.


    Her miss was no match for Master Xuan San, so wasn¡¯t it normal for him to take advantage?


    Yin Zheng snorted coldly, "She knows full well what the truth is. After she¡¯s done kneeling for four hours, let her come find me in my study. And from now on, without any particular reason, let her stay in the courtyard!"


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Yin Yinyue still had some use, he would have driven her out long ago!


    Not long after Yin Zheng left, Yin Yinyue opened the door.


    One could tell from her expression that she had heard everything Yin Zheng had said.


    "Miss, don¡¯t take what the master said to heart. He isn¡¯t always right, and maybe some concubine filled his head with nonsense again," Autumn Water said.


    Autumn Water disliked Yin Zheng¡¯s manner but still had to speak for him.


    The relationship between Yin Zheng and Yin Yinyue was that of father and daughter, and their blood ties could never be severed, no matter what. No matter how much they clashed like fire and water now, they might reconcile at any time.


    Yin Yinyue smiled bitterly, "I know, next time someone comes, just say I¡¯m sick, and I¡¯m not seeing anyone."


    "Yes, miss. You rest up," Autumn Water replied, though she was thinking why Master Xuan San, who was supposedly so good to her miss, hadn¡¯t dealt with Yin Zheng.


    Or perhaps her miss was just like any other woman, merely a plaything for amusement?


    Learning that Yin Yinyue was sick made Yin Zheng very angry.


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s wings had hardened, and she was increasingly disregarding him!


    Yet, almost all of the Yin family¡¯s business relied on Yin Yinyue; she was indispensable.


    He was dissatisfied with the status quo but unable to change it, so he could only seethe with internal frustration.


    "Master, you should leave all your property to the eldest young miss. Otherwise, she¡¯ll keep causing trouble and the one who ends up aggravated will still be you, master. My son will simply follow you in his studies. You¡¯re well-learned, master, so surely my son will manage to achieve some scholarly honor in return," Yan Yi Niang said, softly patting Yin Zheng¡¯s back to soothe his irritation.

 Chapter 533 - 536: Sleep with Every Meeting_1

    Chapter 533: Chapter 536: Sleep with Every Meeting_1Yin Zheng was aware of her scheming, a clever move to advance by retreating, but he couldn¡¯t resist the words that Yan Yi Niang said as they were exactly what he loved to hear.


    "Don¡¯t worry, this family still bears the Yin name. Yin Yinyue won¡¯t be able to stir up any waves."


    Yin Zheng patted Yan Yi Niang¡¯s soft little hand, having a good grasp on the matter of dividing the family assets.


    Some people thought that because they had made contributions, they could call the shots in the Yin Family, but they would have to see if he agreed!


    Yan Yi Niang happily said, "Then your concubine will first thank the master."


    "What¡¯s there to thank? You have given birth to two sons for the Yin Family; you are a great contributor. I have decided to make you my legitimate wife."


    Yan Yi Niang¡¯s mouth fell open in shock¡ªa tremendous surprise!


    In the past, Yin Zheng had promised Yin Yinyue that in this lifetime, apart from her mother, there would not be another principal wife, so even though she had borne sons, she had never considered this possibility.


    She had always thought Yin Yinyue¡¯s position in the family was unshakeable, but now it seemed not so stable after all.


    However, she needed to be even more cautious because Yin Zheng¡¯s most beloved person was himself, and he could change his face and deny her at any moment.


    Yin Zheng chuckled and asked, "So happy you¡¯re stunned?"


    "No, it¡¯s just that your concubine hasn¡¯t entrusted herself to the wrong person. The master truly cares for me and it hasn¡¯t been in vain that I walked through the Ghost Gate for you."


    Yan Yi Niang collected her emotions and again presented herself as virtuous and good.


    Now that she was about to become Lady Yin, she had to conduct herself with the grace befitting her status. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Who else to dote on but you? It sounds like the child is crying; go and have a look."


    Yan Yi Niang immediately went into the inner chamber. These twin sons were her entire support in the Yin Family, and she dared not neglect them.


    With her current status, she felt it was all worth it.


    Even if it meant climbing up the master¡¯s bed without dignity and secretly giving birth, in the end, she got everything she wanted.


    She would soon be the leading Madam and had thoroughly changed her children¡¯s destiny.


    Those who had originally despised and spurned her could only look on with envy.


    Yan Yi Niang personally changed the child¡¯s diaper and after soothing the child, she then handed it over to Yin Zheng.


    The child cooperated wonderfully, grinning at Yin Zheng.


    With this little thing, Yin Zheng¡¯s mood was completely smooth.


    At nightfall, Xuan Qing arrived as promised, but the bedroom door was bolted from the inside.


    "How do you serve?" Xuan Qing clenched his teeth.


    Green Screen¡¯s heart trembled, yet she dared not remain silent and could only muster the courage to say, "My miss has told Third Master to stop coming here in the future, and she also said... said that she will never..."


    Before she could finish, Xuan Qing impatiently interrupted her.


    He was tired of hearing such words.


    "Tell your miss, if she can, then she should hide for a lifetime, otherwise every time I see her, I¡¯ll sleep with her."


    Xuan Qing said these vexed words, shocking Green Screen.


    Was this really the ruthless Master Xuan San?


    Why did she feel like he was just a child throwing a tantrum because he didn¡¯t get his sweets?


    A while after Xuan Qing left, Green Screen finally collected herself and hurriedly said to the person inside the room, "Miss, Third Master has left."


    Yin Yinyue then breathed a sigh of relief and lay down on the bed with ease.


    Yet she knew that the words Xuan Qing said before leaving were not a joke; he was truly capable of such outrageous actions.


    Sigh, she just hoped she would be able to obtain the facial mask powder formula successfully, and then she could travel to the ends of the earth, starting a new life of her own in a place where no one knew her.


    There, she wouldn¡¯t have to check the account books every day, there would be no selfish and foolish father, and no annoying Xuan Qing.

 Chapter 534 - 537 Troublesome Citizens _1

    Chapter 534: Chapter 537 Troublesome Citizens _1After a couple of relaxing days, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went to Ruyi Tea House as agreed. Big Sis had already reserved a room in advance, and the waiter led them straight there.


    "Dear guests, Miss Yin has been waiting inside," said the waiter.


    He looked at both of them with sympathy.


    They appeared to be ordinary folks, and being summoned here by Miss Yin surely meant no good.


    Alas, pity, they both seemed like decent people.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curiously asked, "Young man, is there anything else you want to say?"


    "No...no, I have things to do, I must go now," the waiter quickly excused himself and walked away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips in annoyance; this sort of hesitation was most irritating. Could it be that the person sitting inside the room was a tiger?


    Soon the door opened from the inside, and Qiao Duo¡¯er finally understood what the waiter meant, but by then it was too late.


    The person inside wasn¡¯t just a tiger, but a tigress as well.


    "Since we already know each other, this will make our talk easier," said Autumn Water respectfully. "Fourth Master Tan, Mrs. Tan, please come in."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong exchanged a glance, then walked in with their heads held high.


    Once again they were facing Yin Yinyue; it had to be fate that the Yin Family had done so many evil deeds, and now another chance had presented itself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curled into a smirk; this time she was determined to catch the Yin Family¡¯s tail!


    Autumn Water pulled out chairs for both of them, and at just the right moment Yin Yinyue said, "Please take a seat."


    "Thank you," they responded.


    Tan Zhenghong exchanged pleasantries, then he and Qiao Duo¡¯er sat down side by side.


    "Miss Yin, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Are you looking to buy the formula for the face mask powder with twenty taels of silver?" asked Qiao Duo¡¯er, taking the initiative. She couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.


    Yin Yinyue spoke slowly, "The face mask powder is indeed precious and certainly worth more than twenty taels. Please name your price, Mrs. Tan, and I will agree if it¡¯s within my means."


    "One hundred thousand taels," Qiao Duo¡¯er paused for effect, then added, "Oh, and by the way, I mean in gold."


    If Yin Yinyue could cough up that amount of silver coin all at once, she and Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest of their lives.


    So why bother running Duo Meifang?


    "Why don¡¯t you just rob someone?" Autumn Water couldn¡¯t help but snide.


    One hundred thousand taels of gold amounted to a million taels of silver¡ªsuch an audacious asking price!


    True, the face mask powder was effective, especially the whitening variety which was greatly favored by ladies and madams. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But no matter how well it sold, it was still just face mask powder!


    It was nowhere near worth a million taels of silver!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands: "Isn¡¯t what you¡¯re doing practically robbery? You allow yourselves to set a fire but won¡¯t let others light a lamp?"


    "My mistress is a legitimate businesswoman; she really wants to buy the recipe," Autumn Water reiterated.


    The Yin Family¡¯s business was vast, but every brick and tile was purchased by Miss Yin herself.


    It was just that Miss Yin¡¯s bargaining skills were exceptional¡ªwhat others bought for one, she could buy for ten with the same amount of silver.


    That couldn¡¯t be wrong, could it?


    "What your mistress is best at is forcing deals. Haven¡¯t we had our dealings before? Don¡¯t you find it tiring to beat around the bush now?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with contempt.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense! How can you slander people like that?" Autumn Water was incensed.


    "I never slander anyone. Anyone who doesn¡¯t know might think your mistress is some Camp Lady from who knows where."


    The term "Camp Lady" struck a sensitive nerve in Yin Yinyue; she secretly signaled Autumn Water with her eyes.


    Her affair with Xuan Qing must remain a secret!


    Autumn Water caught on immediately: "I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart for that! How dare you defame my mistress like this, you disreputable people?"

 Chapter 535 - 538: Past Events_1

    Chapter 535: Chapter 538: Past Events_1Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly reminded, "Your maid needs to be disciplined. She starts pushing and shoving after just a couple of words; how embarrassing would that be outside?"


    "You may leave," said Yin Yinyue, waving her hand.


    Autumn Water obeyed and left, but not without giving Qiao Duo¡¯er a nasty look on her way out.


    It was all this damned woman¡¯s fault for stirring up trouble!


    Soon the room returned to tranquility, and Yin Yinyue said sternly, "Madam Tan, if you sell me the formula, we can wipe the slate clean of past events."


    "Past events?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked innocent. Had she ever owed anything to Yin Yinyue?


    She thought hard but still could recall nothing.


    Yin Yinyue reminded her with a dark face, "Your seduction of Liang Hao."


    "Miss Yin, please watch your words. My daughter-in-law and Young Master Liang are innocent. Your baseless accusations not only tarnish my daughter-in-law¡¯s reputation but could also ruin Young Master Liang¡¯s marriage prospects."


    He had heard that Young Master Liang was already betrothed to Miss Bai.


    That Miss Bai came from humble origins and had been orphaned since childhood.


    She had struggled to raise her young brother, which delayed her own marriage prospects, and she was still unmarried well into her twenties.


    The Liang Family, having suffered greatly at the hands of Yin Yinyue, valued character above all and immediately sent a proposal upon hearing about Miss Bai¡¯s circumstances.


    The Liang Family was eager for grandchildren, and with Miss Bai being an older unmarried woman, both families quickly agreed, and the marriage was arranged.


    There were also rumors that the Liang Family would soon relocate to prevent Yin Yinyue from seeking revenge.


    Considering various signs, Liang Hao truly loathed Yin Yinyue to the bone, even unwilling to lay eyes on her any longer.


    Speaking of Liang Hao, Yin Yinyue¡¯s face suddenly turned very ugly.


    That man was her husband and also the biggest stain of her life.


    She had been divorced by Liang Hao and had become a disgraced divorced woman.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er annoyingly said, "Liang Hao¡¯s divorce does indeed have a bit to do with me, but it was all Liang Hao¡¯s unrequited love; I was also a victim here. How is it fair to blame everything on me? So wronged, am I not?"


    Yin Yinyue clenched her fists so tightly that she didn¡¯t even notice her fingernails digging into her palms.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about your woes. Continue with your desire to buy the formula," Qiao Duo¡¯er said empathetically.


    "I offer two hundred taels of silver; you¡¯d better honestly bring out the formula," Yin Yinyue said as she took out two silver notes from her sleeve and placed them on the table.


    She had prepared this in advance.


    Unable to restrain herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Yin Yinyue, "Can you come up with something else?"


    To only slap down silver notes, and such small denominations at that. As the daughter of a Master who controls so many shops, could she be any less splendid?


    Big Girl and Yang Ruoruo are both clever girls; they can sell two or three boxes a day on average, which means I make at least sixty taels of profit a month.


    These two hundred taels of silver, I truly don¡¯t value them.


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s mind worked quickly, and she soon thought of another way to appeal to Qiao Duo¡¯er, sure that she wouldn¡¯t refuse. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your scented powder business must be tough, right?" Yin Yinyue raised an eyebrow.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er answered candidly, "It¡¯s just okay; at least I won¡¯t starve."


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s eyes twitched; this response was completely different from what she had expected. She thought Qiao Duo¡¯er would complain about the difficulty of doing business.


    The reason was simple; Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t own a scented powder shop.


    Muddling along haphazardly with different ventures, how much could she possibly earn?


    Yin Yinyue reorganized her thoughts. She had to reel Qiao Duo¡¯er in; then everything else would naturally follow.


    "Do you know of Xiang Bao Zhai?"

 Chapter 536 - 540 There is a Murderous Aura_1

    Chapter 536: Chapter 540 There is a Murderous Aura_1"Two years ago, you bought it back from the original owner for eighty taels of silver," Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give Yin Yinyue any face.


    Yin Yinyue secretly clenched her teeth. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she hadn¡¯t gotten the formula yet, she really wanted to throw Qiao Duo¡¯er out.


    Can this damn woman even hold a conversation?


    Suppressing her irritation, Yin Yinyue said, "Xiang Bao Zhai is the largest rouge shop in White Stone Town. If you cooperate with me, your facial mask powder will have a better market. You can think about it."


    "No need to consider, I do not agree," Qiao Duo¡¯er refused without hesitation.


    Doing business with Yin Yinyue and expecting a share of the profits? Qiao Duo¡¯er thought it better not to daydream.


    "Fourth Master Tan, what do you mean? Xiang Bao Zhai has a stable clientele, all wealthy and noble. This is exactly what you need."


    Yin Yinyue looked at Tan Zhenghong, thinking Qiao Duo¡¯er was all hair and no wit.


    Nowadays, those who buy facial mask powder are mostly from moderately rich families; the true upper-class society hasn¡¯t even come into contact with it.


    "I share the same opinion as Duo¡¯er."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately made his position clear. The facial mask powder was something his wife had concocted, and whatever his wife decided was fine.


    Moreover, with Yin Yinyue¡¯s character on full display, he had nothing more to say.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled triumphantly, "Husband, you are the best to me."


    Witnessing their intimate interaction, and having just suffered heartache, Yin Yinyue was even more choked with anger. They were definitely doing this on purpose!


    "Miss Yin, we are destined to be competitors. It¡¯s best you take control of all the shops in White Stone Town, otherwise my Duo Meifang will surely beat Xiang Bao Zhai so badly that not even scraps will be left."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face bore a light smile, her tone remained gentle.


    But her words made Yin Yinyue extremely uneasy, as the decline of Xiang Bao Zhai had already become apparent.


    But one must not show weakness even in defeat, Yin Yinyue still responded strongly: "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t give you the chance."


    Right, Qiao Duo¡¯er will soon be dead.


    Why was she getting worked up over a dead person?


    With this thought, the unease in Yin Yinyue¡¯s eyes completely disappeared, replaced by confidence that was nearly off the charts.


    "Thank you, Miss Yin, for your hospitality. We have other matters to attend to, so we will take our leave now," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, gesturing with her hands.


    Yin Yinyue sneered, clapped her hands, and several burly men wielding knives barged in.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes. These men had a cold and solemn demeanor, devoid of emotion, as if they had crawled out of hell.


    If they hadn¡¯t been stained with blood, they couldn¡¯t possibly have such a temperament.


    They also bore something she was most familiar with in her previous life¡ªthe aura of killing intent.


    "Miss Yin, are you sure you want to do this?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er straightened her spine, feeling excited at this moment.


    Life after transmigration had been mostly calm; a little excitement would be just a spice of life.


    Yin Yinyue said proudly, "Speak the formula or leave your life behind."


    These were experts drawn from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and even if a dozen Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er came, they would only be able to submit. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I advise you not to waste your energy; no matter how much money facial mask powder can make, you need to be alive to spend it," Yin Yinyue said with a charming laugh.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lowered her voice, "Watch me show you a thing or two."


    "Either we live together, or we die together," Tan Zhenghong said seriously.


    Letting his wife fight alone was not something a man without courage would do.


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s carefully applied makeup twisted slightly: "What are you standing there for? Capture them, dead or alive, it doesn¡¯t matter."


    The burly men surged forward, their practical combat experience informing them that they must seize the initiative.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong stood back to back to face the enemy; the others had knives in hand, so they were extra cautious.

 Chapter 537 - 541 Not Nearly Enough to Fight_1

    Chapter 537: Chapter 541 Not Nearly Enough to Fight_1Bandits don¡¯t pay much attention to propriety in a brawl, nor do they have too many techniques; in their eyes, enemies are like cabbages and turnips.


    Such an approach leads to considerable lethality, but it also presents many flaws.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er dodged their sharp edges, then found the right moment to counterattack.


    Yin Yinyue watched the battle anxiously, also on guard for Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong suddenly taking her hostage.


    But she soon realized she was overthinking it; their every move was composed, they didn¡¯t need to resort to any tricks.


    I never expected such martial arts from country bumpkins!


    Especially Qiao Duo¡¯er, her techniques were peculiar, and her movements so swift they dazzled the eyes, leaving no chance to dodge.


    Suddenly, the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground was heard.


    Yin Yinyue looked toward the source of the sound to find it was Qiao Duo¡¯er throwing a man, who landed right beside her feet.


    It just so happened that his innards were damaged, and he spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto her embroidered shoes.


    This spectacle nearly frightened Yin Yinyue out of her wits; before she could scream, Tan Zhenghong threw another person over.


    The two men ended up stacked in a bizarrely twisted pose!


    Afterward, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er seemed to have an understanding, piling up the felled men in the same spot, stacking them up like a game of Liar¡¯s Dice.


    In no time, around seven or eight bodies were heaped beside Yin Yinyue.


    Yin Yinyue¡¯s face turned pale; if they wanted to do something to her now, she wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to fight back!


    She knew Xuan Qing was unreliable, the people he sent were as flimsy as paper!


    How could he even have the audacity to say he¡¯s fond of her, hanging the words on his lips? If he truly cared for her, would he not be present today? Would he send such useless protectors for her?


    This clearly showed he wasn¡¯t heartbroken for her!


    Pah, why did she still trust Xuan Qing? This mess was all her own doing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dusted off her hands, "Next time remember to find some reliable thugs; otherwise, there just won¡¯t be enough to fight."


    She had thought she could get a good stretch in, but she didn¡¯t expect the warm-up to be over before it even began. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before leaving, Qiao Duo¡¯er even walked up to Yin Yinyue.


    "Don¡¯t always think of claiming others¡¯ belongings as your own; even if you manage to snatch something, it¡¯s not truly yours. Besides, what goes around comes around. Don¡¯t cry for your parents when it¡¯s time to pay back, others will just think you had it coming."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fondled Yin Yinyue¡¯s cheeks, Yin Yinyue took great care of her skin, it felt quite nice.


    Yin Yinyue glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er with hatred, being dominated and beaten by Qiao Duo¡¯er made her resentful!


    "Don¡¯t look at me like that, your eyes are pretty, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to resist gouging them out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shuddered; she was even scared by her own maliciousness.


    And Yin Yinyue was left trembling, a reaction that greatly pleased Qiao Duo¡¯er. Just a moment ago she was acting high and mighty, now she¡¯s been scared witless, hasn¡¯t she?


    Seeing that it was about time, Tan Zhenghong took Qiao Duo¡¯er and left.


    Yin Yinyue must have instructed the tea house staff when she arrived; therefore, despite all the commotion, no one came inside.


    But the people outside weren¡¯t fools; if someone came in to check, he and Duo¡¯er would be in danger.


    It wasn¡¯t that he lacked confidence in his and Duo¡¯er¡¯s martial arts but rather that two fists are hard-pressed against four hands.


    Leaving the Ruyi Tea House, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong drove the oxcart towards Deji Hall, for they still had to deliver gifts prepared for Old Lady Bai today.


    Compared to Lingzhi and Warm Jade, these gifts were trivial, but they were a token of their kindness.


    Interactions with others should be a give and take; only taking advantage is akin to taking unfair advantage.


    "Wife, don¡¯t be so happy, it scares me," Tan Zhenghong said weakly.

 Chapter 538 - 542 Being Scammed_1

    Chapter 538: Chapter 542 Being Scammed_1"If you dare to be unfaithful to me, hmph, I¡¯ll flatten you with a punch!" Qiao Duo¡¯er swung her fist and it would be even more miserable than those people just now.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately raised three fingers, "There will never be such a day."


    "At least you¡¯re sensible!" Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in satisfaction, "By the way, between us, who is more formidable? Why don¡¯t we spar and find out?"


    Tan Zhenghong said with certainty, "You want to compete? Definitely, you are the formidable one, please spare me, great warrior."


    He successfully made Qiao Duo¡¯er laugh, but that didn¡¯t deter her from entertaining the idea.


    From the fight just now, it was evident that her insistence on physical training was paying off, now only her stamina was slightly lacking, everything else was fine.


    However, to spar with Tan Zhenghong, she had to launch a sneak attack; otherwise, he would certainly surrender without a fight.


    Alas, being too tender-hearted towards one¡¯s wife can be a flaw too.


    "Why are you becoming more shameless?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mimicked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s serious demeanor, with her lips tightly pursed and brows deeply furrowed, seeming burdened with heavy thoughts.


    This had been Tan Zhenghong¡¯s signature look when she had first crossed over to this world.


    After giving it some serious thought, Tan Zhenghong replied, "Probably... it could be that I was frustrated back then."


    Now, even during the days when his wife was indisposed, he felt somewhat downcast.


    Unable to help herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er rewarded Tan Zhenghong with a slap on the back of his head.


    "You¡¯re getting less and less decent!"


    Tan Zhenghong lowered his voice, "I¡¯m only indecent with you, don¡¯t you also like forcing yourself on me?"


    They were both as bad as each other, so there was no point in mocking one another.


    "If you were unwilling, what could I have done to you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face turned red; in reality, he was quite willing every time he was "forced".


    And... he wouldn¡¯t mind a few more times.


    The two of them were joking and laughing, having a great time until laughter turned to tears soon after.


    Although Tan Zhenghong had pulled on the reins in time, he still collided with an oncoming person, toppling them over.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a face full of speechless lines; she saw clearly that the person had suddenly burst out, so it seemed like a case of a collision scam.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll go check."


    Tan Zhenghong promptly jumped down from the carriage, not overthinking like Qiao Duo, just wanting to see if the person was hurt badly.


    The person on the ground sat up, cursing, "How do you drive a carriage, are you rushing to be reincarnated or are you blind? Didn¡¯t you see a person? It hurts so much! You almost killed someone!"


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose, "Old man, how are you?"


    "My leg is broken, I can¡¯t even move it," the old man pointed at his right leg with his brows knotted.


    Looking at him, he seemed to be in real pain.


    Seeing that there was an accident, a crowd gathered around to see what was happening.


    Out of sympathy for the weak, many people accused Tan Zhenghong.


    "Hurry and take him to the doctor¡¯s to get checked out, if anything happens to him, your life is over!"


    "What¡¯s wrong with young people these days, so reckless? The street isn¡¯t owned by their family; they should at least be considerate of others!"


    "That ox is well-raised, clearly a rich person, in the end, they will definitely settle with some silver."


    "Having money means they can disregard others¡¯ lives? Wealth without compassion, certainly won¡¯t last long!"


    Tan Zhenghong asked with concern, "Old man, can you try standing up? I¡¯ll carry you to the doctor." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you deaf? I already said my leg is broken, how can I stand?"


    The old man asked irritably, his thick and dark finger nearly poking Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was fuming, did this man look like his leg was broken?


    To her, he looked more like someone deserving of a thrashing!

 Chapter 539 - 543 Cursing_1

    Chapter 539: Chapter 543 Cursing_1But Tan Zhenghong, the nerve of him, actually had the audacity to offer warmth and ask after me, has his brain been eaten by zombies or what!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said resentfully, "Uncle, with the road being so wide, do you have to set your sights on our ox cart?"


    The ox cart was moving slowly; if it wasn¡¯t aimed for in advance, there¡¯s no way it could have hit you, you know?


    "You girl really have a black heart, it was clearly when you were driving and just busy talking, how did it become my fault now?" the old man accused Duo¡¯er, with his neck stiffened.


    He was so agitated that his spit flew as he talked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with her arms crossed, said leisurely, "If you saw us talking, why didn¡¯t you avoid us?"


    This sounded a bit like twisting facts to suit theories, but then again, it made sense.


    If it had been a horse, maybe they couldn¡¯t have avoided it in time, but an ox cart wavering along, how could it possibly hit someone?


    "Could it be that he deliberately got hit?"


    "Impossible, if it were deliberate, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be in so much pain."


    A group of people argued for a long time but couldn¡¯t reach a conclusion; carts were rare in those days, and there was no such thing as insurance fraud.


    Suddenly an unusual voice popped up from the crowd, "Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense, I saw everything clearly, it was definitely them who hit the person!"


    "I can also testify, it¡¯s clear that the ox cart was moving too fast, this old chap had no way to avoid it."


    The sudden appearance of two witnesses once again put Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er back into the eye of the storm.


    "Ow, it hurts so bad!" the old man howled loudly, clutching his leg.


    The timing of his cries was just right, drawing all the attention to him.


    Tan Zhenghong also had his thoughts; his wife was not an unreasonable woman, and by now she must have caught on to what was happening.


    "My leg was healed by my wife when it was broken before, uncle, let my wife take a look at you first," Tan Zhenghong signaled with his eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said reluctantly, "He can¡¯t afford the consultation fee."


    "You two beasts, how did your parents give birth to you two things? The sons born in the future will all lack¡ª..." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Outraged, the old man cursed a long string of obscenities, even dragging along the ancestors of the two.


    Now Qiao Duo¡¯er was completely furious, "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to, you just want to extort money, don¡¯t you? Even if you were hit to death here today, I wouldn¡¯t give you a single Wen money!"


    Dealing with such people was truly bad luck for many lifetimes!


    The truth couldn¡¯t be clearly explained, and there was no evidence; most people would just pay the money to settle the issue.


    But given the old man¡¯s arrogant attitude, she wouldn¡¯t let him get away with it.


    Tan Zhenghong patted his wife¡¯s back, "It¡¯s not worth getting angry over such people; if it really comes to it, we can always go to the Government Office."


    "You¡¯re trying to force someone to death; you¡¯re related to the County Magistrate, so he will definitely take your side. Buddy, I think it¡¯s better to let this go, you won¡¯t come out on top!"


    One of the witnesses said in a menacing tone.


    Now everyone understood; no wonder these two were so arrogant, they had connections within the Government Office.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath to calm herself down first.


    "Husband, did you see the snake in my pouch?" Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her empty money pouch.


    Tan Zhenghong had a moment of bafflement, but quickly played along, "No, it didn¡¯t run away, did it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked anxious, "That¡¯s a Bamboo Leaf Green, if anyone gets bitten, they¡¯ll definitely die for sure, what should we do?"


    "Everyone, please help look; our venomous snake has escaped, it would be troublesome if it bites someone," Tan Zhenghong said to the crowd.


    Bamboo Leaf Green is a kind of poisonous snake unique to the White Stone Town area.


    Once bitten, a person would fall into a coma, beyond the aid of medicine and ultimately starve to death.

 Chapter 540 - 544 How is the Job Done?_1

    Chapter 540: Chapter 544 How is the Job Done?_1"Who is this person, how can they bring a venomous snake to the street? Not keeping a close watch, it seems they intentionally came out to harm people, as if hitting one person wasn¡¯t enough!"


    "Stop yelling, and hurry up to look for it!"


    "Keep your voices down, if you anger the snake, you¡¯ll be ready to report to the King of Hell Palace!"


    The crowd bowed their heads, checking to see if there was a Bamboo Leaf Green snake around them.


    At this moment, they almost regretted their actions, their intestines turning green¡ªif they hadn¡¯t been meddling in others¡¯ business, how could they have encountered such danger?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly shouted, "It seems to be over there, old man, don¡¯t move rashly!"


    The old man turned his head for a glance, and the snake seemed to be right behind his backside! Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next second, he leaped up from the ground.


    But upon closer inspection, what was lying on the ground turned out to be just a tree branch.


    "Congratulations, old man, your legs are healed," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, cupping her hands in mock celebration.


    Now that he was standing up, what could be wrong with his legs?


    "I...I..." The old man stuttered for a long while, at a loss for words, not expecting his many rehearsals to fall apart like this.


    "You better not say it still hurts, no ghost would believe your words. However, I¡¯ll give you One Wen money, consider it as watching a play," Qiao Duo¡¯er sarcastically took out One Wen money from her purse.


    "One Wen money can buy a bun, you must be hungry after acting for so long."


    "Shameless old man, actually trying to scam money like this!"


    "Keep away from him in the future, or one day he¡¯ll crash into my cart and expect me to give him silver, how unlucky that would be!"


    In the midst of the mocking laughter, the old man ran away in disgrace, thinking he could have made One Tael of Silver from this stint, yet he ended up earning just One Wen money.


    How embarrassing!


    He just hoped that no one in the crowd who witnessed the commotion recognized him.


    The two accomplices hidden in the crowd were even more enraged, as they hadn¡¯t gotten a single Wen either.


    Tan Zhenghong apologized, "Everyone, rest assured, mentioning the Bamboo Leaf Green earlier was only to scare him off. Sorry for alarming you all. It was my bad."


    Just now, many people had been cursing, but with the truth now revealed, they each felt guilty and had no interest in blaming Tan Zhenghong.


    Moreover, having driven away the bad guys made them feel all the more satisfied!


    "It¡¯s alright, your young wife is quite clever. How did she know his leg wasn¡¯t broken?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, "If it were truly broken, would he have the mindset to talk so much? He would¡¯ve been crying out for his parents a long time ago, wouldn¡¯t he have at least been out of breath while speaking?"


    The bystanders all gave her thumbs up, acknowledging that if it weren¡¯t for the young wife¡¯s boldness and meticulousness, the bad guys would have succeeded.


    With the farce over, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong continued on their way.


    On the second floor of the restaurant, Li Mu¡¯er angrily slammed down her teacup.


    "What kind of job are you doing?"


    Previously, they had all patted their chests, promising to give Qiao Duo a warning, but the result was letting Qiao Duo come out on top.


    The two young servants quickly knelt down, "Miss, please forgive us, we truly didn¡¯t anticipate this woman would have such tricks up her sleeve. Rest assured, next time she won¡¯t escape."


    "Remember what you¡¯ve pledged today, if there¡¯s another slip-up, I will beat you to death!" Li Mu¡¯er said fiercely.


    "Thank you, Miss, shall we go prepare then?"


    Li Mu¡¯er waved them off with disdain, "Hong Ying, let¡¯s go to First Rank Bakery, to buy peach pastries for Brother Fan."


    That way, should Bai Yifan learn about today¡¯s incident, she could dissociate herself from it.


    Only after Li Mu¡¯er left did the two young servants breathe a sigh of relief.


    As for how to deal with Qiao Duo, they needed to think it over again. The woman from earlier was brash and clever; it wouldn¡¯t be easy to take advantage of her.

 Chapter 541 - 545: Be My Woman_1

    Chapter 541: Chapter 545: Be My Woman_1Before long, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong arrived at Deji Hall.


    "I am truly sorry, but Young Master Bai is out on a medical visit. The patient¡¯s condition is very critical, and we have no idea when he will be back," the Store Manager said apologetically.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter if Young Master Bai isn¡¯t here, I just need you to pass this on to him." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong handed over the box, thinking that it was good that Bai Yifan wasn¡¯t there.


    The Store Manager did not take the red box but instead brought up another matter, "Old Lady Bai is soon to celebrate her seventieth birthday, and Young Master Bai will surely invite the both of you to Bai Mansion as guests."


    The obvious implication was that the gift could be given at that time.


    The box contained a White Fox Fur and Six Snow Ears, which would be no problem to present for Old Lady Bai¡¯s grand birthday.


    But having brought the gift all the way here, how could one have the heart to take it back?


    "Fourth Master, Madam, I haven¡¯t seen you today," the Store Manager said with a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong clasped his hands in gratitude, "Then, I must thank the Store Manager for the reminder."


    Since the Store Manager had put it that way, he felt embarrassed to refuse. He could take this opportunity to hunt another white fox and bring the fox fur along with him later.


    For the elderly, it¡¯s auspicious to have things in pairs; two pieces of fox fur would be ideal.


    "You have been buying medicinal herbs from me for so long, I should be the one feeling grateful, not to mention this is just a small favor, it doesn¡¯t warrant a word of thanks," the Store Manager said, grinning even more slyly.


    He was more than willing to be the good guy in such harmless interactions.


    Moreover, now that Miss Li often came to Deji Hall, if she saw what Mrs. Tan had sent, it was bound to cause another scene.


    At this time, at Ruyi Tea House.


    "Did you see the person?"


    Xuan Qing was lounging with legs crossed, his face wearing his trademark sly smile, a little wicked with a touch of roguishness.


    This was the first time he had seen Yin Yinyue since they had shared an intimate moment.


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to revisit the past, but Yin Yinyue had rebuffed him, refusing him entry every time.


    Yin Yinyue cleared her throat, "Don¡¯t you already know?"


    The group of idiots had already gone back; they most certainly had reported everything in detail.


    Xuan Qing had specifically come to see how wretched she was. Having known her for years, she couldn¡¯t understand Xuan Qing any better.


    Xuan Qing touched his nose, "This time it was my mistake, I didn¡¯t expect them to be that formidable. You weren¡¯t frightened, were you?"


    "No, do you have anything else?" Yin Yinyue¡¯s gaze shifted slightly.


    Seeing Xuan Qing reminded her uncontrollably of that night¡¯s red-faced, heart-pounding incident.


    Over the years, she had done plenty of shady deals, but when it came to matters of the heart, she had always been very conservative.


    "Of course, it¡¯s just that the goods you wanted probably can¡¯t be obtained anymore."


    Yin Yinyue frowned, "Xuan Ling had already agreed before, why the sudden change of mind?"


    "My eldest and second brothers don¡¯t want to offend Qin Longyun, but if you beg me, maybe I will help you," Xuan Qing teased with a raised eyebrow.


    He had long held grievances against Qin Longyun and enticing Yin Yinyue was worth the risk for him.


    But Yin Yinyue would never stoop to begging, especially not to Xuan Qing.


    After a long pause with no reply, Xuan Qing was in no hurry, "Don¡¯t you want revenge? Don¡¯t you hate Qiao Duo? I can help you take her down, I can help you get the formula, just be my woman and I can satisfy all your needs."


    "In your dreams!" Yin Yinyue spat out three words before storming out.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s lips curved into a smile; he was going to slowly push her into a corner where she¡¯d have no choice but to turn to him.


    He didn¡¯t want to do this, but if he didn¡¯t, he would never have her in this lifetime.


    At most, he would make it up to her later.

 Chapter 542 - 546 You’re Late_1

    Chapter 542: Chapter 546 You¡¯re Late_1After returning from the town, Qin Longyun immediately sent someone to deliver a message.


    The person who came was named Chen San, a guard who had come as part of Chen Yiling¡¯s dowry. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, my lord is currently looking for evidence of collusion between the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold. The situation is perilous, and my lord has instructed the two of you not to get involved anymore."


    Getting entangled with the Xuan Eagle Stronghold would complicate matters; it was certainly not something that two commoners could handle.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes twitched as she suddenly understood the origin of those people.


    That fierce killing intent had been accumulated over years of banditry and looting.


    In other words, after saving Tan Zhenghong last time, they had once again crossed paths with the mountain bandits.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "Please go back and tell Lord Qin that Yin Yinyue wanted to forcibly take the mask powder formula, and the people she brought should be from Xuan Eagle Stronghold. Furthermore, we have clashed with them."


    "Have either of you been injured?" Chen San asked anxiously.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "The people brought by Yin Yinyue were not enough. We were still able to handle it."


    "Lord Qin has discovered that the Third Master of Xuan Eagle Stronghold has long admired Yin Yinyue and is likely aiding her secretly. Xuan Qing is cruel and cunning, skilled at using hawks. My lord will send someone to protect you, but you must also be very careful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly refused, disliking the feeling of being watched.


    In her view, the mountain bandits were nothing but a ragtag bunch, not worth her full attention.


    If anyone foolish came their way, she¡¯d simply take them out.


    Chen San explained, "I know that both of you are quite capable, but the mountain bandits are numerous and strong, so an extra layer of protection wouldn¡¯t hurt. Our men will disguise themselves as ordinary villagers, blending in with Big Willow Village, patrolling the outskirts during the day and keeping watch at night, without disturbing your lives."


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er nod her head¡ªif they didn¡¯t disturb her, then anything would be fine.


    Despite the hidden protection, Tan Zhenghong was still worried.


    He decided not to go hunting anymore and stayed with Qiao Duo¡¯er all day long.


    Both of them spent their days in the small courtyard, tending to poultry, reading, writing, and occasionally experimenting with cuisine, enjoying a leisurely and comfortable life.


    The only thing Qiao Duo¡¯er was dissatisfied with was having too much time on her hands, as Tan Zhenghong would carry her off to the room at every turn, leaving her exhausted every day.


    Fortunately, Sun Erhu¡¯s wedding day was just a few days away, and they could finally switch up their daily routine.


    Early that day, Qiao Duo¡¯er dragged Tan Zhenghong to Sun Erhu¡¯s Home.


    Aunt Huang was known for her kind heart, and she had come early to help set up the evening banquet.


    "Auntie, you should go rest for a bit," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, feeling sorry for her.


    She had delivered braised meat to the Huang Family twice and settled accounts once. Each time she saw Aunt Huang, she looked more haggard, and this time was no exception.


    If this continued, Qiao Duo¡¯er feared Aunt Huang wouldn¡¯t last much longer.


    Life depended on that bit of spirit within the heart¡ªonce it dissipates, life would follow.


    Aunt Huang¡¯s movements in picking vegetables didn¡¯t slow a bit, "This little bit of work won¡¯t tire me out. You don¡¯t mess with it; you¡¯ll get your hands dirty."


    "Isn¡¯t it okay to just wash my hands later?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat on a low stool to help, remembering Uncle Huang and Aunt Huang¡¯s assistance in her heart.


    The two women worked together and soon began chatting idly.


    "How is Brother Zhong¡¯s situation?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously.


    Aunt Huang said with guilt, "It¡¯s our fault, your uncle and I. If we had known, we would never have bought her that gold bracelet. Now, Zhong Zi is determined to divorce his wife, and we can¡¯t persuade him otherwise."


    Who would have thought that after scrimping and saving, even taking out their emergency fund to buy the bracelet, it would still be criticized for not being of good enough quality.


    They truly had married a thankless wolf!

 Chapter 543 - 547: Erhu Gets Married_1

    Chapter 543: Chapter 547: Erhu Gets Married_1"If they wanted to cause trouble, wouldn¡¯t they find a reason anyway? It¡¯s always this place or that place that¡¯s not right. You¡¯ve been very kind to your sister-in-law, but she doesn¡¯t appreciate it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered words of comfort.


    It would be a relief to divorce a daughter-in-law like that from Bao¡¯s as soon as possible, so it wouldn¡¯t be a constant headache.


    She just hoped Huang Zhong was serious and, once this matter was settled, would go and propose to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Then, with the family lovingly united, Aunt Huang¡¯s health would naturally improve.


    Mentioning this, Aunt Huang¡¯s nose felt sour, so she quickly said, "Children and grandchildren have their own luck; I¡¯m old and can¡¯t manage so much. Today is Erhu¡¯s big happy day; let¡¯s not talk about these upsetting things."


    Here people were celebrating, and yet she was sighing and lamenting. Wouldn¡¯t that be annoying to others?


    "Right, Aunt Huang, can you help me find some people to go up the mountain to dig for herbs? Just wash them clean; no extra processing is needed. Five Wen Money per pound," Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively changed the topic.


    Aunt Huang said with difficulty, "There aren¡¯t many literate people in our village, and even fewer know about herbs."


    Asking them to help gather herbs was indeed asking too much.


    "They¡¯re all common medicinal herbs, easy to recognize. I¡¯ll bring you a sample later, and you can show it to everyone."


    Herbs like Bai Zhi and Bai Ji were very recognizable and abundant; hiring people to gather them was the most cost-effective approach.


    Once musk is produced next year, Duo Meifang will definitely open officially. She had to take the opportunity now to stock up on more herbs.


    Aunt Huang then readily agreed, "Alright, that¡¯s settled."


    The Tan Family was now prospering, leading the villagers to wealth was a good thing, preventing a crowd of jealous folks from fabricating stories behind their backs.


    "But you have to remind everyone not to dig everything up at once; otherwise, there¡¯ll be no money to be made next year," Qiao Duo¡¯er specifically instructed.


    Even though the ecological environment was good now, one still couldn¡¯t be too carefree. Many families in the village relied on those mountains for their livelihood.


    Aunt Huang took this matter to heart and thought that it would be best to seek help from some younger daughter-in-laws.


    It was almost the Afternoon Hour, and Sun Erhu was getting restless.


    But the feng shui master had said that he could only leave the house at Three Quarter of Afternoon Hour, and the wedding ceremony should be at Rooster hour. Today felt incredibly long!


    Had today¡¯s sun gone wrong? S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Erhu, is there a nail on your stool or something?" Er Ya timidly asked.


    Otherwise why would Uncle Erhu keep shifting about?


    Sun Erhu¡¯s face turned red: "I... I¡¯ve been bitten by a bug on my behind."


    "Er Ya, don¡¯t listen to his nonsense. He¡¯s just anxious to bring his bride home. Let¡¯s go take a look at today¡¯s bride and later tell him how beautiful she is."


    After saying that, the elder girl dragged Er Ya to the next house. It happened that she could stir up some trouble when they went to receive the bride.


    Sun Erhu wanted to stop the elder girl, but in his haste, he knocked a water cup off the table.


    Fortunately, he dodged quickly and didn¡¯t wet his wedding outfit.


    "A man to be married should behave with dignity," Tan Zhenghong kindly reminded.


    Sun Erhu pursed his lips. "That¡¯s rich coming from you, who was so excited you even buttoned up wrong."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow; it seemed there were quite a few things that happened during her wedding that she didn¡¯t know about.


    "Sister-in-law, let me tell you, Brother Hong was so embarrassed that day..."


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat, "There¡¯s still the wedding chamber mischief tonight."


    Sun Erhu immediately shut his mouth. As the saying goes, a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; he couldn¡¯t waste gold, right?


    Before they could talk much, the elder girl ran back in a hurry.


    "It¡¯s terrible, Lin Xiaobao has burned Chao Lian¡¯s clothes and hidden her jewelry. You guys better go take a look."

 Chapter 544 - 548: Put Down the Scissors_1

    Chapter 544: Chapter 548: Put Down the Scissors_1Sun Erhu had just stood up when a girl stopped him, "You can¡¯t go, it¡¯s bad luck to see each other before meeting the wedding procession, and people will gossip."


    "I¡¯ll go, you stay at home. When the time comes, you can go to greet the bride," she said, reassuring him with a glance.


    Although she was mentally prepared, when she arrived at the Lin Family¡¯s house, Qiao Duo¡¯er was still shocked.


    The wedding procession was due in half an hour, yet Chao Lian was still wearing her everyday clothes, her hair undone, with tears staining her face.


    Looking at Chao Lian, where was the slightest appearance of a bride?


    Chao Lian turned out her clothing, but each piece was patched, the colors grey or green, all unsuitable for a wedding.


    With such tattered clothes, she was too ashamed to marry Sun Erhu.


    "It¡¯s all my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have trusted Lin Xiaobao, I shouldn¡¯t have let him into my room," Chao Lian sobbed, feeling wronged.


    Lin Xiaobao had knocked on the door this morning. Thinking a child would mean no harm, she let him in.


    But as soon as Lin Xiaobao entered, he snatched her clothes and jewelry and ran.


    She chased after him only to run into Jiang¡¯s Clan and Lin Dabao siding against her, leaving her unable to protect anything.


    Erhu¡¯s silver was earned from bear hunting. He didn¡¯t tell her about that night, but she knew it must have been perilous. It could be said that it was exchanged with his life!


    "My mother made me a wedding dress; it doesn¡¯t have a single flower embroidered on it, but if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll go home and bring it here," the girl suddenly remembered the wedding gown pressed at the bottom of the chest. She didn¡¯t need it right now anyway.


    Chao Lian shook her head, "No, if you give it to me, what would you wear when you get married?"


    "Don¡¯t worry about that now. You can make it up to her with an even more beautiful one later. Go and get the dress, and I¡¯ll get the jewelry from Lin Xiaobao. Chao Lian, clean up yourself in the meantime."


    "Forget the jewelry; we might not have enough time. Anyway, once the bridal veil is on, no one will see anything," said the girl, already at the door, turning back to speak.


    Or maybe find a few pieces of jewelry from the dowry to make do; otherwise, a delay could be disastrous.


    "Once Chao Lian is out the door, the jewelry will be even harder to retrieve. It contains a piece of Erhu¡¯s true heart; they absolutely can¡¯t profit from us for nothing!" Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her fist and declared.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than Chao Lian had already rushed out.


    The girl shouted in panic, "It¡¯s over; she¡¯s got scissors in her hand!"


    All Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to say was, "Well done!"


    If you don¡¯t erupt in silence, you perish in silence. Chao Lian clearly chose the former.


    "Don¡¯t worry; if the dress is burned, we can only make do with yours. Hurry back," she advised.


    The girl still went to fetch the wedding gown, while Qiao Duo¡¯er went to see what Chao Lian was doing.


    An outburst was a good thing, but it would be terrible if it led to a fatality.


    In the main room, Chao Lian, scissors in hand, pointed at Lin Xiaobao¡¯s neck.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan was so anxious she was hopping mad, "Lin Jinshun, just look at your good daughter. We¡¯re about to head out, and she¡¯s causing unrest at home!"


    "Are you crazy? How could you kill your brother?" Lin Jinshun was furious.


    If word got out that his daughter was threatening his son with scissors, how could he face anyone in Big Willow Village?


    With eyes red, Lin Qiaolian retorted, "He¡¯s trying to kill me, so why can¡¯t I kill him? I¡¯ll tell you this: even if I have to go to Hell, I won¡¯t go alone!"


    If Lin Xiaobao accompanied her, even in death, she wouldn¡¯t have died unjustly! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you still have your father in your heart? Do you still care about our family at all? Put down the scissors immediately!"


    Lin Jinshun raised his voice, convinced anyway that Chao Lian wouldn¡¯t really kill anyone.

 Chapter 545 - 549: A Resolute Determination to Die_1

    Chapter 545: Chapter 549: A Resolute Determination to Die_1freewe?novel.c?mBut the next second, he heard Lin Xiaobao¡¯s cry for help.


    "Mother, save me quick, this bitch is going to kill me!"


    Chao Lian, who was originally gripping Lin Xiaobao¡¯s collar, quickly slapped him twice; her movements were so fast that Lin Xiaobao never thought to run.


    She was so furious that she hit him a little too hard, and Lin Xiaobao¡¯s face instantly reddened.


    This was the first time Chao Lian had hit someone, and even the Jiang¡¯s Clan was shocked.


    "If I¡¯m a bitch, then you¡¯re a beast! Your birth was premature, you would cry at night for no reason, and your parents didn¡¯t want to deal with you, so they dumped you on me. I held you all night, not sleeping, feeding you goat¡¯s milk, and now this is how you treat me?"


    Chao Lian growled, the one who disappointed her the most in this family was Lin Xiaobao!


    She cared for him more than his own mother did, but what was the result?


    Lin Xiaobao was actually trying to kill her!


    "You deserve it, you hide the money you make and don¡¯t buy me candy, and you steal my food to eat; you¡¯re nothing but a bad woman!" Lin Xiaobao cried and cursed at the same time.


    "Every cent I make goes to your mother; where do you think the money for your candy comes from? Your mother locks up all the food she buys in a cupboard, I can¡¯t even smell it, how could I steal and eat it?"


    Chao Lian was on the verge of breaking down.


    What had she done wrong? For this family, she rose early and stayed up late, working hard to earn money.


    She thought she could win over hearts, but there was not a single person in this family who was truly kind to her!


    And now, someone was even slandering her as a thief!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan pointed at Chao Lian: "You slut, whom are you trying to incite? Get the hell out of here right now, how did the Lin Family end up with a disaster like you! Such bad luck, why don¡¯t you just go and die?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ll leave, but first give me back my jewelry!" Chao Lian sniffled, her eyes filled with resolve.


    Treated this way by these people, she would no longer have any expectations!


    "Dream on! I¡¯ve raised you all these years, and that¡¯s the only thing I¡¯ve gotten from you. I still feel like I¡¯ve been shortchanged!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan spat on the ground, her face full of disgust.


    If Chao Lian hadn¡¯t delivered her dowry to Sun Erhu¡¯s Home yesterday, all those things would have been hers.


    Especially the bracelet from Qiao Duo¡¯er, which was worth quite a lot of silver!


    No wonder everyone says daughters are a loss; now it seems absolutely true, she has not even married and yet her arm is already bent towards the man¡¯s house!


    Chao Lian¡¯s hand holding the scissors trembled, creating a bloody mark on the neck of Lin Xiaobao.


    That smear of red was particularly shocking.


    Lin Xiaobao cried even harder: "Father, mother, save me, save me, ah, I don¡¯t want to die!"


    "Just give the jewelry back to me, or today I¡¯ll die with him!"


    At this moment, Chao Lian¡¯s hair was disheveled, and her eyes were bloodshot; she truly looked like a vengeful ghost. This made Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s heart shake, but when she thought about giving up the jewelry, her whole body felt weak.


    She had gone to great lengths to get that jewelry!


    No, Chao Lian shouldn¡¯t be like this!


    Seeing Jiang¡¯s Clan pick up a broom, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly shouted, "Chao Lian, be careful!"


    Chao Lian, holding Lin Xiaobao, backed away a few steps; if she hadn¡¯t moved quickly, the broom would have hit her head.


    Such great force... they were trying to take her life.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan swung and missed, then picked up the broom again, ready to launch another attack.


    Lin Qiaoyun couldn¡¯t even bear to kill an insect, how could she dare kill a person?


    Wasn¡¯t that the biggest joke?


    It must be Qiao Duo¡¯s idea, just to force her to give up the jewelry; she was not that dumb!


    Soon, Lin Qiaoyun was cornered by Jiang¡¯s Clan, with nowhere to retreat, she could only lift the scissors with a determination to die.

 Chapter 546 - 550: A Thought of Compassion_1

    Chapter 546: Chapter 550: A Thought of Compassion_1She was not a match for Jiang¡¯s Clan and Lin Jinshun, her only option was to kill Lin Xiaobao to make them suffer for a lifetime!


    "Lin Jinshun, Jiang Siyun, I don¡¯t want to kill anyone, it¡¯s you who forced me. When I die, I¡¯ll become a vengeful ghost, I will haunt you forever, never letting you find peace!"


    Lin Jinshun quickly shouted, "Qiao Yun, don¡¯t act rashly, I¡¯ll let your mother give you the jewelry, just don¡¯t hurt Little Treasure."


    He quickly made eye contact with Jiang¡¯s Clan to signal her to back away.


    If they really angered Chao Lian, Little Treasure would end up in tragedy!


    "It¡¯s already too late," Chao Lian said emphatically, at that moment, she truly was not afraid to die.


    Lin Jinshun¡¯s eyes shifted, "I¡¯ll also give you the wages for your work at the Tan Family, as long as you release Little Treasure. He¡¯s still a child after all!"


    "Besides, you¡¯ve suffered so much for Little Treasure, don¡¯t you want him to live a good life? It was just a moment of mischief this time, and even if he was to blame, it¡¯s not a crime worthy of death!"


    "He¡¯s still young, and if he¡¯s willing to reform after making a mistake, as long as he changes, he is still a good child. Why can¡¯t you, as an elder sister, give him a chance?"


    Chao Lian¡¯s heart began to soften rapidly, indeed it was true, Lin Xiaobao was still a child.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the instigation of adults, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do such a confused thing.


    With proper guidance, he could be as cute and obedient as he was when he was younger, smiling at her sweetly.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan seized the opportunity and snatched the scissors from Chao Lian¡¯s hand, leaving Chao Lian with no means to cause harm.


    "Who gave you the right? How dare you threaten me, do you believe I will slash your face right now, and see if Sun Erhu will still marry you!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan looked at the scissors with its freshly sharpened blade, slashing a face would be a piece of cake. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chao Lian glared wide-eyed, "Let go of me, you wicked woman!"


    "Weren¡¯t you acting all tough just now? What do you want me to let go of you for? Let me tell you, I rule this house, it¡¯s not your place to run wild!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan gestured with the scissors near Chao Lian¡¯s face, as though considering where to start.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to step forward, Lin Jinshun stopped her.


    "This is a matter for my family; I advise you not to meddle."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scoffed, "Chao Lian is my sister-in-law, why can¡¯t I intervene?"


    "Whether or not the marriage can happen today is still undecided, so how is she your sister-in-law? Qiao Clan, I know you have some abilities, but this is not your home. If you cause trouble, I¡¯m afraid it would be difficult to explain to the villagers."


    Lin Jinshun threatened half-seriously, half-jokingly. He originally didn¡¯t have the guts, but once he got hold of the jewelry, he could no longer care about anything else.


    Is there anything in this world better than silver?


    With silver, even if Chao Lian Niang came back, he could hire the best Taoist to exorcise ghosts.


    What would he have to fear then?


    On the other side, Chao Lian stomped on Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s foot. Jiang¡¯s Clan, in pain, quickly backed away several steps.


    "You little bastard, you Star of Misfortune, you¡¯ve even brought about the death of your own mother, what rights do you have to be so arrogant? If I were you, I would have killed myself already!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan scolded Chao Lian sharply.


    She had been hurling these insults for many years and now could recite them from memory.


    Chao Lian was completely unaffected. She did as she intended, smashed the teapot on the ground, picked up a shard, and once again took Lin Xiaobao hostage.


    This time, she would not be soft-hearted!


    "None of you come any closer, take one more step and I¡¯ll kill him!"


    Lin Jinshun glared at Jiang¡¯s Clan, silently cursing this useless person, they were so close!

 Chapter 547 - 551: Is There Still Wages?_1

    Chapter 547: Chapter 551: Is There Still Wages?_1Jiang¡¯s Clan felt wronged, too. How could she have known that Lin Qiaolian had such a trick up her sleeve?


    She said sternly, "If you dare to touch a single hair on my son, you won¡¯t get past this door today!"


    "You think I¡¯m afraid to die? Bring me what I want right now, or else be prepared to collect a corpse."


    Chao Lian and Jiang¡¯s Clan locked eyes with each other, showing not the slightest sign of weakness.


    Her compliance had only led to their increased aggression, and she was fed up with it!


    Now she was determined to fight for what she deserved!


    Lin Jinshun turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er, pleading, "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, please try to persuade Chao Lian. If she alienates her own family, where will she go after being bullied by her husband¡¯s family?"


    "Before the wedding ceremony, I had no say," Qiao Duo¡¯er echoed Lin Jinshun¡¯s earlier words back to him.


    Besides, she didn¡¯t think Chao Lian was in the wrong.


    As for the importance of one¡¯s family, it essentially depended on whether the man she married was dependable or not. Erhu was a good man; Chao Lian didn¡¯t need to go back to her family to make her point.


    Just like her situation where she had cut ties with both her own family and her in-laws, resulting in a more peaceful life.


    Lin Jinshun was furious, "Then why didn¡¯t you think of yourself as an outsider when you were about to stand up for Chao Lian just now?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But I didn¡¯t stand up for her in the end, did I? I didn¡¯t say a word."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her innocence, she was merely a spectator today.


    Moreover, she had intentionally not intervened because she could only help Chao Lian temporarily; in the future, Chao Lian had to rely on herself.


    She hoped Chao Lian wouldn¡¯t resort to hiding and crying when faced with problems like she did today.


    Having nothing more to say, Lin Jinshun realized his mistake for not being a little nicer to Qiao Duo¡¯er just a moment ago.


    Anxious not to waste any more time, Chao Lian urged, "Hurry up and give me the things!"


    With no other recourse, Lin Jinshun and Jiang¡¯s Clan grudgingly brought out the jewelry.


    Having learned from her past mistake, Chao Lian was much wiser this time, "Open the box, I want to make sure nothing is missing."


    Lin Jinshun glared viciously at Jiang¡¯s Clan, blaming her for telling him that Chao Lian definitely wouldn¡¯t check, which led them to hide a set of jewelry.


    Now they were caught red-handed!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan went back into the bedroom once more, and finally brought out all the jewelry.


    "Keep the jewelry with Sister Duo¡¯er for safekeeping, and also my wages," Chao Lian said decisively.


    If they hadn¡¯t hidden the jewelry, she wouldn¡¯t have asked for the silver, but now she had lost all hope in these people, and she even considered settling all past accounts.


    But she knew that would be more difficult than extracting teeth from a tiger¡¯s mouth.


    Jiang¡¯s Clan cursed under her breath, but fearing that Chao Lian might really hurt Lin Xiaobao, she had no choice but to comply.


    This time, with both the jewelry and the silver coin gone, it felt as though her heart was bleeding.


    There were only a little over a hundred copper coins left in the purse, far less than what Chao Lian¡¯s wages amounted to.


    Yet Chao Lian was not one to quibble; she just wanted to assert her stance, that she would no longer be bullied as before!


    "Chao Lian, we¡¯ve given you everything you asked for. Now, please let Little Treasure go!" Lin Jinshun was nervous, worried that Chao Lian would demand more.


    At most, the family only had a few taels of silver left, plus about a thousand jin of grain, all reserved for the winter. If they gave it to Chao Lian, they would starve to death!


    No, that¡¯s not right. They didn¡¯t have a single copper coin left; Chao Lian couldn¡¯t squeeze anything more from them!


    Chao Lian released Lin Xiaobao, but not without a swift warning, "I won¡¯t be a pushover from now on. If you provoke me again, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite!"


    At the most... she would just consider her father dead as well!


    With that matter settled, Chao Lian and Qiao Duo¡¯er went back to their room together.


    Getting married was the main event of the day!

 Chapter 548 - 552 I Can Fix It_1

    Chapter 548: Chapter 552 I Can Fix It_1"My God, how did I raise such a creature! Life¡¯s unbearable like this!" Jiang¡¯s Clan cried, pounding her chest and stamping her feet.


    At this moment, she had only one thought: the more heartbroken she cried, the more miserable Chao Lian¡¯s future would be.


    Lin Jinshun was very annoyed and said disdainfully, "Everyone¡¯s gone, what are you still crying for!"


    Not afraid at all of the scandal if word got out!


    Jiang¡¯s Clan shrank her neck; after the last beating, she was truly scared of Lin Jinshun. She decided to go and apply some medicine to her precious son instead.


    The wound was still oozing blood; she couldn¡¯t believe Lin Qiaolian could be so cruel!


    She remembered everything that happened today and would one day get her revenge!


    Back in her room, Chao Lian still couldn¡¯t believe what had happened.


    She had actually gotten her jewelry back and even managed to get some of her wages!


    But as a girl who was always obedient, she felt more sadness and anxiety, because what she did today was something she had never dared to imagine before.


    "Am I being especially unfilial?" Chao Lian asked, disheartened.


    By doing this, people would surely talk behind her back.


    "You were especially amazing today. If you had shown this kind of backbone earlier, you would have suffered much less bullying. Remember, your mother gave birth to you after much toil, not to be a punching bag!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up, thinking that if Chao Lian could still bear it today, she would doubt this girl¡¯s sanity.


    Everyone must have their limits.


    Chao Lian nodded vigorously; she would try hard to learn from Qiao Duo.


    She knew she could never compare to Qiao Duo, but at least she wouldn¡¯t let people bully her anymore.


    "Forget about all that useless stuff, I¡¯m going to fetch water, you hurry up and wash up."


    Chao Lian quickly pulled Qiao Duo to sit down: "Sister-in-law, I can manage by myself, you just sit here and rest."


    After she spoke, she ran out with a blushing face, her heart racing whenever she thought of her impending marriage to Sun Erhu.


    Once Chao Lian had tidied herself up, Da Niu also brought over her wedding gown.


    Chao Lian was a size smaller than her, but it was winter; wearing extra clothes underneath would make it fit just right.


    "Where¡¯s Granny Quan Fu? Hurry up and come do her hair, it¡¯s only a quarter of an hour until she has to sit in the bridal sedan!" Da Niu yelled anxiously.


    However, apart from the three of them, there was no one else in the room.


    "My parents couldn¡¯t bear to give the bridal silver, so we didn¡¯t hire her."


    Chao Lian felt a slight disappointment; Granny Quan Fu¡¯s hairstyles were beautiful and had good omens, and she wanted a stunning hairstyle too. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she knew that being able to marry Erhu smoothly today was already a great fortune.


    How could she ask for more?


    With no other options, Da Niu stuffed the comb into Qiao Duo¡¯s hands: "Sister Duo¡¯er, you and Brother Hong are the sweetest couple in Big Willow Village. If you do Chao Lian¡¯s hair, they¡¯re sure to live happily ever after."


    Qiao Duo expressed difficulty; hairdressing was a delicate task, and she only knew a couple of the simplest styles.


    "Is the dress fitting her well?" Feng Clan knocked on the door.


    When Da Niu went back to get the dress, she mentioned it to Feng Clan, who came over to check out of concern.


    Qiao Duo quickly grabbed Feng Clan: "Sister-in-law Tie, you came at the perfect time, please help Chao Lian with her hair."


    Feng Clan often went back to her parental home and had learned many fashionable hairstyles from the town. Moreover, her parents were both alive, and she had children of her own, fully meeting the requirements of a Joy Grandma.


    "No problem, I have assisted with hairdressing before, just don¡¯t criticize my skills," Feng Clan agreed cheerfully.


    Chao Lian hurriedly thanked her: "Thank you so much, auntie, you are all too kind to me!"


    In contrast, the Lin Family... Despite being relatives, they had ended up as enemies!

 Chapter 549 - 553 The Bride is Here!_1

    Chapter 549: Chapter 553 The Bride is Here!_1Feng Clan swiftly and deftly styled Chao Lian¡¯s hair and even added a braided fringe, enhancing her charm and spirited look.


    She decided to be thorough in her help and gave Chao Lian a simple and elegant makeup look.


    "We really don¡¯t have enough time; I can only do a simple one for you. Please don¡¯t despise it." Feng Clan expressed regret, as a proper bridal makeup would take more than two hours.


    Chao Lian quickly responded, "Aunt, you¡¯re really skillful. I like it very much. Here¡¯s a little token of my appreciation; you must accept it."


    While speaking, she took out her purse, as it was customary to give a celebratory gift.


    Feng Clan couldn¡¯t decline, so she accepted it.


    Soon, there was a clamor of gongs and drums outside; Sun Erhu had come to fetch the bride!


    "Quickly cover her with the red bridal veil; don¡¯t make Erhu too anxious," Feng Clan said with a smile.


    When she had first arrived, she saw Erhu pacing back and forth at the doorstep.


    After placing the bridal veil over her head, Feng Clan stuffed the Ruyi Box into Chao Lian¡¯s hands, which contained another set of jewelry and Chao Lian¡¯s private savings.


    Out of regard for appearances, Lin Jinshun and Jiang¡¯s Clan both had to come out to see off the bride.


    However, both wore grim expressions, especially Jiang¡¯s Clan, whose eyes were still red.


    "Could it be that Jiang¡¯s Clan has changed her ways? To cry so much over marrying off a stepdaughter, what would happen if it were her own child?"


    "I think she¡¯s just lamenting over the loss of Silver. It was quite a scene today; I could hear the noise all the way from my house," someone added.


    "What happened today?"


    "I know! I know! Lin Xiaobao said he stole his sister¡¯s jewelry to prevent her from getting married," a child proudly exclaimed.


    "How can there be such shameless people? Poor Chao Lian, now she has to face them with her head down."


    "They¡¯re all heartless wretches. Chao Lian is such a nice girl, but they don¡¯t cherish her. They will regret it in the future!"


    The crowd initially whispered among themselves, but gradually, their voices grew louder and more unabashed.


    Some even started cursing directly at Jiang¡¯s Clan.


    Getting married is ranked first among life¡¯s four joys, and yet Jiang¡¯s Clan managed to pick a fight on such a day; it was utterly heartless and mad!


    Sun Erhu gave a bow to the crowd, "Thank you all for your concern. I know in my heart how others treat me. In the future, I will surely repay kindness and resentment in kind!"


    "Well said!" A group of people applauded in agreement.


    Lin Jinshun¡¯s and Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s faces were as dark as ink, and clenched their teeth to endure all the curses thrown at them.


    "Here comes the bride!" Feng Clan opened the door and announced loudly. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A bride¡¯s feet shouldn¡¯t touch the ground, so Lin Jinshun hurried to carry Chao Lian, hoping to salvage some dignity.


    But his actions were seen as hypocritical, and no one was convinced.


    Once Chao Lian was seated in the palanquin, the head maid then patted her chest, "It¡¯s all settled smoothly. Let¡¯s go watch the ceremony. I¡¯ll snatch the first festive fruit for you later. If you eat it, you¡¯ll surely give birth to a precious child soon!"


    "There¡¯s such a saying?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was curious.


    Having been married herself, she wondered how she had never heard of this.


    "Of course! When you and Brother Hong got married, the Cheng Family took it, but by that time, you and Brother Hong had already been sent to the bridal chamber. Oh, by the way, they just had a big, healthy son yesterday. They¡¯ll probably come to your house to give thanks in the next few days."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no particular preference for sons or daughters. Even though feudal society favored men over women, she believed women could find happiness just the same.


    If she were to have a daughter in the future, she would be sure to keep her eyes wide open to find a man as outstanding as Tan Zhenghong.


    Uh-huh... with the Lingzhi and Warm Jade given by Bai Yifan, she could start the baby-making plan after the New Year.


    She hoped everything would go smoothly then.


    The head maid did as she said and indeed snatched the first festive fruit.

 Chapter 550 - 554 Bridal Chamber Prank_1

    Chapter 550: Chapter 554 Bridal Chamber Prank_1"Sister Duo¡¯er, you should eat quickly."


    Da Niuer looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with an expectant face, hoping her efforts weren¡¯t in vain and that her hard work would be appreciated.


    Unable to withstand Da Niuer¡¯s gaze, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only stuff the red dates into her mouth.


    "Zheng Hong, congratulations, you¡¯ll definitely be holding a big fat boy next year!"


    "Both you and your wife are good-looking; if you have a child, they¡¯ll surely be like the little golden boy next to Guanyin Dashi!"


    Tan Zhenghong, pulling a face, responded to the congratulations, and when he got the chance, he shot a glare at Qiao Duo¡¯er, thinking how this little woman always gave him something to worry about.


    But as long as he drank his medicine on time, she would have no chance to make any fuss.


    After a hurried dinner, the Women Army led by Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er entered the bridal chamber.


    For them, playing pranks in the bridal chamber was the main event.


    Sun Erhu expressed his inner turmoil but obediently opened the door for them.


    In the past, he was always speaking recklessly, uttering nonsensical things, and once even said his sister-in-law was ugly¡ªhe probably would suffer a lot today.


    "Please take a seat, everyone."


    Chao Lian greeted the guests to sit down, still feeling uncomfortable in her new role as the mistress of the house.


    Chen Yiling wickedly said, "Chao Lian, don¡¯t be nervous, we¡¯re just here to join in the fun, don¡¯t be nervous." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Da Niuer was straightforward and cut right to the chase, "Erhu, if you want us to leave soon, you have to cooperate, got it?"


    "Got it," Sun Erhu instantly turned into an obedient child.


    How to play the bridal chamber pranks had been discussed beforehand, aiming for fun but stopping at the right point.


    The tricks were few: eating apples, using the mouth to feed each other water with a cup, charades and the like. However, the games weren¡¯t the focus, everyone was more eager to see the shy yet loving reactions of the bride and groom.


    In the first round, as both of them were about to bite the apple, Da Niuer¡¯s hand shook slightly, causing them to think it was the other¡¯s mistake that made the apple roll away, hence the first challenge ended in failure.


    In the second round, Chao Lian successfully fed Sun Erhu three cups of wine, but when it was Sun Erhu¡¯s turn to feed Chao Lian, he was rough and impatient, failing to succeed even once.


    The third round was even more hilarious, Sun Erhu hopped up and down, but Chao Lian just couldn¡¯t understand.


    This gave the pranksters another reason to stay.


    Chen Yiling cleared her throat, "If you want us to stay, just say it!"


    "I don¡¯t, can you two manage some simple games?" Sun Erhu was frustrated.


    His sister-in-law had said these games were to test their understanding of each other, did he and Chao Lian not even have that much?


    They had failed them all!


    Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow, "Let¡¯s do something simple then, Chao Lian you tickle him and if he doesn¡¯t laugh while we count to thirty, then Erhu wins. Also, regardless of whether he laughs or not, don¡¯t stop tickling until it¡¯s done."


    "You¡¯re bullying, I¡¯m most afraid of that, how could I possibly not laugh?" Sun Erhu protested.


    Especially since his ticklish spots were not to be touched.


    Chen Yiling taunted on purpose, "Thirty counts will pass quickly, you should at least try for Chao Lian¡¯s sake!"


    Sun Erhu was a bit tempted since all he needed to do was hold on for a short while to send these deities away.


    So, he steeled his heart and agreed.


    Sun Erhu took a deep breath and curled up on the bed like a shrimp.


    "We can start now."


    Chao Lian, being a straightforward child, went straight for the ticklish spots, and Sun Erhu held back for a second before bursting into laughter and rolling around without any care for his image.


    Chao Lian chased after him while Sun Erhu continued to dodge, and they soon were rolling together in a tangle.

 Chapter 551 - 555 Very Explosive!_1

    Chapter 551: Chapter 555 Very Explosive!_1Ah, it¡¯s so easy to think dirty thoughts by mistake, but they were really just innocently scratching an itch.


    "Haha, I can¡¯t take it anymore, Chao Lian, stop tickling!"


    Sun Erhu quickly begged for mercy, and just as Chao Lian thought to stop, Yang Ruoruo reminded her, "You¡¯re only at fifteen, you can¡¯t stop!"


    "Can you tickle somewhere else? Don¡¯t keep tickling the same spot, I can¡¯t stand it, hurry up and count!" Sun Erhu began to moan in ecstasy.


    Only then did Chao Lian realize she had been tickling Sun Erhu¡¯s most ticklish spot, so she switched to his waist. That should be fine, right?


    But Sun Erhu began to laugh even harder.


    Having barely survived the count of thirty, both of their clothes were now disheveled, and Sun Erhu¡¯s buttons had been torn open a few, looking as if they¡¯d just had a fierce battle.


    Chao Lian¡¯s head hung low, her face so red it seemed like it could bleed.


    "You¡¯re my woman, we should be intimate, don¡¯t be shy," Sun Erhu soothed her with a sentence.


    His dark skin hid any blush, but his ears had already betrayed him completely.


    "We might as well ask you a few questions, and you have to answer honestly. If your answers satisfy us, we¡¯ll leave gracefully right away," Chen Yiling said, posing as if she was easy to talk to.


    Sun Erhu nodded, "Alright."


    "Chao Lian, Erhu just said you¡¯re his woman, what has he done to you?"


    "Not much, just held hands and slept together," Chao Lian¡¯s voice was as tiny as a mosquito¡¯s buzz, but unfortunately, the room was very quiet, and everyone heard her clearly.


    Everyone thought at most they had just held hands or kissed a little, but they had actually slept together!


    They all thought Sun Erhu was an honest country lad, but who knew he could be so wild!


    "Oh my god, my Lord, am I hearing things?" Big Girl said as she covered her face.


    She was still a virgin, how could they talk about such provocative things right in front of her?


    Chao Lian suddenly covered her mouth ¨C what had she just said?


    She had cried for most of the day, and her mind was a bit muddled, maybe because she drank too much.


    But she didn¡¯t think she was drunk!


    Sun Erhu quickly clarified, "We just had a nap!"


    "In the daytime? Somebody save my ears, I¡¯m going deaf!" Chen Yiling spoke with feigned modesty, her expression scandalized by the provocative talk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "I¡¯m guessing it was the day the betrothal gifts were exchanged, right?"


    "How do you know that?" Sun Erhu was shocked, "Hey, why are you all looking at me like that? Chao Lian and I just had a nap! I was drunk and just collapsed on the bed."


    Chen Yiling nodded repeatedly, "We understand."


    But her gaze clearly showed disbelief; would a man and a woman sleep together with nothing happening?


    Chao Lian spoke earnestly, "Erhu is telling the truth; he said he was too drunk to do anything."


    Sun Erhu wanted to scratch the wall, dig into the earth ¨C why did he marry such a wife who spoiled everything? He even suspected his wife had been bribed by Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at Chao Lian again, Sun Erhu immediately understood ¨C Chao Lian was drunk.


    No wonder she was speaking such nonsense.


    "I didn¡¯t drink any wine tonight, it was all prepared boiled water in advance!" Sun Erhu blurted out a nonsensical sentence. The three cups of wine that Chao Lian fed him during the cup exchange were real, but that little amount of alcohol wouldn¡¯t cause problems.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat again, "That¡¯s good to hear, I feel a bit dizzy, let¡¯s step outside for now!"


    "I¡¯m going outside too!"


    Yang Ruoruo and Big Girl immediately echoed, the conversation was becoming too racy, they couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Chen Yiling made a swift exit, demonstrating with her actions how shy she felt, it was time to dash!

 Chapter 552 - 556 Ling’er is Pregnant_1

    Chapter 552: Chapter 556 Ling¡¯er is Pregnant_1Sun Erhu let out a long sigh of relief, finally having sent those difficult women away!


    His own Chao Lian was so much better, gentle and obedient.


    "Chao Lian, I¡¯ll tidy up the room, you go take a bath first," Sun Erhu was already thinking about certain shameful things.


    However, he played it cool, fearing he might frighten his bride.


    Chao Lian bowed her head: "I¡¯ll clean up with you, it¡¯ll be faster that way."


    Hmm? Her words sounded as if she was complaining about Sun Erhu being slow, but she definitely wasn¡¯t thinking that.


    She simply wasn¡¯t used to watching others work, and besides, Erhu had been busy all day and must be exhausted; getting to sleep earlier would help him regain his energy.


    Sun Erhu quickly grabbed Chao Lian¡¯s hand: "You go and rest, I didn¡¯t marry you to have you work." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then you tidy up slowly, I¡¯m off to wash!"


    Chao Lian pulled back her hand as if shocked by electricity and ran off as if fleeing.


    Upon exiting the bridal chamber, Chen Yiling¡¯s vision darkened, but fortunately, Qiao Duo caught her in time.


    "Ling¡¯er!"


    Lord Qin immediately rushed over to take Chen Yiling into his arms.


    Feeling her forehead, he found it not hot, and seeing no pained expression on her face, he began to feel a bit more at ease.


    His Ling¡¯er had been pampered since childhood; any discomfort would have her brows tightly furrowed.


    "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m sending Ling¡¯er to your home, please trouble yourself to fetch the village doctor," Lord Qin instructed.


    Qiao Duo acted immediately, inviting the slightly tipsy Wu Youcai to her home.


    Qin Longyun gave a respectful bow: "Doctor, please take a look at my wife. She fainted suddenly after the wedding chamber festivities."


    Upon seeing the patient, Doctor Wu sobered up considerably and immediately sat beside the bed to take her pulse.


    "Congratulations, my lord, the madam is with child," Wu Youcai said with a smile.


    Qin Longyun couldn¡¯t believe his ears and asked, "Uncle, could you double-check? Is there no mistake?"


    Before the wedding, the Chen family had told him that Chen Yiling¡¯s constitution was frail and cold, making it difficult for her to conceive, so he had long prepared himself for the possibility of remaining childless.


    After marrying, he had doted on Chen Yiling not just as his wife but also as his daughter, and he hadn¡¯t found anything amiss with that.


    But now... how could they suddenly be expecting a child?


    "There¡¯s no mistake. The madam¡¯s constitution is indeed on the colder side, which doesn¡¯t favor pregnancy, but her cheerful nature makes it not impossible," Doctor Wu explained.


    While Qin Longyun was still digesting this news, Doctor Wu had already begun listing various precautions.


    "Madam¡¯s health is fragile; she must rest well and eat more food that nourishes the blood and qi. She must absolutely avoid anything cold, and oh, she cannot attend any celebratory or funeral occasions any longer, otherwise it may disturb the child¡¯s spirit..."


    Qin Longyun took note of each point, thinking that he would need to trouble the Yue family to find a dedicated maidservant to take care of Ling¡¯er.


    After a while, Chen Yiling slowly came around.


    She had never fainted so suddenly before and asked worriedly, "Am I dying?"


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense. You are perfectly fine, and moreover, there¡¯s a little thing growing inside your belly," Qin Longyun said in a soft, comforting voice.


    At this moment, his eyes were curved in a gentle smile, appearing quite unlike himself.


    Chen Yiling blinked, "Are you saying that I¡¯m pregnant?"


    "Aren¡¯t you happy about the fruit of our love?" Qiao Duo asked with a laugh.


    She never expected Chen Yiling to react this way; didn¡¯t ancient people value lineage above all?


    Chen Yiling wailed, "I¡¯m not happy at all! I¡¯m doomed!"


    She dreaded pain the most; even a cut on her finger would make her cry, yet now she had to give birth!


    Wouldn¡¯t that be excruciatingly painful?

 Chapter 553 - 557: Lord Qin Cooks_1

    Chapter 553: Chapter 557: Lord Qin Cooks_1Qin Long Yun patted Chen Yi Ling¡¯s back, "If you don¡¯t want it, you don¡¯t have to keep it."


    "Isn¡¯t aborting it just as painful? It¡¯s all your fault, if it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have to suffer this!" Chen Yi Ling wiped her tears pitifully, "Besides, now that the child is here, wouldn¡¯t it be too cruel not to want it?"


    The child chose her to be its mother; that was fate. How could she not want her own child?


    Qin Long Yun cleared his throat awkwardly, "Whatever you decide to do, I have no objections; after all, this whole affair is my fault. You can punish me however you want, just stop crying, alright?"


    Lord Qin suddenly felt that the days of being oppressed had returned.


    But this time he was more than willing.


    Ling¡¯er used to be so afraid of pain, yet she was willing to bear a child for him. What couldn¡¯t he agree to for her sake?


    "I¡¯m going to cry!" Chen Yi Ling said proudly.


    The only way to appease her was to get Qin Long Yun to carry a child as well.


    But that was completely unrealistic, for Qin Long Yun did not have that capability.


    Forget it, for the sake of the unborn child, she would stop being angry for now.


    Otherwise, there would always be people saying she and Qin Long Yun wouldn¡¯t last a few years, even blatantly suggesting she allow Qin Long Yun to take a concubine.


    Next year, when she brought the baby back home to visit relatives, she wanted to see what those gossipy women would have to say!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said wickedly, "You two chat away, I¡¯ll fix something to eat."


    "What can he and I have to talk about? I¡¯m coming with you to the kitchen!"


    Chen Yi Ling glared at Qin Long Yun; she did not want to see him.


    "Miss, you¡¯d better save your energy!" Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly refused.


    With Lord Qin right there, she wanted to live a few more years!


    The guilty Lord Qin hurriedly said, "Ling¡¯er, you stay and rest in the room quietly. I¡¯ll go learn cooking with Duo¡¯er."


    A woman¡¯s taste changes during pregnancy, and his wife often complained that the cook¡¯s meals weren¡¯t as delicious as Duo¡¯er¡¯s. Now, she would mention it even more.


    He would learn now; it was sure to come in handy later.


    Upon entering the kitchen, Lord Qin said earnestly, "Duo¡¯er, just command me in whatever needs to be done."


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s taste had already started to change; she had a lot of meat at dinner and now needed to eat something light.


    Spring noodles would be the perfect choice.


    But it seemed a bit improper to be directing the County Magistrate on what to do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Lord Qin, and seeing that he wasn¡¯t joking, she unhesitatingly gave him tasks.


    It so happened that she had been busy all day and didn¡¯t want to move an inch now.


    "First, go to my family¡¯s vegetable patch and pull up a few stalks of baby bok choy."


    Once Lord Qin had harvested the bok choy, Qiao Duo¡¯er then directed him to knead the dough, roll out noodles, and cook them.


    Lord Qin¡¯s performance surprised Qiao Duo¡¯er. She only had to give a bit of guidance, and... this was just too unbelievable!


    "Have you done manual labor before?"


    Lord Qin nodded, "My family was a normal farming household. Because my father was the village head, our life was a little better off than others¡¯, enabling them to support my studies. I¡¯ve done these sorts of chores at home; it¡¯s just that the taste was a bit off."


    He had never felt inferior about his birth, so whenever anyone asked, he never hid it.


    "So that¡¯s why you are always considering the common people."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a thumbs up, appreciating his virtue of remembering his roots amidst wealth and rank.


    Lord Qin remained humble, "I am merely following the sayings of the Saint."


    Once the noodles were ready, Lord Qin hurriedly took them to Chen Yi Ling.


    "Why is Lord Qin in the kitchen?"


    Tan Zhenghong, who had just returned, asked curiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said joyfully, "Ling¡¯er is expecting, and Lord Qin is here to make a loving dinner for his wife." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 554 - 558 Hand over the family property_1

    Chapter 554: Chapter 558 Hand over the family property_1Tan Zhenghong understood, which left Qiao Duo¡¯er very dissatisfied.


    After all, Qin Longyun was the County Magistrate, and now he even cooked himself. How come Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t find it strange at all?


    Tan Zhenghong slowly said, "His wife went with him, his child calls him ¡¯dad¡¯, if he doesn¡¯t get busy, who will?"


    "You do have a point there. Sigh, I won¡¯t talk about it anymore, I¡¯m exhausted!" Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched and headed to the room.


    Tan Zhenghong followed her eagerly; he could give his wife a massage!


    As for Chen Yiling, she was leaning in Lord Qin¡¯s arms, eating noodles at that moment.


    She suddenly felt that being pregnant wasn¡¯t so bad, at least her Lord Qin couldn¡¯t put on airs in front of her anymore.


    And when she thought about it, it actually only hurt at the end, the rest was all benefits!


    Meanwhile, inside the bridal chamber.


    Chao Lian was sitting on the edge of the bed, so nervous she didn¡¯t know where to put her hands and feet.


    Sun Erhu was in the partition washing up, and there was no more sound of water, which meant he must be coming out soon.


    Chao Lian¡¯s ears grew hot, and she suddenly felt an urge to run away.


    Soon Sun Erhu came out just in his undergarments, but instead of going straight to the bed, he took a pottery jar from the wardrobe.


    "Wife, keep this. You can spend it however you want in the future, and I won¡¯t have any objections,"


    Sun Erhu stuffed the pottery jar into Chao Lian¡¯s hands, which contained silver, the house deed, and the land deed.


    But Chao Lian felt like she had received a hot potato and immediately pushed it away, "This is what you¡¯ve saved up with great difficulty; I can¡¯t take it."


    "What nonsense are you talking? From now on we¡¯re a family; what¡¯s mine is yours. Just take a look."


    Sun Erhu lifted the lid and took out the contents, one by one.


    This was his entire fortune.


    The big bag of silver made Chao Lian¡¯s mouth gape open: "How did you get so much?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There must be twenty to thirty taels of silver here!


    "Didn¡¯t your mother originally ask for eighty taels as a bride price? I saved up seventy taels of silver, thinking of selling two more acres of land to make up the dowry, but who knew later that it wasn¡¯t needed," Sun Erhu said with a silly laugh.


    He had spent twenty taels on acquiring a wife, fifteen taels on refurbishing the house, and subtracting some miscellaneous expenses, he still had thirty-two taels left!


    "All thanks to Sister Duo¡¯er, she helped out a lot today, we really need to thank her properly,"


    Chao Lian frowned, knowing she had no talents of her own. How should she repay such a huge favor?


    Sun Erhu rubbed Chao Lian¡¯s head, "I remember all the kindness I¡¯ve been shown, so don¡¯t you worry. Life is long, will we not get a chance to repay?¡¯


    Should his Brother Hong or sister-in-law need help, he would risk even his life to help them.


    This affectionate gesture made Chao Lian stammer.


    "These are what I brought today, let¡¯s put them together inside it. We... we need to find a secure place for it, otherwise I¡¯m afraid..."


    She had seen firsthand Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s ability to ransack things; if it was in this room, she would find it.


    In her father¡¯s words, her mother was like a rat, there was nothing she couldn¡¯t find.


    "That¡¯s easy, I¡¯ve made a hidden compartment on top of the Big Beam, completely invisible unless one climbs up there. From now on, we¡¯ll hide all our valuable things there," Sun Erhu said proudly.


    Chao Lian nodded happily, her mother would never think of that!


    Now their silver coin was secured.


    Chao Lian remembered another thing, "The silver jewelry should also go inside."


    "No, that won¡¯t do. As a new bride, how can you not wear jewelry?" Sun Erhu immediately refused, the onlookers might think he was mistreating his wife!

 Chapter 555 - 559 Sleep Now?_1

    Chapter 555: Chapter 559 Sleep Now?_1"It¡¯s better than having it snatched away by my mother, and my two younger brothers aren¡¯t reliable either. It¡¯s always right to be more cautious."


    Chao Lian sighed, having seen her family¡¯s true colors for what they were. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From now on, she would act as if they didn¡¯t exist!


    Erhu tried to comfort her awkwardly, "I promise I won¡¯t ever let you be wronged in the future. But you know I¡¯m a straightforward person. If I accidentally make you angry, please don¡¯t be mad at me. I definitely didn¡¯t mean it."


    "Thank you." Chao Lian was deeply touched.


    "Did you forget what I just said? We¡¯re family; no thanks needed!"


    Sun Erhu feigned anger, feeling that what he was doing was only right.


    Erhu was impulsive, saying what he would do and doing it instantly, so he brought over the ladder right away.


    We should hide all the valuable things properly, shouldn¡¯t we? That way, we can sleep soundly at night.


    "Erhu, be careful."


    Chao Lian helped steady the ladder, occasionally reminding him.


    Having climbed trees and raided bird nests since childhood, Erhu found ascending the main beam a piece of cake, but it was heartwarming to have someone worrying over him.


    Finally, there was someone who always kept him in their thoughts. It felt truly blissful!


    He quickly climbed up to the main beam and carefully uncovered the big red "¸£" character, revealing the secret compartment underneath.


    The hidden compartment was so well disguised that even Sun Erhu had to spend some time to find a small crack, lifting the lid to place the ceramic jar inside.


    After replacing the lid and sticking the "¸£" character back on, there were no signs that anything had been disturbed.


    Erhu dusted off his hands, sure that Jiang¡¯s Clan would never figure it out.


    "Wife, if you ever need the silver, just tell me, and I¡¯ll climb up to get it for you!"


    Chao Lian, looking up, said, "Come down first, then we¡¯ll talk!"


    It¡¯s too dangerous to talk while standing on the main beam!


    Erhu obediently climbed down, and only when he was safely on the ground did Chao Lian breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Wife, you¡¯re so good to me, yet I have to ask you to pretend to be poor for a while. I¡¯m sorry for the hardship," Erhu said tenderly.


    Chao Lian¡¯s eyes reddened. "It¡¯s actually me who has been a burden to you. If it weren¡¯t for my mother being too much..."


    "It¡¯s not like you were the one who asked your dad to marry her, how could it be your fault? It¡¯s late; shall we go to sleep?"


    Sun Erhu raised his eyebrows suggestively.


    Even the way he had just looked at the silver wasn¡¯t as intense.


    Without a response from Chao Lian, Sun Erhu could only tug on her hand, leading her to the bedroom.


    Though winter had already arrived, the palms of their hands were sweaty.


    Sun Erhu said frankly, "I¡¯m not light-handed, and I might press down on you getting up in the night, so you sleep on the inside, okay?"


    "What if I press down on you?"


    Chao Lian fidgeted with the corner of her clothes, her heart filled with uneasy trepidation, knowing the thing she feared the most was about to happen.


    "If you lie on top of me while sleeping at night, it¡¯s no problem at all. That¡¯s settled then, you first," Sun Erhu declared assertively.


    He had finally managed to send off those bustling in for the wedding night, and he wasn¡¯t about to waste time on who slept where.


    Chao Lian, steeling her nerves, lay on the bed. After a moment¡¯s thought, she turned to lie on her side. How mortifying, what should she do?


    Suddenly, there was movement behind her¡ªSun Erhu was getting into bed!


    He wrapped Chao Lian in his arms, and though separated by two layers of clothing, they could still feel each other¡¯s warmth.


    "Wife, are you cold? Should we add another blanket?" Sun Erhu craftily planned.


    As he expected, Chao Lian shook her head, "I¡¯m warm enough, not cold."


    "Then, are you hot?" Sun Erhu¡¯s mouth could not help but curve upwards.

 Chapter 556 - 560 Instant Spray_1

    Chapter 556: Chapter 560 Instant Spray_1Chao Lian still shook her head, "How can it be hot in the dead of winter?"


    Sun Erhu really wanted to smack himself, it was all his fault!


    Not being cold meant it was hot, so they could take off their clothes. Why did he have to ask again?


    Chao Lian had no idea of the little schemes in Erhu¡¯s mind; she was simply not used to being so close.


    Although they had shared a bed before, all they did was sleep under the covers.


    She quietly shifted inward, creating a bit of distance, and with that, she felt she could breathe more easily.


    Sun Erhu pursed his lips and, pretending it was casual, moved a bit, and his body stuck to her again.


    Chao Lian continued to make room, Erhu kept pressing closer, like two playful children competing secretly.


    "Wife, you¡¯re almost against the wall. Be careful not to catch a chill at night, or you¡¯ll be the laughingstock tomorrow," Sun Erhu kindly reminded her.


    Others would certainly think they had a too intense night and accidentally caught a cold.


    Chao Lian said with a grievance, "You move over to your side a bit."


    Sun Erhu made room and then pulled Chao Lian back towards him, and this time they finally faced each other.


    "Wife, you are truly beautiful," Sun Erhu said with squinted eyes.


    Chao Lian scolded him, "You just know how to sweet-talk."


    Erhu was getting impatient; it had been a while, yet why hadn¡¯t they gotten to the main point?


    If he just started for no reason, he would feel embarrassed.


    What should he do?


    Erhu clenched his teeth, "Wife, can we go to sleep now?"


    "Mhm, we need to get up early to clean up tomorrow," Chao Lian quickly nodded, figuring if she fell asleep, there would be no awkwardness.


    Sun Erhu leaned over and kissed Chao Lian, but his expression seemed more like someone going to the execution grounds. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was their first time, after all, nervousness was inevitable.


    Luckily, Chao Lian had already closed her eyes. Erhu truly cared for her, she was worth committing to, and since they were married, sooner or later they would have to...


    Erhu tasted sweetness, and everything that followed was logical.


    "It hurts a bit!" Chao Lian whimpered, and then she saw Sun Erhu¡¯s face stiffen.


    Um... It seemed to be over before it even started.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s face turned scarlet, wishing he could crawl into a hole.


    Could he be more embarrassed? To finish just like that?


    Chao Lian buried her face in Sun Erhu¡¯s chest; she had no experience but knew this wasn¡¯t normal, and Erhu must be upset because of it.


    She whispered, "It¡¯s okay if it didn¡¯t work out."


    Sun Erhu was even more vexed. How come he could not perform?


    "Mhm... It¡¯s just that the first time was too exciting, and it was over too quickly," Sun Erhu quickly explained.


    Chao Lian nodded, "Maybe you were just too tired from the day. You should rest."


    Sun Erhu gritted his teeth, but with that part of him limply, he could only lie back down next to Chao Lian.


    If he... were always like this in the future, how unfair would that be to Chao Lian?


    Sun Erhu dwelled on what had just happened; thinking about that poor performance, he felt like dying, as it related to his dignity!


    Chao Lian had cried half the day and had been through a lot, so she was completely exhausted and found it good that Erhu finished early.


    She put on her clothes, went to freshen up in the washroom, and then fell asleep without a care in the world.


    Sun Erhu turned his back, feeling somewhat desolate.


    He had managed to mess up a perfectly good wedding night.


    He was strong and healthy; he shouldn¡¯t have given in so quickly!


    But it was he who had erupted as soon as he went in!


    Sun Erhu fell asleep with these conflicted emotions, not resting well, and woke up early the next day.

 Chapter 557 - 561 Practice More_1

    Chapter 557: Chapter 561 Practice More_1Men are especially prone to impulsiveness in the morning, and with his wife in his arms, Erhu was even more eager.


    "Erhu, get up quickly. We need to serve tea to your parents," Chao Lian said, hiding her face under the blanket.


    How could one be so improper so early in the morning?


    Sun Erhu, gasping for breath, said, "My parents won¡¯t mind these things; they¡¯d surely prefer you to give them a chubby grandson early."


    This time he was very anxious, afraid of last night¡¯s events repeating themselves.


    But fortunately, he lasted at least a stick of incense¡¯s time.


    Sun Erhu finally felt at ease, thankful that everything was functioning normally.


    "This is still a skill that needs practice, wife. You¡¯ll have to let me practice more. I can definitely last longer," he said.


    Chao Lian shrunk entirely underneath the blanket, feeling too embarrassed to face anyone.


    When Sun Erhu didn¡¯t get a response for a long time, he retrieved Chao Lian into his arms and even made her stick her head out.


    Chao Lian protested, "You improper man, always bullying people."


    She thought last night was just fine. Why would he need to last longer? Wasn¡¯t it tiring enough?


    "I just like bullying you. You sleep a bit more; I¡¯ll wake you up after I¡¯ve made breakfast," said Sun Erhu in high spirits.


    Chao Lian was about to speak when Erhu slid out from under the covers, all bare. She could only retreat further under the blankets.


    She really didn¡¯t see anything!


    Sun Erhu said teasingly, "If you want to look, just look. I¡¯m all yours from head to toe."


    Now with only the top of her head exposed, Sun Erhu could still imagine her shy expression.


    Sun Erhu wandered into the kitchen, cooked a pot of millet porridge, steamed yesterday¡¯s leftover buns, heated two side dishes, and breakfast was ready.


    When he was about to call Chao Lian to get up, he found out she was already up and had nearly finished sweeping the yard.


    "Why didn¡¯t you rest properly? Aren¡¯t you tired?" he asked.


    Taking the broom from her, Sun Erhu began to sweep the remaining area.


    Chao Lian nodded, "I¡¯m not tired. I¡¯m used to doing housework at home."


    "Then you¡¯ll need to get used to not doing it. I¡¯m not your stepmother. Rest when you should, and don¡¯t worry so much," he said sternly, although he was thinking to himself that he should last even longer next time. If his wife got too tired, she would have to obediently sleep in bed.


    Fearing that Erhu would talk nonsense again, Chao Lian slipped into the kitchen to serve breakfast.


    It was a good thing that Erhu¡¯s mother had an early birthday, otherwise, a new bride just entering the house and skimping on making breakfast would easily face strong disapproval.


    At this moment, someone from Jiang¡¯s Clan was wandering by the door.


    Yesterday at Sun Erhu¡¯s Home, they had set a big feast with plenty of food left over, including meat pies and meatballs, which she could take some home to enjoy.


    After all, there were only two people in the Sun household; they couldn¡¯t possibly finish it all.


    But now it was Three Poles Day, and they had yet to open the door, utterly shameless! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Da Bao, Little Treasure, if you want to eat meat, keep an eye out. Call me as soon as they open the door," Jiang¡¯s Clan lady said irritably.


    Both Da Bao and Little Treasure took this task to heart, how could they miss out on meat?


    Yesterday, they were seated at the same table as the village head, and despite eating voraciously, Tie Niu glared at them, leaving them far from satisfied. Today they had to recoup their losses!


    But what Jiang¡¯s Clan lady didn¡¯t expect was that Sun Erhu planned to stay indoors for three days straight, cuddling with his wife at home.


    Just thinking about those days... blissful!


    Anyway, like his Brother Hong, he wasn¡¯t restrained by elders; at worst, he would be teased by his peers.


    But who knows if that would be mockery or envy?

 Chapter 558 - 562 Help Looking at Herbs_1

    Chapter 558: Chapter 562 Help Looking at Herbs_1Aunt Huang was very efficient; by the evening of the second day, someone had delivered the herbs.


    "Wife of Zheng Hong, can you check if we dug up the right ones to avoid bringing back a bunch of useless stuff?"


    An older woman came over with a basket to ask for guidance.


    She was the representative sent by all those who picked herbs because her coming alone wouldn¡¯t attract too much attention.


    They had already learned their lesson from the last time the Tan Family bought herbs.


    When others saw they could make money, they joined in on the excitement, and among them were inevitably those who muddied the waters, complicating things for the Tan Family and even dipping into their wages.


    Apart from working in the fields, the most women in rural families could hope for was to help out at home with their needlework.


    But their hands were calloused, often snagging the fabric while embroidering, which fetched a lower price than working for the Tan Family.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Auntie, please take a seat, and I¡¯ll pour you a bowl of tea."


    "Thank you, I really am thirsty," Fat Aunt laughed and said.


    The Tan Family was now one of the wealthiest in Big Willow Village, but they were always smiling and amiable towards everyone, without any hint of condescension.


    Before long, Qiao Duo brought over a bowl of sweet water, which sweetened Fat Aunt¡¯s heart.


    Since they treated her with such courtesy, she must work hard in return.


    Otherwise, others would call her an ingrate.


    While Fat Aunt sipped the water, Qiao Duo¡¯er examined the herbs in the basket.


    Most of the required herbs were gathered, but, of course, some useless weeds were mixed in as well.


    Previously, as ordinary farmwives, managing to identify eighty percent of the herbs correctly was already quite impressive.


    "These two stems look alike at first, but there are differences; this one is darker in color, the roots on it are long and fine, while the other does not have roots, so these two are not the same thing..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed out each of the wrongly picked herbs, explaining them clearly one by one. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fat Aunt was very efficient; she remembered every point that Qiao Duo¡¯er mentioned.


    With such a good memory, it was no mistake for the others to have chosen her for this task.


    Fat Aunt was a straight-talker, never hiding her words, and Qiao Duo¡¯er also enjoyed dealing with her.


    "Wife of Zheng Hong, is the work payment still settled daily?"


    Some issues had to be clarified in advance to avoid unnecessary friction later, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "The herbs need to be processed promptly, or their potency will degrade, so the herbs picked that day must be brought over, and I¡¯ll pay upon seeing the herbs. It was six Wen Money a pound initially, but the price will increase if the quality of the herbs is good."


    "Six Wen Money a pound is already quite a lot; I heard that a full basket of herbs won¡¯t fetch more than Ten Wen Money in town."


    The smile on Fat Aunt¡¯s face revealed her surprise!


    In fact, if it weren¡¯t for Qiao Duo¡¯er teaching them how to recognize the herbs, they couldn¡¯t have earned this money, so even if the price were lower, they would be willing.


    "We¡¯re all from the same village, so I¡¯ll be at ease if you earn a bit more," Qiao Duo generously said, patting her chest confidently that the price she offered was fair.


    After drying, the quality of the herbs drops significantly, making them less cheap than they appear.


    Fat Aunt quickly declared, "I will definitely tell them when I go back, to make sure they put their hearts into it."


    Aunt Huang said that this time Duo¡¯er needed a lot of herbs, and even if the price per ten pounds of herbs increased by just One Wen Money, it would add up to a considerable amount of money.


    "Try not to dig up those of poor quality, lest when I buy herbs next year, there will be nothing left on the mountains. Also, Aunt Huang hasn¡¯t been feeling well recently, so I¡¯m counting on you to pay extra attention to this matter," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with sincere concern, making it hard for anyone to refuse.

 Chapter 559 - 563 A Bit of Selfishness_1

    Chapter 559: Chapter 563 A Bit of Selfishness_1"Don¡¯t worry, with me here, nothing will go wrong. But... there¡¯s one more thing I need your help with."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was patient. "Just tell me what you need."


    "We¡¯ve decided that I¡¯ll be responsible for delivering the herbs. Different kerchiefs will be used to wrap the harvested herbs, and when that time comes, I¡¯ll need you to put the copper coins in the kerchiefs," said Fat Aunt hesitantly.


    They were acting out of self-interest, so she felt a bit ashamed to ask.


    It was really bothersome to have the Tan Family weigh each bundle and hand out money individually.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed readily. She didn¡¯t want unreliable people getting involved either.


    After all, the quality of the herbs directly affected the quality of the facial mask powder, and she didn¡¯t want to ruin the hard-earned reputation.


    After discussing the herbs, Qiao Duo¡¯er invited Fat Aunt to stay for dinner.


    "My family is waiting for me to eat at home. Oh, how is it that your house feels warm after just a few words?"


    Fat Aunt looked around curiously; there wasn¡¯t even a brazier in the room.


    It was truly magical!


    Qiao Duo let her in on the secret: "It¡¯s the ground dragon system that Ah Hong installed. They¡¯re used more in the north where it is colder."


    Fat Aunt, planning to rebuild her house next year, inquired further.


    Qiao Duo didn¡¯t keep any secrets and shared all she knew.


    In this area, people typically used braziers to keep warm during winter, but braziers were dangerous, as they could easily lead to suffocation or fire. Ground dragons didn¡¯t have these issues.


    The only downside to ground dragons was that they used up a lot of firewood, but that wasn¡¯t a problem for farmers. The men just needed to gather more wood from the mountains.


    "Thank you. I¡¯ll talk it over with my husband. If he agrees, I¡¯ll ask Zheng Hong to install a ground dragon for us too!" Fat Aunt said cheerily, looking forward to easier winters. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "Sure, just let Ah Hong know when you¡¯re ready."


    "Then it¡¯s settled for now. Wife of Zheng Hong, I¡¯ll head back now. Come and visit when you have some time," said Fat Aunt before hurrying off.


    If her husband agreed, she¡¯d start the construction when spring came.


    After she left, Tan Zhenghong brought dinner, a hot chicken soup dumpling perfect for the cold weather.


    While eating, Tan Zhenghong shared his thoughts.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll learn how to process those herbs from you tomorrow," said Tan Zhenghong seriously.


    The weather was getting colder, and he couldn¡¯t let Duo¡¯er handle the washing and chopping.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t insist on doing it herself, knowing she couldn¡¯t handle it all alone.


    The next day, Qiao Duo put wood ash in a basin, poured in a bucket of water, and stirred with a wooden stick.


    After letting it sit for a while, the wood ash settled at the bottom, and what she needed was the water above it.


    The water filtered through the wood ash was alkaline and could remove the dirt from the herbs.


    As dusk fell, Fat Aunt arrived as promised.


    The herbs weighed about thirty pounds, a large quantity, but were only wrapped in white cloth, with no markings¡ªa bit different from what was discussed yesterday.


    "I discussed with everyone and we decided we don¡¯t read well, it¡¯s hard for us to identify so many herbs, and we were worried about mixing them which might affect their properties. So I divided them into groups, each responsible for picking only one type. We split the money we get," explained Fat Aunt. Everyone knew each other well and no one was the type to cheat, so there were no objections.


    This way, Qiao Duo¡¯er only had to weigh the total and settle the silver coins all at once, saving a lot of trouble.


    "It¡¯s a total of thirty-two pounds. I¡¯ll give you two hundred wen money, which will be easier for you to divide when you get back."

 Chapter 560 - 564 Loyal Heart_1

    Chapter 560: Chapter 564 Loyal Heart_1Fat Aunt excitedly accepted the two hangs of money, "Wife of Zheng Hong, you really are a good person!"


    Today, a person could get twenty wen money, and this was just the beginning, they were not familiar with the herbs, so they could definitely earn more in the future.


    With this money, they could all have a good New Year¡¯s celebration today!


    Fat Aunt made some small talk before hastily taking her leave, as she needed to hurry back and distribute the money.


    Tan Zhenghong moved the herbs into the kitchen; their task was to clean the herbs and then use a bamboo knife to slice them into thin pieces, and some of the herbs, like Bai Ji, needed to be steamed through before slicing.


    The work was not heavy, but it was very tedious.


    They squatted on the ground, first soaking the herbs in water mixed with plant ash, then cleaning them thoroughly in a basin of fresh water.


    "It¡¯s a good thing Fat Aunt sorted the herbs beforehand, otherwise it would be even more troublesome for us."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but remark; although she came from the future, she still had too little life experience.


    Otherwise, just sorting the herbs would have been exhausting enough.


    Tan Zhenghong patted his chest, "No matter how troublesome, I can sort them all out. You go rest, don¡¯t squat for too long."


    She was not in good health and would see darkness before her eyes when she got up after squatting for too long, and every time he saw her staggering, it nearly broke his heart.


    A basket of cleaned herbs was already beside them, so she took the herbs to start slicing.


    After winter, if you want the herbs to dry quickly, you can only cut them as thinly as possible, which was the most laborious part.


    Tan Zhenghong then picked out the herbs that needed steaming and put them in the steamer. After lighting the fire, he also brought over a few slender sweet potatoes.


    The sweet potatoes turn sweeter after being frosted and are most delicious when roasted.


    The two of them were each busy with their own tasks, occasionally chatting and laughing, accompanied by the two fat dogs, Fat Fat and Fatty, snoring by the stove, a harmonious picture.


    Suddenly, the two fat dogs suddenly perked up their ears, then bolted out together as if by some signal.


    Qiao Duo and Tan Zhenghong followed them out; the two fat dogs had already chased far away, while a dart was stuck in the door frame.


    But who had time to care about that now?


    All she knew was that the assailant had hidden weapons, and it would be worrying if the two dogs had just charged over like that.


    "Quickly call the two dogs back," Qiao Duo¡¯er said nervously.


    Although the two fat dogs were greedy and loved to fight, and even made a mess by digging up the ground, they were smart and loyal.


    Besides, they had been with them for a long time and had already formed an emotional bond.


    Tan Zhenghong blew a whistle, and quickly, the two dogs came flying back, with Fat Fat carrying a piece of fabric in its mouth, likely torn from the assailant.


    Fat Fat wagged its big tail and leaned against Qiao Duo, presenting the fabric to her like a treasured gift.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the fabric, but the rebuke she was about to give upon seeing Fat Fat¡¯s turned-out flesh stopped in her throat.


    It was a cut from a dagger!


    And if the wound had been just a bit lower, it would have hit the throat and been fatal! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She initially kept them because she thought they were chubby and cute, plus it fulfilled her dream from her past life to have pets.


    Latterly, she just fed them some bones and rice, it was just an incidental thing as their family sold marinated meats.


    But did that warrant them risking their lives?


    What two foolish creatures!


    Fat Fat, sensing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s emotions, immediately rubbed against her as if to comfort her.


    Because for it and Fat Fat, their owner was their everything.


    Because of their owner, they did not need to wander homeless, they did not need to suffer hunger and cold, so for her, everything was worthwhile.


    Tan Zhenghong wrapped the dart with the fabric and took it down, under the dart was a note.

 Chapter 561 - 565: Not Worth a Hair_1

    Chapter 561: Chapter 565: Not Worth a Hair_1"You go ahead and bring them in; I¡¯ll grab the tools. Fat Fat is badly injured and needs immediate attention," Tan Zhenghong instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Be careful."


    She was wary of this man, for he had managed to approach her unnoticed, a sign that he too was a master.


    When Tan Zhenghong returned with the medicine box, Qiao Duo¡¯er began by cutting the hair around the wound with scissors, then wiped off the blood with a clean cloth before applying the medicine and bandaging it.


    Fatty¡¯s hind leg had been scratched by something, and Duo¡¯er also applied some medicinal powder to it.


    After attending to the dogs, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally remembered the note and asked with a stern face, "What does it say?"


    To sneak into her home and injure her dogs, wasn¡¯t that just asking for death?


    It didn¡¯t matter who it was, she would have them pay!


    Tan Zhenghong spoke seriously, "It only had one sentence informing us to be careful."


    "Us?" Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed confusion, but quickly realized he was referring to Fat Aunt and the rest!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slammed her palm on the table, "It must be Yin Yinyue. Disgusting!"


    Yin Yinyue wanted the face mask powder formula and, true to her usual scheming, would stop at nothing to disrupt others¡¯ earnings. Once they were sufficiently harassed, she¡¯d get what she wanted.


    "Child, don¡¯t worry. Even without the face mask powder, I can still provide you with a good life." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong furrowed his brow; Fat Aunt had only been in the mountains for a day before Yin Yinyue sent people, meaning she must know the formula by now.


    He believed Yin Yinyue was capable of that.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood what Tan Zhenghong meant, but he was worrying too much.


    If the face mask powder was so easy to recreate, then counterfeit products would already be flooding the market!


    "That won¡¯t be the case. The herbs Fat Aunt is gathering are quite common, and any doctor could recognize them. They are far from the real formula," she assured confidently.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs up, "Wife, you¡¯re brilliant. Yin Yinyue is no match for you!"


    "But Fat Aunt and the rest just barely learned to recognize the herbs, and calling a stop just one day into the mountains seems a bit harsh, doesn¡¯t it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed; somehow, she felt uneasy saying it outright.


    After pondering for a moment, Tan Zhenghong said, "They have limited ways to make money, basically just staying at home to sew soles and clothes. Those with nimble fingers do Embroidery Flowers, but they all earn very little, so they¡¯re quite eager to help out our family."


    If only there was another way, but it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently put away the medicine box, her mood a bit heavy.


    She had interacted with Fat Aunt only a couple of times but liked her forthright and sincere personality, and she knew there were many others in the village just like her.


    If she could help them, she would be very happy.


    But what could women, who rarely left their courtyards, do?


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo slapped her forehead. Hadn¡¯t Tan Zhenghong said they usually did needlework?


    And Duo Meifang specialized in products for women, so how could needlework be absent?


    However, some ideas were needed to combine needlework with herbs; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be Duo Meifang but a general store.


    "What do you think about making some scented shoe insoles and Mind Calming Sachets, and selling them in the store?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked excitedly.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Of course, that¡¯s a great idea. Even though these items are common, we have our unique features, which will carve out our market. Besides, didn¡¯t you feel before that we had too few items to sell?"

 Chapter 562 - 566: Still Soaking Your Feet?_1

    Chapter 562: Chapter 566: Still Soaking Your Feet?_1Having come to this realization, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood improved significantly.


    However, each time she looked at the injured Fatty, her eyes couldn¡¯t help but darken with a cold fierceness.


    To say nothing of it being unworthy to kill a person over a dog, in her heart, a dozen Yin Yinyues weren¡¯t worth a single hair on Fatty¡¯s body.


    Fatty was willing to risk its life for her, while Yin Yinyue only ever caused trouble.


    She would remember today¡¯s grudge and was determined to send Yin Yinyue to the guillotine in the near future!


    "Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go buy a few pounds of pigskin to come back, eating pigskin helps wounds heal faster," Tan Zhenghong comforted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I¡¯ll go straight to Sister Lan¡¯s house after coming back from Fat Aunt¡¯s house tomorrow, to fetch a pig¡¯s trotter to reward them."


    Tan Zhenghong had no objections to this; as long as his wife felt a little better, that was all that mattered.


    "I think I smell something burning," Qiao Duo¡¯er sniffed.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly remembered the sweet potatoes in the stove.


    Upon retrieving them with tongs, he saw that the sweet potatoes had been charred into black balls, completely inedible.


    He had been so careful roasting them for so long, only for it to be all in vain!


    Seeing his frustrated expression, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a little better, "Next time just cover them with mud, they definitely won¡¯t burn to this dead state."


    "I wanted to prepare them for your midnight snack, I can only do it another time," Tan Zhenghong said regretfully.


    They set this issue aside for now and continued to process the medicinal herbs.


    After organizing everything, they also re-made the nests for Fatty and Fat Fat.


    Previously, they slept on the dry straw next to the stove, but now with wounds on their bodies, if the place they lived in wasn¡¯t clean, infection was very likely.


    "Wife, these are jackets I used to wear," Tan Zhenghong said timidly as he brought out two worn pieces of clothing.


    When they had moved here, she had said to throw away the old clothes, but he thought the jackets were still good enough for working, so he brought them along.


    To keep them hidden from his wife, he had stashed the clothes at the bottom of the wardrobe.


    And now, they came in handy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong helplessly; if it weren¡¯t for his thrifty habits, she would be worrying now. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You guys behave and sleep here, no messing around at night," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted the heads of the two dogs, and they obediently lay down on the ground and even closed their eyes.


    After tonight, they occupied a completely different place in Zheng Hong and Duo¡¯er¡¯s hearts.


    By the time they finished all these tasks, it was very late, and Qiao Duo¡¯er, half-lying on the couch, didn¡¯t want to move at all.


    She was still thinking about the insoles and sachets. Now that people couldn¡¯t go into the mountains, there wasn¡¯t enough cloth and herbs at home; she would need to go to town to buy more tomorrow.


    It would also be a good opportunity to discuss new medicinal recipes with Bai Yifan, hopefully with a variety of effects.


    And she hoped that Li Mu¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be there; that woman¡¯s hostility towards her was utterly unfounded.


    Instead of spending time resenting her, it would be better to focus more on deciphering Bai Yifan¡¯s thoughts.


    Tan Zhenghong brought over some water for a footbath, made from the medicinal herbs Qiao Duo¡¯er had saved.


    "Wife, come soak your feet," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er haughtily wiggled her feet, signaling for Tan Zhenghong to remove her socks.


    Tan Zhenghong was long accustomed to this; in other families, men were dominant over women, but that was just in other families.


    In their home, Duo¡¯er was the queen, and he was the knight that Duo¡¯er spoke of, loyally protecting and following his queen.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s feet were small and well-shaped, and Tan Zhenghong held them gently, as if handling a finely crafted artifact.


    "Wife, your feet are truly beautiful," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "Husband, are we going to soak the feet or not?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face turned red, and he quickly took off the other sock and gently placed the foot into the medicinal bath.

 Chapter 563 - 567 Eternal Bonds_1

    Chapter 563: Chapter 567 Eternal Bonds_1Her feet enveloped by the warm water, Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes in comfort.


    "Do you want to join me for a foot-bath?"


    With such an invitation from Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong responded immediately, and soon there were two pairs of feet, one large and one small, in the basin.


    Even though the basin was quite large, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s feet always seemed to inadvertently touch Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s, each tiny movement filled with an endless flirtation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and asked, "Tan Zhenghong, do you have some ulterior motives?"


    "You¡¯re exhausted, and there¡¯s a heap of things to do tomorrow, you should rest early," Tan Zhenghong said, speaking against his true feelings.


    He was no longer the green young man who¡¯d just begun to indulge, now knowing when to restrain himself and choose the proper time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Seeing how considerate you are, I guess I¡¯m not tired anymore."


    Does... does that mean it¡¯s okay?


    Tan Zhenghong was thrilled but blushed like a bashful maiden.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but curl her lip. Was she being too forward? Looking at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s expression... it was as if someone was trying to take advantage of him.


    When, in reality, it was she who was letting a certain wolf get his way, right?


    Tan Zhenghong had already sneakily thought through the positions, but by the time he blew out the lamp and went to bed, someone was already curled up in the blanket, snoring away.


    "Becoming more and more like a little pig," he muttered.


    However, he simply tucked in the blanket properly and soon laid down himself.


    After all, there was a long life ahead of them, and he had plenty of opportunities to have his wife make it up to him.


    Upon reflection, Duo¡¯er already owed him many times over, by the time she paid off her debt it might well be the next lifetime.


    Or maybe, considering Qiao Duo¡¯s current temperament, they were bound to be tied together through naughty things for eons to come.


    Thinking about it that way wasn¡¯t too bad!


    Early the next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to Fat Aunt¡¯s house and found Fat Aunt counting the number of people present.


    "Duo¡¯er, why have you come?" Fat Aunt quickly asked.


    "I have something to say, everyone please be quiet."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with the poise of a leader, stood in front of the crowd.


    Now everyone was relying on Qiao Duo to earn money, so they promptly complied with whatever she said.


    Once everyone was settled, Qiao Duo¡¯er explained the purpose of her visit.


    "Miss Yin of the Yin Family wants the facial mask powder formula. I¡¯m worried she might harm you all, so let¡¯s take a few days off. I will tell Lord Qin about this and ask him to uphold justice for us."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laid out the situation truthfully.


    "That Yin Family is the worst, they try to snatch anything they see in other people¡¯s hands, utterly shameless!"


    "Ah, we finally found a way to earn a living, and just one day in, that vile Yin Family has ruined it!"


    "Lord Qin loves his people like his children, I hope he can quickly take care of this scourge from the Yin Family!"


    Within the chorus of voices denouncing the Yin Family, one voice was particularly jarring.


    "Wife of Fourth Boss, aren¡¯t you deceiving us? We finally recognized the medicinal herbs, and after just one day, you¡¯re saying stop. It can¡¯t be that you¡¯re reluctant to pay us!"


    The speaker was Good Lady, who was typically silent; her sudden outburst surprised everyone.


    The crowd blinked at her, hoping she would quickly apologize to Qiao Duo. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet Good Lady said disdainfully, "I didn¡¯t say anything wrong. She surely didn¡¯t expect that we could gather so much in one day."


    "Good Lady, what nonsense are you talking about? If it weren¡¯t for Duo¡¯er, you wouldn¡¯t earn a single Wen!"


    "The Wife of Zheng Hong also said it¡¯s because Miss Yin wants to harm us, it¡¯s not intentional, why do you keep harping on this?"


    "It¡¯s the Yin Family causing trouble, if you have the guts, go argue with the Yin Family yourself!"

 Chapter 564 - 568 Too Complicated_1

    Chapter 564: Chapter 568 Too Complicated_1The crowd pointed their fingers at Good Lady, accusing her of being ungrateful.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already said it was just a temporary halt, and they could continue harvesting herbs once this issue was resolved. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the past few months, the financial gain of the Tan Family was evident to all. Wasn¡¯t picking a fight with them now the same as having an issue with money?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke earnestly, "This incident was indeed unexpected. Last night, someone sneaked into my house and used a dart to pin a note, threatening Zheng Hong and me into submission, which is why I¡¯m notifying all of you today."


    "Are you and Zheng Hong alright?" Fat Aunt asked anxiously.


    "The intruder didn¡¯t hurt anyone; only our dog was injured chasing after them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er downplayed it, but the others were still frightened.


    "That¡¯s good to hear. Thankfully, Duo¡¯er came early; otherwise, we might have never returned."


    "I¡¯ve heard of Yin Yinyue¡¯s methods. They say she kills without batting an eye¡ªsuch a grave calamity!"


    Someone else consoled, "Wife of Zheng Hong, don¡¯t take it to heart with her. She¡¯s probably just venting her anger after being scolded by her mother-in-law; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t speak such nonsense."


    Good Lady¡¯s mother-in-law is very strict and her husband not caring, so a bit of paranoia on her part is understandable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly; as long as Good Lady wasn¡¯t too much, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to care.


    Last night, she anticipated that some might not take the news well, but she didn¡¯t expect such a strong reaction.


    Of course, she would have to be more cautious around such people in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought up another serious matter, "Don¡¯t idle during this period. I need more deodorizing insoles and sachets. I will provide all the materials. Those willing to help can come to my house in the evening."


    "What¡¯s a deodorizing insole? Sounds pretty novel," the crowd asked curiously.


    "It¡¯s an insole treated with herbs that can disinfect and deodorize. Wearing them over time also has health benefits."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er answered patiently.


    "Can an insole be that miraculous?"


    "This sounds too complicated. We don¡¯t even know a single character. Can we do it?"


    "This all seems very mystical to me, with powders and talk of killing¡ª I¡¯m sure I wouldn¡¯t manage."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded confidently, "Actually, making them is the same as ordinary insoles, but I¡¯ll need you to take extra care to make them look and perform better. After all, the better the quality, the higher the price."


    Someone teased, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re not going to stop us after just two days again, are you?"


    "I told you not to go into the mountains because it is dangerous. If you¡¯re not afraid, you can keep digging. As long as you bring them, I will definitely buy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her innocent eyes; she never thought there could be too many herbs.


    "Then I might as well take the insoles from your house. The worst I could get is a pricked finger¡ªwe need to earn money but also have a life to spend it."


    This comment caused a ripple of laughter among everyone, but it was certainly true.


    Life is precious; it can¡¯t be traded for money.


    "I always said Duo¡¯er has the biggest heart. Not only does she care about our lives, but she¡¯s also always looking out for ways to enrich us!"


    Fat Aunt raised her thumbs up, her eyes full of admiration.


    She hadn¡¯t heard Qiao Duo¡¯er mention any of this before; it must have been an improvised idea.


    The wealthy only have eyes for silver, completely blind to the hardships of ordinary folk.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was different; she thought everything through thoroughly.


    "Duo¡¯er, you must be busy at home, so you better go back. We¡¯ll all head home too and wait for your word to go up the mountain."


    "I¡¯ll come by your house this evening. You have to save some work for me."


    "And me too, I¡¯m not good at Embroidery Flowers, but I can make insoles."

 Chapter 565 - 569 Overheard?_1

    Chapter 565: Chapter 569 Overheard?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Ensure everyone gets a portion, and when you all go, bring along the insoles and needlework you made. Those who are good at it can make sachets, and those with average skills can make insoles. As for those that really can¡¯t present their work..."


    "We understand this; if it¡¯s poorly made, it truly won¡¯t sell."


    "Don¡¯t worry, making insoles is no challenge for us; which of our men doesn¡¯t wear the shoes we make?"


    Such an outcome left everyone very satisfied, and Qiao Duo¡¯er could leave at ease.


    After returning home, Tan Zhenghong was still in the backyard, so she began to make breakfast.


    Breakfast was a pot of corn porridge accompanied by eggs and rolled pancakes, all with a farmhouse flavor.


    After breakfast, Tan Zhenghong hitched up the ox cart and went with Qiao Duo¡¯er to town.


    Perhaps worried about encountering danger, Fatty and Fat Fat adamantly jumped onto the ox cart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "We are very capable, if someone with no eyes gets in the way, we¡¯ll take down one if one comes, and a pair if two come. You two just stay home and heal."


    Fatty and Fat Fat grunted twice but refused to get off the cart.


    "Why not bring them along? I¡¯ll drive slower; with a cotton-padded coat for them to sit on, it won¡¯t be too uncomfortable," Tan Zhenghong said, petting both their heads.


    Not bringing them along was definitely not an option for them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, seeing the sun high in the sky, could only agree.


    At the Government Office, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the item left by that person and recounted last night¡¯s events in detail.


    Upon seeing the dart, Qin Longyun¡¯s face darkened.


    "This is a hidden weapon from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; the person who went to your house yesterday must have been Xuan Qing."


    The people he sent to Big Willow Village were all experts; aside from Xuan Qing, no one else from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village could escape their vigilance.


    "Xuan Qing? The Third Master of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s complexion also wasn¡¯t great; Xuan Qing had a significant reputation in the area.


    He was cruel and ruthless, and the hawks he had trained in earlier years were exceptionally vicious, especially adept at pecking out people¡¯s eyes.


    In these past two years, he had devoted himself to training hawks, so his ability to control them must have improved even further. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun nodded, "It¡¯s all my fault; if it weren¡¯t for my incompetence, none of you would have been involved."


    "The Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold have been managing for years; how could they be uprooted so easily? That you could restrain them upon your arrival is already quite an accomplishment," Tan Zhenghong offered an objective assessment. The term ¡¯incompetent¡¯ simply didn¡¯t apply to Qin Longyun.


    If he were too impulsive, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    If Xuan Eagle Mountain Village came down the mountain with eagles in tow and Yin Zheng closed all the shops, it would be the common people who suffered.


    The real incompetence belonged to the previous County Magistrates; if not for their indulgence and protection, how could the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold have become so entrenched?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, "Big brother, rest assured, we aren¡¯t helping out for nothing!"


    "Of course. When the time comes for rewards based on merit, by the way, I¡¯ve discovered that Yin Zheng and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village are trafficking illicit salt and iron. My father-in-law and I have discussed this; if we can acquire solid evidence, next year the Imperial government will send troops to eradicate Xuan Eagle Mountain Village," Qin Longyun said in hushed tones.


    The soldiers dispatched by the Imperial court had all been honed on the battlefield, and once they arrived, the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village would have nowhere to hide.


    The three exchanged glances and tacitly remained silent.


    This was a top secret. If the folks from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village heard even a whisper of it in advance, they would relocate, and all the effort would be for naught.


    But just at this moment, the door of the study was pushed open, and their hearts instantly leaped to their throats.


    They had been speaking very softly; surely no one could have overheard them.


    Qin Longyun gave both individuals a look, signaling that if there was anything amiss, they should act immediately.

 Chapter 566 - 569 Glutton_1

    Chapter 566: Chapter 569 Glutton_1"Qin Longyun, you jerk, Duo¡¯er is here and you didn¡¯t even call me!" Chen Yiling said unhappily.


    She was very sleepy now, awake for at most six hours each day.


    But that was definitely no reason not to call her.


    She was so bored she could explode, and now that she finally had a friend to talk to, how could she not be notified?


    Lord Qin hurriedly stood up, "Ling¡¯er, we were discussing serious matters, I was planning to call you after we finished."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed unkindly; Lord Qin had also become someone who could lie without blushing.


    She could only say that a man who was about to be a father was indeed different; he¡¯d sold off all his integrity.


    Chen Yiling pouted, "I¡¯ll forgive you this time."


    "Good, I promise there won¡¯t be a next time." Qin Longyun agreed readily.


    Chen Yiling was simple-minded, and becoming lazier during her pregnancy, so she believed Qin Longyun¡¯s words.


    "Duo¡¯er, did you bring me anything tasty this time? You have no idea how miserable I¡¯ve been these past few days, eating only pickled vegetables with plain steamed buns every day."


    Chen Yiling said with a pout.


    Although Lord Qin had tried every possible way to cook for her, not a single dish was to her taste.


    Sometimes, seeing Lord Qin busy himself so much, she felt guilty.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted the basket from beside her feet, "These are oranges and jujubes from my cellar, and walnuts too. Eating these will make the baby smart."


    "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re the best, these look so delicious!"


    Chen Yiling was very pleased; before she finished speaking, she had already reached out to grab an orange.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded her, "Eating too many oranges can cause heatiness, you should eat just one or two occasionally."


    Chen Yiling ate contentedly, paying no mind to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, but Lord Qin was listening.


    The nanny who is in charge of the prenatal care sent by her parents was still on the way; before then, he had to be more attentive.


    His wife seemed carefree and somewhat resistant to pregnancy, but Qin Longyun knew better than anyone that she, like him, was looking forward to the arrival of their little one.


    Chen Yiling quickly finished off an orange and reached for the basket again.


    "Ling¡¯er, I¡¯ll crack a walnut for you to eat."


    Lord Qin promptly intervened, as it was already cold and eating too many cold things could easily cause stomach pain.


    Chen Yiling tugged at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arm with a pitiful look, "Duo¡¯er, take me home with you, he keeps bullying me."


    Not only had he made her pregnant but he also never let her eat her fill, she was so pitiful! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There were villains in my house yesterday, it¡¯s not safe for you to come home with me," Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    So that was something Chen Yiling could only dream about.


    Chen Yiling pouted, "You¡¯re so mean, making up such a ridiculous story just so I won¡¯t go to your house. I¡¯m not stupid!"


    "The evidence is still here, see for yourself."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gestured to the items on the table.


    Chen Yiling covered her mouth, it was... a dart, and it looked so cool!


    "Don¡¯t touch it, it¡¯s poisoned!" Lord Qin shouted.


    The Poison Dart was a signature of Xuan Qing, and its poison was fierce. Luckily, Tan Zhenghong had wrapped the dart in cloth the night before.


    Chen Yiling withdrew her hand, looking at Lord Qin then at Qiao Duo¡¯er, and then patted her chest, relieved that everyone was okay.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Still dare to come home with me?"


    Chen Yiling swallowed nervously, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯ll protect me, right?"


    "Protecting you is no problem," Qiao Duo¡¯er paused, "but the little guy inside you will definitely hate you for it later."


    With the little one brought into it, Chen Yiling instantly deflated.

 Chapter 567 - 571 Blocking the Door_1

    Chapter 567: Chapter 571 Blocking the Door_1"Once you give birth to the little thing, I¡¯ll send you to stay with Duo¡¯er¡¯s family for a while," Qin Longyun An comforted her.


    Chen Yiling sighed, feeling her liberation was still an eternity away.


    After chatting with Chen Yiling for a while longer, Qiao Duo¡¯er took her leave.


    She had to get to Deji Hall, or she would miss another appointment.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er walked toward Deji Hall, she prayed that Li Mu¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be there.


    She just wanted to get things done smoothly.


    Today, it seemed all the deities were away on business, and no one made Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s wishes come true.


    Not only was Bai Yifan absent, but Li Mu¡¯er, having been left behind, was brewing a bellyful of rage and had nowhere to vent it.


    She had tried hard to learn to be a virtuous and moral woman and had even picked up needlework, which she had never touched before.


    She felt wronged to death, yet Bai Yifan still didn¡¯t look at her properly.


    All because of Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    If it weren¡¯t for her, Bai Yifan would certainly have married her. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er had her maid place a stool to block the doorway, her beautiful eyes filled with hostility.


    Last time she hadn¡¯t managed to get at Qiao Duo¡¯er, and now she dared to come of her own accord¡ªwasn¡¯t that courting death?


    Li Mu¡¯er snorted lightly, "You¡¯re here looking for Brother Fan?"


    "Hmm," Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips. She really wanted to crack open Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s head to see what was inside.


    She had been married for a long time and had no feelings for Bai Yifan, okay?


    It was so ridiculous to be picking a quarrel with her!


    "Miss Li, Mrs. Tan is our guest at Deji Hall. She buys medicine from us every month. Please let her in quickly," the store manager hurried over to mediate. If Mrs. Tan felt slighted, his days ahead would not be easy.


    Others might not know, but he was well aware of the young master¡¯s sentiments.


    As for Miss Li, her family¡¯s status was too significant to offend, or he would be doomed by just one word from her.


    Ah, being the store manager was indeed tough!


    "The Bai family won¡¯t sell her any medicinal materials! Tell me how much she pays you each month, and I¡¯ll pay you tenfold, no, a hundredfold!" Li Mu¡¯er said disdainfully. The Li family was a dynasty of imperial merchants, her eldest brother had become an advanced scholar, and now he held a fourth rank official position. Would she care about the petty money of a love rival?


    She didn¡¯t even want this Deji Hall anymore!


    That would spare her from seeing Bai Yifan spending all his time on those sick people and having no time for her.


    Ha! As if she didn¡¯t know Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s intentions!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just wanted to use buying medicine as an excuse to seduce Bai Yifan!


    Simply shameless!


    "If you give Deji Hall silver, it¡¯s just moving money from your left hand to your right. Why bother?" Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded her. If Li Mu¡¯er truly wanted to marry Bai Yifan, wasn¡¯t she tarnishing her own family¡¯s reputation by blocking the door?


    After all, it wasn¡¯t just her being blocked out.


    The store manager quickly agreed, "Mrs. Tan makes a good point. Miss Li, please step aside."


    "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re mocking me. You might speak nicely, but the thoughts in your hearts are filthy," Li Mu¡¯er rolled her eyes and then said to her maids, "You all watch the door closely. If there¡¯s any slip-up, I¡¯ll sell you off!"


    The two maids immediately did as told, blocking the entrance securely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt helpless. If she were Bai Yifan, she definitely wouldn¡¯t marry Li Mu¡¯er either.


    Because what if the child¡¯s IQ turned out like the mother¡¯s? Wouldn¡¯t that be a crying shame?


    But today, she had to find Bai Yifan, not only to discuss investing in Duo Meifang but also to inquire about musk.

 Chapter 568 - 572: No Need to Disturb Him_1

    Chapter 568: Chapter 572: No Need to Disturb Him_1She remembered that musk, beyond being used in medicine, was also a fine fragrance. In the palace dramas she watched in her previous life, musk was frequently used for contraception and causing miscarriages. She wanted to ask clearly now to better plan its uses in fragrances.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "Duo¡¯er is my wife, don¡¯t get any wrong ideas. We¡¯re just here to buy medicinal herbs."


    Because it involved a recipe, they could only buy the medicine at Deji Hall.


    Otherwise, Yin Yinyue could simply grab the pharmacy owner and give him a little interrogation, and she would know exactly what they had bought.


    Li Mu¡¯er sneered, "You¡¯re the only one who would believe her. You should ask around and see how many people in town don¡¯t know about her feelings for Bai Yifan!"


    The people who were stopped outside were unhappy.


    "What¡¯s going on here? Are you still doing business or not? My master is waiting at home to take his medicine!"


    "Can you take responsibility if you delay someone¡¯s illness?"


    "Looking at your clothes, your families must be either rich or noble. Why are you stopping people at the door like a shrew? Don¡¯t you know how to manage your household?"


    "Doctor Bai will be unlucky for marrying this woman!"


    "She speaks her mind even with her husband right beside her."


    Tao Xiang said impatiently, "If you can drive her away, my mistress would definitely let you in!"


    "Miss Li, with the pharmacy full of nosy people, if the young master finds out, it will definitely cause a misunderstanding. Why don¡¯t you let me invite them in? If it¡¯s a trivial matter, I can handle it privately. What do you think?"


    The store manager spoke in a low voice, trying to persuade her earnestly and patiently.


    Tao Xiang also said, "Young Master Bai went out to see patients and won¡¯t be back until the evening. If they want to wait, they can wait."


    Young Master Bai prized medicine as much as life itself and would certainly not return in the middle of seeing patients.


    The last time her mistress suddenly got a fever, Young Master Bai only allowed the doctors from Deji Hall to see her first.


    However, it was uncertain what would happen if it were Qiao Duo instead.


    It was only then that Li Mu¡¯er nodded and turned to walk towards the inner hall.


    The store manager quickly signaled to the clerk to remove the bench blocking the front door.


    "Fourth Master Tan, Madam, I am truly sorry. Our young master is not here, and no one can control Miss Li. Please forgive us; don¡¯t take it to heart."


    "It¡¯s fine, come with me. If you have the authority, there¡¯s no need to disturb Young Master Bai," Qiao Duo said lightly.


    The store manager wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I was just speaking casually a moment ago."


    "My wife didn¡¯t mean it that way, she just doesn¡¯t want to cause trouble," Tan Zhenghong explained.


    Now, if people were to bring back Bai Yifan, Miss Li would definitely not stay calm.


    He really wanted to shout that with him around, his wife wouldn¡¯t spare a glance for any other man!


    Only then did the store manager nod and quickly lead the two to the reception room.


    "Please wait a moment, I will have someone make tea immediately."


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "Store Manager, let¡¯s get straight to the point. I want Deji Hall to invest in Duo Meifang, providing all the herbs. In addition to the cost of the herbs, an extra twenty percent of the profits will be given to you each year. How does that sound?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The store manager said awkwardly, "I can¡¯t make this decision on my own. It depends on what the young master thinks."


    "Then we¡¯ll leave that matter for another time. First, tell me about the uses of musk, and also, please prepare some medicine for me," Qiao Duo said.


    Preparing medicine was the store manager¡¯s expertise; these two matters were not difficult for him at all.


    "Musk is truly a treasure, with the naturally matured scent considered the best quality, worth more than gold. It can be used in medicine and for making incense..."


    The store manager shared everything he knew, speaking very comprehensively.

 Chapter 569 - 573: Bitten by a Dog and Enjoying It?_1

    Chapter 569: Chapter 573: Bitten by a Dog and Enjoying It?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er concluded that the idea of musk causing miscarriages is purely fictional in palace dramas, relieving her of worries and justifying the lengthy explanations given by the Store Manager.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er had no questions, the Store Manager went out to prepare the medicine.


    He didn¡¯t know what Qiao Duo¡¯er needed the elegantly scented medicine for, but he followed her instructions regardless.


    He thought that once Young Master Bai returned and was informed, he would definitely understand.


    At this time, in the study.


    Li Mu¡¯er sat in a chair, her handkerchief twisted into a knot.


    Every time she thought of Bai Yifan¡¯s tender look, her heart ached.


    Why did Bai Yifan like that woman?


    That woman was flirtatious, having seduced Yin Yinyue¡¯s husband, and now she was targeting Bai Yifan. What was so good about her?


    The most infuriating part was that despite her philandering, her man still treated her like a treasure!


    "Miss, should we go find that person?" Tao Xiang whispered into Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    Li Mu¡¯er shook her head, "What if Brother Fan finds out?"


    Then Bai Yifan would be even more reluctant to bother with her.


    "You are the miss of the Li Family. As long as you make those people shut up, who would dare to say more? Besides, once that woman¡¯s reputation is ruined, Young Master Bai will despise her even if he has no time to be disgusted yet!"


    Tao Xiang squinted her eyes, her mental calculations clicking rapidly.


    She was just taking the money to ward off disasters for others.


    Just now she had urged Li Mu¡¯er to let Qiao Duo enter for the sake of helping that person.


    Just for that face, she was willing to do anything.


    Li Mu¡¯er was still hesitant, but Tao Xiang continued to persuade her: "Miss, do you really want that woman to snatch away Young Master Bai? Her family background is inferior to yours, and she is not as pretty as you. If she succeeds, others might plot against you!"


    These words struck Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s heart.


    She gritted her teeth and agreed with Tao Xiang¡¯s plan: "You go find someone from the Yin Family."


    "The Store Manager is partial to Qiao Duo, it¡¯s best to keep this from him. Can you find a way to distract him?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er patted her chest, "Leave it to me."


    Once they had agreed upon their plan, Tao Xiang delivered the message through the back door to a burly man, while Li Mu¡¯er went to the front hall, keeping everyone busy with her commands.


    As the eldest miss, it was normal for her to buy various snacks.


    The Store Manager felt a headache coming on; he was the only one left in the store. He was to prepare medicine for Qiao Duo and also attend to customers.


    If only he could clone himself, then he could take care of both matters.


    About the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the door to the guest hall was pushed open.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong became alert, as the visitor walked with extremely light footsteps and shallow breathing, surely a martial artist.


    Clearly, this was not someone from Deji Hall.


    The man who arrived was more delicate than a woman, exuding a femininity that did not undermine his masculinity ¨C a veritable male enchantress.


    "You must be Xuan Qing?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was almost certain.


    Leaving aside his appearance, without having gone through various hardships, he wouldn¡¯t possess such an aura.


    Like a leopard lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to pounce and kill its prey.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s lips curled up, "You have good judgment."


    "Thanks for the compliment. I wonder if the dog of my house was to your satisfaction last night," Qiao Duo¡¯er mocked intentionally.


    If Fat Fat hadn¡¯t annoyed him last night, he wouldn¡¯t have slashed at Fat Fat¡¯s neck, nor torn off that piece of cloth.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s irritating smile immediately froze on his face; he, Master Xuan San, who had wandered the martial world for many years, was chased by a dog into such an embarrassing state for the first time last night.

 Chapter 570 - 574: Xuan San is Captured_1

    Chapter 570: Chapter 574: Xuan San is Captured_1That beast, who knows what it had eaten to get so strong, wouldn¡¯t let go of his pants no matter what.


    Just to prevent his trousers from being torn off, he could only cut off the hem.


    This was simply a huge disgrace!


    Seeing Xuan Qing¡¯s murderous look, Qiao Duo¡¯er said discontentedly, "With such a petty temper, how dare you call yourself a man? No wonder Yin Yinyue doesn¡¯t like you!"


    The gossip she heard from Chen Yiling was that Xuan Qing had pursued her persistently for many years without success, which also made him a man of deep feelings.


    Xuan Qing was formidable, resolute in killing, and made the villagers tremble in fear.


    But Yin Yinyue was the pain of his lifetime.


    Xuan Qing impatiently said, "You talk too much, I advise you to obediently hand over the goods!"


    "As expected of a mountain bandit, so direct in robbery."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arched her eyebrows, dealing with the leader of the mountain bandits for the first time, she felt an inexplicable... excitement.


    Xuan Qing felt his chest was about to burst with stifled rage, was he supposed to make friendly small talk before robbing someone? Besides, he felt he had already let Qiao Duo¡¯er say quite a lot.


    Just as he was about to speak, Tan Zhenghong said, "You¡¯re a man, you should rely on fairer methods in the future."


    Xuan Qing couldn¡¯t help but snort with laughter, he was a mountain bandit, what did fairness matter to him?


    "You have two choices, one is death, the other is to hand over the formula." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xuan Qing took on his usual authoritative stance, following the rules of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, when encountering a large haul, it must be led by the owner.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, "Ah Hong, if you were to rob for me, I¡¯d wake up from sleep laughing."


    "Just say what you want, I can get it for you without resorting to robbery," Tan Zhenghong said confidently. With his hands and feet, what couldn¡¯t he earn? What kind of skill was robbery?


    Now that times were peaceful, which honest man¡¯s livelihood was based on this?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up: "Ah Hong, you¡¯re really great!"


    The two of them played off each other, Xuan Qing¡¯s gloom deepened.


    Why did everyone else seem to enjoy marital harmony while Yin Yinyue wouldn¡¯t even give him a kind look?


    Xuan Qing¡¯s hand moved slightly and two poison darts were already pinched between his fingertips.


    The next second, they flew at breakneck speed toward their target.


    This was a poison he had recently concocted; once hit, they would undoubtedly die.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong had anticipated this and dodged to the side the moment Xuan Qing made his move.


    "Yin Yinyue, you¡¯re here to snatch the formula too? When you all rob, you all wear the same expression, as if someone owes you silver for generations, why don¡¯t you marry him and put it to rest, truly a match made in heaven!" Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly accused with mock seriousness.


    Xuan Qing quickly turned around, but where was the shadow of Yin Yinyue?


    The damn Qiao Duo¡¯er actually dared to deceive him!


    Just as Xuan Qing¡¯s attention wavered, the people outside rushed in all at once, and knives gleaming with cold light were placed against Xuan Qing¡¯s neck.


    The moment there was something afoot at the Yin Family, someone had already come to notify them.


    They had agreed upon a plan: once Xuan Qing arrived, Qiao Duo¡¯er was responsible for distracting his attention while the others waited for the right moment to rush in and subdue him.


    It had to be said, this was all thanks to Chen Yiling¡¯s maternal family.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the twenty-six guards from the Chen Family, even if Qin Longyun and the others were capable, they would have no opportunity to put their skills to use.


    "Owner Xuan San, I¡¯d advise you to refrain from any rash actions, the blade is heartless, and it wouldn¡¯t be good if you got hurt," the guard kindly reminded, as Xuan Qing was a key figure in the illegal salt and iron trade, he was very valuable.


    Xuan Qing gritted his teeth, but with his life in the hands of others, he could only compromise.

 Chapter 571 - 575: Chase or Not? _1

    Chapter 571: Chapter 575: Chase or Not? _1But he was, after all, the Third Master of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. Did they really think they could capture him with just these people?


    One should know with their little toe that this was impossible.


    Yet at this moment, the guard was highly alert, and with the unpredictable Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong present, it was not the best time to make a move.


    So he could only endure for the time being.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s venomous gaze shifted around. He would remember these people!


    They better pray they don¡¯t fall into his hands; otherwise, he would certainly let them know what it felt like to wish for death.


    "Master Xuan San, you better not resent it. Lord Qin is not blind. You should have thought of this outcome when you went to rob Bai¡¯s Medical Clinic,"


    said the guard as he tied up Xuan San with rope.


    He bound him securely, and now, even if Owner Xuan San had immense skills, he would likely be helpless.


    The leader clasped his hands together in a salute, "Fourth Lord, Madam, we will take our leave first."


    "Be careful."


    Tan Zhenghong urged cautiously. Xuan Qing was no ordinary person, and he felt a bit uneasy.


    The guard confidently said, "Fourth Lord, put your heart at ease; we brothers will surely deliver him in front of Lord Qin."


    With that, they left with Xuan Qing in custody.


    The group of them marched majestically toward the Government Office. As they passed the mouth of the alley, Xuan Qing gave a signal with his eyes to someone there.


    That was a spy planted by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, responsible for gathering and disseminating information.


    Straight after, the person turned and entered the alley, everything happening as quickly as if nothing had occurred.


    Just as they were about to reach the Government Office, the leading guard suddenly stopped and listened carefully to the sounds around them.


    Seeing him like this, the others tensed up as well.


    The footsteps around them were chaotic, and it seemed there were quite a few people.


    "Big brother, what should we do?"


    "Regardless, we can¡¯t let him run away. We must deliver him to the Government Office."


    Before his words had faded, Xuan Qing, with his hands bound, suddenly flashed a movement, neatly dodging the broadsword aimed at his neck. Then, with a leap, he kicked both feet into the guard¡¯s back.


    The guard, who had just been looking confident, now embarrassingly fell flat on his face, while Master Xuan San landed with a graceful stance ¨C the difference in their abilities was immediately apparent.


    At the same time, many people emerged from all directions.


    Judging by their attire, they must all be mountain bandits from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    "Don¡¯t let Xuan Qing escape!"


    The head guard scrambled up, only to have to face the bandits attacking him, forcing him to fend them off first.


    But the number of bandits was too great, and their goal was clear: to entangle them.


    The few guards couldn¡¯t take care of so much, and before long, Xuan Qing had hurried away with the cover of the others.


    Seeing that the Third Master had escaped danger, the others no longer lingered in battle and scattered in all directions, leaving behind only a few who were dead or seriously injured.


    "Big brother, should we pursue?"


    "Some of you go after him, the rest check their bodies for any clues. Search thoroughly, perhaps we can redeem ourselves with our findings."


    The lead guard¡¯s face was grim, thinking of the grand promises he had just made to Tan Zhenghong and felt a burning shame on his face.


    The slap in his own face couldn¡¯t have been louder!


    The others hurried to comply, and soon someone found a waist token with a large "Yin" character written on it.


    Who else could use this but Yin Zheng¡¯s family?


    The head guard quickly said, "Let¡¯s not alarm anyone with this matter for now, bring it directly back to the Government Office." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes!"


    The guard gave the bandits a cursory bandaging to prevent them from dying on the way.


    They hoped this discovery could earn Lord Qin¡¯s forgiveness; otherwise, how could they face the young lady?

 Chapter 572 - 576 Small Moves_1

    Chapter 572: Chapter 576 Small Moves_1Perhaps sensing that these individuals were inconsequential, the people from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village didn¡¯t stir up trouble again, and they finally made their way back to the Government Office smoothly.


    In the Ruyi Tea House, Xuan Qing sat with a dark expression in the seat of honor.


    "Third Master, please calm your anger. Today those people were just too cunning, but you were still very formidable."


    Chu Sandao said, nodding and bowing.


    Especially that move where he flew up from the ground and kicked someone, it even made his blood boil with excitement.


    Xuan Qing said irritably, "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re secretly laughing. Spit it out if you¡¯ve got something to say."


    "Master, what¡¯s so good about Miss Yin? She¡¯s quite old, looks average, and is always so fierce. Do you really need to be so desperately involved with her every day?"


    "You¡¯re the Third Master of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and you¡¯re so handsome, so many maidens want to marry you, but you just fancy an old woman."


    Chu Sandao looked disgusted; anyway, he felt no affection for that Miss Yin.


    "If I hear you spout nonsense again..."


    Receiving a glare laden with murderous intent, Chu Sandao hurriedly said, "I know I was wrong, I swear I won¡¯t speak of it again!"


    Alas, Xuan Qing¡¯s life was well and truly botched.


    The key issue was that Yin Yinyue was no good; she was selfish, ruthless, and she completely used Xuan Qing as a tool.


    She¡¯d call him over whenever she needed him and send him away after using him, showing no consideration for feelings.


    He was just a little follower, but even he couldn¡¯t continue to watch this!


    Xuan Qing didn¡¯t want to discuss this matter any longer and changed the subject.


    "Go and notify Xiao Lingchuan to send me the people I want, and bring Tan Zhengyuan over as well, I have instructions for him."


    "No problem, but they want Twenty Taels of Silver for the exchange. Are they even worth that price?" Chu Sandao was even more displeased.


    Twenty Taels of Silver were enough to buy him two maids to warm his bed!


    But now, just to buy two little things that probably couldn¡¯t even cook properly, what was the use? Wasn¡¯t it just wasting silver!


    Xuan Qing waved his hand dismissively, "Give it to him, I want to see those people by tomorrow at the latest."


    Chu Sandao opened his mouth, but in the end, he obediently went to do as told.


    Knowing Xuan Qing as he did, he understood that further persuasion would be futile; it was better to save his energy and return to the mountain village to report back.


    The former Xuan Eagle Stronghold Master had passed away early, and the Third Master had been raised by his elder and second brothers. Only by their intervention could the Third Master be persuaded.


    Just as he was about to step out the door, Xuan Qing called out to him.


    "If you let elder brother and second brother find out about this again, you can roll out of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village."


    Chu Sandao felt a chill run down his spine; so his little schemes had long been discovered.


    He had often prided himself on being very discreet.


    He quickly turned around, raising three fingers, "Third Master, I swear from now on I will follow you loyally. Should I harbor any disloyalty, may thunder strike me down and grant me a terrible death."


    Xuan Qing snorted softly, "If it weren¡¯t for our years of friendship, I would have sent you away long ago. Behave yourself from now on."


    Chu Sandao nodded earnestly, his demeanor becoming even more humble, aware that Xuan Qing was contemplating killing him.


    Alas, he could only hope that Master Xuan San would take responsibility for his own actions. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, only Xuan Qing was left in the private room.


    He clenched his fists, his eyes growing even more somber. He had lived for so long, and today was undoubtedly his most humiliating day!


    Xuan Qing allowed his mood to settle slightly, then called over a brother to return with him to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    He hadn¡¯t spent much time at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village in the last few days and wondered how his beloved Eagle was doing.


    Hmm... Having been trained for three years, it was time to let it out for a flight.


    Otherwise, some people might forget about his strength, or even forget him and his Hawk.

 Chapter 573 - 577: Distributing Embroidery Work_Child_1

    Chapter 573: Chapter 577: Distributing Embroidery Work_Child_1At dusk, a group of women arrived at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s house as agreed upon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately opened the door and let them into the hall.


    She hadn¡¯t stopped since returning from town, and with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s help, she had already prepared everything.


    "Duo¡¯er, quickly divide the things for me; I¡¯ll go back and start embroidering right now," someone said impatiently.


    With the New Year approaching, she needed to save money to make new clothes for her children.


    "Don¡¯t be in such a hurry. I¡¯ll distribute everything first, and then I¡¯ll explain the rules to you. Everyone, take care of your embroidery pieces and line up. As long as you do a good job, each of you will get your share of embroidery work."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed, and she also brought out the bamboo baskets she had prepared earlier. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister-in-law, your stitches are neat and orderly; how about you make the sachets?"


    Sister-in-law Yang nodded, "No problem, I haven¡¯t been in the fields for a month. My hands are much finer than before, and I¡¯ll make sure not to snag the fabric."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out two buns, within which were wrapped embroidery threads, patterns, and embroidery needles.


    Before long, everyone had received their materials.


    Since it was their first time, Qiao Duo¡¯er only assigned two days¡¯ worth of tasks, to minimize losses in case someone cheated.


    "The Tan Family is really thoughtful, providing us with everything we need!"


    "It¡¯s great to work for such an owner; I¡¯ll definitely help out the Tan Family if there¡¯s more work in the future!"


    Everyone couldn¡¯t help but give Qiao Duo¡¯er a thumbs up, singing her praises without end.


    "I work fast with the needle; can I deliver it earlier?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "Of course, you can. If there¡¯s no issue with your work, you¡¯ll be able to take on more next time."


    "However, I want to make it clear upfront that I will check every single item you deliver. If there are any instances of hoarding materials, failing to deliver on time, or shoddy workmanship, the Tan Family will never employ you again."


    "Now, let me address the topic you¡¯re all most concerned about, the compensation. Twenty-five Wen for a sachet, five Wen Money for a pair of shoe insoles. The price may vary depending on the quality."


    "The price for sachets is good. I hope those responsible for them will avoid rough work after going home, as there will be silk in the future."


    "Lastly, I must emphasize that if the quality is too poor, not only will I withhold your wages, but you will also have to compensate for the fabric, so I hope you will take this seriously."


    Insisting on quality and setting the price accordingly has always been her way.


    But she wasn¡¯t unreasonable; as long as these people were honest, the money would be easy to earn.


    This news caused even more excitement among the people; they had not anticipated such rates!


    If they worked diligently, they could embroider a sachet in one day or make three pairs of shoe insoles, wouldn¡¯t they make a fortune?


    If they received work every day, they¡¯d be even more formidable than the men in their homes!


    "You need to make money, too; we all understand that."


    "We¡¯re all honest folks; we¡¯ll surely complete the work without cutting corners."


    Qiao Duo nodded, "I¡¯ll also let you in on something; I¡¯ll be collecting these continuously. The most that might change are the fabric and patterns, so just focus on your work."


    For the village women, this was an incredibly favorable situation: good pay, stable work, and no exposure to the sun or rain, how comfortable!


    The young wives who were to embroider were even happier, finally having a reason not to work in the fields!


    Qiao Duo had made things very clear, and some people began to head home with their materials.


    Fat Aunt didn¡¯t rush to leave; she had something important to address.


    After everyone dispersed, she then spoke, "Duo¡¯er, if you find the time, go comfort Aunt Huang. She has been seriously ill these past two days."


    This time the illness was severe; Fat Aunt worried that Aunt Huang might not recover.

 Chapter 574 - 578: Seriously Ill_1

    Chapter 574: Chapter 578: Seriously Ill_1"What¡¯s the matter?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a serious tone.


    Had Huang Zhong already divorced his wife?


    If that was the case, she would let Hu¡¯s Clan take care of Aunt Huang for a couple of days, ensuring she would be lively and jumping around in no time.


    Fat Aunt sighed, "The Huang Family is really having an unlucky year; their daughter-in-law has never stopped causing trouble. Zhong Zi is a simple-minded fellow, and he actually wrote a letter of divorce. His wife took off with the shop¡¯s earnings, and just two days ago, Aunt Huang discovered that the lotus roots in the pond had been damaged by the frost and couldn¡¯t be sold at a good price, which led to her collapsing in anxiety."


    Speaking of the Huang Family, it was like all the bad luck had gathered together.


    The villagers all said that Huang Zhong¡¯s wife was a calamity, and after he divorced her, she came back for revenge.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke to Tan Zhenghong and then packed some eggs and gorgon fruit into a basket before she and Fat Aunt set out together.


    Fat Aunt¡¯s House was close to the Huang Family¡¯s, so they were conveniently on the way.


    On the road, Fat Aunt said something more.


    "I heard you say you¡¯ll have silk sachets in the future, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Those are meant to be sold along with the perfumed powder, mostly to affluent folks who wouldn¡¯t be caught dead with inferior fabric."


    "That¡¯s true, but silk and embroidery threads are quite expensive, so when the time comes, don¡¯t let them take it back home. Those people just now were all decent, but we can¡¯t be sure about their family members or neighbors. It¡¯s winter now, and things could easily get damp," said Fat Aunt in a hushed tone, indicating that caution was necessary in this matter. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought it over and agreed.


    If there were uncontrollable factors causing damage and they had to compensate, it would be a problem, yet not compensating would also be an issue; either way, it was a hassle.


    "I¡¯ll talk to Zheng Hong when I get back and see if we can rent a space. By then, I¡¯ll need Fat Aunt to come and take charge."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er winked playfully.


    She planned to set up an Embroidery Room where people could come to work, install a Ground Dragon for heating, and have Fat Aunt manage everything. It would save a lot of trouble.


    Fat Aunt spoke with serious apprehension, "That¡¯s not going to work, better wait until Aunt Huang has recovered, and then ask her."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was on good terms with the Huang Family and knew them well.


    But she didn¡¯t have much of a relationship with Qiao Duo¡¯er; how could such an important task be entrusted to her?


    "It¡¯s settled then. Anyway, I know where you live; what is there to worry about?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give Fat Aunt a chance to refuse, knowing that Fat Aunt was popular, had a meticulous mind, and would surely not make mistakes.


    As the saying goes, "when three women gather, it¡¯s like a show," and she was happy to be a Hands-off Boss.


    Fat Aunt ventured, "Shall I give it a try then?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand dismissively, "No need to try, once the Embroidery Room is ready, you¡¯ll assume your position immediately. Also, quickly tell me if there¡¯s a suitable place."


    After thinking carefully, Fat Aunt replied, "Our village used to have a school, but it¡¯s been deserted. You should talk to the village chief; he would certainly be willing to rent it to you."


    Inside, there were ready-made desks and chairs, and there was a toilet too ¨C it couldn¡¯t be more perfect.


    "Then I¡¯ll go have a look tomorrow.


    As they talked and walked, they didn¡¯t even notice they had already arrived at their destination.


    In the courtyard of the Huang Family, Huang Zhong was squatting down, brewing medicine, with a pot of dinner still cooking beside him. Although he was a big man, he managed everything in order.


    He seemed to be a man accustomed to labor.


    He was just too simple and honest, but he was a perfect match for Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded approvingly. Huang Zhong was much more reliable than Tan Zhengyuan, a difference like that between heaven and earth.


    The most important thing was that Huang Zhong already had two children, so it didn¡¯t really matter whether Hu¡¯s Clan could have children or not.


    After pouring out the medicine, Huang Zhong finally noticed Qiao Duo¡¯er had been watching him.

 Chapter 575 - 579: Find a Less Fierce Mother_1

    Chapter 575: Chapter 579: Find a Less Fierce Mother_1"Um... Miss, do you need something?" Huang Zhong asked with a red face.


    Did he have something dirty on his face?


    He quickly wiped his face, but didn¡¯t find anything unusual.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was amused by his reaction, "I came to see how Aunt Huang is doing. There are gorgon fruit seeds in here. If you soak them in water and make porridge for Aunt Huang, it¡¯s good for her health." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Zhong shook his head, "It¡¯s enough that you came to see my mother; I can¡¯t accept your things."


    "This is for Aunt Huang, if I tell you to take it, just take it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless. Huang Zhong was already a father of two; how could he still blush when he spoke?


    Huang Zhong lowered his head and took the basket, never daring to lift his eyes to look at Qiao Duo¡¯er in the process.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, thinking... this kind of shyness wouldn¡¯t do; she needed to create opportunities for Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "I¡¯ll take this medicine in for Aunt Huang to drink. Could you call Sister Lan over for me? I have something very, very important to discuss with her."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said slyly, hoping the two could get to know each other a bit, even if they didn¡¯t talk much, at least it¡¯d leave an impression.


    Huang Zhong agreed to do so, but he thought about the propriety of men and women not touching hands, and decided to send Big Dog and Second Dog instead.


    His emotions were always transparent, his eyes already scanning for his sons.


    "Big Dog, Second Dog, come with me to see your grandmother," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    While Huang Zhong was still hesitating, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already taken the medicine bowl and gone with Big Dog and Second Dog to the main room.


    She didn¡¯t believe Huang Zhong would actually send someone else¡¯s child to call for someone.


    Left alone in the courtyard, Huang Zhong gritted his teeth and had no choice but to go ahead with it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had been taking care of his family¡¯s business and was concerned about his parents. If he couldn¡¯t even handle this small task, what kind of man would he be?


    But Hu¡¯s family didn¡¯t even have a single male to send, and if people saw this, they would surely gossip.


    What should he do?


    Forget it, he would just stand at the door and call out; he wouldn¡¯t have to go in.


    When Qiao Duo saw Aunt Huang trying to sit up, she said, "Where¡¯s Zhong Zi? Why would you let me bring you the medicine?"


    "I wanted to do it myself. Brother Zhong is calling Sister Lan for me," Qiao Duo said with a squint.


    Aunt Huang knew what Qiao Duo was thinking, but she felt even more stifled inside and could only sigh deeply.


    "Now there¡¯s nothing valuable at home, it¡¯s a pity."


    She couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask someone to come to the Huang family to endure hardship.


    Sigh, it was just that her son Huang Zhong had no luck.


    Before, he got tangled up with a troublemaker, and now that such a good woman was right there, he just couldn¡¯t marry her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er consoled, "Sister Lan is not the type to care only about money. Besides, the Huang family¡¯s difficulties are only temporary. Every one of your family is hardworking and reliable; how could you not get over this hurdle?"


    "It¡¯s always comforting to hear you talk. Just hearing a few words from you makes me feel much better," Aunt Huang said with a smile.


    "Grandma, can we get a mom who isn¡¯t mean this time?" Second Dog asked timidly.


    Seeing his timid look, Aunt Huang couldn¡¯t help but wipe away tears, thinking that in the end, the children were the most pitiful.


    Bao¡¯s either ignored the children entirely or resorted to beating and scolding them, which had left deep scars in their hearts.


    If Bao¡¯s had been half as good as Hu¡¯s Clan, the family wouldn¡¯t have been pushed to such a state.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed Second Dog¡¯s head, "This time, your grandma will definitely find you a gentle and caring mother. She¡¯ll buy you candy and make new clothes for you. You might even get two more sisters. But you¡¯ll have to behave and listen, and not bully the new mom."


    "Will she be as good as you?" Second Dog¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.

 Chapter 576 - 580: Solving the Heart Issue_1

    Chapter 576: Chapter 580: Solving the Heart Issue_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded firmly, "Definitely better to you all than I would be."


    "Then I¡¯ll tell my dad to hurry up and bring mom back home," Second Dog said excitedly.


    Big Dog had already understood the situation, and although he wasn¡¯t as excited as Second Dog, it was evident that he didn¡¯t object to the idea.


    Bao¡¯s wasn¡¯t really a qualified mother; otherwise, would the kids show no resistance at all?


    The children¡¯s reaction made Qiao Duo¡¯er more optimistic about Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong¡¯s future together, since the biggest problem with restructuring a family was often the children.


    Aunt Huang scolded, "You brat, don¡¯t talk nonsense when you¡¯re outside."


    "Second Dog didn¡¯t say anything wrong. When that time comes, you¡¯ll have your hands full, so you better recover quickly."


    Aunt Huang wiped her tears in a hurry and quickly drank her medicine.


    She needed to recover quickly... Hm, today¡¯s medicine wasn¡¯t as bitter as before.


    If Huang Zhong could remarry Hu¡¯s Clan, she could eventually rest in peace with her eyes closed.


    After Aunt Huang finished her medicine, Hu¡¯s Clan arrived.


    Hearing Da Ya and Er Ya call her "grandma," Aunt Huang felt her illness had almost instantly improved by half.


    She said joyfully, "Be good. Big Dog, Second Dog, quickly get some candy for your sister to eat. Zhong Zi, don¡¯t just stand there, move a stool over here and make them some sugar water to drink."


    Aunt Huang¡¯s enthusiasm left Hu¡¯s Clan a little bewildered. Had she walked into the wrong house today?


    She quickly said, "Don¡¯t bother yourselves, we¡¯re not thirsty. It¡¯s almost time for dinner, and the girls shouldn¡¯t eat candy anyway."


    "Don¡¯t be so formal, kids, just pretend you¡¯re at home. You all go out and play with Big Dog and Second Dog. The house is filled with the smell of medicine; don¡¯t let it make you sick."


    Aunt Huang looked at the girls lovingly. The Huang Family hadn¡¯t seen a girl for generations, and she dearly cherished them.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had an embarrassed look on her face. Why did she feel there was something slightly odd about those words?


    She and her girls couldn¡¯t just treat the Huang Family¡¯s house as their own!


    "Sister Lan, I have something to tell you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stepped in at the right time, as matters of the heart had to be left to those involved; others couldn¡¯t rush it.


    Hu¡¯s Clan sat down and asked, "Is it about the braised dishes?"


    "I suddenly remembered a dish called Osmanthus Sugar Lotus Roots; the method is to stuff glutinous rice into the holes of the lotus roots, add rock sugar and osmanthus, and simmer until soft and mushy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er brought up the matter seriously, as she had an idea after hearing from Fat Aunt that the lotus roots in Huang Family¡¯s pond had turned black.


    Frozen and discolored lotus roots would work fine as long as they were prepared correctly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hu¡¯s Clan asked skeptically, "Stuffing them in is fine, but when boiling, the glutinous rice will surely come out. I¡¯m afraid it will turn into a pot of porridge."


    "Cut a small piece off the top of the root as a lid, stuff the glutinous rice in, then cover it with the lid and secure it with a toothpick. The key to this dish is to add more sugar and cook it longer than meat," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained the recipe in detail.


    "Duo¡¯er, our lotus roots aren¡¯t good in color, and they are lacking in texture too. They won¡¯t sell," Aunt Huang said openly, sharing her family¡¯s problem.


    In the past, the roots could sell for five wen money per jin, but this year nobody would buy them even for two wen money.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "The color doesn¡¯t matter. The Osmanthus Sugar Lotus Roots normally turn dark anyhow, and as for the taste, you¡¯ll see once Lan makes some and gives you a taste."


    "Then I¡¯ll try making some tomorrow, and if it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll make more the day after tomorrow to sell in town."


    Hu¡¯s Clan trusted Qiao Duo¡¯er completely and decided it was worth a try.

 Chapter 577 - 581: Not Sending Someone Off?_1

    Chapter 577: Chapter 581: Not Sending Someone Off?_1"You can buy the glutinous rice and lotus root from Old Lady Huang¡¯s house, and there¡¯s one more thing, I¡¯m going to transfer Xiu Lian to the Embroidery Room, so you¡¯ll need to hire someone else to help. Also, with Chao Lian gone, Erhu is no longer willing to drive the cart, so it might be better to have Brother Zhong fill in for now,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly, perfectly concealing her ulterior motives.


    After all, that¡¯s how Erhu and Chao Lian started their relationship, and it would surely be the same with someone new.


    Huang Zhong felt a bit troubled, mainly because of his ingrained cautiousness toward interactions between men and women.


    With just a man and a woman together, people would certainly gossip.


    "Zhong Zi, how have I taught you? Duo¡¯er is going out of her way to help us, and you must not repay kindness with ingratitude,"


    Huang Zhong had no choice but to steel his heart, "I know, I¡¯ll go."


    "When the time comes, we¡¯ll settle both the labor and vegetable costs together. Old lady, let¡¯s agree on the prices first,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a suggestive glance, and Aunt Huang immediately caught on, "After I take my medicine, I start to feel drowsy, so better let Zhong Zi talk about it with you."


    "Oh no, I left the fire burning at home, I really hope the rice isn¡¯t scorched. Sister Lan, I¡¯ll leave this matter to you, I need to rush back and check," Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly made her exit.


    Huang Zhong scratched the back of his head, "Mother, you rest first, I¡¯ll talk with her outside."


    Hu¡¯s Clan knew about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cunning plans, but since she couldn¡¯t abandon the business at hand, she followed them out, albeit reluctantly.


    "You... I¡¯ll bring some glutinous rice and lotus root to you tomorrow. If it works out, we can discuss the price then,"


    Huang Zhong¡¯s face turned so red it looked like blood might drip from it.


    In the past, he was only in charge of heavy lifting and cleaning at the shop, rarely interacting with people, which is why he was somewhat stuttering now.


    "Let¡¯s just go with the normal price, and you can weigh it when you bring it tomorrow,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan flatly refused, prepared to pay for the expenses herself if the deal did not work out.


    But when she came to buy things, she had to pay with silver.


    "No, my mother would be angry if she knew,"


    Huang Zhong quickly brought his own mother into it, as he had to accommodate his sick mother¡¯s wishes,


    In the end, Hu¡¯s Clan had no choice but to compromise, secretly vowing to make the osmanthus sugar lotus roots so that Huang Family¡¯s lotus roots could be sold.


    Once they reached an agreement, Hu¡¯s Clan took her maids and headed home, while Huang Zhong went to inform his mother about the situation. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Old Lady Huang expressed her dissatisfaction, "Why didn¡¯t you invite them to stay for dinner? If that was not possible, you should have escorted her home. It¡¯s almost dark outside, what if something bad happened?"


    If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have let her old man take the goat to mate elsewhere; at least he could¡¯ve offered some help.


    Seeing Huang Zhong still standing in the room, Old Lady Huang wished she could hit him with her shoe.


    "What are you still standing there for? Go and escort them while they haven¡¯t gone far!"


    Faced with Old Lady Huang¡¯s displeasure, Huang Zhong hastily complied.


    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but grumble internally about his mother making a mountain out of a molehill. Big Willow Village was peaceful, with no bad elements to speak of; was an escort really necessary?


    Huang Zhong was a fast walker and caught up with them in no time, so he quickened his pace and stealthily followed behind.


    It was only after watching Hu¡¯s Clan and the maids enter their home that he turned back.


    When he got home and Old Lady Huang learned that her son hadn¡¯t even spoken to them, she could only stew in silent irritation.


    Alas, how had she given birth to such a blockhead?


    "What do you think about Hu¡¯s Clan?" Old Lady Huang suddenly asked.


    Huang Zhong touched his nose, "Mother, are you feeling okay in bed? Why are you asking me this out of the blue?"


    "None of your business, just tell me,"


    Old Lady Huang gave Huang Zhong an exasperated look. He wasn¡¯t some bashful young lad, so why the shyness?

 Chapter 578 - 582 Hidden Danger_1

    Chapter 578: Chapter 582 Hidden Danger_1"She¡¯s quite good actually," responded Huang Zhong casually, as a grown man like him couldn¡¯t go around gossiping behind people¡¯s backs like women do.


    Before Aunt Huang could continue, a noise came from the yard.


    Huang Zhong, simple-minded, said, "It must be Dad coming back, I¡¯ll go help."


    Aunt Huang clenched her teeth, "Choosing just this moment to come back, neither father nor son gives me peace of mind!"


    But perhaps it would be better for the old man to handle this matter.


    Offer them a bit of drink, and with a couple of glasses in their bellies, what can¡¯t be discussed?


    Once she had sussed out Huang Zhong¡¯s thoughts, she would go ahead and task a matchmaker with the proposal. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If things worked out, even selling two acres of land to hold the wedding would be fine; after all, although it was a second marriage, they couldn¡¯t do the other family wrong.


    Thinking this way, Aunt Huang finally felt somewhat consoled.


    At nightfall, Aunt Huang brought up the matter.


    Uncle Huang thought for a moment before speaking, "Hu¡¯s Clan has one of the best daughters-in-law in the village, hardworking and filial, and she raises her children well, she¡¯d be a great match for our Zhong Zi, but the Tan Family..."


    In the end, his words turned into a sigh.


    He occasionally hauled goods for others, heard a lot of idle gossip, and thus had a lot to consider.


    "Are you worried Big Brother Tan will come and cause trouble?" Aunt Huang realized as well.


    "Mhm, Big Brother Tan is now loafing around every day, completely dependent on his aged parents. The second son is sick with worry over this, they¡¯ve had no end of fights, and I¡¯ve heard they even came to blows; the old couple won¡¯t be able to look after Big Brother Tan much longer."


    Uncle Huang furrowed his brows; once Big Brother Tan ran out of options, who else could he rely on?


    When that time comes, he would surely turn back to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Given Big Brother Tan¡¯s scoundrel nature, how would they ever have peace?


    Money and possessions were all minor concerns, but what if Big Brother Tan forced himself on Hu¡¯s Clan again? How would his own son continue to show his face?


    Aunt Huang also sighed deeply; she truly hadn¡¯t considered this aspect.


    "I¡¯ve thought it over and Hu¡¯s Clan seems the most suitable, anyway, no maiden in her prime would want to come into our family as a stepmother."


    As Aunt Huang spoke, she once again felt a bitterness in her heart. Was her son doomed to have no marital fate?


    Uncle Huang suddenly realized he had said too much and quickly added, "Don¡¯t overthink it; I also set my heart on Hu¡¯s Clan. You talk it over with Duo¡¯er again. If it really doesn¡¯t work out, we can sell the land and have them move to town, maybe run a small business and still live well."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll chat with Duo¡¯er about it later."


    "Duo¡¯er is full of ideas and might come up with a good solution. We¡¯re not in a hurry now; we still need to look around for our sons¡¯ matches too. It¡¯s very late, let¡¯s go to sleep."


    Even though they said that, their minds were still shrouded in clouds of worry.


    Aunt Huang¡¯s heart was in turmoil, and she began to feel sympathy for Hu¡¯s Clan.


    She married into the Tan Family and never had a day of good life; even after getting divorced, she had to live in constant fear.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er headed to Big Sister Tie¡¯s house bright and early.


    Because the Yin Family had been casting covetous eyes, Big Sister Tie and Yang Ruoruo hadn¡¯t gone to town for some time.


    Ever since they started selling facial mask powder, the two girls had essentially been living at their maternal grandparents¡¯ house in town, which was a good opportunity to stay with their family.


    With Tie Niu away from home, the women of the Tie Family were taking care of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The group of women chatted together happily, without any need for restraint.


    When discussing the Embroidery Room, Feng Clan¡¯s pet issue was brought up again¡ªthat her darling daughter still refused to learn needlework properly.


    "Big Sister Tie, you¡¯ve got to learn needlework; you can¡¯t expect Chao Lian to do all the sewing for your wedding dress," Feng Clan said with a stern face.


    Big Sister Tie responded with a sense of grievance, "Mom, why are you starting on this again?"

 Chapter 579 - 583 Renting the School_1

    Chapter 579: Chapter 583 Renting the School_1She just doesn¡¯t have the patience, probably because she has nails on her butt.


    Chao Lian is different, she can stay indoors for three to five days straight, so I¡¯ll trouble her with making the wedding embroidery.


    "You, a girl, can¡¯t even do needlework properly. Won¡¯t you be scorned when you go to your husband¡¯s family?" Feng Clan said with a worried face.


    All she wanted was for her eldest daughter to learn to sew and mend¡ªis that too much to ask?


    The eldest daughter said seriously, "If you push me any further, I¡¯ll go learn carpentry from my older cousin. Last time he even said I have talent, and that I could surpass him if I really put effort into it!"


    "Mother, look at this monkey. I can¡¯t control her!"


    Feng Clan held her forehead, who would want their well-bred daughter to learn carpentry? She¡¯d be even less likely to marry off!


    The old lady waved her hand, "Let her be, who doesn¡¯t have a fault or two? When the time comes, we¡¯ll make it clear to her husband¡¯s family not to make a fuss about this."


    With her grandmother¡¯s support, the eldest daughter stuck her tongue out at her own mother.


    She really wanted to say, with the time spent forcing her to learn needlework, they might as well take her nephew instead.


    Because she¡¯s just not cut out for needlework. Every time she picks up a needle, she gets sleepy, not to mention how many times she¡¯s pricked herself.


    Feng Clan glared at the eldest daughter and then turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Duo¡¯er, do you think it¡¯ll work if I send the eldest daughter to you?"


    Even if she learns nothing, it¡¯d be good for her to temper her character.


    "Then I¡¯ll have to rip off the roof of the Embroidery Room, are you willing to compensate?"


    This completely dispelled Feng Clan¡¯s idea because the eldest daughter really was capable of doing such a thing.


    She¡¯s so grown up but still acts like a child. Even if Feng Clan wanted to, she could only keep her for another two years; otherwise, a good daughter would end up an old maid.


    The old lady scolded, "Don¡¯t make a fuss, look at your sisters-in-law. Which one of them is like you? Your mother is worrying her hair white."


    "Got it, got it¡ªas long as it¡¯s not needlework, anything goes!"


    The eldest daughter nodded vigorously. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feng Clan brought up another subject. She was just saying words, but deep down, she really cherished this daughter of hers.


    The eldest daughter had gotten fairer, and although not too pretty, she wasn¡¯t bad-looking now.


    She was also helping Qiao Duo sell facial mask powder, earning Two Taels of Silver a month¡ªher future in-laws wouldn¡¯t dare look down on her.


    After chatting for a while, a young man from the village came running over.


    "Grandma, Aunt, Uncle Tie asked me to come over and tell you, there¡¯s a fight breaking out, he¡¯s planning to take the people to the Government Office."


    The young man left after relaying the message.


    "Look at the mess. Why don¡¯t you go back first? When you return, I¡¯ll talk to him. Don¡¯t worry, that school has been empty for over two years now; it will definitely be fine."


    Feng Clan was confident. Academician Zhou from the village was getting on in years, and it was likely hard for him to run the school anymore.


    Rather than leaving it unused, it was better to rent it to Qiao Duo; this way, it would serve a purpose.


    Qiao Duo agreed and took her leave first.


    But she didn¡¯t expect the eldest daughter to come looking for her before mealtime, bringing a lease written by Tie Niu.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t something shameful, the eldest daughter insisted on pulling Qiao Duo into the main hall.


    "Duo¡¯er, my father says what you¡¯re doing is a good deed for the people. He¡¯ll let you rent it for free for the first year. If you can make money from it, you¡¯ll pay rent later on," said the eldest daughter as she stuffed the lease into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands.


    Her father meant that since the shop hadn¡¯t been settled yet, they should save wherever they can.


    Qiao Duo laughed and asked, "Does this count as nepotism and corruption?"


    The eldest daughter nodded seriously, "That¡¯s why my dad said you mustn¡¯t tell anyone at all. If anyone asks, just say it¡¯s Two Taels of Silver a year."


    "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be our secret."


    Qiao Duo blinked her eyes. As the beneficiary, she would certainly not spill the beans.


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it make the village chief¡¯s job difficult?

 Chapter 580 - 584 Clown Sent by the Monkey_1

    Chapter 580: Chapter 584 Clown Sent by the Monkey_1After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er dragged Tan Zhenghong with her, carrying tools to the schoolhouse.


    The schoolhouse was a small courtyard with three tiled rooms in total.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a plan, two of the rooms would be used as workshops, and the third one could be fitted with a few wooden racks to store various materials and finished products.


    It could probably accommodate more than twenty Embroidery Ladies, which would be more than enough for opening a shop next year.


    Her current expectation was that Fat Aunt would be in charge of managing the Embroidery Ladies and distributing materials, while Chao Lian would handle designing the patterns and bookkeeping. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, she, Fat Aunt, and Chao Lian each kept a set of keys to the storeroom.


    The only dissatisfaction was that the schoolhouse had been vacant for a long time, covered in dust and with plenty of spider webs, making cleaning up a big project.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er originally planned to finish in three days, but now it seemed a bit difficult.


    The two of them walked around the place and then got down to cleaning.


    Tan Zhenghong took on the task of repairing the roof, while Qiao Duo¡¯er swept and tidied up below.


    "Wife, help me go back and get the hammer, the wood here is a bit loose," Tan Zhenghong called out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, but instead of going back, she borrowed one from the neighbors next to the schoolhouse.


    Her service was very thorough, delivering it directly to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a stern face, "Which other woman climbs up and down like you do?"


    "Isn¡¯t that simple? I could just switch you for another man¡¯s woman, especially since there are quite a few women in the village who have their eyes on you now."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong hummed lightly, "They can¡¯t even climb a ladder, I don¡¯t want them at all."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said mischievously, "They could learn."


    She had been married for over half a year now and still hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant, with many people in the village waiting for an opportunity.


    What would their reaction be if they knew it was Tan Zhenghong who had been drinking contraceptives all along?


    "Even if they learn, I wouldn¡¯t want them. They couldn¡¯t climb as well as you do, you¡¯re like a Monkey, very agile?" Tan Zhenghong said with immense pride.


    "Are you complimenting me, or are you making fun of me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes, with a hint of warning in them.


    Was there such a sprightly and pretty Monkey like her? She just wanted to send him two words: blind.


    Yet Tan Zhenghong insisted, risking his life, "Whatever you think it is, it is. I listen to my wife."


    "You¡¯re not even a Monkey, you¡¯re the dumbass sent by the Monkeys!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    Tan Zhenghong, not knowing the meaning of ¡¯dumbass,¡¯ could only look at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a confused face.


    "It¡¯s a compliment, it means you¡¯re humorous."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained kindly.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Wife, you¡¯re even more of a dumbass than me!"


    He knew every time she spouted words he didn¡¯t understand, it was never anything good; otherwise, why would his wife act like her tail had been stepped on?


    "Your whole family are dumbasses!"


    "There are only two of us in my family, you and me."


    The couple fooled around for a while then got back to their busy work, thoroughly engrossed.


    But not long after, a piercing scream broke the harmonious atmosphere.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked up and saw an Eagle!


    The Eagle¡¯s wingspan was over a meter wide, an Eagle this size usually stayed away from people, building nests in canyons or on cliffs. Its sudden appearance here, especially flying low, was certainly strange.


    Right, it must be from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village!


    Xuan San was skilled at keeping eagles, and he nearly caught him yesterday; surely, it was him seeking revenge.


    She should have stabbed him to death yesterday; no matter how tough Xuan San was, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape or send the Eagle to commit a crime.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said nervously, "Tan Zhenghong, come down quickly!"

 Chapter 581 - 585: Xuan San’s Revenge_1

    Chapter 581: Chapter 585: Xuan San¡¯s Revenge_1fr§×ewebno?¨¥l.comTan Zhenghong also realized the danger, but the hawk had already dived down and there was simply no time to run; he could only pick up a hammer and prepare for combat.


    In doing so, he could still buy some time for Duo¡¯er.


    "Quick, hide inside the house, and don¡¯t come out!" Tan Zhenghong roared.


    Before he had finished speaking, the hawk was already upon him, so he focused all his attention on the battle.


    The eagle was large as a man¡¯s head, yet very agile, capable of dodging attacks while continuously striking with its talons and hooked beak.


    Tan Zhenghong fought while retreating, planning to engage the eagle on the ground.


    The eagle exerted effort to drive Tan Zhenghong toward the edge; once he tumbled down, it could seize him, fly into the air, and drop him from a height, several times if necessary, and he would surely die.


    This method of killing had been practiced many times, but today was the first time it had been deployed in combat, so the eagle was thrilled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t listened to Tan Zhenghong at all; she rushed to the side, grabbed a long bamboo pole, and began to beat the hawk wildly.


    "Idiot, if you have the guts, come down here, what¡¯s so great about being on the roof? Come at me, I¡¯ll turn you into a plucked chicken!"


    "Coward, why do you always stay up there? If you¡¯re brave enough, come down!"


    The eagle, having been hit a few times, could only fly higher, emitting a series of short, sharp cries.


    It was angry!


    The eagle immediately changed direction and flew toward Qiao Duo¡¯er, while Tan Zhenghong seized the opportunity to swiftly come down from the roof.


    He had heard before of the formidable eagles of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, capable of breaking a deer¡¯s spine and even lifting adult sheep into the sky; he reckoned that his wife¡¯s small frame wouldn¡¯t be enough for a meal for the eagle!


    Thinking this, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s speed quickened even more.


    On the other side, Duo¡¯er discarded the bamboo pole, sidestepped to avoid the eagle¡¯s assault, and simultaneously lifted her dagger to strike.


    The eagle, with keen senses, immediately flapped its wings to dodge the dagger.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was faster, and like a snake, her dagger wound around, slicing a long gash in its leg.


    If Xuan San dared let the hawk come, she was ready to make the eagle leave its life behind!


    The hawk, in pain, became even more furious, shrieking piercingly and sharply, its gaze growing more intense.


    Today it would fight to the death!


    The eagle soared into the sky and then dived down, aiming to tear both people to shreds with the momentum of its descent!


    They were merely two insignificant humans, yet they had managed to injure it!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood still, as a special agent, her greatest skill was to remain calm, finding the optimal opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.


    But this was a risky strategy, and even the slightest deviation could cost her life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curled upward; once again, she tasted the thrill of escaping death by a hair¡¯s breadth!


    Tan Zhenghong, as if mad, lunged over and shielded Qiao Duo¡¯er with his body, tight and secure.


    The next second, he endured the blow with his back, shielding Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He thought he could hear the sound of his flesh tearing, the pain penetrating his marrow.


    But for Duo¡¯er, it was all worth it! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Last time, he was kidnapped by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; this time it was an eagle attack, but his wife had risked her life to save him; if he didn¡¯t take this hit, how could he live up to her feelings for him?


    Others say husband and wife are like birds of the same forest, but they were not; they shared life and death!


    Tan Zhenghong endured the pain, turned around, and grabbed the eagle¡¯s leg, while Qiao Duo¡¯er accurately inserted the dagger into the eagle¡¯s neck.


    Threatened with its life, the hawk could only struggle fiercely, flapping its wings.


    Each flap carried immense force, painful to anyone it struck, but Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er never let go.

 Chapter 582 - 586: Growing Old Together_1

    Chapter 582: Chapter 586: Growing Old Together_1The Eagle exerted all its strength, stubbornly dragging the two people forward, leaving deep marks on the ground.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth; she knew she and Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t hold on much longer.


    But if this Eagle didn¡¯t die today, it would surely seek an opportunity for revenge in the future, which was an inherent pride of Eagles.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er summoned all her strength to pull out her dagger; the warm blood that splattered on her face ignited all her fighting cells.


    If she could have a good fight and die with Tan Zhenghong by her side, what would it matter?


    This resolve instantly restored Qiao Duo¡¯er to her peak strength, and the dagger plunged once more into the Hawk¡¯s chest, right where its heart was!


    But that wasn¡¯t enough; after Qiao Duo¡¯er withdrew the dagger, she slashed open its throat again.


    If it didn¡¯t die from that, it might as well be considered a spirit!


    Fortunately, this Eagle too was made of flesh and blood, and having suffered fatal injuries in two crucial spots, it gradually stopped struggling.


    Finally, Tan Zhenghong managed to pin the Eagle to the ground, and as the blood pooled, the Hawk¡¯s life slowly faded away.


    After a long while, it finally closed its eyes, filled with unwillingness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong slumped to the ground, panting heavily. Luckily, they had won, and now they could continue to be together.


    "Wife, you¡¯re not allowed to risk your life for me anymore," he murmured, holding his wife in his arms.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed, "You have the nerve to talk about me, you also fought the Eagle on the roof for me, didn¡¯t you? You even came over to shield me from the Eagle¡¯s attack, didn¡¯t you?"


    "Remember, the more you love me, the more I love you¡ªwe are the same kind of person."


    "Without you, there would be no meaning for me in this world."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke from her heart, causing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes to well up.


    He said seriously, "We need to live together, grow old together¡ªour lifetime is still very long."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded vigorously; she too longed for a love that endured until their hair turned white.


    From now on, she wouldn¡¯t gamble with her life, because it was no longer just hers; it belonged to Tan Zhenghong as well.


    Only, this scene seemed a bit over the top to her, although they had survived a disaster, they were still alive, weren¡¯t they?


    Since they were alive, that meant there was no need for many words¡ªcompanionship was the longest confession of love.


    Ahem, it was just a bit embarrassing.


    The next second, the mood shifted abruptly.


    "I always knew Xuan San was not right in the head; why didn¡¯t he go and seek revenge on Lord Qin?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said discontentedly.


    She also kicked the Eagle lying on the ground, venting the lingering resentment in her heart.


    It was Lord Qin¡¯s men who had delivered the message yesterday and held a knife to her throat; she had just played along in a ruse, and it had brought her to the brink of death! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Was there no justice in this world?


    And they had targeted her, a defenseless woman¡ªdidn¡¯t they feel ashamed?


    Humph, she had never seen a man with such a lack of dignity before!


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily since they had just been exchanging words of love, and now she had turned into a neurotic goddess.


    That was quite a quick change!


    But he still responded, "Xuan San is a coward who dares not confront Lord Qin and could only take it out on us, so does that mean we¡¯re just cannon fodder?"


    The term ¡¯cannon fodder¡¯ was something he learned from Qiao Duo¡¯er, meaning innocent people.


    "You¡¯re pretty good at learning and applying, aren¡¯t you? But we¡¯re not cannon fodder. He picked the wrong ones in targeting us; he¡¯s kicked an iron plate, and Xuan San must be hurting now!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said gleefully.

 Chapter 583 - 587: Looking Down on Someone Too Much_1

    Chapter 583: Chapter 587: Looking Down on Someone Too Much_1It¡¯s such a pity that the eagle died just like that, especially when you consider that an eagle lays two to five eggs, but usually only one survives. They face myriad dangers as they grow up.


    So raising one isn¡¯t easy, but thinking about its arrogant demeanor, it seems its death was well deserved.


    Actually, the eagle itself is innocent; the mistake lies in the fact that it was raised by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village as a killing machine.


    In the end, it¡¯s the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village who deserve to die.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled foolishly, "What do you plan to do with this eagle?"


    "The eagle¡¯s beak, brain, and bones can be used for medicine. I¡¯ll send them to Brother Bai San, and make the rest into jerky. I¡¯ve never eaten eagle meat before."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laid out her plan, which was basically to keep what was edible for herself and give the inedible parts to Bai Yifan for medicinal purposes.


    Eagle bones can treat rheumatism and the brain can treat headaches, but she only had a vague impression and didn¡¯t know exactly how to use them.


    So it would be best to send them to Bai Yifan. Eagles are rare, so he would definitely be over the moon about it.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll take it back and clean it up."


    Tan Zhenghong had just stood up when the pain made him bare his teeth and wince.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly checked the wound on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back, fortunately, it was just a minor flesh wound.


    "You¡¯re still bleeding. Hurry back home and I¡¯ll dress your wound."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tried to lift the eagle, but it was too big and awkward to handle, so she could only drag it by a wing as she hauled it back.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t bear to watch: "Wife, I¡¯m really alright, let me do it."


    He felt sorry for the eagle, too.


    In life, it was the ruler of the skies, and yet in death, it was being treated like this; it probably wouldn¡¯t rest in peace.


    Tan Zhenghong unconsciously looked towards the eagle¡¯s eyes, relieved to see they were closed.


    "Shut up, can¡¯t I even handle an eagle? You underestimate me too much!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er puffed her cheeks while speaking, unaware that her face had turned red from the effort.


    Tan Zhenghong said disdainfully, "This eagle must have been a lazy one, getting so fat that it¡¯s worn out my wife."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a big roll of her eyes. He was injured and yet couldn¡¯t keep still!


    Tan Zhenghong offered to help, but the moment he put in any effort, it felt like his back wound was being torn open. Under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s coercion and enticement, he had no choice but to give up.


    The two of them hauling a giant eagle down the road attracted a lot of attention, and soon enough, a crowd came to gawk.


    The eagle was dead, and this was a matter that delighted many hearts!


    Instantly, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong enjoyed treatment befitting heroes.


    "Duo¡¯er, Zheng Hong, you¡¯ve really taken care of a menace for the people. You don¡¯t know how annoying these beasts are¡ªmy family¡¯s good chicken chicks were eaten clean by it."


    "My family¡¯s sheep were also taken by that beast!"


    When it came to the eagle stealing poultry and livestock, the villagers bristled with resentment.


    They toiled hard tilling the land, and if the crops were decent, it was just enough to feed their families; with a poor harvest, they had to rely on wild greens and rice husks to get by.


    To earn some cash, they could only raise some poultry and livestock, yet after all the effort, they ended up feeding the beasts of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. Could they not be angry? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what good did anger do?


    The next time an eagle came to snatch their poultry, they would still be powerless to stop it.


    So their resentment built up over time, and now they finally found an outlet.


    "It¡¯s all because of those conscienceless people from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, too stingy to feed the eagles, they let them out to harm us!"


    "And it¡¯s not all for the eagles to eat. When the eagles bring it back, it ends up in the mouths of those Mountain Bandits, doesn¡¯t it?"

 Chapter 584 - 588 Unprecedented Treatment_1

    Chapter 584: Chapter 588 Unprecedented Treatment_1"Is that true?"


    "Of course, it¡¯s true. I¡¯ve seen people waiting there at the head of the village, collecting prey stolen by the eagles."


    "What kind of people are they! Truly shameless, I really hope the Imperial sends someone to deal with them quickly."


    "It¡¯s not that easy. Those beasts are terribly fierce, and they especially peck at people¡¯s eyes. The people sent by the Imperial were all driven away!"


    Remembering how the army fled in all directions during the past few encounters, and how Tan Zhenghong survived after hunting an eagle, everyone¡¯s gaze towards him heated up even more.


    Tan Zhenghong really wanted to tell them that his wife was the main force in killing the eagles, but he thought better of it and swallowed his words.


    If they knew the truth, they would surely say his wife was bad luck, hard of fate, and the like.


    Ah, he really wished that here, too, could achieve gender equality, as his wife had mentioned.


    "Zheng Hong, you¡¯re incredible! Maybe the Imperial will even bestow a reward on you!"


    "I¡¯ll talk to the village head later. Zheng Hong is sure to receive a commendation this time; he even knows the County Magistrate, maybe he could become a Master Guang!"


    As more and more onlookers gathered, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong could only stop in the end.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said bashfully, "My husband Zheng Hong has been injured, I must rush home to apply medicine and stop the bleeding."


    Only then did the villagers notice Tan Zhenghong¡¯s pale complexion, and they couldn¡¯t help but gasp when they saw the wound on his back.


    The wound was scratched, with stark blood marks, likely with flesh and skin torn together.


    It looked so painful that they couldn¡¯t delay the couple any longer.


    "Everyone, please make way, I¡¯ll carry Brother Hong back."


    Tan Zhenghong promptly refused: "I¡¯m fine, I can walk back on my own."


    "Why be stubborn when you¡¯re like this? Da Baoer, quickly take Zheng Hong back, I¡¯ll go call Doctor Wu."


    The villagers hurriedly cleared a path, and the eagle that Qiao Duo¡¯er was dragging was taken over by someone else.


    This time, everyone was full of goodwill, a treatment that had never before happened in Big Willow Village.


    Having brought Tan Zhenghong to the yard, Feng Dabao put him down.


    Zheng Hong said gratefully, "I¡¯ve only suffered a minor flesh wound, it will heal in a few days, don¡¯t worry. Once my wife makes jerky out of the eagle, we¡¯ll share it with everyone." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was a custom in the village; whenever a family had a joyous event, some of that happiness was shared with others.


    "You¡¯ve lost so much blood, save it to replenish yourself."


    "Right, you¡¯re our village hero, we couldn¡¯t possibly take your things!"


    "We can¡¯t accept your jerky, folks, we don¡¯t know medical treatment, let¡¯s quickly go, and let Zheng Hong rest properly!"


    Everyone answered in agreement and swiftly departed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helped Tan Zheng Hong back to the room and took advantage while Uncle Wu was dressing Zheng Hong¡¯s wound to heat up a pot of water in the kitchen.


    They were both dirtied by the eagle and needed a good wash.


    She lit the firewood and stuffed more in before heading back to the room.


    By then, Wu Youcai had already dressed Zheng Hong¡¯s wound: "Change the dressing once a day, I left enough medicine for two people, don¡¯t let the wound get wet, and I won¡¯t say more about other precautions."


    Since Tan Zheng Hong hadn¡¯t concealed anything earlier, Wu Youcai had left an extra bottle of medicine.


    "Thank you, Uncle Wu, wait a moment, I will get you the money for the medicine."


    Wu Youcai quickly shook his head: "I can¡¯t take this money, otherwise I¡¯d be scolded to death. I have to go now!"


    After saying this, he hurriedly left, knowing that Tan Zheng Hong and Qiao Duo were generous, but this time they had eliminated a menace for the people, and he couldn¡¯t accept their money.

 Chapter 585 - 589: Dragged Away to Feed the Hawk_1

    Chapter 585: Chapter 589: Dragged Away to Feed the Hawk_1Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong helplessly, "I wasn¡¯t going to beat him up, so why did he run off so quickly?"


    "It¡¯s fine, next time we¡¯ll do it together."


    Tan Zhenghong offered some comfort, and Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately widened her eyes, "I still hope we don¡¯t have to look for Uncle Wu in the future."


    Otherwise, it¡¯s either a headache or someone getting injured again.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded in agreement, hoping for smoother days ahead.


    Meanwhile, at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    "Master, the hawk you sent has been killed," a subordinate entered, clearly frightened.


    The hawk that had attacked Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er today was brought by him to Big Willow Village, but now he was the only one to return.


    "What did you say?" Xuan Qing¡¯s eyes widened.


    The hawk he had dispatched today was a mid-level bird from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, yet it had been killed?


    How could this be possible? He couldn¡¯t believe his hawk was that weak!


    The subordinate hung his head, "It¡¯s true. Initially, I saw the hawk with the advantage, but somehow they dragged it out and when I saw it, it was already dead. I even heard them talk about making jerky out of the hawk."


    His voice by the end had grown weak, quivering noticeably.


    Only heaven knew that he would rather it had been him who died and the hawk that had returned, for to live would be far more painful than to die.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s fists clenched tight, "Why did you even come back? Someone take him and lock him up in the hawk¡¯s cage!"


    This meant he was going to be fed to the hawks.


    "Master, let¡¯s just forget about it," Chu Sandao couldn¡¯t help but plead for mercy.


    It wasn¡¯t his fault for not bringing the hawk back. He had delivered the hawk to Big Willow Village and found the target, thus completing his mission.


    The hawk died because it was inferior or made a mistake. Why displace anger onto a person?


    Master Xuan San was by nature cruel, and if he continued acting so capriciously, he was certain to lose the hearts of his followers.


    But Xuan Qing was unmoved and coldly said, "If the hawk was at a disadvantage he should have called it back, but he didn¡¯t. Isn¡¯t that his dereliction of duty?"


    He had caused the death of his hawk, so now feeding the hawk with his body seemed fitting, one could even say he deserved such an end.


    "Master, at that time the hawk was in the courtyard, the wall was blocking my view, and I was too far away to see clearly, Master, I beg for mercy!"


    The subordinate¡¯s body was shaking like a sieve.


    Regardless of how much he begged for his life, his fate was already sealed, and he was quickly dragged away.


    Chu Sandao could only heave a sigh; he was powerless to help.


    He only hoped that when the hawk ate him, it would be quick rather than pecking his flesh clean while he was still alive.


    After the execution of a subordinate, Xuan Qing¡¯s rage was still not appeased.


    "Daring to hunt my hawk! Sandao, gather thirty men, two top-tier hawks, and five mid-tier hawks, and follow me to Big Willow Village!" Xuan Qing said between gritted teeth.


    He wanted to see just how capable Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er truly were!


    When the time came to release both men and hawks together, they would surely grind them into mincemeat!


    Chu Sandao spoke weakly, "If we rashly attack the village, it¡¯s going to be difficult to explain to the head and the second in command."


    "Do I need to explain to them? It was those two people who killed my hawk! They killed the hawk I¡¯d raised for ten years!" Xuan Qing roared furiously. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had brought the hawk back when it was just an egg; others could not understand the bond they shared.


    But on its very first sortie, it was taken out by Qiao Duo¡¯er, how could he not seek revenge?


    Chu Sandao clasped his fists, "Yes, I¡¯ll see to it immediately."


    Before he could leave, a subordinate rushed in hurriedly.

 Chapter 586 - 590: Yin Family Gets Arrested_1

    Chapter 586: Chapter 590: Yin Family Gets Arrested_1"Third Master, there¡¯s been an incident!"


    This was the spy planted in the Yin Family, and even though Xuan Qing was in a foul mood, he still patiently said, "If there¡¯s an issue, just spill it. What¡¯s with all the fuss?"


    "It¡¯s the Yin Family; all their members have been thrown into the dungeon. I barely managed to slip out through the back door."


    The spy Stone was so out of breath that he couldn¡¯t speak clearly.


    He had run all the way back, terrified that if he was a step late, Third Master would have his head.


    "Qin Longyun actually dared to make a move on the Yin Family?" Xuan Qing furrowed his brows, clearly unable to believe such a thing.


    The Yin Family had been in White Stone Town for many years, controlling the entire county¡¯s economy. If Qin Longyun rashly took action, the White Stone County under his jurisdiction would be finished.


    Qin Longyun understood this better than anyone, so he had been biding his time since taking office.


    What made him lose his cool now?


    Stone anxiously said, "I¡¯m telling the truth. The situation is urgent; I didn¡¯t dare waste any time and came back first to deliver the message to you."


    Without further hesitation, Xuan Qing immediately stood up and strode out.


    If the entire Yin Family was locked up in the dungeon, then Yin Yinyue was in there too.


    That woman had been pampered since childhood; how could she endure the hardships of prison? If Qin Longyun were to resort to torture...


    Xuan Qing couldn¡¯t bear to think further; he could only hasten his pace.


    Chu Sandao hurriedly followed, "Third Master, shall we send someone to Big Willow Village?"


    "We¡¯ll discuss it when I return!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xuan Qing didn¡¯t have time to care about much else; his mind was consumed with the thought of rescuing Yin Yinyue!


    Chu Sandao quickly nodded. He wanted to ask about the two young girls as well, but seeing how agitated Xuan Qing was, he decided it could wait until his return.


    It seemed those two girls had a stroke of good fortune, narrowly escaping disaster for the moment.


    But those marked by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village never met a good end; disaster was merely a matter of time.


    It was the same for those two girls, as well as for Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er; none of them could escape.


    Xuan Qing rode his horse, galloping all the way to White Stone Town.


    At this moment, most of the town¡¯s shops were tightly shut. Seeing this, Xuan Qing felt slightly relieved.


    In the wake of Yin Zheng¡¯s arrest, the businesses he owned promptly closed. They had reacted quickly.


    Lord Qin was probably having a headache now.


    Not only would Lord Qin have to compromise and release them, but he might also invite more trouble upon himself.


    However, Xuan Qing soon noticed something was amiss. The closer he got to the town center, the deeper his frown became. Everything was different from what he had anticipated.


    He thought the people would revolt because they couldn¡¯t purchase what they wanted, that they would collectively resist Qin Longyun. All his men needed to do was stir up trouble, and Qin Longyun would be promptly ousted.


    But surprisingly, there were shops selling staples¡ªfirewood, rice, oil, salt, and cloth¡ªgoods that had been monopolized by the Yin Family.


    He sent someone to check the prices, and the prices of essentials had returned to normal.


    The people weren¡¯t short on necessities, and the prices had even dropped a bit. They were too happy to consider revolting.


    And the beneficiaries, the common folk, were cursing the Yin Family while waxing lyrical about Qin Longyun¡¯s deeds.


    "The Yin Family got what they deserved. After doing so many evil deeds, they should all be beheaded¡ªno, they deserve to be diced into pieces!"


    "It¡¯s Lord Qin who is wise. In just over a year since taking office, he has locked up the Yin Family."


    "Humph, the Yin Family will sooner or later have their place in the King of Hell Palace!"


    "They should¡¯ve died long ago. I heard Lord Qin is about to hold court and interrogate them soon. Don¡¯t just flap your gums; hurry off to expose the Yin Family¡¯s crimes. The more crimes they are charged with, the easier it is for the judge to give a verdict!"


    "Well, what are we waiting for? Hurry up and go!"


    No wonder Qin Longyun dared to take action against the Yin Family; he had been prepared all along.

 Chapter 587 - 591: The Worst Plan_1

    Chapter 587: Chapter 591: The Worst Plan_1Chu Sandao frowned and said, "Third Master, the Yin Family is really in danger this time."


    Collusion between the Master and mountain bandits is knowingly committing a crime, which adds a degree to the sin.


    It¡¯s estimated that the verdict for the Yin Family will be out in a few days.


    Xuan Qing thought for a moment before speaking, "Go find out who has been in close contact with Lord Qin recently."


    Lord Qin is of humble origins; it¡¯s impossible for him to have so much silver coin.


    If we can report Qin Longyun for corruption and bribery, he won¡¯t be able to preside over this case, and when someone else takes over, a little silver could settle it.


    Over the years, Xuan Eagle Stronghold has accumulated quite a fortune, so this is just a piece of cake for them.


    Chu Sandao sneered, he knew that Third Master always acted foolishly when it came to anything related to Yin Yinyue.


    "Do you have something to say?" Xuan Qing glared at Chu Sandao.


    "Third Master, though Lord Qin comes from a rural village, his father-in-law is a Third Rank Officer. He made contributions in the past years and the Saint rewarded him with plenty of land, manors, and treasures. Does he need to commit corruption?"


    Chu Sandao expressed his thoughts, which in simplicity meant that Xuan Qing was living in a fool¡¯s paradise!


    Moreover, Lord Qin is extremely shrewd, how could he possibly leave any handles at this time?


    Xuan Qing¡¯s face suddenly stiffened; how could he have forgotten this?


    Damn it, how did Qin Longyun become the County Magistrate of White Stone Town? Ever since he arrived, there hasn¡¯t been a single day of peace!


    Chu Sandao consoled him, "Third Master, don¡¯t panic. Let¡¯s first get a clear picture, then make a decision."


    Worst comes to worst, we¡¯ll ask Yin Yinyue¡¯s uncle to come over; he¡¯s the direct superior of Qin Longyun who will definitely have to show some respect.


    Upon arriving at Ruyi Teahouse, the informant from Xuan Eagle Stronghold had already delivered the message.


    "Third Master, we found out: it was when someone saved you that day, someone was caught by the Government Office¡¯s people. Among them, someone had the Yin Family¡¯s token, and some even confessed the relationship between the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold."


    With both human and physical evidence, there¡¯s hardly any room for turnaround.


    Moreover, according to the news from the Government Office, this case will undergo a public trial.


    Xuan Qing said annoyedly, "How did you handle this? How could such a big oversight happen?"


    "It¡¯s... it¡¯s Yin Zheng. Miss Yin refused to support Yin Gang, which irritated Yin Gang. That day, when I went to borrow people, he thought we were going to intimidate others again, so he staged this to blame Miss Yin, intending to take back the matriarchal rights from her."


    The informant bowed his head and spoke softly, stating the facts.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s rage soared instantly; was Yin Zheng senile?


    How could he use such a despicable method to frame his daughter!


    Now, not only is the daughter disastrously harmed, but the whole family is implicated; is this really what Yin Zheng wants?


    This is utterly foolish!


    Seeing Xuan Qing¡¯s fervent anger, Chu Sandao said to the informant, "We¡¯ve got the information, you may leave now. We¡¯ll call you when we have questions."


    The informant heaved a huge sigh of relief and scurried out.


    Working with Third Master can only be described as perilous; the man is hot-tempered, often venting his anger on innocent people.


    Sigh, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that I couldn¡¯t survive without Xuan Eagle Stronghold, I wouldn¡¯t want to endure this humiliation! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now only two people were left in the private room, Xuan Qing, agitated, asked, "Sandao, what¡¯s your take on this matter?"


    "I¡¯ll follow Third Master¡¯s orders in all respects."


    Chu Sandao bowed his hands, knowing that when it comes to Yin Yinyue, Third Master listens to no one.


    Speaking too much would only add fuel to the fire, backfiring.


    Xuan Qing nodded, "Tomorrow, you personally capture those two girls. No mistakes are allowed, then count our men and prepare for the worst."

 Chapter 588 - 592 Sweet Burden_1

    Chapter 588: Chapter 592 Sweet Burden_1The worst-case plan he spoke of was a jailbreak.


    No matter the cost, he couldn¡¯t let Yin Yinyue suffer the slightest grievance.


    Chu Sandao opened his mouth but didn¡¯t say a word, because Xuan Qing wasn¡¯t discussing with him.


    "Go to the prison again and smooth things over, make sure Yin Yinyue has a better time, and I want to see her," Xuan Qing said with narrowed eyes.


    If he went to the prison now, wouldn¡¯t he be the hero saving the beauty, as the legends say?


    Chu Sandao nodded, "I¡¯ll do my best."


    After giving his instructions, Xuan Qing told Chu Sandao to leave; his mind was too cluttered, and he wanted to calm down.


    He took out a pink handkerchief, continuously rubbing the moon character embroidered on it.


    It was given to him by Yin Yinyue in the cell to wipe his blood; he always kept it with him.


    Just because of that bit of tenderness, he was bound for life. He didn¡¯t know if it was worth it, he only knew he was willing.


    Once Chu Sandao left, he said to someone nearby, "Quickly report this to the big boss and the second boss, and make sure to tell them in person!"


    "If the third master finds out, I¡¯m a dead man."


    The brother trembled with fear; he still wanted to live a couple more years! S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chu Sandao said seriously, "I will take full responsibility if anything happens, but remember, if Xuan Eagle Mountain Village falls, we all die!"


    If they really did break into the jail, the Imperial court would surely send troops to suppress them, and in the end, they would be the ones to die.


    Understanding the gravity, the brother steeled his resolve and hurriedly ran out.


    Chu Sandao sighed deeply and went to handle his own affairs.


    With Qin Longyun¡¯s strict regimen, how could Xuan Qing easily meet Yin Yinyue? Yet if he didn¡¯t see her, Xuan Qing might do even crazier things.


    So, he had no choice but to try.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was never the property of just the third master; he hoped it wouldn¡¯t be destroyed because of his selfish desires.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was busy entertaining guests.


    She thought the matter of sending Tan Zhenghong back home was settled, but people kept coming to the door, all bringing tonics.


    Most brought chicken eggs and brown sugar, which were quite valuable gifts for a peasant household, but for Qiao Duo¡¯er, they were a sweet burden.


    She said countless times that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s injuries were only superficial, but she couldn¡¯t refuse these kind gestures and had to accept them.


    Now, the gifts almost piled up into a small mountain; how many years would she and Tan Zhenghong need to consume them all?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t rested for long before the next wave of gift-givers arrived.


    "Duo¡¯er, we don¡¯t have anything valuable at home. These are homegrown chicken eggs. Ah Hong has lost a lot of blood and needs to replenish it well," Grandma Zhao said.


    This time it was Grandma Zhao, in her tattered clothes and white hair, but always carrying a kind smile on her face.


    The only valuable thing left in her house was these few chicken eggs.


    She had planned to go to town tomorrow to trade them for some salt. But after hearing about Zheng Hong¡¯s incident, she hurriedly brought them over.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Grandma, others have already brought many eggs; Zheng Hong can¡¯t finish them all by himself. Please take the eggs back and use them to replenish yourself and Beans."


    Grandma Zhao was a villager whose son and daughter-in-law passed away early, leaving her and her grandson to rely on each other in poverty.


    So she couldn¡¯t accept these eggs no matter what.


    "It¡¯s the right thing to do; I won¡¯t feel at ease if you don¡¯t take them," Grandma Zhao insisted firmly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had to take the basket but could not simply accept it for nothing.


    As she took out money, Grandma Zhao hurriedly said, "I can¡¯t take your money!"


    At the town, an egg was worth only one Wen Money, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was offering around ten or so Wen Money, which would be against Grandma Zhao¡¯s conscience to accept.

 Chapter 589 - 593: There’s a Clever Plan_1

    Chapter 589: Chapter 593: There¡¯s a Clever Plan_1"Ah Hong and I have come from hard times; we understand your struggles. Beans is still growing, so you can¡¯t shortchange him. If need be, just pay me back when Beans is grown up."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er forcefully stuffed the money into the basket and even covered it with the blue cloth.


    Grandma Zhao thanked her repeatedly, and Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly said, "You better go back quickly, everyone has tough times, it will get better."


    The people from the lower class lived a tough life, but they all maintained a simple and kind-hearted nature; she found these people very endearing.


    However, this only applied to most people, the rest she would try to avoid as much as possible.


    Outside, Erhu had already taken care of the eagle.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kept some meat for her own family to eat, and had Erhu cut the rest into small pieces for her to distribute to the neighbors.


    "You don¡¯t know how many people have praised you for being generous and good at handling things!"


    As Erhu efficiently cut the meat into small pieces, he praised Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    In the past, Tan Zhenghong had been the one to handle social matters for the family, so many people hadn¡¯t interacted much with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But after today, everyone understood why Tan Zhenghong was so protective of his wife: she was beautiful, kind-hearted, good with people, and full of merits.


    If their families had a daughter-in-law like her, they would definitely treasure her.


    Puffing up her cheeks, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "My face is sore from all the smiling."


    Interacting with people is truly a tiring thing.


    Erhu laughed maliciously, but Qiao Duo¡¯er had her own clever way of dealing with him: she asked why Chao Lian hadn¡¯t come today.


    He had been living it up these past few days, and Chao Lian couldn¡¯t stand it and caught a fever.


    Erhu¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, and he urged, "Sister-in-law, the meat is all cut up, seventy pieces in total. You take them out and distribute them quick!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arched an eyebrow, "You expect me to carry something so heavy? Sigh, some men really do forget their sisters once they get a wife."


    Erhu¡¯s successful marriage had a lot to do with her efforts, right?


    "I¡¯ll carry it for you then, but we agreed, you can¡¯t tease me anymore."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I know, newlyweds are shy."


    Erhu grumbled to himself but said nothing more, knowing that he was not good with words; it was better to save his saliva.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er finished these chores and returned home, Tan Zhenghong was pitifully rubbing up against her.


    "Wife, give me a kiss, otherwise I¡¯m in agony."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kissed him openly, and Tan Zhenghong said joyfully, "You¡¯re amazing, I don¡¯t even feel the pain anymore."


    "All you know is sweet talk," Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed slightly, "Quick, get to bed. If your wound reopens, I won¡¯t bother taking care of you!"


    "I¡¯m not that weak; look, I¡¯ve even cooked the porridge," Tan Zhenghong stated proudly.


    As long as he didn¡¯t make any major movements, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Even if it did reopen, a few more kisses from his wife and he would be fine.


    Nevertheless, Qiao Duo¡¯er still shooed Tan Zhenghong to the side.


    Since Tan Zhenghong had injuries, he couldn¡¯t eat anything too greasy or have soy sauce, so she fried a dish of cabbage with black fungus and tofu stew, both of which were beneficial for healing wounds.


    Grinning from ear to ear, Tan Zhenghong said, "A little soy sauce won¡¯t hurt. Having scars is what makes a man, right?"


    He knew that if it weren¡¯t for him, his wife would surely have made braised tofu.


    "I don¡¯t want your back to look like a map," she said.


    Tan Zhenghong obediently shut his mouth; he feared that if he ended up with scars, his wife might not like them.


    Both had had a tiring day, so after dinner, they went to bed early. The only thing bothering Tan Zhenghong was that he couldn¡¯t hug his wife while lying on his stomach to sleep.


    S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 590 - 594 Can’t Be Casual_1

    Chapter 590: Chapter 594 Can¡¯t Be Casual_1The next morning, Tan Zhenghong got up early to dress.


    After resting for the night, his injuries had much improved, and he could continue tidying up the Embroidery Room; otherwise, relying solely on his wife would certainly wear her out.


    "You stay honestly in bed, or I¡¯ll kill you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said fiercely.


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, "As long as I don¡¯t do any heavy lifting, I won¡¯t aggravate the wound."


    "When I say no, it means no. A grown man like you shouldn¡¯t talk so much nonsense!"


    Under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ruthless suppression, Tan Zhenghong could only compromise.


    However, when Qiao Duo¡¯er stood in front of the Embroidery Room, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. How long would it take her to clean up this place by herself?


    Just as she was worrying, the voice of Fat Aunt came from behind.


    "Duo¡¯er, we¡¯re here to help you!"


    Fat Aunt arrived with the Embroidery Lady, accompanied by several other men as well.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you, I¡¯ll pay you for your work."


    Fat Aunt chided, "What talk of payment? You resolved such a big problem for us; we don¡¯t have much skill but can at least help you tidy up!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I saw blood on you yesterday; you should hurry back and rest." Another woman said with concern.


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "That blood was Hawk¡¯s; with Zheng Hong protecting me, how could I get hurt?"


    "Look at how fair and delicate you are, how can you do this kind of work? You go back and take care of Zheng Hong; we will surely tidy everything up here for you."


    "I helped out with the construction of your house; I know how to dig the heating channels."


    With united hearts, everyone together ushered Qiao Duo¡¯er out.


    Gratefully, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Then I¡¯ll go home and cook; you all come over when it¡¯s time to eat."


    "Sure, just whip up something simple," Fat Aunt responded cheerfully.


    In the village, it is customary for those who help with work to be provided with meals by the host family, and they were not fussy; as long as they could fill their stomachs, it was good enough.


    At noon, everyone couldn¡¯t help swallowing their saliva when they saw the lunch spread.


    Lunch consisted of a plate of marinated meat, a plate of braised pork, a plate of braised fish, two vegetable dishes, and a big basin of steamed buns¡ªthis was too opulent!


    "You said to just make something simple, but how did you manage to prepare such a massive feast."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er distributed chopsticks, she said, "You all worked hard, so of course, I couldn¡¯t just whip up something simple."


    "This is a little token of our appreciation; please, everyone, sit down and eat."


    Tan Zhenghong helped to invite.


    Everyone joyfully took their seats, feeling that the Tan family was honest and dependable, and that following them was definitely the right choice.


    While eating, they brought up the matter of the Embroidery Room again.


    "This Embroidery Room was built just in time. Look at my hand, it¡¯s swollen like a radish, I can hardly hold a needle."


    A daughter-in-law from the Qin Family extended her hand which was red and swollen, some areas even scabbed over.


    "It really is cold this winter. It looks like it¡¯s going to snow in the next couple of days; it¡¯s almost freezing people to death."


    "You all should light a charcoal basin at home first, but don¡¯t tightly shut the doors and windows and you won¡¯t have any problems¡ªwood from your own chopping isn¡¯t worth much."


    "Using firewood makes too much smoke; it¡¯s blinding and I can hardly keep my eyes open."


    "Me too. Let me tell you, in the future when you have children make sure to take good care of yourself during the postpartum period. I started cooking too early, and now just a little smoke makes me cry, not to mention doing needlework."


    One of them timidly asked, "Duo¡¯er, what¡¯s the difference between working in the Embroidery Room and working at home? Can I stay and work from home?"


    She had just had a baby and needed to nurse the child at home; leaving the house brought various inconveniences.

 Chapter 591 - 595 Missing_1

    Chapter 591: Chapter 595 Missing_1"Of course, you can work from home, but in the future, the embroidery room will often produce high-end products, which can only be created with ordinary materials at home."


    "For example, when embroidering the same pattern on silk and cotton, the silk will definitely earn more. However, whether working at home or in the embroidery room, it¡¯s a case of the more you work, the more you earn."


    "Also, if you work at the workshop, there are set hours. You¡¯ll start in the late morning, finish at the end of the afternoon hour, with a meal provided at noon. Everyone has an hour for lunch and rest combined, and you cannot just skip work without reason. If you can¡¯t come, you must ask for leave in advance."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er went over the basic arrangements.


    "If we work at the embroidery room, can we make it home on time?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Generally, yes, but there might be times when we have to rush orders. If that happens, we would add a meal in the evening and offer extra compensation."


    "That can¡¯t be possible, I¡¯ve never seen anyone get extra compensation for work in town."


    "There¡¯s nothing impossible about it. That¡¯s the rule here, but the money isn¡¯t for nothing. There will be an assessment for everyone each month, and anyone who doesn¡¯t meet the quantity or quality standards will need to be replaced."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke earnestly. She was usually easygoing, but she definitely wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone cutting corners or reducing the quality of work.


    Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. Their families weren¡¯t wealthy like those in Kai Yi Village, who could afford to feed idlers?


    They didn¡¯t just not object, they were fully supportive, because this ensured that those who worked harder wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage.


    "I want to work at the embroidery room, make sure to save a spot for me."


    "You¡¯re lucky to have your mother-in-law help look after the child. I can only stay home every day to watch; otherwise, those little brats could turn the house upside down!"


    ...


    After weighing their options, everyone made their decisions.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kept everyone¡¯s decisions in mind and thought that they still needed to recruit more people for the embroidery room.


    Everyone chatted happily while they ate.


    Before they knew it, the whole spread on the table was devoured, and a few people remained to help clean up.


    Suddenly, a woman from Hu¡¯s Clan ran in anxiously: "Have Da Ya and Er Ya been here?"


    "I haven¡¯t seen them," Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head. She had been at home all morning; if Da Ya and Er Ya had come by, she certainly would have known.


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman stomped her feet in frustration. "Where could those children have gone? This morning they said they wanted to visit their fourth uncle and also play around for a bit, but they still haven¡¯t returned!"


    Without finishing her sentence, she rushed out in a hurry. She needed to search elsewhere.


    Perhaps she had already searched all the usual places where Da Ya and Er Ya frequented. Where else could she go?


    "Sister Lan, don¡¯t worry yourself too much right now. Da Ya and Er Ya are sensible kids; they wouldn¡¯t play so late without coming home. Let¡¯s ask for help from everyone to search."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly.


    As the woman from Hu¡¯s Clan had good relations with everyone, and her daughters were well-mannered, all were willing to help.


    Everybody put down their work and went out with Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman to look for the children.


    But after a while, they couldn¡¯t find them, and they had to come to a grim conclusion: the two girls were missing! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister-in-law, the children couldn¡¯t have been taken by wolves, could they?" a daughter-in-law from the Qin Family muttered.


    Hearing this, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and tears began to spin in her eyes.


    Without her two daughters, she couldn¡¯t possibly have survived this long.


    Even now, she lived for the sake of her two children.


    Fat Aunt hurriedly comforted her, "Impossible. The snow hasn¡¯t fallen yet; wolves won¡¯t come down the mountain and snatch children. Besides, if there were wolves, wouldn¡¯t someone in the village have seen them?"


    It is only during heavy snows when food becomes scarce in the mountains that wolves might risk descending, but that hasn¡¯t happened in

 Chapter 592 - 596 Not Your Daughter_1

    Chapter 592: Chapter 596 Not Your Daughter_1"Yes, no matter how ferocious that beast is, there¡¯s always a way to kill it. It won¡¯t come to the village unless it¡¯s starving. You can rest assured,"


    Another older woman agreed with Fat Aunt¡¯s words.


    "But we¡¯ve been searching for most of the day and haven¡¯t seen a shadow; could they be outside the village?"


    "That¡¯s not possible; how old are the two girls? How far could they have gone? Let¡¯s keep looking; maybe the children have fallen asleep somewhere in someone¡¯s house."


    "Then let¡¯s continue searching; there¡¯s still some time before it gets dark."


    A few people discussed and decided to split up and ask around at the houses with young girls.


    And to take extra looks at places like the pond, the well, and the large slope.


    In the past, when other families¡¯ children went missing, it was mostly because they encountered danger in these places, so with each check, everyone felt a little more at ease.


    As long as the children were still alive, everything else could be discussed.


    When the villagers heard that the children were lost, they all came out to help.


    "Our men walk faster; we¡¯ll go along the road out of the village to search. If there¡¯s any news, someone will come back and inform you,"


    Huang Zhong explained to Hu¡¯s Clan, several men behind him who he had just called over.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded vigorously: "Thank you, it¡¯s just... you¡¯ve gone to great lengths."


    "It¡¯s nothing; everyone¡¯s child is the apple of their parents¡¯ eyes. The most important thing is to find the children quickly,"


    Huang Zhong ran his fingers through his hair, speaking with a bit of a stutter.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded vigorously again and then hurried off to search for the children. Seeing her flustered back, Huang Zhong suddenly felt overwhelmingly stuffy.


    Ah, it¡¯s really hard for a woman by herself.


    Maybe it was a good thing that his former wife had found another man, and a wealthy one at that.


    At least the children would have someone to look after them in the future and wouldn¡¯t have to wander around the world looking like Hu¡¯s Clan.


    After all, they had once been husband and wife; he hoped everything would go well for her.


    One of the men walking with Huang Zhong called out, "Zhong Zi, hurry up. When we see a fork in the road, one of us should split off. Once it gets dark, we¡¯ll all return by the same path we came. Let¡¯s all do our best."


    "Thanks, Brother Kun, let¡¯s go,"


    Huang Zhong hurried to catch up while Wu Kun muttered under his breath, It¡¯s not your girl, what are you thanking for!


    But finding the children was the priority, and jokes like these could wait for later.


    Soon, the sky had completely darkened, and those who had left the village in search were coming back, one by one, with no news from inside or outside the village.


    The two children were like they had vanished into thin air¡ªthat day, only a few people had seen them.


    Da Ya and Er Ya were Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s lifeline, and in just one afternoon, Hu¡¯s Clan had become exceedingly haggard and lifeless.


    Qiao Duo tried to console her, "Sister Lan, people often say no news is good news. We haven¡¯t found them, which means Da Ya and Er Ya are still out there and okay."


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded absentmindedly and then wiped away her tears.


    She had already searched everywhere she could think of, where else could they be?


    With the weather so cold, what if they were cold and hungry¡ªwhat should they do? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why don¡¯t we go search in the mountains again? They might be trapped somewhere," Fat Aunt suggested.


    "There¡¯s frost at night now, and the mountain paths are very slippery; it¡¯s too dangerous. Instead, let¡¯s all go up the mountain together first thing tomorrow morning," said a daughter-in-law from the Qin Family timidly.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was unwilling to help, but after walking the whole afternoon, going from house to house, she was tired, hungry, and thirsty.


    The most uncomfortable thing was that after sweating during the day, the cold wind at night made her shiver uncontrollably.


    Most people agreed with the Qin Family daughter-in-law¡¯s suggestion; they were all too worn out to continue.


    Hu¡¯s Clan gratefully said, "Thank you all for your hard work. You go back and rest. Once I find my girls, I¡¯ll come and thank you personally."

 Chapter 593 - 597 Suspicious Person_1

    Chapter 593: Chapter 597 Suspicious Person_1"You should rest too, don¡¯t find the child only to collapse from exhaustion yourself,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan mustered a bitter smile, "Even if it costs my life, I¡¯m willing."


    "I¡¯ll go with you, if there¡¯s danger I can watch your back," Huang Zhong stood up.


    With Huang Zhong taking the lead, several other men expressed their willingness to help. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The night was too long, too much could happen; the saying goes, you cannot wait when saving lives.


    Everyone was making preparations to take action when suddenly a sound of something heavy falling to the ground was heard.


    It was Hu¡¯s Clan who had fainted; that she had managed to hold on until now was already admirable.


    The women closest to her supported her body and pinched her philtrum.


    Only after a good while did Hu¡¯s Clan slowly regain consciousness, seemingly aged a decade in that moment.


    Zhou Jiacheng slapped his head, "I just remembered, today I saw Big Brother Tan talking with Er Ya and Da Ya, and in the afternoon he even bought alcohol and food. Something doesn¡¯t feel right about this."


    He was the eldest son of the Zhou Family and lived next door to the Tan Family, so he naturally paid more attention to Tan Zhengyuan.


    It was common knowledge that Tan Zhengyuan had been living off his elderly parents recently, how could he possibly afford alcohol and food?


    "Could it be that he sold Da Ya and Er Ya?"


    "It¡¯s always been said by the Tan family matriarch that selling the girls is like selling poor goods, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Tan Zhengyuan actually took her words to heart."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered that for a while Xiao Lingchuan often visited the Tan Family, and Xiao Lingchuan also dealt in the business of human trafficking!


    This must definitely be their doing!


    And Hu¡¯s Clan was the person in the world who understood Tan Zhengyuan the best; although Tan Zhengyuan was lazy, he had a cruel heart.


    In the past, whenever there were delicacies at home, he would monopolize them, leaving even the youngest Er Ya without a share.


    So selling his daughters was not a surprising act for him.


    Hu¡¯s Clan clenched her fists tightly and immediately rushed towards the Tan Family¡¯s house like a madwoman.


    Fearing that Hu¡¯s Clan might be disadvantaged, the others followed her.


    The gate of the Tan Family was tightly shut. Hu¡¯s Clan banged on the door so fiercely that it shook violently and seemed like it could collapse at any moment.


    "Who¡¯s there to collect a debt? Knocking so frantically! It¡¯s so annoying, are you trying to freeze me to death on purpose? No wonder the eldest looks down on you and divorced you!"


    Wang Clan said disdainfully, her face full of disgust.


    If it weren¡¯t for the unbearable commotion outside, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten out of bed to open the door.


    "Da Ya and Er Ya are your granddaughters after all. We outsiders have been so busy that we haven¡¯t even had dinner, and yet you can still sleep!"


    "Such a heartless bunch, deserves to be taken by the heavens!"


    "No wonder Zheng Hong and Duo¡¯er disowned you. To be reborn into the Tan Family is truly eight generations of bad luck!"


    Wang Clan felt wronged ¨C she had gotten out of bed only to be scolded. She had always disliked those girls; how could she possibly go looking for them?


    "All of you get out, what are you doing up at this hour and not sleeping? All of you must be too full and just looking for trouble!"


    Wang Clan blocked the doorway, eager to drive these people away as quickly as possible.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was solely focused on finding out the whereabouts of the children and pushed past Wang Clan to get inside.


    Behind her resonated Wang Clan¡¯s venomous curse, but Hu¡¯s Clan was as if deaf to it.


    The door of the eastern wing was locked; Hu¡¯s Clan knocked several times with no response, then lifted her foot and kicked the door open.


    A strong smell of alcohol wafted out, causing people to cover their noses involuntarily.


    Could it be that he drowned in an alcohol vat?


    Upon entering the room, Tan Zhengyuan was found sound asleep on the bed, clutching a black cloth bag that was bulging significantly.


    Instinctively, Hu¡¯s Clan grabbed it and opened it to look; what more was there to understand?


    Roughly counting, there were indeed more than ten taels of silver!


    For someone as lazy and good-for-nothing as Tan Zhengyuan, it was impossible for him to have earned so much silver in his life.

 Chapter 594 - 598 Lying_1

    Chapter 594: Chapter 598 Lying_1The only possibility was that he had sold Da Ya and Er Ya!


    "You damned bastard, get up!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan smashed the silver on Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s head, and a bloody gash appeared on his skull.


    Tan Zhengyuan woke up from the pain and, seeing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s fierce demeanor, he became even angrier.


    "You wicked woman, have you eaten the gall of a leopard? Was it you who hit me?"


    Tan Zhengyuan glared at Hu¡¯s Clan with venomous eyes, wishing he could tear her to pieces with his own hands.


    With her neck stiff, Hu¡¯s Clan said, "Do you still have a heart? Da Ya and Er Ya are your daughters too; how could you bear to do this to them?"


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s head was already throbbing with pain, and the quarrel with Hu¡¯s Clan made him want to hit someone even more.


    Just as Tan Zhengyuan was about to smash his head into Hu¡¯s Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately intervened, twisting Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s arm behind his back.


    With a little more skillful force, Tan Zhengyuan was already kneeling on the ground.


    "Where are Da Ya and Er Ya?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked coldly.


    Tan Zhengyuan instantly became more alert. Could it be that the thing he had done had been exposed?


    No, that¡¯s impossible!


    When he handed the children over to Xiao Lingchuan, no one saw him, and afterwards, the two girls were hidden directly in the straw and taken away; there was even less chance for others to discover.


    So these people were definitely trying to swindle him. If he admitted it now, that would be exactly what they wanted.


    Tan Zhengyuan shook his head, his mind growing clearer.


    All he had to do was adamantly deny selling the girls and no one would be able to do anything to him!


    "When I divorced this woman, we agreed that the girls would be in her care. Now that the children are missing, why are you demanding an explanation from me?"


    Tan Zhengyuan said with his neck stiff, as if he was the more reasonable party of the two.


    His drunken act was convincingly realistic.


    But everyone looked down upon him in their hearts; today, nearly the whole village had mobilized to help search for the missing girls, yet not a single trace of Tan Zhengyuan could be found.


    Is this what a father should do?


    Perhaps this father was not even as good as a neighbor.


    Clutching the purse, Hu¡¯s Clan asked through gritted teeth, "Then tell me where this bag of silver came from?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s eyes darted around. Right, the Wang Clan¡¯s brother saved an official and he easily became a scholar.


    He too had saved a noble person, so giving her some silver wasn¡¯t too much to ask, was it?


    Thus, he concocted a story on the spot: "I saved a noble person, isn¡¯t this the reward he gave me?"


    But his evasive eyes betrayed him long ago, he was clearly lying!


    "You loiter about all day, never leaving the village; if you had saved a noble person, would we not know about it?"


    With disdain, Tan Zhengyuan said, "Do you think anyone can just encounter a noble person? If that were the case, who would bother to work hard in the future? Everyone could just sit at their doorsteps and wait for their grace."


    The woman just now was choked up and unable to speak, but she still felt it was impossible there was no news at all.


    "What kind of attitude is this? At least show some respect when speaking to your elders, you¡¯re completely lacking in manners."


    "You¡¯re nothing good either!"


    Tan Zhengyuan pretended to be indignant: "You people are just jealous of my silver, but I just have better luck than you. If you continue to smear me, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!"


    While Tan Zhengyuan continued to defend himself, Qiao Duo¡¯er had long lost patience. Her hand suddenly tightened, seemingly about to snap off one of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s hands.


    "Where did you sell Da Ya and Er Ya?"


    Tan Zhengyuan cried out in pain: "Let me go, I really don¡¯t know!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only intensify her grip, and in the next second, Tan Zhengyuan could start howling like a slaughtered pig.


    It seemed he could already hear the sound of bones separating from flesh.

 Chapter 595 - 599: Feeling Inadequate_1

    Chapter 595: Chapter 599: Feeling Inadequate_1Tan Zhengyuan still clenched his teeth while Qiao Duo¡¯er grasped one of his fingers and pulled it back.


    Soon, one finger was dislocated.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said wickedly, "It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t confess, there are still nine fingers left. After all the fingers are broken, there are still arms and thighs to be dealt with ¨C we can take our time!"


    Tan Zhengyuan was already sweating coldly from the pain, and his body began to tremble after hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words.


    Was Qiao Duo¡¯er even human? She was simply a demon!


    As he cursed Qiao Duo¡¯er, the second finger suffered a noble sacrifice.


    "Help, Qiao Duo¡¯er is trying to kill me! Save me!" Tan Zhengyuan wailed.


    But the others couldn¡¯t help but applaud; it was truly satisfying to them!


    "Well done, Duo¡¯er! This kind of behavior deserves more than death ¨C only breaking two fingers is getting off lightly!"


    "To harm one¡¯s own daughter to such an extent, you should be burnt to death!"


    Wang Clan protested, but her words were completely ignored by everyone else.


    In the end, Tan Zhengyuan gave in.


    "I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll tell you everything... I sold Da Ya and Er Ya to Xiao Lingchuan, all this silver was given by Xiao Lingchuan. If you want the children, go to Xiao Lingchuan, I know nothing!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot; she slapped Tan Zhengyuan across the face on both sides.


    How could he utter such insanely cruel words?


    "Folks, let¡¯s tie him up and send him to the clan hall; such a heartless person doesn¡¯t deserve to live in our village!"


    A man looked disdainfully at Tan Zhengyuan.


    He felt humiliated to have such a disgrace among men!


    Everyone agreed with this approach, and several men had already hoisted Tan Zhengyuan up.


    "Let¡¯s go to the clan hall together. The Xiao Family is no good either. As long as they are in the village, children will continue to go missing. Let¡¯s talk to the village chief about it!"


    "What are you doing? Da Ya and Er Ya are seeds of the Old Tan Family; selling my family¡¯s girls is none of your business!"


    Wang Clan hurried to block the way, for if they took Tan Zhengyuan away, he was bound to suffer severe physical punishment.


    "Sister Lan has already divorced Tan Zhengyuan, and it¡¯s clearly written on the divorce paper that Da Ya and Er Ya are to be raised by Sister Lan. Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s actions amount to stealing someone else¡¯s children!"


    "If she hadn¡¯t treated Zheng Hong that way, our eldest wouldn¡¯t have copied her. Today she¡¯ll learn her lesson too!"


    "Don¡¯t waste any more time ¨C let¡¯s get this sorted so we can redeem the girl!"


    So several robust women also lifted Wang Clan.


    If someone lacks respect for their elders, then it¡¯s best to deal with them all at once and save future trouble.


    Surprisingly, with all this commotion, the other members of the Tan Family did not even show their faces.


    Especially Little Wang Clan, she was enjoying herself at the moment.


    Little Wang Clan said happily, "It would be best if they were locked up for ten or eight years; that would deal with two pests at once!"


    With no mother-in-law over her and no longer worrying about her property growing legs, she suddenly felt her life was perfect!


    Second Brother Tan turned over and faced the wall.


    The people who were just taken away were his mother and older brother, and he really felt unsettled.


    "Are you feeling sorry for them now? Haven¡¯t you considered that ever since we split the household, our silver has been running out like water? Twenty Taels for the third branch to cure tuberculosis, and your mother still wants to give two more acres of land to the main branch. Are you stupid?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhengyuan said impatiently, "You¡¯re right about everything, I¡¯m tired now, going to sleep."


    Actually, he wanted to say that all their money had recently gone to Wang Xiaofeng to buy books and ink for his scholar exams; although he only placed last, he still made a grand display of it.


    But after all, that man has a title to his name; he could only silently bear it.


    Who told him to be so useless?

 Chapter 596 - 600: Missing_1

    Chapter 596: Chapter 600: Missing_1Child trafficking is a capital offense according to the laws of the dynasty, and Tie Niu did not dare delay, immediately having someone call Xiao Lingchuan over.


    When Xiao Lingchuan heard it was about little Biyu, he came over right away, but after seeing the setup in the ancestral hall, he felt that something was off.


    The scene was like interrogating a criminal...


    Suddenly seeing Tan Zhengyuan, Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s face darkened even more.


    Tie Niu did not give Xiao Lingchuan a chance to escape, for as soon as Xiao Lingchuan had entered, he had the doors of the ancestral hall closed.


    "Lingchuan, did you buy two maids from the Tan Family today?" Tie Niu took the initiative.


    Xiao Lingchuan unhesitatingly nodded. They had already found him; hiding it any further would be useless.


    Tie Niu spoke solemnly, "Tan Zhengyuan has no right to decide whether to sell those children or not. Your actions are tantamount to stealing children, and according to the law, you should be severely punished." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uncle Tie, I have nothing to do with this. It was Tan Zhengyuan who found me, saying he wanted to sell his daughter. I figured he was the father of the child, so I agreed. Besides, we¡¯re from the same village, and I didn¡¯t take any commission. I¡¯m truly innocent!" Xiao Lingchuan hurriedly explained.


    There are so many people sold into servitude in the Tooth Row, and at least half were sold by their parents¡ªwhy hasn¡¯t anyone been in trouble for that?


    How come it¡¯s only when it comes to him that it¡¯s suddenly about child theft?


    The village chief is just an old fool¡ªit¡¯s high time for a change!


    "Everyone in the village knows that Tan Zhengyuan and I have divorced, and the child is under my care."


    Hu¡¯s Clan suppressed her anger and reminded everyone.


    She became the laughingstock of the entire village right after she divorced, and even three-year-old children would mock her. How could Xiao Lingchuan possibly not know?


    "Sister-in-law, I¡¯m really sorry. I never concern myself with other people¡¯s affairs; I truly didn¡¯t know about this."


    "Plus, I¡¯ve never heard of a woman taking a child with her after being divorced. The seed belongs to the man¡¯s family; the father always has the final say," Xiao Lingchuan argued deftly, the years he had spent socializing outside had not been in vain.


    He delivered every word just right, hitting all the key points.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but retort, "What¡¯s wrong with a woman taking her child? Didn¡¯t your wife take the child with her when she remarried another man? Seems like even the surname was changed."


    Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s temperament had undergone a dramatic change, becoming reclusive and narrow-minded, ruthless and malicious, and the most direct reason was his wife¡¯s remarriage.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense!"


    Xiao Lingchuan said, angered.


    Qiao Duo spread her hands, "It¡¯s not a secret. You¡¯re not still in the dark, are you?"


    Xiao Lingchuan is a good brother, ready to give up everything for Xiao Biyu.


    But he is by no means a qualified husband and father, for he always let his wife and child suffer.


    So his current predicament is well deserved!


    Tie Niu slowly said, "Lingchuan, just tell us the whereabouts of the children, and I can ask Lord Qin to give you a lighter punishment."


    "I don¡¯t know who the other party is, he only found me and said he wanted to buy two little girls, preferably real sisters, and not too old at that. That¡¯s why he chose the Tan Family¡¯s daughters."


    "Actually, this was settled a few days ago, there was a stalemate over the price, Tan Zhengyuan insisted on twenty taels, people always thought that was expensive, only today did they relent, and I immediately informed Tan Zhengyuan. That¡¯s all I know."


    This means that the two girls are no longer in Big Willow Village.


    And Xiao Lingchuan doesn¡¯t know any specific details about the buyer; there¡¯s simply no way to find them.


    It¡¯s already been the better part of a day, they might have already left the county city. In this vast sea of people, how could they possibly be found?


    Once little girls are sold, their fate is no longer in their own hands.


    The lucky ones may go to good families to become maids, the less fortunate might be scolded and beaten by their masters, and the most miserable end up in filthy places.

 Chapter 597 - 601: Back to the Firewood Room_1

    Chapter 597: Chapter 601: Back to the Firewood Room_1n?vel.co?Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s fear grew as she thought about it more, her rationality slowly being overrun.


    "If anything happens to Da Ya or Er Ya, I¡¯ll hold you responsible with your life!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan pounced on Xiao Lingchuan, her fists raining down on him like a downpour.


    Xiao Lingchuan awkwardly protected his head, "Have you lost your mind? They¡¯re living the high life, better off with their patrons than with you, a cast-off mother. At least they can hold their heads high as people!"


    "Tan Zhengyuan and I were properly separated, what¡¯s there to be ashamed of? My girls don¡¯t need this kind of ¡¯blessing¡¯!"


    Hu¡¯s Clan, her emotions intensifying, hit him even harder.


    She had never regretted her decision to separate, and their lives were nowhere near as unbearable as Xiao Lingchuan suggested, were they?


    Now, they neither stole nor begged, no longer had to please anyone, and worked hard every day. Why couldn¡¯t they hold their heads up high?


    After allowing Hu¡¯s Clan to vent for a while, someone came to pull her away.


    "Stop hitting him, if you kill him by accident that won¡¯t be good, the county magistrate surely won¡¯t let him off easily!"


    "Right, at dawn tomorrow we¡¯ll head to the town; Zhong Zi, you must bring the ox cart over first thing tomorrow!"


    Huang Zhong immediately agreed, "No problem, I¡¯ll definitely come to the ancestral hall early."


    Although Hu¡¯s Clan was anxious for her daughters¡¯ safety, she also knew it was unrealistic to go to the county at this time of night, so she went home to rest with the company of the village women.


    Before she found her girls, she couldn¡¯t afford to collapse. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tie Niu waved his hand, "Lock them up in the woodshed, and send them to the Government Office first thing in the morning."


    Xiao Lingchuan quickly spoke up, "Village Chief, I really don¡¯t know about the Tan Family¡¯s matters. Let me go home first, maybe I can think of a way to find the buyer."


    "You can think in the woodshed just the same. Tonight, we¡¯ll trouble everyone to keep a close watch,"


    Tie Niu said irritably. Selling the children without their mother¡¯s knowledge was inexcusable anywhere.


    "If you don¡¯t want to be locked up in the woodshed, why didn¡¯t you think of those children? Such young kids might be sleeping in a woodshed themselves!"


    "If they could sleep in a woodshed, that would be rather fortunate. Those people might look splendid on the surface, but how many of them truly treat a maid as a person?"


    "I¡¯ve heard they even beat servants to death without a second thought, it¡¯s sinful!"


    The villagers grumbled as they locked the people up in the woodshed.


    Once everyone had disbanded, Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered to Tan Zhenghong, "I want to go to the woodshed."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Do you think Xiao Lingchuan lied?"


    "Yes, his eyes were shifty when he spoke, I have a feeling he¡¯s hiding something very important," Qiao Duo¡¯er honestly said.


    So under the cover of night, the two of them sneaked back to the woodshed at the ancestral hall.


    The woodshed door was latched, but they climbed in through the window.


    Within a short time, Tan Zhengyuan had already fallen into a deep sleep.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, unable to suppress her anger, kicked him furiously, this Tan Zhengyuan wasn¡¯t even worth being called scum!


    Tan Zhengyuan grunted discontentedly in his sleep, turned over, and fell back asleep.


    Startled awake, Xiao Lingchuan anxiously asked, "What are you doing here?"


    "Don¡¯t be afraid, we just want to know where the children are."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled harmlessly, although in her mind she had already thought of every possible torture. If she tried each one on Xiao Lingchuan, he surely wouldn¡¯t last.


    In fact, she wanted to do just that earlier, but there were too many eyes around, and she couldn¡¯t act freely. She had to wait until everyone had left to begin her interrogation.


    "I already said I don¡¯t know who the patron is, and I have no clue where the children are!"


    Xiao Lingchuan shouted, but from his demeanor, it was clear he was masking his own guilt.

 Chapter 598 - 602 Interrogate_1

    Chapter 598: Chapter 602 Interrogate_1Qiao Duo¡¯er was even more convinced that Xiao Lingchuan knew who the sponsor was and that this sponsor was a big deal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted, "Well, I wish you luck in getting through this."


    She spoke a seemingly nonsensical sentence and before Xiao Lingchuan could figure it out, she had climbed out the window.


    She quickly returned with a bucket of water and brought the rope used to suspend the bucket as well.


    Tan Zhenghong was very interested, "Wife, do you need any help?"


    "You have a wound on your back, so just watch from the side. I¡¯ll call you if I need help," Qiao Duo¡¯er signaled to Tan Zhenghong with her eyes.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded; he knew only that someone was going to be unlucky tonight!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er found a broken chair in the firewood shed, which could only be placed against the wall because one of its legs was broken.


    Xiao Lingchuan had an ominous premonition when he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er reaching for him and immediately said, "Setting up a private court is illegal, let me go!"


    "Husband, I just grabbed a broken chair, does that really count as setting up a private court?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked innocent.


    "Of course not, how could a court be so shabby!" Tan Zhenghong blindly supported his wife.


    Especially when they were dealing with shameless scum like Xiao Lingchuan, setting up a private court was not a crime!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dragged Xiao Lingchuan roughly to the chair, pushed him down, and then tied him securely to the chair with the rope.


    Xiao Lingchuan struggled, only to realize Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s skill in tying people up was much greater than the brawny men from before.


    Before, his hands were free enough to pick up a stone to saw the ropes, but now he couldn¡¯t move at all. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that Tan Zhenghong really passed all his skills to Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    Xiao Lingchuan, because he strained too hard, turned red in the face and angrily asked, "What exactly do you want?"


    "Don¡¯t make such a fuss. It would be bad if other people heard," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, but there was a bloodthirsty harshness in her eyes.


    The punishment she thought of was simple: to make Xiao Lingchuan drink water.


    This method wouldn¡¯t leave any marks on his body, so no one could say the next day that Xiao Lingchuan had been tortured into confessing.


    "I¡¯ll open his mouth, and you use the ladle to feed him water."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave an order, and Tan Zhenghong immediately complied, ladling cold water into Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s mouth.


    If he didn¡¯t want to choke to death, he had to swallow as fast as he could.


    After two big ladles of water, Xiao Lingchuan began to burp continuously, but Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong showed no signs of stopping.


    Xiao Lingchuan looked at his swollen belly and suddenly thought he might become the first person in the world to die from drinking too much water.


    He guessed many people would laugh if the story got out.


    "If you don¡¯t want to get beaten, cooperate!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pinched Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s cheeks again, forcing his mouth open.


    Tan Zhenghong said anxiously, "Look, the water is leaking out. He hardly drank any this time.


    Xiao Lingchuan was so infuriated he rolled his eyes. Just how big did they think his stomach was? Two ladles of water had already filled it to the brim!


    Seeing the large wet patch on Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s clothes, Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly said, "Then let¡¯s take a break before we continue pouring. Xiao Lingchuan, if you can¡¯t take it anymore, just speak up to save yourself the suffering."


    In the meantime, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to look at Tan Zhengyuan and his mother.


    They had woken up long ago in the midst of all the commotion, but seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ferocious appearance, they didn¡¯t dare to speak casually.


    Otherwise, the next one to be waterboarded might be one of them.


    Just the sight of Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s agony was enough to deter them from wanting to experience it.

 Chapter 599 - 603 Fate Violates Punishment_1

    Chapter 599: Chapter 603 Fate Violates Punishment_1Qiao Duo¡¯er hooked her lips into a grin, "You better start figuring out what to say tomorrow while you are still alive; don¡¯t just become a limp shrimp from fright when you get to the Government Office."


    "What¡¯s wrong with selling my daughter? When there was a famine, everyone was selling sons and daughters; can you even manage that?"


    Tan Zhengyuan still talked tough, convinced that nothing would happen to him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just wanted to give a thumbs up; for all Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s faults, his attitude was better than anyone¡¯s.


    Already confined to the firewood shed in the village, the punishment at the Government Office tomorrow would definitely not be any lighter.


    Felt all wrong under the scrutiny, Tan Zhengyuan couldn¡¯t help but hide behind the Wang Clan matriarch.


    The Wang Clan matriarch cursed, "Idiot, you did those death-defying deeds, dragging me down with you to this god-forsaken place, and now you hide behind me! Are you even a man?"


    The more she looked at her eldest son, the more agitated she became! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although she didn¡¯t think much of Tan Zhenghong, she had to admit that her other three sons combined were not worth one of his fingers.


    "You like treating your useless son as a treasure; who¡¯s to blame?"


    Qiao Duo watched the Wang Clan matriarch, whose later years could have been happy, but she had thrown it all away with her actions.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t talk much, but his heart was kinder than anyone¡¯s.


    The Wang Clan matriarch glared at Tan Zhenghong, "Do you think he¡¯s anything good? I nearly lost my life giving birth to him, the fortune-teller said he¡¯s destined to bring disaster and lead a lonely life. I did well not to strangle him!"


    These were the reasons why the Wang Clan matriarch disliked Tan Zhenghong.


    So, Tan Zhenghong was sent away to distant relatives as a child, and after he grew up, they just got him a cheap wife.


    Otherwise, what if he brought disaster one day? Wouldn¡¯t her Silver have been wasted?


    However, to Qiao Duo, this all seemed ridiculous; she never believed in fortune-telling.


    A person¡¯s fate is not in their own hands, but a large part of it can be changed through effort.


    "You¡¯re not fit to be a mother. When other mothers face life and death, they would hate not to use their own lives to protect their sons, yet you abandon him and strike him down over an unfounded charge. Do you really not feel any heartache?"


    "It¡¯s his fate; it¡¯s already been determined. What use is my heartache? Don¡¯t think you¡¯re lively and bouncing now, sooner or later you¡¯ll be done in by him!"


    The Wang Clan matriarch said venomously, already fantasizing about Qiao Duo¡¯s demise.


    She could fall into a pond, suffer in childbirth, or get knocked over by someone...


    There were so many ways; surely one would be suitable for Qiao Duo.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er remained unperturbed, simply replying, "Then there¡¯s no need for your concern. I will definitely live well, and I¡¯ll live longer than you will."


    Even if Tan Zhenghong were a Star of Death to her, that was before her arrival.


    Since she has come, everything has changed.


    And who could be more tenacious than her? Those years as a spy, how many times she brushed close to the Reaper, yet came out unscathed. She finally died, but not completely, instead bringing calamity upon some other world¡¯s man.


    The Wang Clan matriarch neither agreed nor disagreed; in any case, they had severed ties, it couldn¡¯t affect her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with sympathy, feeling a wave of pity overwhelming her; there was more hiding within him than she had imagined.


    The innocent child had borne such an ill name.


    "I¡¯m used to it, and it¡¯s all in the past now," Tan Zhenghong said composedly.


    He had once resented the heavens for their injustice, but now he felt that all the bullying was simply the heavens finding a reason to compensate him with Qiao Duo.

 Chapter 600 - 604: Handover_1

    Chapter 600: Chapter 604: Handover_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, seeing that he was all right, she felt at ease.


    Next, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Tan Zhenghong give Xiao Lingchuan water to drink, and in no more than another quarter hour, Xiao Lingchuan should start showing some reaction.


    Indeed, Xiao Lingchuan became increasingly agitated, his legs trying to move closer together, but since the legs were tied to the stool with ropes, all his efforts were futile.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t free himself, but he still had to try, because he really couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with schadenfreude, "Are you feeling urgent now, wanting to go to the toilet?"


    Xiao Lingchuan bit his lip tightly; he would not compromise!


    Because if the Lord County Magistrate found out he had ties with the bandits, he would definitely not let him off easily. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Yin Family was a living example of this.


    After waiting for a while without getting the answer she wanted, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Tan Zhenghong scoop another ladle of water.


    Looking at that ladle of water, Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s entire body started to shiver.


    Did this woman really want to drown him?


    After Tan Zhenghong poured the water in, he also pressed on Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s stomach, prompting a more pained expression from him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said opportunely, "You can go to the toilet if you wish, as long as you tell me where Da Ya and Er Ya are, I will untie you. How about it?"


    Xiao Lingchuan glared fiercely at Qiao Duo¡¯er as if doing so could make him feel a bit better.


    "Xiao Lingchuan, why put yourself through this? Isn¡¯t it uncomfortable to hold it in like that?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked at Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s lower abdomen with a finger, which had already become very firm.


    Even in this state, he was still enduring, and she had to admit, she was somewhat impressed.


    But don¡¯t think she had no way to deal with him because of that.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood up and whispered something in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, upon which he immediately followed her instructions.


    Her method was to unexpectedly tickle his armpits.


    To prevent any accidents, Qiao Duo¡¯er had specifically asked Tan Zhenghong to stand a bit farther away.


    Xiao Lingchuan let out a low growl and twisted his body to avoid Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands, for he was most ticklish under his arms.


    Suddenly feeling warmth on one side, Xiao Lingchuan quickly looked down to find that he had inadvertently wet his trousers.


    He clenched his teeth, his face flushing with embarrassment. Had he just urinated like this?


    How utterly shameful!


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s next attack was about to commence, Xiao Lingchuan hurriedly gave in.


    "I... I¡¯ll tell you. It was the Third Master of the Xuan Eagle Mountain Village who sent someone. The person¡¯s name is Chu Sandao. That¡¯s all I know," Xiao Lingchuan blurted out the truth.


    Because a living man surely couldn¡¯t be killed by his own urine, could he?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, grinding her teeth, said, "How could you sell good girls to mountain bandits? Do you realize how brutal and cold-blooded those people are?"


    "Of course I know. Actually, I would rather have sent you over, but I couldn¡¯t handle you nor could I defeat Tan Zhenghong, so I had to start with the weakest," Xiao Lingchuan said maniacally, his hatred for Qiao Duo¡¯er as deep as ever. He wanted to destroy everything she cared about!


    "So you¡¯re seeking revenge for Xiao Biyu?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned, Xiao Lingchuan hated her, and so did the people from the Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, they banded together, leading to the events of today.


    Hmph, birds of a feather surely flock together!


    With red eyes, Xiao Lingchuan said, "Of course, Biyu hadn¡¯t hurt you at all, so why did she have to go to prison? It¡¯s not fair! It was clearly because you had an affair with the H County Lord that he favored you!"


    "She didn¡¯t hurt me because someone from the Tan Family took the hit for me. Little Wang Clan almost lost her life because of it, yet Biyu was only imprisoned for three years. Where is the injustice? Is it that only Xiao Biyu¡¯s life matters, and everyone else¡¯s lives are worthless?"

 Chapter 601 - 605: Let the Snake Bite Xiao Biyu_1

    Chapter 601: Chapter 605: Let the Snake Bite Xiao Biyu_1"You¡¯re talking nonsense. Where did Little Wang Clan lose her life? You¡¯re all living well, it¡¯s only my sister who was thrown into the jail!"


    Xiao Lingchuan kept talking to himself, fixated on that absurd idea!


    He had been to the jail and seen how dirty and smelly it was, with rats and ants everywhere. The prisoners had nothing to eat, no warm clothes, and people whipped them every day to make them work. It was no life for a human!


    His sister had been pampered since childhood. When had she ever suffered like this?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed out of exasperation, "So if I get a venomous snake to bite you, and then save your life, does that mean I¡¯ve committed no crime?"


    "Wife, better let it bite Xiao Biyu."


    Tan Zhenghong timely reminded her, for what effect would it have to bite Xiao Lingchuan?


    If getting bitten by a snake could save Xiao Biyu, perhaps Xiao Lingchuan would be willing.


    For Xiao Biyu, he divorced his wife and abandoned his child. What wouldn¡¯t he do?


    But letting the snake bite Xiao Biyu was another story.


    Xiao Biyu was the apple of the Xiao Family¡¯s eye. If she got bitten, wouldn¡¯t their whole family be heartbroken?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then I¡¯ll talk to Lord Qin tomorrow. If you¡¯re willing to let Xiao Biyu be bitten, I¡¯ll agree to her release without charges but remember, the venom of the Silver Ring Snake is extremely potent, so you better prepare a doctor in advance."


    Last time, Little Wang Clan was lucky to have made it home just after being bitten, and with her set of acupuncture techniques, her life was spared.


    If she had arrived home later or moved slower, when the venom spread throughout, not even a deity could have saved her.


    "It would have been better had the snake killed her. It¡¯s all because you meddled," mumbled a member of the Wang Clan. Why didn¡¯t they just let her die back then?


    Had Little Wang Clan treated her the way she did today, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered to spend silver to get her medicine then!


    Tan Zhengyuan agreed, "That vile woman deserves to be bitten to death by a snake."


    Xiao Lingchuan suddenly snorted coldly, "You never cared about the Tan Family. When that snake bit the second brother¡¯s wife, you must have been secretly pleased."


    So Qiao Duo should be grateful to Xiao Biyu!


    "That¡¯s why I¡¯ve always regretted it. If that snake had been deadly from the start, Xiao Biyu definitely wouldn¡¯t be alive now," Qiao Duo regretfully said. Wouldn¡¯t that have been killing two birds with one stone?


    And besides, it¡¯s only natural for a murderer to pay with their life, and the Xiao family would surely have felt justified.


    However, she knew that if given another chance, she would still save Xiao Biyu, perhaps as a way to accumulate blessings for herself and Tan Zhenghong.


    After all, what Little Wang Clan did¡ªbreaking into a home¡ªwas a crime, but not deserving of death.


    Xiao Lingchuan clenched his teeth¡ªclearly, it was Qiao Duo who had ruined Xiao Biyu¡¯s life! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How could it be that when Qiao Duo spoke, she turned into Xiao Biyu¡¯s benefactor?


    Before he could figure it out, his body tensed up once again.


    The sensation of something about to burst forth was driving him mad. How could he focus on anything else?


    "I¡¯ve told you everything I know. Let me go!"


    Tan Zhenghong kindly untied the well rope, but there was another tie not made by him, and he couldn¡¯t just untie it willy-nilly, in case Xiao Lingchuan tried to escape.


    But it wasn¡¯t tied very tightly. With some thought, Xiao Lingchuan could still deal with his urgent needs.


    Xiao Lingchuan hurried to the corner, twisting his body like a pretzel, hoping to pull his trousers down a bit.


    Yet despite his efforts, he always fell just short of getting his trousers undone!


    If he had known this day would come, he would definitely have worked on his flexibility.


    He suddenly realized how important freedom was, perhaps even more than life itself, at least so he didn¡¯t have to struggle so much just to pee.


    Meanwhile, Tan Zhenghong pulled his own wife out through the window, then firmly shut the window behind them.

 Chapter 602 - 606: Ruin My Reputation?_1

    Chapter 602: Chapter 606: Ruin My Reputation?_1?§Ôeewebnov§×l.comFrom behind came the furious roar of the Wang Clan, "Have you no shame? Even your butt has been seen! Pee farther away, you¡¯re stinking up the place!"


    "My heavens, what grievance or enmity do I have with you? I am already of an old age, yet you still seek to ruin my reputation, don¡¯t you?"


    "Damn you, Tan Zhenghong, I am your mother, and yet you let me suffer here!"


    The Wang Clan turned her head away, not daring to look at Xiao Lingchuan.


    But after a moment, she couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek; though she was of an old age, her curiosity was still very strong.


    Looking at the size... it was just so-so...


    It wasn¡¯t quite up to par with Tan Yuancheng in his younger days.


    After walking a distance, Tan Zhenghong finally said, "I really want to see what¡¯s inside your head, to come up with such a method."


    To this, he only wanted to say four words, which were, "Well done indeed!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bragged, "To deal with the shameless, one must use shameless tactics. Let¡¯s not talk about those troublesome people anymore and hurry back so I can help you rebandage."


    "How did you know?" Tan Zhenghong scratched his own head.


    "How could I not know your weight and measure?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, but it was too dark for Tan Zhenghong to catch it.


    Tan Zhenghong was dismissive of his injury, as long as his wife hadn¡¯t seen anything she shouldn¡¯t have, he was completely satisfied.


    Thinking of Da Ya and Er Ya, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head drooped.


    "It¡¯s all my fault, I have implicated them."


    If she hadn¡¯t angered Xuan San, Da Ya and Er Ya wouldn¡¯t be in danger.


    This was probably why she didn¡¯t dare to get close to people in her past life.


    Her hands were stained with too much blood; she was afraid of implicating the innocent.


    "It¡¯s Tan Zhengyuan who has ill intentions. He has been thinking of selling his daughter for a long time. If it weren¡¯t for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, it would have been someone else. You couldn¡¯t have stopped him anyway," Tan Zhengyuan comforted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued to be downcast. Mountain bandits were notoriously cruel and insane; what if they did something to the two girls?


    They were so young, with their whole lives ahead of them!


    "Xuan Qing¡¯s target is us. He won¡¯t hurt them before we take the bait,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er murmured, "I just hope they are safe and sound."


    Since it was all caused by her, no matter what, she would save them.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled his wife into his embrace, "Don¡¯t worry, they are still children, nothing will happen to them for now. As soon as it gets light tomorrow, we will go to town and discuss with Brother Qin. There must be a way." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded vigorously, feeling a bit more at ease.


    Upon arriving home, Qiao Duo¡¯er lit the fire, boiled water in the big pot, and warmed steamed buns and vegetables in the small pot.


    This stove was connected to the ground dragon heating system of the main house. When used, the separation board was removed, allowing the warm air to enter underneath the main house, heating it up after not too long.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er added a fair amount of firewood to the stove, which allowed her to take the opportunity to help Tan Zhenghong dress his wounds.


    Tan Zhenghong had two wounds that had split open, the sight of the red and white flesh caused Qiao Duo¡¯er to frown.


    It must be very painful, but Tan Zhenghong did not even grunt once.


    Must this man be so stubbornly resilient? Could he not just give in at home, in front of those closest to him? Wasn¡¯t it tiring to keep up the act?


    "From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to get hurt. Otherwise, I¡¯ll divorce you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er threatened half-jokingly.


    Tan Zhenghong readily nodded, "My person is yours, and so is my body. If I ever think about getting hurt in the future, I will definitely apply with you first."


    "Absolutely not approved!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handled him with the utmost gentleness, fearing she might accidentally cause Tan Zhenghong pain.

 Chapter 603 - 607: Rare in the World_1

    Chapter 603: Chapter 607: Rare in the World_1"Wife, have you suffered many injuries before?" Tan Zhenghong suddenly asked.


    Otherwise, how could his wife¡¯s technique be so skilled? Moreover, the herbs she recognized were basically of two types.


    One type was for beauty and skincare, and the other was for treating injuries.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "I shouldn¡¯t have, it¡¯s all from a past life; I can¡¯t remember clearly anymore."


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly grasped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, "Then forget about it, you are mine now, and it has nothing to do with your past life."


    As her man, he should ensure she never gets hurt again.


    "Let go of me, and hurry up to put on your clothes!" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately dressed and took Qiao Duo¡¯er by the hand to the kitchen; with this incident involving Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, only by holding his wife¡¯s hand could he feel a bit more at ease.


    That damned Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, having grown wildly thanks to the Yin Family¡¯s indulgence, probably isn¡¯t content to remain just in the Xuan Eagle Mountain Village anymore.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had not eaten all afternoon, voraciously nibbling on steamed buns.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly poured her a glass of water, "Drink some water first, eat slowly, and don¡¯t choke."


    With the support of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand, Qiao Duo¡¯er drank the water and then resumed nibbling on the steamed buns.


    She ate quickly, but her movements were still graceful and beautiful.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er got up especially early and accompanied Tan Zhenghong to the ancestral hall with the ox cart.


    On the way, they met Erhu and Chao Lian, as well as a few familiar faces, and invited them onto the cart.


    By the time they arrived, the people had already subdued Xiao Lingchuan and Tan Zhengyuan onto the ox carts.


    Many people from the village were prepared to follow to the county town, as winter was the most leisurely time for the farming households, and everyone wanted to witness the excitement.


    What was more important was to see how the Xiao Family would be dealt with, or else the next child to disappear might be from their family.


    For instance, some grandmothers who favored boys over girls wanted to sell the young girls in their families, or brothers with dark hearts thinking of selling their nephews and nieces for money, or there were those with a mindset for revenge.


    All these possibilities could happen, and they had to guard against them in advance.


    With Xiao Lingchuan¡¯s character, there was no type of silver he wouldn¡¯t dare to earn in this world.


    "It¡¯s perfect timing that Zhenghong and Erhu have arrived, both of you know some fighting techniques. Sit together on the ox cart; we mustn¡¯t let these arrogant criminals escape, or they might harm others again!"


    A man hopped off the ox cart, yielding his seat to Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu.


    The nimbleness of a hunter was definitely stronger than that of simple farmers like them; having them aboard would certainly be safer. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Zhong hurriedly said, "Zhenghong is still injured, how can you let him sit on this ox cart? They¡¯re all tied up anyway, and they surely won¡¯t be able to escape."


    The young man climbed back onto the ox cart, apologizing, "I forgot about that, I¡¯m really sorry."


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "I¡¯ll just follow behind you all. If something happens, I won¡¯t just stand by."


    "Brother Hong is still so righteous, but you also have to be careful about yourself. Xuan Eagle Mountain Village has raised quite a few beasts, and I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll come looking for trouble again."


    Tan Zhenghong thanked the person who cared about him, while on the other side, Tie Niu had already gotten the journey underway.


    Heading to the Government Office earlier rather than later was best; if someone was ahead of them, they¡¯d have to wait half a day.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong driving the ox cart, Jiang¡¯s Clan immediately squeezed over.


    "Zhenghong, can you give your aunt a lift? My legs aren¡¯t good, I can¡¯t walk long distances."


    Jiang¡¯s face was full of smiles, having completely forgotten the unpleasantness during Chao Lian¡¯s wedding, to be so shameless was quite rare in this world.

 Chapter 604 - 608: The Shrewish Woman Curses in the Street_1

    Chapter 604: Chapter 608: The Shrewish Woman Curses in the Street_1Fat Aunt spoke without restraint, "If your legs aren¡¯t in good shape, stay home and rest. Going out and catching a chill, won¡¯t you come back in even more pain at night?"


    "I¡¯m dressed warmly, I definitely won¡¯t catch a cold. Chao Lian, are you blind or something? Haven¡¯t I raised you properly? How can you sit there without shame?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan glared at Chao Lian.


    These days she had been constantly scheming to take advantage of her daughter¡¯s family, coming up with many tricks.


    But Sun¡¯s Family¡¯s door had always been closed; she never even had a chance to enter.


    Even during the visit three days after the wedding, the couple never even ventured out.


    The woman by her side disdainfully said, "Chao Lian, to have you as a mother is truly bad luck for eight lifetimes. What kind of a mother makes her son twist the wedding clothes for her daughter? If I were Chao Lian, I wouldn¡¯t recognize you either!"


    "People have just gotten married, and you¡¯re causing a scene at the front door. If Chao Lian weren¡¯t so good-natured, you would have been beaten to death by now!"


    "You¡¯re a mother too; how can you do such ominous things?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan discontentedly retorted, "You people really like to stick your noses in other people¡¯s business. Chao Lian is my daughter; whatever I do to her, I¡¯m still her mother, and she has to show filial respect to me!"


    "As a stepmother, you dare to be so arrogant. Did you leave your brain at home?" Fat Aunt mocked her.


    Other stepmothers would tread carefully in public, afraid to get a reputation for mistreating their stepchildren, but Jiang¡¯s Clan seemed to want everyone to know.


    Isn¡¯t that just foolish?


    "A stepmother is still a mother, isn¡¯t she? Marrying off and discarding your own parents, you¡¯re nothing but a heartless and ungrateful creature!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan cursed with vigor, her hand almost poking Chao Lian in the face.


    Normally, she couldn¡¯t even enter the main gate, unable to hurl abuses to her satisfaction; now that her target was right in front of her, she had to make the most of it.


    Lin Dabao also chimed in, "You¡¯re just a lowly girl. You had a chance to be with a rich lady but insisted on marrying Erhu, that poor kid. Look at you, not even having decent clothes to wear!"


    "Even my Da Bao understands this principle, but you don¡¯t? I think you¡¯ve lived all these years in vain. You might as well die early and go show filial piety to your biological mother!"


    With tears in her eyes, Chao Lian said, "Mother, please sit here with brother."


    She could wait for news at home; she wasn¡¯t much help anyway.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er held Chao Lian back, "This is my family¡¯s carriage, not just anyone can ride in it!"


    "Who are you calling a nobody? You uneducated and unfilial thing, aren¡¯t you afraid of being struck by lightning?"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan placed her hands on her hips, adopting a posture ready for a street quarrel.


    Fat Aunt said with disgust, "You¡¯re really like a mad dog. If you want to ride in Duo¡¯er¡¯s House¡¯s carriage, at least be polite!"


    "You¡¯re the house dog. Qiao Duo¡¯er throws you a tiny benefit, and you wag your tail at her!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan successfully angered the people on the ox cart, as most of them had been graced by Qiao Duo¡¯s kindness.


    People should reciprocate kindness with kindness; this is called gratitude.


    So how did it become groveling like a tail-wagging dog to Jiang¡¯s Clan?


    "You heartless creature, after you¡¯ve wronged Chao Lian, now you¡¯re insulting us too. What did you eat for breakfast, manure?"


    "If you like to eat it, go ahead, but don¡¯t spew it everywhere!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Disgusting people first thing in the morning, you¡¯re the uneducated one!"


    "If murder weren¡¯t a crime, I¡¯d kill you and pull out your heart to see what color it is!"


    Unwilling to back down when under attack, Jiang¡¯s Clan retorted, "You¡¯re all a bunch of dogs. Of course, you all protect Qiao Duo since you depend on her for money. If she had nothing, would you still treat her this well?"

 Chapter 605 - 609: Is Silver Your Daddy?_1

    Chapter 605: Chapter 609: Is Silver Your Daddy?_1freewe?novel.c?m"Do you think everyone is as self-serving as you? Duo¡¯er leads with sincerity, and I would befriend her even if she had nothing!"


    "You treat silver as your father, but we¡¯re not like you!"


    The argument was so heated that Tie Niu had to step in to maintain order, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t make it to the Government Office by evening.


    "What is all this ruckus about?" Tie Niu asked displeasedly.


    The agitation was mainly directed at Jiang¡¯s Clan, and from his understanding of these people, it was definitely Jiang¡¯s Clan causing trouble again!


    Going to the Government Office was important, yet she was making a scene, wasn¡¯t she just asking for trouble?


    A few women talked over each other to describe Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s behavior.


    Without their embellishments, Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s behavior was infuriating enough.


    That offensive phrase comparing people to dogs, which normal person could say such a thing?


    Tie Niu said with a grim face, "Go back quickly, and stop making a fool of yourself in public, just satisfying your own mouth without worrying about your son¡¯s marriage prospects!"


    The Lin Family¡¯s financial situation was average, even slightly worse than most.


    With such a harassing mother, which family with brains would marry their daughter into that family?


    "Exactly, don¡¯t by chance have two sons only to have them end up bachelors!"


    "Regardless, I¡¯m going to tell my relatives to marry into any family but the Lin Family, otherwise any good daughter-in-law will be tormented to death!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan left with a sullen face, not daring to bicker with the village chief, and walked away with her son dejectedly.


    After sending Jiang¡¯s Clan away, Tie Niu then ordered, "In the future, don¡¯t argue with such people. If she comes to trouble you, just call me, and I will ensure justice for you."


    He often used the threat of banishment from the village to scare people, but it wasn¡¯t just a threat. As the village chief, he really had that authority.


    "Thank you, Uncle Tie," Sun Erhu gratefully said, then flicked his whip and drove the ox cart towards town.


    Two hours later, they arrived at the Government Office.


    While everyone was beating drums to seek justice, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to inform Qin Longyun in the back hall about the collusion between the Xiao Family and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    She was afraid that this matter getting out would ruin the reputations of the two Er Yas, so she wanted to give a heads-up first.


    Qin Longyun narrowed his eyes and said, "It must be Xuan San causing trouble behind the scenes again. I¡¯ll send someone to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village to gauge their attitude and see what the other two leaders think."


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had three leaders, Xuan Da, Xuan Ling, and Xuan Qing.


    Xuan Da and Xuan Er handled the day-to-day affairs of the village, and they had always been wary of the Yue Family¡¯s power, trying to reduce their presence as much as possible.


    Xuan San was in charge of training and keeping hawks, and just like the hawks, he was ambitious and always advocated opposing the government.


    So, Qin Longyun suspected that Xuan Da and Xuan Er were kept in the dark about this matter.


    If they were asked to intervene, Xuan San, under pressure, would likely release the two Er Yas.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s goal was not just to rescue Er Ya and Erhu; she also wanted to know when they could completely eradicate the blight that was Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    In the past two years, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had already toned down considerably, but the villagers nearby still suffered harassment.


    What worried them even more was that once Qin Longyun left office, the mountain bandits would revert to their old ways of wrongdoing.


    "Can¡¯t we take this opportunity to take down Xuan Eagle Mountain Village?"


    Qin Longyun shook his head reluctantly, "The Barbarians are currently casting covetous eyes on us, with the army at the border preventing sneak attacks by the Barbarians. It¡¯s estimated that only after next spring can the Imperial court free up resources to deal with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village."


    "I¡¯ve also spoken to my father-in-law about it, and he agreed to mediate the situation. It definitely won¡¯t drag on until summer." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ve even heard that General Wei Wu himself will lead the troops, and he has never lost a battle."

 Chapter 606 - 610 Worse than a Beast_1

    Chapter 606: Chapter 610 Worse than a Beast_1Xuan Ying Fort was located on Xuan Eagle Mountain, which was strategically critical terrain, and there was also a specially trained Eagle Battle Team, so they had to wait for regular troops.


    Otherwise, anybody else would just get trounced.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood, nearly half of the winter had already passed, so how far off could spring be?


    All things considered, Xuan Ying Fort only had four months left.


    She also asked about the legal sentencing of Tan Zhengyuan and Xiao Lingchuan; her ideal outcome was for them to be locked up until the end of time.


    Qin Longyun thought for a moment before answering, "According to what you say, if Tan Zhenghong and Xiao Lingchuan are convicted of child abduction, once the crimes are proven, that¡¯s enough to lock them up for several decades." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The current Saint had been abducted during his predecessor¡¯s incognito visits among the people and had struggled greatly to return to the Palace.


    Once he ascended the throne, the first thing he discussed with the officials during court proceedings was the issue of legal sentencing.


    The outcome was to crack down hard on illegal human trafficking, with a minimum sentence of five years in prison and the possibility of the death penalty for the most heinous offenses.


    At that moment, Yin Zheng knocked on the door of the study room, "Lord Qin, the front hall is ready, please head there for the trial."


    Qin Longyun responded, "Understood."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her chest in relief; thankfully, she had spoken about the situation at Xuan Ying Fort first. Otherwise, if Yin Zheng was to tip anyone off, another bloody storm would have been inevitable.


    "Go keep Ling¡¯er company; I¡¯m heading to the front hall," said Qin Longyun before leaving with Yin Zheng.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, already knowing the outcome of the case, didn¡¯t bother going to the front hall; it was better to wait here. In a while, the guard who had been sent to deliver the message to Xuan Ying Fort would return with a report.


    Before long, news had reached Xuan Ying Fort, and Elder Xuan, furious, headed straight for Xuan Qing¡¯s residence.


    "Third Master, Elder Brother and Second Brother have arrived," Chu Sandao announced.


    The smile on Xuan Qing¡¯s face stiffened a bit, but remembering that the man Chu Sandao had sent back to the house had been secretly dealt with, he sighed in relief.


    Perhaps they had come for something else.


    Xuan Qing personally opened the door, "Elder Brother, Second Brother, what brings you here?"


    "The nerve to ask! Just look at what fine mess you¡¯ve made!" Elder Xuan looked at Xuan Qing with frustration, as if lamenting his inability to meet expectations.


    Xuan Qing respectfully inquired, "Elder Brother, what has angered you so? Tell me, and if I am at fault, I will correct my ways immediately, shall I?"


    Xuan Ying, who was the oldest, had taken care of his younger brothers since their parents passed away.


    Although he was a bit short-tempered, there was no doubting his love for his brothers.


    Thus, in Xuan Ling and Xuan Qing¡¯s hearts, he was akin to a father figure.


    "What did you buy the Maid from Big Willow Village for? Haven¡¯t you always been infatuated with that woman from the Yin Family? What¡¯s with this change of heart now? At your age, you¡¯re old enough to be her father! To do such a thing is no better than a beast!"


    Elder Xuan was so angry, he was practically spitting fire as he spoke.


    The guard sent by Lord Qin said the older ones were only seven or eight years old, the younger ones just three or four¡ªthat¡¯s still children!


    He thought Xuan Qing had committed unspeakable acts against the two little girls and felt like chopping him to pieces!


    Xuan Qing, with a head full of sweat, explained, "My house lacked a couple of Maids to attend to chores like serving tea and water. Don¡¯t think otherwise. Besides, I bought those Children with Silver, so what fault of mine can you claim?"


    After all, he was the Third Master of Xuan Ying Fort; buying a couple of Maids shouldn¡¯t be considered excessive, should it?


    Xuan Ling quickly interjected, "The children¡¯s parents are separated, and the children are to be raised by their mother. You bypassed their mother and bought the children; that¡¯s considered child abduction. Their mother has even lodged a complaint at the Government Office."

 Chapter 607 - 611: Prepared on Both Hands_1

    Chapter 607: Chapter 611: Prepared on Both Hands_1Xuan Qing¡¯s brows were tightly knitted because he hadn¡¯t received such news.


    What infuriated him the most was that Xiao Lingchuan had actually betrayed him!


    When he had first tasked him with the job, he emphasized several times that he must not reveal that the person was wanted by the Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    That way, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others would surely search the world in vain, and once they hit a dead end, he could appear, and they would have no choice but to be at his mercy. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had envisioned a beautiful scenario, but reality was cruelly stark.


    It had not even been a day before Qin Longyun came knocking at his door, what a waste!


    "Big brother, don¡¯t be angry at Third Boss; who could have expected that family to be separated from their child and have the woman take the child away?" Second Brother Xuan advised.


    He also felt that the Elder Brother was sometimes overly cautious, but since the Elder Brother cared about his face, he couldn¡¯t say it outright.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was a den of mountain bandits; they should have been living by robbing and plundering.


    Yet now, even buying two maids was done with hands tied, which felt stifling upon reflection!


    They had always been cooped up in this small place, subsisting on their own, and the spirit of being mountain bandits had been ground away!


    There was no need for Imperial suppression; they would crumble from within.


    Elder Xuan nodded impatiently, "Send those two maids back quickly. If you want maids, you can go to Tooth Row and pick out two who are both beautiful and sensible."


    If Xuan Qing could make use of them, all the better, sparing him the constant thoughts of the old mothers of the Yin Family.


    Yin Yinyue was ruthless and accustomed to treating Xuan Qing like a tool. If she were allowed to continue, he feared disaster would come sooner or later.


    "I bought those people with silver. If there¡¯s a crime for kidnapping children, it¡¯s the Human Teeth¡¯s problem. Why should I be the one to nod and bow, sending the child back? The people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village are not extinct!"


    Xuan Qing refused with a cold face, as there was no way he could bring himself to do something so shameful!


    Elder Xuan was breathing heavily, clearly, his own brother had infuriated him. Did he really want to destroy Xuan Eagle Mountain Village to be satisfied?


    There were over a thousand people in the village; how could he gamble with their futures and lives?


    "I¡¯ve told you long ago not to confront Qin Longyun to the end. Once he¡¯s out of office, this will still be our world!"


    Elder Xuan held back his anger, which was the only thing that prevented him from beating Xuan Qing up.


    Xuan Qing sneered softly, "Big brother, do you think that if we just curl up here, Qin Longyun won¡¯t have plans to get rid of us? Qin Longyun has his father-in-law as support and has also eliminated the Yin Family¡¯s Status Power. If he adds the achievement of wiping out Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, he will surely rise swiftly. Do you think he would let go of such an opportunity?"


    His words made sense, and Elder Xuan¡¯s temper subsided considerably.


    "Second brother, what do you think about this?"


    Second Brother Xuan pondered for a moment, "I think Third Brother also makes a good point. The most reliable method is to be well-prepared for any eventuality."


    That way, no matter what tricks Qin Longyun pulled, they could handle them all the same.


    Elder Xuan nodded. Ever since Qin Longyun had dealt with the Yin Family, he¡¯d had a feeling that something wasn¡¯t right.


    Perhaps Qin Longyun¡¯s attitude towards Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was the same as towards the Yin Family. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care; he was just waiting for the right moment, an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to his enemy.


    So, some things needed to be planned now, just in case.


    "The training hasn¡¯t been neglected. Even if a large army comes, there¡¯s no need to worry. I will order more real battles to be arranged for next year."


    Second Brother Xuan said in a timely manner.


    Elder Xuan agreed, "Add one more before the end of the year for peace of mind."


    After arranging the live training exercises, Elder Xuan brought up a matter of the past few days.


    "We must be wary of Qin Longyun. However, for such a trivial matter, we needn¡¯t tear our faces with him. Third Boss, you should still send the people back."

 Chapter 608 - 612: Mind Your Own Business When You Have Time_1

    Chapter 608: Chapter 612: Mind Your Own Business When You Have Time_1Xuan Qing curled the corner of his lips, "They can have the person if they want, but I¡¯ll leave them in Black Wind Valley. If they dare to come, let them come directly. Moreover, I haven¡¯t stolen or robbed anything. If they want to take the person back, then it¡¯ll cost Twenty Taels of Silver and not a single Wen less."


    Elder Xuan pondered for a moment, "You must be careful in everything, don¡¯t give Qin Longyun anything to hold against you."


    Xuan Qing¡¯s face beamed with joy, and he hurriedly expressed his thanks.


    After leaving Xuan Qing¡¯s room, Elder Xuan sighed, "Xuan Qing has been spoiled by us. Keep an eye on him when you have time."


    "Didn¡¯t you just agree to it? Third Boss isn¡¯t young anymore, he¡¯s definitely capable of handling this matter."


    Second Brother Xuan said dismissively. He always felt that his third brother was the smartest among them.


    Now it was just a matter of a few villagers coming over; how could that possibly be an issue for Third Boss?


    Elder Xuan shook his head, "What I meant was something else. Third Boss wants to spring a jailbreak. Chu Sandao¡¯s men came to report, but instead, they ended up getting killed by Third Boss. Just keep an eye on things; do not let him destroy the stronghold."


    "Big brother, don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t happen again."


    Xuan Ling assured him with a serious tone, for this was no trivial matter!


    He had long heard the servants complaining about Third Boss¡¯s ruthless methods, but he never imagined he would be ruthless enough to kill the brother who delivered the message.


    If this went on unchecked, the brothers would certainly lose heart. Then who would loyally protect Xuan Eagle Mountain Village?


    Having taken only a few steps, Elder Xuan added, "You should also give some advice about buying maids. Pick one that Third Boss likes, and it doesn¡¯t matter if she¡¯s a bit expensive."


    With a woman by his side, a man would naturally become softer.


    "I understand what you mean, even buying a lookalike as his substitute would do."


    Xuan Er committed to memory all the tasks he needed to do.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling were discussing the Yin Family¡¯s legal case in the inner chamber.


    Since the case involved illegal salt and iron trades, the Magistrate Yin Gang was also implicated. It had to wait for the Imperial Envoy to close the case.


    This back and forth would delay things quite a bit, but the Yin Family was doomed to not be able to turn the situation around.


    "I¡¯ve picked out three shops for you. Once the case is closed, I¡¯ll send the deeds to your house. You need to get ready quickly; those shops lose money every day they sit empty."


    Chen Yiling was serious for once, and it was a sight that made one unable to look away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bowed, "Then I thank you greatly, sister-in-law."


    "What¡¯s there to thank me for? I wanted to buy two more shops to give to you, but I¡¯m almost broke now," said Chen Yiling with a mournful expression.


    "Three shops are enough for me to work with. But have you run into some trouble?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a worried look on her face.


    When Chen Yiling married, her parents of the Chen Family had given her quite a substantial dowry, including farmsteads, shops, and lands with steady annual returns, all making for a generous dowry.


    If nothing unexpected happened, Chen Yiling would remain well-off for her entire life.


    One could tell from Chen Yiling¡¯s previous spending that she was very generous.


    Chen Yiling propped her chin, "Isn¡¯t it all because of the Yin Family? My husband was worried about market instability, so I used my dowry to stockpile a lot of necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Ah, those things are so expensive!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her mother always used to say she didn¡¯t know the cost of living since she didn¡¯t manage a household; now, she finally understood.


    She had been selling those items for several days already and still hadn¡¯t broken even.


    "The things you¡¯ve stockpiled will always sell. Just watch over your little treasury and wait to make a tidy profit."


    Qiao Duo patted Chen Yiling¡¯s shoulder; in the long run, this business was bound to be profitable without a loss.

 Chapter 609 - 613: Encounter in Black Wind Valley_1

    Chapter 609: Chapter 613: Encounter in Black Wind Valley_1The trial in the front hall lasted nearly two hours, and when Qin Longyun returned to the back courtyard, his expression was not very good.


    At this, Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er felt their hearts rise to their throats. Could there have been a mistake with the case earlier?


    But the evidence was as solid as a rock!


    "My husband, I have to tell you that Sister Lan has been very good to me. You mustn¡¯t bully her¡ªshe¡¯s a poor widow and orphan," Chen Yiling pouted as she spoke.


    "I know, Tan Zhengyuan and Xiao Lingchuan trafficked people illegally and did not cooperate actively with the investigation. They¡¯re sentenced to thirty years in prison," Qin Longyun hastily summarized the events of the front hall.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er generously praised, "Brother Qin, you¡¯re amazing¡ªthirty years is a long time!"


    In ancient times, life expectancy was short, hence the saying "it¡¯s rare to live past seventy." Spending thirty years in prison meant that even if one luckily got out, they would be an old man too frail to stir up trouble.


    This way, Tan Zhengyuan would no longer be an obstacle to Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s happiness.


    Chen Yiling nodded in agreement, "Then why the long face?"


    "News came from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. They agreed to release people, but they want us to collect them from Black Wind Valley."


    Qin Longyun furrowed his brows as he spoke, and from his expression, one could tell that Black Wind Valley was no good place.


    Curious, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "What¡¯s the story with Black Wind Valley?"


    "It¡¯s where Xuan Eagle Mountain Village raises hawks¡ªwith at least thirty to fifty eagles. It¡¯s said that those who enter are left with nothing but bones in a short while."


    This was the deviousness of Xuan Qing. He had agreed to release the captives, but whether or not they dared to retrieve them was another matter.


    "Fucking scum!" Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud.


    Seeing the anxious look on Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face, Qin Longyun comforted her, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go with you the day after tomorrow. With me there, they won¡¯t dare to mess around."


    After all, he was an Imperial Officer, and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village would have to show some respect.


    "No way, those mountain bandits don¡¯t blink an eye at murder. I¡¯ll go by myself this time," Hu¡¯s Clan asserted firmly.


    These people had been sincere to her; she couldn¡¯t bring danger upon them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately said, "Sister-in-law, you don¡¯t know martial arts¡ªif you go alone, how can we be at ease? Let¡¯s go together, at the very least we can look after one another."


    "Even if you don¡¯t care about yourself, think about your two children. They¡¯re still young. You can¡¯t let Xuan Eagle Mountain Village ruin their lives."


    Tan Zhenghong also helped to persuade her.


    "I am a village official; how can I turn a blind eye to the evils of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village?"


    All three of them made their stance clear¡ªthey definitely would go.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded vigorously, quickly knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to Qin Longyun twice before turning in the direction of Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er to kneel again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly caught Hu¡¯s Clan, "Xuan San is only doing this to retaliate against us¡ªit¡¯s our fault."


    Whether it be the Xiao Family or Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, she was the one they aimed to teach a lesson.


    She had implicated the two young girls. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hu¡¯s Clan understood this clearly and quickly said, "Tan Zhengyuan has wanted to sell his daughters for a long time now. If he had sold them to some random slave trader, we might not have been able to find them at all¡ªhow can I blame you?"


    In town, many slave traders captured people and immediately sent them to the docks. Once on a ship, finding them in the vast sea of faces was next to impossible.


    So being sold to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village wasn¡¯t the worst outcome.


    "What¡¯s done is done; who¡¯s right or wrong doesn¡¯t matter now. The important thing is to rescue the children," Qin Longyun slowly stated, his brows conveying a confidence that he would undoubtedly succeed.


    Seemingly infected by his sentiment, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s panicked heart finally settled down somewhat.

 Chapter 610 - 614 Lord Qin Dotes on His Wife_1

    Chapter 610: Chapter 614 Lord Qin Dotes on His Wife_1After a long silence, Chen Yiling suddenly sighed, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to her.


    With both hands supporting her face, her brows furrowed deeply as she seemed to be unhappy.


    "Ling¡¯er, are you feeling unwell?" Lord Qin asked anxiously.


    Chen Yiling glared at Lord Qin irritably and then pouted, "This little thing has come at such an inopportune time, I hate you so much right now!"


    In the past, she might have been able to join them with just a little coquettish behavior.


    But... now she just couldn¡¯t be bothered to entertain that thought.


    Because, even if she talked till her mouth was sore, not a single person would agree.


    "Even if you weren¡¯t pregnant, we couldn¡¯t take you with us, it¡¯s too dangerous, so you can¡¯t blame Brother Qin for this." Qiao Duo¡¯er said, trying to console her with a chuckle.


    Chen Yiling pouted, "Hmph, my legs are my own, do you get to decide if I don¡¯t go?"


    Yet, now she felt increasingly lazy, not even wanting to step out of the courtyard, let alone go to Xuan Eagle Mountain.


    She was just an unlucky child!


    Lord Qin touched his nose and gently said, "Black Wind Valley is home to so many eagles, with eating, drinking, and excreting all taking place there, the eagles are so fierce, surely no one dares to clean up. Just think about how disgusting the smell and environment must be."


    Chen Yiling frowned and within a second, covered her mouth and rushed out.


    Because she had already visualized what Qin Longyun had described...


    There must be bones everywhere, along with eagle droppings ¨C how could it not be disgusting? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait a moment, we¡¯ll dine here shortly, I¡¯ll go check on her."


    Upon saying this, Lord Qin hurriedly followed after her.


    He had just made a casual remark, never expecting Ling¡¯er to react so intensely.


    Alas, he had truly shot himself in the foot this time.


    He only hoped that Ling¡¯er wouldn¡¯t lose her temper too much, considering she was pregnant. Besides, with so many people at home, how embarrassing would that be?


    After a while, Lord Qin finally returned, supporting the pale-faced Chen Yiling.


    The person responsible, Qin Longyun, was very aware of his duty, hurriedly offering tea and water, peeling an orange for her, looking after her every need.


    "Wife, eating something sour might make you feel better."


    Chen Yiling quickly finished an orange, and her complexion had somewhat improved, but her resentment towards Qin Longyun had not diminished in the slightest.


    She had been tortured by morning sickness this whole time, almost vomiting every day after she ate, then eating again after vomiting. She was finally feeling a little better today, only to be disgusted once again by Qin Longyun.


    Now she even felt like killing someone!


    Fortunately, before she could lose her temper, the Maid reported that the meal was ready; the newly sick Chen Yiling was just getting hungry.


    So Qin Longyun narrowly escaped this calamity.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Hu¡¯s Clan set off in different directions.


    Hu¡¯s Clan wanted to return to the village first. Many people had helped them out yesterday, and she needed to show her gratitude. Plus, the braised meat from yesterday remained unsold; it wouldn¡¯t stay fresh for long, so sharing some with the villagers would serve a dual purpose.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong headed to the market to buy some essential items and to make another trip to the carpenter¡¯s shop.


    Xuan San had it out for her; he certainly wouldn¡¯t let her escape easily the day after tomorrow, so Wind Liyang would be key to her victory.


    Tan Zhenghong asked curiously, "I haven¡¯t heard that Wind Liyang knows Martial Arts."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er leaned close to Tan Zhenghong and shared her plans.


    Besides being an expert in carving, Wind Liyang also enjoyed designing weapons; she had seen many of his models.


    One of these was a Sleeve Arrow, that already served a practical function, and was a prized possession of Wind Liyang.


    The Sleeve Arrow excelled in concealment, and with some modifications, its range and killing power could be greatly increased, making it perfectly suited for shooting down eagles.

 Chapter 611 - 615: Seeking Help_1

    Chapter 611: Chapter 615: Seeking Help_1"Wife, you¡¯re truly incredible. If you became an official, there would definitely be no unsolved cases in the future,"


    Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs up. He had also followed to the carpenter¡¯s shop a few times but had not noticed that detail.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said smugly, "You should see who I am!"


    "That¡¯s right, who could be as smart as my wife!" Tan Zhenghong said proudly.


    Today, it¡¯s the Zou Clan¡¯s turn to watch the shop, surely because the business has been booming recently, and the others are too busy to handle it.


    Otherwise, Li Yang would not let his own mother suffer.


    When the Zou¡¯s saw Qiao Duo¡¯er coming, she quickly greeted, "Duo¡¯er, you haven¡¯t visited my home for quite a few days now. Did you forget about me?"


    "Of course not, I¡¯ve just been too busy with things to come to town."


    "Look at you, all tired and thin, with a pale complexion. You can¡¯t just focus on being busy; it¡¯s not good for a woman to lose blood and energy,"


    the Zou¡¯s took Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand, her face full of concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded but her mind was not there before the matter of the Sleeve Arrow was resolved.


    So she went straight to the point, "Thank you for your concern, Auntie. Is Brother Feng not at the shop today?"


    "He went out for a delivery, but he¡¯s been gone for a while now. Go to the back hall to rest for a while; they¡¯ll be back soon,"


    the Zou¡¯s led them to the back hall and made tea for the two of them.


    "Auntie, the shop can¡¯t be left unattended. You go ahead; Ah Hong and I will just wait here,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested.


    Ever since they started selling sofas and bunk beds, the shop had been bustling. Plus, with Duo¡¯er suggesting they stock up on powder boxes, all the carpenters were busy, even the apprentices had no free time.


    Li Yang made it clear that the front of the shop should never be left empty; they absolutely couldn¡¯t let some people come in and cause trouble.


    It seems a lot of people were envious of their family business now.


    "Then I¡¯ll go to the front. Don¡¯t mind my lacking hospitality," the Zou¡¯s said, taking the opportunity, but she felt it was improper.


    They were guests, and not just any guests but benefactors of the Feng Family. Leaving them alone in the back hall seemed too impolite.


    "Auntie, we¡¯ve known each other for a while. You¡¯re being too formal,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er answered, and the Zou¡¯s happily went to the front.


    Before long, Li Yang came back, and upon hearing that Duo¡¯er was in the back hall, he immediately went there.


    The Zou¡¯s looked at his retreating figure and sighed. If Duo¡¯er weren¡¯t married, she would be willing to spend her entire fortune to bring Duo¡¯er into her family.


    Duo¡¯er was a good girl, but she wasn¡¯t the only good girl. Her son could definitely find someone suitable.


    In the back hall.


    Li Yang apologized, "I got delayed by something on the way, and made you wait for a long time."


    "Brother Feng, we just arrived not long ago," Tan Zhenghong replied politely.


    Li Yang nodded, "Good to know that. By the way, did you come suddenly because of an urgent matter? Or is there a problem with the powder boxes?"


    "Brother Feng¡¯s craftsmanship is excellent; of course, there won¡¯t be any issues. I came to ask for a favor,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained the situation with Da Ya and Er Ya being captured and mentioned the need for the Sleeve Arrow.


    "Of course there¡¯s no issue. I¡¯ll just tell my mother and delegate my current tasks to someone else. I¡¯ll strive to modify the Sleeve Arrow by the day after tomorrow,"


    Li Yang readily agreed; he would be more than willing to help Qiao Duo¡¯er. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Li Yang left, Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to Tan Zhenghong, "It might take some time here. Why don¡¯t you go do the shopping and head back first?"


    "Okay, I¡¯ll come back for you in the evening,"


    Tan Zhenghong agreed without hesitation; he was very confident in Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But he would be worried if she didn¡¯t return home by evening; it wouldn¡¯t be good for her reputation if word got out.

 Chapter 612 - 616 Trust_1

    Chapter 612: Chapter 616 Trust_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. "Then be careful on your way."


    Wind Liyang and Qiao Duo¡¯er left instructions for each other and then both entered Wind Liyang¡¯s workshop. They became so busy that they lost track of time.


    Zou Clan¡¯s member awkwardly said, "You wait here, I¡¯ll go knock on the door."


    With this man and woman alone together for several hours, what if Tan Zhenghong misunderstood something and it affected their marital relationship? What then?


    Oh, this is enough to worry one to death!


    Usually, Wind Liyang and Qiao Duo¡¯er are people who understand propriety; what¡¯s happened to them today?


    "This sleeve arrow is a matter of life and death; let¡¯s not disturb them."


    Tan Zhenghong said confidently, without any hint of displeasure.


    Zou Clan¡¯s member nodded and sat down again, "I think you and Duo¡¯er are blessed; you will surely be able to save the people."


    "Lord Qin is also here; nothing will go wrong," Tan Zhenghong added in agreement.


    "Lord Qin is a good official who loves his people like children. Xuan Eagle Mountain Village is so dangerous, yet he is willing to go."


    "Yes, he is indeed good."


    Tan Zhenghong, not being talkative with people he is not familiar with, relied on Zou Clan¡¯s member to make conversation.


    But Zou Clan¡¯s member didn¡¯t know Tan Zhenghong very well either, and after a few attempts at conversation, there was nothing left to say, creating an awkward atmosphere.


    Seeing Zou Clan¡¯s member feel uneasy, Tan Zhenghong could only say, "Aunt, trust is the most important thing in a marriage. I won¡¯t misunderstand Brother Feng and Duo¡¯er. You can relax."


    "Then I¡¯m relieved," Zou Clan¡¯s member patted her chest in relief, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.


    "Aunt, I¡¯ve noticed that your business is doing quite well. Why don¡¯t you share some tips with me, so I can later help my wife with it?" Tan Zhenghong asked humbly.


    This year, Xiang Bao Zhai suddenly went back on their word and no longer allowed his family to make the fragrance powder boxes, turning the ones already in stock into waste.


    Angered, Wind Liyang burned all the boxes clean away, resulting in a huge loss that nearly dragged down the shop.


    Had it not been for the business he took over from Qiao Duo¡¯er, and the fact that they had started selling sofas and such, the carpentry shop would have closed its doors long ago. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, Zou Clan¡¯s member considered Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong saviors, and was willing to share everything she knew with them.


    Doing business might look simple, but there are many tricks to it.


    Tan Zhenghong listened attentively, and before he knew it, more than an hour had passed.


    Finally, Wind Liyang and Qiao Duo¡¯er came out.


    "I have some good news for you. We¡¯re almost successful, and when the time comes, no matter how ferocious the eagles of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village are, I¡¯ll scare them off just like sparrows!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said excitedly, her face beaming with a smile that seemed ready to overflow.


    "That¡¯s great. If you¡¯re short-handed, just say the word, and I¡¯ll find a few more people to come and help. Saving lives is what matters most," Zou Clan¡¯s member replied, her heart finally settling back in her chest.


    Wind Liyang shook his head, "They wouldn¡¯t be able to do this work; I alone am enough."


    Zou Clan¡¯s member signaled to her son, feeling that with others around, misunderstandings were less likely to happen.


    But even though her eyes were nearly cramping from hinting, Wind Liyang didn¡¯t grasp her meaning.


    What a blockhead!


    Wind Liyang, concerned, asked, "Mother, are your eyes uncomfortable?"


    Zou Clan¡¯s member¡¯s face turned red, "Perhaps I¡¯m just a bit sleepy; it¡¯s nothing serious. You must be hungry by now, having worked until this hour. Sit and rest for a bit; I¡¯ll go warm up the food."


    Since it would still be a while before they could eat, Wind Liyang took out the sleeve arrow.


    "Brother Tan, you know your stuff. Give it a try," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, and following Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s instructions, he donned the sleeve arrow and then aimed at the old poplar tree in the yard.

 Chapter 613 - 618: Check Into a Room_1

    Chapter 613: Chapter 618: Check Into a Room_1After taking aim, Tan Zhenghong swiftly pressed the button, and the arrow flew out immediately, embedding itself firmly in the Old Poplar Tree.


    But with just a little effort, Wind Liyang pulled the arrow out.


    "Not having to draw the bow saves a lot of time, but the speed still needs improvement. Also, if there was a soft pad at the bottom, it wouldn¡¯t make my arm sore," Tan Zhenghong shared his thoughts.


    Wind Liyang nodded, "I¡¯ll tighten the spring a bit more and try using double springs."


    "Yeah, and replace this with a bigger spring, so the force during the shot will be much greater..."


    As the three of them discussed energetically, Zou¡¯s said helplessly, "You¡¯ll have the energy to continue working only after eating. Make sure not to starve yourselves."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others exchanged looks and obediently set the Sleeve Arrow aside to have their meal.


    It was nearly midnight, and they were really starving.


    "Don¡¯t eat so hastily, it¡¯s bad for your health. Have a bowl of pigeon soup first, I¡¯ve been stewing it all afternoon, it¡¯s definitely delicious," Zou¡¯s said with a face full of maternal affection.


    Neither Qiao Duo nor Wind Liyang had time to speak, only Tan Zhenghong could nod, "You eat too, or we¡¯ll finish everything."


    "It¡¯s alright for me, I already had a meal with the other carpenters," Zou¡¯s squinted her eyes and spoke. Seeing them enjoy the food made her happy.


    They ate heartily, and the table was cleared of all the food.


    "Auntie, your cooking is really good. Ah Hong and I will head home now. We¡¯ll come over for a meal at your place tomorrow, but please don¡¯t drive me away," Qiao Duo said contentedly, rubbing her stomach. Today she had eaten an extra bowl of rice.


    Zou¡¯s immediately nodded, "I would welcome you even if you come every day. It¡¯s just that there are no spare rooms here, otherwise, I would have liked you to stay for a while."


    The shop was full of men, and the rooms were not very clean, so she was embarrassed to have guests stay over.


    Zou¡¯s and Wind Liyang saw them to the door and exchanged a few more pleasantries.


    Even after Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo had disappeared from sight, Wind Liyang¡¯s gaze lingered.


    Zou¡¯s nudged her son with her elbow as a reminder, "You mustn¡¯t harbor improper thoughts, or I won¡¯t let you off!"


    "Mother, what are you talking about? Duo¡¯er is Big Sister¡¯s friend. I just treat her like I would a sister, the same as Big Sister," Wind Liyang hurriedly explained.


    What Wind Liyang said was true, at least for now.


    He just thought Qiao Duo was a bit special and felt a mysterious allure about her, so he couldn¡¯t help but give her a bit more attention.


    Zou¡¯s nodded, "Then it¡¯s just me overthinking. But you¡¯re almost twenty, stop clinging to those broken pieces of wood all the time and hurry up to find a wife. You have no idea how much I yearn to hold a grandchild in my arms, you¡¯re almost driving me to despair!"


    "I know, but when it comes to marriage, one can¡¯t compromise. Getting married is a matter for life, of course I have to choose well," Wind Liyang said solemnly.


    Zou¡¯s finally felt reassured; she believed her son wasn¡¯t foolish.


    He was still single because his destiny had yet to arrive.


    Sitting in the ox cart, Qiao Duo suddenly realized they were not on the way home.


    "Wife, you¡¯ve been busy all day, and you didn¡¯t rest well last night. I thought we might as well stay the night in town," Tan Zhenghong explained. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The carpentry shop was on West Street, half an hour¡¯s cart ride from the Government Office. It was better to rest in town for the night.


    "Did you feed those little things at home?" Qiao Duo asked somewhat awkwardly.


    Staying a night in town definitely meant staying at an inn.


    In modern terms, it would be called getting a room, and it was her and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s first time.

 Chapter 614 - 619: Once Before

    Chapter 614: Chapter 619: Once BeforeTan Zhenghong nodded: "Everything is arranged properly; you can rest assured. I¡¯ve also told Erhu to help feed them tomorrow morning."


    They hadn¡¯t gone far when Tan Zhenghong stopped.


    "This inn, ¡¯That Family,¡¯ is newly opened. How about we stay here?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. She had expended too much energy on the sleeve arrow today and really didn¡¯t want to trouble herself any further.


    Seeing his wife¡¯s face worn out with fatigue, Tan Zhenghong quickly got a room.


    Upon entering the room, Qiao Duo¡¯er slumped into a chair, not wanting to move even a finger.


    Tan Zhenghong then took out their own sheets and quilt cover to spread on the bed.


    "You seem quite skilled at this, is it something you do often?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong askance.


    With an innocent face, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Do what?"


    "Checking into a room, then being alone together in a house as a man and a woman, and then doing something else." Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows¡ªsome things didn¡¯t need to be spelled out; her look said it all.


    "Once," Tan Zhenghong nodded earnestly.


    It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression changed that he continued, "It was when I was accompanying my cousin to town to buy her dowry, and we stayed overnight." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Speaking of Wang Yun¡¯er, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered their last encounter in town. Wang Yun¡¯er had been almost four months pregnant; she must be close to giving birth by now.


    "Are you going to accompany your cousin when she gives birth?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    It was customary for women from large families to have relatives accompany them during childbirth for added security in case of difficult labor.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head: "My brother-in-law doesn¡¯t like poor relatives coming over, and my cousin also told me not to look for her unless it¡¯s necessary."


    His cousin had a hard time living in the Wang Family, relying solely on her husband¡¯s bit of affection. If her husband got annoyed because of him, her future would be even tougher.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips¡ªin plain terms, they just despised the poor and adored the rich, right?


    If she were laden with riches now, she reckoned Wang Yun¡¯er would¡¯ve long since brought her husband over to curry favor.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to voice her criticisms, but she couldn¡¯t help yawning hugely.


    "You get some rest first. This isn¡¯t our home, so make do for the night. I¡¯ve already asked the innkeeper to fetch a new basin. Clean up and go to bed early; we still have work to do tomorrow." Tan Zhenghong said with concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly agreed and as soon as the innkeeper brought the copper basin and hot water, she quickly cleaned herself up and then dove into bed.


    As soon as her head touched the pillow, she fell deeply asleep.


    Having lived here for half a year, she had grown accustomed to an early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up again, it was already past Three Poles Day.


    She rubbed her bleary eyes and suddenly remembered she was supposed to discuss the sleeve arrow with Wind Liyang, which immediately dispelled any drowsiness.


    "You jerk, waking up and not calling me. That¡¯s just too much!" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong.


    However, nestling in the bedding during the deep winter was indescribably cozy.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile: "It¡¯s fine, we¡¯ll just say we¡¯re from Big Willow Village, they¡¯ll definitely think we¡¯re early."


    The plan for the sleeve arrow modification had been set the previous night. Wind Liyang needed time to make adjustments, and their early presence wouldn¡¯t be of help, so he hadn¡¯t woken his wife.


    "You¡¯re simply a genius!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched lazily before efficiently getting dressed.


    After eating a simple breakfast at the inn, they hurried to Wind Liyang¡¯s shop.


    The three of them toiled all morning and finally the sleeve arrow met their requirements¡ªit was accurate and fast, more than enough to deal with those eagles.

 Chapter 615 - 620 Mansion City Defense Force_1

    Chapter 615: Chapter 620 Mansion City Defense Force_1Zou¡¯s tried to pull the short arrow out of the large poplar tree, but after two attempts, it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    "Finally got this one out, thank heavens!"


    Zou¡¯s brought her hands together in prayer and even bowed earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "All thanks to Brother Feng¡¯s clever hands and bright mind, otherwise I would only be scraping at the walls."


    "I¡¯m only good with woodwork, so I¡¯m honored to be of help, what¡¯s there to thank?" Wind Liyang said modestly.


    In fact, he wished he could join them in the mountains, but as he knew neither head nor tail of martial arts, he didn¡¯t know how to broach the subject.


    Zou¡¯s quickly said, "I¡¯ll prepare a feast for you, so we can have a good celebration."


    She admitted she was being selfish, as she didn¡¯t want her child to take risks.


    But as a mother, such feelings were not wrong.


    Everyone hopes for their child to live a life of peace and ease, without disasters or difficulties. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aunt, just make something simple, Ah Hong and I still need to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s trip to the mountains," Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed Zou¡¯s.


    "I have to make sleeve arrows in the afternoon, and I can¡¯t handle it alone, I¡¯ll need to call Dad and Master to help."


    Zou¡¯s nodded, "Then I¡¯ll keep it simple, absolutely can¡¯t delay the important matters, so, once you finish your tasks, come over, and I¡¯ll definitely prepare a full table of dishes for you!"


    After lunch at the carpentry shop, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went to the blacksmith shop and bought all the arrows they needed.


    The arrows were too long and could not be used directly; they needed modification.


    Two hundred arrows piled up in the courtyard like a small mountain, it was quite a task.


    Luckily, Qin Longyun had sent over four guards, and Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t hesitate to conscript them.


    With everyone working together, they managed to finish the work before nightfall.


    Besides, Bai Yifan had already sent over the medicines and poisons, stating he would join them the next day.


    Having him around meant wounds could be treated promptly.


    At night, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong applied poison to the arrows.


    "What if we anger the Mountain Bandits, and they take it out on the innocent villagers?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows; this was her greatest worry.


    What if Xuan San was enraged by humiliation and ordered the Mountain Bandits to descend and wreak havoc on the common folk?


    If the Mountain Bandits entered a village, the villagers could lose everything they had.


    Tan Zhenghong squinted his eyes, "With the sleeve arrows, the troops of Ning Tian Mansion are enough to deal with them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked puzzled. Even with Yin Gang suspended, Qin Longyun did not have the authority to mobilize the Mansion City¡¯s troops.


    So how could there be any talk of troops?


    "I forgot to tell you, the position of Magistrate is temporarily taken over by Lord Tong Zhi, who is a disciple of Lord Chen and has deep ties with Lord Qin; therefore, they have dispatched three thousand soldiers here just in case," Tan Zhenghong said in a lowered voice.


    The County Magistrate has no authority over military matters, it¡¯s the Magistrate who has control over the troops.


    However, Qin Longyun had planned for this long ago and had already sent a message to the Mansion City, but there was no definite response.


    Only yesterday did the news come, and Qin Longyun sent someone over to inform them, but Duo¡¯er was not home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes shone brightly, "That puts my mind at ease."


    As long as they have reinforcements backing them up, they can do as they please in Black Wind Valley tomorrow; she has been annoyed with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village for a while now!


    "That¡¯s exactly what Lord Qin thinks. Previously, we couldn¡¯t restrain the Eagle, and we dared not confront Xuan Eagle Mountain Village head-on. Now there¡¯s no need to avoid their sharp edges," Tan Zhenghong said excitedly. Perhaps this time they could completely destroy Xuan Eagle Mountain Village!


    They chatted for a while, and soon all the arrows were coated with poison.

 Chapter 616 - 621 Negative Distance Contact_1

    Chapter 616: Chapter 621 Negative Distance Contact_1The poison was formulated by Luo Qingfeng; it was extremely potent, so Qiao Duo¡¯er locked the remaining poison in a cabinet and added an extra lock for good measure.


    "This way, it¡¯s absolutely foolproof."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dusted off her hands, although there wasn¡¯t actually any dust, her curiosity about the second brother she had never met was piqued.


    By the time she had stored the poison away, Tan Zhenghong had already prepared the bathwater.


    "Wife, I want to bathe with you."


    Tan Zhenghong was sticky sweet as he stood beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, his eyes brimming with tenderness.


    Black Wind Valley was fraught with danger, and he feared that he might never again have the chance to be so intimate with his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cast a sidelong glance at Tan Zhenghong: "In my previous life, I survived countless brushes with death and never slipped up, and this time will be no different."


    "Mhm, I believe in you!"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded vigorously, confident in his wife¡¯s exceptional skills, which he had long recognized.


    "My definition of success is not to lose any companions, and if the mission fails, I¡¯d rather die. Do you understand?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was serious, her eyes fixed steadily on Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard; how could he not understand when his wife put it that bluntly?


    If he lived, his wife lived.


    If he died, his wife died.


    "We¡¯ll definitely come back together. You said you wanted a flush toilet, and I haven¡¯t installed it yet," Tan Zhenghong said, ruffling Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair.


    He had promised her many things and wouldn¡¯t die before fulfilling them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips: "So you do remember!"


    "Of course, I remember. I¡¯ve already taken the measurements and sent them to Sifu Tao¡¯s place, but Sifu Tao is busy at the official kiln, and it won¡¯t be until half a month later that he is free to make our porcelain. You¡¯ll have to bear with it a little longer," Tan Zhenghong proudly said, as he was always a man of his word.


    "Considering your sincerity, I¡¯ll permit you to bathe with me, but if you dare to aggravate the wound on your back..."


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly promised, "I definitely won¡¯t, I assure you I won¡¯t do anything."


    All he wanted was to be closer to his wife, even closer still.


    But once you get too close, the distance becomes negative.


    "I¡¯ll never believe your nonsense again!" Qiao Duo¡¯er fumed as she burrowed into the covers.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled softly: "Wife, look, my wound isn¡¯t ruined, it was you who moved, I hardly put forth any effort."


    So, he hadn¡¯t broken his promise after all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face flushed red; if not for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s temptation, she would not have been so proactive!


    "You¡¯re so annoying, I don¡¯t want to talk to you!" Qiao Duo¡¯er muttered grumpily.


    "Alright, then you should rest well."


    Tan Zhenghong lay beside Qiao Duo¡¯er and gently patted her back like one would soothe a child, eventually lulling her to sleep.


    Soon the day arrived to meet with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and her companions were in the courtyard, checking their belongings.


    They were only waiting for Bai Yifan to set out, but after a long wait, there was still no sign of him.


    "I wonder if something happened to the third brother," Qin Longyun frowned.


    Bai Yifan was always punctual; his absence at this hour surely meant something had happened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "Not likely an accident, he must be tangled up with his cousin; it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s go."


    That Li Mu¡¯er surely wasn¡¯t at ease with Bai Yifan being with her.


    "Right, saving people is crucial!" Qin Longyun quickly mounted his horse.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and the Hu¡¯s Clan got into the carriage, and at Qin Longyun¡¯s command, the convoy set off toward Black Wind Valley. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 617 - 622 Soft Detainment_1

    Chapter 617: Chapter 622 Soft Detainment_1"Duo¡¯er, if you encounter danger later, just run for your life and don¡¯t worry about me, I can¡¯t hold you back,"


    Hu¡¯s Clan earnestly instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already helped her too much, and she absolutely could not let Qiao Duo¡¯er risk her life for her.


    She hoped the two children would be safe, but if they were going to accompany her, she would not be alone.


    "We came together, so we must return together, and with Lord Qin here, just put your heart in your stomach, we will surely turn misfortune into blessing,"


    If it had been her in a previous life, she might have turned a blind eye to death because the whole world had nothing to do with her.


    But in this life, she could not do that because many people had formed bonds with her.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was still anxious, after all, this was a scene she had never witnessed before.


    At this time, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    "Third Master, Lord Qin has also come with Tan Zhenghong and his group, should we still release our eagle?"


    Xuan Qing¡¯s face wore a layer of cold and bloodthirsty smile, he had been without a good plan to rescue Yin Yinyue, but he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Longyun to deliver himself to the doorstep.


    If the County Magistrate were in his hands, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for him to stop pursuing the Yin Family¡¯s case!


    "Catch Qin Longyun alive at all costs,"


    Xuan San enunciated each word.


    The younger brother looked at Chu Sandao, the purpose of his report was to hope that the Third Master would back down, not this!


    Chu Sandao gave a salute: "Third Master, this decision relates to the future of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, it would be better to discuss it with the Big Master first."


    "I will handle this matter flawlessly, you don¡¯t need to worry,"


    Xuan Qing waved his hand, a bit annoyed with Chu Sandao¡¯s prattling.


    "But the people at the Government Office all know that Lord Qin came to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village to rescue someone, we detain the person, how could they possibly not know? Do you really want to ruin the village for one woman, Third Master?"


    Chu Sandao said anxiously, his words somewhat intense.


    Xuan Qing was very angry; anyone who prevented him from rescuing Yin Yinyue was his enemy.


    "Someone, take Sandao back to his room to rest, he¡¯s unwell, and do not let him step out of the room without my order," S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He still gave Chu Sandao some face; had it been someone else, they would have been dragged away and executed.


    Chu Sandao¡¯s face turned iron blue, but in front of Xuan San, he had no choice but to compromise.


    The Third Master was not only good-looking and ruthless but also skilled in martial arts; resistance would only bring humiliation upon himself.


    Chu Sandao was placed under house arrest, and the other underlings could only hang their heads even lower.


    "What are you standing around for? Haven¡¯t you done as I commanded?"


    Xuan Qing slapped the table with displeasure.


    The little brothers had to stiffen their spines and get ready, for some reason, they felt very uneasy.


    Perhaps it was because the Big Master always spoke of how formidable Lord Qin was, having a certain influence on them.


    After the little brothers left, Xuan Qing hooked the corner of his mouth: "Qin Longyun, I¡¯m going to make you suffer all the torment Silver Moon endured!"


    According to the informer¡¯s report, the Yin Family lived in a very miserable condition after being put in prison, enduring brutal torture every day, living a life worse than death.


    Soon, Qiao Duo and his group arrived at Black Wind Valley.


    "Who are you people? Daring to barge into Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, don¡¯t you want to live?"


    The mountain bandits standing guard stopped the people trying to enter the valley.


    Qin Longyun said slowly, "I am Qin Longyun, your Third Master took the wrong people earlier, I¡¯ve come to take them home."


    The two guards exchanged a look: "Only people can go in."


    Qin Longyun left two guards to watch the horses and carriage so they would have backup when they came out.


    Once everyone was inside, the guards closed the gate again.

 Chapter 618 - 623 Encountering Trouble_1

    Chapter 618: Chapter 623 Encountering Trouble_1One of them said sympathetically, "They¡¯re definitely not coming back this time, such misfortune!"


    "We¡¯d better pity ourselves though, freezing to death out here and still having to stand guard at the door, sigh, not even a drop of warm wine to drink!"


    "Isn¡¯t that easy to solve? They only left two people to watch the horses and the carriage. We could take it and exchange it for silver, and we wouldn¡¯t have to do this arduous job in the village anymore!"


    There must have been over twenty horses; each person could get hundreds of taels of silver.


    With this amount of silver, they would have enough to leave the mountain, build houses, buy land, and get themselves wives.


    They all dreamt of living a normal life; otherwise, they would be too ashamed to meet their ancestors even in death!


    "So, shall we do it now?"


    After making up their minds, the two approached the men guarding the carriage.


    "Brother, it¡¯s so cold, do you have any wine?"


    The two guards exchanged a glance, and one of them said, "In the carriage, some fine ¡¯Daughter¡¯s Red¡¯."


    "If it¡¯s really good wine, we¡¯ll spare your lives."


    The Mountain Bandits doubted nothing and headed towards the carriage.


    But as soon as they entered the carriage, their vision darkened, and they knew no more.


    The two guards went into the carriage afterward, changed into the Mountain Bandits¡¯ clothes and took their places at the door.


    In fact, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was just a motley crowd.


    Apart from their skill in training eagles, they had nothing else to show for.


    At this time, the people who had entered Black Wind Valley had already run into trouble.


    Because of Xuan San¡¯s orders, there were about a dozen Eagles circling in the sky above Black Wind Valley, each ravenous and, seeing food entering their territory, they immediately launched a frenzied attack.


    To them, this was a feast! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone was mentally prepared beforehand, but seeing so many Eagles all of a sudden, they couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened.


    "Everyone, don¡¯t panic, we have a secret weapon. Even if ten times more Eagles come, we have ways to deal with them!"


    Qin Longyun An consoled his guards; at such a time, if their morale crumbled, they were certain to lose.


    Lord Qin, after all, was a scholar; although he was unafraid in the face of danger, his voice was much quieter.


    "Our weapons will definitely kill these beasts. Those unarmed should cover for those with weapons. Aim to shoot them down with a single arrow."


    The leader of the guards shouted instructions.


    The arrows were limited in number, and if they weren¡¯t careful, they might not last until they walked out of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    That morning, Wind Liyang had sent over six sets of Sleeve Arrows, already distributed to those who were more accurate in shooting.


    At this moment, everyone revealed their Sleeve Arrows, waiting for the right moment to shoot at the Eagles diving down constantly.


    The arrows were poisoned; just a scratch from the arrowhead on an Eagle¡¯s skin would lead to instant death from the poison, and soon, three Eagles fell from the sky.


    They would be dead from the fall even if the poison hadn¡¯t killed them.


    "Quick, go and report to Third Master!"


    "I¡¯m not good with words; if I anger Third Master, we¡¯re all done for. You speak better, you should go."


    "Don¡¯t you know that Third Master hates beating around the bush the most? You¡¯re asking me to go as if you want me dead."


    Both of them pushed the responsibility back and forth, neither willing to make the report.


    While they argued, another medium-sized Eagle had fallen, and daring not delay any longer, they both ran into Xuan San¡¯s resting room in Black Wind Valley.


    "Third Master, something bad happened, several of our Eagles have been shot down!"


    "How could that be?"


    Xuan Qing simply couldn¡¯t believe it. He had dispatched eighteen Eagles, their power formidable. How could several have been brought down?


    The other hurriedly nodded, "It¡¯s true, they have a new weapon that doesn¡¯t need to draw a bow to shoot arrows, and the arrows are poisoned. Once shot, they die instantly."

 Chapter 619 - 624: Great Achievers_1

    Chapter 619: Chapter 624: Great Achievers_1The Eagle¡¯s advantage lay in its swiftness, taking down its opponent before the other had a chance to retaliate.


    But now, someone else was faster.


    Malevolence flared in Xuan San¡¯s eyes, he could no longer bother with the person who failed to recall the Eagle in time.


    "Bring the hostages over, then we¡¯ll meet them."


    Xuan San stood with his hands behind his back, his heart heavy with an indescribable oppression and pain.


    In his heart, the Hawk ranked only second to Yin Yinyue, and now so many Hawks had perished, he felt an overwhelming urge to die himself.


    But he couldn¡¯t die now, Yin Yinyue was still in prison waiting for him.


    By the time Xuan San appeared with his men, the remaining Eagles were circling high in the sky, hesitant to fly down, and their numbers had dwindled to only two-thirds of the original count.


    Damn it, those shot down were all his painstaking efforts! Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xuan San cleared his throat, "Lord Qin, you love your people like your own children, surely you don¡¯t want to see me kill these girls."


    While speaking, he also gave a sideways glance to someone nearby, signaling to hold the knife even closer to the young girl¡¯s neck.


    Just a slight slice, and the child would be dead.


    Those who had been eagerly fighting with the Eagle all stopped in their tracks, not daring to make another move.


    "What do you want?" Qin Longyun asked straightforwardly, knowing that Xuan Qing must have a purpose for his ruthless action.


    "If you come over as a hostage, I¡¯ll release them."


    Xuan San was confident. Qin Longyun was a rare good official in White Stone Town, he certainly wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch a child be slaughtered.


    As long as Qin Longyun was captured, the deaths of today¡¯s Eagles would be justified.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly intervened, "Brother Qin, he¡¯s a despicable villain, who knows whether he will go back on his word!"


    "I am at least a man who stands tall and righteous..."


    Before he could finish, Qiao Duo¡¯er cut him off, "I never knew a man would live in the darkness like a rat, too afraid even to reveal his true identity."


    "I¡¯ve also never seen a man who uses little girls for leverage."


    Tan Zhenghong cleverly added another blow.


    Xuan San¡¯s underling spoke indignantly, "A man who achieves great things doesn¡¯t quibble over trifles."


    "Your Mountain Bandits¡¯ great achievement is what? Seizing another hilltop, or robbing another village? Or perhaps capturing another Camp Lady?"


    A guard asked sardonically, the sarcastic tone causing his companions to curl their lips into a smirk.


    But the current situation was too dire for anyone to laugh openly.


    "Do you think I wouldn¡¯t dare to kill them?" Xuan San said angrily, and at the same time, his sword pointed towards Da Ya¡¯s heart.


    The young girl¡¯s mouth was gagged, only her large teardrops expressing the terror in her heart.


    Hu¡¯s Clan clenched her fists tight, suppressing the urge to rush forward.


    She knew that taking such action now would interfere with their plan and that they were trying to save her child.


    Already guilty for being unable to help, if she became a liability instead, she might as well be dead!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was pained to see the girls suffer, yet she remained more composed, "If you dare to kill them, naturally, I dare to kill Yin Yinyue. We can simply claim it was suicide out of fear of punishment, and whatever the charge, we¡¯ll decide."


    Xuan San gripped his sword tightly, feeling infuriated that a single sentence from Qiao Duo¡¯er had shifted him from the offensive to the defensive!


    Damn woman!


    Yin Yinyue was his Achilles¡¯ heel, always had been!


    But Xuan San was no pushover, and after a brief moment, he regained his composure.


    "This is my territory, do you think you can escape? If you don¡¯t do as I say, I¡¯ll make sure all of you die!"

 Chapter 620 - 625 Kneeling_1

    Chapter 620: Chapter 625 Kneeling_1freew§×bno¦Íel.com"I¡¯ll come over, you release them, or else you admit you¡¯re not as good as I am,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately provoked, knowing Xuan San was easily impulsive; this tactic was the best to deal with him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong were both signaling to Qiao Duo¡¯er with their eyes.


    With all these old masters here, since when was it a woman¡¯s turn to play the hero?


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er ignored their looks, for not one person among them could match her speed.


    And every moment of combat with Xuan Qing was a matter of life and death.


    Therefore, she was the best candidate.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t be too confident!" Xuan Qing said with a sneer.


    He had analyzed that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s martial arts were all taught to her by Tan Zhenghong.


    Her little skill might be enough to deal with a few low-level thugs, but it was nothing in front of a master like him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, "You were just claiming to be a man, so why are you chickening out now? Don¡¯t you have the guts?"


    "You can come over, but we¡¯ll exchange hostages in the middle; you walk over by yourself, then let her come to claim the people."


    Xuan Qing pointed at a woman from Hu¡¯s Clan; she was already shaking like a sieve, the least threatening of all the people on the opposite side.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Xuan Qing; her eyes full of contempt.


    But it was good he agreed. Qiao Duo¡¯er walked forward calmly, stopping with each step she took, allowing Xuan Qing and his men to also move forward a step.


    Both sides were very cautious; they took a full ten minutes to walk a distance of merely five or six meters.


    Finally, the two sides met in the middle of the field.


    "Master Xuan San, you can release them now," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slight smile.


    Xuan San tried to find a trace of fear in her eyes but was disappointed to find not even a hint of it.


    He signaled to his men, and the knife resting on the child¡¯s neck was slowly withdrawn. Seizing the opportunity, the woman from Hu¡¯s Clan quickly snatched the two children away.


    At that moment, a knife pressed against Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s neck.


    "Coward!" Qiao Duo¡¯er cursed, enunciating each word sharply as her fierce gaze swept over the people from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    They even thought about holding on to the woman from Hu¡¯s Clan and the two girls¡ªhow could they be so careless?


    Because of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, there was a moment of hesitation among the men of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and in that moment, the woman from Hu¡¯s Clan had already run with the two children toward safety.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s plan fell through. His sword advanced a bit closer to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s neck, cutting the surface and allowing blood to slowly drip out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curved into a strange arc, then her body flipped backward, and the dagger in her other hand thrust toward Xuan Qing¡¯s chest.


    Xuan Qing¡¯s movements were a bit faster than Qiao Duo¡¯er had anticipated, and the dagger only stabbed into his shoulder.


    But that was enough.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er landed steadily, and as Xuan Qing¡¯s sword followed, she dodged sideways and then kicked at Xuan Qing¡¯s kneecap, forcing him to his knees with such force that it seemed to compel him down.


    "Know your mistake and be a good man," Qiao Duo¡¯er left him with a provocative remark.


    "What happened? I didn¡¯t see it clearly."


    "Neither did I; never expected our Third Master to be defeated so completely."


    The people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village were discussing in low tones.


    All that had happened in the blink of an eye, and only a few had understood it.


    The Third Master¡¯s martial arts weren¡¯t bad, but when compared with Qiao Duo¡¯er, his speed was still slightly inferior.


    If the Third Master could have been a bit faster, Qiao Duo¡¯er would not have been able to dodge that sword, let alone force the Third Master to kneel to the ground.


    This woman was truly audacious, after all, if it were them, they definitely couldn¡¯t have done it.


    It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Duo¡¯er returned to her own camp that the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village thought to help the Third Master up.

 Chapter 621 - 626 Changing Battle Situation_1

    Chapter 621: Chapter 626 Changing Battle Situation_1"Third Master, how are you?"


    The underling asked timidly, only wanting to say that he had just not seen anything.


    So... please, don¡¯t kill him to silence him.


    "Not dead yet! What are you panicking about?" Xuan Qing clutched his shoulder wound.


    Having lost so much face in front of his men, he was feel both ashamed and enraged, wishing he could tear Qiao Duo¡¯er to pieces.


    He, Xuan San, had a lifetime of glory, but had never expected to capsize in the hands of a woman!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, very well, it had been a long time since anyone made him bleed!


    On the other side, once the child was safely back, Lord Qin ordered his people to retreat first, as they were too few in number and could easily suffer against the greater forces of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    However, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village wouldn¡¯t last much longer; once the garrison arrived, their end would come!


    The others immediately complied, unscathed and having hunted several eagles, they had already made a big profit from this sortie.


    But as soon as they made a move, the Mountain Eagle behind Xuan San hurriedly reported: "Third Master, they are escaping!"


    "What are you waiting for? Chase them now! If one of them escapes today, you all die!" Xuan Qing ordered coldly.


    "Yes! I will stay to look after the Third Master; everyone else go chase!"


    Mountain Eagle gave an order, taking advantage of Chu Sandao¡¯s absence today to finally enjoy a moment of glory.


    Due to Xuan San¡¯s words, his men dared not be negligent; before long, they caught up and tangled with the enemy.


    Xuan San seized the opportunity to command the eagles to attack. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s party was small, they were not deterred and had a clear division of roles.


    The guards confronted the Mountain Bandits, while Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong dealt with the eagles, and those who were not skilled in martial arts were protected in the middle.


    Confident with the eagles on his side, Xuan Qing brought only a little more than thirty bandits, and the guards, facing three to one, were not overwhelmed.


    The eagles, smelling blood, were very excited but didn¡¯t dare to approach for fear of poisoned Sleeve Arrows, so they could only circle overhead, continuously issuing warning cries.


    That is to say, the men from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village didn¡¯t gain any advantage, and this made Xuan San even more furious.


    Being suppressed and fought on their own territory, if this got out, how could he show his face in the martial world?


    "Release another twenty eagles!" Xuan San ordered once more.


    "Third Master, our village has just over sixty adult eagles; isn¡¯t using thirty to deal with them a bit too many?"


    Mountain Eagle advised, noting that eagles were the ace of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; they were showing half of their hand to just a few people. What would they do when real enemies came?


    He also heard that Lord Qin was very shrewd and would sooner or later target Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; wasn¡¯t this the time when they should be conserving strength and storing up energy?


    He could think of this; how could the Third Master not?


    But Xuan Qing¡¯s actions showed that he really hadn¡¯t thought that much.


    He just wanted to capture Qin Longyun alive and force them to release Yin Yinyue.


    Xuan Qing said fiercely, "Since when is it your turn to call the shots in the village? Do you want to die?"


    "I dare not, I am off right now!" Mountain Eagle trotted away.


    If the Third Master is making him do this, there must be a reason for it; he needn¡¯t stir up trouble over the unnecessary.


    Otherwise, his end would be the same as Chu Sandao¡¯s but to minimize the loss of eagles, he secretly gathered many more men.


    Soon twenty more eagles and fifty men joined the battle, and the tide turned abruptly.


    They not only reversed the disadvantage but also scattered the opposition.


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er were together, Qin Long was protected by two guards, Hu¡¯s Clan was pulling along two daughters, and the rest were fighting on their own.

 Chapter 622 - 627: Seize the Opportunity_1

    Chapter 622: Chapter 627: Seize the Opportunity_1This way, if Xuan Eagle Mountain Village could defeat each group individually, they could certainly clinch the victory.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cursed softly, "Damn Xuan Qing, this is the height of shamelessness!"


    Tan Zhenghong picked up two long swords, tossing one to his wife.


    "Catch! Lord Qin and Sister Lan are in grave danger; we must join forces to rescue them!"


    He knew his wife would never agree to leave alone, for she was never one to fear death or covet life.


    Thus, the only thing he could do was to advance and retreat alongside Qiao Duo¡¯er, to share life and death!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded vigorously. Unskilled with the sword, she swung it at the enemies in front of her haphazardly, as if she were chopping vegetables.


    However, with her background as a special agent, she managed to wield the sword quite naturally.


    Moreover, killing didn¡¯t require too much skill, just a stab in the lethal spot whenever one got the chance, quick and clean.


    The only nuisance was the eagles in the sky, swooping down unexpectedly to scratch; these trained eagles had a unique skill, which was to peck at people¡¯s eyes.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s escort, whose martial arts skills were exceptional, could prevent the eagles from pecking at their eyes, but it still left people irritated and disturbed.


    Looking at Qin Longyun and Hu¡¯s Clan, each had guards for protection, lifting the burden off Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s shoulders.


    If the eagles continued this arrogance, the mountain bandits would soon seize the opportunity to capture everyone, so it was time to take care of them!


    "Tan Zhenghong, you handle these people, I¡¯ll teach those beasts a lesson!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dropped the sword and shot two arrows into the sky.


    One arrow missed, but the other struck an eagle squarely in the chest.


    Killing an eagle not only boosted their own morale but also served to intimidate the mountain bandits and the remaining eagles.


    In this perilous situation, all of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s potential was unleashed.


    Her hit rate skyrocketed, bringing down an eagle with every two arrows fired.


    In just a short moment, three eagles had already met their end.


    With a handgun, her accuracy would have been one hundred percent, but sleeve arrows were ultimately different from handguns.


    The other eagles began to circle warily in the sky, and even with Xuan Qing¡¯s urging, they dared not launch an attack hastily.


    With the eagles restrained, it became much easier for everyone else.


    Xuan San roared, "Capture them, dead or alive, substantial rewards for those who succeed, and death for those who fail!"


    A portion of the mountain bandits targeted Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was entirely focused on shooting down eagles, offering them a great chance of a successful sneak attack.


    For Third Master, the most hated was this very woman, and capturing her would surely yield the richest reward.


    With the reward money, they could go down the mountain to take wives for themselves.


    Maybe even find someone prettier and more voluptuous than this woman!


    But when they actually attempted to ambush Qiao Duo¡¯er, they found she evaded perfectly every time.


    Could it be that this woman had eyes all over her body? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They did not know that although Duo¡¯er was slower than the eagles, she was much faster than them and her predictive skills were unmatched.


    Tan Zhenghong did not give these people a chance to figure it out because those who dared to harm his wife would be pierced with his sword the very next second.


    As mountain bandits continued to fall, those who had been scattered were slowly regrouping.


    This way, those with sleeve arrows could free up their hands to deal with eagles or kill the mountain bandits.


    Seeing the situation that Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had barely turned around was about to revert to its original state, Xuan San clenched his fists.


    Suddenly, he curled his lips into a smile.


    No matter how formidable these people were, they had their moments of negligence; all he needed was to seize the opportunity to tightly grasp their throats.

 Chapter 623 - 628: Not Born by Mother_1

    Chapter 623: Chapter 628: Not Born by Mother_1Xuan Qing made several strange gestures, and the next second, an eagle swooped down, grabbed Er Ya, and soared into the sky.


    It all happened too quickly; no one had time to stop it.


    "If you have the guts, grab me; let go of my daughter! Let go of her!" Hu¡¯s Clan screamed at the eagle.


    She knew a child taken away by an eagle had virtually no chance of survival, and she could only watch helplessly, which was an overwhelming blow to her.


    It was all her fault; she hadn¡¯t protected her child well!


    Xuan Qing waved his hand, and all the eagles stopped screeching, quieting Black Wind Valley instantly.


    "If you don¡¯t want this child to die, you¡¯ll all surrender obediently," Xuan San said smugly.


    At his command, the eagle would drop the child.


    The height of twenty or thirty meters was enough to kill a child, and then all the eagles would swarm, eating the child clean, leaving only a skeleton and blood scattered on the ground.


    This was the nature of hawks, and even he could not stop it.


    Hu¡¯s Clan pleaded, "Don¡¯t hurt my child; if you want to kill someone, kill me. The child is still young, please spare her!"


    "What¡¯s the use of begging me? Beg them to lay down their weapons, and I will naturally release your daughter,"


    Xuan Qing said calmly.


    Hu¡¯s Clan looked at Er Ya hanging in mid-air, then at the people helping her.


    To ask these people to lay down their weapons was to send them to their deaths; how could she be so selfish?


    She was Er Ya¡¯s mother, but she was also a person; she couldn¡¯t do such an ungrateful act!


    Hu¡¯s Clan clenched her teeth and slowly knelt on the ground.


    "Let her go, and I¡¯ll do anything you ask of me."


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face was ashen, a sight that stirred pity in those who saw it.


    Xuan Qing curled his lips disdainfully, "It¡¯s been a long time since you guys touched a woman, right? Although this woman isn¡¯t pretty, she¡¯s still a woman; I¡¯ll reward her to you first."


    His words made Hu¡¯s Clan tremble uncontrollably; she had never imagined such a thing happening to her.


    But although a woman may be frail, a mother¡¯s resolve is strong; if it could exchange for Er Ya¡¯s safe return, she had no regrets.


    "Thank you, Owner Xie San!"


    Xuan Qing¡¯s men immediately expressed their gratitude, indeed alive to enjoy more benefits.


    And those who had just died could only envy from beneath the ground.


    Most men in the stronghold, could only vent on a woman when they descended the mountain.


    In the past year, due to the Boss¡¯s caution, they rarely went down the mountain, naturally enduring hardship.


    Let alone a woman, even if it was a sow, they could make do.


    "Quickly take her far away, and don¡¯t all go at once; take turns, and be careful not to kill her,"


    Qin Longyun said angrily, "Xuan San, she¡¯s just a woman, a mother; why do you have to trouble her like this?"


    "It¡¯s you who won¡¯t lay down your weapons, who won¡¯t surrender; this woman can only beg me. I kindly showed her a way out, so how did it become my fault in the end?"


    Xuan Qing looked innocent, but his eyes showed not a trace of emotion.


    Third Master was cruel and ruthless, hearing is less convincing than seeing.


    "Scum! Doesn¡¯t it prick your conscience to treat a woman like this?"


    Qin Longyun saw the mountain bandits slowly approaching, all salacious, growing more anxious¡ªhe had been too naive! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, he would never have ended up in such an isolated and helpless situation!


    "Brother Qin, don¡¯t bother talking to him; he is not born of a human," Qiao Duo said coldly.


    As soon as her words fell, she pressed the button on the sleeve arrow.

 Chapter 624 - 629 Everything is Just Right_1

    Chapter 624: Chapter 629 Everything is Just Right_1She had remained silent, not because she feared Xuan San, nor because she was afraid of those eagles, but because she was observing the flight patterns of the eagles.


    The intelligence of the trained hawks was high, but no matter how smart, they were still beasts; when awaiting orders, they could only flap their wings rhythmically to prevent themselves from falling.


    The arrow shot towards the eagle¡¯s leg, and, in extreme pain, the eagle had no choice but to release its claws.


    Only then did Er Ya start to fall, and Tan Zhenghong, like the wind, ran out.


    After catching the child, he rolled several times on the ground to dissipate the force of the fall.


    They had only rolled away a short distance when the eagle crashed to the ground; although it struggled unwillingly for a few moments, it could not survive the poison.


    All of this nearly resulted in death, thankfully everything turned out just right.


    As the child hit the ground, the other eagles swooped in, and now it was time for the Sleeve Arrow Team to demonstrate their prowess! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After several rounds of shooting, the eagles were once again forced back, and only then was the crisis for Tan Zhenghong and Er Ya resolved.


    Not until Tan Zhenghong stood beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, holding the child, did she allow the heart she had been holding up to settle back into her stomach.


    "Sister Lan, the child has fainted from fright."


    Tan Zhenghong handed Er Ya over to Hu¡¯s Clan; although Er Ya was a child, she was also a girl.


    Hu¡¯s Clan carefully received the child and, unable to bear the tension any longer, burst into tears.


    The older girl¡¯s lips had turned pale from biting, yet still she shivered and persuaded, "Mother, this is still enemy territory, you mustn¡¯t cry, we have to escape."


    Hu¡¯s Clan forcibly swallowed her tears back; she had been thoughtless.


    Danger could strike at any moment before they left Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    At this point, they were surrounded by the people from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; with the ones who had just arrived to reinforce, there were over two hundred people.


    "If you surrender now, I will still give you a chance to live," Xuan Qing said from his commanding height.


    Today, his pride had been injured, and he had lost ten eagles; how could he swallow this humiliation?


    He could only slowly take out his frustration on them over the long years to come.


    He would let the eagles eat their flesh, a little at a time, waiting for the flesh to regrow before eating again, over and over, endless and unrelenting.


    If they did not die today, every day henceforth would be worse than death.


    Qin Longyun scoffed, "Our survival has never depended on the charity of others; if we don¡¯t want to die, we will naturally fight our way out!"


    "Those who aren¡¯t afraid to die, come at us. I guarantee a swift end for you."


    Many eagles had already been shot down, and no one doubted the lethality of the Sleeve Arrow Team; coupled with the murderous aura of the team led by Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village grew timid.


    These people were terrifying; if they could kill the eagles they regarded as divine, what couldn¡¯t they do?


    Perhaps even they themselves had not noticed they were already retreating quietly.


    Xuan San was furious, but at this moment, he had no choice but to take the field himself.


    Yet as soon as he moved, he noticed something was off with himself; he found himself lacking even the strength to walk forward.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had been watching Xuan Qing¡¯s every move, for this was the moment she had been waiting for.


    The army wouldn¡¯t arrive for another two days, and she had to stabilize Xuan Eagle Mountain Village during this time, preventing them from descending the mountain to wreak havoc on the villages.


    So the dagger she had thrust at Xuan Qing was poisoned, with a venom created by Luo Qingfeng using seven types of venomous insects and seven poisonous plants. Once inflicted, it would weaken the entire body until the muscles atrophied, resulting in death from starvation.


    The poison was domineering and perfect for someone like Xuan Qing, who was utterly reprehensible.


    Moreover, in all the land, only the Medicine King and Luo Qingfeng could cure it, both elusive, coming without a trace and leaving without a shadow, very hard to find.

 Chapter 625 - 630: Persuasion to Surrender_1

    Chapter 625: Chapter 630: Persuasion to Surrender_1If Xuan Eagle Mountain Village wants to save someone, the most reliable way is to ask her for help.


    If you seek her aid, naturally, you¡¯ll be at her mercy.


    She just didn¡¯t expect Xuan Qing to have resisted the poison this long; he truly is no ordinary man.


    "You¡¯ve finally realized you¡¯re poisoned, you¡¯d better not move recklessly or get angry, or else once the poison reaches your heart and lungs, not even a deity descending could save you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with schadenfreude.


    Tan Zhenghong asked helplessly, "He seems not to believe he¡¯s poisoned, what do we do?"


    "Believe it or not, that¡¯s up to you. Just look at your Third Master, already poisoned to death¡¯s door; you¡¯d better find a decent doctor," Duo¡¯er kindly reminded them.


    Perhaps that way Xuan Qing could live a few more days.


    The mountain bandits exchanged looks, none of them willing to believe Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words.


    "Third Master has the best martial arts in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, all these people tied together wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against him..."


    "Right, they must be saying this to disturb us on purpose, I see Third Master¡¯s complexion looks quite good, he doesn¡¯t seem poisoned."


    "Third Master said there would be a generous reward for capturing them, let¡¯s stop just standing here and get on with it. With the reward, we won¡¯t need to be damned mountain bandits anymore!"


    "So what are we waiting for? Grab them!"


    But before they could make a move, Xuan Qing collapsed to the ground.


    Now, even those unwilling to believe had to accept that Third Master was indeed poisoned, and the onset was fierce.


    Qin Longyun spoke at the right moment, "You¡¯re also compelled by circumstances, I can give you another chance. If you wish to be ordinary people again, just leave the mountain now. All past misdeeds will be forgiven. But if you refuse, then don¡¯t blame this official for being ruthless."


    "Why do you think I came to the mountains? The Yin Family seized my family¡¯s shop, and when I reported it to the Government Office, the Lord County Magistrate gave equivocal responses. I became a mountain bandit because I had no other choice!"


    "My sister was taken away by Yin Zheng, and once he grew tired of her, he sold her directly to the Qing Building. Unable to endure the humiliation, my sister took her own life."


    "And I, the Yin Family took over our land and even had thugs kill my parents."


    Some of the mountain bandits began to share their own hardships.


    If they could, they too wished to live peaceably with their families, but some just wouldn¡¯t let them!


    Driven to become bandits, yet the real culprits remained at large!


    Qin Longyun stood tall and spoke confidently, "The Yin Family has already been locked up in the prison, waiting only for the Imperial Envoy to come and judge their case. Feel free to voice your grievances; he will see justice is done for you."


    With his father-in-law¡¯s influence in the court, the one sent to White Stone Town would surely be incorruptible.


    "How is this possible?"


    "The Yin Family has been through several County Magistrates; who ever brought them down? Seeing that you¡¯re just a greenhorn, it would be good enough if you didn¡¯t join them in corruption!"


    Qin Longyun said sternly, "Since taking office, I¡¯ve been restricted by Yin Zheng at every turn. It took over a year to regain authority, and now we have the perfect opportunity to settle scores with the Yin Family."


    "If you don¡¯t trust my Lord, you¡¯re welcome to go down to the town and see for yourselves."


    The Guard Commander staunchly supported his master.


    A few mountain bandits were on the verge of turning to Qin Longyun, infuriating the Mountain Eagle to no end.


    With Third Master poisoned and the situation already in chaos, it¡¯s even more troubling to have a few weak-willed contemplating surrender, isn¡¯t it?


    "What are you all dawdling for? Xuan Eagle Mountain Village has provided for you all these years, what more do you want? Third Master is poisoned, and you¡¯re thinking of kicking him while he¡¯s down, aren¡¯t you?"


    "All of you, get back! Or I¡¯ll slaughter you myself!"


    Intimidated by the Mountain Eagle¡¯s roar, the others shrank back and quickly retreated.


    Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 626 - 631 Her Identity_1

    Chapter 626: Chapter 631 Her Identity_1However, the words Qin Longyun had just spoken still caused their hearts to race.


    They had chosen Xuan Eagle Mountain Village precisely because they hoped for a day when they could avenge their grievances.


    If the Yin Family had already received their due retribution, what reason was there to stay in this godforsaken place?


    The few of them huddled together, whispering quietly as they retreated.


    "Third Master has an affair with a woman from the Yin Family; I always felt the village wouldn¡¯t possibly exterminate the Yin Family," Monkey said in a low voice.


    "Are you suggesting that what Elder Xuan told us about attacking the Yin Family was a lie?"


    "Most definitely a bluff. We¡¯ve been in the mountains for three or four years, right? I¡¯ve never heard of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village making a move against the Yin Family."


    "Forget about avenging us. Just look at the life we lead here in the village. It¡¯s worse than the animals Third Master keeps. Honestly, I¡¯d rather live freely as a farmer."


    "Especially under Third Master; at the slightest provocation, we could be fed to the hawks. I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer."


    Seeing the timing was right, Monkey then said, "We¡¯re all born of fathers and mothers; I don¡¯t want to die without reason."


    "Monkey, you¡¯re the smartest. Why don¡¯t you go down the mountain to gather some intelligence?"


    "For the sake of our brothers¡¯ future, I¡¯ll definitely make the trip. It¡¯s just that if Third Master starts asking questions..."


    Monkey deliberately trailed off.


    "Rest easy; who has the time to check on that now? We¡¯ll cover your shift. If anyone asks, we¡¯ll say you¡¯re injured."


    Only then did Monkey nod: "With your word, I¡¯m at ease. Wait for my news!"


    After speaking, he hid in the underbrush, waiting for the Mountain Eagle to move farther away.


    Once the others had retreated, Monkey confidently emerged and ran towards where Qin Longyun was.


    "Lord, thankfully you understood my hand signals. There¡¯s an ambush at the entrance of the valley. If you¡¯d left, you¡¯d surely have been shot into porcupines!"


    Monkey patted his chest.


    He was the spy Qin Longyun An had planted in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Qin Longyun nodded: "Be careful. It¡¯s a critical moment; don¡¯t blow your cover."


    Monkey nodded, squatting down to smear his face with two handfuls of mud.


    Just then, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly rang out.


    "Quick, mount up! We¡¯ve taken care of all the guards at the entrance!"


    The guard who had been left at the entrance shouted loudly.


    As long as they were fast enough, they should be able to leave Black Wind Valley without any trouble.


    Without further delay, Qiao Duo¡¯er and her companions mounted their horses and carriages, then sped toward the exit of Black Wind Valley.


    "What¡¯s happening outside?" Qin Longyun asked.


    "We knocked out the gate guards and dressed as them. Later we discovered someone setting up an ambush, so we spiked their drink with drugs, knocking them all out cold. A few who didn¡¯t drink got the chop," one retorted, his eyes brimming with excitement.


    Another guard praised, "Lord Qin, you truly foresee like a deity. Without those two jars of wine, we would have been clueless about what to do!" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun narrowed his eyes because he knew that the entire operation had been orchestrated by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If it weren¡¯t for her arrangements today, they would never have made it out in one piece.


    She also came up with the sleeve arrow, and her decisiveness in killing just now, with every strike lethal, especially when she wounded Xuan Qing. Her performance was nothing like a normal person¡¯s.


    Who exactly was she?


    He had sent people to investigate her background, and the conclusion was that Qiao Duo¡¯er was simply a village girl.


    Born to a peasant family in Da Tao Village, she later married into Big Willow Village.


    Though her appearance had greatly changed, it had been gradually so, and the people of Big Willow Village could all attest to it.

 Chapter 627 - 632: The Villain is Driven Away_1

    Chapter 627: Chapter 632: The Villain is Driven Away_1Bai Yifan had also mentioned that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body was severely deficient, so he found Lingzhi and Warm Jade specifically to nourish her.


    The reason was that Qiao Duo¡¯er was abused at her parents¡¯ home, causing long-term malnutrition.


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er was indeed Qiao Duo¡¯er, and couldn¡¯t possibly be replaced by another person.


    But how could all that had happened be explained?


    A simple village girl with high martial arts prowess and tactical knowledge was an unreasonable existence wherever one looked!


    Qin Longyun racked his brains but couldn¡¯t solve the puzzle and, in the end, shook his head, driving all the doubts out of his mind.


    No matter who Qiao Duo¡¯er was, she was his and Ling¡¯er¡¯s friend, and that was enough.


    Inside the carriage, a woman from Hu¡¯s Clan was holding a child with one arm.


    "It¡¯s all my fault for not taking good care of you, letting you suffer," she said.


    With sobs, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman was filled with guilt.


    If she had paid more attention to the children, she would not have given Tan Zhengyuan the chance to take advantage.


    Da Ya shook her head, "It¡¯s all Dad¡¯s fault. He disliked us for being girls and unable to continue the family line, so he sold us. He even said that he would use the silver from selling us to marry a stepmother and have sons."


    Speaking of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s misdeeds made Da Ya gnash her teeth in hatred.


    She knew their dad didn¡¯t like her and her sister, but it was not until that day that she realized he actually hated them.


    No, that man didn¡¯t deserve to be their father; he was just Tan Zhengyuan!


    Tan Zhengyuan would say that it was because of their ¡¯hard fate¡¯ that he lost his sons, that because of them, he became a laughingstock in the whole village.


    "From now on, I will never let you suffer again, I want to take you to another place," Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman said with determination. Ever since the children had gone missing, this thought had surfaced in her mind over and over again.


    Having been married into the Tan Family for so many years, she knew better than anyone that apart from the fourth household, there was not a single good person in the Tan Family; no one knew what they would do next.


    To be on the safe side, she wanted to take the children and leave Big Willow Village.


    This way, the Tan Family members would no longer be able to harm her children.


    Da Ya comforted her, "Sister and I were only frightened, but we didn¡¯t suffer. We were locked in a room, and someone even brought us food. Perhaps we behaved so well that even the mountain bandits didn¡¯t have the heart to hit us."


    Hearing about the treatment Da Ya had received over the past two days, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman felt a little more reassured.


    "Duo¡¯er, the Third Master said that it would be twenty taels of silver to ransom the children, I forgot just now," Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman said awkwardly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but take a second look at Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman. Was this the rhythm of a mind scared out of its wits?


    They had almost lost their lives just moments ago at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and she actually cared about whether they paid the silver or not!


    Seen by Qiao Duo¡¯er, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, "Forget... forget I mentioned it."


    Tan Zhenghong eased the atmosphere a bit, "Da Ya and Er Ya were rescued by us, there¡¯s no need to spend silver."


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman nodded but still felt embarrassed, thankfully Er Ya woke up at that moment.


    Er Ya blinked, and upon seeing her own mother¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears.


    "Mom, I¡¯m so scared, I want to stay with you! I don¡¯t want to be captured again, I will be good from now on and never cause trouble again, please don¡¯t let the bad people come and get me!" Er Ya cried and pleaded, truly terrified by the ordeal.


    Just as Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman was starting to feel better, she became a teary mess once more, trying to soothe her little daughter in her arms.


    "My Er Ya has always been well-behaved. The bad people will never come to get you again. Just now, your Uncle and Auntie from your fourth uncle¡¯s side made the bad people run away," Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s woman patiently reassured her.


    "Really?"


    Er Ya¡¯s voice was soft and weepy, yet she dared not cry too loudly, touching everyone¡¯s heart. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 628 - 633 Administer Medicine_1

    Chapter 628: Chapter 633 Administer Medicine_1Hu¡¯s Clan nodded earnestly, "It¡¯s true, of course. Quick, kneel and kowtow to your Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. Without them, your mother would never see you again."


    The carriage jolted, but Da Ya and Er Ya still knelt down as told.


    Gratefully, Da Ya said, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. Da Ya will work like an ox or a horse in the future to repay your kindness."


    She would remember today for the rest of her life and be grateful for a lifetime.


    Especially their Fourth Aunt, who knew just how dangerous the Mountain Bandits were but still unhesitatingly traded them back.


    Beyond that, Fourth Aunt had also rescued Er Ya from the Eagle¡¯s clutches, sparing their mother from peril.


    From now on, her life belonged to Fourth Aunt!


    "Get up, you two. We are family and should help each other," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slightly stiff wave of her hand.


    She had a sword cut on her neck, and at this moment she couldn¡¯t turn her head recklessly.


    Because she always had the illusion that if she moved, her neck would break.


    "Sister Lan, it¡¯s good that the children are unharmed. They are just shocked; let them rest well."


    Tan Zhenghong carefully helped the two girls up and delivered them into Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s embrace.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had a million thanks in her heart, but being tongue-tied, she didn¡¯t know how to express them and ended up keeping all her words inside her heart.


    "Mother, don¡¯t hold me anymore. I¡¯ll just sit beside you. Your arm is already bleeding."


    "Er Ya is not afraid, come over, big sister will hold you."


    Er Ya snuggled into Da Ya¡¯s arms, their sisterly bond growing stronger as they relied on each other these past few days.


    Qiao Duo turned her head to look out at the scenery, her eyes inadvertently reddening.


    She had lived two times as a human and had never once experienced maternal love; it truly was a regret.


    Upon reaching a safe area, Qin Longyun had everyone stop and recuperate. After the battle in Black Wind Valley, almost everyone had been injured.


    The carriage ride had been too bumpy to tend to wounds properly, so they had to wait until it stopped. Then Tan Zhenghong took out some medicinal powder and bandages.


    "Mother, my sister and I have returned safely; don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll treat your wound too," said Da Ya as she wiped away her tears and imitated Tan Zhenghong, dressing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s injuries.


    After this ordeal, Da Ya seemed to mature in an instant.


    Soon, the wounds on both Qiao Duo and Hu¡¯s Clan were properly treated.


    "Does it look good?" Da Ya pointed at the bow on Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s arm.


    Hu¡¯s Clan gave the thumbs up without stinginess, and Er Ya also looked up at Da Ya with an admiring face.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but touch the wound on her neck. Perhaps the medicine was taking effect, as it stung slightly, but that was over in an instant.


    Then she felt only numbness and warmth, and the pain from the wound itself disappeared.


    Bai Yifan truly lived up to being a disciple of the Medicine King, quite effective indeed.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes held only his wife, and he asked with concern, "Does the wound still hurt?"


    Qiao Duo intended to say it was nothing, but what came out was, "It¡¯s almost killing me."


    After all, she was a married woman now, was this not the time to be a bit finicky?


    Qiao Duo¡¯s tone sounded petulant and complaining, but her words made Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart race.


    "Let me take a look. Did I not apply the powder properly?"


    Tan Zhenghong hurried to examine Qiao Duo¡¯s wound, wishing he hadn¡¯t looked because what he saw startled him.


    The blood hadn¡¯t stopped as expected, but instead flowed even more profusely.


    Even the white bandage that had just been wrapped was soaked red!


    "Wife, don¡¯t move; let me take a closer look," Tan Zhenghong said seriously. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 629 - 634 Poisonous Powder_1

    Chapter 629: Chapter 634 Poisonous Powder_1Qiao Duo¡¯er said with embarrassment, "It actually wasn¡¯t that painful, and I don¡¯t feel much now."


    In Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes, there was only a sea of blood red as he looked towards Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Sister Lan, is your wound still bleeding?"


    Lowering her head, Hu¡¯s Clan saw that the butterfly knot Da Ya had just tied had been dyed red¡ªthis was too eerie!


    "Wasn¡¯t applying the medicine supposed to heal it? Why is it still bleeding?" Da Ya asked anxiously.


    Tan Zhenghong picked up the medicine bottle and inspected it closely; a label for stopping bleeding was attached, indicating that he hadn¡¯t grabbed the wrong medicine.


    "Stop checking, the medicine is poisoned."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her eyes wearily, feeling completely drained at this moment.


    She could somewhat guess what was happening¡ªthe medicine powder had been laced with a poison that prevented clotting, so instead of stopping the bleeding, it actually prevented the wound from scabbing over.


    This tactic could only be described as disgusting.


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his fists tightly, "Wife, wait for me, I¡¯ll go catch Bai Yifan. No matter what, we must cure this poison!"


    "Don¡¯t bother, by the time you go there and back, I will have already perished. Hurry and have Big Brother make haste. We can talk about everything else after I¡¯ve recovered."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips had turned pale, making her appear somewhat frightening.


    As for the one who wanted her dead, she would get her revenge.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and went to speak with Qin Longyun about the situation, but to prevent panic, he didn¡¯t spread the word.


    Qin Longyun felt a jolt in his heart and quickly looked down to see that, indeed, his hand wound was abnormal.


    But all the wound medicine had been provided by Bai Yifan¡ªhow could it be problematic?


    Yet, it was not only him; all the people around him couldn¡¯t stop bleeding, leaving him without a reason to defend them.


    Qin Longyun hurriedly said, "Anyone who hasn¡¯t applied the medicine yet, don¡¯t do it. Let¡¯s hurry back to town!"


    On being told this, the others realized what was happening.


    "We finally escaped from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, only to be brought down by one of our own," a guard said with dissatisfaction.


    Having such feelings was understandable; they had just narrowly escaped death, and the problem arose with the supposedly life-saving medicine powder!


    Now with blood continuously flowing out, wasn¡¯t this deliberately killing them? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you¡¯re afraid to die, don¡¯t come at all. We wouldn¡¯t speak about it anyway. Is there any need to silence us by killing us?"


    "If I died in Black Wind Valley, I would accept my fate, considered dying honorably. Now, to be killed by our own¡ªwhat is going on?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I will thoroughly investigate this matter to give you an explanation. But for now, the most important thing is to save our lives," Qin Longyun said seriously, then was the first to mount his horse.


    Many people had severe injuries, and there was no time to waste.


    Though there was some resentment in their hearts, everyone knew that life was of the utmost importance, and this was not the time for being stubborn.


    Their pace was fast, but not as quick as the bleeding. Those with deeper wounds had their clothes completely soaked in red. If this continued, someone would indeed lose their life.


    "Lord Qin, I can¡¯t hold on much longer," a guard said weakly.


    Qin Longyun looked helplessly at the surrounding mountains; even at full speed, it would still take an hour.


    But clearly, these people wouldn¡¯t last that long.


    All Qin Longyun could do was to comfort, "Hold on a little longer, we¡¯ll be in town soon."


    Tan Zhenghong said urgently, "Can everyone go faster? My wife has already fainted, and I¡¯m worried that if we delay, something bad will happen."

 Chapter 630 - 635: Saved!_1

    Chapter 630: Chapter 635: Saved!_1"Brothers, at the critical moment today, it was Mrs. Tan who held the fort. If it weren¡¯t for her, we might not even have made it out of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village¡¯s gate. Let¡¯s all perk up and make sure to get her to the medical hall for treatment!" Qin Longyun spoke with heartfelt sincerity.


    "Let¡¯s take care of each other and make sure not to leave a single brother behind. Our wives and children are waiting at home!"


    "I can¡¯t die, my wife is still pregnant!"


    The men all responded, speeding up considerably.


    If a woman could be so valiant and heroic with her divine martial art, how could they, as men, show any weakness?


    Moreover, the sooner they got to the town, the sooner each of them increased their hope of survival.


    Inside the carriage, the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.


    Tan Zhenghong pressed tightly on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s wound, but the blood kept spilling out from between his fingers and the flow seemed to be quickening.


    "You¡¯ll all be okay, right?"


    Fear filled Er Ya¡¯s eyes.


    She had never seen so much blood before, nor had she ever seen it flow continuously.


    Da Ya said with certainty, "Mother and Fourth Aunt will be alright. We¡¯ve escaped from the bad guys; they won¡¯t die from the poison."


    "We¡¯ll soon be in town. Lord Qin will find the best doctor, and Fourth Aunt and I will both be okay."


    Hu¡¯s Clan smiled faintly, feeling she could die without regrets now that she had rescued the two girls.


    If her life could be exchanged for Duo¡¯er¡¯s, she would be willing to die right then.


    On the other side, Tan Zhenghong cut his wrist, letting the blood flow into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth. Not skilled in medicine, he could only think of this method.


    A person who has lost too much blood must replenish their strength promptly, and the quickest way is through fresh blood.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said anxiously, "Fourth Boss, this way..."


    Tan Zhenghong would die from excessive blood loss too if he cut his wrist!


    Tan Zhenghong forced a wry smile and shook his head. Without Qiao Duo¡¯er, life would be tasteless. Why cling to it?


    Time ticked away second by second, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion grew paler, and Tan Zhenghong was only a bit better off. At this rate, they wouldn¡¯t last much longer!


    "Zhenghong, you rest for a bit. My arm hasn¡¯t been contaminated by the poison, use my blood."


    Hu¡¯s Clan tugged at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s clothes. She couldn¡¯t just watch her lifesaver die like this.


    Da Ya rolled up her sleeve, "Fourth Uncle, let me do it. If Fourth Aunt wakes up and can¡¯t find you, she¡¯ll be heartbroken."


    "Me too. If I give my blood to Fourth Aunt, she¡¯ll get better."


    Tan Zhenghong firmly shook his head, "She¡¯s my wife. We share life and death together."


    Hu¡¯s Clan had just been reunited; they should live well.


    "Lord Qin, that person ahead looks like Young Master Bai! My lord, we¡¯re saved!" a guard exclaimed with delight. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Doctor Bai was highly skilled in medicine; he could certainly cure their poisoning, and if the poison was cured, they wouldn¡¯t have to die!


    Someone at his side gave him a disdainful glare, "I¡¯ve never seen anyone as foolish as you. Our medicine was prepared by Young Master Bai himself. He set up this trap because he wants us dead!"


    Now all these men were bleeding like a blood gush!


    "I don¡¯t believe in him anymore!"


    "Young Master Bai is not a despicable villain. There must be some misunderstanding, like someone with ulterior motives switching the medicine."


    "That makes sense, and besides, who else can we count on but him?"


    It would take at least another quarter of an hour to reach the town. Too many things could happen in that quarter of an hour.


    Life is precious, and none can afford to gamble with it.


    And even if they all made it that far, wouldn¡¯t they still need to seek treatment at Deji Hall?

 Chapter 631 - 636 I Won’t Force You_1

    Chapter 631: Chapter 636 I Won¡¯t Force You_1During the conversation, Bai Yifan had already approached them, but several guards still looked at him with hostility in their eyes.


    Bai Yifan said apologetically, "I¡¯m sorry, everyone, the medicine was tampered with. This is the antidote. Please apply it quickly and cover it with the medicine from the green bottle to stop the bleeding. Those who are more seriously injured should also take a blood-replenishing pill from the red bottle."


    "Young Master Bai, this medicine isn¡¯t poisoned too, is it?" asked a guard, looking at Bai Yifan warily.


    Without any hesitation, Bai Yifan cut his own arm with a dagger and then sprinkled some of the powder on it.


    With his own demonstration, there were no more voices of doubt.


    Bai Yifan stuffed the medicine into Qin Longyun¡¯s hands and then ran towards the carriage.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was consuming Lingzhi, which could accelerate the poison, making her the most at-risk person present.


    Upon boarding the carriage, the scene of Tan Zhenghong feeding Duo¡¯er with his blood caught Bai Yifan¡¯s eye.


    In that moment, he found it difficult even to breathe.


    He had always believed he was not much different from Tan Zhenghong, but now he realized just how much they differed.


    Tan Zhenghong had given all his hope of living to Qiao Duo¡¯er, while he had brought her a potentially fatal disaster.


    Therefore, he didn¡¯t even have the right to love her!


    A moment later, Bai Yifan regained his composure.


    The mistake had been made; all he could do now was minimize the harm to others as much as possible.


    "You need to stop the bleeding quickly, then take two more pills. Duo¡¯er definitely won¡¯t allow you to die," he said.


    Bai Yifan gave Tan Zhenghong a share of the medicines, then turned all his attention to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    First, he sealed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s acupoints with silver needles, then fed her two detoxifying pills, applied the hemostatic medicine, and bandaged the wound¡ªperforming the whole process in one swift motion.


    "How is my wife?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    "She lost too much blood, but with some care, she¡¯ll be fine," answered Bai Yifan.


    After explaining Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition, Bai Yifan jumped off the carriage. He wanted to stay with Duo¡¯er, but there were others outside waiting for his help.


    Tan Zhenghong carefully watched over Qiao Duo¡¯er, hopeful for a miracle.


    He also bore responsibility for the incident; wanting to stop the bleeding quickly, he had applied extra medicine powder on Duo¡¯er. Had it not been for the large dose of poison, his wife certainly wouldn¡¯t have fainted.


    Once Duo¡¯er woke up, she could punish him however she wanted.


    "Mother, it really stopped bleeding!" exclaimed Da Ya excitedly.


    "Does that mean Auntie and Mother won¡¯t die as long as the bleeding stops?" Er Ya asked, full of hope.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded vigorously: "Yes, as long as there¡¯s no bleeding, there¡¯s no danger of death."


    "Uncle, you¡¯re also injured. Please sit down and rest. Er Ya and I can take good care of you."


    Da Ya helped Tan Zhenghong to sit down.


    Feeding water, administering medicine, and wiping sweat¡ªshe and Er Ya could handle it! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, everyone¡¯s wounds were properly treated. After a short rest, they resumed their journey.


    "Third brother, don¡¯t you have anything to say?" Qin Longyun asked, seemingly casually.


    He didn¡¯t want to interrogate Bai Yifan, but given the circumstances, he had to provide an explanation to everyone.


    Bai Yifan smiled bitterly: "Big brother, it¡¯s all due to my negligence. You don¡¯t need to spare my feelings¡ªwhatever punishment I deserve, I have no objections."


    "Are you truly unwilling to reveal the person who did this?" Qin Longyun asked, staring intently at Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan shook his head: "Who is there to blame? It was my mistake in mixing the medicines."


    "This is not the first time something like this has happened. If there is a next time, do you think Duo¡¯er will be able to escape unscathed?"


    At this question, Bai Yifan paused, his eyes full of struggle.


    "I don¡¯t want to press you, but you need to understand that Duo¡¯er hasn¡¯t provoked anyone," said Qin Longyun lightly, then fell silent.


    The rest was up to Bai Yifan¡¯s decision.

 Chapter 632 - 637: Won’t Let You Die_1

    Chapter 632: Chapter 637: Won¡¯t Let You Die_1At this moment, Xuan Eagle Stronghold.


    Xuan Ying and Xuan Ling were anxiously pacing at the door. After a long while, the door was finally opened.


    "Doctor, how is my third brother?" Xuan Da asked urgently.


    "I¡¯ve been practicing medicine for decades and have never seen such a bizarre poison. You should seek someone more capable," the doctor said, trembling with fear.


    He had deliberated for quite some time before deciding to tell the truth.


    Otherwise, if he delayed the patient¡¯s condition, his only path would lead to death.


    Mountain Eagle said angrily, "You are just a quack, watch how I don¡¯t kill you!"


    The doctor¡¯s body trembled as he replied weakly, "I really did my best. I usually only treat headaches and fevers. How would I know anything about poisons?"


    Alas, it was not easy being a doctor. How did he get mixed up with these mountain bandits?


    He must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck!


    "Boss, Second Boss, why don¡¯t I take some men and capture Qiao Duo¡¯er to see how stubborn she can be," he suggested.


    Mountain Eagle clasped his hands together, his eyes brimming with excitement.


    If only he could get the antidote from Qiao Duo¡¯er and save Third Boss, he would be the hero of Xuan Eagle Stronghold!


    "Xuan Er, issue my order: if anyone from Xuan Eagle Stronghold acts without permission, they shall be executed without mercy!" Xuan Da said coldly. He didn¡¯t bother with Mountain Eagle and walked straight in.


    "What does the Big Boss mean? Are we supposed to just watch Third Boss die?" Mountain Eagle asked unwillingly.


    He really cared for Third Boss, why had he angered the Big Boss? S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it was because of this failure, that would be even more unjust.


    He was just following orders; if there was anyone to blame, it would be Third Boss for not being capable enough.


    "Shut your mouth! Third Boss won¡¯t have a problem. If this doctor can¡¯t do it, there are others. Remember, you¡¯re just a falconer. Don¡¯t meddle in matters that aren¡¯t your concern," Xuan Er warned, glancing at Mountain Eagle. He was thinking to himself that the people under Third Boss needed to be replaced.


    How could they focus on their duties if they¡¯re always coveting what they couldn¡¯t have?


    Mountain Eagle clenched his teeth fiercely. What had he done wrong?


    Not one of the Xuan Family¡¯s Three Brothers was anything but pathetic. If it wasn¡¯t for being born into a good position, would they even be leaders?


    Humph, what right did they have to look down on him?


    Xuan San was awake inside the room but was enveloped in an aura of death.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already sent for a doctor. Surely one of them can cure your poison," Xuan Da said, trying to reassure him, though he felt his reassurance was weak.


    Qin Longyun and Luo Qingfeng were close friends; the poison in Third Boss surely came from Luo Qingfeng¡¯s hand. Except for him, no one else could cure it.


    That man was a rare genius, even the Medicine King had to look up to him.


    "No need, Big Brother. All I ask is that after I die, you avenge me. Xuan Eagle Stronghold raises Eagles, not a bunch of weak and incapable sheep!"


    Xuan Er snapped angrily, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Big Brother will definitely not let you die."


    "How long do you plan to deceive yourselves? This is already the third doctor!" Xuan San said irritably.


    He feared he would be dead before they saw all the doctors!


    But when Xuan San saw the worried expression on his brothers¡¯ faces, his anger immediately dissipated.


    "You guys go out, I want to be alone."


    Xuan San closed his eyes wearily, thinking that once he was dead, they would no longer have such naive thoughts.


    After all, he was their most beloved younger brother, and they would not let him die with his eyes open.


    Xuan Da sighed, "Then rest well. Xuan Er, come with me."


    Xuan Er nodded and obediently followed his elder brother, but little did he know that his brother was leading him to the ancestral hall.

 Chapter 633 - 638: You Guys Go First_1

    Chapter 633: Chapter 638: You Guys Go First_1The ancestral hall enshrined the spirit tablets of their deceased parents; coming here meant something of great importance, outside of ancestral veneration.


    "Big Brother, is something the matter with the village?"


    Xuan Er asked seriously.


    "Word from outside has it that the defending army will arrive at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village by tomorrow, and Qin Longyun still has the arrows that can take down an eagle. We stand little chance of winning this battle,"


    Xuan Da said with a heavy face; in truth, he should have said they stood almost no chance at all.


    Xuan Er¡¯s eyes widened in shock, "How come there was no hint of this earlier?"


    "Are you surprised by Qin Longyun¡¯s ability? He¡¯s no ordinary man. You all think he¡¯s been inactive this past year, but in reality, he has infiltrated all sorts of places, including our own village with spies. Some accident caused him to act sooner than planned."


    By the end, all that was left for Xuan Da was a helpless sigh.


    It was a pity that neither Yin Zheng nor his younger brother would listen to his earlier words, dismissing them as mere overcaution.


    "Big Brother, I¡¯ll go capture Qin Longyun¡¯s wife right now. She¡¯s carrying a child; Qin Longyun won¡¯t ignore her safety."


    Xuan Er immediately headed towards the exit, seeing this as the only option for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    "Come back! Have you become naive too? Do you really think Qin Longyun¡¯s wife is that easy to capture?"


    Xuan Da raised his voice. Wouldn¡¯t such an obvious move be anticipated by Qin Longyun?


    Perhaps the enemy had already set up an intricate trap, just waiting for someone from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village to fall into it!


    Turning around, Xuan Er asked impatiently, "So we¡¯re just supposed to sit here and wait for death?"


    "Never underestimate Qin Longyun just because he is a seventh-rank officer; his ties with the Imperial court are tight. I¡¯ve sent assassins after him only to find he¡¯s protected by masters. My attempts have never succeeded, and I¡¯ve always suspected they were experts trained by The Imperial Palace. Do you still think I¡¯m talking nonsense?"


    Xuan Er¡¯s lips moved, but he couldn¡¯t find the right words to say.


    If it had been in the past, he would have laughed it off.


    The Emperor has his hands full every day; would he really have time to personally deal with a minor official?


    But now, Qin Longyun¡¯s series of actions had made it impossible for Xuan Er to underestimate him any longer.


    "Qin Longyun was the top scholar appointed by the current court, and he was caught through the draft by Lord Deputy Minister. He should have stayed at the Hanlin Academy, right?"


    What comfort it would have been to serve in the Imperial City.


    Why bother toiling in this remote and impoverished region?


    The only possibility was that either the Saint or a Prince saw some issue with Ning Tian Mansion and deliberately planted Qin Longyun there!


    Xuan Er was left without a retort, for his older brother¡¯s speculation was reasoned and well-founded. Yet, Xuan Er had never really considered his brother¡¯s words before and had often sided with Third Boss in persuading his brother to be stronger.


    "You take Third Boss and leave tonight; forget Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and start anew."


    Seizing the opportunity, Xuan Da finally spoke his heartfelt advice.


    But such words unsettled Xuan Er.


    Anxiously, Xuan Er asked, "And what about you?"


    The three brothers had always moved as one; why were they being asked to leave first?


    Xuan Da looked at the spirit tablets: "Before Father passed, he entrusted the village to me. I owe the brothers in the village an explanation."


    "No, we leave together. We¡¯ve amassed enough silver to live comfortably for the rest of our lives!" Xuan Er¡¯s resolve was firm.


    His big brother wanted to stay and perish with the village!


    Xuan Da said gravely, "That is an order." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had always relied too much on Eagle. Now that Qin Longyun had a means to counteract Eagle, they didn¡¯t even have a chance to fight back.


    What he could do now was to save his two brothers, so that after his death, he could face his parents without shame.

 Chapter 634 - 639 Life for a Life_1

    Chapter 634: Chapter 639 Life for a Life_1"I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t carry out that order. You take Third Boss away; I¡¯ll stay."


    "Xuan Ling, kneel down!"


    Xuan Da roared impatiently.


    Xuan Ling clenched his teeth, but out of respect for his older brother¡¯s authority, he had no choice but to kneel obediently.


    "You swore before our parents¡¯ spirits that you would live well with Third Boss, that you would marry, have children like an ordinary person, and continue the Xuan Family¡¯s lineage."


    Xuan Ling refused to speak. The three brothers shared the same mother; he couldn¡¯t bring himself to abandon his own flesh and blood.


    At most, he could send Third Boss away and guard their home with his eldest brother.


    "You kneel here and think it over. Once you¡¯ve understood, come find me!"


    Xuan Da flung his sleeves and left.


    As the sky gradually darkened, Xuan Er suddenly got up. The stockade was in a moment of crisis¡ªhow could he afford to waste time here?


    Xuan Er ran all the way to Xuan Da¡¯s room, only to find Little Crow, who always followed his elder brother, tidying up the room.


    "Where¡¯s my big brother?"


    Little Crow respectfully said, "Second Master, the Head of the Family went to Third Master¡¯s room and hasn¡¯t returned."


    Xuan Er¡¯s face turned pale, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.


    He remembered many years ago his elder brother saved a man from Southern Xinjiang, who gave him a worm that could transfer the poison from one person to a blood relative.


    His elder brother must have intentionally made him kneel at the ancestral hall and then took the opportunity to use this method to save Third Boss!


    "Second Master, what¡¯s wrong?" Little Crow immediately supported Xuan Er.


    "Go find me fifty men, the best ones. Have them pack up immediately, and pack plenty¡ªI have an important mission for them."


    Little Crow nodded and went to gather the people. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xuan Er walked to the courtyard where Xuan San lived, his soul seemingly having left him.


    "The Head of the Family has ordered that no one is allowed to enter," someone blocked Xuan Er¡¯s path.


    This confirmation made Xuan Er even more certain of his guess.


    But once the poison transfer process began, it couldn¡¯t be interrupted; otherwise, both would die. He could only stand guard at the door.


    To him, every minute and second was agonizing.


    If only they had known this would be the outcome today, they should have listened to their big brother from the start, whitewashed their identities, and become honest farmers.


    But they couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of gold and silver and agreed to traffic illegal salt and iron with the Yin Family.


    He had caused his big brother¡¯s death!


    Not until it was completely dark did Xuan Da come out. In just a few hours, he looked like he had become a different person.


    He had been strong and robust earlier, but now he looked like a sickly old man, as if he could die at any moment.


    "Big brother, we brothers are not worthy of such treatment from you," Xuan Er said with a sob in his voice.


    "Whether you¡¯re worthy or not, I know. It¡¯s getting late; you all must hurry and go. Promise me to take good care of yourselves," Xuan Da managed a weak smile.


    This was his only dying wish.


    Xuan Er knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed three times to Xuan Da.


    Xuan Da shakily helped Xuan Er up and then patted him on the shoulder, "I drugged Third Boss; he won¡¯t wake up for two days. You need to take care of yourselves, eat when you¡¯re hungry, put on more clothes when it¡¯s cold, and bring enough Silver¡ªdon¡¯t shortchange yourselves..."


    In Xuan Er¡¯s memory, his big brother was a harsh man of few words.


    It was the first time he had ever heard him say a lot like today, each word and sentence filled with instructions and reluctance to part with his brothers.


    "I¡¯ve said too much by accident¡ªhurry and go. I¡¯m tired and won¡¯t see you off," Xuan Da said with a low laugh, letting Little Crow support him as he slowly made his way back to his room.


    Farewells are too painful and not suited for him.

 Chapter 635 - 640: The Last Meal_1

    Chapter 635: Chapter 640: The Last Meal_1Half an hour later, a small squad emerged from the secret passage of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, led by Xuan Er. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Second Master, where are we going? Why travel in the dark like this? Can¡¯t we just leave tomorrow morning?"


    "There¡¯s an important mission, you¡¯ll know once we get there," Xuan Er said, feigning energy.


    But the others were still suspicious, what important mission required them to bring a dead man?


    Could it be that the leader was sending them to find the Medicine King?


    That would be insane!


    The Medicine King was known to be eccentric, only treating those he took a liking to, and that certainly wouldn¡¯t include a bandit chief!


    Then there was the possibility that they would never meet the Medicine King before Third Master passed away.


    So this trip was bound to be in vain, but it could be treated as a vacation.


    Little Crow watched them depart, then returned to Xuan Da¡¯s residence.


    "Leader, Second Master and Third Master have left safely. What should we do next?"


    "Defend the fortress until the last man falls," Xuan Da said, resigned to his fate.


    It wasn¡¯t just for his beliefs, but also to buy some extra time for his brothers.


    The farther they got, the safer they would be.


    "Yes, and there¡¯s something else. The news of the Yin Family¡¯s capture has leaked. Two people in the village have already fled, and many others are restless."


    If there were internal conflicts now, as soon as the government forces arrived, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village would be destroyed without a fight.


    Xuan Da covered his mouth and coughed twice, looking at the black blood on his handkerchief. His heart suddenly turned cold and hard.


    "Those spreading rumors and contemplating betrayal will be executed without mercy."


    Little Crow nodded and disappeared as quietly as he had arrived.


    He admired the leader, who had given his whole life to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and his brothers.


    But his heart never contained the others in the village.


    He probably forgot that those below him also had brothers; they didn¡¯t want to die nor have their siblings die.


    That night, Little Crow didn¡¯t sleep a wink, and early the next morning he was out with dark circles under his eyes.


    He made a round and saw many people still working diligently, which made his heart sour.


    This was the tragedy of the common folk: most of their labor went to the higher-ups, and their lives were in the hands of those above them. They didn¡¯t have the slightest amount of control over it.


    If they were told to die, they could only die.


    They earnestly toiled for a living, so where did they go wrong?


    Walking into the kitchen, Little Crow ordered, "The leader wants extra dishes for breakfast. Make it quick, go slaughter the sheep and pigs."


    "Brother Little Crow, did I hear that right?"


    The cook dug his ears, full of disbelief.


    It wasn¡¯t a holiday, and they had just lost so many Hawks yesterday. To add dishes so early in the morning, was it possible?


    Little Crow smiled faintly, "If I tell you to go, you go quickly. If there¡¯s no meat in the breakfast, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you."


    "Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll have meat soon!"


    The cook went off joyfully, calling several helpers.


    The helpers were in good spirits knowing they would soon have meat to eat, chatting and laughing along the way.


    "I was just saying the other day that pig was getting too fat, it won¡¯t live long, and now it¡¯s going to be slaughtered."


    "I¡¯ve raised it for so long, kind of hard to let it go."


    "Once it¡¯s turned into delicious meat, you won¡¯t feel reluctant anymore, we haven¡¯t had any meat for two months."


    Little Crow¡¯s smile slowly turned into a bitter one; this was the only benefit he could secure for his brothers in the village.


    Almost half of the villagers were born into poverty, choosing this path out of desperation. Let them enjoy a good meal before death. It would also prevent them from going soft when facing the enemy.

 Chapter 636 - 641: Help You Kill Her_1

    Chapter 636: Chapter 641: Help You Kill Her_1After breakfast, there was a panicked cry, "It¡¯s not good, Lord Qin is here with the soldiers, we¡¯re surrounded!"


    Xuan Da struggled to rise from his bed, "They can¡¯t break through, release all the hawks, and everyone follow me to meet the battle."


    "Leader, you don¡¯t seem to be feeling well, how about I go and inform Second Master instead?"


    Xuan Da shook his head, "It¡¯s just a cold, it¡¯s nothing serious."


    Seeing the leader¡¯s resolute attitude, the underling said no more and only notified everyone to prepare for battle.


    This battle would be difficult, but he would hold on.


    At the foot of the mountain, Qin Longyun donned his armor, shedding his scholarly demeanor and looking much more heroic and awe-inspiring. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Assault the mountain!"


    At Qin Longyun¡¯s command, the soldiers charged toward the gates of Xuan Eagle Mountain.


    Armed with sleeve arrows, they were determined to take down this nest of mountain bandits!


    In the past few years, the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had caused no small amount of mischief, now it was time for their retribution!


    Meanwhile, in Big Willow Village.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly opened her eyes, constant pain reminding her that she was not yet dead.


    This place was... her home with Tan Zhenghong.


    She suddenly recalled the warm liquid that had filled her mouth as she was about to lose consciousness, it was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s blood from his wrist, used to save her life. Was he already...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart tightened, she hurriedly looked around.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong was lying right beside her, staring straight at her.


    This was what they call being so concerned that one becomes chaotic, if it had been before, she would have definitely felt someone looking at her.


    "You scared me to death, I thought..."


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish, Tan Zhenghong pressed his lips to hers, "We¡¯re both alive, and that¡¯s wonderful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed all the words of blame she had, leaving only a slightly shy smile.


    They were both serious about their feelings, who had the right to blame whom?


    They were just grateful that fate had allowed them to continue being together.


    "How did I get back here?"


    Tan Zhenghong said awkwardly, "That day Young Master Bai came, he saved you, and after making sure you were fine, I also passed out. It must have been Lord Qin who sent us back."


    Speaking of Bai Yifan, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face suddenly turned cold.


    This time she had nearly fallen into Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s trap, she would definitely reclaim what was owed!


    Tan Zhenghong leaned over and planted a light kiss on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, "My wife, once you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll help you take her down!"


    "Good!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, during her recovery she could just think of a plan.


    The door was suddenly pushed open, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong quickly separated, lying down properly in their spots.


    Because the movement was a bit sudden, both of their heads spun wildly.


    "Duo¡¯er, Ah Hong, you¡¯re finally awake. Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m going to bring you medicine and breakfast," Aunt Huang said joyfully.


    They had been unconscious for a day and were certainly starving.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a deadpan expression, "Does the whole village know about this again?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, just a few close families know. Lord Qin said it¡¯s a crucial time, and we must keep it secret," Chao Lian explained as she brought in water for washing up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly added, "Ah Hong and I have just suffered some minor injuries, we can take care of ourselves."


    "Minor injuries? You were covered in blood when you were brought back, it scared me to death. As for your clothes, I washed out many basins of bloody water."


    She still felt frightened when she remembered how the two of them had looked.


    Doctor Bai had said it was a close call for the both of them.


    As Chao Lian spoke, her hands were busy, having already brought over the squeezed-out towel and saltwater for rinsing next to the bed.

 Chapter 637 - 642: Elmwood Head_1

    Chapter 637: Chapter 642: Elmwood Head_1Qiao Duo¡¯er felt embarrassed, as she was used to doing things herself.


    She had only lost a bit more blood; it wasn¡¯t as if she had lost a limb. Did someone really need to wring out the towel for her?


    Aunt Huang advised, "You¡¯ve both lost so much blood; your bodies are weak, and you could easily fall sick. You must take good care of yourselves. This is just like how a woman needs to recover after giving birth."


    "Auntie, I¡¯m a grown man. Why would I need to follow confinement practices?"


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    The analogy was just too far-fetched!


    "Just think of it as an experience, so when your wife goes through her confinement in the future, you¡¯ll understand and cherish her all the more. Now hurry up, wash your face and come eat!"


    With Chao Lian and Aunt Huang watching them, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong had no choice but to steel themselves and wash up. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By the time they were finished, Aunt Huang had already set up a small table on the bed.


    The bowls and chopsticks were all arranged neatly; the service was extraordinarily attentive.


    Aunt Huang made red dates with peanuts and black rice porridge, Codonopsis and pig liver soup, black-bone chicken soup, and brown sugar eggs, all effective for replenishing blood. Knowing that Qiao Duo¡¯er preferred vegetarian dishes, she also specially stir-fried some greens and spinach.


    After cooking, she kept them warm in the pot, so they would be ready to eat as soon as they woke up.


    "Doctor Bai from town came to see you before and brought a lot of medicine and food. These dishes were prepared according to his instructions."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Once Ah Hong and I are recovered, we¡¯ll go to thank him."


    "Oh, and he said that you¡¯re too weak to eat anything salty. I¡¯ve used less salt, so please make do," Aunt Huang said as she touched her nose, knowing full well how bland the food must taste.


    To this, Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed indifference; when a person is weak, their sense of taste can be affected, and to her, more or less salt didn¡¯t make much of a difference.


    Now, her resentment towards Li Mu¡¯er deepened, and in her mind, she noted yet another grievance.


    After lunch, Aunt Huang cleared away the dishes.


    Seeing that the two were in fairly good spirits, she stayed a while longer in their room.


    "I got these peace talismans from the temple for you to put under your pillows," she said.


    Aunt Huang handed two yellow talisman papers to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er received them and said, "Auntie, did you get them for Da Ya and Er Ya too? They were quite scared during the incident."


    "Of course, I did!" Aunt Huang felt she was being too obvious and quickly added, "I got peace talismans for everyone who went to Black Wind Valley."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er teasingly said, "This is a good opportunity, Auntie. You must watch over your daughter-in-law closely."


    Now that Tan Zhengyuan was incarcerated, his future was set in stone there. With no more concerns from the Huang Family, they could focus solely on treating her and her son well.


    Aunt Huang complained, "That Zhong Zi with his blockhead, he¡¯s driving me crazy."


    "Brother Zhong just had his heart broken; you need to give him time," Tan Zhenghong advised. Matters of the heart can¡¯t be rushed.


    Aunt Huang waved her hand dismissively, "Let him be. As for me, I¡¯ll just treat them as my own family."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er began to feel sleepy after chatting for a while, prompting Aunt Huang to take her leave promptly. It was a good time for her to check on Hu¡¯s Clan, too.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er had had her fill of sleep, it was already dark outside. After lying down all day, her bones felt loose, so she got dressed and prepared to head to the kitchen to make dinner.


    Seeing her come out, Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but grumble, "My lady, you finally woke up. You sleep even more than I do."


    Her arrival was ill-timed. When she had arrived, Qiao Duo¡¯er had just fallen asleep, so she had no choice but to wait outside.


    "Did you sneak out again?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, holding back laughter.


    Now was a critical time in dealing with the mountain bandits; how could Lord Qin possibly allow her to come out?


    If she were to be captured by the people of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, all their efforts would be wasted.

 Chapter 638 - 643: Don’t Want to Know Him!_1

    Chapter 638: Chapter 643: Don¡¯t Want to Know Him!_1Chen Yiling first tugged Qiao Duo¡¯er to sit on the sofa before they started to chat leisurely.


    "It was Lord Qin who sent me here, the garrison troops arrived at White Stone Town last night, he went to lead the way for the garrison troops, and if it weren¡¯t for Bai Yifan, I would have come earlier."


    Chen Yiling said proudly, she too was a person on official duty.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, puzzled, wondered how Bai Yifan had been brought into this again?


    Chen Yiling explained, "That jerk locked himself up in the dungeon, as if he had gone crazy. I tried to talk him out of it for a long time, but he refused to come out, insisting that he deserved it, and I had no clue what was going on."


    "He did it to protect his cousin."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted and spilled everything Li Mu¡¯er had done.


    "Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s uncle is the Lord Tong Zhi of Mansion City; I reckon it won¡¯t be easy to handle this."


    Chen Yiling, chin in hand, looked troubled.


    Given the mess Li Mu¡¯er had made, it wouldn¡¯t be excessive to take her out and chop her, no, at least ten times!


    But her backer was there, making it really difficult to lay a hand on her.


    After all, as long as she didn¡¯t confess, there was nothing anyone could do to her since there was no evidence.


    "No worries, Old Granny Bai¡¯s birthday is coming soon." Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    As long as they met, wouldn¡¯t she have the chance to deal with Li Mu¡¯er?


    Chen Yiling gave a thumbs up, "If you need help, just let me know, and I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s taken care of."


    "You have my word!"


    "I will not break my promise!"


    The two women exchanged smiles, making Tan Zhenghong, who had just arrived, shudder.


    Indeed, women, especially the kind of violent woman like his wife, were creatures not to be offended.


    Yet how could he find her utterly adorable?


    Chen Yiling had brought a big group of people over, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t have to do anything anymore, just eat and drink their fill.


    Not long after they had finished dinner, ChunTao brought them soup.


    "This is the donkey-hide gelatin and beef soup specially made by my young lady, the best for nourishing blood." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly shook her head, "I¡¯m already full, Ah Hong is in there, you can take it to him."


    "No, you and Zheng Hong both have to drink it, I¡¯m here to supervise your recovery!"


    Unable to resist Chen Yiling, Qiao Duo¡¯er reluctantly took the bowl and drank. After drinking half of it, she put it aside.


    Chen Yiling grew anxious and said, "Bring me that Medicine Diet Book of mine, cook various recipes, and make sure Duo¡¯er doesn¡¯t grow tired of the food."


    "I¡¯ll look into it and prepare some supper for you later."


    "Off you go!"


    "Ling¡¯er, have you ever felt that you¡¯re particularly suited for raising pigs?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said, pouting.


    Eating after sleeping, sleeping after eating, she felt she couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "You don¡¯t know the blessings you have; I¡¯ve never even taken care of my parents like this!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er simply felt too powerless to retort; it had been like this for several days. Not just Chen Yiling, but Aunt Huang, Chao Lian, and Hu¡¯s Clan had sent many soups and broths.


    Not only had she replenished her blood, but she had also gained quite a bit of weight, looking much plumper.


    Chen Yiling, satisfied, caressed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cheek, "You¡¯re getting more and more beautiful. If I were a man, I¡¯d marry you."


    "I¡¯ve just barely escaped death; don¡¯t harm me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er increased the distance between them and Chen Yiling, guarding against the possible advances of this female wolf.


    If Lord Qin found out, he would surely think she had seduced Yi Ling, and then he would definitely be harsh with her.


    Indeed... men with strong possessiveness are not to be provoked.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "Don¡¯t mention that jerk to me, I don¡¯t wish to know him at all!"

 Chapter 639 - 644: Favor Love Over Friends?_1

    Chapter 639: Chapter 644: Favor Love Over Friends?_1That bastard going to fight the mountain bandits, she had no objection, but it¡¯s been several days and not even a message, doesn¡¯t he know she would worry?


    Qin Longyun is really heartless!


    The poor girl barely ate and couldn¡¯t sleep well, yet he probably already forgot about her completely.


    Humph, it must be because she turned ugly from being pregnant.


    Chen Yiling imagined a whole bunch of things, and her rage burned even fiercer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er assumed a knowing look, "You¡¯re just saying one thing and meaning another, I know it."


    "I¡¯m not, as soon as Qin Longyun returns, I¡¯m definitely kicking him out. He likes fighting mountain bandits so much, let him do that slowly, it¡¯d be best if he killed all the bandits in the world!"


    Chen Yiling fanned her face with her hand, she was about to explode with anger!


    Chen Yiling had just finished speaking when ChunTao excitedly ran back, "Miss, I heard some good news, it¡¯s about our son-in-law!"


    "Out with it already!"


    Chen Yiling urged, having already forgotten what she¡¯d just said.


    After receiving Qiao Duo¡¯s teasing gaze, her face turned red, the slap to her own face was resoundingly loud.


    But right now, there were more important things to care about.


    "Our son-in-law led his men to break into the bandit¡¯s lair, and all the bandits were captured, they¡¯re already brought back to town!" ChunTao panted.


    Chen Yiling asked anxiously, "Was he hurt?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lord Qin was with a large group of soldiers, he should not have been injured," ChunTao was somewhat uncertain.


    She had hurried back as soon as she got the news, who had time to worry about anything else?


    Chen Yiling laughed heartily, feeling relieved that he had returned safely!


    She never demanded that her man make a name for himself; as long as he could stay by her side, she was perfectly content.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly grabbed hold of Chen Yiling, "Calm down, take care of your belly."


    Chen Yiling took a few deep breaths and her mood finally settled down a little.


    ChunTao squinted and said, "Miss, just rest easy, once Lord Qin is done, he will definitely come to pick you up personally."


    "No need to pick me up, go and pack, Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ve put food for you in the kitchen. I¡¯ll leave two maids to serve you. If there¡¯s any news, I¡¯ll send someone to tell you. Don¡¯t worry, whatever is rightfully yours, I will fight to get it back for you..."


    Chen Yiling wished she could say everything in one breath.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said amusedly, "Okay, okay, I know you just can¡¯t wait to be reunited with Lord Qin, rush back now, and be careful on the way."


    Chen Yiling cleared her throat, "I¡¯m really not valuing romance over friendship."


    She truly worried about Qiao Duo too, and about Qin Longyun, but she could only be with one person.


    Yet saying this still made her feel like she had abandoned Qiao Duo.


    "I know, I¡¯m already fine. You should hurry back and meet up with Lord Qin. You¡¯re taking all his staff with you; he doesn¡¯t even have a single person left to do his work."


    Qiao Duo said, understandingly.


    Actually, she too had thought about returning to her own world with Tan Zhenghong.


    They had been recovering quite well these past days, looking after themselves wasn¡¯t an issue anymore, just needed more rest.


    Chen Yiling nodded vigorously, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re too kind, I¡¯ll make it up to you later."


    "ChunTao is still packing, don¡¯t rush."


    Chen Yiling responded, "I¡¯m not rushing."


    But her actions said otherwise as she briskly climbed into the carriage, her agile movements not at all indicative of her pregnant state.


    Additionally, Qiao Duo had declined Chen Yiling¡¯s kind offer and let her take everyone with her.


    Otherwise, with so many people crowded in the house, it just didn¡¯t feel right.


    After seeing Chen Yiling off, Qiao Duo finally sighed in relief.

 Chapter 640 - 645: World of Two_1

    Chapter 640: Chapter 645: World of Two_1Tan Zhenghong leaned into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and whispered, "Finally, it¡¯s just the two of us again."


    The tone was endlessly suggestive, causing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ears to burn hot. However, if this guy dared to do anything inappropriate, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take up scissors!


    "I¡¯m just saying, I¡¯ll definitely only sleep tonight," Tan Zhenghong immediately conceded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tiptoed to rub Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head: "Good boy, behave and there will be meat for you."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled with greed, meat?


    "I feel like having plain boiled meat, any problem with that?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with an innocent face.


    Fat Fat and Fatty came over wagging their tails, while Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart sank to the bottom, realizing it wasn¡¯t what he had thought.


    Howling, it had been several days since he last had meat!


    "Shouldn¡¯t you be taking your medicine?" Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly asked.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded. Could there be a chance for a turnaround?


    Without a change in expression, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "I¡¯ll boil the medicine for you this time."


    Tan Zhenghong wanted to refuse but received a glaring eye roll, and he had no choice but to swallow his words.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind was working overtime. To prevent Tan Zhenghong from noticing anything amiss, she quickly slipped into the kitchen.


    She needed to be careful with their diet in this period, or her plan to get pregnant with a bun in the spring would be ruined.


    Left standing there, a bewildered Tan Zhenghong wondered what that all meant.


    Was she letting him eat meat or not?


    Seeing that Fat Fat and Fatty had already followed into the kitchen, he chased after them.


    "Wife, whatever you want to do, just tell me!" Tan Zhenghong said eagerly.


    "You can take care of the fire, warm up the room," she answered.


    "Alright!"


    ...


    In the afternoon, at the Government Office¡¯s jail.


    Li Mu¡¯er was pacing anxiously.


    "Miss, don¡¯t worry, Young Master Bai will definitely forgive you," Cai Ping tried to console her young mistress.


    Ever since Young Master Bai had himself locked up, her mistress had been visiting him every day.


    But... she was turned away every single time.


    Annoyed, Li Mu¡¯er said, "Stop saying useless things, hurry up and think of something. I must get in today!"


    Cai Ping shrank her neck, her mind racing.


    Li Mu¡¯er loved taking her anger out on others, and if they couldn¡¯t grant her wishes, it was the servants who would suffer.


    As her personal Maid, Cai Ping was held in high regard by Li Mu¡¯er, but at the end of the day, she was still just a Maid. In Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s eyes, servants were even lower than animals, so she decided to be extra cautious.


    "Miss Li, Young Master Bai still doesn¡¯t want to see you, please leave," the Government Official said quietly, looking down.


    He knew about the young lady¡¯s temper; it was better to avoid provoking her.


    "Get out of the way, let me in!" Li Mu¡¯er demanded obstinately.


    The Government Official helplessly explained, "But Young Master Bai said... if we let you in, it would be our dereliction of duty, and also mentioned that the accused isn¡¯t allowed to see family before the trial."


    This was basic knowledge, to prevent collusion. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He hasn¡¯t committed any crime, he¡¯s not a criminal. Move aside now, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!"


    Having said that, Li Mu¡¯er, accompanied by Cai Ping, tried to barge into the prison. She was determined to see Bai Yifan today!


    Otherwise, she would definitely go mad!


    The Government Official stretched out his hand to block their way: "This is the jail, and there are rules here. Miss Li, please be reasonable."


    "We are just servants; if something goes wrong, we might not even be able to keep our livelihoods."


    Another Government Official joined in to persuade her. Currently, the jail was also holding members of the Yin Family, and they couldn¡¯t afford to be negligent.


    Angered, Li Mu¡¯er glared at Cai Ping. What a useless creature, completely ineffective when needed most!

 Chapter 641 - 646 Who Harassed Whom?_1

    Chapter 641: Chapter 646 Who Harassed Whom?_1Cai Ping gritted her teeth and suddenly rushed at the Government Official, her hands firmly protecting her chest.


    "How can you be like this? Daring to molest a married woman in broad daylight!"


    "She¡¯s still an innocent girl, how is she supposed to face anyone after this?"


    "Help, someone is trying to assault me!"


    "Assault! Lord Qin¡¯s subordinates are trying to molest someone, help!"


    Cai Ping cried very convincingly, and although her act was full of holes, she successfully attracted the attention of others. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even those on duty in the prison gathered around.


    "She is Miss Li¡¯s Maid, how can you be doing this?"


    "Exactly, at least give Young Master Bai some respect, be more courteous, or no one can save you!"


    "Even if she wasn¡¯t the Li Family¡¯s Maid, you can¡¯t do such a disgraceful thing."


    The Government Official anxiously explained, "I really didn¡¯t do anything, I¡¯m not that kind of person!"


    "You¡¯re not a real man! If I hadn¡¯t dodged quickly just now, who knows what would have happened. I don¡¯t care, I must speak to Lord Qin to get to the bottom of this."


    Cai Ping was very assertive.


    The Head Jailer quickly said, "Miss, there must be some misunderstanding here, he¡¯s usually the most honest and wouldn¡¯t do such a thing."


    "So you mean to say I¡¯m falsely accusing him?" Cai Ping relentlessly asked.


    "Absolutely not, you damn son of a turtle, what are you standing there for? Kneel down and apologize to her right now!"


    The head prison guard gave a knowing look, thinking it was best to diminish the incident.


    The Government Official clenched his teeth and said, "I didn¡¯t plan to molest her at all, it was she who threw herself at me and tried to molest me, why should I apologize?"


    Although he was just a jailer, he was a man!


    A man of flesh and blood and temper!


    "How ridiculous, I¡¯m not blind. Looking at how you appear, I wouldn¡¯t take you even if you were a gift, let alone molest you!" Cai Ping said disdainfully.


    The falsely accused Government Official was about to explode with anger, "It was clearly you who threw yourself at me!"


    "Why would I throw myself at you? For your person or for your Silver?" Cai Ping asked scornfully.


    "You... I..."


    The Government Official couldn¡¯t explain himself, he had nothing to his name, certainly not worth coveting, yet this woman had for some inexplicable reason come at him just now.


    Cai Ping said proudly, "Speechless, aren¡¯t you? People like you deserve a lifetime of bachelorhood!"


    Her sharp and mean words made everyone feel repulsed.


    Maids were lowborn, destined to serve others their whole lives, who gave her the audacity to act so high and mighty?


    "I need to ask Lord Qin what kind of people he employs!"


    Cai Ping displayed her talent for being unreasonably troublesome, and yet none of the men could do anything about her.


    While a crowd of people argued heatedly, Li Mu¡¯er took the opportunity to slip inside.


    She quickly found Bai Yifan¡¯s quarters.


    Bai Yifan, being a friend of Qin Longyun, received special treatment from the jailers. His cell had been tidied up with a bed and a table and chairs cobbled together.


    The conditions were still poor but could be considered a high-end cell.


    Upon seeing who had arrived, Bai Yifan turned his back, not wishing to spare even an additional glance.


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s face was as black as the bottom of a pot, but for the sake of her image in Bai Yifan¡¯s heart, she had to suppress even the biggest emotions.


    "Cousin, you¡¯ve been living here for several days, come back with me," Li Mu¡¯er said softly.


    Bai Yifan didn¡¯t utter a word.


    Li Mu¡¯er could only continue to persuade, "You haven¡¯t come home in days, Grandmother is very worried, she¡¯s been talking about you constantly. Please go back and see her."

 Chapter 642 - 647: A Clean Break

    Chapter 642: Chapter 647: A Clean BreakAfter a long wait, Bai Yifan still hadn¡¯t spoken, and Li Mu¡¯er said impatiently, "That woman is still alive and kicking; do you really need to be like this?"


    "Do you think locking yourself away in here will move her, and she¡¯ll throw herself into your arms?"


    "Stop dreaming. She doesn¡¯t like you. No matter how much you do for her, she won¡¯t like you!"


    Bai Yifan turned around, his eyes a sheet of ice.


    His gaze made Li Mu¡¯er shrink back, but what followed was even more rage.


    "Am I wrong? You¡¯re pouring your heart out for her, and she¡¯s being all lovey-dovey with another man. Don¡¯t you hate her at all?"


    "I¡¯ve misjudged someone in the past, and from now on, you¡¯re no longer my cousin."


    He had always thought Li Mu¡¯er was still a child, na?ve and kind-hearted, but now he realized how utterly unreasonable she was.


    She nearly killed so many people, and yet she didn¡¯t feel a shred of guilt!


    Did she truly regard human life as worthless in her eyes?


    Li Mu¡¯er blinked in disbelief; her cousin had never been so fierce with her.


    If it weren¡¯t for the door separating them, he might actually come over and beat her up.


    "Do you still remember what you promised my mother?" Li Mu¡¯er asked with tears in her eyes.


    She looked pitiful with her tear-stained face, utterly heart wrenching.


    Yet, Bai Yifan couldn¡¯t feel the slightest pity for her.


    "Before my aunt passed away, I promised her I would take good care of you, but back then, you weren¡¯t the cold-hearted person you are now," Bai Yifan said, greatly disappointed with Li Mu¡¯er.


    He had given her chances, but all he got in return was her becoming even worse.


    This time she dared to plot against someone else¡¯s life, what about next time?


    Li Mu¡¯er scoffed lightly, "I was merely taking back what belongs to me. Is that also wrong?"


    "First, even without Duo¡¯er, you are still just my cousin. Second, I am a person, not someone¡¯s property."


    Pausing, Bai Yifan then said, "This time, for my aunt¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t punish you. I will arrange for someone to send you back, and from now on, you are not allowed to come back to White Stone Town."


    From this point forward, everyone would go their separate ways.


    Li Mu¡¯er bit her lip in hatred, soon tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.


    Why did her cousin have to treat her like this?


    All she did was love him and want to win his heart. Was that so wrong?


    As for Qiao Duo¡¯er, a mere village girl daring to covet her possessions deserved to die! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Send Miss Li back, and deliver this letter to Master Li," Bai Yifan said to the people behind Li Mu¡¯er.


    To prevent Li Mu¡¯er from harming Qiao Duo¡¯er any further, he had kept her under surveillance.


    Even if Li Mu¡¯er returned to Mansion City, these two would not withdraw.


    "Cousin, are you trying to take my life?" Li Mu¡¯er asked, staring directly at Bai Yifan.


    If her father knew about her actions, he would definitely kill her!


    Bai Yifan said indifferently, "I¡¯m just reminding my uncle to discipline you. As for the rest, take care of yourself."


    Li Mu¡¯er said each word deliberately, "I hate you."


    "Thanks to you, I will never forgive myself in this lifetime," Bai Yifan said with a bitter smile.


    Qiao Duo hated evil, and she would be utterly disgusted by his covering up for a suspect. Perhaps they wouldn¡¯t even be able to remain friends in the future.


    "Miss Li, the aura here is too gloomy; you should hurry up and leave," the young servant suggested, making a welcoming gesture.


    Li Mu¡¯er, holding back the tears about to spill from her eyes, fled from the prison like one escaping.


    She had always been so proud, intelligent, and beautiful, receiving praises wherever she went. She never thought she would have such a humiliating moment.

 Chapter 643 - 648: Absolutely No Next Time_1

    Chapter 643: Chapter 648: Absolutely No Next Time_1Li Mu¡¯er was asked to leave, and Bai Yifan sighed, his brows tightly furrowed.


    What was the point of locking himself up here?


    After all, it was because he was weak, he wanted to escape, to use this way to reduce his guilt.


    But no matter how many days he stayed in prison, it wouldn¡¯t make up for the harm Qiao Duo¡¯er had suffered.


    Seeing Bai Yifan so tangled, Chen Yiling said indifferently, "Li Mu¡¯er is Li Mu¡¯er, and you are you. Why punish yourself for what she did?"


    Bai Yifan felt truly suffocated having such a cousin.


    Qin Longyun was busy with official duties and had been called away after only a few words with her, so she took the opportunity to come and see for herself.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that heartless woman to be there, so she could only watch from the sidelines.


    Upon Chen Yiling¡¯s arrival, Bai Yifan had completely forgotten everyone else; he only wanted to know about Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition.


    But because of the guilt in his heart, he didn¡¯t dare to look Chen Yiling in the eye.


    "How is Duo¡¯er?"


    "Though she didn¡¯t die, the blood loss was severe enough for a long recovery. I hope next time she can be just as lucky," Chen Yiling said with concern.


    Thinking back to when she saw Qiao Duo¡¯er, her petite face had turned a ghastly pale gray.


    Bai Yifan muttered, "I¡¯ve already made her leave White Stone Town; she won¡¯t have the chance to hurt Duo¡¯er again."


    "Let¡¯s hope so," Chen Yiling responded noncommittally.


    Because she felt Li Mu¡¯er wouldn¡¯t let things go easily.


    That woman¡¯s animosity towards Qiao Duo¡¯er was understandable, but what about Qin Longyun and those guards?


    Especially those guards, whom she had never met and bore no grudge against.


    Yet Li Mu¡¯er didn¡¯t hesitate to strike, showing she had indeed become mad.


    To stop her, there were only two ways: one was for her to get what she wanted, the other was for her to die.


    "I¡¯ve spoken with my uncle; he will not turn a blind eye, and I¡¯ve also sent people to watch her," Bai Yifan said slowly, as if convincing himself.


    Chen Yiling suddenly thought of something; that was Qiao Duo¡¯er wanting to settle scores herself.


    If Bai Yifan still favored Li Mu¡¯er then, it would truly be annoying.


    So she needed to preemptively prevent it, "Then swear that if there¡¯s a next time, you will absolutely not favor her."


    "She¡¯s no longer my cousin, what reason would I have to favor her?" Qin Longyun said indifferently.


    The first time, it was Li Mu¡¯er arranging for thugs to trouble Qiao Duo¡¯er, and he had pointed it out to her, saying he had always thought of her as a sister.


    The second time was when Li Mu¡¯er signaled Xuan San, and he had warned her not to harm Duo¡¯er again.


    His tolerance the previous two times had nearly cost Duo¡¯er her life, if there was another time, he would never let her off.


    "It¡¯s good that you understand; Lord Qin has just apprehended quite a few bandits, and you should clear a place for them. There are also many soldiers injured, you wouldn¡¯t just stand by, would you?"


    Bai Yifan gave a bow of his hand, "I know what to do." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having achieved her goal, Chen Yiling turned to leave with ChunTao.


    "ChunTao, find a way to have a maid placed inside Li¡¯s residence; should that woman make any moves, report back immediately," Chen Yiling said solemnly.


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s features had twisted as she left; it always left Chen Yiling feeling uneasy.


    ChunTao immediately agreed, "I¡¯ll go right away."


    The two walked around the courtyard a bit longer, estimating that Qin Longyun should be returning, and then they went back to the inner court.


    But when they arrived home, there was still no sign of Qin Longyun.


    Chen Yiling said in frustration, "Damn, it would¡¯ve been better to stay at Duo¡¯er¡¯s house, where there was someone to talk to."


    She hadn¡¯t expected to return so eagerly, only for Qin Longyun to pour cold water on her enthusiasm.

 Chapter 644 - 649: Give You Face?_1

    Chapter 644: Chapter 649: Give You Face?_1That bastard said he¡¯d come back and have lunch with you soon, but it¡¯s been over half an hour!


    "Miss, you can¡¯t always frown like that; it will affect the little master¡¯s mood." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling sat down in a huff, "Why do I feel like he¡¯s avoiding me? Is it because he really doesn¡¯t want to see me?"


    "You¡¯re definitely overthinking it. He¡¯s just suppressing the bandits now, and there are many things to deal with afterward."


    ChunTao tried to persuade her tirelessly.


    Women do get over-anxious when they are pregnant. Without timely consolation, they can easily get upset.


    Chen Yiling nodded; it should be that way, right?


    Although she was a bit pregnant, it still had nothing to do with ugliness.


    But this thought was like poison; once it emerged, it couldn¡¯t be dismissed.


    Alas, why was she so insecure?


    She had never been like this before.


    ChunTao poured a glass of water for Chen Yiling, and she sipped from the cup, still full of worries.


    "Miss, if you have anything on your mind, just talk about it. We can think of something together."


    Chen Yiling put down the cup and said resignedly, "ChunTao, I might as well clear the air, and from now on, you can just stay in the room and serve."


    After bearing a child, the wives of wealthy families usually arrange for a concubine to retain their husband¡¯s affection.


    If she had to do the same, she would rather it be ChunTao.


    They¡¯d grown up together, and ChunTao definitely wouldn¡¯t harbor any thoughts of harming her.


    Before Chen Yiling could finish, ChunTao quickly knelt down, "Miss, I have been your maid all my life, never daring to overstep my bounds."


    Her miss treated her well, and if she became a concubine, their relationship as master and servant would certainly be affected.


    Moreover, the master only had eyes for the miss, and she wouldn¡¯t be happy being taken in as a concubine.


    She¡¯d rather marry a common man and become a main wife.


    "I know you¡¯ve never thought about it that way, but with someone else, I might go crazy."


    Chen Yiling quickly helped ChunTao up.


    But she was being selfish in doing so; she knew ChunTao wouldn¡¯t compete with her, but which woman wouldn¡¯t want her husband¡¯s affection?


    "The master said he wouldn¡¯t take concubines. Miss, don¡¯t think too much," ChunTao almost cried, distressed by her miss¡¯s terrible thoughts.


    Chen Yiling said irritably, "But I always feel he doesn¡¯t like me anymore and always wants to run outside."


    If he kept a woman outside and fathered a few more children, wouldn¡¯t she be disgusted to death?


    Maybe that woman outside would use some tricks, and she¡¯d be pushed away, just like her mother said; she had a foul temper and wore her heart on her sleeve, easily crushed in three rounds.


    "ChunTao, you go out first," said Qin Longyun with a stern face.


    ChunTao ran out like a wisp of smoke as if chased by a demon.


    Chen Yiling quickly stood up, her head bowed, "How come you enter without even knocking on the door?"


    She was sitting with her back to the door, and almost scared to death when she suddenly heard Qin Longyun speak.


    "If I had knocked, how would I know that my wife is so dissatisfied with me?" Qin Longyun said, squinting his eyes.


    That look made Chen Yiling¡¯s heart thump violently because every time Qin Longyun looked like that, it meant he was angry.


    Chen Yiling, clutching the hem of her dress, said uneasily, "I¡¯m pregnant and it¡¯s inconvenient for me, so I thought... I thought of getting you a concubine."


    "I¡¯ll say it again, in this life, I¡¯ll only sleep with you," Qin Longyun said through clenched teeth.


    No matter how good others were, they couldn¡¯t catch his eye.


    "Doesn¡¯t that make you uncomfortable?"


    Chen Yiling awkwardly asked. Asking such a direct question made her face blush, a proper lady like her blushing enough to drip blood.

 Chapter 645 - 650: Don’t You Still Have Hands?_1

    Chapter 645: Chapter 650: Don¡¯t You Still Have Hands?_1"Didn¡¯t I get by all those years before I married you?" Qin Longyun rolled his eyes.


    He always thought his self-control was quite good, so how had he become a man who thought about that all the time in Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes?


    "Are you serious?"


    Qin Longyun nodded earnestly, "Besides, don¡¯t you still have your hands?"


    "You..." Chen Yiling was at a loss for words.


    Could he be a little more subtle? She wanted to crawl into a hole right now!


    "There¡¯s no one else in the room, what¡¯s there to be shy about? I¡¯m swamped with official duties, and it¡¯s piled up like a mountain. Otherwise, I¡¯d love to be with you every day; seeing you is what makes me happy."


    Qin Longyun pressed his forehead against Chen Yiling¡¯s, his eyes brimming with tenderness that couldn¡¯t be dissolved.


    In the morning, he was so busy he could hardly concentrate, and he felt a bit off while talking with his wife. He hadn¡¯t expected her to worry so much.


    The innocent ChunTao got dragged into this as well.


    "Then you should hurry up and finish your work," Chen Yiling pouted, her voice dripping with charm.


    "Alright,"


    Qin Longyun agreed readily. With the bandits and the Yin Family¡¯s issues expected to be resolved before the year¡¯s end, he could look forward to spending a peaceful New Year.


    Moreover, apart from these two issues, there were no other significant concerns in White Stone County, so their everyday life would become very leisurely.


    After having dinner with Chen Yiling, Qin Longyun hurried off again.


    ChunTao walked around outside the door several times before finally mustering the courage to enter.


    "Madam, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to talk to you about," ChunTao said, steeling herself.


    Chen Yiling nodded. She was in a good mood right now, so whatever ChunTao would ask, she would agree to.


    It took ChunTao a long time to muster up the words, "I... I want to marry Shu Wei."


    "Shu Wei? The constable who hardly talks?"


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes widened with surprise; she had always thought that ChunTao wasn¡¯t familiar with that constable.


    Uncomfortably, ChunTao asked, "Madam, you... you know him?"


    "I¡¯ve seen him in the back yard a few times. He said he came to get something for Lord Qin, but he didn¡¯t really take much," Chen Yiling suddenly understood, "Was he coming to see you?"


    Chen Yiling smacked her forehead, realizing why she always found that man a bit odd.


    "Madam, nothing inappropriate has happened between us, I swear," ChunTao quickly pledged.


    Maiden mingling with someone in secret would damage the master¡¯s reputation, so her Madam disliked these messy situations the most.


    "That lad seems honest enough; I¡¯ll look into it for you, and if he¡¯s suitable, I¡¯ll decide to betroth you to him."


    Chen Yiling said generously; ChunTao was getting on in years, and it would be a happy thing for her to find a place to settle down.


    "Madam, I want to stay a few more years,"


    ChunTao said, her face flushed red.


    Chen Yiling said with a mischievous smile, "I¡¯m not going to let you go so soon. You need to train a replacement first and take care of me until I give birth. Then, I¡¯ll be able to give you your Servitude Contract."


    Over the years, she had grown accustomed to having ChunTao by her side; it would take a while to wean herself off.


    "Madam, I... I don¡¯t want it." ChunTao hastily declined.


    "I don¡¯t want your child to serve someone as well."


    When ChunTao entered their household, she signed a contract binding her to servitude for life, which placed her in a lower status. Her fate, and even life or death, was in the hands of her masters, and she was forbidden from marrying a commoner, with any offspring also entering into servitude.


    She might not care about others, but ChunTao was different.


    ChunTao tried to kneel, but Chen Yiling quickly stopped her, "Don¡¯t just kneel at every turn, I don¡¯t see you as an outsider."


    "Thank you, Madam, but even without the contract, I still want to serve you."


    "Alright, come and keep me company when you have time."


    ChunTao was filled with gratitude and served with even more dedication. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had always known that her Madam was kind to her, but she never imagined that her Madam would even give back her Servitude Contract.

 Chapter 646 - 651: Embroidery Room Grand Opening_1

    Chapter 646: Chapter 651: Embroidery Room Grand Opening_1Soon, another occurrence set the people of White Stone County abuzz once again.


    Because the Imperial Court had sent Yu Zhen over, and Yu Zhen was a renowned righteous official known throughout the country. It was estimated that the Yin Family case would be settled in a matter of days!


    Chen Yiling, however, was filled with resentment; since the follow-up matters of the bandit suppression were tied with the Yin Family¡¯s case, Qin Longyun became even busier.


    He would leave before she woke up and only come back after she had fallen asleep.


    But this was also good, once they were both done with their work, he would have time to keep her company.


    After a few more days of recuperating at home, Qiao Duo¡¯er put the matters of the Embroidery Room on her agenda.


    Amidst a flurry of firecracker blasts, the Embroidery Room opened for business.


    "The working hours of the Embroidery Room are from the beginning of the Morning to the end of the Afternoon, but due to the heavy workload during this period, those willing can work an extra two hours each day, with a meal subsidy for dinner. For overtime, the embroidery pieces will earn an extra twenty percent payment. Wages will be settled at the end of each month. Everyone work hard, and I won¡¯t treat you unfairly,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a simple and blunt speech to open the business.


    After all, writing and listening to fancy, flowery words would have been beyond most people¡¯s understanding and interest.


    "Overtime is good, it means more money to ease life in the village," Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why just an extra two hours? Wife of Zheng Hong, can I stay a little longer?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "The working hours are already quite long, if we extend them further, it¡¯s difficult to guarantee the quality, and it¡¯s not good for your health either."


    "Then what will we eat in the Embroidery Room?"


    "Each meal consists of two steamed buns, two dishes, and a soup for each person. Grandma Zhao will take care of it every day,"


    The Grandma Zhao whom Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke of was the same old woman who had insisted on giving her eggs the other time.


    Since her son and daughter-in-law had left, she injured her eyes crying, so Qiao Duo¡¯er gave her the cooking duties.


    Of course, her cooking skills also justified the wages that Qiao Duo¡¯er paid her.


    "Can I go back to check on my child at noon?"


    "I want to go back and see my little melon too, they are so naughty."


    "You are free to manage your time at noon, but there are rules: First, no outsiders are allowed in, second, nothing from the Embroidery Room is to be taken out, and third, the afternoon work must not be delayed."


    Many were disappointed, as they had hoped to let their children come in to warm up and have a meal at noon.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er made her point clear, so they had to let go of the idea.


    Finding long-term work in the village was not easy for these women, and if they lost this job, they might cry their eyes blind, right?


    "Let me talk about the personnel assignments: Chao Lian will be in charge of the designs and patterns, Fat Aunt takes care of the Embroidery Room management, and Grandma Zhao will handle the cooking and cleanliness of the Embroidery Room,"


    "I will write down the rules of the Embroidery Room on paper, along with corresponding punishment measures. I hope everyone strictly follows them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er emphasized the rules once again; without strict rules, the Embroidery Room would not thrive.


    Seeing that no one objected, Qiao Duo¡¯er let them enter the Embroidery Room.


    By then, Grandma Zhao had already warmed up the ground dragon, making the room cozy and warm.


    Additionally, water for washing hands had been prepared.


    Each room had two basins, and everyone had to wash their hands in turn before starting to embroider; many did not understand why.


    Fat Aunt explained, "From now on, everyone must clean their hands twice, in the morning and at noon, and then apply fragrance paste. These are all good things for nurturing the hands, so try to use them sparingly."


    "Is all this fuss really necessary?"


    The time taken to wash hands was enough for her to stitch several stitches.


    "In the future, there will be silk embroidery pieces. If your hands are too rough, they will scratch the fabric, and I will not hand out the material to you," said Fat Aunt earnestly.

 Chapter 647 - 652 Enough Meat Tubes!_1

    Chapter 647: Chapter 652 Enough Meat Tubes!_1"That hand must be healed properly; embroidering a silk shoe upper is worth several of the others."


    "It¡¯s not just about having a healed hand; without the embroidery skills, it¡¯s all for naught."


    "Stop chattering, others are waiting behind!"


    "This fragrance paste is really nice to use, it feels so comfortable on my hands, much better than what I bought at Xiang Bao Zhai!" a woman said with glee.


    "I feel like my hands have become smoother instantly!"


    Having the opportunity to work in the embroidery room, she must have accumulated blessings from eight lifetimes!


    This was Chen Yiling¡¯s method taught to Duo¡¯er, heating beeswax and liquid fats until they melted, followed by adding essence extracted from flowers, then pouring it into molds, and once the mixture cooled, it became solid fragrance paste.


    Even though the method was simple, the moisturizing effect was good and lasted a long time.


    "Just for the Ground Dragon and fragrance paste alone, we should come here; otherwise, we might never get to use such fine things in our entire lives."


    "Being here really is a blessing; the food and items are much better than at home, and the wages are higher too!"


    Fragrance paste is expensive, beyond the means of common families; even if they could afford it, they¡¯ve never used anything of this quality.


    Some wished they could scoop out the entire box to take with them, while others carefully applied just a little, creating very different impressions with just that small amount.


    Of course, true colors show over time, and it¡¯s too early to come to a conclusion now.


    "This place is nice, but you all have to earn this treatment; if you don¡¯t pass the assessment, you¡¯ll still have to go home to hardship."


    Fat Aunt reminded them, feeling uncomfortable seeing those who treated the embroidery room as a place to enjoy themselves.


    This is an embroidery room, not heaven.


    The Embroidery Ladies hastily dropped their celebratory expressions, having forgotten about this detail.


    The embroidery room has monthly assessments, with those not meeting the production and quality standards being encouraged to leave.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dealt decisively with the Tan Family Members; she would be even less courteous to these unrelated individuals, so they best be cautious.


    At least for now, they needed to stay humble and wait for the situation to become clearer.


    After washing their hands, Fat Aunt assigned them seats and distributed the embroidery pieces and threads. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Today is everyone¡¯s first day in the embroidery room; show your best skills, as you will be divided into three levels afterwards, and different tasks will be assigned accordingly."


    Fat Aunt reminded everyone while distributing materials.


    The higher the level, the better the materials and the more complicated the patterns they were assigned, with corresponding higher wages.


    To achieve a better ranking, everyone embroidered with great care.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er toured the two embroidery rooms before visiting the small room set aside for Chao Lian.


    Chao Lian was in charge of drawing the patterns and needed a quiet environment.


    Right now, Chao Lian was what Qiao Duo¡¯er was most concerned about in the whole embroidery room.


    Among the Embroidery Ladies, a few were worldly-wise with sharp tongues, and with Chao Lian¡¯s soft nature, if she clashed with them, she likely wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.


    "Chao Lian, you¡¯ll be in charge here; you can¡¯t afford to be self-effacing."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    "Erhu has told me, what¡¯s good is good, and what¡¯s bad is bad. If someone doesn¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll keep arguing until they acknowledge it," Chao Lian said, eyes twinkling with laughter; marriage and Erhu¡¯s protection had gradually erased her timidity.


    Now, even if a member of Jiang¡¯s Clan stood before her, she dared to argue a few points.


    "After getting married, you¡¯ve started to show some temper, which is a good sign. But I bet Erhu must hate me for making you work here," Qiao Duo¡¯er teased.


    Chao Lian shook her head quickly: "We can¡¯t thank you enough. I know that by following you, there will be meat to eat."


    When it came to the issue of eating meat, Qiao Duo¡¯er could confidently say, there will be plenty!

 Chapter 648 - 653: The Scholar’s Sister?_1

    Chapter 648: Chapter 653: The Scholar¡¯s Sister?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er brought up another matter, which was the Embroidery Room¡¯s need for more workers.


    "I think the Embroidery Room can accommodate twelve more people. Tomorrow, have Erhu take you to other villages to recruit people. The selection pool in just our village is too narrow."


    It¡¯s hard to find individuals who are both skilled and have good character. Even the Fat Aunt from Big Willow Village could only find those few people.


    In this way, the villagers will feel that there are only a few good artisans available, so if not us, who else will they use?


    With this mindset, it¡¯s inevitable that they would become passive and neglect their duties.


    "I met a few people when I went to town to sell embroidery products before, I¡¯ll reach out to them. If they¡¯re interested, you can review them afterward."


    "If you think they¡¯re good, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll come by to have a look when I¡¯m free."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still searching for products suited for Duo Meifang and couldn¡¯t make the time. Besides, she wanted to give Chao Lian a chance.


    She hoped that Chao Lian could, like Hu¡¯s Clan Big Girl, create her own place in the world.


    In a panicked tone, Chao Lian said, "How could I be capable? You need to oversee this, otherwise I won¡¯t feel secure." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This task is yours now, don¡¯t disappoint me. This is everything Ah Hong and I have," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she firmly decided on the matter, leaving Chao Lian no chance to refuse.


    Chao Lian was nearly frantic. How could she shoulder such a huge responsibility?


    What if something went wrong?


    Wasn¡¯t it initially agreed that she only needed to manage the quality of the embroidery and design patterns? Why had it suddenly changed?


    "Recruiting a few people is not a big deal, and besides, isn¡¯t Erhu there with you? Also, it¡¯s not safe for the girls from outside the village to travel at night. It¡¯s best to arrange for a bull cart to transport them, and the Embroidery Room will cover the cost."


    Chao Lian was not eloquent, but Erhu was. Erhu could be careless, but Chao Lian was meticulous.


    They complemented each other, and working together would be best.


    With the mention of Erhu, Chao Lian finally relaxed a bit. She would give it a try, and if it didn¡¯t work out, they would find someone else.


    If she caused any loss to Qiao Duo¡¯er, she would reimburse her with silver. This way, she could make peace with her conscience.


    "Then I¡¯ll also take a look at the distribution of the surrounding villages to minimize expenses," Chao Lian said weakly.


    She knew that the Tan Family had saved up some silver, the amount of which she dared not contemplate.


    They needed to stock up for next year¡¯s shop opening, and there hadn¡¯t been much income recently due to the Yin Family¡¯s misdeeds, so saving every little bit counted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs-up: "You can tell you know how to manage a household. However, necessary expenses must still be met, with personal safety being of utmost importance."


    Otherwise, an accident could lead to much greater compensation.


    Chao Lian earnestly took on the responsibility, her mind already busy planning related matters.


    Da Tao Village and Da Xing Village could be visited on the way, with one bull cart managing the transport.


    Dali Village was in another direction and would require a separate cart.


    Seeing Chao Lian with all her worries, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt relieved.


    Chao Lian wasn¡¯t without means; she just lacked a bit of confidence. However, with time, she would realize her worth.


    Outside the Embroidery Room, Little Wang Clan took several turns but couldn¡¯t bring herself to enter.


    Considering what she had done to the fourth branch of the family in the past, she couldn¡¯t face entering because Qiao Duo¡¯er certainly wouldn¡¯t welcome her warmly.


    But now, given her family¡¯s situation, she desperately needed a job.


    "Hey, isn¡¯t that the Scholar¡¯s sister? You¡¯re not thinking of working here too, are you?" said a woman sarcastically.


    After Little Wang Clan¡¯s son became a Scholar, she practically held her head to the sky, and the thought of her smug face was still nauseating.


    But good times don¡¯t last forever, and tragedy soon struck.


    The Wang Family¡¯s son fell off a horse while racing, landed on his face, not only ruining his appearance but also blinding one eye. Thereafter, he had no chance of holding an official position.

 Chapter 649 - 654: Mouth sores_1

    Chapter 649: Chapter 654: Mouth sores_1Hmph, she just knew that fake things don¡¯t last!


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s face turned a shade of greenish white, she now hated it most when people referred to her as the Scholar¡¯s older sister.


    After Wang Xiaofeng became a Scholar, she even sold two acres of land to fund his studies, but he turned into a hopeless case just days after obtaining the title. All the silver she gave him had gone to waste!


    That she hadn¡¯t died of anger was already quite generous of her.


    The woman continued to mock, "Back then you instigated the expulsion of the Fourth Boss¡¯s family, and now how do you have the face to come here?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, what a pity, you say. If you weren¡¯t so cheap, wouldn¡¯t your days be much more comfortable now?"


    "But this is what they call the wheel of fortune turning. You¡¯ve enjoyed your prosperity for too long, and now it¡¯s time to pay it back."


    Her thinking was simple, if she could drive Little Wang Clan away, she would have one less competitor.


    After all, Little Wang Clan had some connection to the Tan Family, which definitely gave her an edge over the others.


    "This is our family¡¯s matter, what does it have to do with you? Mind your own business!"


    Little Wang Clan rolled her eyes, wishing she could strangle the woman to death.


    This year was her benming year, truly an ill-fated one!


    As if losing money wasn¡¯t enough, she even ran into a gossipy woman while looking for Qiao Duo.


    There was quite a crowd gathered at the entrance of the Embroidery Room, all women hoping to find work there.


    Seeing that there was a commotion here, they all came over to join in on the excitement.


    It was freezing now, and few people were out and about; they were all just bored.


    "How disgraceful for you to be working here, doesn¡¯t it shame the Scholar? If my brother were a Scholar, he would certainly provide for me."


    "People say ¡¯a poor Scholar, a gold Advanced Scholar, silver Master,¡¯ if he can¡¯t even support himself after becoming a Scholar, what will he use to provide for you?"


    "Ah? Isn¡¯t our village¡¯s Master Zhou a Scholar?


    "That¡¯s different, Master Zhou is learned. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had to care for his young siblings, he could definitely become an Advanced Scholar."


    "Master Zhou became a Teacher after he was named a Scholar; the Owner really values him. He didn¡¯t go out to drink and gamble."


    "I even heard that the Wang Family kid only became a Scholar because he had connections on high."


    Little Wang Clan said angrily, "All you do is spout nonsense, aren¡¯t you afraid of getting sores on your mouth?"


    "Oh wow, how scary! The last time I visited my maternal home, I heard that your brother saved an official, who promised that your brother could at least become a Scholar, right? That¡¯s what your mother said with her own mouth."


    "If anyone¡¯s going to get sores, it¡¯ll be your mother!"


    Inside, Little Wang Clan was roaring. How could her mother not keep her mouth shut?


    She had been clearly instructed not to let it slip when she was told about it.


    Yet her mother had let practically every village around know!


    Just as Little Wang Clan was preparing to leave the scene in dismay, the door to the Embroidery Room opened.


    "Look, the Fourth Boss¡¯s wife is coming out!"


    Everyone pushed Little Wang Clan to the back of their minds and quickly blocked Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s path.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was generous with people, and the treatment at the Embroidery Room was surely not bad.


    "Duo¡¯er, is the Embroidery Room still hiring?"


    Qiao Duo explained, "Fat Aunt is in charge of hiring people from our village, everyone can go to her to sign up."


    "I have a feud with Fat Aunt, with her there I won¡¯t be able to enter the Embroidery Room in this lifetime, but look at what I¡¯ve embroidered. Although it¡¯s not much, it still ranks well in the village!"


    Qiao Duo glanced at it, impatience flashing across her eyes.


    Did this woman think the whole world was made up of fools?


    The handkerchief was clearly marked with the logo of the Ji Xiang Cloth Shop; this meant it was embroidered by an embroiderer from the Ji Xiang Cloth Shop!


    However, Qiao Duo quickly realized what was wrong, and it was all due to illiteracy.


    It seemed her insistence on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s studying was an absolutely correct decision, as at least he wouldn¡¯t make such a stupid mistake.

 Chapter 650 - 655 Fleeing in Desperate Straits_1

    Chapter 650: Chapter 655 Fleeing in Desperate Straits_1"If you feel that the Fat Aunt is being unfair, you can go find Chao Lian,"


    "However, the embroidery pieces you bring are just for reference, once inside there will be an assessment, and you¡¯ll only get the task if you pass the assessment,"


    "The Embroidery Room has assessments every month, and anyone with insufficient quantity or too many defective pieces will be dismissed, so I hope everyone thinks it through before entering," S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke unhurriedly, observing the woman¡¯s expression as she spoke.


    Indeed, it was as colorful as a palette.


    She had never imagined that starting work would be such a hassle, isn¡¯t that intentionally making things difficult?


    If that¡¯s the case, she would only stay inside for two hours at most.


    The Fat Aunt said angrily, "We¡¯re all neighbors here, everyone knows what your embroidery is like, how can you have the nerve to bring something you didn¡¯t embroider yourself and slander me?"


    She asked herself, and she had been conscious clear in this life.


    Yet, she never expected to be slandered by her own neighbor!


    In fact, the quality of a woman¡¯s needlework can be seen by the clothes worn by her family members.


    If the clothing they wear at home has fine stitches and neat patches, the needlework is naturally good.


    If the opposite is true, then forget about entering the doors of the Embroidery Room.


    Even if the needlework is truly good, it means the person is impatient.


    "Aunt, don¡¯t be angry, let¡¯s give her a chance to prove herself,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave the Fat Aunt a meaningful look, knowing in her heart the truth and she would not wrong the Fat Aunt.


    The Fat Aunt nodded, "After all, I¡¯ve done nothing wrong, and I have nothing to hide, so why fear your accusations, come on in, okay?"


    "Wait a moment, there¡¯s something else I need to clarify beforehand; in the future, everyone can participate in the assessments, but wasting fabric and thread will have to be compensated,"


    Upon hearing this, many hesitated.


    "Duo¡¯er is right, anyone else who wants to come in, let¡¯s join, it¡¯s a good chance to compare with those already inside,"


    The Fat Aunt briskly opened the door, welcoming these people.


    Because if these people couldn¡¯t prove their skills, it would prove that she hadn¡¯t engaged in favoritism or corruption.


    "I just remembered something I need to take care of at home, I need to go back,"


    The woman stuffed her handkerchief into her bosom and hurriedly left.


    Others also hesitated, fearing they might be the ones to waste the fabric and thread.


    "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ll go back and practice some more, I¡¯ll come back when I¡¯ve improved,"


    "No problem, when the time comes everyone can go directly to the Fat Aunt, she¡¯s always been fair, and I trust her completely,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed readily.


    There were still a few people left who were very confident in their skills, including Little Wang Clan.


    Little Wang Clan hung her head, afraid of being seen by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The Fat Aunt was a bit uncertain, so she looked towards Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "The Embroidery Room looks for those with good embroidery skills, good character, and a solid work ethic, whoever meets the criteria can stay," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slight smile.


    With her, personal relationships and resentment mattered not.


    The Fat Aunt caught on quickly, "You all come in with me, it¡¯s a perfect opportunity to have a contest with the Embroidery Ladies inside,"


    "The Wife of Zheng Hong is truly magnanimous; she can let go of past grievances despite how she was treated before,"


    "Not everyone can be like some people, completely disregarding kinship,"


    Little Wang Clan gritted her teeth in hatred, why must everyone say Qiao Duo¡¯er is good?


    The Fat Aunt quietly said, Duo¡¯er is truly kind, but it¡¯s just that some people are too unfortunate to appreciate it,


    Two Hours Later, Show-off gradually handed up their embroidered handkerchiefs, but Little Wang Clan had only completed half.


    When working, she liked to fidget and fuss, which wasn¡¯t a problem at first, but as time went on her old habits surfaced, drastically slowing her down.

 Chapter 651 - 656: Better to Feed to Dogs_1

    Chapter 651: Chapter 656: Better to Feed to Dogs_1Fat Aunt shook her head helplessly, lamenting the waste of her exquisite skills.


    It showed that Little Wang Clan hadn¡¯t always been lazy; her idleness had developed gradually after she married into the family.


    Therefore, laziness truly is a contagious disease.


    "Those who have already finished their embroidery can go out for a walk. I will announce the rankings this afternoon, and then the work will officially begin," Fat Aunt addressed the crowd.


    "Where will we eat lunch?"


    "Lunch starts in fifteen minutes; everyone should keep track of the time and gather in the dining hall."


    After getting the details, everyone left in small groups, tired out from sitting all morning.


    Little Wang Clan put down the work in her hands: "I need a break too, I¡¯ll continue embroidering after lunch."


    She was very confident in her skills, believing she would certainly be staying on.


    Fat Aunt found Little Wang Clan¡¯s dawdling annoying but did not object: "After you finish this afternoon, I¡¯ll calculate your pay."


    "What do you mean? My work is much better than theirs. Why would you send me away?" Little Wang Clan asked, feeling indignant.


    Not to mention the people who had come in with her, her skills were not much worse than those of the Embroidery Ladies who had arrived earlier!


    Why could those people stay while she was being told to leave?


    "Apart from quality, we also assess speed. Others have embroidered a whole piece, while you¡¯ve only done half; of course, you don¡¯t qualify," Fat Aunt said earnestly.


    She had dealt with many trivial matters today and had even finished repairing a kerchief, so what excuse did Little Wang Clan have for not finishing?


    With Little Wang Clan¡¯s slow pace, wouldn¡¯t she have to work overtime every day?


    Little Wang Clan furrowed her brow: "Call Qiao Duo over; I want her to tell me this herself."


    "It¡¯s the same regardless of who comes. Our Embroidery Room has its rules," Fat Aunt stated firmly.


    Qiao Duo placed unconditional trust in her, and she had to do something to retain that trust.


    "How could Qiao Duo find someone as blind as you to be In Charge? Just look at these messy stitches; you have the nerve to keep her!"


    Little Wang Clan picked out a handkerchief from a pile of embroidery works, her eyes filled with disdain.


    If this wasn¡¯t considered ruining the fabric and thread, what would?


    "She has a heavy hand, which isn¡¯t suitable for Embroidery Flowers. She¡¯s best fitted for making padded soles," Fat Aunt said openly.


    "You are just showing favoritism; the girl who embroidered this flower is your own niece!"


    Little Wang Clan sniffed dismissively; no wonder she got along so well with Qiao Duo¡ªthey were all talk.


    Fat Aunt said irritably: "She is indeed my niece, but her skill in sewing soles is well-known, and I had discussed this matter with Duo¡¯er beforehand."


    "Do you think I¡¯m going to believe your nonsense?" Little Wang Clan rolled her eyes.


    Anyway, she was convinced that Fat Aunt was biased towards her relatives.


    Hmph, there was no telling how much she had skimmed off the top!


    "Why don¡¯t you first look at how much work you¡¯ve done this morning? Even children seven or eight years old do more work than you!" Fat Aunt lost her patience.


    "I am currently In Charge of the Embroidery Room, and what I say goes here. If you¡¯re not satisfied with me, you can tell Duo¡¯er and ask her to replace me."


    With a look of contempt, Fat Aunt spoke and then had nothing more to do with Little Wang Clan.


    Even if Little Wang Clan really went to find Qiao Duo, Fat Aunt didn¡¯t care because she knew she had done nothing wrong.


    Little Wang Clan cursed a few more words, but to her surprise, Fat Aunt simply took her things and left.


    As she reached the door, Fat Aunt added: "Those who haven¡¯t finished their work this morning don¡¯t qualify for lunch."


    She was doing it on purpose, withholding lunch because she felt feeding Little Wang Clan was worse than feeding a dog!


    Anger flared within Little Wang Clan, who wished she could wring the kerchief out.


    But she couldn¡¯t bear to discard her handiwork after all; forget it, she thought. Better to just keep on embroidering.


    S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 652 - 657: The Gap is Huge_1

    Chapter 652: Chapter 657: The Gap is Huge_1Before long, those who had gone out to eat returned, the outside was bitterly cold, who could find the inside of a house anything but comfortable?


    Therefore, they saw that Little Wang Clan was still working on the handkerchief from the morning and, inevitably, subjected her to another round of biting sarcasm and mockery.


    Who asked Little Wang Clan to have been so hateful in the past?


    "You haven¡¯t finished that handkerchief yet? If you¡¯re any later, there¡¯ll be nothing left to eat in the canteen!"


    "Ah Hong and the Old Tan Family have severed ties, and even though Duo¡¯er is kind-hearted, you can¡¯t bully her like this!"


    "At this rate, you won¡¯t even earn enough for a meal!"


    Little Wang Clan clenched her needle tight. She really wished she could sew all their mouths shut.


    Work naturally varied in pace, what was there to comment on?


    Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Xu Sanmei and couldn¡¯t help but snort softly, "Third Sister, what did you embroider this morning, a goose or a duck? You must have slipped your aunt a fair bit of silver, huh?"


    Xu Sanmei hung her head, her face the picture of shame.


    She had always known her embroidery was not presentable, and although she had tried hard that morning, the Mandarin ducks she¡¯d embroidered were still an eyesore.


    "Third Sister was specifically recruited by Duo¡¯er, her skill in stitching shoe soles is ranked among the best in our village."


    "If only you had half the speed of Third Sister, Fat Aunt would definitely keep you."


    Little Wang Clan rolled her eyes, "Fat Aunt is nothing but a dog kept by Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s house. Do you really need to suck up to her like this?"


    When her own aunt was insulted, Xu Sanmei couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    She said sternly, "I can compete with you in stitching soles. I¡¯m three times faster than you. If not, you can take my seat."


    "You said it, don¡¯t go back on your word," Little Wang Clan immediately agreed.


    "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone so shamelessly thick-skinned. Third Sister is only sixteen, and she¡¯s almost thirty, yet she has no sense of shame!"


    "I¡¯ve seen it all before, their skin could be used as shields!"


    However, Xu Sanmei was brimming with confidence and went straight to her aunt.


    The materials for the Embroidery Room were kept in the storeroom, and only the person in charge of the Embroidery Room had the keys.


    Soon Xu Sanmei brought over the gelatinized cotton cloth. This cloth was made by layering cotton fabric with glue, allowing it to bond after each layer, then drying it with fire to create sturdy panels.


    Xu Sanmei divided some of the cloth for Little Wang Clan, "Work starts in half an hour. Hurry up and don¡¯t hold everyone else up."


    "Mind your own business," she retorted.


    To be three times faster than her, she must not be afraid of the wind slapping her tongue!


    Xu Sanmei stopped arguing and picked up the scissors to get to work.


    Sewing thousand-layer soles involved seven steps; preparing the gelatinized cloth was the first one. Next came cutting the soles, which meant trimming the cloth into the shape of a shoe sole. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A thousand-layer sole required nine pieces of cloth, each of which was edge-wrapped with white fabric. After wrapping, all the pieces were glued together, then bound around the edges with hemp rope before starting the stitching, which required fine, firm, evenly spaced stitches.


    The final step was setting the shape, which could be processed in batches.


    That meant that when it came to the thousand-layer sole, the sewing process was complete.


    The Embroidery Room only recruited those who were adept at their work, but upon seeing Third Sister¡¯s pace, they were all astounded.


    Her speed was truly unparalleled!


    In just half an hour, she breezily finished one, which meant she could complete four pairs in a day, earning sixty wen. This was on par with embroidery wages, and not as exhausting as embroidery flowers.


    Looking at Little Wang Clan, she was still wrapping the edges.


    Both being human, how could the gap be so vast?


    Little Wang Clan had always found stitching the sole troublesome, preferring to buy ready-made soles.


    However, she had always thought the task was simple, and that she could finish it quickly if she were willing.


    But reality gave her a harsh slap, making her wish she could crawl into a hole right then and there.

 Chapter 653 - 658: Of Course You Are Responsible_1

    Chapter 653: Chapter 658: Of Course You Are Responsible_1Xu Sanmei challenged, "Are you convinced or not?"


    Little Wang Clan slammed the insole onto the table, "You are all deliberately making things difficult for me!"


    Everyone is busy making money, who has the time to bother with you?"


    Putting on a fine face for yourself, weren¡¯t you the one who wanted the competition just now, and now you can¡¯t accept the loss!"


    "Someone said beating you by three times is already giving you credit, and look at how much material you¡¯ve used, don¡¯t think you can waste it just because it¡¯s not from your own home!"


    After she said this, everyone looked towards the waste material used by Little Wang Clan, and her waste was actually twice as much as Xu Sanmei¡¯s!


    "Sister-in-law Lan is right, the more profit the Embroidery Room makes, the more we earn, so how can you do something so unkind?"


    They all look to the Embroidery Room for their earnings and hope that the Embroidery Room can last a long time!


    Xu Sanmei also said seriously, "So please don¡¯t slander me and my auntie in the future. I got into the Embroidery Room on my own merit, without taking any shortcuts!"


    These words were also meant for everyone present.


    She admitted that her embroidery work was very poor, but she also had her strengths.


    She could even say with confidence that she was irreplaceable in this Embroidery Room.


    Little Wang Clan left red-faced, unable to bear the shame. She was so angry that she stomped out without even bothering with the half-embroidered handkerchief.


    Damn it, they¡¯re all a bunch of petty people!


    When her brother was doing well, everyone was polite to her.


    But now? Everyone dares to mock her!


    "Sorry for holding everyone up," Xu Sanmei said with guilt.


    "What hold up? We are not even tired."


    "How did you get so fast?"


    Xu Sanmei said weakly, "My grandfather used to buy shoes, I made a lot, and got fast."


    With this, many people gave up the idea of sewing shoe soles and decided to just stick to embroidery flowers.


    It would take at least a few years to reach that skill level. How much Silver would they have to lose?


    Soon it was time to start work in the afternoon, and Fat Aunt announced everyone¡¯s level and then assigned tasks according to the levels. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By evening, Fat Aunt would tally up everyone¡¯s output.


    Fat Aunt was quite skilled at managing the Embroidery Room efficiently, almost eliminating the need for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s involvement.


    As a result, Qiao Duo¡¯er was at ease at home, looking up beauty remedies in medical books and, in her spare time, drawing diagrams for grain threshing machines.


    From her last collaboration with Wind Liyang, a single grain threshing machine was not a problem at all.


    On the third day, Chao Lian had already chosen the personnel.


    But the accommodation hadn¡¯t been settled, and she couldn¡¯t make up her mind, so she came to see Duo¡¯er.


    "They are all willing to work in the Embroidery Room, but some say the commute is too far and are asking if the Embroidery Room can provide accommodation. I talked with them, and they are willing to pay sixty Wen for food and lodging."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment, "In the future, we can prioritize them for overtime work, so we won¡¯t be at a loss. It would be best to rent a separate small courtyard."


    But renting a separate courtyard isn¡¯t as easy here as in the town, and the current financial situation doesn¡¯t allow for the construction of new employee dormitories.


    "Do you still remember the Lin Family? You bought four acres of their land."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up, "Go talk to the village chief, rent that courtyard, and hire some people to clean it up."


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for me to go?"


    Chao Lian asked weakly.


    "Since you recruited them, of course you should handle it. Besides, I¡¯m still a patient," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with an innocent face.


    Chao Lian could only nod her head, thinking she should probably handle it okay.


    Uncle Tie was fair, and everyone was on good terms with Sister Lan. The rent would definitely be reasonable.


    If all else fails... isn¡¯t there still Erhu¡¯s place?

 Chapter 654 - 569: The Feeling of Happiness_1

    Chapter 654: Chapter 569: The Feeling of Happiness_1After Chao Lian left, snowflakes began to float down outside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er simply pushed open the window, wondering what she had been doing in her last life to never have discovered how beautiful the snowscape could be, as pure and romantic as a fairytale world.


    "Take this, don¡¯t freeze," said Tan Zhenghong as he stuffed the warmer into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arms and brought over a cotton-padded jacket to drape over her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s bright eyes stared straight at Tan Zhenghong, looking like a child who had just found a new toy.


    In an indifferent voice, Tan Zhenghong said, "Don¡¯t go out to play in the snow."


    His wife naturally tended toward cold constitution, and with the freezing weather outside, playing in the snow would only make her condition worse, not to mention that it was a special period now.


    Rolling her eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er quipped, "You¡¯re almost like the roundworm in my stomach."


    "All your little thoughts are written all over your face," he replied, "Hmm, today is the second day, three more days to go."


    Tan Zhenghong said with a suggestive tone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was at a loss for words. Could this guy think of anything else?


    Before she could retort, a knocking sound came from outside. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said smugly, "I¡¯ll go open the door."


    "Our family slaughtered the pig for the New Year today, I¡¯ve brought some pig¡¯s blood and liver for you," Aunt Huang said with a beaming smile.


    She was in great spirits, moving briskly as if the wind was at her back.


    All thanks to Duo¡¯er, who not only advised her to find a good daughter-in-law but also helped her sell the lotus roots.


    It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call Duo¡¯er the benefactor of her family.


    She heard from Hu¡¯s Clan that the candied lotus roots were selling well, and everyone, young and old, loved them. She guessed those roots wouldn¡¯t be enough for the shops to sell.


    "Thank you so much, Aunt Huang, but this is too much. Take some back with you," said Tan Zhenghong gratefully.


    The pig¡¯s blood and liver were good for nourishing the blood, and it seemed she had brought most of it to them.


    Aunt Huang quickly waved her hands, "It¡¯s cold now so it can keep for some days, you have to take good care and build up your strength, don¡¯t even think about refusing."


    Tan Zhenghong could only accept the basket and he happened to have some wild chicken at home to give to Aunt Huang in return.


    With only the two women left in the main room, Aunt Huang couldn¡¯t help whispering secrets to Duo¡¯er.


    Leaning in close to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, Aunt Huang said, "Today I had Zhong Zi take some pig¡¯s blood over to Ah Lan, and he obediently went; he even brought an extra bowl of pickled vegetables. I think there might be something going on between them."


    "They see each other every day; it¡¯s only natural they might get involved," Duo¡¯er teased with a playful glint in her eyes, "You¡¯ll have to give me a big red envelope when the time comes for their affair to be settled."


    Aunt Huang agreed readily, "Of course, you¡¯re the main matchmaker!"


    As the snow outside grew heavier, Aunt Huang chatted for a bit more and then hurried back home.


    With pig¡¯s blood on hand, Duo¡¯er set up a small pot that evening and she and Tan Zhenghong huddled together to enjoy a hot pot.


    The broth was made from wild chicken stewed all afternoon, both fresh and fragrant, lending a unique taste to the vegetables cooked in it.


    The only downside was that they couldn¡¯t have spicy food at the moment, which would have made it even more exciting.


    "Duo¡¯er, being with you, I don¡¯t even feel cold in winter," Tan Zhenghong said endearingly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed underneath: "That¡¯s because the underfloor heating you installed is pretty good."


    "Not at all, today I got cold and someone made me new clothes to wear. At night I have someone to cuddle with for warmth, and we can eat hot pot together. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t feel cold."


    But the most important thing was being with Qiao Duo¡¯er, which made him feel warm inside.


    "Don¡¯t be ridiculous, I despise you!"


    "Clearly you¡¯re thrilled to death. You¡¯re so thin, you should eat more meat, it¡¯ll be warmer to hold you at night."


    "Disgusted with you even more!"


    While ice and snow sealed the outside world, inside was endless warmth.

 Chapter 655 - 660 Good Fortune Comes_1

    Chapter 655: Chapter 660 Good Fortune Comes_1The snow fell intermittently, and it wasn¡¯t until three days later that the skies cleared.


    But the colder weather came with the melting snow, making Qiao Duo¡¯er even more unwilling to venture outside.


    When Big Sister returned from town, she found Qiao Duo¡¯er, who seemed to be hibernating, and suddenly felt a sense of unfairness.


    "You really know how to enjoy yourself, while Ruo Ruo and I are running around in the cold, you¡¯ve become a hands-off boss. I¡¯m going to be angry!" Big Sister exclaimed with feigned annoyance.


    She had been worried about Duo¡¯er, thinking she was preoccupied with the affairs of the Embroidery Room while ill.


    It turned out she was overly concerned.


    There she was, cozying up in a warm room, reading and writing, with Tan Zhenghong taking meticulous care of her. This was truly living in comfort!


    Alas, comparisons do indeed frustrate a person to death!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded with a pitiable look, "I don¡¯t want it to be this way either, but some people are so overbearing, they simply won¡¯t let me leave the house."


    "I¡¯m not stupid, don¡¯t think you can deceive me!" Big Sister expressed her dissatisfaction.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled softly, "Wait until the New Year; based on your and Ruo Ruo¡¯s performance, I¡¯ll give you both a bonus, okay?"


    "That would be wonderful. This time, Ruo Ruo and I sold a total of forty boxes; you can decide how to handle it."


    Big Sister said proudly, it had never been such a hit, not even when they first had the facial mask powder.


    This time, Ruo Ruo was so busy she didn¡¯t even return to Big Willow Village. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Big Sister in disbelief; it had only been four days!


    She remembered that before, they could only sell three to five boxes a day.


    Big Sister explained, "Now that the price of necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt has dropped, and with the New Year approaching, many men have returned home, plus there are travelers delayed by the snow, our business naturally picked up."


    "When the time comes, add another ten wen money per box, and you two keep up the hard work, aiming to save up a dowry sooner."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows; this was like a year-end bonus, after all, the two girls had been running around outside all day and deserved it.


    "We can talk about the bonus later; the inventory is low now. I came back this time to ask you to restock," Big Sister reminded her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her chest, "I¡¯ve prepared early; I still have two hundred boxes on hand."


    At that, Big Sister was thoroughly convinced; Qiao Duo¡¯er seemed leisurely, but she had everything arranged.


    With such skill, she deserved to rest at home!


    "Then I won¡¯t bother you any longer, I need to go to town to help Ruo Ruo, she won¡¯t manage on her own," said Big Sister as she hurried away. Every minute, every second, represented clear, shiny silver for her, and she could not afford to fight with money!


    And such scenes boosted Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s confidence in Duo Meifang even more.


    It seemed that ever since the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold met their end, her fortune had taken a swift turn for the better!


    In the blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Early that day, Zhang Ziwen brought a slab of tofu over.


    "Sister-in-law, my father said today we should prepare Laba tofu, so he asked me to bring some over for you."


    Zhang Ziwen was still shy, blushing whenever he spoke to a girl.


    He was in a hurry, too, wondering when he would overcome this issue.


    "Laba tofu?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked puzzled; she knew about Laba porridge but had never heard of Laba tofu.


    And the most crucial point was¡ªwith such a large slab of tofu, into which year was she supposed to eat it?


    "You cut the tofu into small pieces, smear a layer of saltwater over it, make a small hole on top, then stuff a bit more salt into the hole, and once it¡¯s dried, it¡¯s edible!"


    Zhang Ziwen explained the method in one breath. The tofu made this way is both salty and fragrant; it can be eaten alone or stewed with meat.


    Moreover, the tofu prepared like this can be kept for three months, available whenever needed- very convenient.

 Chapter 656 - 661 Laba Porridge_1

    Chapter 656: Chapter 661 Laba Porridge_1When Zhang Ziwen mentioned that to Qiao Duo¡¯er, it moved her heart, and she thought frying it in oil would make it even more fragrant.


    "I¡¯ll do just that in a bit. Wait for me, I¡¯ll go get you some money," she said. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Ziwen quickly shook his head, "You¡¯ve helped my family out so much, if I took your money, my dad would definitely call me an ingrate."


    "Then I¡¯ll give you some ingredients for Laba Congee. Just add some water tonight, boil it, and it will be ready to drink."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t bring up money again because she knew that was just how Zhang Ziwen was¡ªif he said he didn¡¯t want it, he really wouldn¡¯t take it.


    In the Zhang Family, it was just him and his father, so even if Father Zhang made Laba Congee, the ingredients wouldn¡¯t be all that ample.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly brought out a bag of mixed Babao Congee ingredients from her house.


    Zhang Ziwen accepted it joyfully, "This Laba Festival is going to be delicious. Otherwise, my dad would have just added some beans and made do."


    Yellow beans were what they ate most often, and he was close to tears.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed at his reaction, and only then did Zhang Ziwen realize his lapse.


    Blushing, he said, "I¡¯ll bring you some seasoning in a bit. It¡¯s made from sun-dried shrimp ground into powder. Sprinkling a little on tofu makes it taste even better."


    After that, he ran off in a cloud of dust.


    "This child is so bashful, what¡¯ll he do when he goes to get a wife?" Qiao Duo¡¯er jokingly remarked.


    Tan Zhenghong said nonchalantly, "Once he¡¯s got a wife, he won¡¯t be shy anymore. I used to blush when I talked to girls too."


    "I hadn¡¯t noticed," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, throwing a wet blanket over Tan Zhenghong with a shrug.


    She knew Tan Zhenghong was telling the hard truth, but that wasn¡¯t important.


    What was important was that now he was like a quietly strutting peacock, always thinking of getting an advantage from her.


    Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t upset, "I knew you don¡¯t have an eye for talent."


    The two bantered while getting busy.


    Tan Zhenghong cut tofu into cubes and soaked them in saltwater, and Qiao Duo¡¯er would take them out and dab them with salt using chopsticks.


    By the time Zhang Ziwen delivered the shrimp powder, they had already processed the tofu.


    After evenly sprinkling the shrimp powder over it, their work was complete. Laba Tofu could be eaten on its own, stewed with meat, or stir-fried, all providing a unique taste.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was looking forward to it, although she knew she¡¯d still have to wait quite a few days.


    On the evening of Laba Festival, the main event was Laba Congee, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had a full pot simmering by dusk.


    In Big Willow Village, there was a tradition of gifting Laba Congee. Before the family had theirs, it was customary to send it to relatives and friends.


    By now, Duo¡¯er¡¯s House had already received congee from Tie Niu and Hu¡¯s Clan, and more would be coming soon.


    After distributing to her close ones, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought a large pot to the Embroidery Room.


    The Embroidery Ladies were just having their dinner, so it became an added treat for them.


    "Don¡¯t be shy, everyone. Help yourselves later," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    Upon hearing this, the Embroidery Ladies beamed with joy.


    "I was just saying, I wonder if those ungrateful ones at home even remembered to save me some Laba Congee. And look, now I¡¯m enjoying it," one of them said.


    "Duo¡¯er, how do you make this Laba Congee? It¡¯s really delicious," another one inquired.


    "I¡¯ve never had porridge this tasty before¡ªit¡¯s thick and sticky. I¡¯ve never had such delicious porridge in my life," another lamented.


    How could the same rice porridge taste so much better when others make it?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er generously shared the secret: adding a bit of alkaline water when boiling the porridge creates an excellent texture.


    However, the ladies could only take note of the method in their hearts; times were tough at home, and buying a pound of alkaline water could cost as much as three pounds of salt, so they just had to eat more now.


    The only regret was that the rules of the Embroidery Room stated that they couldn¡¯t take anything out except for white steamed buns. Otherwise, they would have taken a bowl home for their children to taste.

 Chapter 657 - 662: One Drop of Essence, Ten Drops of Blood_1

    Chapter 657: Chapter 662: One Drop of Essence, Ten Drops of Blood_1"Chao Lian, come with me later, I have something to tell you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke with a serious expression, and Chao Lian put down the steamed bun she had just picked up.


    As they left the cafeteria, Chao Lian nervously asked, "Did I... do something wrong?"


    "Everything you do is great. I think Erhu is bored at home, so I¡¯m giving you some time off," Qiao Duo¡¯er winked at Chao Lian.


    It didn¡¯t seem quite right to make Chao Lian work overtime every day when she was a newlywed.


    Chao Lian spoke meekly, "I need to go to work later, should I really go back first?"


    "Just go home and close the door, don¡¯t hesitate, hurry up."


    Urged by Qiao Duo¡¯er, Chao Lian went home like a thief. Tan Zhenghong happened to witness this scene.


    Today was the Laba Festival, and he too wanted a little benefit.


    That request shouldn¡¯t be too much, should it?


    "Wife, I¡¯ve finished delivering to everyone, and I came by to pick you up," Tan Zhenghong said with a happy smile.


    As for why he was so happy, only he knew.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er naturally slipped her hand into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, and they walked home shoulder to shoulder.


    Not far along, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly turned around.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked, "Wife, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "I feel like someone is following me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, her gaze sharp as a serpent¡¯s; she was sure she wasn¡¯t mistaken.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke sternly, "Stand here, don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll go check it out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er refused to let go of Tan Zhenghong, insisting on going with him.


    The two retraced their steps but didn¡¯t find anyone suspicious.


    "From now on, I will come out with you, and we¡¯ll take Fat Fat and Fatty with us," Tan Zhenghong declared seriously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed, not for lack of confidence in herself but to give Tan Zhenghong peace of mind.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er went into the room. Since returning from Black Wind Valley, she had been feeling chilly, so snuggling in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms while reading a book felt more blissful than ever.


    After reading just two lines, Qiao Duo¡¯er uncomfortably suggested, "Go get another book."


    She had clearly hidden that complex book at the bottom of the closet; how had Tan Zhenghong managed to find it?


    "No!" Tan Zhenghong declared dominantly.


    He had planned this since he came back, and now that he was halfway successful, how could he give up halfway? sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Speechless, Qiao Duo¡¯er was indignant, which in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes seemed like silent consent.


    Encouraged, he reached his gentle yet determined hand under the hem of her clothes, sighing softly as he touched the familiar place.


    Today, he could finally indulge!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth, "Stop moving. A drop of essence costs ten drops of blood. Do you think the blood you lost last time wasn¡¯t enough?"


    Losing too much blood can easily damage one¡¯s vital energy, and it¡¯s not something you recover from in just a month or two.


    "You lost more blood than I did, so I¡¯ll balance it out by giving you some of mine," Tan Zhenghong stubbornly replied.


    And so, Qiao Duo¡¯er was completely defeated by Tan Zhenghong, but mindful of her condition, he took things very slow.


    It was a gentle entanglement, with a flavor all its own.


    After the deed was done, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t even want to move a finger.


    Such exerting activities were too tiring; she couldn¡¯t even open her eyes anymore, so she just rolled up in the blanket, ready for sleep.


    Tan Zhenghong, satisfied and in a good mood, wiped Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body and specially dressed her.


    Otherwise, he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to control himself and do something crazy.


    If they did it again, he feared he might be killed by his wife.

 Chapter 658 - 663: Taking Care of His Own Wife_1

    Chapter 658: Chapter 663: Taking Care of His Own Wife_1After Laba, the snow started falling again, this time heavier and lasting even longer.


    With heavy snow sealing the mountains, it was an excellent opportunity for hunters to enter the mountains.


    Because pheasants and hares would leave footprints when they came out to forage, following these tracks made it easy to catch prey.


    Especially for Sun Erhu, who was even more diligent in heading up the mountain.


    He said he felt miserable at heart, wishing he could cuddle with his wife and sleep in, but since Chao Lian spent all day in the embroidery room, he had no choice but to go hunting.


    That day, he had a bountiful harvest, and Sun Erhu sent everything he caught to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s house.


    He was trained by Tan Zhenghong himself; it was only right for an apprentice to show respect to his master.


    It was also a good excuse to come and get warm. After a day in the mountains, he felt numb with cold all over.


    "Well done, your skills are getting better and better."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a thumbs up. There must be around ten prey of various sizes.


    Sun Erhu said proudly, "That¡¯s right, now that I need to earn money to support the family, my skills have improved leaps and bounds."


    "Like you¡¯re the most amazing, you can even warm up a wet jacket without taking it off. I¡¯ll take it to the stove to dry for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Sun Erhu.


    Even with his thick skin, Sun Erhu¡¯s face turned red: "It¡¯s not just my jacket that¡¯s wet. I¡¯ll go home to change clothes and then come back. You¡¯ve taken my Chao Lian away, so you need to take care of my dinner tonight."


    "Don¡¯t bother going back and forth. If you catch a cold, it¡¯ll delay Chao Lian¡¯s work. There¡¯s water in the pot, go take a bath in the guest room and change your clothes," Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded.


    The lack of Chao Lian in the embroidery room was causing delays; she was now in charge of the patterns there.


    Sun Erhu weakly countered, "Chao Lian is my wife, my family¡¯s."


    "She spends more time in the embroidery room than at home."


    "Her heart is always at home. She bears children for me, not for the embroidery room," Sun Erhu said seriously.


    To this, Qiao Duo¡¯er only wanted to say you win.


    Tan Zhenghong, his head full of black lines, said, "Stop bickering, hurry up and change. If you really catch a cold, you¡¯re going to regret it."


    By the time Sun Erhu had taken his bath, dinner was also served. There were no extra dishes that evening, but there was an additional pot of heated wine.


    Sun Erhu said with a smile beaming across his face, "Sister-in-law knows me too well!"


    Tan Zhenghong also poured himself a cup to accompany Sun Erhu, and as they drank, they started talking more and more. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This winter is getting harder to endure," Tan Zhenghong remarked.


    Erhu deeply agreed: "This year, some families had their rice harvest affected by rain, and the yield wasn¡¯t good. Plus, with the snow falling without end, it could probably collapse houses."


    What he used to fear the most was winter, being hungry and cold, and he feared he couldn¡¯t make it through.


    But thankfully, with Brother Hong¡¯s help, he made it through.


    "Life here is just too hard, relying on the little harvest from the fields and still needing to pay taxes," Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    Living in modern society, she never felt the social system back then was that great. It was only after experiencing the feudal society firsthand that she realized the huge differences, a truly bittersweet experience.


    Sun Erhu was confused, "Sister-in-law, is your brain broken?"


    "What she means is that she is not from our village," Tan Zhenghong quickly explained.


    Sun Erhu became even more suspicious. His sister-in-law¡¯s maiden family was from Da Xing Village, which was even worse off than Big Willow Village.


    Lucky for Erhu, his easy-going nature quickly led him to forget about it.


    "Right, if someone asks if your family needs a maid, you absolutely must not agree," Sun Erhu said earnestly.


    Tan Zhenghong replied helplessly, "Why would we need a maid? I can look after my own wife."

 Chapter 659 - 664 You Are Jealous_1

    Chapter 659: Chapter 664 You Are Jealous_1"That¡¯s good to hear. I overheard the day before yesterday that your wife is a jealous woman, and she won¡¯t let Brother Hong take a concubine. You might as well send your daughter to serve as a Maid first. Once the rice is cooked, you¡¯ll have no choice but to accept it."


    Sun Erhu explained the reasoning, hoping to get the attention of his Brother Hong and sister-in-law.


    Having two women in a household wouldn¡¯t that cause a huge commotion?


    And most importantly, the sister-in-law can fight, it¡¯s very likely that it could lead to fatality.


    "Is being a concubine really that good?" Qiao Duo¡¯er scoffed. Do those people have no integrity at all?


    "Then you¡¯re just naive. There are families that trade their daughters for money. You should be careful, sister-in-law."


    Sun Erhu didn¡¯t find it strange at all¡ªsome families treated their daughters as mere tools, devoid of any affection.


    Before they come of age, they¡¯re tools for labor, and after they grow up, they can be sold for money.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes: "Whoever dares to mess with me, I¡¯ll give Silver to their man to buy him a little wife. If she really thinks it¡¯s good, then she can come and talk."


    As for being called jealous, it¡¯d be best not to let her find out who said it.


    Now, it was Sun Erhu who was giving thumbs up¡ªthis method was simply brilliant!


    The women could talk all they want about others, citing all sorts of virtues and moralities.


    But when it¡¯s their turn, it would be nothing but crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide.


    After all, it all comes down to personal interests.


    They can gain a lot by sending their daughters to be concubines in other families, but having an extra woman in their own house would harm their interests.


    Just thinking about that kind of hypocrisy is disgusting!


    Seeing that his wife was still angry, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said, "Wife, I absolutely won¡¯t take another look at any other woman."


    Moreover, he had never thought of letting a strange woman live in his house, even if she were as beautiful as a goddess.


    "Well... let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Let me tell you about the Yin Family and the Mountain Bandits, both cases are nearly closed."


    Sun Erhu changed the subject just in time. He had only brought it up out of good intentions, and definitely not to stir up family conflict.


    After Lord Yu arrived at White Stone Town, he immediately began to review the Yin Family¡¯s case, and progress was going smoothly.


    Qin Longyun had also exposed the family¡¯s involvement in the illegal salt and iron trade. A death sentence was inevitable, and the authorities had started to inventory the Yin Family¡¯s assets.


    The Yin Family¡¯s case was complicated, involving not just Yin Gang but several higher-ups, so concluding the case would take some more time.


    But one thing was certain¡ªthe investigation would be thorough.


    As for the bandits, those who surrendered were sent back to their villages, those who refused to admit to their wrongdoings and those who were already criminals were exiled to the frontier, with all their properties confiscated.


    Such a result is truly satisfying!


    "Speaking of which, those three brothers from the Yin Family were quite honorable. In the end, they actually chose to die together by fire," Sun Erhu remarked with a sigh, admiring that trait.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, "If it were true, that would indeed be touching." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she knew that Xuan San wouldn¡¯t do such a thing because Yin Yinyue was still waiting in prison for him to rescue her.


    In Xuan San¡¯s heart, Yin Yinyue¡¯s life was more important than his own. Even if he wished to die, he would choose to do so after rescuing Yin Yinyue.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kept this in mind, planning to make a trip to the town after the snow stopped.


    "Sister-in-law, you aren¡¯t seriously considering it, are you?" Sun Erhu lowered his voice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied, resignedly, "I wish I were just joking with you."


    Xuan Qing had mastered Eagle Training Technology. He was the spiritual leader of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; with him around, the fighting capability of the hawks could be improved. Xuan Eagle Mountain Village would soon rise again in East Mountain.


    That would become another scourge.


    After dinner, Sun Erhu changed into his own clothes to pick up his wife and return home, reluctantly accepting only half of the game Qiao Duo¡¯er insisted on giving him for the journey.

 Chapter 660 - 663 Discordant Aura_1

    Chapter 660: Chapter 663 Discordant Aura_1Snow continued to fall intermittently, and Qiao Duo¡¯er kept herself warm during the winter.


    Tan Zhenghong would occasionally go out to help others build Ground Dragons, taking the opportunity to earn some labor money.


    He had it all planned out; he was saving the money, waiting to surprise Duo¡¯er on her birthday.


    Only now, with guests at home, Qiao Duo¡¯er had to entertain them.


    This time Granny Liu came, who was somewhat related to the Tan Family, and by seniority, should be Tan Zhenghong¡¯s aunt.


    Their only previous encounter was when Tan Zhenghong had been pecked by an eagle, and she had visited, bringing an egg.


    At that time, Aunt Huang was angry, because it¡¯s unlucky to give gifts in odd numbers.


    "Please sit, have some tea to warm yourselves."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted them without much warmth, regardless of whether she wished to or not, if they were in her home, they were guests.


    Granny Liu quickly responded, "We don¡¯t feel cold at all in your house, we don¡¯t need to drink water. By the way, is Zheng Hong not at home today?"


    She was somewhat related to Zheng Hong, so she should be easier to talk to.


    "Today Big Brother Dalin¡¯s house is fixing the ground heating, Zheng Hong went there to help," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated truthfully.


    "I heard that Zheng Hong was injured again recently, how can you let him go out to work in such cold weather?"


    Granny Liu said with concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just smiled and did not pick up on Granny Liu¡¯s words.


    Tan Zhenghong was all hers; could she be lacking the concern others had for him?


    Granny Liu forced a couple of dry laughs, then brought up the real matter at hand, which was the girl sitting silently beside her.


    "This is my dear niece, called Ruo Lan, who previously served as a maid in a large household in Mansion City. Look at the aura around her; she¡¯s different from the village girls."


    "Not only can she recognize a few characters, but she can also draw beautiful patterns. The people in our village find it novel. Take a look!"


    Granny Liu placed the design paper proudly in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er casually glanced through it twice. The designs were alright, but she felt indifferent.


    That¡¯s because most of the Embroidery Room¡¯s patterns were traced by Chao Lian from Chen Yiling¡¯s clothes, which were the latest styles in the Capital.


    And the Capital has always been the trendsetter for the entire nation.


    This was one of the secrets to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s success, for which she gave Chen Yiling a twenty percent partnership.


    Granny Liu then pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom, "Ruo Lan is so skillful with her hands. Just look at the flowers she embroidered, they are just like real ones. Even at my age, I¡¯ve never seen anyone with better skills than Ruo Lan."


    "Auntie, don¡¯t talk nonsense. My embroidery isn¡¯t good enough to be displayed,"


    Ruo Lan gently reminded her.


    Because she spoke out, her face turned crimson with shyness.


    Granny Liu said nonchalantly, "I¡¯m not talking nonsense. The proof is right here, how can there be a mistake?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a light smile, "If she was doing so well in Mansion City, why did she come back to the village?"


    Typically, big households sign servitude contracts with their maids to prevent them from harboring other intentions. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There must be a reason for Ruo Lan¡¯s sudden return to the countryside.


    Or to put it more bluntly, she simply didn¡¯t like Ruo Lan, which might be what people call incompatibility of auras.


    Granny Liu wiped away her tears, "Is it not said that this child is honest? She heard her mother had fallen ill and pleaded with her masters to let her return to tend to her mother, who, unfortunately, passed away after two months. This child was left destitute and came to me."


    Ruo Lan also wiped away her tears, crying in a way that evoked sympathy.


    "I am sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have brought up such a sad matter for you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said apologetically.


    If it truly was as such, Ruo Lan seemed to be a decent girl.


    Ruo Lan managed a faint smile, "It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all in the past."

 Chapter 661 - 666 Inevitable Victory_1

    Chapter 661: Chapter 666 Inevitable Victory_1Granny Liu began to plead just in time, "My family is also struggling to get by, and one more mouth to feed would just be too much, Duo¡¯er, can you consider letting Ruo Lan work in the Embroidery Room?"


    Getting Ruo Lan into the Embroidery Room was her real goal.


    The conditions in the Embroidery Room were good, and once Ruo Lan was in, her family would have an additional source of income.


    Once she saved up enough silver to build a new house, she would marry Ruo Lan to her son, killing two birds with one stone.


    "I don¡¯t really handle matters of the Embroidery Room; you should still check with Fat Aunt, as long as she nods, it¡¯s fine."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively pushed the matter away, fearing that her sudden involvement might disrupt Fat Aunt¡¯s plans.


    "But... isn¡¯t the Embroidery Room opened by you?"


    Granny Liu still had a little scheme in her mind.


    Ruo Lan had stayed with a wealthy family, unlike those coarse women.


    If she gained Qiao Duo¡¯s favor, she could at least take charge of something.


    All of Granny Liu¡¯s little thoughts were not lost on Qiao Duo, whose lips couldn¡¯t help but curl upward¡ªGranny Liu sure had grand ambitions.


    But unless she lost her mind, she would never let Granny Liu get her way.


    "I¡¯ve entrusted the Embroidery Room to Fat Aunt and will not interfere too much. It¡¯s still early; you¡¯d better hurry over."


    Granny Liu was still reluctant, but Tan Zhenghong had to call her "aunt" after all, couldn¡¯t she bend the rules a little?


    Ruo Lan advised, "Aunt, the Embroidery Room has its rules; we can¡¯t just do as we please. Mrs. Tan, I¡¯ll go with my aunt right away to check it out."


    "Then I won¡¯t keep you any longer." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo sent them to the door and then returned home, even taking the time to close the courtyard gate behind her.


    She had already said her household didn¡¯t need maids and those interested should seek Fat Aunt; was that so hard to understand?


    Granny Liu had only walked a few steps when she complained, "Child, why are you so naively honest?"


    "Aunt, Mrs. Tan has made it very clear. It¡¯s no use for us to linger there. If we annoy her, we probably won¡¯t even touch the Embroidery Room¡¯s door, and that would be more loss than gain," Ruo Lan softly persuaded, believing that it wouldn¡¯t be long before those people would see her in a new light.


    By that time, the managerial position would naturally be hers.


    Granny Liu understood the stakes but was unwilling to accept them.


    If it were someone else, wouldn¡¯t they always prioritize their own kin when there were benefits to be had?


    Qiao Duo was the exception¡ªher pleas had been in vain.


    Qiao Duo cared not a bit about all this; returning to her room, she picked up a book once more.


    After only two lines, she tossed the book aside¡ªsigh, a bit bored.


    Qiao Duo hesitated, then opted to put on warmer clothes and go out; Hu¡¯s Clan had not been in good health, and she could bring some medicinal herbs to them.


    Arriving at Hu¡¯s rented space, Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly beckoned Qiao Duo to sit by the brazier.


    "I just saw Zheng Hong¡¯s mother, she came here to see you?" Duo¡¯er asked with concern.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "She said her second son ran out of firewood and asked me to spare some, but I didn¡¯t agree."


    Many of the firewood had been collected by the two maids; she was reluctant to give it to anyone else.


    Qiao Duo nodded in approval; it was good that she was so determined.


    Life was her own, and standing firm for herself was stronger than anything else.


    They had barely talked for a moment when Da Ya brought over some tea, and Er Ya also came with a dish of home-fried pumpkin seeds.


    "My mother¡¯s roasted seeds are really tasty; try some, and if you like them, I can pack some for you to take home," Er Ya said cheerfully.


    Children forget easily; she had already stepped out from the shadows.


    Qiao Duo tasted a few; they were caramel-flavored, and the roast was just right.


    "Sister Lan, your skills are impressive; you could open a snack shop in town," Qiao Duo didn¡¯t skimp on the compliments.

 Chapter 662 - 667 Little Ghost is Big_1

    Chapter 662: Chapter 667 Little Ghost is Big_1"These two little ones just have to eat sweets, I couldn¡¯t resist them, so I switched the salt for sugar. How could I possibly open a shop?" Hu¡¯s Clan said modestly.


    But she was happy to see that the two girls enjoyed her cooking.


    "How will you know if you don¡¯t try? Those folks who float around on the river all day, aren¡¯t they just trying to kill time?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er analyzed the situation, and besides, with the New Year approaching, households in town would also be buying fried goods.


    And while other people¡¯s fried goods are all savory, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s are caramel-flavored. Just for the novelty of the flavor, people would want to give them a try.


    "Mom, just listen to Auntie Four, it definitely won¡¯t go wrong," Er Ya said excitedly.


    Da Ya also nodded along. She had complete trust in Auntie Four.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was already somewhat tempted, and once the two children spoke, she directly agreed: "Then I¡¯ll give it a try the day after tomorrow. If they don¡¯t sell, I¡¯ll just share them with everyone."


    "Aunt Huang harvested quite a lot of seeds this year, you should go ask her," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, winking at Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Now that scoundrel Tan Zhengyuan was thrown into jail, it was time for Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s happy life to begin.


    Hu¡¯s Clan blushed and said, "Zhong Zi and I have nothing going on."


    She and Huang Zhong hardly had a few conversations, why were they always making fun of them?


    "I didn¡¯t say you two had anything, don¡¯t be shy," Qiao Duo¡¯er giggled.


    When the two girls went missing, Huang Zhong was busily involved and was a great help.


    But at that time, her heart was all on the two girls, with no time to consider anything else. Now, in retrospect, she could only say that there was potential between Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong.


    Da Ya spoke seriously, "Mom, I think Uncle Huang is pretty good, and Big Dog and Second Dog also like playing with us."


    Er Ya also nodded; she didn¡¯t want to see her mom struggling so much.


    Their life was already tough enough, and with their grandmother stirring up trouble by visiting, if there was a man in the house, their mom wouldn¡¯t be bullied.


    "You two are still young. Don¡¯t butt into adults¡¯ matters," Hu¡¯s Clan said, embarrassed, as she stood up and went to the wardrobe to take out two sets of clothes.


    She had made these specially for Qiao Duo and her husband.


    "You wouldn¡¯t accept the money I offered before, so I made you a set of clothes. It¡¯s just that my sewing isn¡¯t very good; you¡¯ll have to make do," said Hu¡¯s Clan, feeling a little embarrassed but having put a lot of effort into them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the clothes with a smile, "Thank you, Sister Lan, I won¡¯t be polite then." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you didn¡¯t accept them, I wouldn¡¯t know what to do," Hu¡¯s Clan scolded jokingly.


    Qiao Duo and Zheng Hong almost lost their lives trying to help her; nothing she did to repay them would be too much.


    But Qiao Duo wouldn¡¯t accept her offer. Hu¡¯s Clan had wanted to give Qiao Duo Twenty Taels which was declined; when she wanted to buy medicine for nourishment, it was Qiao Duo who gave more to her. What else could she do except make some clothes?


    However, her skills were far inferior to Qiao Duo¡¯s; she was a little embarrassed to offer them.


    Er Ya looked up and said, "Auntie Four, when I can make clothes, I¡¯ll help make some for you too."


    "Er Ya, you¡¯re so sweet. But you should make some for your mom first," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, affectionately ruffling Er Ya¡¯s head. Hu¡¯s Clan had done too much for those two children.


    Er Ya nodded earnestly, "And for Big Sister, she will help out, and we¡¯ll definitely be able to make two sets of clothes."


    "Good girl. After a few days, when the snow stops, I¡¯ll take you to town," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, finding the two girls always so endearing.


    Da Ya and Er Ya immediately shook their heads, and Er Ya said in her baby voice, "You and Uncle Four should just enjoy yourselves. We¡¯ll be fine here and it won¡¯t be as comfortable for you two with us around."


    "Oh, you¡¯re quite the little know-it-all, aren¡¯t you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, scratching Er Ya¡¯s nose, marveling at her precociousness.

 Chapter 663 - 668 Tit for Tat_1

    Chapter 663: Chapter 668 Tit for Tat_1Hu¡¯s Clan barely managed to suppress her smile, "I am also going to town to buy New Year¡¯s goods, I¡¯ll take them with me."


    As for Duo¡¯er and Tan Zheng Hong, they had just gotten married not long ago and needed more time to build their relationship.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chatted with Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughters for a while longer before taking her leave.


    When she got home, she started preparing dinner.


    Looking at those few ingredients, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but sigh, when would spring finally arrive?


    By then, the hills would be covered with wild vegetables, and just the thought of it made her feel blissful. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered the Laba tofu she made a few days ago, it had been several days now and should be ready to eat.


    She took down the basket to check, and the tofu had already dried out. Today would be good to stew meat with it, but unexpectedly, as soon as she took out a bowl of tofu, Tan Zheng Hong came back.


    "Wife, look what I¡¯ve got!"


    Tan Zheng Hong proudly presented his hunt to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    He had set a trap in the bamboo forest today and caught a plump rabbit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up, "I¡¯ve just remembered what we¡¯re having tonight!"


    Rabbit meat, pork, mushrooms, Laba tofu¡ªall these combined would be perfect for barbeque, right?


    "What are we eating?" Tan Zheng Hong asked expectantly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t answer his question but said sternly, "The game Erhu brought last time is still being raised at home, you¡¯re not allowed to go up the mountains anymore."


    He had not fully recovered yet, and it would be very serious if he got a chill.


    "I¡¯m a hunter, I can¡¯t help feeling itchy when I see the bamboo forest, so I just set a trap without thinking I would really catch something,"


    Tan Zheng Hong rubbed his nose; he was telling the truth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hooked Tan Zheng Hong¡¯s chin, "If you get itchy hands again, next time I¡¯ll make you a pig¡¯s trotter soup."


    Tan Zheng Hong couldn¡¯t help but blush because his wife was acting like a thug.


    "I promise I won¡¯t get itchy hands again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in satisfaction, "I¡¯ll trust you this one time. Hurry up and take care of the rabbit, and carve some bamboo skewers too. I¡¯ll prepare the seasoning."


    The most important thing about barbeque is the seasoning; if the seasoning tastes good, the barbeque will be delicious no matter what.


    "Wife, you can¡¯t eat heavily flavored food right now," Tan Zheng Hong reminded her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "Just this once, it¡¯ll be fine."


    Otherwise, eating those tasteless things every day, she was about to go crazy.


    Tan Zheng Hong obediently did as told, and Qiao Duo¡¯er took out some peanuts, fried them until cooked, crushed them, and then mixed in pepper salt powder.


    The sauce was the soybean paste sent by Grandma Zhao, who had excellent cooking skills, and it would definitely taste delicious when brushed on the meat.


    After the seasoning was ready, the meat was marinated with it.


    Once the meat was well-marinated, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zheng Hong started skewering the meat together.


    As the two of them worked, Tan Zheng Hong also brought up the recent events in the village.


    "Do you still remember Widow Xu?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, Widow Xu was the woman Tan Zhengyuan had been involved with.


    However, she had gotten pregnant with someone else¡¯s child, and before leaving, she had also taken all of Tan Zhengyuan¡¯s possessions.


    About this, she only wanted to say that it served him right!


    Scum like Tan Zhengyuan deserved to be taken advantage of by a woman like Widow Xu.


    Tan Zheng Hong continued, "Widow Xu has come back to the village, and it seems she was swindled out of all her money too. My mother went to find her, but didn¡¯t get anything."


    Things in this world really do come around.


    Widow Xu had swindled Tan Zhengyuan, and now someone had swindled her in turn.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, "What goes around, comes around, it seems."


    "That¡¯s exactly right," Tan Zheng Hong agreed with Duo¡¯er, the heavens wouldn¡¯t grant all the good fortune to one person.

 Chapter 664 - 669 Matchmaker’s Material_1

    Chapter 664: Chapter 669 Matchmaker¡¯s Material_1Qiao Duo¡¯er gossiped, "Is Widow Xu living alone now?"


    "She¡¯s with Lao Guang. Lao Guang¡¯s house collapsed, so he moved into Widow Xu¡¯s," Tan Zhenghong said indifferently.


    The child Widow Xu was carrying back then was Lao Guang¡¯s, so now that they¡¯re together, it¡¯s somewhat justifiable.


    Plus, it¡¯s better that they pair up, to spare others the trouble.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Let¡¯s not talk about this; it¡¯s disgusting just hearing it."


    "Alright, then test me with some brain teasers," Tan Zhenghong readily nodded in agreement.


    His wife had said that frequently solving brain teasers could make one smarter, so he liked to do a couple whenever he had the chance.


    After thinking for a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "You can eat winter melon, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin, but which ¡¯melon¡¯ can¡¯t you eat?"


    "Let me think..." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯re so dumb, hurry up and think!"


    After a good while, Tan Zhenghong still couldn¡¯t figure out the answer, so Qiao Duo¡¯er disdainfully said, "It¡¯s ¡¯stupid melon¡¯. Sigh, you¡¯re already beyond help."


    "I think this thing is just to bamboozle people," Tan Zhenghong complained.


    Who could come up with such an odd answer anyway?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly, "What kind of man admits he¡¯s dumb?"


    "Being a man isn¡¯t about what you say, it¡¯s about what you do."


    Tan Zhenghong said without blushing or losing his breath.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless; now, Tan Zhenghong could spout off lewd jokes with ease, without feeling any pressure.


    Leaning closer, Tan Zhenghong whispered in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, "Tonight, whenever you admit I¡¯m a man, I¡¯ll stop right then and there."


    "Let¡¯s try it tonight, then? See if you can manage not to blurt out," Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted with a curl of her lip.


    In that regard, men are at a disadvantage because no matter how strong they are, there¡¯s always an end.


    Tan Zhenghong said haughtily, "You¡¯re a bad woman."


    "There¡¯s a popular saying where I come from, ¡¯If a woman isn¡¯t bad, a man won¡¯t love her,¡¯" Qiao Duo¡¯er boasted.


    "Wife, let¡¯s change the subject, else I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to control myself right now."


    Tan Zhenghong admitted defeat; this inappropriate topic almost set him on fire.


    He really wanted to carry her to the bedroom and love her thoroughly.


    The couple chatted while they worked, and before long, the meat was all ready.


    "Is this too much?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the mountain-like pile of meat skewers with concern; she thought it would be enough for her and Tan Zhenghong to eat for two days.


    After pondering for a moment, Tan Zhenghong said, "Indeed, there is a bit too much. How about I call Erhu and Sister Lan over?"


    "Yeah, Sister Lan made clothes for us before, and we haven¡¯t thanked her yet."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er added hastily, "And call Brother Zhong and the two Puppies over as well."


    This would be a good chance for them to bond as a family.


    "I think you could switch careers and become a matchmaker; you¡¯d certainly make a fortune," Tan Zhenghong teased.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a big eye roll, "If it were anyone else, I couldn¡¯t care less."


    In her past and present lives combined, there were only so many people she truly cared about.


    As night fell, an enticing scent of meat drifted from the Tan Family, making passersby swallow their saliva.


    "Auntie Four, what you¡¯re making smells so good!" Er Ya¡¯s eyes shone brightly, staring intently at the grilled meat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was anything but modest, "Of course, you guys can try some first in a bit."


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at his wife, questioning her. He had already tasted it; the flavor was good, so what was she up to now?


    But he knew she must have her reasons for doing so, and all he needed to do was watch from the side.

 Chapter 665 - 670: Testing_1

    Chapter 665: Chapter 670: Testing_1Qiao Duo¡¯er placed the meat skewers on the plate, "You little things, try them quickly."


    Since there were only three skewers, the children were obviously meant to eat first, but there were a total of four kids now, so dividing them was a problem.


    "You two girls eat, Puppy, you will share one."


    Huang Zhong passed two skewers to Da Ya and Er Ya.


    "No need, just let Puppy eat, their two girls have small bellies, they can¡¯t eat much."


    Hu¡¯s Clan modestly declined.


    This was also a habit she had formed over the years, as rural families favored boys over girls, and if there were any good things, they were reserved for the men to eat first, with the women and girls lucky to get any at all.


    Back when she was with the Tan Family, Tan Zhengyuan never even thought of her and the children.


    Big Dog earnestly said, "Boys and girls fighting over food would be laughed at. Let the two sisters eat, my brother and I will have more later."


    "What a good child!" Huang Zhong ruffled Big Dog¡¯s head.


    By this point, Tan Zhenghong had realized that his wife was assessing the Huang Family members.


    Fortunately, their performance warranted full marks.


    "It will be done shortly, there are also mushrooms and little fish, everyone should eat their fill, you¡¯ll definitely be full."


    This time, Qiao Duo¡¯er put more skewers on the grill and gave Hu¡¯s a meaningful look.


    The most important thing for a man is to be considerate, so the women and children can lead a good life.


    Hu¡¯s Clan looked bewildered, not understanding Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s intentions.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er helplessly said, "Sister Lan, don¡¯t just stand there, quickly brush on the sauce."


    "This can easily burn your hands, I have rough skin and thick flesh, I¡¯m not afraid. Try the rice wine brewed by my mother, it¡¯s very tasty." Huang Zhong quickly took the sauce and even took over Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s tasks.


    He was not merely playing to the gallery, as throughout the meal he was consistently attentive to the women.


    In a society that favors men over women, it¡¯s rare to find such awareness.


    Huang Zhong always felt that women had it hard giving birth and raising children, and that men should take on more responsibilities.


    Therefore, Bao¡¯s could act up all she might in the past, he still kept his temper in check.


    "Chao Lian, why did you come back so early today? It¡¯s not like you," Qiao Duo¡¯er teased.


    Chao Lian, who came from poor circumstances, valued silver coins greatly and would never miss a chance to make money.


    Apart from Laba festival and today, she was present for every opportunity for overtime work.


    Chao Lian, smiling, responded, "I knew there would be delicious food here, so I came over."


    "Of course, who knows when we¡¯ll get this chance again!" replied Qiao Duo, although she still felt that Chao Lian was a bit unhappy.


    It must be Jiang¡¯s Clan causing trouble again, so Qiao Duo didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Erhu complained discontentedly, "Sister-in-law, you¡¯re too cruel. My wife finally has a day to spend with me, and you still have her work. I¡¯m almost miserable to death!" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every day unable to have a tasty meal, and only being able to hold his wife when she returns home.


    "Pathetic!" Tan Zhenghong suppressed a laugh.


    Sun Erhu retorted unsatisfied, "Brother Hong, speaking of affection, I and Chao Lian are way behind you."


    Only when you truly fall in love with someone do you realize that a lifetime is too short to be together, wishing you could stay together not just in this life but in the next and the one after that.


    "You all are too modest, it¡¯s about the same."


    The gathering was filled with laughter and everyone was very happy.


    Only Tan Zhenghong was a bit anxious, as his wife had clearly told him they were going to ¡¯practice¡¯ tonight, but she had drunk quite a bit of rice wine and would definitely be drunk.


    Ah, he would have to owe her one again.


    Tan Zhenghong was not wrong in his expectations, but he also received a perk, which was to bathe Duo¡¯er, giving him the chance to sneak in a lot of touches...

 Chapter 666 - 671 Curse?_1

    Chapter 666: Chapter 671 Curse?_1At this time, in the suburbs of Qingyuan County.


    Xuan Er stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at the gloomy sky without uttering a word.


    His mood had been very heavy these days, almost surpassing the weight his life could bear.


    His elder brother and the brothers from the village had passed away; the thought made him feel ashamed of being a man, and the most painful thing was that he could only bear this burden alone, without anyone to confide in.


    "Second Boss, you need to come see this, Third Boss has woken up, and we can¡¯t hold him down."


    The underling ran over in a panic. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, Third Boss¡¯s outburst was severe, and only the Big Boss and Second Boss had ways to deal with it.


    Xuan Er was startled; he had been adding sedatives to Third Boss¡¯s food these days, he should not have woken up at this time.


    He hurriedly asked, "What happened?"


    "Third Boss must have sensed something; he didn¡¯t eat at noon. Just now, he got a bit agitated after hearing a couple of younger brothers mention something," the underling reported truthfully.


    While walking toward Xuan San¡¯s room, Xuan Er asked anxiously, "What was said?"


    "It¡¯s... it¡¯s about the Yin Family."


    The underling said in fear, for it was he who had slipped the words.


    He had merely mentioned that the Yin Family¡¯s case should be coming to a judgment soon, and it likely wouldn¡¯t be far from the death penalty.


    But who would have thought that Third Boss would burst out of his room, choking him by the neck.


    If it weren¡¯t for his companions coming to his rescue in time, he probably would have died.


    Learning of the reason, Xuan Er walked even faster; Yin Yinyue was irreplaceable in Third Boss¡¯s heart, and every time something related to her came up, he would lose all reason.


    Xuan Er was somewhat annoyed; if it hadn¡¯t been for Xuan San, the village wouldn¡¯t have met its demise so swiftly.


    And yet, here he was, still hung up on that woman who treated him like a tool!


    What made Xuan Er even angrier, however, was himself; if only he were stronger, perhaps he could have protected the village.


    In the room, Xuan San was struggling fiercely.


    "Are you all rebelling? Let me go!" Xuan San¡¯s eyes reddened in urgency.


    In the past, it would have been easy to deal with these two, but having slept too long, his limbs were weak and numb, and he could not free himself from the grip of the person behind him.


    "Third Boss, Second Boss has ordered us not to let you leave the room."


    "Then go get my second brother here fast! If you delay saving someone, I will drag you all to feed the hawks!"


    Xuan San said viciously, but his words carried no threat.


    On their way here, they had heard a lot of rumors, and they were well aware of the condition of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Third Boss would have to have hawks to feed them to before he could make good on his threat.


    "I was the one who didn¡¯t let you go save Yin Yinyue. Do you also want to feed me to the hawks?" Xuan Er spoke with an unfriendly tone.


    "I didn¡¯t mean that; just tell me what has happened with the Yin Family now!"


    Xuan San had calmed down slightly, his temper marginally better.


    Xuan Er said gravely, "You should be more concerned about Big Brother right now."


    "What do you mean?"


    Xuan San had an ominous premonition. If Big Brother hadn¡¯t had an accident, his second brother certainly wouldn¡¯t have spoken this way.


    Words within words, they made for an uncomfortable listen.


    Xuan Er decided not to keep hiding the truth. If he didn¡¯t let Xuan San know certain things, he would never stop his reckless behavior.


    "Big Brother took on the poison himself; he and the other brothers stayed to defend the village, which by now has probably been breached."


    Xuan Er spoke with sorrow, because of Xuan Da¡¯s tragic death.


    "How is that possible? Qin Longyun only has a few men under his command, right?" Xuan San shook his head vigorously; it was impossible!


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had stood on Xuan Eagle Mountain for many years; how could it be breached?


    It had to be a trick!


    Was it okay to curse the village and Big Brother like this?

 Chapter 667 - 672: Lock Up_1

    Chapter 667: Chapter 672: Lock Up_1"After Yin Gang¡¯s downfall, Tong Zhi rose to power. He transferred the three thousand guards from Mansion City. Look around you. Is this the Xuan Eagle Mountain you remember?"


    Xuan Er was furious. If not for Xuan San¡¯s frail health, he would have truly wanted to slap some sense into him.


    Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was their home. How could he joke about this?


    Xuan San looked around and only then realized this was not the familiar room or the familiar environment he knew.


    He slumped into a chair as Xuan Er¡¯s words kept circling in his head.


    His elder brother was dead, and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was gone. All of a sudden, he felt like a lost child, at a loss for what to do.


    Tears rolled down unexpectedly, even Xuan San was taken aback by it.


    It turned out he could cry too, wailing like a child.


    Xuan Er felt some pity, yet still said through clenched teeth, "Our elder brother didn¡¯t even care for his own life to save you, and you think about what that woman has done for you. Is she worth it?"


    With that, he turned and left, hoping that Third Boss would come to his senses and give up on rescuing Yin Silver Moon.


    Now, they were down to just forty men, and among them, ten who learned of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village¡¯s fate had already sneaked away one by one. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The remaining men were the hope for revitalizing Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. There could be no mistakes.


    After who knows how long, Xuan San dragged his frozen body onto the bed, his eyes devoid of any light.


    For the first time, he felt life was so dark, without a glimpse of hope.


    Xuan San did not sleep that night, and the next day, he knelt weakly in front of Xuan Er¡¯s door.


    Xuan Er had a late night tossing and turning before finally falling asleep, so he got up late. By the time he opened the door, Xuan San had already been kneeling for two hours, his face frozen to a purple hue.


    "Third Boss, what are you doing?"


    Xuan Er quickly helped Xuan San up and dragged him into the house.


    Inside was a charcoal basin, but the temperature was still not adequate, so Xuan Er tucked him into bed.


    Xuan Er said seriously, "Your life was saved by our elder brother. He wanted you to live well. You have no right to ruin your health."


    "Second Brother, I¡¯ve already lost our elder brother. I can¡¯t lose her too," Xuan San said decisively.


    He had thought it through the whole night and concluded that he must save Yin Silver Moon no matter what, because she was his only motivation to live on.


    This answer deeply disappointed Xuan Er. He had laid all the cards on the table, but Xuan San¡¯s mind was still fixated on that damn woman.


    Utterly hopeless!


    Xuan Er said angrily, "If you¡¯re so fond of that woman, go ahead, but don¡¯t drag the brothers of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village into it. They don¡¯t care about that woman!"


    "If I cannot save her, what¡¯s the point of living?" Xuan San roared.


    Having knelt outside for a long time, his throat was hoarse from the cold, his voice heart-wrenchingly painful to hear.


    "Then go ahead and die. To seek life and death over a woman, you don¡¯t deserve our elder brother¡¯s sacrifice!"


    Xuan Er¡¯s scathing words hit Xuan San¡¯s ears with every syllable, but they could not shake his determination.


    Xuan San cast aside all his pride: "Second Brother, I beg you."


    All he wanted was to rescue Yin Silver Moon, to take her and occupy another mountain peak, to start anew with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, to seek revenge for their elder brother after a few years, and his life would be complete.


    "Keep an eye on Third Boss, everyone. We cannot afford any mistakes," Xuan Er ordered coldly.


    The subordinates nodded immediately, silently vowing not to give Third Boss any opportunity to bring them harm.


    Enough people had died already!


    Toward evening, Tan Zhenghong shoveled snow in the courtyard, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was also helping by his side.


    Such was the simple and warm life of a farming household.

 Chapter 668 - 673 Dare to Ambush?_1

    Chapter 668: Chapter 673 Dare to Ambush?_1Looking at the flawless white snow, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a urge itching in her hands.


    She believed that there¡¯s no time like the present and immediately made a snowball and hurled it at Tan Zhenghong, hitting him right on his little bum.


    It was hard to come by such a heavy snowfall, and not taking the opportunity to have some fun would be doing a disservice to herself. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You dare ambush me?" Tan Zhenghong feigned anger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed lightly, "Who asked you to be so dumb? You couldn¡¯t even dodge it, and you still have the nerve to say you¡¯re a martial artist!"


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t retort but simply scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er easily dodged and sent back a provocative glare.


    The battle was about to erupt when the two who had been shoveling snow started hurling snowballs at each other, turning the scene into chaos.


    After fooling around for a while, they suddenly realized the area they had cleared was now a complete mess again, to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s chagrin.


    If they continued this way, they wouldn¡¯t be able to clear a path even if they shoveled all night.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Chao Lian walking back.


    With just over ten days until the New Year, everyone was rushing to meet deadlines, and as the one in charge, Chao Lian had every reason to set an example.


    What¡¯s more important was the preoccupied look on Chao Lian¡¯s face; she didn¡¯t even notice the two of them.


    "Do you think Erhu and Chao Lian have run into some trouble?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "I only heard that Jiang¡¯s Clan came to make a fuss a few times, but Erhu and Chao Lian ignored her, and without a handle, Jiang¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t do much. Other than that, I don¡¯t know."


    In fact, Jiang¡¯s Clan was nothing more than a paper tiger. Apart from ranting and raving, they were pretty harmless.


    As long as Erhu and his family stood their ground and hid the Silver Coin well, Jiang¡¯s Clan wouldn¡¯t be a threat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. Chao Lian¡¯s life was simple. If it wasn¡¯t Jiang¡¯s Clan, it couldn¡¯t be Sun Erhu, so it must be the Embroidery Room.


    But with the Embroidery Room running on schedule, what could go wrong?


    "You¡¯ll check it out when you deliver firewood to the Embroidery Room tomorrow," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    Now that the weather was getting colder, to ensure the temperature of the Embroidery Room, Tan Zhenghong had to deliver firewood there every few days.


    She had opened the Embroidery Room on a whim, but thankfully, Tan Zhenghong, being diligent, had prepared the winter firewood well in advance, enough to comfortably cover the extra needs of the Embroidery Room.


    Perhaps Tan Zhenghong had grown accustomed to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s whimsical nature.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and kept the matter in mind. Erhu was a good brother of his, so naturally, he was a bit more concerned about them.


    Having discussed Chao Lian, Qiao Duo¡¯er then remembered the mess behind them.


    Ah, what a troublesome situation.


    "You¡¯re in charge of cleaning it up." Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her red, cold hands ¨C she had played a bit too long, and her hands had gone numb from the cold.


    Tan Zhenghong enclosed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands in his embrace, "Didn¡¯t I tell you not to play with the snow? Now tell me, how should I punish you?"


    "Could I have played by myself?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a big eye roll, her eyes full of disdain.


    Just a moment ago, Tan Zhenghong had been very cooperative, playing like a child who never grew up, and now suddenly it was all her fault?


    Humph, so men flip sides just as easily as flipping a book.


    Tan Zhenghong arched an eyebrow, "Wasn¡¯t I just trying not to disappoint you? Let¡¯s go back to the house quickly."


    "I was having too much fun, I don¡¯t want to go back!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er never just did as told; instead, she went with Tan Zhenghong to the backyard to feed those little things.


    Having not seen them for several days, she missed them terribly.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t win against Qiao Duo¡¯er and went on to mix the food himself, then carried it over to his wife, allowing her to just pour it into the trough.


    Even so, Tan Zhenghong still felt for his wife and helped with the feeding.

 Chapter 669 - 674 Make Do and Eat Enough_1

    Chapter 669: Chapter 674 Make Do and Eat Enough_1"Wife, look, the chicken has laid eggs!" Tan Zhenghong said excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced over and indeed, there were two pale eggs hidden in the straw nest.


    These were pure, home-raised, free-range chicken eggs!


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er discovered that there were also two eggs in the ducks¡¯ straw nest, a bit larger than the chicken eggs and slightly greenish in hue¡ªthese were duck eggs.


    "The ducks have started laying eggs too, I didn¡¯t come out here for nothing today!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up the two eggs, cradling them carefully in her palm.


    Basically, she and Tan Zhenghong had been the ones taking care of these chickens and ducks, and now that there was a harvest, they were happier than anyone else.


    What¡¯s more important is that in a little while, their little farmhouse would be self-sufficient.


    "Only four in total, wife, how do you want to eat them?" Tan Zhenghong was also in a good mood.


    "Fry the chicken eggs, save the duck eggs to marinate."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decided on the use for the eggs, but she thought they would have to save the duck eggs for a few days to marinate them. Anyway, it was the dead of winter now, and the eggs wouldn¡¯t go bad even if left out for a few days.


    After storing the eggs, they went to the musk deer¡¯s den.


    By now, they had lost their previous unruliness and had adapted well to their new home.


    Especially the male musk deer with a full fragrance pouch, which was surely laden with a lot of musk.


    When spring arrived, this would be another windfall!


    The musk deer seemed to sense Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s unabashed gaze landing on a certain spot, let out a snort, and ran away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was full of black lines; she just wanted to say she wasn¡¯t a pervert!


    The male musk deer ran away shyly, but the female musk deer came closer. All the female musk deer were now pregnant, and to ensure good development of the fetuses, they craved more food.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked each of them, then poured the feed into the trough.


    Now the feed was mixed with soybean dregs and ground-up shells, in hopes that the female musk deer would give birth smoothly.


    The female musk deer ate heartily, and after a few moments of coyness, the male also came over but still kept glancing at Qiao Duo¡¯er with suspicion.


    As if protecting himself from an assault by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "What did you do to it?" Tan Zhenghong asked with a dark face.


    "I didn¡¯t do anything,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said uncomfortably. She felt that the animals they were raising were becoming too clever.


    She just happened to look a little too long, and who knew these two creatures would be so ungracious.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, his face full of disbelief.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face flushed, and she slapped the male musk deer¡¯s head with her palm.


    But her gentle pat made the male musk deer think Qiao Duo¡¯er was playing with it, so it nuzzled her palm with its fuzzy head. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This left Qiao Duo¡¯er helpless. She really wanted to let Fatty and Fat Fat train it for a few days; it would surely become docile then.


    But she was afraid Fatty and Fat Fat would not know their own strength and might accidentally harm the musk deer. Wouldn¡¯t she cry herself to death then?


    "Don¡¯t be mad at it anymore, let¡¯s go back, don¡¯t get cold,"


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Duo¡¯er back forcibly, they had been outside for a long time, and it was easy to catch a chill.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er indeed felt the chill and decided not to be stubborn anymore; she obediently returned home with Tan Zhenghong. She took a hot bath, and only after that did Duo¡¯er feel revived, as if all her pores had opened up.


    After the bath, Tan Zhenghong had already prepared dinner, which consisted of fish soup noodles and shepherd¡¯s purse with minced meat. The portion was just enough for two.


    Tan Zhenghong quietly mentioned that his cooking skills were far inferior to Duo¡¯er¡¯s; at best, it was passable for filling the stomach.


    After dinner, someone from Hu¡¯s Clan came over with two girls, bringing some fried snacks.


    "I came up with these in the past few days, and I brought some for you to try," said the lady from Hu¡¯s Clan, as she tucked the flyaway strands of hair beside her ear.

 Chapter 670 - 675: New Flavor_1

    Chapter 670: Chapter 675: New Flavor_1Ever since Duo¡¯er mentioned the idea of selling roasted snacks, she had started preparing. Over the past few days, she made salt-flavored, five-spice, and caramel-flavored melon seeds and peanuts, but she wasn¡¯t sure if others would like these flavors.


    Her most trusted person was Qiao Duo¡¯er, so she sent some for her to try.


    Unconsciously, she had come to see Qiao Duo¡¯er as a leader, following her suggestions without question.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong tasted each one, the caramel flavor was stunning, while the other two were fairly standard, but that was already enough.


    "These will definitely sell, the sweet-flavored melon seeds will be very popular."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs-up.


    With that, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s hanging heart finally settled back into her stomach: "Now I can rest easy."


    "By the way, I¡¯ve tasted a kind of melon seeds with a milk flavor before, it seems they soak the seeds in milk for a while then add five-spice for frying, but I¡¯m not exactly sure about the details."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered a hint, and the rest was up to Hu¡¯s Clan, since that was all she knew.


    The production process of the milk-flavored melon seeds was complex, and not easy for others to replicate, giving Hu¡¯s Clan the opportunity to capture more market share.


    Hu¡¯s Clan noted this down seriously, thinking she must research it when she got back home.


    After seeing off Hu¡¯s Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but sigh. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think there¡¯s something toxic about your family, pushing out good people and keeping a collection of misfits that are no good for anything."


    Once Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s business took off, the Tan Family Members would surely be green with regret.


    Now the Tan Family was in complete disarray, with the eldest in prison following a divorce, the second giving half of his property to a future worthless brother-in-law, and the third, known as Third Boss, still being useless.


    At this rate, the Tan Family would soon vanish from this world.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a wry smile, "What can I say?"


    Because his wife was speaking an undeniable truth.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore," Qiao Duo¡¯er consoled Tan Zhenghong.


    Both their original families were bitter memories, but she wasn¡¯t the original person, she didn¡¯t care about those people and events.


    But it was different for Tan Zhenghong; he had always been him, always brooding over being abandoned.


    "No matter, I can withstand this much of a blow," Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    He wasn¡¯t alone now, what was there to fear?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, but she didn¡¯t continue the topic; just because someone didn¡¯t care didn¡¯t give one a reason to reopen old wounds.


    At night, the two of them had much to do besides talking, such as reading discordant books or engaging in discordant activities, feeling as though there was never enough time.


    Hu¡¯s Clan surprised Qiao Duo¡¯er because she brought the finished product over the next evening.


    After returning home the day before, she pondered over the milk-flavored melon seeds and went to buy milk in town first thing in the morning. She then spent the entire day experimenting in the kitchen.


    After several attempts, she felt that soaking in milk for four hours, then adding a small amount of five-spice powder and fine salt, gave the best flavor.


    "It¡¯s about this flavor, you are so talented!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t skimp on her thumbs-up.


    She had just casually mentioned it, hoping that Hu¡¯s Clan would tinker with it when she had time; she didn¡¯t expect it to be done so quickly.


    Indeed, everyone has their place in this world; finding the right one is the key to happiness.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said modestly, "It¡¯s not that I¡¯m skilled, I¡¯m just lucky."


    In truth, she had had no expectations before coming, but was delighted that Qiao Duo had immediately confirmed her skill, giving her confidence for when she¡¯d sell them.


    It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Duo¡¯er was picky, but she had that level of ability.

 Chapter 671 - 676 Ruo Lan_1

    Chapter 671: Chapter 676 Ruo Lan_1Hu¡¯s Clan immediately decided to fry some extra snacks at home, and once the snow had melted, she would take her two girls to set up a stall in town.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er had said, she could afford to lose now.


    At worst, she would consider the twenty taels of silver as payment to a bunch of bandits.


    However, she was confident in her skills and believed that the life she and her children would lead would only get better and better.


    Early that morning, Tan Zhenghong delivered another cartload of firewood to the Embroidery Room, and Grandma Zhao came over to help unload it.


    "Madam, is there anything new with the Embroidery Room lately?"


    Remembering the question Duo¡¯er asked him to inquire about, Tan Zhenghong seized the opportunity to ask.


    "Nothing much, it¡¯s just that Miss Ruo Lan feels that the room isn¡¯t warm enough, so I have to keep the ground dragon burning a little hotter; we have to use half a bundle more of firewood each day,"


    Grandma Zhao said with a look of distress.


    In her view, every stitch and thread was precious.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "If they feel cold, just add more firewood. Otherwise, it¡¯ll affect their speed. I¡¯ll bring some extra firewood next time."


    Aside from his wife, he had no interest in other women, so he didn¡¯t seriously consider what Grandma Zhao had said.


    After placing the firewood in the specified spot, Tan Zhenghong glanced outside the Embroidery Ladies¡¯ workshop.


    "Zheng Hong, come and try the chestnut cake Ruo Lan just made, it¡¯s really tasty!" Granny Liu called out.


    She had sharp eyes and spotted him immediately.


    In the past, she wanted to marry Ruo Lan to her son, but now she just wanted to get Ruo Lan out of there while maximizing her own benefit.


    Because a cheap woman like Ruo Lan wasn¡¯t fit to be a wife.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "I just had breakfast and can¡¯t eat any more."


    Nowadays, Duo¡¯er had monopolized his taste buds; if it wasn¡¯t made by her, he didn¡¯t feel like eating it.


    But Granny Liu didn¡¯t care for his preferences, and simply stuffed the pastry into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands, not giving him a chance to refuse.


    Unable to decline, Tan Zhenghong could only take a bite, and this confirmed one thing: only the food made by his wife suited his palate.


    And this was too sweet for his liking.


    Tan Zhenghong finished off the cake quickly since he disliked wasting food, and after finishing, he prepared to head back home.


    He needed his wife to cook him a delicious meal at noon to make up for the injury to his stomach.


    "Brother Zheng Hong, don¡¯t rush off. My desk has a bit of a problem, could you help me fix it?" Ruo Lan asked timidly.


    She resembled a frightened little rabbit, eliciting sympathy.


    But Tan Zhenghong only heard one thing, Ruo Lan¡¯s desk was broken. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Where¡¯s your desk? Show me."


    Ruo Lan then led Tan Zhenghong to another room. This was her private workplace; she was the only one in the entire Embroidery Room who enjoyed such treatment.


    Since the desk leg was broken, Tan Zhenghong propped it with a wooden stick and nailed it firmly.


    Even so, the desk was still quite wobbly.


    "Make do with it for now; I¡¯ll talk to Duo¡¯er later and get you a new one," Tan Zhenghong said, apologetically.


    "You can¡¯t lie to me; this desk always shakes, it¡¯s not convenient at all."


    "Right, didn¡¯t Chao Lian used to stay in this room?" Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled.


    It seemed unlikely that Ruo Lan, being newly arrived, would have such a privilege.


    "The quality of the embroidery differs among the ladies, so she stays with them to have a comparison," Ruo Lan said with a shallow smile.


    Yet, beneath her smile, there was a hint of disdain.


    How could Chao Lian, with her level of skill, deserve her own room?


    In this Embroidery Room, only she was worthy of the very best.

 Chapter 672 - 677: You Are Biased_1

    Chapter 672: Chapter 677: You Are Biased_1Tan Zhenghong still had his doubts. If there were too many subpar embroidery works from the Embroidery Room, Fat Aunt would certainly be upset as well.


    But it wasn¡¯t just Fat Aunt; the other Embroidery Ladies were in a good mood too.


    "Brother Hong, take a sip of water, and don¡¯t overwork yourself. Otherwise, Sis-in-law will blame me,"


    Ruo Lan interjected in a timely manner. She didn¡¯t want to hear any more about Chao Lian.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "I¡¯m not tired. I¡¯m off."


    Only he and Ruo Lan were in the room¡ªa situation which could easily lead to rumors if a man and a woman were together.


    Ruo Lan forced a smile and said in a gentle voice, "The ground outside is icy and very slippery. Please be very careful."


    After Tan Zhenghong had walked away, Ruo Lan¡¯s smile turned cold, even somewhat angry.


    Why did Lin Qiaolian get to be In Charge? Why did so many people protect her?


    In Ruo Lan¡¯s eyes, Chao Lian was simply foolish. She had only employed a little trickery, after all.


    She had only gossiped a few times, claiming that the patterns Chao Lian drew were inferior to her own and that Chao Lian¡¯s position as In Charge was entirely due to her connections with Erhu and Tan Zhenghong.


    Unexpectedly, Chao Lian naively allowed her to draw patterns together with her.


    With just a few words more, Lan painted Chao Lian in such a poor light that she monopolized the task of designing the patterns.


    Hmpf, she could drive Chao Lian out of this room, and just as well out of the Embroidery Room. She wanted everyone in the Embroidery Room to act at her whim!


    Before Ruo Lan could indulge in her delusion of grandeur further, a wave of nausea overwhelmed her.


    She sat down, clutching her chest, exerting all her strength to stave off the urge to vomit.


    This feeling was driving her to the brink of insanity!


    By the time she managed to suppress it, her complexion had turned frightfully pale. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Beyond feeling unwell, her worry was greater.


    More than a month had passed by now. She needed to act quickly, or else it would soon become impossible to conceal.


    And she wanted only the best, the man with the best conditions in the village...


    "Ruo Lan, are you feeling unwell?"


    Fat Aunt furrowed her eyebrows and asked. She didn¡¯t have a good impression of Ruo Lan; the only redeeming qualities were her decent pattern drawing and embroidery skills.


    Ruo Lan quickly got up, "It¡¯s nothing. I just choked on a chestnut cake just now."


    "Then in the future, don¡¯t distribute food in the Embroidery Room. It sets a bad example. Besides, everyone says your patterns aren¡¯t good. You should focus on your embroidery," Fat Aunt said bluntly.


    She wasn¡¯t like Chao Lian, who had a soft disposition.


    Most importantly, at her age, what did she not understand?


    Ruo Lan clenched her fists but replied with a slight smile, "Aunt, please tell me where did Chao Lian get those finished clothes from?"


    If she had those clothes, she could copy the designs.


    "They have their own sources. If you¡¯re capable, find them yourself,"


    Fat Aunt retorted irritably, feeling that the woman was far too full of herself.


    Ruo Lan rolled her eyes, "We¡¯re all working in the Embroidery Room. How can you be so biased?"


    "I just am." Fat Aunt dropped the words and left.


    Seeing Ruo Lan put in her place, Tan Zhenghong finally returned home with peace of mind.


    Upon arriving home, Tan Zhenghong quickly drank two glasses of water to dilute the sweet, cloying taste in his mouth.


    "Here¡¯s some freshly cooked beef potstickers and egg soup. Give it a try," Qiao Duo¡¯er brought over breakfast.


    There was still some shrimp powder left from what Zhang Ziwen had brought last time, which Qiao Duo used to enhance the flavor, so the potstickers tasted very savory.


    Tan Zhenghong devoured them heartily, eating with great satisfaction.


    Indeed, his own wife was the best¡ªmost beautiful, most considerate, and even the best in cooking skills.

 Chapter 673 - 678: Silly Sister!_1

    Chapter 673: Chapter 678: Silly Sister!_1A few days had passed, and the snow had finally all melted.


    Tan Zhenghong harnessed the ox cart early in the morning, taking advantage of the clear day to go to town to buy New Year¡¯s goods.


    Little Year was approaching, and the village was already imbued with the atmosphere of the upcoming New Year; many households were busy cleaning, and some of the more impatient ones had even started to post couplets.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help feeling: "Time passes so quickly, in the blink of an eye it¡¯s almost New Year¡¯s."


    "Did people celebrate New Year¡¯s where you used to live?" Tan Zhenghong asked curiously.


    "They did, but everyone was so busy there that the festival atmosphere was rather faint," Qiao Duo¡¯er honestly replied.


    Back then, she was on her own, and the concept of New Year¡¯s was even more alien to her.


    Tan Zhenghong was puzzled; he couldn¡¯t imagine why those people wouldn¡¯t properly celebrate New Year¡¯s.


    Here, the Spring Festival was the most important day, when people who were away would come back, and the whole family, young and old, would gather together to have a warm New Year¡¯s celebration.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes: "Perhaps later on, life got better, and every day felt like New Year¡¯s."


    "That¡¯s hard to imagine," Tan Zhenghong weakly commented.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t insist further, as the ways of the later world were too remote for him.


    Once they reached the town, Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to first go to Chen Dashan¡¯s butcher shop to pay off the remaining debt for the meat.


    Since there were fewer people at the docks these days, she decided to close the marinated meat shop for the next couple of days and treat it as an early holiday for the folks from Hu¡¯s Clan and the two aunties.


    As the end of the year approached, the butcher shop was bustling with business.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong stood aside, waiting for Chen Dashan and his spouse to finish their workload.


    "The two of you, my shop¡¯s meat is excellent; take a look!"


    The owner of the adjacent butcher¡¯s shop called out. His neighbor¡¯s stall was doing brisk business while his own was desolately empty, and he was almost frantic with anxiety.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced over, instantly losing interest.


    The meat at that butcher¡¯s shop seemed to have been sitting for a while. Although it was winter, fresh pork was still the tastiest.


    It was a hard life for that shopkeeper, whose only role appeared to be highlighting Chen Dashan¡¯s honest business, where all the pork was slaughtered on the first day and sold out by the second, creating a stark contrast.


    The owner couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look at Qiao Duo¡¯er. He remembered seeing her before, but couldn¡¯t quite recall where.


    After a while, he suddenly slapped his forehead.


    "Aren¡¯t you the Da Xing Village¡¯s ¡¯simple girl¡¯? We¡¯re from the same village; why don¡¯t you help a brother out and buy some meat from my shop?"


    The owner¡¯s face was plastered with a smile. When the Qiao family had once come to Big Willow Village, he had hitched a ride for them, and at that time, they were seeking out this very woman.


    It had been a while since he had seen her, and she had grown even more beautiful, like an angel fallen to earth. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the moment the words left his mouth, the owner wanted to slap himself twice; wasn¡¯t this insulting her?


    Tan Zhenghong said irritably, "Don¡¯t bother with him. The guy¡¯s crazy, no wonder no one buys meat here."


    "How can you speak like that? She was originally the ¡¯simple girl,¡¯ everyone in our village knows it. You¡¯re the unlucky one, marrying a simpleton," the butcher shop owner commented sourly. In truth, he wanted to add that just for her face alone, it was worth it.


    And looking at her now, where was there even a trace of a simpleton?


    Was it as the village elders said, that she had been reborn?


    "It¡¯s your lack of insight," Tan Zhenghong said contemptuously.


    He also discreetly moved to stand in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er, shielding her from the man¡¯s meaningful glances.


    "Consider it like being bitten by a dog; we can¡¯t bite back. Let¡¯s just go," Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly interjected.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed, "Makes sense, let¡¯s rest a bit inside the butcher¡¯s shop."

 Chapter 674 - 679 Pleasant Cooperation_1

    Chapter 674: Chapter 679 Pleasant Cooperation_1Qiao Duo¡¯er doesn¡¯t like the smell of raw meat, but at least there aren¡¯t such upsetting people inside.


    It wasn¡¯t until Chen Dashan and Mrs. Dashan had finally finished the current rush that they had time to serve Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband.


    "I¡¯m really sorry, we¡¯ve been too busy and just couldn¡¯t get away,"


    Mrs. Dashan said apologetically.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "It¡¯s our fault for coming at the wrong time, delaying your business."


    "Not at all, the customers come in waves, as if they had an appointment. Once this busy period is over, it¡¯ll be fine. The tea has gone cold; I¡¯ll go get a fresh pot."


    Mrs. Dashan touched the teapot and became even more flustered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong were their noble people; how could they treat their guests like this?


    "Sister-in-law, don¡¯t fuss over us, let¡¯s just settle the account quickly," Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly intervened.


    The weather was too cold now; she didn¡¯t want to come out every day.


    Mrs. Dashan looked at Chen Dashan, as she still wanted to buy some pastries. Did they still need them now?


    Chen Dashan reassured her, "Just listen to Duo¡¯er, hurry and bring the ledger, they must have other things to do."


    Mrs. Dashan nodded and promptly brought out the ledger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also took out her ledger; she and Mrs. Dashan were responsible for checking accounts, while Chen Dashan and Tan Zhenghong took care of the abacus, and it wasn¡¯t long before they calculated the total price. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That comes to fifty-three taels, let¡¯s just call it fifty taels," Chen Dashan generously rounded down.


    He had seen and overheard the conversation between Shi Zhu and Qiao Duo¡¯er just now, and lowering the price a bit more was a gesture of goodwill.


    Mrs. Dashan felt the pinch, but she knew her husband¡¯s intention.


    Losing a few taels of silver now would secure the business with the Tan Family, from which they stood to benefit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over fifty-three taels of silver to Mrs. Dashan: "We all run small businesses, how can we take three taels of silver from you?"


    Now being somewhat of a businessperson herself, she understood that making money is hard.


    Chen Dashan pushed the broken silver back: "It¡¯s fine, you¡¯re all regular customers."


    "Brother Chen, your meat is fresh and fairly priced; I am reassured. I am very willing to maintain the status quo," Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    But if Chen Dashan were to deliver diseased pork or short the weight, she would change her supplier.


    In other words, the choice to continue the collaboration was in Chen Dashan¡¯s hands.


    Mrs. Dashan quickly added, "Don¡¯t worry, our butcher shop has been handed down for generations, and we¡¯ve always run an honest business."


    Otherwise, her family¡¯s shop wouldn¡¯t have so many loyal customers.


    "Then here¡¯s to our continued pleasant cooperation," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    With no change in the supplier, she could worry less, so she hoped the cooperation would continue more than anyone.


    Hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words eased Chen Dashan and his wife greatly.


    Mrs. Dashan nodded vigorously: "You can be completely assured; I¡¯ll definitely take good care of it."


    Having said that, she collected the silver and, realizing she might appear too eager, her neck turned red.


    As the saying goes, people die for wealth as birds die for food; loving silver is natural, and there¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about as long as it¡¯s earned through legitimate means.


    Fearing Mrs. Dashan might die of shame, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly changed the subject.


    "By the way, I have another matter."


    She had already inquired that the Festival gift for workers in town was half a pound of pork and half a pack of pastries. Some would even take home their wages.


    Giving a pound of pork, two fish, plus a red envelope was indeed a very presentable festival gift.


    Chen Dashan slapped his chest: "If there¡¯s anything you need, just let me know. I won¡¯t refuse as long as it¡¯s within my power."

 Chapter 675 - 680: Go Sleep in the Guest Room!_1

    Chapter 675: Chapter 680: Go Sleep in the Guest Room!_1"On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, you will bring forty jin of meat to my house, each jin divided into portions, plus a rib and two marrow bones."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er calculated for a moment. There were thirty-six people in the embroidery room, so the remaining four jin of meat would be saved for her family to make dumplings.


    Chen Dashan immediately agreed, and to prevent forgetting, he even made a special note of it.


    After completing these two tasks, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong stood up to take their leave.


    Once they had left, Mrs. Dashan said annoyedly, "Look at the mess I¡¯ve made, it¡¯s so embarrassing!"


    "It doesn¡¯t matter, they¡¯re not the type to care about the small stuff, so don¡¯t worry about it."


    Chen Dashan consoled her. He had heard that those who achieve great things do not fuss over trifles, and the Tan couple was just like that; they wouldn¡¯t fuss over a country girl who hadn¡¯t seen much of the world.


    "Sigh, I need to learn from Mrs. Tan."


    Determined, Mrs. Dashan thought, she was a woman just like anyone else, yet while others were at ease, she shrank back, incapable of showing a presentable front.


    It really was maddening how one could feel inferior in comparison to others!


    What worried her more was that if things continued this way, Chen Dashan would surely start thinking about other women.


    Chen Dashan shook his head, "You are you, why try to be someone else?"


    "I..." Mrs. Dashan stuttered, unsure of how to explain.


    Just as the atmosphere was becoming awkward, a customer came over to buy meat, saving Mrs. Dashan from the uncomfortable situation. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong then went to the carpentry shop, where, as usual, only the Zou¡¯s were in the shop.


    However, the Zou¡¯s were skilled in accounting and soon had the figures sorted out.


    "Li Yang mentioned that you should get a share of the profits from the sofas and beds, but the sofas have been selling well these past few days, making it difficult to tally up. Why not let Li Yang bring the silver to your house after the carpentry shop closes?"


    The Zou¡¯s finished with that final comment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "That¡¯s fine, we can talk about that later."


    In fact, she was thinking that she had never really been concerned about that bonus.


    After settling the accounts at the butcher shop and the carpentry shop, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s purse had slimmed down considerably, and she suddenly felt a pang of heartache.


    "Silly Sister, I¡¯ll help you earn it back," Tan Zhenghong patted Qiao Duo¡¯er on the shoulder.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled down her scarf a bit, revealing her small face.


    Because this way, Tan Zhenghong could see that she was really angry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Keep calling me that and you¡¯ll be sleeping in the guest room tonight."


    To be called Silly Sister was one thing, but now she had acquired a new nickname, "Big Silly Sister," which Qiao Duo¡¯er found intolerable.


    Because she was not silly at all!


    "I swear I won¡¯t tease you again, wife. Shall we go to the Cloth Shop now?" Tan Zhenghong quickly admitted defeat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the sun. They had lingered a while in both stores, and it was already nearing noon.


    "Let¡¯s go this afternoon. We¡¯ll buy some candied fruit and pastries to visit Ling¡¯er, and we might as well scrounge a meal."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded; it was a good plan.


    At the Government Office, Qin Longyun had unusually come back early.


    Chen Yiling, with a hand on her lower back, said discontentedly, "You come back early when we have guests, showing favoritism. I hate you so much!"


    "I swear it¡¯s not like that this time. I specifically cancelled a lunch meeting so I could come back and have lunch with you," Qin Longyun explained, truly innocent.


    Chen Yiling huffed, "I don¡¯t believe a word you say."


    Qin Longyun couldn¡¯t help but hold his forehead; he increasingly felt that he couldn¡¯t have a normal conversation with his wife.


    Yet, he couldn¡¯t help but foolishly treasure her like a rare gem, and the worst part was, it was an illness that lasted a lifetime.


    Lord Qin coaxed for a long time before he could placate Ling¡¯er, then he peeled some nuts while discussing serious matters with Qiao Duo¡¯er.

 Chapter 676 - 681 No Reward Without Merit_1

    Chapter 676: Chapter 681 No Reward Without Merit_1"I had the coroner re-examine the bodies, and one of them showed signs of poisoning. The three, judging by their physiques, are indeed the Xuan Family¡¯s Three Brothers," Qin Longyun stroked his chin.


    Erhu came to town to tell him about this, and he immediately ordered an investigation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then it seems I was overthinking it."


    "Xuan Eagle Mountain Village is not to be underestimated. One cannot be too cautious," Lord Qin said, narrowing his eyes.


    For years, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had committed all manner of crimes in the area and had been involved in the illegal salt and iron trades. He always felt that Xuan Eagle Mountain Village shouldn¡¯t have fallen so easily.


    Especially Xuan Da¡ªusually he kept a low profile, but he was extremely cunning and strategic.


    Seeing Qin Longyun taking the matter seriously, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided not to worry unnecessarily and thought it better to chat with Chen Yiling instead.


    In the short time, Qin Longyun had been busy at the Government Office every day, surely leaving Chen Yiling feeling bored and stifled.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the Cloth Shop.


    As soon as they entered, the Shopkeeper came to greet them.


    "Fourth Master Tan, Madam, my owner has requested the pleasure of your company," said the Shopkeeper with utmost respect.


    Tan Zhenghong asked with suspicion, "Store Manager, may I ask what this is about?"


    They had no interactions with the Owner of the Cloth Shop, and now this sudden invitation made him wary of a possible deceit.


    "This is the situation: my owner has heard that you have opened an Embroidery Room and would like to discuss business with you. I wonder if you would be interested," the Store Manager explained.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er courteously replied, "Please lead the way, Shopkeeper."


    Ji Xiang Cloth Shop had connections and a bit of fame throughout Mansion City. Now that they had come knocking, there was no reason to refuse.


    The Store Manager made a welcoming gesture and led the two of them to the back courtyard.


    The Cloth Shop¡¯s back courtyard was arranged with refreshing elegance, which made Qiao Duo¡¯er somewhat expectant of its owner.


    Study Room.


    The Store Manager knocked on the door: "Madam, Fourth Master Tan and Mrs. Tan are here."


    He opened the door after receiving a response from inside.


    "I am the owner of Ji Xiang Cloth Shop. My family name is Qian, my given name is Xian," Fang Xian introduced herself.


    She had been a widow at an early age and seldom interacted with outsiders, which is why she always felt somewhat uneasy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong bowed: "Madam Qian."


    "No need for formalities. Please take a look at this contract I have drawn up. I think you will find it satisfactory," Fang Xian said bluntly.


    She was not interested in these two, and her actions were entirely due to the request of an old friend.


    As for who that friend was, she could only say it was a poor sod.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong carefully read through the terms of the contract, and after finishing, shock was evident in both their eyes.


    The price was simply... unbelievably low!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke earnestly, "Madam Qian, we appreciate your kindness, but we cannot sign this contract."


    She didn¡¯t know why Madam Qian would make such an offer, but she believed in not accepting a reward without rendering a service.


    Tan Zhenghong very much supported Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s decision. He never believed that pies fell from the sky, and even if they did, they wouldn¡¯t land on his head.


    Because he had exhausted all his luck the day he married Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "We are all in business, so why reject such a good opportunity when it presents itself?"


    Fang Xian asked curiously, her interest in the couple piqued. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Earning money and taking advantage of a situation are two different things, and they shouldn¡¯t be conflated," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    Fang Xian tried to detect any pretense on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, but throughout the conversation, Qiao Duo¡¯er remained tranquil and honest.


    It seemed money was not important in her heart.


    But is there really someone in this world who doesn¡¯t like silver?

 Chapter 677 - 682 Urgent Need_1

    Chapter 677: Chapter 682 Urgent Need_1In fact, for Qiao Duo¡¯er, having enough silver to live freely was all that mattered.


    Otherwise, just like her previous life, all her money would sit idly in the bank, and when she inexplicably arrived in this world, all those banknotes belonged to the bank.


    What a pity!


    But life is short, and living in the moment is the only way to have no regrets.


    Fang Xian was the first to speak, "I have a good impression of your embroidery room and am very willing to cooperate with you. Uncle Fu, go bring two copies of the contract over."


    It was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nonchalance that convinced her to make this friend.


    This time, Uncle Fu brought the standard contract, which listed a normal price that was much higher than the previous one.


    "If you have any objections, just speak up, and we can discuss it," Fang Xian said with a light smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Ji Xiang Cloth Shop is a reputable and well-established business, and I trust it implicitly. If Madam Qian is available, we could sign the contract now."


    Fang Xian had no objections and had the store manager bring her seal to stamp on it.


    Tan Zhenghong also promptly signed his name; maybe because his eyes weren¡¯t fully open, he actually thought his handwriting wasn¡¯t too bad.


    Just like that, their partnership was formed.


    "Madam Qian, here is the contract. Please keep it safely," Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over the signed contract to Fang Xian.


    "It¡¯s rare to find someone I can get along with, so you don¡¯t have to keep calling me ¡¯Madam¡¯ this and ¡¯Madam¡¯ that. Just call me ¡¯Sister Xian,¡¯ and I¡¯ll be happy," Fang Xian said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Sister Xian, it is then."


    Fang Xian smiled and nodded, even more pleased with her newfound sister.


    Cool and composed, no wonder he insisted on having Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    It was just a shame that her heart belonged to someone else, and that fool would have no chance in this lifetime.


    Then Fang Xian instructed, "Uncle Fu, in the future, they are to be considered honored guests of Ji Xiang Cloth Shop, and they must be treated well."


    "Yes, Madam," the store manager immediately complied.


    Even if Fang Xian hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have done so regardless.


    "I still have things to do today, so you can look at the fabrics later. Whenever you¡¯re free, come visit the shop," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "It¡¯s a deal then."


    After leaving the study, they went straight to the front hall, and the store manager said, "These are the newest arrivals at the cloth shop. If you see anything you like, just ask the assistant to take it down."


    "I can¡¯t decide on everything in a short while, just have the assistant stay with me, and you can attend to your own business," she replied.


    The store manager didn¡¯t insist, as the shop was quite busy, and he had plenty to do.


    "Wife, you go ahead and choose, I¡¯m going to step out for a moment," Tan Zhenghong whispered in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er looking baffled, he added, "Emergency."


    So, he definitely needed to go out right then.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed; after all, Tan Zhenghong had no sense of aesthetics and was practically of no use there.


    The assistant quickly said, "There is an outhouse in the cloth shop that you can use."


    But before he could finish, Tan Zhenghong had already run out, beyond anyone¡¯s call. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was at a loss, but with the man gone, perhaps Tan Zhenghong just preferred to find a secluded spot to relieve himself.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er finished selecting fabrics, Tan Zhenghong had just come back.


    "What were you up to?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously.


    He had been away so long, she thought he might have fallen in.


    Tan Zhenghong laughed sheepishly, "It took me a while to find a decent privy, hence the delay."


    Before he could finish explaining, the store manager handed over the broken silver.


    That interruption made Qiao Duo¡¯er forget her questioning.


    Tan Zhenghong smirked as he touched his chest, thinking that even his intelligent wife could have a lapse at times.

 Chapter 678 - 683 You Are Stronger Than Them_1

    Chapter 678: Chapter 683 You Are Stronger Than Them_1Although it was already afternoon, the streets were still bustling with people.


    "The wife is clever, parking the ox cart at Ji Xiang Cloth Shop," praised Tan Zhenghong, giving a thumbs-up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, "Is that even worth mentioning? Let¡¯s go check out the New Year¡¯s couplets first."


    Tan Zhenghong had no objections and immediately pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er along to a shop selling New Year¡¯s couplets.


    "Feel free to look around and choose. They¡¯re twelve Wen a pair, and the price can go down if you buy more," the female shop owner greeted her customers warmly.


    "That expensive?" Tan Zhenghong was surprised. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It¡¯s just two pieces of paper! That¡¯s almost costing as much as meat!


    "Young lady, that¡¯s the price everywhere in town. No matter where you go, it¡¯s the same. However, I can assure you that my husband¡¯s calligraphy is the best among these people!"


    The female shop owner said proudly, and then urged her own man to hurry up and write more couplets.


    The chance to earn money comes only once a year; they had to give it their all.


    Tan Zhenghong felt that the prices were a rip-off and so he checked a few more shops, finding that the prices were much the same.


    Nowadays, with few literate people, couplets were in high demand, and the calligraphy was truly awful; Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t fancy any of them.


    Understanding her tastes, Tan Zhenghong suggested, "Wife, there are a few more shops over there, why don¡¯t you take a look?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "No need, let¡¯s just buy some red paper and you can write them."


    "Are you sure, wife?"


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard, sensing that his own skills were a bit lacking for writing couplets.


    "Nonsense. The most you¡¯ll find here selling couplets is a Xiucai, not as good as your writing," Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, purposely lowering her voice.


    She could choose not to buy, but didn¡¯t want to affect the business of others.


    Flattered by his wife¡¯s compliment, Tan Zhenghong felt almost buoyant, "Let¡¯s do as you say."


    They then entered a variety store, where Qiao Duo¡¯er selected quite a lot of red paper.


    "We don¡¯t need that much, do we?" Tan Zhenghong said weakly.


    That stack of red paper would be enough for several years!


    "I need to give some to other families; they certainly haven¡¯t bought any," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, squinting.


    Adding a couple more couplets to the New Year¡¯s gifts from the Embroidery Room wouldn¡¯t be bad.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, "Wife, don¡¯t do that; we¡¯ll lose face at others¡¯ homes."


    "Do you think people won¡¯t see them if they¡¯re pasted on the door?"


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, silently consenting to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s approach, and quietly admitted his writing probably wasn¡¯t too embarrassing.


    But it was too late for regrets now.


    Speaking of Hu¡¯s Clan, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered they were also in town today to sell roasted goods; could they possibly run into them?


    Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er shopped for New Year¡¯s goods while keeping an eye out, soon finding Hu¡¯s Clan surrounded by a crowd of customers.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was in charge of weighing, Da Ya handled the money, and Er Ya assisted; the three of them were happily busy.


    "Sister Lan, your business is doing well," Qiao Duo¡¯er complimented with a thumbs-up.


    "All thanks to you. The milk-flavored ones are selling best. How should I thank you?" asked Hu¡¯s Clan with a worried face.


    Her family had received so many favors from Qiao Duo¡¯er, it was impossible to repay them all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly, "Just bring me some melon seeds and peanuts later, and I¡¯m not paying for them."


    Hu¡¯s Clan agreed immediately, thinking she still had to give Duo¡¯er a big red envelope, even if she had to force Duo¡¯er to accept the silver.


    The amount wasn¡¯t much, but it was her sentiment.


    "Shop owner, don¡¯t just stand there talking; hurry up and weigh me two jin of the milk-flavored melon seeds, I¡¯m in a hurry," called out a customer.


    "Right away, sorry to keep you waiting," Hu¡¯s Clan put away her thoughts for the moment.

 Chapter 679 - 684 Good Feelings_1

    Chapter 679: Chapter 684 Good Feelings_1"Auntie Four, this is for you to eat." Er Ya stuffed an orange into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands.


    They hadn¡¯t expected the business to be so good, having not prepared anything to eat in the morning, they could only buy some food from the orange stall nearby, but the more they ate, the hungrier they felt.


    Now with every burp, there was the taste of oranges.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with her sharp ears, heard Er Ya¡¯s stomach growling, certainly too busy to even take care of eating.


    "Zheng Hong and I will watch the stall, you two go have a break and eat something."


    Hu¡¯s Clan shook her head, "No need, I can manage by myself, child, you go rest."


    "Don¡¯t wear yourself out, or no amount of silver can buy back your health."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er advised, knowing full well Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s eagerness to make money, but still, health was of utmost importance.


    "Mom, Auntie Four always paid us a wage before, couldn¡¯t you just pay her a wage today?" Da Ya blinked her eyes.


    She knew her mother had always wanted to give some silver to Auntie Four, wasn¡¯t this an opportunity?


    Having been convinced by the children¡¯s nimble thinking, Hu¡¯s Clan finally vacated her spot for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She quickly nibbled on two pieces of sugar cakes and felt sweetness spreading to her heart.


    Life was getting better day by day, such things were unimaginable before.


    Indeed, Duo¡¯er was right, if you want something, you have to strive for it yourself.


    She believed she had now done so.


    "I¡¯ve had enough to eat, let me take over." Hu¡¯s Clan took the work from Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands.


    However, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er still helped out, worried that the girls would exhaust themselves with the workload.


    Before long, all four baskets of roasted goods were sold out.


    "Duo¡¯er and I came by ox cart, we can give you a lift back on our way."


    Before Hu¡¯s Clan could respond, Er Ya quickly chimed in, "Uncle Huang will come to pick us up; he¡¯s helping my mom collect melon seeds and peanuts."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded with teasing eyes.


    It seemed that things were developing well between the two!


    Hu¡¯s Clan wanted to explain but didn¡¯t know where to start, so she chose to say nothing.


    She knew Huang Zhong helped them because he saw the hardship of their motherless and fatherless situation, and it had nothing to do with romantic feelings.


    "Sister Lan, the girls have been busy all day, I¡¯ll take them out for a walk, you wait here for Brother Zhong."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, hand in hand with each girl, planned to take these two little light bulbs away.


    Caught in a difficulty, Hu¡¯s Clan muttered in a low voice, "It¡¯s not good for Zhong Zi and me to be alone together, other people might get the wrong idea if they see us."


    "Da Ya, Er Ya, do you want to go shopping?"


    The two girls nodded eagerly, their eyes full of anticipation. They had been to town a few times but always spent their time helping in the store and never really got to enjoy themselves.


    Therefore, they were still filled with longing for the town.


    Ever since the girls had gone missing, Hu¡¯s Clan had never denied any of their requests, and this time was no different.


    "Alright then, if you want to buy something for the Year of the Snake, you mustn¡¯t let your uncle and auntie spend money, understand?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan grabbed a handful of copper coins from her purse and handed them to Da Ya.


    "Understood!" the two girls said in unison.


    It was their first time having money of their own to spend, and the two were thrilled, chatting non-stop as they walked down the street.


    "Big sister, we¡¯ve made a lot of money, does that mean we can buy things every day from now on?"


    Er Ya asked excitedly, as the town was full of delicious food and fun things!


    "As long as you want to come, Mom will surely agree, but making money is hard so we can¡¯t waste it."


    "I know, other people¡¯s dads earn money to support the family, and we don¡¯t have one."


    Speaking of this, they felt very sorrowful, having a father that might as well not be one at all.


    What he brought to them was only harm.


    sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 680 - 685 Little Secret_1

    Chapter 680: Chapter 685 Little Secret_1However, they didn¡¯t feel sad for long, because they saw someone selling ice-sugar gourds, and Er Ya¡¯s eyes nearly popped out in excitement.


    She had always remembered the taste of the ice-sugar gourds and dreamed of eating them again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "Ah Hong, go buy two skewers."


    "No, my mother said not to let you spend money; I can go buy them myself," Da Ya said firmly.


    She even ran to the vendor at top speed and bought four ice-sugar gourds.


    "This is for you, Uncle Four, Auntie!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but touch her teeth, feeling like they¡¯d fall out before even eating one, a problem she had brought back from Black Wind Valley.


    Aunt Huang said eating hard foods too early was the cause, and she could only hope to recover during her month of postpartum care.


    As for Tan Zhenghong, he was never interested in sour and sweet foods to begin with.


    "We can¡¯t eat sour foods; you all enjoy them."


    Er Ya nodded, "Alright then, if you want anything, just tell big sister and let her buy it for you."


    As for the ice-sugar gourds, they could be given to Big Dog and Second Dog to eat.


    "Got it," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with pursed lips and a smile, hoping her future child would be as sensible as these two girls.


    Sincere, unselfish, and confident; these were all precious qualities to have.


    Tan Zhenghong followed behind the three of them, his eyes filled with adoration.


    Perhaps he could adopt a child to raise; his wife would surely like that.


    Fortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯s attention was all on the small stalls on either side; if she knew Tan Zhenghong harbored such a revolutionary thought, she would surely want to kill him.


    "Over there, there are silk flowers. You and Er Ya are also my employees, so I¡¯ll buy you two silk flowers as holiday gifts, and you¡¯re not allowed to refuse," Qiao Duo¡¯er said forcefully, much like a child-king.


    "The large silk flowers are two wen each, and the small ones are two for one wen. They¡¯re all homemade and of good quality!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked out some small silk flowers to put in the girls¡¯ hair, which instantly made the young girls look even more spirited and lovely.


    "These two girls are really beautiful, and the young lady has good taste!" The shopkeeper praised generously.


    Qiao Duo then took a purple silk flower and whispered a few words to Er Ya.


    Er Ya nodded vigorously, "I¡¯ve got this!"


    She always thought her mother was very beautiful, but she never knew how to dress up.


    "How much in total?" Tan Zhenghong asked for the price.


    The shopkeeper counted each item and then said, "Twelve wen."


    By the time Tan Zhenghong paid, Qiao Duo was already at the candy man¡¯s stand, and he hurried over.


    There were so many people in town; he couldn¡¯t afford to lose his wife.


    It wasn¡¯t until evening that the four of them slowly made their way back to Big Willow Village.


    Worried, Hu¡¯s Clan had already been waiting at the entrance to the village; it had become her habit.


    "Mother, we were with Uncle Four and his wife; we were fine. It¡¯s so cold outside, you¡¯re not allowed to wait for us like this anymore," Da Ya scolded.


    Being gentle in nature, Da Ya, as the eldest daughter, had increasingly taken on the role of the head of the household.


    "I promise I won¡¯t do it again," Hu¡¯s Clan agreed.


    But as a mother, who could stop worrying about their children?


    Especially after last time, she had truly been scared.


    "Come over to my house for dinner tonight; I¡¯ve prepared all the dishes, so as soon as you arrive, you can eat," Qiao Duo said without any pretense, prompting Tan Zhenghong to drive the ox cart directly there.


    She had exhausted herself today and had no energy to cook; having ready-made food was best.


    As Qiao Duo had anticipated, there were also Huang Zhong and the two pups at Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s house, but everyone knew each other well, and the meal was harmonious and joyful.


    S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 681 - 686 The Way to Control a Husband_1

    Chapter 681: Chapter 686 The Way to Control a Husband_1The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er personally delivered the fabric to the Embroidery Room.


    Aside from instructing Chao Lian to fetch cloth from the Ji Xiang Cloth Shop, she also took the opportunity to gather everyone to discuss the holiday arrangements.


    As the end of the year approached, everyone¡¯s minds were less and less on their work.


    By announcing the arrangements in advance, she also provided a measure of reassurance.


    "The situation is special this year. We will work until the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month. On the twenty-eighth, everyone will come to settle their wages and receive holiday bonuses. Since the Embroidery Room has only been operational for a month, those who have taken more than three days off will forfeit their holiday bonus. But so far, no one has taken that many days off."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, sitting among a group of Embroidery Ladies, exuded a great deal of charm.


    "What¡¯s included in the holiday bonus?" one inquisitive Embroidery Lady asked.


    "Two pairs of Spring Festival couplets, and the rest is a secret for now. But I¡¯m sure no one will be disappointed," she teased.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately kept them in suspense; otherwise, they would have nothing to look forward to on the twenty-eighth.


    If she hadn¡¯t been worried that they would buy duplicate couplets, she wouldn¡¯t have mentioned even that.


    "Even just the Spring Festival couplets alone would be good enough¡ªthey¡¯re worth more than twenty wen!"


    A person beside tugged at the speaker¡¯s sleeve¡ªhow could someone complain of getting too much in a holiday bonus?


    "Hehe, forget I said anything."


    The woman who had just spoken touched her nose, her face flushed with embarrassment; she was inherently blunt and not skilled at diplomacy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "The holiday bonus is already decided. Whether you think it¡¯s too much or too little doesn¡¯t matter. Everyone should note the time: you¡¯ll have the afternoon off on the twenty-eighth. Please arrange your domestic responsibilities ahead of time."


    Some with mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law at home were not worried at all, but for those who lived alone, they were feeling the pressure.


    With only one woman at home responsible for all the cleaning and washing, and the Embroidery Room not closing until the twenty-eighth, they would certainly not finish the pre-New Year house cleaning in time.


    Among those feeling the most stressed was a member of the Qin Clan.


    She had given birth to seven sons, none of whom were married yet, leaving her with no one to lend a hand.


    "This is bad; no one at my home will sweep the floors. How are we supposed to celebrate the New Year?" lamented the woman from the Qin Clan.


    Yet she was reluctant to take a day off since working one more day could earn her several dozen wen more. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Isn¡¯t your man at home? Why can¡¯t he sweep the floor?" someone beside asked.


    The woman from the Qin Clan sighed. "Forget about him, he¡¯s of that sort¡ªhe¡¯s never touched a broom even though he¡¯s no longer young."


    As for her brood of little brats, they all took after their father.


    "You¡¯ve spoiled them," someone pointed out.


    With a look of frustration, she replied, "The men in my household naturally don¡¯t know how to cherish others. I work myself to exhaustion, and they act as if they don¡¯t see it."


    "Same at my house. Every night, that cursed man of mine demands I wash his feet. It¡¯s so annoying!"


    This sparked a chorus of complaints from several women.


    "Duo¡¯er, how do you manage your Zheng Hong?" someone suddenly asked.


    "Exactly, when it comes to cherishing a wife, Ah Hong in our village is first, and Erhu comes in second. Everyone else has to step aside," another added.


    Why were other people¡¯s husbands so nice? Every time they saw Zheng Hong, he was obedient to his own wife and reluctant to let her do any hard work.


    They toiled tirelessly in the Embroidery Room, but when they went home, they didn¡¯t even get a word of concern.


    All were women, but the treatment they received was worlds apart.


    After thinking it over carefully, Qiao Duo¡¯er replied, "It¡¯s simple. I can earn my own money, and can live without him, so of course he cherishes me."


    Tan Zhenghong had known her background from the start and knew he had to treat her even better to keep her.


    Of course, what mattered most was that Tan Zhenghong was naturally well-disposed.

 Chapter 682 - 687: Marrying and Following the Husband_1

    Chapter 682: Chapter 687: Marrying and Following the Husband_1"It sounds reasonable, but it¡¯s a bit hard to understand,"


    an Embroidery Lady, resting her chin in her hand, asked. It was too complicated to say it like that.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "It means that now everyone is earning a wage, so in the future, stand up straighter and don¡¯t be a doormat any longer!"


    Now they all understood; they were different from before, and their treatment should be different as well.


    In the past, they relied on men for support and had to be beholden to them.


    But now they had a stable income and could speak up for themselves.


    If the men didn¡¯t agree, they would leave. After all, the Embroidery Room had dormitories, and the money they earned was enough to support themselves.


    "The most important thing for a couple is mutual understanding. We understand that men have hard work in the fields, and that providing for the family is not easy, but they also need to care about the hardship we endure, bent over needlework all day long. In this cold winter, it¡¯s not like they have nothing to do; they should help share the burden," Fat Aunt added.


    "Exactly, in the end, everyone is working hard for the sake of the family." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That¡¯s a comforting thought: we¡¯re their wives, not maids they bought."


    "Even maids have time to rest!"


    The faces of the Embroidery Ladies overflowed with smiles, and they suddenly felt proud of their work.


    "With your fine embroidery, can your Erhu sleep at night?" someone nudged Chao Lian with her elbow.


    Blushing, Chao Lian said, "No... I don¡¯t think so."


    Every night, Erhu¡¯s snoring was so loud it could shake the heavens, and she had become accustomed to it.


    She figured if one day she didn¡¯t hear his snoring, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep.


    "Don¡¯t be shy, share your expertise with us as well, so I can also take charge of my man."


    Chao Lian bit her lip, "Erhu said that men are most afraid of women¡¯s tears, but you have to cry softly, not wail."


    This was something Erhu had said during a quarrel at the Old Tan Family.


    "A married woman should obey her husband; a woman should regard her man as her everything."


    An incongruous voice interjected. It wasn¡¯t that the voice was unpleasant, but the words were quite jarring¡ªobviously going against the grain of the group.


    This Ruo Lan usually seemed quite smart, so why didn¡¯t she know how to speak now?


    "We¡¯re not like the big families; if my man didn¡¯t want me to work and provided me with food, drink, and attendants all day long, I¡¯d be willing to worship him," retorted Qin Clan bluntly.


    Ruo Lan managed a strained smile while looking down on them in her heart.


    Not even understanding respect for men, no wonder these people would always be peasants.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked meaningfully at Ruo Lan, thinking she should ask Chen Yiling to help her inquire about Ruo Lan.


    "Don¡¯t keep your heads down for long periods; it¡¯s bad for your cervical and lumbar spine. It¡¯s best to stand up and move around every half an hour," Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded them.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll remind everyone," said Fat Aunt, making a mental note of it.


    These days, with a lack of doctors and medicine, it would be troublesome if they fell ill.


    Seeing that it was almost time to start work, Qiao Duo¡¯er stood up.


    "Let¡¯s stop here for today. There are only a few days left in the year¡ªlet¡¯s all put in extra effort so we can buy a few more pounds of meat for the New Year."


    "Sure, I¡¯ll work until the last day!"


    "Same here, I¡¯ll leave the house to the men, no matter what state it¡¯s in, I won¡¯t care."


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s visit, everyone¡¯s enthusiasm surged once more, no less than when they had first opened.


    While giving out tasks, Fat Aunt silently mused that Duo¡¯er was incredible.


    She had only mentioned it briefly to Qiao Duo¡¯er before, but with just a few words, Qiao Duo¡¯er had resolved the issue.

 Chapter 683 - 688: Sorting Out the Man_1

    Chapter 683: Chapter 688: Sorting Out the Man_1At nightfall, Qin Clan sat on the edge of the bed.


    "It¡¯s so late, aren¡¯t you going to sleep?" Li Er looked at Qin Clan curiously; it was time to fetch water to wash feet, wasn¡¯t it?


    Qin Clan lazily lifted her eyelids, "You go fetch the water."


    Li Er frowned and said, "Have you grown too big for your britches, Gua Po Niang?"


    "Bigger than yours. All year round, you just tend to those few acres of land. How much silver coin do you scrape together? I earn a few hundred Wen every month in the Embroidery Room. What are you being so proud about?"


    Qin Clan said proudly, sitting up straight.


    When the subject of Silver came up, Li Er felt a wave of shame. After the grain was used to pay taxes and set aside for provisions, only a little more than one Tael of Silver was left.


    Yet his daughter-in-law could earn Thirty Wen in just one day at the Embroidery Room.


    Li Er touched his nose and obediently went to the kitchen to fetch the foot-washing water.


    "The water¡¯s fetched."


    Li Er poured the water into a basin and then sat down to the side, waiting for his daughter-in-law to help him wash his feet.


    This happened every evening, and he had grown accustomed to it.


    Qin Clan shifted from the edge of the bed to a chair and ordered, "Take off my shoes and wash my feet."


    Li Er said grudgingly, "You wish. Which husband washes his wife¡¯s feet? Wouldn¡¯t I be the laughingstock if this got out?"


    He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to do such a thing!


    "How many years have I washed yours, and now you can¡¯t wash mine just once?"


    Qin Clan retorted with annoyance.


    Still, Li Er did not agree; he just couldn¡¯t get over it internally.


    "Ah, I¡¯m getting old and unwanted. You used to say you¡¯d listen to everything I said, yet now you can¡¯t even wash my feet. Why is my life so hard?"


    Qin Clan wiped away her tears, sobbing pitifully.


    "Nonsense! Hasn¡¯t our household always followed your word since you married in?"


    Li Er said earnestly, and of course, he didn¡¯t mind that his daughter-in-law was better at handling things, not objecting to going along with whatever she said.


    But Qin Clan didn¡¯t respond, only bowing her head and shedding tears.


    "Hey, can¡¯t you speak nicely, is that too much to ask?" Li Er was so anxious he was scratching his head.


    Qin Clan turned her head away, "You don¡¯t care about me anymore, what¡¯s left to say? Leave me be!"


    Seeing that his daughter-in-law was truly upset, Li Er gritted his teeth and squatted down: "Fine, I¡¯ll wash them for you, okay? But this stays between us, don¡¯t go blabbering outside." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know." Qin Clan dried her tears.


    In fact, she thought to herself that she had barely managed to keep from bursting out laughing.


    It turns out her man could do chores after all; he wasn¡¯t half-bad at washing feet!


    Li Er felt utterly humiliated, not once in all these years of marriage had he felt so lowly, but what he didn¡¯t know was that this was not the end of it.


    Just before bedtime, Qin Clan came up with another idea.


    "Don¡¯t wander off aimlessly tomorrow; get up early and make breakfast. During the day, tidy up the house with the Child, and don¡¯t end up an embarrassment when people come visiting."


    "I don¡¯t even know how to do those things. You can take care of it when you come back in the evening."


    "I come back exhausted every day, not wanting to move a muscle. Let me tell you, if you don¡¯t do a good job, I¡¯ll take my Silver Coin and go stay at my parents¡¯ house for the New Year. They certainly wouldn¡¯t mind having me."


    Qin Clan turned her back, her tone still sharp.


    Li Er replied dejectedly, "Fine, I¡¯ll do it, okay?"


    The Yue Family loved to skimp on their daughter¡¯s earnings to support their son. If his wife took her earnings to her parental home, surely not a One Wen money would be spared.


    With their eldest son soon to bring a wife into the family, how could they manage without any Silver?


    Qin Clan¡¯s lips curved upward; this was a tactic she and the others had concocted in the Embroidery Room.


    Hmm... it worked rather well!


    After all, she had achieved all she set out to do.


    Tomorrow, she would share it with her sisters, suggesting they all try the same approach.

 Chapter 684 - 689: Running Away from Li Family?_1

    Chapter 684: Chapter 689: Running Away from Li Family?_1The next day, Li Er barely managed a few sweeps with the broom before he became increasingly frustrated. Was this washing, scrubbing, and sweeping really a man¡¯s work?


    In the end, he threw the broom aside, needing to get out for a walk, or he felt he might explode.


    Gua Po Niang!


    "Li Er, what are you thinking about? I¡¯ve been calling you for ages and you haven¡¯t responded!" Shi Dan clapped Li Er on the shoulder.


    Li Er suddenly remembered that Shi Dan¡¯s wife was also in the embroidery room, so he complained a bit.


    But for fear of losing face, he didn¡¯t go into too much detail.


    "My wife has gone to the embroidery room, and it feels different than before."


    Shi Dan could relate deeply, "My wife says that a home isn¡¯t just one person¡¯s responsibility, and that she shouldn¡¯t be the only one doing chores. You tell me, in the dead of winter, isn¡¯t every other man just eating, drinking, and watching people play cards?"


    It had become especially noticeable over these past few days.


    Ironically, his wife was quite articulate, and he simply couldn¡¯t out-talk her.


    If things continued like this, his wife would soon dominate the house.


    "Isn¡¯t that right? But the moment I said something, she threatened to go back to her parents¡¯ house. It¡¯s totally absurd!" Li Er said with a look of grievance.


    "Since our households depend on them for some income, we just have to swallow our pride. Anyway, enough of this. I¡¯m off to town to buy some fabric, or else the kids won¡¯t have clothes to wear."


    After Shi Dan left, Li Er felt a lot better knowing he wasn¡¯t the only one feeling so useless.


    Forget it, time to head back home and continue sweeping.


    He had finally realized his wife¡¯s capability stemmed from the fact that she was able to earn money.


    Unfortunately, the family couldn¡¯t do without her share of the earnings, so he had no choice but to bite his tongue and put up with it.


    No, he decided, once spring came he would go to town to work as well, or he would be completely overshadowed by the women!


    Little Year was just around the corner, and early that day Chen Yiling arrived at Big Willow Village.


    "Ling¡¯er, did you have a fight with Lord Qin?"


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but ask. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With so many bags, it looked like she was almost moving her entire home over. Clearly, it was a move born out of runaway frustration.


    "He wouldn¡¯t dare argue with me right now. I¡¯m here to celebrate the New Year with you guys, so of course, I brought a lot of things." Chen Yiling said with a playful wink.


    This year, Lord Qin was so busy, and with her being pregnant, she definitely couldn¡¯t go home for the New Year.


    On second thought, spending the New Year in the Government Office with just the two of them seemed too lonely. Better to spend it with Duo¡¯er¡¯s family.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "That¡¯s nice; otherwise, Ah Hong and I would feel it¡¯s all a bit dull too."


    "If you¡¯re bored, you better hurry up and have a kid too."


    Chen Yiling suggested mischievously, remembering her own pregnancy discomforts. She wanted someone to keep her company when complaining and to have a companion at that time.


    Qiao Duo retorted playfully: "You sure talk too much!"


    She had already made her preparations. The medicine Tan Zhenghong was taking had been secretly switched by her. The only thing left uncertain was when their little "bun" would decide to settle down at home.


    It took Qiao Duo and ChunTao several trips back and forth to move all of Chen Yiling¡¯s belongings.


    "ChunTao, tidy these up."


    After giving the order, Chen Yiling grabbed Qiao Duo and headed straight for the master bedroom¡ªafter all, that was the most important task for the day.


    "I¡¯m entrusting these to you, and I take no responsibility if they get lost."


    Chen Yiling stuffed a thick stack of papers into Qiao Duo¡¯s hands. These were sent by Lord Qin.


    In the demise of the Yin Family, Qiao Duo had provided significant help. These were her rewards.


    The Yin Family¡¯s properties had been confiscated; thus, most of the land deeds Qiao Duo received were new, except for one that had already turned yellow.


    Qiao Duo counted them¡ªthere were seven in total!


    Moreover, the yellowed one turned out to be a store in Mansion City!

 Chapter 685 - 690: Dare to be this dark?_1

    Chapter 685: Chapter 690: Dare to be this dark?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her mouth wide, "With Lord Yu presiding, your man still dares to be this ruthless?"


    These few sheets of paper, once converted to silver, would amount to at least three thousand taels, which was not a small sum for Lord Qin, who is known for his clean and unblemished reputation.


    "This is personally approved by Lord Yu, and..."


    Chen Yiling raised an eyebrow, deliberately keeping her hanging.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er complained, "I¡¯m dying of suspense here; just spill it already."


    "This is just the reward for taking down the Yin Family; the reward for defeating Xuan Eagle Mountain Village hasn¡¯t arrived yet. I heard they¡¯re applying for a nominal position for Zheng Hong and giving you the fields near Xuan Eagle Mountain. You¡¯ll be a Landlord Lady from now on."


    Chen Yiling was full of envy, jealousy, and resentment; having money, leisure, and even a bit of power would make life so much more enjoyable.


    At least the two of them could be together every day, without so many worries.


    "No way?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was full of doubts.


    All she and Wind Liyang did was create a Sleeve Arrow, could it really come with such extensive rewards?


    "I actually think it¡¯s too little. The nomads of Beijiang are brave and good at fighting. They harass the borders every winter, which troubles the Imperial Court a lot. But with your Sleeve Arrow, the pressure has greatly decreased. Lord Yu also said that at the time, he would get Wind Liyang a Golden Axe and appoint him to a nominal position as well."


    After hearing Chen Yiling say that, Qiao Duo¡¯er confidently accepted the deeds.


    This was the truest portrayal of having connections within the Imperial Court making things easier.


    "However, only a part of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village¡¯s land can be divided to you. If you want it all, you probably have about a year to make money."


    The efficiency of the Imperial Court works like this, but this time it was convenient for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The fields around Xuan Eagle Mountain were all top-quality paddy fields; it would be best to buy them all in one go.


    It just so happened that by next year, her finances would be much easier than now.


    By then, Duo Meifang would start operations, the Musk harvested, and several shops¡¯ rents would come in, which should be enough.


    "If it¡¯s not enough, I can support you. My dowry has already paid for itself," Chen Yiling bragged. Previously, she had taken out almost all her dowry to purchase a whole two warehouses of daily necessities.


    Now, they were almost all sold and she had made quite a lot.


    "Okay, if it isn¡¯t enough, I¡¯ll tell you," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    Chen Yiling readily agreed, "You put away the deeds; I¡¯ll go check on ChunTao. Don¡¯t mess anything up."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood that Chen Yiling was intentionally giving her time and space to properly secure the deeds.


    A pampered young lady being so considerate of others, no wonder Lord Qin treasured her like a gem.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fished out a small wooden box with a lock from under the bed, locked the deeds inside, and then went out.


    As for how to manage these shops, she still had to discuss it further with Tan Zhenghong.


    On the evening of Little Year, it was customary to eat dumplings, so everyone got busy as the evening approached.


    With ChunTao and Chen Yiling helping, Tan Zhenghong confidently headed to the backyard; there was the God of Stove to worship in the evening, and he had to make sure to feed the little things properly.


    ChunTao was genuinely helpful; her dexterity was no less than Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s.


    But Chen Yiling was totally messing around; the dumpling wrappers in her hands had been so manhandled they were beyond recognition.


    "How do you do this? Why won¡¯t it stick together?"


    Chen Yiling was almost in tears, her hands covered in flour and water, utterly disgusted.


    ChunTao chuckled and said, "Madam, you might as well step out; Mrs. Tan and I have got this covered."


    What she actually wanted to say was that even if these were well wrapped, nobody would dare to eat them, but she didn¡¯t want to hurt her young Madam¡¯s feelings.


    Chen Yiling shook her head determinedly; she could not be a deserter!


    "Roll out a bigger wrapper for me; I¡¯ll wrap another layer around it outside," Chen Yiling had a brainwave, coming up with a pretty good solution. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 686 - 691: Loving Dinner_1

    Chapter 686: Chapter 691: Loving Dinner_1ChunTao and Duo¡¯er only felt a tingling in their scalps, having never seen such a method of making dumplings.


    But since Chen Yiling was a young lady, and now a pregnant woman, ChunTao could only comply with her words.


    So Chen Yiling happily wrapped up a gigantic dumpling, but since the dough hadn¡¯t been leavened, it just turned out to be tough and its shape wasn¡¯t at all appetizing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had a stroke of genius and quickly fetched a sieve.


    "You can cook yours separately¡ªa pot of love-filled dinner for Lord Qin."


    "Mrs. Tan really thinks of everything."


    ChunTao gave a thumbs up, her face full of sly smiles.


    She guessed that Lord Qin¡¯s expression would be quite a sight when he saw it.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you are turning your noses up at the dumplings I made. Lord Qin certainly won¡¯t feel the same way."


    "Yes, yes, the son-in-law will definitely find the young lady¡¯s dumplings the most beautiful."


    ChunTao chuckled heartily, in the son-in-law¡¯s eyes, his young lady was always the best.


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes, "You¡¯re the chatty one, now get me another dumpling wrapper."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and ChunTao couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, but they still indulged Chen Yiling¡¯s messy work because having a happy life was what mattered most.


    The most important thing was that Lord Qin was coming, and it wouldn¡¯t be them who would suffer.


    After taking care of the animals in the backyard, Tan Zhenghong entered the kitchen.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll cook a few dumplings first for the God of Stove. Eh, why are you making steamed buns?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked in confusion, remembering that his wife had steamed many buns just the day before, which should have lasted until New Year¡¯s Eve.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and ChunTao burst into laughter; they truly resembled steamed buns.


    Chen Yiling explained with a dark face: "These are the dumplings I wrapped. You take those they made for the Gods."


    She feared the Gods might get indigestion from her dumplings and then come to settle the score with her.


    Tan Zhenghong left with an embarrassed look, taking six dumplings with him in a hurry.


    Chen Yiling decided to ignore Tan Zhenghong, but soon his actions caught her attention again.


    "What are you doing melting the sugar?"


    "It¡¯s said that the God of Stove goes up to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor on Little Year, and everyone smears sugar on the God of Stove¡¯s mouth so that he can only speak good of them,"


    Tan Zhenghong explained, and the more sugar glued on, the better. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So everyone would melt sugar in a pot over low heat until it turned into a thick syrup.


    Chen Yiling found it fascinating and wanted to go over to see, but ChunTao held her back.


    "Miss, women shouldn¡¯t go during the offering to the God of Stove."


    Chen Yiling complained discontentedly, "Men are people, and so are women; why can men go but women can¡¯t?"


    ChunTao couldn¡¯t quite articulate the reason¡ªit was just a tradition passed down through generations.


    Seeing ChunTao¡¯s troubled expression, Chen Yiling gave up. She was a guest in someone else¡¯s home and shouldn¡¯t offend their deity.


    What if she brought bad luck to Duo¡¯er¡¯s house? Wouldn¡¯t she feel guilty?


    "If you want to watch, just go with us; customs are set by people, don¡¯t worry about it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er persuaded, hoping to prevent Chen Yiling from creating more oddly-shaped dumplings here.


    Chen Yiling shook her head: "Lord Qin has a big appetite; these few won¡¯t be enough."


    "I¡¯ll go mix some more dough. Otherwise, there will definitely be leftover filling," ChunTao said helplessly.


    Her lady would use at least three wrappers for one dumpling because if one layer tore, she would just add another.


    She even suspected that her young lady was doing it on purpose to tease the son-in-law.


    By the time Lord Qin arrived, it had already turned dark.


    "You¡¯re finally here; I¡¯m starving," Chen Yiling said with a pout.

 Chapter 687 - 692 Godson_1

    Chapter 687: Chapter 692 Godson_1Lord Qin said guiltily, "Something came up at the Government Office, delaying me. Next time you get hungry, go ahead and eat with Qiao Duo and the others, don¡¯t wait for me."


    Today is Little Year, and he had wanted to return earlier, but the survivors from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village insisted on causing trouble, so he had to be there.


    A few matters dragged on until now.


    "Don¡¯t play coy after taking advantage, hurry inside, I¡¯m starving."


    Chen Yiling dragged Qin Longyun into the house and made him sit on a stool to rest, and yes... she would personally cook the dumplings.


    Qin Longyun quickly said, "Be careful, walk slowly."


    His only regret in life was that he couldn¡¯t be with his wife every step of the way during her pregnancy.


    His wife, once so willful, was now tolerant and considerate in every aspect. Bringing her home was truly a fortunate blessing earned in time, and if he didn¡¯t cherish her properly, he wouldn¡¯t be human.


    Before long, the dishes were served.


    Due to Little Year, the spread was extravagant, with fish, meat, and shrimp.


    Especially that plate of fried shepherd¡¯s purse¡ªit wasn¡¯t easy to see green vegetables in the dead of winter, and the recipe was quite special.


    He believed that this dish could only be enjoyed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s house; it seemed that every visit brought new surprises.


    Qin Longyun grew even more curious about Qiao Duo¡¯er. What exactly had she been through?


    But looking at her laughing and talking with Tan Zhenghong, she seemed to be just a virtuous wife.


    Some people, some things¡ªthe less you understand, the more curious you become.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw his reaction, but she didn¡¯t mind at all because that was a secret between her and Tan Zhenghong.


    The most important thing was that Qin Longyun considered her a friend and wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for her.


    Otherwise, today¡¯s deeds wouldn¡¯t have ended up in her hands.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled lightly and said, "Lord Qin, what are you spacing out for? Yi Ling helped with every dish today, aren¡¯t you going to show some support?"


    Standing to the side, Chen Yiling felt a bit embarrassed; her so-called help was just flipping a few dishes twice.


    Qin Longyun picked up his chopsticks, tasted a bit of the shepherd¡¯s purse, and found it crispy and fragrant, delighting his taste buds.


    "Duo¡¯er¡¯s cooking skills are impeccable, and with the wine I¡¯ve brought, it¡¯s even more perfect."


    Qin Longyun opened the seal of the wine jar, pouring for everyone personally, a small gesture from him.


    "I¡¯ve imposed on you all during this time. Let me offer a toast to you all."


    Qin Longyun raised his glass; he felt very at ease with Yi Ling staying at their place. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong promptly said, "The two of them rarely find someone they can talk to. It¡¯s good that they spend time together, it¡¯s hardly an imposition."


    "Yi Ling is my friend, and you are my elder brother. If you continue with the formalities, I¡¯ll get angry," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, feigning a scowl.


    Qin Longyun nodded readily: "Then I¡¯ll say no more. I¡¯ll drink to that first."


    With one drink down, the atmosphere became lively.


    Chen Yiling said coquettishly, "Actually, I¡¯m not a burden. Look at me, loved by everyone, and I can even help. Most importantly, this little thing in my belly will call Duo¡¯er godmother in the future¡ªcan she do nothing?"


    "You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not taking care of you, I¡¯m taking care of my godson!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reached out and touched Chen Yiling¡¯s belly.


    The next second, she exclaimed excitedly, "I think I felt him move."


    "No way, it¡¯s only been three months," Lord Qin placed his hand on the belly, but it was calm.


    Chen Yiling said disdainfully, "You¡¯re so clueless. It¡¯s about time for movement, but it was just that one flutter a moment ago. It seems this little thing likes Duo¡¯er more, you, as the father, should step back!"

 Chapter 688 - 693: Compensate Me_1

    Chapter 688: Chapter 693: Compensate Me_1"Of course, I make sure to treat the child well with good food and drink every day!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said proudly, this little one was discovered in her home and moved for the first time there, a stroke of fate indeed.


    Qin Longyun felt a bit jealous but then swelled with pride.


    Still in the belly and already knows how to charm people, he¡¯s going to be a real slick one.


    The highlight of today quickly arrived, and that was the dumplings.


    "The dumplings are here, make some room!" ChunTao reminded everyone.


    Lord Qin looked at the dumplings placed in front of him, and the smile on his face stiffened, was this the punishment for his being late?


    Looking at everyone else¡¯s bowls, their dumplings were small and plump, a world apart from his.


    "Why is this one mine?" Qin Longyun said with a face full of protest, just a moment ago everything was fine, so why were they picking on him now?


    "Son-in-law, the miss personally made these for you."


    ChunTao hurriedly explained, seeing how displeased the son-in-law looked, her miss was surely going to be upset.


    Qin Longyun forced a dry laugh twice, "No wonder they are unique."


    "What do you mean?" Chen Yiling asked with narrowed eyes.


    "At first glance, they seem tastier than the others." Qin Longyun threw his integrity out the window and started eating one.


    He had thought his dumplings would have more filling, but when he bit into one, it turned out to be all dough.


    What could he say to that...


    Chen Yiling asked expectantly, "Tasty, isn¡¯t it?"


    Qin Longyun nodded and stuffed the rest of the dumplings into his mouth, dumplings are indeed better with filling.


    "Brother Qin, do you want to switch to another plate? There¡¯s plenty of dumplings," Tan Zhenghong offered, finding it hard to watch.


    Qin Longyun shook his head, "I¡¯ll eat these, Ling¡¯er made them well, they¡¯re filling."


    Chen Yiling was very satisfied, she knew Lord Qin wouldn¡¯t look down on her.


    What Qin Longyun was thinking about was finding a chance to talk to Qiao Duo¡¯er and asking her to keep his wife out of the kitchen from now on.


    Otherwise, he feared he¡¯d have to eat ¡¯moving¡¯ food that would bring him to tears every time.


    "ChunTao, why don¡¯t you sit down and join us?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked¡ªa maid and a coachman had come with Ling¡¯er, and since all the men who came with Qin Longyun were servants, it must have been hard for ChunTao to eat with them.


    ChunTao promptly shook her head, "No, I¡¯ll go to the kitchen later."


    She was a servant and must not forget her place.


    "This isn¡¯t home, there aren¡¯t so many rules here, go get a pair of chopsticks and join us," Chen Yiling commanded, leaving no room for refusal.


    In a few days ChunTao would regain her freedom, and now was the time to shake off her servant¡¯s mindset. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, being bullied in her future marriage was inevitable.


    ChunTao was still hesitant, but Chen Yiling kept her eyes on her until she gave in.


    She would forever remember this kindness, from these people who never treated her as just a maid.


    That night, Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the deed to the property.


    "This is what Yi Ling gave me today, the locations of the shops are all excellent. What do you think we should do with them?"


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard, "My thought is, perhaps we should give the shops back."


    What if Lord Qin got punished?


    "Don¡¯t worry, everything was obtained through proper channels. I¡¯m asking about what ideas you have for the use of the shops," Qiao Duo¡¯er asked helplessly, her man was just too honest.


    After pondering for a while, Tan Zhenghong said, "Open two Duo Meifang stores, one in the county and one in Mansion City. We can also start a restaurant or something. Your cooking is the best, I can¡¯t think of anything else."

 Chapter 689 - 694: The Belly is Mine_1

    Chapter 689: Chapter 694: The Belly is Mine_1"Opening a restaurant is a great idea, food is the most important thing to people," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    She could research a few signature dishes, which would surely be very popular.


    "But we don¡¯t have much experience, so we¡¯ll start with three restaurants and rent out the others. We can take them back later when we have more ideas," Tan Zhenghong added.


    This strategy was both offensive and defensive; if they lost money, it wouldn¡¯t be a complete loss, and if they made money, they could open more restaurants.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections because she and Tan Zhenghong were on the same page.


    They had run a street stall before and opened a marinated meat shop, but the scale was too small, so they couldn¡¯t be too aggressive.


    Tan Zhenghong put the property deed into a box, "You don¡¯t have time to accompany me during the day, and you want to leave me hanging at night, too?"


    If that were the case, he wouldn¡¯t accept it; he needed compensation at least twice.


    "Don¡¯t you get tired of it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head seriously: "Not at all, I like it more and more."


    Knowing his wife loved cleanliness, Tan Zhenghong carefully washed his hands before carrying her to bed.


    Because there were other people in the house, Qiao Duo¡¯er bit down on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, prompting him to speed up.


    This was love that felt like murder; it was torment because of love.


    Meanwhile, Chen Yiling was squinting her eyes, enjoying Lord Qin¡¯s massage.


    Chen Yiling had poor sleep quality, so Qin Longyun specially learned a set of massage techniques to help with sleep.


    "Once this child is born, let¡¯s not have any more," Qin Longyun said seriously. Pregnancy was too difficult.


    At first, she wanted to sleep all the time, then she suffered from severe morning sickness, and later from insomnia.


    The doctor said that insomnia would get worse as the pregnancy progressed and that she would also experience swelling.


    Not to mention the pain of childbirth, many women have succumbed to it.


    In any case, a perfectly healthy person could be worn down by ten months of pregnancy.


    Chen Yiling suddenly opened her eyes: "Aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯s a daughter?"


    From the Emperor down to common folk, everyone considered this a top priority.


    Especially since Qin Longyun would regret it later if he became more prominent in his career.


    "If it¡¯s a girl, we¡¯ll find a son-in-law. One child is enough," Qin Longyun had thought it through. Even if they had a girl, they would only have one; if it turned out to be another girl, they would continue to take in sons-in-law.


    In his opinion, it wasn¡¯t necessary to have many children; the most important thing was to raise them well.


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes at Qin Longyun: "I won¡¯t agree. If it¡¯s a boy, that¡¯s fine, but if it¡¯s a girl, I must have another one to back her up."


    This way, after they were gone, the daughter would still have her maternal family to turn to if she was wronged at her in-laws¡¯ home.


    As for taking in a son-in-law, she hadn¡¯t even considered it.


    It was rare for families able to marry off their sons to let them become sons-in-law, and she wouldn¡¯t let her daughter be wronged. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, I¡¯ll agree to anything else, but not this," Lord Qin was very firm in his stance.


    Chen Yiling hummed softly, "I don¡¯t want to argue with you; it¡¯s my belly, and I¡¯ll give birth if I want to. No one can stop me!"


    Qin Longyun closed his mouth, silently hoping this child would be a boy.


    The most important thing was to be more careful in the future and avoid such accidents.


    A quarter of an hour later, Qin Longyun finished the massage and then cuddled with Ling¡¯er as they lay down.


    "Go to sleep nicely, don¡¯t let your mind wander, or I¡¯ll knock you out," Qin Longyun instructed.


    Chen Yiling obediently closed her eyes: "You tell me a story."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll tell you about what I¡¯ve been reading in my study. It¡¯s a secret history from unofficial records about the Empress of the previous dynasty and the Prince..."

 Chapter 690 - 695 Thoughtful Consideration_1

    Chapter 690: Chapter 695 Thoughtful Consideration_1Chen Yiling had one more task after moving in with Qiao Duo¡¯er, that was to accompany Chen Yiling on walks.


    It¡¯s beneficial for pregnant women to walk as it aids in labor, so she insisted on going out for half an hour each day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her hands together, "This damned weather is too cold. If it weren¡¯t for this little thing, I¡¯d definitely be hiding at home and not going anywhere!"


    "You must be freezing because Tan Zhenghong isn¡¯t here to keep your hands warm," Chen Yiling asked with mischief.


    Otherwise, how come she hadn¡¯t heard Qiao Duo¡¯er complaining when they went to the town last time?


    But as mischievous as she was with her words, she still handed Qiao Duo¡¯er her hand warmer.


    Pregnant women tend to get hot easily, and after holding it for a while, her palms were all sweaty.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said worriedly, "You¡¯re carrying a child now. If you feel cold, just let me know right away, I¡¯ll be fine."


    "I know, but you¡¯re definitely worrying about the wrong person. The Embroidery Room is full of women. Your man left early in the morning, aren¡¯t you worried?"


    That morning, Tan Zhenghong had delivered tables to the women of the Embroidery Room, and she didn¡¯t believe Duo¡¯er would be without thoughts on this.


    Duo¡¯er said casually, "I feel that if there really was something to worry about, I should send Tan Zhenghong to Brother Bai San first to check his eyes and head, because surely one of them must be not working properly."


    Otherwise, how could he give up on her to like someone else?


    This confidence made Chen Yiling a bit embarrassed. If she could be so confident herself, she wouldn¡¯t always be doubting Qin Longyun¡¯s feelings for her.


    She needed to learn more from Qiao Duo, and stop being suspicious all the time.


    She had always heard that men like new things and would forget righteousness at the sight of beauty, but now she saw that not all men were like that.


    Speaking of Bai San, Chen Yiling suddenly remembered something, "Old lady Bai¡¯s birthday is on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, have you prepared your gift?"


    As the Bai Family is prominent, one cannot afford a mistake with the gift.


    "Six Snow Ears, two pieces of Mountain Ginseng, two fox furs, and two boxes of Anti-Aging Cream." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er generously shared her list ¨C the Anti-Aging Cream was a recent discovery from a medical book, which had a significant effect on age spots.


    She believed that the love for beauty is innate to all people, regardless of age.


    "Not bad, the old lady will surely like it. I also received news that Li Mu¡¯er is already on her way."


    Chen Yiling raised her eyebrows, suggesting that Qiao Duo¡¯er should think carefully about her approach.


    If she didn¡¯t handle that woman properly, it wouldn¡¯t settle the grudge in her heart. The scare she had from the Poisonous Jinchuang Medicine incident still haunted her to this day.


    Not to mention, the loss of half of her accompanying guards.


    "We¡¯ll play it by ear. We can¡¯t spoil the old lady¡¯s mood by taking the initiative, can we?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, though if Li Mu¡¯er made the first move, then she would only be defending herself rightfully.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "You always think things through."


    That way, no one could blame them.


    "Weren¡¯t you worried about your man? Let¡¯s go take a look."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took Chen Yiling to the Embroidery Room. Since Chen Yiling also had shares in the Embroidery Room, it was proper for her to take a look.


    In two large rooms, everyone was engrossed in their needlework, so quiet that even a needle dropping to the floor could be heard.


    "The Embroidery Room is managed really well!" Chen Yiling gave a thumbs up.


    With everyone so dedicated, profit was just a matter of time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was not at all modest, "The main reason is that I¡¯ve picked the right people ¨C all hard-working and capable."


    "I just complimented you, and you¡¯re already full of yourself," Chen Yiling chided.


    Beside the two large rooms, there was a smaller room. Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "This room is for those who design the embroidery patterns. Chao Lian and another girl work in here."


    Chen Yiling nodded and casually pushed the door open.


    When she saw the scene inside, she couldn¡¯t help but draw a sharp breath.

 Chapter 691 - 696: Come Home with Me_1

    Chapter 691: Chapter 696: Come Home with Me_1She would rather believe that her own eyes were deceiving her.


    But even after blinking again, the scene before her remained unchanged.


    "You...what are you doing? Tan Zhenghong, you¡¯ve gone too far!" Chen Yiling said angrily.


    Damn it, why was Tan Zhenghong embracing another woman?


    If it really was as she saw, were there any good men left in this world?


    Tan Zhenghong pushed Ruo Lan away; unprepared, she fell bottom down.


    "Wife, I was squatting down fixing the stool, and just as I stood up, she fell on me. I really didn¡¯t do anything," Tan Zhenghong said urgently.


    He really didn¡¯t know what had gotten into this woman.


    Ruo Lan got up from the ground and said weakly, "Mrs. Tan, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I just lost my balance just now."


    Chen Yiling said discontentedly, "I don¡¯t believe your nonsense. How could it be such a coincidence?"


    Alone with a man, with the doors shut¡ªhow could anything be innocent?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the window; standing at Ruo Lan¡¯s position, she could clearly see the entryway, so there was an explanation for the coincidence.


    Tan Zhenghong raised three fingers, "I swear, if I had any dishonorable thoughts towards Duo¡¯er, may I..."


    Before he could finish, Qiao Duo¡¯er cut him off, "After Little Year, we can¡¯t speak inauspicious words, and besides, I trust you. Don¡¯t just stand there, hurry home."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded hastily and quickly made his way to his own wife.


    He knew his wife was the wisest and would not let him suffer unjust accusations.


    Left behind, Ruo Lan was stunned; she had never expected the matter to pass so lightly.


    Most important was the look in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes¡ªlike she had seen right through her.


    But she had practiced this act for a long time, perfecting every detail, and there was no way she could give herself away.


    Ruo Lan clenched her fists, filled with resentment.


    Today was a perfect opportunity to ride on a misunderstanding and marry Tan Zhenghong, but in the end, she gained nothing!


    What should she do now?


    In two months, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hide her belly anymore!


    Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, Ruo Lan hurriedly sat down on a chair.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure you live a good life, so you¡¯d better do your part and be a boy," she whispered.


    Gently caressing her belly, Ruo Lan thought about how the Tan family was nothing special now, but give it time, and even the Niu family of Mansion City would not be able to compare.


    She had figured this all out during her days in the Embroidery Room.


    And now, Tan Zhenghong was the best she could choose from the available men, whether it was his character, looks, or family background. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, when the pain in her stomach subsided, Ruo Lan breathed a sigh of relief.


    With this child, many things would become easier.


    "Ruo Lan, what happened?" Liu Ximei asked with concern.


    When Qiao Duo and the others left with tense faces, there must have been some trouble, so she took the chance to come and look while pretending to go to the toilet.


    With her eyes reddened, Ruo Lan said, "It¡¯s all my fault, I was unsteady on my feet, and Brother Zheng Hong just steadied me, but sister-in-law happened to see us, she must be angry, what should I do?"


    She looked remorseful, as if Qiao Duo was the one being unreasonable.


    Liu Ximei sneered inwardly. While others might not understand Ruo Lan¡¯s intentions, she saw right through her.


    The way Ruo Lan looked at Tan Zhenghong when they had chestnut cake last time was shy and timid; anyone with eyes could see what was going on.


    That was the look of admiration for a man, and the desire to possess him.

 Chapter 692 - 697 Self-Awareness_1

    Chapter 692: Chapter 697 Self-Awareness_1However, outwardly she indignantly said, "It¡¯s clearly a misunderstanding, and Mrs. Tan just snubbed us like that. Brother Ah Hong married such a wife; he really is pitiable."


    This was also her genuine feeling, after several encounters she had felt that Qiao Duo¡¯er was very domineering.


    Being married to this kind of woman, life definitely wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, sister-in-law is right to be angry," Ruo Lan muttered.


    Liu Ximei¡¯s arrival finally gave her the chance to showcase her acting skills.


    "Sister Lan, you¡¯re worldly and know that which man with money and a shop doesn¡¯t take a few concubines? If Mrs. Tan were sensible, she should take the initiative to accept the idea of him taking a concubine."


    "Sister Lan is smart and beautiful; you¡¯re just right for Brother Zheng Hong. When you¡¯re successful, don¡¯t forget me, your little sister," said Liu Ximei, her face filled with flattery. She wasn¡¯t asking for much, just to be a wealthy family¡¯s concubine.


    Then she would be able to eat well and dress warmly, doing whatever she wanted every day.


    Ruo Lan said solemnly, "Stop it, if someone else hears this, it¡¯ll be terrible."


    "What¡¯s there to worry about? Brother Zheng Hong helped you fix the table, even replaced it with a new one, he must have thoughts about you," Liu Ximei said dismissively. After all, once a man took an interest, no one could stop him.


    Ruo Lan pursed her lips, knowing Liu Ximei was just flattering her, but she still felt comforted inside.


    There¡¯s always a bit of vanity in human nature.


    "Not doing any work? Just gossiping all day, aren¡¯t you afraid of getting sores in your mouths?" Fat Aunt pushed open the door, her voice full of anger.


    She remembered all these gossiping ones, planning to find an opportunity to drive them out someday.


    Thinking of becoming Zheng Hong¡¯s concubine?


    It¡¯s absolutely daydreaming!


    She hadn¡¯t seen the way Ah Hong treated Duo¡¯er, like he was afraid she¡¯d melt in his mouth or break if he held her in his hands; how could he possibly fancy another woman?


    Ruo Lan said with her head down, "Aunt, don¡¯t be angry, Ximei was just joking to cheer me up because I was feeling down."


    "People should know their place. Don¡¯t even think about things that aren¡¯t meant for you!" Fat Aunt said unkindly.


    Liu Ximei, intimidated by Fat Aunt, quickly ran out.


    Ruo Lan wiped away her tears, "Aunt, it really was a misunderstanding, Ximei was just talking nonsense to make me happy."


    Fat Aunt snorted, "If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Duo, you would still be a poor orphan depending on others. Better watch yourself."


    When recruiting for the Embroidery Room she had specifically checked character, but she hadn¡¯t expected there would still be ones that slipped through the net.


    Or perhaps as the environment changed, and the people she interacted with changed, people¡¯s hearts changed too.


    Like Liu Ximei, who had evolved from a silent little girl into one full of sly thoughts.


    Not only that, she hopped around actively for her own scheming.


    Perhaps she didn¡¯t know that in the eyes of others, she was just a Clown Liang. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fat Aunt slammed the door with a "bang," naturally not seeing the venomous look in Ruo Lan¡¯s eyes, like that of a poisonous snake.


    In the Niu Family, she¡¯d been cursed at like this, told she was delusional, told even if all the women in the world died, she¡¯d still not be considered for a concubine position.


    She never expected that in Big Willow Village someone would dare to curse her like this, how could she continue to bear it?


    She needed to achieve her goal quickly, to make those who had once humiliated her pay!


    Lady Niu, Miss Niu, Qiao Duo, Fat Aunt...


    She would not let a single one of them off the hook!


    On the way back, Chen Yiling glanced at Qiao Duo with concern. Since leaving, she had been silent, and it was hard to guess what was on her mind.


    Could it be that Duo¡¯er had noticed something, but was considering face, so she wanted to wait until returning home to speak?

 Chapter 693 - 698 Duo’er Gets Jealous_1

    Chapter 693: Chapter 698 Duo¡¯er Gets Jealous_1Chen Yi Ling hated that she couldn¡¯t give herself a beating; if it weren¡¯t for her "crow¡¯s mouth," this kind of incident might never have occurred.


    Um... she would definitely stop making jokes like that in the future.


    Originally, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er were a perfectly fine couple, but because of her nonsense, who knows what would happen to them now! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The more Chen Yi Ling thought about it, the sadder she became, and it took her quite a while to remember that she should be comforting Qiao Duo¡¯er right now.


    Because Qiao Duo¡¯er was the one who was the most upset.


    "Duo¡¯er, how are you?"


    Chen Yi Ling gently tugged on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve, her eyes full of concern.


    "If I got angry, some people¡¯s schemes would have succeeded; would it be worth it for me to get upset?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, Ruo Lan¡¯s little tricks were simply not a match for her.


    Besides, Tan Zhenghong shared a bed with her every day; how could she not know what kind of person he was?


    So she didn¡¯t take this matter to heart at all.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke anxiously, "Today Chao Lian was sick and took a leave of absence, so I deliberately left the door open. After I moved the table inside, Ruo Lan said her stool was broken and asked me to take a look for her. I squatted down for too long and felt a bit dizzy; by the time I came to, you all had arrived."


    The entire matter was just like that; he hadn¡¯t told a single lie.


    "I¡¯m angry with you for being so dense, falling into someone else¡¯s trap without even realizing it, you¡¯re driving me mad!" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared fiercely at Tan Zhenghong.


    He actually hadn¡¯t figured out what was really going on with this incident!


    It was just Ruo Lan seeing her and Chen Yi Ling coming to the Embroidery Room; upon hearing footsteps, she conveniently leaned on Tan Zhenghong and then used her and Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand to blow the matter out of proportion.


    The final move was to claim that men and women must not touch each other, saying that Ruo Lan¡¯s reputation had been ruined and to force Tan Zhenghong into marriage.


    This was all just a scheme!


    However, Ruo Lan missed one point, that she, Qiao Duo¡¯er, was no fool.


    Tan Zhenghong scratched his head, "I... I thought since everyone was from the same village, there wouldn¡¯t be so many twists and turns in people¡¯s hearts."


    But now it seemed, he was absolutely wrong; others wouldn¡¯t show leniency just because they were fellow villagers.


    In fact, some people specifically targeted those they knew well.


    Chen Yi Ling asked belatedly, "So you¡¯re not upset because they embraced each other? Then I¡¯m relieved."


    A woman is dim-witted for three years after giving birth; Chen Yi Ling was a prime example of this.


    She didn¡¯t want to be like that, but she couldn¡¯t control her sliding IQ.


    "Do me a favor, check out Ruo Lan¡¯s background. She used to be a maid of the Niu Family in the western part of Mansion City. She claimed to have begged for the mercy of her masters and obtained her Servitude Contract to return to her hometown to tend to her dying mother."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared what she knew, hoping to narrow down the search area.


    Chen Yi Ling patted her chest, "Alright, leave it to me. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this in no more than five days."


    Lord Qin had implanted many spies in Mansion City to deal with the Yin Family, and now they could come in handy.


    Upon returning home, Tan Zhenghong dived into the kitchen to boil a pot of hot water, then he went straight to the bedroom.


    He needed to take a bath; otherwise, his body would be covered with the scent of Ruo Lan¡¯s powders, which he found headache-inducing just by smelling.


    Tan Zhenghong washed with great thoroughness, having been in the room for nearly half an hour already.


    Chen Yi Ling said helplessly, "Aren¡¯t you going to check on him? I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s going to scrub a layer of skin off his body. It was just a woman leaning on him a bit; it¡¯s not a big deal, there¡¯s no need for this."


    "I don¡¯t like it either when he smells like someone else. He¡¯ll come out on his own after he¡¯s finished washing."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er supported her chin with both hands, speaking casually.


    Okay, she admitted she was a little jealous.

 Chapter 694 - 699 Endure Even If It’s Comfortable_1

    Chapter 694: Chapter 699 Endure Even If It¡¯s Comfortable_1"I see that Tan Zhenghong is wholeheartedly devoted to you. Just now, he swore that if he ever harbored any thoughts of betraying you, he would face serious consequences. It shows he¡¯s never even thought about it."


    Chen Yiling said with a face full of envy.


    Upon reflection, Qiao Duo¡¯er realized that was indeed the case.


    If her man had made his intentions so clear, it would seem petty for her to hold on to her grievances.


    Maybe she should just let go of her anger and then comfort his wounded soul?


    "You sit for a while; I¡¯ll go call him." Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit uneasy, as it seemed a bit like going back on her word.


    "ChunTao, come with me to Chao Lian¡¯s house to check on her; she¡¯s sick."


    Chen Yiling said, understandingly.


    With her gone, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t need to hold back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her nose. Was her displeasure that obvious?


    But Chen Yiling had already left with ChunTao, so all Qiao Duo¡¯er could do was to remind them, "The road is slippery; be careful."


    Afterward, Qiao Duo¡¯er entered the master bedroom.


    She had no reason to trouble her own man over a shameless woman; in the end, she¡¯d be the one feeling sorry.


    In the washing room, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s pants were only halfway up, leaving everything but his calves exposed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly looked away, her face reddening involuntarily.


    Even though they had seen each other naked many times, it was usually at night, in the dark, and even if the light was on, it was dim, so details were unclear.


    But at this moment, everything was clearly visible, right down to the pores...


    Even though it was soft, it wasn¡¯t to be underestimated.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly dressed, saying, "Wife, smell this, it only smells of sweet potato."


    "Go outside and let Fat Fat and Fatty smell you. If they still notice a scent, let them eat you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said, feigning ferocity.


    Tan Zhenghong replied, looking aggrieved, "They have dog¡¯s noses; they¡¯re incredibly sensitive. What if they really eat me? What will you do then?"


    "If you don¡¯t want to be eaten, then get on the couch!" Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, as if contemplating where to make the cut. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong shrank his neck and asked, "Wife, what are you planning?"


    "Obviously to punish you, get in position quickly!"


    Tan Zhenghong made a bitter face but complied with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s command; after all, it was his fault to begin with.


    If he had been more careful, that woman wouldn¡¯t have had the chance.


    He just hoped his wife would show him some mercy and spare his life so he could continue loving her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took off her socks and shoes and deftly stepped onto Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back.


    Tan Zhenghong had indeed been busy digging ground dragons for others these days and must have been extremely tired, not to mention today¡¯s events¡ªtruly physical and mentally exhausted.


    She would be merciful today and give him a massage.


    Tan Zhenghong made a comfortable humming sound, and Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly reminded him, "Don¡¯t make any noise."


    Otherwise, others might think they were doing something inappropriate.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and let Qiao Duo¡¯er work on him without making a sound, no matter how good it felt, he had to endure.


    "Is it too heavy? If it is, I can call Da Ya and Er Ya over."


    This was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s first time massaging someone, and she was a bit unsure.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly said, "Your weight is just perfect for me, not a pound more or less would do."


    His tense muscles finally relaxed, and with her stepping on him, he felt completely at ease.


    Of course, mentally, he felt even better.


    He had been worried about his wife being angry, but it turned out she was concerned about him.


    After about fifteen minutes, when he felt Tan Zhenghong¡¯s muscles had relaxed, Qiao Duo¡¯er stepped off him.

 Chapter 695 - 700 Bad Idea_1

    Chapter 695: Chapter 700 Bad Idea_1"Wife, you are so good to me." Tan Zhenghong stole a kiss on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, he was almost moved to death by his own wife.


    "Glad you know, now go cook!"


    Tan Zhenghong immediately scrambled up and hurried to the kitchen to help. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er made noodle soup with fish and stir-fried La Ba tofu with meat, spicy chicken, and green vegetables.


    Chen Yiling, being pregnant, needed to ensure proper nutrition.


    "That Jiang¡¯s Clan is really despicable, blocking the door at Erhu¡¯s house and saying that if Chao Lian doesn¡¯t give her money, she can¡¯t live on. Lucky I was there."


    Chen Yiling chattered about her glorious deeds of the day while eating.


    It wasn¡¯t that she had forgotten the rule about ¡¯no talking while eating and no talking while sleeping,¡¯ she just couldn¡¯t hold it in.


    She just couldn¡¯t understand how such a good girl like Chao Lian could end up with such an unreasonable stepmother and a weak father?


    If it were her, she would have been enraged long ago!


    Qiao Duo took the opportunity to say, "Did you come up with some bad idea?"


    "How is it a bad idea? Didn¡¯t you say before that we should find a way to make Sun Erhu poor?"


    Chen Yiling felt very indignant; she was the great benefactor of Sun Erhu and Chao Lian. If not for her, who knows how long they would have been blocked?


    How did it get connected to a bad idea?


    Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow: "Well, aren¡¯t you going to spill it? I¡¯m dying of curiosity."


    "I said Chao Lian ruined my dress and she should compensate me with One Hundred Taels of Silver," Chen Yiling said cheerfully.


    "You¡¯re just determined to drive your Lord Qin to his grave."


    Qiao Duo felt a bit of schadenfreude because Lord Qin would soon realize he married a woman who is not only unreasonable but also a pest.


    This is the power of gossip.


    "That dress is made of the finest silk from Jiangnan, embroidered with gold thread by the best Embroidery Lady. How could it not be worth One Hundred Taels? I even think I quoted too little!"


    In reality, she was seriously spouting nonsense; her most expensive dress cost just Ten Taels of Silver.


    Before she got married, her mother was thrifty and never lived in luxury.


    After marrying Lord Qin, she cared even less about these luxuries, because Lord Qin came from a poor family, and she needed to save some money.


    But she was the Lady of the County, what could Jiang¡¯s Clan do to her?


    And with Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s level of discernment, they couldn¡¯t tell real from fake anyway.


    "That One Hundred Taels really was too little, you should have said One Thousand Taels, then all the money Chao Lian and Erhu would earn in their lifetime would be yours."


    Qiao Duo fully agreed, that way Jiang¡¯s Clan would never dare to come knocking.


    "Humph, I¡¯m not talking about it anymore!"


    Chen Yiling gave Qiao Duo a white look, knowing full well she was being mocked.


    Qiao Duo quickly admitted her mistake: "I was wrong, please continue."


    "Then in front of Jiang¡¯s Clan, I moved out all the valuable items from Erhu¡¯s house, but anyone with eyes could see that all those items together weren¡¯t worth One Hundred Taels, so I told them to move things from Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s house. She turned pale with fear, kept saying Chao Lian was not her daughter, and said she would never go to Chao Lian¡¯s house again."


    Chen Yiling recounted the events with a flourish.


    Especially when she thought of the look on Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s face¡ªwishful of not recognizing Chao Lian¡ªshe wanted to laugh.


    At that time, many people were saying Jiang¡¯s Clan was no good.


    Of course, there were also those who said she was heartless, but she pretended not to hear them.


    Qiao Duo hurriedly reminded: "Take it easy, don¡¯t scare my godson."


    Chen Yiling calmed down her excitement before saying, "I¡¯m done talking, let¡¯s eat."


    Acting requires physical effort, and she was starving.


    Tan Zhenghong had been all ears the whole time, and knowing that his brother was out of trouble, he felt relieved too.


    Erhu and Chao Lian both had tough lives; it was time for them to turn the

 Chapter 696 - 701 I was wrong_1

    Chapter 696: Chapter 701 I was wrong_1In the afternoon, Sun Erhu sneaked in.


    "It¡¯s a critical time now, and your coming here could ruin the play we¡¯ve put on," Chen Yiling warned. Was this blockhead out of his mind?


    With a pained expression, Sun Erhu said, "At least leave me something. My wife and I don¡¯t have any rice, flour, or shovel, and we can¡¯t even afford to eat."


    It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to come here, but that he wouldn¡¯t survive if he didn¡¯t.


    "Go borrow from someone else¡¯s house, the sorrier you look, the better," Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested a plan.


    Erhu¡¯s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly went out to scrounge and borrow from here and there.


    Everyone felt sympathy for Sun Erhu; to Lady Qin, one hundred taels was nothing, so why couldn¡¯t she spare Erhu?


    Wasn¡¯t this driving people to their deaths?


    Many people gave Sun Erhu something, more or less, but the Lin Family¡¯s door remained tightly closed.


    "Today I am in trouble, and you turn a blind eye. When I make it big, don¡¯t come asking favors from me!"


    Sun Erhu angrily left a harsh word behind.


    Lin Jinshun weakly said, "Maybe we could give him a pound of rice."


    Although Sun Erhu was deep in debt, he was on good terms with the Tan Family, and who knows, he might actually make it big someday.


    After all, the village had watched the Tan Family¡¯s fortunes improve.


    "Pah, a pound of rice is enough for us for a day, why should we give it to him? Do you think the Tan Family is doing well? That embroidery room is a one-way street of losses, bound to end in tears!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan dismissed the thought; in her view, the Tan Family was on the brink of collapse too.


    "That can¡¯t be true, the Qiao Clan seems quite shrewd. If it was always losing money, could she keep going?"


    Lin Jinshun tried to convince her.


    He felt that Sun Erhu wouldn¡¯t just fall into decline.


    In the past, Sun Erhu had both built a house and taken a wife, spending at least thirty or forty taels.


    After all, peasant families needed to keep some silver on hand for peace of mind, indicating that Sun Erhu had saved at least that much in half a year.


    At this rate, he¡¯d definitely pay it off in two or three years.


    "Anyway, I haven¡¯t seen a single piece of embroidery sold from that place. With nothing to sell, how can they make money? Without the Tan Family, Sun Erhu is nothing!"


    "Are you thinking of helping your daughter? Let me tell you, it¡¯s not going to happen. From now on, you¡¯d better stay away from her."


    "Lady Qin said today, if we get involved with her, we¡¯ll end up owing a hundred taels too!"


    Jiang¡¯s Clan¡¯s attitude was clear: don¡¯t even think about taking anything from her.


    Lin Jinshun wanted to say more, but instead was met with a barrage of insults from Jiang¡¯s Clan, and in the end, he could only meekly shut up.


    Before long, the whole village knew about Chao Lian¡¯s mishap, and how it left Sun Erhu penniless and in trouble with the Lady of the County. Their future certainly didn¡¯t look bright. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alas, it was really pitiful!


    The next day, Chen Yiling had someone ostentatiously deliver supplies over.


    The entire village knew about the trouble at Erhu¡¯s House, and as soon as there was activity, they all came over to watch the excitement.


    If Lady Qin wanted to ruin someone, they could at least try to persuade her.


    Sun Erhu gratefully said, "Please thank Lady Qin for me, sister. Without her mercy, my wife and I would have been left with no other choice but death."


    "My mistress said it¡¯s nearly New Year, and she doesn¡¯t want to drive you to death. She¡¯s giving all this back to you, but from now on, you must pay back one tael every month. Be vigilant and do your best to repay the silver as soon as possible!"


    ChunTao stood at the doorway and spoke loudly. She was here today to salvage her young mistress¡¯s reputation.


    Every word she said had been taught to her by Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Sun Erhu hung his head and promised, "You can rest assured, sister. My wife and I will even sell our iron pot if we have to, just to pay back the silver as early as possible."

 Chapter 697 - 702 Little Bellyband_1

    Chapter 697: Chapter 702 Little Bellyband_1"There¡¯s no need for that. Your wife works in the Embroidery Room, just deduct it from her wages."


    "Don¡¯t think too badly of the Lady of the County for being harsh. It took Lord Qin a great effort to save up silver for his wife to get new clothes. Naturally, she was upset when they were ruined. Don¡¯t take yesterday¡¯s incident to heart, Madam even asked me to apologize to you and hopes for your forgiveness."


    The humble approach of ChunTao immediately won over many people.


    Sun Erhu nodded, "I understand. It was my wife who made the mistake. It¡¯s only right to repay a debt. I certainly won¡¯t hold any grudges."


    "That¡¯s good. Just be careful with valuable items in the future."


    After ChunTao voiced agreement, she left first.


    "The Lady of the County is truly kind, offering nearly a decade to repay."


    "Indeed, and she returned the items. I guess it was Lord Qin¡¯s decision. He¡¯s always been loving towards his people, honest and fair."


    "I didn¡¯t expect it would take Lord Qin so long to save one hundred taels. He¡¯s a good official indeed!"


    "Erhu has really taken responsibility, he didn¡¯t utter a single word of protest."


    ......


    With that, the matter was satisfactorily resolved.


    They managed not only to dismiss Jiang¡¯s Clan but also to earn ample reputation for both Erhu and Lord Qin, and they salvaged Chen Yiling¡¯s reputation as best as possible.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but reflect, "I should have come back earlier and talked to you about it."


    "Talking wouldn¡¯t have changed anything, it would¡¯ve been the same as now." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded helplessly, for dealing with people like Jiang¡¯s Clan, Chen Yiling¡¯s approach was the best.


    Chen Yiling finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even Duo¡¯er was praising her, so Lord Qin surely couldn¡¯t fault her.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er sewed a small bellyband for a child, she asked, "Now you¡¯re afraid of Lord Qin?"


    "I¡¯m not afraid of him. If he scolds me, I¡¯ll just take his son back to my mother¡¯s house!" Chen Yiling retorted stubbornly.


    Knowing she was just being tough, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything more and focused on her work.


    This gift was for her future godson.


    Before long, a tiny bellyband was created.


    "Children have delicate skin, so I won¡¯t embroider anything on it; it might scratch the little one."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed the bellyband to Chen Yiling.


    "It¡¯s so cute and feels so soft, you can¡¯t even find a loose thread. I can¡¯t wait for the little thing to be born, so I can dress him in the clothes his godmother made."


    Chen Yiling was charmed and couldn¡¯t put it down.


    This bellyband might look simple, but Qiao Duo¡¯er had put a lot of thought into it, taking care of every single thread.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then took out a piece of peach-pink fabric: "I¡¯ll make another one with this color. What do you think?"


    "You have the best taste; whatever you choose is fine."


    Chen Yiling said indifferently, her personality was such that she liked everything done by people she favored.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and started sewing again, while Chen Yiling quietly watched.


    Suddenly, she said, "Duo¡¯er, when you have children, you have to choose me as their godmother. I promise to treat them even better than my own children."


    "Alright!"


    "Then it¡¯s settled. You have to hurry, so they can be of similar age and play together. If both are boys, they can study and practice martial arts together; if both are girls, they can learn embroidery flowers together. If it¡¯s one boy and one girl, we can foster their relationship from a young age."


    Chen Yiling was dreaming happily.


    "Everything sounds good, but we can¡¯t force these matters of the heart." Qiao Duo corrected Chen Yiling¡¯s idea.


    As enlightened parents, they should respect their children¡¯s choices.


    Chen Yiling pouted, "What¡¯s there? I hadn¡¯t even met Lord Qin before I got married."

 Chapter 698 - 703: Delivering New Year’s Goods!_1

    Chapter 698: Chapter 703: Delivering New Year¡¯s Goods!_1She had always worried that the other party might be a misshapen jujube or a sleazy villain, or perhaps missing an arm or a leg. Now that she had found a childhood sweetheart for her child, things were already looking up.


    Please forgive her; she had been educated this way since she was young.


    "Everything else is fine, but I don¡¯t agree with this. Think about how you felt when you were forced to marry."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er repeated herself, the matter of feelings must not be treated carelessly.


    "Alright, you¡¯re smarter than I am, let¡¯s do as you say," Chen Yiling no longer insisted.


    The feeling of being forced wasn¡¯t pleasant.


    Seeing Chen Yiling come to her senses, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt relieved.


    On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the faces of the Embroidery Ladies were all smiles, because today they would receive their wages.


    "Do you think we¡¯ve been tricked? It¡¯s already this late and no one has shown up," Liu Ximei said anxiously.


    She was looking forward to using her wages to buy beautiful fabric from town and make a new dress for herself at home.


    But they had been waiting for almost half an hour, and still no one was in sight.


    Fat Aunt disdainfully glanced at Liu Ximei: "Don¡¯t always think so ill of others, perhaps they were delayed by something."


    Liu Ximei muttered to herself, Fat Aunt didn¡¯t know how many advantages she had received, of course, she wasn¡¯t in a hurry.


    But she didn¡¯t have the courage to say it out loud. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Anyway, everything at home is already prepared, let¡¯s wait a little longer."


    Qin Clan laughed, these past two days her man had changed so much, she could hardly believe he belonged to her.


    "Now you stand with your back even straighter, your Li Er must be utterly obedient to you," said someone teasingly. Qin Clan, having only given birth to sons, already had a high status in the family, and with the strategies they had come up with, she was certainly living a more comfortable life.


    "Let me tell you, men are just cheap. The nicer you are to them, the more they take it for granted. Now I¡¯ve left all the work to him, and he has grown fond of me," Qin Clan summarized her experience.


    "That¡¯s because he knows household chores are not easy," someone countered.


    The group of women gathered again to share their insights, without a hint of impatience. They all came from the same village, and Duo¡¯er certainly wouldn¡¯t deceive them.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived in an ox cart.


    On account of the previous incident which left a significant impact, Zheng Hong stepped off the cart at the gate.


    "Wife, have Fat Aunt help you move the stuff inside; I¡¯ll head back now," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled in response, knowing their elm wood was about to disappoint certain people.


    As expected, Ruo Lan¡¯s face remained gloomy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was composed and graceful as usual, as if the unpleasant incident had never occurred.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Butcher Chen¡¯s ox cart broke down on the way, causing a bit of a delay. Thank you all for waiting," she apologized.


    "Does this mean we are getting meat today?" Qin Clan asked joyfully.


    "You will know what you¡¯re getting in a moment. Please stay quiet, and as I call out names, come up and receive your items," she instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then presented a money pouch with each person¡¯s name and Fat Aunt handed out the New Year goods to everyone.


    There were four kinds of New Year goods in total: one pound of meat, one pound of sugar, two fish, and two pairs of spring couplets.


    "Isn¡¯t this too much?" Qin Clan exclaimed excitedly.


    It was like a dream come true!


    To think that those who worked in town for a year only got six steamed buns and half a pound of meat.


    "Are you so happy over this bit of fish and meat? Hurry up and count how much wages you got!" someone nearby reminded.


    The money pouch felt light and insubstantial.

 Chapter 699 - 704 Can’t Stay Anymore_1

    Chapter 699: Chapter 704 Can¡¯t Stay Anymore_1The Qin Clan woman finally noticed something was off with the purse: it had no heft at all, how many wen could it possibly contain?


    She hurriedly opened the purse, and her eyes instantly lit up.


    But she immediately secured the purse and tucked it away in her bosom.


    Because inside was actually a small piece of silver!


    She knew Qiao Duo¡¯er was reliable after all; how could she cheat her fellow villagers?


    "Tell me how much there is so I can figure out my own pay," the person who had just spoken urged impatiently.


    That air of mystery, wasn¡¯t it deliberately making people anxious?


    Her own embroidery work couldn¡¯t be much different from that of the Qin Clan woman, so she figured their wages would be about the same.


    "You¡¯ll know when you get it," the Qin Clan woman whispered.


    Just then, Qiao Duo¡¯er called out the woman¡¯s name, and she briskly walked over.


    Honestly, she felt even more nervous than on her wedding day.


    When she received the purse, she subtly shook it without changing her expression, and that lightness evoked a desire to cry.


    Please don¡¯t let it be that after getting up early and going to bed late for a month¡¯s work, the wages are still less than New Year¡¯s goods!


    New Year¡¯s goods are tempting, but when compared with wages, they fall far short!


    She opened the purse as soon as it was in her hand, and all her worries vanished in an instant.


    The facial expressions of these Embroidery Ladies changed in exactly the same way; Qiao Duo¡¯er silently suggested that in the future they should give out copper coins instead, as they would definitely like the substantial weight of those.


    After all, One Tael of silver was only the size of a fingertip, whereas the equivalent Thousand Wen Money could fill an entire purse.


    She had previously worried that having too many copper coins might draw too much attention.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Fat Aunt worked in perfect harmony and quickly finished distributing the items.


    Everyone was very satisfied, and the smiles on their faces brightened even more.


    The wages were generous, and the New Year¡¯s goods were beautiful; they would certainly earn prestige when they went home. How could they not be happy?


    "Thank you all for your hard work this year, but there will be another tough period next year. I hope everyone will continue to exert themselves because, as you all have seen, the wages will definitely be worth your efforts."


    "There¡¯s one more thing: we will start work on the sixth day of the first month, and I hope you can all come on time."


    "If anyone has questions, feel free to ask. If not, you may go home in a while. I wish everyone peace and joy, and a happy New Year."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er briefly spoke, effectively putting an end marker on this year¡¯s Embroidery Room achievements.


    Although there were some hiccups along the way, the outcome was pretty good.


    This year, they stockpiled over a thousand items, including various handkerchiefs, Fragrance Pouches, and deodorizing shoe pads, which would be no problem to supply to one storefront.


    However, because of the sudden addition of a shop in Mansion City, they needed to upgrade their standards even further.


    "Is it still the old time on the sixth?"


    "No need to come so early, it¡¯s postponed by two hours. Come in the morning to clean up a bit, and we will officially start work in the afternoon."


    "No problem, we¡¯re going home then. See you later."


    Everyone took Duo¡¯er¡¯s words to heart and left for home in small groups.


    It was only the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month; they still had time to stroll around in town. Otherwise, they were either in the Embroidery Room or at home, and they were almost stultified with boredom.


    Walking on the road, they all clasped their purses tightly, as Qiao Duo¡¯er put it, this was called privacy.


    If it was a matter of privacy, they shouldn¡¯t speak of it.


    Only one person stayed behind, and that was Ruo Lan. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She couldn¡¯t believe Qiao Duo¡¯er would be so generous; she wanted to probe Qiao Duo¡¯er further.


    "Do you still have something to do?" Qiao Duo¡¯er lazily glanced at Ruo Lan.


    A normal family¡¯s daughter wouldn¡¯t throw herself at someone like that, so she was certain this woman was up to something.


    Once she received word from Chen Yiling¡¯s people, she would be able to take action.


    Although she was the owner of the Embroidery Room, evicting someone for no reason could easily dishearten everyone.

 Chapter 700 - 705: Silver Note_1

    Chapter 700: Chapter 705: Silver Note_1"I want to apologize to you, I really wasn¡¯t careful that day, you and Brother Zheng Hong must not quarrel over me, otherwise I would feel terribly guilty." Ruo Lan spoke in a soft and tender voice.


    But she kept her eyes on Qiao Duo¡¯er, not wanting to miss any change in her expression.


    Being foolish isn¡¯t scary, what¡¯s frightening is when a fool always pretends to be clever.


    And Ruo Lan was a prime example of this.


    She thought that having been a maid in the big houses of Mansion City and seen the world, these village girls were far inferior to her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er calmly said, "There¡¯s nothing to misunderstand, you¡¯re overthinking it."


    Ruo Lan was still not satisfied, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was indifferent, so she could only leave with a look of disappointment.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er really didn¡¯t care about Tan Zhenghong, then she couldn¡¯t blame her.


    Fat Aunt said disdainfully, "We can¡¯t keep this kind of person in the Embroidery Room, otherwise the young ladies will all be led astray."


    Just like Liu Ximei, she couldn¡¯t even concentrate on her work anymore.


    "To drive someone away, you need a reason, but it¡¯s also true that ¡¯a leopard can¡¯t change its spots.¡¯ It¡¯s good to see their true colors with this opportunity."


    "That¡¯s true, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore, I¡¯ll take you back."


    "You can drive an ox cart?" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What of it? Piece of cake."


    The women of peasant households are very capable; they can generally do what the men can, as well as the fine work the men can¡¯t.


    But the status of women is still very low, however, Qiao Duo believes that this situation will begin to change starting from Big Willow Village, and indeed there has already been some change.


    When she got home, Wind Liyang and Big Girl had been waiting for quite a while.


    But with Chen Yiling there, they weren¡¯t bored.


    "I¡¯m sorry to have kept you waiting," Qiao Duo¡¯er said apologetically.


    Wind Liyang shook his head, "We¡¯ve only been here for a short time, the carpentry shop was busy until today finally took a break. Take a look at these things."


    As he spoke, he handed the items he had prepared to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    In addition to the account book, there were also a few silver notes. Qiao Duo counted them, totaling exactly Two Hundred and Fifty Taels.


    "Brother Feng, don¡¯t fool me, okay?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes were full of shock.


    If Wind Liyang wasn¡¯t messing around, then the carpentry shop¡¯s sales for these past two months were truly frightening.


    "Of course not, we did business for several big households before the New Year. They ordered expensive timber, which was priced high, and they also gave generous tips," explained Wind Liyang, who knew that the rarer the timber, the higher their profit.


    But the customers were wealthy and willing to spend money for prestige.


    "Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony, but there are two more things, while you¡¯re free, help me think about them."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, not bothering to look at the account book, pushed it directly to Wind Liyang.


    Seeing Wind Liyang nod, Qiao Duo¡¯er went inside to get some drawings.


    They were designs for a threshing machine and a bellows.


    She had the idea for the threshing machine during the autumn harvest, but it had been delayed until now.


    The bellows came to her in a flash of inspiration while she was tending a fire; they could replace a fan to stoke a fire under the stove, being practical and convenient.


    She had seen both of these items in museums and farm stays, and had even used them under professional guidance.


    But to make them into practical products, she still needed Wind Liyang¡¯s help.


    Wind Liyang folded the drawings and tucked them into his sleeve, "I will surely take a good look. Once I have some ideas, I¡¯ll discuss them with you."


    "You¡¯re always welcome."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said cheerfully, thinking that she might as well be pushing the historical process forward.


    Nowadays, Wind Liyang had twenty or thirty carpenters under him. With the end of the year approaching, not only did he have to pay wages, but also had to collect debts everywhere ¨C it was enough to keep one extremely busy.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er had no other matters, he prepared to take his

 Chapter 701 - 706: Too Lazy to Talk to You_1

    Chapter 701: Chapter 706: Too Lazy to Talk to You_1As for the eldest girl, she had now accumulated quite a bit of experience and even learned how to read accounts from the Zou¡¯s. She also planned to go help out at the carpentry shop.


    According to her aunt, the carpentry shop¡¯s earnings this year could match those of the past few years combined.


    "Eldest girl, take your New Year¡¯s goods with you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered something and quickly called out to the two people who were about to leave the house.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re so thoughtful; I didn¡¯t expect to have any!"


    The eldest girl was very surprised and happy. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course, aside from Sister Lan and Erhu, you¡¯ve helped out for the longest time. How could I forget about you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er replied.


    When it came to closeness of feeling, the eldest girl and her family were still a step ahead, which was why not only did they receive gifts, but theirs were twice as substantial as others.


    However, Tan Zhenghong had already delivered the spring couplets to the Tie Family, so the eldest girl only took three items and her wages with her.


    But this was enough to make the eldest girl excited because all these were earned with her own two hands!


    Even after getting onto the ox cart, the eldest girl remained quite self-satisfied.


    "Big cousin, I¡¯m pretty awesome, right?"


    Wind Liyang generously gave a thumbs-up: "Eldest girl, you¡¯re the most impressive girl I¡¯ve ever seen!"


    "Not at all, Sister Duo¡¯er is the most impressive, I¡¯m second," the eldest girl quickly corrected.


    Wind Liyang¡¯s thoughts inadvertently drifted away, and a feeling of melancholy suddenly surfaced in his heart.


    And where this feeling came from, he actually didn¡¯t know.


    "Big cousin, what¡¯s wrong with you?" the eldest girl asked worriedly.


    Could it be that he had been too busy these past few days, too busy to fall ill?


    Wind Liyang quickly snapped back to reality: "I just remembered that I haven¡¯t given out the New Year¡¯s goods yet, and I¡¯m wondering what would be good to give."


    "Prices have gone up these past few days, and there¡¯s no time to prepare anything, so why not just give everyone an extra hundred Wen, just make it clear when you hand out the wages," suggested the eldest girl.


    Wind Liyang nodded and happily adopted the eldest girl¡¯s suggestion.


    In fact, he had just said it casually, but now he really harbored such a thought.


    Many craftsmen had been working in his family¡¯s woodshop for several years now, always diligent and doing their jobs well. It would be good for him to show some appreciation at the end of the year to win over their hearts.


    The eldest girl first sent the New Year¡¯s goods home, but before the stool could even warm up, she hurried off again.


    Mrs. Feng couldn¡¯t help but wipe away her tears, feeling very downhearted.


    She thought that this time the eldest girl was coming back for good, but unexpectedly, after just a couple of sentences, she left again.


    "Our daughter has become capable, why are you crying now?" Tie Niu was very puzzled.


    In the past, when the eldest girl caused trouble everywhere, Mrs. Feng would worry every day.


    Now that her child had become sensible, she was still not happy.


    How exactly does she want her child to be?


    "What¡¯s the point of a girl having too much capability? She¡¯ll be leaving the house in a couple of years, and she¡¯s hardly ever home now. Just thinking about it makes my heart hurt," Mrs. Feng hesitatingly said, feeling as if each thought cut into her flesh.


    Tie Niu comforted her: "Once she¡¯s left home, you¡¯re still her mother, and no one can change that. If you¡¯re really worried, you can go stay at her maternal home for a few days."


    Mrs. Feng wiped her tears away: "Can¡¯t be bothered to talk to you, I¡¯m going to check on the old lady."


    The old lady was the one who took it the hardest when the girl left.


    Although Mrs. Feng understood all the reasoning, her heart just couldn¡¯t bear the sadness.


    Only the old lady understood a woman¡¯s thoughts, saying that the child would definitely come back for the New Year¡¯s celebration; it was only a matter of a couple of days.


    Mrs. Feng¡¯s mood instantly improved, and she even thought about keeping her child at home for an extended stay after the New Year.


    As long as she didn¡¯t bring up embroidery, the eldest girl would definitely agree, although she¡¯d have to notify Qiao Duo¡¯er.

 Chapter 702 - 707: The Older the Ginger, the Spicier _1

    Chapter 702: Chapter 707: The Older the Ginger, the Spicier _1The last major event before the New Year was Lady Bai¡¯s birthday, and early in the morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling took a carriage to the Bai Family.


    "Just thinking about seeing Li Mu¡¯er soon makes my hands itch."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled the corners of her lips; that woman had tricked her so many times, it was time to collect some interest.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "I¡¯ll cover for you."


    As far as she knew, Li Mu¡¯er was preparing to make a big move today.


    "Having ChunTao cover is enough, you just stand far off to the side and enjoy the show."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed with concern, as Chen Yiling was in a critical period where even a minor bump could be dangerous, she couldn¡¯t be allowed to act recklessly.


    "Alright, I got it, you¡¯re practically turning into my housekeeper now."


    Chen Yiling said with a chuckle.


    ChunTao spoke up at the right moment, "Miss, you need to be more careful, don¡¯t you trust me?"


    Chen Yiling quickly took mental note, otherwise these two could nag her to death.


    The carriage was fast, and they reached the Bai Family in half an hour.


    The Bai Family residence was decked out with lights and decorations, full of festivity.


    Chen Yiling often visited the Bai Family and was familiar with almost everyone, so she directly led Qiao Duo¡¯er into the main courtyard where the Old Lady lived.


    They would first get cozy with the old lady so that in case something happened, she might be more lenient with them.


    Today, Old Lady Bai was dressed in new, deep purple garments, looking especially spirited.


    Seeing Yi Ling arrive brightened her mood even more.


    "Yi Ling, it¡¯s been a long time since your last visit, I thought you had forgotten about me!" the old lady chided.


    "How could I forget? There¡¯s an extra piece of flesh in my belly now, and Long Yun won¡¯t let me leave the house, but I had to come today for your birthday!"


    Chen Yiling said playfully, and despite being a mother-to-be, she was still naive at heart.


    But that naivety was precisely what Old Lady Bai enjoyed.


    Old Master Bai had his romantic dalliances when he was young, and with many women in the household, intrigue was inevitable. She hadn¡¯t taken part but had seen it all.


    Having seen too much darkness in people, she yearned for a simpler life, just like Old Lady Bai does now.


    Old Lady Bai laughed, "Well then, hurry up and say some auspicious words!"


    "I wish you fortune as vast as the Eastern Seas and a longevity beyond South Mountain, that¡¯s about all I can say. Duo¡¯er, you quickly say something pleasant for the Old Lady."


    Chen Yiling gave Qiao Duo¡¯er a meaningful look, prompting her to save the situation.


    This must be what they call "pregnancy brain."


    "Greetings to the Old Lady, I wish you endless blessings and everlasting youth." Qiao Duo¡¯er bowed respectfully.


    "I¡¯ve heard about you from Yi Ling and Yi Fan, please take a seat, I¡¯ll have someone bring over our finest pastries!"


    Lady Bai greeted her warmly, finding the girl quite likable. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although she did not come from a distinguished background, she was neither overbearing nor servile, and her every action exuded grace, no less than those born to riches.


    Actually, she possessed a quality many noble ladies could not match.


    "Thank you, Old Lady." Qiao Duo¡¯er bowed again.


    As they sat down, maids served them tea.


    "Yi Ling is pregnant, she shouldn¡¯t drink tea. Hurry and replace it with the rose flowers Yi Fan brought over a few days ago."


    The old lady quickly instructed, and although a little wouldn¡¯t affect much, it¡¯s better to err on the side of caution.


    "It¡¯s no wonder everyone says that the older the ginger, the spicier. Only you could be so thoughtful," Chen Yiling complimented, for the elderly loved to hear flattery.


    Old Lady Bai chided, "Are you suggesting I¡¯m old?"


    Chen Yiling immediately shook her head, "You don¡¯t look old in the least, your skin is still so tender and soft!"

 Chapter 703 - 708: Investing Heavily_1

    Chapter 703: Chapter 708: Investing Heavily_1"You really know how to make someone happy. At my age, to be still fresh and youthful, wouldn¡¯t that make me a demon? But I have to thank you for the face mask powder you sent last time. It feels so comfortable to use, and I¡¯ve been thinking about getting some more!"


    Old lady Bai touched her face; her skin had indeed improved recently.


    "The face mask powder was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s concoction. Don¡¯t be shy, just ask her directly for it."


    Chen Yiling pushed the matter away cleanly.


    Old lady Bai¡¯s gaze toward Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately changed, "To have such skills at such a young age, you¡¯re certainly destined for great things!"


    If managed properly, she would be an impressive presence in the future.


    Duo¡¯er humbly replied, "As long as you like it, I¡¯ll send over some more face mask powder."


    "No trouble, I can send someone to get it."


    Chen Yiling slyly said, "We¡¯ll bring it over when we come by, and then you mustn¡¯t be stingy with your tremella mushrooms."


    In her entire life, she didn¡¯t care for gold and silver, nor for jewels, but she had a unique fondness for tremella mushrooms.


    Apart from those close to her, no one else could even think about touching her tremella mushrooms.


    The only time Old lady Bai ever beat a concubine was when one stole her tremella mushrooms.


    That wasn¡¯t the end of it; the concubine was also sold off, and it was said that even Old Master Bai¡¯s intercession was of no use.


    "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get enough!" Old lady Bai said generously.


    Chen Yiling said with satisfaction, "Then I¡¯ll let you in on another secret. Today, she came up with something new. It¡¯s in the gift box. Maidservant, please help us cover it."


    The maidservant immediately took out a carved wooden box from the gift box.


    Upon opening it, a scent of plum blossoms wafted out.


    The fragrance was light and elegant, exceptionally refined.


    The maidservant couldn¡¯t help but praise, "Madam, it¡¯s your favorite fragrance; it¡¯s definitely the right choice!"


    "Of course, this is called Anti-Aging Cream. If you apply it to your face every day, it will moisturize, reduce wrinkles, and even firm the skin!"


    With that explanation from Chen Yiling, Old lady Bai became eager to try it.


    The maidservant, understanding her wishes, said, "You have guests to meet soon. I¡¯ll go fetch some water for you to wash your face."


    After washing, apply some Anti-Aging Cream.


    Old lady Bai¡¯s intentions were laid bare; she was a bit embarrassed but adored the Anti-Aging Cream too much to resist being pampered by the maidservant.


    The Anti-Aging Cream didn¡¯t disappoint; her face felt moist after applying it, but not greasy.


    "Hurry, pack a few of the top-quality tremella mushrooms as a thank-you gift to Qiao Duo¡¯er," Old lady Bai urged the maidservant.


    This time she was really splurging, but the Anti-Aging Cream was truly worth it!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought to herself that the old lady was addicted to tremella mushrooms but politely declined nonetheless.


    "It¡¯s a birthday gift for you. If I ask for a return gift, it would seem like I¡¯m insincere."


    The maidservant whispered into Old lady Bai¡¯s ear, "Since she¡¯s given tremella mushrooms, you can¡¯t reciprocate with tremella mushrooms."


    "Duo¡¯er, come here."


    Old lady Bai beckoned, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had no choice but to approach.


    "This is my meeting gift for you. Play with it," Old lady Bai said as she took off a jade bracelet and passed it to her.


    The jade bracelet was translucent and pure, clearly a pricey item.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly refused, "This is too valuable; please keep it."


    "Duo¡¯er, as long as it¡¯s not tremella mushrooms, just take it. They aren¡¯t Old lady Bai¡¯s lifeblood," Chen Yiling teased.


    Old lady Bai shoved the bracelet into Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand and gave Chen Yiling a glare, "You impish child!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er accepted the jade bracelet, thinking she¡¯d have to return something of similar value sometime; otherwise, she¡¯d feel uneasy.

 Chapter 704 - 709 Be more compliant_1

    Chapter 704: Chapter 709 Be more compliant_1Old Lady Bai explained, "Duo¡¯er brought some Anti-Aging Cream, and the two girls kept me company chatting; of course, I¡¯m happy."


    Not like Bai Yifan, always making her drink that bitter medicine.


    "Then I¡¯ll properly thank my older sister-in-law and Duo¡¯er later. Grandma, please go ahead to the front; the guests have all arrived," Bai Yifan said gently.


    But his eyes kept drifting unintentionally towards Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    It was his first time seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er since returning from Black Wind Valley because he felt ashamed to look for her.


    In fact, he had always been paying attention to Qiao Duo¡¯er in secret. Knowing that she opened an Embroidery Room, he¡¯d spoken with the Owner of Cloth Shop, hoping to help her.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er refused, probably still angry with him.


    Old Lady Bai nodded, "Mm, Duo¡¯er, Yi Ling, you go as well."


    Chen Yiling needed to use the restroom, so they were a step behind.


    "You have such a sworn sister and didn¡¯t bring her home earlier for me to see. Now, you regret it enough to cry, don¡¯t you?"


    Old Lady Bai glared at her grandson. She really liked this girl; if he had let her get to know Duo¡¯er sooner, maybe she would already be her granddaughter-in-law.


    Bai Yifan explained, "I knew her when she was already married, don¡¯t let your thoughts run wild."


    Old Lady Bai looked unconvinced; if she had known the girl was married, her grandson surely wouldn¡¯t have taken an interest.


    This child always keeps things to himself; she¡¯s not the kind of person to care about social status, nor would she refuse.


    Bai Yifan gave a bitter smile but quickly concealed his thoughts.


    If people knew what he was thinking, it would be bad for Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s reputation.


    In the front hall, the women were gathered talking. Seeing Old Lady Bai, they all came over to greet her. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The most diligent among them was Li Mu¡¯er.


    "Grandma, I wish you the longevity of pine and cranes, endless blessings, wealth and good health, and eternal youth," Li Mu¡¯er said with a beaming smile.


    Old Lady Bai said contentedly, "You¡¯re also clever with words, you have my thanks."


    But compared to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s frank sincerity, she seemed somewhat contrived.


    Seeing her, Bai Yifan¡¯s expression grew dark.


    He had already warned Li Mu¡¯er not to come again and had someone keep an eye on her. He didn¡¯t expect her to show up again, and most importantly, he hadn¡¯t received any notice before.


    Maybe Chen Yiling was right; she wouldn¡¯t give up that easily.


    Li Mu¡¯er said weakly, "Cousin, please forgive me this one time; I promise I won¡¯t cause trouble again."


    "Mo¡¯er is young, don¡¯t be mad at her."


    Old Lady Bai quickly smoothed things over¡ªso many eyes were watching, it would look bad if a scene were caused.


    Bai Yifan said coldly, "You better behave."


    If the same trouble as last time arose, he would show no mercy.


    As an apprentice of the Medicine King, he had many ways to make a person neither able to live nor die.


    Li Mu¡¯er clenched her fists but still nodded obediently.


    This was just a minor incident, yet it still drew the attention of many.


    Many people said that Miss Li of the Li Family would be the future lady of the Bai Family, but now the relationship between the two didn¡¯t seem good.


    That gave others the opportunity to set their sights elsewhere.


    Young Master Bai, a man of great talent and accomplishment while still young, was on the minds of many families¡¯ daughters.


    "Don¡¯t just stand around; sit down, have some tea, and enjoy some pastries," Lady Bai Er, Bai Yifan¡¯s aunt, quickly defused the situation.


    The Li Family was influential and had connections in the court; if they could establish this matrimonial alliance, the Bai Family could advance further.


    Perhaps she was trying to curry favor with Li Mu¡¯er by doing this.


    Bai¡¯s Second House was not of the direct line and didn¡¯t have the clout; to live comfortably, they had to rely on the main house.

 Chapter 705 - 710 Sweet Self-Blame_1

    Chapter 705: Chapter 710 Sweet Self-Blame_1Some time later, Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived as well.


    Many people took the initiative to greet Chen Yiling, and she took the opportunity to introduce Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Everyone present was either rich or noble, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s business at Duo Meifang to make more acquaintances.


    "This is my husband and Yi Fan¡¯s sworn sister, Qiao Duo¡¯er."


    But the people there simply were not impressed by Qiao Duo¡¯er; they couldn¡¯t be bothered to even glance her way, what of a sworn sister?


    It still didn¡¯t change the fact that she was a coarse village girl.


    However, to save Chen Yiling¡¯s face, they still went through the motions and greeted her perfunctorily.


    In just a short two months, Lord Qin had brought down the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and with the power of Chen Yiling¡¯s maiden family behind her, they dared not offend her.


    But really, what was wrong with the daughter of the Deputy Minister? Marrying a poor and pedantic County Magistrate, and now treating a village girl as her best friend?


    Isn¡¯t that just asking for degradation?


    Chen Yiling wanted to explode in anger, but was stopped by Duo¡¯er.


    She never cared about the opinions of others. If one could be friends with her, she would treat them well; if someone looked down on her, they were merely strangers.


    The indifferent attitude of Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly redirected their conversation elsewhere.


    "Lady Qin, I went to visit you at the Government Office last time, why weren¡¯t you home?"


    A madam close to Chen Yiling asked.


    Chen Yiling complained, "My husband has been so busy that he hardly comes home, so I went to Duo¡¯er¡¯s House for my confinement."


    Her intention was for these people to think highly of Qiao Duo¡¯er, but the others took it to mean that Qiao Duo¡¯er was her maid.


    But out of respect for appearances, it was enough that everyone knew the truth.


    Frustrated and upset, it was at this moment that a weak voice came through.


    All she wanted to say to this was mind your own business.


    "Lady Qin, shouldn¡¯t you consider taking someone in for Lord Qin now?"


    The speaker was Lady Li, unlike the others who were wary of Chen Yiling, she stood tall and firm.


    She was a stepmother who did not care for Li Mu¡¯er, but she would not tolerate bullying from her step-child¡¯s Li Family.


    What¡¯s more important to her was her desire to have the Medicine King¡¯s disciple as her son-in-law, allowing her to walk tall and proud wherever she went.


    "Thank you for your concern. I mentioned it to my husband and got scolded for it. My husband really doesn¡¯t consider my reputation at all, surely people will again say I¡¯m jealous."


    Chen Yiling sighed as if blaming herself, and yet managed to irritate everyone else.


    After all, in other families, there were multiple wives and concubines, many of whom were taken during their pregnancies.


    Ah, why are the good husbands always someone else¡¯s?


    Their husbands couldn¡¯t live without women; if they didn¡¯t find them at home, they sought them outside. What could they possibly do?


    Thinking of the new concubine who had just entered her home a few days ago, Lady Li felt even angrier.


    Seeing that her sarcasm towards Chen Yiling was ineffective, she turned her attention to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Lady Qin, when you have time, you really should take this girl for a stroll around town to broaden her horizons," Lady Li said contemptuously after glancing at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    A village girl in the city would surely find everything novel.


    "Careful with your words, Lady Li. Duo¡¯er is no ordinary farmer¡¯s wife; she has seen and heard far more than I have."


    "The facial mask powder you all purchased before was her handiwork. After the New Year, Duo Meifang will be opening, and there will be even more products available¡ªhydrating, whitening, wrinkle-reducing, firming, and other features."


    "Each one smells delightful. Have you not noticed the scent of plum blossoms on Old Lady Bai? That too was made by Duo¡¯er. Those who want to buy should pay attention to their attitude."


    "Now is the time to get on her good side. Later on, let Duo¡¯er advise you on which products to use, so you can haggle a bit."


    Chen Yiling finished all in one breath and even managed to advertise for Duo Meifang.


    sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 706 - 711: A Conspiracy_1

    Chapter 706: Chapter 711: A Conspiracy_1Many noble ladies and young misses have used or heard of face mask powder, and upon hearing Chen Yiling say this, they quickly hid the disdain in their eyes.


    Face mask powder is very hard to come by; sometimes it requires several maneuvers just to purchase a box.


    There were even times when it disappeared from the market entirely.


    If one knows the person who makes the face mask powder, it would become much easier to buy it in the future.


    As long as they take good care of their skin, their men¡¯s hearts will surely stay with them.


    Many people pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er aside to ask her all sorts of questions; after all, a love for beauty is a woman¡¯s nature, regardless of age.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was generous, sharing several beauty tips with them.


    "That sounds quite good, I¡¯ll try it when I get back," one lady said.


    "Let me know if you see results, I¡¯ll follow suit," another chimed in.


    ...


    Lady Li suddenly realized that she was also engrossed in listening and touched her nose awkwardly.


    Hmph, even if Qiao Duo¡¯er was selling elixirs from heaven, she wouldn¡¯t buy it!


    However, she soon retracted that statement; why wouldn¡¯t she want something that could make her more beautiful?


    As for Li Mo¡¯er, let whoever cares about her deal with her!


    After the banquet, Old Lady Bai led the group of ladies to the hall to watch a play, and up to now, Li Mo¡¯er had been very well-behaved.


    So well-behaved that Qiao Duo¡¯er thought she could get through the day without incident; it would be a pity if that were truly the case.


    After all, missing this opportunity meant there was no telling when the next one would come.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed something amiss.


    Li Mo¡¯er kept glancing over at her, as if she was monitoring her, with a touch of schadenfreude in her eyes.


    Surely there was a scheme brewing behind such behavior!


    Without drawing attention, Qiao Duo¡¯er scanned her surroundings and realized that Li Mo¡¯er¡¯s only opportunity to act would be through her tea.


    Otherwise, any other action would surely draw notice from others.


    To confirm her suspicions, Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up her teacup, and from the corner of her eye, she saw the corners of Li Mo¡¯er¡¯s mouth curl into a cold smile.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Chen Yiling, whose sleeve was tugged, looked innocent.


    The troupe invited by the Bai Family was the best in Mansion City, and watching the performance was truly captivating.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the tea beside her and Chen Yiling immediately understood.


    "ChunTao, go ask Old Lady Bai for a cup of medicinal tea and take this one away," Chen Yiling instructed; it was normal for her, being pregnant, to prefer medicinal tea over regular tea.


    ChunTao promptly did so, deliberately blocking Li Mo¡¯er¡¯s view with her body.


    In the tea room, two maids were busy boiling water.


    "Sisters, my miss is with child and would like a cup of medicinal tea," ChunTao said politely.


    "Just a moment, I¡¯ll go get it right now," one of the maids hurried off.


    Chen Yiling was Old Lady Bai¡¯s favorite, so they couldn¡¯t afford to neglect her.


    With one kettle boiling over, the other maid was too busy tending to three stoves. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ChunTao then said, "The tea at the front has gone cold, let me help you make a new pot."


    "Thank you so much," the maid expressed her gratitude.


    ChunTao smiled slightly; she should thank this maid for giving her this opportunity.


    Before long, the replaced tea was served, and ChunTao signaled to Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er that everything was taken care of.


    On the other side, Li Mo¡¯er took a sip of her tea; the mild heat was just right.


    A cup of tea warmed her entire being.


    She had just seen Qiao Duo¡¯er drink the tea with her own eyes and was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.


    But the more she watched Qiao Duo¡¯er, the angrier she became, wishing she could rush over and beat her up, or at least scold her.


    Lady Li tugged at Li Mo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve, "Mo¡¯er, why don¡¯t you go rest for a bit? You don¡¯t seem to be feeling well."

 Chapter 707 - 712 Little Prostitute_1

    Chapter 707: Chapter 712 Little Prostitute_1The hatred in her eyes was so intense that anyone who saw Li Mu¡¯er might think she had gone mad.


    Li Mu¡¯er made a strained smile, "I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry."


    But the restless anger inside her grew more and more intense.


    At last, all her fury erupted when Qiao Duo¡¯er gave her a provocative smile, so fast that Li Mu¡¯er didn¡¯t even realize what she had done.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, you little bitch, you slut, you¡¯re married and still seducing my cousin, do you have no shame?"


    "Let me tell you, with your kind of trash, you¡¯ll never enter the Bai Family¡¯s doors in this lifetime! You¡¯d better recognize your place, my father and my uncle are high-ranking officials, they could destroy you with a flick of their fingers!"


    "You like whoring around so much, why don¡¯t you go to the Qing Building? With that face of yours, you might even become the top courtesan!"


    Li Mu¡¯er, with her hands on her hips, cursed furiously, losing all of her usual ladylike image.


    Everyone looked at Li Mu¡¯er in disbelief. What well-bred lady could utter such indecent words?


    Lady Li quickly covered Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s mouth before others could say the Li family had poor manners.


    "What madness has taken you, child? Stop talking nonsense!"


    Li Mu¡¯er, with a strength she didn¡¯t know she had, pushed Lady Li away.


    Lady Li fell on her backside, her face instantly turning pale with shock.


    "Madam, are you alright?"


    The maid rushed to help, but Lady Li couldn¡¯t muster any strength in her lower body. Any movement sent a heart-wrenching pain through her backside.


    The maid anxiously said, "Could it be that her bones are broken? Quick, someone help lift Madam."


    Li Mu¡¯er had a moment of clarity, then pointed at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose and started cursing again.


    "You like seducing men so much? I¡¯ll get ten beggars to have you, and once you¡¯re dirty, my Brother Bai won¡¯t look your way again!"


    "Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Is one man not enough to satisfy you?"


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s words became increasingly outrageous, and Old Lady Bai said sternly, "Gag her mouth and take her away!"


    Such words coming from a young lady¡¯s mouth, utterly shameless!


    The Bai Family¡¯s reputation was completely sullied this time!


    Elderly maidservants quickly dragged Li Mu¡¯er away, mindful that today was Old Lady Bai¡¯s birthday. It was time to shut up!


    But Li Mu¡¯er easily broke free from their hold, and her insults turned towards Old Lady Bai.


    It wasn¡¯t so much insults as just spilling her inner thoughts.


    "You old hag, I never liked you. You think you¡¯re something because you are Bai Yifan¡¯s grandma? Always so picky, acting like you¡¯re the only righteous person in the world!"


    "If Bai Yifan can¡¯t find a wife because of you, then you¡¯re the sinner!"


    Old Lady Bai slapped the table, "Who becomes the Bai Family¡¯s young lady isn¡¯t up to you!"


    Otherwise, who could bear it if she went mad like this again?


    Lady Bai Er quickly soothed the old lady, "Mother, don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll call someone to take them away."


    As Li Mu¡¯er became increasingly uncontrollable, Lady Bai Er had no choice but to have the servants drag her away.


    With such a scene, who cared about reputation anymore? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The hall finally returned to calm, but no one felt like watching any more drama.


    "Do you think what Miss Li just said was true?"


    "Even if it¡¯s not all true, it can¡¯t all be false either, otherwise why would Li Mu¡¯er target Qiao Duo¡¯er and not someone else?"


    "I¡¯ve seen plenty of women trying to climb the social ladder, maybe this is just another one."


    "Couldn¡¯t be, that woman looked insane, what she said can¡¯t be taken seriously, right?"


    ...

 Chapter 708 - 713: Frenzy_1

    Chapter 708: Chapter 713: Frenzy_1They say three women make a drama, and right now the hall is seated with over thirty women, the scene can only be described as noisy.


    "Ladies and Misses, my sworn sister is already married, and she and her husband live in harmony, very much in love. Please don¡¯t spread false rumors and hurt my sister¡¯s family," Bai Yifan said sincerely.


    He had always had people watching this place, but he didn¡¯t expect to be a step too late.


    Chen Yiling chimed in, "I know Duo¡¯er very well, she¡¯s devoted to one person for life. Once she decides on someone, she won¡¯t change."


    So Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s life was bound to Tan Zhenghong, unalterably so.


    None of them here really believed their words. Who can¡¯t speak with empty assurances?


    After all, the matters between men and women are impenetrable; might as well believe they could be true.


    "I swear, if I have any improper thoughts about Brother Bai San, may I be struck by lightning and die without a complete corpse," Qiao Duo¡¯er said coolly.


    At this, the whispering crowd fell silent. With the New Year approaching, all deities would come down to accept offerings, and taking such an oath at this time would mean she is truly guiltless.


    In this light, it looks like Li Mu¡¯er bit like a mad dog needlessly.


    "To deliberately ruin someone¡¯s reputation, how malicious!"


    A woman¡¯s reputation is more important than her life. Without it, one faces slander at every turn, which wouldn¡¯t stop until it drives one to death.


    "Li Mu¡¯er was just now cursing the old madam like that. I think she must be mad. Let¡¯s continue watching the drama," said a woman, laughing it off and seemingly putting an end to the matter.


    "I think she¡¯s run into something unclean. She needs to see a witch doctor," another suggested.


    "Don¡¯t spout nonsense. Today is the old madam¡¯s birthday. With her here, there won¡¯t be anything unclean!"


    "Then it must be her daughter who¡¯s got a screw loose. What a pity, such a tender young face," another lamented.


    The old madam ordered, "Yi Fan, go take a look."


    What was supposed to be a pleasant birthday had been spoiled by that mother and daughter duo, and she was very angry, not wanting to see them at all.


    Bai Yifan hid his bitterness and quietly left; what more could he say when Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart was so determined?


    From now on, he would just be her Brother Bai San.


    Seeing the matter resolved, the opera troupe resumed their performance.


    They were paid by performance, so the more they sang, the more tips they received, which meant they had to work even harder to draw the audience¡¯s attention back. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As such, they brought out their best opera piece ahead of schedule.


    Chen Yiling leaned over and asked, "What was added to the tea?"


    "It can make a person irritable and increase their strength significantly, but the drug is very harmful to the body," explained Qiao Duo¡¯er; it was akin to the stimulants of the future.


    However, its effects were more pronounced, and of course, the side effects were greater. It would require a good period of recovery.


    Chen Yiling understood. No wonder Li Mu¡¯er cursed so wildly and pushed her stepmother to the ground¡ªit was her own doing!


    Luckily, Qiao Duo¡¯er was alert, or they would have been the ones embarrassed.


    In the guest room, Lady Li lay on the bed groaning nonstop.


    "I don¡¯t know what that damn girl did, but she managed to fracture my bones with a single push. Old Master, you have to stand up for me. Even though I¡¯m a stepmother, I truly regard her as my own daughter!"


    Lady Li felt extremely wronged; no wonder they say being a stepmother is hard.


    She offered her heartfelt concern, but what was the result?


    The girl had pushed her, and now her bones were broken.


    Li Zhengtian frowned and asked, "What exactly happened?"

 Chapter 709 - 714 - What Are You Thinking?_1

    Chapter 709: Chapter 714 - What Are You Thinking?_1Lady Li contemplated for a moment before recounting the events.


    "I don¡¯t know what happened, but during the play, she seemed very angry. I told her to go rest, but she refused, so I didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it."


    "Later, she suddenly stood up and started cursing at people. When I went to stop her, she pushed me down, and she even cursed at Old Lady Bai. The things she said... I was too embarrassed to listen."


    "Sir, you have to find a way to suppress this matter, otherwise, we¡¯ll be completely disgraced!"


    Li Zhengtian, who valued his reputation above all else, had his face turn ashen when he learned about his daughter¡¯s outrageous behavior.


    "You rest well, I will go out and take a look."


    Having said that, Li Zhengtian strode out sternly.


    His first thought was that Li Mu¡¯er had been set up by someone, and he was determined to expose the person behind the scenes!


    Once the door closed, Lady Li¡¯s face twisted into a scornful smile.


    She knew the whole story, but if she told Li Zhengtian, he wouldn¡¯t believe her and might even think she was deliberately slandering her stepdaughter.


    So the best approach was to let him see the evidence with his own eyes; seeing is believing, after all.


    "Li Hua, report back to me immediately with any news," said Lady Li, her eyes narrowing.


    She wanted to know how Li Mu¡¯er had dug her own grave.


    If not, wouldn¡¯t her broken arm be in vain?


    Li Hua nodded: "Madam, rest assured, I¡¯ll go right away."


    In the guest room, Li Mu¡¯er had fallen into a deep sleep after drinking the medicine and woke up only two hours later.


    She blinked slowly, her memory gradually coming back into place, and with it, anxiety and anger surged in her heart.


    She must have noticed something was off with the tea and then subtly switched it with hers.


    Without Bai Yifan, what was the point of her living?


    But before that, she had to kill Qiao Duo¡¯er as a scapegoat! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er suddenly sat up, put on her shoes, and dashed out the door, looking as if she was ready to fight to the death.


    Li Zhengtian asked in annoyance, "Stop right there! What craziness are you up to now that you¡¯ve just woken up?"


    "It must be Qiao Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m going to seek revenge on her!"


    Li Mu¡¯er said with her eyes red, believing that everything she was facing was thanks to Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    "Stand still! Do you think nobody knows about the ¡¯good¡¯ deeds you¡¯ve done?" Li Zhengtian said in a stern voice.


    He always held immense affection for this daughter, who was naive and cute, and because she was the only daughter of his first wife, he had always spoiled her.


    But he never expected her real nature could only be described as malicious.


    Li Mu¡¯er, enraged, said, "Father, am I not your daughter? I¡¯ve been bullied like this, yet you actually won¡¯t help me!"


    If it had been in the past, her father would certainly have sought revenge for her.


    Did he also think that her reputation was completely ruined, that she had no value anymore?


    Hmph, so it turns out she was just like any other family¡¯s daughter¡ªused to trade for benefits!


    "You colluded with the mountain bandits, planned harm against the Qiao Clan, and even poisoned the golden sore medicine, almost killing members of the Qiao Clan and the guard. And today, you¡¯re up to mischief again. Do you really think everyone is a fool?"


    Li Zhengtian said with disappointment. Who could tell him why Li Mu¡¯er had become like this?


    Why would she do such malevolent things!


    "It was that woman who framed me; I didn¡¯t do anything!"


    Li Mu¡¯er denied flatly without any hesitation.


    Li Zhengtian glared at Li Mu¡¯er and said in a cold voice, "Make sure she is well watched. If she takes even one step out of this room, you will go to your deaths with her!"


    This daughter was truly... beyond help!


    But she was the only blood of Ya Xian left behind. Even if she was beyond help, he still had to try to save her.


    Even if it wasn¡¯t for the sake of Li Mu¡¯er, he still had to consider the reputation of the Li Family.


    He didn¡¯t want to be pointed at wherever he went in the future.

 Chapter 710 - 715: Give You Ten Thousand Taels_1

    Chapter 710: Chapter 715: Give You Ten Thousand Taels_1Li Zhengtian had just left when he had someone lock the door behind him.


    "Let me out! How dare you do this to me? Are you really my father? How can you do this to my mother?"


    Li Mu¡¯er beat against the door, bellowing with all her might.


    "The worst thing I did to your mother was raising you to be this way!" Li Zhengtian¡¯s tone was fierce.


    Ya Xian was gentle and virtuous, kind and lovely, and every move she made was filled with nobility.


    Yet this daughter of his was like a crude country bumpkin, without a trace of a young lady¡¯s demeanor.


    It was he who should be questioning whether Li Mu¡¯er was really his daughter!


    "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. You¡¯ve married so many vixens, when do you ever remember my mother? You¡¯d be happy to see me dead just to please those women!"


    The cursing continued, and Li Zhengtian rubbed his temples in frustration.


    Over the years, many women had indeed been added to his household, but his feelings for Ya Xian had never changed.


    With a sigh, Li Zhengtian hurriedly left this place of conflict.


    Otherwise, this rebellious girl would be the death of him sooner or later!


    Soon enough, a maid came to report, "Master, the play is over. I¡¯ve asked Qiao Duo¡¯er to wait in the guest room."


    "Lead the way," Li Zhengtian waved his hand.


    Guest room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was growing impatient from waiting, and just as she was about to leave, the door opened.


    "Mrs. Tan, please forgive my daughter in light of her ignorance, just this once," Li Zhengtian said, his face a mask of forced smiles.


    To express his apology, he personally offered a cup of fragrant tea.


    Today, Qiao Duo¡¯er had almost been trapped by tea, to drink tea offered by Li Zhengtian now would indeed be insanity.


    However, for Li Zhengtian to lower himself this much for his daughter was truly rare.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the teacup and placed it aside, saying insincerely with a forced smile, "Your beloved merely scolded me a few words, I¡¯ve suffered no loss, I wasn¡¯t upset to begin with."


    "Madam is magnanimous. But I was referring to the matter of the drugging," Li Zhengtian said.


    He glanced around to ensure no one was present before continuing.


    Now everyone was saying his daughter was crude and unrefined; he had to resolve this situation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, puzzled, asked, "Hmm?"


    "As long as you admit it was your jealousy of my daughter that led you to drug her tea, I can give you ten thousand taels of silver," Li Zhengtian said, cutting to the chase and sparing Qiao Duo from any further pretense.


    His recent apologies and tea offerings were just a prelude to this proposition.


    "Jealous of Li Mu¡¯er? Jealous because she is uglier than me or because she is more foolish than me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also dropped the pleasantries. She wasn¡¯t foolish; she knew all too well what admitting to this would entail.


    The Li Family might even turn the tables on her, throwing her into jail.


    Why would she want to absolve Li Mu¡¯er of blame? S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Forget about ten thousand taels; she¡¯d be able to earn that money back sooner or later!


    Li Zhengtian, displeased, said, "Don¡¯t be ungrateful when given face."


    "I already have a face of my own, I don¡¯t need others to give me one. You¡¯d better spend more time teaching your own daughter properly, to avoid such shameful incidents in the future," Qiao Duo retorted immediately, her anger rising steadily.


    She once felt moved by Li Zhengtian¡¯s display of paternal affection, but it turned out to be a waste of emotion.


    "Do you realize you would never earn ten thousand taels in your lifetime?" Li Zhengtian reminded her¡ªit was no small sum.


    Ten thousand taels could support a peasant family for several generations. Qiao Duo¡¯er should have immediately accepted if she knew what was good for her.


    "So you mean to say I should investigate why you are suddenly being so generous?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, quickly catching the crux of Lord Li¡¯s words.

 Chapter 711 - 716: Mocking in a Different Way_1

    Chapter 711: Chapter 716: Mocking in a Different Way_1If she remembered correctly, Li Zhengtian was simply an official of the Fifth Rank, with an annual salary of Five Hundred Taels.


    Now, he was casually offering ten thousand taels. Could it be said he wasn¡¯t corrupt?


    She certainly didn¡¯t believe it!


    Alas, it looked like Lord Yu¡¯s path to cleanse corruption was still a long way off.


    Li Zhengtian clenched his teeth. Which official didn¡¯t have some extra income? Otherwise, how could he afford to support a family on that meager salary alone?


    He had never expected that in sincerely negotiating terms with Qiao Duo¡¯er, he would instead be met with a counter-attack.


    But before he could lose his temper, the door was pushed open.


    Entering were Chen Yiling and Bai Yifan. Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er was unharmed, both let out a sigh of relief.


    "Duo¡¯er, we¡¯ve finally found you. What are you doing here?" Chen Yiling chided.


    She had only gone to the restroom for a bit and came back to find Duo¡¯er missing, nearly scaring her to death.


    "Lord Li said that as long as I admitted I was jealous of Miss Li and deliberately drugged her to humiliate her, he would give me ten thousand taels,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blurted out Lord Li¡¯s proposition straightforwardly.


    The corner of Li Zhengtian¡¯s mouth twitched. Was this woman stupid?


    Obviously, Qiao Duo¡¯er was not stupid at all; she was simply setting a trap for Li Zhengtian.


    "Miss Li wanted to harm Duo¡¯er, but she accidentally dropped a stone on her own foot and drank the poisoned tea. If Lord Li has any objections, we could invite Lord Yu to judge the case,"


    Chen Yiling said with a stern face, her expression reminiscent of Lord Qin when he was angry.


    Now, Lord Yu was visiting one of his students¡¯ homes, but he would surely be willing to administer justice.


    She had also come to understand something else¡ªthat she finally knew why Li Mu¡¯er had turned out the way she had.


    With such a father who couldn¡¯t distinguish right from wrong, it would be impossible not to go astray!


    Lord Li, bending his back, said, "This is a misunderstanding, I didn¡¯t mean that. My original intent was to apologize to Mrs. Tan."


    "Then it¡¯s I who misunderstood. It¡¯s a pity my ten thousand taels have gone to waste, that¡¯s an amount I could earn only over several lifetimes,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said, full of regret¡ªshe was indeed in need of silver now.


    She had several shops ready to open, each needing capital for start-up costs.


    But looking at her eyes, brimming with laughter, one could tell that Qiao Duo¡¯er was mocking Lord Li in a different way.


    Lord Li¡¯s face was so figuratively slapped that it throbbed, leaving him no choice but to offer a forced smile repeatedly.


    Chen Yiling, disdaining to look at that face wrinkled like a chrysanthemum, took Duo¡¯er and left.


    "Don¡¯t bother with him; the whole family is abnormal,"


    Chen Yiling said with contempt as they walked.


    Although Li Mu¡¯er had also committed evil, at least she had a beautiful face that did not disgust people.


    But the older Li Zhengtian became, the more lecherous he seemed, and sharing a room with him made her feel like skipping dinner.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "When Lord Yu arrives, don¡¯t you dare stop me."


    Those shops were approved by Lord Yu himself; logically, she and Tan Zhenghong should invite Lord Yu for a meal to express gratitude.


    But since Lord Yu had been busy before the new year, Chen Yiling took it upon herself to arrange a meeting after the holiday.


    "I promise not to stop you, I might even push you forward,"


    Chen Yiling said, patting her chest. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Doing good and punishing evil was a meritorious deed in itself, as if blessing the unborn child.


    After they exchanged a knowing smile, they both knew how to stand up for themselves, insisting on reclaiming what others owed them.


    In the room, the two men remained. Li Zhengtian could only turn to Bai Yifan for help.


    "Yifan, for Ya Xian¡¯s sake, could you please persuade your sworn sister? If she thinks ten thousand taels is too little, I¡¯ll give fifty thousand!"


    This was the best way to salvage Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s reputation.


    And it wasn¡¯t bad for Qiao Duo¡¯er either; with that silver, she could find a new place to live and who would know of these sordid affairs?

 Chapter 712 - 717 Old Lady Defending Her Own_1

    Chapter 712: Chapter 717 Old Lady Defending Her Own_1Li Mu¡¯er was different, with his official position rooted here, he couldn¡¯t go anywhere.


    Bai Yifan said indifferently, "Even the strongest bond can be exhausted one day. When I sent Mu¡¯er back home, I told you what she had done. You didn¡¯t take it seriously. Now, you¡¯re asking me for help, what can I do?"


    He knew Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s character well; there was simply no room for negotiation in this matter.


    Moreover, Li Zhengtian¡¯s behavior was too despicable, he couldn¡¯t stand it.


    "Yi Fan..." Li Zhengtian was still unwilling to give up.


    When Ya Xian died, she entrusted Mu¡¯er to Bai Yifan; all these years, Bai Yifan had treated Mu¡¯er as his own sister.


    Why wouldn¡¯t it work this time?


    Poor him, he hadn¡¯t realized that once affection died, it disappeared.


    Bai Yifan, with a clear conscience, walked to the door then turned around again.


    "And don¡¯t think about slinging mud at Duo¡¯er. If I find out, you will regret it for a lifetime."


    Last time he wronged Duo¡¯er, this time there was no way he would let her suffer again.


    Otherwise, what right did he have to be her Brother Bai San?


    Li Zhengtian slapped the table in anger, but what else could he do besides stewing in his frustration?


    The reputation of the Li Family had been thoroughly tarnished, and the future marriage prospects for Li Mu¡¯er were surely bleak.


    No, he would not allow it!


    Li Zhengtian scoffed, if they did not accept his toast, they would drink a forfeit. It was their own fault if they don¡¯t take his kindness graciously!


    Qiao Duo and Chen Yiling had arrived at the main courtyard; their little act would not escape the discerning eyes of the elderly madam. It was better to confess their faults proactively.


    But the maid told them that the elderly madam had already retired for the night.


    Chen Yiling asked anxiously, "Do you think the elderly madam might be angry with us?"


    She truly respected the elderly madam and regarded her as her own elder. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If this commotion had angered the elderly madam, she would be full of regret!


    "We were too impulsive. With so many guests present, the madam must have felt we had lost face."


    Qiao Duo also felt guilty. This matter had coincided with the old lady¡¯s birthday, which was bound to be considered an ill omen.


    If it caused any misfortune, she would be the main culprit.


    When Bai Yifan arrived, he saw both women frowning and instantly understood the situation.


    Both were married, one almost a mother, and yet they were still so endearing.


    But they were really overthinking; his grandmother was no ordinary person.


    "Just now, Grandma was praising how well you two handled it. She is just getting older and doesn¡¯t have the energy she used to, so she¡¯s tired now."


    Bai Yifan reassured them.


    But Chen Yiling didn¡¯t believe him, "You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?"


    "Why would I lie to you? Grandma is always protective of her own. She sees you two as family; if you¡¯re wronged, she won¡¯t stand for it."


    Bai Yifan said with a smile, swearing that he was telling the absolute truth.


    Anyone who had eaten her grandmother¡¯s snow fungus soup, or promised to do so together, was considered family.


    This finally reassured Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo.


    "It¡¯s getting late. I¡¯ll arrange guest rooms for you two, is it alright if you leave first thing tomorrow morning?"


    Chen Yiling pouted, "No, I¡¯m particular about my bed."


    In reality, she was worried about what Tan Zhenghong might think.


    It would be bad if their visit caused a rift between Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband.


    From her observations, men could be very petty when it came to matters of the heart.


    Bai Yifan didn¡¯t insist, "Then don¡¯t delay, start your journey back. I will send additional men to protect you."


    His intent was simple; he hoped they would return home safely.

 Chapter 713 - 718: Robbery?_1

    Chapter 713: Chapter 718: Robbery?_1Bai Yifan personally escorted them onto the carriage. The moment he heard Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s oath today, something changed within him, shifting from sadness and dejection to the calm acceptance he now felt.


    "Big sister-in-law, fourth sister, be careful on the road," Bai Yifan waved.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "After the new year, Ling¡¯er and I will come back to beg forgiveness from the old Madam."


    Regardless of whether the old Madam was angry or not, he had to say sorry.


    As the carriage slowly moved forward, Bai Yifan could only feel a part of his heart becoming hollow.


    However, at the same time, he also felt much more relaxed.


    It wasn¡¯t long after they left the town that the sky had already darkened.


    "It¡¯s all Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s fault; if it weren¡¯t for her needless meddling, we would have been home by now," Chen Yiling complained.


    Pregnant women get tired easily, and now all she wanted was to hurry home and lie down in bed. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but retort sarcastically, "I really don¡¯t understand what she was thinking, why would she hate me? I¡¯m already married; I¡¯m not going to snatch her Brother Bai."


    Opposing her was such a waste of time!


    With that energy, it would be better to warm up Bai Yifan¡¯s heart. Even if it was made of stone, it could be heated.


    "Bai Yifan only sees her as a sister. The old Madam won¡¯t force Bai Yifan for her sake, and no one else has a say, so of course she needs to find an outlet for her frustration, and you just happened to walk right into it, so it¡¯s your bad luck," Chen Yiling analyzed, but also felt that the logic was far-fetched.


    However, looking at Lord Li¡¯s actions, one could understand, "As the Beam-raises, so the eaves are slanted."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "I¡¯m completely innocent!"


    Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and the coachman called out loudly, "Who are you, and why are you blocking our way?"


    The man in black didn¡¯t speak, simply striking an aggressive pose.


    The coachman said anxiously, "If it¡¯s money you want, I can give you the silver, please just let us go."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had excellent eyesight. Even though it was getting dark, she could see everything clearly.


    It was obvious that these people weren¡¯t here for money.


    That meant... they had likely been too high-profile recently and attracted some enemies.


    "Ling¡¯er, stay inside the carriage. No matter what happens, don¡¯t go out, and don¡¯t look outside. If you get scared, it¡¯s not good for the baby."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er firmly instructed, but she wouldn¡¯t be worried at all if Ling¡¯er weren¡¯t pregnant.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "You be careful too."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the dagger from her bosom, hopped out of the carriage, and joined the fray.


    These assailants¡¯ martial arts were not strong; Qiao Duo¡¯er guessed they might be survivors from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    If that was the case, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village should have a temporary hideout, and if she could capture them, they could be forced to divulge its location.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, refraining from delivering fatal blows.


    These people¡¯s lives were still valuable, better to keep them alive than to be ambushed every other day.


    While these attackers couldn¡¯t harm her, it was a different story for Lord Qin and Chen Yiling.


    There were sixteen men in black in total, enough for Qiao Duo¡¯er and the five Protectors sent by Bai Yifan to handle.


    Especially with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s formidable fighting capabilities, it didn¡¯t take long for her to get the upper hand against the attackers.


    "These few are still alive. Take them back and let your young master save them. At the same time, find out who they are," Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered.


    If it weren¡¯t for considering Chen Yiling, who couldn¡¯t stand such sights, she really wanted to take these people back herself.


    The Protectors bowed and carried the unconscious attackers back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er on her own was more formidable than all of them put together, they didn¡¯t need to protect her, in fact, they would only hold her back.


    Ah, and to think they call themselves grown men!

 Chapter 714 - 719: Peaceful Life_1

    Chapter 714: Chapter 719: Peaceful Life_1Before getting into the carriage, Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully wiped the bloodstains from her hands and face with a handkerchief, so as not to frighten anyone.


    However, Chen Yiling was much stronger than she had expected.


    She had been peering over the bed, but it was too dark outside to see anything clearly, so she wasn¡¯t scared at all.


    If it had been broad daylight, she probably would have felt nauseous enough to vomit.


    "Did they all get taken care of?" Chen Yiling asked excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "They were just a bunch of minions. If the six of us couldn¡¯t handle them, we¡¯d be a laughingstock." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Duo¡¯er, you were so amazing just now. If I ever have a son, I¡¯ll have him learn martial arts from you," Chen Yiling said, narrowing her eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "No problem!"


    She felt that it was essential for both boys and girls to learn martial arts and literacy.


    If you have combat power, you won¡¯t be bullied anywhere, and literacy is for understanding propriety and righteousness. Neither can be lacking.


    After returning home, Chen Yiling was so exhausted she couldn¡¯t hold up any longer and immediately went to rest in her room.


    But no matter how tired her body was, she felt exhilarated at heart.


    Tan Zhenghong then pulled his wife aside and looked her over several times. Qiao Duo¡¯er was careful, but her hem still had blood on it, and Tan Zhenghong saw it.


    Only after confirming that Qiao Duo¡¯er was unharmed did Tan Zhenghong settle down.


    "It¡¯s all my fault, I should have gone with you," Tan Zhenghong said reproachfully.


    Or he could have gone to the Bai Family in the afternoon to fetch her; that way her hands wouldn¡¯t have blood on them.


    "Don¡¯t worry, the person who can hurt me hasn¡¯t been born yet!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully washed her hands, feeling that the occasional fight was very beneficial for physical and mental health.


    She felt refreshed at this moment, having forgotten all about the annoying incidents at the Bai Family.


    Tan Zhenghong said unhappily, "It¡¯s different. You are my wife. Letting you face danger means I¡¯m not capable."


    "So many families have had their homes damaged. If you don¡¯t help them fix it, what will they do for the New Year? I could only temporarily lend you to them. Once this busy period is over, I¡¯ll take you back to be my bodyguard. If such a situation occurs again, I¡¯ll punish you by making you sleep outside."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, not expecting him to be so thoughtful.


    "Deal. The bathwater and clothes are ready. Go and bathe quickly. I¡¯ll go prepare dinner."


    Tan Zhenghong busied himself in the kitchen again, guessing that both his wife and Chen Yiling must be very hungry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly slipped into the bathroom, and by the time she came out, Tan Zhenghong had already prepared the meal.


    There were three dishes and one soup, just enough for two.


    After eating their fill, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay down on the sofa without caring for her image, patting her round belly.


    Others might have exotic delicacies, but they couldn¡¯t compare to the plain sweet potato and rice from home.


    In the past, Qiao Duo had envied princesses and queens, but now she was only grateful to whatever gods had granted her a peaceful life through her transmigration.


    In the evening, Bai Yifan¡¯s people came over, having already interrogated the identities of the group in black.


    They were sent by the Li Zhengtian Sect, intending to kill Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "His calculation wasn¡¯t bad."


    Not only would this save Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s reputation, but it would also be a case of dead men tell no tales, which is much more cost-effective than giving her ten thousand taels of silver.


    And with no worries about her fighting back, what a good deal, right?


    Qin Longyun said with a grim face, "Let it go for this year. We¡¯ll deal with him properly next year."


    How dare they make a move on his sworn sister in his territory and almost harm his wife? Did they really think she was a dead person?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thoroughly agreed, she had left a survivor, and the rest was up to Qin Longyun.

 Chapter 715 - 720 New Year’s Eve Dinner_1

    Chapter 715: Chapter 720 New Year¡¯s Eve Dinner_1The next day was New Year¡¯s Eve, and everyone was bustling about from the early morning, even Lord Qin rolled up his sleeves and helped to sweep and clean the courtyard.


    Although he often visited, Lord Qin had only stayed in the front yard and the residence.


    It was his first time venturing into the backyard, only then realizing just how expansive Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s family home was, it must have been at least seven or eight acres.


    One day when he grew tired of the deceit required in officialdom, he too would buy a residence and live a life like Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s, sparing his wife the envy she felt towards others.


    Fortunately, Tan Zhenghong and Duo¡¯er were diligent workers; despite the yard being full of poultry and livestock, it was very clean and not at all difficult to tidy up.


    "Brother Qin, do you want to go back and rest for a bit?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked timidly, seeing the County Magistrate sweeping for the first time.


    Qin Longyun shook his head, "It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m used to doing these kinds of chores."


    Although times have changed, he still needed to occasionally experience peasant life to remind himself of his original intentions upon entering office.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, thinking to himself that if everyone were like Lord Qin, how could there possibly be any poor people in this world?


    Meanwhile, three women were busy posting Spring Festival couplets and paper-cut window decorations.


    "Mrs. Tan, do you think the paper-cutting I¡¯ve done is acceptable?"


    ChunTao was skilled with her hands; the paper-cuts she crafted were lifelike and particularly attractive.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up, "Brilliant, hurry up and stick them up!"


    Chen Yiling, who was pregnant, could only take charge of giving orders, making sure that Duo¡¯er and ChunTao didn¡¯t put them up crookedly.


    Once they finished, the festive air was absolutely intoxicating, especially for Qiao Duo¡¯er, as this was her first time experiencing such a lively Spring Festival.


    She remembered that the previous New Year¡¯s, she had cooked a bowl of dumplings, and after eating, she went to sleep beneath the glow of countless households¡¯ lanterns.


    Everyone was busy all day long.


    It wasn¡¯t until the evening that members of Hu¡¯s Clan finally had time to come over with two young girls.


    She handed Duo¡¯er a red envelope, which Duo¡¯er refused to accept regardless of the amount.


    Having no other option, she decided to let the two girls bring festival gifts to her from then on.


    Usually, only the Yue Family needed to give festival gifts, along with foster parents.


    As far as Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughters were concerned, Qiao Duo¡¯er was like their foster parent.


    A pig¡¯s hind leg, six carp, two jars of Daughter¡¯s Red wine, two bolts of fine cloth, two pounds of brown sugar, two sets of ready-made clothes¡ªa total of six kinds of gifts, which in a peasant household was considered extremely respectable.


    As New Year gifts must be accepted, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave red envelopes to the two young girls.


    Now with Hu¡¯s Clan running the pork shop entirely, who could clearly say who was helping whom?


    Before they could see Hu¡¯s Clan out, Erhu and Chao Lian came over bearing gifts as well. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They owed their smooth marriage to the help of Tan Zhenghong and Duo¡¯er, making this a sort of thank-you gift.


    Seeing the pile of gifts that resembled a small hill, Chen Yiling suggested, "Why don¡¯t we all just have the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner here together? It¡¯s more festive with more people."


    Hu¡¯s Clan was renting a small courtyard from others and at Erhu¡¯s House, it was just the couple. Normally this was fine, but it felt too quiet on New Year¡¯s, so they gladly accepted the invitation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had planned a hot pot dinner for New Year¡¯s Eve, so classical favorites like fish cakes, shrimp paste, beef, and lamb were indispensable.


    She had already frozen the meats outside, so Tan Zhenghong brought them back to be shaved into rolls with a plane.


    Fish and shrimp were handed over to Lord Qin to be minced, then he would whisk the egg whites with a mixer, combine the minced fish and shrimp with the egg whites, and continue to beat with the mixer until sticky.


    As one had to stir consistently in one direction, it was quite a physical task.


    However, Lord Qin found it novel and worked hard at it enthusiastically.


    Erhu was not idle either as he had to chop dumpling fillings and roll out dumpling wrappers; a reunion dinner without dumplings just didn¡¯t seem complete.


    Others were either picking and washing vegetables or making dumplings, never having a moment¡¯s rest.

 Chapter 716 - 721 Surprise_1

    Chapter 716: Chapter 721 Surprise_1Hands-on time arrived, and everyone gathered around the table.


    The chicken soup in the pot was stewed to a creamy white, tempting everyone¡¯s appetite.


    But since this was their first time having it, they seemed a little lost.


    "Just add whatever you want to the pot, cook it until it¡¯s ready, but be careful not to scald yourself,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er demonstrated first, picking up a beef roll and putting it into the pot.


    Everyone followed suit and quickly got the hang of it.


    The people here had a custom: the longer the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner lasted, the better.


    The fire kept burning, there was no worry about the food getting cold, so they ate at a leisurely pace for more than an hour, each person fully satisfied.


    For the majority among them, this year held significant meaning¡ªit was a turning point in their lives.


    Before this year, life was bleak; after this year, there was only happiness and joy.


    After the meal, women from Hu¡¯s Clan and Chao Lian helped scrub the pots and wash the dishes before leaving.


    On the first day of the New Year, Qiao Duo¡¯er rose particularly early.


    On this day, one had to wait until everyone in the family was up before opening the door, and whoever opened the door last would be the laughingstock of the village for a year.


    All this seemed childish to Qiao Duo, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do¡ªshe did it for a festive touch.


    Just as she got dressed, Tan Zhenghong came over to her.


    "Here¡¯s your New Year¡¯s gift, see if it¡¯s what you imagined."


    Tan Zhenghong slipped the diamond ring onto Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ring finger; it fit just right.


    The only regret was that he hadn¡¯t found the platinum Qiao Duo¡¯er mentioned, so he had to use silver instead.


    As for the diamond, he bought it from a porcelain master, and after the jade shop owner polished it, he set it into the ring.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully chided, "It¡¯s roughly what I had in mind, I was just speaking off the cuff."


    She had mentioned that modern people have diamond rings for marriage because diamonds have a stable structure, symbolizing eternal love.


    Tan Zhenghong asked her what a diamond ring was, and so she described one.


    She also incidentally lamented how, even in ancient times, there were diamonds, but they were used by porcelain masters to cut porcelain, which she considered a terrible waste.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that despite being an old married couple, he would still surprise her with such a grand gesture.


    The diamond ring might be roughly made, but it was the thought that counted!


    Tan Zhenghong held out his left hand, "I have one too. This way, from now on, you¡¯ll always be mine."


    However, he thought men shouldn¡¯t be too flashy, so he didn¡¯t include a diamond, just a plain ring.


    "Oh, please! Hurry up and set off the firecrackers at the door!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was in high spirits, with the corners of her mouth curling up as she spoke.


    Tan Zhenghong agreed cheerfully and went to set off the firecrackers at the door.


    Hehe, his wife hadn¡¯t disagreed just now!


    Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, their prosperous new year began.


    For breakfast, ChunTao made sweet wine Tangyuan, signifying a life full and sweet.


    After breakfast, people started visiting each other to exchange New Year¡¯s greetings, while children went from house to house asking for sweets and roasted nuts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was generous; when children came by, she gave out sweets and roasted nuts she had prepared early that morning. The children were also modest, taking just one or two before moving on to the next house.


    Even so, by making their rounds through the village, their haul wasn¡¯t small.


    "I¡¯ve noticed Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong¡¯s kids get along pretty well; I reckon it won¡¯t be long for their parents¡¯ matters to be settled," Chen Yiling whispered to Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "I think so too." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She saw that Aunt Huang intended to sell two acres of land in spring, to get started on arranging the two people¡¯s affairs.


    That way, Hu¡¯s Clan would have someone to rely on, and Huang Zhong would have someone to take care of him in his later years.

 Chapter 717 - 722 Insider_1

    Chapter 717: Chapter 722 Insider_1Ancient Chinese New Year also had many customs, such as welcoming the Jade Emperor and worshiping the God of Wealth, and so on.


    All of these were taken care of by Tan Zhenghong, and Qiao Duo¡¯er just needed to be in charge of enjoying herself.


    As long as she kept coming up with new ways to feed Chen Yiling until she was full, her duty would be done.


    It was only the fourth day of the first lunar month when Lord Qin went to the Government Office. Originally, the Yin Family should have been executed in the last month, but due to the New Year taboo against taking lives, the execution was postponed for a few days.


    However, those days were not wasted, as Yin Zheng disclosed another important person and provided evidence.


    But that person had such a significant background, it was tied to the Crown Prince, and if not handled properly, it could shake the very foundations of the state.


    Yu Zheng had no choice but to invite him over to discuss strategies.


    On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Embroidery Room started up again, and, as the boss, Qiao Duo¡¯er could no longer stay cooped up at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived at the Embroidery Room in the afternoon when work started, and the Embroidery Ladies greeted her with New Year wishes.


    Thanks to Duo¡¯er, they had experienced the most prosperous New Year of their lives.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded to each one, without showing any trace of pretentiousness.


    After a while, Fat Aunt spoke up loudly, "Let¡¯s all quiet down, Duo¡¯er must have something to say to everyone."


    "Actually, it¡¯s nothing major, just to tell you that our shop is about to open for business, and I hope everyone will take every embroidery piece seriously. If your embroidery work is well-received, I¡¯ll have a reason to raise your salaries," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    The New Year had just passed, and everyone surely hadn¡¯t picked up their pace yet, so she needed to offer the Embroidery Ladies some reassurance.


    "Does that mean our salaries are going up?" Qin Clan¡¯s lady asked excitedly.


    "You¡¯re not correct; the better the quality of our embroidery, the higher the salary will be."


    "Our Embroidery Room will also have its own special store, so we cannot afford to be sloppy; otherwise, we¡¯ll be smashing our own signboard."


    "You¡¯re right, our embroidery pieces need to sell, so that Duo¡¯er can afford to pay us."


    The reaction from everyone was good, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was relieved.


    She discussed with Fat Aunt the need to increase the silk product ratio, as the store in Mansion City wouldn¡¯t be able to cope otherwise.


    By this time, the Embroidery Ladies had entirely forgotten about just having celebrated the New Year.


    After talking about these two matters, Qiao Duo¡¯er said her goodbyes. She had just stepped out the door when Ruo Lan came chasing after her.


    "What is it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped and asked.


    "Mrs. Tan, I like quiet, and I want a private room," Ruo Lan said directly.


    Now her morning sickness was getting stronger, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to hide it much longer if there were others in the same room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied indifferently, "The Embroidery Room is only so big, where do you think there¡¯s space for a private room?"


    She couldn¡¯t possibly offer her the privy, after all.


    Seeing Ruo Lan, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered something¡ªthat was why Ruo Lan was chased out of the Niu Family.


    During this time, Chen Yiling had the news reported back from people she had stationed in Mansion City.


    The outcome was that Ruo Lan did not take a leave of her own accord but was driven out for offending the mistress of the house.


    Coincidentally, the family Ruo Lan had been with was Wang Yun¡¯er¡¯s marital home, which was the Niu Family that had moved to Mansion City just last year.


    And this Niu Family was not in the west of the city but rather to the north.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the mistaken geographical location, this information could have been obtained before the New Year.


    The inside story dug up by the spy was that Ruo Lan broke valuable tea sets, and in a fit of rage, Lady Niu turned her away.


    But Chen Yiling thought this reason was not justified.


    If a Maid made a mistake, the punishment might involve deducting salary or selling her; there was no way they would give her a Servitude Contract and let her go back.


    If that were the case, wouldn¡¯t the master¡¯s family lose both money and manpower?


    The only possibility Chen Yiling could think of was that Ruo Lan had done something dishonorable for the master¡¯s family, and furthermore, had some leverage over her. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 718 - 723: Brief Separation_1

    Chapter 718: Chapter 723: Brief Separation_1Another possibility was that Ruo Lan hadn¡¯t made a mistake at all but had climbed into bed because a male host secretly helped her, allowing her to leave unscathed.


    Whichever it was, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s impression of Ruo Lan had plummeted to an all-time low.


    Just thinking about how they had acted pitiful in front of her made her feel disgusted.


    "Is it possible for Chao Lian to move out for a while?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed out of irritation¡ªeveryone in the Embroidery Room knew that Chao Lian was the person she relied on the most. How could she let Chao Lian move out?


    Ruo Lan might seem smart, but it was only a superficial cunningness; she became clueless at critical moments.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mocking smile, Ruo Lan questioned, "You¡¯re the owner of the Embroidery Room, how can you not consider the Embroidery Room¡¯s interests?"


    "I am the owner of the Embroidery Room, not the owner¡¯s wife," Qiao Duo¡¯er coolly corrected Ruo Lan¡¯s mistake.


    Ruo Lan bit her lip and said sorrowfully, "Even if you are the owner of the Embroidery Room, you can¡¯t handle things according to your preferences."


    "Why can¡¯t I decide about my own things? I¡¯ll give you one day to think about it. If I let you go, the reason will be that you¡¯re harboring ill intentions. Weigh your options carefully."


    As for why her intentions were considered ill, Ruo Lan should be clearer than anyone else.


    Ruo Lan¡¯s body stiffened, but she quickly returned to normal.


    She had deliberately given the wrong address at the time to prevent people from knowing about her past.


    Her confidence stemmed from the fact that the Niu surname was a prominent one in Mansion City and many families bore that surname.


    Ruo Lan said calmly, "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    "It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve met Yun Mother-in-law from the North City Niu¡¯s Family a few times."


    After saying this, Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer entangled with Ruo Lan. The outcome she most wanted to see was Ruo Lan taking the initiative to resign with Fat Aunt.


    She had no desire to tarnish her reputation over such a despicable person.


    Ruo Lan stood frozen in place, suddenly at a loss.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er knew everything, then all of her plans were ruined!


    She shook her head hard, convincing herself that she couldn¡¯t be that unlucky. When she left the Niu Family, the master had said he would take care of everything afterward, so it was impossible for others to uncover the real truth.


    Still, she needed to clarify things to avoid embarrassing herself.


    Just like that, half of the first month had already passed, and Qiao Duo¡¯er began to prepare for the opening of Duo Meifang. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The location of Duo Meifang was the former Xiang Bao Zhai, and since the previous shop¡¯s decoration style was too garish, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to overhaul it.


    To ensure the renovation¡¯s quality, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to stay in the Government Office to avoid traveling back and forth daily.


    When she spoke about this with Tan Zhenghong in the evening, Tan Zhenghong was immediately dumbfounded.


    With so many family poultry and livestock to feed, he definitely couldn¡¯t leave. Did this mean he wouldn¡¯t see his wife for many days?


    Oh, the agony in his heart.


    By the time he snapped out of it, he was already packing his clothes.


    "Wife, are you really going to abandon me?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with pitiful eyes.


    "I¡¯m just going to oversee for a few days. Once the main direction is set, I¡¯ll come back," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she rubbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head.


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, "I¡¯ll go with you."


    At most, he could ask Erhu to help feed the animals for a few days. He had some leftover wages from before the year-end, which he could use to compensate Erhu.


    "What about the musk deer? We¡¯ve raised them for so long just to harvest the musk. If you don¡¯t watch them closely, the musk will be spoiled," Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously.


    After the spring began, the musk deer would start hurting, and they would dig out their musk glands on their own.


    If not discovered in time, they would cover it with excrement, which would be a dreadful waste.

 Chapter 719 - 724: Twice?_1

    Chapter 719: Chapter 724: Twice?_1Tan Zhenghong nodded hesitantly, finally getting a task from his wife. He had to take it seriously.


    But just the thought of not seeing his wife for many days made him feel unbearably stifled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could not stand it anymore and said, "Twice?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, twice simply wasn¡¯t enough to comfort his wounded little heart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Then I don¡¯t care about you anymore, I¡¯m going to sleep."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately dropped all pretenses, two times it would be, then.


    Otherwise, if his wife got angry, he would end up with none.


    Half an hour later, Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth and said, "Tan Zhenghong, are you doing this on purpose?"


    Tan Zhenghong haughtily snorted. If there was no climax, it could only count as one time, most importantly, he felt he could hold on a bit longer.


    After all, it was only twice in total, he had to make it worth it.


    The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er boarded the carriage under Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reluctant gaze.


    She even wondered if Tan Zhenghong had taken the wrong medicine. It was just a few days apart, did he need to be so melodramatic?


    "Wife, I¡¯ll come to see you whenever I¡¯m free."


    Tan Zhenghong waved his hand, actually wanting to pull Qiao Duo¡¯er back.


    But the thought of his wife commuting back and forth between the town and home every day, he couldn¡¯t bear it.


    "Take good care of yourself at home, and, oh, don¡¯t randomly take any medicine while I¡¯m not there," Qiao Duo¡¯er especially instructed.


    Otherwise, her bun plan would be postponed again.


    Tan Zhenghong obediently nodded. Without Duo¡¯er at home, the medicine wouldn¡¯t be of any use.


    Upon arriving in town, Qiao Duo¡¯er began her busy life. Although she did not have to do the renovation work herself, there were endless trivial matters to attend to.


    But seeing the shop develop as she wanted, no matter how tired she was, it felt worth it.


    What she wanted was a high-end cosmetics store, with a VIP room inside. Customers who reserved the VIP room could enjoy one-on-one service, which included matching skincare products according to different skin types.


    This requirement made the layout and matching of the store more challenging, but for Qiao Duo, her aesthetic level was sufficient to support a storefront.


    On the fifth evening, Tan Zhenghong appeared.


    Having not seen her for a day, he felt as if it had been three autumns, and in a flash, it seemed like it had been more than a decade.


    Ignoring the workers who were still decorating the store, Tan Zhenghong demanded a big hug.


    With her face flushing, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Why have you come?"


    "There was a problem with the bean dregs the mill sent these last two days. I reminded them about it, and came by to see you, afraid you wouldn¡¯t take good care of yourself."


    Concerned, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "What happened with the bean dregs?"


    "It¡¯s nothing much, just that the bean dregs at the bottom were watered down. I told them about it and said if this happens again, we¡¯ll change suppliers," Tan Zhenghong said nonchalantly.


    The mill¡¯s boss initially denied it, but after he dropped that line, the boss was both apologizing profusely and vowing it wouldn¡¯t happen again.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for this, he would have definitely decided to change suppliers for sure.


    Tan Zhenghong then eagerly asked, "Wife, when will you come home?"


    This was his most concerning question.


    It had only been five days, but the shop had already changed significantly. To use his wife¡¯s words, it resonated with an understated opulence.


    He felt this was good enough and that there was no need to watch it every day.


    "We¡¯re finishing early today. I¡¯ll talk to Ling¡¯er and then we can go home. I¡¯ll come back the day after tomorrow."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a definite answer.


    "Alright!" Tan Zhenghong¡¯s smile was radiant. Tonight, he could once again sleep snuggled up with his fragrant, soft wife!


    S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 720 - 725 Beheading_1

    Chapter 720: Chapter 725 Beheading_1Time flew by quickly, and the end of the first month was approaching, lifting the restrictions that came with the New Year.


    With that, the execution of the Yin Family was scheduled.


    On the twenty-eighth day of the first month, Yin Zheng and Yin Yinyue ate their last meal before being put in the prison cart.


    On the way from the prison to the execution ground, Yin Zheng and Yin Yinyue were pelted with vegetable leaves and stones, likely the most wretched they had ever been in their lives.


    However, they had sown the seeds of their own actions, and now they had to bear the bitter fruit themselves.


    "They¡¯ve harmed us for so many years, and now they¡¯re finally getting their comeuppance!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The county magistrate of White Stone County has changed multiple times, and finally, we¡¯ve got one who gets things done; no need to worry about our shops being robbed anymore."


    "I don¡¯t know about anything else, but ever since the Yin Family was arrested, things aren¡¯t as expensive as before!"


    "True that; life doesn¡¯t feel as tough anymore."


    The onlookers expressed their thoughts one after another.


    To summarize in one sentence, the downfall of the Yin Family brought many benefits to the people of White Stone Town.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the prison cart arrived at the execution ground.


    When Yin Zheng and Yin Yinyue were taken down, a group of angry people rushed up.


    The government officials in charge of the escort were indecisive, and the prisoners were swept into the crowd, followed by a flurry of beatings.


    A few government officials exchanged looks and deliberately waited a while before rescuing the prisoners.


    The evils committed by the Yin Family were too many to be recorded; a simple beheading was too lenient for them.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Founding Emperor abolishing the five brutal punishments, including death by a thousand cuts, they could be tasting each of them right now.


    "Please calm down, everyone; it¡¯s almost a quarter past noon, don¡¯t delay their descent into the Eighteen Layers of Hell."


    Qin Longyun An soothed the enraged crowd; such a chaotic scene could easily lead to accidental injury.


    "Right, folks, don¡¯t block the officer¡¯s way; the thought of these people living even a minute longer disgusts me!"


    "In Hell, there¡¯s ear slicing and frying in oil; that¡¯s the real deal. Let¡¯s not block the way, hurry up and disperse to let them get on with their punishments below!"


    The crowd voluntarily cleared a path, but the cursing never ceased.


    Lord Yu had never seen such an uncontrollable scene before and blamed himself even more.


    If he had arrived sooner, the townsfolk wouldn¡¯t have suffered for so long.


    Yin Yinyue and Yin Zheng knelt at the center of the execution ground, flanked by a burly man wielding a butcher¡¯s knife, trembling involuntarily.


    If they could do it all over again, they would definitely not commit such evils.


    Or at least stop before Qin Longyun took office.


    But there¡¯s no medicine for regret in the world, and what has happened cannot be changed.


    Yin Zheng was in despair, merely kneeling with his head drooping.


    While Yin Yinyue still harbored a slim hope for Xuan San, whom she had never truly regarded.


    She had previously disdained Xuan San¡¯s background, considering him nothing but a brute, yet now he was her only hope.


    He loved her so much, he ought to come.


    As time ticked away second by second, Lord Yu glanced at the position of the sun and then took out a token.


    "The hour has come, proceed with the execution!"


    Lord Yu gave the order coldly, his words serving as the death knell for Yin Zheng and Yin Yinyue.


    Yin Yinyue grew anxious, but amidst the pressing darkness, the person she awaited was nowhere to be seen.


    Could it be that years of waiting had exhausted his patience?


    No, Xuan Qing had said that in his lifetime, the only woman for him was her, and unless he died, his feelings would never change.


    So why was he absent when she needed him the most?


    Until the final moment, the expected person still had not arrived.


    Yin Yinyue could only close her eyes, and in the next moment, the executioner raised the knife and brought it down.

 Chapter 721 - 726 Let Me Save Her_1

    Chapter 721: Chapter 726 Let Me Save Her_1If she had accepted Xuan San earlier and let him take her away from this place of contention, maybe everything would have been different. This was Yin Yinyue¡¯s last lament.


    But... it was really too late.


    As the heads of the Yin Family father and daughter, who had plagued White Stone Town for so many years, fell to the ground, the common people all knelt down.


    "Thank you, Lord of Green Sky! Thank you, Lord of Sunny Sky!"


    With the Yin Family dealt with, their long-awaited days of clear skies and bright sunshine had finally returned!


    As the execution official, Yu Qian loudly proclaimed, "For them to have been able to commit such evil for so many years is a failure of oversight by the Imperial court. I, on behalf of the Imperial court, apologize to everyone and hope for your forgiveness."


    "Furthermore, I swear that as long as there is a single corrupt official within Ning Tian Mansion, I shall not return to court."


    As the Emperor¡¯s Teacher, he indeed had the authority to make such a statement.


    The common people cheered and jumped for joy. Lord Yu was the highest-ranking official they had ever seen, and since he had made such a statement, could their good days be far behind?


    In a small mountain village on the border of Shun Tian Mansion.


    "Big brother, I beg you, let me save her!"


    Xuan San struggled furiously, but no matter how much he strained, he couldn¡¯t break free from the iron chains binding him.


    Xuan Er said coldly, "Looking at you now, big brother shouldn¡¯t have sacrificed himself."


    With big brother around, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village would survive.


    Not like Xuan San, this useless man who was always on the brink of death for a woman.


    Since Xuan San learned the truth, he had been kept locked up, but while his body could be confined, his heart couldn¡¯t be.


    Xuan San refused to eat and tried to bite his tongue; he had tried every trick in the book.


    But if Xuan San had his clever plans, he also had countermeasures.


    When Xuan San refused to eat, he was force-fed Ginseng Soup, which could sustain his life for several days.


    When Xuan San tried to bite his tongue, his mouth was kept gagged except when he was being given water or food.


    After so many days of struggle, everyone was exhausted, except for Xuan San who kept causing trouble.


    Xuan San, with bloodshot eyes, said, "Why didn¡¯t you stop big brother? Why did you let him save me? I regret it every day now, but what can that change? Big brother can¡¯t be brought back to life, and Silver Moon is going to die too!"


    Such days were nothing but torment for him!


    With his most respected big brother and his beloved woman both gone, what meaning was there left for him to continue living?


    Xuan Er, infuriated, said, "Are you even human, speaking like that? If killing you could bring big brother back to life, I would do it right now!"


    Big brother had given his life for Xuan San, and yet, he faced blame? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then kill me! Kill me, and I¡¯ll be free!"


    Xuan San¡¯s eyes were frantic with urgency, as Xuan Er clenched his fists, barely managing to control his rage.


    He couldn¡¯t kill Xuan San, but he had another way to shut him up ¨C stuffing his mouth with cloth so he couldn¡¯t speak.


    That way, Xuan San wouldn¡¯t have the chance to provoke him anymore.


    Finally, as the third quarter after Noon passed, Xuan Er could finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    Yin Yinyue was finally dead, that venomous woman who always capitalized on his younger brother¡¯s feelings¡ªshe was dead!


    From then on, he would no longer have to worry about that woman bringing harm to his brother or to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    And suddenly, Xuan San blacked out and lost consciousness.


    Xuan Er quickly removed the cloth from his mouth and summoned people to carry Xuan San to bed, tending to him with washing and changing his clothes, and then summoned a doctor to treat him.


    Thankfully, Xuan San had a strong constitution; he had merely fainted due to exhaustion and rage. With some rest, he would recover.


    After the doctor¡¯s diagnosis, Xuan Er finally let out a sigh of relief; it was good news that Xuan San wouldn¡¯t die.


    Just when Xuan Er thought everything had settled down, trouble arose with Xuan San again.


    The next morning, the attendant reported that Xuan San was missing, having climbed out of the window at dawn.

 Chapter 722 - 727 I Want Revenge_1

    Chapter 722: Chapter 727 I Want Revenge_1"What are you all good for? You can¡¯t even keep an eye on a sick man!"


    Xuan Er, who was having breakfast, knocked his plate onto the ground.


    Can¡¯t people just enjoy a few peaceful days?


    "Should we go look for him, Second Master?"


    Xuan Er rubbed his brow, "No need, we can¡¯t lose any more brothers over that incompetent one."


    Now, these few dozen men are the only hope for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    As for Xuan San, he did all he could do, the rest is up to fate.


    "Yes." His subordinate bowed and immediately withdrew.


    The reason he stayed was that he counted on the silver in Xuan Er¡¯s hands to never worry about food and clothes in his life; now he couldn¡¯t ask for more than to spend his days in peace.


    Distracted by the incident, Xuan Er lost his appetite and went alone to the grave for dress and crown of his eldest brother.


    He didn¡¯t know what to do now, hoping his big brother could give him some guidance.


    "It¡¯s all my fault for being useless, I can¡¯t protect Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, nor can I keep an eye on our third brother."


    "Big brother, if your spirit is in heaven, you must protect Third Brother. Don¡¯t let Qin Longyun discover his whereabouts and ensure his safe return."


    But all that responded was the whooshing cold wind.


    On the fifth day after Xuan San disappeared, he returned in tattered clothes.


    By the time he reached White Stone Town, the blood at the execution ground had been cleaned up, and there was no sign of Yin Yinyue.


    Later, he found two fresh graves next to each other at Chaotic Burial Mound, with a piece of cloth hanging on the grass beside them, which belonged to Yin Yinyue.


    This was the only token she left him.


    He bought a coffin and a burial plot, reburied her, and kept vigil for three days.


    On the third day, he dreamt that Yin Yinyue came to him in a dream, saying she would not be at peace underground unless he avenged her.


    So, he returned. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As his brother, Xuan Er still felt for him and patted Xuan San on the shoulder, "It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back. Go take a bath and get some sleep, and you¡¯ll be alright."


    Looking at him, it seems he hasn¡¯t slept for days.


    "I¡¯m going to kill everyone in White Stone County, and let them be buried with Silver Moon!"


    Having said that, Xuan San drifted into his room.


    The people in White Stone Town relished the deaths of the Yin Family father and daughter, and he didn¡¯t need to inquire deliberately to know what had happened at the time.


    Those people had thrown things at Silver Moon, and they beat her at the execution ground. After her death, they still hurled insults, denying her the last shred of dignity.


    Therefore, they were all murderers!


    One day, he would kill everyone in White Stone Town!


    Xuan Er gave the order, "Take good care of him. As long as he doesn¡¯t go too far, let him be."


    As for his threat to kill everyone in White Stone Town, it could be taken as nonsense spoken in overwhelming grief.


    Otherwise, with more than twenty thousand people in White Stone County, who weren¡¯t fools, how could they let him kill at will?


    Afterward, Xuan San locked himself in his room for a whole day. When he came out again, it was as though nothing had happened, but he¡¯d become even more somber.


    Now he lived with only one purpose: revenge!


    A few days later, Lord Yu¡¯s words spread throughout Ning Tian Mansion, leaving many officials dumbfounded.


    Lord Yu was famously stubborn and could not be stopped even if the sky were to fall.


    But who in officialdom is clean?


    With Lord Yu¡¯s dogged nature, even if someone accepted a bribe of One Hundred Taels, he would be able to dig it out. My god, is there no way to live any longer?


    The most panicked was Li Zhengtian. He had always been discreet, and he had dodged the last round of investigations.


    But with Lord Yu taking the field this time, could he still be so lucky?


    In his panic, Li Zhengtian had a stroke of inspiration: it was his daughter Li Mu¡¯er.

 Chapter 723 - 728: In Your Dreams!_1

    Chapter 723: Chapter 728: In Your Dreams!_1Lady Yu had passed away years ago, and he hadn¡¯t remarrried since¡ªlikely because there was no woman at home to keep things in order, allowing him to be out all day.


    And his daughter was in the bloom of youth, as well as strikingly beautiful.


    But her reputation had been tarnished by recent events, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t marry into a good family.


    It would be better to marry her off to Lord Yu; although it would mean being a concubine, the Li Family was actually getting the better end of the deal.


    If Li Mo¡¯er could manage to win over Lord Yu, her father would be safe, and his reputation would improve in the future.


    Li Mo¡¯er, however, didn¡¯t see things that way. She knew Lord Yu was an even older man than her father, nowhere close to the husband she had imagined.


    Most importantly, she still had Bai Yifan on her mind and would rather remain unmarried than wed anyone but him.


    So when Li Zhengtian brought it up, Li Mo¡¯er immediately turned against him.


    "Father, how could you do this to me? What am I supposed to do if he dies on me?"


    Thinking it over, Li Zhengtian then said, "When the time comes, father will provide Silver and find you another good family. Remarriage may be less common these days, but it¡¯s not unheard of."


    He would offer a larger dowry then, and surely someone would be willing to marry Li Mo¡¯er.


    Clenching her teeth, Li Mo¡¯er angrily said, "You raised me only for this day, didn¡¯t you? To rise in rank, you really would do anything. Mother must have been blind to choose a scum like you!"


    Aside from commoners or those who had lost their status, who would marry a widow?


    And how could someone struggling to feed themselves provide her happiness?


    "I¡¯m not trying to get a promotion, I¡¯m trying to preserve our family. Lord Yu has started investigating corruption¡ª if he looks into me, the Li Family will be finished!"


    Li Zhengtian was furious. He had provided her with every luxury, yet why couldn¡¯t she see things from his perspective? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without the Li Family, what was Li Mo¡¯er?


    She might as well be a beggar on the streets!


    Li Mo¡¯er snorted, "We might as well die together then. Don¡¯t think about sacrificing me to protect your cheap women and those lowly heirs!"


    "They¡¯re your stepmother and brothers. How can you speak of them that way?"


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s view of Li Mo¡¯er soured further. His current wife was bedridden because of Mo¡¯er.


    Li Mo¡¯er felt not an ounce of guilt; instead, she spewed vile words, utterly unreasonable!


    No wonder his wife sighed whenever she mentioned Li Mo¡¯er.


    Having such a daughter was a catastrophe for the Li Family!


    Li Mo¡¯er curled her lip, "If you like them so much, they should be the ones to step forward now. That woman, although older, would be a perfect match for Lord Yu. And those bastards... I¡¯ve heard that many high-ranking officials like pretty boys."


    She¡¯d heard that in the luxurious Red Mansion, in addition to women, there were young male servants¡ªthere for the pleasure of the powerful.


    Li Zhengtian was so angered he nearly spat blood, speechless before Li Mo¡¯er.


    Li Mo¡¯er huffed, "Does that hurt? Then why aren¡¯t you pained to give me to Lord Yu? They¡¯re your darlings, and I¡¯m just grass, disposable at your whim?"


    "Let me tell you, you have no right to meddle with my marriage¡ªyou¡¯re not worthy!"


    After that, Li Mo¡¯er stormed out, slamming the door behind her, leaving Li Zhengtian behind, still pondering ways to persuade her.


    He seethed for a while before bursting out, "Devil, you don¡¯t get to have a say in your marriage!"


    He had felt somewhat guilty before, but now he just wanted to get rid of Li Mo¡¯er!


    A girl throwing herself at men, it was utterly shameless!


    The father and daughter of the Li Family were at each other¡¯s throats, completely oblivious to Lord Yu¡¯s wishes.


    In Lord Yu¡¯s eyes, receiving gold and silver was a bribe, antiques and paintings were a bribe, and accepting beautiful women was the same as a bribe.

 Chapter 724 - 729 Decided_1

    Chapter 724: Chapter 729 Decided_1Moreover, his grandson was already grown up, he certainly wouldn¡¯t get involved in such disgraceful affairs at this stage of his life!


    Filled with rage, Li Zhengtian returned to the main courtyard and saw Li LangYin and his mother chatting and laughing. His heart sank even further.


    His affection for Li Mu¡¯er was the same as his wife¡¯s for LangYin, even more so, but why was there such a huge difference between the two children? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Father, look, I can recite Mencius now."


    Li LangYin said proudly. He was only eleven this year, but like his mother, he was adept at winning people¡¯s hearts.


    Li Zhengtian offered a slight smile, "Little Yin is really smart!"


    "Father, why aren¡¯t you happy? Did someone make you angry? I¡¯ll go beat them up for you!" Li LangYin asked with concern.


    Li Zhengtian shook his head, "I¡¯m not angry. Didn¡¯t you say you could recite Mencius? Let¡¯s hear it."


    Li LangYin recited confidently and fluently. By the time he finished, Li Zhengtian¡¯s face was filled with smiles.


    He believed that this son would definitely surpass him in the future.


    Lady Li said sarcastically, "Our dear Yin will certainly make something of himself in the future. In this lifetime, I can only count on him. Otherwise, we¡¯d only hinder others¡¯ view."


    "Mo¡¯er is still young, don¡¯t be so hard on her," Li Zhengtian said with a wry smile.


    In fact, he knew Li Mu¡¯er was already a young lady, and many girls her age were already mothers.


    But what could he do?


    "When LangYin was little, he would apologize even if he broke a cup. Some people have hurt me so badly I¡¯ve been confined to bed, yet not a single pleasant word came from them."


    Lady Li started to complain again. The longer she lay in bed, the more she resented Li Mu¡¯er.


    If it weren¡¯t for that despicable girl, she wouldn¡¯t have had to give up the power of the Zhang Family.


    Li LangYin consoled, "Mother, I¡¯ll apologize on behalf of sister. Since I¡¯ll be observing my days of rest, I¡¯ll stay home to take care of you."


    "Then I¡¯ll do as my son wishes."


    Lady Li¡¯s mood finally improved. Li LangYin didn¡¯t forget to give Li Zhengtian a meaningful look; only he knew how to handle his mother¡¯s temperament.


    Seeing his son so sensible and well-behaved, Li Zhengtian finally felt some relief and his resolve to protect the Li Family¡¯s interests strengthened.


    Even if others accused him of sacrificing his daughter to protect his son, he accepted that.


    He had cherished Li Mu¡¯er for so many years, but in the end, she turned into an enemy.


    After a while, Lady Li sent Li LangYin out.


    "Have you figured out how to deal with Lord Yu? My brother¡¯s in-laws sent a message, telling you to be extremely careful," Lady Li said anxiously.


    The Li Family was her and her son¡¯s greatest support. If the Li Family fell, there would be no hope for her and her son.


    Li Zhengtian sighed, "I¡¯ve been discreet with those matters, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. If worst comes to worst, I¡¯ll just have to marry Mu¡¯er off to get through this tough spot, and then I can compensate her later."


    Lady Li felt a secret thrill of satisfaction. Lord Yu was penniless; marrying into his family would surely be miserable.


    But on the surface, she still expressed her concerns, "Mo¡¯er is still a child. I¡¯m afraid her willfulness could cause trouble. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to buy a well-behaved maid to marry over? Then you wouldn¡¯t need to feel heartbroken."


    "Lord Yu is too cunning. Wouldn¡¯t he notice if someone took her place? I¡¯m her father; she¡¯ll marry whomever I tell her to!"


    Li Zhengtian snorted lightly.


    Now Lady Li was finally satisfied. She had been worried that Li Zhengtian might not have the heart to be firm when it came down to it.


    That night, Li Mu¡¯er was locked in her room.


    No matter how loudly she cried this time, Li Zhengtian didn¡¯t spare her another glance.


    This time, he would not indulge Li Mu¡¯er!


    After raising her for so many years, it was time for her to contribute to the Li Family!

 Chapter 725 - 730 Allergy?_1

    Chapter 725: Chapter 730 Allergy?_1On February 16, the long-awaited opening of Duo Meifang took place.


    That day, Duo Meifang was bustling with activity, as numerous ladies and young misses came to support the event, packing the storefront so tightly that not even water could trickle through.


    It was just as well that there was no such thing as a traffic jam in ancient times.


    "Grandma, you brought so many guests, I don¡¯t even know how to thank you!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said gratefully.


    Besides those who came with Old lady Bai, there were many who came after hearing about it from her at the post-new year gathering.


    "It¡¯s all because your products are good, but I¡¯ve already given away all the Anti-Aging Cream you gave me last time; you¡¯ll have to get me another two boxes," Old lady Bai said haughtily.


    In fact, she had only let others try the Fragrance Paste, which led them to ask where she got it.


    So she took the opportunity to promote Duo¡¯er¡¯s shop.


    "No problem! I¡¯ll have someone send it to Bai Mansion later!"


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could reply, she heard someone calling for him.


    Over at Bai Yifan¡¯s side, he had encountered a troublesome woman and the shop assistant was out of his element, so he had no choice but to call for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Watching Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s retreating back, the old lady sighed.


    How she wished Duo¡¯er could become her granddaughter-in-law; she would die without regrets then.


    What a pity, in this lifetime, that wish could not be fulfilled.


    Chen Yiling offered consolation, "Duo¡¯er surely won¡¯t be content to be just a woman of the inner court; she should have a broader world."


    Although the Bai Family wasn¡¯t rigid, their status and position were set in stone.


    Becoming the mistress of the Bai Family meant she could not show her face freely anymore and had to deal with all sorts of ladies. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All of this would be torture for Qiao Duo¡¯er, so marrying into the Bai Family would definitely not make her happy.


    Tan Zhenghong was different, however, as he could let Qiao Duo¡¯er do anything she wanted.


    "That¡¯s true. Zheng Hong is a good child and is a worthy match for Duo¡¯er!" Old lady Bai sincerely remarked.


    Almost every time she saw Tan Zhenghong, he was doting on Qiao Duo¡¯er, and their sweetness made her envious.


    Meanwhile, a woman¡¯s shrill voice said, "Stop buying, this stuff is completely unusable; look at my face if you don¡¯t believe me, can it even be shown in public?"


    She pulled down the thin veil on her face, revealing a face full of red rashes.


    For any woman, this was a nightmare of the highest order.


    Thus, when she exposed her face, many people gasped in shock, and those who were about to buy something fell silent.


    "It¡¯s all red rashes, so horrifying!"


    "Let the owner come out; if we don¡¯t get an explanation today, you lot might as well shut down this shop."


    "Crows are the same every where you go; even Lord Qin is only slightly better than the rest. That he emerged as the winner in dealing with the Yin Family this time!"


    "His wife has already taken over many shops selling essentials like grains, oil, and fabric; they¡¯ve made a tidy sum!"


    "And to think we saw Lord Qin as a good official, what a disappointment!"


    "Be careful what you say; there¡¯s still room in the big prison!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed through the crowd and stood behind the counter.


    She said coldly, "I am the owner of Duo Meifang. If you have issues, speak about the issues, but do not attack others."


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yiling timely using her dowry to stock up on essentials, White Stone County would have been in chaos long before.


    Yet, coming from the mouths of these people, it turned into Lord Qin being greedy for profit!


    Put bluntly, wasn¡¯t this ingratitude?


    Seeing the owner come over, the woman immediately clutched at her sleeve, which Qiao Duo¡¯er shook off, making her even more infuriated.


    "Look at my face. How can I ¡¯speak about issues¡¯ when my face is ruined? If my face is destroyed, you won¡¯t get away with it either!" she said viciously.


    She was no easy target!

 Chapter 726 - 731 Proving by Eating_1

    Chapter 726: Chapter 731 Proving by Eating_1People nearby also joined in the commotion, "A woman¡¯s face is her most important asset; otherwise, men will surely run off to a Vixen¡¯s chamber!"


    "Foolish, are you going to buy it and use it yourself?"


    Another person said disdainfully.


    If it really had such an effect, she would be willing to pay double the price to buy it for those vixens!


    Then, when men were disgusted to death by those women, she would become the greatest victor in the back courtyard.


    Bai Yifan spoke with a darkened face, "Whether the Fragrance Paste caused the trouble or not, let me have a look and I will know. Stop making false accusations."


    He had said it several times already, yet they were insistently making a fuss.


    It was clear this person was here to pick a fight, and frustratingly, they had garnered a lot of support.


    "Pah, you shameless scoundrel, let me tell you, if you so much as touch a single hair on me, I will go to Guang House and accuse you of indecency!" The woman said irritably.


    Men and women should not touch; how could someone of their status and position allow a man to touch so casually?


    Initially, just looking at his face, she didn¡¯t want to quarrel; everyone has a higher tolerance for handsome men.


    But after repeating it several times, she was almost annoyed to death!


    Bai Yifan said helplessly, "It can be done through a cloth or by hanging a thread of silk."


    But the woman just wouldn¡¯t consent and pointed at Bai Yifan, cursing directly.


    "What is your mentality? Are you satisfied if you ruin my reputation?"


    "Besides, I don¡¯t believe a word of your nonsense; you and that woman are in cahoots, how could you possibly admit there¡¯s a problem with the product?"


    "You vile traders are so despicable, not only cheating people out of their money but also ruining my face, are you even human?"


    "If my face doesn¡¯t recover, I will make sure you turn into this as well!"


    After the woman finished her tirade, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally spoke up.


    "We always let our customers try the product or inquire carefully to ensure there will be no allergic reactions before selling anything, so it is simply impossible for such an issue to arise."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke sternly, something she had emphasized during staff training.


    Some people are allergic to many things, let alone herbal medicine, right?


    "This is not an allergy. My elder and younger sisters and neighbors have all used it, and each one ended up like this; how could it possibly be an allergy?"


    "It is clearly your product that is bad; stop making excuses for yourself, you must give me an explanation for this!"


    The woman said agitatedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er started to doubt the truth of the matter. If someone intentionally came to cause trouble, there would definitely be flaws.


    And yet, looking at the woman, she didn¡¯t show any signs of faking or any hint of guilt. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she was more confident in her own products. She had made them herself; there couldn¡¯t possibly be any issue.


    "Point out the facial cream you bought, and I will consume it to show you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly, but her sincerity was not in question.


    What she spoke of was eating the facial cream!


    Bai Yifan quickly grabbed Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Don¡¯t be rash, I¡¯ve already sent for a Medical Woman, she will be here shortly."


    Once the Medical Woman arrived, everything would be clear, so why such a fuss?


    "You also think there¡¯s a problem with Duo Meifang¡¯s products?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a faint smile.


    She had absolute confidence in her products.


    The most important thing was that her eating the products would provide sufficient deterrence, ensuring no one would cling to this issue in the future.


    Bai Yifan immediately shook his head. "That¡¯s not what I mean, I just think it¡¯s very dangerous for you."


    One should be careful with what goes into their mouth, otherwise, it might be dangerous.

 Chapter 727 - 732: Trying to Take My Wife?_1

    Chapter 727: Chapter 732: Trying to Take My Wife?_1"With the unparalleled medical skills of Brother Bai San at hand, even if something goes wrong, it won¡¯t be a big deal,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully, having gained an extra layer of protection because of Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan wanted to persuade her further, but the woman with a face full of rash interrupted, "Don¡¯t just talk the talk, if you dare, eat it for me to see!"


    She hadn¡¯t come here to watch their flirtations and quarrels!


    "As long as it¡¯s from my family¡¯s stock and hasn¡¯t left, you can pick whatever you want," Qiao Duo¡¯er was not at all afraid.


    The woman, unceremonious, briskly pointed out three products.


    "If you eat it, today¡¯s matter will be considered resolved," the woman glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But she saw no fear or retreat in Qiao Duo¡¯er; still, she did not believe Qiao Duo¡¯er would actually eat the cream.


    After all, life is precious, who would forfeit it for silver?


    The onlookers widened their eyes, not wanting to miss this exciting moment.


    In all their years, they had never seen such an odd spectacle!


    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Qiao Duo¡¯er opened the box calmly, and since it was not easy to eat directly, she had to ask a clerk to fetch a spoon.


    "I¡¯ll do it," Bai Yifan positioned Qiao Duo¡¯er behind him.


    Consider it his belated apology; last time Qiao Duo¡¯er had almost died because of him, this time he was entrusting his life to her decision.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly burst through the crowd, "With me here, it won¡¯t come to you dying for her."


    He pulled his wife behind him, not expecting that Bai Yifan would seek an opportunity just while he was briefly away in the warehouse!


    Hmph, he knew that rascal Bai Yifan hadn¡¯t stopped pining for his wife!


    Bai Yifan said indifferently, "Aren¡¯t you afraid that if you die, I¡¯ll steal Qiao Duo back?"


    "Taking her back would be your skill, besides, Duo¡¯er won¡¯t harm me."


    Tan Zhenghong gave Bai Yifan a disdainful glance; even without him, his wife wouldn¡¯t fancy Bai Yifan!


    Because he simply didn¡¯t understand what his wife wanted!


    His wife was never reckless. She was so assertive because she was confident it was safe to eat.


    But in the end, the product was not food, and he feared it might be harmful to the body, so he volunteered before his wife could.


    "Brother San, you don¡¯t have to eat it, in case something happens, you¡¯d be in a position to save us,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er half-jokingly said.


    However, her meaning was clear: Tan Zhenghong and her could eat together, but not Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan took a deep breath, envying Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ability to protect Qiao Duo¡¯er openly, while he had to step back in front of her rightful husband.


    Soon, the clerk brought over a soup spoon, conveniently grabbing two of them.


    He had hoped to earn some favor in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes, but Tan Zhenghong had seized the opportunity.


    Without hesitation, both men scooped up a spoonful and stuffed it into their mouths. It was oily and fragrant, and besides those two issues, everything seemed fine.


    "Are you satisfied?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the woman causing the scene.


    By then the woman had been so scared she couldn¡¯t speak a word, not expecting them to eat from each box and still be perfectly fine.


    It took her a while to collect herself before touching her own rash-covered face and saying, "Then how do you explain this?"


    She was certain that it was only after using the cream she bought from Duo Meifang this morning that her face had become like this.


    "Sorry, but that¡¯s not a question I should answer. Perhaps you can find the reason at home,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hinted.


    The woman asserted it wasn¡¯t an allergic reaction, and she was confident in Duo Meifang¡¯s products. So the remaining possibilities were numerous. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It could be an enemy, a rival in love, or resentful servants deliberately tampering with the product, or she might have ingested something wrong herself.


    There were too many uncertainties, and Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t able to pinpoint the exact one.

 Chapter 728 - 733 The Truth Revealed_1

    Chapter 728: Chapter 733 The Truth Revealed_1Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke loudly, "Every product at Duo Meifang is made with the best materials and is safe for the human body. Everyone can rest assured when purchasing and I hope this incident will not affect your mood."


    Seeing the owner daring to swallow it, everyone felt reassured.


    The products here must be safe, at least there wouldn¡¯t be any hidden dangers when applied to the face.


    "Now I can be at ease. If they ate it and nothing happened, then there certainly won¡¯t be any issues applying it to my face!"


    "That makes sense, we can always try it first, and if there¡¯s a problem, we just won¡¯t buy it!"


    With that, even more people came to make purchases.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others could only set aside the incident for the moment and attend to the customers in the store.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, we¡¯re out of shoe insoles, bring another fifty pairs!" Da Niuer called out loudly.


    The products were so popular that, as the manager, she constantly had to rush to restock. Otherwise, they would run out, and that was enough to irritate even the most temperamental customers, let alone her.


    However, good business was definitely a good thing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took note of the inventory and then asked Tan Zhenghong to fetch more from the storeroom.


    Before she could finish her sentence, she accidentally burped, the scent of fragrance paste filling the air.


    Tan Zhenghong teased, "Wife, from now on your fragrance will radiate from inside out."


    "We¡¯re in the same boat."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, and Tan Zhenghong had actually consumed a bit more than she had. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Tan Zhenghong headed to the storeroom, he said, "This is what it means to share blessings and face troubles together!"


    Hehe, he was just trying to annoy Bai Yifan to death!


    Before the crowd of customers had left, Chen Yiling and Old lady Bai came in with a bound old woman.


    "Madam Zhao, I thought she looked suspicious, so I brought her back. Do you recognize this person?" Chen Yiling asked, pointing to the person behind her.


    The old woman clearly belonged to a wealthy household and kept peering inside, appearing more like she was surveilling someone.


    She and Old lady Bai thought it better to err on the side of caution than let a potential culprit go free.


    "She is a maid we¡¯ve just bought for menial tasks; I put her in Auntie Ju¡¯s room."


    Madam Zhao thought carefully and then remembered indeed there was such a person in her house.


    If this servant had not been purchased recently, she truly wouldn¡¯t have recalled.


    "If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll send her to the Government Office for interrogation," Chen Yiling said, signaling the guard with her eyes.


    The guard saluted and prepared to take away the old woman.


    In panic, the old woman pleaded, "Madam, spare my life, it was all Zhu Yi Niang¡¯s idea. She said that after the deed was done, she could replace you and promote me to housekeeper. Blinded by greed, I agreed."


    The bystanders were all dumbfounded. She confessed just like that?


    No wonder, if she had been more resolute, she wouldn¡¯t have risked harming others for the position of housekeeper.


    Madam Zhao¡¯s face was so red with embarrassment it looked like it could bleed, and she said apologetically, "Today, I¡¯ve been presumptuous. I will visit to apologize another day."


    "You best go back quickly. In a while, I will send the medical woman directly to your house," Qiao Duo¡¯er politely said, her face in such a state that she would not have remained calm either.


    Madam Zhao apologized again, left the maid to handle the aftermath, and had someone escort the old woman back home.


    If it had been someone else, she might not have become so angry. Zhu Yi Niang was her distant cousin, whom she had always looked after. She never expected Zhu Yi Niang to harbor such malicious intentions!


    To kill two birds with one stone? But the result... ended with herself caught in the trap!


    With the departure of Madam Zhao, the issue was satisfactorily resolved and Duo Meifang returned to its usual bustle.


    Madam Zhao was indeed remorseful, and the maid she left behind explained the situation continuously.

 Chapter 729 - 734: I’m Still Here!_1

    Chapter 729: Chapter 734: I¡¯m Still Here!_1Everyone had been busy all the way until the evening when they finally caught their breath.


    That night, in order to reward everyone, Qiao Duo¡¯er specially arranged for First Rank Building to deliver two tables full of food and dishes.


    "Yin Ge, come and eat with us," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    The girl was very earnest. After explaining that incident, she also helped to attend to the guests, so naturally, Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t shortchange her.


    Yin Ge felt very uneasy. Her Madam had caused such a big blunder today; how could she have the face to eat at someone else¡¯s place?


    Da Niu didn¡¯t bother with explanations and dragged her over: "When the boss gives an order, do you dare to refuse? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you are the Zhao Family¡¯s maid, I would have brought you over here to work."


    "Really? My servitude contract is almost up!" Yin Ge was a bit flustered.


    She had sold herself for five years and only had two months left until the contract ended.


    Although she was well-clothed and fed in a wealthy family, she was, after all, serving others, and always felt somewhat inferior.


    So she hadn¡¯t planned on renewing the contract and hadn¡¯t expected anyone to say this.


    However, after speaking, Yin Ge regretted it. Perhaps they were just being polite. How could she so readily take them up on it?


    Da Niu nodded: "Then come to me when the time comes. With you here, you can also teach us some manners."


    She had clearly felt that Yin Ge¡¯s way of serving guests was much more meticulous than theirs and her behavior more appropriate. They, as country girls, really should learn properly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yin Ge nodded vigorously; she liked it here very much, far more comfortable than her days as a maid.


    Duo¡¯er gave Da Niu a thumbs up. It was a major merit for her to see her own shortcomings, and just for this, the supervisor hadn¡¯t made the wrong choice.


    Da Niu couldn¡¯t help blushing. Why hadn¡¯t she asked Duo¡¯er for her opinion?


    In the future, she must change this habit. Duo¡¯er was her friend, but even more so, her boss.


    After everyone ate and drank their fill, they went back to rest contentedly.


    This was just the first day; busier days were still to come.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was also quite exhausted, but she still had to count the silver and inventory with Tan Zhenghong.


    Today, a total of five hundred and some embroidery pieces were sold, along with two hundred and some boxes of skincare products, making the total sales three hundred and fifty-some taels.


    After deducting the costs of the finished products, the net profit was three hundred taels.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, squinting her eyes, said, "At this rate, we¡¯ll soon become big landlords!"


    After the grand opening¡¯s rush, prices should stabilize at around one hundred and fifty taels, which already met her expectations.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded his approval, but it was all thanks to his talented wife!


    Yet worries also arose. At this rate of sale, the stock would be lucky to last half a month.


    The Embroidery Room had to be expanded, and some high-quality Embroidery Ladies recruited.


    And the dried flowers, buying from others wasn¡¯t a long-term solution.


    Not to mention the high prices, the quality couldn¡¯t be guaranteed, so she wanted to start her own flower field exclusively for Duo Meifang.


    That very night, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong discussed buying another property in town to set up as the Embroidery Room, hoping to hire some skilled Embroidery Ladies from Jiangnan.


    As for the flower field, they would entrust it to Aunt Huang, who had always grown vegetables to supply her own shop, but now that the shop was gone, vegetables were no longer an option. Planting flowers now would kill two birds with one stone.


    To get all these things on track, it would probably take quite some time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, resting her chin in her hand, said, "Suddenly, I feel like my life is tied down by these few shops."


    This wasn¡¯t the life she wanted!


    "Don¡¯t you have me? I just haven¡¯t done much business before, and I might not think things through completely. Give it some time, and I¡¯ll be able to handle it," said Tan Zhenghong, patting his chest. At that point, his wife would only need to live the life she wanted.


    The rest would be up to him!

 Chapter 730 - 735: A Big Favor!_1

    Chapter 730: Chapter 735: A Big Favor!_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, and her mood immediately lightened substantially.


    It warms the heart instantly to hear these words when you¡¯re feeling weary.


    Tan Zhenghong held his wife, "I¡¯m going to boil some water for you to soak your feet, and you¡¯ll feel comfortable after that."


    They had a simple room in the backyard, where they had to make do for today.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought gifts to the Feng Family.


    "Child, if you bring gifts again next time, I won¡¯t let you in the door," Zou¡¯s said with a stern face.


    By rights, it should have been her giving gifts to Duo¡¯er, but it kept turning out the other way around.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cheekily replied, "I¡¯m here to ask you for a favor, how insincere would it look if I came empty-handed?"


    "All nonsense, I¡¯d be overjoyed to help you if I can," she retorted.


    Zou¡¯s welcomed Duo¡¯er inside, brewed some tea, and then sat down to talk business.


    "Here¡¯s the thing, the only people in the store I can trust are Daniu¡¯er and Ruo Ruo, but they¡¯re still a bit young, so we¡¯re lacking someone to hold the fort. I was hoping Auntie could come over and guide them," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, thickening her skin to ask.


    Even though it was the off-season for the carpentry shop, Zou¡¯s was still indispensable, and Duo¡¯er felt she was being presumptuous.


    But the foundation she and Tan Zhenghong had was still weak, and they only knew so many people ¨C aside from Zou¡¯s, she really couldn¡¯t think of anyone else.


    Zou¡¯s herself was a merchant¡¯s daughter and later helped Feng Dafeng manage the carpentry shop. She was shrewd and capable of dealing with all sorts of people, which made the business soar.


    Later, when Li Yang became famous for his craftsmanship, she was the one who received the noble clients.


    If she could take Daniu¡¯er under her wing for a while, Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong would be able to confidently take care of other things.


    Because stock was tight, matters concerning the Embroidery Room and Hua Tian could not be delayed.


    Unexpectedly, Zou¡¯s excitedly said, "That¡¯s wonderful, Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re really helping me out big time!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was baffled, blinking her eyes, "What¡¯s going on?"


    This reaction... was a bit perplexing!


    "I found a girl for Li Yang and was worrying about how to get them together, but now it¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll talk to Li Yang tonight." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zou¡¯s joyfully said, knowing that if she went to Duo Meifang, Li Yang would have to stay with the girl.


    Under the same roof, they would unavoidably see each other frequently.


    In time, they might even develop feelings for each other.


    Curious, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Which family¡¯s girl are you so confident in?"


    Zou¡¯s whispered, "It¡¯s the second daughter of Gu¡¯s Family."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; she had seen her at Bai Family¡¯s place.


    Although the second daughter was born to a concubine, she had been raised under her legal mother¡¯s name and had learned housekeeping skills, indeed a good match for Li Yang.


    But why would a daughter of a wealthy family be willing to be so public at the Feng Family?


    "At the end of the year, the second daughter¡¯s horse was startled, and Li Yang saved her. She took a liking to Li Yang, and the Gu¡¯s Family also approved of this marriage. But that foolish boy Li Yang showed no reaction, so I thought about getting them together," Zou¡¯s explained. At that time, Li Yang¡¯s embrace had slightly tarnished the girl¡¯s reputation.


    Moreover, with the news of Sleeve Arrow being sealed with an award spreading, the Gu¡¯s Family was even more in favor of this marriage.


    So now, parents on both sides were eager to get the wedding preparations underway.


    "Then I¡¯ll wait for your good news."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mischievously said, thinking to herself that when one¡¯s luck arrives, it can¡¯t be stopped.


    Zou¡¯s readily agreed: "You just concentrate on your affairs, I promise to bring a constant stream of guests to Duo Meifang."


    Seeing her promise so readily, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt completely satisfied.

 Chapter 731 - 736: Haunted_1

    Chapter 731: Chapter 736: Haunted_1fr§×ewebno?¨¥l.comOn the other side, Tan Zhenghong had already seen three courtyards under the guidance of the servant, and the one he liked most was a triple-entry courtyard.


    This courtyard was seventy percent new and could accommodate two hundred people.


    Since it was formerly a workshop, it wouldn¡¯t need too much modification to be turned into an embroidery room, and they could move in before long.


    Moreover, it was located next to the official road, which made the transportation of goods very convenient.


    "My lord, this used to be a weaving workshop. The owner garnered favor from a noble person and moved to a better location. If you rent this place and buy some tables and chairs, it will be ready for use. Moreover, the feng shui here is good. If you buy this place, you will most certainly rise to high ranks,"


    the servant rattled on as if simply moving there would ensure the favor of a noble person.


    Tan Zhenghong used to believe this, but after being influenced by Duo¡¯er over time, he thought it was nonsense.


    Destiny was largely in one¡¯s own hands; with enough effort, one could surely lead a good life.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "This courtyard is indeed not bad."


    "How could I not praise your discernment? I won¡¯t ask for much for this courtyard, just a flat price of five hundred taels."


    After the servant finished speaking, Tan Zhenghong then said, "There¡¯s just one problem, I noticed that people passing by all avoid this place. What happened here?"


    Given the way others steered clear of this place, there must be something fishy.


    If he hadn¡¯t been cautious, he might have been swindled by this person today.


    "What are you talking about, sir? What could have happened? It¡¯s just that the boss here was very fierce, and everyone was scared of him,"


    the servant explained haphazardly.


    In fact, he too had been tricked, buying this workshop in a confused state, and it had been stuck in his hands for three months now, requiring frequent cleaning, and he was losing a fortune.


    Today he had finally seen someone unaware of the situation, yet this person still saw through the issues at first glance.


    Speaking earnestly, Tan Zhenghong said, "If you tell me the truth now, I might reconsider, but if you don¡¯t, I will leave right now."


    He wasn¡¯t foolish, and he wouldn¡¯t bring back something problematic.


    "Two years ago, a weaving maid here committed suicide. It¡¯s said that she killed herself after being humiliated by the boss, and for the past few years, her wronged spirit hasn¡¯t dispersed. Ah, she really was a pitiful soul."


    The servant sighed, having been unfamiliar with the place when he first arrived, and had bought it cheaply.


    He had thought he would be able to sell it for seven to eight hundred taels of silver, but very few people were even willing to come and look.


    He was just unlucky!


    Upon learning the full story, Tan Zhenghong declared, "I will give you no more than one hundred and fifty taels for this courtyard."


    If it cost more than that, he would rather buy someplace else. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My lord, I really didn¡¯t make any profit from you, please add a bit more,"


    the servant begged. He had bought the courtyard for one hundred and fifty taels, and if he sold it for the same price, he wouldn¡¯t have made any money these past few months, plus he would be at a loss due to the cleaning expenses.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "Then let¡¯s both take some more time to think about it."


    After speaking, he prepared to leave. He had almost been cheated out of more than three hundred taels of silver by this person, and he didn¡¯t hold this servant in high regard.


    "Fine, I¡¯ll sell it to you, but you¡¯ll have to pay the transfer fees yourself."


    The servant gritted his teeth, deciding it was better to sell now than to keep holding onto it and losing more.


    After all, he couldn¡¯t get a higher price for this haunted house, and it just made him sigh every day holding onto it.


    Tan Zhenghong paused, "Then let¡¯s go to the Government Office, don¡¯t just stand there."


    Seemingly afraid that Tan Zhenghong would change his mind, the servant hurried to complete all the necessary paperwork.


    "Sir, I¡¯m telling you the truth, I was also deceived into buying this house. Please don¡¯t come to me for anything in the future; I know nothing about it."


    The servant instructed before running off like a shot.

 Chapter 732 - 737 Catching Ghosts_1

    Chapter 732: Chapter 737 Catching Ghosts_1Actually, he didn¡¯t fully express himself just now, mentioning that the female ghost is said to be very formidable, often haunting the night.


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lips and silently secured the land deed.


    The nearby government official kindly reminded him, "Fourth Master, that house really isn¡¯t a good place; there have been several incidents, you really shouldn¡¯t buy it."


    Several child disappearances happened around there, and it¡¯s said to be due to that residence.


    "Thanks for the heads-up, I¡¯ve got other matters to attend to, I¡¯ll treat you to a drink next time."


    Watching Tan Zhenghong hurry away, the official could only mourn for him in silence for three minutes.


    Paying one hundred and fifty taels for a useless haunted house, he¡¯s sure to be skinned alive by his wife when he gets home.


    Meanwhile, Tan Zhenghong headed straight to the West Market where Master Yun Xu¡¯s divination shop was located, urgently in need of Yun Xu¡¯s assistance.


    Upon reaching the West Market, Yun Xu was seriously spouting nonsense.


    Seeing an acquaintance, he hastily muttered a few pleasantries and sent the divination seeker on their way.


    "Esteemed patron, please come in," Yun Xu shook his duster, exuding a bit of an immortal¡¯s air.


    Tan Zhenghong stepped inside, silently ridiculing the fact that there were no other customers; did Yun Xu not tire of putting on such an act?


    Once they were inside with the door closed, Yun Xu¡¯s pretense fell away.


    Casting his duster aside, he drank a bowl of water with no regard for appearances, then asked, "Brother Zheng Hong, what brings you to me?"


    "You know about the haunted workshop in town? I¡¯ve bought it, and you need to clear out whatever¡¯s inside," Tan Zhenghong explained his purpose.


    Moreover, to dispel others¡¯ fears, this had to be done with a bit of fanfare.


    Yun Xu nodded, "Leave it to me, I originally thought that residence was a big business opportunity, but now that you¡¯ve bought it, I won¡¯t charge you."


    After all, his current ability to get by was largely thanks to the tactics supported by Duo¡¯er.


    As for why the house was haunted, he knew all too well. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ruse was intentionally spread by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village to cover up their crime of abducting children.


    At first, no one believed it, but after repeated whispers, it became an accepted truth.


    "Handle it well, and you can choose anything you want from the braised meat shop."


    Tan Zhenghong said generously, when asking for help, one can¡¯t let others suffer a loss, otherwise who would be willing to help in the future?


    The next morning, Yun Xu set up shop at the entrance of the workshop.


    "Am I seeing things? This cursed house actually got bought; it must be an outsider who was deceived again."


    "You¡¯re wrong, it¡¯s a local this time, but I don¡¯t know who specifically."


    "Who cares who bought it? I just want to know if Master Yun Xu can catch the female ghost; otherwise, it¡¯s our children¡¯s lives at stake every day, a scourge for us townspeople!"


    "Master Yun Xu¡¯s magical powers are profound; he surely can subdue that female ghost."


    Yun Xu began chanting loudly, burned some talisman paper, and even theatrically sprayed some water, looking every bit the charlatan.


    Despite the obvious farce, the townspeople believed wholeheartedly.


    "Swift as the decree, reveal yourself, female ghost!"


    Yun Xu shouted and plunged the peach wood sword into the water.


    In that instant, the water in the basin turned red, growing darker and darker until it resembled the shade of fresh blood.


    "My god, this... this is too miraculous!"


    "Certainly it¡¯s the ghost¡¯s blood, Master Yun Xu is so powerful, I¡¯ll seek his services for anything in the future!"


    "The female ghost is subdued, no more of those dirty, messy events!"


    "Truly a meritorious deed, it was the boss who caused the woman¡¯s death, she should seek revenge on the boss, what fault do innocent children have?"


    Yun Xu cleared his throat, "The female ghost is gone, this basin of water is an extremely negative element, it must be poured under the pine and cypress trees."

 Chapter 733 - 738: A Scammer with Principles_1

    Chapter 733: Chapter 738: A Scammer with Principles_1Tan Zhenghong stifled a laugh and poured the basin of red water under the pine tree.


    The pines and cypresses were evergreen all year round, their yang energy was strong and particularly suppressed extremely yin and bitterly cold things.


    "I also want to set up a Feng Shui formation in the yard so we can attract good fortune and avoid disaster, and wealth will pour in," said Master Yun Xu, squinting his eyes.


    In fact, setting up a Feng Shui formation only involved moving around a few stones and placing a few bowls of water to sort it out.


    Once he had finished, he muttered in a trance-like voice, "Keep the incense burning continuously for three days, and blessings will come naturally."


    Tan Zhenghong solemnly agreed and handed over another red envelope.


    To go along with Yun Xu, he piously said, "Master, this is a small token of my appreciation. You must accept it."


    "The donor¡¯s blessings shall be boundless."


    Yun Xu bowed in return but was leaping with joy in his heart.


    Fourth Brother Tan and his wife were so generous¡ªthis time they even gave silver!


    With this, his worth had risen once again. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that Yun Xu had the ability to catch ghosts, the onlookers all came forward one after another.


    "Master, I feel like my family has been incredibly unlucky recently. Could you please take a look at my home too?"


    "My husband has been ill for several days now, and the doctors couldn¡¯t find a cure. You must save him, without him, how will our family survive!"


    Yun Xu clasped his hands together, "Thank you all for your trust. Normally, as a monk, I should help you all without asking for anything in return, but after exorcising the demon today, my mind is unstable, and I fear messing up your affairs. It would be better for me to go back and rest a bit."


    Hmm... he was actually thinking about Tan¡¯s Shop¡¯s braised meat.


    Moreover, he had not inquired about these matters beforehand, acting rashly might cause issues for these people and tarnish his own reputation.


    He was a swindler, but not one without principles.


    Hearing Master Yun Xu say this, everyone reluctantly left.


    However, they were still calculating to personally visit Master Yun Xu¡¯s residence tomorrow.


    As long as it could really protect the peace and well-being of their families, spending more silver would be worth it...


    A quarter of an hour later, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly drove an ox cart, with Yun Xu, who had changed his clothes, and they left through the back door.


    "Aren¡¯t you afraid of being recognized by others?" Tan Zhenghong joked.


    If anyone saw Yun Xu now, who would still believe that he had the ability to catch ghosts?


    He clearly looked like a typical ruffian!


    "I have a twin brother who looks exactly like me, but he is wild and unruly and has no proper bearing. Almost everyone knows about him, having an extra identity makes things easier for me to do,"


    said Yun Xu, proudly. So far, nobody had ever doubted it.


    After a while, if he didn¡¯t continue to show up like this, people would think his brother had been killed.


    However, by the time they arrived, Hu¡¯s Clan was already wrapping up for the day.


    Curiously, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Sister Lan, why are you closing up so early today?"


    "Today, someone booked all of our braised dishes," explained Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Now, some families in the town opted for convenience when hosting guests; they simply presented Tan¡¯s Shop¡¯s braised dishes on the table, and even took pride in it.


    Yun Xu said with a bitter face, "Why am I so unlucky? I came here all excited, only to find there¡¯s not a shred left."


    "That¡¯s easy; I¡¯ll set yours aside tomorrow to be sent over to you," said Hu¡¯s Clan, comforting him. She even considered making more braised dishes tomorrow because the boating people had started moving again, and the demand for braised food had increased significantly.


    Yun Xu wasn¡¯t in a good mood but had no other choice.


    He still needed to go out and gather information; he felt there were a few businesses he could take on today.


    In business, one must strike while the iron is hot, otherwise, how many people would remember him as a master ghost-catcher in a few days?

 Chapter 734 - 739 Little White-eyed Wolf_1

    Chapter 734: Chapter 739 Little White-eyed Wolf_1After buying the workshop, the Zou¡¯s arrived at Duo Meifang, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong threw themselves into the new Embroidery Room.


    Despite having experience from before, they were still incredibly busy this time.


    After all, the scale of this Embroidery Room was much larger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er originally wanted Chao Lian and Fat Aunt to come over and help, but the village Embroidery Room was rushing work, and any disruption could cause trouble whether it was one of them or the other, so she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands.


    This left them so overwhelmed they felt they didn¡¯t even have time to sit and rest for a while.


    After meals, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong finally had some free time, and unexpectedly, Chen Yiling came by.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said listlessly, "Since it¡¯s just us, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony."


    Thinking about having to recruit workers in the afternoon, she felt indescribably weary.


    Although she had said not to divulge the Embroidery Room¡¯s wages, the news had still gotten out.


    Now everyone from seven-year-old children to fifty-year-old grannies wanted to give it a try, and this greatly increased the difficulty of recruiting.


    Sometimes, out of fifty people, it was difficult to find even one qualified Embroidery Lady.


    "It¡¯s only been a few days, how did you get so tired?" said Chen Yiling, almost taking pleasure in her misfortune. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She used to think Qiao Duo¡¯er could do anything. It was only now she realized she was also human and could get tired.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Chen Yiling with a mix of lazy disdain, "You¡¯re such an ingrate. Be careful or I might deduct your year-end bonus!"


    "Don¡¯t! Actually, I¡¯ve come to save you guys."


    Chen Yiling quickly said. Duo Meifang was a juicy morsel ¡ª how could she let her own share slip away?


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er notice the woman wearing indigo-printed fabric standing behind Chen Yiling, looking quite capable.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s satisfied expression, Chen Yiling said proudly, "I found her to help you out, have a look at her."


    Although she said "have a look," by the look on Chen Yiling¡¯s face, it was obvious she was very confident in this person.


    She had not spared efforts for this person because she held a ten percent share in Duo Meifang. If she did nothing, she wouldn¡¯t feel right about it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said to the young woman, "Take a seat, I have a few questions to ask you."


    The woman sat down with ease, showing no trace of nervousness.


    After chatting for a bit, Qiao Duo¡¯er learned about the woman¡¯s life story.


    She used to be the former workshop supervisor. Her surname was Fang, and she had fled from Jiangnan years earlier before settling down after marriage in White Stone Town.


    However, she had married an unworthy man who was adept at eating, drinking, gambling, and engaging in all sorts of vices, eventually dying in a gambling den.


    Fang Qingniang had no children and had always treated the workshop as her pillar of support.


    After the Embroidery Room had gone under, she bought some land in the countryside and lived her days in a daze, until Chen Yiling found her. Without this turn of events, she would probably have lived out her life in that manner.


    "Look, I want to offer myself up. I¡¯ve brought my own contract."


    Fang Qingniang took out a contract from her sleeve and placed it in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Alone in the world, if she didn¡¯t sell herself into servitude, no one would take care of her affairs when she passed away. Weighing her options, she decided to cast her lot with Duo Meifang.


    After observing just now, she felt the Owners were quite decent people, and this was also a way to show her sincerity.


    "Let¡¯s sign a three-year contract instead. That way, if there are any uncertainties, you can manage things better. If you still want to sign a Servitude Contract after that, I won¡¯t stop you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Being from modern times, she still couldn¡¯t quite accept the notion of buying and selling people.


    Besides, who could predict what the future held?

 Chapter 735 - 740 Abnormal Villager_1

    Chapter 735: Chapter 740 Abnormal Villager_1Just like Hu¡¯s Clan, last year she was saying her life was all about her children, and within a few months, she found a suitable person.


    And once a binding contract was signed, her descendants would have to serve as slaves generation after generation.


    What normal parents could ever bear to let their children serve someone else?


    Fang Qingniang said gratefully, "Thank you, weaving and Embroidery Flowers are not the same, but I am confident that I can manage this place well."


    The textile workshop had once been all her hope, but the Owner was such a scoundrel that he ran a perfectly good workshop into the ground.


    This time she had found a reliable Owner, and she was confident that the Embroidery Room would get better and better.


    "I¡¯ll give you a three-month probationary period, during which you¡¯ll get One Tael of Silver plus the wages for your Embroidery Flowers work, and after the probationary period, you¡¯ll get one percent of the profits every month at home."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laid out the wages clearly, so that people could feel at ease working for her.


    Tan Zhenghong redrafted the contract, but it was just a three-year labor contract.


    After those three years, Fang Qingniang would still be a free person.


    Having signed the contract, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t wait to hand over the Embroidery Room to Fang Qingniang.


    After being busy for seven straight days, all she wanted was to go back to her home in Big Willow Village for a few days.


    Now she finally felt the sensation of home; it was always there, somewhere to return to whether she was tired, sleepy, or wronged.


    It seemed that once she got there, everything would be alright.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong bought some gifts and returned to Big Willow Village.


    This time, they had an important task¡ªto retrieve the musk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had read in a book that musk deer would rub off their Fragrance Pouches from the end of February to the beginning of March, and the timing was just about right.


    Because of this, Tan Zhenghong had been moping for several days.


    If he had known it would be like this, he wouldn¡¯t have had to spend New Year¡¯s nervously watching the musk deer, nor would he have had to spend several days away from his wife.


    His wife was right after all, "a fool needs to read more books."


    Just entering the village, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed something odd¡ªall the people coming and going stared at her.


    Had she become a monkey just by going to the county and coming back?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her face and asked in puzzlement, "Zheng Hong, is there something on my face?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head. "It looks normal. I don¡¯t know what got into the villagers today." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Maybe... they might think we should be riding in a carriage, but sitting inside a carriage would be a shame on such a lovely spring day," analyzed Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Tan Zhenghong thought it made sense but also felt that not taking a carriage wasn¡¯t a crime, so why were people looking at them with hostility?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Let them be. In a few months, we¡¯ll be going to Mansion City."


    Every day the shop there was empty would be a loss.


    "Let¡¯s not think about it now. First, let¡¯s go home and eat. After we eat, you rest and I¡¯ll deliver the gifts to the families," Tan Zhenghong said considerately.


    He¡¯d seen how exhausted his wife was these past days; she needed a good rest, or he would be frustrated again at night.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I still need to visit the Embroidery Room."


    After the sixth day of the lunar new year, she was either busy with Duo Meifang or the Embroidery Room, completely forgetting about Ruo Lan.


    Ruo Lan was a formidable character, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t resign willingly; she might even stir up trouble.


    Soon, they arrived at their little love nest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hopped down from the cart and stretched, "Home really is the best. Just looking at it makes me feel less tired."


    Hearing the commotion, two large dogs squeezed out of the doghole nimbly.


    Seeing their owner whom they hadn¡¯t seen in ages, they snuffled eagerly for pets and took the opportunity to complain about their owners¡¯ unforgivable absence.

 Chapter 736 - 741: The Dismissed Wife?_1

    Chapter 736: Chapter 741: The Dismissed Wife?_1Although they had been feasting well these past days, their absence made life suddenly feel incomplete.


    "Have you been good guards at the door? Did you watch over the other animals properly? Did you sneak out for secret rendezvous with the little bitches?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted each of their heads and asked a series of questions.


    Fat Fat and Fatty both looked proud, they had been very diligent, and nothing had been lost at home.


    Even if they sneaked out at night to find little bitches, they took turns doing so.


    After placating the two big dogs, they finally made way.


    It had been several days since she returned, but the house was tidy, clearly just cleaned.


    Thus, goodness was mutual; they were kind to others, and others were kind to them, which was the ideal state.


    After a simple lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong split up, one to deliver thank-you gifts, the other to the Embroidery Room.


    Embroidery Room.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, are you alright?"


    Chao Lian timidly glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    With an innocent face, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "I¡¯ve only been back for two hours, what could¡¯ve happened?"


    "I... I... it¡¯s just that," Chao Lian stammered for a long time without getting to the point.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted her, "Say whatever you want to say, don¡¯t hesitate. Whatever I need to know, I¡¯ll find out sooner or later."


    Escapism was never her way.


    "It¡¯s Ruo Lan, she said she¡¯s carrying Brother Zheng Hong¡¯s child, and she¡¯s spouting nonsense... saying you can¡¯t conceive," Chao Lian blurted out the truth with gritted teeth.


    It was better for her to hear it directly rather than let her hear exaggerated gossip from others.


    At least this might comfort her a bit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curved her lips slightly, "How far along is the child?"


    "The doctor said a little over two months. It was during the time right before the New Year when Brother Hong was always out fixing houses. They say Brother Ah Hong took advantage of her while drunk, and those who worked with Brother Hong confirmed that Ah Hong did indeed drink too much one day, but I think they¡¯re all spouting nonsense. Brother Zheng Hong isn¡¯t that kind of person," Chao Lian said indignantly.


    Taking advantage of Duo¡¯er couple¡¯s absence, the rumor spread in great detail, and nearly everyone in the village knew about it. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The most infuriating part was that a portion of people actually believed Ruo Lan¡¯s lies.


    With a bit of common sense, anyone could figure out that Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t change his heart over someone like Ruo Lan, who couldn¡¯t even compare to one of Sister Duo¡¯er¡¯s fingers!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly, "Let her say what she wants, I trust Ah Hong anyway."


    Seeing her non-extreme reaction, Chao Lian was relieved.


    If the couple were to break up over such a vile person, it would be that vile person who would be happiest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then shifted the conversation back to the affairs of the Embroidery Room, as there was only a five-day supply of goods left in the warehouse.


    "Arrange for the recruitment expansion, and, during this period, please ask everyone to bear with the extra work, raising their wages by fifty percent," she directed.


    "No problem, I¡¯ll arrange it right away," Chao Lian said.


    Chao Lian went off to make the arrangements immediately. In front of Duo Meifang, Ruo Lan wasn¡¯t even worth a clove of garlic!


    On her way back, Qiao Duo¡¯er overheard many people talking, but she just smiled and passed by.


    However, she hadn¡¯t expected to encounter rumors that Tan Zhenghong was going to divorce her for being barren and overly jealous, with Ruo Lan poised as her replacement.


    She had ground Lingzhi into powder, mixed it with other medicinal herbs to make pills, and after taking them for nearly a month, her health had greatly improved.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s interference that one time, she might already be carrying a bun.


    She had initially intended to discuss the Hua Tian matter with the Huang Family, but she was fed up with their pitying gazes.


    It made her feel as if she had already become a cast-off wife.


    Forget it, better to just head home.

 Chapter 737 - 742 I am wronged_1

    Chapter 737: Chapter 742 I am wronged_1At that moment, Tan Zhenghong was wearing an expression of deep worry, wishing he could just slaughter himself then and there.


    He had spent half a day explaining to others that he had nothing to do with Ruo Lan, but they accused him of being heartless and unrecognizable after pulling up his pants, even though he truly hadn¡¯t done anything.


    Admittedly, he had too much to drink that day, yet his mind was clear.


    When he got home, he was indeed feeling frisky, but Duo¡¯er disliked the smell of alcohol on him and even shooed him off to sleep at the other end of the bed.


    He didn¡¯t even have any chance to do anything to Ruo Lan, right?


    No, he never even considered it!


    Hearing the door being pushed open, Tan Zhenghong hurriedly approached.


    The village was abuzz with rumors, and his wife must have heard about it by now; if he confessed early, maybe he could still avoid the worst of it.


    "Wife, I really didn¡¯t do anything, I came back right after dinner, you must believe me," Tan Zhenghong said urgently.


    He was afraid that if he didn¡¯t make things clear, his wife would refuse to have anything to do with him.


    Duo¡¯er once said she didn¡¯t need him to be rich or noble; she only wanted a partner for life, to support each other until old age.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "I know, and don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯ve taken the medicine, what¡¯s there to fear?"


    Only she knew that Tan Zhenghong had drunk the ¡¯switching dragon for phoenix¡¯ medicine twice, and when the time came, they could collude with the doctor to keep this a secret.


    Since Ruo Lan was scheming against them like this, they didn¡¯t need to play by the usual rules.


    Tan Zhenghong slapped his forehead, how could he have forgotten about that?


    He had been taking contraceptive medicine all along; it was simply impossible for him to get a woman pregnant.


    Thinking with even his toes, he could tell that Ruo Lan was definitely lying.


    The bigger the fuss now, the more embarrassing it would be when the truth came out.


    Once Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed it out, Tan Zhenghong immediately calmed down; they had evidence, so why should they fear a troublesome woman?


    When the time comes, they¡¯ll just have to deal with whatever comes their way. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By evening, Granny Liu had come knocking on their door.


    No sooner had she entered than she began pointing at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s nose and scolding him.


    "Are you even a man? I was saving Ruo Lan to be my daughter-in-law, and you¡¯ve ruined her, that¡¯s bad enough. But now her reputation is destroyed, and she¡¯s with child, how can you not take responsibility?"


    "You¡¯re a beast, treating a pregnant woman this way, watch out for the heavens to strike you down with thunder!"


    "Get a divorce from your wife right now, and marry Ruo Lan, I¡¯m telling you, if you don¡¯t give Ruo Lan an explanation, I will definitely not let you off!"


    Tan Zhenghong furrowed his brow and said, "I¡¯ve never had designs on Ruo Lan, believe it or not."


    "Then where did the child in Ruo Lan¡¯s belly come from?" Granny Liu persisted with her questioning.


    Out of sheer anger, she asked an incredibly foolish question.


    "How should I know where it came from if it¡¯s not my child? I¡¯m a man, I acknowledge the things I¡¯ve done, but please don¡¯t wrong me for things I haven¡¯t done," Tan Zhenghong said unabashedly.


    Ruo Lan thought the child was a bargaining chip, thought that the villagers¡¯ opinions were a bargaining chip.


    In his eyes, however, all of that was a joke.


    Granny Liu ignored this and kept muttering to herself.


    "Ruo Lan loves to eat meat, it must be a boy. Duo¡¯er, you were in poor health before, you might not be able to have children. It might be better to let Ruo Lan join our family, and then the children she bears could be raised under your name, that way you wouldn¡¯t lose out."


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes, she wouldn¡¯t demean herself like that!


    She¡¯d rather be childless than raise her rival¡¯s child.


    Otherwise, it would frustrate her to death sooner or later!


    Granny Liu, dissatisfied, asked, "You two really make a perfect couple, completely lacking any semblance of humanity!"

 Chapter 738 - 743 Shyness All Over_1

    Chapter 738: Chapter 743 Shyness All Over_1"We all saw what happened that night; don¡¯t even think about making excuses, otherwise Ruo Lan and I will accuse you, and then you¡¯ll face the capital crime of beheading!"


    "You better take your family to see a doctor to check your eyes and brains, come back to argue with me after you¡¯ve seen to that."


    Tan Zhenghong finally squeezed out a sentence.


    It was something Duo¡¯er often said, which he was now using effectively.


    The only possibilities for blatantly lying are either you¡¯re blind or your heart is, either way, you¡¯re sick. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But I guess it¡¯s the brain that¡¯s sicker, or else how wouldn¡¯t you know that familial testimonies aren¡¯t used in trials?


    Seeing that she couldn¡¯t persuade Tan Zhenghong, Granny Liu simply started yelling at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    What man in the world doesn¡¯t want multiple wives and a brood of children?


    Those who say they don¡¯t are just too afraid of their formidable wives to admit it.


    She probably has no idea that apart from just sharing a life, some couples are together because of love.


    If it¡¯s pure love, then there¡¯s no room for a third person.


    "It must be you, you wicked woman, forcing Tan Zhenghong to disown his son; doing this will bring divine retribution sooner or later! Do you know why you can¡¯t have children? This is divine punishment!"


    "Why are you still sitting on the nest if you can¡¯t even lay eggs? Didn¡¯t your parents teach you that a woman should be virtuous?"


    "You evil woman, giving birth to a son is not..."


    Granny Liu¡¯s insults got worse and worse, eventually becoming unbearable to listen to.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er impatiently said, "Ah Hong, get her out of here."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hesitate anymore, picked up a broomstick from the ground and started beating her with it.


    They were cursing at his wife; what was there to be polite about?


    If he didn¡¯t lose his temper now, everyone would think he was a pushover, and they would only become more brazen towards his wife!


    Granny Liu got hit a couple of times, quickly scrambled up from the ground and ran out like smoke, with Tan Zhenghong slamming the door shut behind her with a bang.


    He had been so bothered these past few days he felt like vomiting!


    He admitted that Ruo Lan was quite attractive and had a demeanor unlike the average village girl.


    But what did that have to do with him? As long as she wasn¡¯t his Qiao Duo¡¯er, he wouldn¡¯t give her a second glance.


    As for taking advantage of her while drunk, that was utter nonsense!


    "I¡¯m not a meat bone; why do all the mad dogs bite me?" Tan Zhenghong complained.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips into a smile, "They are madmen, they only see Silver in their eyes, and right now you have the most Silver in the village, who else would they bite?"


    "Bite you, I don¡¯t have Silver."


    Tan Zhenghong said seriously; after buying the ring before the year¡¯s end, he only had a few Hundred Wen left.


    He still had to pay wages to Erhu and Uncle Huang, as they helped with the livestock at home.


    This way, his pockets were completely empty.


    However, to be able to stick with his wife, he was willing to pay the wages.


    Spring had already started, and he would soon go hunting again; the money would quickly accumulate back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, did this mean all the Silver in the Embroidery Room shop at home was hers now?


    Um... having such awareness was good; it meant she hadn¡¯t picked the wrong person.


    Tan Zhenghong seriously said, "The life I live now is all because of you; this all belongs to you."


    "You¡¯ve actually learned to be smooth-talking!"


    Qiao Duo chided.


    This guy... must be doing it on purpose because every time he did this, she was left speechless.


    Tan Zhenghong said dissatisfied, "Every time I speak from the heart, you spoil the mood."


    As a result, he was the one who felt bashful.


    Qiao Duo went with the flow and nodded, "I was wrong, I will definitely cooperate when you pour out your heart next time."

 Chapter 739 - 744: Shallow Eyelids_1

    Chapter 739: Chapter 744: Shallow Eyelids_1Granny Liu had just arrived home when Ruo Lan approached her eagerly.


    "Aunt, how did it go?" asked Ruo Lan with anticipation.


    Taking advantage of Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong being busy in town, she had already completed the preparations. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The evidence was found, which was that many people knew Tan Zhenghong had gotten drunk one night and returned home very late.


    Many people supported her, believing that since Tan Zhenghong had taken her body and gotten her pregnant, he should take responsibility for her.


    "I told you to stay put in your room, and yet you come out here making a spectacle of yourself!"


    Granny Liu glared at Ruo Lan, her heart filled with anger.


    If it weren¡¯t for Ruo Lan claiming that she could get at least a few taels of silver by going there, she wouldn¡¯t have been chased away.


    This time her reputation had been completely tarnished!


    Now, not to mention being provided for as mother and child, they flatly denied the child was his!


    She had thought Ruo Lan was honest but had caused such a fuss only a few days after arriving at Big Willow Village.


    It only made her feel sorrier for her foolish son, who still pined for Ruo Lan.


    Thinking this, Granny Liu grew even angrier, feeling that she should chase this girl out!


    "Aunt, I was momentarily foolish, please don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing," Ruo Lan quickly tried to appease with a smile.


    Granny Liu said disdainfully, "A good thing? You shameless hussy, getting pregnant without being married, who in the village doesn¡¯t laugh at you? Let me tell you, don¡¯t expect me to support you and your bastard child!"


    She had kept Ruo Lan initially because of her good looks, nice behind, and ability to earn silver.


    But until now, it had all been a case of her ending up paying instead!


    "Just as long as Brother Zheng Hong is willing to marry me, I will leave the bride price for you. With the silver, you could even arrange a marriage for cousin with a girl from town."


    "Though I¡¯ve stayed in Mansion City, I was still just a servant; how could I be worthy of cousin?"


    As Ruo Lan soothed her in this manner, Granny Liu felt much more comfortable.


    She believed her own son was the best, deserving even the daughters of wealthy families.


    Once he brought a Golden Phoenix home, life would be better for the entire family.


    Perhaps she too could live a life dressed in silk and satins, wearing gold and silver, with maids at her beck and call.


    Granny Liu lowered her voice, "You¡¯ve seen much of the world, tell me, how much bride price could a family like the Tans give for taking a concubine?"


    "Aunt, the Tan Family just doesn¡¯t like to show off. They actually have more silver than a landlord¡¯s family ¨C if not a hundred, then surely around fifty taels," said Ruo Lan casually. She needed to keep her shallow-eyed aunt on her side.


    There were some matters she couldn¡¯t handle herself and needed to rely heavily on her aunt.


    As for the Tans¡¯ wealth, she believed it was no less than two thousand taels, and it was only increasing.


    Once she married into the family, she was confident that everything the Tans owned would end up in her hands.


    Then Granny Liu would have no choice but to beg on her knees, and Ruo Lan could repay all the humiliations she had suffered.


    "How is that possible?"


    Granny Liu exclaimed in shock before quickly covering her mouth. How could the Tans have so much silver?


    Ruo Lan said patiently, "You don¡¯t know this. When I went to town, I saw that they have opened a store in the county city. Wealthy ladies and misses frequent it, and even a little spill from their fingers would be enough for us for a lifetime!"


    And what she saw might not even be all of the Tan¡¯s assets.


    Granny Liu¡¯s eyes lit up instantly,


    With an affectionate tone, Ruo Lan held Granny Liu¡¯s arm and said, "Aunt, please help me. You are more important to me than my own mother. Once I marry into a good life, I will never forget about you."

 Chapter 740 - 745 Bad Woman_1

    Chapter 740: Chapter 745 Bad Woman_1"I¡¯ll think of another way, you just need to secure the man¡¯s heart. As long as he is willing, who can stop it?"


    Granny Liu gave Ruo Lan a meaningful glance; this was the crux of the matter. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er really interfered, then they could just have Tan Zhenghong keep Ruo Lan as a concubine.


    That way, she could control Ruo Lan even better.


    "Auntie, rest assured, I know what I¡¯m doing,"


    Ruo Lan said with full confidence, convinced that even if Tan Zhenghong had a heart of stone, she could warm it up.


    Granny Liu lowered her eyes, hiding the sharp glint in her crafty gaze.


    After pondering for a while, she went out again¡ªthere were some things that needed to be spread around.


    For instance, how Qiao Duo¡¯er was a jealous type, or how she was so ruthless that she couldn¡¯t even tolerate children, and was disrespectful to her elders, completely unfit to be married to Tan Zhenghong...


    Thus, new gossip began to circulate in the village, with signs of escalating further.


    The villagers craned their necks, eager to catch any commotion from the Tan Family¡¯s Door, but aside from the constant coming and going of ox carts delivering and collecting goods, the door remained tightly shut at all other times.


    It seemed the family didn¡¯t care at all about the affair.


    Outside the door were gossiping hearts, yet inside was a life of tranquility.


    During the daytime, the little donkey pushed the small millstone at a leisurely pace, Tan Zhenghong busied himself with washing flowers, rendering lard, and beeswax, while Qiao Duo¡¯er was occupied with blending face mask powders and Fragrance Paste. In her free time, she would play with the two big dogs, bathe them and groom their fur.


    At night, the two of them would turn in early, read books, and engage in some discordant activities, thoroughly enjoying themselves.


    Three or five days passed like this, and Granny Liu and Ruo Lan became anxious.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reaction, it was clear that he was wholly under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s control, and they didn¡¯t even have the chance to exchange a word with him.


    Latter on they huddled together and came up with a plan.


    Early the next morning, they knelt in front of the Tan Family¡¯s Door, wailing loudly.


    "Duo¡¯er, Ruo Lan is already pregnant. I beg you, please let her enter. Otherwise, this child will be born illegitimate!"


    "Madam, Ruo Lan knows her place and wouldn¡¯t dare to compete with you. I am willing to leave after giving birth to the child. All I ask is that you treat my child kindly and not let him suffer."


    Ruo Lan and Granny Liu kept kowtowing while they spoke, misleading any uninformed onlooker into thinking they were facing grave injustice.


    Hearing the commotion outside, Qiao Duo rolled her eyes, "I think it¡¯s time we let the truth out; otherwise, it¡¯s too frustrating."


    She had initially wanted them to make a big fuss, so they would be unable to get off their high horse.


    But having such disturbances every other day, who has the time to deal with them?


    She planned to restock the warehouse during this period and, upon obtaining the musk, to go to Mansion City to start preparing for the opening of a branch store.


    "I¡¯ll go over the wall in a bit to find Uncle Wu and have him check the age of the child first,"


    Tan Zhenghong revealed his plan, remembering that Chen Yi Ling had once deduced that Ruo Lan had hooked up with Old Master Niu.


    If that were the case, the timing would definitely be off.


    "Have you no shame? It¡¯s not even clear whose child it is!"


    The woman from the Hu¡¯s Clan said disdainfully.


    She had originally planned to bring some pork and pig heart to Qiao Duo and the others.


    But she had not expected to run into these two shameless individuals.


    Apart from the Liu family, who else could prove the child belonged to Tan Zhenghong? Anyway, she believed the Liu family was scheming for profit.


    Granny Liu stood up, her face hardened as she spoke, "Ruo Lan is not a loose woman."


    The woman from Hu¡¯s Clan mocked, "This is the first time I¡¯ve heard of a ¡¯decent¡¯ woman getting pregnant before marriage."


    "Sister Lan, I know you were driven out for not bearing a son, but we have no quarrel. You can¡¯t view all women who give birth to sons as enemies,"


    Ruo Lan said pitifully.

 Chapter 741 - 746: The First Sign of Red

    Chapter 741: Chapter 746: The First Sign of Red"Wicked woman, how do you know the child in your belly is a son?"


    Da Ya stood in front of her own mother, looking at Ruo Lan with a fierce and angry gaze.


    The pain of not having borne a son haunted her mother¡¯s entire life, and she would not let anyone expose her mother¡¯s scars.


    Granny Liu scolded, "With such character, it¡¯s no wonder your father wants to sell you off, whoever raises you is cursed!"


    "Keep your mouth clean on my doorstep, or I¡¯ll beat you so hard you¡¯ll be looking for your teeth!" Qiao Duo¡¯er opened the door and said angrily.


    What have Hu¡¯s Clan and Da Ya done to deserve such humiliation?


    Ruo Lan wiped her tears, "Mrs. Tan, I truly know I was wrong, it¡¯s all my fault, but please save my child, I don¡¯t want him to have to spend his life looking up to others!"


    "If the child is Zheng Hong¡¯s, I¡¯ll willingly leave, but if not, I want you to get lost," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Granny Liu was hopping mad, "How can you say that? By the time the child is born, it¡¯ll be too late for everything!"


    But Ruo Lan was very calm, "Mrs. Tan, I hope you¡¯ll keep your word."


    If she dared to let word out, it meant she was pretty confident about it.


    "A word spoken is past recalling, but if you don¡¯t believe me I can go find the village chief to write a contract," Qiao Duo¡¯er said decisively. If this child really is Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, there¡¯s no point for her and Tan Zhenghong to continue together.


    Granny Liu glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "I¡¯m supporting her and the child with food and drink, shouldn¡¯t you give me the Silver first?"


    "If you think the child is Ah Hong¡¯s, you can continue to shelter them, but I¡¯m not going to advance one Wen Money," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated clearly.


    Now, Granny Liu was like betting all she had, if right, she¡¯d live comfortably for the rest of her life, otherwise, she would lose everything.


    Ruo Lan had tears in her eyes, "Mrs. Tan, why won¡¯t you believe me?"


    "Dare not?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, but her eyes were full of defiance.


    Suddenly, Ruo Lan felt a heavy sensation in her lower abdomen and leaned weakly against Granny Liu.


    "Save me, my stomach hurts so much!"


    Ruo Lan said painfully, clutching her belly.


    Granny Liu suddenly saw a smear of red on her pants and urgently shouted, "Move aside, let her in, she¡¯s bleeding!"


    They had planned to fake a bellyache during the argument, but how could it be so realistically bloody?


    Seeing Ruo Lan¡¯s face as pale as a ghost, she was really scared stiff.


    Could it be for real?


    Hu¡¯s Clan picked up Ruo Lan horizontally, "You go quickly for the doctor, I¡¯ll carry her back home."


    As the saying goes, it¡¯s easy to invite a deity but difficult to send them away; once Ruo Lan entered the door, it would be hard to kick her out.


    And this troublemaker was sure to make a mess of the Tan Family.


    Granny Liu stamped her feet, "Let her go, shaking her about like that, she¡¯s sure to lose the child."


    This woman really likes to meddle, no wonder no one wants her!


    "I¡¯m strong, I¡¯m holding her very steady, if she dies, it¡¯ll be because you were slow in fetching the doctor," Hu¡¯s Clan said unhurriedly.


    Accustomed to heavy labor, her strength wasn¡¯t much less than that of a man, lifting eighty-something pounds of Ruo Lan was easy for her.


    This incident happened right at the Tan Family¡¯s Door, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t avoid getting involved, she had to lock her door and go along.


    It was also a good chance to see how big the child really was.


    After the examination, Wu Youcai said it was due to emotional distress causing a disturbance in the pregnancy qi, and the pulse was weak, suggesting the child in the womb was likely unwell.


    "I advise you to consider giving up on this pregnancy now, she¡¯s still young, she has more chances in the future."


    Otherwise, if a problem occurs with the child, both the mother and child will suffer.

 Chapter 742 - 747: Treating Human Life as Grass

    Chapter 742: Chapter 747: Treating Human Life as GrassGranny Liu said resolutely, "You must save the child. If the child is lost, Ruo Lan won¡¯t be able to go on living."


    Wu Youcai then looked toward Liu Laosan. This was a matter of life and death, and it required the head of the family to make a decision.


    Otherwise, if the child was born with any defects, it would be his fault again.


    Just as Liu Laosan was about to speak, he was glared back into silence by Granny Liu.


    With the heart of a parent, Wu Youcai could only persuade again, "This is no small matter; think it through."


    Otherwise, the days of regret lay ahead.


    "What do you mean? If you, as a doctor, don¡¯t treat and save people, that¡¯s one thing; but how can you still be intent on harming others? If you don¡¯t save the child today, you can forget about being a doctor ever again!"


    Granny Liu scolded with hands on her hips, looking as though she was facing a nemesis.


    For Wu Youcai, her nemesis indeed, was thwarting her from earning silver.


    Without the child, how could she demand silver from the Tan Family?


    Madame Gu said irritably, "If my husband could cure all diseases, why would he still be a village doctor? He¡¯d be a deity!"


    Accompanying her husband to treat women, she would come along, as it was not convenient for Wu Youcai, a man, to be alone with them.


    It was lucky he didn¡¯t come today, otherwise her husband would have been bullied to death.


    Wu Youcai tugged at Madame Gu¡¯s sleeve, "Life and death are at stake; let¡¯s go inside."


    It was his mistake to have interfered in the first place.


    Now the Liu family was counting on this child for their prosperity; how could they not want it?


    "You can go if you want, but I won¡¯t treat such heartless people!"


    Madame Gu rolled her eyes and walked away.


    Over the years, Wu Youcai practiced medicine in the village, thinking that life was hard for everyone, so he waived fees when he could.


    Little did he expect to end up with a reputation for being indifferent to human life!


    Wu Youcai touched his nose awkwardly, guessing he would have to play the grandson for a few more days once he got home.


    Sigh, his wife too... how could she embarrass him in front of so many people?


    But thankfully, he already knew the basic situation. He directly took out two Fetus Protection Pills and wrote a prescription.


    "Follow this prescription when dispensing the medicine; boil it with three bowls of water until reduced to one bowl, and take it twice daily, morning and evening. She must also remain calm and must not overexert herself,"


    Wu Youcai specifically instructed.


    The pregnancy did not look good for this child, and if it wasn¡¯t well-nurtured afterwards, it likely wouldn¡¯t survive until birth.


    As for that child... Hopefully, it¡¯s a good one.


    Because only when the child was born could Tan Zhenghong¡¯s innocence be proven. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon receiving the note, Granny Liu said, "This child is Tan Zhenghong¡¯s; ask them for the payment."


    Wu Youcai looked troubled; how could he possibly ask for the medicine fee?


    He had just been discussing this matter with Tan Zhenghong at home, and he was clear about the truth.


    However, Tan Zhenghong had been drinking contraceptive herbal teas, which the villagers wouldn¡¯t believe, as they couldn¡¯t understand his reasoning.


    Other families without sons would desperately try to have one, and those with sons would continue to have more, for ¡¯the more sons, the more blessings.¡¯


    Where could you find someone like Tan Zhenghong, who, fearing his wife¡¯s pain, didn¡¯t want children?


    On the other side, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er had already discussed their strategy.


    Ruo Lan had been pregnant for over two months; the timing fit.


    Since no one would believe the truth about contraception, they would have to shoulder this matter for now.


    "Today, in front of everyone, I will make myself clear. They slander me, saying this child is mine, I can¡¯t explain otherwise; I can only wait for the child to be born for a blood test to determine paternity. If it¡¯s mine, I will certainly take responsibility. If it¡¯s not, I won¡¯t pay a single Wen,"


    Tan Zhenghong straightened his back, his every word resonating with force.


    As a man, he would never shy away from his responsibilities.

 Chapter 743 - 748: Clown Liang_1

    Chapter 743: Chapter 748: Clown Liang_1But that didn¡¯t mean she had to take on every responsibility, he would only assume those that were rightfully his.


    Otherwise, if every day a woman popped up claiming to be carrying his child, how could he and Qiao Duo¡¯er live their lives?


    "Hmph, that sounds nice, but you¡¯re just afraid of women!"


    Granny Liu said with disdain.


    She also glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, if not for Qiao Duo¡¯er, could Tan Zhenghong have rejected the beautiful Ruo Lan?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "As long as the child is Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, I will vacate my position for Ruo Lan and give her the power to manage the household."


    This term was tempting, wasn¡¯t it?


    Too bad that these people could only dream about it.


    "Empty talk is useless, I¡¯ll ask the village head to draw up a contract," Granny Liu¡¯s eyes flashed with cunning.


    That way, she had something to fall back on if Qiao Duo¡¯er went back on her word in the future.


    By the time Tie Niu arrived, Tan Zhenghong had already drafted the contract.


    He even added a clause: a dowry of five hundred taels, plus ten acres of land.


    "Uncle Tie, Uncle Wu, please be my witnesses," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong handed the contract to the two men, who had experienced many things and would certainly spot any inconsistencies.


    Tie Niu and Wu Youcai looked at each other, their eyes full of surprise.


    Tan Zhenghong was undoubtedly a leader among the younger generation and was sure to become a prominent figure in Big Willow Village.


    Tie Niu and Wu Youcai¡¯s families were close to the Tan Family, and since Tan Zhenghong had asked, they naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    But still, Tie Niu cautioned, "Once the contract is made, there can be no regrets. You all need to think it through."


    "I will not regret it."


    Tan Zhenghong said without hesitation, ready to accept the child¡¯s birth right away.


    Granny Liu snorted, what was the use of being stubborn when facing death?


    "Village head, please read the contract to me again, I¡¯m afraid he might deceive me."


    Granny Liu had her doubts; Tan Zhenghong had written the contract, so who knew if there were any traps?


    As village head, Tie Niu couldn¡¯t show too much bias toward the Tan Family, or else Granny Liu would definitely kick up a fuss.


    He had no choice but to read the contract aloud in front of everyone.


    Seeing that there were no issues, Granny Liu pressed her thumbprint on the document. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Afterward, Tan Zhenghong, Tie Niu, and Wu Youcai all pressed their thumbprints in turn, validating the contract.


    Only after securing the contract did Tan Zhenghong put it away, when the Wang Clan and Little Wang Clan hurried over.


    "Ah Hong, have you acknowledged the child?"


    The Wang Clan looked at Tan Zhenghong, deeply concerned about the issue of progeny.


    That¡¯s why she had rushed over as soon as she heard about the matter.


    Granny Liu spoke first, "No wonder your family can¡¯t produce grandsons, the two you did have, one is fat as death, the other a walking medicine jar, all because your family does too many dishonorable things!"


    Not acknowledging even his own son, what good could he be?


    "You bastard, how can you reject the seed of the Tan Family? Are you deliberately trying to make the Old Tan Family die out?"


    "I see you are nothing but a shameless wretch, a Star of Misfortune. As soon as you entered the door, Zheng Hong broke his leg, and now you can¡¯t bear children yourself, and you even jinx his children, do you have any conscience at all?"


    The Wang Clan pointed at Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s noses and cursed foully.


    Tan Zhenghong responded coolly, "This is my business."


    They had severed ties, what right did she have to meddle?


    After saying this, he pulled his wife and went home, leaving behind the Wang Clan, who, once she came to her senses, started wailing and howling again.


    But in the eyes of others, the Wang Clan was just a Clown Liang.


    It was common knowledge that the Tan Family had cut off relations, so how could this woman have the face to meddle in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s affairs?

 Chapter 744 - 749 Regretted_1

    Chapter 744: Chapter 749 Regretted_1"Stop wailing," Tie Niu said with disdain. "Before the New Year, Ah Hong even asked me to send you a holiday gift, and you still treat Brother Zheng Hong like this. Aren¡¯t you ashamed?"


    Crying might look graceful for a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, but what¡¯s the point when you¡¯re an old granny with one foot in the grave?


    Alas, even he felt sorry for himself as village chief.


    Watching the old lady throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground every day, he was almost driven blind!


    "After driving the person away, you have the nerve to bring up the past. Have you no shame?"


    "Do they even care about shame? It¡¯s not like they can spend it as silver."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t look back as he walked away, spoiling all of Wang Clan¡¯s plans to change daughters-in-law.


    If she continued to make a scene here, others would gossip about her, leaving her no choice but to slink away in defeat.


    No, she would have to talk to Tan Zhenghong about this matter again next time.


    At least Ruo Lan would take her seriously, unlike Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was a bad influence on her son. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To the onlooking crowd, Wang Clan had just performed a free monkey show for their entertainment.


    As the crowd thinned out, the Liu family finally regained some peace.


    Granny Liu felt more and more regretful the more she thought about it at home; something about this whole matter didn¡¯t sit right with her.


    From beginning to end, neither Tan Zhenghong nor Qiao Duo¡¯er showed the slightest hesitation, consistently saying the child couldn¡¯t possibly be from the Tan Family?


    Could it really be that there was something wrong with Ruo Lan?


    Liu Laosan timely said, "I still think we shouldn¡¯t have signed that document today."


    After all the uproar within our close-knit community, how are we going to face each other in the future?


    Feeling guilty, Granny Liu fiddled with her hair and muttered, "If that little wench Ruo Lan dares to trick me, I¡¯ll sell her to some filthy place to let her sleep with men until she¡¯s had enough!"


    "Stop nagging about that. Go take care of Ruo Lan. She¡¯s in no condition to fend for herself, and it won¡¯t be good if she wakes up alone," Liu Laosan urged, emphasizing that the priority was to guarantee the safety of both the adult and child.


    "I know, it¡¯s just you who worries too much. She¡¯s just a lowly maid; what trouble could she possibly get into?" Granny Liu said discontentedly.


    But fearing the silver that was almost in her hands might slip away, she still went to take care of Ruo Lan.


    She finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there was no more blood seeping out from below.


    As long as there was no bleeding, the child was safe.


    The child inside Ruo Lan¡¯s belly wasn¡¯t just a baby; it was her golden egg!


    However, all this hinged on the child being Tan Zhenghong¡¯s. At that thought, she sighed again.


    If Ruo Lan was lying to her, then not only would the promised five hundred taels and ten acres be lost, but even the silver spent on her would have been wasted.


    She had already spent nearly one tael of silver on chicken eggs and meat and other provisions over the past few days.


    As soon as Ruo Lan woke up, Granny Liu immediately asked, "Be honest with me, whose child is this really?"


    Ruo Lan said with teary eyes, "Auntie, don¡¯t you believe me? It was Brother Zheng Hong who deceived me. He said he would marry me and take me into the Tan Family once I had his child."


    "You better not be lying to me, or you¡¯ll regret it. I¡¯ve signed a contract with Tan Zhenghong today. As long as this child is his, he¡¯ll marry you, make you the lady of the house, and you¡¯ll be set for life," Granny Liu said, her mind whirling with calculations about her future life.


    Once that time came, she would manage the embroidery room and rake in plenty of silver.


    Ruo Lan¡¯s expression stiffened for an instant before she quickly forced a smile, "Thank you, Auntie, for your powerful support!"


    In reality, she was thinking just two words: Fool!


    Her original plan had been to get into the Tan Family and then get rid of the child.


    Otherwise, her secret would be discovered sooner or later!

 Chapter 745 - 750 My Egg is Flawless_1

    Chapter 745: Chapter 750 My Egg is Flawless_1"Don¡¯t you see who I am? You just focus on resting, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest," Granny Liu said, patting her chest.


    For Five Hundred Taels of Silver, she¡¯d be willing to even call her "Mother."


    Ruo Lan nodded obediently, but her heart was in turmoil.


    She lay on the bed, anxious, suddenly feeling that no matter what she did, it was wrong.


    After a long internal struggle, Ruo Lan finally opened her eyes.


    By this point, the only option was to give birth to the child.


    She could only hope the child would resemble her and not that old thing, to avoid any unpleasant rumors.


    Thinking about the Niu Family still made her liver ache with anger.


    They had agreed that once she became pregnant, she would become a concubine, and she held onto that hope until she overheard the master and madam¡¯s conversation that day.


    Their plan was to make her abort the child and then sell her to the Qing Building!


    The reason was simple: the madam didn¡¯t want the master to take a concubine and especially didn¡¯t want anyone else challenging her child for the inheritance.


    So she stole the Servitude Contract and ran away from the Niu Family.


    Since the Niu Family knew her home address, she could only hide in Big Willow Village.


    Alas, why was her life so hard?


    Some time later, Granny Liu brought in hot water to bathe Ruo Lan, who quickly hid all her cunning thoughts.


    Some secrets were better kept within her own heart, not to be let on to others.


    Ever since the document was made, the Liu family hadn¡¯t stepped foot in her home, but the odd looks from others never stopped.


    The villagers turned Liu Village upside down, but nobody had done anything to Ruo Lan.


    The only possibility was that Tan Zhenghong had taken advantage of her while drunk, a deed unworthy of a gentleman for not owning up to his actions.


    But with the document in place, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t deny it.


    The most unlucky was Qiao Duo¡¯er, demoted from wife to concubine, with Ruo Lan in charge now. If she couldn¡¯t produce a child, what kind of life would she have?


    Thus, the winds of gossip in Big Willow Village changed once more.


    "I think Tan Zhenghong got tired of his own wife and pulled this stunt."


    "How is that possible? Ruo Lan is pretty, but she¡¯s nothing compared to his current wife. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t trade even for ten Ruo Lans."


    "Look how dumb you are, can¡¯t he have both women?"


    "Ah, it¡¯s good to have Silver. Both are beautiful, way more than my wife by a hundredfold."


    "Poor Ruo Lan, it¡¯s obvious she¡¯s no match for Qiao Duo."


    "Who knows, Ruo Lan has stayed in a big household, doesn¡¯t she have some insights?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sitting in the carriage, Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows. When would this darn issue ever end?


    If only they had technology like DNA testing now, why go through all this hassle?


    They just needed to present the test results, and everything would be clear.


    It wouldn¡¯t be like now, with nobody believing Tan Zhenghong had taken contraception.


    Tan Zhenghong let out a sigh. He was just sitting at home and trouble came from the sky; his heart was troubled!


    "Wife, it¡¯s all my fault," Tan Zhenghong weakly said.


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes. "Only attracting rotten peaches, flies don¡¯t bite an egg without cracks; you¡¯re no good-fer-nothing!"


    Xiao Biyu made a big fuss and got thrown into jail, thinking that would be the end of it. But then came a more troublesome Ruo Lan, proving that Tan Zhenghong was too discreet for his own good.


    Tan Zhenghong said with an aggrieved tone, "How could my egg have cracks you don¡¯t know about?"


    Qiao Duo tossed him a disdainful look. Could he be any more lewd? Any more shameless? Couldn¡¯t they have a decent conversation?


    Every time they talked, he would start on these risqu¨¦ topics.


    And she was no better, getting swept up every time Tan Zhenghong spun his lecherous yarns, extinguishing any anger she held, no matter how great.

 Chapter 746 - 751 Miss Gu’s Family_1

    Chapter 746: Chapter 751 Miss Gu¡¯s Family_1Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly arrived in town, where she had arranged to go shopping with Chen Yiling today to buy some things for the child.


    Tan Zhenghong, on the other hand, headed to the store first; they were receiving facial mask powder in the storeroom today, and he needed to keep an eye on it.


    With springtime at its peak and Chen Yiling¡¯s belly not too large, it was an excellent opportunity for shopping.


    Without the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, the town had become much more prosperous.


    It didn¡¯t take long before the two of them had purchased quite a few small items, such as clothes, quilts, copper basins, and roasted soap pods.


    These things could be delegated to servants, but doing it oneself felt more personal.


    The last big item on the list was a cradle, so they went together to Wind Liyang¡¯s carpentry shop.


    The one attending to them was none other than Gu Qingdie, whom the Zou¡¯s were particularly fond of as a daughter-in-law.


    With delicate features, an elegant personality, and graceful manners, Gu Qingdie was indeed a rare beauty to behold.


    No wonder the Zou¡¯s were eager to hasten the marriage between the two.


    "Do you ladies need anything?" Gu Qingdie asked with a smile.


    Touching her slightly showing belly, Chen Yiling said, "I came to pick out a cradle. We have known each other for so long, you have to recommend me one that¡¯s both practical and beautiful."


    "Just a few days ago, our master carpenter made a few new cradles, let me show you."


    Gu Qingdie led the two to the storeroom in the backyard.


    Loft beds and sofas were very popular now, and everything else had to be stored in the backyard.


    "This one is made of Huanghuali wood, constructed with large planks, and later it can be converted into a separate little bed, that one over there is rosewood..."


    Gu Qingdie introduced them with expertise, showing no signs that just a few days prior, she was the second young lady of Gu¡¯s Family.


    She must have put in a lot of effort for Wind Liyang. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Qingdie, you¡¯re really amazing, you¡¯ve become so knowledgeable in just a few days!" Chen Yiling gave her a thumbs-up.


    "You flatter me, Yi Ling sister, I only know a little," said Gu Qingdie, modestly lowering her head.


    Business was the only thing that could get her a few words with Wind Liyang, so naturally, she treasured this chance.


    But she felt that she still wasn¡¯t good enough.


    Otherwise, Wind Liyang wouldn¡¯t avoid giving her a direct look, so she had to work even harder.


    Chen Yiling playfully scolded, "Don¡¯t be modest, being able to do this much in just a few days is great. The shop is busy, so I won¡¯t hold you up from doing business. Later on, just have someone deliver the cradle to my place."


    She pointed to a cradle made of sour wood, which had a simple but elegant design.


    "I¡¯ll arrange for the delivery right away, please feel free to look around more."


    Gu Qingdie immediately agreed, thinking of also sending some gifts along, for she was very grateful that they had not shown her the slightest disdain.


    Being able to come to Gu¡¯s Family shop made her both happy and anxious: happy to be with the person she liked, but worried about other people¡¯s scorn and disdain.


    A Miss Housekeeper like her, marrying into a carpenter¡¯s shop, would definitely be the subject of ridicule.


    But now, she felt there was nothing to worry about at all!


    Having left the carpentry shop, Chen Yiling, who was starving, followed her nose to a noodle shop.


    "You really have the nose of a dog!"


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but tease.


    Chen Yiling replied with a mischievous smile, "Wait until you¡¯re pregnant, then you¡¯ll understand."


    She was just one of those pregnant women particularly sensitive to smells; she could distinguish even the faintest of scents.


    Qiao Duo had nothing to say; indeed, some people unlocked new skills when they were pregnant.


    Soon, the Yangchun noodles were served.


    Clear soup, pristine noodles, topped with a bit of green onion¡ªit looked very tempting.


    Anxious to eat, Chen Yiling picked up her chopsticks, "I¡¯m starting; I won¡¯t wait for you."

 Chapter 747 - 752 Caution_1

    Chapter 747: Chapter 752 Caution_1In the evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong met at Duo Meifang.


    As soon as she entered the shop, she saw a large pile of children¡¯s items, all of which she had just bought with Chen Yiling.


    "You¡¯re expecting a child, yet you didn¡¯t tell us," Zou¡¯s feigned anger.


    Pregnancy and childbirth were major life events, and they hadn¡¯t heard any news about it before.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a full head of black lines, said, "These were sent over by Ling¡¯er."


    It must have been Chen Yiling who had ChunTao buy the same set and sent it over; she was simply a tycoon.


    Realizing the situation, Zou¡¯s quickly said, "Then keep them; your time will come soon."


    If these two put in a little more effort, they would soon need this set of things.


    Tan Zhenghong resisted the idea, as he did not want a little thing to disturb his and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s life.


    "You¡¯re thinking too much; what she means is that she will move in to my house with her son in the future, so she has prepared everything in advance to avoid the hassle of moving back and forth."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained the situation, well aware of the little schemes that Chen Yiling had in mind.


    Moreover, knowing that they were delivering goods today and rushing over with an ox cart saved her the trouble of sending another trip.


    The once innocent Chen Yiling had now been led astray by Lord Qin.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed instantly; having a child come over to the house to lift the mood could be nice occasionally.


    So when they returned home, there was a fully loaded ox cart following their carriage.


    The cart was packed with children¡¯s items, and rumors intensified.


    At such a time, preparing a carriage full of children¡¯s stuff must be for Ruo Lan, right?


    Hence, some people spent their days counting on their fingers, waiting for the days to pass.


    Eagerly anticipating the day when Qiao Duo¡¯er would be driven out.


    For example, the Liu family, who would benefit greatly once Ruo Lan became the mistress of the Tan Family.


    And then there were the Tan family members, who, intimidated by Qiao Duo¡¯s power, had to tread lightly; they were looking forward to changing daughters-in-law, so they could make Tan Zhenghong support them in their old age as before.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was unaware of other people¡¯s thoughts and simply continued to wait at home for the male musk deer to scrape off the fragrance pouch.


    Besides that, she also had to start planning for the shops in Mansion City.


    So she was completely clueless about what was happening outside and didn¡¯t want to know either.


    In early March, as Qiao Duo¡¯er was feeding the musk deer at her usual time, she suddenly noticed a furry little thing near a corner of the ground.


    Looking at the two male musk deer, the fragrance pouches that were there yesterday were now nowhere to be seen.


    "Tan Zhenghong, bring the fire tongs over here!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shouted. Under normal circumstances, she would never be so dramatic.


    But not today; if she walked away and the musk deer urinated on it, it would be a terrible waste.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly put down what he was doing, brought over the fire tongs, and carefully extracted the fragrance pouch.


    After receiving the fragrance pouch, Qiao Duo¡¯er held it up to her nose to smell it, and the next second, her expression turned from sunny to gloomy.


    Where was the uniquely fragrant and enduring scent of musk that had been promised?


    As soon as she brought it close to her nose, she smelled something horrendously foul, almost enough to make her faint.


    "Wife, what¡¯s the matter with..."


    Before Tan Zhenghong could finish asking, Qiao Duo¡¯er held the fragrance pouch up to his nose, and he immediately shut his mouth.


    After dodging the fragrance pouch, he accused, "Are you trying to murder your own husband?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a challenging glance. Sharing a fortune together also meant sharing adversity; naturally, an unpleasant smell like this had to be shared as well. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong looked helpless: "Is this really musk? Do you think we¡¯ve made a mistake?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt Tan Zhenghong made a good point.


    "Quick, harness the ox cart, and send this thing over to Bai Yifan," she said urgently.

 Chapter 748 - 753: This is My Daughter-in-law_1

    Chapter 748: Chapter 753: This is My Daughter-in-law_1She had just been joking around with Tan Zhenghong, and if this wasn¡¯t musk, the business plan for Duo Meifang would have to change.


    That would have had a huge impact.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately did as he was told, and two hours later, they were already at Deji Hall.


    "This is the musk you¡¯ve been so obsessed with, take a look."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed the cloth bag to Bai Yifan with a look of disgust.


    The smell was something you would never want to experience a second time after the first.


    After opening the cloth bag, Bai Yifan was overjoyed, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯ve come just in time, I was just waiting for musk to make a plaster for Grandmother!" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn¡¯t just the familiar fragrance, but the undigested snake bones in the fragrance pouch that also proved the musk was of extremely high quality.


    Because snake venom, once digested by musk deer, has a very high medicinal value and is even more effective for heart disease and healing bruises and injuries.


    "You couldn¡¯t have gotten it wrong, could you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was skeptical.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out what the effect would be of adding musk to a plaster; surely it would overwhelm anyone who used it.


    Bai Yifan explained, "This thing needs to be dried and then dissolved in water or wine to release a special fragrance, if you smell it directly, all you can detect is the animal¡¯s body odor."


    What they had in their hands now was just the most basic form of it.


    To become pure musk, it would still need to go through many more processes.


    "Well, that¡¯s good." Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her little heart; now she could finally relax.


    All winter long, the musk deer had been well fed and looked after; if their production wasn¡¯t musk, she figured she¡¯d cry to death.


    "Besides being a medicinal ingredient, musk is also a valuable fragrance. Once I refine the fragrance, you can add it to your scented powders and perfumes, and hike up the price a little more," Bai Yifan said with a chuckle.


    It was his first time seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er with such a naively cute expression¡ªit was adorable!


    But then he received a warning look from Tan Zhenghong.


    Some people were getting too arrogant; they needed a wife with a face as big as a basin and full of pockmarks to put them in line!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Just leave one for me, that¡¯s enough."


    This was also a business trick; if you want your business to last, you need to keep introducing new things to maintain vitality.


    She was planning to test the waters with a few new varieties in her new store in Mansion City, and once people¡¯s appetites were sufficiently whetted, she¡¯d officially start selling.


    The last thing Mansion City was lacking was wealthy people.


    Bai Yifan agreed without hesitation, "I¡¯ll keep another one for myself then, this one is of very high quality, I¡¯ll give you ten taels of gold."


    "Forget the gold, you need to help me find some reliable people; there are a few more musk deer about to give birth at home, and I¡¯ll need help taking care of them," Qiao Duo¡¯er altered her request, as she seldom picked anyone to her liking at Tooth Row.


    Because the good quality servants were always snapped up by the wealthy households first, so she could only rely on Bai Yifan¡¯s help with this matter.


    Bai Yifan readily agreed, "I promise to get it done perfectly."


    Once he knew the number of musk deer at Duo¡¯er¡¯s house, Bai Yifan suddenly thought of another thing.


    "Right, the best way to raise musk deer is to imitate their natural habitat. I have a hill here that was originally intended for cultivating herbs, but the soil isn¡¯t suitable, so it¡¯s been left unused. You can use it for the time being."


    That hilltop seemed to have a grudge against him; the grass grew luxuriantly, but no medicinal herbs would take root at all.


    So after a few attempts, it was left as is.


    "Whether you rent it to me or sell it to me, I can accept it, but I can¡¯t just use it for free," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, half jokingly.


    Even as sworn siblings, clear accounts made for good relations.


    That was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude, and she treated Chen Yiling the same.

 Chapter 749 - 754: Rejected at the Door_1

    Chapter 749: Chapter 754: Rejected at the Door_1Bai Yifan nodded, "Of course it¡¯s not for you to use for free, I want thirty percent of the musk for the first ten years."


    Musk deer produce the most musk between three and eight years old, which is their prime secretion period. If everything goes smoothly, he could definitely recoup the silver used to buy the mountain in ten years.


    But in case of any accidents, he could share the risks with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched lazily, "You guys discuss this, I haven¡¯t seen Ling¡¯er for quite a few days now."


    If she stayed any longer, she was afraid Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes would start twitching. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had now grown into a massive jar of vinegar.


    She had told him several times that Bai Yifan had no other intentions, yet he guarded against Bai Yifan as if he were guarding against a thief.


    Isn¡¯t that tiring?


    In reality, she was just an ordinary peasant wife, how could she attract so much attention?


    But in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart, she was the best in the world.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a bright smile, "Be careful on the road, I¡¯ll come and take you home in a bit."


    Bai Yifan gave Tan Zhenghong a look as if he were an idiot and even squeezed out three words, "Stingy Cat."


    "Wait until you have a wife, and you¡¯ll know it¡¯s not okay to let someone else take a second glance at your wife," Tan Zhenghong said self-righteously.


    Bai Yifan, imagining himself in that position, indeed found that to be true.


    If Qiao Duo were his, he¡¯d hate not to be able to hide her at home all the time, away from anyone¡¯s prying eyes.


    But that was all he could do: imagine.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a dark face, "Your expression has already betrayed you, but I won¡¯t give you any chance to take advantage of the situation, hurry up and talk business!"


    Humph, his good temper today was entirely because business is business!


    "To the back hall, Stingy Cat!" Bai Yifan taunted once more.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a pang of sympathy for Bai Yifan. It was a good thing he had made his move first, otherwise, he would be the one sneering sourly at Bai Yifan now.


    Indeed, heaven is fair to everyone.


    Before long, Tan Zhenghong and Bai Yifan had signed the agreement.


    The mountain covered three hundred acres, and the current price was sixty thousand taels of silver. Tan Zhenghong would pay ten thousand taels this year, and the rest would be paid over five years, with ten thousand each year and an additional five percent interest.


    In this way, he also repaid Bai Yifan for the kindness of conceding the mountain to them.


    Bai Yifan felt helpless, he just wanted to be a little nicer to Qiao Duo, but with Tan Zhenghong there, he couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise.


    Alright, he admitted that Tan Zhenghong was the most suitable man for Duo¡¯er, but he would never say it out loud.


    Men, after all, who doesn¡¯t want to save face?


    Business done, Tan Zhenghong whistled a tune on his way to the government office to pick up his wife, but he was stopped by a burly old lady.


    "My Madam and Miss Qiao have gone to the suburbs to relax, you wait outside," said the old lady with a stony face.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked, so was he being rejected?


    Could someone tell him why?


    "Don¡¯t feel wronged, if it weren¡¯t for you, would we even need to be out here in the cold?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked at the sun hanging in the sky; the spring sun felt warm on the skin, even with a little breeze, it was still warm.


    How did that count as being in the cold?


    Soon enough, he caught on. He took out a handful of copper coins from his purse.


    He heard that to visit someone in the big jail, you had to give a hardship fee first, and this situation should be similar.


    "My utmost respect to both of you for the hard work," he said.


    The old lady snorted disdainfully, "Think you¡¯re something special just because you have a bit of money? I¡¯m not even interested!"


    "Who do you think you¡¯re looking down on? We¡¯re not beggars!"


    The other old lady also got riled up.

 Chapter 750 - 755 Honor Lost_1

    Chapter 750: Chapter 755 Honor Lost_1Tan Zhenghong grinned apologetically, "Then I¡¯ll go buy some food to fill your stomachs, when you¡¯re full, you won¡¯t feel cold anymore."


    Still, they wore an expression of scorn, and what¡¯s more, they completely ignored him.


    Now Tan Zhenghong completely understood that these two were deliberately making things difficult for him.


    If servants dared to treat a guest like this, it must be because they were specifically instructed by their master. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out this was Chen Yiling¡¯s masterpiece¡ªshe was taking revenge for Duo¡¯er. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for Ruo Lan¡¯s case, they always adopted a cold treatment approach.


    Though it allowed them to watch from the sidelines, it was indeed a helpless move.


    Thankfully, it was just a rumor spread by Ruo Lan herself; if it were true, Chen Yiling would have sent Qin Longyun to chop off his head.


    However, having such a caring friend for his wife was a good thing; it made standing at the door for half a day worth it.


    As evening approached, Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er came back leisurely.


    Today, they had gone out to the suburbs to relax. The early spring scenery was beautiful, like a poem or a painting no matter where they went.


    The two had a great time, and at noon they even bought a chicken from a farmhouse. Qiao Duo made a beggar¡¯s chicken, and with the pastries they brought from home, that was lunch sorted.


    Getting down from the carriage, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Tan Zhenghong at first glance.


    His expression was like that of a parched man seeing water.


    "Didn¡¯t I send someone to tell you to go home first?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was baffled.


    Tan Zhenghong said sheepishly, "I came back to pick you up, afraid you wouldn¡¯t be safe."


    "You¡¯re preparing to marry again, what do you want Duo¡¯er for?" Chen Yiling pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er behind her.


    She was infuriated upon learning about this matter, wishing she could kill that shameless woman.


    However, Qiao Duo insisted on keeping their cool, saying the real show was yet to come.


    Unable to deal with Ruo Lan, she could only make things difficult for Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong stated firmly, "I only have one wife, and my wife¡¯s name is Qiao Duo¡¯er."


    Chen Yiling was somewhat satisfied with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s performance and said, "This time I¡¯ll let you take Duo¡¯er back, but if there is a next time, I¡¯ll let Qin Longyun marry her as a concubine."


    Hmph, she wanted to show Tan Zhenghong that Duo¡¯er¡¯s maternal family might not be influential, but they were not to be trifled with!


    Tan Zhenghong muttered that it was hard to deal with women and petty men, and pregnant women were even more unreasonable.


    It seemed he would have to be more careful with Chen Yiling in the future.


    "What did you just say?" Qin Longyun asked with a darkened face.


    Such foolish words could only come from Chen Yiling¡ªit was utter madness!


    Chen Yiling stuck out her tongue, "I didn¡¯t say anything just now, you must have heard wrong. Duo¡¯er, you should hurry back, and be careful on the road."


    In a critical moment, she decisively abandoned propriety.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong held back their laughter as they got on the carriage, and before long, she grabbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear.


    Some men were becoming increasingly arrogant and needed to be put in their place!


    "Wife, if I did something wrong, just tell me, don¡¯t pull my ear," Tan Zhenghong quickly pleaded for mercy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said displeased, "You actually lied to me, you¡¯ve really disappointed me!"


    Many people involuntarily glance to the left when they lie, and just now Tan Zhenghong made the same small movement.


    So Tan Zhenghong must have been waiting at the door all afternoon.


    "I was wrong, wasn¡¯t I afraid Yi Ling wouldn¡¯t be able to step down?" Tan Zhenghong hurriedly admitted his mistake.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er let go of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear but grew even angrier, "Now you¡¯re guessing what other women are thinking, does that mean you have some ideas of your own?"


    Did Tan Zhenghong aspire to be a women¡¯s confidant?

 Chapter 751 - 756 Picking Flaws_1

    Chapter 751: Chapter 756 Picking Flaws_1Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t understand why Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s point of focus was so bizarre, but he knew that if he delayed any longer, his wife might explode.


    So he immediately put up three fingers, "No, absolutely not!"


    In reality, he said he had just arrived because he saw Chen Yiling staring at him.


    No, putting it that way, his wife would definitely say that he pays attention to other women¡¯s expressions.


    Then how could he explain himself?


    The wisest course of action was to say nothing at all.


    Anyway, his wife was eloquent; no matter how he responded, she could find fault.


    As long as she felt he was wrong, he would accept his punishment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked steadily at Tan Zhenghong, and Tan Zhenghong looked back at her honestly, without a hint of guilt.


    As a result, the two of them stared at each other in the small carriage.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked, unable to help himself, which meant he had lost according to the rules of the game.


    "Wife, don¡¯t just keep looking at me, will you say something?" Tan Zhenghong asked weakly.


    His wife was really frightening like this, especially since he was innocent.


    "There¡¯s nothing special, just some pastries here."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled out a paper-wrapped package from behind her as if by magic.


    It was the peach crisps that ChunTao had sneakily given her, the ones they hadn¡¯t finished at noon. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong exaggerated on purpose, "Wife, I just knew you are the kindest person to me in this world!"


    After saying that, he immediately started munching on the peach crisps; he was starving since he hadn¡¯t eaten at noon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chided, "You¡¯re not an idiot, so why do you always do silly things? You knew I wasn¡¯t inside, couldn¡¯t you have found somewhere to eat first?"


    Even buying a baked bun wouldn¡¯t have you looking like a starving ghost like you do now.


    "If Ling¡¯er came back and didn¡¯t see me waiting at the door, she would be even angrier, and when I join you in talking later, it will be even more miserable for me."


    Tan Zhenghong spoke haltingly.


    Having been locked out of the door, where would he have had the mood to eat?


    He thought it was better to stand quietly at the door, let Chen Yiling vent her anger, so he could peacefully live his life with his wife.


    After standing at the door for the whole afternoon, Tan Zhenghong had realized something.


    It was that he couldn¡¯t let Ruo Lan speak nonsense any longer; he had to find a way to expose her true colors.


    Although he and Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t care about what others thought, being wrongly accused was, after all, disgusting.


    Tan Zhenghong, famished, quickly finished a piece of peach crisp and didn¡¯t forget to shove another piece into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    "Wife, you eat too," Tan Zhenghong said with his mouth full.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "You eat it yourself, I ate too much at noon."


    Hearing her say that, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but sigh; he almost felt sorry for himself.


    At noon, he had been standing outside the door, watching two hefty women gorge themselves.


    After Tan Zhenghong had his fill, he cuddled up with Qiao Duo¡¯er to rest; they still had to feed the animals in the backyard later.


    Once they got home, the two worked together: Qiao Duo¡¯er cooked, while Tan Zhenghong worked in the backyard, and they managed to have their dinner just as it was getting dark.


    For dinner, they had saut¨¦ed Chinese toon buds with eggs, fried dry bean curd with meat, and a pot of bone soup, eating exceptionally satisfied.


    "It¡¯s a blessing to have a full stomach," Tan Zhenghong remarked.


    To him, rice was much tastier than pastries.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, "Ambition!"


    But in this era of extremely low grain production, being well-fed and warm indeed counted as happiness.


    At least, that was the original person¡¯s wish.

 Chapter 752 - 757: Best Not at Home_1

    Chapter 752: Chapter 757: Best Not at Home_1Bai Yifan¡¯s actions were fast. In just three or four days, he had delivered the refined musk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked disdainfully at the little bottle on the table, which contained the musk that had overwhelmed her that day. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, she even had a psychological shadow and couldn¡¯t help but resist this thing.


    Tan Zhenghong took some musk powder and dissolved it in a cup, and suddenly, a unique fragrance wafted through the air.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally believed Bai Yifan¡¯s words, no wonder many modern cosmetics add musk.


    "You¡¯d better stay away from the musk. I bought you two musk deer breeders, a married couple, and a girl skilled in scent mixing. Let them do the work in the future."


    Bai Yifan added a word of caution.


    Logically speaking, musk shouldn¡¯t cause infertility, but Duo¡¯er was frail; nothing was certain.


    Moreover, when selling musk products, they had to remind pregnant women not to use them¡ªin case they encountered someone with poor health, it could lead to complications.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked in surprise, "How did you manage so quickly?"


    It had only been a few days, yet Bai Yifan had already taken care of both matters.


    "Of course, come to me if you need anything else in the future." Bai Yifan patted his chest confidently.


    He felt he had finally regained some ground; whenever he saw Duo¡¯er¡¯s stingy cat at her house, he could now annoy him again.


    Speaking of the stingy cat, Bai Yifan realized he wasn¡¯t home.


    How could such a petty man not worry about someone whisking his wife away in his absence?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "Today, the villagers went hunting in the mountains together, and Zheng Hong went with them."


    After spring arrived, hibernating animals woke up, and the strong men of the village would hunt in the mountains before the farming got busy.


    This was precisely when food supplies were transitioning.


    For some struggling families, not taking the chance to hunt could mean starvation.


    Tan Zhenghong, the only real hunter in the village, was indispensable; he was responsible for directing and ensuring everyone¡¯s safety.


    Bai Yifan remarked to himself that it was good the stingy cat wasn¡¯t home.


    That way, he wouldn¡¯t have a glaring stone pillar standing by while he talked to Duo¡¯er.


    Unfortunately, now he could only talk to Qiao Duo¡¯er about official matters; otherwise, he feared she¡¯d never deal with him again.


    Bai Yifan took out three papers from his sleeve and handed them over: "These are the servitude contracts for those three people; they came by ox cart and should arrive soon."


    He had ridden a horse to get here sooner to see Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    This time Qiao Duo¡¯er did not refuse to sign the contracts.


    Duo Meifang still had much potential for growth, and both the breeding of musk deer and the formulation of cosmetics had to be kept strictly confidential.


    However, now that an additional person had been purchased, Bai Yifan had definitely spent more than one hundred taels.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment, deciding to send some extra musk to Bai Yifan when they had some, as sometimes keeping accounts too meticulously could hurt feelings.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the people Bai Yifan bought to arrive.


    The three of them looked neat and spirited.


    "This is Mrs. Tan. From now on, she is your owner. If you do your jobs well, she will not treat you unfairly," Bai Yifan instructed.


    Before he could finish, the three were about to kneel on the ground, but Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped them.


    As a modern person, she was not accustomed to such rituals.


    Almond spoke in a panicked voice, "Madam, in addition to scent mixing, I can also do household chores. I will make sure you haven¡¯t wasted your silver. Please let me stay."


    She had heard that the Tan Family was kind and was just starting to prosper; her good days were yet to come.


    But she didn¡¯t expect to be refused at the ritual of acknowledging her new master.

 Chapter 753 - 758 Submissive Nature_1

    Chapter 753: Chapter 758 Submissive Nature_1"I don¡¯t mean that; I just don¡¯t like all this kneeling. As long as you¡¯re loyal, I¡¯ll treat you like family. But if anyone harbors a second heart, I¡¯ll show no mercy,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said solemnly; once her bottom line was crossed, the person would end up in a dire situation.


    At least she had never considered herself a kind person.


    The three people kneeled in unison: "Madam, rest assured."


    Their actions left Qiao Duo¡¯er helpless; this was the so-called servility.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er unsure about where to put her hands, Bai Yifan quickly intervened.


    "Xing¡¯er, go out and wait for now. Uncle Ming and Aunt Ming, once you¡¯ve cleaned up the hilltop, come and take over caring for the musk deer,"


    "Yes," the three people nodded respectfully.


    After they had gone out, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally let out a sigh of relief.


    "You¡¯ll get used to it over time. My grandmother has a lot of experience with managing the inner household; let her share some of that with you when you have time,"


    Managing servants is also an art that requires a careful balance of kindness and strictness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded: "Then don¡¯t find me bothersome."


    She was adept at being independent, but managing others was something she didn¡¯t know where to start. And Old Lady Bai, having spent a lifetime in the domestic affairs of a household, certainly had many insights,


    Bai Yifan made a statement: "If you visit, my grandmother and I would be more than pleased."


    Having finished discussing serious matters, Bai Yifan then stood up to take his leave. The process of turning musk into medicine involved many steps, and he needed to keep watch over it.


    More importantly, he and Duo¡¯er, being alone together for too long, could lead to gossip.


    After sending Bai Yifan off, Duo¡¯er called for Almond to come in.


    Almond was very reserved, standing next to Qiao Duo with her head bowed, not even daring to breathe deeply.


    To ease the awkwardness, Qiao Duo took out two lists directly: "Here are the recipes for the Ginseng Nourishing Cream and Six White Cream. Try making them."


    When a person has something to do, they no longer know what awkward means.


    Almond took the recipes and glanced at them: "Madam, where should I start?"


    Qiao Duo led her to her own small mill where she made face mask powder.


    Soon there would be another master of this place, one with a shy disposition.


    "Everything here is prepared; feel free to use it. There¡¯s a donkey kept in the back that you can pull over when you¡¯re grinding, but be mindful as the donkey is quite young and needs frequent rests,"


    Qiao Duo explained all the precautions.


    Almond took note of them earnestly, fearing she might be cast out if she made a mistake.


    By noon, Almond had successfully mixed the two recipes, and the quality was much better than Qiao Duo had expected.


    "You have quite a talent, but it can still improve. I¡¯ll find some books on scent blending for you to study," encouraged Qiao Duo.


    Almond¡¯s eyes suddenly shone with excitement; if she could learn more, she¡¯d definitely be able to create even better fragrances!


    This was the first time Almond had shown her real smile since entering the Tan Family¡¯s door. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the evening darkened, Almond took the initiative to enter the kitchen to help cook.


    Qiao Duo did not refuse, as this was a perfect opportunity to build their bond.


    "If you need anything, just say so; this is your home too, so don¡¯t be so formal," said Qiao Duo in an easygoing manner.


    Almond nodded, "I really don¡¯t need anything."


    She was literate and knew how to mix fragrances. The Human Teeth had given her parents fifty taels of silver.


    In the end, perhaps their conscience got the better of them and they secretly gave her one tael of silver, of which she still had a few hundred wen left. It would surely suffice until the monthly wages were paid at the beginning of next month.


    But what mattered most to her was saving enough money to buy her freedom; she wanted to become an ordinary person who could control her own destiny.

 Chapter 754 - 579 Quiet _1

    Chapter 754: Chapter 579 Quiet _1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I guess you can¡¯t manage it alone, in some time I will buy another plot of land, and then I¡¯ll build a processing factory and hire a few more assistants for you."


    When the store in Mansion City opens, Almond alone definitely won¡¯t be able to keep up.


    Moreover, the number of stores will only continue to increase.


    Almond suddenly felt a surge of passion, sensing from Madam¡¯s words that she wouldn¡¯t always just be a maid serving others.


    With this, she saw a brighter future for herself!


    By the time they finished cooking dinner, Tan Zhenghong also returned with his spoils of the hunt.


    Today, everyone had caught a wild boar and dozens of small game; it had been a rich haul.


    As the main force, Tan Zhenghong got twenty pounds of wild boar meat, five pheasants, and six or seven small snakes.


    Qiao Duo immediately decided to add a dish of pickled bamboo shoots fried with meat, as a welcome for the new member joining their family.


    The pickled bamboo shoots were made from winter bamboo shoots before the New Year, and were now perfect for eating.


    Tan Zhenghong had no objections and helped Duo¡¯er carry the pork into the kitchen right away.


    "I had no idea we had a guest at home, you should have told me."


    Tan Zhenghong whispered in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    He was wearing a suit of tattered clothes today, also smeared with quite a bit of mud; wouldn¡¯t it be rude if the guest saw him?


    Almond immediately stood up and introduced herself, "Fourth Master, I am Almond, a maid recently bought by Madam."


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong remember the favor Qiao Duo¡¯er asked of Bai Yifan a few days ago.


    "That scoundrel always picks the times I¡¯m not at home to come over, I bet he still harbors ill intentions!" Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes.


    Hmph, easy to pick up, but impossible to let go, he¡¯s simply not a man!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "He only sees me as his sworn sister, nothing else."


    At most he still harbors some fondness, but once he meets the woman who is meant to be with him for life, the little fondness that remains will also dissipate into nothingness.


    Because Bai Yifan is that kind of man, loyal to only one.


    With the return of the male master of the house, Almond became more cautious, only daring to stand by the stove and look at her shoes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt quite helpless, thinking that the newly developed rapport had all gone to waste.


    But one can change their country easier than their nature, and Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t force her, just let her abide by the rules she learned from the Servant.


    As time passed and they got to know each other better, there wouldn¡¯t be so much formality.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the sunny month of March, and the wheat began to head out; Ruo Lan, who had laid in bed for a whole month, finally got up to move around.


    Ever since the marriage contract had been set, the Liu family kept quiet, not causing any trouble.


    Not because they were keeping their promises, but because they lacked confidence.


    In truth, Ruo Lan was already four months pregnant, and to hide this fact, she drank a bowl of soup that would weaken the fetus.


    The medicine was harmful to her body, causing her to bleed frequently.


    Liu family later consulted Master Yun Xu, and Master Yun Xu said the child was not blessed with good fortune; the only way to save it was to keep silent about anything related to the child.


    "Aunty, how is the Tan family¡¯s situation now?" Ruo Lan asked cautiously while supporting her belly.


    She had already decided to give birth to the child, so she couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes.


    Granny Liu¡¯s gaze dodged, "It¡¯s still the same, no new developments."


    In truth, there were many rumors in the village, but Ruo Lan couldn¡¯t be allowed to know; otherwise, if anything happened to the child, she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    Ruo Lan, with her delicate sensibilities, immediately noticed something was off with Granny Liu. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aunty, tell me the truth, is there any change?" Ruo Lan asked anxiously.


    This past month, other than eating and sleeping, she knew nothing else.

 Chapter 755 - 760 Push Her into the River_1

    Chapter 755: Chapter 760 Push Her into the River_1"There¡¯s not much to it, really. It¡¯s just that Qiao Duo¡¯er might be afraid you¡¯d steal her limelight once you entered the door, so she bought Tan Zhenghong a concubine. But with a child by your side, you don¡¯t need to be afraid of anyone else," said Granny Liu, attempting to downplay the situation.


    For Ruo Lan, the most important thing now was to have a healthy baby boy, not to fight over a man.


    According to the customs of the peasant families, the parents would live with and be cared for by the eldest child until their deaths, and naturally, the property would be biased towards the eldest during distribution.


    Clutching her fists tightly, Ruo Lan spoke through gritted teeth, "Take me to see what kind of woman she is!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Knowing the strength of her rival would allow her to be mentally prepared.


    "That woman should be by the pond washing clothes right now. But do you really want to see?" asked Granny Liu tentatively. Wasn¡¯t Ruo Lan going to upset herself by going there?


    It was easy for something to go wrong with the child during the first three months of pregnancy, and since it had only been a little over two months, she was still in the danger period. It was best to be cautious.


    With a grim face, Ruo Lan said, "If I don¡¯t see her, my mood will be off all day. The doctor said I can¡¯t get angry, or it could lead to miscarriage."


    Granny Liu had no choice but to agree, though she still stressed the importance of keeping calm.


    Oh, this stubborn girl!


    By the pond, a maid dressed in coarse clothes was washing clothes.


    "That¡¯s the one. Qiao Duo¡¯er is really stingy sometimes, wanting to use her but unwilling to let her wear nice clothes. She¡¯s nowhere near as good as you!" Granny Liu spoke with disdain.


    Although they were both maids, Ruo Lan was much more elegant.


    Ruo Lan¡¯s clothes were made of fine fabric, at most only thirty percent worn, and they even had delicate embroidery on them.


    Especially one silk garment, she wished she could snag it to wear herself, but the time wasn¡¯t right.


    Ruo Lan nodded, Granny Liu¡¯s words striking a chord with her.


    She just couldn¡¯t compare to such quality!


    The moment Almond felt someone watching her, she turned to look back.


    But seeing no one behind her, she could only continue with her laundry.


    Hidden behind the tree, however, Ruo Lan clenched her fists. The woman might be dressed plainly, but her face was not to be underestimated.


    Every man liked young and pretty women, just like her.


    And after getting pregnant, her face had turned sallow, her cheekbones protruding. Once she had the child, her figure would change, and surely Tan Zhenghong would find fault with her.


    If Tan Zhenghong knew she was having such thoughts, he would surely say she was overthinking.


    He wouldn¡¯t scorn her, but rather, he was utterly repulsed by her, ever since she had wronged him; he found this woman disgusting!


    Granny Liu tugged at Ruo Lan¡¯s clothes, "You¡¯re going to be a mother now, don¡¯t get angry so easily. Think more about the child in your womb!"


    "Aunty, go push her into the water," Ruo Lan suddenly said with a sinister smile.


    As long as that woman was dead, she¡¯d feel much better. When she was in a good mood, the child could grow up healthy.


    Granny Liu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at what she heard.


    She had survived by scrabbling in the earth all her life, perhaps indulging in minor misconducts like sneaking a sweet potato or stealing an egg, but she never considered taking a human life.


    Now Ruo Lan was asking her to push someone into a pond; even if she was lent extra courage, she wouldn¡¯t dare!


    Pouting, Ruo Lan said, "You¡¯ve seen how lively and pretty that woman is. With her here, I¡¯m certain to be just a decoration. Who do you think will be unlucky then? Just look at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s parents, don¡¯t they just ignore the eldest son?"


    To be safe, she had to remove anyone who threatened her.

 Chapter 756 - 761 Act Faster_1

    Chapter 756: Chapter 761 Act Faster_1"But... but..."


    Granny Liu stuttered for a long time but couldn¡¯t come up with a reason.


    Ruo Lan gently and persuasively said, "Today, the pond is unusually deserted, if we don¡¯t do it today, when will we?"


    "Do you think Qiao Duo¡¯er let this woman enter the household just to keep a hold on Tan Zhenghong? She wants to use her to bear her own son!"


    "If I give birth to a girl this time, we¡¯ll be at a disadvantage."


    "Even if I have a son, I¡¯m at a loss. Everyone in the village knows Zheng Hong favors Duo¡¯er. By that time, my son will only get what others have left over." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ruo Lan had seen plenty of wealthy families fighting over inheritances, and she spoke about it as if spilling beans.


    Moreover, every sentence struck right at the heart of Granny Liu¡¯s concerns.


    Granny Liu was conflicted. There were many benefits to killing this woman, but she truly didn¡¯t dare!


    In the end, she still shook her head: "If a person dies, the county lord will have my head chopped off. What¡¯s the use of silver then?"


    Silver is good, but you must be alive to spend it.


    Ruo Lan¡¯s eyes shifted cunningly: "Aunt, there¡¯s no one else here. Who would know how she died?"


    "Or how about this: later on, I¡¯ll start arguing with her, and you take the chance to push her in. If someone sees us, we¡¯ll just say she tried to hit me but lost her footing and fell in by herself."


    If this woman tries to hit a pregnant lady and falls into the river, she deserves it!


    Granny Liu bit her lip, her eyes becoming increasingly malicious as she looked at Almond.


    "Don¡¯t you want to marry a noble lady for your cousin? Don¡¯t you want to live in a large house? Don¡¯t you also want to be in charge of the Embroidery Room?"


    "Just by relying on your uncle and cousin farming and doing odd jobs, when will your dreams come true?"


    "Even if your cousin is lucky enough to marry a lady from a wealthy family, it will be no easy marriage. By then, with their silver, we could only act according to their wishes."


    "But now, with a little trick from us, my son could possibly become the Tan Family¡¯s only child. How much silver would we want then? To not just be in charge, I¡¯d even be willing to give you the Embroidery Room!"


    Ruo Lan¡¯s promises were thrown out one after another and finally moved Granny Liu.


    Granny Liu steeled her heart: "Then be quick about it and make sure no one sees, or we are both doomed."


    "I¡¯ll start chatting with her first, wait for my signal before you act."


    The corner of Ruo Lan¡¯s mouth twisted into a cold smile, then she picked up her skirt and walked towards the riverbank.


    Just now, she had thought of a strategy that would kill two birds with one stone.


    If she could incite Almond and Qiao Duo to fight to the death, she could reap the benefits without getting her hands dirty.


    "Little sister, why are you washing your clothes by yourself?"


    Almond turned her head and said weakly, "I think you have the wrong person?"


    She had lived in Big Willow Village for a few days and had never seen this person before.


    "You¡¯re not mistaken, you¡¯re a maid from the Tan Family," Ruo Lan said disdainfully.


    Since Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t given her the status she desired, she could only be considered a concubine maid girl at the moment.


    Almond was somewhat surprised: "Do you need something?"


    "It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to tell you something. That is, Qiao Duo has made a written promise that if I bear a son, she¡¯ll hand over the position of the official wife to me. You better think clearly and decide which side you want to be on," said Ruo Lan, proudly patting her belly to make it more obvious to Almond.


    She was going to be the future mistress of the Tan Family; any smart person would know whom to please in the future.


    Almond blinked: "Are you sick?"


    She didn¡¯t believe the madam would make such a ridiculous promise with such a foolish woman.

 Chapter 757 - 762: Fail at Stealing Chickens_1

    Chapter 757: Chapter 762: Fail at Stealing Chickens_1What does this woman giving birth to a son have to do with the Tan Family? The child isn¡¯t theirs, after all.


    That¡¯s not right, could it be that the Fourth Master has wronged Madam?


    But the Fourth Master treasures Madam more than his own life, how could he have anything to do with this woman?


    Even if there were something between them, it wouldn¡¯t concern her, she just needs to do her job well.


    "You¡¯d better ask around in the village, everyone knows about this, you are the only one being foolishly exploited by others," Ruo Lan said sarcastically.


    Almond stood up, wiped her hands dry, and said helplessly, "If you don¡¯t have anything else, I¡¯ll be going. I don¡¯t have time to listen to your nonsense."


    She needed to get back to work on fragrances, and also help Madam with her tasks, every minute had to be accounted for.


    "I want you to join forces with me to drive Qiao Duo¡¯er out of the Tan Family, and in return, I can give you a shop and the status of a concubine."


    Ruo Lan once again resorted to her usual tactic, temptation by offering benefits.


    Almond finally understood this woman¡¯s intentions.


    That was Ruo Lan coveting the Tan Family¡¯s wealth and aiming for the position of the legitimate wife, and now she was trying to recruit her.


    To this, Almond retorted with three words, "You¡¯re insane!"


    And seriously so!


    "I am not a maid of the Tan Family, but Madam¡¯s maid, and I have never harbored any intentions towards the Fourth Master, besides, the Embroidery Room shop belongs to Madam. I think you are probably going to be disappointed," Almond said with a smirk, guessing that someone was about to be infuriated.


    During her days in the Tan Family, she had clearly seen that it was Madam who managed the family business.


    The Fourth Master had even said that Madam was the boss and told her to go directly to Madam if there was anything she needed to address.


    Ruo Lan snorted scornfully, "Born a fool, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit."


    As she spoke, she gave Granny Liu a look, but at the crucial moment, Granny Liu proved to be unreliable, hiding behind a tree, refusing to budge.


    When it came to the crunch, she became scared.


    Ruo Lan glared hatefully at Granny Liu, absolutely a pig-brained fool!


    "Whether I¡¯m stupid or not is none of your concern. I have things to do, I¡¯m leaving," Almond said impatiently.


    Ruo Lan decided to go all out. If Granny Liu wouldn¡¯t push her, she would have to do it herself!


    If this woman would not be of use to her, then she left her with only one path ¡ª death!


    So Ruo Lan mustered all her strength and pushed Almond, and soon Almond would become a cold corpse.


    What a pity for that pretty, tender face.


    But what she never expected was that Almond swiftly dodged her, and Ruo Lan, unable to stop herself, plunged into the pond.


    In that instant, the cool river water enveloped her entirely.


    "Ah, save me! Help!"


    Ruo Lan screamed in desperation; she could not swim.


    And at that moment, there was no one to rescue her. She didn¡¯t want to die!


    She flailed helplessly, to no avail, and in the blink of an eye, she had swallowed several mouthfuls of cold water.


    "You heartless wretch, you actually pushed Ruo Lan in!"


    Granny Liu ran out from behind the tree and grabbed Almond, who hadn¡¯t yet reacted to what happened.


    The child¡¯s prenatal conditions were already poor, and now they were utterly doomed!


    Without proof that the child was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s offspring, she couldn¡¯t demand that Tan Zhenghong marry Ruo Lan, and all the betrothal gifts would be lost!


    She had been dreaming for so long, yet in the end, it all went down the drain!


    Oh heavens, what was the point of her living anymore? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, she wasn¡¯t even thinking about Ruo Lan¡¯s desperate struggle at the edge of death.


    Almond said with a cold face, "Keep spouting nonsense and I¡¯ll throw you in too. Let go of me, I need to save someone!"


    Granny Liu was intimidated and unthinkingly released her grasp.

 Chapter 758 - 763 This is an Order_1

    Chapter 758: Chapter 763 This is an Order_1Almond dove headfirst into the pond, and even in March¡¯s water, she felt bone-chillingly cold. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now was not the time to worry about that, saving someone was more urgent.


    She took a deep breath, swam quickly to Ruo Lan¡¯s side, and dragged her to the riverbank.


    Granny Liu also reacted, hurried forward, and helped drag the half-dead Ruo Lan onto the land.


    Granny Liu looked at Ruo Lan with her eyes tightly shut, at a loss for what to do, not daring to touch Ruo Lan¡¯s pale face.


    They say that a person harbors resentment just before death, and after death, they will become a vengeful ghost seeking out those with whom they had a grudge.


    She had just promised Ruo Lan, but when it was crucial, she didn¡¯t stand up for her, probably making Ruo Lan hate her to death.


    After her death, she would surely come to claim her life!


    Almond checked Ruo Lan and found she was still breathing, but there was blood spreading underneath her.


    "You¡¯d better find a doctor for her quickly, maybe the child can still be saved."


    After saying this, Almond hurried back. She had caused a big trouble this time; she needed to inform Fourth Master and Madam right away.


    Those two looked like troublemakers, and they would certainly make a big fuss about this incident.


    "Madam, something terrible has happened!"


    Almond was panting heavily.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er led Almond into the house, "Change your clothes first, and we can talk about it later."


    Even though it was already spring and blossoms were blooming, being soaked to the bone still felt very cold.


    "There¡¯s no time, I was washing clothes by the river, and a woman came to pick a fight, even asking me to join her against you. I didn¡¯t agree, and she tried to push me into the river. I dodged, but she lost her balance and fell in herself. I don¡¯t think the child can be saved."


    Almond recounted the events succinctly, estimating that those people would definitely not let Madam off the hook this time.


    Qiao Duo narrowed her eyes, "No worries, it¡¯s her own misdeeds catching up with her now."


    "I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s all because of my clumsiness, they will surely blame you. You should send me to the Guang House quickly; I can¡¯t drag you down with me," Almond said in a panic.


    It was her responsibility, after all.


    She was afraid to die, and didn¡¯t want to be thrown in jail, but now this seemed like the best option.


    Qiao Duo comforted her, "Change your clothes and get some sleep; leave the rest to me and Ah Hong."


    Almond was her responsibility, and it was her duty and obligation to prevent Almond from being wronged.


    Otherwise, what authority would she have left in front of the other servants?


    Almond wanted to say more, but Qiao Duo quickly silenced her, "Rest at home, that¡¯s an order."


    After that, Qiao Duo pulled Tan Zhenghong with her to go out.


    The chance to prove Tan Zhenghong¡¯s innocence had arrived; they had to seize it well. Once the child was born, no more falsehoods could be sustained.


    Thus, none of the village¡¯s revered figures could be absent.


    The moment Qiao Duo stepped into the courtyard, Granny Liu charged at her, looking ready to fight to the death.


    Before she could get close, Tan Zhenghong intercepted her.


    Granny Liu gritted her teeth, "Let go of me!"


    Tan Zhenghong gripped Granny Liu¡¯s wrist even tighter, satisfied only when he saw her grit her teeth with rage.


    Some people think they¡¯re the boss of the whole world if they¡¯re not put in place. Granny Liu was one of them.


    He warned, "You better not act rashly, or don¡¯t blame me for being impolite!"


    "You heartless thing! She killed your child! Don¡¯t you want to avenge your own child?" Granny Liu said with red eyes. How could he, as the father of the child, say such a thing?


    "Don¡¯t try to splash all the dirty water on my wife. How would my wife know when Ruo Lan went to the pond? Besides, it¡¯s still up for debate whose child it is!" Tan Zhenghong was nearly driven mad.

 Chapter 759 - 764: The One Who Flirts First is Cheap_1

    Chapter 759: Chapter 764: The One Who Flirts First is Cheap_1"How dare you say that the child is his just like that? Has anyone seen him do anything to Ruo Lan?"


    That night he really did see Ruo Lan, but he didn¡¯t say a single word, okay?


    He doesn¡¯t have the power to get a girl pregnant just by looking at her!


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t his children be all over the place?


    Old Mrs. Liu, lacking confidence, could only raise her voice, "That¡¯s a maid she bought, there must have been premeditation. How else could it have been so coincidental? Ruo Lan just went out for a walk, how did she end up being pushed into the water by her maid?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Without evidence, it¡¯s just slander."


    And she wouldn¡¯t have waited until now if she wanted to take the lives of Ruo Lan and her unborn child.


    "I know!" a scruffy little boy shouted loudly.


    Now everyone looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er differently. The implication of the kid¡¯s words was that he knew some evidence, right?


    Everyone understood Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s dislike of Ruo Lan, but to harm an unborn child was just too cruel.


    The scruffy boy swallowed hard; he had never been looked at by so many people, and now he was stage-frightened.


    Uh, if he had known this was going to happen, he would¡¯ve kept his mouth shut.


    "Well, out with it then. What do you know? Once you¡¯ve spoken, some people won¡¯t be able to hide their guilty conscience."


    "Speak up quick, what¡¯s going on? You¡¯re killing us with suspense!"


    The onlookers could not help but urge him.


    This damn affair had been on everyone¡¯s mind, but since Ruo Lan was at home resting, and the Tan Family had not made any statement, all they could do was speculate.


    It was time to give everyone an explanation.


    Tie Niu rubbed the little boy¡¯s head, his eyes full of encouragement.


    "Don¡¯t be afraid, just boldly say who the bad guy is. We don¡¯t need such malicious people in our village." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From his understanding of Duo¡¯er, he knew she wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.


    So the boy had to speak clearly to clear Duo¡¯er¡¯s name.


    The little boy, gripping his clothing hem, said, "I saw her and Sister Ruo Lan go to the riverbank together, they said they were looking for someone, then hid behind a tree and watched in secret."


    He didn¡¯t know much, but the others understood.


    Granny Liu and Ruo Lan going to the pond to find someone meant they were the ones who started the trouble, the first to provoke.


    And with Granny Liu watching from behind the big tree, it was certain she knew what had happened.


    The accused Granny Liu hurriedly said, "Village Chief, it was Ruo Lan who said she wanted to talk to Almond, so I didn¡¯t go over. Then I don¡¯t know what got into that girl; suddenly, she pushed Ruo Lan in."


    "It¡¯s quite normal for Ruo Lan to be in a bad mood, considering her difficult pregnancy; even if she said something unpleasant, Almond shouldn¡¯t endanger her life," she continued.


    "Indeed, it was Almond who rescued her, but does that make her innocent? A child is also a life; anyway, if Ruo Lan¡¯s child can¡¯t be saved, I¡¯ll fight them to the death!"


    Granny Liu decided to spill everything, as her version of the story had no loopholes.


    "Think carefully before you speak. Perjury is punished by beheading," Tie Niu reminded her.


    Granny Liu¡¯s face nearly spelled out ¡¯guilty conscience¡¯. What was she still holding out for?


    "Village Chief, this is where you¡¯re wrong," Granny Liu said harshly. "If you want to protect the Tan Family, if you want their favors, that¡¯s your business. But don¡¯t you dare wrong me!"


    Is Qiao Duo¡¯er some kind of reincarnated Buddha? Why does she always have so many people helping her?


    Liu Laosan glared at Granny Liu: "You shut up!"


    He really couldn¡¯t stand it any longer; that woman harped on Ruo Lan all day, she wasn¡¯t even acting like a person anymore!


    Granny Liu glowered at Liu Laosan, but before she could speak, the door to the room opened.

 Chapter 760 - 765 Freak_1

    Chapter 760: Chapter 765 Freak_1The ones who came out were Gu¡¯s Clan, Wu Youcai¡¯s wife, and Grandma Feng, the midwife. Both of their faces looked rather pale.


    The child born was too horrifying; the child had no arms but had three legs.


    They didn¡¯t want to talk too much, as freaks are an ill omen.


    But they couldn¡¯t stand the crowd¡¯s questioning, so Gu reluctantly gave a vague answer.


    "It was a formed boy, such a pity, but it¡¯s better he wasn¡¯t born, as the child was a little deformed."


    Gu¡¯s face turned even paler. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had seen quite a bit of the world alongside her husband, but this time she was truly frightened.


    Grandma Feng also sighed, "Hurry up and bury the child, remember to burn more paper money, such a sin!"


    This situation must mean that the adults did something that defied heaven, and the retribution fell upon the child.


    As for Ruo Lan, if she recuperates well, she might still have a chance to be a mother.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er seized on the key point in their conversation, "Aunt, Granny, you¡¯ve seen so many children, can you tell me when a child can take form?"


    As far as she knew, a child¡¯s facial features only started to form after four months.


    Grandma Feng thought carefully before she said, "A little over four months but not yet five."


    "That¡¯s not right, the child should have been conceived in the late twelfth month, and it¡¯s only the middle of the third month now; by all accounts, it¡¯s not even three months."


    Gu said, furrowing her brow.


    There had been frequent problems with the child, and it was always her husband who attended to them; she knew the child¡¯s age better than anyone.


    It was just that the sight of the deformed infant had shocked her so much that she hadn¡¯t thought of this issue right away.


    Grandma Feng pondered with a frown, "It¡¯s strange, I feel the child was indeed almost five months old, just underdeveloped."


    "Ruo Lan¡¯s child is lost, and you still slander her like this!"


    Granny Liu said, glaring angrily at Gu and Grandma Feng.


    These two had always been on good terms with Qiao Duo, and they must have colluded together.


    Destroying Ruo Lan¡¯s reputation would serve their purpose!


    "We have no grudge against Ruo Lan, why should we talk nonsense?" Gu said indignantly.


    She had only glimpsed the child once, but she would never forget it for the rest of her life!


    Every visit to the Liu family was thankless; they did the work but didn¡¯t see a penny of hard-earned money, and they got nothing but blame.


    Where could she voice her grievances?


    If it weren¡¯t for her husband¡¯s constant reminder of "the healer¡¯s parental heart," she wouldn¡¯t have bothered coming.


    Grandma Feng said with furrowed brows, "Hurry up and arrange the child¡¯s afterlife, say some nice words, let him go where he belongs."


    "Hmph, I think you just want to destroy the evidence!"


    Granny Liu snatched the red cloth bundle from Grandma Feng¡¯s arms and quickly unwrapped it to reveal a palm-sized child.


    She wanted to see how a not-yet-three-month-old child had developed facial features!


    But what everyone discussed was not the child¡¯s facial features, but the child¡¯s deformity.


    "My God, how could this happen?"


    "This is a demon, it¡¯s over, Big Willow Village is doomed!"


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, the weather has been good these last two years, and this year¡¯s wheat is growing well, it won¡¯t be the end."


    "Have you forgotten what happened twenty years ago? That summer, the oldest daughter-in-law from the Ling Family gave birth to a freak, and soon after, it snowed. All the crops in the field died, and the Ling Family was murdered."


    "The Ling family was really pitiful, mauled by wild dogs so badly before anyone found them."


    "Never mind whether it¡¯s the Ling family or not, another freak has been born, we¡¯d better think about what to do!"

 Chapter 761 - 766 Disaster_1

    Chapter 761: Chapter 766 Disaster_1Everyone was very panicked, for living itself was not easy.


    Given another natural calamity or man-made disaster, wouldn¡¯t that be deliberately taking lives?


    Lao Guang, who was mixed in with the crowd, said, "I reckon that woman must have taken some medicine to shorten the pregnancy term. That kind of medicine can harm a child, and even if the child wanted revenge, it wouldn¡¯t be on us!"


    Lao Guang had been idling his whole life but often wandered the streets and lanes, knowing no small number of things.


    Especially when it came to the private matters of women, he was very clear on all counts.


    "Only this can explain the matter. That mother is ruthless enough, everyone knows not to recklessly take medicine during pregnancy."


    "If you ask me, it¡¯s Zheng Hong who¡¯s the most unlucky. The child was almost five months along; there¡¯s no way it could have been Ah Hong¡¯s."


    "Right, at that time Ruo Lan didn¡¯t even know where she was."


    "It¡¯s only due to the sense of Fourth Boss¡¯s wife that the family hasn¡¯t collapsed. If it were anyone else, the family would already have been torn apart."


    "To slander Ah Hong like that is no wonder such a thing was born. Granny Liu, you better be careful too. A child born before term harbors the strongest grudge."


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, children don¡¯t know better. If by chance you provoke him and he starts causing trouble, our Big Willow Village could be finished!"


    Everyone looked at each other and saw fear in each other¡¯s eyes.


    The child¡¯s tragedy was caused by Ruo Lan, but what did the child know?


    Maybe he¡¯ll blame these people gossiping behind his back.


    It was quite a while before someone spoke up, now they had to think of ways to protect themselves. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Village chief, we should chase the Liu family out, and not let them bring bad luck to us!"


    One must not joke about matters of ghosts and deities.


    "The child was born here, what¡¯s the use of driving them away now? Look at what you¡¯ve done; if not for you, would we be so afraid and worried?"


    "If nothing happens, fine, but if something does, you will pay with your lives!"


    "Evil spirit, Big Willow Village must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to come across you!"


    With each remark, they completely shattered Granny Liu¡¯s psychological defenses.


    It¡¯s over, the silver gone, and now such a calamity has been brought to her family. What to do?


    "How could this happen?" Granny Liu collapsed to the ground, wailing bitterly.


    She had always believed that the child was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, always looking forward to its birth to bring good life to her family.


    Even when she just found out that the child was lost, she felt Tan Zhenghong ought to give compensation.


    She knew this was a bit shameful, but who could refuse such a windfall if it came their way?


    Unfortunately, she was someone who could not refuse silver.


    But she did not qualify as a bad person, just like today when Ruo Lan asked her to push Almond over, at the crucial moment, she couldn¡¯t do it.


    So why should she suffer such punishment?


    It was not fair to her!


    Granny Liu clutched Liu Laosan¡¯s hand tightly, "Head of the family, think of something. You can¡¯t let our family be ruined!"


    Especially her son¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even married a wife yet. He surely couldn¡¯t just die like this.


    Liu Laosan was full of resentment. Normally he had no say in anything, and any slight differing idea would earn him a torrent of abuse.


    Now that trouble had come, why think of him?


    But if they were driven out of the village, their family would surely not survive.


    Liu Laosan could only steel himself to take up the burden.


    "I¡¯ll go to the town and ask Master Yun Xu if there¡¯s any way to resolve this," Liu Laosan thought of Yun Xu.


    The Tan Family¡¯s new Embroidery Room was supervised by Master Yun Xu. He not only exorcised a ghost there but also set up a Feng Shui Formation, which really boosted the business of Duo Meifang.

 Chapter 762 - 767 None of Them Are Good_1

    Chapter 762: Chapter 767 None of Them Are Good_1"Then you should hurry," Master Yun Xu is very powerful, and perhaps he has a way."


    "Also, it¡¯s best if you get rid of Ruo Lan, she is an inauspicious woman. If she¡¯s not driven away, she will surely bring more disasters to our village!"


    A woman said disdainfully, Ruo Lan is nothing but a curse!


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have given birth to such an ugly demon!


    "A flirtatious woman certainly can¡¯t stay; otherwise, how would the girls of Big Willow Village ever get married in the future?"


    "It would be best to get rid of her now, otherwise next time, who knows who her child¡¯s father would be?"


    Tie Niu raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet: "This matter should be decided by the master, Liu Laosan still has to lay the child to rest, so he has no time today. Everyone, gather at the ancestral hall tomorrow, and we will discuss what to do about this."


    Driving someone out of the village is a serious matter that requires the unanimous consent of the village elders.


    "Village Chief, you must stand up for us, we haven¡¯t done anything wrong!"


    "That¡¯s right, we can only have peace of mind once she is driven away!"


    Tie Niu nodded: "Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely explain everything to everyone."


    As the Village Chief of Big Willow Village, it was his responsibility to protect Big Willow Village.


    Tie Niu was always reliable, and everyone trusted him deeply. Now that he had spoken, there were not many objections from others.


    The villagers placed great importance on lineage inheritance, Ruo Lan¡¯s act of smearing others with the matter of her child was something that could never be forgiven.


    Everyone just hoped that a satisfactory resolution could be reached tomorrow.


    The crowd around the Liu family¡¯s door gradually dispersed, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong also walked hand in hand towards home.


    "That child is your brother-in-law¡¯s, both members of the Niu Family are worthless." Qiao Duo¡¯er stated confidently.


    Only in this way could the subsequent events be explained.


    Wang Yun¡¯er married into the Niu Family as a concubine, and this Niu Family was precisely Ruo Lan¡¯s Owner.


    Ruo Lan had an affair with Old Master Niu, and Lady Niu was a formidable character, especially hating infidelity from men. Naturally, Ruo Lan would not have a good end.


    To survive, Ruo Lan hid in Big Willow Village, and upon realizing she was pregnant, she wanted to find a scapegoat.


    Tan Zhenghong was lucky to become Ruo Lan¡¯s target.


    Forcing Ruo Lan out demonstrated Lady Niu¡¯s exceptional means, and Old Master Niu was also a man of insubstantial affection.


    Therefore, Wang Yun¡¯er¡¯s days in the Niu Family would not be easy.


    No wonder that time in town, even a Maid dared to order Wang Yun¡¯er around.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed: "I told my cousin about it, but she was blinded by wealth at the time and wouldn¡¯t listen to me."


    He was young back then, but he heard a lot of people say that being a concubine would mean getting bullied, and he told his cousin all about it.


    But his cousin only said one thing, that was, don¡¯t block my path to wealth.


    Qiao Duo nodded, she knew Tan Zhenghong felt uneasy, but she didn¡¯t know how to comfort him.


    Perhaps Tan Zhenghong¡¯s only regret in this life was that when he had no power to protect Wang Yun¡¯er, she got married. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about her anymore. Whatever happens, it¡¯s her own choice."


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly.


    Qiao Duo nodded: "When we go to Mansion City, we can visit her, which would also count as repaying Uncle¡¯s kindness in raising you."


    It would also let the Niu Family Members know that Wang Yun¡¯er had support, so they wouldn¡¯t look down on her anymore.


    Tan Zhenghong said gratefully: "Wife, you are really wonderful."


    He always treated his uncle and cousin as his own family, but what he could do for them was pitifully little.


    His uncle died early, and after his cousin got married, she rarely showed up. He wanted to repay the kindness but didn¡¯t know whom to turn to.

 Chapter 763 - 768 Please Take Your Medicine_1

    Chapter 763: Chapter 768 Please Take Your Medicine_1"Stop dilly-dallying and hurry back to see how Almond is doing."


    Speaking of Almond, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pace quickened a lot.


    Almond had jumped into the water to save someone and had come back in wet clothes; if she wasn¡¯t careful, she could catch a cold, so Qiao Duo¡¯er had to go home and check on her.


    When she got home, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw Almond pacing anxiously at the door.


    By this time, Almond was nearly beside herself with worry.


    The Tan Family had always treated her extremely well, never considering her a mere servant. She had not had a chance to repay their kindness when she inadvertently caused them such trouble, and that weighed heavily on her heart.


    But Madam had given orders, and she could not go out. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded, "Didn¡¯t I tell you to rest at home, you silly girl?"


    "How can I rest in bed after causing such a disaster? How did it go? They didn¡¯t give you a hard time, did they?" Almond asked with concern.


    "You didn¡¯t cause any disaster; you¡¯ve actually done me a great favor. Now, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s injustice is finally cleared!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully, if not for today¡¯s accident, they would have had to wait for the child to be born before doing a blood test.


    Moreover, she had deep doubts about the accuracy of a blood test.


    "That¡¯s a relief!" Almond smiled sincerely.


    She had said that Fourth Master would not do anything to displease Madam, and it turned out it was that woman who was to blame.


    This comforted her a lot because not all men were unreliable.


    Perhaps she could find such a reliable man for herself in the future.


    During dinner, Almond was listless, eating only a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her forehead and, as expected, she had a fever.


    After dinner, she made a bowl of herbal medicine and brought it to Almond¡¯s room.


    "Thanks, Madam, but I don¡¯t have any silver to take medicine," Almond turned her head away, refusing to take the medicine.


    "Consider it my treat. Drink it while it¡¯s hot; that¡¯s when it¡¯s most effective."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er coaxed softly, the maid always pretending to be older than her years, but sick, she finally looked like the thirteen-year-old child she was.


    Almond obediently took her medicine and murmured, "Madam, you¡¯re so kind."


    This was her first taste of medicine. Back when her family was poor, they couldn¡¯t afford medicine, and after being sold to the human teeth traders, no one cared whether she lived or died.


    Qiao Duo was the first person who was willing to give her medicine.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tucked Almond in, "The warm bottle is by the bed. Try to drink more water."


    Almond felt groggy, with only one thought in her mind: she was finished. How could she, a maid, let her master make medicine and serve her tea and water?


    Alas, she probably would be sold again tomorrow.


    The tooth granny who had taught her always said masters hated maids who overstepped their boundaries, just like her.


    The next day, the villagers went to the ancestral hall early in groups of threes and fives.


    According to the rules, women were not allowed to casually visit the ancestral hall, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was content to stay home.


    She could quickly draw the design for the Mansion City Duo Meifang; then she would have the decorators from White Stone Town start work, as Duo Meifangs everywhere shared the same decoration style.


    Only minor adjustments to the woodwork were needed.


    Once the wheat harvest was in, she could go to Mansion City to handle the opening preparations.


    It wasn¡¯t until Three Poles Day that Almond finally opened her eyes, and she hurried out of bed.


    No sooner had her feet touched the floor than she felt dizzy and nearly fell over.


    Almond endured her discomfort to get dressed, and when she saw Qiao Duo¡¯er grinding medicinal powder, she was close to tears.


    Now she was completely doomed!


    She had just gotten used to life here and accepted the people around her, only to realize she would have to say goodbye so soon.


    Oh, she really didn¡¯t want to leave!


    She had nearly come to think of this place as her home!

 Chapter 764 - 769 The Only Way Out_1

    Chapter 764: Chapter 769 The Only Way Out_1Qiao Duo¡¯er thought that Almond might not have had enough rest, so she said, "If you¡¯re not feeling well, go and rest. We still have enough inventory to last for a while; there¡¯s no need to hurry."


    Working while sick is not only inefficient but also harmful to one¡¯s health.


    Suddenly panicking, Almond pleaded, "Madam, please don¡¯t sell me."


    "Have you lost your senses? Go rest up, and once you¡¯re better you can work again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er urged her to rest.


    However, she could understand Almond¡¯s fear; having been sold once as a child was something she would never forget.


    Now, even the slightest disturbance would leave her anxious and unsettled.


    Almond didn¡¯t move, instead bursting into tears.


    "Madam, I really didn¡¯t push Ruo Lan. Next time I¡¯m sick, I won¡¯t even dare to take medicine. Please don¡¯t send me away!"


    "If you¡¯re sick, you need to rest properly. Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild; why would I sell you for no reason?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said, trying to calm her down with patience.


    The child was truly stubborn, holding firmly onto her own misguided certainty.


    Wiping away her tears haphazardly, Almond asked, "Are you telling the truth?"


    "Of course, it¡¯s true. You¡¯re such a hard worker; I¡¯d hate to sell you."


    Reassured by the affirmative answer, Almond finally felt at ease.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head helplessly, thankful that Bai Yifan had sent the child to the Tan Family. If she had ended up in the hands of some other wealthy family, she might have been chewed up and spit out without a trace.


    It wasn¡¯t until nearly noon that Tan Zhenghong returned from the ancestral hall, accompanied by Sun Erhu, who had come over for a free meal.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her dissatisfaction, "Why did you dawdle until now?"


    "Yun Xu held a grand religious ceremony, and the village chief wouldn¡¯t let anyone leave," Tan Zhenghong explained truthfully.


    Apart from him, though, the others were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.


    "I really don¡¯t know what Uncle Tie was thinking, allowing the Liu family to stay. They wasted half the day for nothing!" Erhu said, filled with righteous indignation.


    The women of the Liu family were disgustingly vile; how could anyone allow them to stay?


    Having them here was enough to pollute the very air of Big Willow Village! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "Third Uncle Liu knelt down. What was Uncle Tie supposed to do?"


    "They¡¯re getting off too easy. They can still make some silver when they sell Ruo Lan!" Erhu was still unsatisfied.


    Is there no justice in the world if the wicked go unpunished?


    "Sell her?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised.


    Granny Liu was Ruo Lan¡¯s own maternal aunt. Even if Ruo Lan had actually done what was rumored, she shouldn¡¯t be in such a rush to sell her.


    It was only the second day after the miscarriage; even getting out of bed required caution.


    And, as Grandma Feng had made clear, cold had penetrated Ruo Lan¡¯s body, and without proper care, she would lose the chance to ever become a mother again.


    Once sold, where would she find the chance to be properly taken care of?


    Sun Erhu curled his lip, "Do you think Granny Liu is any good? The only thing she sees is silver!"


    Apart from silver and her son, nothing else mattered to her.


    And with Ruo Lan¡¯s bad reputation, she certainly wouldn¡¯t end anywhere good.


    But who told her to meddle with Brother Hong? Whatever end she meets, she brought it upon herself.


    Meanwhile, at the Liu family¡¯s home.


    Granny Liu had already summoned a servant merchant to appraise Ruo Lan, but the offered price was not acceptable to her.


    She said disdainfully, "Old lady Lin, don¡¯t try to fool me. Ruo Lan is pretty and well-mannered; how could she possibly be worth only five liang of silver?"


    "Taking her away, I still have to take care of her confinement. Five liang of silver makes me feel like I¡¯m at a loss here," the Tooth Granny said with a look of disdain.


    A young woman who got pregnant out of wedlock, and with the master of the house no less, who would dare to buy such a person as a maid?


    The only option was to sell her to a brothel, perfectly matching her promiscuous nature.

 Chapter 765 - 770 The path that suits you _1

    Chapter 765: Chapter 770 The path that suits you _1"Lan is pretty, literate, and skilled in Embroidery Flowers. Can¡¯t you give a little more?"


    Granny Liu asked unwillingly, having cared for Lan with good food and drink since learning of her pregnancy, followed by a month of Fetus Protection Medicine and even employing a Taoist for rituals, which all together cost no less than Ten Taels of Silver.


    And now to only sell for Five Liang of Silver, not even half the money was recouped!


    What a loss indeed!


    Tooth Granny said impatiently, "That¡¯s the price. If you¡¯re not selling, then keep the person!"


    "Hey, how can you do business like this?" Granny Liu said discontentedly.


    Since it¡¯s a deal, isn¡¯t it normal to negotiate? But this person, she just wouldn¡¯t budge!


    "You still have the nerve to talk. If I had known this girl¡¯s reputation earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have been willing to get involved in this mess. You know I rarely deal with the Hua Building!"


    "Mother, let Lan stay with us. She hasn¡¯t recovered yet," Liu Qing weakly persuaded. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lan had just lost her Child and was still shocked by its appearance, yet to recover from the ordeal.


    If sold to such a place, she surely wouldn¡¯t survive.


    Although Lan had failed his expectations, he had loved her after all, and couldn¡¯t bear to see her in misery.


    Granny Liu glared at Liu Qing, "Don¡¯t meddle, and go weed the fields right now!"


    Her only thought was to save up enough Silver quickly to get a daughter-in-law for her family.


    Alas, with this scandal, the hope of marrying a wealthy lady was completely dashed.


    "Mother, that¡¯s too cruel,"


    Liu Qing was very dissatisfied with his mother¡¯s actions; there should be some consideration for family ties!


    In fact, Liu Qing¡¯s speaking up only made Granny Liu more determined.


    Her son was still fixated on Lan; if she didn¡¯t quickly sell Lan off, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    "Five Liang is Five Liang. Take the person away!" Granny Liu said through clenched teeth.


    She was reluctant to part with the Silver, but she was even more unwilling to let a fickle woman ruin her son!


    Liu Qing stomped his feet in desperation, "This will kill her!"


    "So what if it kills her? She got pregnant before marriage and gave birth to a freak. If it weren¡¯t for the village head¡¯s kindness, we would have been driven out. I¡¯m telling you, if you continue to protect her, you won¡¯t have me as your mother!"


    Liu Qing wanted to intervene, but ultimately he submitted to his mother¡¯s overwhelming authority.


    A mother is irreplaceable, and compared to Lan, of course, his own mother was more important.


    After a stick of incense time, Tooth Granny had already taken Lan away on a carriage, severing her connection with the Liu family forever.


    Lan sat with her eyes closed, her face filled with sorrow.


    She considered herself clever, with plans sewn seamlessly, but never anticipated pushing herself to a dead end.


    Once in the Hua Building, she¡¯d likely never have a chance to rise again in this lifetime.


    "Don¡¯t be so lifeless. Once there, serve well or you¡¯ll regret it,"


    Their line of work valued reputation greatly. If the person sent was unmanageable, their own name would suffer.


    Lan opened her eyes and nodded numbly.


    "Though it¡¯s not a place of glory, it is where the rich and noble gather. Seize the opportunity and you might turn your fate around,"


    Tooth Granny stroked her chin, judging from her years of experience, this girl would be wild in bed, just the type that young masters who visit the Hua Building favored.


    If she caught the eye of some noble¡¯s son or lord, and was redeemed to become a concubine, her life would be comfortable from then on.


    Lan pursed her lips and said no more, but she appeared to be a bit more spirited.


    Perhaps... this was the path that suited her.

 Chapter 766 - 771: Pregnant Woman’s Meal_1

    Chapter 766: Chapter 771: Pregnant Woman¡¯s Meal_1With Ruo Lan no longer on her mind, time passed quickly.


    In early April, a momentous event occurred in Big Willow Village.


    It was the arrival of a sedan chair embroidered with a golden dragon, a symbol exclusive to the Royal Family, drawing the eyes of many villagers.


    "That sedan chair has a golden dragon on it, it must be carrying someone very important!"


    "Who knows if this person is a blessing or a curse, I just feel like something big is going to happen in our village."


    "Let¡¯s hurry and follow to see." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Qin Longyun actually helped lift the sedan¡¯s curtain for this VIP.


    Grandpa Zhang politely said, "Lord Qin gives too much honor, I am not deserving."


    "Grandpa Zhang is too modest, this is my duty."


    Qin Longyun was very humble, because Zhang De enjoyed hearing such flattery.


    He acted this way not so much to ingratiate himself, but rather to avoid offending someone petty, knowing how troublesome these villains could be.


    "Grandpa Zhang, Lord Qin, Lady Qin, please come inside."


    Chen Yiling had already sent someone to deliver a message earlier, so as soon as Grandpa Zhang arrived, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er came out to greet them.


    Grandpa Zhang liked this feeling of being valued, probably because he was overlooked too much in the palace.


    Once inside the courtyard, Grandpa Zhang took out the imperial edict to read.


    "Emperor Shengde decrees that Tan Zhenghong and the Qiao Clan have invented the Sleeve Arrow, contributing greatly to the nation¡¯s defense. Tan Zhenghong is hereby appointed a Sixth Rank Inspector, Madam Qiao Clan is conferred the title of An Ren, in addition, two manors, a hundred mu of good farmland, a hundred taels of gold and two boxes of jewels are bestowed."


    Tan Zhenghong received the imperial edict with both hands, and Qiao Duo¡¯er stuffed a purse into Grandpa Zhang¡¯s hand right after.


    "It¡¯s been hard on you all the way here, Grandpa. This is a small token of appreciation from my husband, please accept it with a smile."


    "It was not hard at all, I haven¡¯t yet offered my congratulations to Fourth Master Tan and Madam, this is truly a first since the founding of the nation!"


    Grandpa Zhang shook the purse, estimating there were twenty taels of silver inside.


    He had thought that coming to this remote and poor place wouldn¡¯t offer much reward, but he hadn¡¯t expected the Tan Family to be so generous.


    Therefore, his smile grew even more brilliant, and his words became even more pleasant.


    Qin Longyun called out, "Grandpa Zhang, if you don¡¯t mind the simple fare at my younger sister¡¯s home, why don¡¯t you stay for a meal?"


    Building a good relationship with someone close to the Emperor had many future benefits.


    Grandpa Zhang didn¡¯t put on airs: "That would be troubling you."


    Though it was a farmhouse, it was bright and spacious¡ªit would be nice to rest here for a bit.


    Seeing Grandpa Zhang nod, Qiao Duo¡¯er led Almond and ChunTao into the kitchen. Eunuchs typically have peculiar personalities, so they had to be careful.


    "Grandpa Zhang prefers vegetarian dishes, but with strong flavors, loves spiciness, how should we handle this?"


    Almond looked troubled, as, in her mind, vegetarian dishes were supposed to be bland.


    "Mapo tofu, spicy dry tofu, cold mixed wood ear mushrooms, deep-fried shepherd¡¯s purse, hot and sour cabbage, just add more chili to each one, right?"


    As for the meat dishes, they came easily to mind: boiled beef slices in hot chili oil, pepper-spiced fish, and spicy duck blood and bean curd soup...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was grateful that her past life had turned her into a food enthusiast, there was hardly a dish she didn¡¯t know.


    Before long, a table full of spicy dishes was served.


    Besides Grandpa Zhang, Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes also lit up; she had been forced to eat bland food daily since becoming pregnant and was going crazy.


    She wasn¡¯t greedy, she would be completely satisfied today if she could just taste each dish.


    But before Chen Yiling could finish calculating her wishes, ChunTao interrupted her.


    "Miss, these are specially prepared by Mrs. Tan for you."


    Minced meat with steamed eggs, stir-fried vegetables, braised spareribs, and crucian carp soup made a healthy meal for the pregnant lady.

 Chapter 767 - 772 Reward_1

    Chapter 767: Chapter 772 Reward_1All of this Grandpa Zhang observed quietly, thinking to himself that the Qiao Clan was very considerate.


    Tan Zhenghong was not to be underestimated either. After receiving the imperial edict, he had already enshrined it in the ancestral hall, and even invited the village elders to accompany him.


    If it were someone else, they probably would have been frightened into losing all composure.


    It seemed he would have to maintain a good relationship with the Tan Family. Given their subtle thoughtfulness alone, the Tan Family was bound to achieve more than what they had accomplished today.


    By then, it might not be clear who would be helping whom.


    During the meal, Tan Zhenghong called out, "Grandpa Zhang, please feel free to eat, don¡¯t be shy."


    "It¡¯s been many days since I¡¯ve had such delicious food. Don¡¯t just stand there, eat with me."


    Grandpa Zhang said with a smile, focusing solely on the food, completely oblivious to the tearful expressions of the other diners.


    In reality, they were only forcing smiles, bitterly complaining about Qiao Duo¡¯er in their minds.


    That was just too much!


    They could all handle some spiciness, but the food today had really made their scalps tingle.


    They envied Chen Yiling¡¯s meal for pregnant women!


    After eating and drinking their fill, Grandpa Zhang gave a thumbs-up: "Mrs. Tan is truly skilled, capable of making cosmetics and cooking. I¡¯ll definitely ask the Saint for a piece of calligraphy for you once I return to the Capital."


    In this way, he was also giving face to the Tan Family.


    "Thank you, Grandpa Zhang!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very grateful. Since Grandpa Zhang was in service in the study, if the timing was right, asking for a piece of calligraphy wouldn¡¯t be difficult.


    Grandpa Zhang waved his hand: "It¡¯s a trifle, hardly worth mentioning." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After resting for a while, Grandpa Zhang started his journey back to the Capital. He had also planned to visit his hometown on the way back, so he could not delay even a moment.


    No sooner had they seen off Grandpa Zhang than people from the village came to offer their congratulations one after another.


    Now that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s Family not only had wealth but also had been bestowed with an official rank, how could they not try to cling to his coattails?


    "Ah Hong, you¡¯re really something now. From now on, Big Willow Village is counting on you!"


    "Ah Hong is a Sixth Rank Official, even greater than the county magistrate. Let¡¯s see if people from other villages will dare to bully us anymore!"


    ...


    For an entire afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er was surrounded by various congratulations, and only after two hours did the courtyard finally quiet down.


    Chen Yiling pursed her lips: "It¡¯s all down to your family owning a marinated meat shop. Otherwise, I wonder where you would find so much Copper Coin to return gifts!"


    The Tan Family¡¯s return gifts were sixteen Wen and two eggs per family, and she helped count them too.


    Otherwise, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the Hu¡¯s Clan would definitely not have managed with so many people.


    The Hu¡¯s Clan spoke up weakly: "I nearly exchanged all the Copper Coin yesterday, thank goodness for divine intervention."


    She had been about to exchange them for Silver when Er Ya fell ill with a fever, leaving the task delayed.


    "In the end, it¡¯s my luck," said Qiao Duo¡¯er proudly. How else could events have coincided so perfectly?


    The Hu¡¯s Clan agreed heartily: "It¡¯s clear that you¡¯re a person with good fortune. Alright, I won¡¯t chat anymore, I need to set up my stall in town."


    Before she could finish speaking, Huang Zhong had already appeared at the door.


    With a flushed face, Hu¡¯s Clan said most forcefully: "He must not know if there¡¯s a stall today and came over to ask."


    "I¡¯m entrusting the marinated meat shop to you. Just handle the big and small matters as you see fit, there¡¯s no need to report back to me," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows suggestively.


    With her face getting so red it nearly dripped blood, the Hu¡¯s Clan ran out of the main hall.


    Having disappeared in a flash, the Hu¡¯s Clan left Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling exchanging knowing looks.


    Was the Hu¡¯s Clan reacting out of shyness?


    Almost simultaneously, they both thought of this possibility and shared a knowing smile.


    But since love affairs were not appropriate for others to discuss, Chen Yiling brought up another big topic.

 Chapter 768 - 773 Landlord Lady_1

    Chapter 768: Chapter 773 Landlord Lady_1This matter was of great significance, and she had waited until everyone else had left.


    "There¡¯s also a plot of paddy fields covering four hundred acres on Xuan Eagle Mountain, costing a total of two thousand four hundred taels, should we consider it?"


    Chen Yiling lacked a bit of confidence; she¡¯d previously said that the reward would only come by the end of the year, giving Duo¡¯er plenty of time to save up silver.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected that with the covert help of her godfather, this day would come almost half a year early.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t have enough funds on hand, then she would be the chief culprit.


    Who made her make such absolute statements in the beginning?


    "As long as I can afford it and it¡¯s available, I definitely want to buy it," Qiao Duo¡¯er answered without hesitation.


    "Becoming a Landlord Lady is indeed different, not blinking an eye at a few hundred acres of land."


    Chen Yiling said teasingly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted: "What kind of Landlord Lady am I? I just have this much silver, I just hope this year is a bountiful one."


    If the harvest turned out poor, she could end up buried in debt, since she couldn¡¯t avoid paying the taxes.


    So, this was a great risk for her, but she lusted after the fertile lands of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    After weighing both options, she decided to go ahead and purchase the entire plot of paddy fields.


    As someone who had once been a typical modern person, she would never think of having too many houses.


    Anyway, these were all immovable assets, and they would always be a part of her wealth.


    "Last winter saw a good amount of snow; this year¡¯s harvest will surely be bountiful."


    Chen Yiling was certain; as the old saying goes, a timely snow promises a good harvest¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be wrong.


    "Let¡¯s hope so. I¡¯ll give you the silver note now, and ask your husband, Lord Qin, to help make the arrangements,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made up her mind and decided not to change it.


    As someone who had once been a typical modern person, she would never think of having too many houses¡ªthese were all immovable assets, that would always be a part of her wealth. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling nodded: "Leave this matter to me, I will make sure you get the Land Deed as soon as possible."


    "Then thank you in advance, Lady Qin!" Qiao Duo¡¯er also curtsied in gratitude.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    But she caught a glimpse of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s slender waist and nearly died of self-pity, now that she was inching closer to resembling a barrel.


    She couldn¡¯t help but say: "How come you stopped vomiting after two or three months? Now everything you eat tastes divine, you¡¯re almost fattening up like a pig!"


    "What does that matter, as long as Lord Qin doesn¡¯t mind,"


    "If he dares to mind, I¡¯ll kill him! If it weren¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t want this little thing!"


    In truth, Chen Yiling was all talk; she didn¡¯t realize how tenderly her eyes shone when she spoke, as if they were about to drip with gentleness.


    In this world, no one cared more about that little thing than Chen Yiling herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t expose Chen Yiling, and after a few more jokes, she brought out the box containing the silver notes.


    Buying the land would cost two thousand four hundred taels, with a service fee of ten percent capping at two hundred taels, totaling two thousand six hundred taels.


    After counting out twenty-six silver notes, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s box had become completely empty.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite calm about it; being empty was a new beginning, and in the future, she would earn even more.


    The next day, the Zou Clan and Gu Qingdie came with a load of gifts.


    Yesterday, the Feng Family had also received the imperial edict, awarding Wind Liyang a Golden Axe, appointing him as a Sixth Rank Imperial Axe, along with a certain amount of gold and silver.


    All this was thanks to Duo¡¯er¡¯s good fortune.


    Gu Qingdie apologized: "My aunt asked me to come over yesterday, but I couldn¡¯t make it; please forgive me, Sister Duo¡¯er."


    "If it weren¡¯t for Brother Feng¡¯s skillful hands, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to get that thing out, so let¡¯s not talk about who¡¯s thanking whom. Isn¡¯t it better to help each other out in the future than to go at it alone?"

 Chapter 769 - 774 Don’t Care About Empty Fame_1

    Chapter 769: Chapter 774 Don¡¯t Care About Empty Fame_1Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t dare to take credit because without Wind Liyang, she would never have been able to create the Sleeve Arrow.


    "Then let¡¯s work together with utmost sincerity in the future, and we¡¯ll surely rise to the next level," Gu Qingdie said with a smile.


    "That¡¯s a must!" Qiao Duo¡¯er was full of confidence. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Afterward, the two began discussing the sales plan for the threshing machine, which, barring any surprises, would be the biggest event at the carpentry shop this year.


    The bellows had already been launched on the market and had received unanimous praise from everyone.


    The carpentry shop had hired three more carpenter masters, but still couldn¡¯t satisfy the public demand, often needing to work overtime.


    As for the threshing machines, they were still stored in the warehouse, just waiting for the wheat harvest to truly demonstrate their power.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Gu Qingdie discussed fervently, and it wasn¡¯t long before they had set the price and also came up with several promotional strategies.


    Most of the time, the Zou¡¯s listened to them speak, only occasionally adding a comment or two.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had many great ideas, and her son had excellent skills, so together they could create impressive things.


    Now with the addition of Gu Qingdie, who was modest and skilled at dealing with matters, they would be a strong team, and she could completely let go and not worry about it.


    Hmm... Her days would be carefree from now on!


    Suddenly remembering her future mother-in-law, Gu Qingdie quickly said, "Madam, what do you think of these plans?"


    Zou¡¯s said contentedly, "I¡¯m old and can¡¯t keep up with you young people¡¯s quick thinking, and in the future, I¡¯ll be at ease being Duo¡¯er¡¯s assistant."


    Zou¡¯s was very open-minded about this matter.


    The young would be the ones to support the family in the future, so why should she cling to the power of running the household?


    Besides, her own child was capable, and she as a mother couldn¡¯t be happier.


    "I dare not employ you all the time, with Brother Feng and Qingdie both busy in the shop, won¡¯t you need to help take care of the children?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said mischievously, knowing that no matter how much she offered, the Zou¡¯s wouldn¡¯t be willing to work by then.


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense." Gu Qingdie¡¯s face was so red it looked like it would drip blood.


    She was still unmarried, so how did the conversation turn to having children?


    The Zou¡¯s, beaming with delight, said, "Duo¡¯er is right, that day will surely come!"


    Gu Qingdie hung her head, knowing that Wind Liyang didn¡¯t have her in his heart yet.


    She would just silently accompany him, believing that one day she would move Wind Liyang, make him unable to leave her, and then gradually fall in love with her.


    It might be difficult, but she would persevere.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had intended to keep the Zou¡¯s and Gu Qingdie for dinner, but they were soon dragged to the Tie Family by the daring big girl who arrived later.


    Since Qiao Duo¡¯er was now a sixth-rank official, An Ren, the old madam had led the family¡¯s women to greet her at the gate.


    Seeing that they were about to kneel, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "If you are this formal, I really won¡¯t dare to come in the future!"


    "The Saint¡¯s rewards have been given; if we don¡¯t observe the proper etiquette, the Saint will blame us."


    The old madam still insisted, as some things required that level of propriety.


    She didn¡¯t want to be the subject of criticism at her age.


    The big girl chimed in to persuade, "Grandma, just listen to Sister Duo¡¯er. They don¡¯t care about such superficial formalities. Look, today Brother Zheng Hong even went hunting in the mountains with others."


    "Big girl really understands me. If everyone were to be so nervous around me, I could only stay at home from now on."


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s response, the old madam finally did not insist further.


    "Then come in quickly, we¡¯ll be eating soon!" the old madam called out.


    Although they didn¡¯t insist on empty formalities, the Tie Family offered Qiao Duo¡¯er the very best they had.


    Others¡¯ modesty was due to their good character; if they didn¡¯t take them seriously because of that, they would be the foolish ones.

 Chapter 770 - 775: Girl in Spring_1

    Chapter 770: Chapter 775: Girl in Spring_1After lunch, Embroidery Lady sneakily pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er into her own boudoir.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, I want to ask you for a favor," Embroidery Lady said awkwardly.


    Now she was almost trapped in Duo Meifang all day, and with all sorts of skincare products, her complexion had greatly improved.


    That was a trouble too, like getting flushed at the slightest thing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit surprised, she hadn¡¯t expected the normally straightforward Embroidery Lady to be so bashful.


    Could this be what they call a young girl¡¯s spring feelings?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, "Come on, tell me which family¡¯s young master has charmed our Embroidery Lady."


    "Stop it!" Embroidery Lady stomped her foot.


    He wasn¡¯t some young master but just a poor scholar!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately stopped smiling, "I promise I won¡¯t laugh anymore, just tell me what you need help with."


    "I... You must promise not to tell anyone," Embroidery Lady¡¯s voice grew even quieter.


    Love really was a strange thing, she used to dislike it when girls spoke in such a soft and gentle voice, but now when it came to this matter, she had turned into just that.


    Ugh... she wanted to beat herself up!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er seriously promised to comply with Embroidery Lady¡¯s request; it was Embroidery Lady¡¯s secret, after all.


    Taking a deep breath, Embroidery Lady finally took out a pouch from her bosom.


    After hesitating for an eternity, she finally steeled herself and said, "Help me deliver this to Zhang Ziwen." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, "You mean Zhang Ziwen?"


    The kid was a good child, but she always felt that the two of them together were a bit of an odd couple.


    Embroidery Lady nodded lightly, yes, that bookworm from the Tofu Family, Zhang Ziwen, who always blushed whenever he spoke to a girl.


    "I thought I would like a tall and hearty man with strength, but somehow I ended up fancying a scholar with not enough strength to truss a chicken," Embroidery Lady said, downcast.


    Two months ago, she never would have thought she would have anything to do with a frail scholar.


    It all started two months ago, when she was captivated by Zhang Ziwen¡¯s warm smile, and from there, things spiraled out of control.


    Today, her mother urged her again to go see potential suitors, and she feared she would be confusedly married off, so she made this bold decision.


    She wanted Qiao Duo¡¯er to help her test Zhang Ziwen¡¯s feelings¡ªif he was willing, she would marry him; if he wasn¡¯t, she would marry him nonetheless.


    Anyway, Embroidery Lady was stubborn when it came to beliefs, and once she set her mind on someone, she wouldn¡¯t change it.


    "You should follow your own heart when it comes to love, but you also can¡¯t force it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the pouch; she had been on the verge of imparting life wisdom, but she inadvertently laughed.


    Cough cough... She could see that Embroidery Lady had made a great effort, but the result... was a bit regrettable.


    Embroidery Lady¡¯s embroidered mandarin ducks looked like ducks attempting to fly in the sky.


    "I¡¯ve been learning for two months now, but I¡¯m just not cut out for this line of work; my hands are nearly stung into a beehive," Embroidery Lady complained with a pout.


    Now she deeply regretted not listening to her mother¡¯s advice to learn embroidery properly.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be suffering like this now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Embroidery Lady¡¯s shoulder, "The most important thing is the thought behind it, and to be serious about your work. In the future, you should hire an Embroidery Lady."


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for Zhang Ziwen, for relying on Embroidery Lady¡¯s crafts to improve would take a next lifetime; specialization is important, and it wasn¡¯t Embroidery Lady¡¯s fault.


    "Don¡¯t worry!"


    Embroidery Lady nodded vigorously; she had actually planned this for a long time.


    As long as she didn¡¯t have to touch a needle, she was willing to do anything else!

 Chapter 771 - 776 The Trouble Caused by Inferiority_1

    Chapter 771: Chapter 776 The Trouble Caused by Inferiority_1The most important thing for Qiao Duo¡¯er was that she had never thought of leaving Duo Meifang.


    At first, she and Yang Ruoruo sold face masks in the town without a store or a brand name. Later, they decided to name it Duo Meifang. Now, Duo Meifang had a store in the county center, and she too had grown along the way.


    In the future, Duo Meifang would have even better development, and she hoped to always be there.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had put away her purse before she came out with Sister Duo¡¯er. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feng Clan couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Sister Duo¡¯er, are you alright?"


    Did her own daughter cause trouble for Duo¡¯er?


    That wasn¡¯t right. Even if her daughter was criticized, she would just giggle and laugh, not hang her head.


    "It¡¯s probably just the sun, Mother. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll take Sister Duo¡¯er back," Sister Duo¡¯er joked.


    Since nothing was settled yet, she didn¡¯t want to trouble her mother with concerns.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooperated, "Grandma, Aunt, Mother-in-law, I have things to attend to at home; I can¡¯t stay with you all."


    After sending off Duo¡¯er, Feng Clan complained, "Why is this child in such a hurry to send Duo¡¯er away? I wanted to play cards with Duo¡¯er!"


    "Sister Duo¡¯er is smart and has her own mind. Let¡¯s not meddle too much. Just keep an eye on the final decision," the old lady said with a smile, believing that her granddaughter¡¯s judgment would not be flawed.


    She was now just looking forward to the day when Sister Duo¡¯er would bring her grandson-in-law home.


    Feng Clan came to a realization and hastily nodded, "Duo¡¯er has a keen eye for people; with her help, I¡¯m at ease!"


    "Time flies so quickly. I still remember sending you off for your wedding," Zou Clan reminisced, realizing that now the children were ready to start families and enterprises, it was no wonder their generation was getting old.


    Feng Clan deeply agreed, "I also remember when Sister Duo¡¯er was just a little girl, always following behind me asking for candy. Thinking about it now, I feel reluctant to see her marry."


    Having a daughter is heart-wrenching because, inevitably, she¡¯ll one day belong to another family.


    Yet, not marrying her off also brings unease.


    "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings; hurry up and draw a card!" the old lady urged, as people of age preferred not to dwell on such sentimental topics.


    Both Feng Clan and Zou Clan understood the old lady¡¯s feelings and focused on playing cards.


    The playing cards were made by Qiao Duo¡¯er, who also taught them to play. It had become a major entertainment activity in the Feng Family.


    After leaving the Tie Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "All right, anything else you want to tell me?"


    "It¡¯s just... please don¡¯t seek out Zhang Ziwen on your own; I¡¯m afraid it will distract him from his studies. Wait for him to deliver tofu to your house, then talk to him. And don¡¯t tell Uncle Zhang yet. If Zhang Ziwen really doesn¡¯t want to, then let it be," Sister Duo¡¯er said hesitantly, courageous in love yet fearful of seeming too forward to Zhang Ziwen.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, Zi Wen is studying in the academy and probably won¡¯t return until Dragon Boat Festival. I¡¯ll let you know the moment I hear anything."


    "Thank you, Sister," Sister Duo¡¯er answered.


    However, Sister Duo¡¯er still had many concerns in her heart, mainly fearing that Zhang Ziwen would look down on her.


    Zhang Ziwen was the youngest Scholar in the village¡¯s history. She always felt that he would top the imperial exams and then marry a wealthy lady.


    To her, a coarse village girl, the chasm between them was enough to shatter all of Sister Duo¡¯er¡¯s stubbornness.


    In the end, it was all due to her own insecurities.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw right through Sister Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts. "Isn¡¯t Duo Meifang enough to make you proud?"


    Sister Duo¡¯er had her own enterprise; such a woman was more than suitable for any man!

 Chapter 772 - 777 What Are You Shy About?_1

    Chapter 772: Chapter 777 What Are You Shy About?_1Dani¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, "Do you really think I¡¯m good enough for Zhang Ziwen?"


    Sister Duo¡¯er never tells lies, as long as she says so, then it must be so!


    "Of course you are, if you don¡¯t believe it, wait a few days and I¡¯ll take you to the Zhao Family. Then you¡¯ll see where you fall short compared to those rich young ladies."


    She didn¡¯t dare to say that Zhang Ziwen would definitely agree.


    Because love is a kind of magic, it has nothing to do with whether you are outstanding or not.


    Whether it¡¯s about matching gazes, height, or family background, those aren¡¯t issues; if you don¡¯t see eye to eye, even a celestial beauty is of no use.


    But she was confident that Dani was exceptional, and even if Zi Wen were to achieve great success, Dani would still be more than good enough for him!


    Dani nodded vigorously, finally a radiant smile appeared on her face.


    "You must tell me as soon as you have any news."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, I promise to tell you the result as soon as it¡¯s in."


    With her heart back in place, Dani said goodbye to Qiao Duo and hummed a happy tune as she walked back.


    In the past, she had low self-esteem; her skin was dark, and she was good at nothing.


    But now, she was entirely different; she¡¯d become fairer, learned how to take care of herself, and was even able to manage a store in an orderly fashion. What reason did she have to look down on herself now?


    It¡¯s just a Zhang Ziwen, right?


    If he didn¡¯t appreciate her, that would definitely be his loss!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This was the Dani she knew¡ªalways smiling and frolicsome, confident and enthusiastic.


    As soon as Duo¡¯er arrived home, Tan Zhenghong also returned with a spring in his step.


    "You¡¯re back so early?" Qiao Duo was somewhat surprised.


    Normally, it would already be quite good if Zheng Hong could return before night, but now it wasn¡¯t even past the noon hour.


    "Everyone decided to weed the fields, so we agreed to work the land for half the afternoon from now on," Tan Zhenghong explained.


    For the others, hunting was just a side job that shouldn¡¯t get in the way of farming.


    Tan Zhenghong was pleased with this arrangement too, as it meant he would have more time to stick close to his wife.


    Qiao Duo yawned without any concern for her image, "You¡¯ve come back just in time, accompany me for a nap."


    The saying "spring drowsiness and autumn fatigue" wasn¡¯t wrong at all; ever since the weather had warmed up, she felt like she could sleep for eight hours every day.


    Tan Zhenghong decisively picked up his wife and strode towards the bedroom.


    Qiao Duo said weakly, "I can walk by myself."


    She really didn¡¯t understand what was up with Tan Zhenghong, constantly picking her up when there was no need¡ªas if she were a three-year-old child!


    "Since this month started, I feel like you¡¯ve lost weight. From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to do any work, especially since I have free time," Tan Zhenghong stated authoritatively.


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes. How could she have possibly lost weight when she¡¯d been eating and sleeping so well recently?


    This must be the phenomenon where "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder."


    To someone who truly cares for you, turning into a little fatty is for the best.


    Tan Zhenghong gently laid Qiao Duo on the bed and, seeing her rosy cheeks, he couldn¡¯t resist stealing a kiss.


    "It¡¯s our own yard, and there¡¯s no one else around. What are you shy about?" teased Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes, "I¡¯m not shy; I got shocked."


    Knowing that his wife always had a tough shell to crack, Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t bother to argue.


    "Hang on, I¡¯ll take a quick shower and then I¡¯ll join you."


    Tan Zhenghong took a quick wash, initially thinking of engaging in some lovemaking, but by the time he lay down in bed, his wife had already fallen asleep.


    Even though they¡¯d been going to bed early these past couple of days, how could she be so sleepy? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 773 - 778 Deer Whips_1

    Chapter 773: Chapter 778 Deer Whips_1But watching the little woman automatically snuggle into his embrace, Tan Zhenghong smiled dotingly again, thinking that being able to eat and sleep well was a blessing.


    When Duo¡¯er awoke, Tan Zhenghong had already disappeared, and she stayed in bed a while longer to gather her strength before getting up.


    In the courtyard, Tan Zhenghong was seriously washing something by the pool.


    "What are you doing?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was very curious.


    She remembered that Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t brought any game back with him today, so why was there a smell of blood in the yard? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong hid the object behind his back, "Nothing much, just cleaning a pheasant, planning to stew chicken soup for you to drink tonight."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stared at Tan Zhenghong. Though she didn¡¯t speak, her eyes were full of threat.


    She wasn¡¯t stupid, how could one kill a chicken without boiling water in a pot?


    Eventually, Tan Zhenghong admitted defeat and reluctantly brought out the object he was hiding behind his back.


    "I hunted a deer today, and I¡¯ve brought back the deer¡¯s pizzle."


    Tan Zhenghong averted his gaze. Even though he was a grown man, he was still quite shy. In fact, he had planned to keep this from his wife.


    He didn¡¯t expect to be found out so soon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and said disdainfully, "Do you think you need that thing?"


    You¡¯re already quite virile now. If you further nourish yang and strengthen the kidneys, would we be able to sleep at all during the night?


    "I heard that some of the Tan brothers are not up to the mark in certain aspects, so I thought I¡¯d drink this as a precaution," Tan Zhenghong revealed his thoughts.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want his wife to end up living like a widow.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with disdain, "Where did you hear that?"


    "Widow Xu said that three of the Tan brothers underperform, and also said that those who are inadequate are all from the same litter."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip. Could Tan Zhenghong possibly be related to underperforming?


    He was far too competent!


    And that Widow Xu, she¡¯s unbelievable! Before, everyone thought the child was Lao Guang¡¯s, but now it seems that Lao Guang might have been wronged.


    Being a widow to the extent of Widow Xu was also unparalleled.


    Meanwhile, Tan Zhenghong had cleaned off the excess flesh and sinew from the deer pizzle and found a clean wooden board to fix it in place.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a cold sweat breaking out all over her head, seeing the look in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes, it seemed he was determined to eat the deer pizzle.


    The thought alone made her feel like all the hairs on her body were standing on end.


    "Tan Zhenghong, your brothers are lazy, but you work out every day. You definitely won¡¯t end up like them," Qiao Duo¡¯er rushed to say.


    However, Tan Zhenghong was nonchalant, "Wife, I promise I won¡¯t be reckless. I won¡¯t wear you out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him, "I can¡¯t be bothered with you!"


    Sometimes she really wanted to smack this blockhead Tan Zhenghong to death!


    But on second thought, she couldn¡¯t bear to do it. She definitely couldn¡¯t find someone more suitable for her than Tan Zhenghong.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er snuck off to the Storytelling Room. ¡¯Out of sight, out of mind,¡¯ right?


    Living under the same roof, how easy is it to avoid each other?


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong also sneaked in, pulling Qiao Duo¡¯er into his arms.


    "Get to reading and writing, otherwise you¡¯ll forget what you¡¯ve learned," Qiao Duo¡¯er grabbed a book and shoved it into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands.


    She wouldn¡¯t admit that she did this because a certain part of someone was pressing against her. Probably even while cleaning the deer pizzle, he was contemplating how to assert his dominance in the future, which caused his blood to surge at the moment.


    If she didn¡¯t send Tan Zhenghong away soon, things might get out of hand.


    Tan Zhenghong nuzzled his head against Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s neck, "Wife, I feel really uncomfortable."


    "Don¡¯t start anything. It¡¯s broad daylight," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face.

 Chapter 774 - 779: Waiting for the Evening_1

    Chapter 774: Chapter 779: Waiting for the Evening_1If Tan Zhenghong had only made advances during the day and left her alone at night, she might have accepted it, but the guy still wouldn¡¯t leave her be even at night, so she firmly refused.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked pitifully, "If not during the day, then I can only wait for the night."


    "Can¡¯t you think about anything else?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt the urge to vomit blood.


    "This sort of thing is human instinct, you can¡¯t blame me," Tan Zhenghong responded with a thick face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Keep talking and you¡¯ll sleep in the guest room tonight."


    Tan Zhenghong obediently shut up. Every time she used this to scare him, and annoyingly, it worked every single time.


    It was still early, Qiao Duo¡¯er read a book on the sofa while Tan Zhenghong practiced calligraphy at the desk, occasionally chatting idly. Indeed, these were peaceful times.


    About two hours later, Fat Fat and Fatty started yelling at the top of their lungs.


    From the desperate way they were behaving, it must be a stranger entering the yard.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced out of the window, "Someone¡¯s looking for you."


    This girl looked unfamiliar; she was probably a new worker from the embroidery room. In these circumstances, he better keep his distance, lest she hangs onto him like Ruo Lan did before. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hmm... He now had a phobia of women.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "That¡¯s my third sister, Qiao Mei¡¯er."


    "What¡¯s she doing here?"


    If he remembered correctly, his wife¡¯s family had only caused a fuss when they were building a house, and they hadn¡¯t come since.


    Thinking more carefully, there seemed to have been such a girl at that time, one with quite a temper.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Go out and see, then you¡¯ll know."


    But based on her intuition, it definitely wasn¡¯t anything good, since all good things would have already been taken by others.


    But now that trouble had come knocking, she was not the type to shy away from problems.


    Standing at the door, Qiao Duo¡¯er whistled, and Fat Fat with Fatty instantly stopped howling, but they were still circling around Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    They were loyal protectors and wouldn¡¯t give any chance to bad people.


    When Qiao Mei¡¯er saw Qiao Duo¡¯er coming out, she knelt down with a ¡¯plop¡¯.


    "Big sister, you must save me, or I¡¯ll die kneeling here!" Qiao Mei¡¯er wailed.


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to shed a few tears, but she had cried so much in recent days that she simply had no tears left.


    "If you have something to say, say it, don¡¯t kneel at every turn."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows¡ªshe was still alive and didn¡¯t like being knelt to!


    Besides, refusing to get up isn¡¯t it just a blatant threat?


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er enter the house, Qiao Mei¡¯er quickly followed. Now, big sister Qiao Duo was her only lifeline, and she had to hold on to it tightly.


    In the main hall, Qiao Mei¡¯er managed to explain the situation, albeit disjointedly.


    Last year, the Qiao Family was slow in their actions, and most of their rice was soaked by the floods, with only sixty percent of the usual yield.


    After paying the rent and taxes, they only had a little over two hundred pounds of food left, which was finished before the New Year.


    Then, someone suddenly sent Ten Taels of Silver, saying it was the dowry for Qiao Hua¡¯er, and only then did the family manage to get by.


    But a few days ago, Qiao Mei¡¯er heard that it was actually her whom they wanted to marry off to an old man. She refused to marry the old man, which led to a beating and being locked up at home.


    She finally found a chance to escape today and ran all the way to her big sister¡¯s house, thinking that life was better here.


    "Big sister, I heard that old man likes to play with girls and has caused several deaths. You must save me, I don¡¯t want to die!"


    Qiao Mei¡¯er clenched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve tightly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Do you still remember what you said back then?"


    The original host also resisted when she knew she was being sold. What did this sister do at that time?

 Chapter 775 - 780 Inseparable_1

    Chapter 775: Chapter 780 Inseparable_1Qiao Mei¡¯er said that being sold meant she wouldn¡¯t have to work, she could eat her fill and dress warmly, and she also sang the praises of the Tan Family¡¯s generous virtues.


    So, the naively deceived original self was taken in and married over with great joy.


    Yet, everyone in the Qiao Family apart from the original self knew what kind of life she would lead in the Tan Family. The Tan Family was not short of a daughter-in-law but a maid or, to put it in another way, an animal for labor.


    Now, she wanted to throw back those very words Qiao Mei¡¯er had said to her.


    Wouldn¡¯t marrying into Yuanwai¡¯s House mean an even better life?


    She could enjoy luxurious clothes, fine food and silk garments, and would even have people waiting on her, wouldn¡¯t that be nice?


    Qiao Mei¡¯er said with guilty conscience, "Big sister, I was wrong, but I didn¡¯t harm you. Look, aren¡¯t you living a good life now?"


    If she could, she would have wished that she replaced her big sister and married into the Tan Family!


    Then, she would be the one doted on by her brother-in-law and living in a big house.


    No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Qiao Mei¡¯er vigorously shook her head. If she entertained such a thought, her big sister would be even less likely to bother with her.


    If even her big sister refused to help her, her life was utterly ruined!


    Now, she had seen her family¡¯s true colors; as long as they were well-off, they didn¡¯t care whether she lived or died.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t join in the conversation, her mind preoccupied with the original self¡¯s predicament.


    Right after she got married, Tan Zhenghong protected her. When Wang Clan spoke ill of her, he went hunting in the mountains, hoping it would make Wang Clan treat her a bit better.


    But once he was gone, Wang Clan beat her up.


    The reason was that she wasn¡¯t worth One Tael of Silver; if Wang Clan didn¡¯t beat her, the frustration would stay pent up in her heart. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the afternoon, when Tan Zhenghong was brought back, Wang Clan beat her to near death, blaming her for being a Star of Misfortune.


    The following day, when the original self asked for breakfast, she got beaten, and again at lunch.


    With pain and hunger, the original self finally jumped into the river in a fit of anger.


    If the original self hadn¡¯t jumped into the river, if she hadn¡¯t traveled through time and space to this world by a fluke, both the original self and Tan Zhenghong would have ended in tragedy.


    The chief culprit wasn¡¯t Qiao Mei¡¯er, but she was certainly implicated.


    Back in the Qiao family, Qiao Mei¡¯er never hesitated to bully the original self ¨C stealing food, mocking, and beating her; none was spared.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was someone who held grudges. She couldn¡¯t be magnanimous towards those who had once hurt her.


    "I¡¯m not a decent person; I¡¯m selfish. Back when the house was so poor we couldn¡¯t even lift the lid of the pot, it was my second sister and I who persuaded our parents to sell you. I¡¯m no good person, please forgive me!"


    Qiao Mei¡¯er knelt on the ground again, her head knocking against the floor earnestly.


    People were right; what goes around comes around, and retribution is inescapable. Her current plight was her just desserts!


    She had wronged her big sister, and now she herself had been schemed against by her second sister.


    Her second sister, Ruyi, planned to sell her off and keep Two Taels of Silver as a dowry, so she could find a good family to marry into.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with impatience, "Stop kneeling at every turn; if you have something to say, then say it properly!"


    It¡¯s as if she¡¯s the one oppressing others; what¡¯s the point of this?


    If she really wanted to lay a hand, she would just pick her up and throw her out!


    "Big sister, I¡¯ll be obedient and listen to you from now on. I¡¯ll work like an ox or a horse for you, as a way to make amends."


    Qiao Mei¡¯er obediently took a seat in the chair.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath to control her emotions.


    From the look on Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s face, she seemed truly repentant, but the main reason was that she didn¡¯t want to marry Xu Yuanwai.


    "Marriage is decided by the parents and the matchmaker¡¯s words. The dowry has been accepted; there¡¯s nothing I can do."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Xu Yuanwai favored young girls, which meant he was no gentleman. It would certainly not be easy to call off the marriage.


    Initially, Xu Yuanwai had given Ten Taels of Silver, but now it would take at least One Hundred Taels to settle the matter.

 Chapter 776 - 781 I Am Willing_1

    Chapter 776: Chapter 781 I Am Willing_1Qiao Mei¡¯er bit her lip and mustered the courage to say, "Xu Yuanwai said I don¡¯t have to marry him, but I would need to pay him five hundred taels as compensation for damages."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and couldn¡¯t help but imagine that scene.


    An old man with grey hair and a plump body clamoring for compensation for his lost youth¡ªtruly... an eyesore!


    And he had the gall to demand five hundred taels¡ªwho gave him the face to ask for so much?


    Qiao Mei¡¯er watched Qiao Duo¡¯er nervously but could not read her thoughts.


    She had said all she could; she hoped heaven would grant her a way out, but the longer she waited, the more despair she felt.


    Five hundred taels was no small sum; she had no face to ask Qiao Duo¡¯er to give so much silver to Xu Yuanwai.


    Outside, there was another round of knocking on the door, accompanied by cursing.


    "Idiot, hurry up and bring Qiao Mei¡¯er out!" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯re courting death, not opening the door when I arrive¡ªwatch out, or I¡¯ll kill you all!" "Stupid girl, you think you can avoid trouble by hiding here? I tell you, even if you die, I will still deliver your corpse to Xu Yuanwai¡¯s mansion."


    "Open the door quickly; don¡¯t blame me for being rude if you don¡¯t!"


    Qiao Jingu pounded on the door with a brazen attitude.


    Now, let alone five hundred taels, his family couldn¡¯t even come up with ten taels of silver.


    Originally, that ten taels were divided with two going to Qiao Hua¡¯er, five spent here and there, and the rest had to be saved for his own marriage.


    So no matter how much Qiao Mei¡¯er made a fuss, marrying Xu Yuanwai was her only option.


    Hearing Qiao Jingu¡¯s voice, Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s body trembled.


    She never wanted to return to that dreadful house, where she was treated worse than a dog!


    Every day she starved but had endless chores to do, bullied by Qiao Hua¡¯er and Qiao Jingu, constantly fearing being sold off, just like her elder sister once was.


    No, her elder sister had it even worse.


    At that time, her sister was not mentally sharp, and the Qiao family disregarded her even more.


    Now, what she regretted most was never helping her sister during those times, instead mocking and ridiculing her.


    If she were Qiao Duo, she wouldn¡¯t forgive those who had hurt her either, let alone reach out to help.


    "Elder sister, can you let me leave through the back door?" Qiao Mei¡¯er said, resigned to her fate.


    No one could help her; rather than marrying Xu Yuanwai, she¡¯d rather find a place to end her life now.


    If there were a next life, she would surely be a kind person.


    "I can keep you here, but you must sign a servitude contract. If you behave and cause no trouble, we will coexist peacefully. But if you have other intentions, I won¡¯t be considering familial ties¡ªyou need to think it over," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    She disliked the idea of human trafficking, but sometimes she had to take precautions.


    If Qiao Mei¡¯er had ulterior motives, she wouldn¡¯t agree to this. If she did agree, there would be something to hold over her in the future.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er was surprised; she hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Duo¡¯er to offer help, let alone require her to sell herself into servitude.


    Her elder sister was inherently kind; being a servant here would still be better than life with the Qiao family.


    So Qiao Mei¡¯er gritted her teeth and agreed, "I am willing."


    "Almond, take her to wash her face, then give her needles and thread, and pick a design for her to embroider," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    If Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s embroidery skills were good, she could work in the Embroidery Room; otherwise, she could help sell goods at Duo Meifang, or at the very least, clean.


    All things considered, she wouldn¡¯t keep Qiao Mei¡¯er at home because she couldn¡¯t pretend nothing had happened.


    The extent of her help was this much; everything else would depend on Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s own choices.

 Chapter 777 - 782 Clueless_1

    Chapter 777: Chapter 782 Clueless_1Just as Qiao Jingu was about to kick in the door, it opened.


    Tan Zhenghong asked coldly, "Who are you looking for?"


    Normally, as the brother-in-law, he should treat his brother-in-law well when he came to visit.


    But he remembered very clearly what Qiao Jingu had said: that it was only right to sell his sister, and that One Tael of Silver was too cheap.


    In Qiao Jingu¡¯s eyes, his sister was merely a tool for making money.


    And he couldn¡¯t bring himself to give a good face to such a heartless person.


    "Don¡¯t play dumb with me, I am Qiao Jingu, the idiot you married is my elder sister."


    Qiao Jingu looked at Tan Zhenghong with disdain.


    So much time had passed, and he didn¡¯t know if his sister¡¯s foolishness had flared up again, but he certainly didn¡¯t believe that someone who had been foolish for so many years would suddenly recover upon getting married.


    Tan Zhenghong warned, "If I hear you talking nonsense again, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite."


    Qiao Jingu snorted disdainfully, but seeing how strong Tan Zhenghong was, he didn¡¯t dare say more, out of fear of being beaten up.


    Why wouldn¡¯t it be okay for him to go in and look for the big idiot?


    She was most afraid of him, and she never dared to talk back to anything he said.


    But as soon as Qiao Jingu lifted his foot, Fat Fat and Fatty started barking furiously as if they were about to pounce.


    Qiao Jingu drew back his foot, and the two dogs calmed down again.


    The two dogs knew their mission very well; they were there to guard the courtyard.


    After a few repetitions, Qiao Jingu was still lingering at the entrance of the courtyard.


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "They are just paper tigers, only fierce in their own territory, and they pick on the weak but fear the strong."


    "What if they bite me? Call out the idiot... I mean, my elder sister, I need to see her."


    Qiao Jingu looked apprehensively at the strong dogs. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hadn¡¯t married a wife yet, and hadn¡¯t provided an heir for the Qiao Family, he absolutely couldn¡¯t fall here.


    Tan Zhenghong felt helpless, couldn¡¯t Qiao Jingu realize that he was mocking him?


    Sigh, he always called others fools, yet he was the dullest, having reached the point of being unaware of his own stupidity.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er appeared from the house, Qiao Jingu became more animated.


    He said in frustration, "Look at the animals you¡¯re raising, they don¡¯t even recognize people!"


    "They are very clever, they not only recognize people but also read their expressions," Qiao Duo¡¯er said innocently.


    It¡¯s just that there are some animals they do not want to recognize, nor will they show a good face.


    Qiao Jingu glared at the dogs, thinking that the two fat creatures would make a good stew for the New Year.


    As if sensing Qiao Jingu¡¯s malice, the dogs started snarling and baring their teeth again, even more fiercely than before.


    Qiao Jingu quickly looked away. Damn it, what¡¯s the point of having two vicious dogs?


    After thinking for a while, he concluded that Qiao Duo must be keeping these two creatures to scare him!


    Damn, that was too heartless!


    Catching a glimpse of the watchful Tan Zhenghong, Qiao Jingu could only mutter to himself that he would settle this matter later.


    "Hand over Qiao Mei¡¯er quickly, or I¡¯ll beat you to death!"


    Qiao Jingu mentioned the real issue. He hadn¡¯t come to fight with dogs but to find Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    He had asked all the way here, and people had said they saw a girl coming this way.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Qiao Mei¡¯er has sold herself off, I bought her, and she has nothing to do with you anymore."


    "Where¡¯s the Silver?" Qiao Jingu made no attempt to hide his greed.


    "The Silver for selling oneself is hers to deal with, how she uses it is none of my business," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with disgust.


    Seeing the gleam in his eyes made her want to vomit. Even if Qiao Mei¡¯er had countless faults, she had never wronged this brother.


    Narrowing his eyes, Qiao Jingu said, "Then let Qiao Mei¡¯er come out, I need to see her."

 Chapter 778 - 783: Dog Chasing People_1

    Chapter 778: Chapter 783: Dog Chasing People_1After Qiao Mei¡¯er came out, he took the Silver for himself and then sent Qiao Mei¡¯er to Xu Yuanwai, so he could take another share of Silver.


    It must be about ten or so taels, truly unexpected wealth!


    "She doesn¡¯t want to see you now, and you¡¯d better hurry back home and let your dad and mom have a few more daughters; later on, you can just live off selling them," Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly.


    Raising a girl in the Qiao Family is very profitable; having a few more would definitely make one wealthy and successful.


    They can work from the age of three, toil for about a decade, and then be sold off - just one could provide for the whole family for years, it¡¯s a no-loss deal.


    The Qiao Family had already sold two girls and was left with only the more shrewd Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    Not selling her now doesn¡¯t mean she is safe, it just means they haven¡¯t found a suitable buyer or haven¡¯t agreed on the right price.


    After saying this, Qiao Duo¡¯er slammed the door shut with a smack, fearing she would be angered to death if she continued!


    "Idiot, open the door! If you don¡¯t let Qiao Mei¡¯er out, I will beat you all to death!"


    "Do you know who Xu Yuanwai is? If you offend him, he could kill you all with just a flick of his fingers!"


    "Hurry out and kneel to apologize to me, then I¡¯ll forgive you!"


    ...


    "Drive him away!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with disgust.


    She really couldn¡¯t believe how noisy a boy could be.


    Following the order, Fat Fat and Fatty squeezed out of the dog hole and incredibly chased Qiao Jingu all the way to the village entrance before giving up.


    Finally, there was some peace. Qiao Duo¡¯er patted her chest, looking somewhat pale. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong noticed her discomfort immediately: "Wife, don¡¯t be angry with him. It¡¯s not worth getting sick over."


    "It¡¯s nothing. Just felt sickened, a bit tight in the chest," Qiao Duo¡¯er said weakly, feeling lackluster.


    Tan Zhenghong anxiously helped his wife into the house and brewed her a cup of dried tangerine peel water.


    After drinking it, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally felt relieved, but it still scared Tan Zhenghong considerably.


    He had never seen his wife get so outraged before.


    "Next time he comes, leave him to me. That scoundrel is spoiled rotten; a good thrashing will straighten him out."


    Tan Zhenghong gently patted Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s back to help ease her breathing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "With Fat Fat and the others here, why would you need to lift a finger?"


    It¡¯s a pity about Qiao Jingu¡¯s intelligence - he was a smart child, just not smart enough to take the right path.


    Actually, he was innocent; after all, being born into the Qiao Family wasn¡¯t something he could choose.


    "Let¡¯s forget about him. I¡¯ll go to the cellar and get some tangerines from last year. Eating a couple of those will surely make you feel better," Tan Zhenghong said, mussing his wife¡¯s hair with eyes full of indulgence.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently nodded: "Hurry up."


    At the mention of it, she really began to crave them, wishing she could eat the sour and sweet tangerines right away.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong delivered peeled tangerines to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth.


    The cool sensation spread all the way to her heart, completely dispersing the discomfort.


    No wonder there are so many food lovers; eating inherently has healing properties, the more you eat, the happier you feel.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er devoured three tangerines in one breath and still felt unsatisfied.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said, "Rest a bit before you eat more, too many cold things are not good for the body."


    "But I¡¯m not full," Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted.


    She felt she could eat an entire basket.


    Under her act of cuteness, Tan Zhenghong could only peel one more tangerine: "This is the last one, if you¡¯re still hungry after that I¡¯ll make you some food."

 Chapter 779 - 785: Maternal Home Sister?_1

    Chapter 779: Chapter 785: Maternal Home Sister?_1Qiao Duo¡¯er seldom visited the Embroidery Room, so she took the opportunity to call Fat Aunt and Chao Lian into a small room for a meeting.


    She didn¡¯t need to hold the managerial power of the Embroidery Room in her hands, but she needed to be clear about its situation.


    The Embroidery Room had already entered the right track; there was a fixed process for both procurement and supply, and the Embroidery Ladies¡¯ enthusiasm was high.


    Chao Lian, who had been criticized by Ruo Lan for only imitating, had now started trying to draw her own patterns. According to feedback from the customers, the sales were quite good. This allowed Qiao Duo¡¯er to finally say with confidence that what she was doing was original.


    The only issue was that the storeroom was always urging for more products, forcing the Embroidery Room to recruit people nonstop, and it was now overcrowded.


    If they were to hire more staff, they could only arrange for them to stay in Chao Lian¡¯s room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; indeed, having too many people was a problem.


    Everyone needed a relatively independent space, otherwise, they would easily become irritable.


    That would be reflected in the embroidered products with uneven stitches and careless needlework.


    "We do need to find a new place, but I have to go back and discuss with Ah Hong whether we should build it ourselves or buy a ready-made yard," she said.


    Chao Lian immediately asked, "Will the new place still be in the village?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you be separated from Erhu," Qiao Duo¡¯er said teasingly.


    Chao Lian¡¯s face flushed red; she had just asked casually without thinking too much.


    But she knew explanations would be useless. Others would definitely think she was trying to hide something. It was better to say nothing at all.


    Fat Aunt laughed and said, "Don¡¯t be shy, it¡¯s human nature. What kind of home is it without a woman?"


    Chao Lian pouted, "You¡¯re all so mean, always teasing me."


    But truthfully, she really couldn¡¯t bear to leave her home.


    Ever since she married Sun Erhu, she had felt the sense of having a home, something she had become extremely attached to.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped teasing Chao Lian and started discussing the arrangements for the coming period.


    "Recently, we can arrange for those making shoe pads to work from home, subsidizing each person with three Wen Money for meals. Just hold on until we move to the new place."


    Many households were short of food, and with the weather warming up, there would definitely be people willing to embroider at home.


    "Alright, I went to town yesterday and discussed with Qing Niang. We¡¯ve decided not to recruit more people here. She could probably free up half her Embroidery Ladies, ensuring we have enough goods prepared for Mansion City before the Dragon Boat Festival," Chao Lian said.


    "It¡¯s all thanks to your efforts," replied Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She was very assured about Fat Aunt and Fang Qingniang. With them around, she didn¡¯t need to worry much about the supply side of things.


    "It¡¯s all part of the job; it¡¯s not about being hardworking!" Fat Aunt humbly said, as she always wanted to live up to the wages Qiao Duo¡¯er paid her.


    After they had discussed official matters, Fat Aunt remembered someone else: Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    "Was that your younger sister from your natal family just now?" Fat Aunt asked uncertainly.


    She had heard that Qiao Duo¡¯er had a tough life in her natal family and that after being sold to the Tan Family, there was no contact with her natal family whatsoever.


    Now, by taking in Qiao Mei¡¯er, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already being magnanimous.


    But since Qiao Duo¡¯er had personally delivered her, it must mean she valued her presence.


    So she was unsure of how to treat her.


    After some thought, she felt it was safer to ask.


    "She¡¯s my Third Sister, but she¡¯s just an ordinary Embroidery Lady. You should manage her in the same way you do the others," Qiao Duo¡¯er did not hide the truth, openly acknowledging her relationship with Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    Fat Aunt nodded; this set her mind at ease.


    Since she took charge of the Embroidery Room, what she feared the most was managing someone with family ties. Speaking too harshly could easily hurt feelings, but turning a blind eye could compromise quality, leaving dismissal as the only option. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anyway, no matter what she did, she was bound to upset someone.

 Chapter 780 - 786 Regretting Deeply_1

    Chapter 780: Chapter 786 Regretting Deeply_1Qiao Jingu returned to the Tan Family crestfallen and, upon arriving home, flew into a rage, smashing things to pieces.


    Just like that, the last two chipped cups in the house were shattered.


    As the darling of the Qiao Family, when he got angry, everyone gathered around him.


    Liu¡¯s family asked anxiously, "Son, what¡¯s wrong? Stop smashing things, be careful not to hurt your hand."


    "It¡¯s all because of your wonderful daughter, Qiao Mei¡¯er sold herself to the Tan Family. That fool not only failed to give me any silver but also locked me out at the door!" Qiao Jingu said indignantly. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the way back, he belatedly realized he had been insulted by Qiao Duo¡¯er and her husband.


    Hmph, he was neither a bully nor a tyrant at home!


    Qiao Hua¡¯er silently rolled her eyes; she couldn¡¯t wait to give Qiao Jingu a good beating.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a fool, Qiao Mei¡¯er and Mother were indecisive, and he still had the nerve to come home and throw a tantrum after they bullied him.


    What kind of man was he!


    Besides, wasn¡¯t everything in the house bought with money? To simply smash things, how wasteful!


    But with their parents watching, Qiao Hua¡¯er could only suggest, "Don¡¯t stoop to their level, we¡¯ll get justice together later!"


    "You¡¯re useless, eating and drinking for free every day at home, don¡¯t you know to find a strong man to support you?"


    Qiao Jingu said disdainfully, unsure if their whole family combined could match Tan Zhenghong.


    If only Qiao Hua¡¯er showed some ambition and found someone taller and stronger than Tan Zhenghong, none of this would be an issue now.


    "What¡¯s so great about those rough countrymen? You¡¯re the one with no taste!" Qiao Huar¡¯er retorted.


    As the most beautiful girl in Dafeng Village, she intended to marry a scholar.


    Qiao Jingu was annoyed. Was he going to allow a girl who was nothing but a loss to talk back to him? What status did he have left in the family?


    "Look at what kind of child you¡¯ve raised, she¡¯s infuriating me!"


    This time, Liu¡¯s family was too preoccupied to soothe Qiao Jingu, who was nearly worried sick. With Mei¡¯er gone, how would they handle her marriage?


    "In a couple of days, Master Xu is coming to pick her up. What are we going to do if we can¡¯t hand her over?"


    Given Third Girl¡¯s determination, she certainly wouldn¡¯t marry Xu Yuanwai. Xu Yuanwai had made it clear: either marry off a daughter or give five hundred taels.


    With the current situation, how could they possibly have five hundred taels?


    Qiao Laixi took a couple of puffs from his dry pipe, "Maybe we should ask our son-in-law for help. He¡¯s been made an official by the Imperial court; perhaps Master Xu would give him some face."


    They say the common folk shouldn¡¯t fight with officials; surely, Master Xu wouldn¡¯t be so unreasonable.


    "What kind of official is he? He can¡¯t manage anything, he might even have to kneel when he sees Master Xu!"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er said with disdain. A Sixth Rank Inspector could only deceive those who were ignorant.


    Liu¡¯s family looked skeptical; they had heard that Tan Zhenghong held the rank of sixth, higher than that of a county magistrate. How could he be useless?


    "I saw people from Big Willow Village the other day; they¡¯re not fools. If Tan Zhenghong were a useless official, would they respect him so much?" Qiao Laixi voiced his doubts.


    A girl who had married into Big Willow Village was visiting her parents recently; she spoke of Tan Zhenghong with nothing but reverence in her eyes.


    They also said the Tan Family was now rich and powerful in Big Willow Village and acted unchallenged.


    At that moment, he considered recognizing the marriage with the Tan Family again.


    Otherwise, people would rightfully say he was foolish, having squandered a good marriage alliance.


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t admit he regretted it deeply.


    Initially, he should never have sold the foolish girl; otherwise, with the gifts for the festivals and the social exchanges, all of it combined would have been worth much more than just One or Two Silver.

 Chapter 781 - 787 Miss me?_1

    Chapter 781: Chapter 787 Miss me?_1Qiao Hua¡¯er lightly sneered, "Which respectable official doesn¡¯t go to the Government Office to work? Only Tan Zhenghong stays at home all day, I heard he even leads people up the mountain to hunt."


    So she never believed it when others said how powerful the Tan Family was.


    If they were really that powerful, would Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er need to do work by themselves?


    Anyway, if it were her, she would have bought maids and servants to attend to her long ago.


    Liu¡¯s family couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Where did you hear all this? Don¡¯t go spreading it around in the future."


    "Young Master Du Er said it; he¡¯s seen a lot and knows a lot, he definitely wouldn¡¯t talk nonsense."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er said shyly, Du Haofeng, the youngest son of the landlord¡¯s family, was also the man of her dreams.


    If she could marry into the Du Family, her days would be set.


    Knowing that it was Young Master Du who had said it, Liu¡¯s family believed more than half of it, for Young Master Du was literate, unlike those toiling in the fields.


    Qiao Jingu chimed in at the right moment, "I think so too, what kind of official wears such shabby clothes? Xu Yuanwai always wears silk, which must be a lot better than what Tan Zhenghong wears!"


    Qiao Laixi felt a headache coming on; if what his son and daughter said were true, then his previous calculations would be for naught.


    But he was also afraid of pushing Third Girl to desperate actions, and then he wouldn¡¯t be able to explain to Xu Yuanwai.


    "Let¡¯s think of a solution, see how we can get Third Boss back."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s eyes darted about as a sly idea popped into her head.


    "Why not let Xu Yuanwai give the Tan Family a warning shot? After that, they¡¯d surely cling to us; then, when we go to the Tan Family, we can at least have a good meal."


    Even though Qiao Mei¡¯er would marry into the family as a concubine, that still constituted a marital connection.


    Leaning on that relationship, the Qiao Family¡¯s spine could also stiffen. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Jingu gave a thumbs up, "My brother-in-law might be a bit wealthier than we thought, maybe we can wrangle something out of it."


    Liu¡¯s wife, indecisive as ever, could only look to Qiao Laixi, "Husband, could this work?"


    Qiao Laixi tapped on his smoking pipe, "You all go out and inquire these next few days, see what kind of official our son-in-law really is."


    If he¡¯s of no use at all, then there¡¯s no need to save face for them.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er readily agreed, the villagers with their muddy legs surely couldn¡¯t tell, she would have to ask her Brother Du Er!


    She couldn¡¯t wait to go to the Du Family and, as she wished, she got to see Du Haofeng.


    With a flirtatious tone, Du Haofeng hooked Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s chin, "Missed me again?"


    "Brother Er, don¡¯t do this, I just want to know what use a Sixth Rank Inspector has."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er feigned dodging a couple of times, then conveniently collapsed into Du Haofeng¡¯s arms.


    She really liked the feeling of almost taking flight that Du Haofeng brought her.


    As Du Haofeng¡¯s hand slid up from under her clothes, he perfunctorily said, "No use at all, why do you keep asking about this? Do you want to be a concubine for your brother-in-law?"


    He wasn¡¯t about to tell his woman about another man¡¯s power, that would be like slapping his own face, wouldn¡¯t it?


    "I... No, it¡¯s my dad... He wants to add to my sister¡¯s dowry, to acknowledge the marital connection back," said Qiao Hua¡¯er, her voice faltering and her cheeks flushing.


    Du Haofeng was well aware of her body¡¯s reactions, a little tease and her legs would go weak.


    She knew girls should be reserved, but at times like this she simply couldn¡¯t control herself.


    She really wished Du Haofeng would go on...


    Du Haofeng had no intention of stopping either, his fingers twitched and soon Qiao Hua¡¯er was stripped bare, his wicked hands igniting fires all over her.


    He never turned down a woman who came knocking at his door, especially when Qiao Hua¡¯er was quite a good-looking woman indeed.

 Chapter 782 - 788: Around the Waist_1

    Chapter 782: Chapter 788: Around the Waist_1"Your eldest sister isn¡¯t a fool, is she? It¡¯s just like gifting her dowry to swindlers. It¡¯s better to give it to you. That way, once you marry into the family, you¡¯ll have a stronger footing." Du Haofeng replied in his spare time.


    The Du Family wouldn¡¯t miss that bit of Silver, but they certainly wouldn¡¯t complain about having more.


    "Second brother, will you really marry me?" Qiao Hua¡¯er asked coyly.


    Suddenly, Du Haofeng lifted Qiao Hua¡¯er in his arms, "If you serve me well, of course, I¡¯ll marry you."


    "You can¡¯t deceive me," Qiao Hua¡¯er said as she looked steadily at Du Haofeng.


    This winter when she twisted her ankle, she was sitting by the roadside resting when she encountered Du Haofeng, who applied a plaster for her and took her home.


    The next day, he sent someone with more plasters and a big bag of snacks.


    On the third day, Du Haofeng came personally. He said he wanted to see for himself to be reassured, and at that time, she was deeply touched. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Later, when he checked on her ankle, she had initially only taken off her shoes and socks, but then it was her trousers, her top...


    In the end, they were rolling together, naked...


    Her first time was given away in such a muddled state, and when she reflected on it later, her mind was a blank.


    Their relationship continued like this, sometimes Du Haofeng would send someone to fetch her, and at other times she would take the initiative to visit him.


    But after all this time, there was still no sign of Du Haofeng intending to marry her, and she began to worry that he would turn his back and disown her.


    If that were the case, her life would be ruined.


    "I won¡¯t deceive you," Du Haofeng soothed, "after the New Year, I¡¯ll marry you."


    But with her kind of background, at best, she could be a Concubine Maid Girl.


    A Concubine Maid Girl was treated a little better than a common maid, hardly ever needing to work, nor did she have to bear children. All she had to do was keep him satisfied in bed.


    Put bluntly, she was nothing but a man¡¯s toy in bed.


    ...


    Soon the room was filled with embarrassing moans and grunts that stirred the imagination.


    The attendant at the door couldn¡¯t help but peek through the crack in the door.


    If he could have a fling with Qiao Hua¡¯er just once, his life would be complete!


    He was longing for his young master to be generous just once, tired of playing with her to then give him a turn, otherwise, they might explode from the frustration of being left out!


    Shaking his head, the attendant continued to stand guard at the door.


    But he was so itchy with desire, he couldn¡¯t help but creep back to the door.


    Half an hour later, Qiao Hua¡¯er finally emerged from the room, her head down as she hurriedly left the Du Family estate.


    A careful look would reveal that her legs were trembling.


    Well... one could only say that the recent skirmish was fierce.


    The attendant stared lustfully at the retreating figure of Qiao Hua¡¯er and swallowed hard, silently swearing to himself that he must have her!


    The following afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally mentioned the matter of the Embroidery Room to Tan Zhenghong.


    She had intended to speak of it yesterday, but upon returning, she felt so sleepy that she decided to take a nap first.


    After waking up, she had completely forgotten about the Embroidery Room until now.


    Tan Zhenghong thought for a moment, "There are not many vacant houses in the village, and any available would be old properties in need of renovation within a few years, so it might be better to build a new one."


    Qiao Duo had no objections because she had considered this as well.


    "Then you should ask Danni¡¯er¡¯s family if there is any larger homestead available in the village right now."


    This time they aimed to settle things in one go, to avoid having to move again and again in the future.

 Chapter 783 - 789 Full Stomach, Easy Talk_1

    Chapter 783: Chapter 789 Full Stomach, Easy Talk_1Observing how Duo¡¯er had been listless these past few days, Tan Zhenghong suggested, "How about we go together, and take a stroll around on the way?"


    With the spring weather being so pleasant, how could one stay at home sleeping all the time?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er yawned, feeling she could sleep for another ten thousand years.


    But she had been too indolent these days and should go out more.


    Before leaving the house, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave an order, "Almond, make me a Green Group."


    Almond¡¯s Green Groups were a specialty, bright green skin enveloping soft, glutinous red bean paste, sweet but not cloying, carrying a lingering scent of fresh grass ¡ª Duo¡¯er missed that flavor again.


    "Sure thing, I¡¯ll try to have it ready by the time you get back," Almond earnestly agreed.


    During her days at the Tan Family, she had come to understand Madam¡¯s character ¡ª as long as she was well-fed, everything was negotiable.


    So whenever Madam said she wanted to eat something, Almond would put aside whatever she was doing to make it for her.


    Of course, Madam herself was not difficult to talk to, and she didn¡¯t have the airs of other ladies, nor was she one to make endless demands.


    Generally speaking, after finishing her duties, Almond was free to do as she pleased with her time.


    When it came to food, she was never mistreated; every mealtime, Madam would set aside an ample portion for Almond.


    Sometimes, Almond would have the illusion that this place was her home.


    In short, she felt very fortunate.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong held hands as they walked and shopped leisurely until they reached the Tie Family.


    No sooner had Tie Niu invited them to sit down than Feng Clan brought over pastries and tea.


    "These are rice cakes that Granny just made today, please make do and have some," she offered.


    Feng Clan silently thought that they should always have snacks ready at home so they had something to offer when Ah Hong and Duo¡¯er visited.


    Seeing the food, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt energized, "Granny¡¯s cooking must be delicious."


    Most importantly, she was very hungry, and the plate of cakes had arrived just in time.


    As for matters concerning the purchase of a house foundation, she would leave that to her husband to worry about. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uncle Tie, the Embroidery Room is now too crowded, and we don¡¯t have enough space. We¡¯re planning to buy a bigger lot to rebuild the Embroidery Room," Tan Zhenghong got straight to the point.


    Tie Niu spread out a map of Big Willow Village on the table and pointed out several spots.


    "These are newly planned house foundations; the surroundings are relatively open, and the prices are reasonable ¡ª perfect for your needs."


    Ever since the village had an Embroidery Room, the lives of many families had improved, so he was very supportive of the idea of expanding the Embroidery Room.


    He would not hesitate to help with anything within his capacity.


    Tan Zhenghong turned to his wife, "Take a look, which one do you like?"


    Duo¡¯er replied languidly, "You decide; I trust your judgement."


    In reality, her subtext was "I am enjoying my food right now, so please don¡¯t bother me with such trivial matters."


    Tie Niu teased, "Then you¡¯d better keep your eyes wide open; you can¡¯t afford to disappoint your wife."


    "Of course, I need Uncle Tie¡¯s help with this," Tan Zhenghong replied humbly.


    Tan Zhenghong was very familiar with every spot in the village, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to make a decision.


    He chose a spot near the east of the village ¡ª convenient for coming and going, with many trees around it to keep the area cool in the summer.


    Additionally, he selected a smaller foundation for the future construction of a fragrance powder factory.


    "It¡¯s just a shame about that house; who knows how long it will be empty this time," Tie Niu lamented.


    The school had been built with the effort of the entire village, yet it was vacated after only a few years, which now seemed quite wasteful.


    If only the villagers knew how many people still couldn¡¯t afford to live in brick houses, let alone have enough to eat.

 Chapter 784 - 790: Good Appetite_1

    Chapter 784: Chapter 790: Good Appetite_1Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed the last bite of the pastry, "Why not reopen the school? Isn¡¯t it good to have the children in the village learn to read and write?"


    "Old Zhou is getting on in years and doesn¡¯t have the energy to manage a bunch of students," Tie Niu said helplessly.


    There are only so many literate people in the village, and it¡¯s hard to find someone suitable.


    Those who are older lack the physical strength and need to enjoy their remaining years in peace.


    Younger ones seek scholarly honors and look down on the small stipend the villagers can offer, because there are few families willing to let their children be educated.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before saying, "We can hire a teacher from outside the village. The Tan Family is willing to pay for this."


    "The private school doesn¡¯t need to collect stipends; anyone willing to study can bring their own lunch. We¡¯re not expecting the children to gain numerous scholarly titles, just wanting them to recognize a few characters and understand some principles," she added.


    Tan Zhenghong strongly agreed as he was the most direct beneficiary.


    Reading more had broadened his horizons considerably.


    Moreover, creating an educational atmosphere in the village would be extremely beneficial for the future development of Big Willow Village.


    Tie Niu was overjoyed; he of course knew that having a private school in the village was a good thing.


    It was only because of insufficient funds that the private school project had been delayed.


    Now that the funding was secured, what reason did he have not to manage it?


    "Once your new Embroidery Room is almost built, I¡¯ll start organizing this matter!" he declared.


    Once the school reopened, he would surely make the villagers properly thank them.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Hardworking Uncle Tie."


    "What hard work? It¡¯s something I should do anyway. Besides, my descendants will benefit from this as well," Tie Niu chuckled heartily.


    His several grandsons had reached the age for enlightenment, and it would be very convenient with the school in the village.


    After chatting a bit more about the private school, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er stood up to leave.


    "Duo¡¯er, take this home with you to eat," said Feng Clan.


    She packed up the leftover glutinous rice cakes considerately for Duo¡¯er to take home.


    Initially worried that Qiao Duo¡¯er might find the cakes too plain, Feng Clan was surprised to see her finish them all by herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed slightly, her appetite these past few days had been a little too good.


    Once she started eating, she couldn¡¯t control herself and had to finish everything to feel satisfied.


    Perhaps the increased activity in spring and the variety of food available had naturally increased her intake, and things would probably get better as summer approached.


    "Take it quickly. If the old lady knows you like her glutinous rice cakes, she¡¯ll definitely be happy," Feng Clan insisted.


    Feng Clan firmly pressed the pastries into Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then accepted them, "When grandma wakes up, please make sure to thank her for me."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I certainly won¡¯t forget!"


    Feng Clan promised, already planning to ask the old lady to make some more to send over.


    The glutinous rice was grown by themselves and wasn¡¯t worth much; since Qiao Duo¡¯er liked it, how could they not provide enough?


    It was only after they had left that Feng Clan squinted her eyes and said, "It was a good decision to let Big Girl follow Duo¡¯er back then. These two children are so reliable and dependable, truly reassuring!"


    Otherwise, what would have become of Big Girl now? She not only has her own job but also leads a few others.


    She certainly would have still been that tomboy, always up in the mountains hunting birds or diving into the water to catch fish.


    "Steady and unassuming, indeed rare," Tie Niu nodded with approval.


    He seldom gossiped about others; his comments today stemmed from genuine admiration.


    With Tan Zhenghong earning an official position and he and Qiao Duo remaining as calm and modest as before, thinking of ways to benefit the villagers, they managed to outshine many others by a long shot.


    If the young people in Big Willow Village were all like them, it would certainly ease his worries.


    S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 785 - 791 Sleepless Night_1

    Chapter 785: Chapter 791 Sleepless Night_1Approaching their own doorstep, Qiao Duo¡¯er caught the scent of Green Group and dashed inside, freeing her feet. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but have a dark line across his forehead. He suspected that his wife had been replaced by someone else inside.


    Now, able to eat and sleep well, she seemed like a completely different person.


    Umm... her appetite isn¡¯t even like that of a woman anymore.


    This thought was terrifying upon closer inspection, and Tan Zhenghong shivered. It couldn¡¯t be what he was thinking; Duo¡¯er must still be the Duo¡¯er he loved, because the feeling she gave him had never changed.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong caught up to the kitchen, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already picked up a Green Group.


    "Wife, take it easy, don¡¯t overeat."


    The main ingredient of both the glutinous rice cake and Green Group is sticky rice, which is the most filling staple food. Eating too much can upset people with weak stomachs.


    The elderly in the village also say that consuming too much sticky rice can make one space out, due to the difficulty of digesting it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still took a bite, and the sweet taste made her eyes crinkle with a smile.


    Almond was very considerate, adding some aged peel to the bean paste filling, making it even more refreshing.


    Watching Qiao Duo¡¯er eat with such relish, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but swallow. He was really worried for his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er misunderstood Tan Zhenghong¡¯s intent, and with great reluctance, held out her food to Tan Zhenghong, "Do you want some? It¡¯s really delicious!"


    "I¡¯m not fond of sweets; keep it all for yourself," Tan Zhenghong shook his head.


    The next second, his forehead was lined with frustration because he clearly saw the look of relief on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face.


    All this fuss over a Green Group?


    Well, as long as she¡¯s happy, he thought.


    Tan Zhenghong silently brewed a cup of aged peel tea for Duo¡¯er, hoping that something digestive wouldn¡¯t upset her.


    "Eat slowly, nobody¡¯s competing with you," Tan Zhenghong lightly teased Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s nose.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er polished off two in one go, then contentedly patted her belly, "I¡¯m full, I¡¯m going to sleep now."


    Almond on the side was envious. With Madam¡¯s appetite and sleeping hours, she should have become a big fatty by now, but she remained so slender¡ªit was jealousy-inducing!


    Tan Zhenghong kept the words at the tip of his tongue to himself; if she¡¯s tired, she should sleep.


    At most, he would just try to keep her up a little later that night.


    But come evening, Tan Zhenghong was feeling down again because his wife had gone to bed early.


    Lately, why can¡¯t she seem to wake up?


    He couldn¡¯t even remember the last time they did something disharmonious.


    So aggrieved!


    Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong thought of a possibility. Could his wife be sick?


    Lately she had been eating a lot, getting hungry quickly, and often feeling weak overall, which resembled symptoms of a certain disease.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at his wife with concern, his sleepiness vanished.


    If it really was that sickness, she might gradually become thin, and multiple organs in her body could start having issues. Currently, there¡¯s no treatment.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled his wife closer into his arms, his hand gently caressing her cheek.


    Now, Qiao Duo¡¯er was completely unguarded against Tan Zhenghong and slept sweetly, making his worries intensify.


    He and Duo¡¯er had not easily come together, not easily started a happy life; he must make their time together last a little longer, a little more.


    That night Tan Zhenghong barely slept, with dark circles forming under his eyes.


    "What were you doing last night?" Qiao Duo¡¯er poked Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest.


    With a strained smile, Tan Zhenghong replied, "Nothing, just had a nightmare last night, didn¡¯t sleep well."


    "Then you should sleep some more, I¡¯m going to help Almond cook breakfast¡ªstarved," Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly got dressed.


    A night¡¯s sleep had left her ravenous.

 Chapter 786 - 792: Joyful News_1

    Chapter 786: Chapter 792: Joyful News_1Tan Zhenghong felt a dull pain in his chest, and quickly got dressed as well. How could he let his wife do work in this condition?


    After eating breakfast absentmindedly, he went to invite Wu Youcai over.


    Regardless of the outcome, they needed a proper diagnosis.


    If the situation was bad, they would seek out Bai Yifan early. As Medicine King¡¯s disciple, he surely had a solution.


    "Duo¡¯er, let Uncle Wu have a look at you," Tan Zhenghong said gently.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er innocently asked, "What¡¯s wrong with me? What does Uncle Wu need to look at?"


    She was eating and sleeping well, and felt strong. Was there a problem?


    Wu Youcai explained, "There¡¯s nothing wrong. It¡¯s just for peace of mind. I heard that noble persons in the palace have their peace pulse taken daily."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a glare - this was probably what was meant by the saying ¡¯creating trouble out of nothing¡¯.


    But since Uncle Wu had come, she might as well let him take her pulse.


    Tan Zhenghong still insisted on his approach, as he could not bear the pain of losing Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Just the thought of it felt like a sharp knife had been plunged into his heart.


    Wu Youcai watched the couple¡¯s interaction with a faint smile on his lips.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion was rosy and her spirits seemed good. She didn¡¯t look as if she was suffering from starvation and thirst.


    Ah Hong was just confused by his concern, losing perspective at the slightest rustle of the wind. But to put his mind at ease, he should still take her pulse.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooperated and sat down, placing her hand on a soft cushion.


    A moment later, Wu Youcai burst out laughing, "Congratulations, Duo¡¯er is expecting. She¡¯s already almost three months along."


    "That¡¯s impossible!" Tan Zhenghong immediately lost his temper.


    He had been taking medicine; could his wife have gotten pregnant on her own?


    Wu Youcai, quite startled, took Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse again.


    She was indeed pregnant, and the child was very healthy.


    Tan Zhenghong was still muttering, "That¡¯s not possible, how could she be pregnant? There must be a mistake. Uncle Wu, please check again."


    Uncle Wu felt helpless. With his years of medical experience, could he misread a pregnancy pulse?


    But seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s reaction, he was certain that his words wouldn¡¯t be heard.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er wore a solemn face, showing no sign of what she was thinking.


    What was wrong with this couple?


    "Madam, are you alright?" Almond tugged at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s clothes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snapped back to reality. She wondered when this ¡¯little thing¡¯ had been conceived.


    After a severe blood loss incident last year, her periods had been irregular, so she hadn¡¯t taken it seriously.


    Unexpectedly, the little one had arrived without any fanfare.


    Seeing Wu Youcai flustered, she hurried to reassure him, "Never mind him; he¡¯s gone mad. Almond, quickly prepare a red envelope with a celebratory gift for Uncle Wu."


    Pregnancy was a happy occasion, and custom dictated the giving of a red envelope, and it had to be a generous one.


    Wu Youcai accepted the red envelope. Even at this point, he was still bewildered. Could anyone explain what was happening?


    Almond, who had been at their side all this time, was even more perplexed and obviously couldn¡¯t help.


    Tan Zhenghong also came back to his senses and sternly escorted Uncle Wu out.


    At the courtyard¡¯s gate, Wu Youcai timidly reminded him, "The child is already three months old and past the most dangerous phase, but you still need to be careful and take good care of her." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know," Tan Zhenghong responded distractedly.


    Wu Youcai was puzzled beyond measure. Tan Zhenghong adored Qiao Duo¡¯er boundlessly, so why wasn¡¯t he happy to know she was pregnant?


    Had happiness driven him mad?


    But his reaction seemed more like anger. Yet, what reason did he have to be angry?


    In the end, Wu Youcai shook his head and decided not to think about it anymore.


    He was getting old and couldn¡¯t understand the thoughts of young people anymore.

 Chapter 787 - 793: Sulking_1

    Chapter 787: Chapter 793: Sulking_1Returning to the room, Tan Zhenghong said with a dark face, "You go out first."


    "Madam is with child now. Please be careful,"


    Almond said weakly, her sixth sense telling her that the Fourth Master harbored hostility towards the unborn child.


    But the Fourth Master had always been good to Madam and would certainly not bear to hurt her.


    Thus, Almond left with peace of mind, even thoughtfully closing the door behind her.


    Some things are better discussed between the couple alone; a third party can make them reserved, deepening misunderstandings.


    After Almond had left, Tan Zhenghong then said, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, I¡¯ve said many times, I don¡¯t want children, let alone for you to bear children."


    He already knew where the problem lay. The medicine he had drunk lately tasted wrong, and he had asked about it specially.


    His wife said she had added an ingredient that made it more effective, but in reality, she had secretly switched the medicine.


    And he, completely unaware, hadn¡¯t reduced their lovemaking in the slightest.


    So his wife gloriously became pregnant.


    "Do you really dislike my child that much?" Qiao Duo asked, her voice filled with grievance.


    She knew what she did was wrong, but how could Tan Zhenghong rebuke her in front of others?


    She would lose face and couldn¡¯t show her face to others ever again!


    Initially, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s first reaction must have been that she had someone else, never thinking that their trust was so fragile.


    If Tan Zhenghong knew what she was thinking, he would definitely cry foul, because he had never harbored such absurd thoughts.


    One thing he could be sure of was that they loved and were loyal to each other.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯s angry look, Tan Zhenghong softened.


    His wife was now pregnant, and it pained him more to see her upset.


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, "I¡¯m just worried about you. I¡¯m scared something will happen to you during childbirth. If I lose you, what¡¯s the point of me living?"


    Both his mother and his sister-in-law had nearly lost their lives in childbirth. Looking around the village, there were even more women who had died.


    With so many bloody lessons before him, how could he remain indifferent?


    Therefore, he would rather not have children than risk his own wife¡¯s life.


    Yet his wife came up with a rotten scheme, acting first and reporting later. How could he not be angry?


    "But now that there is one, what do you say we should do?"


    Qiao Duo asked shamelessly.


    Tan Zhenghong ran his fingers through his hair twice. If he knew what to do, would he still need to be angry?


    Qiao Duo comforted him, "Don¡¯t be so pessimistic, giving birth is dangerous, but it¡¯s not like everyone loses their life."


    "Isn¡¯t it too quiet with just the two of us at home? Especially when we get old, wouldn¡¯t you be envious of others surrounded by children and grandchildren?"


    "When we get even older and need someone to take care of us, what should we do then?"


    "With a pregnancy ensuring balanced nutrition and moderate exercise, mother and child can certainly be safe. It¡¯s your constant fretting that affects my mood."


    Qiao Duo said a lot, but only got an eye roll from Tan Zhenghong.


    Childbirth meant a woman was stepping one foot into the Ghost Gate; aside from threatening her life, she also had to endure excruciating pain, the thought of which made him feel terrible.


    If he could, he would bear all of Duo¡¯er¡¯s hardships. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he was a man, lacking the ability to become pregnant and bear children.


    Tan Zhenghong plopped down onto the sofa in the outer room, sulking on his own.


    His wife¡¯s actions were infuriating, but his own faults were even greater.


    If he had been more attentive, he surely could have noticed his wife¡¯s little tricks, and then he wouldn¡¯t be as conflicted as he was today.

 Chapter 788 - 794: Too Arrogant_1

    Chapter 788: Chapter 794: Too Arrogant_1A month ago, Duo¡¯er had become very sleepy, had a big appetite, and developed a craving for sour tastes, but he just hadn¡¯t taken it seriously.


    With such carelessness, how could he guarantee to take good care of Duo¡¯er and the child in her belly?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, deciding to let this guy cool down a bit.


    He was so angry that he wouldn¡¯t listen to anything, and anything she said was a waste of breath.


    It was a good opportunity for her to think about how to make Tan Zhenghong calm down.


    Alas, having a baby should be a happy occasion, so why had it become so complicated for her?


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face finally looked a bit better.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er timed it right to act coy, "Tan Zhenghong, I¡¯m starving to death."


    This morning Tan Zhenghong had acted so strangely that it¡¯d severely affected her appetite; she barely ate a few bites before throwing down her chopsticks, and now she was so hungry she could feel her back sticking to her chest.


    Because she was so hungry she felt anxious inside, her voice was weak as if she might faint the next second.


    Tan Zhenghong asked begrudgingly, "What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go make it for you." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Noodles, with an egg added."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare delay, hurriedly heading to the kitchen. Angry as he might be, letting his wife starve was a failure on his part.


    In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the noodles were ready, and he even made a side dish of stir-fried lotus root with shredded pork.


    She didn¡¯t know if Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cooking was getting better, or if Duo¡¯er was just too hungry, but she didn¡¯t put down her chopsticks once she started eating.


    "Do these flavors suit you?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s taste had dramatically changed after she got pregnant, and he worried how his wife would be.


    "It¡¯s delicious, make fish soup noodles next time."


    Tan Zhenghong took note seriously, "I¡¯ll catch a couple of Amur sticklebacks from the river later; they make the best soup."


    "Sure, any fish will do!" Qiao Duo¡¯er replied in between bites.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er finished a big bowl of noodles, Tan Zhenghong had returned to sitting silently at his desk, his heart still uneasy.


    He admitted he had become overly anxious, but wasn¡¯t it just because he cared about Duo¡¯er?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but complain internally, his temper was way too big!


    She asked helplessly, "Are you still mad?"


    "Practically dying of anger," Tan Zhenghong replied irritably, he¡¯d nearly been scared half to death.


    "Think about it, did you hear about anyone¡¯s wife having a difficult birth after your third sister-in-law? Grandma Feng was already skilled at determining the baby¡¯s position, and I taught her several methods to adjust it, as well as the acupuncture techniques, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problem."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to speak with facts.


    Moreover, difficult births were low-probability events, and some were due to pregnant women doing heavy work or suffering from malnutrition, leading to lack of strength during childbirth.


    She was well-fed, well-hydrated, and well-rested; there definitely wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    "Say something, will you? You can¡¯t possibly want me to end this pregnancy now, can you? Your words are too cruel, their coming means they are fated to be with us, we can¡¯t deprive them of their right to life."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, if Tan Zhenghong had such intentions, she¡¯d kill him!


    "I didn¡¯t mean that, I¡¯ll definitely take good care of you in the future, and him too."


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    The child was in Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly, and that was an unchangeable fact.


    Now all he could do was hope for the child to safely arrive in this world. He would even trade his own life for the safety of Duo¡¯er and the child if he had to.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong on the head, "There, there, I won¡¯t have any problems."


    "Don¡¯t lie to me in the future. If I discover it again, I¡¯ll... spank you!" Tan Zhenghong said with a stiff face.


    Now was a special period, and some things couldn¡¯t be done anymore.

 Chapter 789 - 795 Restoration to Normal_1

    Chapter 789: Chapter 795 Restoration to Normal_1Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded obediently; after all, she couldn¡¯t think of anything else to hide from Tan Zhenghong.


    Besides, if it weren¡¯t for his stubbornness, she wouldn¡¯t have had to resort to such measures.


    "Little troublemaker, even your dad hasn¡¯t had the heart to bully your mom, so you¡¯re not allowed to give her trouble either, or see how I¡¯ll deal with you later!" Tan Zhenghong said to her still-flat belly.


    In his heart, his wife was the most important; if he could ensure her safety, he was also very much looking forward to their child.


    Because this was the continuation of love.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gently rubbed her belly, "I think he¡¯s very obedient. Otherwise, I¡¯d definitely be nauseated to the point of fainting right now."


    This somewhat comforted Tan Zhenghong; Duo¡¯er could eat and sleep well, which was more fortunate than most pregnant women.


    But pregnancy was still tough, and he knew he had to treat his wife even better.


    In the afternoon, Tan Zhenghong specially sought out Grandma Feng to ask about the taboos and precautions during pregnancy.


    From then on, Qiao Duo¡¯er was responsible for eating and drinking, while Tan Zhenghong took care of everything else.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong running around, Almond was almost dying of envy; in the village, only her husband was capable of doing all that.


    But she wished he¡¯d at least consider the feelings of a lonely soul like her.


    It made her almost hate that she couldn¡¯t immediately get married herself, though finding such a man was easier said than done.


    "Almond, do you want to learn to read?" Qiao Duo asked, propping her chin.


    There were so many things Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t let her do, she was almost bored to death!


    Almond timidly nodded her head, "Of course, I do!"


    She only knew the names of some spices; if she had the chance to learn more characters, she¡¯d be overjoyed.


    "Then bring a chair over, I¡¯ll teach you."


    Almond immediately did as told, and now they both had something to do during their free time; one earnestly learning, the other earnestly teaching, and by half a day, there was significant progress.


    The news of Duo¡¯er¡¯s pregnancy quickly spread throughout the village, and many families brought over gifts.


    Aunt Huang and Hu¡¯s Clan were even changing up recipes daily to make tasty dishes, all of which Duo¡¯er could eat as long as they weren¡¯t greasy or too sweet.


    Close to noon, Hu¡¯s Clan came over again with a food container filled with chicken and mushroom porridge.


    "I¡¯ve skimmed off all the oil from the chicken soup, have a taste."


    Hu¡¯s Clan served a bowl of porridge to Duo¡¯er, and Da Ya immediately brought over a spoon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but say with a laugh and a cry, "Am I really that weak? You all are too anxious."


    "Being a little more careful during pregnancy definitely won¡¯t hurt; you just need to peacefully nurture the unborn, not worrying or doing anything else," Hu¡¯s Clan advised earnestly.


    She knew all too well that poor care during pregnancy would lead to suffering during childbirth.


    She had to work in the fields while pregnant with Da Ya and Er Ya, and when it came time to deliver, she lacked the strength and almost couldn¡¯t make it.


    Picking up the chopsticks, Qiao Duo¡¯er had heard this advice countless times since learning she was pregnant and was too lazy to argue anymore.


    She was even afraid of becoming useless if she continued living a life where food and clothes are provided without lifting a finger.


    However, with the delicious food in front of her, those concerns were soon forgotten.


    Hu¡¯s Clan said with a smile, "The child will definitely adore his mother; he¡¯s already reluctant to trouble you now."


    "I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll end up being a two-hundred-pound fatty," Qiao Duo¡¯er said worriedly, her appetite having doubled now; it seemed her weight would soon double as well. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Hu¡¯s Clan was unconcerned, "You¡¯re eating for two, so of course your appetite has grown. You look thinner to me!"


    Having a good appetite is a blessing; it meant the child was healthy.

 Chapter 790 - 796 No Sparks Flying? _1

    Chapter 790: Chapter 796 No Sparks Flying? _1Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly finished a bowl and touched her belly with satisfaction, feeling very happy to be full.


    Er Ya¡¯s small paws also carefully touched Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly, her eyes brimming with curiosity.


    "Auntie Four, do you know if the baby in your belly is a brother or a sister?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We¡¯ll only know after the baby is born. Which one do you prefer?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Er Ya said without hesitation, "I like them all as long as Auntie Four gives birth to them!"


    "Right, if it¡¯s a boy, he will definitely be handsome and gallant like Uncle Four, and if it¡¯s a girl, she will be as pretty and smart as Auntie Four," Da Ya nodded assertively.


    She and Er Ya were both saved by Auntie Four, so whether the baby was a boy or a girl, she would protect him with her whole life.


    That was what she ought to do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled, her eyes crinkling. She didn¡¯t care about the gender of the baby either, as long as it was safe and healthy.


    It would be even better if the baby was as sweet as Da Ya and Er Ya.


    "There¡¯s still a lot left, you two should eat as well."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly realized that she was the only one eating happily, while the two children just watched.


    Since becoming pregnant, she had developed a bad habit of being protective over her food, which she needed to change.


    Both Da Ya and Er Ya shook their heads, "We¡¯re going out to play for a while!"


    After saying that, the two girls quickly ran outside. They couldn¡¯t eat the food that was meant to nourish Auntie Four.


    Once the girls had left, something suddenly occurred to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Next month is Second Dog¡¯s birthday, and I was thinking of buying him a gift, but I don¡¯t know what would be good. Help me think of an idea," she said.


    All she could think of was to make some clothing or buy some snacks, nothing innovative.


    But Qiao Duo, being clever and peculiar, would surely have a different approach.


    After pondering for a moment, Qiao Duo said, "I heard Aunt Huang say she wanted to send Second Dog to a private school. You can give him a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, and buy Big Dog a couple of books with outlined characters to practice writing. This way, you keep things fair and balanced."


    "You¡¯re the smart one, I¡¯ll buy a set for Da Ya and Er Ya as well," Hu¡¯s Clan decided, determined to let the two girls learn to read too and not remain illiterate like her.


    Speaking of the Puppy brothers, Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but think of the honest and straightforward Huang Zhong.


    She asked with curiosity, "Sister Lan, how have things been with you and Brother Zhong lately?"


    Aunt Huang had long been planning to have the two get married, but there hadn¡¯t been any substantial progress for a long time.


    "How else? Same as before," Hu¡¯s Clan said uneasily.


    Now Huang Zhong helped her with the braised meat, accompanying her to town to sell it, but that was all.


    They could probably be considered friends.


    Qiao Duo rested her chin on her hand, "You two are together all the time, haven¡¯t any sparks flown? I clearly see that Brother Zhong is interested in you."


    Hu¡¯s Clan wasn¡¯t completely unfeeling towards Huang Zhong; they were supposed to naturally come together.


    What exactly was the problem?


    "Having the two girls in my life is enough," Hu¡¯s Clan said softly, avoiding eye contact. She couldn¡¯t muster the energy to think about anything else.


    "You¡¯ll miss out on some things once you miss the opportunity. You must grasp it well," Qiao Duo reminded her.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "I know, I¡¯m going back first."


    She fled in embarrassment, aware that she was a coward. Having been hurt before, she didn¡¯t dare to try again, and Brother Zhong was probably the same.


    So it wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t suitable for each other, but rather that they hadn¡¯t met each other earlier.


    Now that they both had married and been hurt before, their mindsets had already changed.


    Qiao Duo sighed, seeing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s reaction and knowing it would still be a long wait.

 Chapter 791 - 797: Maddening (Part 1)

    Chapter 791: Chapter 797: Maddening (Part 1)Mid-April, the Zhao Family invited the ladies from various houses to the Zhao Mansion to enjoy the flowers.


    Chen Yi Ling pondered that Qiao Duo¡¯er was now the woman of the highest status in White Stone Town and should demonstrate her authority.


    So she sent the attire of a Sixth Rank Madam to her early.


    The imperial edict had arrived in such a hurry that the Weaving Mansion hadn¡¯t had time to prepare, and the clothing took almost half a month to be delivered.


    By the time Chen Yi Ling reached the Tan Family, it was already Three Poles Day, but Almond astonishingly told her that Qiao Duo¡¯er had not yet gotten out of bed.


    "Is your madam with child?" Chen Yi Ling sharply picked up on the matter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a woman of principle; she absolutely would not have slept until now without a special reason.


    And there had been nothing noteworthy happening during this period; it had been quite calm.


    Almond¡¯s eyes widened; was Lady Qin too perceptive?


    Thinking about it, since Lord Qin solved cases like a deity, it was no longer strange. She had just learned an idiom ¨C being near vermilion makes one red; being near ink makes one black.


    "Lady Qin, please enter and rest; my madam should be waking up soon," Almond called out.


    She even specifically brought out a few kinds of pastry that Duo¡¯er was fond of eating.


    These were gifts from close neighbors, a bit rough in shape compared to those from pastry shops, but they all tasted quite good.


    After having a few pieces, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already up.


    As it was still early in the pregnancy, her figure hadn¡¯t changed, but her demeanor had become much softer.


    "Duo¡¯er, this is not like you. If I hadn¡¯t come, I would¡¯ve had no idea that I have a godson now," Chen Yi Ling said with a tinge of reproach.


    Qiao Duo helplessly replied, "It was so sudden, I only just found out myself."


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Tan Zhenghong requesting Doctor Wu to take her pulse, she might not have noticed at all. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yi Ling couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, "Now I have someone to share the misery with me; I feel much better!"


    Pregnant for almost eight months, she could no longer see her toes when she looked down and suffered every day. But thinking that Duo¡¯er would soon be in the same situation comforted her.


    "You¡¯ve become perverted," Qiao Duo criticized.


    Besides ¡¯perverted¡¯, she could find no other suitable word to describe Chen Yi Ling.


    "I spend all day at the Government Office; it¡¯d be strange not to turn perverted. But you, you¡¯re really too muddled, not realizing until the third month?" Chen Yi Ling rolled her eyes at Duo¡¯er.


    The first three months were the most dangerous period, during which one should be extremely careful. But who would¡¯ve thought that Qiao Duo drifted through them in such a daze?


    She was pretty lucky to say the least.


    "After the New Year, I kept feeling sleepy and hungry, just thought it was the ¡¯spring hunger¡¯; who could think that much more?" Qiao Duo explained.


    "It¡¯s those who don¡¯t have food who suffer from ¡¯spring hunger¡¯. You eat sumptuous meals every day; what ¡¯spring hunger¡¯ are you talking about!"


    Chen Yi Ling spoke disdainfully, wondering where the once shrewd Duo¡¯er had gone.


    Qiao Duo was speechless, conceding that she had indeed been negligent.


    Chen Yi Ling decided not to dwell on the topic and hurriedly asked Duo¡¯er to try on the clothes, which were made according to her previous measurements and definitely needed alteration now.


    But as it turned out, they fit Qiao Duo¡¯er just right, neither too big nor too small.


    Chen Yi Ling felt all sorts of envy and jealousy, "Tell me honestly, hasn¡¯t Tan Zhenghong been taking good care of you?"


    Otherwise, who doesn¡¯t gain weight during pregnancy?


    "I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. I eat even more than a pig, but it¡¯s a mystery where it all goes," Qiao Duo confessed, feeling helpless.


    Chen Yi Ling said discontentedly, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"


    She muttered to herself that having a child too large wasn¡¯t good for childbirth; diet must be controlled.


    Yet her own weight kept soaring upward relentlessly.


    Indeed, comparing oneself to others will only make one upset!

 Chapter 792 - 798: Husband Who Can Cook_1

    Chapter 792: Chapter 798: Husband Who Can Cook_1"Who knows, I might just be saving up all my growth for one go, and next time you might not recognize me because I¡¯ve gotten so fat."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very worried, she decided that in the future she needed to exercise some restraint in her eating habits. If she kept indulging her appetite like this, she¡¯d end up looking like a ball after giving birth.


    Before she could finish, Tan Zhenghong brought over a plate of Green Group.


    With the temptation of delicious food before her, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly forgot her worries and started gobbling it down.


    Without a full stomach, how could she have the energy to ponder over such brain-racking matters, right?


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s way of eating made Chen Yiling, who was initially resistant, unable to resist trying a bite herself.


    The Green Group was soft and glutinous, refreshing and neither too sweet nor too greasy. Who would have thought that something so ugly could taste so good!


    The two pregnant women chatted while they ate, after not seeing each other for half a month, they seemed to have endless topics to talk about.


    Before they knew it, it was already noon, and Lord Qin hurried over.


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw his wife sitting steadily at Duo¡¯er¡¯s house that he was able to relax and put his heart back in his chest.


    Pregnant women have fuzzy minds. Yi Ling almost fell twice after the New Year, so he couldn¡¯t help but worry every time he was unable to see her.


    Today, after hurriedly finishing his work at the Government Office, he rushed over just to see the woman he had been thinking about incessantly.


    "Why are you running around again?"


    Qin Longyun scrapped Chen Yiling¡¯s nose. She was about to become a mother but was still as restless as ever. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why did you follow me here?" Chen Yiling looked at him disdainfully. Couldn¡¯t he give her a little bit of freedom?


    Before New Year¡¯s, he was so busy that even though they lived in the same house and slept in the same bed, the chances to see each other were pitifully scarce.


    After the New Year, Qin Longyun had more free time and seemed determined to watch her every move. She began to miss the blissful times before New Year¡¯s.


    "I¡¯ve come to take you home," said Qin Longyun, narrowing his eyes.


    It was a critical time now, and she might go into labor at any moment.


    Everything was ready at home¡ªthe birthing room, the midwife, the wet nurse¡ªand Yi Ling was more familiar with the home environment, which was definitely safer than being outside.


    "I don¡¯t want to, I just finally managed to get out," she said, seeing Qin Longyun¡¯s stern face. Then she added, "I¡¯ll go back after lunch, okay?"


    It was only two hours; there definitely wouldn¡¯t be any emergencies.


    Qin Longyun didn¡¯t argue further because that was exactly what he had planned.


    The meals at Duo¡¯er¡¯s house seemed much more delicious than those at home. Every time Yi Ling could eat a lot more, so it was nice to come over for a meal occasionally.


    Once they had settled on their plans, Duo¡¯er spoke up, "I¡¯ll go and tell Ah Hong to add two more dishes."


    "I forgot to tell you, Duo¡¯er is pregnant too. Do you think Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cooking skills are up to the task?" Chen Yiling asked worriedly.


    Qin Longyun weakly reassured her, "Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll definitely manage to cook it through. I¡¯ll go take a look in the kitchen as well."


    After all, the food he cooked was only slightly better than unpalatable, so Tan Zhenghong, being a man too, would probably be about the same, right?


    Chen Yiling suddenly realized she had made a mistake¡ªshe shouldn¡¯t have stayed at the Tan Family for a meal, or she should¡¯ve brought ChunTao out with her today.


    When it came time to eat, Chen Yiling tentatively took a bite and had to admit she was shocked.


    Although it wasn¡¯t quite as good as Qiao Duo¡¯s cooking, it was only a little off.


    "Your man has been trained well, you won¡¯t have to worry about going hungry in the future," Chen Yiling whispered.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er humbly replied, "There¡¯s still a lot of room for improvement."


    But why did that sound as though she was showing off?


    Chen Yiling stopped pondering over this and focused on the dishes Tan Zhenghong had prepared.


    Having a husband who can cook really is happiness!

 Chapter 793 - 799 Pretending to be Decent_1

    Chapter 793: Chapter 799 Pretending to be Decent_1In the evening, Chen Yiling had trouble eating the appetizing meal before her, as she had already eaten a lot at lunch at the Tan Family, and eating again in the evening would surely make her gain weight.


    "Miss, is it not to your taste?" the maidservant asked anxiously.


    If that was the case, she would consider making something different the next day.


    Chen Yiling said gloomily, "Look at me now, I¡¯m getting so fat it¡¯s unseemly. If only I could eat without getting fat."


    Alas, she envied Duo¡¯er more and more.


    "People who eat a lot without gaining weight mostly have stomach issues. They absorb less and have to compensate with quantity," the maidservant comforted her softly.


    For Yi Ling, gaining a moderate amount of weight was healthy, and it could also help with having children.


    Chen Yiling asked urgently, "What about if it¡¯s a pregnant woman? Will it affect the child in any way?"


    "That could also be a sign of pregnancy cravings. Some people throw up because of it, while others just want to keep eating. I can¡¯t say for sure. It¡¯s best to have a doctor take a look," the maidservant said. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The maidservant deliberately left herself some leeway, as she was not a professional doctor.


    However, eating a lot without gaining weight was somewhat problematic.


    Chen Yiling nodded. The next morning, she sent ChunTao to Deji Hall to speak to Bai Yifan about this matter.


    Duo¡¯er was in a critical period, and there could be no mistakes.


    Bai Yifan took the matter seriously, and half an hour later, he appeared at the Tan Family residence.


    "What are you doing here?" Tan Zhenghong still harbored hostility towards Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan said indifferently, "I¡¯ve come to check on Duo¡¯er, to make sure she receives timely treatment if needed."


    Tan Zhenghong still did not want Bai Yifan to see his daughter-in-law, but for Duo¡¯er¡¯s health, he compromised.


    Seeing Bai Yifan taking her pulse, as serene as an old monk in meditation, Tan Zhenghong thought he was being overly concerned.


    That guy was obsessed with medicine; he probably wouldn¡¯t have any other thoughts while treating a patient.


    After a while, Bai Yifan said, "Let¡¯s try the other hand."


    This time Bai Yifan took her pulse for a particularly long time. Although his face was still serious, a certain short-tempered feline couldn¡¯t bear it any longer.


    Who else¡¯s doctor took pulses like this?


    But he was afraid of disturbing Bai Yifan¡¯s diagnosis, so he had to endure it.


    He endured and endured, until he couldn¡¯t take it anymore, then he asked with a dark face, "How much longer do you need?"


    This loafer kept holding onto his daughter-in-law¡¯s hand, what for?


    He knew it, Bai Yifan was a fake gentleman!


    "I am a doctor, I have to be thorough, otherwise it would be disregarding a life," Bai Yifan said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    Tan Zhenghong barely contained his anger and asked, "How is the situation?"


    If Bai Yifan couldn¡¯t give a clear diagnosis, he would beat him first then talk!


    "She¡¯s been hungry for too long in the past, leading to a weak stomach. But now, the only solution is dietary therapy. I¡¯ll tell you a few medicinal recipes in a moment; you should prepare them for Duo¡¯er to eat," Bai Yifan said seriously. Moreover, Duo¡¯er was in a special condition, and it was crucial for her to eat well.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Write down several, Duo¡¯er is picky. She will be in a bad mood if she always has to eat the same thing."


    Bai Yifan said silently, he not only needed to write several recipes but also the more complex ones.


    Hmm, he admitted he was intentionally making things difficult for Tan Zhenghong.


    His reasoning was simple: if Tan Zhenghong becomes a comfortable father, he definitely wouldn¡¯t care enough about Duo¡¯er and the child.


    After learning about Duo¡¯er¡¯s health, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s attention was solely on her.


    Bai Yifan gave him a big roll of the eyes, "Hurry up and get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I need to write the prescription."


    He was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s uncle by marriage and had to maintain that status.


    Once Tan Zhenghong brought over the items, Bai Yifan commanded, "Grind the ink for me."

 Chapter 794 - 800: Sulking_1

    Chapter 794: Chapter 800: Sulking_1Tan Zhenghong obediently did as he was told, but still, it was met with Bai Yifan¡¯s disdain.


    Because even after he had finished writing, the ink still wasn¡¯t black enough.


    "Your skills are too poor," Bai Yifan criticized.


    "Find yourself a wife with good skills, then you¡¯ll have an added fragrance to your red sleeves. It¡¯ll save us from being so close that others think I have some improper relationship with you," Tan Zhenghong retorted without hesitation.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s face twitched. Even if he remained a bachelor his whole life, he wouldn¡¯t make do with a man.


    If he did find a man, it wouldn¡¯t be someone like Tan Zhenghong!


    Bai Yifan curled his lip, "Only Duo¡¯er lacks taste enough to fancy someone like you."


    Tan Zhenghong snorted lightly, "As long as Duo¡¯er thinks I¡¯m good, that¡¯s enough."


    His wife was his entire world; he couldn¡¯t care less about anyone else!


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll wait for you to slip up," Bai Yifan patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder.


    Once Tan Zhenghong crossed Duo¡¯er¡¯s boundaries, his chance would come.


    Not only would he take his sister away, he would also take the child with him, since he was still lacking a successor.


    After dropping these words, Bai Yifan left with his medical box, leaving behind Tan Zhenghong seething with annoyance.


    If that guy hadn¡¯t run off so fast, he would have had to have a proper talk with him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er commented amusedly, "You think your wife is really as beautiful as a celestial fairy, huh?"


    She already had a child; what could Bai Yifan possibly be thinking about her?


    If he did feel something, it would be nothing more than brotherly care toward a sister.


    "Celestial fairies pale in comparison to you," Tan Zhenghong stated unmodestly.


    Duo¡¯er was his wife, of course, she was the best.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless, but also a little proud, for she never knew Tan Zhenghong held her in such high esteem.


    Ever since Bai Yifan¡¯s visit, Tan Zhenghong had been even more attentive to Qiao Duo¡¯er. Every day, aside from handling miscellaneous affairs, all he did was cater to Duo¡¯er.


    He took care of everything she ate, wore, and used.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but remind him, "Ah Hong, haven¡¯t you forgotten about the new estate you just bought?"


    "What estate?" Tan Zhenghong was utterly confused.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a face full of black lines, "Aren¡¯t you going to build the new Embroidery Room? The weather is getting hotter by the day, and we need to harvest the wheat. If we miss this period, we¡¯ll have to wait several more months."


    She thought it was fine, but the Embroidery Ladies would probably go insane.


    Summer was already hot, and a room packed with so many people would surely be even hotter.


    "Let¡¯s talk about it after you give birth," Tan Zhenghong said without a second thought.


    The only thing he wanted to do now was to take good care of Duo¡¯er and help her recuperate.


    "When there¡¯s an additional little one in the house, do you think you¡¯ll still be able to handle so much? And we¡¯ve also agreed to let Uncle Tie find a Teacher. If we don¡¯t move soon, people might think we aren¡¯t willing," Qiao Duo¡¯er advised.


    Because the word was out, this had to be done.


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it be like slapping their own face?


    "What about you?" Tan Zhenghong frowned.


    Once the work on the Embroidery Room started, he wouldn¡¯t have as much time at home as he did now.


    "Aren¡¯t I doing well right now? And Almond is at home taking care of me. There definitely won¡¯t be any problems," she reassured.


    Seeing that Duo¡¯er was indeed fine, Tan Zhenghong finally nodded, "I¡¯ll hire more people to help, aiming to get the Embroidery Room up as soon as possible. When your belly gets bigger, I¡¯ll be able to stay home all the time."


    He could also wake up earlier every day to prepare the medicinal meals that Duo¡¯er needed to eat, so it wouldn¡¯t hold anything up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to say she was planning to open the Mansion City¡¯s Duo Meifang while her belly was still small, but it seemed for now, she ought to take things one step at a time. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 795 - 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_1

    Chapter 795: Chapter 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_1The busy farming season was imminent, and for the peasants, nothing was more important than the harvest.


    Thus, many men stayed home to rest and gather strength, with few willing to come out to do work.


    However, Tan Zhenghong was well-liked, and when he previously asked for help to change the layout or repair houses, no one ever refused.


    Most crucially, the daily wage of thirty-five wen was quite tempting, so he easily found plenty of people.


    An auspicious day was chosen and the construction of the Embroidery Room officially began.


    At first, everyone was extremely respectful towards Master Tan, only daring to work in silence.


    But after a few days, when they realized that Master Tan was still the same Tan Zhenghong, they grew bolder. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    During a break, some men couldn¡¯t help but chat about Tan Zhenghong.


    Every time Fourth Boss¡¯s wife came to deliver water, it would distress Fourth Boss for half the day; they couldn¡¯t bear to watch!


    Which of the village women were so delicate?


    Normally, they would all do household chores, and during the busy times, they would also work in the fields!


    Now, with Fourth Boss¡¯s wife setting an example, their own wives nagged about it constantly.


    "Ah Hong, don¡¯t spoil your wife too much. Look at other people¡¯s wives; which one doesn¡¯t do work?"


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "If we feel tired carrying a twenty-pound load, how much more for women who carry a belly every day? And when it¡¯s time to give birth, they suffer anew. As long as the household can get by, we shouldn¡¯t let them get tired."


    That was how he acted, and that was what he advocated.


    When it came to this, some men strongly agreed, having seen their own wives pregnant.


    "Women are quite amazing. Watching them give birth in excruciating pain, yet they rush to do it again and again."


    "Isn¡¯t that because they adore us? Do you see a woman willing to bear children for a man from outside their home?"


    "Do you think it¡¯s all easy after giving birth? Take breastfeeding; you have to get up several times in the night. I sleep like a dead pig at night, blissfully unaware of everything."


    "How are women tired? It¡¯s their duty. Aren¡¯t we men working ourselves to death outside just as hard?"


    Someone argued back, aren¡¯t farming and casual labor mostly done by men?


    If you really want to compare, men are definitely more exhausted.


    "Exactly, if women couldn¡¯t have children, why would we bother marrying?"


    "You say a woman should look after her husband and teach her children, but a man should also provide for his family. How can you have the nerve to let your wife supplement the household income?"


    Sun Erhu retorted, leaving that man with no reply.


    "We spend silver to get a wife; shouldn¡¯t she help earn it back?"


    Tan Zhenghong disagreed, "She¡¯s also raised by her parents. If you want to marry her, shouldn¡¯t you make some gesture? As long as my wife didn¡¯t suffer or work hard at her parents¡¯ home, I¡¯m willing to spend the silver."


    "Are you saying that you¡¯ll give away your daughter for free in the future? Or if your daughter marries someone like you, won¡¯t you feel heartache?"


    Sun Erhu swept a contemptuous glance over a few dissatisfied men.


    In Big Willow Village, Sun Erhu and Tan Zhenghong were closest and cherished their wives the most. When they spoke up, some men hung their heads in shame.


    Yet they weren¡¯t beyond redemption, for they had already begun to recognize their mistakes.


    "If my son-in-law were like these men, I¡¯d beat him to death!" said D¨¤l¨ªn, the father of a just-married daughter, seriously.


    "This... indeed, why should my hard-raised daughter suffer for someone else¡¯s household?"


    "Isn¡¯t that a bit of an exaggeration?"


    "Giving birth, doing housework, serving in-laws and husband, and still having to earn money to support the family¡ªthat¡¯s even worse than being a maid!"


    ...


    A bunch of men gathered and after much discussion, they arrived at the conclusion that women had it tough and deserved better treatment.


    Unbeknownst to them, the status of women in Big Willow Village had quietly risen a notch.


    As the construction of the Embroidery Room commenced, Fat Aunt began to consider hiring staff.


    She always remembered that Duo¡¯er was the owner of the Embroidery Room; thus, she chose an afternoon to report the matter.


    "These are the almonds my family just picked. Eat one when you don¡¯t feel like having a meal," Fat Aunt handed the basket to Duo¡¯er.


    Almonds weren¡¯t anything rare, but her family¡¯s almond tree matured early, while others were still green.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very grateful. "Thank you, Auntie. I was just thinking about these, and you brought them over."


    "As long as you like them, there are more on my tree, all saved for you," Fat Aunt said cheerfully. She was glad she had already told the bear-like kids at home; otherwise, these almonds wouldn¡¯t be enough to satisfy their mischief.


    Duo¡¯er invited Fat Aunt into the house and poured her water, then they started discussing business.


    "The Embroidery Ladies from the other villages all have ox-carts to pick them up, but the carts are never full. So I¡¯m thinking of hiring more people. First, have them embroider simple insoles at home; once the Embroidery Room is built, they can start working right away."

 Chapter 796 - 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_2

    Chapter 796: Chapter 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_2Fat Aunt laid out her plans.


    She used to be just an ordinary rural woman who hadn¡¯t experienced much. She had to start on her learning path like "a clumsy bird that takes flight early."


    Now, by preparing more, she could avoid scrambling around once they moved to a new location.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "By the way, I want to develop a group of Embroidery Ladies to embroider screens. I¡¯m thinking of creating something with a calming effect."


    After observing for some time, she found that ladies and madams were very interested in things with a bit of a health-preserving gimmick. As long as the advertising was done properly, it would surely be a big hit.


    However, embroidering screens demanded higher skills from the Embroidery Ladies; it would require a long time to refine their craftsmanship.


    But for the long-term development of the Embroidery Room, such an investment was definitely worthwhile.


    "Alright, how many people do we need to recruit this time?"


    Fat Aunt was very spirited and took this matter to heart.


    Screens were large items, and the profit from selling one could equal that of hundreds or even thousands of trinkets. It would be difficult not to make money.


    When the Embroidery Ladies¡¯ wages increased, she, as the one In Charge, would also benefit greatly.


    "This time, the Embroidery Room is built imitating the workshops in town, but with some small adjustments. It can accommodate about one hundred and fifty people. You can arrange the rest."


    "I¡¯ll come back to discuss with you about anything else I¡¯m uncertain about," Fat Aunt promised seriously.


    Duo¡¯er then asked about another matter, "How has Qiao Mei¡¯er been doing recently?"


    "She is very dedicated, and her skills have improved significantly."


    Fat Aunt gave a thumbs up; the child had been quite honest these past few days and could be considered diligent.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said calmly, "Time reveals a person¡¯s heart. We still need to observe her for a bit longer."


    As long as Qiao Mei¡¯er stayed out of trouble, she wouldn¡¯t mind keeping her around.


    Actually, Qiao Mei¡¯er wasn¡¯t a bad person; she just lacked decisiveness and naturally couldn¡¯t learn anything good following Qiao Hua¡¯er, who was full of scheming.


    Now in the Embroidery Room, surrounded by people of good conduct, she should be able to learn something useful. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Most importantly, if Qiao Mei¡¯er did well, the Qiao¡¯s Family Members would be itching to jump around.


    Because to the Qiao¡¯s Family Members, not gaining an advantage was the greatest punishment.


    She estimated the days, and in a few more, the Qiao¡¯s Family Members should come knocking on the door because Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s marriage was approaching, and they needed to give an explanation to the other party.


    On April nineteenth, Qiao Duo¡¯er took her daughter to the Zhao Family.


    The Zhao Family ran a security escort business, always traveling north and south, and they had collected many exotic flowers and plants, which were now blooming beautifully.


    Sitting in the garden, sipping tea and admiring the flowers, she felt very comfortable.


    Because of Duo Meifang, many madams and young ladies were sitting next to Duo¡¯er to talk.


    "Duo¡¯er, the products you sell are incredible. You have no idea how bad my face looked after giving birth. Now I use facial masks and fragrance paste every day, and my skin has improved a lot."


    "I feel the same. A woman really needs to take good care of her face. Duo¡¯er, I don¡¯t even know how to thank you!"


    Many madams and young ladies were expressing their gratitude to Duo¡¯er.


    For these cloistered women, their appearance was of utmost importance.


    Men are mostly visual creatures; the better-looking a person is, the more affection they receive from men.


    "I think the scented insoles and spices are the best. They¡¯re fresh and elegant, a scent that others can¡¯t replicate."


    Qiao Duo smiled and said, "It¡¯s supposed to be effective. I can¡¯t just let you spend Silver for nothing, can I?"


    "If you truly want to thank Mrs. Tan, then do her a favor by introducing more clients to her, making the reputation of Duo Meifang even louder."


    Because Duo¡¯er was there, Madam Zhao showed them extra attention.


    She made a scene during the opening of Duo Meifang, but there¡¯s an old saying, ¡¯No fight, no acquaintance.¡¯ She now had a good personal relationship with Qiao Duo.


    She was also relieved; had she vexed the person to death at that time, she would surely be filled with regret now.


    The Inspector was a sinecure without real power, but he held a high rank, something these commoners could only envy.


    And even if they took ten thousand steps back, the person had the emperor¡¯s decree. Against that, even the most formidable individuals would back down.


    Duo¡¯er nodded, "If you introduce clients to me, I¡¯ll give you a discount in the future."


    "Just make sure you don¡¯t go back on your word!"


    "I¡¯ll go talk to my sisters-in-law from my mother¡¯s side, they will definitely like it!"


    "And me, I¡¯ll buy more to give as gifts. It is also a way to introduce clients to you. Can I get a discount?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly agreed, "Of course, I¡¯ll make sure it happens. For specifics, you can talk to the big girl; she¡¯s now in charge of the shop."


    "No way, is she the Boss of Duo Meifang?"


    Someone exclaimed in surprise, wondering if this girl could manage a shop.


    The sudden attention left the big girl a little at a loss, but fortunately, she had developed the ability to handle unexpected situations while working in the shop.

 Chapter 797 - 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_3

    Chapter 797: Chapter 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_3She hastily said, "I¡¯m not the shopkeeper. Previously it was my aunt who led me; I just helped out with errands and such."


    "Then can you be in charge?"


    "Our boss has spoken, even if I couldn¡¯t be in charge before, from now on, I¡¯ll have a say in things." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The big girl playfully blinked, though she wanted to say that she had always had a say.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er timely said, "Right now, she oversees twelve girls. How much something sells for is decided by her word alone."


    This revelation prompted many madams and misses to disclose their identities. The items from Duo Meifang were expensive, and now they had the chance to get them for a little less, an opportunity they did not want to miss.


    Madam Zhao could not help but remind everyone, "Keep it down, don¡¯t disturb the Tan Family¡¯s young master!"


    Pregnant women are inherently emotionally unstable and cannot stand too much noise.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter; they speak so softly and gently, how could they scare me?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly.


    Madam Zhao personally poured tea for Qiao Duo, "Then try this. It¡¯s a newly dried flower tea from this year. See if it suits your taste."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up the tea and took a sip with elegance, showing no signs of a country girl¡¯s vulgarity.


    Standing to the side, Du Yingxue huffed dismissively. How could a mere uncouth village girl deserve to be treated like a star among moons?


    After the big girl had memorized everyone present, Du Yingxue found her chance to speak, "Mrs. Tan is so experienced and knowledgeable, could you tell us what kind of flower this is?"


    She was deliberately trying to embarrass Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Otherwise, these people wouldn¡¯t realize the caliber of what they were complimenting!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Du Yingxue, a hint of a smile forming at the corner of her mouth.


    "You, after all, are one of the most distinguished figures in White Stone County. You must know a little more than we do."


    Du Yingxue offered a compliment, but it was laced with irony.


    Her spiteful expression all but outright stated that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s title of Sixth Rank Madam was entirely undeserved.


    "This is Weeping Begonia, also known as Intestine flower, which signifies the longing for home of a traveler and can also represent an understanding beauty. Thus, it¡¯s often planted near water, alluding to the reflection of a beautiful woman in the clear mirror-like surface. It blooms first and bears fruit later, the fruit being sour and sweet and can be made into preserved sweets," Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly explained. She had originally wanted to keep a low profile.


    But someone was so determined to target her that she had no choice but to stand out this time.


    Last year, when she studied the recipes for fragrant powders, she made sure to familiarize herself with various flowers, not expecting it would come in handy now.


    "Who could have imagined that Mrs. Tan could be so worldly and knowledgeable? This is a new variety that has just come over from Beijiang, and I¡¯ve never even heard of it before," Madam Zhao said, giving a thumbs up.


    "It¡¯s fortunate that Miss Du didn¡¯t ask me, or I would have been so embarrassed."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er modestly said, "I just happened to have seen it before. I¡¯m embarrassed by any more praise."


    "It¡¯s indeed fortunate, but I wonder how much there is. That flower next to it looks novel too. Could you tell me about it?" Du Yingxue wasn¡¯t ready to let Qiao Duo¡¯er off the hook just yet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment, "Immortal Customer Arrival, also known as Rabbit¡¯s Ear and First Rank Crown, this plant has a pleasant fragrance and is considered the best among them."


    Many people turned to Madam Zhao because they didn¡¯t know whether Qiao Duo was correct or not.


    "Mrs. Tan is right, my husband has been happy about this plant for quite some time," Madam Zhao confirmed.


    The maid seized the moment to open up the description of the flower.


    Indeed, it aligned with what Qiao Duo had described.


    Now everyone had a better picture. Mrs. Tan claimed her knowledge was coincidental out of modesty, but Du Yingxue stubbornly persisted, only to end up slapping her own face.


    Seeing others shower Qiao Duo¡¯er with compliments again, Du Yingxue almost bit her teeth to pieces.


    Soon she forced a schadenfreude smile onto her face.


    "Mrs. Tan, there¡¯s something you might not know, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her teacup, "Speak."


    "Your younger sister is about to be married off. She should be my little sister-in-law. Originally my brother was just taken by the novelty, and it wasn¡¯t until he learned she was your sister that he planned to bring her back as a concubine," Du Yingxue said with satisfaction, thinking she finally had one over Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Her brother, Du Haofeng, had been constantly involved with Qiao Hua¡¯er, and she knew it better than anyone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "I will be sure to thank Young Master Du for giving me such face the next time I see him."


    If Qiao Hua¡¯er persisted in her folly, she would certainly offer her congratulations.


    "Mrs. Tan is blessed with a good family fortune; naturally, her sisters cannot compare," Madam Zhao promptly intervened, attempting to smooth things over and giving Du Yingxue a glare.


    How could this wild girl be so clueless?


    This was a flower viewing event hosted by the Zhao Family, and if Du Yingxue offended Qiao Duo, the Zhao Family wouldn¡¯t be able to escape involvement.

 Chapter 798 - 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_4

    Chapter 798: Chapter 801: Doting on the Wife Mania_4But Du Yingxue didn¡¯t take Madam Zhao¡¯s warning to heart; instead, she intensified her mockery of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Right, the good news about your Third Sister and Xu Yuanwai is nearing, isn¡¯t it? This matter was indeed my brother¡¯s fault. He insisted on taking the Second Miss to see Master Xu, not expecting to end up facilitating the Third Miss¡¯s marriage."


    In her view, the Qiao Family sisters were all lowly, fit only to be concubines!


    "Many thanks, Miss Du, for the reminder. I will definitely send a big red envelope to Young Master Du when the time comes."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied without anger or annoyance, casually striking back.


    A man who doesn¡¯t stick to proper affairs, instead doing things only busybodies would stoop to, isn¡¯t afraid of losing face!


    Madame Wang covered her mouth and said, "Now that¡¯s wonderful, in the future we have one more option, and the girls introduced by Young Master Du must be exceptional."


    "Indeed, it¡¯s something to consider."


    Everyone echoed in agreement, their words tinged with mockery toward Du Yingxue.


    Some girls are pretty to look at, but unfortunately, they lack brains.


    Angered to the point of confusion, Du Yingxue spoke even more recklessly: "Madam Tan, a woman¡¯s natal family is her support, and you¡¯re already a Sixth Rank Madam. You should care more for your natal family. If your sisters all become someone else¡¯s concubines, it¡¯s not a good look for you either."


    "Isn¡¯t it set by parents¡¯ decree and the matchmaker¡¯s words, Miss Du?" Big Sister countered.


    What kind of Miss Housekeeper is this?


    She must have taken the wrong medicine!


    "Miss Du, among the ¡¯Three Obediences and Four Virtues¡¯ there is also the ¡¯virtue of women¡¯s speech,¡¯ which means to speak appropriately and less about others¡¯ affairs," Madam Zhao said bluntly.


    She was almost furious to death. This flower appreciation banquet hosted by the Zhao Family was being disrupted by Du Yingxue¡¯s antics, wasn¡¯t this disrespecting the Zhao Family?


    Still unwilling to let it go, Du Yingxue was about to speak when Madam Zhao had the maids carry her out.


    The lady sitting next to Duo¡¯er quickly consoled, "Madam Tan, don¡¯t mind her, she¡¯s a wild girl raised without a mother¡¯s teachings."


    "Exactly, birthing such a daughter really is the misfortune of eight lifetimes!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a light smile, said, "Let¡¯s not talk about these unhappy matters. Let¡¯s all try the Zhao Family¡¯s flower tea, it tastes very good!"


    Everyone gave a laugh, and the matter was dropped.


    But people¡¯s opinion of Duo¡¯er rose even higher.


    Though born of a peasant family, she understood reason and propriety, and her conduct was measured; she was not one to be underestimated.


    Leaving the Zhao residence, Big Sister straightened her back.


    She had always felt that the young ladies from wealthy families were above her, but today she finally understood.


    To be human is to look inward, to have a kind heart.


    Her family didn¡¯t have much silver, and she couldn¡¯t play musical instruments or paint, but she had an open and cheerful heart, and she would bring laughter to those around her.


    She also had a brain, and she wouldn¡¯t turn what was meant to be a joyful event into an embarrassment.


    "Still think you¡¯re not worthy of Zhang Ziwen?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Big Sister spoke forthrightly, "It¡¯s clearly he who is not worthy of me. A scholar who is good for nothing ¨C if I take a liking to him, that¡¯s his good fortune!"


    Even though Zhang Ziwen was Big Willow Village¡¯s youngest scholar, she wasn¡¯t lacking!


    "That¡¯s right. You have to value yourself first before you can have the right to happiness," Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    Big Sister nodded vigorously, "Sister Duo¡¯er, you really didn¡¯t need to take me on such a big detour; you could have told me directly, and I would have understood."


    She knew that every word from her Sister Duo¡¯er made sense! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Would you have such a profound impression if you hadn¡¯t experienced it yourself?"


    That¡¯s the reason why one must personally take charge of matters.


    Big Sister whispered, "Actually, when they complimented me today, I felt so happy, as if I could ascend to the skies."


    "It¡¯s important to stay grounded when living life, otherwise, it¡¯s easy to fall."


    "Understood!"


    ...

 Chapter 799 - 802: Can Keep_1

    Chapter 799: Chapter 802: Can Keep_1After Dragon Boat Festival, it was the season for harvesting wheat.


    This year, the wheat fields were a sea of yellow-gold, each ear weighted down heavily, a particularly joyful sight to behold.


    Tan Zhenghong had been working at breakneck pace, but the schedule was incredibly tight, and with completion still some way off, he had no choice but to temporarily set aside the embroidery room.


    Because they had purchased quite a bit of land this year, he needed to get things organized.


    News that the Tan Family were recruiting temporary workers spread, offering a wage of forty-five wen per mu.


    However, the temp workers were mainly responsible for harvesting wheat near Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and due to the distance, they would have to wait until all the wheat was collected before returning, which would take about half a month.


    For the farmers, this was no small challenge; being so far from home, if it rained halfway through, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make it back.


    The silver earned from the Tan Family was tempting, but one¡¯s own crops were still more important.


    As a result, for several days in a row, there were pitifully few sign-ups.


    But Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest; he still had an ace up his sleeve!


    Two days before the wheat harvest, Tie Niu called a village meeting at the threshing floor, not only to notify the households about the harvest but also for a more important matter.


    "There¡¯s another thing today, everyone better open your eyes wide and look!"


    Soon, a large contraption was added to the simple platform on the threshing floor, and everyone was filled with curiosity.


    "What is this for? Never seen it before."


    "It kind of looks like torture devices. If someone were spun around in it, they¡¯d surely not come out alive or be maimed at least!"


    "But I haven¡¯t heard of anyone in trouble recently. Besides, we¡¯ve never executed anyone in our village; more serious matters are usually taken straight to the Government Office."


    "Who knows, let¡¯s see what the village chief says."


    "But I still need to go back and sharpen my sickles, and the cart needs fixing too, who has time to look at this damn thing?"


    "Serves you right, why didn¡¯t you prepare earlier? It¡¯s the same time every year for wheat cutting!"


    Amidst all the speculation, Sun Erhu and Tan Zhenghong began to demonstrate.


    One was responsible for pedaling while the other fed bundled sheaves of wheat into the rollers, and the wheat grains were quickly stripped by the rolling drums.


    The grains fell out of the bottom onto a tarp laid underneath to catch them.


    "My God, that¡¯s amazing, the grains have all fallen off!"


    "Look, how clean the straw is¡ªno need to pick them out one by one anymore!"


    Those at the front kept exclaiming in astonishment; if they hadn¡¯t witnessed it with their own eyes, they wouldn¡¯t believe such a miraculous machine could exist.


    Tie Niu explained, "This thing is called a threshing machine, it saves labor and is convenient. With this, our wheat harvest will be much quicker. Anyone interested?"


    "Village chief, just tell us how much it costs!" someone urgently asked.


    "Two taels of silver each."


    Before Tie Niu could finish, someone angrily retorted, "Who can afford that? I¡¯d rather go home and thresh the wheat myself. After all, I¡¯ve got plenty of brute strength." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Looks like only the rich will be able to use it. It¡¯s so dull!"


    "This is nothing but blatant showing off. I knew that we wouldn¡¯t get a shot at this good stuff!"


    "Let¡¯s go, better to rest at home than waste time here!"


    Tie Niu quickly added, "Everyone, hear me out. If you can¡¯t afford it, that¡¯s okay. The Tan Family has bought five threshing machines, and there are two types of families who can borrow them for free. First, those who have a family member working at the embroidery room or Duo Meifang without taking leave during the busy farming season and second, those who have a family member working as a temp worker for the Tan Family, one worker entitles you to half a day¡¯s use."


    "For those who don¡¯t meet the criteria, no worries. You can rent one, with a deposit of one tael of silver and a half-day cost of twenty wen."

 Chapter 800 - 803: Can I Try?_1

    Chapter 800: Chapter 803: Can I Try?_1"Today is the Tan Family¡¯s last day to hire short-term workers, those who are interested hurry up and register, there are a total of forty spots, recruitment will close once full, everyone please hurry."


    "Additionally, those who want to borrow the threshing machine should make reservations in advance, it¡¯s best if everyone discusses to stagger their times, or several families can agree to rent it together, striving to let more people enjoy the convenience of the threshing machine."


    "Village chief, can we give it a try? What if we rent it and it doesn¡¯t work well, won¡¯t we suffer a huge loss?"


    Tan Zhenghong made room for them: "Of course you can try, two people at a time, and if anyone doesn¡¯t know how to use it, Erhu and I can teach."


    Soon two people got on the platform, they cooperated with each other, and successfully separated the wheat grains.


    As soon as they stepped down, someone couldn¡¯t wait to ask, "How is it?"


    The man gave a thumbs up: "It¡¯s really easy to use, hardly takes any effort, I think two people could work side by side easily, and it¡¯s definitely not a problem to thresh six to seven acres in half a day!"


    Saying six to seven acres, he felt he was even understating it, but that was under the precondition that there were people constantly bringing small bundles of wheat to them.


    A normal household only has about six to seven acres of wheat, renting it for half a day would be more than enough.


    "Is it really that miraculous?"


    "The threshing machine and Tan Zhenghong are right here, if you don¡¯t believe it, go and try it out for yourself, I need to talk to Ah Hong right away, I absolutely must reserve it for half a day."


    The man hurriedly pulled Tan Zhenghong aside and started discussing the rental of the threshing machine.


    With this machine, this year is definitely going to be much easier! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After that, more people continued to take turns trying it out, and after the trial, many had looks of disbelief on their faces.


    It was only after trying it out that they realized the machine was even better than they had imagined.


    Knowing the benefits of the threshing machine, there were a mix of happy and gloomy faces at the drying yard.


    "Girls are truly a blessing, my eldest daughter-in-law is in the Embroidery Room, and Er Ya is at Duo Meifang, so we can borrow it for a whole day!"


    "My family can borrow it for half a day, if we hurry we should be able to finish, the Tan couple is really considerate, always thinking about us when it comes to good things!"


    "You foolish woman, hurry to the Embroidery Room, don¡¯t even think about taking the day off, if we can borrow the threshing machine, it will be worth several of you."


    The man hurriedly urged his wife, who had just come back from leave to help with the farm work, to get to work.


    Just now, the village chief said only those who did not take leave would be eligible to borrow it, his wife had only rested for less than half an hour, it should be fine.


    The woman said discontentedly, "If you keep mistreating me, I won¡¯t go to the Embroidery Room!"


    "My dear, I was wrong, isn¡¯t that enough? You already work so hard in the Embroidery Room, how can I have you work in the fields too? You just stay in the Embroidery Room, take a break when you¡¯re tired, being a man, I should be the one providing for the family."


    The man¡¯s face was full of appeasing smiles, now that his wife could earn silver, and could even borrow the threshing machine, how could he not treat her well? Dare he not treat her well?


    There was a saying in the village that had popped up out of nowhere: the better you treat your wife, the more prosperous your future will be.


    The best examples were Tan Zhenghong and Sun Erhu.


    In the past, many laughed at them for being cowards afraid of their wives, but now those same people were living better and better lives, others only had envy for them.


    Based on that saying alone, he couldn¡¯t neglect his wife anymore.


    "After selling the wheat, I want to buy a box of Fragrance Paste, they say it makes the skin soft and tender."


    The man nodded in agreement immediately: "Buy it!"


    "That¡¯s more like it!"


    Pleased by the flattery, the wife hurried off towards the Embroidery Room.


    Everyone wanted to earn more silver, to provide a better life for their family.


    This wasn¡¯t an isolated case, nearly all the Embroidery Ladies had become the queens of their households.

 Chapter 801 - 804: Regret In Hindsight

    Chapter 801: Chapter 804: Regret In HindsightBut those without the qualification to borrow were frustrated.


    To spend fifty wen for half a day wasn¡¯t cheap, but without spending this money, one would suffer a lot.


    "It¡¯s way too expensive, we¡¯re not renting anymore. Why should we give our money to the Tan Family?" a woman said irritably.


    With that money, one could go to the town and buy two jin of meat to bring back, enough for the whole family to eat their fill in one meal.


    The man disdainfully said, "There¡¯s only me in the house who can properly do the work, if we don¡¯t rent a threshing machine are you trying to work me to death?"


    In the past, without the threshing machine, it was fine, but now that there is one, why should he still exert that much effort?


    Besides, the sooner the crops are in the house, the better for peace of mind; in case a heavy rain comes, the loss would definitely be more than twenty wen.


    "Our family isn¡¯t running a bank, where do we have that much money?"


    The woman was very angry since she¡¯d be stingy even over one wen of money, why didn¡¯t she feel the pinch now?


    "Instead of worrying uselessly, you might as well hurry back home and practice your embroidery, look at the ladies in the Embroidery Room and how blessed they are!"


    Their monthly wages were higher than the men¡¯s, and not long ago at Dragon Boat Festival, each of them got four meat dumplings, four sweet dumplings, and also fifty wen as festival expenses, and now they can use the threshing machine for free as well, all the good fortune was taken by them!


    "If you have the ability, you go to the Embroidery Room, you go find those ladies!" the woman snapped.


    "I¡¯ll go be a day laborer, and you better not cry at home!"


    The man said as he walked toward the platform; in the house, he was the only man, without him being there, he wanted to see what a bunch of women and children could do.


    "Fine, we can rent it, but only for half a day, we have to work more efficiently when the time comes!" The woman grudgingly took out the copper coin.


    However, she also had a plan in mind; she heard that the Embroidery Room was hiring again, she would have to try for it.


    In recent times, she had been very diligent, and her skills had significantly improved from before. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once she entered the Embroidery Room, she¡¯d see if the men in the house could still be so arrogant!


    On the platform, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er each occupied one side.


    Almond loudly maintained order: "Those who want to rent the threshing machine, go to the east side to sign up with Fourth Master; those who want to be day laborers, go to the west side, my lady is there!"


    "Everyone line up properly and keep quiet, those who jump the queue or make a lot of noise can go back home now!"


    Because there were so many villagers, just one Almond was simply too busy by herself.


    Luckily, Tie Niu saw the situation and quickly came to help, finally getting the scene under control.


    "Will there still be space when it¡¯s our turn? It¡¯s killing us with anxiety!"


    "If I had known, I would have signed up a few days ago, then I wouldn¡¯t have to suffer this torment!"


    Almond interjected: "Fourth Master has been in Big Willow Village since he was little, and Madam has married in for almost a year too, have they ever harmed you? When have they just sought you out if it wasn¡¯t for something good? You know to regret it now, right?"


    In the future, when the Tan Family needs people, the smart ones should come over quickly.


    Just like D¨¤l¨ªn and Huang Zhong who signed up the day before yesterday said, following Ah Hong would definitely lead to a better life.


    It¡¯s just a pity that there are too few people with such awareness.


    "Miss, can you help us check if they have finished recruiting, so we can rest easy?"


    A young man said with a smile on his face.


    Almond shook her head: "Definitely not, my lady is sharp-eyed. She can definitely spot those who are just trying to fill numbers."


    "I¡¯ve never shirked work or cut corners; she will definitely take a liking to me."


    "Same here, sometimes I can reap more than a mu of wheat in one day!"


    "All talk and no action won¡¯t do; Madam has to nod in agreement, and even if you are picked, don¡¯t get smug. Madam plans to select a few Permanent Workers from the day laborers this time, the treatment will definitely be good," Almond kindly reminded.

 Chapter 802 - 805: Hiring Part-time Workers

    Chapter 802: Chapter 805: Hiring Part-time WorkersShe earned two taels of silver each month at the Tan Family, which was equivalent to the salary of a top-ranked maid in a very wealthy household.


    Moreover, there was no scheming or strict rules like in large households here, which made it much more comfortable.


    If she could sign on as a permanent worker, the treatment surely wouldn¡¯t be inferior to that in other families.


    "Thank you, sister!" the young man said politely.


    He noticed that the woman and Duo¡¯er were quite familiar with each other, often seen together, so it was definitely right to establish a good relationship with her.


    Qiao Duo smiled slightly and then got busy with something else.


    In fact, she wanted to say that she was just a small shrimp, and all she could do was offer a reminder¡ªthe rest depended on his conduct and abilities.


    By noon, Duo¡¯er had already selected fifty temporary workers, including some strong men from nearby villages.


    Although they were just temporary workers, Qiao Duo¡¯er still decided to make an agreement with them.


    "I¡¯ll go over the terms of the agreement with you. First, regarding the wages, cutting and threshing one acre of wheat will earn you sixty wen. Each person must complete at least one acre in two days, or it will be considered unsatisfactory."


    "This time, the person in charge is Huang Xuewu. Uncle Huang will grade each acre you complete."


    "There are three grades: high, medium, and low. Anyone who receives more than two lows will be dismissed and only half the wages paid, whereas accumulating more than four mediums will result in only eighty percent of the wages paid. Those who achieve all highs will receive an additional reward of a hundred wen."


    "Additionally, leaving without special cause will result in a ten percent deduction of your wages."


    "Do you have any objections or anything that is unclear?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er summarized the contents of the agreement, as most of these people were illiterate.


    "What qualifies as a special reason?" someone asked curiously.


    Qiao Duo explained, "Special reason refers to situations where there is no choice but to return, such as severe illness of parents or oneself, or your wife giving birth¡ªurgent matters like that."


    "Then, where will we be staying?"


    He remembered that the farmstead near Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was a vast expanse of fields, with no house in sight.


    "Of course, we¡¯ll stay at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village," joked a companion, "let¡¯s experience what it¡¯s like to be bandits for once."


    To their surprise, Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Indeed, you¡¯ll stay at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. But forget about trying robbery¡ªLord Qin wouldn¡¯t be pleased to catch you in the act, and I won¡¯t be bailing anyone out at the Government Office." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Madam Tan, rest assured, with hands and feet at work, we won¡¯t commit such immoral acts."


    "Should we bring our own dry food?"


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "You just need to show up; there are people designated to cook. Three meals a day, two dishes each meal, one meat and one vegetarian, with enough rice and steamed buns to fill you up."


    "Just enough isn¡¯t okay; we can eat a lot¡ªwe need a significant amount of food!"


    "You¡¯ll have the strength to work only if you¡¯re well-fed. Don¡¯t worry about the food; there¡¯s a vast field there, and it would be an achievement for you all to finish it."


    Qiao Duo had no airs, and she answered every question from the temporary workers.


    She even managed to crack a few jokes now and then, keeping the atmosphere harmonious.


    Once they had no more questions, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked them to press their fingerprints on the agreement.


    "Lastly, I hope everyone will be mindful of safety. I hope when it¡¯s time to pay the wages, every one of you will be present," Qiao Duo¡¯er advised seriously.


    These men were the mainstay of their families, the entire concern of their wives and children. Compared to life, everything else was insignificant.


    "Just cutting wheat, how could that result in disability?"


    "We¡¯re people used to doing hard work; we¡¯ll definitely return as we came!"


    "I even promised my son I would buy him a sugar figure when I get back."


    ...

 Chapter 803 - 806 It’s Worth It Because It’s You

    Chapter 803: Chapter 806 It¡¯s Worth It Because It¡¯s You"That¡¯s all for today, everyone go home and get some good rest, and gather back here at late morning the day after tomorrow. There will be ox carts to take you over," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, concluding the hiring of the day laborers.


    Since Tan Zhenghong often had to coordinate, it took him slightly longer than Duo¡¯er.


    The threshing machine was very practical and many households were vying for it.


    Tan Zhenghong had already increased the number of threshing machines to eight, with work scheduled even through the night; still, the demand was so high that it was barely being met.


    Those who came later couldn¡¯t get a good timeslot, only to blame themselves for hesitating and missing out on the best opportunity.


    After sending off the last person, Tan Zhenghong hurried over to his wife¡¯s side.


    "You must be exhausted?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked at her with pity; he shouldn¡¯t have agreed to let Duo¡¯er join the bustle.


    Qiao Duo shook her head: "Not only am I not tired, I¡¯m actually in great spirits. I told you that pregnant women need to exercise their minds too, why don¡¯t you believe me?"


    "If it weren¡¯t for your insistence on suffering, would we have this little thing? So, you definitely have no brain," Tan Zhenghong teased while gently rubbing Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, his eyes filled with affection.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bumped Tan Zhenghong with her belly: "Who are you saying has no brain?"


    "Me," Tan Zhenghong quickly conceded.


    A good husband doesn¡¯t argue with his wife, especially not with a pregnant one, because her mood is very important.


    "Then the brainless one should hurry home and cook. I want shrimp for lunch today, steamed fish, and saut¨¦ed water celery," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a touch of arrogance.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately nodded: "Your wish is my command!"


    Upon returning home, Tan Zhenghong went straight into the kitchen, refusing even Almond¡¯s offer to help.


    It¡¯s said that pregnant women are prone to fanciful thoughts, so at this time he had to keep his distance from other women even more.


    By the time he served the food, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already starved and collapsing on the table.


    Ever since she got pregnant, she couldn¡¯t stand being hungry, or else she¡¯d be listless.


    Tan Zhenghong said with amusement: "I made rice cakes this morning and added dried tangerine peel and red dates. Why didn¡¯t you have some first?"


    Even just a bite would have prevented her from becoming this famished.


    "I just wanted to eat shrimp," Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted.


    "From now on, just tell me whatever you want to eat, and I¡¯ll make it for you. Please don¡¯t starve yourself," Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said while passing her the chopsticks, nearly pained to see her so hungry.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes: "Weren¡¯t you the one who didn¡¯t let me into the kitchen?"


    "Then you can just tell me from outside the kitchen. Bai Yifan said that pregnant women exposed to kitchen fumes often can lose their appetite, and with your stomach having issues, poor appetite can easily lead to malnutrition," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded absentmindedly as she ate. Although she ate quickly, she didn¡¯t come across as rude.


    Tan Zhenghong was covered in cold sweat; he shouldn¡¯t have spoken to Duo¡¯er while she was eating: "Eat slowly, I¡¯ll peel the shrimp for you."


    Only after Qiao Duo¡¯er had her fill did she realize that she had devoured an entire plate of shrimp.


    She had promised to correct the habit of selfish eating, but only remembered after she was full each time.


    "It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s my fault, I just caught too few shrimp yesterday. I¡¯ll just set up another net tomorrow," Tan Zhenghong offered understandingly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye twitched: "Don¡¯t you feel quite innocent?"


    He had fried a whole plate of shrimp; how was that too few?


    It was just him giving her a way out!


    "Not at all innocent; and seeing you enjoy eating makes me happier than eating myself," Tan Zhenghong said with honesty and a silly smile.


    With her lips pursed, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but giggle quietly. Pregnancy was hard, childbirth would be painful, but having Tan Zhenghong as the father of the child made it all worthwhile.

 Chapter 804 - 807: Ensure Obedience

    Chapter 804: Chapter 807: Ensure ObedienceThere was some free time before the busy farming season, and Tan Zhenghong stayed at home, keeping Qiao Duo¡¯er company.


    They would nap together in the afternoon, feeling content even if they couldn¡¯t do anything else.


    By the time Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, it was already evening. She didn¡¯t hurry out of bed; instead, she stared at Tan Zhenghong in a daze.


    "Wife, did you have a nightmare?"


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er into his embrace, thinking she might have been frightened.


    "Ah Hong, we¡¯re doomed. I¡¯ve arranged all the casual laborers for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. What about the fields in the village?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a furrowed brow.


    She had completely forgotten about this matter that morning.


    However, hiring another person wouldn¡¯t be difficult; she still had a few backup candidates in mind from the morning. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It just felt a bit awkward to have initially refused them and then to go back and ask for their help.


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled, "I never planned on hiring temporary workers. For those few acres, I can harvest them in a few days."


    "Then you¡¯ll be working too hard."


    He had been busy building the new embroidery room recently and was about to start constructing another building, with many miscellaneous tasks in between, barely having any time to rest.


    "What kind of man am I if I¡¯m afraid of hard work? You just stay home and be good; I¡¯ll take care of everything else."


    Tan Zhenghong kissed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s cheek, offering comfort.


    For him, a farmer at heart, harvest was a joyous occasion, and hard work wasn¡¯t an issue at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and nestled comfortably in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms.


    Two days later, Tan Zhenghong rose before dawn.


    "You sleep a little longer. These next few days, just let Almond cook for me. I promise I won¡¯t go into the kitchen," Qiao Duo¡¯er mumbled sleepily.


    She definitely wouldn¡¯t make a fuss to avoid worrying Tan Zhenghong.


    In a gentle voice, Tan Zhenghong said, "No one¡¯s cooking compares to mine. If it really gets too hectic, I¡¯ll find someone to help, I won¡¯t wear myself out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew Tan Zhenghong was just comforting her, but she was too sleepy to keep her eyes open and gave up on trying to persuade him.


    She would make Tan Zhenghong come back and rest once she woke up.


    When she awoke again, it was already Three Poles Day. She reached out instinctively for the space beside her, then realized it wasn¡¯t a dream that morning.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er had opened the door, Almond came over with the washing water.


    "Fourth Master prepared ginseng and Bamboo Si chicken soup this morning and also cooked some millet porridge. He also said to stay away from the piece of land that he got from the family division," Almond conveyed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t let Tan Zhenghong¡¯s efforts go to waste; only after eating her fill did she head to the fields with a food container.


    He would have been working since dawn and was probably hungry by now.


    The Tan family¡¯s lands were all connected, so Qiao Duo¡¯er inevitably saw members of the Old Tan Family.


    Since Tan Zhengyuan was imprisoned, the Tan family members had become much more compliant.


    They didn¡¯t even dare to come knocking, fearing that angering Qiao Duo¡¯er might lead to them being locked up in jail too.


    After Ruo Lan¡¯s incident became public, they only dared to whisper a few words behind their backs.


    Having not seen them for a long time, their lazy nature remained unchanged; they sweated little while working, their pace not even half as fast as others¡¯.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked straight through the furrows to their own plot of land.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come here? Why don¡¯t you listen?" Tan Zhenghong wiped his sweat.


    He was concerned that his former family might say something unpleasant and upset his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over the food container, "I¡¯m not that helpless. Hurry up and eat."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t refuse and sat down on a pile of hay to eat heartily. Today¡¯s porridge and side dishes tasted especially good, as they were filled with his wife¡¯s care for him.

 Chapter 805 - 808 Unusual Incidents

    Chapter 805: Chapter 808 Unusual Incidents"Fourth Uncle, Grandpa and Grandma went to work in the fields this morning without having breakfast, and now that you have something to eat, how can you eat alone? Grandma almost lost her life giving birth to you, and even if she did something wrong, you can¡¯t treat her like this!"


    Xiao Fu, with hands on hips, accused Tan Zhenghong.


    He tried his best, but still couldn¡¯t control his eyes, which kept glancing over towards the chicken soup.


    Since the division of the Old Tan Family, one thing after another had happened, life had become increasingly straitened, and eating meat was a luxury.


    There wasn¡¯t a drop of oil in his stomach; the smell of meat made him lose control.


    That chicken soup was particularly fragrant; he could smell it from a distance.


    He barely managed to think up this excuse, and fortunately, his Fourth Uncle hadn¡¯t finished all of it yet.


    Tan Zhenghong furrowed his brows, was this insinuating that he was unfilial?


    He knew he could never repay the half-life debt he owed to his mother, without her suffering, he wouldn¡¯t exist.


    After cutting off relations, he sent things over to them three times a year through Uncle Tie.


    Given the way his parents treated him and Duo¡¯er, wasn¡¯t what he had done already enough?


    Actually, even if he ignored them completely, no one could fault him.


    Xiao Fu spoke again, "Hurry up and give me the food so I can take it to Grandpa and Grandma."


    "Ah Hong should indeed be filial to his parents, but it¡¯s not your place to send it over," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Tan Zhenghong was puzzled, but before he could voice his confusion, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already picked up the bowl and was walking towards the fields where Tan Yuancheng and the Wang Clan were.


    Xiao Fu said disdainfully, "Hmph, just knows how to listen to his wife!"


    After saying this, he ran after Qiao Duo¡¯er; he was the person Grandpa and Grandma doted on the most, would they not think of him when there was good food?


    So whether Qiao Duo¡¯er allowed him to send it or not, the chicken soup was his!


    "You drink the chicken soup and nourish your bodies," Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a tone that brooked no refusal.


    The Wang Clan sneaked a glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er, her eyes filled with fear.


    "That... you two eat it yourselves."


    Xiao Fu swallowed hard, "Grandma, Fourth Uncle is your son; what¡¯s wrong with you drinking a bowl of his chicken soup?"


    The soup won¡¯t taste good once it¡¯s cold, so you¡¯d better take it quickly!


    The Wang Clan glanced at Tan Yuancheng; she wanted to take it, but how could she dare?


    Back when she wanted a piece of meat from the Fourth Boss¡¯s House, Qiao Duo raised a cleaver. How could Qiao Duo¡¯er possibly be kindly bringing her food now?


    If there was poison in it, wouldn¡¯t she die crying?


    Tan Yuancheng weakly said, "This is a token of Fourth Boss¡¯s goodwill, you should take it."


    In his entire life, he never had such delicious chicken soup, even just one taste would leave him without regrets in death.


    But he was too proud to take it himself.


    "Ah Hong heard you two didn¡¯t eat this morning and went to the fields, so he specifically asked us to bring this to you; if you don¡¯t eat, aren¡¯t you letting down his good intentions?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯s eyes curved with her smile, her attitude very gentle.


    The Wang Clan still felt uneasy, she thought the fierce Qiao Duo¡¯er was more normal.


    This gentle demeanor made her suspect a hidden agenda, and she couldn¡¯t let her guard down. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Grandma, hurry up!" Xiao Fu was so anxious he was scratching his cheeks.


    "Yeah, this bowl is quite heavy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tried to appear as harmless as possible; was she really that scary?


    Was it just because she sent Xiao Biyu and Tan Zhengyuan to jail and brought Da Ya and Er Ya back from a gang of bandits?


    The Wang Clan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er again and then timidly took the bowl of soup from her hands.


    All of this was farmland; so many people were working, Qiao Duo¡¯er probably didn¡¯t have the nerve to hurt her, right?


    Though she was a Sixth Rank Official Lady, she would still have to pay with her life if she killed someone.

 Chapter 806 - 809: Sooner or Later, Raise a Pig

    Chapter 806: Chapter 809: Sooner or Later, Raise a Pig"This is Ah Hong¡¯s filial piety for mom and dad, if you give it to someone else, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite." Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded them.


    For instance, Xiao Fu, whose drool was nearly reaching his feet.


    Xiao Fu said indignantly, "You¡¯ve already given it to grandma and grandpa, what right do you have to control who they give it to?"


    "I want to control, and can you do anything about it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately annoyed Xiao Fu, there was no need to be nice to such a bratty child.


    Wang Clan spoke up timidly, "The child is young, it¡¯s normal for him to be greedy, can we let him have a taste?"


    She felt very close to Qiao Duo¡¯er who acted like this, because she had always been like that in the past.


    Xiao Fu snorted and headed straight towards Wang Clan, he had set his mind on having that chicken soup!


    But after only two steps, he was picked up.


    "Son of a bitch, put me down, I want the chicken soup!"


    Xiao Fu struggled, but he was no match for Tan Zhenghong.


    "Duo¡¯er is right, mom and dad, you two eat it, and if I find out that what¡¯s given to you isn¡¯t being eaten or used by you, then there won¡¯t be any more in the future," Tan Zhenghong said coldly. For example, the new clothes on Xiao Fu were made from the fabric he had sent over during the New Year.


    Little Wang Clan rushed over, "Fourth Boss, what¡¯s wrong with letting Xiao Fu have a taste? Your family has so much silver, is it necessary to be so stingy?"


    "You¡¯re not stingy, so why don¡¯t you give me the silver?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, her family did have some assets.


    However, Duo Meifang was still in its early stages, and there was never enough capital. She didn¡¯t mind if others wanted to give her more.


    No matter how much it was, she wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    "You¡¯re such a vile woman, actually preventing Ah Hong from showing filial piety to his parents," Little Wang Clan accused, attempting to intimidate Qiao Duo¡¯er with this big accusation.


    Tan Zhenghong stood in front of Duo¡¯er, "I already treat them very well by considering them mom and dad even after the relationship is severed. Who dares to speak ill of me and my wife? I haven¡¯t heard that being dutiful to one¡¯s parents includes taking care of brothers and nephews as well."


    He could be told to be filial, but the objects of his filial piety could only be his mom and dad.


    As for providing for the entire family like before, he couldn¡¯t do it.


    His brothers were in their prime, each with sons of their own; it surely wasn¡¯t his turn.


    Wang Clan¡¯s eyes shifted, "Can we take it home to eat for lunch? We¡¯re too hot right now, we don¡¯t have an appetite."


    Old Lady Zhou, who was in the neighboring field, couldn¡¯t help speaking up, "Tan family, your grandson is already so chubby, and you keep saving everything for him, you¡¯ll turn him into a pig sooner or later!"


    Anyone with eyes could see what Wang Clan was up to, yet she believed she concealed it well.


    It was also a wonder how a brain like hers managed to produce a son as capable as Tan Zhenghong.


    Spending one or two silver to buy a daughter-in-law like that was an excellent deal.


    Such luck was truly envy-inducing!


    "Your grandson is the pig!" Little Wang Clan immediately retorted.


    Xiao Fu was the apple of her eye, she couldn¡¯t tolerate anyone speaking ill of him, not even slightly.


    Old Lady Zhou sneered softly, "Put the children from both families together for a comparison, and as long as one isn¡¯t blind, it¡¯s clear who¡¯s the pig."


    The Zhou Family and the Old Tan Family had been neighbors for over twenty years, often quarreling; their relations had never been good.


    Moreover, Xiao Fu frequently bullied her grandson, so she had no intention of leaving face for Little Wang Clan.


    "Your grandson may not be fat, but he¡¯s foolish!"


    "I can¡¯t be sure if he¡¯s foolish, but my grandson attended school for two years and passed the child prodigy examinations. The teacher said we should save up money, as we will need it eventually." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Tan Xiaofu had been starting his education for nearly three years and still hardly recognized a few characters.

 Chapter 807 - 810: Sooner or Later, I’ll Fire You!

    Chapter 807: Chapter 810: Sooner or Later, I¡¯ll Fire You!Little Wang Clan could only retort, feeling nothing but pent-up frustration.


    She refused to admit that her own son was inferior to others, but the truth was... no, this year she had to let Xiao Fu get some practice too.


    Perhaps he could also pass the imperial examination for young students, and then she would be able to stand tall too.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Xiao Fu with pity for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms, carrying such a big ball must be tiring.


    The Tan Family was impressive indeed, what ordinary family could raise a child like this?


    "You went to work on an empty stomach this morning, how could you not be hungry? Hurry up and finish eating, my daughter-in-law still needs to take the bowls back." Tan Zhenghong was getting impatient.


    Seeing how Xiao Fu had been spoiled, wasn¡¯t it enough already?


    Wang Clan could only hold the bowl and take a sip. Once the soup touched her lips, she forgot how reluctant she had been moments ago.


    The flavor was truly exceptional, she wished she could swallow her tongue along with it!


    Tan Yuancheng couldn¡¯t help but urge, "Hurry up and let me have a taste."


    Fourth Boss said not to give it to anyone else, so how could he shortchange himself?


    His selfish and greedy face successfully nauseated Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smirked at how foolish, how could she let someone who disgusted her have an easy time?


    "Wait a minute, did you do anything for Ah Hong when Ah Hong¡¯s Mother nearly lost her life giving birth to him? Do you think you deserve to have his filial piety?"


    Tan Zhenghong was sent to a distant uncle¡¯s house as soon as he was born and could hunt when he came back. He never relied on Tan Yuancheng even a little bit.


    In other words, Tan Yuancheng only contributed a tadpole, what face did he have to drink chicken soup?


    "I am his father!" Tan Yuancheng said angrily.


    Without him, would Tan Zhenghong even exist?


    "Did you give birth to Tan Zhenghong or did you raise him? It seems like you did neither," Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her innocent eyes. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking just because you¡¯ve been called ¡¯dad¡¯ for a few years, you can really act the part of a father?


    Tan Yuancheng was left speechless, with only a flushed old face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with satisfaction, "Since there¡¯s no fatherly grace, then the gifts sent in the future should be halved."


    "Okay." Tan Zhenghong nodded.


    The only person in the Tan Family he felt guilty towards was his mother, and the only one he needed to make amends to was also his mother.


    Wang Clan was just about to explode when she heard Qiao Duo¡¯er say, "If you think what I said is wrong, we can let everyone judge. If the village doesn¡¯t do, we can go to the Government Office."


    Upon hearing the words ¡¯Government Office,¡¯ Wang Clan couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    The silver that Tan Zhenghong earned for the family these past few years was enough to buy her life; wherever she went, she would be at fault.


    In other words, if they still wanted the gifts from Tan Zhenghong, she had to behave herself.


    After everything that happened last year, she had a clear understanding of her status in the family.


    In the past, the second son and Little Wang Clan had treated her well only to get the family fortune from her. After she handed over the family fortune to them, they turned their backs on her.


    Fortunately, later on, the Wang Family boy broke his leg, and the second son found out his wife had moved half of the family fortune back to her parents¡¯ home, and only then did she regain the power of the household.


    Otherwise, she might not have lived to see this day.


    As for Tan Yuancheng, it wasn¡¯t that he was bad, but in his heart, he was always the most important.


    So, Wang Clan calmed down.


    With Tan Zhenghong¡¯s guilt, she would be the one in charge from now on.


    Having realized this, Wang Clan picked up the chicken soup and drank it in big gulps.


    The others were full of envy, jealousy, and hatred, but with Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong standing there, they could only watch obediently.


    After Wang Clan finished drinking, Tan Zhenghong took the bowl and then took Qiao Duo¡¯er by the hand towards their own field.


    Tan Yuancheng muttered, "Sooner or later, Ah Hong will divorce you!"

 Chapter 808 - 811: Speak Less

    Chapter 808: Chapter 811: Speak LessNow Fourth Boss is enamored with Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s beauty and is completely obedient to her.


    Just wait a few more years till she ages, and he finds another beauty, we¡¯ll see what kind of confidence she will have to act so defiantly then!


    By that time, Qiao Duo¡¯er will realize how stupid it was not to ingratiate herself with her father-in-law.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned around and said in a good-natured tone, "Sorry, your son just adores me, he even wants to marry me in the next life."


    "What did you say?"


    Wang Clan was completely confused; she was still savoring the chicken soup and hadn¡¯t said a word.


    Tan Yuancheng awkwardly looked away, knowing if others found out he had been gossiping behind their backs, he would be the laughingstock!


    "Those who are at fault had better behave themselves; I¡¯m not one to be bullied easily," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smirk.


    She was reminding them once again, lest certain people start thinking that Tan Zhenghong would remember their kindness and start overstepping their bounds.


    And as for some others, who can¡¯t even speak of kindness or family ties, they should act more cautiously!


    Watching Qiao Duo¡¯er walk away, Tan Yuancheng finally cleared his throat, "What are you all still standing around for? Hurry up and get to harvesting the wheat!"


    Seeing his lack of confidence, Wang Clan belatedly realized the true nature of the situation.


    "It was you speaking just now, wasn¡¯t it? You scared me to death; I thought I had accidentally offended that demon again."


    Wang Clan patted her chest, but the embarrassment on Tan Yuancheng¡¯s face grew even more pronounced.


    Was there poison in that bowl of chicken soup just now?


    How did it make the women in the family so foolish? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I want to drink chicken soup; who let you drink mine? Give it back to me!"


    "At your age, you¡¯re still so greedy, what good is it for you to eat?"


    "Mother, make her give me back my chicken soup!"


    Xiao Fu lay on the ground, crying and making a scene, and after rolling around a bit, his clothes and hair were covered in mud and bits of straw.


    Little Wang Clan quickly tried to calm him, "Don¡¯t cry, when we get back I¡¯ll kill a chicken just for you to eat, all by yourself. Come on, get up, don¡¯t ruin your nice clothes."


    "That¡¯s right, kill it and we can all eat it, then we can all starve afterwards!"


    Wang Clan was fuming, even if she beat Little Wang Clan it wouldn¡¯t be enough to vent her anger!


    They used to have over twenty acres of land, but thanks to Little Wang Clan sending it back to her parental home, now only about ten acres were left.


    Still thinking about eating chicken in such a state, isn¡¯t that a sign of a fool?


    If this continues, the Tan Family will be doomed!


    Little Wang Clan argued back, "What can I do about it? Should the old just ignore the young and let them starve?"


    "Can¡¯t you just keep quiet for once?" Tan Zhengyong gave his wife a stern look.


    Was it necessary to make such a fuss just because Xiao Fu didn¡¯t get any chicken soup? Aren¡¯t they afraid of being laughed at by others?


    "You just take your mother¡¯s side, I knew you never had me and our child in your heart!"


    Tan Zhengyong hurriedly explained, "That¡¯s not what I mean, I just think Mother had no choice."


    If it wasn¡¯t for Qiao Duo¡¯s fierceness, his mother surely wouldn¡¯t have eaten it all herself.


    "Hmph, before you were all about taking care of the eldest, and now you want to please Fourth Boss. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m unaware of your game!" Little Wang Clan grew angrier as she spoke.


    Xiao Fu was still wriggling in her arms, and she lost her temper and started slapping him wildly on the bottom.


    With in-laws who just sit around waiting to die, a husband with no talent, and a son who was useless, could she not be angry?


    "Take out your anger on me, what skill is there in hitting a child?"


    Wang Clan tried to save Xiao Fu, only to be met with Little Wang Clan¡¯s intensified beating.


    Little Wang Clan said sarcastically, "You can¡¯t control your son, what right do you have to control someone else¡¯s child?"


    But Xiao Fu really was scared now, not daring to wail anymore, only whimpering softly.

 Chapter 809 - 812 Discussing Splitting the Family Again

    Chapter 809: Chapter 812 Discussing Splitting the Family Againf?eewe?n?ve?.com"Aunt Tan, if I were you, I¡¯d have died of anger long ago. The ones with the ability and filial piety you take for granted, while those you dote on have hearts of wolves and lungs of dogs. You give them your heart, and they still doubt your sincerity."


    Wei Clan looked at the old lady from the next door with a smile, feeling pity for her.


    She had devoted her life to the Second Brother Tan, and yet not a single word of praise was returned.


    Old Lady Zhou said with schadenfreude, "Having sons is like playing a game of losing horses, some folks just have bad luck and never draw a winning card, others just ruin whatever good they get even when they¡¯ve got a winning hand."


    The Tan Family exemplified the latter.


    After all the trouble of raising a son of worth, they ended up severing ties. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If only they had treated Tan Zhenghong a little better back then, wouldn¡¯t they be living the good life now?


    The Tan Family had an Embroidery Room, a shop, and even bought a maid ¨C luxuries unimaginable in other families!


    Moreover, Fourth Brother Tan had a soft heart, and though his wife might be a bit fierce, she was essentially kind-hearted, and certainly wouldn¡¯t act like Second Brother Tan¡¯s family.


    "Mom sure knows best!" Wei Clan gave the thumbs up.


    Her own mother-in-law might not always be likeable, but all things considered, she was much better than the Tan Family¡¯s.


    At least she didn¡¯t make a fuss and treated all her grandchildren equally.


    Old Lady Zhou said proudly, "Of course, now go and call them over to take a break."


    So no one gets too caught up watching the excitement and ends up with a cut hand.


    And so, the Zhou Family members all stopped their work and came over to where Old Lady Zhou sat to enjoy the spectacle.


    That¡¯s right, ruckus suits them, bad people shouldn¡¯t have good lives.


    Otherwise, what chance would good people have in this world?


    Wang Clan took a deep breath, "Today let¡¯s make things clear, whatever was decided for the eldest, the Third Boss, and Fourth Boss back in the day, that¡¯s how we¡¯ll split it today!"


    "Xiao Fu was raised by me, so I should still dote on him a bit. I¡¯ll count him as a laborer too, and give you all three mu of paddy field and six mu of dry land."


    "As for accommodation... you all can move to the eastern wing of the house. Two rooms should be enough for your whole family."


    The remaining six mu were hers and Tan Yuancheng¡¯s retirement land.


    In due time, whichever child served them well would inherit it.


    This way, in their old age when they fell ill, there¡¯d be someone to serve them tea and water.


    Little Wang Clan widened her eyes in disbelief, never expecting Wang Clan to propose splitting the family again.


    Back when her brother first achieved his scholarly title, she dreamed daily of expelling the old couple, but the two stuck to her like plaster, impossible to shake off.


    But now her family was in decline, and all she could hope for was that Tan Zhenghong would lead a good life.


    And Tan Zhenghong made it very clear: he only acknowledged Wang Clan in the family; not even Tan Yuancheng could hope for any benefits.


    If the family split now, she¡¯d lose out on everything!


    And to think they expected to fob her off with just nine mu of land and two thatched cottages ¨C no way!


    Second Brother Tan grew even more anxious, "Mom, what nonsense are you spouting? With the eldest gone and no son to carry on, I¡¯ll be the eldest, and Xiao Fu will be the eldest grandson. It¡¯s right for us to take care of you in your old age."


    "Your words are so unreliable if I believed them, pigs might start climbing trees. This matter is not up for discussion!"


    Wang Clan was resolute.


    Because she knew Second Brother Tan and his wife were all talk; spineless when it came down to action.


    If she believed them, she surely would not escape being kicked out of the house in the future.


    And by then, if she couldn¡¯t even crawl, whom could she turn to?


    Little Wang Clan came back to her senses, "Mom, how could I be so heartless? You¡¯re still my mother-in-law, still my aunt, how could I possibly treat you badly? Stop letting your imagination run wild."

 Chapter 810 - 813: Forget It

    Chapter 810: Chapter 813: Forget ItTalking about the Wang Clan only made her angrier. Hadn¡¯t she married Little Wang Clan to Second Brother Tan precisely because she wanted someone more caring?


    But what was the result?


    Out of all the daughters-in-law, she was the most heartless, only eyeing the silver in their pockets.


    Once she had scoured away the silver, her attitude took a sharp turn.


    "I must have been blind to let you into the house, giving everything to a good-for-nothing. Why don¡¯t you just go die sooner?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Clan cursed.


    Otherwise, relying on those twenty-odd acres of land, life could still go on, and they wouldn¡¯t have to be in such pain over spending even one wen money like now.


    Little Wang Clan frowned, "Xiao Feng is your nephew too. It¡¯s not like he got himself crippled on purpose. How can you say such things?"


    He was her brother, and though she resented him, she couldn¡¯t bear to hear anyone speak ill of him.


    "Only got to be a lousy scholar and then learned to ride a horse like others, he would have deserved it if he died from the fall!"


    Wang Clan looked at him with disdain, so what if he was a nephew?


    Could he possibly be more important than silver?


    "Dad, please help me persuade mom!" Second Brother Tan said anxiously, grabbing Little Wang Clan¡¯s arm for fear they would start quarreling.


    Fueling the fire now would only backfire, wouldn¡¯t it?


    He was the last person who wanted to divide the family because if they did, he would have to rely on himself for everything.


    How could he live like that?


    Though he was over twenty years old, he had never thought about this problem.


    Tan Yuancheng pondered for a moment, "This time I think your mom is right. That settles it. It was always split this way before, and your mom hasn¡¯t treated you unfairly."


    He was even better at courting favor and avoiding harm than Little Wang Clan; hence he would firmly choose whatever was most beneficial to himself.


    Xiao Fu wiped her tears, "Grandma, are you really going to kick us out?"


    Wang Clan¡¯s heart softened for an instant, but remembering Xiao Fu¡¯s attitude toward her just moments ago, she steeled herself once more.


    As for Xiao Fu, she might as well consider that she had raised a wolf cub.


    No matter how much she loved him, he always listened to his mother the most.


    "You move out today, or I¡¯ll throw all your stuff out," said Wang Clan with a cold face.


    Seeing that the matter was set in stone, Little Wang Clan no longer insisted, now only thinking of securing more property for her family.


    "What about the land you said you¡¯d leave for Xiao Fu¡¯s schooling? You can¡¯t go back on your word!"


    Xiao Fu chimed in opportunistically, "I need to study, which requires a lot of silver. You need to divide more stuff for me."


    "I can only give you so much. Take it or leave it. That three acres over there is yours, go and harvest it," Wang Clan pointed toward the other side of the paddy field.


    With a total of only fifteen acres of land, she had kept only six for herself, already considering past sentiments.


    "We¡¯ve been cutting here with Second Brother for half a day. Why should we have to go to the other side?" Little Wang Clan was upset.


    Wouldn¡¯t that mean they had spent half a day working for nothing?


    Wang Clan glanced at the area they had finished cutting and scoffed, "Oh, you have the nerve to say you¡¯ve been cutting for half a day? Even if you were biting it with your teeth, it wouldn¡¯t be this little!"


    Two able-bodied adults had only managed to cut a quarter of an acre in half a day, which was less than what she could do alone!


    Seeing that Second Brother and his wife hadn¡¯t moved, Tan Yuancheng reminded them, "Hurry up and go over there. Don¡¯t expect us to help with the cutting this time. Otherwise, we¡¯ll lease the land to someone else to farm, and have an additional income!"


    By then, they could live off the rental income.


    Little Wang Clan and Tan Zhengyong were almost grinding their teeth in anger, but they had no choice but to head to the other side.


    Wang Clan¡¯s stance was clear; the division of the family was final, and what they could give them was already determined. Nothing they said would change anything.


    "I must have been cursed for eight lifetimes to marry a useless man like you. Absolutely incompetent at everything!" Little Wang Clan complained.

 Chapter 811 - 814: Do You Understand What I Mean?

    Chapter 811: Chapter 814: Do You Understand What I Mean?When she was waiting in her boudoir, so many people came to propose for marriage, if it weren¡¯t for the sake of kinship, she would never have married over here.


    At that time, had she picked anyone with slightly better conditions, she wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer like this!


    She remembered everything that happened today, and she was determined to reclaim the humiliation she suffered today if an opportunity ever arose!


    She thought about the people at home over and over again and finally set her sights on Xiao Fu.


    If he could become a Scholar, she would be able to hold her head high and sigh with relief!


    Meanwhile, Qiao Duo¡¯er was sitting on a haystack, bundling wheat straws into small sheaves and tying them with dry grass. This job required no special skill, allowing her to watch the Tan Family¡¯s commotion while she worked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but comment, "Life is really interesting here, even more so than the storytellers at the teahouses."


    "They just love making trouble, not satisfied with living a peaceful life."


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly.


    The only consolation was that they got separated out early, otherwise they would definitely be tormented into a state of chaos.


    After a while, Almond came to find them: "Fourth Master, Madam, let me help you cut the wheat."


    "No need, just focus on getting the perfumes right,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er declined Almond¡¯s kind offer; she had her hands full grinding medicine and flower powders every day.


    Especially since their donkey often wasn¡¯t in the right state of mind.


    She had thought about trading it several times but was always stopped by Almond.


    Almond said that the donkey had come to think of the Tan Family as its home, and it would be unhappy if sold, so it stayed, but still refused to work every two or three days.


    "I¡¯ve been prepared for several days, and we have enough inventory in the storeroom," Almond said with a smile.


    When she was a child at home, with many siblings, she was just a servant girl and often went hungry.


    So what she looked forward to most every year was harvest time because then she could have a full meal.


    Since coming to the Tan Family, she hadn¡¯t gone hungry again, but she hadn¡¯t yet shaken off these habits.


    "Alright then, I¡¯ll give you a couple of days off after the busy farming season to rest well,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t refuse again.


    She knew that although Almond verbally claimed to hate her parents, her heart was always concerned about them; two days of rest would be perfect for her to go home and visit.


    Almond was delighted but then timidly asked, "Can I go home?"


    "Of course, you can arrange your time freely,"


    "Great, my mother said when she sold me to your family, I wouldn¡¯t spend all day complaining," Almond said happily.


    Her mother had sold her out of desperation, as their family only had two acres of land, and each person was only given a bowl of wild vegetable gruel a day, barely clinging to life.


    Worse yet, during the winter, their house collapsed under the snow, and if they hadn¡¯t sold her, the entire family might have frozen to death. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and stole a laugh; the girl was really just a child.


    "As a young lady, you should always save some silver for yourself. Do you understand what I mean?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered a word of advice.


    She had said the same to Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    Parents who sell their daughters often favor sons over daughters, and might just live off their daughters¡¯ earnings without remorse.


    She didn¡¯t know Almond¡¯s family circumstances, but being precautious was never wrong.


    Almond nodded vigorously: "I know, the silver they got for selling me is enough for their food and drink."


    They received Twenty Taels for selling her; her mother bought four acres of land, and with the remaining Four Taels of Silver in hand, it was enough to get by.


    She planned to buy some food and necessities when she went back and also return the One Tael of Silver her mother had given her.


    Now that she was doing well, she would forgive them, but she couldn¡¯t be grateful.


    With Almond¡¯s help, they worked even faster.

 Chapter 812 - 815: A Bear Look

    Chapter 812: Chapter 815: A Bear LookWei Clan¡¯s matriarch loved nothing more than chaos. She believed that if the Tam Family¡¯s Second Family was causing a racket, the Third Family couldn¡¯t possibly sit by idly.


    So, seizing the moment during a break, she sidled up to Li Clan¡¯s matriarch, "You must have secured the Fourth Boss¡¯s thresher by now, right? Once you¡¯re done, could you let my family borrow it?"


    She wasn¡¯t about to tell her that since her own Third Boss went to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, they could use it for half a day free of charge.


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch curled her lip, "Borrow it? With Qiao Duo¡¯er being so stingy, how could I possibly manage that?"


    "Really? But your land is only two mu, plus the two mu you rent, you won¡¯t need it for half a day. Just lend it to my family once you¡¯re done, and I¡¯ll treat you to a meal once this busy period is over."


    Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch looked skeptical but felt a surge of malicious glee internally.


    After all, the Tan Family Members had treated the Fourth Boss¡¯s couple so poorly, it served them right they couldn¡¯t borrow it!


    "Why would I lie to you? I¡¯m still looking to borrow one from somebody else..."


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch suddenly recalled something, her gaze filled with rage when she looked at Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch.


    This woman had to be here to mock her!


    Previously, when Boss Zhou¡¯s Third Brother was chosen, the old lady was so proud she was nearly bursting with joy.


    "Even the Fourth Boss is such a miser," Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch rambled on without a care, "Third Brother already learned his lesson, so why is he still holding on to that matter?"


    Third Brother¡¯s loss was not small; they say up to now, Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s ¡¯thing¡¯ hasn¡¯t been put to use. It¡¯s probably driving Li Clan¡¯s matriarch crazy.


    Couples don¡¯t come together for that ¡¯thing¡¯, but without it, things definitely don¡¯t work.


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch spoke gravely, "Don¡¯t always talk about other people¡¯s business; you should keep a tighter leash on your own man." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was said that Boss Zhou was often seen loitering around Widow X¨²¡¯s doorstep.


    "My man is just fine; every night he¡¯s full of vigor," Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch giggled, well aware of her husband¡¯s nature¡ªhe had the desire but not the courage, daring only to think about it.


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch, with a darkened face, snapped, "You shameless hussy, get lost!"


    "If your man isn¡¯t up to task, you could always turn to Lao Guang to ¡¯extinguish the fire¡¯," whispered Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch.


    All the village women knew what Lao Guang was good for; he could stand in for any man temporarily and guaranteed satisfaction.


    Before Li Clan¡¯s matriarch could respond, Wei Clan¡¯s matriarch had already returned to her own field.


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch, seething with pent-up anger and in need of an outlet, spotted Third Brother Tan sitting on the edge of a field.


    "You useless thing, haven¡¯t you rested long enough?" Li Clan¡¯s matriarch poked Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s head.


    "I¡¯ve been at it for an hour, what¡¯s wrong with having a sip of water?"


    Third Brother Tan looked at Li Clan¡¯s matriarch, baffled. He was just taking a break; what was this woman going on about now?


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch scoffed lightly, "You have the nerve to ask what¡¯s wrong? Look around, everyone else has threshing machines, and you¡¯ve just got your two hands. You¡¯re already slower than everyone else, and you¡¯re still dawdling?"


    Just thinking about beating the grains out herself was giving her a headache.


    Tan Zhongzhong finally understood. His wife was being this impossible because she wanted to borrow the thresher.


    "Bring Twenty Wen Money then. Or you can talk to the Fourth Boss yourself because I sure can¡¯t open my mouth on this."


    He stated bluntly.


    He was already a laughingstock; not settling down would be like dropping his trousers for everyone to mock, right?


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch¡¯s inner thoughts were hit squarely, her face awkward, but her fury intensified.


    If that particular thing didn¡¯t work, was he really not a man? He couldn¡¯t even handle this small matter!


    "If it wasn¡¯t for you fancying someone else¡¯s wife, would it have come to this? All Tan men are pussies, and the brothers are all useless! A few years ago, everyone was equally poor, and now the Lin Family has built a new house, the Li Family has added a new ox cart, but all our family amounts to nothing!"


    Li Clan¡¯s matriarch started her endless complaining again, something she did every few days over the past six months.

 Chapter 813 - 816: Up to No Good

    Chapter 813: Chapter 816: Up to No Good"Is it any fun to keep bringing this up? If you think someone else¡¯s husband is better, I¡¯ll divorce you, and you can go find that man!"


    Tan Zhongzhong said in a stern voice. He had tolerated her at home, but now with so many people in the field, couldn¡¯t she give him some face?


    Li Clan was stunned where she stood. Ever since she had Xiao Fu, she had been bossy at home, becoming accustomed to Tan Zhongzhong¡¯s submissive attitude. Now that he suddenly turned fierce, she wilted in an instant.


    She had injured herself giving birth to Xiao Fu and could no longer have children. If Tan Zhongzhong divorced her, she would have nowhere to go.


    Although Tan Zhongzhong was useless, at least he provided her with a place to live.


    They had a few acres of land and had saved up a few taels of silver, so their life was passable.


    After a long while, she struggled to say, "Take twenty wen to find out if you can rent a threshing machine. After we use it, we can lend it to my parents."


    The two old folks had just had a falling-out with the second branch of the family, which was a perfect opportunity for the third branch to show goodwill.


    As long as they played their cards right, they might get those six acres of land.


    "Got it," Tan Zhongzhong responded dully.


    Even though Tan Zhongzhong had agreed, he still dawdled for quite a while before heading over to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s field.


    "Fourth Boss, I have something to tell you."


    Tan Zhenghong kept working as he spoke, "What is it?"


    "Is it still possible to rent a threshing machine? However, I didn¡¯t bring any money into the field today. If you have one, I can bring the silver coin to you tonight," Tan Zhongzhong said, keeping his head down and eyes on his toes.


    If possible, he wished he could find a hole to crawl into and never see anyone again for the rest of his life.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a factual reply, "There¡¯s only space left at night. Check it out this evening, and if the timing works out, you can rent it."


    Tan Zhongzhong nodded and then hurriedly left.


    He really had no face to say more, considering the foolish things he had done in the past.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw all the little schemes of the Tan Family Members, and the current state of affairs pleased her.


    Reforming a low-quality person was very difficult, so she had chosen a simpler method, which was to make them fear her and not dare to disturb her life.


    Now that everyone was at peace with each other, it was good.


    In the evening, Tan Zhongzhong arrived as scheduled. The two conducted their business without a word more than necessary.


    In the end, they rented the threshing machine for the night after three days.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but remark inwardly that Tan Zhongzhong seemed like a completely different person. He had become much more diligent, and a little more decent. If he kept it up, life could slowly get better. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a brother, he sincerely hoped his older brother would have a good life.


    After seeing Tan Zhongzhong out, Tan Zhenghong returned to his room, only to find Qiao Duo still nestled on the sofa reading.


    "Not sleepy tonight?" Tan Zhenghong asked curiously.


    Usually, at this time, his wife would have already been asleep, the kind that couldn¡¯t be woken by any amount of calling.


    Qiao Duo set the book aside: "The little thing in my belly is already four months old."


    "Right, you got pregnant in January, and now it¡¯s May," Tan Zhenghong said, squinting his eyes. She was already showing.


    Little by little, he had learned the secret to safe childbirth and was slowly accepting this little thing.


    "I heard that after four months, if the pregnancy is stable, it might be possible to..." Qiao Duo paused deliberately.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked, "Possible to what?"


    "What do you think?" Qiao Duo teased with a mischievous lift of her eyebrows.


    Her eyes, gentle as the spring water, further kindled the lust in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s body. It had been over two months since they had made love.


    Feeling aroused, he then belatedly realized what Qiao Duo meant.

 Chapter 814 - 817: No Fighting Allowed

    Chapter 814: Chapter 817: No Fighting AllowedTan Zhenghong swallowed hard but still struggled to avert his eyes, "Really, it won¡¯t harm you and the child?"


    He truly wanted to, he was bursting with desire, but he couldn¡¯t hurt the people that were very important to him.


    "Mm, only during the middle three months is it possible, and still, it has to be gentler."


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish speaking, Tan Zhenghong scooped her up sideways: "I¡¯ll be careful, just tell me if it¡¯s uncomfortable."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er buried her head in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s neck, how could she have initiated this topic?


    Could it be that she also wanted...? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wuwu, so embarrassing!


    This time, slow and gentle, there was a different kind of satisfaction.


    When the passion was spent, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t even want to move a finger, allowing Tan Zhenghong to wrap her in his arms.


    Tan Zhenghong gently stroked Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly, seemingly still savoring the moments just passed.


    "In just over five months, the baby will be here, and after you¡¯ve recovered your strength, I will, every day, and at least twice a day," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    "By that time, my figure will be out of shape, and you won¡¯t be so keen to look at me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er threw him a big eye-roll.


    Apart from getting fat, she might also have stretch marks and pregnancy spots.


    She felt like she couldn¡¯t even face herself, how could Tan Zhenghong bear to look?


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly: "Wife, I¡¯m the man who will accompany you for a lifetime, no matter how ugly you get, I will never disdain you."


    "Really?" Qiao Duo¡¯er gazed steadily at Tan Zhenghong.


    "Of course, it¡¯s true. I¡¯ve been ¡¯eaten¡¯ by you so many times, how could I have any other thoughts?"


    Tan Zhenghong, whose clothes had been taken liberties with by a mischievous wife, successfully made Duo¡¯er laugh: "Clearly, it¡¯s always you who starts, how can you say it was me who ¡¯ate¡¯ you?"


    She was obviously the one who had been devoured completely!


    "Of course, it wasn¡¯t until you ¡¯ate¡¯ me completely that I didn¡¯t accuse you wrongly," Tan Zhenghong said with utmost innocence.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and turned her back to him.


    Some people¡¯s speech was becoming more and more meaningful, probably influenced by some lecherous soul reincarnation.


    Tan Zhenghong wrapped his arms around Duo¡¯er from behind and chuckled softly; he loved the way his wife blushed the most.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit out: "Sleep now, no noise!"


    "Okay!" Tan Zhenghong agreed readily.


    A man well-fed and well-satisfied was always more agreeable and more prone to fall asleep.


    The next day, Tan Zhenghong still went to the fields early.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slept until she woke naturally, then had a leisurely breakfast before she and Almond went to help in the fields together.


    "Madam, when I went to wash clothes by the pond this morning, I heard a lot of people praising you and Fourth Master," Almond said excitedly as they walked.


    Qiao Duo became curious: "What did they say?"


    She never cared about others¡¯ opinions of her, so naturally, she didn¡¯t pay attention to such matters.


    But since Almond had mentioned it, she didn¡¯t mind lending an ear.


    "They said you both are kinder and more generous than other landlords, always keeping the villagers in mind for good things, and they even discussed making a Hundred Families Clothes for our young master!" Almond reported truthfully.


    Hundred Families Clothes are garments made of fabric pieces collected from one hundred families, which, when worn by a baby, are said to bestow the blessings of a hundred families and a long life.


    However, to sew a piece of clothing from one hundred different fabric pieces, and to do it beautifully, is truly a task that tests one¡¯s skills.


    Qiao Duo laughed, "I was actually planning to make one myself, but now I don¡¯t have to worry about it."


    "Surely, the villagers know that Fourth Master wouldn¡¯t want you to work on needlework, so they decided to make the Hundred Families Clothes," Almond said playfully.


    After all, Fourth Master¡¯s doting on his wife was well known to all of Big Willow Village.

 Chapter 815 - 818: Will Not Let You Go

    Chapter 815: Chapter 818: Will Not Let You GoQiao Duo¡¯er chided, "If you make fun of me again, be careful I dock your pay!"


    "Even if you dock my pay, I can¡¯t tell blatant lies. Look at all the men in the village, who loves their wife as much as Fourth Master?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Almond had come to see Duo¡¯er as a friend and spoke much more freely with her.


    "Hmph, it¡¯s not even certain it will be born, and even if it is born, it¡¯s not guaranteed to be a living one!"


    A gloomy voice suddenly rang out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her head and took a careful look before recognizing the speaker. This slovenly woman was Zheng Shi!


    Once the Xiao Family was very prestigious, and at that time Zheng Shi was full of pride, looking down on everyone.


    But now, she appeared completely downcast and dark, a stark transformation from before.


    Almond stepped in front of her mistress, "You¡¯re a woman too. How can you say something so vicious to a pregnant woman?"


    Did she not understand what children meant to a woman?


    "Hmph, what good end can there be for a malicious person? Even their descendants suffer retribution!" Zheng Shi¡¯s gaze was as cold and ruthless as that of a venomous snake.


    Almond shivered involuntarily, but she still bravely shielded Qiao Duo¡¯er even more tightly.


    If this madwoman dared to come any closer, she wouldn¡¯t be polite with the sickle in her hand!


    "The Xiao Family is the best example," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    This statement was like a sharp knife stabbing into Zheng Shi¡¯s heart. In her youth, she had indeed done things that defied the heavens, bringing harm to others. Could the various misfortunes of the Xiao Family truly be karmic retribution?


    No, that family was still living well now, and her hands were clean of blood.


    So it definitely wasn¡¯t her fault!


    Zheng Shi growled, "It¡¯s all your fault, they¡¯re lying in jail, hungry and cold, why are you still alive?"


    "I think you deserve to die too. If you had told Xiao Biyu not to covet someone else¡¯s man from the start, wouldn¡¯t everything have been fine? If you had realized that Xiao Biyu got what she deserved, would Xiao Lingchuan have kidnapped the Tan Family girls?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er counterattacked. Hadn¡¯t the two tragedies made Zheng Shi comprehend some things?


    Xiao Biyu couldn¡¯t get Tan Zhenghong, so she wanted to harm others with a poisonous snake.


    Xiao Lingchuan, driven by vengeance, didn¡¯t hesitate to kidnap the Tan Family¡¯s two girls.


    Both the son and daughter were so vile in their methods, was it not related to their upbringing?


    Zheng Shi¡¯s expression flickered momentarily, then returned to its usual indifference. Qiao Duo¡¯er was only saying this to absolve herself of guilt.


    Looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er, Zheng Shi found her detestable.


    But when she saw Almond, she felt a chill in her heart, because the sickle in Almond¡¯s hand had just been sharpened, razor-sharp and capable of killing effortlessly.


    "As long as I¡¯m alive, I will never let you off!" Zheng Shi left brusquely after dropping this threatening remark.


    She didn¡¯t want to die, but she would find other ways to deal with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    With her around, Qiao Duo¡¯er better not dream of giving birth to this child without trouble!


    Almond said worriedly, "Madam, should we inform Fourth Master? I always feel she might harm you."


    "No need, I¡¯ll ask Lao Guang to keep an eye on Zheng Shi, and you be careful while at home too," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    Lao Guang was always loitering around the village with nothing to do. He was perfect for this task.


    A little incentive, and he would make sure to handle everything neatly.


    Almond nodded, "You also need to be careful. Make sure to call me when you go out, and never go alone."


    "She¡¯s far from being able to touch me. Don¡¯t worry," Qiao Duo¡¯er said confidently.


    She felt she could handle an old village woman.


    The reason she wanted Lao Guang to watch Zheng Shi was that she suspected Zheng Shi had other secrets.


    She hadn¡¯t missed the brief flicker of panic in Zheng Shi¡¯s eyes just now.

 Chapter 816 - 819 Didn’t You See Me?

    Chapter 816: Chapter 819 Didn¡¯t You See Me?Over the following days, Almond became extremely sensitive to any sound of movement outside and would always go out to check, but she never found anything suspicious.


    There was no news from Lao Guang either.


    Almond finally relaxed a bit, thinking it was probably just some madman spouting nonsense.


    During these days, the Tan Family¡¯s wheat had already been spread out on the ground to dry.


    It was a day earlier than usual, thanks to the threshing machine.


    They didn¡¯t cultivate much land on their own, so they didn¡¯t feel much impact.


    But those families with more than ten acres of land were very grateful to the Tan Family, because the threshing machine saved them a lot of effort.


    When it came to drying the grain, things were much easier.


    All Tan Zhenghong had to do was spread the wheat in the yard early in the morning, flip it two or three times during the day, pile it up in the evening, and cover it with a tarpaulin.


    The weather was particularly cooperative this harvest time, always sunny with a gentle breeze, and it was estimated it would only take three to five days to bring the wheat home.


    Seizing the chance, Bai Yifan specifically chose this time to visit the Tan Family.


    Tan Zhenghong certainly didn¡¯t have much energy to look after Qiao Duo¡¯er, as there were too many tasks to handle.


    And if he saw anything wrong with Qiao Duo, he could take her away.


    By the way, he could also lure Tan Zhenghong¡¯s son back to become his successor.


    If it were a girl, even better, he would definitely cherish her more.


    When Bai Yifan arrived at the Tan Family, Tan Zhenghong was in the courtyard turning the wheat, while Qiao Duo was sitting on a swing nearby, the two of them chatting and laughing in a harmonious atmosphere.


    Bai Yifan was disappointed. Seeing Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression, he knew she was fine.


    He was also envious. He, too, wanted such a girl to accompany him through the rest of his life.


    With her, the rest of his life would be filled with beautiful scenery.


    Qiao Duo was the first to spot Bai Yifan and quickly got down from the swing, "Brother Bai San, how come you have time to visit?"


    The Bai Family¡¯s main business was a pharmacy, but they also owned quite a few fields.


    "You¡¯re here again?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Bai Yifan with suspicion.


    "I just came to see if I should take Duo¡¯er away," Bai Yifan said indifferently.


    "Don¡¯t worry, my wife is very well." Tan Zhenghong was angry. Damn it, this guy actually wanted to take his wife away¡ªhe must have been too polite to him!


    "What you say doesn¡¯t matter, I am the doctor, and my word is what counts."


    "You say you¡¯re taking her pulse, but who knows what you¡¯re up to?" Tan Zhenghong snorted lightly, still remembering the last time! S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two men started bickering like three-year-old boys, prompting Qiao Duo to roll her eyes.


    "Brother San, don¡¯t argue with him. Come and sit!"


    Near the swing, there was a stone table and benches, and in this weather, it was perfect to sit and chat while drinking tea.


    "Does Fourth Sister only have eyes for Brother Bai San and didn¡¯t even notice someone else standing there?" Luo Qingfeng said discontentedly.


    He was clearly handsomer than Bai Yifan!


    When walking down the street, girls would first look at him and then at Bai Yifan.


    But this Fourth Sister didn¡¯t even seem to see him, which made him very angry!


    Only then did Qiao Duo notice another person standing behind Bai Yifan¡ªLuo Qingfeng, the esteemed master of poisons¡ªalso known as her legendary Second Brother Luo.


    Luo Qingfeng had a penchant for flamboyant long shirts, which made him appear slightly dandyish, yet it accentuated his dashing charm, forming a stark contrast to the warm-hearted Bai Yifan.


    Qiao Duo silently criticized, clearly two men who could rely on their looks, yet one loved poisons, and the other loved medicine.


    "That¡¯s because Second Brother is always elusive, like a dragon showing his head but never his tail. It¡¯s only my second time seeing you, so it¡¯s understandable that I didn¡¯t notice you," Qiao Duo said with a giggling laugh.

 Chapter 817 - 820: One Thing Supersedes Another

    Chapter 817: Chapter 820: One Thing Supersedes AnotherHowever, Luo Qingfeng didn¡¯t take it to heart, "Ignoring me at our first formal meeting, you need to apologize sincerely."


    He may be a handsome guy, but he¡¯s also a live wire, that was Duo¡¯er¡¯s assessment of Luo Qingfeng.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Poison Second Brother." Qiao Duo¡¯er curtseyed mockingly.


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s eyes twitched. Since when had he become Poison Second Brother?


    He soon figured it out; this girl must have been utterly in awe of his poisons to bestow such a nickname on him.


    So, Luo Qingfeng said in good spirits, "Seeing as I really like this nickname, I¡¯ll forgive you this once. From now on, when he¡¯s around, you have to see me first."


    Tan Zhenghong glared at Bai Yifan. Was this guy suggesting bringing another man along to seduce his wife?


    How could someone¡¯s thoughts be so dark?


    Bai Yifan felt wronged. Could he say that a certain peacock insisted on coming along to see his youngest sister-in-law?


    He had thought it would indeed be good for Luo Qingfeng and Duo¡¯er to get acquainted, so he casually brought him along.


    But he really didn¡¯t expect him to be so forward.


    To prevent anyone from stealing his thunder, Tan Zhenghong put down what he was doing and sat down under the tree as well.


    The first thing Bai Yifan did was to take Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse, and the result was just as he had expected.


    "You and the child are doing well, but dietary therapy is a long process. You need to keep at it to see the effects," Bai Yifan advised.


    This pregnancy was very special for Duo¡¯er; she had to take good care of it.


    "Then you¡¯ve got to write a few more medicinal diet prescriptions. She¡¯ll definitely get tired of eating the same thing over time," Tan Zhenghong chimed in.


    Bai Yifan smiled so tenderly it almost made him explode with anger.


    Which meant he needed to get rid of this guy quickly.


    "Then you prepare the ink for me," Bai Yifan said haughtily.


    "Almond, you prepare the ink for Young Master Bai," said Tan Zhenghong, smugly.


    Bai Yifan pursed his lips but was too lazy to bicker with Tan Zhenghong. After all, the man was just a petty cat; no amount of arguing would change that.


    But Tan Zhenghong still miscalculated. He might have gotten rid of one Bai Yifan, but Luo Qingfeng, an even more flamboyant character, was waiting in line. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without Bai Yifan, Luo Qingfeng was even more comfortable.


    "We have another matter for coming here, and that¡¯s to say goodbye to you," Luo Qingfeng said with a somber expression.


    He liked this youngest sister-in-law very much. It was just a shame that he would be leaving tomorrow.


    Otherwise, he would have been very happy to spend more days with her.


    After all, in all his years, this was the first time he had encountered such a creature as a sister-in-law.


    Qiao Duo asked, "Didn¡¯t you just return from your travels?"


    Luo Qingfeng explained, "According to my master¡¯s diary, there is a Weeping Blood Ganoderma in Beijiang that works wonders against chill toxins. My master has tasked my third brother and me with retrieving it to save someone."


    "The journey to Beijiang is long; be careful on your way."


    "Yes, it will take three to four months if quick, but who knows if longer. However, we¡¯ll return as fast as we can; try not to miss me too much," Luo Qingfeng said, raising an eyebrow. It was a gesture he believed to be his most charming.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a dark face, "Don¡¯t worry, she definitely won¡¯t miss you."


    "You¡¯re not as good-looking as me; seeing you every day must be depressing for Duo¡¯er. She needs to think of my handsome face to cheer up," Luo Qingfeng said with disdain, casting a glance at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath. Ah, faced with this kind of effeminate man, he was really at a loss for words.


    Back then, he should never have allowed Qiao Duo to recognize these three sworn brothers!


    He was a virile man, whereas Luo Qingfeng was like a fair-faced scholar dressed in flowery clothes. Of course, Luo Qingfeng was more pleasing to the eye.


    But in terms of handsomeness, he was definitely the superior one!


    On the side, Bai Yifan was writing feverishly while secretly feeling very pleased. It really was a case of each meeting their match.

 Chapter 818 - 821: How Can I Thank You?

    Chapter 818: Chapter 821: How Can I Thank You?The stingy Tan Zhenghong ended up thoroughly outmatched by the self-loving Luo Qingfeng.


    Before long, Bai Yifan had finished writing the medicinal diet, which he handed over to Qiao Duo¡¯er along with his own notes.


    "This is the collection of notes from my practice over the years, you should read it when you have the time; it will be beneficial to you,"


    Bai Yifan said gently.


    This time away from home would be very long, and with both his sister-in-law and Duo¡¯er pregnant, he could only let his notes stand in for him to protect his most precious friends.


    "Are you really giving this to me?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat incredulous.


    Notes are the culmination of a lifetime of learning and experience, usually passed on only to sons or personal disciples.


    And her... What right did she have to take hold of the notes into which Bai Yifan had poured his heart and soul?


    "I will only have peace of mind if you take it with you; in case anything happens, you can figure out a strategy. I¡¯ve also left people at Deji Hall who will come to take care of you when the time comes,"


    These female doctors had been carefully selected by him, and they would be invaluable when it came time for childbirth and postpartum care.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very touched, "Then I¡¯ll accept it for now and return it to you when you come back. But how should I thank you?"


    Having this made her feel genuinely uneasy.


    "I¡¯m just bribing my godson in advance. When the time comes, if he wants to acknowledge me as master, you¡¯d better not stop him,"


    Bai Yifan revealed his true intention.


    In fact, the fetus had already developed thoughts while in the womb, so if Duo¡¯er read about medical knowledge often, the baby would naturally be influenced.


    When the baby grew a bit bigger, it would then logically become his disciple.


    For Duo¡¯er, as long as her child didn¡¯t do anything that went against morality, she would support everything else.


    So, she promptly agreed.


    "As long as you¡¯re charismatic enough, I certainly won¡¯t hold you back. But are you sure that¡¯s your only request?"


    "Grandmother is getting on in age and loves the company, so please take care of her for me."


    Bai Yifan felt quite guilty; Grandmother supported everything he did, yet he seldom had time to spend with her at home.


    "I will treat Grandmother as my own family and take good care of her,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er promised earnestly. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just because of how well Old lady Bai treated her, she would sincerely consider her as an elder of her own.


    At this, the sadness of parting suddenly grew much stronger, which made Luo Qingfeng feel somewhat uncomfortable.


    "Don¡¯t just talk with this guy; I¡¯ve also got something for you."


    Luo Qingfeng pulled out a whole bunch of bottles and jars, all of them filled with poisons he had painstakingly crafted.


    Some of them were especially rare, made with medicinal ingredients he traveled the world to find.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Qiao Duo¡¯er was his younger sister-in-law, he wouldn¡¯t dream of parting with them.


    "This is Seven Steps Kill; a person dies within seven steps after being poisoned. This is Crane Crown Red, it seals the throat upon contact with blood. This is a Heart Cleansing Pill, it corrodes the heart causing death amidst heartache..."


    When Luo Qingfeng spoke about his precious poisons, he became positively radiant.


    Only after he had finished did Qiao Duo¡¯er get a chance to interject, "Second brother, do you really think I need these?"


    She was merely an ordinary farmwife in Big Willow Village now.


    Who would she kill? Who could she kill?


    Luo Qingfeng nodded, realizing that... indeed, she probably wouldn¡¯t need such deadly poisons.


    "No matter, I have others."


    Luo Qingfeng then picked out some less lethal poisons.


    "This is Seven-color Poison, it can dye a person in seven different colors, this is Itchy Powder, it can cause the skin to break and fester, and this is Deity Scatter, which makes one become overexcited..."


    After introducing all the poisons along with their names and effects, Luo Qingfeng still seemed as if he had more to say.

 Chapter 819 - 822: Crafting a Little Poisonous Woman

    Chapter 819: Chapter 822: Crafting a Little Poisonous Woman"I was in a rush when I left the house today, so I didn¡¯t bring many poisons, I¡¯ll have someone send over some more later."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hurriedly said, "Second Brother, these are really enough!"


    Was her second brother trying to turn her into a little poisoner?


    Could she no longer be a quiet beauty?


    "As long as you have enough, they¡¯re just trivial things. You can play around with them, encounter someone annoying and switch it up every day, torture them to death!"


    Luo Qingfeng said earnestly, he couldn¡¯t stand by if someone made his sister unhappy.


    He had learned many things in his life, and the poisons he developed could play someone to death without repeating any of them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "The moment I encounter one, I¡¯ll let them know how formidable Second Brother is!"


    However, she would probably not meet someone she hated to the bone in this lifetime; after all, she was at most a Landlord Lady.


    "Even if you don¡¯t poison them to death, you can frighten them half to death."


    Luo Qingfeng was very confident.


    Bai Yifan was covered in cold sweat, had he known earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have brought Luo Qingfeng here. What kind of gift is a whole bunch of poisons for a pregnant woman?


    This was certainly the most horrifying gift he had ever seen.


    Seeing Bai Yifan keep giving him meaningful glances, Luo Qingfeng explained, "A pregnant woman¡¯s mood is very important, you need to vent your unhappiness in time. What I gave is very practical."


    "Aren¡¯t you afraid Duo¡¯er will give birth to a violent little one?"


    Bai Yifan gave Luo Qingfeng a big roll of his eyes. Why did he feel like this guy was going out of his way to corrupt his apprentice?


    It must be because he was jealous of him having a good apprentice.


    "What¡¯s wrong with being violent? That way, they won¡¯t be bullied. I think it¡¯s good."


    Luo Qingfeng insisted on singing a different tune with Bai Yifan, their bickering made people feel... it was quite lovely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help saying, "I think you two are quite the bickering couple."


    Luo Qingfeng said disdainfully, "I at least would find someone better looking than me. With his sorry looks, it would definitely affect the next generation."


    "As if you could bear children for me," Bai Yifan shuddered, just the thought was too much for him to handle.


    Almond, who was nearby, couldn¡¯t hold back and accidentally laughed out loud.


    These two together were quite easy on the eyes, but there were definitely many girls who would be crying blind because they had just lost two handsome men at once.


    "Little girl, are you mocking me?"


    Luo Qingfeng squinted and glanced at Almond.


    That¡¯s when he noticed that the Maid of his fourth sister¡¯s house was also quite pretty.


    Almond quickly shook her head, "No... absolutely not, I don¡¯t know anything."


    As she spoke, she glanced fearfully at the assortment of poisons on the table.


    There were nearly twenty small and large bottles in total, and this was the result of not bringing many ¨C how could she dare to provoke this man?


    Luo Qingfeng said with satisfaction, "You know your place. My tea¡¯s gone cold, go get me another cup."


    Almond hurried to comply, and after pouring the tea, she quickly hid behind Duo¡¯er.


    Bai Yifan stifled a laugh, "See, you¡ª" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng had other matters to attend to and took their leave after sitting for a bit.


    "Phew, that scared me to death."


    Almond patted her little heart, thankful she was still alive.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted her, "Second Brother Luo may look intimidating, but he¡¯s actually a good person and won¡¯t really do anything."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly packed the poisons into a box, secured it with three locks, and then locked it in a cabinet.


    These jars and bottles could easily kill off everyone in Big Willow Village without much effort, and the consequences would be unthinkable if they fell into the hands of evil-doers.


    Qiao Duo just watched quietly, hoping these things would never need to be used.

 Chapter 820 - 823: Catch Up to Me First

    Chapter 820: Chapter 823: Catch Up to Me FirstOn the official road, two handsome men were riding horses, walking side by side at a leisurely pace.


    "If you still like her, just say it out loud. Isn¡¯t pretending tiring?" Luo Qingfeng scoffed at Bai Yifan¡¯s behavior.


    He believed that if you liked someone, you should let them know, so that even if they didn¡¯t love you, they would feel guilty. That way, sooner or later, you could win them over.


    What was the point if Bai Yifan dared not even squeak?


    "You¡¯re so vulgar. She has already found happiness, why should I still make a fuss? I should be looking for my own happiness."


    Bai Yifan spoke calmly, now he only saw Duo¡¯er as a sister he needed to protect, any other feelings had been fully processed and dismissed.


    Maybe his future wife was hiding in some corner, cursing him at this very moment.


    Because he was caring about another woman, because he hadn¡¯t appeared yet.


    "Junior brother, if you really can¡¯t find anyone, consider me." Luo Qingfeng winked at Bai Yifan, putting on a tender expression.


    Bai Yifan replied with disdain, "You¡¯re not even as good as Tan Zhenghong."


    Actually, the way Tan Zhenghong cared about Duo¡¯er was quite adorable.


    But no matter how you looked at it, Luo Qingfeng was not adorable. Being with him, it wouldn¡¯t take long before he was infuriated to death.


    No, he would definitely be poisoned to death.


    For the sake of his own life, it was best to keep Luo Qingfeng at arm¡¯s length.


    "Ah, men who have been in love can¡¯t take a joke anymore," Luo Qingfeng said with a helpless look on his face.


    "Actually, each person is only half, sooner or later we will meet the other half that fits us perfectly," Bai Yifan suddenly changed the topic, "I hope your other half is both ugly and fierce, and beats you up now and then."


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s head was full of black lines. Could they not have a proper conversation anymore?


    Thinking about that kind of woman, he would rather remain a bachelor for the rest of his life.


    Luo Qingfeng shook his head and stopped thinking about that distant matter; so far, he had not considered finding a woman.


    "Stop babbling about useless stuff. It¡¯s been a long time since we raced horses, how about a competition?"


    "Go!"


    Bai Yifan raised his whip, his steed was also spirited, and off he shot.


    By the time Luo Qingfeng reacted, Bai Yifan had already run far ahead. Not willing to show weakness, he quickly chased after him.


    "Bai Yifan, you¡¯re becoming more and more like a woman, why not just marry me?"


    If Bai Yifan agreed to marry him, he promised he would never look at another woman again in his life! Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan said haughtily, "Catch up with me first, then we¡¯ll talk."


    Luo Qingfeng curled his lip. Everyone in the world knew he loved horse racing, even if his skills were not that great... Hmm, if he had known, he would have drugged Bai Yifan¡¯s horse.


    The next morning, Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng left White Stone Town.


    Now, in front of the city gate, Bai Yifan furrowed his brows, "I always feel uneasy. After this time, I¡¯ll stay peacefully in White Stone Town."


    Because the people he cared about were all in this city.


    "If Master knew how lovesick you are, he would probably be infuriated to death. Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll aim to come back early."


    Luo Qingfeng patted Bai Yifan on the shoulder.


    He was solitary, without attachments, and didn¡¯t understand Bai Yifan¡¯s complex feelings, but he sympathized.


    Suddenly, he felt a tinge of envy.


    Actually, having someone to worry about and miss when wandering outside, wasn¡¯t that a kind of happiness as well?


    Bai Yifan nodded, "Same rule as always, the one who arrives later has to test the medicine."


    Luo Qingfeng hummed lightly, "You heartless thing, I¡¯m not sympathizing with you anymore!"


    Such a waste of affection!

 Chapter 821 - 824: Do we really have to do this?

    Chapter 821: Chapter 824: Do we really have to do this?During the busy farming season, the countryside was abuzz with activity, and Xuan San was no exception. He had been racking his brains and had finally come up with a method for revenge.


    At this moment, in the most remote small mountain village of White Stone Town.


    Xuan San looked at the small porcelain bottle in his hand, his eyes emitting an unusual glow.


    He had purchased it at a high price from Beijiang. Inside was blood extracted from a plague patient.


    It was summer, and many households drank directly from raw water sources. By pouring the blood into the river, the plague would gradually spread.


    It wouldn¡¯t take long before White Stone Town, and even Ning Tian Mansion would be infected with the plague.


    And the Imperial approach to dealing with plague was to burn the city if it couldn¡¯t be cured; by then, no one would be able to escape.


    Qin Longyun, Qiao Duo¡¯er, Wind Liyang... all these people would be funeral offerings for Silver Moon!


    With so many people accompanying her, she certainly wouldn¡¯t be lonely.


    Right, there was also him. Over there, he would still love her and protect her with all his heart!


    This plan was something he couldn¡¯t yet let Xuan Er know because he would, like his eldest brother, protect him at all costs. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the one who loved Yin Yinyue was him, and the one who deserved to die was also him.


    "Third Boss, do you really want to do this?" Xuan Er asked uncertainly.


    Previously, when they crowned themselves as kings of the mountain, it was for survival. Now that they were harming so many innocent people, they were true sinners.


    It was already a regret that they, as men, couldn¡¯t protect their home and country. Yet now, they were bringing disaster upon the nation and its people.


    Xuan San curled his lips and said, "Silver Moon is dead, and this is all I can do. Now I only hate that I didn¡¯t find this thing sooner."


    Xuan Er sighed. He still couldn¡¯t get over the hurdle in his heart.


    "Second Brother, don¡¯t forget we are just a group of people with no home to return to. What right do we have to pity others?"


    Xuan San said coldly, they were truly the most pitiful people under heaven!


    They had lost their homes and the ones they loved most!


    Xuan Er nodded, "I was mistaken. This really is the best way for revenge."


    When the time came, everyone would be panicking over the plague. It would be the perfect opportunity to seize Xuan Eagle Mountain, and to recruit and buy horses. They would kill several birds with one stone.


    Xuan San chuckled lowly, then resolutely uncorked the bottle and poured the bright red blood into the river.


    Besides this, he would also let some small animals drink the blood; once their carcasses decayed, they would accelerate the spread of the plague.


    Since Yin Yinyue¡¯s death, this was the happiest day for him.


    Moreover, he had someone secretly helping him; it wouldn¡¯t be long before those people went where they belonged!


    Xuan San crouched by the river quietly, and the face reflected on the water seemed foreign to him.


    He should have been brazenly carefree and unruly, not as somber as he was now.


    His transformation was all for her, and it was all worth it.


    Xuan Er spoke with compassion, "Big Brother and Silver Moon won¡¯t have died in vain. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s not raise any suspicions."


    "Okay, let¡¯s head home!"


    Xuan Er and Xuan San turned around, but saw a little girl cautiously watching them.


    She must have been frightened by the cold expression on Xuan San¡¯s face.


    "Little girl, what did you see?" Xuan Er forced a kind smile.


    The little girl weakly said, "You both seem in bad moods. I wanted to give you these flowers. They smell very nice, and smelling them will make you feel better."


    She clenched a handful of wildflowers in her hand, colorful and pretty.


    Once, Yin Yinyue had handed a handkerchief to him when he was covered in blood, her expression as cautious as it was now.


    He never imagined he¡¯d see such a familiar expression again in his lifetime.

 Chapter 822 - 825: It’s All Up to Fate

    Chapter 822: Chapter 825: It¡¯s All Up to FateBut what of it if things were the same again? His Yin Yinyue was the only one for him, and after her death, he would never have another love in his life.


    By the time he came to his senses, the little girl had already placed the flower on the ground.


    She was very afraid, and ultimately didn¡¯t dare to hand the flower over to them.


    Xuan San suddenly said, "Thank you. In the coming days, you and your family should not drink unboiled water, nor should you have contact with other households, otherwise, you will die. Do you understand?"


    He told her only this much; the rest would be up to her fate.


    The little girl glanced at Xuan San timidly, then turned on her heels and ran away.


    Both of these people were strange, speaking in an eerie way that scared her half to death!


    But no matter whether what this man said was true or false, she had to hurry back and tell her parents about it.


    She wanted her family to always be together; she would be heartbroken without any of them.


    Xuan Er bent down to pick up the flower and handed it to Xuan San; he actually saw an emotion called gentleness in Xuan San¡¯s eyes.


    What he found even harder to believe was that his younger brother actually showed such an expression toward a five- or six-year-old girl.


    Had Xuan San changed his preferences, to now favor this tender youth?


    That would be better, at least better than brooding over a dead person all day long.


    Xuan San took a deep breath, "A person always has something they care about; otherwise, what¡¯s the point of living?"


    The person he cared about had died, but he would always care about her.


    The appearance of the little girl was just an interlude; it changed nothing.


    As per their original plan, Xuan Er and Xuan San captured some animals and forcibly fed them the medicine mixed with blood.


    After finishing these tasks, they rode away on their horses, coming to a fork in the road where Xuan San paused.


    All had been arranged here; it was time for him to do what he had to do.


    He would have someone else deliver the weapons; he would find a place where no one could find him and watch coldly as they struggled in despair and slowly moved toward death.


    "Second Brother, I need to procure some weapons. You should go back first and tell our brothers not to go out carelessly during this time," Xuan San said indifferently, ensuring that Xuan Er would not perceive anything amiss.


    Xuan Er was worried, "It will be at least a month before the plague breaks out; let¡¯s go back first. Then, I will accompany you, so we can take care of each other."


    With the plague, the roads would never be peaceful.


    "Now is a critical time for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village; we need someone in charge here. Stop arguing with me," Xuan San urged.


    His second brother bore the weight of the entire Xuan Eagle Mountain Village on his shoulders. After his death, his second brother would have to live on. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At least one of the Xuan Family¡¯s Three Brothers had to survive until the end because the legacy of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village must continue.


    Only then did Xuan Er agree: "Then you must be careful on your own. Take good care of yourself out there. I¡¯ll be waiting for you to come back."


    "I know," Xuan San replied, then mounted his horse.


    Xuan Er silently watched Xuan San¡¯s retreating figure, knowing that his brother¡¯s heart was still tormented, that he still blamed himself for not rescuing Yin Yinyue in time.


    Only when their great vengeance was avenged would he find release.


    Thus, he indulged all of his brother¡¯s actions, hoping only for his happiness.


    All other sins, he would bear alone.


    It was only when Xuan San¡¯s figure disappeared at the end of the road that Xuan Er rode off in another direction.


    If he had known this was their last farewell, he would have followed at any cost.


    Returning to the temporary shelter in the village, Xuan Er instructed everyone on what to do next; all he had to do was wait for the right opportunity to make his move.

 Chapter 823 - 826: Falling into the Trap

    Chapter 823: Chapter 826: Falling into the TrapThis year¡¯s wheat is growing very well; it looks like it will be a bountiful year.


    Tan Zhenghong still planned to keep all the harvested wheat, including the crop collected from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village nearby. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With more family assets and people to feed, he needed to store more grain.


    Like the wealthy households in town, each had enough grain to last over three years.


    But it was too late to start building a granary now, so Tan Zhenghong weighed his options and decided to rent a government granary in town.


    White Stone Town had a total of four government granaries, but only one contained grain; he could rent one for the time being.


    He could also help Qin Longyun fill the gap left by the Yin Family.


    An empty government granary would ultimately cause the common people to suffer.


    Because when a natural disaster or calamity struck, if the government couldn¡¯t control grain prices, the rich households would hoard and often take the opportunity to make a large profit.


    "Shall I go to the town later, and we can take a stroll?" Tan Zhenghong suggested.


    After four months, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t as sleepy, and the weather wasn¡¯t too hot¡ªit was a good time for an outing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "Let¡¯s visit Yi Ling and Old lady Bai, and we can pick up a few things on the way."


    She had previously promised Bai Yifan to visit the old lady more often; she couldn¡¯t go back on her word.


    Upon arriving at the Government Office, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong went their separate ways.


    One went to the front office to talk business with Lord Qin, while the other went to the backyard to gossip with Chen Yiling.


    Chen Yiling was nearly moved to tears when she saw Qiao Duo¡¯er; she had been feeling incredibly suffocated!


    Pouting, she said, "You heartless thing, you¡¯ve finally remembered to visit me!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed and replied, "Isn¡¯t it the busy farming season? I came to see you as soon as it ended. Besides, isn¡¯t Lord Qin worried about you having a sudden episode? Giving birth is no joke."


    Chen Yiling had a big belly, and she was naturally absent-minded, so any accidents could be no laughing matter.


    Chen Yiling said weakly, "I guess that makes sense."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed, "Don¡¯t be angry now, just one last month to endure and it will be over soon. These are some wild fruits I just picked; try them quick."


    "Maidservant, hurry and wash some for me," Chen Yiling urged.


    "I¡¯m on it."


    The maidservant agreed and hurried out with the basket, happy to see her young miss in such a good mood.


    After chatting for a while with Chen Yiling, Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun had already finalized their official business.


    They agreed that Tan Zhenghong would donate two hundred taels of grain to the Imperial, and he could use the North Warehouse on the north side of White Stone Town for two years.


    The North Warehouse was the largest of the four, and it was unlikely that it would run out of space anytime soon.


    When Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong appeared in the backyard together, Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed inappropriately.


    She was impressed by Luo Qingfeng, but even more impressive than him was Chen Yiling.


    If Luo Qingfeng¡¯s ability to create all sorts of strange poisons made him a genius, then Chen Yiling¡¯s use of these poisons on Qin Longyun could only be described as devilishly clever.


    Tan Zhenghong followed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze and instantly understood.


    Well... changing colors occasionally isn¡¯t so bad either.


    Qin Longyun looked confused, poor fellow, still unaware of what had happened to him.


    He habitually reached to touch his nose, only to discover his hand had turned green!


    Although it was only slightly green, it was impossible for anyone with eyes to overlook.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s eye twitched as he quickly caught on.


    Luo Qingfeng had sent over a bunch of bottles and jars, and he had only put away the highly toxic ones, thinking the rest were merely decorative; he didn¡¯t expect to be the first one to fall prey.

 Chapter 824 - 827: You’re Awesome

    Chapter 824: Chapter 827: You¡¯re AwesomeHe suddenly wanted to ask, "Can I still keep this wife?"


    Why does she specialize in plotting against her own husband?


    Chen Yiling cleared her throat, "This morning I wanted to go out, but you disagreed, so in a fit of anger I dosed you with a bit of Seven-color Poison. Luo Qingfeng said it won¡¯t harm the body and it¡¯s not a big deal."


    The Seven-color Poison comes from a unique plant found only in Medicine King Valley called the Seven-color Flower. Each day, the poisoned person changes to a different color.


    Once all seven colors have taken their turn, the person will be unharmed.


    However, she felt a little regretful, as after all, Qin Longyun was only trying to look out for her well-being by not letting her go out.


    Well... she is pregnant, so it should be normal for her to have a bit of a temper and be a little proud, right?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up, "You¡¯re awesome!"


    This time she played too big, and she felt it wasn¡¯t going to end well.


    Tan Zhenghong, on the other hand, was secretly grateful that he locked away all the poisons, otherwise he might have been the next one to change color.


    Chen Yiling didn¡¯t know how to explain herself, nor did she understand what got into her that morning.


    Anyway, she had this idea bottled up inside her because she was feeling upset.


    Qin Longyun gritted his teeth and said, "Hurry up and bring out the antidote."


    "Luo Qingfeng only gave me the poison," Chen Yiling said with little confidence.


    At the time, she was too focused on listening to Luo Qingfeng explain about the poison and completely forgot about the antidote. Luo Qingfeng, the kind of person who thrived in chaos, would never offer the antidote proactively.


    And at this point, that guy had gone far off and couldn¡¯t be chased down.


    So, Qin Longyun was doomed.


    All he could do was to wait quietly for the effects of the Seven-color Poison to wear off.


    Thinking that he had to turn into a fiery red, intimately orange, vivid yellow... he wanted to die!


    Tan Zhenghong comforted, "Just take it as a few days of rest, it¡¯s nice to spend time with Yi Ling."


    It just looks a bit awkward, not sure if Chen Yiling can get used to it.


    "We should still call a few doctors to have a look, don¡¯t let it affect your handling of official duties," Chen Yiling proposed considerately.


    Of course, the premise is that she isn¡¯t the one who poisoned him.


    Lord Qin plopped down on a chair and downed the already cooled tea in one gulp.


    Despite this, his little flame still seemed ready to erupt.


    The reason Luo Qingfeng is Luo Qingfeng lies chiefly in his unique poison formulas and distinct methods, which were difficult for others to solve.


    If Bai Yifan were here, there might be a chance of a cure. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now, he might as well behave himself; enduring for seven days would see it through.


    Thinking of the pile of official documents waiting at the Government Office, he really wanted to give Chen Yiling a thrashing.


    He knew Chen Yiling was being capricious because of her pregnancy, but what could knowing do?


    Who told him he cared about Yi Ling and the child?


    He just had to swallow his anger, just as Tan Zhenghong said, and consider it a special time for accompanying her.


    Before the New Year, he left Yi Ling at the Tan Family for quite a while, and now he had a lot of official duties to handle. If she hadn¡¯t caused this trouble, when would he get such a long rest?


    So, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.


    "Big brother, I still need to visit Bai Mansion, so I¡¯ll take my leave first," Qiao Duo¡¯er said opportunely.


    With her and Tan Zhenghong, two outsiders present, Lord Qin and Chen Yiling had some things that weren¡¯t convenient to discuss, so she tactfully made her exit.


    Some things, once explained clearly, become a thing of the past.


    Chen Yiling anxiously signaled with her eyes to Duo¡¯er, but even with her eyes nearly cramping, she couldn¡¯t keep Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    After they left, Qin Longyun finally asked, "Is there something you want to say?"


    "No... there¡¯s nothing I want to say, just that I¡¯m sorry." Chen Yiling shrank her neck.


    She needed to behave while she had made a mistake, so she could avoid punishment.

 Chapter 825 - 828: Worthy of the Name

    Chapter 825: Chapter 828: Worthy of the NameQin Longyun said indifferently, "Do you know that in the latter stages of pregnancy, it¡¯s always possible that you could go into labor at any time? If you¡¯re too far away from home, you and the child will both suffer."


    He had her best interests at heart in everything, yet she didn¡¯t take him seriously.


    Chen Yiling obediently nodded, her head almost touching her belly.


    She swore to herself that she truly understood her mistake.


    From now on, even if Qin Longyun bullied her, she couldn¡¯t resort to using poison that would affect his handsome face.


    Otherwise, looking at that weird face every day, she even felt sorry for herself.


    Seeing that Chen Yiling sincerely regretted her actions, Qin Longyun no longer dwelled on it. After all, she was pregnant now, wasn¡¯t she? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I haven¡¯t hit or scolded you, so stop hanging your head. Otherwise, people might think that I¡¯m bullying you."


    Qin Longyun wanted to rub Chen Yiling¡¯s head, but seeing the color on his hands, he immediately gave up the idea and withdrew his hand.


    Medicine is always somewhat toxic. A strong man like him could handle a bit, but it wasn¡¯t necessarily the same for Chen Yiling and the little thing in her belly, so it was better to be cautious.


    If anything went wrong, it would be a lifelong pain for him.


    Chen Yiling stole a glance at Qin Longyun: "You really aren¡¯t mad at me?"


    "I¡¯m keeping a tab on it for now, we¡¯ll talk about it later."


    Qin Longyun said mischievously, knowing that making her stay in bed might be the only way to keep her in line.


    Chen Yiling blushed: "I don¡¯t want to deal with you, pervert!"


    No sooner had she said this than Chen Yiling laughed. Right now, Qin Longyun really was a pervert, one whose color even changed!


    Qin Longyun gritted his teeth in secret. It really was ¡¯pregnancy brain¡¯ that lasted for three years, and all he could do was hope those three years would pass quickly.


    Upon leaving the Government Office, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    It seemed that only Chen Yiling could cause such a big fuss for Lord Qin, because those who are loved are often fearless.


    "I hope Ling¡¯er won¡¯t be scared when she sees Qin Longyun turn purple or blue," Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    Especially when she woke up in the morning; that might be quite a shock.


    Tan Zhenghong completely agreed with Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, "But she couldn¡¯t blame anyone else; she had to bear the consequences of the seeds she sowed for herself."


    "I think it¡¯s all Second Brother Luo¡¯s fault. If his poison turned people into a seven-color display, it wouldn¡¯t be so frightening."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly had a whimsical thought. In her imagination, a rainbow person would indeed look very pretty.


    "If the colors aren¡¯t matched well, you might look even more like a demon, and you could be burned at the stake," Tan Zhenghong dampened Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s enthusiasm.


    The only thing he could think of was like the swatches used in the market for buying household goods, where so many colors mixed together made it impossible to look directly at them.


    Or, thinking about the water an artist uses to rinse their brushes might also do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shivered: "Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore, let¡¯s hurry to the Bai Family!"


    With Bai Yifan gone to Beijiang, the Old lady Bai must be feeling uneasy, and their visit would be just in time to comfort her.


    Once they arrived at the Bai Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed that there was also a guest at the house.


    The guest was an old lady who seemed to be about the same age as Old lady Bai, probably one of her close friends.


    It seemed she hadn¡¯t picked the best time for her visit today.


    Old lady Bai introduced the guest: "She is the second grandmother from the Bai Mansion, one of our own. Don¡¯t be shy, now take a seat."


    The second grandmother of the Quan Clan had given birth to the second young master Bai Anshun years ago. After partitioning the family assets, she had lived with her son¡¯s family.


    However, they seldom interacted on regular days, and it was curious that she had suddenly come over today.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong understood and politely greeted her, "Good day, second grandmother."


    But the Quan Clan¡¯s matriarch didn¡¯t like this title and merely responded with a faint acknowledgment.

 Chapter 826 - 829: Skillful Mockery

    Chapter 826: Chapter 829: Skillful MockeryMadam Quan¡¯s greatest wish in life was to be made legitimate, but this wish was doomed to never come true.


    For the one who could have legitimized her was already dead.


    "Why did you come to town today? I was planning to visit Big Willow Village in a couple of days. Let me have a look, Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion is rosy and she looks energetic, this child must be doing very well!"


    Old lady Bai said joyfully.


    Since Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t become her granddaughter-in-law, she could only treat Duo¡¯er as her granddaughter.


    "Knock on wood, Grandmother, right now I can eat and sleep just fine." Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at her belly.


    "That¡¯s good, after this you¡¯ll definitely give birth to a healthy, chubby baby." Old lady Bai then spoke to the maid behind her, "Zi Yan, go check if the pear and white fungus soup is ready."


    White fungus is a nourishing food, most suitable for Duo¡¯er.


    She had also heard that eating more white fungus was good for the skin of both mother and child, so she planned to send all the white fungus in the storeroom to Duo¡¯er.


    "For once, Sister is being generous. Normally, we can¡¯t even catch a whiff of it."


    Madam Quan sarcastically stated.


    Her purpose for visiting today was to see how pitiful Cui Ruoyi was, all alone at home.


    But unexpectedly, Cui Ruoyi looked as dignified and graceful as usual, with no sign of sorrow.


    Hmph, she¡¯s putting on a good act!


    Perhaps it was because Cui Ruoyi knew how to put on an act that Bai Jiutian had said to her that Cui Ruoyi was the material for a main wife, whereas you¡¯re not suitable.


    Even in his dying breaths, he was holding onto Cui Ruoyi¡¯s hand, instructing her to take good care of the family.


    Because in his heart, only Cui Ruoyi was the mistress of this family.


    The hand that Madam Quan hid under her sleeve involuntarily clenched tighter.


    She was born into a prestigious house, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and capable of managing household affairs. Why should she spend her entire life as just a concubine?


    Suddenly, her desire to compete with Old lady Bai became even stronger.


    Old lady Bai said indifferently, "The branch of my second son is full of grandchildren. I thought you were tired of such things."


    "All my grandchildren combined are not as discerning as Yi Fan. Even buying hundreds of flowers, they would not compare to the one flower you have here." Madam Quan covered the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief.


    The second branch already had seven grandsons, which could truly be called ¡¯spreading the branches and scattering the leaves.¡¯


    Whereas the main branch was dwindling, with few births and early deaths.


    Old lady Bai nodded, "You make sense, it¡¯s not about quantity but quality."


    "But life is short, and who has so much time to chase after perfection? The things we can see right now are what¡¯s real."


    Madam Quan¡¯s scornful smile grew even more evident.


    "That¡¯s why all you can do in this life is to muddle through as best you can." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo gave a silent thumbs up; Old lady Bai was truly an interesting character.


    Compared to Old lady Bai, Madam Quan was far behind in both IQ and EQ, and the saddest part was that Madam Quan still thought she was clever.


    "Grandmother, you must tell me how to raise a child that¡¯s as outstanding as Brother Bai San," Qiao Duo¡¯er said in a timely manner.


    Tan Zhenghong also took the opportunity to say, "When I was a child, I heard that White Stone Town had a prodigy¡ªrecognizing characters at three, diagnosing people at five, and apprenticed to the Medicine King Sect at seven. He was truly impressive."


    He did not like Bai Yifan, but he had to admit that Bai Yifan was outstanding.


    When he was three, he was still running around butt-naked playing in the mud, and at five, he started learning martial arts, practicing for many years to become an ordinary hunter.


    He heard that Grandpa Bai Beard later took on a disciple who is now a general.


    "I guess when Yi Fan¡¯s mother was pregnant with him, she read books that he remembered in the womb, or perhaps it was the protection of our ancestors. I can¡¯t quite say, but he¡¯s been well-behaved since he was little and almost never caused any trouble for adults."


    Old lady Bai squinted her eyes, Bai Yifan was what she was most proud of in her entire life.

 Chapter 827 - 830 Driven Away by Anger

    Chapter 827: Chapter 830 Driven Away by AngerQiao Duo¡¯er earnestly said, "It must be thanks to aunt¡¯s efforts, otherwise the Bai Family would surely have more than just Bai Yifan. It seems I need to read more from now on."


    This is the legendary prenatal education, which, if done well, is very beneficial to the child. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her baby was now almost five months along, exactly the right time for prenatal education.


    "You and Ah Hong are both intelligent and down-to-earth. The child you bring into this world will surely be no mistake," said Madam Bai with a smile, clearly having great expectations.


    Listening to this, Quan Clan¡¯s heart was filled with complex emotions. The descendants of the Bai Family were all sent to a private school to begin their enlightenment, and now, Bai Yifan had become a Medicine King Disciple, while the offspring of the second household had made no such achievements.


    The eldest grandson pursued his studies to gain official recognition, and at twenty years old, he was still just a student. That was considered respectable enough.


    At least he wasn¡¯t idle and aimless like some others.


    "Sister, I am getting on in years and can¡¯t sit for too long. I will take my leave now," Quan said as she got up to leave. Otherwise, she might have died of anger.


    Old lady Bai responded and had Zi Yan see her out.


    Once Quan was gone, Old lady Bai complained, "Acting up at her age, doesn¡¯t she get tired of it?"


    Hasn¡¯t she learned to see things in perspective even now?


    Fighting and competing all her life, what¡¯s the point?


    Better to age gracefully.


    "That¡¯s because you are so outstanding, she feels inferior when she sees you, and naturally she wants to compete and snatch," Qiao Duo¡¯er analyzed.


    Old lady Bai scolded with affection, "You¡¯re the best at cheering people up, but I like it!"


    As it was nearing noon, Old lady Bai invited Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er to stay for lunch, and owing to her warm hospitality, they could but accept.


    After eating lunch, they finally went to the market to purchase various items.


    Tan Zhenghong held his wife¡¯s hand while walking through the crowd, using his body to carve out a space for Duo¡¯er whenever they reached a busier area.


    "Wife, what do we need to prepare?" asked Tan Zhenghong, excited and nervous about being a father for the first time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before replying, "We should visit Tooth Row to look for a nursemaid, and also purchase some clothing and necessities. We can buy everything else as needed later."


    "Then let¡¯s head to Tooth Row first," Tan Zhenghong suggested.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections, and before long, the couple appeared at Tooth Row.


    "Distinguished guests, what do you need? We have maids and servants, all of them top-notch, feel free to choose!" the Tooth Granny greeted them warmly.


    "We are looking to hire a nursemaid," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated their intent.


    The Tooth Granny smiled and replied, "Just wait a moment, and I will bring someone over for you."


    Soon, three nursemaids stood before Duo¡¯er, all women in their early twenties who looked honest and sincere.


    "I¡¯ve had the doctor examine these nursemaids, and their health is impeccable with no problems. They surely will have enough milk. I see your belly is around five months, and Spring Seedling here is almost eight months along. She¡¯ll be ready just in time to nurse the child," Tooth Granny pointed out, indicating the nursemaid at the edge, who was dressed in patched-up old clothes yet clean and tidy.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s interest piqued, Tooth Granny became more enthusiastic.


    "Spring Seedling¡¯s husband was incapacitated by bandits, so she¡¯s looking for work as a nursemaid. If you decide now, you can sign a Servitude Contract and pay her an advance of One or Two Silver; once she¡¯s given birth, she can start looking after the child."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I am hiring a nursemaid just as a precaution. You might just end up as an ordinary maid, but rest assured, you will be treated well. Would you agree to this?"


    If she had milk, she intended to nurse the baby herself, but if not, she would figure out a way to manage.


    Because this was the most intimate interaction between mother and infant.

 Chapter 828 - 831: The Bear Has Ample Food Stores

    Chapter 828: Chapter 831: The Bear Has Ample Food Stores"Madam, nursing your child yourself will affect your figure, it¡¯s better to let a wet nurse feed him," the Tooth Granny reminded, glancing at Tan Zhenghong.


    Men first look at a woman¡¯s face, then her figure¡ªboth are indispensable.


    If nursing ruins your figure, won¡¯t that just give other women an opportunity?


    Tan Zhenghong was covered in black lines, he certainly wasn¡¯t that kind of man without a conscience!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Compared to the impact of childbirth on one¡¯s figure, breastfeeding is nothing."


    And when it comes to keeping one¡¯s figure in shape, exercise and maintenance are much more important.


    Not giving up, the Tooth Granny said, "I can see this gentleman is of status, Madam, you really should be careful. When a woman is indisposed, it¡¯s when a man is most likely to stray."


    "If he has that intention, I can¡¯t stop him," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face.


    Seeing Duo¡¯er¡¯s impatience, the Tooth Granny could only give up, "Spring Seedling, you make the decision yourself."


    Spring Seedling hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.


    There is a fundamental difference between a wet nurse and a maid. Besides nursing, a wet nurse takes care of the child, almost becoming like the child¡¯s mother, and thus holds a much higher status than a maid.


    Many wealthy families, to ensure their child is well-fed, will take great care of the wet nurse, providing food that hardly differs from what the masters eat.


    As a maid, one wouldn¡¯t be well-fed or clothed, and there would always be endless chores to do.


    Constant toil, along with bearing and raising children, had taken its toll on her health, and she just wanted to find a place where she could recuperate properly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t insistent, "Then I¡¯ll look elsewhere."


    It¡¯s easy for problems to arise if people are brought in against their will.


    "Don¡¯t go, we have others, please take a look!" the Tooth Granny quickly called out.


    The other two had given birth more than half a year ago, so by the time Spring Seedling would have a child, the wet nurse¡¯s milk would already have become thin, unable to satisfy the needs of a newborn, so Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t even considered them.


    The old face of the Tooth Granny fell, a stark contrast to her previous enthusiasm.


    Feeling repulsed, Qiao Duo¡¯er silently vowed to never return to this place.


    She visited two more houses, and the situation was much the same.


    Either they were not suitable, or the people there were unwilling to become maids.


    "Wife, you have large breasts, you won¡¯t lack milk," Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes wandered uncontrollably.


    His wife was already buxom, and pregnancy had only amplified her curves significantly, much more than before.


    Such a magnificent granary, how could it be devoid of any grain?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, and then nodded her head, "What you said seems quite reasonable; I won¡¯t hit you for now."


    If it really came down to it, she would have to trouble Ling¡¯er to act as a temporary wet nurse.


    "So, we¡¯re not getting a wet nurse?" Tan Zhenghong sought confirmation again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment before nodding her head, "Keep an eye out, and if you find someone suitable, we¡¯ll have one ready. This way, it¡¯s both reassuring and convenient."


    "Okay!" Tan Zhenghong agreed without hesitation.


    After that, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the Cloth Shop with Tan Zhenghong. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before this, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already decided on the fabrics to purchase, so she listed them all at once.


    "Wife, let¡¯s just buy ready-made baby clothes, don¡¯t tire yourself out," Tan Zhenghong said affectionately.


    He understood that his wife intended to have the child wear clothes she made personally.


    "How can bought items ever match what a mother makes? Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll just stitch a few here and there when I¡¯m bored, I definitely won¡¯t overexert myself," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her eyes curved and filled with the gentleness of an expectant mother.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t have the heart to object, only wishing to watch over her more in the future, ensuring she rested well.

 Chapter 829 - 832: Still Getting Used To It?

    Chapter 829: Chapter 832: Still Getting Used To It?In addition to the cloth, Qiao Duo¡¯er purchased another set of items just like Chen Yiling did, and that pretty much prepared everything they needed.


    So, they returned home with their cart full. As soon as they entered the village, Fat Fat and Fatty came running over.


    Seeing their owner home, they were both very happy.


    Tan Zhenghong moved closer to Duo¡¯er, making room for the two animals.


    Fat Fat and Fatty nuzzled then jumped onto the cart, rubbing up against Tan Zhenghong.


    In fact, they liked Qiao Duo¡¯er more and wanted her to pet them, but after Tan Zhenghong reprimanded them a few times, they didn¡¯t dare to be presumptuous anymore.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er was walking around the yard to help digest her food when, unexpectedly, Qiao Mei¡¯er came over.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poured her a glass of water, "Is something the matter?"


    "Big sister, you¡¯ve been so good to me, and I don¡¯t know how to repay you, so I made two sets of children¡¯s clothes. Please don¡¯t disdain them," Qiao Mei¡¯er unfolded the package.


    Anticipating Duo¡¯er would give birth in the winter, she had made two padded jackets, embroidered with the Ten Sons Playing motif¡ªit looked extraordinarily festive.


    "Thank you," Qiao Duo¡¯er really liked the tiny clothes.


    The little figures on the clothes softened her heart.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er hesitated for a moment before asking, "Our parents haven¡¯t been giving you trouble, have they?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er paused blankly for a moment before remembering that the Qiao family intended to marry Qiao Mei¡¯er to Xu Yuanwai and were still concerned about the servitude money.


    However, during this period, the Qiao family had been quiet, as if they had forgotten the matter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied truthfully, "They haven¡¯t come over yet, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got hold of your servitude contract and naturally will protect you in every way."


    If the Qiao¡¯s family members come knocking, then it will be a matter of meeting force with force, and countering whatever comes¡ªnothing to be overly concerned about. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er nodded vigorously, her heart settling back into place.


    With this promise, she could peacefully practice her craft in the Embroidery Room.


    As the elder sister, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked as if performing her duty, "Are you comfortable staying in the Embroidery Room?"


    Without thinking it over, Qiao Mei¡¯er said, "I¡¯m comfortable, I really like it."


    Embroidering every day and chatting with the other Embroidery Ladies in the Embroidery Room was the happiest time of her life.


    "That¡¯s good," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    However Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s change surprised her quite a bit, almost like she was a completely different person, smiling a lot more than before. Duo¡¯er hoped she would continue to get better.


    Feeling still guilty deep inside, Qiao Mei¡¯er did not stay long before bidding farewell.


    She knew there was still a bit of a grudge in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart toward her, but she was determined to prove herself.


    Days filled with busy work passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Uncle Huang led a group of short-term workers back to Big Willow Village.


    Uncle Huang arrived back half an hour before the short-term workers. The first thing he did upon returning was to hand over the granary keys to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    This small key was more valuable than his own life, and absolutely not something to be careless with.


    "We¡¯ve collected a total of one thousand eight hundred dan of grain. We donated two hundred dan to the Government Office and exchanged five hundred dan of wheat for four hundred dan of rice. With the remaining wheat stored in the granary, here¡¯s the key," said Uncle Huang, summarizing the essentials.


    "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Huang," took the key from him.


    "You and Ah Hong entrusting such an important matter to me, if I didn¡¯t handle it well, I wouldn¡¯t have the face to come back and see you. Here¡¯s the ledger as well," he said.


    The ledger listed work points by category, very neat and easy to understand at a glance.


    "Please notify everyone to come to my house to receive their wages tomorrow afternoon, and also let them know that the Tan family wishes to hire ten permanent workers, so they can consider it in advance."


    Guessing that the short-term workers should have arrived at Big Willow Village by now, Uncle Huang went to the village entrance to discuss matters with them.


    With the Tan family¡¯s good reputation, the short-term workers had no hesitation and quickly went their separate ways home.

 Chapter 830 - 833 Earning Wages by Providing Food

    Chapter 830: Chapter 833 Earning Wages by Providing FoodRather than idly waiting for the Tan Family to pay their wages, it would be better to go home, take a warm bath, and get some good sleep.


    Then have a thorough discussion with the family about whether to become permanent workers for the Tan Family.


    In their hearts, they all knew that becoming permanent workers for the Tan Family would be a good thing; the key issue was whether they would be esteemed enough for such employment.


    In the afternoon, Er Ya brought some food for Duo¡¯er again.


    "Fourth Auntie, this is a fried eggplant pocket my mom made with the freshly harvested wheat, you should try it!"


    Er Ya opened the food box to reveal the golden-fried eggplant pockets, which were the best food her mother could make.


    Today, unusually, Qiao Duo¡¯er was not preoccupied with food but spoke excitedly, "You¡¯ve arrived just in time. Go call Da Ya and both the puppies over. I have work for you. There¡¯ll be wages and a meal covered."


    Because in front of her lay a large pile of scattered copper coins earned over time.


    Aside from the braised meat shop and renting out the threshing machine, as it was the busy farming season, they had just been accumulating, piling up like little hills for days.


    Just thinking about it gave her a headache. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Counting the copper coins alone was going to be an enormous task.


    "Alright!" Er Ya nodded without hesitation.


    Before long, two girls from the Tan Family and two puppies from the Huang Family arrived at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s house.


    "Eat the eggplant pockets first while they¡¯re hot, that¡¯s when they¡¯re tastiest," Qiao Duo¡¯er generously suggested, knowing eggplant pockets were quite an expensive food since they used oil and were filled with minced meat.


    The kids were all hesitant because they knew these were prepared for their Fourth Aunt.


    Seeing the kids¡¯ inaction, Qiao Duo¡¯er urged, "Let¡¯s eat together. Hurry up. Once you¡¯ve eaten, there¡¯s work to be done!"


    Hearing her say this, each child took one and even after just one bite, their little faces beamed with joy.


    After polishing off a plate of eggplant pockets, Qiao Duo¡¯er then spoke about the day¡¯s task.


    With four reliable children and Almond¡¯s help, the copper coins could definitely be counted by the afternoon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er split them into two groups, with three people each. One person would count first, and two others would double-check, which should nearly eliminate any errors.


    Afterwards, the only occasional sounds in the room were those of copper coins clinking against one another.


    Two hours later, all the copper coins were strung together with red string, and following the list calculated by Qiao Duo¡¯er, the wages were placed into money pouches.


    In the end, there were over ninety copper coins left. Qiao Duo¡¯er added a few more and gave twenty wen to Almond and each of the children.


    "Madam, you should just distribute it," Er Ya suggested.


    As a maid of the Tan Family, she was already being paid a wage, so she felt no entitlement to these coins.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed the copper coins into Almond¡¯s hands: "If I¡¯m telling you to take it, then it¡¯s what you deserve. No bargaining allowed."


    These days, apart from working in the fields, Almond had also taken on kitchen duties. She felt too embarrassed to even offer this small amount of copper coins.


    However, with several children present, she needed to treat everyone fairly.


    The four children didn¡¯t know what to do with twenty copper coins each. If it had been two or three, they would have accepted, but this felt like too much.


    All they did was count coins for a while.


    "Do you think it¡¯s too much?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    The little ones all nodded, knowing that bringing home so many coins would definitely lead to a scolding from their families.


    "Today¡¯s work wasn¡¯t heavy, but it required finesse, and you all counted very carefully, with hardly any mistakes. This is your reward. But don¡¯t spend it recklessly; use it where it needs to be used, understand?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gazed at them; for such young children to have this kind of patience was already quite remarkable.


    How could she not reward them?

 Chapter 831 - 834 Together for a Meal

    Chapter 831: Chapter 834 Together for a MealThe four kids and Almond exchanged glances before finally pocketing the copper coin.


    They all remembered Duo¡¯er¡¯s kindness.


    After handing out the pay, Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her aching back, "I¡¯m exhausted!"


    "Auntie Si, let us help you rub it." Almond quickly said.


    She had been so engrossed in counting that she forgot her madam couldn¡¯t sit for long periods of time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "No need, let¡¯s all go out for a walk, otherwise, when it gets hotter later, we¡¯ll not even be able to step outside."


    "I¡¯d rather not go, Madam. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll go cook it."


    Almond declined Duo¡¯er¡¯s suggestion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before responding, "You rest a bit before going to the kitchen. Make shrimp porridge tonight, and fry a few dishes with whatever meat and vegetables we have at home."


    Seeing Almond agree, Duo¡¯er then took the four kids and two dogs out for a stroll around the village.


    The new Embroidery Room would be completed in a few days, and Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to check on it, but after walking a short distance, she discovered a treasure.


    "These are matsutake mushrooms, hurry and pick them up, we can add another dish for tonight."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said excitedly.


    The matsutake mushrooms have a very short growth cycle. They mature in seven days, but then rapidly age and wither after the next two days. To encounter such fresh matsutake today was truly lucky!


    The children had not eaten them before, but they trusted Duo¡¯er¡¯s words without question and immediately went over to help.


    Da Ya considerately said, "Auntie Si, you¡¯ve been sitting all afternoon, please don¡¯t crouch down anymore."


    "Are you sure you can manage?" Duo¡¯er expressed doubt.


    But with that big belly sticking out, she really felt quite uncomfortable.


    Da Ya nodded earnestly, "Of course, it¡¯s no problem. Just stand and rest for a while, we will have it done shortly."


    Children from farming families generally start doing chores at the age of three or four, so for them, picking mushrooms was child¡¯s play. With that thought, Duo¡¯er felt reassured.


    In no time, the youngsters had harvested all the matsutake mushrooms.


    Big Dog even took off his clothes to wrap the mushrooms inside, making it easier to carry them home.


    Upon seeing this, Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but scold, "You silly child, aren¡¯t you afraid of dirtying your clothes and getting scolded when you get back?"


    "It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll go to Aunt Lan¡¯s house first. Aunt Lan would never bear to scold me."


    Big Dog said with a naive smile, Aunt Lan was so good to him that he already considered her as his own mother.


    No, Aunt Lan was even better than his own mother. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You must not take advantage of Aunt Lan¡¯s kindness and bully her," Duo¡¯er half-joked.


    Big Dog nodded vigorously, "Aunt Lan¡¯s household is all women; I¡¯ll protect them."


    As he spoke, his idle hands patted his childish chest, but his sentiment was enough.


    In the evening, a big pot of old hen and matsutake mushroom soup was brought to the table.


    After setting the tableware, Almond, as usual, prepared to head back to the kitchen, where she left enough food for herself.


    But this time, Qiao Duo¡¯er called her to stay, "Almond, sit here and eat with us."


    Almond immediately shook her head; it was not proper for her to do so.


    In fact, she had done many improper things, but she had always been very firm about eating separately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said mischievously, "You better think it over, you¡¯ve brought over the casserole; if you go back to the kitchen, there¡¯ll be no soup left for you."


    Almond, looking at the casserole, couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard.


    Today, when the madam came back, she brought a pile of strange things and asked her to slice them and put them in the chicken soup. After she did so, the soup became fragrant and enticing, and she had been craving it for a long time.


    "Aunt Apricot, just eat here with us. It¡¯s so boring for you to always eat alone in the kitchen!"

 Chapter 832 - 835: Change the Flavor

    Chapter 832: Chapter 835: Change the Flavor"As soon as you lifted the lid, I almost drooled, how could I not have a taste and miss out?"


    The two girls urged her for a while, but Almond still had a troubled look on her face.


    Finally, Er Ya simply pulled Almond down to sit, and Da Ya went to the kitchen to get another set of bowl and chopsticks.


    At first, Almond was very reserved, but as she realized she wasn¡¯t being treated differently because she was a maid, she gradually relaxed.


    It really felt good.


    After dinner, Almond washed some peaches and pears and thoughtfully cut them into small pieces.


    Almond tentatively said, "Madam, I would like to go back to see tomorrow."


    Harvesting is a joyous occasion, but also a busy time for farm families; she wanted to go back and cook a meal for her family, and see if there was anything she could help with.


    "No problem, there¡¯s not much going on these couple of days, and you can catch a couple of wild chickens from the backyard while you¡¯re at it," Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed readily.


    "I have silver on me, I can¡¯t take the wild chickens."


    Almond was firm in her stance; though she was a maid, she couldn¡¯t lack principles.


    Having said that, she ran off in a flash, leaving Qiao Duo¡¯er speechless.


    This child was too honest, and she wondered where Bai Yifan had found her, for she couldn¡¯t seem to purchase such a good maid herself.


    Well... she was actually still considering buying a wet nurse.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up hungry, and after washing up, she rubbed her flat belly as she entered the kitchen, where breakfast was being kept warm along with two plates of pastries, likely specially made by Almond.


    Just after Qiao Duo¡¯er finished eating, Tan Zhenghong came back.


    "Why didn¡¯t you sleep in a bit longer?" He had wanted to get back early to prepare her face washing water.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously, "You didn¡¯t go to the Embroidery Room today?"


    "With Almond not at home, I was afraid no one would take care of you, so I caught a pigeon and picked some fresh and tender lotus whips for lunch, to give you a change of taste," he explained.


    Tan Zhenghong gestured toward his backpack, which contained his morning¡¯s haul from the mountain.


    Especially the lotus whip, which was only available in early summer; his wife was the first to discover it.


    When he saw it today, he dove in to gather some.


    Duo¡¯er happily said, "I¡¯m looking forward to lunch already."


    Tan Zhenghong affectionately tapped his wife¡¯s nose, knowing how picky she was with food and that she easily grew tired of the same things.


    "You little glutton, I¡¯ll go prepare the pigeon first."


    With a change in dishes, Qiao Duo¡¯er ate to her contentment.


    After eating well and drinking plenty, she strolled around in the courtyard for a while, and the short-term workers began to arrive, one after another.


    "Everybody stand still and keep quiet," Uncle Huang reminded.


    Pregnant people cannot tolerate noise, and these rough men were usually loud, so he had to ask them to remain as silent as possible. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The short-term workers cooperated and stopped talking.


    Soon each one received a hefty purse of wages, the weight of which provided a satisfying reassurance!


    Working in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was tiring, but it was worth it once they got paid.


    In the past, they would also help the Xiao Family with wheat harvesting, but that family was stingy, often docking wages arbitrarily and skimping on the payout.


    The Tan Family did have punishments, but good work was rewarded with bonuses.


    After distributing the wages, Tan Zhenghong brought up the recruitment for permanent workers.


    "This time, the Tan Family is hiring ten permanent workers to oversee the fields by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and during the slack season, do some simple carpentry in Big Willow Village. Rest for two days each month, wages will be based on workload, step forward if you¡¯re interested."


    Qiao Duo originally thought not many would be interested due to the distance from Big Willow Village to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    But, to her surprise, almost everyone stepped forward.

 Chapter 833 - 836 Fetal Movement

    Chapter 833: Chapter 836 Fetal MovementThey went out for seasonal work, being away from home for two or three months was the norm.


    But it was different with the Tan Family, the busiest month was just one month, and the rest of the time was spent in Big Willow Village. Most importantly, the Tan Family¡¯s wages were said to be the highest in the entire White Stone Town.


    How could they not want such a good job?


    Tan Zhenghong compared the names against the roster and called out the names of ten men. They were the fastest and best workers from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    "This is great, I heard my name!"


    "This is indeed a stroke of luck; I¡¯m so envious. If only I had worked harder there."


    "I told you guys that the Tan Family was recruiting permanent workers; why didn¡¯t you believe me? I told you I heard it from the Tan Family¡¯s maid."


    "I hope the Tan Family prospers even more, and that there will be another chance next time."


    "Those who weren¡¯t chosen, don¡¯t be discouraged. In a few days, after the permanent workers plow the fields, we¡¯ll still need you to work as seasonal laborers to help with the transplanting."


    Tan Zhenghong comforted those who were not chosen.


    The men felt somewhat disappointed, but the decision had been made, and standing there wasn¡¯t going to change anything.


    Those who weren¡¯t selected gradually left, while those who were chosen pressed their fingerprints on the contract that Tan Zhenghong had prepared in advance.


    After these matters were handled, the yard finally quieted down.


    Seeing that it was still early, Tan Zhenghong suggested, "How about a nap?"


    "You have to help me with the fan." Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched lazily.


    Without any hesitation, Tan Zhenghong agreed and even went to the kitchen to heat water for Duo¡¯er to wash up first, otherwise, his wife wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep comfortably.


    After fussing about for half an hour, Duo¡¯er finally lay down on the bed, the comfort making her sigh involuntarily. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being pregnant is such a tough job; she already felt her back and waist ache.


    "I feel like I¡¯m going to die of heat this summer," Duo¡¯er muttered with a pout.


    Her belly was already slightly protruding, she ate less, and she wasn¡¯t sleepy all day anymore, but a new problem had arisen, she was extremely sensitive to heat.


    It was only early summer, and she felt very distressed thinking about it.


    "How could I let you die from the heat? When we built the Embroidery Room this time, I dug an ice cellar. I¡¯ll go to town to buy ice in a few days, but you have to behave and not be greedy for the cool," Tan Zhenghong said while waving the fan with one hand and gently caressing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly with the other.


    Around the Dragon Boat Festival, he had noticed that his wife was heat intolerant, so he prepared well in advance.


    Duo¡¯er nodded obediently, fearing that when the time came, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t be able to stop her.


    "Wife, I just felt him move!" Tan Zhenghong suddenly exclaimed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was also surprised; this was the first time she felt the little thing¡¯s presence so clearly.


    "I felt it too; it seemed like a kick with his foot, but it¡¯s a pity it was just that once, now he seems to have fallen asleep again," Duo¡¯er said with a pout.


    The moment had been so sudden that she hadn¡¯t been able to savor the feeling properly.


    "He¡¯s probably asleep again, you should sleep too. He¡¯ll only have the energy to stir once you¡¯ve woken up," Tan Zhenghong said tenderly.


    The little thing still had five months to stay in his wife¡¯s belly; surely there would be many more opportunities.


    However, Qiao Duo had other plans, and that was to take advantage of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s good mood to talk about something very important.


    She said timidly, "How about we visit Mansion City after the seedlings are transplanted?"


    In Mansion City, there was a shop she planned to turn into Duo Meifang.


    According to the original plan, it was about time to go to Mansion City, which would also be a good opportunity to check on the two estates awarded by the Imperial court.


    The managers for the two estates awarded by the Imperial court came with the property, but she wasn¡¯t sure how reliable they were.

 Chapter 834 - 837: Little Tyrant Temper

    Chapter 834: Chapter 837: Little Tyrant Temper"I¡¯ve already asked Lord Qin to help lease out the shop for two years,"


    Tan Zhenghong seemed even less confident than Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "You... bastard!" Qiao Duo¡¯er was very angry. This guy had some nerve to deceive her!


    Ever since Duo Meifang had opened in town, she¡¯d been thinking of going to Mansion City, with all the stock prepared.


    The effectiveness of the medicine was very short-lived, if not sold in time, those things would soon become a pile of junk.


    What to do now?


    "I was chatting with Lord Qin just once, and mentioned the shop, so I casually asked him to help lease it out, then I forgot to tell you, I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you on purpose."


    "Look at you now, you¡¯re in a special situation, and traveling on the road would definitely be exhausting, let¡¯s just not go for the time being, besides, why do we need so much Silver?"


    "We¡¯re not tight on money, and I still have the ability to support the two of you, don¡¯t worry."


    "That shop has been standing for twenty years, it must look very old... When the lease is back, we¡¯ll tear it down and rebuild. Then we¡¯ll use the new shop to open Duo Meifang."


    Tan Zhenghong explained in a long spiel, he swore he didn¡¯t do it on purpose, nor did he expect Duo¡¯er to get so angry.


    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t deny that it was partly his fault.


    When Duo¡¯er had wanted to expand the Embroidery Room, he should have anticipated that the plan to go to Mansion City would be delayed by the little thing.


    But at that time, all he thought about was that Duo¡¯er was pregnant, he was about to become a father, he wanted to ensure his wife had a smooth delivery, so he unintentionally overlooked a lot of things.


    He knew he was wrong now; could she forgive him?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er snorted softly and turned to sleep facing the wall.


    Tan Zhenghong shamelessly said, "I plan to buy a shop in Lin County, if one isn¡¯t enough, we¡¯ll open two, surely we can keep the Embroidery Room running smoothly, what do you think about that?"


    "Leave the matter of the shop to me. I can go there and return on the same day, I can take care of the two of you, isn¡¯t that a good idea?"


    "What if something were wrong with you and the baby, what would I do? Without you two, even if I were rolling in wealth, life would seem meaningless."


    He spoke very sincerely, with no hint of perfunctory.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er disdainfully said, "Humph, go away, I don¡¯t want to deal with you."


    It wasn¡¯t just the stock that worried her, but she was also frustrated with her own intelligence.


    Had she really become dumb after having a child?


    Tan Zhenghong was doing things behind her back, and she hadn¡¯t noticed anything!


    After all this, could she still claim she was a special agent?


    "Wife, are you hot? Shall I fan for you?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face was full of ingratiating smiles.


    Well... why not let this incident pass, he could always work like an ox or horse from now on, couldn¡¯t he?


    "Just fan, and cut the chatter,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grumbled, then closed her eyes. She wanted to sleep beautifully and deal with mind-taxing matters after waking up.


    Tan Zhenghong, however, was staring at the ceiling with his eyes open. Ah, he had really stirred up a hornet¡¯s nest this time.


    He could only hope his wife would wake up and selectively forget about this incident.


    Clearly, Tan Zhenghong had underestimated the temper of a pregnant woman.


    With the precedent of Chen Yiling using Seven-color Poison on Qin Longyun right in front of him, he shouldn¡¯t have harbored such wishful thinking.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, she was still ignoring Tan Zhenghong, and her appetite worsened during dinner, she put down her chopsticks after just a couple of bites.


    For Tan Zhenghong, this was torture, he would rather Duo¡¯er beat him up, he promised he wouldn¡¯t fight back.


    "Fourth Master, what¡¯s wrong with Madam?" Almond asked worriedly.


    She had only been out for a day, how did Madam become unhappy?

 Chapter 835 - 838: Childish

    Chapter 835: Chapter 838: ChildishTan Zhenghong ruffled his hair, "I accidentally made a mistake, and this time I¡¯m done for."


    This time he really angered his wife severely, and to make matters worse, she was stubborn.


    She wouldn¡¯t pay attention to him for at least several days. What should he do?


    "Think about how to win Madam¡¯s favor. They always say a couple¡¯s quarrels at the head of the bed are settled at the foot, so it won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s all good," Almond consoled.


    Madam¡¯s temper comes quickly and leaves quickly; as soon as she feels comfortable, everything is negotiable.


    This made Tan Zhenghong even more depressed because the true reason for ¡¯a couple¡¯s quarrels at the head of the bed are settled at the foot¡¯ was rolling from the head to the foot.


    That way, no matter how angry a woman is, she becomes shy.


    If once doesn¡¯t work, then roll twice, but now... he could only wish.


    Tan Zhenghong also put down his chopsticks and decisively carried a bucket of hot water into the room.


    "Wife, your mood will definitely improve if you take a hot bath."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice was soft and his attitude humble, just like an oppressed little wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a look, then put down the book in her hand and walked unhurriedly into the washroom.


    Angry as she might be, she couldn¡¯t miss out on treats she deserved.


    Tan Zhenghong was very considerate¡ªwater for the bath, face wash, and mouth rinse were all separately poured, and clothes and toiletries were also ready, leaving nothing for Duo¡¯er to worry about.


    Seeing all this, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s anger dwindled a bit, but she couldn¡¯t let Tan Zhenghong off just like that, or he would surely make the same mistake again.


    So... she had to remain angry for a little while longer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er relaxed in the warm water, her body instantly easing up.


    But her mind was still working, thinking about how to punish Tan Zhenghong. After much deliberation, she decided on the silent treatment.


    Some people¡¯s minds just need to cool off, otherwise they¡¯ll get too full of themselves.


    Suddenly Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts were disrupted by a bout of fetal movement. The little one was quite lively this time, and she felt it distinctly.


    Three times in total, each stronger than the last,¡ªthe energy was robust.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er humorously questioned, "Little thing, are you disagreeing with me for picking on your dad or letting me ignore him for three days? If you agree with ignoring him, give me another kick."


    She waited for a while but felt no movement, which made her a little dismayed.


    She had been carrying this little guy for five months with great effort, only to find out he was just thinking about that darn dad!


    Just as Duo¡¯er was feeling gloomy, she felt a gentle kick on her belly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked her stomach, feeling somewhat comforted, "You do have some conscience after all. Then it¡¯s decided!"


    The child was only five months old, not yet capable of independent thought, so this was merely a coincidence.


    Qiao Duo knew this all too well, but even so, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Sometimes a pregnant woman isn¡¯t being silly; it¡¯s just childishness. The more they¡¯re spoiled, the worse the childishness gets¡ªlike Qiao Duo, who was quite severe in that regard.


    At that moment, Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but fantasize about the little one inside her.


    But regardless of gender or appearance, it was a little treasure worth all her love.


    Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t seen Qiao Duo¡¯er come out after quite a while, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Wife, are you alright?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, who had just finished dressing, opened the door of the washroom and headed straight for her big bed.


    After a bath, lying in bed and flipping through a few pages of a book was also one of life¡¯s great pleasures.


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose, then shamelessly moved closer to the side of the bed, "Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t ignore me. I swear I won¡¯t hide anything from you ever again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at him with disdain. Couldn¡¯t he at least take a bath before apologizing to express his sincerity?


    Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 836 - 839: Chicken Soup for the Soul

    Chapter 836: Chapter 839: Chicken Soup for the SoulTan Zhenghong immediately understood Duo¡¯er¡¯s meaning¡ªhe had cooked dinner, and his body must definitely be covered in a mix of cooking fumes and sweat.


    And it was precisely this that his wife and child couldn¡¯t stand. He was wrong and immediately went to take a bath.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll take a bath, and then you can punish me afterward, okay?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did not express her opinion, so Tan Zhenghong could only dejectedly head to the washroom.


    He didn¡¯t notice the cunning smile on her face, sly as a fox.


    Alas, it was only because Tan Zhenghong was too honest.


    Or rather, he didn¡¯t have a single scheme in front of Duo¡¯er.


    Guessing that Tan Zhenghong would soon be done, Qiao Duo¡¯er put aside her book and faced the wall, feigning sleep.


    Her little treasure had said she needs to stay mad for three days!


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t notice anything unusual, just wore a face of resignation, and then lay beside Duo¡¯er.


    Being able to fall asleep while embracing his own wife was already the greatest comfort for him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a slight cool breeze and the broadness of his chest; her heart slightly sweetened, and then she slowly drifted into a deeply sweet slumber.


    That night, she even dreamt of a fair and plump little bun crawling towards her, babbling words she couldn¡¯t understand¡ªits tiny appearance was overwhelmingly adorable!


    Maybe... probably that little bun was the one in her belly.


    This is what Duo¡¯er thought in her dream.


    The next morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er, with Almond in tow, took a carriage into town.


    She was afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back and would forgive Tan Zhenghong by accident, but it was still two days until the agreed time.


    If it made the little bun angry, it might never appear in her dreams again.


    Almond couldn¡¯t help but advise, "Madam, I think the Fourth Master really knows he was wrong. Why don¡¯t you forgive him?"


    "How come you¡¯re at home for only two days? I gave you three days off."


    Qiao Duo switched the subject.


    Almond spoke with drooping eyelids, "That place is not my home anymore; it¡¯s better to come back early."


    In that home, everyone was courteously distant, and she had become a stranger.


    "Actually, it¡¯s nothing. I was also sold by my parents to Tan Zhenghong as a wife," Qiao Duo said with a slight smile.


    She hoped her current state of life could comfort Almond. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Almond¡¯s mouth dropped open, her face full of disbelief. How could someone as excellent as the Madam be sold?


    "I used to be a bit foolish, and I even had a fierce outbreak of carbuncles on my face. Just as my little brother fell ill, so my parents sold me for One Tael of silver," Qiao Duo narrated slowly. She spoke of someone else¡¯s story, yet she felt the most genuine emotions.


    For the original body owner, the Qiao Family, no matter how lacking, was her home.


    When she discovered she had been betrayed by her family, never to return home again, it left her deeply saddened.


    The belief that sustained her was that marrying into the Tan Family would bring better days, with enough food and warmth, and no need for daily toil.


    Almond put away her doubts, "Then do you hate them?"


    "A bit of resentment, a bit of hate, but now all that is in the past, and life always moves forward,"


    Qiao Duo commented indifferently.


    Now the Tan Family and the Qiao Family were living in chaos, and in the not-too-distant future, they would face terrible misery; she considered that she had given closure to the original body¡¯s owner.


    The cruelest punishment in the world is never death, but the agonizing torment before dying.


    Almond nodded vigorously, seeming to understand a little.


    Especially the phrase "life moves forward," she would always remember it in her heart.


    She was sold, but she had met such a kind owner. How could she say her life had been pitiful?

 Chapter 837 - 840: Can Only Help This Far

    Chapter 837: Chapter 840: Can Only Help This FarSeeing Almond¡¯s face light up with a smile again, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt relieved.


    After all, it was the traditional preference for sons over daughters that haunted them. As soon as their family faced slight hardships, they thought of selling their daughter.


    Selling their daughter could keep the family alive, enable them to find a bride for their son...


    This really wasn¡¯t fair to the girls.


    Everyone was a child; they all should have been the apple of their parents¡¯ eye.


    If the little bun from her dream yesterday had been a girl, she would have offered her the best things in the world.


    That included finding her a partner even better and more considerate than Tan Zhenghong.


    Once in town, Qiao Duo¡¯er was like a fish in water, with countless places to roam.


    Initially, Almond thought her madam had important matters to attend to, so she followed obediently.


    But they went from Duo Meifang to the Embroidery Room, and then to the carpenter¡¯s shop, finally visiting Lady Qin and Old lady Bai.


    A little thought revealed that her madam was intentionally killing time.


    Could it be that Madam was serious this time?


    "Madam, it¡¯s unsafe when it gets dark, shouldn¡¯t we head back early?" Almond said timidly, suggesting they return.


    According to the older generation¡¯s beliefs, pregnant women should not travel at night, as it could attract unclean things, harmful to both the mother and child.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the sky and nodded, since she had already visited all the places she wanted to.


    After a busy day, they went home for dinner, and it was time to sleep.


    Upon opening her eyes, it would be tomorrow, and then she¡¯d decide whether to forgive Tan Zhenghong based on his performance.


    This could also count as an explanation to the "little thing" in her belly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had thought she might encounter Tan Zhenghong out searching for her on the road, or see him anxiously waiting at the door.


    But until she stepped into the courtyard, she saw no trace of him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, thinking Tan Zhenghong had presumed she had nowhere else to go.


    If only she had known, she would have stayed at Ling¡¯er¡¯s place for a few days.


    Or was the shelf life of the love between her and Tan Zhenghong already over?


    There was a notion of the "seven-year itch," but they had been married for less than a year; surely it wasn¡¯t time for that.


    No matter the reason, Duo¡¯er had only one conclusion in her heart: indeed, no man was good!


    Tan Zhenghong always appeared honest but he had deceived her too.


    He always said how much he loved her, yet when she ran away from home for a day, he didn¡¯t seem worried at all. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er entered the main hall full of thoughts, only to see Tan Zhenghong setting dishes on the table.


    A quick count showed there were already more than ten dishes.


    Did Tan Zhenghong really think a table full of dishes could bribe her?


    No way!


    Although she was truly starving, and although Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cooking looked and smelled delicious, she wasn¡¯t someone without principles.


    However, she had to admit her mood was much better now than before; what made a woman fussy was whether the man she cared about cared for her in return.


    Being human, after all, none could escape such trivialities.


    Seeing this scene, Almond knew she would be superfluous tonight.


    She¡¯d better check if there was room for her at Sister Lan¡¯s house; it wouldn¡¯t do to witness something that wasn¡¯t meant for her eyes.


    As Almond was leaving, she purposely stumbled on the threshold, having done as much as she could.


    The rest was up to Tan Zhenghong. She hoped he¡¯d be strong and quickly extinguish Madam¡¯s fury.


    Hearing the noise behind him, Tan Zhenghong turned around and said with deep affection, "Duo¡¯er, happy birthday."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shivered with goosebumps, "What birthday?"


    Her birthday was still a few days away, and she had planned to burn some paper money for her progenitor on that day.

 Chapter 838 - 841: A Warm Man

    Chapter 838: Chapter 841: A Warm Man"In a few days it will be the original Duo¡¯er¡¯s birthday, but your birthday is the day Heaven sent you to my side," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    From the moment she opened her eyes, their destinies had changed.


    She was his wife, he was her husband, everything was fated.


    People say that marrying is a woman¡¯s second reincarnation, so the day Duo¡¯er came to his side was her rebirth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought carefully, indeed she had arrived soon after the wheat harvest.


    But she had forgotten the specific date.


    Before she could figure it out, her cheek was sneakily attacked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a look of disgust, "Did I say I forgave you?"


    "Aren¡¯t I using my actions to strive for your forgiveness? Look, this table of food is everything you made for me last year, and I¡¯ve been preparing it all day," he said proudly, having made it all by himself.


    Braised rabbit meat, sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried Lotus Whip, purslane dumplings...


    Each dish was an imprint on his soul.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly remembered something and hurried into the kitchen, returning with a cake in his hands.


    The key point was that it was topped with cream.


    "Wife, please forgive me considering my arms are almost broken!" Tan Zhenghong said with hope.


    He had gone to town early in the morning to buy milk, and upon returning, he repeatedly skimmed the cream that had formed on top of the milk.


    Then, after heating the cream, he put it in a bowl and stirred and slapped it with several chopsticks for nearly half an hour until it finally turned into whipped cream.


    However, after being busy for most of the day, he only managed to make a little, just enough to cover the cake.


    But as for things like frosting and coloring, he had never seen them before, and Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t explained clearly, so he cut some fruit and placed it on top as decoration.


    He hoped it wouldn¡¯t disappoint his wife too much.


    After finishing the cake and a whole table of dishes, he realized it had already turned dark.


    Just as Fat Fat and Fatty came back to report, he quickly brought all the food out.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a strained face, "Where did you learn this from?"


    "I heard from you. Last year when you were teaching Erhu to make a cake for Chao Lian, you mentioned that it would be better with cream. I asked you what cream was, and you told me," Tan Zhenghong confessed immediately.


    He had just wanted to try, after all, slathering something that looked like water onto a cake was beyond his imagination.


    But luckily, he had actually managed to make it.


    At that moment, Little Treasure started kicking up a fuss again. Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her belly and said softly, "If you agree to forgive your dad, give me a little kick."


    The little one immediately complied with a lively kick.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but comment, what a little swindler!


    Before Duo¡¯er could speak out, the little one kicked twice more as if to complain about her slow reaction.


    If a man had gone to such lengths and she still wouldn¡¯t forgive him, that would be too haughty!


    "Little one, are you picking on your mom again?" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong gently rubbed Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said awkwardly, "Not at all, I¡¯ll forgive you first this time."


    She emphasized that she was not conquered by the food but was truly moved by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s intentions.


    "Thank you, wife!" Tan Zhenghong finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then called Duo¡¯er to sit down at the table to eat.


    In ancient times, candles were relied upon for light, perfectly setting the scene for a candlelight dinner that evening.


    The candlelight cast onto Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face, making his features even more pronounced, and Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled to herself in secret.


    Finding a good-looking tough guy in a mountain village wasn¡¯t an easy feat.

 Chapter 839 - 842 Candlelight Dinner

    Chapter 839: Chapter 842 Candlelight Dinner"Last year at this time, I was still worried that the two of us might starve to death. I didn¡¯t dare to dream about today, having not only you but also our child. Besides being full of love for you, I¡¯m filled with gratitude."


    Tan Zhenghong said emotionally, everything he had was given to him by Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a slight smile, "Then tell me, how do you plan to thank me?"


    "Isn¡¯t giving myself to you enough?"


    Tan Zhenghong said with an aggrieved look, unaware that many people coveted his handsome face and physique.


    However, in his life, he loved only Duo¡¯er and had no thoughts for anyone else.


    Shouldn¡¯t a certain little pregnant woman be content with what she has?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately nodded, "You should give yourself to me, since you¡¯re full of love for me."


    After thinking for a while, Tan Zhenghong then said, "From now on, every day like today, I¡¯ll cook a big meal for you and make you a cake, how¡¯s that?"


    "That¡¯s barely passable," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her lips uncontrollably curling upward.


    She couldn¡¯t help but fantasize about growing old, with an elderly Tan Zhenghong still treating her like a treasure.


    Tan Zhenghong timely pushed the cake towards Duo¡¯er, "See if it¡¯s to your taste. If there¡¯s anything wrong, I¡¯ll improve it next year."


    "That won¡¯t do, there are other steps before eating the cake."


    Tan Zhenghong was confused. It¡¯s just eating cake? What steps could there be?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "Wishes made on a birthday come true, so move the candle closer, I¡¯m about to make a wish and blow out the candles!"


    Tan Zhenghong still didn¡¯t understand but obediently did as told.


    There were two candlesticks on the dinner table, and he moved one in front of Duo¡¯er.


    This was their first year, and one candle was perfectly appropriate.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clasped her hands together and earnestly made a wish.


    Her wish was simple; she hoped that the family could always stay together and extend their happy days longer and longer. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then she opened her eyes and blew out the candle in one breath.


    "Wife, what wish did you make?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked curiously. He just wanted to know if he was included in Duo¡¯er¡¯s wish.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pressed her lips together, "If I say it, it won¡¯t come true. Light the candle quickly, I need to cut the cake!"


    Tan Zhenghong lit the candle, and Qiao Duo¡¯er began cutting the cake.


    This cake was simple but the most beautiful one she had ever seen.


    "The first piece for you, you worked hard today."


    "The second piece for me, to wish myself a happy birthday."


    "The third piece for... Have you seen Almond? She came back with me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly realized a problem.


    That was, Almond was missing, and it seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen her, as if she had disappeared after entering the house.


    Where could she have gone?


    "I don¡¯t know, she must have gone to avoid suspicion. Today is our day; you¡¯re not allowed to worry about it. I¡¯ve already left some food in the kitchen," Tan Zhenghong said seriously.


    Almond had been with the Tan Family for quite a while now. There definitely wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Then it¡¯s just the two of us; no need to think about anyone else. Let¡¯s eat!"


    The table was full of a variety of dishes. There weren¡¯t many of each, but everything was exquisite and all Duo¡¯er¡¯s favorites.


    That made her unable to stop once she picked up her chopsticks.


    As usual, Tan Zhenghong moved all the fish bellies onto his wife¡¯s plate in front of her. The belly meat was tender, with fewer bones, and the tastiest part.


    "Eat while it¡¯s hot; it will have a fishy smell when it gets cold."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared half with Tan Zhenghong, "You eat too. I also want the fish tail, but you¡¯ll have to pick out the bones for me."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately picked up the fish tail and started carefully deboning it.

 Chapter 840 - 843: Love Your Mother for a Moment

    Chapter 840: Chapter 843: Love Your Mother for a MomentAfter picking through it, he gave the meat to Qiao Duo¡¯er and did not forget to warn, "Be careful, just in case I missed something."


    "Relax, I¡¯m not three years old."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a reassuring look.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a chuckle, "I know, you¡¯re already three and a half."


    In his eyes, Duo¡¯er was always that age, so he always took special care of her.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish speaking, Tan Zhenghong had already stuffed the peeled shrimp into her mouth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot him a glare, but her heart was filled with happy pink bubbles.


    This guy... was really considerate, always silently treating her well.


    A million times more delightful than those sweet nothings.


    The meal was exceptionally harmonious, and the two had reconciled.


    At night, after a busy day, Tan Zhenghong collapsed onto the bed and closed his eyes.


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er notice the dark circles under his eyes; he must not have slept well last night and had been busy all day today.


    He worked so hard to prove his feelings, yet she had thought so poorly of him.


    Knowing this would surely hurt him.


    Hmm... she had to stop being so capricious in the future, at least give him a chance to prove himself. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As she watched him, she couldn¡¯t help but lean in closer, and just as her lips were about to touch Tan Zhenghong¡¯s, he suddenly opened his eyes.


    With their eyes meeting, Qiao Duo¡¯er was the first to falter.


    Her gaze darted away, and her face flushed red.


    She finally let loose once and didn¡¯t expect Tan Zhenghong to catch her in the act, leaving her no face to show in the future!


    "We¡¯re an old married couple, don¡¯t be shy," Tan Zhenghong said with a grin.


    He felt his wife stir and thought she needed something, so he opened his eyes to see if there was anything he could help with.


    It turned out his wife just wanted to kiss him and looked at him with such a pained expression.


    If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have moved.


    Alas, he had wasted a perfect opportunity.


    If only he could, like Duo¡¯er, return to the world they had before.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I saw something dirty on your face and leaned in to see, only to realize it was just a pimple."


    Tan Zhenghong touched his smooth face but didn¡¯t expose Duo¡¯er¡¯s lie.


    "You used to say pimples come from being overheated, probably from not seeing me all day, missing me until it popped up."


    There¡¯s a kind of yearning called ¡¯a day apart feels like three years have passed.¡¯


    The heat from missing someone can only be relieved by doing something you love.


    If it doesn¡¯t subside after one time, then do it twice.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scowled and said, "Jerk, don¡¯t you dare move!"


    "Just once," Tan Zhenghong said impishly, holding up a finger, or else he surely wouldn¡¯t get any sleep tonight.


    "You should ask the baby if it agrees first," Qiao Duo¡¯er cunningly said.


    If the baby moved, she could escape this plight.


    Tan Zhenghong leaned close to Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly and said, "Little guy, I need to discuss something with you. I want to love your mom for a bit, you go to sleep and no peeking, you¡¯ll understand these things when you grow up and find the person you love."


    This was the first lesson a father taught his child.


    After a while, when there was no movement from the belly, Tan Zhenghong said contentedly, "Good baby, knows how to cherish your dad."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was exasperated, she could only say that men overtaken by lust really can¡¯t be bothered with... so damn immature.


    And that little thing in her belly, actually siding with its dad to bully her.


    So inconsiderate!


    Soon, a sequence of bashful sounds filled the room, and even the moon hid behind the clouds.

 Chapter 841 - 844: Patrolling the Mountain

    Chapter 841: Chapter 844: Patrolling the MountainQiao Duo¡¯er had no idea when she had fallen asleep, only that when she woke up, it was already Three Poles Day.


    "Baby, let¡¯s get up now!"


    Gently touching her belly, Qiao Duo¡¯er only got out of bed after receiving the little thing¡¯s response.


    Ever since she could feel the baby¡¯s movements, consulting with him had become Duo¡¯er¡¯s habit.


    Most importantly, she could almost always get some feedback from the little guy.


    The moment the blanket was lifted, Duo¡¯er¡¯s face turned as red as a shrimp.


    Because her chest was covered with dense kiss marks that narrated the passion of the previous night.


    She didn¡¯t feel any discomfort, which meant Tan Zhenghong must have cleaned her up after they were done, and the candle would have been lit then... so he saw everything very clearly. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cough cough, although they were an old married couple, it still made her shy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered her face with the blanket, waiting until her emotions settled a bit before getting up.


    After getting dressed, she checked herself in the mirror to make sure there were no telltale signs on her neck before opening the door.


    In the yard, the sound of their lazy donkey grinding could be heard, and Almond was beside it, turning over dried flowers to dry them out.


    Duo¡¯er greeted Almond before leisurely washing up.


    Washing her face with well water this morning was exactly what she needed to wake up.


    By the time she finished, Almond had considerately brought over breakfast.


    "Madam, this morning Fourth Master specially made fish porridge for you. Eat it while it¡¯s hot," she said.


    As she spoke, Almond winked mischievously at Qiao Duo¡¯er, guessing from her lady¡¯s morning expression that she was in a good mood.


    It was certain that Fourth Master¡¯s effort last night had taken effect, and Almond felt wise for having stayed away.


    Unable to help herself, Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "You little rascal, where did you run off to last night?"


    "I went to Sister Lan¡¯s house, and today I even got to eat the love cake Fourth Master made with his own hands, it was sweet to the core!"


    Almond clutched at her chest, looking blissfully overjoyed, as that taste was truly unforgettable.


    In the past, her wish was to quickly earn money to regain her freedom.


    Now, her wish was to find a man who doted on his wife as much as Fourth Master.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently took a sip of porridge, feeling like a failure that even her maid dared to mock her.


    But it was her own doing, wasn¡¯t it?


    This was fine too, a homey and harmonious lack of formality was the very feeling of family.


    Having eaten her fill, Qiao Duo¡¯er washed the dishes by hand, still not quite comfortable ordering people around.


    Almond was moving the dried flowers out of the house when Duo¡¯er finished with the dishes, and she asked anxiously, "Madam, are you thinking of dismissing me?"


    "What nonsense are you talking about? I¡¯m not disabled, why wouldn¡¯t I be able to wash a bowl? I¡¯m going to check on the new Embroidery Room later, you be careful at home," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed, knowing that the people in Big Willow Village were simple but there were a few bad eggs.


    Especially since Almond was growing more attractive by the day, attracting quite a bit of attention.


    Almond quickly responded, "I¡¯d better go with you. What if we run into that mad woman again?"


    Last time, Zheng Shi was truly terrifying in her madness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the two big dogs following behind her and said, "If she dares to come again, I¡¯ll set the dogs on her to bite her to death!"


    Seeing the two dogs showing their teeth in agreement, Almond felt completely reassured. With these two guards around, most people wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with her lady.


    When she had first come to the Tan Family, she had avoided them for days.


    Duo¡¯er whistled, and the two dogs followed closely behind her.


    One woman and two dogs... indeed, it did give off a bit of a grand king patrolling the mountain vibe, who would dare to provoke her?

 Chapter 842 - 845 Great Wisdom

    Chapter 842: Chapter 845 Great WisdomThe new Embroidery Room was a hive of activity with a crowd of men working away with great gusto.


    "Sister-in-law, Brother Hong is in the backyard setting up a rockery," D¨¤l¨ªn said enthusiastically.


    Duo¡¯er smiled and replied, "Thank you so much, I¡¯ll go have a look."


    D¨¤l¨ªn scratched his head in his simple way. As a permanent worker for the Tan Family, he always found it strange for the madam to thank him.


    Isn¡¯t this what he should be doing?


    But then he thought about how the Tan couple usually treated people, and he felt at ease.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er reached the backyard, Tan Zhenghong was busy and in high spirits working with the workers. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon seeing his wife, he patted off some dust before he went over to greet her.


    "Wife, take a look at this. Does it achieve a sense of tranquil activity, uniquely inspired?"


    Tan Zhenghong pointed at the small pond which, with the addition of the rockery, had become a scenic feature in the yard.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and said, "It¡¯s good, I¡¯ll give you some praise. If there were a stone table next to it, it would be even better; we could enjoy tea and the sound of bamboo, how pleasant that would be."


    Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs-up; it was a great suggestion!


    The master who built the rockery was named Qian, a well-known craftsman for miles around with fair prices.


    As it happened, Master Qian¡¯s family also made stone tables, so Tan Zhenghong decided to purchase one from him as well.


    Master Qian said with envy, "You treat your workers really well."


    "A nice environment helps the embroidery ladies stay in a good mood, and only then can they embroider things with spirit," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a light smile.


    So ultimately, it was all for the betterment of the Embroidery Room.


    Master Qian agreed without any hesitation, "Madam speaks wisely. Leave it to me!"


    But he truly had not expected to find such an understanding and reasonable woman in a small mountain village.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the rockery was finished, and the backyard was immediately enlivened with a bit more color.


    "Sir, Madam, for this yard I suggest a table twenty-six inches in diameter with four stools should suffice," Master Qian, sizing up the space, offered his advice.


    The beauty of a stone table lies in its fineness; too large and it loses its charm.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Master Qian¡¯s discernment is like a torch, truly excellent."


    "Then it¡¯s decided. We¡¯re old customers now, so let¡¯s forget about a deposit. When I deliver the table and chairs, you can give me one tael of silver,"


    Master Qian quoted the lowest price.


    His family¡¯s stones were all quarried from the mountains by people, then carved and polished. This was already a conscientious price.


    Tan Zhenghong, who was already aware of the cost of stone items, promptly agreed.


    After finalizing the details for the stone table, Qiao Duo¡¯er continued on her stroll around the area.


    She had barely finished her walk when Tan Zhenghong called her to head home, worried that the sun would be too strong and that Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it.


    As they walked, he began to discuss the Embroidery Room.


    "Wife, this place will be completed in a few more days. When do you think we should move the embroidery ladies over?"


    "The sooner the better, of course. Wait until you¡¯re done here, then take a couple of days to clean up, and I¡¯ll meanwhile notify Fat Aunt and Chao Lian to get ready to move," Duo¡¯er said without hesitation.


    The weather was becoming increasingly hot, and she felt stifled just thinking about so many people crammed together.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll start by clearing out the warehouse so that our home¡¯s permanent workers can help move things over. That way we won¡¯t be in a rush when the time comes,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no objections; she left this task in his hands.


    They had only walked a few steps when Duo¡¯er began to sweat. She hated the heat this year, and this summer was particularly hot¡ªit felt almost personal.


    As astute as Tan Zhenghong was, he quickly plucked a banana leaf to shield Duo¡¯er from the direct sun.


    With the respite from the sun¡¯s rays, Duo¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 844 - 847 What Do You Want to Say?

    Chapter 844: Chapter 847 What Do You Want to Say??reeweb?ovel.comDuo¡¯er was well aware of the Wang Clan¡¯s little schemes, all for her own benefit.


    Now that the elderly couple of the Tan Family had moved out to live separately, aside from the six mu of land in their hands, Tan Zhenghong was their biggest reliance.


    As long as Tan Zhenghong acknowledged them, the other two brothers wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble, they would even have to curry favor with them.


    Only then would they possibly have good days ahead.


    The Wang Clan¡¯s eyes lit up at once, but she still wanted to confirm again, "You... you¡¯re not deceiving me, are you?"


    "I have no need to deceive you," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied earnestly.


    As for the rest, she didn¡¯t want the Wang Clan to know.


    The Wang Clan finally heaved a sigh of relief, getting so excited that she almost lost her composure.


    "That¡¯s good then, you and Ah Hong are after all a bit young, it¡¯s still better to have an older person at home to help you out, right?"


    The Wang Clan said this subtly, but what she really meant was that the household still needed her and Tan Yuancheng¡¯s help to manage.


    If they were in charge, the current situation would certainly not have happened.


    Oh, what a pity about the silver!


    For the Wang Clan, managing such a big detour was already an improvement, but in Duo¡¯er¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t enough.


    With such a status, it¡¯s better to stay at home and behave!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a smirk, "What do you mean by that?"


    The Wang Clan immediately sobered up, "Nothing... nothing, you and Ah Hong are both capable, I have no worries, our Old Tan Family¡¯s reputation depends on you to earn it!"


    She knew that if she played dead again, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get any benefits from Tan Zhenghong in the future.


    "Thank you for the compliment," Qiao Duo¡¯er was not modest at all.


    She and Tan Zhenghong indeed had nothing to make the Wang Clan worry, rather she was worried about whether the Wang Clan would lose her sense one day.


    The Wang Clan chuckled awkwardly, "Right, you¡¯re pregnant now, don¡¯t skimp on eating, if your family is short of anything, just let Ah Hong come to my house to take it, or tell me and I¡¯ll deliver it to you."


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er went hungry like those from the Li Clan, she¡¯d lack strength during childbirth and suffer from a difficult labor, now that would be good.


    It would be best if she never woke up again!


    But such malicious thoughts were something she could only harbor in her mind.


    Besides not daring to say it, it was also because Tan Zhenghong took very good care of her, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was in good health, surely everything would go smoothly.


    "Thanks in advance, there¡¯s nothing lacking in my home for now."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very polite, with her politeness was a sense of distance.


    Seeing that Jian Duoer had no intentions of inviting her in to sit down, the Wang Clan could only say, "I will head back first, it¡¯s time to prepare dinner."


    After speaking, she left in a glum manner, having been dealt with by Qiao Duo¡¯er too many times, now she just wanted to avoid her, it was really too embarrassing!


    What else could she do?


    In quarrels and fights, she was no match for Qiao Duo¡¯er, and wasn¡¯t as bold; acting recklessly would only make her son cherish Qiao Duo¡¯er more.


    Therefore, she could only admit defeat for the rest of her life!


    "Madam, you are so impressive!" Almond¡¯s eyes had turned into hearts.


    This was the first time she had seen any daughter-in-law dare to treat her mother-in-law this way, her Madam was truly extraordinary!


    Qiao Duo said indifferently, "You have to use different methods for different people, after all, we¡¯ve finally become humans in this lifetime, we can¡¯t let others bully us just because we are easy to talk to!"


    Her stance had always been firm, to return good for good and to confront directly any grievances.


    Especially when dealing with someone like the Wang Clan who did not know the meaning of face, it was even more necessary not to show any kindness. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Almond nodded vigorously, what her Madam said was definitely right!

 Chapter 845 - 848: Almost Becoming a Spirit

    Chapter 845: Chapter 848: Almost Becoming a SpiritOnce inside the yard, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the sight of the donkey on strike, and Almond was just as helpless. Could you put up a little fight?


    Other households¡¯ donkeys, blindfolded, would think they¡¯re on a straight path and keep going.


    But this one was sleeping quite soundly¡ªthis was clearly raising a pig!


    "Go tell Uncle Huang to buy another adult donkey," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed, "if this continues, we won¡¯t be able to keep up with the sales at Duo Meifang."


    As for this lazy creature, just keep it for now; it can still do some work after all.


    So Almond wouldn¡¯t be sentimental and get blamed for slaughtering a donkey after grinding it down.


    Almond nodded: "I¡¯ll go tomorrow."


    Once the donkey was unloaded from the mill, it suddenly perked up, brayed loudly, and took off running.


    Almond suddenly wondered what the point was in begging Madam to keep it. What for?


    If the donkey occasionally showed its stubborn streak, she could handle the mill for it once or twice.


    But as things stood, she spent more time pushing than the donkey did.


    "Maybe it¡¯s just young and playful, it¡¯ll get better when it grows up," Almond muttered to herself as a way of self-comfort.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with amusement, "Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s in the backyard and won¡¯t be going anywhere."


    With a sigh, Almond entered the kitchen, full of grievances.


    The following afternoon, Uncle Huang delivered a donkey.


    "This donkey is strong. I¡¯ve tested it in the shop¡ªit¡¯s a real worker. This little mill of yours will be a piece of cake for it," Uncle Huang said, patting the donkey¡¯s muscular flanks. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded with satisfaction: "It¡¯s more obedient than the one at home. Almond, let it try the mill."


    Almond immediately switched out the lazy donkey, and the new one worked much faster.


    Now that¡¯s what a donkey should be like!


    "With this one, things will be much easier!" Almond said with narrowed eyes, relieved to think that she wouldn¡¯t have to push the mill often anymore.


    Duo¡¯er agreed, "I was negligent, too. We should have gotten another one earlier."


    But the lazy donkey wasn¡¯t having it; it rubbed against Almond and kept braying discontentedly, looking just like a child who had fallen out of favor.


    If it had been even half as earnest as the other, the Tan Family certainly wouldn¡¯t need two donkeys now.


    Not getting a response from Almond, the lazy donkey bit onto Qiao Duo¡¯s clothes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er disapprovingly said, "You¡¯re too lazy to work, and now you don¡¯t want me buying another donkey?"


    The lazy donkey blinked its innocent eyes, looking utterly wronged.


    Everyone in the yard laughed at its antics. Was this still a donkey?


    Uncle Huang couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up: "People say donkeys are stupid, but this one of yours is almost a genius!"


    "It¡¯s been spoiled into being cunning!" Almond couldn¡¯t help but retort.


    Ignored by everyone, the lazy donkey started to harass the working donkey, seriously affecting the other¡¯s efficiency.


    The lazy donkey grew more excited; after all, who allowed this fellow to steal its bowl of rice?


    It deserved to be dealt with harshly!


    Almond quickly grabbed its reins and tied it to a stake nearby. Now, the lazy donkey got even angrier and put on a show as if it were ready to fight to the death.


    Once a donkey¡¯s stubborn streak kicks in, it¡¯s hard for an ordinary person to handle it.


    "It definitely wants to push the mill too. I have a smaller one at home; I¡¯ll go get it," Uncle Huang said, chuckling.


    Before long, the lazy donkey was put to another mill.


    Now its attitude towards work had improved a lot, its speed not any slower than that of the newcomer.


    "It¡¯s just been spoiled. Look at it working well now," Duo¡¯er said, stroking he

 Chapter 846 - 849: Love You the Most

    Chapter 846: Chapter 849: Love You the MostNow, both donkeys could work earnestly, which made everyone truly satisfied.


    Almond almost turned green with regret. Had she known this problem would be so easy to solve, she would have agreed to buy another donkey long ago.


    With two donkeys pulling together, the task of grinding dried flowers, which was initially planned to take two days, was completely finished by evening.


    "Madam, I have plenty of time today. Shall we go out and see if we can find some matsutake mushrooms?"


    Almond sought Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s opinion first, otherwise, her madam would definitely spend another afternoon reading medical texts at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had not forgotten the delicious taste of matsutake mushrooms and immediately agreed.


    This time, without the luck of the last occasion, they wandered around the village for a long time without any discoveries.


    But that was normal. If matsutake mushrooms were everywhere, they wouldn¡¯t be so treasured.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er maintained a calm attitude and returned home, once again immersing herself in the study.


    However, this time she did not look at Bai Yifan¡¯s manuscript but picked up a needle and thread, as she was preparing to make a cotton-padded jacket.


    Although many people had given clothes for the child, something made by one¡¯s own mother held a different significance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had only stitched a few times when Tan Zhenghong came back. Seeing his wife¡¯s maternal appearance, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.


    That little thing caused trouble every day and was undoubtedly a boy, which meant he wouldn¡¯t be his wife¡¯s most beloved man in the future.


    "Wife, you must not overwork yourself for him."


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "I¡¯ve only been sitting for a while. Don¡¯t make a fuss."


    "Wife, do you not love me anymore now that you have a son?" Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face was filled with grievance.


    Three black lines formed on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead. Who was this childish man?


    Yet she still played along, saying, "Behave, of course I love you the most. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t care for this little thing, right?"


    Thinking like this, Tan Zhenghong felt somewhat relieved in his heart.


    As long as his wife cared about him the most, he didn¡¯t feel so wronged.


    "What would you like to eat tonight? I¡¯ll cook for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I don¡¯t have any particular cravings. I¡¯ll eat whatever Almond prepares."


    Though she said this, Tan Zhenghong still went into the kitchen and added a dish of braised bamboo rat for Duo¡¯er.


    Bamboo rat was delicious and nutritious, very suitable for a pregnant woman to nourish her body.


    The next morning, Uncle Ming came over driving a bullock cart.


    There had been a significant incident at the breeding farm recently, and he had rushed over to report.


    Uncle Ming said happily, "Fourth Master, Madam, I¡¯m here to bring you good news. The deer have been giving birth over the past few days¡ªthree males and four females, a total of seven fawns, all healthy!"


    At this rate, the breeding farm would soon be thriving.


    And once they harvested the musk, that would all be gleaming Silver!


    "That¡¯s wonderful. We¡¯ll note this merit and give you a bonus at the end of the year," said Qiao Duo¡¯er with a light smile.


    Seven fawns surviving meant Aunt Ming and Uncle Ming must have put in a lot of effort.


    Uncle Ming thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you, Madam. Actually, my wife and I didn¡¯t do much. By the way, Madam, should we sell some of the deer now? Many people have made high offers."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, puzzled, "I don¡¯t plan to do anything with the breeding farm for now."


    "After entering the village, I heard some rumors and thought relying on the deer could sustain us for a while."


    Uncle Ming touched his nose awkwardly, seemingly concerned about too many things. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless, only able to assure Uncle Ming to return to the breeding farm with peace of mind. The financial issues were enough for her and Tan Zhenghong to worry about.

 Chapter 847 - 850 Rumors

    Chapter 847: Chapter 850 RumorsOthers don¡¯t know about her family¡¯s situation, so they can only worry blindly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought that if she ignored the rumors and gossip, those people would get tired of talking and quiet down eventually, but the rumors just became more and more outrageous.


    There were even rumors saying that the Tan Family had borrowed a lot of silver from the Lady of the County, and if they couldn¡¯t pay it back, the relationship with her family would be severed, and they might even become enemies.


    Now, Chen Yiling indeed hardly ever visited the Tan Family, but the real reason was that she was nearing childbirth and couldn¡¯t run around recklessly.


    Otherwise, she would have been restless by now, right?


    Some people are really boring, Qiao Duo¡¯er tried explaining, but it was almost ineffective, so she simply put the matter out of her mind.


    Anyway, the Tan Family wouldn¡¯t collapse just because of these words.


    On the last day of May, the final touches to the new Embroidery Room were completed.


    That morning Fat Aunt led the Embroidery Ladies with their belongings to the new Embroidery Room.


    The new Embroidery Room was grand and majestic, spacious and bright, which brightened the mood of many Embroidery Ladies.


    "I never even dreamed of living in such a nice house!"


    "Wake up, you are here to work, not to live!"


    "Well, it still makes me happy inside. After all, I¡¯ve never stayed in such a beautiful house in my whole life."


    The previous Embroidery Room was also tiled, but it had been built many years ago and looked somewhat dilapidated.


    The tables and chairs inside were just barely usable, and there was simply no comparison with this one.


    "Let¡¯s hurry up and earn silver so we can push down our home¡¯s thatched cottage and rebuild it. When we do, we¡¯ll use the Embroidery Room¡¯s standards!"


    "That¡¯s a good idea, and we should also install Ground Dragon heating. Then, no matter how cold it gets, we won¡¯t freeze."


    But some Embroidery Ladies furrowed their brows with heavy concerns. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For them, where they worked was irrelevant. What they cared about was whether they could get their wages and how much they would get.


    Many people said that the Tan Family¡¯s silver had been drained, and choosing the end of the month for the move was an attempt to delay the payday.


    When that delay would end, nobody knew.


    If the Tan Family failed to pay wages, all their work these days would be in vain.


    Those slightly more optimistic didn¡¯t think the wages would be impossible to pay this time but felt that the Tan Family would eventually be dragged down by the inventory.


    Alas, it was hard enough to find a good job, and just when they had barely been happy for a few months, bad news arrived.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er saw all the reactions of the Embroidery Ladies and felt helpless.


    She wasn¡¯t foolish, if the family had run out of silver, would she ask to expand production?


    Wouldn¡¯t that be like lifting a stone to drop on her own feet?


    The fact was that from the last batch of gold and jewelry, she still had more than five thousand taels of silver on hand.


    Even if the monthly inventories were piling up, Duo Meifang wasn¡¯t losing money.


    But she didn¡¯t want to explain, because the more she explained, the more others would think the Tan Family couldn¡¯t pay the wages.


    She would soon show them with her actions, the Tan Family was not finished!


    Following a burst of firecrackers, the Embroidery Ladies entered the Embroidery Room in an orderly fashion.


    The Embroidery Room had big trees for shade, which was much cooler than the old place.


    What made everyone happiest is that each person had their own separate working area, without disturbing each other.


    "Duo¡¯er said that the key to Embroidery Flowers is to stay calm and peaceful. Now that everyone will not disturb each other, we must produce better work than before, or else I will send you back to the old place!"


    Fat Aunt solemnly reminded them.


    Lately, many Embroidery Ladies had been restless, and their workmanship could hardly compare to usual.


    "The old house will have other uses. If anyone fails the assessment, I will have to lay them off directly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.

 Chapter 848 - 851 Good News

    Chapter 848: Chapter 851 Good News"Duo¡¯er, what do you have in mind? Why do I feel like this is going to be another good thing?"


    Madam Qin said happily.


    A few days ago, when she went to the village chief¡¯s house for something, she chatted with the chief¡¯s wife for a while, and Madam Feng let slip a little something.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "If you all want your children to learn to read and write, then it is indeed a good thing."


    "Does this mean we¡¯re going to reopen the school?" someone asked excitedly.


    Ever since Academician Zhou got old, the school has been vacant, and any village child who wanted to study had to be sent to the private schools in the town.


    Not only were the children far from home, but the costs for tuition and board were not small either.


    If the village school could be reopened, that would truly be a good thing!


    Madam Qin couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Does that mean families who work in the embroidery room could pay less for the tuition?"


    If that was the case, she would also be willing to send her little boy there.


    That way, she wouldn¡¯t have to constantly worry about the little monkey at home causing trouble while she was in the embroidery room.


    There were quite a few people with the same thought as Madam Qin.


    Therefore, everyone looked straight at Duo¡¯er, hoping she would say more.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slowly said, "Each person pays ninety wen a month, including one lunch meal. If you don¡¯t eat lunch, you only pay thirty wen."


    In fact, her original plan was to make it entirely free, but she feared that too many people would slack off, thus losing its original purpose.


    For a family that truly wanted to send their child to study, ninety wen a month wasn¡¯t much, and if one was unwilling to spend even that small amount of silver, then pens, ink, paper, and inkstones were out of the question.


    Nowadays, the cost of a book started at one tael of silver, which was very precious.


    "My Xiao Er is not smart, not one for studying, but your Four Eggs has a good foundation; I think you could send him there!"


    "Smart? As long as he can learn to write a few characters, I¡¯ll be completely satisfied!"


    Four Eggs¡¯ Niang said modestly, but she truly planned to let her youngest child study; perhaps he could bring honor to the family.


    "I¡¯m planning to send my boy as well, even if it¡¯s just to recognize a couple of characters, that¡¯s better than us!"


    "I¡¯m planning to send two; let them bring their own lunch, and it will only be sixty wen in total¡ªit¡¯s almost like spending nothing!"


    "It¡¯s really cheap; it works out to only three wen a day, and that includes a lunch, Duo¡¯er isn¡¯t really making any money off of us."


    The embroidery ladies started chatting in pairs and groups, many forgetting their concerns from just moments before.


    The Tan Family is preparing to open a school; could they really be as poverty-stricken as the rumors suggest?


    So, rumors are just rumors, far removed from reality.


    Fat Aunt signaled everyone to be quiet, "Chief Tie is still looking for a teacher. Once everything is ready, he will notify everyone. Then you can bring your kids over to enroll. The school has limited capacity, so if you¡¯ve decided, don¡¯t dawdle."


    "Then I need to act quickly. By the way, who is the teacher going to be?"


    The teacher¡¯s scholarly ability and character were very important; if the teacher wasn¡¯t good, even cheap tuition would be useless. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, they hoped their children would actually learn something.


    "I¡¯ve discussed with Chief Tie, and we plan to invite two teachers. One is Student Liu from Da Tao Village, who will teach the simpler courses, and the other has not yet been determined. It will be either Scholar Lu from Dafeng Village or Scholar Qin from Well Above Village,"


    Qiao Duo stated truthfully.


    These people were all recruited by Tie Niu; there shouldn¡¯t be any issues.


    "These are all scholars from Zhou Zheng; studying under them will definitely lead the kids on the right path!"


    "Especially Scholar Lu, with his good learning and character, will certainly be an excellent teacher in the future!"

 Chapter 849 - 852: Crushing the Rumors

    Chapter 849: Chapter 852: Crushing the Rumors"I hope the village chief can manage to bring in Scholar Lu. As long as he¡¯s here, I¡¯d sell the cooking pots and iron if I had to, just to send my child to him."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waited until they had discussed among themselves for a while before interrupting them.


    "Alright, everyone. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me privately later. We still need to distribute wages today, so let¡¯s get moving and try to finish by noon."


    Qin Clan¡¯s mouth moved the fastest, and she asked in surprise, "Duo¡¯er, are you really going to distribute the wages?"


    "Of course, I am. I can¡¯t let you all work for nothing, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully.


    If she really delayed the payment of wages, she reckoned the roof of the Embroidery Room might be flipped by the workers.


    Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with joy, and at the same time, many rumors were self-defeating.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, "I know everyone has been worried about the stockpile recently, and I understand."


    Before she could finish, someone muttered, "If you understand our feelings, then hurry up and tell us what to do!"


    The stock in the warehouse kept piling up higher, but the Duo Meifang in town couldn¡¯t sell that much.


    If things kept going like this, even the warehouse wouldn¡¯t be able to fit everything.


    And with cloth, silk threads, and labor all requiring silver, how could the Tan Family withstand a continuous deficit?


    "So, let me be frank, Mansion City Duo Meifang can¡¯t be opened because I can¡¯t travel far, and Ah Hong doesn¡¯t feel at ease leaving me at home alone."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er paused on purpose and saw that everybody had serious expressions on their faces, which satisfied her mischievous heart.


    "But we do have another plan, which is to open branches in Feng County and Cheng County."


    "Next to Feng County are the iron mines, and Cheng County has salt mines, with many wealthy families. You don¡¯t have to worry about the inventory not being sold. Once the branches are up and running, the amount of stock won¡¯t be an issue!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was confident, and she estimated that soon they would have to work overtime again.


    Feng County and Cheng County were the bases for the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold to smuggle salt and iron.


    Although these two places had suffered for many years, they were rich in resources and still quite prosperous. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially the wealthy families, who were incredibly rich.


    White Stone County also benefited from the prosperity of the two neighboring counties; otherwise, it would have been played to death by the Yin Family long ago.


    After Qiao Duo¡¯er had finished speaking, Fat Aunt had already moved the bamboo basket over.


    This was the wages to be distributed to everyone.


    The Embroidery Room tallied the Embroidery Ladies¡¯ work every day, so everyone knew exactly what their wages should be, and the Tan Family always gave more than expected, as they did this time too.


    "I knew the Tan Family wouldn¡¯t fail. You can tell Duo¡¯er and her husband are meant to have good fortune!"


    "That¡¯s not certain yet. We still have to wait until the branches open to see the results."


    "I bet it won¡¯t be bad. If it¡¯s anything like the town, where it¡¯s almost a frenzy, I estimate it will be the same in other places!"


    "Anyway, I know the Tan Family has silver and won¡¯t shortchange our wages!"


    This statement struck a chord with everyone. They were just village women; they didn¡¯t need to know too much, just that their own lives were stable.


    "Anyone who has doubts about their wages can come to me. It¡¯s human to make mistakes sometimes, but if someone wants to make unwarranted trouble, they¡¯ll have half a month¡¯s wages deducted first."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was serious. This kind of behavior wasn¡¯t just a bad reputation but also a huge waste of other people¡¯s time.


    Like hiding a few copper coins and then coming to her claiming there was a mistake in the wage calculations.


    "I think we should monitor each other and not let such a disastrous situation occur in our Embroidery Room," Qin Clan said to the person next to her.


    Unexpectedly, everyone agreed. They were all good people and shouldn¡¯t let one bad apple spoil the bunch.

 Chapter 850 - 853: Not Real

    Chapter 850: Chapter 853: Not RealQiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up, "This idea is great, I hope everyone will actively participate. Also, I think this should be written into the Embroidery Room¡¯s rules."


    The rules of the Embroidery Room dictated that violations would meet with corresponding punishments.


    The most important aspect was that everything was written down in black and white, so no one could deny it.


    Everyone agreed unanimously; the atmosphere in the Embroidery Room was excellent, and nobody wanted it spoiled by a few individuals.


    After settling the Embroidery Ladies, Qiao Duo¡¯er showed Fat Aunt and Chao Lian the office.


    "How do you like the office I¡¯ve prepared for you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very satisfied with the layout of the room; on the left side was a row of bookshelves, not far from the bookshelves was a desk, and next to it was a small tea table for receiving guests.


    In addition, two paintings hung on the wall, giving the office a strong scholarly vibe.


    In short, everything here was exquisite.


    Fat Aunt couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, "Duo¡¯er, I feel like this is a study room for a wealthy family!"


    Chao Lian nodded hurriedly, "Right, this is even made of Huali wood, which typical households wouldn¡¯t even dream of using for a desk!"


    Even though they were all family, Qiao Duo insisted on perfection.


    But being in such an environment surely made one feel good; whether drawing embroidery patterns or embroidering flowers, the level of work had truly evolved.


    But that was far from the end of it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, as if performing magic, opened a door in the wall, "Take a look at this; this is the real benefit!"


    Duo¡¯er opened a door to reveal a simple bed; a quick rest here at noon would surely make one more spirited in the afternoon.


    Chao Lian¡¯s and Fat Aunt¡¯s eyes lit up. Sometimes after sitting for so long, they dreamed of lying down for a while.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m so in love with you!" Chao Lian said, moved.


    She felt like she came here not to work but to enjoy blessings instead.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t hold back and burst out laughing.


    Since marrying Erhu, Chao Lian¡¯s comical nature became undeniably apparent.


    More importantly, she saw Sun Erhu standing at the door, his face so dark it looked like ink could drip from it, presumably fuming with anger.


    Chao Lian turned around and asked weakly, "Erhu, why are you here?"


    Erhu was always supportive of her work and seldom came to find her during her work hours.


    "You little swindler, you promised to love only me! If I hadn¡¯t come, I wouldn¡¯t have known you have feelings for your sister-in-law," Erhu said sourly.


    He knew Chao Lian was joking; he was just using this opportunity to express his dissatisfaction.


    Lately, Chao Lian had been so busy with Embroidery Room matters that she had forgotten about her own husband.


    Chao Lian blinked, struggling to find words, "It was just a casual remark, not for real."


    "So you were lying to me, how heartbreaking." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt genuinely hurt, after finally receiving a confession, only to find out it was said casually, just a tease!


    Chao Lian stamped her foot, at a loss for words.


    "Erhu, let me go out and talk to you."


    Chao Lian was quick-witted, avoiding being in an awkward position with both parties.


    Once she had moved a bit away, Erhu reminded her, "Sister-in-law, next time you¡¯re heartbroken, press on your chest, not your stomach."


    Doing so could make someone think her stomach was upset, or that the "little thing" inside was causing a fuss.


    Qiao Duo rolled her eyes; she had just been going along with Erhu¡¯s charade.


    "I can¡¯t be bothered with you. Fat Aunt, Big Girl received an order for a screen, and I need to talk to you about it so you can arrange for people to get started soon. They want it by the Mid-Autumn Festival."

 Chapter 851 - 854: Add Dishes

    Chapter 851: Chapter 854: Add DishesThere were still several months until the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the embroidered screen couldn¡¯t be completed in a day or two.


    This screen was a full moon gift from Master Feng for a little master of some family who had just moved to Mansion City; the family had significant connections, so there was no room for sloppiness.


    Before Duo¡¯er could start speaking, a series of knocks came from outside.


    "That was quick. It doesn¡¯t sound like Erhu and Chao Lian¡¯s style," Qiao Duo¡¯er joked.


    They had been married for half a year but were still incredibly lovey-dovey.


    Fat Aunt also smiled mischievously, waiting for Chao Lian to come in so she could make a joke, but it was Grandma Zhao who entered.


    She had been cooking in the Embroidery Room, and although there were more people now and they had even arranged for extra help, she was still the main force.


    Grandma Zhao cautiously asked, "Duo¡¯er, you must be hungry by now, it¡¯s getting late. Why don¡¯t you settle for a meal here?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Alright, today the Embroidery Room is relocating, you¡¯ll have to make a couple of extra special dishes!"


    Today, Tan Zhenghong and Almond were both busy tidying up the warehouse; they had probably forgotten about cooking. It would be convenient to just eat in the Embroidery Room.


    Grandma Zhao happily agreed and then hurried off to the kitchen to get busy.


    Only after Grandma Zhao left did Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully explain the requirements for the screen.


    The screen had three panels, and they needed to embroider a Map of Hundred Children Playing on them.


    Each child¡¯s expression and actions had to be distinct, the layout beautiful, and the colors harmonious.


    All of these were a true test of the Embroidery Ladies¡¯ skill and patience.


    "This is the first screen order our shop has taken on, and I think Chao Lian is the most suitable for it. As long as we make a name for ourselves with this, we don¡¯t have to worry about lacking customers later on," suggested Fat Aunt.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied, "You can arrange that. Try to make everyone happy with our Embroidery Room." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fat Aunt nodded, her mind even more preoccupied with the matter.


    After they had finished hammering out the details, Chao Lian came back with her face flushed.


    "Chao Lian, what¡¯s that red mark on your neck?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked innocently.


    Chao Lian hurriedly covered her neck. Had they discovered something?


    But after thinking it over, Erhu hadn¡¯t nibbled on her neck at all just now, so why would it be red?


    Now her face turned even redder, and she was unable to utter a single word.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but snicker; Chao Lian was still too naive.


    Oh well, best to spare her.


    At noon, Qiao Duo¡¯er joined Tan Zhenghong and the Embroidery Ladies for lunch in the dining hall.


    The dining hall had ten people per table, and there were a good five or six tables, bustling with activity.


    "The couple from the Tan Family don¡¯t put on airs at all, and they¡¯re both so attractive¡ªit¡¯s really charming!"


    "The two of them work the fields themselves, and Ah Hong often goes hunting. They don¡¯t have maids solely dedicated to serving them, which shows they¡¯re hardworking. Having silver is only natural."


    The Embroidery Ladies praised Duo¡¯er and her partner. Those who had harbored prejudices before now felt ashamed.


    It¡¯s sheer foolishness to believe those rumors.


    After a while, Grandma Zhao and her assistant brought out the food; she was a quarter of an hour later than usual today.


    "Today is a day of celebration. The Fourth Master and Madam specifically told me to add two more dishes. Make sure everyone eats happily," Grandma Zhao called out.


    "We¡¯ve got fish and meat, as well as tofu and eggs¡ªit¡¯d be hard for us not to be happy!"


    "And with Grandma Zhao¡¯s excellent cooking skills, it¡¯s bound to be delicious!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er urged, "If you know it¡¯s tasty, then why aren¡¯t you eating quickly? It won¡¯t taste the same once it cools down!"


    Everyone immediately started to eat, while also making sure to invite Duo¡¯er to have more nutritious fish and meat.


    Pregnancy is hard work, after all. One needs to eat well and stay healthy.

 Chapter 852 - 855 A Mad Dog

    Chapter 852: Chapter 855 A Mad DogAfter lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to walk around some more, but since she had the habit of taking a nap in the afternoon, she could only abandon the idea.


    Almond accompanied Duo¡¯er back, feeling genuinely happy that the Tan Family was doing better and better.


    "Madam, our Embroidery Room has moved to a new place, and we¡¯re even opening branches and starting a school. If anyone talks nonsense now, they must be deaf and blind!"


    Being able to accomplish all these tasks in a short time was enough to prove that the Tan Family wasn¡¯t lacking in silver.


    Before she finished speaking, the murmuring of some women reached Almond¡¯s ears.


    "Did you see the inventory the Tan Family shipped?"


    "I saw it. They started moving it yesterday and it still isn¡¯t finished today. I think the Tan Family is truly done for!"


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er just has a bad brain, there¡¯s so much inventory piled up, and she still dares to hire more people. She must be tired of living!"


    "Next time, I need to talk to my niece and tell her not to go to the Embroidery Room anymore!"


    "If you have relatives in the Embroidery Room, you better advise them quickly. They all have great skills, why can¡¯t they just do something else to earn money?"


    Almond retorted unhappily, "You¡¯re just sour because you can¡¯t eat the grapes. If the Embroidery Room would hire you, you¡¯d have scurried over there already!"


    The crux of it was that these women, who only knew how to gossip, were subpar in needlework, and some had failed the interviews several times.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t pick on the Tan Family on a good day with baseless claims.


    The Yan Clan woman snorted, "Oh, isn¡¯t this a dog raised by the Tan Family?"


    "Exactly, it¡¯s barking at us now!" another woman echoed.


    After saying that, the two of them laughed out loud, proud of their own words.


    To them, a maid was no different from a watchdog.


    Both were subservient, neither had freedom, pitiful and sorrowful!


    Almond¡¯s face turned red with anger, but she didn¡¯t know how to retort, for her status as a maid was indeed not as high as that of these women.


    "You still not convinced? Look at your cheap demeanor, any different from a dog that just wags its tail?" Yan Clan woman said, chuckling.


    She and Zheng Shi had grown up together and later became in-laws through their children.


    Now that the Xiao Family had fallen to such a state, it was clear that it affected the lives of Xiao Lingshan and her daughter.


    Therefore, she naturally had nothing good to say about the Tan Family members.


    But she didn¡¯t dare to offend the actual owner, so she could only vent her anger on the family¡¯s maids.


    No sooner had the Yan Clan woman finished speaking than she was slapped twice.


    Suddenly, she felt a burning sensation on her cheeks and saw stars flashing before her eyes.


    Qiao Duo said coldly, "What are you? What gives you the right to insult my people?"


    She had always treated Almond as a sister rather than a maid!


    Moreover, a maid was a person too and deserved respect.


    It took a while for the Yan Clan woman to recover her senses, Qiao Duo had actually slapped her in front of so many people, completely humiliating her! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She said through gritted teeth, "You... what gives you the right to hit me!"


    "Your parents died early, not having enough time to teach you how to behave. I can only begrudgingly take on the job," Qiao Duo said with a slight upturn on the corner of her mouth, full of sarcasm.


    The Yan Clan woman felt somewhat intimidated by the gaze but still brazenly said, "You¡¯re the one without manners!"


    Could a well-mannered person hit someone just like that?


    And hitting someone¡¯s face at that, didn¡¯t she know the saying that you don¡¯t hit the face? What right did she have to teach others a lesson?


    Qiao Duo replied indifferently, "I didn¡¯t say you lacked manners. Why are you trying to force the cap onto your head? Are you admitting guilt without being coerced? Almond, don¡¯t stoop to arguing with a mad dog, lest you degrade yourself!"


    "Madam, I understand," Almond nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 853 - 856: Holding Back

    Chapter 853: Chapter 856: Holding BackYan Clan, biting her words, said, "You hussy, I will tear your mouth apart!"


    As she lunged toward Duo¡¯er, Almond stood in front of Duo¡¯er like a mother hen protecting her chick.


    In the instant before the two were about to come to blows, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, and a small stone flew out.


    This was her special skill, but she hadn¡¯t used it in a very long time.


    Because ever since Tan Zhenghong could stand up, he hadn¡¯t let anyone bully her.


    The next second, Yan Clan thudded to her knees on the ground.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked over to Yan Clan, pressed a hand on her, and stopped all of her resistance.


    "You just tried to hurt my child? Today, you will kneel for two hours. If there¡¯s a next time, I will make your entire family kneel in the threshing floor. If that¡¯s not enough, I can send you all to work there."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly.


    If it had been before, she wouldn¡¯t have been so angry.


    But now she couldn¡¯t control herself; she would not allow anyone to harm her little angel.


    This is probably the true meaning of "Though mothers and children are weak, a mother for her child becomes strong."


    "People are inherently equal, but some earn their living by their own hands, while others live off others, hence the distinction between the upper-class and lower-class," she said.


    Having said that, Qiao Duo¡¯er left with Almond.


    Almond worked hard every day, but the other women present were a different story.


    Some of them let their men do the farm work while their mothers or daughters did the household chores, idling their time away gossiping while munching on melon seeds.


    What right did these women have to mock Almond?


    At this moment, the Tan Family¡¯s permanent workers happened to pass by, heading to the old place to carry the last load.


    One of the workers, with keen eyes, spotted his own wife and then saw Yan Clan kneeling; his face color changed slightly.


    A mere shift of his heel and he already guessed what had just happened.


    He didn¡¯t want to comment on anything else, just wanted to talk about his wife.


    Getting a job as a permanent worker at the Tan Family had been hard-earned. It was bad enough his wife was no help, but now she was even holding him back. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He knew that if he angered Mrs. Tan, he could kiss his job goodbye.


    Gu Changsheng said gruffly, "What are you even doing, you damn woman? Scram back home!"


    Better to be weeding her own field than idly chatting under the tree.


    Being shouted at by her own husband, Changsheng¡¯s wife left with her tail between her legs, but in her heart, she was thinking of finding a few good-natured daughters-in-law to gossip about Yan Clan¡¯s beating.


    And about Qiao Duo, who was practically a shrew!


    Yet Tan Zhenghong doted on her like a treasure, never letting her suffer the slightest hardship, nearly making you die of envy.


    The village was small, and word of Yan Clan being put in her place spread quickly.


    Gu Changsheng also learned about what had happened and felt unease in his heart. Although Yan Clan was the main culprit, his wife surely had taken great pleasure in her misfortune.


    Damn this family-ruining woman!


    After finishing work, Gu Changsheng specially made a trip to the Tan Family, standing before Qiao Duo. He became so nervous that he forgot all the words he had thought up in Xi¡¯an.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Speak whatever you want to say."


    "Madam, my wife is ignorant. Please don¡¯t stoop to her level. I will surely ground her down when I get back!" Gu Changsheng said respectfully.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "You are you, she is she; I will not mix you two together."


    Gu Changsheng was a hardworking man; it was just a pity he married a lazy wife.


    "Thank you, Mrs. Tan," Gu Changsheng said repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.


    However, he still needed to discipline his wife at home, otherwise, if she caused even more trouble next time, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make amends.

 Chapter 854 - 857: Commemoration

    Chapter 854: Chapter 857: Commemoration"Just do your job well at the Tan Family,"


    "Yes, Madam, then I¡¯ll be heading back now."


    Gu Changsheng saw Qiao Duo¡¯er sewing children¡¯s clothes, showing no interest in making further conversation, so he wisely took his leave.


    "Madam, don¡¯t stand up for me in the future. It doesn¡¯t matter what those people say about me." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Almond poured tea for Duo¡¯er. She was very touched that the madam had got so upset for her sake today, yet she was also worried.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dismissively said, "Their childish nonsense could never hurt me. I merely took the opportunity today to warn the instigators behind the scenes, so the Tan Family won¡¯t constantly be the subject of idle gossip."


    Some people had better keep quiet, otherwise, their whole family might find themselves reunited in jail.


    "Madam, do you know who it is?" Almond looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "There are only so many households in the village, and even fewer with a grudge. It¡¯s easy to guess who it is."


    Almond understood; she estimated that those rumors were probably spread by the mad Zheng Shi.


    Otherwise, those claims wouldn¡¯t be so baseless and self-contradictory.


    Yet, the fact that some people believed the words of a madwoman was beyond her comprehension.


    "Grown so old without being able to distinguish right from wrong, they might as well have lived their lives as dogs!" Almond couldn¡¯t help but criticize.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dissatisfiedly said, "Don¡¯t insult my dogs, Fat Fat and Fatty are very clever!"


    At that moment, the two large dogs were lying by her feet, seemingly dozing and waiting, but they were actually staying vigilant.


    Almond chuckled, some people indeed were not as good as dogs.


    The two of them chatted and laughed, but their hands moved swiftly, both hurriedly sewing the small garments.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong rushed in like a whirlwind.


    He grabbed Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand and carefully examined her before finally letting his heart settle back into his chest.


    Thankfully, his wife was unharmed.


    "You must never scare people like that again," Tan Zhenghong patted his chest. If he had known, he would have sent Duo¡¯er home first, instead of forgetting the time amidst his busyness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "I had her acupoint pressed, kneeling for two hours was punishment enough for her."


    Especially since there had been a small stone under Yan Clan¡¯s knee at the time.


    "She got what she deserved!" Tan Zhenghong was still furious.


    "Don¡¯t be angry, arguing is exhausting. Hurry up and make me a stewed old duck soup to invigorate me," Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly changed the subject.


    If they kept talking, Tan Zhenghong might end up going and giving Yan Clan a thrashing, and it really wasn¡¯t worth it for such a wretched person.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately went to the backyard to catch a duck. After slaughtering and cleaning it, he began to cook the soup.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took advantage of the time to put Tan Zhenghong¡¯s discarded duck blood to good use, making fine, soft duck blood tofu.


    Once the duck soup was ready, she poured the blood tofu into it. The added ingredient made it even more delicious, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was particularly fond of it.


    Almond took a taste and immediately gave a thumbs-up.


    "Madam, you¡¯re truly amazing; you can think of anything!"


    Without any modesty, Qiao Duo¡¯er replied, "Of course, who do you think I am!"


    The duck blood, seasoned with spices, was so good she might have swallowed her own tongue with each bite.


    On the second day of June, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong packed up some things and went to the mountain behind their home.


    Today was the birthday of the original body, and they went to pay their respects.


    Tan Zhenghong dug a hole and placed the original body¡¯s only two sets of clothing into it, then covered it with earth to create a small mound.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out the offerings one by one: braised pork, roast chicken, braised fish, marinated duck, marinated beef, and cumin lamb¡ªall hearty dishes.


    These were all foods that Silly Sister had craved but never had the chance to eat.


    Tan Zhenghong also lit two candles and offered a stick of incense for her.

 Chapter 855 - 858: A Grave for Dress and Crown?

    Chapter 855: Chapter 858: A Grave for Dress and Crown?If there¡¯s a next life, I hope she can have a completely different one¡ªhealthy and happy at the very least.


    "Silly Sister, I¡¯m sorry, and thank you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    She was sorry because she had taken over someone else¡¯s body, and grateful because the original self had given her the opportunity to experience happiness.


    It was the original self¡¯s sacrifice that had made her present life with Tan Zhenghong possible.


    Tan Zhenghong had also said sorry, because on the night of their wedding, for just a moment, he had despised her when she was covered in a mess of flour soup. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The incense burnt slowly, and the two people in front of the grave had countless emotions.


    Fate really is a strange thing; it often turns everything upside down at some unknown moment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat by the grave for a while, and only when the sun grew stronger did she and Tan Zhenghong descend the mountain together.


    It was a long while after they¡¯d left that Xuan San emerged from behind a tree.


    He swiftly dug up the small mound and pulled out the clothes inside.


    Xuan San curled the corner of his lips and muttered that Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er were quite interesting. Burying two tattered pieces of clothing, providing offerings and paper money¡ªwhat were they plotting?


    Was it just to keep themselves busy?


    Xuan San soon realized, this was a Grave for Dress and Crown, but for which woman was it built?


    But shouldn¡¯t a Grave for Dress and Crown be built more formally? At the very least, set up some tablets!


    That way, he would know what the couple was up to.


    Suddenly, an idea struck Xuan San¡ªperhaps Tan Zhenghong had taken a liking to the current woman, and together they conspired to kill his former wife. Now they were pretending to mourn her with this pseudo-grave.


    This would explain the vast change in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s appearance, disposition, and why she was no longer silly.


    But there were many things that didn¡¯t add up, such as why neither the villagers nor the woman¡¯s family had noticed anything. And where was the woman¡¯s body?


    Xuan San stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.


    However, after a long time, he could come up with no explanation. Shaking his head, he decided to continue his clandestine surveillance of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But Xuan San, who had been squatting for two days straight, had discovered nothing at all.


    The woman was formidable, with keen senses; he could only observe her from afar, and even then, he had to use his peripheral vision or he would alert her.


    As a result, the information he obtained was sparse, which was frustrating!


    Even more agonizing was the fact that he had to witness her smiling so pleasingly every day, which made his heart ache as if sliced by a dull knife, each cut reaching deep into his soul.


    His Yin Yinyue had died¡ªwhy should there still be smiles in this world?


    But all he could do now was wait.


    Eventually, he simply rented an empty house in the village to settle in, waiting for the plague to arrive.


    Soon, the secrets he wanted to uncover would turn to ashes in the pandemonium.


    Then, nothing would matter anymore.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s days were filled with joy, but the Qiao Family Members were having a hard time.


    "What¡¯s with Master Xu? It¡¯s been almost a month since then, so why hasn¡¯t there been any movement?"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was so anxious she stamped her feet.


    "We should have married off Third Sister before the New Year, but you all insisted on waiting another year. Now, look what¡¯s happened; they¡¯ve surely forgotten about Qiao Mei¡¯er by now!" Qiao Jingu was furious.


    Without Master Xu¡¯s support, they had no chance of reaping any benefits from Qiao Duo¡¯er, let alone taking revenge on her behalf.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er suddenly remembered that Du Haofeng was well acquainted with Xu Yuanwai and thought that he might help remind him.


    So she put on her most beautiful dress and stepped out.


    The back gate of Du Mansion.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er knocked on the door, and the Young Servant arranged by Du Haofeng immediately went out to meet her.


    But the person she saw at the designated place was not Du Haofeng, but the second young lady of the Du Family, Du Yingxue.

 Chapter 856 - 859: Looking Down from a Height

    Chapter 856: Chapter 859: Looking Down from a HeightUpon seeing Du Yingxue, Qiao Hua¡¯er immediately became wary.


    She often heard Du Haofeng complain that in other families the sons are the treasured ones, but in the Du Family, it was the other way around.


    Because it took generations to have such a daughter who was both beautiful and charming, the elders were extremely indulgent with her.


    But in reality, Du Yingxue was malicious at heart.


    At any rate, those in the Du Family whom she disliked never met with a good end.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was very clear that if she hadn¡¯t left a good impression on Du Yingxue, even if she could marry into the Du Family, she would not have good days ahead.


    So she hastily curtseyed: "I pay my respects to Miss Du."


    "And who do I have here? It turns out to be the Qiao Family¡¯s second young miss."


    Du Yingxue scoffed lightly, her face full of disdain.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er wasn¡¯t bad-looking, but she fell far short of Qiao Duo¡¯er, especially in terms of temperament, which was like heaven and earth in difference.


    But even with a face that resembled Qiao Duo¡¯er by three parts, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to like it, she even felt the urge to tear it apart.


    She still remembered the incident at the Zhao Family¡¯s place that day, and she would reclaim the dignity she lost sooner or later.


    "Miss Du is truly a lady of noble birth, while I am nothing more than a country bumpkin."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er said with an appeasing smile, her mind racing to figure out when she had offended this young lady.


    In the past, she had run into Du Yingxue too but was treated as invisible. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why had she taken it upon herself to trouble her this time, as if she had gone mad?


    Especially since due to the busy fieldwork recently, she hadn¡¯t even been to the Du Family¡¯s place much.


    "At least you have some self-awareness. Knowing your place, you should stay away from my brother in the future. You¡¯re not worthy of him. You should be like Qiao Duo¡¯er, honestly find some country bumpkin to marry!" Du Yingxue said with scorn.


    Her brother could play with whatever woman he wanted, but there was one rule: never to get involved with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The very thought disgusted her!


    Qiao Hua¡¯er hung her head in embarrassment but couldn¡¯t utter a word in retort.


    Du Yingxue¡¯s stance became even more haughty as if she reigned from above.


    "Live the life befitting your class. There are high branches that you can¡¯t climb just by wishing to!"


    Don¡¯t be like Qiao Duo¡¯er, obviously just a village girl, yet wanting to attend high-class parties.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er bowed her head even lower; her rural origins were her lifelong nightmare.


    Her submissive appearance made Du Yingxue even more pleased with herself, as if the person she was bullying was Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She needed to vent this frustration or she would suffocate from it.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing her anger.


    Now was not the time to turn hostile.


    Not only must she not confront her, but she also had to find a way to cheer Du Yingxue up.


    If this young lady could speak a word for her, her chance of becoming the young lady of the Du Family would be secured.


    "Miss Du, if there¡¯s anything I¡¯ve done wrong, I apologize first. I will definitely change my ways in the future, I just beg you not to be angry with me," Qiao Hua¡¯er said with a good-natured tone.


    Du Yingxue, as if she heard the funniest joke, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, considering her image as a young lady.


    "You¡¯re quite presumptuous. Who do you think you are?"


    "Please enlighten me, Miss Du. As long as it¡¯s within my power, I shall not refuse," said Qiao Hua¡¯er sincerely.


    She was very aware of one thing: to gain something, one must sacrifice something else.


    Du Yingxue thought for a moment but didn¡¯t speak to Qiao Hua¡¯er; instead, she walked over to the desk.


    The waiting maid immediately laid out the rice paper, and after Du Yingxue measured Qiao Hua¡¯er with her eyes once more, she picked up the brush and elegantly wrote down four characters.

 Chapter 857 - 860: Discussing Marriage?

    Chapter 857: Chapter 860: Discussing Marriage?After putting down the brush, she carefully blew the rice paper dry.


    She was a well-known talented woman in White Stone County, especially admired for her calligraphy, which made countless young ladies of wealthy families envious.


    But no matter how hard they practiced, they were still out of reach.


    Du Yingxue turned to Qiao Hua¡¯er, "Do you know what I¡¯ve written?"


    "I..." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er hemmed and hawed but couldn¡¯t make any sense.


    All the benefits of the Qiao Family had been scooped up by Qiao Jingu, how could she possibly be allowed to learn to read and write?


    But what was there for Du Yingxue to show off about?


    It was nothing more than being born into the right family; had she been born into a peasant family, she might not be as well off as Qiao Hua¡¯er now.


    The smile on Du Yingxue¡¯s face grew even bigger, "You don¡¯t need to say it; I know. You should just be grateful for food on your table, how could you possibly know how to read? These four characters, ¡¯deluded infatuation,¡¯ are describing you!"


    She knew Qiao Hua¡¯er had come to the Du Family in hopes of a better life, but what could she bring to the Du Family?


    What right did she have to enjoy everything the Du Family had to offer?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er clenched her teeth, her eyes reddening from such humiliation, yet her last shred of rationality told her not to explode.


    Otherwise, all her previous efforts would go to waste.


    Du Yingxue grew even more overbearing, throwing the paper right onto Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    Since the rice paper was quite large, a part of it covered Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s face.


    It was no use for Qiao Hua¡¯er trying to ingratiate herself anymore, since she couldn¡¯t save face.


    It looked like they were really going to go at it. The young servant hurriedly said, "Miss, that... I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be difficult to explain to the young master later."


    "What do you have to explain to your young master? My brother is at a critical moment for marriage discussions, and if you dare to mess things up, see if I don¡¯t beat you to death!"


    Du Yingxue cast a cold glance at the young servant, effectively silencing him.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er managed to catch the emphasis in Du Yingxue¡¯s words.


    "Marriage discussions?" Qiao Hua¡¯er widened her eyes.


    He had clearly told her he would marry her, but now he was discussing marriage with someone else; what did that make her?


    Was she just his toy?


    And now that he was tired of playing with her, he could just kick her aside?


    "Did my brother tell you he would marry you? Stop dreaming. At most, he would let you be a concubine maid, but now I hate you, so you won¡¯t even get to be a concubine maid!"


    After saying this, Du Yingxue left without looking back.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was entirely different from Qiao Duo¡¯er; even if she stayed, she wouldn¡¯t find the sense of achievement she was looking for.


    When Du Yingxue was far enough away, Qiao Hua¡¯er turned to the young servant, "Where is Du Haofeng? I want to see him."


    "You better leave, the owner won¡¯t agree to you marrying into the family."


    The young servant kindly reminded her.


    By now, aside from Du Haofeng who still thought he was doing a good job at keeping secrets, everyone else had decided that Qiao Hua¡¯er must not be allowed into the family.


    Of course, most of this was thanks to the young lady¡¯s efforts.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was not content, "Please tell your young master that if I don¡¯t see him today, I definitely won¡¯t leave."


    "Second Miss, we are only servants; please don¡¯t make things difficult for us."


    The young servant was trying to be patient, as the young master was still at the Ming Family¡¯s place, and staying here was pointless.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er sat down on a stone bench in the pavilion, determined to wait for Du Haofeng to give her an explanation.


    "Then I must offend you," implied the young servant as he bowed slightly.


    The next second, he signalled his companion with a look, and the two of them dragged Qiao Hua¡¯er out by force.


    The young servant silently criticized her; how could this lady be so forward?


    Didn¡¯t she feel ashamed!


    In fact, the more a woman throws herself at a man, the cruder she appears, and the less likely she is to be favored by wealthy families.

 Chapter 858 - 861: The Material of an Official

    Chapter 858: Chapter 861: The Material of an OfficialThere was also Qiao Hua¡¯er, who herself was not adept at handling matters.


    She dressed up fancily, but the first time she met the young lady of his family, she didn¡¯t bring even a bracelet as a gift, truly stingy to the core.


    Although his family¡¯s young lady did not care for those trifles, it was the thought that counted.


    Before long, Qiao Hua¡¯er found herself escorted out of the Du Family¡¯s gates.


    Her face flushed with embarrassment. How could she face anyone after being turned away like this? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then she thought about her dream of marrying into the Du Family and revived her spirits. If she retreated because of this small difficulty, what would her future hold?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er dusted the dirt off her clothes and knocked on the door again.


    "Open the door quickly, I need to see Du Haofeng!"


    After knocking many times, the gatekeeper, annoyed, brought out a vicious dog.


    "You¡¯ve had your share of benefits from the young master; can¡¯t we part on good terms? If you keep lingering like a restless spirit, don¡¯t blame my Wang Cai for not being polite!"


    Wang Cai was a large wolfhound, almost reaching a person¡¯s shoulder when it stood up.


    At the sight of a stranger, it was lunging eagerly, ready to bite.


    Those blood-red gums and snow-white teeth were terrifying to behold.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er clenched her fists tight¡ªshe couldn¡¯t find peace without seeing Du Haofeng.


    Yet with a wolfhound guarding the Du Family¡¯s gate, she could not enter on her own, what could she do?


    She didn¡¯t want to lose her life over a dog.


    After weighing the risks, Qiao Hua¡¯er decided to head back home, but Du Yingxue¡¯s words echoed in her head.


    She walked back in a daze, and it took a while for her mind to clear.


    The more Qiao Hua¡¯er thought about it, the more something seemed off. She doubted Du Yingxue was targeting her, as she had barely interacted with her.


    Suddenly, she thought of Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    When Du Yingxue mentioned Qiao Duo¡¯er, she gritted her teeth with hatred¡ªthat was her real enemy.


    And Qiao Duo¡¯er...


    It must have been Qiao Duo¡¯er, not wanting her to marry well, who had craftily sabotaged her marriage prospects. That woman was too vicious!


    A smirk appeared on Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s face. If she couldn¡¯t find a good family to marry into, she wouldn¡¯t let Qiao Duo¡¯er live in peace either!


    When she arrived home, Qiao Jingu was squatting in the shade, munching on a watermelon.


    It was the peak of summer, and for many families, watermelons were not yet ripe, fetching a high price.


    If it had been shared among the family members, it would have been okay, but Qiao Jingu scooped out half with a spoon, and kept the other half hugged to his chest as if afraid someone would snatch it away.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er glanced at him with disdain, then attempted to walk past him.


    It was all because of this useless person dragging down the entire family, otherwise, the Qiao Family would not be living like this.


    To Qiao Jingu, her behavior was nothing short of contempt.


    He was the only man in the house, and everyone else existed to serve him. Otherwise, these money-losing ventures would soon drain the family¡¯s last resources.


    "A wild girl always thinking of marrying into a wealthy family, do you think they would even consider you? Always eagerly throwing yourself at them, shameless thing!" Qiao Jingu sneered mercilessly.


    "You¡¯re no different, bullied by an idiot and can only come back hoping others will avenge you, spineless loser!" Qiao Hua¡¯er retorted.


    She had long held grievances against this brother. For other women, a brother was a source of support, someone to stand up for them when they were bullied.


    But Qiao Jingu was nothing but a burden.


    All he did was fleece her for silver as soon as she had any, until there was nothing left.


    No, she had to rid herself of this dead weight as soon as possible!


    Then Liu¡¯s family emerged from the house, and Qiao Jingu complained, "Mother, look at the daughter you raised, she¡¯s calling me a spineless loser!"


    "You wretched girl, how can you speak to your brother like that? It¡¯s the fault of your father and me for not being able to send Jin Gui to a private school. Otherwise, your brother would have had the making of an official!"

 Chapter 859 - 862: Don’t Want Me Anymore?

    Chapter 859: Chapter 862: Don¡¯t Want Me Anymore?"If you want to blame someone, blame us. Jin Gui is still a child and not in good health, so don¡¯t upset him."


    ...


    Liu¡¯s family started nagging again, something Qiao Hua¡¯er could recite by now.


    She truly didn¡¯t understand where her mother got such confidence.


    There were scholars in the village too, but some spent their whole lives unable to pass the exams to become a Scholar, and yet her mother blurted out that Qiao Jingu could become an official as if she wasn¡¯t afraid of being laughed at.


    But as long as her mother was happy, that was good enough, considering how hard it was to give birth to such a foolish son.


    Disgusted, Qiao Hua¡¯er said, "I¡¯ll go cut pigweed. You all should think of another solution to Third Sister¡¯s problem."


    Liu¡¯s family let out a sigh, knowing all they could do now was wait.


    Xu Yuanwai¡¯s status was there for all to see; they weren¡¯t people who could meet him just because they wanted to.


    For the next few days, Qiao Hua¡¯er waited at the Du Family entrance whenever she had the chance, come rain or shine. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She refused to believe she wouldn¡¯t catch Du Haofeng.


    At last, her perseverance paid off; Du Haofeng left his residence in a carriage on a bright and sunny afternoon.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er steeled her heart and blocked the carriage¡¯s path.


    The coachman said gruffly, "You trying to get yourself killed, woman? If I hadn¡¯t pulled the horses in time, you¡¯d be dead meat!"


    She might want to die, but why drag him into it?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er shouted, "Du Haofeng, come out, I have something to ask you!"


    "Who¡¯s this crazy girl? Get moving, this isn¡¯t a place for you to act wild!" the coachman hurried to stop Qiao Hua¡¯er from continuing.


    They were close to the Du Family residence, and if the master and madam found out, he might lose his job.


    Haofeng cornered a smirk, "Uncle Chen, she¡¯s an acquaintance. Let her come up and talk."


    When the young master gave an order, the coachman had no choice but to obey.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er climbed into the carriage and saw Du Haofeng dressed in Xuan green long robes, emanating a strong scholarly aura.


    "Are you dressed up so nicely to discuss a marriage?" Qiao Hua¡¯er asked sourly.


    Haofeng responded dismissively, "Discuss what marriage? It¡¯s just some friends inviting me for a meal and drinks, that¡¯s all."


    But Qiao Hua¡¯er didn¡¯t believe him because most people had already eaten lunch by this time, so who would be inviting him for a meal and drinks?


    He must surely be seeking favor with another family¡¯s daughter.


    To think he was that kind of man, and she had foolishly given herself to him, what would she do in the future?


    As she thought of the heartbreaking possibilities, Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s tears started to fall.


    "Du Haofeng, do you really not want me anymore?"


    Seeing Qiao Hua¡¯er crying pitifully, Haofeng¡¯s ego was instantly gratified.


    After the New Year, his family brought up his marriage arrangements, setting their sights on the Third Sister from the Ming family, claiming that a marriage with the Ming family would make business easier for them in the future.


    But no matter how much he tried to engage with them, they and their daughter didn¡¯t take to him and even showed outright disdain.


    These recent days had almost driven him into depression.


    Being with Qiao Hua¡¯er was different; she was always full of admiration and awe for him.


    So the rejection that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed down, and he flirtatiously said, "You are my heart and soul, how could I not want you? This place is too crowded; let¡¯s find somewhere else to talk."


    "Young Master, the Ming family..." the coachman reminded him.


    Having already made an appointment with Miss Ming, they would surely be upset if he didn¡¯t show up.


    If the marriage arrangement with Miss Ming were settled, it would be the Du family reaching above their station to join with the Ming family.


    Before the coachman could finish, Haofeng cut him off, "Enough with the nonsense. Go to the Ruyi Tavern."


    As for the Ming family, even if he attended, he would only be left waiting in the hall; why should he put himself out there to be humiliated?

 Chapter 860 - 863 Don’t Mess Around

    Chapter 860: Chapter 863 Don¡¯t Mess AroundUpon arrival, Qiao Hua¡¯er habitually walked behind Du Haofeng.


    This was a classic display of an inferiority complex.


    She had always felt she did not belong in the same world as Du Haofeng and had no right to stand by his side.


    "Young Master Du, when did you change to such a handsome Maid? I¡¯m so envious I could die!" the proprietoress winked at Du Haofeng.


    She thought everyone knew what such Maids were for, so why keep up the facade?


    Without offering an explanation, Du Haofeng said, "Hurry and find a private room for this young master. I don¡¯t want to be disturbed while eating."


    "Right away, please lead Young Master Du upstairs to the best room we have!"


    The proprietoress urged the waiter. Patrons like him were the most profitable for the restaurant, so they had to be treated with great care.


    "Young Master Du, please!"


    The waiter called out enthusiastically.


    In the private room, Du Haofeng got straight to the point, "Hurry up and serve a table full of exquisite dishes. Choose the best."


    "Please wait a moment, the dishes will be ready shortly."


    The waiter agreed happily, as he liked straightforward clients like this.


    Once the Child went out, Qiao Hua¡¯er timidly asked, "Hao Feng... you haven¡¯t had lunch yet?"


    "I ordered specially for you. Your parents favor your brother, and your brother is unappreciative. At home, you can hardly ever eat your fill, so I wanted you to have a good meal out."


    Du Haofeng said tenderly¡ªhe wished Qiao Hua¡¯er could be more vibrant.


    "But I can¡¯t finish this much by myself."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was overjoyed; to meet a man who cherished her so much in her lifetime was indeed a life without regrets.


    But deep down, she felt nervous. She feared Du Haofeng might scorn her because of her background.


    "Eat as much as you can. It will help you put on some weight, which will make you more comfortable for me to touch," Du Haofeng said suggestively.


    His family had kept tight reins on him lately, denying him any chance to get close to a woman. He would have to find a place to vent his frustrations later.


    With nefarious thoughts in mind, his hands became less innocent.


    Unfortunately, that area was not well-developed, and the feel wasn¡¯t great.


    Blushing, Qiao Hua¡¯er said, "There are other people outside. Don¡¯t mess around."


    "Don¡¯t worry, even if you gave them the guts, they wouldn¡¯t dare to peek," Du Haofeng¡¯s hand slid up from the hem with a shameless demeanor.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s face turned as red as a shrimp. She kept her body stiff, not daring to move, nor did she dare to make the slightest sound.


    At any moment, someone like the waiter could walk in, perhaps to serve a dish or pour some water.


    What if someone saw them?


    Nibbling on Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s ear, Du Haofeng said, "Don¡¯t be nervous. I won¡¯t really do anything to you."


    He cared about his reputation¡ªmaking too much commotion wouldn¡¯t be good for him either.


    The key issue was the lack of a proper place for him to express himself; frankly, the restaurant was not bad, but the private rooms lacked beds. If that were addressed, he¡¯d come every day for meals.


    Biting her lip, Qiao Hua¡¯er tacitly accepted Du Haofeng¡¯s actions.


    Just as Du Haofeng was preparing to take things further, the disruptive individual arrived.


    "Young Master Du, your dishes are ready!" the waiter announced.


    Du Haofeng withdrew his hand, waiting for Qiao Hua¡¯er to tidy her clothes, before saying, "Come in."


    Only after a response from inside did the waiter push the door open and enter.


    "Young Master Du, please enjoy your meal. These are the most signature dishes of our restaurant," said the waiter, with his head bowed.


    The restaurant saw many patrons every day, and having seen so much, he knew exactly what had transpired inside just by stepping foot in the room. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 861 - 864: I Do My Bad Deeds

    Chapter 861: Chapter 864: I Do My Bad DeedsDu Haofeng said considerately, "Try it, see how it tastes."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er blushed, picked up her chopsticks, and stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth. The braised pork was tender, flavorful, and rich without being greasy¡ªit tasted delicious.


    It was the tastiest meat she had ever eaten in her life!


    After swallowing the meat, Duo¡¯er said, "It¡¯s tasty, I really like it."


    "Glad you like it. Hurry up and eat, we have other things to do after this." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Du Haofeng was in a good mood, as his depression for the past few days had finally lifted.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er asked with a sense of loss, "Are you still going to the Ming Family?"


    "How could I? Haven¡¯t seen me for so long, don¡¯t you miss me?" Du Haofeng¡¯s voice was somewhat hoarse.


    He was already desperately hungry for her!


    Qiao Hua¡¯er hurriedly stuffed another piece of meat into her mouth, hoping to hide her shyness.


    If she had known it would be like this, she wouldn¡¯t have waited at the Du Family Entrance today¡ªnow surely someone would again call her cheap.


    She knew that taking initiative would devalue herself, but if she didn¡¯t, Du Haofeng probably wouldn¡¯t even remember who she was.


    "Hurry up and eat, I¡¯ll do my bad things."


    Under Du Haofeng¡¯s teasing, Qiao Hua¡¯er quickly filled her stomach.


    After that, they hurried to their next destination.


    When Qiao Hua¡¯er got out of the carriage, she was taken aback¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected Du Haofeng to bring her to the Hundred Flowers Building.


    She was a woman, how could she come to a brothel?


    If she went in, she would never be able to clear her name in the future, her whole life would be ruined!


    After all, what decent girl would seek out a brothel for no reason?


    Du Haofeng was very familiar with the madam here; with just a few words, she had arranged a room for them.


    Any clear-eyed person could tell that he must frequent such places, and the coquettish looks from several girls towards him made Qiao Hua¡¯er even more certain of it.


    At that moment, Qiao Hua¡¯er suddenly felt the urge to run away.


    Only she knew that if she acted capriciously now, she would never have another chance with Du Haofeng, let alone marry into the Du Family.


    "Hua¡¯er, are you angry?" Du Haofeng belatedly realized Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s pique.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er didn¡¯t want to pay attention to Du Haofeng, and so she turned her head away.


    Her haughty demeanor made Du Haofeng irritated again. It was bad enough that the Ming Family had snubbed him, but now even a village girl dared to get above herself with him. Did she really think he was so placid?


    He was almost sick of sweet-talking women!


    "Let me be frank with you, if you want a man to be devoted to only you, go find a bumpkin from the village; they can¡¯t afford a second wife. If you want to live a good life, you¡¯ll have to accept polygamy."


    Du Haofeng spoke bluntly, making things clear to save trouble.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er clenched her fists and asked through gritted teeth, "Do you still remember you said you would marry me? You also said you would love only me for the rest of your life!"


    Why did her status change from wife to concubine now?


    Why did she have to share a man with other women?


    Is this what Du Haofeng called loving her?


    "What is love? Don¡¯t talk to me about such ridiculous things. You must know your own status¡ªa woman with nothing will not be the wife in the Du Family, at most you could be a concubine, and that is after the wife has entered the Du household."


    Du Haofeng was willing to admit that he had said those words, but what did that matter?


    To achieve one¡¯s aim, shouldn¡¯t one use a little trickery?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er said angrily, "How can you lie to me?"


    "Haven¡¯t you heard that you can¡¯t trust what a man says in bed? I never force a woman. If you¡¯re unwilling, I won¡¯t insist."

 Chapter 862 - 865: A Painful Bite

    Chapter 862: Chapter 865: A Painful BiteDu Haofeng gave Qiao Hua¡¯er the choice, and he didn¡¯t care which she chose.


    He was almost tired of playing anyway, so it wasn¡¯t a loss.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was stunned; her mind was in chaos. Why had she sought such a heartless person?


    Aside from Du Haofeng, she couldn¡¯t find a better man, and the actions of their marriage would eventually come to light.


    But if she continued with Du Haofeng, she would only be a concubine, always considered less than others, and Du Haofeng himself was not a loyal man.


    What should she do?


    After a while, Qiao Hua¡¯er came to a conclusion.


    She had come from tough times; she understood the bitterness better than anyone.


    That¡¯s why she longed for a life where clothes come handed to her and food comes to her mouth.


    Moreover, if her belly proved fruitful and bore a son, even the legitimate wife couldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er, draping herself around Du Haofeng¡¯s neck, said in a soft voice, "I can¡¯t be without you, you must not let me down in the future."


    "There¡¯s my good girl, once you enter the door, I¡¯ll make you a Madam Ru, and even Madam won¡¯t be able to bully you," he said.


    Madam Ru is also a concubine, but she holds a higher status than half the other concubines.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was satisfied and initiated a passionate kiss, leading to a fiery encounter of love.


    Due to the special environment, Qiao Hua¡¯er even felt a strange sensation.


    Gently whispering into her ear, Du Haofeng said, "Baby, aren¡¯t you grateful I brought you to this place?" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯re awful!" Qiao Hua¡¯er chided with a frown.


    "Today, you¡¯ve made me very sore."


    ...


    In the evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er sat in the carriage.


    Today she had inspected Duo Meifang and the Embroidery Room and also saw Ling¡¯er and Old Lady Bai.


    Old Lady Bai insisted on having them over for a meal, which stretched until this hour.


    "The Medical Woman said Ling¡¯er will give birth at the beginning of next month, I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m so nervous," Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    The one about to give birth wasn¡¯t her, yet she always had an ominous feeling.


    Gently, Tan Zhenghong said, "It¡¯s because you¡¯ll soon give birth as well, so you naturally empathize. But don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll always be by your side."


    For him, his wife had suffered so much; what reason did he have to be absent?


    Qiao Duo nodded her head. Actually, she still had an indescribable feeling in her heart, but fearing that Tan Zhenghong would worry, she didn¡¯t mention it and instead opened the window curtain to breathe in some fresh air.


    Even though it was only evening, the Red-Light District was already bustling.


    "Wife, you¡¯ll spoil the child this way," Tan Zhenghong pulled Qiao Duo into his arms.


    The women here dressed revealingly and there was a strong scent of makeup; it wasn¡¯t a good place.


    "No, look, that person looks like Qiao Hua¡¯er."


    Qiao Duo quickly said. She really hadn¡¯t been paying attention to those enticing women!


    Tan Zhenghong took a careful look and indeed, it was Qiao Hua¡¯er. Whatsmore, there was a man following behind her.


    He had seen this man at Old Lady Bai¡¯s birthday banquet, a frivolous son of a wealthy family.


    "Duo¡¯er, do you want to persuade her? I feel Young Master Du is not a good man," Tan Zhenghong asked tentatively.


    Thanks to Du Yingxue, the affair between Qiao Hua¡¯er and Du Haofeng was well-known, but to be playing in a brothel was going too far, completely disregarding the woman¡¯s reputation.


    "Then I¡¯ll seem jealous of others¡¯ happiness," Qiao Duo said with resignation.


    If Qiao Hua¡¯er would listen to advice, she would never do such absurd things.


    So she felt helpless, only able to watch Qiao Hua¡¯er continue down her destructive path.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Then let her be."


    Some people won¡¯t realize their mistakes until they feel the pain, but whether Qiao Hua¡¯er could withstand such pain remained to be seen.

 Chapter 863 - 866: Devil of the World

    Chapter 863: Chapter 866: Devil of the WorldOnce back home, Almond had already prepared the bath water.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a comfortable hot bath, and the discomfort within her heart finally seemed to fade away.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly took his shower as well, and when he came out, he saw Qiao Duo¡¯er still sitting at the desk.


    Uh... the key thing was that she was still looking at Bai Yifan¡¯s notes.


    That bastard Bai Yifan must have done it on purpose. He¡¯d run off to Beijiang, yet he left such a thing behind to irritate him!


    "Little liar, you just said you were going to sleep."


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, feeling a wave of jealousy churning inside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sheepishly explained, "Can¡¯t I sit here and drink milk?"


    Drinking a cup of milk before bed helps with sleep, and after getting pregnant, Duo¡¯er had developed this habit.


    But fresh milk needed to be boiled before drinking, otherwise the bacteria in it could cause diarrhea and also have a bad impact on the fetus.


    "Do you need a book to drink milk?" Tan Zhenghong asked with a dark expression, simultaneously moving the notes aside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted and let Tan Zhenghong lead her to the bedside.


    "Lie down quickly, I¡¯ll apply the Fragrance Paste for you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooperated well, lying down obediently and even lifting up her shirt to expose her bulging belly.


    This Fragrance Paste was her own concoction, meant to nourish the skin.


    If applied consistently during the latter stages of pregnancy, it could prevent red stretch marks from appearing on the stomach¡ªthose legendary pregnancy lines. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once stretch marks appeared, they could almost never disappear naturally, so prevention was the best method.


    Tan Zhenghong carefully scooped out a piece of Fragrance Paste, warmed it in his hands, and then gently applied it to Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach, also softly massaging it.


    In reality, he didn¡¯t mind; his wife could be as ugly as it gets, and she¡¯d still be his wife.


    But since Duo¡¯er was treating it like a major attack, he could only cooperate fully.


    "It¡¯s already been six months in a flash, I feel like time has passed so fast," Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but express his sentiment.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "I always thought that ten months of pregnancy would be a long journey, but in the blink of an eye, only four months are left. Soon, our home will be lively."


    Judging by the frequency of the little thing¡¯s antics, he was sure to be a Devil of the World in the future.


    They probably would have their hands full then.


    "Ever since I met you, I feel like the days are flying by too quickly¡ªlifetime after lifetime wouldn¡¯t be enough."


    "Silly, so cheesy!"


    Qiao Duo glared at Tan Zhenghong, but her slightly upturned mouth betrayed her good mood; a lifetime together was always a beautiful promise.


    Perhaps the little one couldn¡¯t stand his parents¡¯ display of affection, so he quickly moved a bit to show his presence.


    "Little thing, don¡¯t make trouble. If you hurt your mother¡¯s belly, she will be sad, do you understand?"


    Tan Zhenghong said sternly, wishing the dead little guy could be a bit gentler when he moved.


    He felt that the baby would be a boy judging by the fetal movements; if it was a girl, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be so restless.


    Sometimes at night, his wife would even be woken up by this little thing¡¯s thrashing.


    Qiao Duo said with amusement, "The baby can now hear and see. If you always scare him like this, be careful he might end up not liking you."


    But she thought it was good that the baby was active; it at least let her know he was currently well.


    Tan Zhenghong forced a smile, "I¡¯m his dad; how could he not like me?"


    Qiao Duo pulled down her shirt to cover her belly and raised her eyebrows, "That remains to be seen. Maybe the child is a debt you owe from your past life, and now he¡¯s come to collect."


    "Impossible, I must have been a great philanthropist in my past life."


    Tan Zhenghong said proudly, because he had done so many good deeds, which is why he met Qiao Duo in this life.

 Chapter 864 - 867: Pregnant?

    Chapter 864: Chapter 867: Pregnant?In the evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er was still pulled out for a walk by Almond.


    "Do you know that Young Master Bai¡¯s books that you read all day have made Fourth Master jealous?"


    Almond pouted as she spoke.


    She had only seen Young Master Bai once, but she could tell at a glance that his intentions toward her Madam were not pure, so she didn¡¯t have a good impression of him.


    Being a maid and never having been educated, she knew that coveting someone else¡¯s wife was not a decent thing to do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "I am studying, unlike you, who always have wild imaginations."


    Even if they were not Bai Yifan¡¯s manuscripts, she would still be very willing to bury herself in them all day.


    "Madam, do you know that overthinking is harmful to one¡¯s health? You need to read less now," Almond said earnestly.


    She thought that her Madam should just eat, sleep, and play at her leisure.


    Many people envied such a comfortable life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er dismissively said, "I¡¯ve told you, the mind needs to be used often, otherwise it can get rusty and then you become slow-witted.


    She certainly didn¡¯t want to really become foolish for three years.


    Almond obediently nodded, "Anyway, with me here, you won¡¯t be able to read too much."


    Because every so often, she would pull her Madam out for a walk and a breath of fresh air.


    Sometimes, she even dragged her Madam to do some embroidery work with her.


    As they walked and talked, they unknowingly arrived in front of the Embroidery Room, and Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to have a look inside.


    Fat Aunt and Chao Lian were not professional managers, and now that the Embroidery Room had suddenly expanded, they were both somewhat overwhelmed, so Madam had to come by often.


    Lest some people think that, with the boss away, they could slack off.


    After looking around, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw that everyone¡¯s enthusiasm had increased lately and that the Embroidery Room was gradually getting on track.


    She estimated that in another month or two, she could step back and let it run itself.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, come with me for a moment, I have something to tell you," Chao Lian said with her head down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Chao Lian¡¯s belly and had a good idea of what it was about.


    Chao Lian was a pillar of the Embroidery Room, but if there really was a situation, she couldn¡¯t stop her. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clearly, between the two, family was more important because that was the ultimate destination.


    Work, on the other hand, was different; if you¡¯re capable, you¡¯ll find opportunities sooner or later, and you might even encounter better ones.


    Chao Lian stomped her foot, "It¡¯s not what you think, come inside and we¡¯ll talk."


    It was hard for her to speak about it with so many people around.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was skeptical but still followed Chao Lian into the office. Still, Chao Lian hesitated.


    Um... she should have let Erhu and Brother Hong say it.


    "There¡¯s no one else here now, is there anything you can¡¯t talk about?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very gentle, afraid to frighten Chao Lian.


    After hesitating for a long time, Chao Lian finally spoke in a low voice, "Sister Duo¡¯er, that... could you sell me a few contraceptive patches?"


    This was a shy topic, one she had wanted to talk about for a long time, but she could never bring herself to say it.


    But now she had to speak up.


    Because this time her period was several days late, which had worried her terribly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised, "You and Erhu don¡¯t want a child now?"


    "Yeah, we feel it¡¯s not the right time. Erhu and I both want to give our child a better life," Chao Lian explained.


    Currently, she was busy all day in the Embroidery Room, and Erhu was preoccupied with hunting. If they had another little one, they would not be able to take proper care of them.


    If she didn¡¯t go to work in the Embroidery Room, they¡¯d struggle financially to support a child.


    So no matter what, the child would ultimately suffer, and that was something they didn¡¯t want to see.


    If possible, they even wanted their child to go to school and become someone useful.

 Chapter 865 - 868 Preparing for Pregnancy Is Very Important

    Chapter 865: Chapter 868 Preparing for Pregnancy Is Very Important"Having a child is a matter of fate. Don¡¯t worry about the Embroidery Room; I¡¯ve held your place for you. You can continue after giving birth. But I think you should take care of your health. Your constitution isn¡¯t strong, so you need to nurture it carefully. And tell Erhu not to drink alcohol. You need a regular lifestyle and plenty of exercise, which will make for a healthier baby."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also mentioned something about preparing for pregnancy, a concept that was foreign to the people of ancient times.


    They truly did not understand that drinking alcohol and smoking could potentially result in fetal deformities; they just went ahead with having the baby once it was conceived.


    Even with all those bad habits, the chances of deformities occurring were still quite small.


    But, should it occur, it would be an utter misfortune for the family involved.


    If it was serious, it could even affect the happiness of several generations.


    To prevent any chances of that happening, it was better to prepare seriously for pregnancy.


    "Erhu needs to take care as well?" Chao Lian found it odd.


    It made sense to her that she should take care of her body since the child was growing inside her.


    People in the village would say that crops can only grow well if the soil is fertile, and the same principle applied to having children.


    But what did this have to do with Erhu?


    "Having a baby is a matter for both, so both have to be in good condition. If Erhu¡¯s seed isn¡¯t of good quality, how can the baby be healthy?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained in terms that were straightforward and easy to understand, which unsettled Chao Lian a bit.


    This...was so embarrassing.


    Chao Lian¡¯s face turned a deep red, but she still made a mental note of what Duo¡¯er had said.


    As long as it was for the sake of the child, she had no reason to refuse.


    She and Erhu had both come from hard times and wanted to give their child a better life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke lightly, "I have a few prepared medicines at home; you can take some for Erhu to drink when you have time."


    "No, medicine is a valuable thing; I can¡¯t just take it," Chao Lian hurriedly objected, it had always been Duo¡¯er helping her, how could she take more without feeling ashamed?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er preempted her, silencing Chao Lian¡¯s protests.


    "Don¡¯t talk to me about money; talking about money hurts feelings. If you really want to thank me, just cook me a big table of delicious food when it¡¯s your turn to rest."


    If it had been earlier, she would have preferred clear transactions, but now she valued the emotional connections between people even more.


    Chao Lian no longer refused, "But you have to tell me what you want to eat in advance. I want to make sure you¡¯re fully satisfied."


    She got two days off each month from the Embroidery Room, and cooking a meal was a piece of cake for her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed, having never turned down good food.


    Seeing how deeply embarrassed Chao Lian seemed, Qiao Duo¡¯er tactfully took her leave.


    After exiting the Embroidery Room, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered there was something else she hadn¡¯t done yet.


    Now that Qin Longyun had arranged for someone to help her find a shop and Tan Zhenghong was on the lookout for a suitable Shopkeeper, she should use this time to start planning for the school.


    So, Qiao Duo¡¯er said to Almond, "You go back first and check on the two donkeys, I¡¯ll make another trip to the Tie Family."


    "I¡¯ll take you there."


    Almond insisted; she wouldn¡¯t be at ease unless she saw Qiao Duo to her destination.


    As for the two donkeys at home, they were now secretly competing with each other, racing every day to see who was faster; they didn¡¯t need anyone to look after them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only agree. It was only after she had entered the gates of the Tie Family that Almond turned back home.


    The old lady was in good spirits today and was sitting in the backyard enjoying the coolness.


    The backyard had shelter from the houses, shade from the big trees, and a gentle breeze, making it much cooler than other places.


    As soon as she saw Qiao Duo¡¯er come over, she was overjoyed. The old lady quickly beckoned, "Duo¡¯er, come sit." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 866 - 869 The Wise Old Lady

    Chapter 866: Chapter 869 The Wise Old LadyFeng Clan said, "You¡¯ve come to see your Uncle Tie, haven¡¯t you? He¡¯s gone to Scholar Lu¡¯s again, but since you¡¯re here, have a seat!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er happily sat down. After all, she had nothing else to do when she got back home, and here she could chat with someone.


    The Feng Clan brought over some pastries and tea, and the three of them ate and talked together.


    "How have you been lately?"


    The elderly lady asked with concern, though judging by Duo¡¯er¡¯s complexion, she seemed to be doing just fine.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I feel the same as before, but now with a bigger belly, I feel tired."


    "That¡¯s easy to solve. I¡¯ve made something for you that can support your belly. Wear it when you go out, and you won¡¯t have back pain when you grow older."


    The elderly lady said with a smile, knowing from experience to think of this early.


    If Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t come today, she would have sent her daughter-in-law to deliver it within the next couple of days.


    When Feng Clan brought it over, Qiao Duo¡¯er discovered it was a belly band.


    The elderly lady¡¯s craftsmanship was excellent; every part was meticulously made, including adjustable elastic bands for size¡ª it was sure to be comfortable to wear.


    Embroidered on it were lotus flowers, symbolizing good fortune and wishes coming true.


    "Thank you, Grandma!" Qiao Duo¡¯er beamed, finding it very pretty and to her satisfaction.


    The elderly lady said with a sly grin, "I¡¯m not giving this for nothing. You have to tell me how things are going with the big girl."


    "What?" Qiao Duo¡¯er feigned ignorance.


    She had promised the big girl she¡¯d keep it a secret, so now was not the time to betray her.


    Otherwise, the big girl would definitely feel upset.


    The elderly lady said with a chuckle, "Even if you don¡¯t tell me, I know. The Zhang Family Boy has gone on a study tour, and it will be several months before he returns, right?"


    "If the big girl asks, you can¡¯t blame me." Qiao Duo¡¯er said playfully.


    The elderly lady had eaten more salt than they had eaten rice. It wasn¡¯t easy to deceive her.


    Otherwise, why do they say having an elder at home is like having a treasured resource?


    The elderly lady immediately nodded, "Actually, I don¡¯t know anything. I just want you to help me see what Father Zhang¡¯s attitude is like."


    Marriage relies on the parents¡¯ orders and the matchmaker¡¯s words; if Father Zhang¡¯s attitude is clear, this matter will be easy to handle.


    If Father Zhang wants an in-law from a high-ranking family, then it would be better for her to start looking for another match for the big girl early.


    The big girl was of age by now; even if she couldn¡¯t marry soon, she should settle the matter.


    "It just so happens that Father Zhang will come over to my place to settle the tofu money in a few days. I¡¯ll test the waters then," Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed.


    Indeed, getting through the approval of the parents could save them a lot of detours.


    "Mom, how come I didn¡¯t notice?"


    Feng Clan wasn¡¯t as perceptive as the elderly lady in the family; she only understood when the matter was laid bare before her.


    The elderly lady said helplessly, "The big girl was back, and you kept bustling about in the kitchen, only wanting to feed her well. How could you notice anything else? I only figured it out recently myself."


    Feng Clan finally didn¡¯t feel so foolish, but her realization was followed by deep concern.


    "Ah, I¡¯m just worried that if that boy becomes an Advanced Scholar and gets an official position, the big girl will suffer," Feng Clan sighed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her big girl was neither adept at socializing nor backed by a powerful maternal family. If Zi Wen made a name for himself, she feared the big girl would end up a discarded wife.


    It might be better to find a farmer in the village, where her family could still look after her a bit.


    "Actually, it all depends on the two children. If they have affection, they will cherish and dote on each other. If there¡¯s no love, even living with the parents will lead to quarrels and disputes," the elderly lady said with broad-mindedness, advising Feng Clan.


    She just hoped her own children could support each other like Duo¡¯er and Ah Hong, with love and affection.

 Chapter 867 - 870 Singing Contrary Tunes

    Chapter 867: Chapter 870 Singing Contrary TunesAs for great wealth and honor, those are but external possessions.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er very much agreed with the old lady¡¯s words, but seeing the Feng Clan still worried, she could only offer some comfort.


    "Right now, not even the first stroke of the character is drawn, so don¡¯t worry too much; marriage is a lifelong matter, and we need to consider it slowly. Our daughter is excellent in every way, and we must find someone who truly cherishes her."


    Whether Zhang Ziwen is the perfect match for the daughter, only time can prove.


    Anyway, as long as you can find true love, it¡¯s never too late.


    The Feng Clan nodded, "Speaking of which, I really have to thank you. I used to worry that my daughter wouldn¡¯t be able to find a husband, and it kept me awake at night."


    Back then, the daughter was always wild, climbing trees to fetch eggs and wading into the water to catch fish, never doing proper chores.


    Fortunately, after meeting Qiao Duo, she finally got back on the right track.


    Though she still couldn¡¯t do needlework to save her life, at least she now had a way to support herself.


    "I just love a girl like your daughter, how could she not find a husband?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    Most families prioritize health when seeking a wife, and with the daughter¡¯s vitality, why wouldn¡¯t anyone find her desirable?


    The Feng Clan was embarrassed by the praise; she knew her daughter¡¯s character inside out.


    How could she be as good as Duo¡¯er described?


    However, every mother likes to hear others praise their children; it¡¯s a contradictory existence.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stayed at the Tie Family¡¯s place for quite a while before taking her leave. Despite the old lady¡¯s and Feng Clan¡¯s insistence for her to stay, she slipped back home.


    Uh... she still preferred Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cooking.


    It might be because he added a special ingredient called "love," somehow different from others¡¯ cooking. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked home in the glow of the sunset, happily humming a tune.


    After finishing the song, Duo¡¯er touched her stomach, "How is it, do you think your mom¡¯s singing voice is okay?"


    But this time, there was no response from her belly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "No response? I¡¯ll take that as you really liked it, okay?"


    No sooner had she spoken than her face darkened because the little one inside her moved. Wasn¡¯t that a clear sign of disagreement?


    This... must be an accident, or perhaps the little one was so enthralled by the music that it reacted half a beat slow.


    Yes, that must be it!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook off all unpleasant feelings and continued to be a happy pregnant woman.


    As she approached the courtyard, the scent of meat wafted into Duo¡¯er¡¯s nostrils.


    Tan Zhenghong must have made braised pork again today, but Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like something was still missing in the aroma.


    Um... she was somewhat discontent.


    After washing her hands carefully with soapberry at the well, Qiao Duo suddenly remembered what was missing from the meat!


    She craved rice-flour coated pork!


    Rice-flour coated pork involves first red-braising a whole piece of pork, slicing it into large pieces after it¡¯s cooked, frying them in oil, then placing them skin side up in a bowl, stuffing sticky rice in the middle, drizzling it with sauce and steaming it. The longer it¡¯s steamed, the tastier it becomes.


    Just thinking about it made Duo¡¯er feel like she was about to drool.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er entered the kitchen with anticipation and asked, "Tan Zhenghong, do we have any sticky rice left? I want rice-flour coated pork!"


    Tan Zhenghong replied weakly, "All the sticky rice has been ground into flour, saved for making sticky rice cakes for you. Can we eat it tomorrow instead?"


    He will hull the sticky rice right away, soak it overnight, and start making it first thing in the morning, ensuring his wife can have it by noon tomorrow.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked crestfallen; noon tomorrow was such a long wait!


    "Wife, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll go around and see if I can borrow some from others," said Tan Zhenghong, comforting her, then he quickly told Almond and hurried out.

 Chapter 868 - 871: Suitable for Pig Farming

    Chapter 868: Chapter 871: Suitable for Pig FarmingThis season, only families hosting guests would soak glutinous rice, so he hurried to go check it out, reckoning that he might just come across it.


    "Madam," Almond teased, "do you think you¡¯re intentionally testing Fourth Master?"


    Only because Fourth Master had such a good temper¡ªanyone else might have been scolded.


    The meals were already prepared, yet because of a single comment from his wife, he had to busy himself again for half a day.


    No wonder all the village women were envious of his wife!


    "I just suddenly felt like eating it, no other reason," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with pouted lips, not knowing why her mood soured whenever she craved something but couldn¡¯t have it.


    The child in her belly also bore Tan Zhenghong¡¯s contribution; she could only discuss it with Tan Zhenghong.


    There shouldn¡¯t be any problem with that.


    Understanding, Almond said, "It must be the little young master. He wants to know whether Fourth Master cares about him or not, so he¡¯s causing this ruckus."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed wholeheartedly, otherwise, she, known for being so reasonable, would never be making such a fuss!


    She had always been very empathetic.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong returned from buying glutinous rice from another household.


    "You¡¯re lucky today. Tomorrow is Grandfather Li¡¯s grandson¡¯s tenth birthday, and they just happened to have this dish, so I bought the glutinous rice to come back. Eat your dinner first, I¡¯ll make it for you," Tan Zhenghong said with pride, feeling that heaven was truly looking out for him to have found it so easily.


    Determined, Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I¡¯m not hungry right now. You get the meat ready, then we eat together."


    She had just eaten quite a few pastries at the Feng Family and wasn¡¯t hungry at all.


    What mattered most was that she only wanted to eat sticky rice pork belly, and she didn¡¯t want to see anything else.


    Tan Zhenghong insisted, remembering the rose cake at home. He walked into the kitchen, holding his wife with one hand and carrying the rice with another.


    Once in the kitchen, the only thing Qiao Duo¡¯er had to do was to watch; Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t let her lift a finger.


    She looked all around, and soon her eyes fell upon the full bag of glutinous rice.


    With a head full of black lines, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "A bowl of glutinous rice would have been enough, you fool, why did you buy so much?"


    "I was afraid there wouldn¡¯t be enough for you to eat," Tan Zhenghong said, scratching the back of his head.


    Otherwise, he¡¯d have to run out and buy some more, wasting more time.


    Pressing her lips together, Qiao Duo¡¯er said sternly, "I think you should consider starting a pig farm."


    "Let¡¯s fatten you up first," he responded.


    Tan Zhenghong looked disparagingly at Qiao Duo¡¯er, who at six months pregnant still looked skinny as ever.


    The last time he went out, someone had even secretly told him not to mistreat his wife.


    Only heaven knew he varied meals and brewed soups and made pastries every day, all to fatten up his wife and child a little.


    But the problem was, no matter how much his wife ate or drank, her figure remained unwaveringly good.


    Actually... he felt quite defeated.


    Tan Zhenghong deftly blanched the meat twice, then added seasonings and water to the pot to cook. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He added some long-burning wood to the fire, so he could spend the time having dinner with Duo¡¯er.


    "Eat half a bowl more, or you won¡¯t get to have the pork belly when it¡¯s ready," Tan Zhenghong said with a stern face.


    They were having rice for dinner. Duo¡¯er put her chopsticks down after eating half a bowl, clearly preoccupied with the pork belly.


    But the pork belly wouldn¡¯t be ready for at least another hour!


    Pouting, Qiao Duo¡¯er complained, "Forcing me to eat when I don¡¯t want to, you must not love me anymore."


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lip. If he didn¡¯t love her, would he worry whether she was full or not?


    But on second thought, trying to reason with a pregnant woman, he retreated.


    Any fool knew it would be tough!

 Chapter 869 - 872: Romantic Affairs

    Chapter 869: Chapter 872: Romantic AffairsForget it, if you don¡¯t want to eat, then don¡¯t eat.


    The glutinous rice used for the sticky rice pork belly can serve as a meal in itself, or I can make something else.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er puffed up her cheeks, a good man should have this attitude.


    Hmm... she should take advantage while she has someone to rely on and make a fuss.


    Once the baby comes, she won¡¯t have such blissful days; every day will be filled with feeding, diaper changing, and baby-soothing... just thinking about it gives her a headache.


    But that kind of life probably has its own happiness.


    After dinner, Tan Zhenghong busied himself in the kitchen again.


    Sticky rice pork belly isn¡¯t hard to make, but it tests one¡¯s meticulousness and patience. As long as you have enough time, it won¡¯t turn out too badly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a bath and then lazily reclined on the sofa, reading her diary.


    However, this time her mind wasn¡¯t completely on the book; after a few pages, she would peek into the kitchen.


    Even Qiao Duo¡¯er lost track of how many times she looked, but finally, Tan Zhenghong came over.


    The meat was fragrant and rich, blended with the scent of glutinous rice and bamboo leaves; the smell alone was tantalizing.


    Duo¡¯er immediately set aside her diary and rushed toward Tan Zhenghong.


    "Wife, are you satisfied?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked expectantly at his wife, hoping that his diligence would be rewarded with a kiss.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said joyfully, "Very satisfied, stop talking, I need to taste this quickly!"


    Tan Zhenghong felt disappointed, was he really less important to Duo¡¯er than some braised pork?


    But seeing Duo¡¯er eat with such gusto, he felt relieved. As long as she liked it, what he was most worried about now was not being able to fill his wife¡¯s stomach.


    "Be careful, it¡¯s hot. No one is fighting over it with you," Tan Zhenghong reminded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, with her mouth full of glutinous rice, couldn¡¯t reply to Tan Zhenghong, only nodding in acknowledgment.


    Seeing Duo¡¯er enjoy her meal, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva.


    It was just an ordinary braised pork dish, but could it really taste that good?


    In any case, her eating manners had already tempted him.


    The slightly awkward sound caught Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and she immediately realized her mistake.


    Every time she saw something she liked, she would forget that it¡¯s not a good habit to eat alone. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scooped a spoonful: "Here, try some."


    "I ate a lot during dinner," Tan Zhenghong shook his head.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stubbornly held up the spoon until he took a bite. Only then did she withdraw her hand and continued to gorge herself.


    Before she realized it, more than half of the braised pork had gone into Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach.


    After she finished eating, Duo¡¯er said with a grimace, "I can¡¯t take it anymore, get me a glass of water."


    Now, she felt as though her stomach was filled with nothing but oil. She felt slightly better after drinking water but still felt like oil would overflow if she moved.


    "How about a walk?" suggested Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded; otherwise, she surely wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night.


    Tan Zhenghong got Qiao Duo¡¯er a cloak and called over Fat Fat and Fatty.


    Having them around felt even more reassuring than a guard.


    They hadn¡¯t walked far when Duo¡¯er had to stop.


    She was exasperated with herself for being so out of shape, hardly able to walk without getting winded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes turned, and she quickly got an idea: "Ah Hong, I want to sit on the roof."


    In the historical dramas, the male and female leads would often romantically sit on the roof watching the stars, and she had always thought it looked romantic. Since she was here, of course, she needed to experience it.


    She just hoped the mosquitoes or anything else wouldn¡¯t come to bother them; that would really ruin the mood.


    Tan Zhenghong looked around; they were close to the Xiao Family¡¯s place.


    Now, the Xiao Family was a far cry from its former glory, with only a few tile-roofed houses scattered across the fields.

 Chapter 870 - 873 Sneaking Around

    Chapter 870: Chapter 873 Sneaking AroundHowever, the Xiao family¡¯s tile-roofed house was much better than the other straw huts in the village. Sitting on top was safer and offered a broader view, so he pulled Duo¡¯er closer to the Xiao family¡¯s house.


    "There is a ladder right there, I¡¯ll carry you up."


    Tan Zhenghong whispered.


    The wing room of the Xiao family¡¯s house was only a little over three meters high; he was sure there would be no problem as he held his wife in one arm and grabbed the ladder with the other.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips: "This is someone else¡¯s house, do you think it¡¯s okay?"


    "Why not? We can even help keep watch over the entrance."


    Tan Zhenghong brought out his own logic, since they were not stealing anything after all.


    Duo¡¯er nodded in agreement, thereby tacitly accepting Tan Zhenghong¡¯s suggestion.


    But it was just a single-story tile-roofed house; for her, it was a piece of cake.


    After telling Fat Fat and Fatty, Qiao Duo¡¯er deftly climbed onto the roof.


    If it weren¡¯t for her belly getting in the way, she would have been faster. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A full moon hung in the sky, ideal for moon-viewing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er leaned on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, looking at the village at night. Her mood became much more tranquil.


    She hoped that this scene and these feelings would always be there.


    Suddenly, a woman knocked on the courtyard door.


    Zheng Shi opened the door surreptitiously, and one could tell from the way the two people looked around that they were up to no good.


    "She is in our embroidery room helping with the cooking. Let¡¯s go take a look," Qiao Duo¡¯er instantly recognized the woman who came in.


    It was Xu Shi, who had just been hired to help with the cooking in the embroidery room.


    Xu Shi looked very honest. Every time she saw her, she was quietly working. How did she get involved with Zheng Shi?


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "You just stay here nicely, and I¡¯ll go take a look."


    But Duo¡¯er was not one to sit still. She quietly followed Tan Zhenghong as well.


    Above the main room, Tan Zhenghong gently lifted a tile from the roof so they could see what was happening inside.


    Inside the room, only a tiny oil lamp flickered, casting a somewhat sinister light on Zheng Shi¡¯s face.


    "When are you planning to do it?"


    Zheng Shi asked impatiently, she could hardly wait to see the Tan family¡¯s misfortune.


    Xu Shi bit her lip and said, "I... I really can¡¯t bring myself to do it."


    Many of the people who worked in the embroidery room were acquaintances from the village. If she were to poison them, how could she face living in Big Willow Village afterward?


    And those were human lives!


    "Then are you willing to watch your son be tortured to death by illness? Just do as I say, and I¡¯ll give you One Hundred Taels of Silver. You¡¯ll be able to take your son to find a better doctor elsewhere; he might not have to die."


    "With the rest of the money, you can buy a house somewhere else. You won¡¯t ever have to come back to Big Willow Village. What else are you worried about?"


    Zheng Shi tried to convince her. Weren¡¯t these conditions tempting enough?


    "But those embroidery ladies are innocent, and I don¡¯t need that much silver!"


    Xu Shi wanted to continue arguing her point.


    She had only wanted to borrow Twenty Taels of Silver to save her son; she never considered taking a life.


    In her opinion, that was a deed that would damage her moral virtue and would eventually bring retribution.


    "You earn Three Hundred Wen Money a month in the embroidery room. How many years would it take for you to earn those twenty taels? Who would be willing to lend you that?"


    Zheng Shi said with disdain, guessing their family wouldn¡¯t make that much money in their whole lives!


    The Yuan family of three, with Xu Shi doing odd jobs in the Embroidery Room while her husband suffered from tuberculosis, barely able to move without a violent coughing fit, and the son they had raised with difficulty was bedridden all day.


    Could such a family even think of borrowing silver? Wasn¡¯t lending to them the same as giving it away?


    Because they would never be able to repay it, not in their entire lifetime!

 Chapter 871 - 874: Cunning Plan

    Chapter 871: Chapter 874: Cunning Plan"If you don¡¯t think carefully, by the time your son wastes away, you won¡¯t even have the chance to regret it!"


    Zheng Shi delivered another forceful dose, causing Xu Clan¡¯s psychological defenses to completely collapse.


    The light in Xu Clan¡¯s eyes dimmed in an instant, the exorbitant cost of medicine was almost crushing her.


    Apart from Zheng Shi, who else would help her?


    She had only this one child, what would she and her husband do if they lost him?


    But with those one hundred taels, it¡¯d be different, she could afford her son¡¯s medical expenses and even buy a few more acres of land. Then her family wouldn¡¯t have to starve.


    Wasn¡¯t this the good life she had been longing for all her life?


    "I...I¡¯ll do it as soon as possible."


    Xu Clan steeled her heart, having been pushed to this point, what couldn¡¯t she do?


    Zheng Shi nodded in satisfaction, "That¡¯s right, just help me with one thing and you can get so much silver. After that, taking care of your son¡¯s illness, what kind of good days can¡¯t you have?"


    Xu Clan answered and stumbled out.


    Once the oil lamp in the room went out, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong quietly descended from the roof.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth, "I didn¡¯t expect such a big gain from just a random stroll outside."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face was grim; he didn¡¯t even dare to think about what would happen if Zheng Shi succeeded.


    There were now nearly one hundred people in the embroidery room; if one packet of poison were to be used, it could kill or injure the majority, and the embroidery room wouldn¡¯t escape disaster either.


    As the owners, he and Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be able to rebound after such an incident.


    If they could also prove that the Tan Family had a large amount of poison, a death sentence wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.


    But no matter what, Zheng Shi would remain unscathed.


    If Xu Clan couldn¡¯t be found, then everyone would be content.


    Even if she were found, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, as Xu Clan had already absconded out of fear of punishment and was almost impossible to find.


    "I will report to the authorities tomorrow, and have this old witch arrested."


    "No rush, the Guang House won¡¯t punish her severely before she hurts anyone," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a hooked lip.


    Just like Xiao Biyu, who caused the Wang Clan to lose half their life, only to be imprisoned for three years.


    If they reported to the authorities now, it wasn¡¯t even certain that Zheng Shi would be convicted; and even if convicted, she would only be imprisoned for a few years at most.


    That would be letting her off too easy!


    She couldn¡¯t change the penalties here, but she could punish Zheng Shi in a different way.


    She couldn¡¯t be too kind to the Xiao Family; otherwise, they would keep provoking her again and again.


    To deal with the Xiao Family, they had to first uncover all of the Xiao Family¡¯s schemes.


    The next morning, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er went to the embroidery room bright and early.


    With the safety of the entire embroidery room at stake, they couldn¡¯t be careless.


    "Aunt, gather everyone in the dining hall," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er looked upset, Fat Aunt didn¡¯t dare delay for a moment and quickly had everyone put down their work. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dining Hall.


    Only then did Fat Aunt say, "Duo¡¯er, everyone is here, you speak."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and first discussed the recent issues in the embroidery room.


    The most significant was that there were now more female workers in the embroidery room, and some would bring their children over.


    If it were an emergency, that would be one thing, but many treated this place as a daycare, bringing their kids every day when they came to work; with pools and rock gardens in the back yard, accidents could easily happen.


    Now one often saw diapers in the embroidery room, which was very upsetting.


    There were also ongoing issues with people coming late in the morning and slacking off on their work.


    Qiao Duo had barely finished speaking when people began to protest.


    "You don¡¯t have to come to the embroidery room, and your man protects you, how could you understand our difficulties?" a woman said sharply.

 Chapter 872 - 875 Establishing Rules

    Chapter 872: Chapter 875 Establishing RulesShe had five children, all of whom she took care of herself, and she still had to come to the Embroidery Room every day. What¡¯s wrong if she¡¯s a little late in the morning?


    "We earn our pay based on the work we do, so why can¡¯t we come a bit later?"


    "My Little Treasure is only three months old, needs to be breastfed, how can I just leave him at home?"


    The ones who were grumbling were all workers recruited later on.


    Many were from other villages, and Fat Aunt and Chao Lian didn¡¯t know them well, inevitably some of them were real pieces of work. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fat Aunt said angrily, "There are rules in the Embroidery Room for a reason, how can you still think you¡¯re in the right not following them?"


    She usually spoke to them nicely, and they would verbally agree every time, but in reality, they never changed.


    That would have been fine, but now they even felt superior about it!


    "We¡¯re already facing difficulties, why can¡¯t you be understanding toward us?"


    "I understand that you need to nurse and take care of your children, and the Embroidery Room supports you taking the work home to do it. This way, it won¡¯t delay your earning or the childcare, but if you come to the Embroidery Room, you must follow its rules. If you can¡¯t do that, please leave."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face.


    She respected everyone who earned their wages through labor, but clearly many here were only looking to take advantage.


    Some were here for a free lunch, others because it was warm in winter and cool in summer.


    For such people, it was hard for her to keep a pleasant face.


    "If you were willing to let us take the high-quality embroideries home, we wouldn¡¯t bother coming here!"


    "Exactly, how much can one earn just embroidering lousy insoles at home? Anyway, I definitely want to stay in the Embroidery Room!"


    The troublemakers among the Embroidery Ladies started to complain again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips: "You all want to reap all the benefits, I can only say that you are wishing for too much. If you have complaints, you can pack up and leave, the Embroidery Room won¡¯t keep you."


    These people were restless and couldn¡¯t produce much of quality.


    The Embroidery Ladies who had just been whispering immediately wilted like frosted eggplants.


    To kick someone out without any room for negotiation.


    But Qiao Duo had more to say than just that.


    "Without rules, there¡¯s no standards to square things by. Today, I¡¯ll lay out the rules. Anyone who knowingly violates them again shouldn¡¯t blame me for being impolite."


    "From now on, being late once will result in a deduction of Five Wen Money, bringing a child to the Embroidery Room once will cost Five Wen Money, three accumulations will result in dismissal, smuggling or concealing private goods will result in dismissal, and failing to meet performance standards will result in dismissal."


    "Aunt, please focus on enforcing this for the time being, I won¡¯t accept any excuses."


    Qiao Duo was very serious, her usual laughter was completely gone.


    Fat Aunt nodded, "I got it."


    The troublemakers muttered under their breath, but none dared to speak out loud anymore.


    "Children are indeed a hassle, but do they have to be brought to the Embroidery Room? You can have the older ones look after the younger ones, or ask your parents-in-law, siblings or sister-in-law for help, or even ask the neighbors to watch them in exchange for some Silver each month. If that¡¯s not possible, then do some simple work at home. Anyway, there¡¯s always a solution. If everyone in the Embroidery Room did the same as you, what would it turn into?"


    Fat Aunt said with knitted brows, she really missed the days when the Embroidery Room was smaller.


    Back then, there were fewer people and the Embroidery Room was clean and refreshing, without so many troubles.


    The attitude of Qiao Duo and Fat Aunt became quite forceful, and the atmosphere in the Embroidery Room changed immediately.


    "Right, Duo¡¯er isn¡¯t wrong. If everyone brings over their kids, it¡¯ll be too noisy to focus on work."


    "Doesn¡¯t every family have children? How come it¡¯s never been like this with you?"

 Chapter 873 - 877 An Additional Choice

    Chapter 873: Chapter 877 An Additional ChoiceThe troublemakers dared not speak any further, as they had all sharpened their heads to squeeze into the Embroidery Room. How could they afford to be driven away now?


    If they were dismissed, their families would lose a significant source of income.


    Alas, they had to think of another solution.


    "Lastly, once you enter this Embroidery Room, we are all one family. I don¡¯t want anyone doing anything to harm the Embroidery Room. If anyone has difficulties, you can talk to me. As long as the Tan Family can help, both Ah Hong and I will not shirk our responsibilities. However, if anyone blunders, we will also not be lenient," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face.


    Her words were aimed at a particular person, and her gaze deliberately lingered on her for a moment.


    Xu Clan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She and Zheng Shi had been very cautious about this matter; it should have been impossible for a third person to know.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze seemed to say she knew everything.


    Xu Clan was torn about what to do now.


    "There are no other matters for today. Everyone is dismissed," Duo¡¯er announced.


    She had said what needed to be said; now it was up to the others to make their choices.


    After the meeting, Fat Aunt asked worriedly, "Duo¡¯er, is there a problem with our Embroidery Room?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "It¡¯s just a precaution¡ªto prevent trouble before it arises. However, you need to be more vigilant about the Embroidery Room¡¯s safety. Apart from preventing fires and theft, pay attention to everyone¡¯s safety, especially on the road and with food and drink."


    "I understand, don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let anything happen to the Embroidery Room," the Fat Aunt made a mental note of this.


    Duo¡¯er did not provide all the details, but combining what she just said would allow one to guess what was going on.


    It seemed that she would have to be cautious everywhere from now on. The Tan Family might keep a low profile, but they had still managed to offend some villains. If they were given an opportunity, the Embroidery Room could face a catastrophic disaster.


    Publically, as the person In Charge, she bore the inescapable responsibility to protect the Embroidery Room.


    Privately, the Embroidery Room was not just a means of supporting her family; it was also a symbol of status and capability.


    Thus, the only thing she had to do was guard it, even if it meant risking her life, so that the Embroidery Room wouldn¡¯t encounter any mishaps.


    If one day the Embroidery Room were no more, she and the Embroidery Ladies would return to living a life dependent on others¡¯ charity.


    Because they would have become parasites, reliant on others for support. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that Fat Aunt was taking it to heart, Qiao Duo¡¯er went on her way home.


    Hopefully, that person would come to their senses and find their way back to the right path.


    In the kitchen, Granny Sun and Xu Clan were busy preparing the noon meal.


    "Wash these vegetables. The chicken soup in the clay pot should be almost ready; we¡¯ll send it to Duo¡¯er for lunch soon," Granny Sun told Xu Clan.


    That was a free-range chicken raised by her family, one which she had specially slaughtered to make soup for Duo¡¯er.


    As for making soup, cooking it in a clay pot was best, with gentle heat for slow simmering, resulting in a rich and nourishing broth.


    Xu Clan nodded and carried the vegetables to wash by the well, which was a good chance for her to calm down.


    She had made up her mind with great difficulty the night before, but after hearing what Duo¡¯er said, she hesitated again.


    If possible, she didn¡¯t want to do something that went against her conscience.


    But she did not know if she could trust Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If she rejected Zheng Shi and Duo¡¯er did not stand by her words today, she would be left to watch her child die in pain.


    For any mother, that was an agony.


    Xu Clan pondered her thoughts, yet her hands washing the vegetables did not slow down.


    Soon, all the vegetables were cleaned, and she washed her face as well.


    Having one more option was not a bad thing for her; the key was choosing the right one.


    Entering the kitchen, Xu Clan said, "Granny, I¡¯ve washed all the vegetables. I¡¯ll chop them while I¡¯m at it."


    Granny Sun was still fussing with the pot of soup and didn¡¯t lift her head, "Oh good, later I¡¯ll take over the cooking."

 Chapter 874 - 877: Abandon Darkness for Light

    Chapter 874: Chapter 877: Abandon Darkness for Light"Auntie, how are our Owner¡¯s people doing?"


    Xu Clan asked seemingly casually, as Elder Sun had been in the Embroidery Room all the time, she should know a bit more.


    Granny Sun said with a smile, "Duo¡¯er and Ah Hong are doing so well, there¡¯s nothing to say. You must have been scared by Duo¡¯er, but as long as we do what we are supposed to do, she wouldn¡¯t treat us unfairly."


    She was initially able to cook in the Embroidery Room because Qiao Duo¡¯er had taken special care of her.


    She was very grateful, because without Duo¡¯er¡¯s help, life wouldn¡¯t have been so good for her and her grandson.


    Xu Clan continued, "Can you tell me something specific?"


    Elder Sun thought for a while before saying, "Well... I can¡¯t really say, but whenever any family has difficulties, they always try their best to help, like Chao Lian, Hu¡¯s Clan and I have all received their kindness. They have no airs about them, nor do they just recognize Silver like other landlords."


    The Tan Family valued people more, full of human touch.


    No matter how she put it, she just couldn¡¯t sum up all of Tan Family¡¯s good qualities. They were good in every aspect.


    Xu Clan nodded, her mind as clear as a mirror.


    Everyone being so heartfelt with Duo¡¯er proved she was good, and the reputation of the Xiao Family had always been not so favorable.


    In the past, the Xiao Family had hundreds of acres of land and the men had ways to make money, but they always looked for ways to dock work money, never thinking about getting rich together with the villagers.


    Most importantly, Qiao Duo¡¯er might have already learned about their plan.


    If she still chose to drug her, chances were there wouldn¡¯t be a good outcome.


    As Elder Sun served the chicken soup, Xu Clan hurriedly said, "Granny, you rest for a while, let me take it over for you."


    Elder Sun was happy to sneak in a bit of laziness, her legs not as nimble as before, causing her pain if she walked too much.


    Carrying the chicken soup, but Xu Clan felt heavier the closer she got to the Tan Family.


    After reaching an agreement with Zheng Shi, she felt like she was a bad person. Could Qiao Duo¡¯er forgive someone like her?


    In the end, Xu Clan braced herself and walked with big steps.


    After all, the answer was there; she had to face it sooner rather than later.


    Upon arriving at the Tan Family, Almond directly led Xu Clan to the main hall; she wouldn¡¯t say that her Madam had already been waiting for a while.


    Xu Clan put the food box on the table, "This is chicken soup specially stewed for you by Granny Sun. Please drink it while it¡¯s hot."


    "Thank her for me, and do you have something else to tell me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips carried a faint smile, and her eyes revealed no clues.


    But it was precisely this calm that made Xu Clan even more certain of her choice.


    She was almost sure now that Duo¡¯er knew about her and Zheng Shi¡¯s little schemes.


    Kneeling on the ground, Xu Clan said sincerely, "Madam, I... I really got confused for a moment. I just wanted to cure my son¡¯s sickness."


    "Stand up and talk; your son¡¯s name is Yuan Wei, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Xu Clan a slight helping hand.


    After standing up, Xu Clan felt even more uneasy inside, "Yes, his pet name is Shi Dan. I have only this one son for the Yuan Family, and I can¡¯t bear to watch him just pass away. I had no other choice." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her son was seriously ill, and seeing many doctors did no good.


    She had given up hope, but some days ago, she met a Divine Doctor who said he could cure her son¡¯s disease.


    Now, the only thing missing was Silver.


    She and her husband had few relatives; it was hard enough to borrow Three or Two Silver.


    Granny Sun, seeing her in pity, let her help in the Embroidery Room cooking, just four hours a day, for Ten Wen Work Money.


    It wasn¡¯t that she found it too little, but it was far from enough compared with the treatment costs.

 Chapter 875 - 878 The Harm of a Demi-Immortal

    Chapter 875: Chapter 878 The Harm of a Demi-Immortal"I can forgive you this time, and I can give you a chance, but you need to make things clear," Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    Xu Clan immediately replied, "Four days ago, Zheng Shi came to me and said she could help me. She gave me a bottle of poison and told me to add it to the soup that everyone drinks, claiming it won¡¯t kill anyone. I¡¯ve been too scared, but she urged me again yesterday, and I was afraid Shi Dan couldn¡¯t hold on, so I had no choice but to agree."


    As she spoke, she also took out a paper packet from her bosom¡ªit was the very thing Zheng Shi had given her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er opened it and, with a grim face, said, "This is arsenic."


    If she hadn¡¯t happened to learn about their conspiracy, everyone in the Embroidery Room would have perished because of this.


    How deep must their hatred be?


    Xu Clan¡¯s face turned deathly pale with fright. "Impossible, Zheng Shi said it was ordinary poison and that as long as the dosage was small, it wouldn¡¯t be lethal." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If she had known it was arsenic, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed under any circumstances!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew that Xu Clan was not lying, because a person¡¯s eyes do not deceive.


    She then inquired about another matter, "Which doctor did you find? How much Silver does he want?"


    "Twenty Taels. I ran into a quack who claimed he was a half-deity in the town. He said my son had bumped into the Alchemy Furnace of the Supreme Old Lord, and as a punishment, the Supreme Old Lord caused my son¡¯s stomach pain. He said if I sought mercy from him, my son would be healed."


    Xu Clan recounted it in detail.


    Thinking about how all the doctors she had seen had failed to cure her son, maybe it really was the doing of a deity from the heavens.


    And since this half-deity possessed the power to commune with the heavens and could implore for a deity¡¯s forgiveness, the cost of losing life span for a visit to the heavens made Twenty Taels not too much.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was exasperated; feudal superstition was indeed a serious harm to people.


    That quack was quite the talker, turning a simple stomachache into an offense against the Supreme Old Lord.


    The Supreme Old Lord, being so busy, how could he possibly have the time to take action against a mere commoner?


    With a sigh, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "You were close to killing your son. Bring me to see him."


    She wanted to assess the symptoms, hoping to find a solution in Bai Yifan¡¯s medical notes.


    "Thank you, Madam."


    Xu Clan was about to kneel again when Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly interjected, "I can¡¯t promise anything, don¡¯t waste any more time, and let¡¯s hurry."


    Having said that, she headed outside. She detested the whole kneeling business the most.


    Arriving at the Yuan Family¡¯s residence, Qiao Duo¡¯er could hear muffled groaning sounds.


    She had seen Yuan Wei once before, and he was a decent man; whatever afflicted him seriously enough to make him groan so must be no minor matter.


    "Mrs. Tan, please wait a moment, I will go in and take a look first," Xu Clan stopped in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er since her son was likely shirtless due to the hot weather, and she wanted to avoid disrespect to the distinguished guest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, allowing Xu Clan to go in to tidy up first.


    After a while, upon hearing Xu Clan¡¯s voice, she entered the room.


    Upon examining Yuan Wei carefully, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly drew a conclusion.


    "This is intestinal abscess. How long have you been in pain like this?" she asked.


    Intestinal abscess, that is, appendicitis in modern terms, can be either acute or chronic; at this stage, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t be entirely sure.


    Yuan Wei clenched his teeth hard because letting go meant he would cry out in pain, and he found it embarrassing to do so in front of a woman, which prevented him from answering Duo¡¯er¡¯s question.


    Xu Clan promptly interjected, "He always complained about stomach pains before, and we didn¡¯t take it seriously. But a few days ago, the pain suddenly became severe. Can this be treated?"


    "It can be treated. If it¡¯s just inflammation, drinking Rhubarb Peony Soup or Reed Stem Soup might help. If there¡¯s an ulceration or perforation, then surgery will be needed," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated confidently.

 Chapter 876 - 879 Intestinal Carbuncle

    Chapter 876: Chapter 879 Intestinal CarbuncleXu Clan¡¯s body went limp with fear, "Surgery?"


    For some reason, all she could think of was slaughtering pigs.


    With the knife going in white and coming out red, the pig¡¯s life would be over.


    "We haven¡¯t gotten to that step yet. I will go back and get a prescription, you brew it for him to drink; if it works, then there¡¯s no problem. If it doesn¡¯t, we¡¯ll think of something else."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t explain in detail because she was afraid Xu Clan wouldn¡¯t be able to accept it.


    It wasn¡¯t just Xu Clan; hardly anyone in this age believed that a person could survive after having a section of their intestines removed.


    Thus, there was no need to tell her how the treatment would be administered.


    Xu Clan nodded vigorously, her eyes reddening. For some reason, she just felt that Qiao Duo¡¯er had a convincing power about her.


    "I don¡¯t know how to thank you, I¡¯m really worthless, I almost did that thing."


    She had harbored harmful intentions, yet she didn¡¯t expect Qiao Duo¡¯er to help her so wholeheartedly.


    "Let it go this time, but don¡¯t let yourself be used by people with ulterior motives in the future. And if that swindler contacts you again, you must notify me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er always felt that there was something more to this matter. Logically, Zheng Shi could not possibly have obtained arsenic;


    therefore, she had to be extra cautious. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Clan had already told Yuan Wei about the situation, so he struggled to get out of bed.


    His mother was going to do that foolish act because of him; he should take responsibility for his mother.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly pressed him down, "You need to lie flat and not move around; we¡¯ll talk about everything else after you¡¯re better."


    Yuan Wei was a decent young man in the village, and she had other plans for him.


    After saying this, Qiao Duo¡¯er returned to her own home and pulled out Bai Yifan¡¯s notebook.


    She remembered there was a prescription for treating intestinal abscesses in it.


    Tan Zhenghong helped as well and, before long, they found the Reed Stem Soup that Bai Yifan had modified.


    Tan Zhenghong copied a prescription and handed it to Almond, "Take this to Uncle Wu¡¯s house; have him prepare a dose according to this prescription and then deliver it to the Yuan Family¡¯s house, brewed from three and a half bowls of water down to one."


    With a life at stake, Almond dared not delay and immediately went to Wu Youcai¡¯s House.


    "I hope this medicine works." Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Bai Yifan¡¯s notebook again.


    Bai Yifan had used this prescription to cure someone who had been in abdominal pain for three days, but Yuan Wei had been suffering for seven, which was much more severe than the case example; she didn¡¯t know if it would work.


    Tan Zhenghong rubbed Duo¡¯er¡¯s head, "You¡¯ve done what you could, the rest is up to his fate; don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself."


    "I know," Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly.


    She didn¡¯t feel much pressure because she knew she could save that young life; it was just a matter of how simple or troublesome it would be.


    Waiting was a tormenting process, so Qiao Duo¡¯er simply picked up the notebook and continued reading.


    It would not only divert her attention but also allow her to learn more.


    The notebook recorded many difficult and miscellaneous diseases that one often encounters in daily life.


    At the Yuan Family¡¯s house, Xu Clan hurriedly brewed the medicine.


    Only after feeding Yuan Wei did she notice Almond was still there.


    Xu Clan said apologetically, "Miss Almond, I¡¯m so sorry; let me get you some water."


    "Auntie, I¡¯m not thirsty. It¡¯s more important that you look after Big Brother Yuan,"


    Almond said understandingly.


    At that moment, Xu Clan¡¯s mind was all about Yuan Wei, certainly not wanting to be away from him for even a second.


    Xu Clan was grateful, but she knew the medicine wouldn¡¯t take effect instantly, so she still poured a glass of water for Almond.


    However, their household wasn¡¯t well-off; even the bowl for the water was chipped. She just hoped the guest wouldn¡¯t mind.

 Chapter 877 - 880: The Use of Poison

    Chapter 877: Chapter 880: The Use of PoisonTo Almond, all of this was insignificant, as she too came from a poor family, and as long as the bowls were clean, that was enough.


    Xu Clan silently pitied Almond, for she was a good girl, it was just a shame that she had entered into servitude.


    Otherwise, once her son got better, she would certainly have gone to the Tan Family to ask for his hand in marriage.


    Of course, these were thoughts Xu Clan could only entertain in her mind, while she actually talked about other matters.


    Having Almond there to chat with made the time pass less painfully.


    In the blink of an eye, four hours had passed, and Yuan Wei exhaled a sigh of relief, "I don¡¯t think it hurts as much anymore, I want to sleep."


    Only heaven knew the kind of days he had been enduring, unable to eat or sleep, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the fear that his parents would not be able to cope without him, he might have even ended his own life.


    But thankfully, he had finally seen a glimmer of hope for life.


    "If the pain has lessened, it means the medicine is working. Madam, I¡¯ll go back and talk to my lady about it," Almond said joyfully.


    Xu Clan was so ecstatic that she was practically spinning in circles, not knowing what to do next.


    Her son finally had hope of recovery!


    This time, it was all thanks to Duo¡¯er, and she needed to thank her.


    No, that wasn¡¯t right... she should first wipe her son¡¯s body so he could sleep more comfortably.


    Worried that Duo¡¯er might be in a hurry, Almond ran back all the way home.


    Upon entering the house, she excitedly said, "Madam, great news, Yuan Li said the pain is less, the medicine is working!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief, "That¡¯s good. Go and tell Aunt Xu to buy more medicine, three times a day, and make sure to keep drinking it until he¡¯s completely healed."


    The ingredients were all common herbs. Even drinking them for ten days to half a month wouldn¡¯t cost much silver.


    But before she could finish, Xu Clan burst in.


    "Duo¡¯er, you saved my Shi Dan; you are a lifesaver for our whole family. I have no other skills, but I can work for you for this life and the next," Xu Clan said.


    Xu Clan had much to say, but due to her excitement, she could only offer to work like an ox or a horse for Duo¡¯er.


    It was a clich¨¦, yet it was a mother¡¯s heartfelt expression.


    She was willing to trade her own life for her son¡¯s¡ªthat was maternal love, touching and profound.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t fend off the gratitude, and Almond quickly urged, "Aunt, go back and take care of Big Brother Yuan. He¡¯s still very weak, and it¡¯s risky for him to be without someone to look after him."


    "Right, if the medicine is effective, you must continue taking it until there¡¯s no more pain at all," Almond added.


    After much persuasion, Almond finally managed to coax her out.


    Once Xu Clan had left, Qiao Duo¡¯er let out a long sigh.


    Just then, Tan Zhenghong came in with some fruit, and seeing Duo¡¯er¡¯s relaxed face, he guessed the outcome, "I didn¡¯t expect the prescription to be so effective."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Of course, when Brother Bai San takes action, he¡¯s worth two!"


    "He¡¯s the closed-disciple of the Medicine King. If he couldn¡¯t handle such a minor illness, his master would definitely have him under lock and key again," Zheng Hong said indifferently.


    In truth, he respected Bai Yifan, but praising a rival in love always felt a bit odd to him.


    Yet, acting on his own feelings seemed too petty.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, not wanting to puncture Tan Zhenghong¡¯s pretense, changed the subject, "Ah Hong, bring out the poison Brother Luo sent me." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The poison that Luo Qingfeng had given her was finally going to see the light of day instead of sleeping in the cupboard.


    Zheng Shi had even resorted to arsenic. If she didn¡¯t respond now, Zheng Shi would surely be disappointed.


    Tan Zhenghong wholeheartedly agreed that it was time to use those strange poisons.


    "Using Crane Crown Red directly would be letting them off too easily. This is Itchy Powder; it causes itchiness for a while and then it¡¯s over, not very effective..."

 Chapter 878 - 881 Retribution Has Come

    Chapter 878: Chapter 881 Retribution Has ComeQiao Duo¡¯er carefully selected and finally chose two kinds. One was the Seven-color Poison previously used by Chen Yiling, and the other was called Hair-Loss Powder, which would cause hair loss.


    With these two, the Xiao Family would not be able to raise their heads for decades.


    Just take the Xu Clan¡¯s recent deception¡ªthe people nowadays are very superstitious and put great emphasis on karma.


    What she needed to do now was to create a false impression that the Xiao Family was facing retribution.


    At night, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er quietly sneaked into the Xiao Family¡¯s house again.


    Then, Tan Zhenghong used a tube to blow a sleeping drug into the room and waited before slipping into the house, placing the drug into the water jug.


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s skill in making poison was unmatched in the world. The poison he made was colorless, tasteless, and dissolved upon contact with water, so there was no worry about anyone noticing anything unusual.


    After poisoning, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately left.


    "Wife, tomorrow, there will definitely be a good show to watch," Tan Zhenghong said, confident of success.


    "This is what they call ¡¯returniing the body by the way of the person!¡¯"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hummed lightly, unable to wait to see the Xiao Family being pointed at by thousands.


    This was called instant karma!


    Having just done something bad, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in such a good mood she didn¡¯t feel like sleeping at all. So she dragged Tan Zhenghong to the back mountain.


    At the foot of the back mountain, many fruit trees were growing, and many should be ripe by now.


    Half an hour later, the two of them returned with quite a few fruits.


    "You had me worried to death. I was just about to go out looking for you," Almond said with a pout.


    She hadn¡¯t expected the two of them to have gone to the back mountain to pick fruits, nearly infuriating her to death.


    In a good mood, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Next time we go out, we¡¯ll definitely tell you where we¡¯re going, so you don¡¯t worry."


    Almond nodded in satisfaction. After she had returned to her own room, she realized what she had just said. It was a good thing that Yi Ling had a good temper; otherwise, Almond wouldn¡¯t even know how she would have died.


    As Qiao Duo had expected, within a few days, everyone in Big Willow Village was discussing the Xiao Family¡¯s retribution.


    Not only had the Xiao Family¡¯s skin changed color, but they had also become bald overnight¡ªwho could do such a thing other than a deity?


    "The Xiao Family must have committed many bad deeds for heaven to send down such punishment."


    "Right, today one of them was red, another purple. It scared my daughter so much she hid at home and dared not go out."


    "I heard that Zheng Shi began to talk nonsense, saying she had done wrong in the past and was begging the heavens for forgiveness."


    "Father Xiao has invited many monks to his home to recite scriptures and pray to Buddha. It¡¯s unclear if it will do any good."


    "What use is that? Zheng Shi needs to come clean about her bad deeds. Only if those she harmed forgive her, then perhaps heaven might withdraw the punishment." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These words almost spread throughout Big Willow Village; you could hear them everywhere.


    At this moment, Zheng Shi was kneeling in front of a Buddha statue, knocking her head fervently until her forehead bled, yet she remained unaware of her wound.


    "Guanyin Bodhisattva, that wretched woman is still living well, and her child hasn¡¯t died. Please spare me, spare me!"


    Zheng Shi kept chanting, the buzzing of her voice adding irritation to the already hot summer.


    "Stop your nonsense; it¡¯s all the ¡¯good deeds¡¯ you¡¯ve done!"


    Father Xiao sat aside, his face beet red, yet his anger was still noticeable.


    Ending up like this, one might as well say it was utter ruin.


    What was the point of living now?


    Never had he imagined that at his age, he would fall to a state where he could not show his face, a total failure.

 Chapter 879 - 882

    Chapter 879: Chapter 882Zheng Shi acted as if she heard nothing, continuing to mutter tirelessly in front of the Buddha statue.


    If she had known there would be a day like today, she would never have committed such an unkind act in the first place.


    But it was all her fault, why must the child bear the consequences?


    Elsewhere, Xiao Lingshan insisted on visiting his parents upon learning about the situation at home.


    Ever since he parted ways with the family, he saw them rarely, this time learning of the trouble through others. What use was he as a son?


    Wei Shi, the wife of the oldest son of the Xiao Family, said irritably, "If you go to see them, don¡¯t bother coming back, you can just live with your parents from now on!"


    She had finally made Xiao Lingshan draw a clear line with that family, and now he¡¯s eagerly heading back, rendering all her schemes useless!


    In the end, Zheng Shi might talk of revenge, and her man would surely end up like the younger brother.


    For the likes of that little wretch Xiao Biyu, it¡¯s simply not worth it!


    "I¡¯m just going to see if there¡¯s any way I can help, I promise I¡¯ll come right back."


    Xiao Lingshan raised three fingers, but in his heart, he wondered if his request was too much to ask.


    Wei Shi unrelentingly said, "I don¡¯t believe a word you say. Look at the living hell I¡¯ve been through since marrying you. If you go, the child and I won¡¯t survive!"


    She didn¡¯t want to walk two steps in the village only to be pointed at and gossiped about.


    "They are my parents, what can I do? Shall I poison them to death?" Xiao Lingshan said irritably.


    Being a man is truly difficult!


    With the Xiao Family in its current state, he¡¯d already had enough trouble, and here was his stubborn wife nagging incessantly. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This attitude only further infuriated Wei Shi, thinking how could such a grown man still not distinguish right from wrong?


    "If you can¡¯t bear to leave your parents, then go help them. Count out some silver and take it to them, then grab a machete and avenge your brother and sister at the Tan Family," she said.


    "Look at the morality of your family members, not getting the man they wanted so they resort to unleashing snakes, nearly causing a death. The second brother still wants to avenge his sister by selling the child to bandits. Which of these actions are done by decent people? Hurry up and go, once you¡¯re gone I can re-marry and take care of the child!"


    Wei Shi stood with her hands on her hips, leaving no room for discussion.


    She was now envious to death of her former sister-in-law who had remarried into a normal family and was living a comfortable life.


    Not to mention being pointed at and whispered about, her husband was always thinking about others.


    It might be better to follow her sister-in-law¡¯s example and start afresh, free from this family with their abnormal minds.


    "I won¡¯t go, stop nagging," Xiao Lingshan said, sitting on the threshold and sulking.


    His parents were in trouble, and he couldn¡¯t offer a bit of help, he felt like killing himself!


    Wei Shi actually felt pity, but what could she do?


    She just hoped that her children could avoid ridicule and lead a stable life in the future.


    "Head of the household, everyone in the village is watching your parents right now, it¡¯s not appropriate for you to go. Let¡¯s wait until the heat dies down, then we can go and see," Wei Shi couldn¡¯t help but console him.


    Xiao Lingshan ruffled his hair, "I know, leave me alone, I need to calm down."


    Wei Shi sighed, resigned to silence.


    Sigh, hoping everything could return to normal.


    The minds of the Xiao Family were each filled with different thoughts, and each day was an agony for them, while Qiao Duo¡¯er went about her business as usual, waking naturally every day and making breakfast as she pleased.


    That day Qiao Duo¡¯er and Almond were in the yard, preparing diapers for the baby, which required tearing the diapers into long strips of the right length and width.


    The cloth was white fine fabric bought by Tan Zhenghong, soft in texture so as not to hurt the baby¡¯s delicate skin.

 Chapter 880 - 883: Don’t Be So Tricky

    Chapter 880: Chapter 883: Don¡¯t Be So TrickyQiao Duo¡¯er was in charge of making the cuts, while Almond tore the diapers apart; they worked together seamlessly, so naturally, the process did not slow down.


    "Tomorrow we¡¯ll wash and sun the clothes again; the sunlight has been just right these past few days,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said, squinting her eyes.


    The due date was in October, when the sun wasn¡¯t as fierce as now, fearing that the sunning wouldn¡¯t be thorough.


    "Madam, you¡¯ll certainly be a good mother in the future."


    Almond was very confident about this, as she had heard from the Tooth Granny that wealthy families often hired maids and nannies to care for their children in advance, which made the children less close to their parents.


    If they happened to have a nanny with ulterior motives, the relationship would be even colder.


    But the Madam had never thought of entrusting someone else with the care of her child; she was sure to have a loving mother-child relationship in the future.


    "It¡¯s my first time becoming a mother, so I am quite nervous, I hope he won¡¯t regret choosing me as his mother."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gently touched her belly.


    In her past life, she heard that children were originally angels who would choose a mother they liked and crawl into her belly to become her child.


    Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t demanding of herself. She just hoped her little angel wouldn¡¯t regret his initial choice.


    With a playful tone, Almond said, "I always thought you were the most amazing woman in the world. I didn¡¯t expect there to be something that could make you nervous. Our little young master must be extraordinary!"


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er remembered herself in her past life, unencumbered.


    But in this world, things had slowly changed.


    Because of Tan Zhenghong, she found a sense of attachment.


    Because of this little guy, she felt her life had more meaning.


    Anyway, she was completely ensnared by this world.


    Only a small portion had been torn when Sun Erhu came along, whining like a little vixen.


    "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s not fair for you to trap me like this."


    Sun Erhu complained with a mournful look.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, puzzled, looked at Erhu, "How did I trap you?"


    Ever since Erhu got married, he had been busy earning money for the family, and she preferred to stay at home to avoid the heat, making their chances of meeting scarce; how had she trapped him?


    Could it be because Chao Lian had been working late shifts recently?


    But that couldn¡¯t be blamed on her, could it? Overtime in the Embroidery Room had always been voluntary.


    Moreover, to her knowledge, the Embroidery Room now had enough staff and barely needed any overtime.


    Erhu spoke with heartfelt distress, "There¡¯s little enough joy in my life, and now even that¡¯s been taken away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still in the dark, feeling like Sun Erhu was acting hysterically.


    When had she ever done such an unforgivable deed?


    Just then Tan Zhenghong drove into the courtyard with his ox cart, and Sun Erhu began pouring out his grievances to him.


    "Brother Hong, you have to judge for me. I like to drink a little wine when I come home from hunting, and just yesterday, as soon as I poured it, Chao Lian snatched away my wine cup and lied to me about needing tonics. I¡¯m not a woman; what do I need tonics for?"


    Erhu was nearly suffocated with indignation; his greatest loves were Chao Lian and then the alcohol.


    He didn¡¯t drink recklessly, only a little each time, but Chao Lian was resolute, not allowing him a single drop.


    If Chao Lian had given him a reason, he would have accepted it. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Chao Lian had hemmed and hawed before dropping a harsh decree, which was that if he drank, she wouldn¡¯t let him sleep with her.


    Wasn¡¯t this tantamount to asking for his life?


    After pondering for a long while, Erhu thought he needed to seek out his sister-in-law; as long as he could persuade her, he¡¯d be able to embrace his wife after drinking his fill.


    So, he went up the mountain early in the morning and, after setting his traps, headed to the Tan Family, even bringing a pigeon to bribe them.


    Tan Zhenghong said, amused, "That¡¯s the reason, what about it?"


    His wife had mentioned this to him; alcohol could affect the quality of the sperm, possibly leading to deformities and other issues.

 Chapter 881 - 884: Pretending to be Proper

    Chapter 881: Chapter 884: Pretending to be Proper"Brother Hong, that¡¯s not cool, you can¡¯t just throw your bros under the bus because you¡¯re scared of your wife."


    Sun Erhu complained.


    However, he quickly understood. He had seen Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s skills and knew for sure she was superior to his Brother Hong.


    In other words, Brother Hong couldn¡¯t beat his wife, and he was even less articulate than her, so what else could he do but listen obediently?


    Brother Hong must have been frustrated.


    Man, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him.


    Tan Zhenghong seriously corrected Sun Erhu¡¯s misunderstanding, "That¡¯s not fear, it¡¯s love."


    Sun Erhu was skeptical. His sister-in-law always said, "An explanation is just an excuse," and he thought it made a lot of sense.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, "I¡¯ll leave this to you."


    She didn¡¯t mind discussing the entire process from the creation of tadpoles to their meeting with the eggs from an academic perspective with Erhu, but she was afraid Tan Zhenghong would get jealous. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong happily accepted the task, even dragging Erhu into the main room.


    It was a topic with delicate undertones, and it was better spoken about in secret.


    Tan Zhenghong had a hard time explaining and had to deal with the questions Erhu threw at him. It took a good while before he could clarify everything.


    After discussing this monumental project, the faces of Tan Zhenghong and Erhu were as red as ripe persimmons.


    Just then, Qiao Duo¡¯er came in, making it even more awkward as the two men didn¡¯t know where to put their hands.


    "Two bashful guys," Qiao Duo¡¯er muttered under her breath.


    Usually, they had no issues doing the deed, but now, talking about the academic side of things, they suddenly became shy. Wasn¡¯t this just what people call hypocritical modesty?


    Qiao Duo was lost in her thoughts and didn¡¯t notice her gaze was fixed on Sun Erhu.


    Sun Erhu, on the other hand, completely misunderstood Qiao Duo¡¯s intentions, thinking she was waiting for him to make a statement.


    He hesitated before saying awkwardly, "Thanks for the heads-up, Sister-in-Law. I promise I¡¯ll stop drinking, and... I¡¯ll head back now."


    But the aftermath was that he figured it would be a while before he could face Brother Hong and Sister-in-Law without feeling awkward.


    The content of their chat was too revealing; it was so embarrassing...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly called out to him, "Hold on a second, I¡¯ll get the medicine for you. You should take it for about three months, and during this time, make sure you prepare some good food for Chao Lian and don¡¯t bother with Chao Lian Niang¡¯s family."


    If those shameless people dare to come over again, just kick them out.


    Sun Erhu nodded. As a man, his first duty was to protect his wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over three packets of medicine, and with a word of thanks, Sun Erhu took his leave.


    Now, all he wanted was to get outside and clear his head.


    "Wife, are you sure you didn¡¯t get the wrong ones?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked worriedly. He had been clearly taking contraceptive pills before, and yet they ended up with an extra little one.


    He had been beside himself with worry for a few days when he found out.


    "Of course not, Chao Lian needs to recover for a few months."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes. If it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that she and Tan Zhenghong were already prepared to have a child, she would never have secretly switched the medicine.


    It was just that she hadn¡¯t expected to get pregnant so quickly; to tell the truth, it had really taken her by surprise at that time.

 Chapter 882 - 885: Too Dirty-minded

    Chapter 882: Chapter 885: Too Dirty-mindedTan Zhenghong finally felt reassured, but he still gently tapped on Duo¡¯er¡¯s head.


    Ever since that little thing came along, his sex life had come to an end.


    Counting on his fingers, there were still about six months to go.


    But thinking about the little life that was about to arrive, no matter how physically stifled he felt, his heart was sweet.


    After seeing off Sun Erhu, Qiao Duo¡¯er continued dealing with the diapers, and for the sake of appearance, she even hemmed the edges of the diapers.


    Tan Zhenghong then ducked into the kitchen; he had to get the soup for Duo¡¯er¡¯s midday drink on the stove.


    By the time Duo¡¯er had arranged the diapers, it was almost noon.


    At that time, the aroma of food was already wafting through the house, and Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her stomach.


    She felt that the title of "glutton" suited her better now, with three meals a day plus various cakes and snacks, spending almost half of her time eating.


    Nobody else could match her!


    After lunch, Tan Zhenghong set up a basin of ice in the room.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the room¡¯s temperature to go down.


    Duo¡¯er was quite satisfied with this temperature, but the empty space next to her made her uncomfortable.


    So she pouted and said, "Sleep with me."


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lips, "Wife, I think you are bullying me again."


    "I feel sorry for you working hard all morning, how is letting you take a nap bullying you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er chimed, blinking innocently.


    "I often hear people talk about personal accompaniment in sleep when I pass by the Red-Light District, and I¡¯m not like those Flower Ladies," Tan Zhenghong said seriously, as the term "sleeping with" was frivolous; how could it be applied to him?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes in exasperation, "I¡¯m not playing with you, stop being so pretentious, hurry over."


    Tan Zhenghong lay down, and after a while, he squeezed out a sentence, "Actually, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you did play with me."


    He had been holding back his frustration since the morning, and if his wife were willing to play with him, he would be delighted.


    "Where¡¯s your face?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot Tan Zhenghong a look of disdain; just a moment ago, he was pretending to be a proper housewife, so why had his mood suddenly changed?


    A surge of joy filled Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart, and he quickly brought his face closer.


    But what he received wasn¡¯t the kiss he had imagined; instead, his cheek was pinched.


    Tan Zhenghong protested with a face full of grievance, "Wife, you¡¯re too much, that really hurt!"


    "Who asked you to think about all these messy things during the day?"


    If the noise got too loud and Almond overheard, she would be too ashamed to show her face in front of others.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded agreeably, "You sleep first; I¡¯ll think about those messy things tonight."


    If he slept well now, he would have more energy for the night.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned away and closed her eyes; what else could she say to such a shameless man?


    Let it be tonight, at least there¡¯s an extra layer of camouflage.


    Tan Zhenghong lay excited with his eyes wide open, imagining all the positions suitable for when pregnant, that wouldn¡¯t press on the belly, and couldn¡¯t be too rough...


    It didn¡¯t take long for Tan Zhenghong to come up with several options, but he didn¡¯t know if his wife would be willing to cooperate.


    The temperature in the room was clearly comfortable, but Tan Zhenghong still broke out in a fine sweat. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sneaking a glance at his wife, she was sleeping soundly.


    Could he wake her up?


    The answer was obvious; no, he could not.


    Tan Zhenghong resigned himself and went into the bathroom; luckily, the tub still had cold water, so he took a cold shower.


    The sensation was really... refreshingly sour.


    In the end, he only had himself to blame; who asked him to have such dirty thoughts?


    Had he carelessly stoked a fire, then a cold shower could extinguish it.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, the person beside her had already disappeared.

 Chapter 883 - 886: A Father’s Love

    Chapter 883: Chapter 886: A Father¡¯s Love"Baby, let¡¯s get up and see what your father is up to, he doesn¡¯t even sleep properly." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said to the little thing inside her belly.


    Only when the little thing inside her belly moved a bit did she slowly get up.


    In the main room, Tie Niu and Tan Zhenghong were chatting away happily.


    "Duo¡¯er, I came here to tell you that Scholar Lu has agreed to come to the school to be a teacher," Tie Niu repeated the good news.


    Scholar Lu¡¯s father passed away the year before last, and he insisted on observing three years of mourning, unwilling to leave the village.


    It took a long while for Tie Niu and the rest of the Lu Family to persuade him to agree, and it¡¯s likely he¡¯ll be able to come over next month.


    Scholars really can be stubborn, but that¡¯s also a kind of integrity.


    It¡¯s precisely because of this integrity that everyone holds him in high regard, and many people in the village are saying that with Scholar Lu, they¡¯ll send their children to the school.


    For the sake of getting more children into school, he had to visit the Lu Family multiple times, but thankfully, the outcome was satisfying.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said joyfully, "That¡¯s great! Now that we have found all the teachers, the school will be able to start soon."


    "I think the sooner the better. I have already taken an inventory of the desks and chairs at the school, and we are just a few sets short. The carpenters are already rushing the work, and in a few days, we can start enrollment."


    Tie Niu shared his plans.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and said, "The permanent workers from my family have been cutting lumber these days. I¡¯ll go and tell them to send some over."


    "No need for that, I¡¯ll just ask a few strong laborers for help. We¡¯ll pay them from the village funds. There¡¯s still some left from the road repairs, and I¡¯d rather use it up sooner to put my mind at ease."


    Tie Niu said with a smile, explaining that since everyone benefits from the opening of the school, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to let the Tan Family foot the bill alone.


    They have silver, but their silver doesn¡¯t just fall from the sky.


    And as the villagers¡¯ lives have improved, they shouldn¡¯t feel entitled to the Tan Family¡¯s contributions.


    Seeing that Tie Niu had other plans, Tan Zhenghong no longer insisted.


    The back mountain is filled with big trees; crafting a few sets of desks and chairs wouldn¡¯t be a difficult task.


    "There¡¯s also another matter, I..."


    Tie Niu hesitated to speak, wanting to inquire about his eldest daughter¡¯s marriage prospects. Yet, he felt it wouldn¡¯t be proper for the woman¡¯s side to be too forward.


    He couldn¡¯t let his daughter gain a reputation for being too eager and offering herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instantly understood. Father Zhang had been a bit unwell a few days ago and had only come over yesterday to settle the wages. She had taken the opportunity to ask him about it.


    Father Zhang immediately made his position clear, speaking well of the village girls.


    In his eyes, a marriage between equals was the best match.


    Even if Zi Wen were to pass the imperial examinations, any girl in the village would be more than a match for him.


    She had even planned to visit the Tie Family that afternoon, but now she could save herself the trip.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile, "Duo¡¯er is straightforward and her conduct is impeccable; she¡¯s also quite a beauty. Any family would be lucky to have her as a daughter-in-law; they¡¯d probably wake up laughing. Just wait peacefully for the day you marry off your daughter!"


    "That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good."


    Tie Niu finally felt relieved, knowing Duo¡¯er¡¯s character well.


    Once she set her heart on someone, she wouldn¡¯t easily change her mind.


    If the Zhang Family were to refuse, he imagined Duo¡¯er would be heartbroken for quite some time.


    Now that he knew what he most wanted to know, Tie Niu was eager to rush home to share the good news with his family.


    Now that the Zhang Family was aware, they would likely take action soon, and it was time for them to start preparing the dowry.


    Yet, thinking that Duo¡¯er would soon be married off, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sorrow.


    The daughter he had cherished in the palm of his hand for over a decade was about to benefit the Zhang Family boy for nothing, and that made him very upset!

 Chapter 884 - 887: Are You Sincere Yet?

    Chapter 884: Chapter 887: Are You Sincere Yet?The shop in Cheng County soon took shape.


    This meant that Tan Zhenghong had to leave home, which made him rather depressed.


    He was not at ease leaving his wife at home alone; He always felt others wouldn¡¯t be as attentive as he was.


    But considering that after the birth of the child he would have to take care of both mother and son, and couldn¡¯t leave at all, he had to get things done now.


    Otherwise, the shop would be delayed for another year, or even longer.


    And with limited warehouse capacity, there would come a time when there wouldn¡¯t be enough room, and village gossip would only increase.


    The night before he left, Tan Zhenghong clutched Duo¡¯er¡¯s small paw, his face full of reluctance.


    "You have to eat well and sleep well when you are home alone. If I find out you¡¯re not behaving, I¡¯ll punish you harshly!" he warned seriously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head, "Are you making too much of a fuss? It¡¯s just a trip to Cheng County, and it won¡¯t take that long."


    All in all, it would be about twenty days.


    She was a grown woman; surely she could take care of herself?


    Tan Zhenghong pouted. "How can it not be a fuss? I can¡¯t eat or sleep without seeing you."


    "Then shall I accompany you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    "You¡¯re not being sincere at all."


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes at her. Now, in the height of the hot summer, how could he bear to have her travel back and forth?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear, and said seductively, "What if I say I¡¯ll feed you tonight, would you still think I¡¯m insincere?"


    "That might count as somewhat sincere," Tan Zhenghong said with a sly smile.


    In truth, she could be more sincere, like letting him choose the position.


    This was Tan Zhenghong, taking advantage and still acting coy. Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish complaining, he scooped her up horizontally.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded playfully, "You scoundrel, you scared me to death!"


    "Your tolerance is too weak, I¡¯m going to be even naughtier later!"


    For the current Tan Zhenghong, speaking suggestively was no pressure at all, as common as eating.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fell asleep amidst the rocking, and when she woke up, the spot beside her had long lost its warmth.


    It was already Three Poles Day; he must be on the road by now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head. How could she be so sentimental? The guy had only left two hours ago, and she was already missing him.


    Well... it must be because she slept too long.


    Life without Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t too different, except she found herself thinking of him occasionally, and quite frequently at that.


    That evening, as usual, Qiao Duo¡¯er took Almond for a walk around the village.


    There was no such thing as a caesarean section at that time; to have a smooth delivery, she needed to exercise more. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was to prevent gaining too much weight and to build stamina to avoid exhaustion during delivery.


    While walking, Almond began gossiping about what she heard that morning by the riverside while washing clothes.


    "I heard Zheng Shi went mad. They say she injured her own man with a knife last night," Almond said excitedly.


    She felt that Zheng Shi got what she deserved. Zheng Shi was malicious, not only scaring Madam Li, but also trying to drug people in the Embroidery Room.


    Qiao Duo said indifferently, "Surely she hasn¡¯t gone mad?"


    Hair grows back over time, and the discolored hair problem would solve itself in a few days. How could that drive someone mad?


    "Really, many people in the village are saying Zheng Shi must have done something shameful in the past, or she wouldn¡¯t be raving mad, constantly muttering apologies," Almond said earnestly.


    With Zheng Shi gone mad and injuring her own man, now neither of them could take care of themselves.


    They had three children - two sons and a daughter - but the only ones left to support them were Xiao Lingshan¡¯s family.

 Chapter 885 - 888: It’s Most Comfortable to Make Money While Lying Down

    Chapter 885: Chapter 888: It¡¯s Most Comfortable to Make Money While Lying DownAfter something like this happened, Boss Xiao wanted to take his parents back home to take care of them, but his wife refused. Now the couple argues about this every day, and they almost came to blows over it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er just smiled and glossed over the matter because she knew that what goes around comes around, and karma would eventually catch up.


    After a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er ran into someone familiar¡ªit was Granny Liu.


    Ever since Ruo Lan¡¯s schemes had been exposed, Granny Liu had always steered clear of Duo¡¯er, and so they had been at peace with each other.


    But today, for some unknown reason, she actually made the effort to approach her.


    "Duo¡¯er, you must be due soon?"


    Granny Liu greeted her with a smile, but there was a hint of contempt in her eyes.


    The Tan family¡¯s situation was just so-so; pregnant with a child and only a maid for company¡ªhow embarrassing!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied noncommittally, "There are still several months to go."


    There were still four months until the delivery, a long process indeed.


    Granny Liu reminded her, "You¡¯re with child, so you should have more people around you. I also have good news¡ªRuo Lan is going to marry into a good family. She¡¯s really born under a lucky star!"


    It was just as well that the previous plan hadn¡¯t succeeded, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have had the opportunity to meet such a high-ranking official.


    "Then congratulations to her," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    She remembered that Ruo Lan had been sold to a madam and guessed that some patron must have redeemed her and brought her back to the household to become a concubine.


    After all, she was still just a plaything for the wealthy.


    Granny Liu feigned humility and said, "There¡¯s nothing much to congratulate, I just feel it¡¯s a pity. Right after Ruo Lan entered their house, her husband¡¯s business thrived immediately. I hear they even gave her many gifts!"


    If Ruo Lan had been brought into the Tan family, their business would certainly have flourished as well.


    Instead, they were stuck with a huge stockpile of unsold goods.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled dismissively. Ruo Lan had the right to choose her own way of life.


    As long as the lives of others didn¡¯t affect her, she didn¡¯t care.


    "Ah Hong is out opening a shop this time, right? Sigh, always running around like that must be tough."


    Granny Liu deliberately provoked her.


    Almond retorted irritably, "How can earning money with your own hands be as comfortable as earning it lying down?"


    That Ruo Lan just needed to lie down on her bed, spread her legs, and the silver would start rolling in, of course it¡¯s comfortable.


    Granny Liu¡¯s old face reddened¡ªthis girl really didn¡¯t mince her words! Even an old woman like her found it a bit too much to take.


    "Almond, be ladylike, don¡¯t stoop to vulgarities like some people," Qiao Duo¡¯er advised. It wasn¡¯t worth lowering oneself for certain individuals.


    Almond readily agreed, knowing well that her madam wouldn¡¯t steer her wrong.


    After making a fool of herself, Granny Liu quickly adjusted her mood.


    Being angry was less productive than going home to get ready; she was going to Mansion City to enjoy her fortunes too! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By then, the only ones left to envy and covet would be those stuck in Big Willow Village, wouldn¡¯t they?


    At this moment, she had no inkling as to why Ruo Lan wanted her to come. After all, she had abused Ruo Lan a lot in the past, and sold her to that kind of place without a second thought.


    Ruo Lan would do well not to take revenge, let alone allow Granny Liu to live a life of luxury.


    Granny Liu didn¡¯t affect Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood at all; she continued to stroll around before finally heading back.


    When she got home, Almond started preparing dinner, and Duo¡¯er, worried Almond might be too busy, went in to help.


    But Almond firmly shooed her out, "Madam, just go wait for dinner. I can handle this little bit of work!"


    With two pots in the Tan family kitchen and a stove that never went out, making two or three dishes wouldn¡¯t take much time at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, feeling as if she were on the verge of becoming useless.


    Ah, let it be, for perhaps being useless was a form of bliss in itself?

 Chapter 886 - 889: Hu Banxian

    Chapter 886: Chapter 889: Hu BanxianTan Zhenghong had left, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was not bored at all, for this year was destined to be an eventful autumn.


    The first visitor was from the Xu Clan, who always remembered Duo¡¯er¡¯s words.


    Today, the self-proclaimed Divine Doctor, Hu Banxian, came around again, and she straightforwardly lured him over.


    The whole process hardly took any effort, she merely mentioned that the village¡¯s wealthy family wanted to request a great person to pray for blessings, and Hu Banxian couldn¡¯t wait to follow her.


    "Master, this is the place, please wait a moment," said Mrs. Xu with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    The more she looked at him now, the more she felt he was a scam artist.


    If he truly were a Divine Doctor, why would he abandon patients who are seriously ill to pray for blessings for others?


    Mrs. Xu had an answer bursting to come out, but years of belief still made her suppress this speculation.


    Hu Banxian acted the part as he saluted, "It is but a small effort for the host to make the introduction; removing disasters for others is also accumulating virtue and goodness, which is beneficial for your young master¡¯s illness."


    Mrs. Xu didn¡¯t speak further but knocked on the door instead.


    Almond opened the door, and Mrs. Xu quickly gestured with her eyes, "Last time, Mrs. Tan told me she was looking for someone to pray for dispelling misfortunes. Just so happens, I know a master and brought him to see Madam."


    "Please come in, Madam is in the main hall."


    Almond was very cooperative, seeming to be highly respectful of the suddenly appearing sorcerer.


    Once inside, Mrs. Xu declared, "Madam, this is the master I mentioned to you."


    Qiao Duo scanned the person in the Taoist robe and immediately labeled him as a Jianghu Sorcerer.


    She admitted that some sorcerers had some skills, but this one... was definitely a total quack.


    To make a living, one must at least have the low-key shrewdness of Master Yun Xu, and have some principles, knowing which people should not be deceived.


    But since he had come, she decided to tease him a bit.


    Qiao Duo asked languidly, "Tell me, what skills do you possess?"


    "This humble Taoist can remove disasters and solve difficulties for people, pray for blessings and peace; as long as Madam requires, this humble Taoist can help Madam achieve it," said Hu Banxian as he stroked his half-white beard.


    Looking at the house of this family, swindling a few dozen taels of silver seemed easy.


    Qiao Duo pondered for a moment, "You mean to say, as long as I give you silver, you can do anything?"


    Hu Banxian spoke modestly, "Madam jests. This humble Taoist is a monk; wealth is but an external object to us. Whatever your request, this humble Taoist will do his utmost to fulfill it. If you are satisfied, just reward me with something to eat."


    "We are a poor family, do you think these copper coins are enough?"


    From her purse, Qiao Duo took out five wen money, arranging them one by one on the table.


    As a person of religious practice should not touch meat or fish, this should be enough for him to have a meal.


    The corner of the mouth of the self-proclaimed semi-immortal twitched; it was a total of five wen money, was she not just messing with him?


    Was she not afraid of insulting the deities? sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Or was this woman simply aiming to disrupt his act?


    Almond, right on cue, said, "Madam, it seems the master finds it too little, why don¡¯t you add a little more?"


    "No... it¡¯s not that, any amount is a token of heart, may I ask if Madam has anything she wants this humble Taoist to help with?" Hu Banxian hastily shook his head.


    Some things are understood without being said, like needing silver, for instance.


    Qiao Duo felt amused internally, but maintained a serious demeanor as she asked, "I have another question for you."


    "Please ask," Hu Banxian was very respectful.


    Really, he felt the urge to leave, yet he was not willing to let the duck at his mouth fly away.


    Without any hesitation, Qiao Duo threw the question out, "You mean to say the Yuan Family Kid knocked over the Supreme Old Lord¡¯s Alchemy Furnace?"

 Chapter 887 - 890: The Dead Swindler

    Chapter 887: Chapter 890: The Dead Swindler"That¡¯s right, the Supreme Old Lord was so enraged that he suffered unbearable stomach pain,"


    Hu Banxian nodded, which was exactly what he had told the Xu Clan, and she immediately believed him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before speaking, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Supreme Old Lord resides in the Ninety-nine Heavens. The Yuan Family Kid would have to head to the South Heavenly Gate of the Thirty-third Heaven first. Each Heaven is guarded by Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. How could he have done that?"


    Could Yuan Wei be the reincarnation of Sun Wukong?


    Because he caused havoc in Heaven in his past life, this life he is punished with stomach pain? Isn¡¯t that absurd?


    Hu Banxian blinked, "Ah?"


    He had never thought about this question before, and everyone in the martial world generally used the same excuse.


    For so many years, no one had really questioned it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued to inquire, "The Honourable Old Lord is busy with numerous affairs. How could he have time to personally deal with a little shrimp like him? Oh right, I¡¯ve also heard that you can converse with deities. Could you ask on my behalf?"


    Almond, who was standing to the side, could no longer hold back and let out a low laugh.


    "I pray to heaven and earth every year, wishing to become a rich man¡¯s daughter. I¡¯ve also burned a lot of spirit money. Could you ask Buddha why they don¡¯t help me fulfill my wishes?"


    If she became a lady of a wealthy family, surely no one would have sold her to become a maid.


    Hu Banxian was at a loss for words, and the Xu Clan finally saw through him.


    "You swindler, you just want to cheat me out of twenty taels, don¡¯t you? What if you delay Shi Dan¡¯s condition? Can you afford that?"


    The Xu Clan glared angrily at the so-called half-immortal. Wasn¡¯t he blatantly harming others?


    And she had almost believed him!


    Fortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯er bore no grudges and got a prescription from Young Master Bai. Otherwise, she would be filled with regret and it would be useless.


    Hu Banxian knew he had met his match and quickly said, "I just remembered there¡¯s an urgent matter at home. I need to go back now." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There¡¯s no need to rush. I have a matter for you to tend to. Auntie, please have two people escort him to the Government Office. People full of lies like him should be dealt with, or they will only deceive more people." Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly.


    The Xu Clan hurriedly nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely have a good talk with the magistrates about this."


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t let this swindler go!


    Seeing the situation turn dire, Hu Banxian immediately thought of fleeing, but as soon as he stood up, he collapsed back into the chair, drained of all strength.


    There must have been something in the water; the multiple women distracting him were just biding time for the drug to take effect.


    This woman was ruthless!


    By this point, he resigned himself to his fate.


    He hadn¡¯t done anything too egregious, and once at the Government Office, at most he would be beaten and then released.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Hu Banxian was bound and led away.


    Once the room returned to quiet, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart started to race.


    She had an excellent memory and clearly remembered seeing this man before, standing right behind Xuan San at Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.


    Once at the Government Office, Qin Longyun should be able to pry out even more information from him.


    Like... whether Xuan San was truly dead or not.


    With just Zheng Shi and a little scoundrel prone to trickery, they couldn¡¯t have come up with such a malicious plot, nor could Zheng Shi have obtained the poison,


    Furthermore, Qiao Duo had been feeling like she was being followed lately, so she suspected that Xuan San was still alive.


    But now, it was inconvenient for her to say more, as she didn¡¯t want to startle the snake.


    Anyway, the current Master in the Government Office was the same Monkey that had been lurking in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village. He would understand once he saw this person.


    Sigh, she hoped it was all just her overthinking.

 Chapter 888 - 891 Are you disgusted with me?

    Chapter 888: Chapter 891 Are you disgusted with me?Xu Clan returned to the village and made a point of updating Duo¡¯er on the situation.


    Lord Qin declared in the courtroom that Hu Banxian¡¯s actions were abominable, sentenced him to twenty lashes, and imposed a three-year term.


    Such punishment satisfied the Xu Clan; wrongdoers deserved to be penalized.


    For Qiao Duo¡¯er, however, it only increased her anxiety.


    Given the current penal system, Hu Banxian¡¯s sentence should not have been so severe; Qin Longyun did this for only one reason¡ªhe must have noticed something amiss as well.


    If it were truly Xuan San, given his character, he would certainly seek revenge for Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and Yin Yinyue.


    More than half a year had passed since those two incidents, ample time for Xuan San to devise a significant plan for revenge.


    What could his plan be?


    At this point, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s only hope laid with Qin Longyun, hoping he could uncover something useful during his investigation.


    Xu Clan was so immersed in her emotions that she didn¡¯t notice Duo¡¯er¡¯s unusual behavior.


    "Duo¡¯er, I must go back and look after Shi Dan. Once he recovers, I will make sure he comes to express his gratitude to his lifesaver!"


    Having said this, the Xu Clan hurried home.


    With Shi Dan¡¯s health improving each day, her steps had become more sprightly.


    Almond hurriedly consoled, "Madam, Hu Banxian could work but chose to live by deceit. He brought this misfortune upon himself; you needn¡¯t feel guilty."


    "I know," Qiao Duo¡¯er withdrew her wandering thoughts. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They couldn¡¯t let this news spread just yet, or it might cause chaos in White Stone County and even give Qin Longyun¡¯s political rivals ammunition against him.


    After pacifying Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, Qin Longyun¡¯s position as Magistrate was nearly secured, and there were certainly many eyes on him now.


    Once in power, Qin Longyun would pose a threat to the interests of many people.


    July had arrived in a flash, and Qiao Duo¡¯er spent most of her days hidden away at home.


    Though autumn was nearing, the weather remained unbearably hot.


    The house always had ice basins set up, but even so, Qiao Duo¡¯er still did not find it cool enough and had to use a fan to help reduce the heat.


    Inexplicably, her thoughts drifted to Tan Zhenghong.


    In terms of fanning skills, Tan Zhenghong was the best she¡¯d ever seen.


    With him around, no matter how hot the weather, she could always sleep soundly. Ah, if only he could come back sooner.


    Thinking of a certain someone, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s fanning became even more vigorous. She was using the same fan, so why was it so much less effective?


    For the first time, Qiao Duo¡¯er questioned her own intelligence.


    "Madam, you shouldn¡¯t seek too much coolness right now," Almond couldn¡¯t help but remind her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted: "I thought Tan Zhenghong being away meant my ears could have a few days of peace, but I didn¡¯t expect to have you nagging at me all the time, I am really pitiful."


    "Wife, do you dislike me that much?"


    A mournful voice reached Duo¡¯er¡¯s ears.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suspected she was hallucinating and quickly looked towards the door¡ªit was indeed Tan Zhenghong!


    At the moment, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face was dark, clearly upset by her earlier words.


    Well... It seemed even a robust man could possess a fragile glass heart.


    "Fourth Master, I¡¯ll prepare some food for you; take your time," Almond quickly evacuated, citing the saying that a day apart feels like three years, and it didn¡¯t seem appropriate for her to linger.


    Tan Zhenghong glared at his own wife: "Were you genuinely happy while I was away?"


    He had been working hard every day to return home sooner, and yet, to his disappointment, she didn¡¯t seem to welcome him¡ªhe felt like such an unappreciated little thing!


    "Not at all, I just said it offhand, come in!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er waved him over and even scooted aside to make room for him.

 Chapter 889 - 892 Slacking Off?

    Chapter 889: Chapter 892 Slacking Off?She wanted to say she was very happy that Tan Zhenghong had come back early, but she absolutely wouldn¡¯t admit it.


    Cough cough, actually, she also had the kind of character that was secretly passionate.


    Even though she felt ecstatic inside, her mouth stubbornly said no.


    Hmm...saying it that way seems a bit dirty.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t squeeze onto the beauty couch but instead moved a small stool to sit next to Qiao Duo¡¯er, he was covered in dust from the journey, filthy.


    After having dinner and a bath, then he¡¯d hug his wife.


    Tan Zhenghong naturally took over fanning Duo¡¯er with the fan, from last year to this, he had done it many times, it had even become a habit.


    Before Tan Zhenghong could speak, Qiao Duo¡¯er was already asking another question, "Are you getting lazy?"


    Counting it up, this guy had only been gone for eight days!


    Could eight days be enough to get a shop in Cheng County up and running from scratch?


    Isn¡¯t this fooling ghosts?


    "The shop is seventy percent new; a little refurbishment will do. I also brought a few old hands from White Stone Town, nothing will go wrong with them there,"


    Tan Zhenghong said proudly.


    He had made preparations before going to Cheng County, and he had handed things over to the Zou¡¯s as well.


    Upon arriving in Cheng County, he immediately went to inspect the shop. Both the size of the shop and its location were good, so he decided on the spot.


    On the third day, the Zou¡¯s couldn¡¯t wait for him to go there and sent over the people they had arranged in advance to Cheng County, including a shopkeeper and a foreman.


    On the fourth day, he discussed with them the areas that needed renovation and remodeling.


    If he hadn¡¯t been delayed a few days finding craftsmen for the renovations, he would have returned even sooner.


    "You really are confident," Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help curling her lip.


    Buying the shop, hiring staff, plus the investment in goods and personnel, this would take at least several hundreds of silver taels, and she didn¡¯t expect Tan Zhenghong to be so indifferent about it.


    "The servitude contracts of the shopkeeper and the foreman are here with me, plus I¡¯ve given them some shares, they¡¯ll definitely work conscientiously,"


    Tan Zhenghong had planned everything well in advance, including the details which he had discussed with the Zou¡¯s.


    It might not be flawless, but it certainly wouldn¡¯t be a significant problem.


    Tan Zhenghong had always been a cautious man; Qiao Duo felt too lazy to worry about it, and Tan Zhenghong directed the conversation back to the question at hand.


    "Tell me the truth, do you find me annoying?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked seriously, as if this were the case, he would have to make some changes in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said insincerely, "Yeah, I do find you annoying. I think you¡¯re like an eighty-year-old grandpa."


    He always had to personally inquire about everything related to her, and he was repeatedly mentioning the precautions to her.


    Isn¡¯t that annoying?


    Tan Zhenghong said dissatisfiedly, "You¡¯re so heartless. I do all this because I care for you; it¡¯s a sign of love. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t even give it a glance."


    "Your ability to gross someone out is getting better and better."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shivered from the goosebumps on her body.


    Suddenly remembering something, Tan Zhenghong said mischievously, "Since you despise me so much, I won¡¯t give you the stuff. Cheng County is a great place with many famous snacks, like lotus leaf chicken, twisted dough strips, eight-treasure soup, and rice dumplings, and so on."


    Each one is simple yet classic.


    He had gotten up early today to raid Cheng County¡¯s snacks, and he brought back everything that could be brought.


    For this, he had specially prepared a nine-tiered food box with ice inside, changing it twice along the way to ensure the food wouldn¡¯t spoil.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes rolled around before she offered up her soft, fragrant lips.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hesitate to give them a peck, satisfyingly went to the kitchen to prepare something for Duo¡¯er to eat. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, a huge pile of snacks was laid out in front of Qiao Duo¡¯er.

 Chapter 890 - 893: A Reminder

    Chapter 890: Chapter 893: A Reminder"Fourth Master, you and Madam must be of one mind. Madam didn¡¯t have much of an appetite at noon and barely ate anything," Almond said, mischievously revealing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s scheme.


    Without a doubt, she was saving room in her stomach for the snacks Fourth Master would bring back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot a glare their way, "Even eating can¡¯t shut you up. Hurry and get another pair of chopsticks, we can¡¯t let it go to waste."


    Each dish wasn¡¯t much in terms of portion, but there were quite a few, and she and Tan Zhenghong simply couldn¡¯t finish them all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tasted a little of everything and felt almost ecstatic.


    "When it cools down, I¡¯m going to travel. One day, I will taste all the delicacies in the world!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke of her grand aspirations, the Daxing Dynasty was vast, and surely there were many delicacies to be discovered.


    As a food enthusiast, having the rare chance to visit a different world, she wouldn¡¯t do her stomach justice if she didn¡¯t try all the cuisines.


    Tan Zhenghong unhesitatingly said, "I¡¯ll accompany you. I can also pay for you, and help you carry things, but you¡¯ll have to put your plans on hold for a bit."


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, puzzled.


    Could it be that Tan Zhenghong thought she should stay home and focus on her pregnancy?


    But they had only a few months left to enjoy their time alone, shouldn¡¯t they make the most of it?


    Tan Zhenghong explained, "On the way back, I saw many families in mourning. I fear this year may not be peaceful. Let¡¯s wait for this period to pass, then you can go wherever you wish."


    Humans are the most sentient beings between heaven and earth, and a high number of deaths often indicates an impending disaster.


    This rationale is why epidemics often break out after natural disasters.


    "Can¡¯t be, last year¡¯s snowfall was quite heavy," Almond said earnestly.


    An old saying goes, heavy snow promises a fruitful year; it freezes all the bad things to death, leading to a bountiful harvest and fewer illnesses the following year. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After several snowfalls last year, a month of continuous ice and snow had followed, suggesting that this year should be smooth sailing.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, "That¡¯s the old saying, but who knows what¡¯s going on this year."


    Almond fell silent, only able to lament how difficult life can be.


    Alas, just when times had started to look up, peace was disrupted so quickly.


    Fortunately, there had been no word of anything happening in Big Willow Village; hopefully, it would remain peaceful.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brows, pondering if the mass deaths could be Xuan San¡¯s doing.


    But Xuan San¡¯s enemies were Qin Longyun and her; it made no sense to leave them untouched.


    It was probably just a coincidence.


    During their nap, Qiao Duo¡¯er shared her suspicions with Tan Zhenghong.


    After thinking it over, Tan Zhenghong said, "Those families holding funerals don¡¯t interact with outsiders, so I couldn¡¯t learn much. However, I think we should still inform Lord Qin about this."


    After all, so many deaths were definitely not normal.


    "Indeed, we should confirm it to avoid wild speculations."


    If it had nothing to do with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, that would be for the best.


    Tan Zhenghong patted Duo¡¯er¡¯s back, "Get some sleep, I¡¯ll take care of this matter."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently closed her eyes. She hadn¡¯t slept well the night before, and now that Tan Zhenghong was back, she could leave this issue to him.


    Meanwhile, the Qiao Family finally received some good news.


    Reminded by Du Haofeng, Xu Yuanwai finally remembered his promise to take Qiao Mei¡¯er as a concubine.


    Even if it was just for those ten taels of silver, he had to get her and have his fun for a couple of days.


    And at this point, more than a month had passed since the agreed-upon time.


    "Our master has been extremely busy recently and accidentally missed the date, but please, Housekeeper, don¡¯t be upset with us," the housekeeper said politely.

 Chapter 891 - 894: Be Careful What You Say

    Chapter 891: Chapter 894: Be Careful What You Sayf?eewebnove?.co?But the housekeeper¡¯s face was full of haughtiness, showing not the slightest hint of guilt.


    Qiao Laixi hastily bowed, "I dare not, being able to become in-laws with Master Xu is a fortune for our Qiao Family."


    Before he could finish, the housekeeper quickly interrupted him, "Mr. Qiao, you mustn¡¯t speak carelessly. The third young miss became a concubine, how could that be equated to becoming in-laws?"


    The stature and position of his own master were clear for all to see, they were beyond what the Qiao Family could aspire to reach.


    Qiao Laixi nodded quickly, "I understand, I misspoke. I ask Master Xu to not hold the ignorant accountable."


    If the two families became in-laws, it would mean Master Xu would have to call him father.


    Liu¡¯s family hastily gave Qiao Laixi a meaningful glance, prompting him to speak about the matter at hand!


    The more he said, the more mistakes he could make, and if Master Xu got upset, wouldn¡¯t the matter regarding Qiao Mei¡¯er make him even angrier?


    The Xu family were members of the royal family; who were they to offend them?


    Qiao Laixi quickly called out, "Master Xu, please come inside, I have something else to discuss with you."


    The three shabby thatched cottages made Xu Yuanwai furrow his brows¡ªunder normal circumstances, he certainly wouldn¡¯t enter such a place.


    But today, since he needed to bring back someone else¡¯s daughter as a concubine, he would make do just this once.


    Upon entering the room, the housekeeper pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the stool several times before Master Xu would sit down, though he barely perched on the edge.


    "Master Xu, please have some water. I¡¯ve added three spoonfuls of sugar," Qiao Laixi said.


    Liu¡¯s family¡¯s face was plastered with a smile.


    There was only a little sugar left at home. She had intended to save it all for Qiao Jingu, but since Xu Yuanwai was no ordinary visitor, she had to put her heart into using it.


    If Master Xu really could meet their expectations, they would have plenty of silver to buy sugar afterward. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yuanwai spoke with disdain, "Stop the nonsense. Call her out. I¡¯m very busy."


    Sitting a moment longer in this cottage made him feel uncomfortable.


    Qiao Laixi braced himself and said, "Master Xu, I¡¯m truly sorry, Mei¡¯er has already been taken away by someone else."


    "What do you mean? If I remember correctly, you accepted my deposit last year," Master Xu said, his eyebrows furrowed. Did they only realize now they wanted to go back on their word? What did they take him for?


    Qiao Laixi quickly explained, "Please don¡¯t be angry, Master. We had no choice. That family was wealthy and imposing; they insisted on having Mei¡¯er, and we couldn¡¯t refuse."


    "Didn¡¯t you tell them that Qiao Mei¡¯er was someone I wanted?"


    Xu Yuanwai said unhappily. If they knew his name, how many would dare to act recklessly?


    The Xu family had a tradition of sending daughters to serve in the palace. After several generations, they had leveraged their position to attain some influence within the palace.


    Last year, he followed tradition and sent his daughter to the palace, thinking it would be the same routine.


    However, under the arrangement of several ladies, his daughter appeared before the Saint. The Saint found her beautiful and bestowed his favor upon her, then granted her the title of a Noble Person.


    His daughter was commendable, conceiving the imperial progeny after receiving favor only a few times.


    The Saint, elated at having a child in his old age, had already decreed that as soon as the child was born, she would be immediately promoted to the rank of sixth-tier Virtue Consort.


    If the child grew to be even more lovable, it was possible for her rank to rise even higher.


    Therefore, now his spine was straighter than anyone¡¯s. Across the entire White Stone County, he could count on one hand the number of people he had to be wary of.


    Qiao Laixi nodded, "I did say that, and told them that you are the Saint¡¯s father-in-law, to tread carefully and not to offend those they shouldn¡¯t, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t even know how they died. But they said..."


    "What did they say?" Xu Yuanwai asked impatiently.


    Damn it, what kind of man speaks in such a faltering manner?

 Chapter 892 - 895 Fool

    Chapter 892: Chapter 895 FoolQiao Laixi then said, "They said if you¡¯re angry, just go and find them; they¡¯re sure to cool you down."


    No man could endure such contempt. Xu Yuanwai immediately asked indignantly, "Who is so brazen?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was eager to see who was bold enough to utter such arrogant words!


    "I know where that family lives, I¡¯ll take you there right now."


    Liu¡¯s family said cleverly.


    At this point, she didn¡¯t want a mere message to ruin all their plans.


    Qiao Laixi nodded, "Right, if you want to go, you can do so now, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be a bit inconvenient for you, as that family lives in another village."


    Xu Yuanwai said solemnly, "No more nonsense, lead the way quickly!"


    How could he tolerate being humiliated by a mere bumpkin?


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family exchanged a glance, joy evident in their eyes.


    With Xu Yuanwai on their side, the Tan Family would definitely cough up the silver.


    And... before this, they had already discussed how to spend the silver.


    Their thatched cottage had been around for too long, they needed to rebuild it, and to build one as imposing as the Tan Family¡¯s house.


    Jin Gui¡¯s clothes were worn out, and he needed two new sets made.


    They also needed to buy more land, whether to rent it out or farm it themselves, it would bring in income.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er glanced at Qiao Jingu, "Aren¡¯t you going to take a look?"


    She thought that her dumb parents surely couldn¡¯t outsmart Qiao Duo.


    Qiao Jingu, still shaken by the memory of the Tan Family¡¯s two big dogs, but he definitely wouldn¡¯t show it, "You nosy girl, what are you worrying about? I¡¯m telling you, if you dare touch this silver again, I¡¯ll beat you to death!"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er rolled her eyes in disgust. What bad luck to have such a foolish brother!


    Forget it, let him dig his own grave.


    Once she married into the Du Family, she would cut ties with these idiots immediately.


    Guided by Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family, an enraged Xu Yuanwai headed for the Tan Family.


    "Master, why don¡¯t you have the Qiao Family compensate with silver and find you another better one?"


    The housekeeper advised.


    The Xu family had always relied on their daughters to build their fortune, which was already something people looked down on.


    Now to be making such a fuss over a country girl would invite even more ridicule.


    Xu Yuanwai insisted, "I am set on Qiao Mei¡¯er; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face anyone ever again!"


    A promised concubine snatched away, and he, unable to say anything about it, that would truly be a disgrace!


    The housekeeper could only keep silent, as he was but a servant.


    Sitting in the carriage, Xu Yuanwai had thought of numerous ways to teach that family a lesson. But at the sight of Qiao Duo, he suddenly changed his mind.


    The woman of the house had a lovely face and a graceful figure, and though she was pregnant, she was still an exceptional beauty.


    How could he miss out on such a catch?


    Exchanging Qiao Mei¡¯er for this woman, he honestly wouldn¡¯t be at a loss.


    Thus, from the moment he entered the house, Xu Yuanwai¡¯s lecherous eyes never left Qiao Duo.


    And the maid beside her, though her face was less attractive, was young and untouched, which held its own appeal.


    If he could take both the mistress and her maid back with him, his life would be perfect.


    Tan Zhenghong stood protectively in front of his wife, his expression stern.


    "Master Xu, let¡¯s talk business."


    If he came just to oggle his wife, he wouldn¡¯t be courteous any longer.


    Master Xu withdrew his gaze and huffed, "I had already given the Qiao Family a betrothal gift to take the third daughter as a concubine. Her parents had agreed, but now you¡¯ve snatched her first; shouldn¡¯t you give me an explanation?"

 Chapter 893 - 896 Are You an Official?

    Chapter 893: Chapter 896 Are You an Official?"Where are the three letters and six rites?" Tan Zhenghong asked indifferently.


    The three letters are the betrothal letter, the gift letter, and the welcoming letter, and the six rites are the proposal, the inquiring of names, the acceptance of the auspicious date, the acceptance of the proposition, the request for a wedding date, and the official welcome. Only when the three letters and six rites are complete can the marriage be considered a proper match.


    However, Master Xu from the Xu family only gave the Qiao Family ten taels of silver, and the Guang House does not recognize this marriage at all.


    On the contrary, he could even claim that Master Xu was making unreasonable trouble.


    "You are the first person in White Stone Town who dares to talk to me like this," Tan Zhenghong said.


    Master Xu glared at Tan Zhenghong, his disdain growing even stronger.


    This man is at most a wealthy household, incomparable to the Xu family with its substantial family fortune. What right does he have to speak to him so insolently?


    Without any hesitation, Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted, "In White Stone Town, you are also the first one to speak to my husband in such a manner."


    Putting aside specific powers, Tan Zhenghong is now the highest official in White Stone County.


    Master Xu is but a commoner, and he is still a bit lacking in status.


    "Da Ya, do not be impudent. Master Xu is a relative of the state. If you offend him, even sacrificing your life would not suffice," said Mrs. Liu, seemingly with good intentions.


    The conclusion that Qiao Hua¡¯er got from the Du Family was that the Tan Family was far worse off than the Xu family. Once the empress in the palace gives birth to a dragon heir, it will be even more incredible.


    So clinging to the Xu family¡¯s coattails is definitely not wrong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did not want to bother with Mrs. Liu but turned to Master Xu, "So, what do you want instead?"


    "Bring that woman, along with her maid and Qiao Mei¡¯er, to my residence, and I will no longer pursue this matter," Master Xu said with satisfaction.


    He was proud; the woman who was just arrogantly proud had now softened. He found it very pleasing! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hmm... he was already thinking about his own blissful life.


    A twitch appeared at the corner of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth, not afraid of his tongue licking the wind!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a faint smile, "Master Xu, are you familiar with the laws of the Daxing Dynasty?"


    "Of course," Master Xu nodded.


    After all, he was an educated man who had dealt with the Guang House for years¡ªsuch a question posed no challenge for him.


    "What is the punishment for slandering an Imperial Officer and his family?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    If she remembered correctly, the law states that those who insult an Imperial Officer without cause receive ten blows with a rod and a fine of a hundred taels of silver.


    This was a charge he certainly could not escape. However, having indulged in alcohol and debauchery, his body was already hollowed out. It was unsure whether he could withstand it.


    "Are you trying to tell me your man is an official?" Master Xu scoffed. What kind of official could someone still living in a ravine be?


    Was she suggesting a village head? Even a village head could only intimidate common families; in his presence, it meant nothing!


    The gaze in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes suddenly became cold, seemingly carrying blades.


    The expression on Master Xu¡¯s face suddenly froze because he just remembered something. He heard that someone from the Capital had arrived, bearing two Imperial Edicts.


    One was for the carpenter¡¯s shop, and another went to a peasant family.


    At that time, he even commented on how the Saint¡¯s rewards were becoming cheaper, available to just about anyone.


    Later on, as there were no movements from either household, he had forgotten about it.


    The confidence of these two people now reminded him about it¡ªcould it be that the family rewarded by the Saint was this very one?


    It seems to be the Tan Family, granted the title of a Sixth Rank Official, and the lady even received an Imperial Edict.


    "Master Xu, have you just remembered?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯s mood was good, she was amused by the expression on Master Xu¡¯s face.


    Master Xu grew more certain and his body involuntarily shuddered.


    Damn it, he was nearly led to his ruin by the Qiao Family!


    His daughter was far away in the Capital, and the child had not yet been born. His influence was still a bit lacking compared to that of a man in office.

 Chapter 894 - 897 Kidney Deficiency

    Chapter 894: Chapter 897 Kidney DeficiencyMoreover, the Tan Family also had close connections with the County Magistrate¡¯s Family, making them even less approachable.


    Xu Yuanwai hastily made a bow to apologize, "I am but a lowly commoner, ignorant and offensive in many ways, I beg for your broad-minded forgiveness from both of you."


    "Why would Xu Yuanwai need to perform such grand courtesy, Ah Hong and I truly cannot accept it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er declined Xu Yuanwai¡¯s attempt to curry favor. She was disgusted by the look he had just given her; how could she let him off so easily?


    Xu Yuanwai wiped the sweat from his forehead, "No matter how grand, you both can certainly accept it. It was my fault for not recognizing noble persons."


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family were dumbstruck. What was going on here?


    Could it be that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s rank was even higher than Xu Yuanwai¡¯s?


    If that was the case, then wasn¡¯t their plan to use Xu Yuanwai to intimidate Tan Zhenghong utterly pointless now?


    Perhaps Tan Zhenghong might even take revenge on them. If Xu Yuanwai was afraid of him, they stood even less of a chance to resist.


    This was a disaster!


    "About Qiao Mei¡¯er..." Tan Zhenghong intentionally drew out the last syllable.


    Such matters were better off handled by Xu Yuanwai himself, to prevent him from feeling discontent and causing trouble later on.


    Xu Yuanwai quickly said, "As long as you find her work satisfactory, that¡¯s good. If your household lacks maids, I can pick a few clever ones for you later, please be sure to accept them graciously."


    From a young age, he had heard his father say that the common folk should not contend with officials, and he had always kept this in mind.


    Thus, upon learning of Tan Zhenghong¡¯s status, he compromised immediately.


    "There¡¯s no need for Xu Yuanwai to go to such expense. It was also our oversight in the investigation, I will have someone send some gifts over to you later as an apology."


    Xu Yuanwai hurriedly shook his head, "It was my fault. If I had known you fancied that maid, I would have sent her over sooner."


    "Your complexion is sallow and your footing unsteady, signs of kidney weakness; you don¡¯t want to die early, so best to be more restrained."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered the reminder not out of concern for his health, but because she did not want to see him harm other families¡¯ daughters.


    Those girls could not choose where they were born, but as humans, they had the right to live.


    Xu Yuanwai quickly nodded, "Thank you for the advice, Madam. I will certainly not behave recklessly in the future."


    But his chronic indulgence in alcohol and lechery gave him a sleazy demeanor, and Tan Zhenghong did not want his daughter-in-law to have too much contact with such a person.


    He asked with disdain, "Do you have any other matters?"


    "No, nothing more, Master Tan, Mrs. Tan. This humble one will take his leave now."


    As Xu Yuanwai stepped down, he gave a glare to the Qiao¡¯s Family Member before leaving.


    He would remember this debt!


    And his Ten Taels of Silver, he would reclaim them sooner or later!


    After sending Xu Yuanwai off, Tan Zhenghong swept a glance at Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family.


    They were Duo¡¯er¡¯s biological parents, he should not be so rude, but he genuinely could not resist berating them. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Laixi felt a shiver in his heart and quickly gave Liu¡¯s family a meaningful glance.


    With such a powerful son-in-law, what were they waiting for if not to curry his favor?


    As her father-in-law, he could not bring himself to say the words, but it was different for Liu¡¯s family; she was a woman, and there was nothing wrong with her showing some humility.


    However, she misunderstood his intentions this time.


    "Duo¡¯er, may I see Mei¡¯er? She has never been away from home before and I am very worried," Liu¡¯s family said, her eyes reddening.


    Her thinking was that if even Xu Yuanwai did not dare to provoke Qiao Duo, she certainly could not afford to either.


    But Qiao Mei¡¯er was different; the girl had no backing and was at her mercy to exploit.


    She had heard that the wage for working in the Embroidery Room was high, and along with the Servitude Contract¡¯s Silver... it was a considerable amount!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly, "Although I have taken Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s Servitude Contract, I haven¡¯t restricted her freedom. She gets two days off every month. If she wishes to see you, she will naturally return home; if not, there¡¯s nothing I can do."

 Chapter 895 - 898 Pretense

    Chapter 895: Chapter 898 Pretense"We¡¯ve finally had Jin Gui, and we just want him to have a good life. Now that you sisters are capable, you should help your own brother. If the brother from your maternal family is doing well, it reflects well on you, and you¡¯ll have someone to stand up for you when you face grievances in your marital home."


    Liu¡¯s family said it as if it were the most natural thing, as if a woman¡¯s life is only to serve men, right?


    She had regarded this as the truth for half her life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes. Dependent on others for a living, how could one stand firm for oneself, let alone support others?


    Cough, cough, not that kind of "stand."


    But judging by Qiao Jingu¡¯s frail appearance, it seemed unlikely anyway.


    Qiao Laixi, afraid that Liu¡¯s family might ruin things, quickly said, "Your mother and I have thought it over, and all the silver in the world isn¡¯t as good as having the family together. From now on, even if we have to beg for food, we won¡¯t sell our children."


    "We beg your and Mei¡¯er¡¯s forgiveness. In the future, we are still a family, and we¡¯ll all be well."


    This was the main point!


    "Don¡¯t even think about buying back those who¡¯ve been sold, or it¡¯ll affect your reputation," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with annoyance.


    There was still Qiao Hua¡¯er at home. If they couldn¡¯t sell her, the loss would be great.


    After all, out of the three Qiao sisters, Qiao Hua¡¯er was the most adaptable and had the best chance of fetching a high price.


    Liu¡¯s family said sadly, "Your father and I are not capable; we didn¡¯t take good care of you sisters. But every parent loves their children; who doesn¡¯t ache for their own?


    "I can¡¯t bear to see you unable to eat or sleep day and night, but what can I do? I can¡¯t just watch you starve to death with me!"


    "You¡¯re a mother now; you must understand the difficulties your father and I are going through, right?"


    If Qiao Duo hadn¡¯t already understood Liu¡¯s family¡¯s true character, perhaps she would have believed that she was a good mother.


    Unfortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯er had seen through her a long time ago.


    Liu¡¯s family relied on her own parents at home, deferred to Qiao Laixi after marriage, and doted on her son once she had one. A woman like her who looked down on her own gender from the bottom of her heart would never change in this lifetime.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about the past," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Does that mean they are forgiven then?


    The Silly Sister was always the easiest to deceive. In the past at home, give her half a bun and she¡¯d happily work half a day. It seemed nothing had changed.


    Before Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family could finish their thoughts, Duo¡¯er continued, "You still have two children, take good care of them."


    The faces of Liu¡¯s family and Qiao Laixi immediately fell.


    They were groveling not for the sake of family bonds but for the silver!


    Now that Qiao Jingu was not young anymore, they were preparing to find him a wife. Otherwise, he would age, and by then, how could they pick a good girl for him?


    Moreover, they were almost certain that Qiao Duo¡¯er was feigning ignorance intentionally, just to avoid giving them silver.


    Having seen enough of their performance of deep familial love, Qiao Duo¡¯er was ready to see the guests out.


    "Ah Hong, I¡¯m tired. Please show them out."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Father-in-law, mother-in-law, Duo¡¯er is not in a condition to keep you, so I won¡¯t keep you here."


    What if his wife got upset?


    Qiao Laixi¡¯s face turned red with anger. Qiao Duo¡¯er was pregnant, but did that make Tan Zhenghong pregnant too? Why was he inconvenienced?


    "Son-in-law, we haven¡¯t had a meal together as father and son-in-law. Why not have a good talk?"


    "Dining together is useless; I don¡¯t have silver for you,"


    Tan Zhenghong said bluntly.


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family felt as though they had an internal injury. They wanted to react, but remembering that Ah Hong was an official, they held back.


    sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 896 - 899: Losing Until Bleeding

    Chapter 896: Chapter 899: Losing Until BleedingQiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up; she was very satisfied with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s performance.


    When dealing with Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family, all it took was one phrase: no silver.


    This tactic never failed.


    "I just hate how they treat their daughters like grass. Aren¡¯t daughters also born to them? Why is their attitude different from how they treat their sons?"


    If he could have a daughter in this life, he would surely give her the best of everything, because she would deserve it.


    But the Qiao family was something else, even brazenly claiming it made sense for a daughter to support a son.


    "They probably think not killing their daughter at birth was a great kindness, that raising her caused them many hardships," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a curl of her lip.


    Once their daughter was of age, she could marry off, and that would be their time to reap the rewards.


    But the Qiao family¡¯s daughters grew up by themselves, worked as soon as they were able, and never had a moment of leisure, so there was no question of them having suffered. How shameless did they have to be to expect a return?


    "Ah Hong, our baby will be happy, right?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gently touched her stomach, and from her perspective, she would give love to her child, not demand it.


    She believed that children raised with love knew how to give, and how to love in return.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded vigorously: "I will protect the two of you and make you the happiest people."


    To him, having a wife and baby was the happiest life.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed foolishly, hoping the little one would arrive on time, and from then on, a happy family of three would live in this world.


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family failed to find a breakthrough with Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, so they turned to make a scene in the Embroidery Room.


    But the Embroidery Room was closely watched, and they were blocked from causing trouble before they could even start.


    Now Liu¡¯s wishful thinking had come to nothing.


    Qiao Laixi angrily said, "It must be that Foolish girl¡¯s doing. She just can¡¯t stand to see us well off."


    Liu agreed, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have failed to even meet Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s face.


    The more Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family thought about it, the more outraged they became, and they simply sat under the tree shade, cursing up a storm.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er made things difficult for them, there was no need for them to make things comfortable for her.


    "Daughters are all money-losing goods; none of them are good!"


    "Either they¡¯re thinking about themselves or their husband¡¯s family, no one cares about the wellbeing of their own parents anymore."


    "Let¡¯s see how good your days are without the backing of your parents¡¯ home in the future. If you get divorced, you won¡¯t even have a place to land!"


    Their loud complaints attracted many onlookers, and despite the scorching weather, people fanned themselves with large palm-leaf fans to watch the commotion.


    "If parents valued their daughters, would daughters ever forget the kindness of being brought into this world?"


    "At home, they¡¯re like beasts of burden, and when married off, they can even bring in silver. It¡¯s absolutely a business where you can¡¯t lose. What talk of kindness is there?"


    "I think you two just deserve it, anyway. Who in our village has Qiao Duo been unkind to? It¡¯s you two who make people feel sick to their stomachs!"


    "Don¡¯t you ask for a bride price when marrying off your daughters? My Qiao family asked for only One Tael of silver for Da Ya. How is that selling off a daughter?" Liu disputed, unconvinced.


    It was her impatience. If she had known about Qiao Duo¡¯s transformation earlier, she would have kept her for a few more years.


    With Qiao Duo¡¯s current looks and skills, earning a hundred or ten tales of bride price wouldn¡¯t be hard at all.


    Alas, such a huge loss!


    "We¡¯ve all seen what Qiao Duo¡¯er was like when she first came over," a matron retorted discontentedly.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er first came over, she was silly and filthy, and normal people would avoid her. Could they really expect to sell her for a sky-high price?

 Chapter 897 - 900: Just Let It Dry

    Chapter 897: Chapter 900: Just Let It DryThe person beside her tugged at her clothes, and the old lady hurriedly shut up.


    If Tan Zhenghong heard this, she estimated that he would be in a hurry.


    But she meant no harm, she was just stating the truth, an ugly and stupid girl could at most get a Hundred Wen as a dowry.


    The Qiao family received ten times that amount, how could it not be considered selling the girl?


    Qiao Laixi spoke discontentedly, "Don¡¯t smear my daughter¡¯s reputation; what¡¯s wrong with my Da Ya?"


    "That¡¯s Duo¡¯er¡¯s fortune after marrying into the family, a blessing from the deities. What does that have to do with you? Always trying to put gold on your face, aren¡¯t you ashamed!"


    The old lady added another resentful comment.


    The villagers¡¯ Master Yun Xu said that after Qiao Duo¡¯er fell into the water and her three souls returned, she became a normal person.


    Many said it was the predestined relationship Ah Hong and Duo¡¯er cultivated in their past lives.


    Qiao Jingu and Liu¡¯s family rolled their eyes at the speaking madam; this woman really liked to meddle!


    "You all shouldn¡¯t make a fuss either, the way you¡¯ve treated them in the past, now whatever you say is too late."


    "Even if we are in the wrong, we are still her parents; her disregard for us is unfilial!"


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family took shamelessness to the extreme, no matter what others said, they always justified themselves.


    They were Qiao Duo¡¯s parents, and she should be filial to them.


    "I think Zheng Hong and his daughter-in-law are not wrong. They are just treating others the way they were treated; is there a problem with that?"


    "Uncle, Aunty, if you think Duo¡¯er is not good, you can go speak to the Tan family. There¡¯s no use talking about it here; we can¡¯t help you. Folks, let¡¯s disperse!"


    A young daughter-in-law suggested.


    Without an audience for their performance, naturally, they quieted down.


    The more serious they were taken, the more those two would make a fuss.


    "This damn weather can kill someone from the heat; better to go home and stay cool if you have the spare time!"


    Sitting by the back door, there was a bit of breeze, which was much more comfortable than being toasted outside.


    The crowd nodded in agreement and soon dispersed, heading to their respective homes.


    Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family were so frustrated they stomped their feet. They had planned to use these people to argue their case, but now that everyone had left, what could they say? S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old man, you better think of something fast!" Liu¡¯s family urged anxiously.


    After all, if they let this opportunity pass, there might not be many chances left.


    To come over and make a scene, they needed a reason.


    Qiao Laixi scratched his head irritably, "What can I do? Let¡¯s go back; I¡¯m about to get heatstroke."


    Seeing the man was out of steam, Liu¡¯s family also didn¡¯t feel like making a fuss anymore.


    All these events quickly reached Qiao Duo¡¯s ears, and everyone was curious about her reaction.


    Remembering how Duo¡¯er used to handle the Tan family members, they guessed the Qiao family would not get off easily this time.


    But the Tan family showed no reaction; Duo¡¯er continued her days unbothered, eating when she should eat, sleeping when she should sleep, very comfortably.


    She had no interest in letting two completely irrelevant people disturb her peace.


    Qiao Jingu was afraid of her household¡¯s two brutes and didn¡¯t dare to visit, Qiao Laixi and Liu¡¯s family were bullies who feared the tough and knew she was not to be trifled with so wouldn¡¯t come knocking, leaving only Qiao Hua¡¯er, who minded her own reputation too much to act rashly.


    This meant that the family had no influence on her at all; if she were to take action, it would just be superfluous.


    However, to reassure Qiao Mei¡¯er, Qiao Duo still made a special trip to the Embroidery Room.


    "Now the immediate danger is completely removed, but when you go out, you still have to be careful not to fall into the Qiao¡¯s Family Members¡¯ traps," Qiao Duo advised.


    Given the Qiao Family¡¯s nature, they were sure not to let off Mei¡¯er, the soft persimmon.

 Chapter 898 - 901 Uninvited Guest

    Chapter 898: Chapter 901 Uninvited GuestAt the very least, they would find a way to pocket the silver from Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s servitude contract.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er nodded vigorously, "Big Sister, there¡¯s another thing, I want to keep all my wages with you and get them from you when I need them."


    After all, she ate and lived in the Embroidery Room most of the time and hardly had any need to spend silver.


    Even if her parents came, it was useless because she had no silver on her.


    "You just have to talk to Fat Aunt about this, let her keep your wages on the account in the Embroidery Room,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tactfully refused Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s request, saving both of them a lot of trouble.


    Besides, she didn¡¯t want to see Qiao Mei¡¯er too much.


    Call her petty or stingy if you like, but she felt that those who bullied simpletons were not too kind-hearted, and Qiao Mei¡¯er was one of them.


    One must keep a distance from such people to avoid trouble.


    A flicker of disappointment passed through Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s eyes, but she also found the arrangement more reasonable, saving her the trouble of traveling a long distance when she wanted to spend money.


    Only, this meant she had fewer opportunities to cozy up to her big sister.


    She acknowledged her little ulterior motives, feeling her status was naturally different from others since she was Duo¡¯er¡¯s blood sister.


    If she could grow closer to her sister, maybe she could get her servitude contract back.


    Perhaps her big sister might even help her find a good marriage.


    Unfortunately, her big sister was neither warm nor cold to her, and these good things were only wishful thinking; she still had to rely on herself in the future.


    Truthfully, she felt a bit disappointed inside, but one has to make one¡¯s life on one¡¯s own; she couldn¡¯t blame others.


    Early in the morning, Almond did her chores as usual. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having caught a rare overcast day, she planned to have the donkeys mill more pollen.


    That way, the donkeys could rest a bit more during the hot weather.


    Since the weather wasn¡¯t hot, Duo¡¯er was in the yard playing with Fat Fat and Fatty.


    "Stand up!"


    "Take a step forward!"


    "Turn around!"


    Qiao Duo gave the commands, and the two large dogs followed the actions.


    Nowadays, these two large creatures were becoming increasingly human-like, almost able to understand all of Duo¡¯er¡¯s instructions.


    Seeing the fun that the person and two dogs were having, Almond couldn¡¯t help but marvel that the Tan Family must truly have good Feng Shui for their dogs to be smarter than those of other households.


    Suddenly, a man stuck his head in, and upon seeing him, Almond¡¯s face immediately darkened.


    If possible, she never wanted to see this man in her lifetime.


    "What are you doing here?" Almond said with annoyance.


    This was not her home; if he caused a scandal here, how could she face staying with the Tan Family?


    Zhu Jianzhi hurriedly explained, "Almond, your mother is sick, she said she wanted to see you, so I came to pick you up."


    "There are several younger siblings at home, if it¡¯s not serious then I won¡¯t go back," Almond said with a tight face, unable to treat her own parents sincerely since being sold.


    Now she only considered herself a guest, bringing some goods to visit when she had time, and otherwise living at peace in the Tan Family.


    Zhu Jianzhi was very anxious, but he dared not reveal the truth.


    If Almond knew her mother was on her deathbed, she would surely lose her senses.


    Qiao Duo said to Almond, "Go back and have a look."


    If something really happened, it would be too late for regrets.


    Almond was still hesitant; the facial powder and aromatic powder supplies were running low, and she needed to rush to produce some.


    Her Madam was with child and would need more attendance as time went on; it was better for her to stay at the Tan Family.


    From the moment she signed the servitude contract, her status had changed.


    She was first and foremost a maid, and only afterwards was she a daughter.

 Chapter 899 - 902 Gratitude

    Chapter 899: Chapter 902 Gratitude"With Ah Hong at home, you can rest assured. If we get too busy, we¡¯ll just buy another maid so that I won¡¯t be in a fluster after giving birth."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew what Almond was worried about, but she had already made arrangements for this matter.


    Currently, only Tan Zhenghong and Almond were the main workers at home. Once she gave birth, they surely wouldn¡¯t be able to cope, and additional help would be necessary.


    It would be better to buy someone earlier, so they could get used to the work sooner.


    Zhu Jianzhi also explained, "Your mother nags every day about how she¡¯s wronged you. If you refuse to go back and see her, I¡¯m afraid her illness won¡¯t get better."


    Almond was startled. Was her mother seriously ill?


    With this thought, Almond became unsettled and hurriedly followed Zhu Jianzhi home.


    The ox cart moved slowly forward, and Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s eyes were almost glued to Almond¡¯s face, unable to look away.


    In such a short time, Almond had changed a lot. She knew how to dress up now and was no longer the timid mouse she once was.


    Now she was full of confidence, and a faint smile often played on her face.


    Such an Almond was very beautiful, beautiful enough to make him feel he was no longer worthy of her.


    "Almond, knowing that you¡¯re doing well puts me at ease," Zhu Jianzhi said weakly.


    "You never needed to worry about me in the first place."


    Almond didn¡¯t give him a warm look and also took out six Wen Money from her purse. This was the carriage fee for Zhu Jianzhi.


    "Take this and don¡¯t let your mother say I took advantage of you again."


    Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s mother from the Zhu Clan scorned the poor and loved the rich, and because her family was not well-off, she always looked down on her.


    When the Zhu Clan learned about her mutual love with Zhu Jianzhi, she immediately caused an uproar at her home.


    This was a pain she could never forget in her lifetime. The villagers pointed fingers at her; some even said she was a toad lusting after swan meat.


    Throughout it all, Zhu Jianzhi never showed his face, because he didn¡¯t dare to contradict his mother.


    At that time, she swore she¡¯d never have anything to do with Zhu Jianzhi again, because he was not a good man.


    She considered the affection from her naive younger days as gone to the dogs. Now, all she wanted was to find a man who would treat her well so she could spend the rest of her life happily, just like the Fourth Master and his wife.


    Zhu Jianzhi opened his mouth, and only a wry smile remained on his face.


    He was too weak, and he had wronged Almond, so he had no ground to complain about the way she treated him now.


    If scolding him could improve Almond¡¯s mood, he¡¯d never talk back.


    But still, he longed for another chance from Almond.


    The next day, Qiao Duo planned to go to Tooth Row to buy two maids.


    However, before she could leave, the medical woman from Deji Hall had arrived, along with a maidservant and a little maid specially arranged by Old Lady Bai.


    Granny Su had been with the Bai Family for many years, and she naturally became the leader under the old lady¡¯s trust.


    After proper introductions, Granny Su began to introduce everyone.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, my family name is Su, my given name is Mao Sanniang. These two are sisters who are medical women from Deji Hall, named Qing Yue and Qing Xin. This young maid is Bai Yan from the Bai Mansion. The old lady said that you might need a little extra help during your pregnancy, so she sent us to lend a hand."


    The four people standing before Qiao Duo were neatly dressed and very humble in their demeanor, evidently carefully selected.


    Duo¡¯er kept all these acts of kindness in mind, and she would have to treat them even better in return.


    "Thank you for your trouble, then. You¡¯ll be staying in the west wing. Choose your rooms yourselves. Today, get familiar with the surroundings, then tidy up and have a good rest. We can talk about other matters tomorrow," Qiao Duo said kindly. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you, Madam."


    Granny Su and the others quickly thanked her. After all, servants always preferred a kind master.

 Chapter 900 - 903: Live with Me in the Same Room

    Chapter 900: Chapter 903: Live with Me in the Same RoomThey all knew very well that unless something unexpected happened, they would be servants of the Tan Family from now on.


    But they didn¡¯t mind this arrangement.


    From the brief interaction they had just had, they knew their future lives wouldn¡¯t be too hard.


    Soon, Granny Su led everyone to the west wing.


    The west wing had four rooms, each with two beds, tables, chairs, and a wardrobe.


    These rooms were originally prepared for Ling¡¯er¡¯s maids and guards to stay temporarily, so the furniture inside wasn¡¯t very complicated.


    Nevertheless, it looked neat and refreshing.


    Qing Xin said joyfully, "I thought we were all going to be crammed into one room, but this is so much better. Big sister, can I room with you?"


    She was a bit headstrong and worried that others might not be able to tolerate her temperament.


    Qing Yue looked towards Granny Su, feeling that it was up to Granny Su to make the room arrangements.


    Granny Su nodded, "Of course that¡¯s no problem. It¡¯s more convenient for you two sisters to discuss medical practices if you¡¯re not with others. Bai Yan, it¡¯s up to you. Anyways, we have plenty of rooms and can arrange them however we like."


    After much consideration, Bai Yan chose to room with Almond.


    Seeing clothes and a pink hairband inside, she thought the person living there must be about her age.


    Being close in age gives them something to talk about and they could look after each other.


    Granny Su was amiable, but as the lead maid, living together might be somewhat uncomfortable.


    "Everyone, quickly tidy up your rooms. Later we¡¯ll take a walk around, and then Bai Yan and I will cook. You two sisters will help bring the medicinal herbs inside," Granny Su instructed.


    Mrs. Tan sympathized with them, but they also needed to be aware of their place.


    They were servants and should complete the chores assigned to them.


    "Understood," the other three replied earnestly.


    That evening, Qiao Duo¡¯er tasted the cooking skills of Granny Su and Bai Yan.


    "Old Lady Bai sent you here; won¡¯t she have trouble adjusting to meals without you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly asked.


    Old Lady Bai¡¯s greatest hobby in life was gourmet food. Bai Yifan had gathered quite a few skilled cooks for the residence, and Granny Su and Bai Yan were two of them.


    She remembered that during her previous visit to the Bai Family, the bird¡¯s nest was stewed by them.


    Granny Su shook her head, "The residence still has Granny Luo and Granny Cao, they are old hands and will definitely take good care of the old lady."


    Qiao Duo felt relieved. If Old Lady Bai neglected herself for her sake, she would never have peace of mind in this lifetime.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er outlined their tasks.


    Qing Yue and Qing Xin were to start with preparing face mask powder, Granny Su would look after her, and Bai Yan would do assorted tasks.


    "Your wages will be the same as what you received at the Bai Family. You don¡¯t need to prepare your meals separately; we can all eat together," Qiao Duo¡¯er added.


    Granny Su said anxiously, "Madam, there should be a distinction between master and servant; this isn¡¯t proper."


    They were of low status; how could they dine with their master?


    "There¡¯s nothing improper about it. This is the Tan Family¡¯s rule. Now that you¡¯ve come here, you must adhere to it. Besides, you just need to do your assigned chores well; nothing else," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a light smile. This was her home, and she didn¡¯t want to witness any scheming or struggles.


    The simplest method was to have clear divisions of labor and equal status for all.


    With rules to abide by, Granny Su and the other maids could only nod in agreement.


    However... the Tan Family¡¯s rules were quite humane. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er spotted Tan Zhenghong still balancing accounts.


    She found herself reminiscing about the life of hunting in the mountains and fishing in the waters.


    If she hadn¡¯t gotten herself involved with Duo Meifang and the Embroidery Room, could she be happier now?

 Chapter 901 - 904 Unchanged Initial Intention

    Chapter 901: Chapter 904 Unchanged Initial IntentionBack then, it was simple and leisurely; I didn¡¯t have to worry about everything both inside and outside like I do now.


    Of course, fiddling with these matters has its benefits, no matter what society it is, the economic base determines the superstructure.


    So that¡¯s life, gains always come with losses.


    "Do I look good?"


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly looked up, successfully capturing a lovestruck wife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lip, "Just average."


    "I knew you had no taste, many people have said that I¡¯m the most handsome man in Big Willow Village." Tan Zhenghong said self-importantly.


    "Don¡¯t flatter yourself, they¡¯re just eyeing our silver."


    ...


    After jesting a couple of sentences, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly realized something.


    As long as the original intention doesn¡¯t change, nothing else is important.


    The next day, Granny Su was already busily and methodically taking charge, her compatibility with the Tan Family was very high, almost fully operational from day one.


    With them taking care of Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong felt very reassured and started to prepare for the next Duo Meifang shop.


    Opening two more branches was a promise made by the Tan Family, and he couldn¡¯t go back on his word.


    Bai Yifan once had Granny Su teach Almond some manners for a few days, and owing to Almond¡¯s cleverness, Granny Su left a deep impression.


    But this time, she didn¡¯t see her and felt very puzzled.


    So, she took the opportunity when Duo¡¯er was sewing to ask, "Madam, why haven¡¯t I seen Almond?"


    That child was sensible, she couldn¡¯t have possibly been sold, could she?


    "Her mother fell ill, I let her go home to see her, it has been several days now, I fear it might be quite serious."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat worried; otherwise, considering Almond¡¯s character, she would have returned by now.


    Almond¡¯s mother is not even thirty years old, it shouldn¡¯t be possible that she was bedridden from illness, but fortunes can change overnight, no one can say for sure. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Granny Su comforted, "Maybe she just wanted to be with her family for a bit longer, let her stay a few more days."


    "Hopefully."


    The answer from Qiao Duo¡¯er took Granny Su by surprise. Which normal owner would allow a servant to rest like this?


    Even if someone in the servant¡¯s family had died, at most they would be allowed to go home to pay their respects.


    Back when her own parents passed away, the old madam was exceptionally gracious to give her just one day off.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t think there was anything inappropriate; she preferred to treat her as her employee. With Almond away, she could still manage things on her end. Taking a few days off wasn¡¯t a problem because in life, there are many things more precious than just working.


    On the fifth night, while Qiao Duo was sleeping soundly, she was woken by a series of knocks on the door.


    "Wife, you sleep a bit more, I¡¯ll go check it out."


    Tan Zhenghong gently patted Qiao Duo¡¯er, then got dressed and went downstairs.


    In a daze, Qiao Duo¡¯er heard Almond¡¯s voice; in the middle of the night like this, it must be an urgent matter.


    Immediately losing any desire to sleep, she also went out.


    Seeing the people she had wanted to see, Almond¡¯s eyes immediately turned red; seeing them had become her only belief these past few days.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, I heard it¡¯s the plague, you must be very careful at home."


    Almond said with teary eyes, taking several steps back as she spoke.


    After being locked up in the village for so long, she might have caught the plague too; it¡¯s better to be cautious.


    "Plague?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit surprised.


    Why does this kind of thing always happen to her?


    The destructiveness of the plague was comparable to war, once it breaks out, it¡¯s all tragedy.


    Almond nodded and said, "Madam, you must be very careful, the plague is terrifying, many people in our village have already died, and it was because of this that my mother passed away."


    "But they didn¡¯t want others to know, saying if the Imperial court finds out, everyone in the village could be burned to death."

 Chapter 902 - 905: Moved

    Chapter 902: Chapter 905: Moved"I wanted to come out to report the news, but I¡¯ve been detained by the people in the village. I only found a chance to run out today."


    Almond briefly described her experiences over the past few days.


    She didn¡¯t know any grand principles, but she knew that if the plague spread, even more people would die.


    Granny Su and the others heard the commotion and opened their doors. When they heard the word "plague," their faces turned pale with fear.


    "Madam, please go inside quickly." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Granny Su hurriedly urged, fearing that if it spread, it would be a matter of life and death.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m far from Almond, there won¡¯t be any problem."


    Granny Su wanted to persuade further, but Qing Yue pulled her back.


    Mrs. Tan and Almond were far apart and Almond was standing downwind, so there was no risk.


    The plague was a serious matter; it was better to get a clear understanding.


    "Describe the symptoms of the plague," Qing Yue asked with a frown.


    "It¡¯s a fever, the forehead is very hot, and there is vomiting and diarrhea, inability to eat, one can only drink some water. From the onset of the fever to death, it only takes five days."


    Almond¡¯s body trembled slightly; she was very afraid that she would be the next to leave this world.


    She was only thirteen and hadn¡¯t had the chance to enjoy her life yet.


    "How are you feeling now?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very concerned. Almond had only followed her for a short while, but she had already come to think of this sweet and kind girl as a little sister.


    "So far I¡¯m fine, but I can¡¯t burden you all, I should go back," Almond said with a pained expression.


    If she really was infected, everyone in Big Willow Village would suffer because of her.


    She couldn¡¯t be that selfish!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Don¡¯t go; if you return, you¡¯ll only be facing a dead end. It¡¯s better for you to stay and observe for a while. During this time, don¡¯t contact other people, and there won¡¯t be a problem."


    Quarantine was of the utmost importance. As long as the disease didn¡¯t spread, there would always be a day it could be eliminated.


    "Madam, I¡¯m afraid I can only repay your kindness in the next life," Almond said, moved.


    Almond was touched because she had never imagined Qiao Duo¡¯er would still be willing to take her in, without the slightest sign of disgust.


    Qiao Duo comforted her, "Don¡¯t think too much; as long as the quarantine is done properly, there will be no spread of contagion. Besides, it¡¯s not certain that you¡¯re infected yet, so don¡¯t be so pessimistic."


    Staying here, Almond might still have a glimmer of hope.


    The Qing Yue sisters had medical knowledge, and Bai Yifan¡¯s notebook was here¡ªthere must be records about the plague in it.


    After much persuasion, Duo¡¯er finally convinced Almond to agree. If there were other choices, she wouldn¡¯t want to die either.


    Granny Su and Bai Yan cleaned out the room farthest from the main house overnight.


    They also sprinkled quicklime around the area as instructed by Duo¡¯er, and Qing Yue lit some mugwort.


    By the time they had finished all these preparations, it was already early morning.


    Lying in bed, Duo¡¯er was still full of worries.


    Based on Almond¡¯s description, she felt that the plague was very similar to the flu mentioned in later times.


    Like...the vicious SARS outbreak of a certain year.


    Medical science in later times was much more advanced than now, but it still seemed somewhat powerless against SARS.


    Could it be even less possible to cure under these conditions?


    "Why are those people afraid of being burned to death?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, puzzled.


    Tan Zhenghong explained, "Thirty-five years ago, there was a plague outbreak. At that time, we were at war with the Beijiang People, and the Imperial court was short-handed, so the Saint ordered a city to be burned. To this day, the common people are still afraid."


    Slaughtering the city, burning the city¡ªthe fire was said to have burned for three days and three nights, with flames that reddened half the sky.


    Later, the war was won, but that wasn¡¯t important.


    As commoners, they only wanted to live their lives in peace.

 Chapter 903 - 906 Serious Consequences

    Chapter 903: Chapter 906 Serious ConsequencesQiao Duo¡¯er was startled. To slaughter a city just because of the plague? Could those in power really be so indifferent?


    Thirty-five years later, Beijiang still eyed the Daxing Dynasty with covetous eyes, and to reduce expenses, would the Imperial court still make the same choice as before? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time it would be Ning Tian Mansion facing slaughter, and all who lived there would not escape their fate.


    Including... the little one in her belly!


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly understood the mentality of those villagers.


    Anxiously, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Ah Hong, go to the village chief¡¯s house right now, and it¡¯s best if you can get him to agree to seal off the village. If we don¡¯t stop the plague now, the consequences could be very serious."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll go now."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately agreed, because he and Duo¡¯er had come to the same conclusion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was left alone in the house, her desire to sleep completely gone.


    After tossing and turning in bed a couple of times, she simply got up, opened Bai Yifan¡¯s notebook, hoping to find what she was looking for.


    After reading just two pages, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt a tightness in her belly, so she quickly lay back down on the bed.


    "Baby, you¡¯re very scared, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s okay, your Dad and I will definitely find a way. We won¡¯t let anyone burn our home."


    "You still have more than three months before you can come out, and by then everything will definitely be alright."


    ...


    Qiao Duo¡¯er talked to the little one in her belly, her spirits gradually relaxing.


    It wasn¡¯t until much later that the uncomfortable feeling passed.


    Duo¡¯er breathed a sigh of relief. Just now she had been really scared that the little one in her belly would leave her.


    It was all because she had been too careless, forgetting that she shouldn¡¯t have such large emotional fluctuations.


    At the Tie Family, Tan Zhenghong relayed what had transpired during the night.


    "Are you sure it¡¯s the plague?" Tie Niu still harbored a sliver of hope.


    "My maid went home to mourn and got detained in the village. I also saw many villages observing funerals when I came back from outside. It¡¯s almost certain."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t finish his sentence, because he hadn¡¯t verified it personally.


    Tie Niu¡¯s expression became serious in an instant, "I¡¯ll call a meeting first thing tomorrow morning. We need to notify the Guang House, they can find better doctors, and the chances of curing the plague would be higher."


    "I¡¯ll go first thing tomorrow morning," Tan Zhenghong nodded, "and since this plague is an emergency, I suggest we seal off the village."


    Tie Niu was silent for a while before he said, "This is the only way now, but we¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow¡¯s meeting to decide on the specifics."


    He was the village chief, but he didn¡¯t have the authority to seal off the village at will.


    After discussing the countermeasures, Tan Zhenghong went home first.


    Tie Niu lit his dry pipe and took a few puffs, his mind still unable to calm down.


    Feng Clan waited a long time without seeing Tie Niu come back, so she had no choice but to get dressed and come out.


    "Niu Zi, has something happened at Ah Hong¡¯s house?"


    Putting down his pipe, Tie Niu said, "It¡¯s nothing, just a minor matter. It¡¯s still early, let¡¯s go back to the room."


    Sooner or later his wife would have to know about the matter, but he¡¯d keep it from her as long as he could.


    At least they could have a peaceful night¡¯s sleep tonight.


    At the break of dawn, Tie Niu struck the village¡¯s bronze gong.


    "Uncle Tie, why have you called us so early in the morning?"


    "It¡¯s not the busy farming season, and it¡¯s not time to collect taxes, so don¡¯t make it so hard on us this early."


    Tie Niu said gravely, "Everyone be quiet. I¡¯ve called you here because there is a matter concerning the lives of us all. Listen carefully."


    His stern face silenced the crowd involuntarily.


    The last time they saw that expression was when the Imperial soldiers came to the village to capture a criminal. What was it this time?

 Chapter 904 - 907: Blockade

    Chapter 904: Chapter 907: Blockade"Some villages have already contracted the plague, and during this time, let no one go out carelessly, lest they bring calamity upon our own village..."


    Before Tie Niu could finish, the people below exploded into an uproar.


    "How could it be the plague? There hasn¡¯t been any news of natural disasters anywhere."


    "Right, the weather has been good these past few years. Village head, haven¡¯t you scared yourself in a dream?"


    As soon as this was said, many couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    If there truly had been a plague, surely it would have caused a huge commotion by now. How could it be that no one knew about it until now?


    Tie Niu gestured for everyone to quiet down and said solemnly, "Do I look like someone who would joke about such matters? There are already many dead in other villages, and I¡¯ll immediately arrange to lock down our village. Those who don¡¯t believe can go out and see for themselves, but once you leave, don¡¯t come back, lest you risk harming others."


    Seeing that many were still jesting, he immediately resolved to lock the village down.


    Human life is of utmost importance; this time it was about the survival of the entire village. He could not afford to be careless.


    Tie Niu had always been impartial in his official duties, so when he spoke like this, those who had been joking quickly quieted down.


    "But if we need to buy something, what will we do?"


    A woman immediately voiced her discontent; locking down the village meant that they could only go around within Big Willow Village, right?


    Someone next to her said irritably, "If you¡¯re afraid of dying, then go out. No one is stopping you."


    "Exactly. But when the time comes, don¡¯t cry and shout to come back in, it will be considered saving grace for the village."


    "There have been constant death reports recently, but I haven¡¯t seen as many lately. I thought everything was fine."


    "I guess the officials are about to start killing and setting fires again; otherwise, the other villages wouldn¡¯t keep it a secret continuously."


    "But we aren¡¯t infected, so why do we also have to die?"


    "With the plague, it¡¯s only a matter of time before death comes. Those officials only care about their own leisure and comfort, what do they care about us? If you ask me, we also need to be cautious¡ªif we get sick, we need to hide it well."


    "If so many people really died, how could it be kept secret?"


    "It¡¯s over, we¡¯re definitely doomed now."


    ... Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, everyone was once again enveloped in a veil of sadness.


    In their minds, plague equated to death.


    Tie Niu hurriedly tried to reassure them, "This time is different from before, the Daxing Dynasty is at its peak of prosperity, and the lord of White Stone Town is not a fool, we will surely be rescued. However, the prerequisite is that we are not claimed by the plague."


    To be alive is to have hope, hence the saying "it¡¯s better to live poorly than to die well."


    "Then let¡¯s stop talking nonsense and quickly barricade the village!"


    "Right! Surviving one more day is a gain."


    Tie Niu swiftly arranged everything, selecting several strong men to take turns guarding the village entrance.


    The others all went back to their homes, trying to reduce the number of times they went out.


    In this way, most of the channels for the plague spread were cut off.


    As long as the plague didn¡¯t spread, it wasn¡¯t as frightening.


    At this time, Tan Zhenghong, wearing protective clothing, had already reached the Government Office.


    The protective gear was made according to Duo¡¯er¡¯s specifications; a layer of beeswax was dripped onto the clothing, covered with a mask, and hands and feet were wrapped in fur, so the plague had no opportunities to take hold.


    Sitting in the Government Office, Qin Longyun had a deep frown. Seeing Tan Zhenghong, he mustered some energy.


    "Are you here about the plague?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I heard villagers are trying to cover it up, so I came to talk to you."


    "I¡¯ve just received the news myself; doctors from Deji Hall have just examined it and have yet to find a cure," Qin Longyun massaged his temples.

 Chapter 905 - 908 Unavoidable Doom

    Chapter 905: Chapter 908 Unavoidable DoomHe only came to know about the plague due to an accident.


    According to the imperial regulations, if someone in the village died, the village chief had to report the death at the government office.


    But recently, the government official mentioned instances of unreported deaths, and only after he sent someone to investigate did they discover it was the plague causing trouble.


    However, he learned too late, and now the ideal opportunity had already passed.


    The villagers thought by concealing the deaths they could protect the entire village, not realizing the more they resisted, the more severe the consequences would become.


    Tan Zhenghong handed the paper prepared by Duo¡¯er to Qin Longyun, "This contains the key points for preventing and treating the plague, found in Bai Yifan¡¯s notes. Duo¡¯er and I will try to find the cure for the plague as soon as possible."


    Actually, it was his daughter-in-law who had written it herself, but if the refugees knew these methods came from a woman, their willingness to cooperate would decrease significantly.


    Hence, it was a well-intentioned lie.


    Qin Longyun gratefully said, "Indeed, there are many things I hadn¡¯t considered. Your arrival is very timely!"


    For example, categorizing the patients by the severity of their condition into three levels, marking each level differently to facilitate doctors in administering aid.


    Another example is burning mugwort leaves and consuming vinegar to prevent the plague from spreading further.


    There was also the uniform management of excrement in quarantine zones, eradicating rats and insects to prevent new outbreaks of the plague.


    These methods were very practical with clear objectives.


    If all were implemented, they should be able to buy more time.


    Before the two could talk for long, Qin Longyun was called away.


    As more and more people learned the truth, White Stone County began to descend into chaos, often requiring Qin Longyun to intervene personally.


    Tan Zhenghong did not dare to waste time and hurriedly returned.


    Even finding the cure a quarter of an hour earlier could save many lives.


    Tan Zhenghong encountered Qiao Duo¡¯er and Granny Su at the front door, who had just returned from the embroidery room.


    "Didn¡¯t we agree to wait for my return before heading to the embroidery room?" Tan Zhenghong glared at Duo¡¯er.


    "I went in protective clothing, it won¡¯t be a problem."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er proudly glanced at her gear, being a mother herself, the safety of her baby was her first concern.


    However, since the embroidery room belonged to the Tan Family, she had to take responsibility.


    Otherwise, who would be willing to work for the Tan Family in the future?


    She had already instructed that the embroidery room would not operate during the plague, but embroidery work could be taken home and wages settled once business resumed. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "Even with protective clothing, you mustn¡¯t go out next time, it¡¯s too hot outside."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily nodded, but whether she could actually follow through, she did not know.


    Sometimes, for some people, she must go out.


    "How is the situation outside now?" Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively changed the topic.


    "In White Stone County alone, nearly a thousand people have died already. The local doctors have yet to concoct a suitable medicine. Lord Qin has already submitted a report, and Mansion City should send support."


    Tan Zhenghong spoke truthfully.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, "I think we should rely on speeding up our own efforts instead."


    It would take at least five days to travel from Mansion City to White Stone Town, by which time another group of people would have become corpses.


    However, Bai Yifan left no fewer than a dozen notebooks, finding the right prescription among them was not going to be easy.


    But even if there was only a glimmer of hope, she would give her best effort.


    After entering the house, Duo¡¯er and Ah Hong first bathed with wormwood water before proceeding to the study.


    With the help of the Qing Yue sisters, their speed was not slow, but there was simply too much to review.


    In the afternoon, Almond still could not escape her fate; when Bai Yan discovered her, she was deliriously feverish.

 Chapter 906 - 909 Helpless

    Chapter 906: Chapter 909 Helpless"Almond is running a fever, where can I find a doctor?" Bai Yan asked frantically.


    Almond had already caught the plague, and she guessed it wouldn¡¯t be long before they did too, but she didn¡¯t want to die!


    Qing Xin quickly said, "Fourth Master, Madam, let me go take a look first."


    She was truly tired of sitting, and wanted to get outside for a bit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded without hesitation, "Qing Yue, you go take a look as well, both of you put on protective clothing, and be very careful."


    Because they needed to put on protective clothing, it took a while before Qing Xin and her sister could come in.


    "Damn it, I didn¡¯t expect it to be so serious!" Qing Xin said angrily.


    At noon the person was just fine, and in just more than an hour, they had fainted, how could the plague be so ruthless?


    Qing Yue, being more steady, waited for Qing Xin to finish ranting before speaking, "Qing Xin and I tried several methods, but none could wake Almond up, we can only continue to observe her condition."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions as steady as possible.


    With things as they were, the only option was to search for remedies.


    According to Almond, if a medicine to counter the plague wasn¡¯t found within five days, she wouldn¡¯t survive.


    Just five days, it was really tight.


    There was also news from Tie Niu¡¯s side, that three people in the village had contracted the plague.


    They were already isolated at home following the Tan Family¡¯s method, and those who had come into contact with them were quarantined as well, waiting to be confirmed plague-free before they could be freed.


    When you¡¯re truly focused, time flies. Without her really noticing, evening had arrived.


    "My dear, you should rest first. When you wake up, I¡¯ll definitely have all of this sorted out," Tan Zhenghong advised.


    He knew his wife was eager to save people, but he was even more afraid of her encountering danger.


    Qing Yue also advised, "Staying up all night is the most damaging to your health. You are in a special time right now, you must be careful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er heeded the advice of the previous night and obediently went back to her room to sleep.


    However, she didn¡¯t sleep well, waking up again after just four hours.


    The space beside her was still empty, Tan Zhenghong must still be in the study.


    "Little thing, we have to help out too, I promise it¡¯s just this once, okay?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sought her baby¡¯s opinion.


    Ever since she began feeling the baby move, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt they had the right to make decisions too.


    Feeling the baby kick in her belly, she then got dressed and got out of bed.


    "Wife, why didn¡¯t you sleep a bit longer?"


    Seeing the sleepy-eyed Qiao Duo¡¯er, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart nearly broke with concern.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I have things on my mind and can¡¯t sleep. Might as well find the remedy, then sleep soundly." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, she would be anxious and scared even with her eyes closed, which would also affect the little one negatively.


    Tan Zhenghong did not object any further, and he trimmed the wick of the lamp to brighten the room.


    Persistent efforts pay off; they managed to extract all the remedies by the next noon, totaling thirty-four.


    All had been used by Bai Yifan before and were quite effective.


    "Can you see which one might be effective against the current plague?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked towards Qing Yue and her sister.


    "Qing Xin and I specialize in gynecology, and only have a basic understanding of other areas. We believe all are effective but still, we should have the Store Manager Doctor of Deji Hall take a look," Qing Yue did not conceal the fact.


    Their grandmother was a midwife, and from a young age, they were steeped in her knowledge, later ending up in a medical hall where the Store Manager had them learn midwifery directly. They also understood some basic medical principles, which made them very popular with the Backyard Lady.


    But faced with a severe epidemic, they were at a loss.

 Chapter 907 - 910 There is Still a Chance

    Chapter 907: Chapter 910 There is Still a ChanceTan Zhenghong didn¡¯t even take a rest, he immediately sent the prescription to the town.


    After discussions between the doctors of Deji Hall and Ren Xin Hall, six prescriptions were finally selected.


    Qin Longyun had already been moving those who had contracted the pestilence to Shan Hall for isolation, so it was not difficult to find people for the trial of the medication.


    Outside the quarantine zone, Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong anxiously awaited the results.


    They were both wearing isolation gowns, their clothes already soaked with sweat, but they seemed not to notice.


    Two hours later, a doctor finally came out.


    "My lords, their conditions are still deteriorating, with absolutely no sign of improvement. I¡¯m afraid these prescriptions are not targeted correctly," the doctor said dejectedly.


    His words sent Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s spirits plummeting.


    These were prescriptions written by Bai Yifan, how could they be ineffective?


    Could it be that this outbreak was truly beyond remedy?


    Trying to maintain his buoyancy, Qin Longyun asked, "Do you have any other methods?"


    "This epidemic is baffling; I have never encountered anything like it, and Young Master Bai is the most skilled doctor in White Stone County, with training from a prestigious lineage. We ourselves cannot come up with a better prescription. We can only take them back for further study and see if there¡¯s any room for adjustment," the doctor said with either humility or a sense of guilt.


    Young Master Bai¡¯s prescriptions were not specifically tailored for this outbreak; there may have been some oversights, which they could only try to remedy.


    Even so, their chances of extracting an effective prescription were still slim.


    "Then I must ask you all to make the effort," Qin Longyun said as he clasped his hands in gratitude.


    Now all the reputable doctors of White Stone County were here, and they could only rely on these individuals before people from Mansion City could be dispatched.


    The doctor said with his head bowed, "It is our inadequate medical skills that bring me shame."


    As doctors unable to treat and save the sick, it was a reflection of their own insufficient capabilities.


    Upon learning the outcome, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt very disheartened and sad, but the result wasn¡¯t much of a surprise to her.


    The root cause of this plague was an infection from bacteria or viruses; herbal medicines had a weak antibacterial capacity and worked slowly, not quickly enough to combat such an aggressive disease.


    The best way to deal with bacteria was to use antibiotics.


    In her previous life, she had used quite a few antibiotics but had never considered how they were made, so now she could only think about it.


    Was she really supposed to watch the people around her die one by one?


    That was too cruel¡ªshe couldn¡¯t do it!


    "The doctors in town are now working together to discuss prescriptions, hopefully, they will have an effective solution soon."


    Tan Zhenghong said in an attempt to comfort her.


    Qing Xin spoke with simple sincerity, "My young master¡¯s medical skills are very good; unless he himself returns, nobody else is confident in altering his prescriptions."


    The greatest strength of her young master lay precisely here. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Different herbs blended together in the decoctions, enhancing each other, achieving the utmost efficiency of the effects.


    Suddenly, Qing Xin noticed Qing Yue was constantly winking at her.


    She quickly covered her mouth, her expression the picture of innocence.


    She didn¡¯t mean to speak out of turn; this had been an issue she struggled with since her childhood.


    "You¡¯re not wrong in what you say."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did not mind Qing Xin¡¯s words, but the critical issue was that Bai Yifan had gone to Beijiang, and it was uncertain when he would be back.


    This meant that they could rely even less on Bai Yifan.


    Qing Xin stuck out her tongue, "Madam, we can also try; it¡¯s like giving a dead horse the treatment of a living horse, better than doing nothing."


    At least then, they could say with a clear conscience that they had tried their best.


    "That¡¯s right, we still have three days. Let¡¯s all think of something," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, managing to muster a faint smile.


    As long as Almond wasn¡¯t at her last moment, they still had a chance to save her.

 Chapter 908 - 911 Urgent Wish

    Chapter 908: Chapter 911 Urgent WishThree days passed with repeated medication changes and waiting for effects.


    But each time, disappointment was what followed.


    In the first two days, Almond was mostly conscious, but she suffered greatly from both vomiting and diarrhea.


    From the third day, the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea had somewhat lessened, and what followed was a coma, with increasingly longer periods of unconsciousness.


    On the fourth day of her illness, Almond didn¡¯t open her eyes until the evening.


    The room was cool and filled with the scent of incense, making for a comfortable environment, yet Almond trembled with chills.


    She knew she was close to the end, but she feared another world that was dark and cold.


    After a while, the door was slowly opened.


    The person who came in was Qiao Duo¡¯er, and in that instant, Almond¡¯s eyes reddened.


    She had contracted the plague, and she thought everyone would shun her like a venomous snake, but the Tan Family had never treated her coldly.


    In her room there was always a basin of ice, daily cleaning, and someone to scrub her body, and even in her comatose state, occasionally someone spoke to her¡ªshe knew all this.


    But she never thought Madam of the Tan Family would visit her in person.


    The Tan Family was kind; they gave her warmth she had never felt in her life, but now she had no chance to repay them in this lifetime.


    If possible, she wanted to meet them again in the next life, at least to have the chance to repay their kindness.


    Seeing that Almond was awake, Qiao Duo¡¯er forced a smile, "Good that you are awake. I¡¯ll have Qing Xin bring you medicine and food to eat. Once you take the medicine, you can get better."


    "Madam, please leave quickly. My life is worthless, it¡¯s not worth your kindness toward me."


    The continuous high fever made Almond¡¯s voice hoarse and rough; just speaking one sentence nearly drained all her strength.


    She longed for someone¡¯s company, but she knew that it would only burden others.


    "No one knows what the future holds; what you can do now is to keep faith. Only by staying alive do you have the chance to be cured."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was comforting Almond, and at the same time, comforting herself.


    After several days with not even a hint of progress, she was close to losing hope.


    But to talk of death now was premature; they still had a day¡¯s time, and perhaps there would be a change.


    Maybe the next moment a Doctor from Mansion City would arrive, their medical skills so advanced they could resolve the plague in an instant.


    Or perhaps Bai Yifan would return tomorrow, for whom dealing with the plague was as simple as a trifling matter.


    Seeing Almond nod, Qiao Duo¡¯er then called Qing Xin over.


    Qing Xin helped Almond sit up and carefully fed her the medicine.


    Tears slipped from the corners of Almond¡¯s eyes as she struggled to swallow the medicine, feeling as if her throat was being cut with each gulp.


    After watching Almond finish the medicine and drink two spoonfuls of white porridge, Qiao Duo¡¯er was ushered out by Qing Xin.


    The health of their Madam was paramount during such times, allowing no room for risk.


    Half an hour later, Almond slipped into unconsciousness once again.


    Qing Yue checked her pulse and sighed, "It¡¯s weak and erratic, it¡¯s only a matter of a few more days now."


    "This cursed plague develops too quickly!" Qing Xin said through clenched teeth. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because it was acute, they couldn¡¯t even find a way to slow down the deterioration of her condition.


    "Yes, it¡¯s only the fourth day, and Almond is already so depleted."


    Qing Yue nodded, as Almond¡¯s current state made anyone who saw her upset.


    In just a few days, Almond¡¯s cheekbones were protruding, her complexion was pale and blue, and she seemed completely lifeless.


    The Qing sisters lamented for a while and then could only leave helplessly.


    They hoped the medicine would work and that Almond could recover. That was their most urgent wish as healers.

 Chapter 909 - 912: Minor Moves

    Chapter 909: Chapter 912: Minor MovesThe situation in the village hadn¡¯t improved much, and these past few days, more people had been infected with the plague.


    Many began to get restless, as they were unwilling to simply die in the village.


    Leaving might give them a chance at life.


    Tie Niu saw their slight movements and felt the urgency in his heart, but who could tell him what to do?


    Tie Niu was feeling extremely uneasy and could only go to Tan Zhenghong for a chat. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, there weren¡¯t many in the village who could communicate normally.


    He said helplessly, "If everyone in the village starts fleeing, the situation will become even more uncontrollable."


    If the villagers were to spread the disease elsewhere, causing more deaths, the Imperial would definitely take harsh measures.


    Because those in power would not stand by and watch a plague destroy their realm.


    "I really don¡¯t understand, they haven¡¯t been in contact with anyone else, and we¡¯ve told them to be careful with their food, they shouldn¡¯t be getting the plague," Tan Zhenghong was puzzled.


    If it was transmitted through breath, then those who were sick should be clustering around those already infected.


    But that wasn¡¯t the case now, so it had to be something else.


    Tie Niu rubbed his throbbing temples, the villagers¡¯ lives were simple; they woke up to arrange breakfast, went to bed after dinner, and the rest of the time they sat at home chatting or doing odd jobs, he really couldn¡¯t figure out where there could be a danger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, who had been half-listening on the side, suddenly had an idea, "Is anyone in the village drinking unboiled water now?"


    "Definitely, it¡¯s so hot it could kill a person; drinking some well water is immensely refreshing," said Tie Niu without any hesitation.


    Besides a few particular households in the village, the rest liked to drink well water directly in the summer.


    "The problem might be right here," Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously.


    Right now, with traditional burials, the groundwater could easily be contaminated.


    If indeed it was a problem with the water, neither rivers nor wells would be spared.


    Because the water cycle is a complete system, there is no such thing as not affecting the river if you contaminate the inflow.


    At this moment, Tie Niu was extremely grateful for his wife; she always got diarrhea from drinking well water, so for many years she felt that well water wasn¡¯t clean and insisted that everyone in the family drink boiled water.


    If it weren¡¯t for her, the Tie Family¡¯s members would not have remained intact as they were now.


    "I¡¯ll go door to door to remind everyone to boil the water before drinking, and also, I plan to clean up an empty house to place those with the plague all together. Would that work?" Tie Niu asked.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Lord Qin has already been promoting this method, it can reduce a lot of risks."


    Having gotten an answer, Tie Niu no longer hesitated and quickly gathered people to put this into practice.


    He didn¡¯t know how effective this would be, but it was certainly better than just waiting.


    Seeing the village head still bustling about, those who had already packed their belongings decided to wait and see for a while longer.


    The difficulty of leaving their homeland, coupled with the fear of death, reflected their feelings at the moment.


    On the fifth day, the atmosphere in the Tan Family grew even more somber.


    Because everyone had accepted that Almond wouldn¡¯t be coming back after today.


    Early in the morning, Qing Xin, as usual, fed Almond her medicine.


    Even though the medicine went down, Almond was now breathing less in and more out.


    Qing Xin sighed, "Big sister, is there no other way?"


    Having assisted in so many births, she should have grown accustomed to life and death by now, but each time she witnessed a life passing away, she couldn¡¯t help but feel sad.


    "If there were, could I hide it from you?" Qing Yue shook her head; she too hoped that Almond would not die.


    Everyone had already tried their best these five days; if she still could not be saved, it was her fate.

 Chapter 910 - 913 Turning Point

    Chapter 910: Chapter 913 Turning PointAt this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er stood beneath the shade of a tree.


    She suddenly noticed a leaf drifting down from a book, turning to mud upon hitting the ground; perhaps that was the fate of Almond.


    The scene before her stirred emotions, and a sense of helplessness grew in her heart.


    She thought she could save the world because she carried the halo of time-travel.


    But the truth was that she couldn¡¯t even save her own Maid who followed her every day; it turned out she was not the protagonist of the world, nor was she omnipotent. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You were truly kind to Almond, and she would only be grateful to you," Granny Su consoled.


    Meeting an Owner like the Tan Family, Almond would certainly die peacefully.


    "But she doesn¡¯t want to die."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke slowly; she had only looked at Almond once, but she saw her intense will to live.


    Granny Su sighed, "If the King of Hell wants someone to die at the third watch, who dares to keep them until the fifth watch? This is all fate, Madam, please come to terms with it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded in agreement; fate indeed wasn¡¯t something she could completely control.


    For example, she couldn¡¯t refuse to time-travel, just as she couldn¡¯t bring Almond back.


    At some point, the person by her side had changed to Tan Zhenghong.


    He simply stood quietly, accompanying his wife in her sorrow.


    He hated himself for being of no help.


    Lunchtime came, but no one had an appetite.


    The meal was prepared by Granny Su¡ªcolorful, fragrant, and flavorful¡ªbut to them, it might as well have been chewing wax.


    "Everyone must eat up; each person should at least have one bowl of rice," Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered.


    Almond had already become like this; she did not want anyone else to fall like Almond did.


    "Yes," Granny Su said, leading by example as she picked up her bowl.


    The dying cannot be retained, but those alive must continue to live well.


    After the meal, Granny Su began cutting paper money, Qing Yue cleaned and changed Almond, dressing her in her finest clothes.


    They were preparing for the afterlife; everyone knew it but no one spoke of it, each silently immersed in their tasks.


    Qing Yue suddenly ran out from the room, excitedly saying, "Good news, Almond is getting better, she¡¯s not going to die!"


    "Could it be Back to Light?" Qing Xin¡¯s mouth was quicker than her brain.


    As soon as she said it, she regretted it, thinking she should have sewn her mouth shut.


    Qing Yue rolled her eyes at Qing Xin: "Stop spouting nonsense, I just checked Almond¡¯s pulse, and it¡¯s much stronger than yesterday."


    Qing Xin expressed disbelief and immediately donned protective clothing to enter Almond¡¯s room.


    After a short while, she too came out smiling.


    "It¡¯s true! Her forehead isn¡¯t as hot as before!"


    Hearing the news, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately rushed out, "Did you change Almond¡¯s medicine today?"


    "No, it¡¯s still the prescription the young master gave, and she¡¯s had it twice, both times brewed by me," Qing Yue shook her head.


    Everything remained the same, which is why she found it incredible.


    If the medicine was supposed to take effect after a few days, Lord Qin would have surely sent someone to report, since the patients in the quarantine area never ran out of medicine.


    "Could it be that Almond, a good person, has her own luck?"


    Granny Su tentatively asked, was there any other explanation?


    Perhaps heaven was moved by the kindness of her family¡¯s Madam, and decided to return Almond, it was not impossible.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s first reaction was that someone else had time-traveled, but that was a small probability event, and even less likely to happen to her family.


    She didn¡¯t believe in the supernatural, so the only possibility was that the medicine had taken effect.


    But the medicine hadn¡¯t changed, and neither had the brewing method, so what was the issue?


    Soon, Qiao Duo¡¯er understood: "It¡¯s musk!"


    The musk here was a scent refined by Bai Yifan; worried about the strong smell in Almond¡¯s room, she had Qing Xin bring some over, never expecting it would have a beneficial effect on her illness!

 Chapter 911 - 914 Rescued

    Chapter 911: Chapter 914 RescuedBai Yifan had also said that Musk was an excellent traditional Chinese medicine with the effect of dispelling impurities and could quickly enter the muscles and bone marrow to maximize the medicinal effects.


    It must have been the Musk that accelerated the efficacy of the medicine and saved Almond from a narrow escape from death!


    Does that mean adding a dose of Musk to the medicine could cure the epidemic?


    "Add Musk, go and decoct the medicine now!" Duo¡¯er urged.


    Qing Xin nodded and immediately ran towards the kitchen.


    Qing Yue followed as well, muttering, "Musk should act as a catalyst; don¡¯t put too much in it!"


    "I know, just a very small amount will suffice." Qing Xin nodded in agreement.


    Unlike her usual worried frown, Qing Xin couldn¡¯t help but smile while preparing the medicine. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Our Madam is truly blessed, she found the remedy just by messing around, even more formidable than our young master!"


    Qing Yue couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Whose side are you on, the Bai Family¡¯s or the Tan Family¡¯s?"


    "Can¡¯t I be on the Tan Family¡¯s side with the left and the Bai Family¡¯s with the right? My life was saved by the young master, and Madam treats me like family. Whatever they ask of me, I have no objections!" Qing Xin said with squinted eyes.


    Although she was a Maid, this did not prevent her from feeling like the luckiest person in the world.


    Qing Yue had the same feelings, but she was more reserved than Qing Xin.


    When the medicine was half prepared, Qing Yue sighed, "However, the fetus might not survive if a pregnant woman drinks this medicine."


    There were ingredients like cinnabar in the medicine, which could negatively affect the fetus.


    Even if it didn¡¯t cause a miscarriage, it could lead to deformities and other issues.


    If an unfortunate pregnant woman caught the epidemic, she would certainly have to sacrifice the child in her womb, which was truly cruel to a mother.


    "You think too much, if one can¡¯t even save themselves, how can they think about the child?" Qing Xin said nonchalantly, as she disliked children for their constant crying and fussing, which annoyed her.


    Especially upon seeing some women suffer unbearable pain, she became even more determined not to have children.


    "That¡¯s true, if we can save even one person, that¡¯s enough."


    Qing Yue came to understand as well, as long as someone remained alive, there would eventually be children.


    After Almond drank the medicine, she quickly showed signs of improvement, and regained consciousness.


    "Am I dead?" Almond asked weakly.


    "Of course not, you¡¯re doing very well now. If you want to die, it might take another few decades," Qing Xin replied immediately.


    Almond blinked in disbelief.


    This morning she felt something blocking her throat; could it be that she didn¡¯t suffocate?


    "Madam was afraid you couldn¡¯t stand the smell in the house, so she put some Musk in your room, and unexpectedly Musk is the nemesis of the epidemic, so that¡¯s how you were saved," Qing Xin explained simply.


    Tears welled up in Almond¡¯s eyes¡ªit was Madam who had saved her!


    Overwhelmed with excitement, Almond¡¯s face flushed red.


    "Calm down, it was hard enough bringing you back; don¡¯t die from happiness, what an injustice that would be!" Qing Xin hurriedly said.


    As Almond¡¯s condition gradually improved, it confirmed that Musk was effective against the epidemic.


    Tan Zhenghong asked with bewilderment, "Wife, how did it get better with the addition of Musk?"


    "This epidemic is acute, but the effects of traditional Chinese medicine are mild and almost ineffective against acute diseases; Musk resolves this problem," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained. Before, this was just her conjecture, but now it had been confirmed.


    "You are amazing!" Tan Zhenghong gave her a thumbs-up.


    "It¡¯s just that Musk is not a common ingredient; I wonder if it can be used on a large scale," Qiao Duo¡¯er furrowed her brow.

 Chapter 912 - 915: Split Up and Take Action

    Chapter 912: Chapter 915: Split Up and Take Action"Once we find the antidote, our mission will be accomplished, let Guang House handle the rest, they definitely have a solution," Tan Zhenghong said, offering comfort.


    Mansion City has its own dispensary, which stocks medicines for emergencies, including some precious herbs.


    This time, when Mansion City sent aid to the disaster-stricken area, they were bound to distribute medicinal materials.


    If all else fails, you can use the disaster relief funds to buy musk from the pharmacists.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and said, "Then you¡¯d better hurry to the county and report the news. I will have Qing Yue distribute the medicine to the people in the village."


    It seemed wasteful to put the refined fragrance into the medicine.


    But it was a necessary evil, who knew when the higher-ups would send musk.


    It wasn¡¯t that Qin Longyun was ineffective, but within the system, his hands were often tied by various constraints.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately set off, and they needed to have the Doctor arrange for more people to test the medicine. Perhaps adding musk to other recipes might improve their effectiveness.


    Qing Xin and her sister Qing Yue first bought medicine according to the recipe that Almond used, stabilizing the condition was the priority.


    Only if they are alive, can they hope for something better.


    Aside from musk, the other ingredients in the recipe were very common, and they were able to collect all of them at Wu Youcai¡¯s house.


    However, Wu Youcai usually only treated the villagers, so the amount of medicinal materials he stored was limited.


    Qing Xin counted the stock and said, "We have a total of eighteen doses of medicine, which should be enough for two rounds. Drink one dose tonight, and add another dose in the middle of the night. After delivering the medicine, I can go home for a good night¡¯s sleep and head to town early tomorrow to buy more." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her planning was meticulous, but Qing Yue quickly doused her with a bucket of cold water.


    "With the epidemic everywhere, it will not be easy to buy medicine; the sooner we get it, the more at peace we will be."


    "If you trust me, I can go to town to buy the medicine for you. Besides musk, there are several other varieties that are plentiful on the mountains nearby our village. I¡¯ll take a few people up the mountain tomorrow to collect them, which might alleviate some of your burden," Wu Youcai offered himself for the task.


    Anyway, as long as there was medicine to fight the epidemic, even if he got infected, a bit of medicine would take care of it.


    Qing Yue gratefully said, "Thank you, Doctor."


    "I am a Doctor, this is all part of what I should do," Wu Youcai replied with a smile.


    He didn¡¯t want to leave his hometown, so he had to try his best to cure the epidemic. He only regretted that there was too little he could help with.


    After leaving Wu¡¯s house, the Qing sisters delivered the medicine directly to the schoolhouse.


    Tie Niu had gathered all the sick people there, which saved a lot of trouble.


    About ten people lay inside the schoolhouse, each patient had a companion, some were parents, and others spouses or children.


    In the eyes of both patients and family members alike, there was nearly always despair.


    Every day, people were carried in and out of here. The next one could very well be them or someone dear to them.


    They all knew that coming here was like waiting for death, but the village head made sure they were well fed.


    "We have the antidote, everyone can be saved!"


    With a loud call, Qing Xin shared the good news with everyone.


    "Miss, are you telling the truth?"


    "Really found the medicine?"


    "I didn¡¯t misunderstand, did I?"


    Many of the patients¡¯ relatives crowded around, their eyes which had been colorless just moments ago, suddenly lit up.


    "Of course, it¡¯s true. Almond tried the medicine, and there are already signs of improvement. My sister and I are going to prepare the medicine now; everybody just wait a bit," Qing Xin said with a smile.


    "My household is saved, I bow to you in gratitude!"


    "You are saviors to us all, thank you!"


    Many people began to kneel as they spoke.

 Chapter 913 - 916: Not a Thing

    Chapter 913: Chapter 916: Not a ThingThese two girls have saved their relatives, and no matter how much they thank us, it can¡¯t express how they feel. Actions are more useful than words.


    For them, kneeling is the most respectful gesture.


    Qing Xin hurriedly stopped them, "Don¡¯t kneel to me. The antidote was discovered by the Madam of our house. If you want to thank someone, go thank our Madam. We are just the messengers."


    "Miss, which family are you from? How come I¡¯ve never seen you before?"


    Someone asked with confusion, she had never seen these two young girls before.


    "We were the Medical Women of the Bai Family before, and now we¡¯re the Medical Women of the Tan Family, taking care of the Madam during her childbirth," Qing Xin said gracefully.


    "So, it¡¯s the Tan Family. Fourth Boss and his wife are really amazing. They¡¯ve done a lot of good deeds for our village!"


    "Good people get good karma, their family will surely have a smooth childbirth!"


    Qing Yue said loudly, "You can thank our Madam in any way you like, but right now, we need to rush to get the medicine boiled for the patients to drink. This disease is very fierce; we can¡¯t delay."


    "Right, saving lives is the priority."


    The families of the sick immediately helped by cleaning pots and chopping firewood, and as the medicine was put to boil, they all gathered around the pot.


    In the pot wasn¡¯t just medicine, but all of their hopes.


    After waiting for so many days, they finally had hope!


    Qing Xin advised, "The medicine still needs to simmer for a while. You could heat some water in another pot to clean the patients, to make them feel more comfortable."


    The families of the patients sprung into action again, busily moving in and out, their faces beginning to show relaxed smiles.


    Two hours later, the medicine was divided into twelve bowls, just enough for each patient to have one bowl.


    To enhance the effects of the medicine, Qing Yue lit fragrant materials in each room.


    This was an experimental product concocted by Almond before, which contained Musk and was beneficial for the patients¡¯ conditions.


    "Everyone, close the doors and windows, try not to let the fragrance escape."


    The scent of Musk was faint and pleasant, yet long-lasting, causing everyone in the room to inhale deeply.


    "I¡¯ve never smelled anything so nice before, it¡¯s even better than braised pork!"


    "You¡¯re always thinking about eating. Can braised pork compare with this scent? It¡¯s not even close to a little finger!"


    "Both scents make people happy, why can¡¯t they be compared?"


    Seeing them bantering happily, Qing Yue¡¯s mood also improved greatly.


    "I¡¯ve added more water to the medicine dregs, and it can prevent the epidemic. In a while, you all should come and get a bowl to drink," Qing Yue instructed. After speaking, she went out to help Qing Xin.


    "Sister, it seems there is still one person who hasn¡¯t come to get their medicine."


    Qing Xin pointed to the remaining bowl of medicine on the table. Just yesterday, the village chief said that twelve people had been accommodated in the school. Could it be someone had left?


    After thinking for a moment, Qing Yue said, "Leave this to me. You go and check to see if someone hasn¡¯t come to get theirs."


    Qing Xin, worried about delaying someone¡¯s condition, promptly did as told.


    She searched every room and finally, in a corner, she found a woman who was almost dehydrated. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everyone help, please, she¡¯s nearly gone," Qing Xin shouted loudly.


    Some people had already fed the medicine and came over to lend a hand.


    "Those Tan Family Members are no good. They just dumped the Wang Clan here and didn¡¯t care about anything else. If we hadn¡¯t taken pity on her and given her water regularly, she would have been dead by now," a knowledgeable person said.


    But everyone had their own family to worry about. Who had the extra time to look after someone else?


    That¡¯s why the Wang Clan ended up in this state.


    Ah, it¡¯s truly pitiful!


    With curiosity, Qing Xin asked, "The Tan Family? Does it have anything to do with Fourth Boss from our house?"

 Chapter 914 - 917: Getting It Back

    Chapter 914: Chapter 917: Getting It BackIn a village, families with the same surname are all somewhat related by blood.


    But the Fourth Boss and Madam of her family are both kind-hearted people. If they were relatives, it shouldn¡¯t have come to such a pass, should it?


    "She is Fourth Boss¡¯s mother, but her heart has turned away completely, severing ties with Fourth Boss and his family. Who would have thought she¡¯d end up in such a state?"


    The woman sighed, feeling that Wang Clan had cherished the wrong person in this lifetime.


    What she didn¡¯t say was that Fourth Boss shouldn¡¯t be so heartless.


    No matter what, Wang Clan was still his mother, who had arranged his marriage, and at the time of dividing the family property, she had given him his share.


    Qing Xin didn¡¯t chime in again; this was something she needed to discuss with Fourth Boss and Madam. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To her, Wang Clan was just another patient.


    By the time they had finished their work, night had fallen. Qing Yue and her sister reminded them about taking the medicine during the night before they left.


    "I¡¯m dead tired today!" Qing Xin stretched and yawned.


    The most exhausting part wasn¡¯t the physical work, but the emotional rollercoaster.


    Qing Yue nodded, "Right now, I don¡¯t want to do anything but find a place to sleep."


    They had been worried about Almond these past few days and hadn¡¯t been able to sleep well at night.


    When they arrived home, Granny Su had set the table, ready for dinner. No one had really eaten much these past few days, so tonight she had made something especially appetizing.


    Midway through the meal, Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "We¡¯re comrades who¡¯ve been through life and death together; speak your mind if there¡¯s anything."


    Since the start of the meal, Qing Xin had occasionally sneaked glances at them, knowing full well that the Tan Family had always been democratic.


    Some words, if held back, would only make one feel uncomfortable.


    Qing Xin stuck out her tongue, knowing she had been caught.


    Since that was the case, perhaps it was better to just say it.


    She said timidly, "Madam, today at the schoolhouse I saw someone. Others said she is... Fourth Boss¡¯s mother. She¡¯s fallen ill with the plague, and no one is there to care for her. She looked quite pitiable."


    Qiao Duo turned to look at Tan Zhenghong, who was completely baffled.


    No one had ever mentioned this to them, and Tan Zhenghong had always been busy traveling between the village and the county town; Duo¡¯er had always stayed at home and wouldn¡¯t have heard about it on her own.


    After thinking it over for a moment, Qiao Duo said, "Go and bring her over, just take care of her together with Almond."


    Everyone has a natural sympathy for the weak; with Wang Clan¡¯s life hanging by a thread, anyone would feel compassion for her.


    In many people¡¯s eyes, Wang Clan hadn¡¯t done anything too terrible¡ªthe worst was probably kicking out Tan Zhenghong right after his leg injury, which wasn¡¯t very kind.


    There¡¯s also a popular saying: There are no parents who do wrong by their children in this world.


    No matter what mistakes parents make, as their children, one must not be unfilial; this is a troubling logic, but it is the societal norm.


    "Wife, why don¡¯t I find a new place and buy a maid to take care of her?"


    Tan Zhenghong felt for his own wife, knowing his mother¡¯s temper was a headache.


    What right did he have to make his wife endure that?


    Besides, his wife married him, not to be wronged, right?


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "It¡¯s alright, Bai Yan, Qing Yue, please go and bring the person over now, and put her in the room next to Almond¡¯s."


    She had always felt that if you¡¯re going to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability.


    Bringing Wang Clan home, with maids in the house and Tan Zhenghong around, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing.


    If Wang Clan caused trouble, she would have every reason to send her away again.


    In the end, there was no way she could lose out; she could even earn a good reputation in the process.


    Wang Clan would also never be able to use the debt of upbringing to manipulate Tan Zhenghong again.


    Qing Xin finally felt relieved; now nobody would secretly speak ill of her lady anymore.

 Chapter 915 - 918: It was you who killed him

    Chapter 915: Chapter 918: It was you who killed himThe next day, those who had taken the medicine were already improving, and many people went to the Tan Family to express their gratitude.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Tan Family¡¯s medicine, their loved ones might already have gone to another world.


    "Duo¡¯er, you are the great benefactor of my whole family. If my head of household were gone, the remaining widows and orphans would have no future."


    "My boy¡¯s life was saved by you. From now on, whatever you ask, I will not refuse." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I feel the same, I¡¯d do anything!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er signaled for everyone to quiet down: "Finding the medicine is only the first step. Next, we need to work together to try and drive the epidemic away as soon as possible."


    Now that the cure had been found, it was the best opportunity to unite the people¡¯s hearts.


    As long as the villagers¡¯ morale was stable, even if Xuan San really was lurking in the shadows, he wouldn¡¯t be able to play any tricks.


    Thinking of Xuan San, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but grit her teeth.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the sudden outbreak of the epidemic, Qin Longyun would have definitely been able to pry open Hu Banxian¡¯s mouth, and Xuan San might have been exposed.


    Did that mean all his misdeeds wouldn¡¯t come with deadly consequences?


    If that were the case, then the heavens were truly blind.


    Granny Su vigilantly stood beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, fearing that someone might accidentally bump into their Madam.


    Fortunately, everyone was rational and didn¡¯t dare get too close to Duo¡¯er.


    They spent all day with the sick and nobody dared guarantee that they weren¡¯t infected themselves.


    If they accidentally transmitted the disease to the Tan Family, wouldn¡¯t that be biting the hand that feeds them?


    The harmonious atmosphere was suddenly disrupted due to the appearance of an electrifying woman.


    That was Zheng Shi, who had lost her hair due to a calamity not long ago and now could only cover her bald head.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er, did you deliberately wait for my Tian¡¯er to die before you took out the medicine?"


    Zheng Shi glared angrily at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Yesterday afternoon, Xiao Ketian passed away, and the Xiao Family had been busy with the child¡¯s funeral arrangements all afternoon.


    Only now did she think of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s malicious intentions, so she came.


    "I know you hate the Xiao Family, but what did my grandson ever do to provoke you? Why wouldn¡¯t you spare even such a small child?"


    Xiao Ketian was the eldest grandson of the Xiao Family, the son of Xiao Lingshan and Wei Shi.


    He was sharp-witted and robust, very adorable, and, in Zheng Shi¡¯s heart, ranked just behind Xiao Biyu.


    Because Qiao Duo had caused Xiao Biyu to be thrown into prison and orchestrated Xiao Ketian¡¯s death, even tearing Qiao Duo into pieces wouldn¡¯t quench her deep resentment.


    Yet now Qiao Duo was still receiving so much gratitude from these people. Why?


    Qiao Duo let out a silent sigh. It seemed that the lesson she had last taught the Xiao Family wasn¡¯t enough.


    "Not everyone has as filthy thoughts as you do. Once I knew the medicine was effective, I immediately had it distributed. You can say whatever else you want," said Qiao Duo.


    Qiao Duo simply offered that explanation.


    Even if she had known beforehand that someone in the Xiao Family had caught the epidemic, she couldn¡¯t do such a thing.


    It wasn¡¯t about saving the Xiao Family, but rather the fear that they might infect others.


    Zheng Shi said disdainfully, "You make it sound so nice. But do you think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re really thinking? You just can¡¯t stand the Xiao Family and want all of them dead!"


    "The antidote was only found yesterday. Almond has been ill for five days and is still lying in bed. If you don¡¯t trust us, you are welcome to see for yourself the extent of Almond¡¯s recovery," said Granny Su, pointing to the room where Almond was staying. This woman was truly irrational!


    "Duo¡¯er would never intentionally harm anyone, don¡¯t slander her."


    "If you¡¯re not well yet, just stay at home honestly, and don¡¯t come out to scare people."

 Chapter 916 - 919: Go Home and Recite Scriptures!

    Chapter 916: Chapter 919: Go Home and Recite Scriptures!"Who knows if your family¡¯s Ke Tian will avoid retribution?"


    "I think this can¡¯t be blamed on anyone else, I can¡¯t even stand the name, let alone the deities above!"


    Old folks always say that a name shouldn¡¯t be too overwhelming; otherwise, it will be hard to control and bring calamity to the child.


    But the Xiao Family never believed it, insisting on naming their grandson Ke Tian. How could heaven remain at ease?


    Everyone was attacking Zheng Shi, but Zheng Shi still felt she was in the right.


    "After one dose of medicine from others, you all start groveling like you have no backbone, thinking just because you¡¯re fine this time, there won¡¯t be trouble later? You¡¯ll still meet a bad end!"


    "What gives you the right to mock my Tian¡¯er? What¡¯s your grandson called? Dog Egg, Donkey Egg, or Big Yellow? Names not even fit for a dog, born to be lowly!"


    "And don¡¯t say Tian¡¯er deserved it; if you were all such good people, would someone in your family have caught the plague?"


    Zheng Shi got more and more into her tirade, wishing she could curse every single person present.


    "How can you even talk like that? It was clearly your fault, and now you don¡¯t let others speak?"


    A woman spoke up discontentedly.


    The Tan Family went to find prescriptions and even provided medicine for free; the Xiao Family didn¡¯t appreciate it, which was one thing, but acting like rabid dogs and biting everyone was another!


    And if there were something to say, couldn¡¯t it be said nicely? Why curse someone¡¯s family?


    "The Tan Family saved our family members, and you won¡¯t even let us thank them. You think you have the right?"


    "I can confidently say I¡¯ve never done anything bad, rest assured, even if your family is wiped out, it won¡¯t come to mine!"


    The yard grew louder and more intense, as if not stopping until satisfaction was guaranteed.


    Zheng Shi wasn¡¯t content with just berating the sick family members; she started attacking Qiao Duo¡¯er as well.


    Qing Xin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and picked up a broom, rushing out.


    "My madam is pregnant and still toils every day with the plague business, where did she go wrong? How dare you falsely accuse my Madam; get out right now, the Tan Family doesn¡¯t welcome you!"


    Qing Xin was angry, but she was afraid of causing trouble for the Tan Family, so she dared not strike hard, only waving the broom in front of Zheng Shi. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, she could have beaten Zheng Shi until she was toothless!


    After driving Zheng Shi away, Qing Xin, still kindly, offered a suggestion: "Old witch, you better go home and chant some sutras, pray properly for your family!"


    People like her, with ill intentions and causing trouble, are the most likely to bring disaster upon their own family!


    The others consoled Qiao Duo¡¯er, wondering: if they let Duo¡¯er be troubled, how could she possibly help them like she does now?


    Damn Zheng Shi, really causing significant harm!


    "Duo¡¯er, the kindness you¡¯ve shown to us, we all remember in our hearts."


    "Not a single good egg in the Xiao Family, they got what they deserved with their current fate."


    "I won¡¯t take her to heart. Your families all have sick members, go back and take good care of them," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a calm smile.


    She was just an ordinary person who couldn¡¯t please everyone; as long as her conscience was clear, that was enough.


    Watching people gradually disperse, Duo¡¯er waddled into the house.


    After entering July, her belly had swelled like a balloon, and she walked just like a penguin.


    Granny Su said severely, "During this period, we need to be cautious and prevent the Xiao Family from getting close to Madam."


    Because no one knows what those crazies might do.


    "Zheng Shi won¡¯t even touch the threshold while I¡¯m here!"


    Qing Xin proudly displayed her broom, realizing she hadn¡¯t noticed before how handy it was for hitting people.


    Granny Su nodded, "But you be careful, too. You¡¯re so fierce, be careful not to scare away suitors!"

 Chapter 917 - 920: Refusing to Take Medicine

    Chapter 917: Chapter 920: Refusing to Take Medicine"Just great!" Qing Xin said with a giggle.


    Living alone was quite comfortable for her, with food, drink, and sleep ¨C why would she want to mary?


    Once you marry, you have to have children, and she had seen enough of that pain. Over her dead body would she dare to try.


    Qing Yue gave her a glare, "Don¡¯t speak such nonsense!"


    Qing Xin made a face back at her. Her sister was three years older than her; if anyone was to marry, it would be her sister first, so she could relax for a few more years.


    Seeing Qing Yue getting quite upset, Granny Su said with a smile, "Qing Xin is still a child, always playful. Give her another two years, and she¡¯ll be better."


    "Let¡¯s hope so."


    Qing Yue sighed. She had grown up with Qing Xin and knew her temper better than anyone ¨C changing her mind on something she was set on? How difficult was that?


    Never mind, she should quickly sort out the medicine and send it to the school later.


    Granny Su went off to the kitchen ¨C their madam was having a hard time with her pregnancy and needed some good food to nourish her.


    News that the epidemic could be cured spread quickly throughout the county town.


    The large households of the county contributed whatever they could, sending medicine, gold, silver, and even servants to help.


    Seeing the supplies pile up like a small mountain, Qin Longyun could finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    "I¡¯ve had someone take stock, and we now have enough grain to last, medicine for three to four days, enough until people from Mansion City arrive. Additionally, these next few days will require you to take on some extra burdens. We can¡¯t do without someone watching over everything inside and outside."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "No problem; take some extra time to be with your wife."


    He and Qin Longyun were in very similar situations, both wanting to spend more time with their wives ¨C a natural human sentiment which he understood completely.


    But they were too optimistic. Once they got busy, they barely touched the ground with their feet.


    Previously, some people had been using the events of thirty-five years ago to cause trouble, and many villages were extremely hostile towards government officers, even refusing to believe them when they brought medicine and food.


    Some villages didn¡¯t even give the officers a chance to speak and simply chased them away.


    This wasn¡¯t their fault; when Tongzhou Mansion was struck by the epidemic, the officers had poisoned or killed many people under the guise of delivering medicine.


    So Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong had an additional task: to soothe the emotions of the disaster victims and get them to cooperate with the treatment.


    But White Stone Town could only be managed by the two of them, so they had to work from dawn till dusk.


    Sometimes, they couldn¡¯t even return home.


    Ling¡¯er was nearing her due date, and she couldn¡¯t be without close family around, so Qiao Duo decided to move into the Government Office for a while.


    This way, she and Chen Yiling could support each other.


    It would also spare Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong the worry about their pregnant wives while they were busy saving others.


    Just as Qing Yue and Grandma Wang were helping to pack her luggage, Bai Yan rushed in, flustered.


    "Madam, the old madam of Fourth Master has been crying non-stop and refuses to take her medicine."


    She finally understood why no one liked the old lady ¨C despite the Master and Madam saving her without bearing a grudge, she remained ungrateful. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo stood up: "I¡¯ll go take a look."


    In the room, Wang Clan had lost the vitality she once had; she was much thinner, and her spirit had diminished greatly.


    She looked pitiable, but the pitiable often have their detestable sides.


    Qiao Duo asked calmly, "You¡¯ve caught the epidemic; why don¡¯t you want to get better?"


    "I gave birth to four sons, and everyone in the village envied me. But in the end, neither my husband nor my sons wanted to take care of me. They dropped me at the school and didn¡¯t look back. What is the point of my living?"


    Wang Clan mumbled, her voice tinged with despair.

 Chapter 918 - 921: Different from Before

    Chapter 918: Chapter 921: Different from BeforeA woman marries and has children; isn¡¯t it all to have someone to depend on?


    Yet, she had busied herself her whole life and ended up with nothing.


    "No matter how unfairly you treated Ah Hong, he never once thought of abandoning you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Tan Zhenghong had never complained about the unfair treatment; on the contrary, he had always felt guilty about the Wang Clan¡¯s difficult labor.


    "I have never seen him, and you¡¯re going to move out. I know I¡¯m detestable; I might as well be dead."


    The Wang Clan wiped her tears away; she had woken up the night she was brought back, but Fourth Boss and his wife had never shown up.


    She knew they did it only to save face.


    Once she got better, she would be sent back to her original family.


    "I¡¯m taking this opportunity to make things clear to you: you are Ah Hong¡¯s mother, and I won¡¯t stop him from providing for your old age, but only if you behave yourself. If you have any other schemes in mind, don¡¯t blame me for turning my back on you," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated.


    "Right now, there¡¯s an epidemic everywhere, and Ah Hong, earning the Imperial court salary, can¡¯t just do nothing. I¡¯m moving out to keep the Lady of the County company. I will arrange for someone to take care of you, so don¡¯t worry unnecessarily," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.


    She was clear in her speech.


    She didn¡¯t mind taking care of another person from the Wang Clan, but she definitely didn¡¯t want to deal with the trouble she might bring.


    The Wang Clan looked steadily at Qiao Duo¡¯er; she didn¡¯t believe Qiao Duo¡¯er could be so magnanimous after the way she had treated Ah Hong and his wife in the past.


    "Are you serious?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Can you take your medicine now?"


    The Wang Clan picked up the bowl of medicine, gulping it down in one breath.


    "I know what you¡¯re worried about. I won¡¯t sow discord between you, and I won¡¯t favor anyone else anymore," the Wang Clan said earnestly.


    She had come to realize that the person she had favored before was not worth it at all.


    From now on, she would forget the pain that Tan Zhenghong had caused her, and she would try her best to repay what she owed him in the past.


    Early the next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er set off.


    She left Bai Yan at home, and also hired a villager¡¯s wife to help.


    Incredibly, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw a hint of reluctance in the Wang Clan¡¯s eyes.


    After this calamity, it seemed the Wang Clan had changed from before.


    "Madam, what do you think Fourth Boss will feel when he sees a completely changed mother?" Qing Xin asked curiously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands, "I have no idea."


    But there probably wouldn¡¯t be any tearfully dramatic scenes like clutching your head and weeping, right?


    "Anyway, I know you are the most important person in Fourth Boss¡¯s heart, irreplaceable by anyone else," Grandma Wang chimed in.


    Without any modesty, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Of course I am!"


    After all, she had the upper hand in their relationship; how much could anyone else get?


    The servants and mistress inside the carriage chatted and laughed, and before long, they arrived at the Government Office.


    Outside, disaster relief was as urgent as fighting a fire.


    Yet the Government Office was exceptionally quiet, as everyone who could help had gone out to do so.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Chen Yiling finally had someone to share her grievances with.


    "Once Qin Longyun, that bastard, finishes this business, I¡¯m going to divorce him!" Chen Yiling gritted her teeth. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had said before the New Year that all troubles had been solved, and after the New Year, he could peacefully accompany her to have their child. But instead, trouble cropped up again right when she was about to give birth.


    And he was the kind who was always out of sight!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mischievously said, "If you divorce him, and he goes on to marry someone else, aren¡¯t you just giving someone else a bargain?"


    "That makes sense; he¡¯s so charming, he must attract women," Chen Yiling pouted, "Then I¡¯d better go to Luo Qingfeng and have him take revenge for me."


    She had found the Seven-color Poison quite useful last time.

 Chapter 919 - 923: When It Rains, It Pours

    Chapter 919: Chapter 923: When It Rains, It PoursShe had heard that Beijiang was abundant in exotic flowers and herbs; Luo Qingfeng would definitely not return empty-handed.


    "Hopefully that guy can deliver this time and come up with several types of poison¡ªotherwise, it won¡¯t be enough to punish that bastard Qin Longyun."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh in an unkind manner, "When the time comes, share some with me."


    "There¡¯s no need for me to share. Luo Qin will certainly send you a part too."


    Chen Yiling knew Luo Qingfeng well; he always relished chaos, and on the rare occasion when there was excitement to be had, he certainly wouldn¡¯t miss out.


    The dreadful Luo Qingfeng and the playful Chen Yiling together were sure to make a big stir.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for Lord Qin, "Lord Qin and Ah Hong are thinking of the people as well; we should stop at the right time."


    Chen Yiling nodded, then looked disdainfully at her own belly, "Actually, I also want to help the people; that would make me a great hero as well."


    Ever since she was little, she had a dream of being a hero, saving the common people like the Jianghu Knights in times of peril.


    Now that she finally had the chance, to fight side by side with Qin Longyun no less, she was bound to the limited space of the Government Office because of the baby inside her.


    If she dared to create trouble, her mother would be the first to not let her off the hook.


    And her mother¡¯s endless nagging was what she feared most.


    "Now, you are a hero¡¯s mother," Qiao Duo¡¯er praised with a thumbs up.


    Chen Yiling had been spoiled since childhood, and now she faced pregnancy without a single complaint of hardship; that was already quite impressive.


    Chen Yiling looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly and compared it to her own, then pouted, "Why do I feel like you¡¯re praising yourself?"


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly was almost seven months along, and she was nearly full term, seemingly not much different.


    "I¡¯m praising women, okay? Even the mightiest men were born of women," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with gusto.


    "I don¡¯t know if it makes sense, but it sure improved my mood."


    Chen Yiling was amused and cheered up by the banter. It was a good thing Duo¡¯er was here.


    Otherwise, she would have been in utter despair being alone at home. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ideal life for her was to have her man by her side every day, but when that couldn¡¯t be realized, having a close girlfriend around wasn¡¯t so bad either.


    Two pregnant women together, chatting about babies, could go on for days and nights without ever worrying about boredom.


    Before she knew it, Duo¡¯er had already spent four days in the Government Office.


    That day, Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun unexpectedly came back early in the evening.


    They had made a special plan to come back to have a meal with their wives, but the guard arrived just as dinner started.


    Qin Longyun took a deep breath, lamenting that nowadays, even a peaceful meal had become a luxury.


    "What¡¯s the matter?"


    The guard said respectfully, "My lord, we received news that the official in charge of disaster relief this time is Li Zhengtian, and he is expected to arrive soon."


    Qin Longyun¡¯s heart sank. With the medicinal herbs almost depleted, he had hoped that the arrival of officials from Mansion City would alleviate some pressure. It would be fortunate enough if no one stabbed them in the back.


    Hearing this news, Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but curse under her breath. When would that family be done for?


    Before the new year, Li Zhengtian had ordered her assassination ¨C with irrefutable evidence ¨C yet he got off scot-free?


    Lord Yu had also issued a stern threat, insisting that he would persist in Ning Tian Mansion until the corrupt were eradicated.


    And yet, here was Li Zhengtian, unharmed and even promoted. That made no sense!


    "Li Mu¡¯er was sent to King Ping¡¯s Mansion, and although she¡¯s just a concubine without rank, she has won Prince Liang¡¯s favor. Prince Liang took out his princely token, so not only was Li Zhengtian not imprisoned, he was promoted instead."


    With a sense of resignation, Qin Longyun said, "That¡¯s how dark the bureaucratic world is."

 Chapter 920 - 923 Just Want to be with You

    Chapter 920: Chapter 923 Just Want to be with YouLord Yu is honest, but even he sometimes finds his strength fail him in the face of the powerful.


    Not only did he have a falling-out with Prince Liang this time, but he was also almost accused of abusing his power.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Emperor taking into account that he was the Emperor¡¯s Teacher, Lord Yu¡¯s days would have been difficult.


    Tan Zhenghong pondered for a moment, "I expect trouble is on the way, we all need to be careful."


    Chen Yiling dismissively said, "What¡¯s Prince Liang? Above him, there is the Emperor keeping him in check. If Li Zhengtian dares to cause trouble, I¡¯ll write to my father and have him and the imperial censors impeach these bastards."


    An epidemic is no small matter. To bring up personal grudges at such a time¡ªisn¡¯t that asking for death?


    Even the most favored son can¡¯t escape punishment from the Emperor.


    "I hope he considers Prince Liang¡¯s future and doesn¡¯t act recklessly."


    Qin Longyun wished everyone could be as simple as his wife.


    If that were so, there wouldn¡¯t be so much trouble in the official circles.


    At this moment, he could only be grateful that he had made preparations beforehand, ensuring that the epidemic, now under control, would not spread again.


    Chen Yiling waved her hand, "Don¡¯t talk about such stomach-turning matters at dinner, hurry up and eat!"


    "Right, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore!" Qin Longyun agreed without hesitation.


    He also didn¡¯t want his wife to know about all these messy affairs. She should always remain kind.


    He was strong enough to shoulder everything else.


    After dinner, Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun each took their wives back to their rooms.


    In the guest room, Tan Zhenghong gently massaged Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s feet.


    Since her belly had grown, her calves had been almost constantly swollen.


    Tan Zhenghong said caringly, "Wife, it¡¯s been tough on you. When you were at home alone, I didn¡¯t realize how big your belly was, but now with something to compare it to, I can see that you¡¯re about to give birth."


    "Everyone¡¯s body is different, it¡¯s normal for the size of the belly to vary."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t take this to heart as she had been eating and sleeping well since she became pregnant. It would have been strange if her belly wasn¡¯t big.


    As for swollen feet, at the late stage of pregnancy, every pregnant woman was the same, no one could avoid it.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s movements became even gentler, and his guilt deepened.


    If it weren¡¯t for the man she held in her heart, which woman would be willing to suffer like this?


    "Let¡¯s stop massaging and go to sleep." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er withdrew her feet, knowing Tan Zhenghong had been busy non-stop these past few days and was probably exhausted. His thoughtfulness was enough to make her content.


    Her legs were uncomfortable, but Qing Yue and Qing Xin could massage them just the same.


    Tan Zhenghong said earnestly, "I don¡¯t have a watermelon in my belly, so it doesn¡¯t matter how far I walk. I¡¯m the child¡¯s father; it¡¯s not the same for me."


    "But I¡¯m sleepy, and you need to sleep with me," insisted Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If she didn¡¯t rest well, her immunity would drop, and Tan Zhenghong, who often contacted patients, was bound to be affected.


    She enjoyed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s affection, but even more, she hoped for his safety so that he could accompany her for a lifetime.


    Tan Zhenghong could only obediently lie down next to Qiao Duo¡¯er and conveniently used his arm as a pillow for her.


    "If your belly is uncomfortable, just lean on me."


    "Mhm," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded immediately since that was her plan all along.


    "Once the epidemic is over, we¡¯ll go back to our own home. We don¡¯t have to hurry with the business. I¡¯ll just focus entirely on accompanying you and waiting for the child to be born," Tan Zhenghong suddenly said.


    That was what he wanted to do the most.


    "Okay," Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed without hesitation.


    The Tan Family now had food, shelter, and even some savings. They could completely live the life they desired.

 Chapter 921 - 924: Save it to Feed the Pigs

    Chapter 921: Chapter 924: Save it to Feed the PigsWhen alive, if one does not live freely, at the end of life, there will surely be many regrets.


    This was something she did not want to see.


    Tan Zhenghong gently stroked Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly, and his restless heart gradually calmed down.


    Only when with a deeply loved one does one feel this way.


    In the master bedroom, there were also two people snuggled up against each other, warmth flowing between them.


    For those in love, being together is enough.


    The next day at noon, Lord Li arrived with four carts of supplies, two filled with grain and two with medicinal herbs.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but twitch. With over forty thousand people in White Stone County, nearly three thousand had died, and more than four thousand were infected, making it a disaster zone. Where would these few supplies even make a difference?


    He had already anticipated that Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t make things easy for him, but he never expected him to be so brazen, not even bothering to put on a pretense.


    "Lord Li, the epidemic in White Stone Town is severe, I wonder if you could provide more medicinal herbs?"


    Qin Longyun tried his best to control his anger because offending Li Zhengtian now would only harm the people of White Stone County.


    "Your negligence led to the outbreak of the epidemic in several counties. Medicines and silver coins in Mansion City are extremely scarce. It wasn¡¯t easy to allocate this much," Li Zhengtian glanced at Qin Longyun.


    The sources of the epidemic had already been traced by those above, pointing to Clear Water Village under Qin Longyun¡¯s jurisdiction.


    If he had discovered it earlier and curbed the epidemic in Clear Water Village, would they be facing such a widespread disaster now?


    Therefore, Qin Longyun was the least qualified person to blame him.


    That was precisely why he dared to make things so difficult for him so openly.


    Qin Longyun took a deep breath, "The priority now is to cure the epidemic. Once this is over, I will seek punishment from the higher ups."


    "You are truly a good official who serves the country and the people. But remember, you must follow through. Besides, you¡¯re the County Magistrate of White Stone Town. You know the situation better than I do and should take great care," Li Zhengtian said with a smile that did not reach his eyes.


    "That is my duty. I just hope you can ensure a steady supply of medicinal herbs."


    Qin Longyun had never considered abandoning the people to someone else.


    He didn¡¯t trust Li Zhengtian to take over, but this meant he would be letting his wife down. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luckily, a lifetime is long, and he planned to use the remaining time to make it up to her.


    "Give me your list of medicines later. But right now, Ning Tian Mansion is almost in chaos, so I can¡¯t guarantee anything," Li Zhengtian said with a troubled expression.


    "I have the list right here."


    He always kept the prescription with him and could produce it at a moment¡¯s notice.


    But no sooner had he taken it out than Li Zhengtian had already walked away briskly.


    Qin Longyun wanted to call him back, but Jia Wenjing blocked him, "Just give it to me. Don¡¯t disturb Lord Li all the time. He has been traveling day and night and finally arrived here with great difficulty. You should be considerate of him. If you wear out Lord Li, who will find you medicines?"


    Jia Wenjing was Li Zhengtian¡¯s Master and equally objectionable.


    Qin Longyun gritted his teeth, but with the power in Li Zhengtian¡¯s hands, he could only swallow his anger.


    However, he believed that evil would never prevail over good, and Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t continue to act so arrogantly forever.


    And Prince Liang, who indulged Li Zhengtian¡¯s recklessness, would also get his comeuppance.


    "My lord, these two carts are full of bran. Is it suitable for the disaster victims to eat?" a guard inquired.


    Only when there was truly no grain at home would people resort to eating bran to fill their bellies.


    This year, although the epidemic was severe, the grain harvest was still promising, so there should be no need to make do with this.


    "Keep it for feeding pigs," Qin Longyun said without hesitation.

 Chapter 922 - 925: Colluding Disgracefully

    Chapter 922: Chapter 925: Colluding DisgracefullyLast fall, after the harvest, he had bought some grain and stored it in the granary. Along with the donations from the major households led by Tan Zhenghong, there was enough to withstand the epidemic.


    Qin Longyun had already given up hope on the remaining two carts of medicine, but with supplies running low in the quarantine zone, he still sent the medicine over.


    If Li Zhengtian had any conscience left, he would not have tampered with the medicine.


    But as it turned out, Qin Longyun was just too naive.


    After inspecting the medicine, the doctor¡¯s expression was not good.


    "Lord Qin, nearly half of these medicines are unusable. The rest are of such poor quality that at best they can be made into medicine for preventing the epidemic."


    He suspected that these were old stocks from the medicine shop that had been in the warehouse for several years, with almost all the medicinal effects dissipated.


    "Then, first make medicine for prevention and distribute it to those who are in more contact with the patients," Qin Longyun commanded.


    The doctor nodded, then instantly called someone to help move the medicine inside.


    Tan Zhenghong came looking for Qin Longyun just then, and with a darkened face, he asked, "Is this the medicine sent by Li Zhengtian?"


    "Yes, and he also sent two carts of coarse grains, how much medicine is left now?"


    "Apart from what could be gathered, everything else is in critical shortage, especially musk. Other ingredients, if missing, can be substituted, but not this one," said Tan Zhenghong worriedly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without musk, having more of other medicines would be useless.


    Additionally, there was no news of the medicine distributed to each village, and the situation was very dire.


    Qin Longyun pondered for a moment, "I¡¯ve dispatched guards to purchase medicinal materials, but buying musk has delayed the time. It might take two more days. I¡¯m going right now to ask the various medicine shops to see if I can get some more medicine."


    He had previously informed the medicine traders that he would buy at market price.


    Last year, he had taken down the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold in one fell swoop and confiscated a large amount of Gold and Silver.


    It was now just the right time to use it, and it was also appropriate to spend it on the people.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Let¡¯s split up and act separately to at least stabilize the condition."


    Within the next two days, at least nearly nine thousand prescriptions of Chinese medicine would be needed, which was very difficult for Qin Longyun to procure alone.


    "We¡¯ll meet back here in two hours to tally up how much medicine is still missing."


    Having agreed, the two split up, with one heading east and the other west.


    The atmosphere in White Stone Town was good. The medicine traders were all thinking of the greater good, with no signs of hoarding. They took a round trip and had some gains.


    Ruyi Teahouse.


    Servant Fu and Li Zhengtian were sitting opposite each other.


    With a smile that was not quite a smile, Servant Fu said, "Lord Li, this opportunity was not easy for Prince Liang to secure. You know what to do, right?"


    "Rest assured, Servant Fu. I have it under control," Li Zhengtian replied with full confidence.


    For Prince Liang to ascend the throne, in addition to the support of wise ministers, the backing of Gold and Silver was indispensable. This time, Prince Liang had his eye on the disaster relief funds.


    He would try his best to let the epidemic spread, so that the Imperial court would allocate more money.


    Moreover, others would only think he was settling personal vendettas, and would not link it back to the prince.


    "Then I will have to trouble Lord Li to take great pains. The prince said that you¡¯re working hard, and neither the Li Family nor Lady Mo should be let down," Servant Fu said with a meaningful tone.


    Li Zhengtian immediately responded, "Please convey to the Prince that I will definitely do my utmost."


    The hidden implication in Servant Fu¡¯s words was that the greater Li Zhengtian¡¯s merits, the more favor Mo¡¯er would receive, and in the future both his official position and Mo¡¯er¡¯s would be higher.


    For the future of the Li Family, he would certainly go all out.


    After all, opportunities for rapid promotion were rare. If he missed this opportunity, he might never have another chance in his lifetime.


    The two exchanged a knowing smile, the undertones clear without being spoken.

 Chapter 923 - 926: The Pit One Digs for Oneself

    Chapter 923: Chapter 926: The Pit One Digs for OneselfAfter leaving the teahouse, Li Zhengtian discreetly got into the carriage, for he absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to let anyone catch even the smallest slip-up.


    Once Li Zhengtian was settled, Jia Wenjing then handed over the prescription.


    "Lord Li, the epidemic in White Stone Town has basically been brought under control, and Qin Longyun has distributed the prescription to other counties as well,"


    Jia Wenjing said, frowning.


    They should not have delayed so much on the road; otherwise, they would have certainly pressed down on this prescription.


    "It¡¯s not a big deal, the plague will be the same without the medicine," Li Zhengtian said slowly. "Go and find out who came up with this prescription."


    "I have found out, it was discovered by Madam Qiao Clan, the wife of Tan Zhenghong, said to be found in Bai Yifan¡¯s notes," Jia Wenjing reported truthfully.


    Li Zhengtian couldn¡¯t help but grind his teeth, it was Qiao Duo¡¯er again.


    If it weren¡¯t for her, he wouldn¡¯t have sent Li Mu¡¯er to the Mansion of King Liang to preserve his official hat.


    This time she had ruined his plan again ¨C it seems this woman could not be left alone any longer.


    Suddenly, Li Zhengtian spotted the two words "Musk" on the paper.


    Since Madam Qiao Clan had dug herself a hole, he could only take advantage by pushing her down it.


    Having a plan in mind, Li Zhengtian immediately said, "Head to the Government Office."


    "Sir, it¡¯s still early, what do you need at the Government Office now? In my opinion, you should leave them hanging, let them know they can¡¯t afford to offend you," Jia Wenjing said, puzzled.


    Li Zhengtian spoke disdainfully, "To help the Prince achieve great things, and then there will be plenty of opportunities to indulge in eating, drinking, and merriment."


    Jia Wenjing quickly nodded, though he still didn¡¯t quite understand Li Zhengtian¡¯s intentions.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er was pondering where to find musk.


    Her breeding farm had only two adult Male Musk Deer, which had their scent taken after the beginning of spring. There wasn¡¯t much fragrant liquid stored in the Fragrance Pouch now, and without the concentration from winter, the effect would be significantly lessened.


    But where else could it be found?


    The apothecaries and wealthy households in the town had already sold or donated their musk to the Government Office.


    Chen Yiling said in annoyance, "If only I had listened to my mother¡¯s words and brought some musk as part of my dowry."


    Originally, her mother had prepared a lot of musk, stating it was a precious medicinal ingredient.


    But she couldn¡¯t stand the smell, so she left it all at her maternal home.


    Sigh, even if it were sent now, it would be too late, distant water can¡¯t put out a nearby fire.


    "Last year, I should have hunted more musk deer, then I wouldn¡¯t be in such a dilemma now."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also propped up her chin, looking listless.


    Granny Su tried to console her, "Don¡¯t be anxious, our two big shots in White Stone Town are the most capable, they will surely come up with a solution."


    Musk was scarce, but not to the point of non-existence.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed once again; two days sounded short, but to those on the brink of death, it was an eternity they couldn¡¯t afford.


    Even if the medicine arrived just two hours late, many could lose their lives because of it.


    "Lord Li, this is the backyard, it¡¯s not appropriate for you to come in," ChunTao intercepted.


    "Step aside, what do you think you are, daring to block Lord Li¡¯s way?"


    Jia Wenjing looked at ChunTao with disdain.


    ChunTao still stood her ground, "Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s improper for men and women to touch? My master isn¡¯t here, only the Madam is at home, what are you trying to do?"


    "Let him come in," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    She had just found out from the notes that musk could be made into Emergency Healing Pills, which worked marvelously for urgent care. When epidemics occurred, the Imperial government would distribute musk.


    This meant that Li Zhengtian definitely had a sufficient amount of musk in his possession, and as long as he was willing to bring it out, they could smoothly get through this difficult time.


    S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 924 - 927: Raising an Army to Demand Accountability

    Chapter 924: Chapter 927: Raising an Army to Demand AccountabilityLi Zhengtian had hardly entered when he began to question assertively.


    "Mrs. Tan, you concocted this medicine recipe, didn¡¯t you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I just found it in the notes left to me by Brother Bai San; I dare not claim credit."


    All she did was accidentally discover that musk could expedite the medicine¡¯s efficacy; it was her good fortune, not a credit she should claim.


    "Where it comes from is not important, but there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask."


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s lips curled slightly upwards.


    Chen Yiling said disdainfully, "If you have something to say, then say it and get lost quickly. The mere sight of you annoys me!"


    Her mood had been foul these past few days, and she could only blame Li Zhengtian for bringing it upon himself.


    "What was your intention by adding musk to the recipe?" Li Zhengtian looked steadily at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "To treat the illness, of course," Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted irritably.


    Was such an obvious question even necessary?


    No, that couldn¡¯t be right; Li Zhengtian was not a fool. He must have a purpose in asking such a question, and Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately became vigilant, lest she fall into his trap.


    Li Zhengtian snorted lightly, "How come I have never heard that musk can cure the plague?"


    Normally, musk was formed into pills and used at critical moments to protect the patient¡¯s heart and lungs; however, he felt that this was completely wasteful.


    Thus, after obtaining twenty musk glands, he had people process them into Muskmelon Ink, which was the best for gifting others later on.


    Muskmelon Ink was not only fragrant but also could prolong the preservation of calligraphy and paintings, highly sought after by scholars.


    And as all officials were selected from educated individuals, they could not break from tradition.


    "Then you can only wait for Young Master Bai to return and ask him, as he must have had his reasons for writing the recipe," Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands; she was not a doctor and understood no medical theory.


    Li Zhengtian snorted lightly again, "But I¡¯ve heard that Mrs. Tan is raising musk deer, and you and Young Master Bai are sworn siblings."


    The addition of musk to the medicine becomes particularly intriguing.


    Chen Yiling spoke impatiently, "What¡¯s the point of beating around the bush with your cryptic talk? You truly are a despicable creature, always hinting rather than speaking plainly." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhengtian dropped all pretense and bluntly revealed his true purpose.


    "I suspect that you have colluded with the Bai Family and Qin Longyun to embezzle disaster relief funds, so I have decided to detain you as an explanation to the people."


    This way, not only could he deal with Qiao Duo¡¯er, but he could also use it as an excuse to prevent the use of musk in medicine.


    Without musk, the epidemic would continue to spread.


    "You¡¯re insane. Through which eye did you see us colluding? He is currently in Beijiang; do you think he can foresee the future? And besides, Tan Family¡¯s musk was donated; there was no earning money involved," Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Li Zhengtian.


    To frame someone, at least come up with a better excuse!


    At the very least, claim there was an informant. Just capturing someone because it feels right to him; does he think the laws of the Daxing Dynasty are a joke?


    Chen Yiling spoke sternly, "You think everyone is as dirty as you? In all of White Stone County, aside from you, people just want to cure the plague quickly, not to fill their own coffers."


    Duo¡¯er has Duo Meifang; is she afraid of not earning silver?


    "Your excuses won¡¯t work. Whether or not there is collusion will be known after I have conducted my investigation. Wen Jing, take her away!"


    Li Zhengtian no longer argued with the two women.


    He truly couldn¡¯t outtalk these two pregnant ladies with just his words.


    But he was the Disaster Relief Imperial Envoy, a Fifth Rank Official, and with that alone, he could have Qiao Duo¡¯er thrown into prison.


    "Lord Li, take a good look at what this is," Qiao Duo¡¯er waved something in her hand.

 Chapter 925 - 928: Total Victory!

    Chapter 925: Chapter 928: Total Victory!This was the imperial edict awarded to the Tan Family, at the time she had scorned it, but unexpectedly, now it proved to be extremely useful.


    With the imperial edict in hand, Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t have the chance to act recklessly.


    Jia Wenjing and his entourage stopped in their tracks, with the imperial edict present, they¡¯d better tread lightly.


    "If you lay out the evidence in front of me, I will head to the jail myself, if there¡¯s none, then stop your nonsense and hand over the musk you have, otherwise you¡¯ll be guilty of dereliction of duty," Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Li Zhengtian triumphantly.


    Hmm... and add a charge of slander too.


    But compared to the charge of dereliction of duty, slander hardly seemed significant enough to bring up.


    Li Zhengtian clenched his fists, but he knew he couldn¡¯t act out of line.


    After barely suppressing his rage, he then said, "I am the Disaster Relief Imperial Envoy, I have a say in this matter, and now I order you to replace the musk!"


    "Why should I change the medicine just because you say so when this prescription is effective against the plague? Can you bear the consequences if something goes wrong?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    She didn¡¯t want to use musk either¡ªmusk was in short supply now, and everybody was on edge.


    The premise was that Li Zhengtian could come up with a useful prescription.


    "Don¡¯t talk to me about useless things, they don¡¯t deserve to use musk, you must replace the musk!" Li Zhengtian said with scorn in his eyes.


    The plague is a lowly disease, only affecting lowly people.


    Musk is the gold of medicines, even more valuable than lingzhi; how could lowly people be worthy of it?


    "Aren¡¯t we all born of our parents? Are you somehow superior to others?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked in irritation.


    "Of course, I am an official, and they are just a bunch of peasants; what does it matter even if they die?"


    Li Zhengtian was very cold, their sacrifice for Prince Liang¡¯s cause, in his eyes, was a fitting end.


    Old lady Bai pushed open the door forcefully, "If the Imperial Envoy is unwilling to save the common people, we will save them ourselves. Duo¡¯er, Ling¡¯er, pay him no mind. I just asked someone to buy some herbs, and they have been delivered to the quarantine area. Other pharmacists won¡¯t stand idly by either."


    The Bai Family had been in the herbal medicine business in White Stone Town for a long time, enjoying good relationships and had accumulated a lot of hidden favors.


    People were willing to sell her herbs given her reputation, and although the quantity was limited, it could last for a while.


    She had also written to the Medicine King, hoping he would send help in consideration of his ties with Bai Yifan.


    Although the Medicine King was not a member of the imperial court, he held sway in the Daxing Dynasty and with his intervention, surely the needed medicines could be mobilized.


    There were many solutions; disaster relief efforts could continue without Li Zhengtian.


    "Grandma, you¡¯re so awesome!"


    Chen Yiling gave a thumbs up, indeed, there¡¯s nothing like the wisdom of the experienced!


    Old lady Bai said indifferently, "As the saying goes, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-level pagoda. We can¡¯t be as heartless and cold-blooded as some people, worse than beasts!"


    "Old lady, I¡¯m simply following official duties."


    Li Zhengtian said with a stiff face.


    He had always regarded her as an elder; even if she didn¡¯t appreciate it, she shouldn¡¯t mock him like this.


    Old lady Bai knew that one can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep; thus she couldn¡¯t be bothered to advise.


    "Lord Li, you¡¯re busy with official duties, so don¡¯t waste time arguing with us unenlightened folks from the inner quarters, your time is as precious as silver."


    The old lady seemed polite, but upon a closer listen, every word dripped with ridicule.


    Li Zhengtian gritted his teeth, but due to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s imperial edict and Old lady Bai, he could only leave first.


    Now this old thing had found more medicine; he needed to think of other methods.


    This was the first task given to him by Prince Liang, and he could not afford to mess it up.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but applaud, "A total victory!"


    S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 926 - 929 Inside Lai

    Chapter 926: Chapter 929 Inside LaiQiao Duo¡¯er helped the old lady Bai sit down and poured three glasses of water.


    "Arguing with that bastard for half a day, I¡¯m dying of thirst."


    "You¡¯re about to become mothers, you must keep your mood calm, it¡¯s better for both the adult and the child."


    Old lady Bai reminded them.


    It truly had been tough on Ling¡¯er and Duo¡¯er this time. Pregnancy was already very tough, yet they also had to worry about the epidemic.


    "I don¡¯t know what got into this little one. It¡¯s already the due date, and yet he just clings on inside and refuses to come out," Chen Yi Ling said, pouting.


    Three days past the due date, and still not a sign of the baby coming.


    She felt very depressed.


    She dreamed of giving birth to the baby because that would mean her release.


    "He knows it¡¯s unsettling outside, so he¡¯d rather hide in mother¡¯s belly where it¡¯s safe."


    Old lady Bai said cheerfully, childbirth is something that can¡¯t be rushed, it will happen when it¡¯s time.


    Chen Yi Ling pouted, "He might be happy, but I¡¯m the one suffering, with back pain and sore waist all day long. I really want to get him out."


    "Sleeping isn¡¯t comfortable either," Qiao Duo¡¯er said empathetically.


    In the past, she could sleep soundly until dawn, but now she would wake up many times in the night, simply because she was too tired from sleeping.


    "The bigger the belly gets towards the end, the more one suffers. However, it all feels worth it the moment you hear the child cry,"


    said Old lady Bai, sharing her own experience as someone who had been through it before.


    For the sake of the children, no amount of pain or hardship is too bitter¡ªit¡¯s all sweet.


    After a while of heartwarming conversation, Old lady Bai stood up to leave, and Ling¡¯er and Duo¡¯er walked her to the door.


    Old lady Bai urged, "I could find my way here with my eyes closed, hurry back now, don¡¯t exhaust yourselves."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, then added with concern, "Granny, it¡¯s dangerous outside now, you must not leave the house at will anymore."


    If anything were to happen, she would never be at peace in this lifetime.


    "How about you move into the Government Office, then Duo¡¯er and I could keep you company every day,"


    Chen Yi Ling suggested, hoping to eliminate any potential dangers.


    "What will people think if this gets out? Regardless, with all my coming and going, you mustn¡¯t find me a bother,"


    Old lady Bai refused without hesitation.


    She considered herself unlucky and knew she had to stay clear when Ling¡¯er was about to give birth.


    But being as stubborn as she was, she couldn¡¯t care less about those she disliked, not even wishing to spare them a glance. However, for those she cared about, she always desired to treat them even better.


    Now that she had finally found two younger ones she had grown fond of, especially with Ling¡¯er in such a condition, she couldn¡¯t help wanting to come to see them.


    She was just afraid of overstepping, causing them to feel annoyed.


    "Not at all, having one more elder to care for us makes us so happy!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    She hadn¡¯t had any elders to speak of in her past nor present lives, but from Old lady Bai, she learned how blissful it was to be cherished by an elder.


    Chen Yi Ling nodded vigorously, her own family wasn¡¯t here, how many people really cared about her?


    Old lady Bai was in high spirits, her face still wearing a smile as she got into the carriage.


    She had undergone many hardships in her life, but in the end, having such affectionate juniors made it all worthwhile!


    "Old lady Bai, it¡¯s been a long while since I¡¯ve seen you this happy," Granny Luo said with a smile. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Old lady Bai nodded, "Seeing those two girls thrive just makes me happy, finding a good man is not easy."


    Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong were both fine men, far better than those who would womanize and indulge themselves in pleasures.


    Granny Luo knew Old lady Bai was reminded of the late Master again, but she didn¡¯t know how to comfort her.

 Chapter 927 - 930: Childishness

    Chapter 927: Chapter 930: ChildishnessThe old lady was originally a young miss from the Cui Family, her family background was prosperous, and she grew up beautiful and kind-hearted, so there were many suitors knocking on her door.


    However, during her bloom of youth, she became ill with a serious sickness, at that time, only Bai Jiutian had the skills to treat her affliction.


    The condition put forth by Bai Jiutian was to have the miss married to him, leaving the Cui Family with no choice but to agree.


    Unfortunately, Bai Jiutian was a philanderer, taking concubines into his home while his wife was pregnant, and afterwards, the women in his life kept changing ceaselessly.


    The wife who was originally pursued with great zeal, hence, suffered from neglect, and he was even indifferent towards his legitimate son.


    In her day-to-day awaiting, the old lady gradually lost heart, slowly shifting her hopes onto the younger generations.


    Recalling that faithless man and the wasted times now, she must feel some helplessness.


    After all, if she could, who wouldn¡¯t wish to grow old with a lover of her heart¡¯s choosing?


    Granny Luo sighed, feeling endless sympathy for her own old lady.


    But of what use was her sympathy?


    Old lady Bai said indifferently, "I¡¯m already halfway into the grave, what¡¯s there left to let go of, you needn¡¯t try to comfort me."


    Granny Luo nodded, "Let¡¯s talk about something else, I find Mrs. Tan¡¯s belly quite unusual, why hasn¡¯t the young master mentioned anything about it?"


    With the young master¡¯s ability, he should be able to diagnose the gender of the child.


    "It might be that we are shortsighted, or perhaps that boy has other thoughts on his mind; we shouldn¡¯t speculate much. When Duo¡¯er gives birth, pay more attention, and help out as much as possible."


    The old lady said with a smile.


    After all, her grandson is still a child, it¡¯s a trivial matter, just let him be.


    Granny Luo took this matter to heart, careful not to neglect it.


    Li Zhengtian didn¡¯t directly return to his residence, but on the way, detoured through the quarantine area to take a look.


    In his imagination, he envisioned the disaster area being desolate with cries echoing one after another, accompanied by foul smells and sewage.


    But what he saw was an orderly quarantine zone, where every place was tidied up neatly, the disaster victims were clean and refreshed, even laughing and talking, nowhere did it look like a gathering place for disaster victims.


    Continuing like this, so long as the medicinal supplies were sufficient, it wouldn¡¯t take long for Qin Longyun to completely eradicate the plague.


    Li Zhengtian said restlessly, "Hurry up and think of something."


    Before he arrived at White Stone County, he had already instructed other County Magistrates, under the premise of ensuring that the epidemic didn¡¯t spread, to temporarily stop dispensing medicine.


    If people found out that White Stone County alone had solved the plague, he wouldn¡¯t be able to get through the charade. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not only would his safety be compromised, but he might also implicate Prince Liang.


    "I think solving the plague sooner is not such a bad thing, White Stone County still has a big fat piece of meat." Jia Wenjing said obsequiously.


    Li Zhengtian was very interested, "Let¡¯s hear it."


    Jia Wenjing slowly said, "It¡¯s in the Government Office of White Stone Town. Last year, Qin Longyun confiscated the assets of the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold, and all their accumulated wealth over many years is now in Qin Longyun¡¯s hands."


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened. The Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold both smuggled salt and iron, which were very profitable businesses.


    However, last year Ning Tian Mansion had been thrown into chaos by Yu Qian, and until now, no one dared to eye that silver.


    If he could get his hands on that silver, what would the disaster relief funds amount to?


    It was just unfortunate that it was almost dark, and nothing could be done.


    "We¡¯ll go take a look tomorrow, to the Hundred Flowers Building."


    Jia Wenjing said cheerfully, "Yes, I¡¯ll go inform the coachman right away."


    There, where fine wine was paired with beautiful company, was his favorite place, and most importantly, he didn¡¯t have to spend a penny while with Lord Li.

 Chapter 928 - 931: The Early Bird

    Chapter 928: Chapter 931: The Early BirdThe early bird catches the worm, and sure enough, Li Zhengtian arrived at the Government Office early the next morning.


    "Pick the lock!"


    Jia Wenjing arrogantly ordered the Locksmith he had brought with him.


    When the door was opened, both Li Zhengtian and Jia Wenjing were taken aback.


    Because the storeroom was even cleaner than his face, not to mention the huge sum of money they were after, not even one Wen money was found!


    Had Yu Qian not said that Qin Longyun was pure and selfless, always considering the common people¡¯s welfare?


    Why then had the Silver disappeared?


    Li Zhengtian, unable to contain his anger, immediately pursued Qin Longyun to the disaster relief area.


    Qin Longyun replied indifferently, "Lord Li, you should go back and rest at the posthouse. There are many sick people here; you must be careful not to get infected."


    "Where is the Treasury Silver?" Li Zhengtian demanded furiously.


    "Lord Li, aren¡¯t you meddling too much? As the Disaster Relief Imperial Envoy, just focus on solving the epidemic," Qin Longyun said with a smirk.


    As for the rest, Li Zhengtian had no right to interfere. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Magistrate said that the Silver in Mansion City was tight, and instructed each county to contribute Silver for disaster relief. I just checked the storeroom, and there was not even One Tael of Silver. Shouldn¡¯t you give me an explanation?" Li Zhengtian said firmly, looking at Qin Longyun.


    He had thought that at least five hundred thousand Taels of Silver would be found, but the reality was too far from his expectations.


    Qin Longyun asked innocently, "Why should there be Silver?"


    "What about last year¡¯s taxes and the confiscated Silver?" Li Zhengtian no longer hid his intentions.


    He was after that Silver!


    Qin Longyun realized, "Oh, it¡¯s that what you¡¯re looking for. Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Let me think... ah, yes, at the beginning of the year, I turned it all over to Lord Yu."


    "How could that be? Mansion City didn¡¯t receive your report," Li Zhengtian flatly disbelieved.


    Any changes to the County Treasury Silver would certainly require the Magistrate¡¯s seal.


    Otherwise, how would Qin Longyun, a mere County Magistrate, have the authority to move the Silver?


    Qin Longyun pouted, "The Silver was handed over to the national treasury. Does it make a difference whether I wrote a report or not?"


    "Besides, Lord Yu is widely known as an incorruptible official; he would never embezzle Silver. What¡¯s there for you to worry about?"


    "Rather, it¡¯s you, Lord Li, who brought only four carts of goods this time, and now you¡¯re asking me for Treasury Silver. Don¡¯t you owe the disaster victims an explanation?"


    Hmm... he was quite curious to hear how Li Zhengtian would respond.


    "Epidemics are breaking out everywhere, Mansion City is also waiting for allocations from above."


    Li Zhengtian was not at all self-conscious, showing no sign of guilt.


    "Even if the storeroom of Mansion City was a bit lacking, it wouldn¡¯t come down to just giving out four carts of goods, right?"


    "What were those four carts filled with? I¡¯ve heard from the Doctor that the quality of the medicine is poor and can¡¯t cure the epidemic at all!"


    "If we had more officials like Lord Qin, our lives would be so much better!"


    "We never saw him help out. What did he come here for? Surely just to indulge in luxury. He always shoves off any actual work to Lord Qin, which is too much!"


    As a Disaster Relief Imperial Envoy, he should have at least brought some Doctors and herbal medicines.


    At the very least, he should see the state of the disaster victims for himself.


    But this dignitary was indeed a master at saving his own effort; making a rare visit to the quarantine area, and it turned out he was here to ask Qin Long for Silver!


    To those attacking him, Li Zhengtian said, "Do you think your County Magistrate is such a good person? He has misappropriated all the Silver in the storeroom!"


    "All we know is that during the epidemic, Lord Qin and Master Tan have been tirelessly busy, wanting to save more lives, which is much better than someone like you who only knows how to enjoy themselves in the posthouse!"

 Chapter 929 - 932 A Good-for-nothing!

    Chapter 929: Chapter 932 A Good-for-nothing!"Lord Qin already said it was handed over to the national treasury, don¡¯t you understand?"


    "And you still have the nerve to call yourself the Disaster Relief Imperial Envoy? If Heaven had eyes, it should let people like you taste what it¡¯s like to be plagued often!"


    Jia Wenjing said irritably, "You insult an Imperial Officer, do you all want to go to the big prison?"


    "Lord Jia, if you don¡¯t want to catch the plague, you shouldn¡¯t open your mouth so wide when you speak," Qin Longyun kindly reminded.


    It would be a pity for Jia Wenjing to come to the quarantine zone and catch the plague on such a rare visit.


    Jia Wenjing asked nervously, "What... what do you mean?"


    "You haven¡¯t taken the plague prevention medicine, this is a quarantine zone, and nearly half of the people inside are plague patients. With your mouth open so wide, you might have swallowed something dirty and are very likely to get infected," Qin Longyun said solemnly.


    Jia Wenjing, frightened, dared not speak anymore and even hid behind Li Zhengtian.


    "Oh my, such a high official who is so afraid of death, why would he even come for disaster relief?"


    "Because there¡¯s silver to be made, I certainly don¡¯t believe the Magistrate would just let them bring four carts of stuff here without some of it going into their own pockets."


    "After all is said and done, we¡¯re the ones who are the most pitiful."


    "I hope the next one to be carried out from here is them."


    The people began to curse Li Zhengtian and Jia Wenjing; under normal circumstances, they certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to be so reckless.


    But now they knew that it was because of these two men that they didn¡¯t have enough lifesaving medicine, so they lost their composure.


    If they were going to die, then they might as well die with meaning!


    Looking at the people, Qin Longyun said, "Lord Li, you really should reflect on this."


    "I¡¯m giving you one day. If you don¡¯t bring out the silver, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!" Li Zhengtian dropped these harsh words.


    As for these bumpkins, he would definitely keep a good account of this matter.


    After Li Zhengtian left in a huff, Qin Longyun couldn¡¯t help but rub his temples. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What he regretted most now was reporting the plague situation to Mansion City initially. If not, he could have focused solely on resolving the outbreak.


    The guard said worriedly, "My lord, I think Li Zhengtian will come up with other sinister plots."


    "We don¡¯t have time to deal with him right now. The medicinal materials will arrive in White Stone County tonight; you take some men to meet them and be very careful," Qin Longyun ordered.


    The guard saluted, "Yes."


    These guards were brought over by his wife as part of her dowry, their loyalty and ability to get the job done were beyond doubt. After giving instructions, Qin Longyun went to attend to other matters.


    In fact, the silver was hidden elsewhere and Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t be able to find it.


    Of course, this batch of silver was to be used to purchase the medicinal herbs.


    Getting on the carriage, Li Zhengtian, in his anger, swept the tea set on the small table to the floor.


    "Damn Qin Longyun, he has made up his mind to oppose me!"


    What if others found out that the epidemic in White Stone Town was already under control and he didn¡¯t get any Treasury Silver? How would he explain himself to Prince Liang?


    If he botched this, it wouldn¡¯t just be his misfortune, but also Li Mo¡¯er¡¯s.


    Jia Wenjing said softly, "My lord, you rank much higher than Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong; are you still afraid you can¡¯t deal with them?"


    There certainly was a way; he just hadn¡¯t thought of it yet.


    "Useless talk. What use do I have for a waste like you? You¡¯re just like a rice bucket!" Li Zhengtian pointed at Jia Wenjing¡¯s nose and cursed.


    Now all he wanted was for someone to tell him what to do, he didn¡¯t want to hear any other nonsense.


    Jia Wenjing quickly knelt down, not even daring to take a deep breath.

 Chapter 930 - 933 Variables

    Chapter 930: Chapter 933 VariablesThe carriage was cramped, and Lord Li had just shattered another tea set, the ground was littered with pieces, forcing him to kneel painfully among them.


    It felt bitterly satisfying, yet he dared not move.


    Before, he had been a down-and-out scholar who, through connections, had barely managed to enter the Government Office where he could draft official documents, but what did he know of other matters?


    If he had known this was the treatment in store, he would have been better off remaining a Teacher in the countryside.


    After Lord Li swore for a while, his anger subsided significantly, and his mind cooled down.


    Leaning on a mountain only to have it collapse, relying on people only to see them run away; he could only trust in himself.


    "You, keep an eye on Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong, and inform me immediately if they make any moves," Lord Li ordered.


    "Is there any use in following them? They dress so plainly, they don¡¯t look like they¡¯re spending Treasury Silver," Jia Wenjing said cautiously. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, he thought there was nothing they could squeeze out of Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong.


    Lord Li said impatiently, "Just go if I tell you to, and keep a close watch on those around them as well."


    The silver wasn¡¯t a small amount; if it had really been taken by him, there would have been some noise.


    So he was certain the silver was still within White Stone County; as long as he kept an eye on them, sooner or later they would slip up.


    Jia Wenjing hastily rolled out of the carriage and went to carry out Lord Li¡¯s commands.


    Two hours later, Jia Wenjing rushed into the study.


    "What¡¯s the matter?" Lord Li asked, displeased as he pushed the maid sitting on his lap to one side.


    It was fortunate he hadn¡¯t gotten to the main event, or he would have been scared to death by this man!


    Jia Wenjing took a few deep breaths, "My lord, bad news, I¡¯ve just bought off a constable from the Government Office. He says Qin Longyun dispatched people to buy a lot of medicinal herbs, which can be delivered tonight."


    "What?" Lord Li¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Jia Wenjing became more specific, "The batch of herbs is enough for the people of White Stone County, especially the musk. Qin Longyun¡¯s people have bought up almost all the musk available on the market. Now many refugees are flocking to White Stone County."


    With more people seeking refuge in White Stone County, some things couldn¡¯t remain hidden.


    Lord Li¡¯s mood darkened as if ink could drip from it; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Longyun to keep this move hidden.


    This really could kill him!


    "My lord, you must think of a solution quickly, otherwise we could very likely be framed by them," Jia Wenjing urged.


    "Draft a memorial immediately, claim that the plague in White Stone Town has mutated and there is no cure, requesting permission to burn down the town, and send it to Prince Liang with urgent speed over eight hundred li."


    Once Prince Liang reads his memorial, he will surely know what to do.


    By then, Ning Tian Mansion will become a city of death, and he can lead people to scour for silver, surely reaping a considerable reward.


    But with no evidence left, no one apart from him would know what actually happened.


    Not only would this resolve the current predicament, but it would also showcase his capabilities before Prince Liang, leading to a rise to greater heights in the future.


    Jia Wenjing couldn¡¯t help but raise his thumb, "My lord, you¡¯re amazing!"


    "Stop with the useless flattery; this cannot afford the slightest mistake. I¡¯ll stop Qin Longyun," Lord Li declared.


    No sooner had Lord Li spoken than he hurried out. He needed to set up a scheme to exterminate the town quickly, eliminating any uncertainty.


    Should this plan fail, he¡¯d stake his life on it!


    The inside of the Government Office remained tranquil.


    At lunch, Chen Yiling became impatient because she didn¡¯t know what she was competing against.


    The soup was a bit too hot, the dishes slightly too salty ¨C all these minor annoyances were getting under her skin.


    She knew these were all trivial issues, but she just couldn¡¯t control her temper.

 Chapter 931 - 934: Confused Strength

    Chapter 931: Chapter 934: Confused StrengthShe had been holding it in for quite a while, and finally couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, so she slammed her chopsticks down on the table, "When is this damned epidemic going to be over? It¡¯s so annoying and had to choose this time, it¡¯s driving me crazy!"


    If it hadn¡¯t been for this sudden outbreak, Qin Longyun would have been able to accompany her every day.


    How pleasant would it have been for the two of them to dine together and take walks?


    But now, she hardly ever sees him.


    What¡¯s most important is that this ordeal seemed to have no end in sight!


    "Don¡¯t I keep you company?" Qiao Duo¡¯er comforted her.


    This epidemic was truly a pain in the ass, not only running around all day looking for medicine, but also having to put up with Li Zhengtian¡¯s disgusting attitude; her patience was nearly worn out.


    But getting worked up over that scum Li Zhengtian and harming Little Treasure was definitely not worth it.


    So she had to keep enduring.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "Duo¡¯er, I feel like without that bastard Qin Longyun, I can¡¯t go on, am I really that useless?"


    "It¡¯s perfectly normal to feel that way, but we¡¯re in special circumstances right now. We need to be more understanding; they have it tough too, going out early and coming back late," Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke gently.


    Giving birth was like stepping one leg into the Ghost Gate; if lucky, both mother and child would be safe, but the unfortunate ones would be gone.


    No woman doesn¡¯t wish for the man she loves to be by her side.


    Chen Yiling sighed; what she loved about Qin Longyun was his serious demeanor.


    Little did she expect that it was precisely what she liked that now caused her so much torment.


    Sometimes she thought the world didn¡¯t belong to Qin Longyun; the one sitting on the throne didn¡¯t care about the lives of the common people, so why should Qin Longyun be so troubled?


    But she also knew that if Qin Longyun didn¡¯t care, the common people could only wait for death.


    Thus, she found herself in a constant struggle, getting stuck in a rut from pondering it over so many times, with no other outlet for her frustration. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My godson will be out soon, you need to be happy, and make sure he doesn¡¯t end up like Qin Longyun, always so stern¡ª it¡¯s just too depressing to watch."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er imitated Qin Longyun¡¯s demeanor, finally coaxing a laugh from Chen Yiling.


    Chen Yiling squinted her eyes and said, "You¡¯re right, a smiling baby is much cuter."


    Having one Qin Longyun who doesn¡¯t smile at home was enough; another mini-version would definitely drive her to despair.


    How much warmer is it with her, someone who loves to laugh?


    "Be good now, eat up."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put the chopsticks back in Chen Yiling¡¯s hand; Chen Yiling could go into labor at any moment, so she needed to store up enough energy.


    Many women become irritable before childbirth, and Qiao Duo¡¯er specifically instructed the two maidservants to keep a close watch on Chen Yiling.


    Now they were just one step away from the big moment, and any mishap would be a tremendous pity.


    So, the two maidservants never left Chen Yiling¡¯s side, with ChunTao being especially careful not to overlook anything.


    It was a little after two o¡¯clock when there was movement in Chen Yiling¡¯s belly.


    Chen Yiling, who was napping, suddenly woke up feeling not only pain but also a sensation as if something was flowing out every time she moved.


    Her first instinct thought was that the baby might not be saved.


    Hastily shielding her stomach, she once loathed her bulging belly, but she truly cherished her little treasure inside; she hoped dearly that nothing would go wrong.


    "Miss, what¡¯s wrong?" ChunTao asked urgently.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes reddened as she sobbed, "It hurts so much; it feels like the baby¡¯s falling out!"


    "It¡¯s not falling out, it¡¯s time for the baby to be born. Did you forget that the young master¡¯s due date has arrived?" ChunTao corrected her mistake.


    Ah, this level of confusion was unmatched.


    Chen Yiling clutched ChunTao tightly, "Yes, yes, it¡¯s time for the baby to come. Go get Qin Longyun quickly, I¡¯m so scared!"

 Chapter 932 - 935: Anxious to Death

    Chapter 932: Chapter 935: Anxious to Death"I¡¯ll send someone to get your husband right now, he¡¯ll be back very soon," ChunTao immediately responded.


    Although relief for the disaster was important, it definitely wasn¡¯t as important as her young miss giving birth.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "Go, and if he dares not to come back, hold a knife to his throat and drag him back!"


    "How could the young master possibly not come? Don¡¯t worry," ChunTao consoled Chen Yiling, while also giving a maid a meaningful look.


    Her young miss was about to give birth, so she had to stay by her side; running around could be left to others.


    The maid hurried out, knowing the madam was the apple of her master¡¯s eye, and that if she did not serve well, she could prepare to leave.


    A few maidservants and ChunTao worked together to help Chen Yiling into the birthing room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, upon receiving the news, also rushed over in a hurry.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Chen Yiling said pitifully, "Duo¡¯er, which bastard said children need to be born? I think it¡¯s quite nice just carrying them."


    At least it wouldn¡¯t hurt so much.


    "If you don¡¯t give birth, you¡¯ll always have a big belly. Don¡¯t you find that tiring? Once you deliver, you¡¯ll be free. Just hold on a little longer."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her envy. After ten months of pregnancy, it was finally coming to an end.


    But she still had to wait a full three months, and the thought made her feel life was so bleak.


    Gritting her teeth, Chen Yiling said, "I didn¡¯t expect it to hurt so much. I must have been out of my mind to want to have a child for Qin Longyun. I feel like I¡¯m being utterly shortchanged!"


    She was just starting to have contractions, and with the intervals between the pains being long, ChunTao could still take the opportunity to feed her some food.


    With food and Qiao Duo¡¯er to distract her, Chen Yiling felt the pain was bearable.


    After drinking a bowl of Eight Treasure Porridge and a bowl of bird¡¯s nest soup, the pain suddenly intensified.


    Chen Yiling began to scream in pain, her little face flushing red from the strain.


    "Madam, try not to scream. You need to conserve your energy for the childbirth," the medical woman reminded.


    If she used up her strength now, complications could arise when it truly began.


    But Yi Ling was not someone who could withstand pain; she couldn¡¯t help but cry out for her parents.


    Qiao Duo did as the medical woman instructed and sat beside, as they needed to keep an eye on Chen Yiling¡¯s condition and avoid any unintended contact.


    After all, sitting on a stool wouldn¡¯t interfere with their conversation.


    "Why hasn¡¯t that bastard come back yet?"


    Chen Yiling¡¯s temper rose again. It would have been nice if Qin Longyun could be there to comfort her at this time.


    The mindset was very important at this time; otherwise, it could affect the delivery process and cause complications.


    Not wanting to delay, Qiao Duo said at once, "If you¡¯re not angry, I¡¯ll go out and check on him, and I can even berate him for you."


    "Beat him harshly; make him hurt more than I do," Chen Yiling said childishly.


    Qiao Duo agreed and walked out, but waiting at the door wasn¡¯t Qin Longyun but a maid from the Qin family, named Ping¡¯er.


    She was a maid trained by ChunTao. When ChunTao got married, she would take ChunTao¡¯s place.


    Ping¡¯er was so anxious she was pacing back and forth. Qiao Duo¡¯s face immediately turned serious.


    "What happened?"


    "Lord Li just took his men to madam¡¯s shop to search it and found a lot of smuggled salt. They¡¯re claiming our master is smuggling, and have already taken him away to be locked up in the dungeon," Ping¡¯er said, wiping away her tears, genuinely unsure of what to do.


    Right now, her young miss was at a critical moment, and she dared not go in to say anything, so she could only pace at the door.


    She was fortunate Mrs. Tan came out; otherwise, she might have been driven mad by the urgency. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 933 - 936: Forgive Him Once

    Chapter 933: Chapter 936: Forgive Him OnceQiao Duo¡¯er frowned, "Where are the shopkeeper and the clerks from the store?"


    "They were all taken away, and he also said that once Madam¡¯s health improves a bit, she will be taken away for investigation as well," Ping¡¯er reported truthfully.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but curse under her breath. It was a critical time for controlling the epidemic, yet Li Zhengtian was investigating private salt trade and had even arrested Qin Longyun. Was he out of his mind?


    Without Qin Longyun, could Li Zhentian assist in disaster relief?


    Dammit, she should open a mental hospital and lock up the likes of Li Zhengtian in there!


    "Go find Ah Hong, and have him inquire about the situation. Also, try to arrange a meeting with Lord Qin," she instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er issued the order.


    Ping¡¯er nodded hastily, "I will go find Master Tan right away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er composed herself before entering the birthing room. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as she pushed the door open, she heard Chen Yiling asking anxiously, "Has Qin Longyun returned?"


    "Something suddenly came up outside, and he can¡¯t come back for a while, but he said that once he¡¯s back, you can punish him however you want," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied without revealing the news of Qin Longyun¡¯s arrest.


    Otherwise, knowing Chen Yiling¡¯s temperament, she was sure to make a scene at the prison.


    Clenching her teeth, Chen Yiling said, "In my next life, I must be a man and let that bastard Qin Longyun give birth to my child. When it¡¯s his turn to give birth, I¡¯ll also go out for disaster relief and leave him alone at home!"


    She would make sure Qin Longyun got a taste of this excruciating experience!


    "Great, that¡¯s the best way to handle men!" Qiao Duo¡¯er gave her a thumbs-up.


    Despite this, Chen Yiling¡¯s mood was still sour, and she threw a tantrum, "I don¡¯t want to give birth anymore! I¡¯m in so much pain, I¡¯m nearly dying!"


    She felt incredibly wronged!


    Before getting married, her family had adored her, and after marrying, Qin Long also doted on her; she thought she was the happiest person alive.


    But to her surprise, during childbirth, she felt she could hardly bear it anymore, yet only her best friend was there beside her.


    Ugh, she felt so pitiful!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er consoled her, "Lord Qin is wholeheartedly dedicated to you. He was up all night the past few days, hoping to settle those matters before the birth so he could be with you to welcome the new life."


    "But he¡¯s still the County Magistrate of White Stone County, and there are some serious issues he can¡¯t ignore. He must be worried sick right now."


    "You¡¯re saying, he¡¯s worried about his wife and has to handle unexpected situations; I think he¡¯s really pitiable. Why don¡¯t you forgive him just this once, okay?"


    "He¡¯s your sworn brother, so of course you¡¯d speak for him!" said Chen Yiling in annoyance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly clarified, "Then you¡¯re misunderstanding me! We are best friends, meaning friends who are closer than other friends; our relationship is the best."


    "Really?"


    "Of course it¡¯s true. When Lord Qin comes back and you¡¯re still weak, I¡¯ll definitely take him to task for you!"


    With Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, Chen Yiling felt reassured.


    After pacifying Chen Yiling, Qiao Duo¡¯er gave ChunTao a meaningful look.


    ChunTao immediately understood and while taking the opportunity to go to the kitchen to make soft-boiled eggs, she also pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er aside.


    "Mrs. Tan, has something happened to my son-in-law?" ChunTao asked nervously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "He was put in the big prison by Li Zhengtian. I¡¯ve already sent Ping¡¯er to find Ah Hong, hoping to temporarily stabilize Li Zhengtian. Now, quickly write a letter to Lord Chen, to inform him of the situation here and have him prepare for both possibilities."


    If Li Zhengtian was set on pinning the smuggling of private salt on Tan Zhenghong, that would be no small charge, and Tan Zhenghong, an official without substantive power, would stand no chance of stopping it.

 Chapter 934 - 937: Out?

    Chapter 934: Chapter 937: Out?"Please take care of my young lady for a while," ChunTao bowed slightly.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Ling¡¯er is my sister. I won¡¯t let anything happen to her, and make sure the person who sends the letter is reliable,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er added another caution.


    If Li Zhengtian intercepted it, he would certainly make a big deal out of it.


    It would be bad if Lord Chen got dragged into it then.


    "Rest assured, the guards that came with the young lady as part of her dowry are all born to the household, there won¡¯t be any problems,"


    ChunTao was very confident about this; once she wrote a letter and handed it to the guard, he would definitely deliver it safely to the Chen Mansion.


    When the egg with the soft-set yolk was ready, Qiao Duo¡¯er sent it over to Chen Yiling.


    No sooner had she entered the room than she heard Chen Yiling asking whether it was a boy or a girl, and her hand trembled involuntarily.


    Why had no cries of the child been heard if it was born?


    Could it be that the child had inhaled the amniotic fluid, or was it some other complication?


    In just that moment, many possibilities flashed through Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mind, and her heart clenched.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er anxiously asked, "What¡¯s going on?"


    "It hasn¡¯t been born yet. Just now, the pain intensified, and Madam got a bit confused. The pelvic bones haven¡¯t fully dilated," the medical woman quickly explained.


    Three black lines involuntarily appeared on Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead; giving birth had pushed Ling¡¯er to such an extent, and it was by no means easy.


    But it also showed how excruciating childbirth could be.


    "The pelvic bones haven¡¯t fully dilated?" Chen Yiling was unsettled.


    She felt as if she¡¯d been in pain for years, and now the medical woman was saying that the pelvic bones weren¡¯t fully dilated yet!


    It is said that the bones need to dilate to the width of ten fingers before childbirth can begin. How much longer would she have to wait?


    This being her first child, the dilation of the pelvic bones would be very slow. Given Chen Yiling¡¯s pace, she would have to wait at least four hours.


    However, to avoid discouraging Chen Yiling, the medical woman could only vaguely say, "It won¡¯t be long. I¡¯ll let you know when you¡¯re fully dilated, and then you¡¯ll be able to push hard."


    Pushing before full dilation could very likely cause a difficult labor.


    Chen Yiling let out a wail; she wanted to give up again, but considering the long duration of pain she had already endured, she decided to keep enduring it. Otherwise, the pain she had suffered so far would have been for nothing.


    As darkness fell, the pelvic bones finally dilated.


    "Madam, you can push now. We can see the crown of the head. Just give it a bit more effort,"


    "Okay, take a deep breath and push again!"


    The medical woman began to guide Chen Yiling to exert herself. Giving birth was also about technique; with the right pushing, the child could be born quickly.


    Granny Su advised, "Madam, since you are pregnant, you can¡¯t stay in the birthing room. Seeing the blood could harm the child."


    With two medical women, two maidservants, and the maid helping out in the birthing room, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t even get close to the bedside. She might as well go outside.


    But not being able to see Chen Yiling made the time even more difficult to bear.


    It was said that at this time, the mortality rate of childbirth could be as high as fifteen percent, and complications could easily arise. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s Lady Qin¡¯s first birth, it will take at least another four hours. I¡¯ll get you something to eat first," Granny Su insisted on pulling Qiao Duo¡¯er away.


    She was afraid Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t hold up if the wait continued.


    After dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er was back outside the birthing room.


    An hour later, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked worriedly, "Why hasn¡¯t it come out yet?"


    "The first birth lacks experience, so it¡¯s bound to take some time. I can hear that Lady Qin still has energy. Don¡¯t worry,"


    While Granny Su spoke casually, her eyes kept looking towards the birthing room.


    The long delay suggested that the effort might not be correctly applied.


    There was a fear that if it took too long, it could harm the child.


    Before Lady Qin went into labor, she would have to teach her how to exert herself properly, so when the real time came, she would suffer less.

 Chapter 935 - 938: Mother and Child Safe

    Chapter 935: Chapter 938: Mother and Child SafeAfter half an hour of agonizing wait, the cries of a baby finally came from the delivery room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could no longer sit still and strode in.


    The child¡¯s cries were loud, which immediately told her he was healthy, so Qiao Duo¡¯er was more concerned about Chen Yiling¡¯s health.


    At that moment, Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes were tightly closed; her pale face was entirely worn out, the usual playfulness and vivacity nowhere to be seen.


    Anxious, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "How is she?"


    "My young mistress is just worn out. She¡¯ll be fine after she wakes up," the maidservant said cheerfully. Despite the long labor, fortunately, mother and child were safe.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded and then turned her gaze to the little thing cradled in the maidservant¡¯s arms; her heart instantly softened.


    This was the fruit of Chen Yiling and Qin Longyun¡¯s love.


    Tiny, red, all wrinkled, and not at all good-looking.


    The newborn had been soaked in amniotic fluid for too long and then squeezed through the birth canal; they usually looked like this.


    He would look better when he grows bigger, after all, his parents¡¯ genes were evident.


    The maidservant said with a smile, "Mrs. Tan, you are indeed blessed. Hold our little young master."


    It was said a child would grow to resemble the first person who held them, and Mrs. Tan was beautiful and clever. Held by her, he was bound to have a bright future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully took the soft little fellow into her arms, but the infant was not having it and continued to cry loudly.


    "There, there, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯m your godmother."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart turned into a warm, tender spring of water.


    Upon hearing her voice, the little one stopped crying, his tiny mouth puckering up as if searching for something to eat.


    After a while, the maidservant took the baby back to feed him.


    Influenced by Qiao Duo¡¯er, Chen Yiling also insisted on nursing her baby, so it was crucial to start lactating early; otherwise, if her milk became blocked, it would cause her a great deal of pain.


    Tired from feeding, the little one drifted soundly off to sleep. Seeing Qin Mingrui asleep in his little bed, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but touch her belly.


    As long as the baby was as healthy as Qin Mingrui, that would be enough.


    Seeing Chen Yiling and her son safe and sound, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart settled back into place.


    Then she realized that standing for such a long time had nearly broken her back, and she needed to rest quickly.


    After washing up, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally got to lie down in bed, and the feeling of comfort made her let out a long sigh of relief.


    But she was still a bit worried; Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t sent any message back yet, and she had no idea what Li Zhengtian had done with Qin Longyun.


    Sensing his mother¡¯s unease, the little one inside her stirred, as if to comfort Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "You have been so good today. You didn¡¯t fuss at all, even though mom stood for so long."


    "Your godfather and godmother have chosen the name Qin Mingrui for your little brother, which I think is very elegant and scholarly. When your father returns, shall we discuss your name too?"


    ...


    Tired from the day¡¯s work, Qiao Duo¡¯er chatted with her belly for a while before falling asleep.


    Late at night, Tan Zhenghong finally returned.


    He tiptoed into the bed, careful not to wake Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er was a light sleeper and was stirred awake. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You¡¯re back? What¡¯s the situation with Brother Qin?"


    Tan Zhenghong pulled his wife into his arms and said, "I¡¯ve talked with Li Zhengtian; he said I could attend the trial as an observer, but Li Zhengtian was too agreeable, which made me suspect something was off."


    "So I waited until the prison guards changed shifts and sneaked in to see Lord Qin. He told me not to worry about him for now. Li Zhengtian is being so accommodating just to disrupt the disaster relief efforts."

 Chapter 936 - 939 I Take It Back

    Chapter 936: Chapter 939 I Take It Back"Interfering with disaster relief? Are you suggesting that Li Zhengtian might actually want to burn us all to death?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly thought of a possibility.


    Now they all knew Li Zhengtian wanted to get his hands on more silver, and if it was like thirty-five years ago, he would definitely reap even greater benefits.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "It¡¯s very likely his plan, and I suspect this has connections with the palace."


    The Saint was advanced in age, and the adult Princes were getting restless, with Prince Liang being one of them.


    Now that Li Mu¡¯er had entered the Mansion of Prince Liang, Li Zhengtian, for his own sake and that of his daughter, would definitely stand with Prince Liang.


    If it weren¡¯t for the support of a Prince behind him, Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t possibly have such capability, nor would he dare to be so bold.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, "None of them are good!"


    To trade countless lives for silver, how cruel does one have to be to do such a thing? And yet, there really are such people in this world.


    "Luckily, Lord Qin had sent people out to purchase medicinal herbs before. They should be back by tonight. Once the epidemic is cured, Li Zhengtian will have to calm down."


    "Let¡¯s hope everything goes smoothly. By then, even the most powerful Prince should fall from grace," Qiao Duo¡¯er believed there was still justice in the world, and that some people who commit too many evil deeds would end up killing themselves.


    This topic was depressing and not suitable for bedtime conversation, so Duo¡¯er decisively changed to a lighter one.


    "Today, Ling¡¯er gave birth to a chubby boy, but it hurt her quite a bit; she said she¡¯s going to beat up Qin Longyun when he gets back."


    Tan Zhenghong contemplated for a moment, "That is indeed something Ling¡¯er would do."


    "And you have been so busy all the time, you don¡¯t even know what to name our baby," said Qiao Duo¡¯er discontentedly.


    "Wife, you are more educated than I am; you decide on the name," he replied.


    Tan Zhenghong was proud of having a smart wife; she had taught him many characters.


    Since Qiao Duo was the teacher and he was the student, he should be humble.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately challenged, "So you wouldn¡¯t mind if the baby took the surname Qiao?"


    In a feudal society, the only possibility for a child to take the mother¡¯s surname was if the man married into the woman¡¯s family, which was a great humiliation for any man.


    After a long while, Tan Zhenghong said seriously, "If that makes you happy, I have no objections."


    As for whether to carry the Tan surname or not, he felt it was all fine.


    Since he was little, he was sent to live with distant relatives and took the surname Wang, only changing it back to Tan after he returned to the Tan Family, so he wasn¡¯t fixated on it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swallowed and was a bit slow to react.


    She could only say that Tan Zhenghong¡¯s thinking was too progressive, even more open-minded than many men from subsequent eras.


    In later generations, with many only children, both the man and the woman wanted the child to take their own surname, arguing over this all the time, causing mild tension within the family or even relationship breakdowns in severe cases.


    "I was just joking with you," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reached out and tugged at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cheek. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn¡¯t care what surname the baby would have; what she cared about was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s attitude.


    Moreover, she had never thought of letting the baby take the surname Qiao; she didn¡¯t want the child to suffer from societal gossip in the future, nor did she want Tan Zhenghong to be ridiculed.


    In addition, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s actions made her willingly agree to have the baby bear his surname.


    Tan Zhenghong pecked at his wife¡¯s face, "Not funny at all. How about we discuss it together once we get through this busy period? The baby came from your belly and will definitely go by your preference."


    He had initially thought of not being involved, but then felt that would make him a hands-off boss, and a father who shirks responsibility was not a good father or husband.

 Chapter 937 - 940: Personally Feed

    Chapter 937: Chapter 940: Personally Feed"Okay," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded beautifully.


    "Sleep first, you need a good rest to have the strength to think of a name."


    Before Tan Zhenghong had finished speaking, he realized his wife had already fallen asleep, even letting out gentle snores.


    Well... forget it, as if he had not spoken.


    But every word he said today counted, he would never go back on his word at any time.


    Because she was anxious about Ling¡¯er and her child, Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up early.


    Without bothering to eat breakfast, she went straight to Chen Yiling¡¯s room.


    Chen Yiling had just finished breakfast. She was in good spirits, and her complexion looked much better than yesterday.


    "I thought the pain would be over once the baby was born, but now I ache all over," Chen Yiling said with a pained expression.


    The pain was strange, coming in intermittent twinges, nearly driving her insane.


    The Medical Woman said it was normal to feel pain, as it helped to expel all the dirty stuff from her stomach.


    And then there was breastfeeding. She had only slept for a while after giving birth, when she was forcefully awakened to feed the baby. It felt as if she had hardly slept before she had to get up to breastfeed again.


    Sigh, she felt like she was going crazy.


    Before Chen Yiling could finish complaining, Little Ruirui started howling again.


    The little fellow was robust, clearly destined to be a strong man.


    Chen Yiling sighed deeply, "Now, the sound of his crying scares me."


    Only after giving birth did she realize that though pregnancy was uncomfortable in many ways, it was still more blissful compared to now.


    ChunTao changed the baby¡¯s diaper, but Little Ruirui kept crying nonstop, probably hungry.


    "Miss, shall I call the wet nurse over?"


    ChunTao tentatively asked.


    Otherwise, eating every couple of hours, her mistress definitely couldn¡¯t stand it. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling pouted and said, "No way, he¡¯s my son, and I need to feed him until he¡¯s grown."


    Deeply influenced by Qiao Duo, Chen Yiling felt that she must nurse her own child, or else the child would become more attached to someone else.


    Plus, if she gave up after just one day of breastfeeding, she would certainly be ridiculed in the future.


    "If you can¡¯t handle it, you could breastfeed during the day and leave it to the wet nurse at night. That way, you could get a full night¡¯s rest, which would be good for your health," Qiao Duo said, seeing Chen Yiling getting worked up and quickly helping her.


    She then stuffed a pillow behind her to prevent her from straining her back too much and developing a problem with back pain.


    "I¡¯ve thought of that, but the idea of letting my son breastfeed from someone else is unbearable to me," Chen Yiling said, leaving a tender kiss on her son¡¯s face.


    Regardless of the fatigue or hardship, all was worth it for her own child.


    Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but sigh at how powerful a mother¡¯s love was; yesterday Ling¡¯er was still being willful, but she had changed completely overnight.


    Since Chen Yiling was weak and needed to rest, Qiao Duo didn¡¯t stay long.


    Rarely did Qiao Duo get up early, giving Tan Zhenghong a rare chance to have breakfast with his wife.


    But someone didn¡¯t want them to have a comfortable meal, as barely a few bites in, a guard hurried over.


    "Fourth Master, our people have purchased all the medicines, but Lord Li is guarding the city gate and refuses to let them through, what should we do?"


    The medicine from last night was gone, and many people¡¯s conditions worsened this morning. If they couldn¡¯t get the medicine into the city soon, it was likely that many would perish.


    "Where is Li Zhengtian?" Tan Zhenghong asked with a frown.


    "He¡¯s at his residence, but he¡¯s closed his doors, not allowing visitors, claiming he¡¯s sick."


    Now their chance at survival was just outside the city gates, separated from them by a mere wall; they were almost frantic.


    Before Tan Zhenghong could come up with a solution, someone else came in.

 Chapter 938 - 941: Extreme Measures

    Chapter 938: Chapter 941: Extreme Measures"Master Tan, Xu Yuanwai said he has urgent business with you,"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯ll go there first, and then I¡¯ll look for Li Zhengtian."


    The front hall.


    "Mrs. Tan, I heard your medicine was stuck outside the city gate. Considering you might be running short, I asked someone to buy two carts full and bring them to you for emergencies," Xu Yuanwai said with a smile plastered on his face.


    Ever since he had harbored inappropriate thoughts about another man¡¯s wife, he felt uneasy in their presence.


    He had inquired about how Tan Zhenghong was madly devoted to his wife and estimated that he must despise him by now.


    Alas, it was his own fault, as one day he might be the cause of his own demise.


    Tan Zhenghong put aside his inner prejudice, "On behalf of the people of White Stone County, I thank you."


    Since the disaster relief had begun, there had always been a shortage of medicines, and he and Qin Longyun worried about it every day.


    "I do not dare to claim credit, I just hope Master Tan will not hold the foolish acts I have done in the past against me," S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    said Xu Yuanwai humbly.


    Just a few days ago he had received a letter from his daughter, informing him that the Saint had a good impression of the Tan Family and that Lord Qin was even likely to be promoted, advising him to establish good relations with both families.


    In recent days, he observed that eliminating the plague was becoming an imperative trend, so he quickly sent the herbs over.


    Among them were the musk he had purchased at a high price.


    "As long as Master Xu has no other ulterior motives, let¡¯s let bygones be bygones,"


    Tan Zhenghong squinted his eyes.


    Their relationship in the future would depend on Xu Yuanwai¡¯s choices.


    Xu Yuanwai promptly nodded, "Certainly not, I am getting old, and the Doctor said if I want to live a few more years, I need to keep my desires in check. I¡¯ve already let go of the girls from my residence."


    Bought by their parents at such a young age, they were pitiable.


    He gave them some silver to let them live the lives they wanted, which perhaps was a good deed.


    "That¡¯s quite good. I have other matters to attend to today, so I must take my leave first,"


    Tan Zhenghong said with an apologetic tone, for he was in a hurry to find Li Zhengtian.


    Xu Yuanwai bowed slightly, "Then I shall take my leave first."


    After seeing Xu Yuanwai off, Tan Zhenghong returned to the dining room, but Duo¡¯er was no longer there.


    Indeed, without him watching, Duo¡¯er was unwilling to eat properly.


    "Fourth Master, you should quickly check on Madam; she is sharpening a blade," whispered Qing Xin with a tremble.


    Tan Zhenghong shuddered and immediately rushed back to his room.


    His own wife was there carefully wiping a dagger, treating it with care as if it were her treasured possession.


    "Wife, don¡¯t be rash,"


    it wasn¡¯t yet time for a confrontation with Li Zhengtian.


    "I am very calm. We are like caged beasts right now. If we don¡¯t fight for our lives, we will face a dead end," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her smile more piercing as she looked at the cold light reflected by the blade.


    Now that Li Zhengtian had ordered a lockdown of the city, sooner or later the medicines inside would run out, and once the plague spread, Li Zhengtian would have a pretext to slaughter the entire city.


    Nobody would escape, including the little one in her belly.


    Tan Zhenghong sat across from Duo¡¯er, hoping his gentleness might cool his wife¡¯s head.


    "Just now, Xu Yuanwai brought over two carts of medicine. We can temporarily get through this crisis, and I will go see Li Zhengtian. I¡¯ll try my best to persuade him,"


    Qiao Duo lazily said, "If Li Zhengtian were someone who could be persuaded, he would not have done such heinous deeds."


    Since words were useless, she could only resolve the trouble with force.


    In fact, it had been a long time since she had considered killing, and it was not easy for Li Zhengtian to provoke her to pick up her dagger again ¨C a sign he was absolutely irredeemable.


    She would not have chosen such an extreme method otherwise.

 Chapter 939 - 942: Quite Self-Aware

    Chapter 939: Chapter 942: Quite Self-Aware"If we¡¯re going to take action, it should be me going, not you. You¡¯re a woman and pregnant with a child. I¡¯m a man; I can¡¯t let you take risks like this," Tan Zhenghong said gravely.


    What kind of man lets a woman stand in front of danger when he himself has something to do?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I¡¯m more confident than you are."


    To achieve the effect of intimidation, shedding some blood is definitely necessary.


    But to avoid bringing disaster, she couldn¡¯t really kill Li Zhengtian, and no one had a better grasp on that delicate balance than her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t give Tan Zhenghong the chance to speak further; she tucked the dagger into her bosom and strode out.


    This feeling... it was invigorating.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly followed her, if it were the past, he would have supported her without condition.


    But now that Duo¡¯er was seven months pregnant, she really couldn¡¯t be reckless.


    Duo¡¯er said firmly, "This is the best way. I hope this matter can be resolved quickly. I hope our child can be born smoothly, and I hope more that you can be with me when it happens."


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his teeth, having been cornered by her words to the extent that he could only nod in agreement.


    "I will cooperate fully, just be careful."


    A smile played on Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips, "You must have confidence in your wife, and it seems the baby also quite enjoys punishing the wicked and upholding justice."


    She had already communicated with the child, asking him to take a nap and then the matter would be resolved, and since then, the baby had stopped fussing.


    Li Zhengtian was staying in the postal station, which at the moment had its main doors tightly shut.


    Duo¡¯er said to the guards behind her, "Break down the door. If it gets damaged, I¡¯ll foot the bill."


    The guards exchanged glances, eventually reaching a consensus.


    If Mrs. Tan, a woman, could display such courage, especially to save their master, what hesitation could they have?


    Soon, the doors were violently kicked open.


    Jia Wenjing said angrily, "This is a postal station, what on earth do you think you¡¯re doing?"


    Duo¡¯er glanced at Jia Wenjing, her first impression being one of disgust.


    "Beat him up, beat him to death!"


    Jia Wenjing stood his ground and retorted, "Dare you, one must still look at the owner before beating the dog."


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s official rank was higher than all of theirs combined; Jia Wenjing didn¡¯t believe they would dare touch him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her chin and said cheekily, "You¡¯re quite self-aware, but still, you need to be beaten." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Jing had the urge to flee subconsciously, but several guards solidly blocked his escape path.


    Soon, a series of screams like those of a pig being slaughtered echoed from within the station.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er made her way to the main bedroom, and Tan Zhenghong kicked open the door.


    Seeing someone barging in, Li Zhengtian hurriedly straightened his clothes.


    He¡¯d been down on his luck these days; he had been scared by Jia Wenjing a couple days before, and today he was interrupted by a throng of people. He was starting to fear he wouldn¡¯t be able to function properly below the belt.


    The woman who had just been beneath him pulled up the covers to hide her body.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said sarcastically, "Tsk tsk, the peasants should really come and see how Lord Li lives such a carefree life; they¡¯d surely say you¡¯re the hardest-working official they¡¯ve ever seen."


    Toiling the fields even in broad daylight, isn¡¯t that tough?


    "What do you want to do?" Li Zhengtian glared at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "What are you afraid of? We¡¯re all going to be dead soon anyway, you¡¯re worried we¡¯ll spill your secrets?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words were loaded with meaning as she closed in on Li Zhengtian step by step.


    By the time Li Zhengtian realized what was happening, his neck was already being pressed against by the blade of a dagger.


    The cold sensation made him shiver involuntarily.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er was unsatisfied with the speed; had it been before, she could have had Li Zhengtian¡¯s life in her hands the moment she entered the door.


    She could only muse that the baby in her belly was indeed a sweet burden.

 Chapter 940 - 943: Aren’t You Afraid of Death?

    Chapter 940: Chapter 943: Aren¡¯t You Afraid of Death?"I am an Imperial Officer, and if you dare to mess around, you won¡¯t end up well either!"


    Li Zhengtian said fiercely.


    He hoped that this woman would see sense and let him go on her own accord.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t take him seriously at all, "Li Zhengtian, I¡¯m giving you one more chance. Order the gates to be opened immediately, and release Qin Longyun, or else I can¡¯t guarantee what I¡¯ll do."


    "Think about it, you might not be afraid to die, but is the child in your womb not afraid of dying?"


    Li Zhengtian resorted to using the unborn child as leverage.


    No matter how fierce a woman is, it¡¯s useless because once they have a child, they can no longer afford to be fierce.


    "This is my business, no need for your nonsense. Hurry up and have your people do as told, or they¡¯ll be collecting your corpse," Qiao Duo¡¯er said impatiently.


    "I won¡¯t let you get your way."


    Li Zhengtian snorted from his nose, what did it mean to be threatened by a woman?


    His biggest advantage was that the person holding the knife right now was a pregnant woman. How dangerous could she possibly be?


    It was all just a bluff.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed lightly and reached out to grab Li Zhengtian¡¯s neck, while the hand holding the dagger moved faster than lightning to make two cuts on Li Zhengtian¡¯s arm.


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s eyes widened in shock, "What have you done to me?"


    People who commit suicide by slitting their wrists cut the same spot Qiao Duo¡¯er had just sliced.


    Both of his wrists were cut, did that mean he was going to die soon?


    With this realization, Li Zhengtian tensed up and dared not move recklessly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed lightly, "You can keep quiet, but your arm is bleeding out. How long do you think you can hold on?"


    "Lord Li, I advise you to just comply. There¡¯s a saying that it¡¯s better to live badly than to die well. If you die now, someone else will enjoy your wealth," Tan Zhenghong said persuasively.


    Having immersed himself in the political arena for over twenty years, Li Zhengtian must have amassed a considerable amount of silver, or else Prince Liang wouldn¡¯t have been interested in him.


    "No need to persuade him; we have plenty of time. We can wait," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, as long as a certain someone wasn¡¯t worried about all the blood draining out of him.


    But according to her experience, what people like Li Zhengtian feared the most was death.


    After all, there were still too many powers he hadn¡¯t grasped, too many silvers in other people¡¯s pockets, and too many women he hadn¡¯t taken to his bed.


    How could they be content to die now?


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s heart trembled, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to give in just yet.


    The most important thing was that Qin Longyun was the pivotal part of his entire plan. If he released Qin Longyun, he would be utterly defeated.


    Just wait a little longer; maybe his men would come to rescue him soon.


    It was just that Li Zhengtian had forgotten one thing: his men had already been scattered.


    Seeing that Li Zhengtian was still hesitating, Qiao Duo¡¯er pressed her dagger down a bit, and blood immediately began to bead on his neck.


    "My lord, you¡¯re bleeding a lot, somebody help, they¡¯re going to kill someone!" Jia Wenjing, who originally came to Li Zhengtian for justice, yelled frantically.


    Seizing the opportunity, Tan Zhenghong pulled out the guard¡¯s sword and held it to Jia Wenjing¡¯s neck; his instincts told him this man would be much easier to handle than Li Zhengtian.


    Jia Wenjing¡¯s legs went weak immediately. He had already been walked all over, couldn¡¯t they just let him go? sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was just unlucky, why did he come to Li Zhengtian for justice?


    Now he had gotten himself involved too.


    "If you don¡¯t want to die, say something valuable."


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at Jia Wenjing with a sidelong look.


    His eyes seemed to be filled with countless ice blades, giving Jia Wenjing the sensation of having nowhere to escape.

 Chapter 941 - 944 Pig Teammate

    Chapter 941: Chapter 944 Pig Teammate"I¡¯ll speak, I¡¯ll tell everything, Lord Li never intended to provide disaster relief. He ordered other County Magistrates not to distribute medicines to the victims, wanting the Imperial court to issue more disaster relief money,"


    "Later, he discovered that Lord Qin was more astute than he had imagined. Filled with resentment for not getting his hands on the Treasury Silver, he wanted to burn down the counties affected by the plague. He even said he would give all the silver to Prince Liang."


    Jia Wenjing spilled the truth like beans being poured out.


    Tan Zhenghong asked, "Why arrest Lord Qin?"


    "I don¡¯t know that. Lord Li personally led the arrest, claiming Lord Qin trafficked in private salt and iron."


    Jia Wenjing¡¯s body couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    Lord Qin was no saint either, taking Treasury Silver for himself and profiting from salt and iron. His arrest wasn¡¯t without reason. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only regret was that with him out of the way, Lord Li¡¯s plan was largely successful.


    "Really?"


    Jia Wenjing nodded firmly, "I truly don¡¯t know, but I do know that Lord Li sold all the medicine supplied by the pharmacy for silver, and gave it along with the disaster relief silver to Prince Liang."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Li Zhengtian with sympathy ¨C this was the so-called teammate that was as useful as a pig.


    "Useless thing!" Li Zhengtian was so angry he felt internal pain.


    He was so scared he hadn¡¯t said a word, yet this fool had blurted out everything, things that should and shouldn¡¯t be said.


    Tan Zhenghong commanded, "Someone has accused Lord Li of abusing his power for personal gain. Lock him up in the dungeon immediately. Monkey, draft another public announcement to let the people know what¡¯s going on."


    With Jia Wenjing¡¯s accusation, there were no issues left unresolved.


    "I¡¯ve said everything I should, can you let me go now?" Jia Wenjing looked at Tan Zhenghong with pleading eyes.


    He had only followed orders; it shouldn¡¯t be associated with him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, finally having a break, patted the dust off her hands, "I can only ensure you won¡¯t die right now, nothing more."


    She didn¡¯t quite understand the laws of the Daxing Dynasty.


    However, from her experience, Jia Wenjing¡¯s fate didn¡¯t look too good.


    The term ¡¯to sacrifice the pawn to save the chariot¡¯ fits well; Jia Wenjing, who had little value, was likely the first to be discarded.


    But he didn¡¯t deserve pity, for though a learned man, he had chosen to assist in tyranny.


    The guards took away Li Zhengtian and Jia Wenjing, and Qiao Duo¡¯er felt quite cheerful.


    She had been displeased with these two for a long time, and now they were finally being dealt with.


    The only inconvenience was that Qin Longyun would have to stay in the dungeon for a few more days until the case was reviewed.


    "I hope that damn Prince doesn¡¯t interfere this time, and even better if a tougher character comes along and takes care of him too." Qiao Duo¡¯er clasped her hands together and made a wish.


    Prince Liang, daring to covet silver obtained at the expense of people¡¯s lives, was surely no different from Li Zhengtian.


    If such a person could ascend to the throne, the days ahead would be even harder.


    Tan Zhenghong strongly agreed, "Evil will be met with evil retribution, there surely won¡¯t be a good end. But for now, you need to come home with me for dinner!"


    His wife had barely eaten breakfast and had been busy for so long; she must be starving.


    "Alright, let¡¯s go!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tossed the blood-stained dagger to Tan Zhenghong.


    Ever since she had Tan Zhenghong, she only had to cause trouble; all the aftermath and cleanup were his tasks.


    Li Zhengtian was locked up in prison, and all his subordinates were disheartened; by noon, all the needed medicinal materials were delivered to the Government Office, filling up the courtyard. Tan Zhenghong could finally relax.


    "Send a message to every County Magistrate; any more negligence in disaster relief will be immediately reported to the Imperial court, demanding severe punishment."


    An Inspector doesn¡¯t possess real power but has the right to supervise.


    Moreover, once a report is submitted, it will definitely cause a sensation throughout the capital and the court.


    Several guards saluted, "Yes!"

 Chapter 942 - 945: Can’t Take A Joke?

    Chapter 942: Chapter 945: Can¡¯t Take A Joke?In the afternoon, the announcement board posted the official notice.


    "Officer, what does this say?" One curious onlooker asked.


    The government official read the notice aloud, but the official language was abstruse; many who listened were still at a loss.


    "It¡¯s straightforward. Master Tan has discovered that Lord Li disregarded the life and death of the people, solely indulging in his own pleasures. He is now locked up in prison, awaiting further interrogation by higher-ups," the government official explained.


    To put it simply, Li Zhengtian was in trouble!


    "Such officials deserve to be locked up. We already have a hard time as it is, and they just stomp us down further."


    "Yes, I knew he was no good from the first glance!"


    "Wasn¡¯t Lord Qin arrested? Can he be released now?"


    "Now that everybody knows Li Zhengtian is a scoundrel, surely it was he who falsely accused others. Lord Qin must be released now."


    The government official shook his head: "Lord Qin has already been charged. He can¡¯t be released without a proper court proceeding, and Master Tan¡¯s rank isn¡¯t high enough. We have to wait for someone from above to come."


    "Lord Qin really suffered this time. He must have offended Li Zhengtian for our sake." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right, when the officials come to rectify matters, we should plead for Lord Qin and ensure Master Guang grants him justice."


    "We should also ask for rewards for Lord Qin and Master Tan. There are not many officials left who are willing to risk their lives for the people!"


    The government official couldn¡¯t help but fan the flames: "That Lord Li is really despicable. He never intended to provide disaster relief, just wanted to burn us alive!"


    No, this wasn¡¯t instigation, it was merely stating a big truth.


    "It¡¯s infuriating; he¡¯s the one who deserves to burn!"


    "His conscience must have been eaten by a dog. If I die, I won¡¯t let him off even as a ghost!"


    ...


    The rest could be left to Tan Zhenghong to worry about; Qiao Duo¡¯er could stay in the Government Office at ease.


    Three days later, Chen Yiling had recovered a lot, her focus not entirely on the adorable little bun.


    "Duo¡¯er, tell me the truth, did something happen to Qin Longyun?"


    Chen Yiling looked steadily at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Even if there were considerable troubles, Qin Longyun should have hurried back.


    It was their first child together, and he had no reason not to care.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment, and still told the truth, since the situation had already turned around, and Qin Longyun was in no danger anymore.


    Moreover, with Lord Chen helping behind the scenes, things would be resolved soon, and then the family of three could reunite.


    Upon learning the truth, Chen Yiling swept her gaze across the room: "Did all of you know about this? Do you think I¡¯ve become stupid after giving birth?"


    It was outrageous that they didn¡¯t tell her about something as serious as Qin Longyun being locked in prison!


    The most infuriating part was that she had only noticed something was off today!


    ChunTao tentatively said, "At that time, seeing how much pain you were in, I was afraid it would be dangerous for you if I told you."


    "Don¡¯t scare them anymore. I was the one who told them not to tell you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, taking the responsibility upon herself, so the household¡¯s maids needn¡¯t be frightened anymore.


    "You all are no fun; can¡¯t I pretend to be upset?"


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    These past few days, everyone had been running around, busy for her and Qin Longyun. On what grounds could she blame them?


    Besides, if it weren¡¯t for them, Li Zhengtian¡¯s scheme might have succeeded.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes: "Isn¡¯t it because we¡¯re worried about your mood after giving birth?"


    "With Qin Longyun not coming back, my mood is a bit down, but it¡¯s much better than if he couldn¡¯t come back ever again," Chen Yiling said in a reasonably good state of mind.

 Chapter 943 - 946: Creating Opportunities

    Chapter 943: Chapter 946: Creating OpportunitiesBut she still felt a hint of resentment, something she¡¯d have to wait for Qin Longyun to return to address.


    When the time came, she¡¯d definitely make him apologize and make it up to her properly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a silent sympathy for Qin Longyun; when he returned, pacifying his wife was going to keep him busy enough. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling, sensing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s thoughts, immediately warned her, "Let me tell you, don¡¯t even think about shielding Qin Longyun. I¡¯m your best friend; you have to be on my side!"


    "I promise I¡¯ll stand united with you," Qiao Duo¡¯er affirmed, holding up three fingers.


    No matter what, if a man failed to return for his wife¡¯s childbirth, it was a sign of his negligence.


    In the coming days, Chen Yiling rested easy, focusing on recuperating. She had thought about seeing Qin Longyun but her body wouldn¡¯t allow it, and with Li Zhengtian¡¯s men outside waiting to catch her in a misstep, she couldn¡¯t afford to act rashly.


    However, knowing he was safe and sound, she wasn¡¯t too worried.


    As the epidemic gradually improved, Qiao Duo¡¯er received some good news - Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng had returned.


    After a brief rest in White Stone County, they headed straight to the Government Office.


    Luo Qingfeng, ever so empathetic, said, "You two go ahead, I need to discuss with my sister-in-law the insights on using poison and see if there¡¯s anything that needs improvement."


    Previously, a young servant from the Bai Mansion had informed him that Chen Yiling had poisoned Qin Longyun, leading to him dealing with government affairs for seven days.


    Incidentally, this created an opportunity for someone to be alone, as to have a heart-to-heart about the issues that had accumulated over the days.


    Bai Yifan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Shall we go out for a walk?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t play coy and followed Bai Yifan out.


    The two sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard, and Qing Xin brought over a pot of tea before maintaining a very respectful distance.


    Cough cough, it seems a little unfair to Fourth Master like this.


    But she didn¡¯t overdo it, with her watching over them, the young master couldn¡¯t really do much of anything.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was the first to ask: "Have you looked at the prescription?"


    "Yes, it was a bit unexpected; I never thought you¡¯d use musk as a catalyst. How did you discover that?" Bai Yifan asked, giving a thumbs up.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er had asked him about the medicinal properties, he had mentioned it in passing.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that not only would she remember it, but she also applied the knowledge in a critical moment.


    "Almond was infected with the plague, and I was out of options at the time, so I thought of making the environment a bit better and had Qing Xin burn some musk. It was just blind luck that it hit the mark," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained nonchalantly, but Bai Yifan could sense the desperation and distress she must have felt at the time.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I returned too late," Bai Yifan said with guilt.


    If he hadn¡¯t had to go to Beijiang, Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have had to be so frightened and worried, or at least, if he had returned a few days earlier, Li Zhengtian wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to create mischief.


    But by the time he had returned, they had already nearly overcome all the difficulties.


    That¡¯s probably why Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t consider him, he thought.


    In the past, Qiao Duo had an innate coolness about her, but now, that quality was fading more and more.


    The main reason for this change was due to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s constant companionship.


    He was envious, but he knew he couldn¡¯t do the same.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes and said, "No one has the power of foresight, and besides, it¡¯s good enough that you came back safely."


    Currently, Daxing and Beijiang were in a standoff, and Bai Yifan must have faced many dangers along the way.


    "This time, my second brother and I brought someone back with us, King Qin," Bai Yifan said slowly, indicating that with King Qin present, the follow-up work would be much smoother.


    "What does he want?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said irritably.


    Bai Yifan was surprised, "You know King Qin?"

 Chapter 944 - 947: The Pervert

    Chapter 944: Chapter 947: The PervertThis reaction... seems to have also offended Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    But as far as he knew, this was King Qin¡¯s first visit to White Stone Town.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face suddenly turned red, she actually mistook someone for another.


    "No... I heard wrong, I thought it was Prince Liang, this time Li Zhengtian was about gathering silver for Prince Liang, harboring hostility towards Prince Liang."


    "King Qin and Prince Liang are completely different," Bai Yifan said firmly.


    "Hmph, I don¡¯t believe it, I think there¡¯s not a single good one in the imperial family."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stubbornly held on to her opinion.


    The imperial family had a precedent for slaughtering cities, and now there was Prince Liang who disregarded the lives of the common people for silver, leaving her with no favorable impression of the entire imperial family.


    Most importantly, those who had seen modern civilization believed that the imperial system was feudal dross.


    Bai Yifan did not explain further, only saying, "You¡¯ll see when you meet him, he is going to hold court this afternoon, you and Ah Hong both need to prepare."


    Royal life seems glamorous, but behind it lies much secrecy and many unspeakable pains.


    Back then, King Qin¡¯s mother was deeply favored by the Emperor, which made many envious.


    Soon someone took action, using a cold-inducing poison that could result in lifelong sterility, but by that time the Noble Consort was already pregnant. His master spent a great deal of effort to expel the poison, but still, some remained in the baby¡¯s body.


    After King Qin was born, he often suffered attacks, on top of that, he had to fend off assassination attempts from various factions.


    Later, when his mother fell out of favor, King Qin was sent by the Emperor to the frontier. The bitter cold there intensified the poison.


    He and Luo Qingfeng went to Beijiang this time to find the Fire Spirit Mushroom, precisely to detoxify King Qin.


    Adversity both torments and tempers a person; he believed that King Qin, unlike the princes raised in luxury who were oblivious to the people¡¯s hardships, would create a peaceful and prosperous era.


    But these words alone were not convincing.


    Once Qiao Duo¡¯er met King Qin, she would naturally form her own judgment.


    "Mm," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head.


    Bai Yifan felt that he had a lot to say, but did not know where to start, and in the end, he still went inside the house with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If that petty cat saw them, it would probably sulk for a good while again.


    In the room, Luo Qingfeng and Chen Yiling were in the midst of a heated discussion.


    "Second Brother, what bad idea did you come up with this time?"


    Seeing Luo Qingfeng gesticulating wildly, Qiao Duo¡¯er could tell that it definitely wasn¡¯t anything good.


    Without any intention to hide it, Luo Qingfeng admitted, "I discovered a plant in Beijiang, the locals call it Snake Belly. Eating it makes your stomach swell; it lets men taste what it¡¯s like to be pregnant."


    Now Chen Yiling wouldn¡¯t have to wait for the next life to make Qin Longyun¡¯s belly swell.


    After all, who can be sure about the next life? If they don¡¯t meet, wouldn¡¯t that be a loss?


    Bai Yifan curled his lip: "You¡¯re practically a women¡¯s best friend."


    Jealous of my popularity with the ladies, Luo Qingfeng retorted dismissively.


    Bai Yifan wickedly added, "Your popularity with the ladies is indeed not bad; this time in Beijiang, a girl chased you for dozens of miles."


    "Tsk tsk, come on, tell us what you did on your trip?" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bored Chen Yiling was very eager for some gossip.


    Though Luo Qingfeng seemed to be a ladies¡¯ man, he had always been an innocent virgin.


    But this time, it seemed there had been a breakthrough.


    Luo Qingfeng gave Bai Yifan a glance and then boasted, "It¡¯s just that this face of mine caught someone¡¯s eye, she insisted on chasing me to make me marry her. It took a lot of effort to escape."


    "If you hadn¡¯t peeped at her bathing, she wouldn¡¯t have bothered with you,"


    Bai Yifan exposed Luo Qingfeng¡¯s lie.

 Chapter 945 - 948: Romantic Encounter

    Chapter 945: Chapter 948: Romantic EncounterSpeaking of Luo Qingfeng, he rarely threw a punch, but that day, following his craving for roasted chicken, he let Bai Yifan head to the inn while he scoured the town until he found it.


    He originally planned to eat with Bai Yifan, but ended up being duped instead.


    Because the server gave the wrong room number, he ran into a woman who didn¡¯t bother closing the door while bathing.


    And so, he became labeled as a pervert who peeked at women in the bath.


    But all he saw was a back, nothing else, and still lost a roasted chicken, sigh, such an injustice!


    "That lady was quite formidable too, carrying a knife and chasing us for two days and nights, scaring us out of sleep, hurrying on without a break, day and night."


    Thinking back on this experience, Bai Yifan still felt weak in the knees.


    This was the first time in his life that a girl had chased him... with a knife.


    After hearing the complete story, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling both laughed so hard they doubled over.


    Luo Qingfeng, full of resentment, said, "I¡¯m going to cut ties with you, hmph, and I won¡¯t provide you with poison to play with anymore."


    "Second Brother, you¡¯re a man after all, don¡¯t be so petty," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, struggling to hold back her laughter.


    She really wasn¡¯t laughing on purpose, but it was just too funny.


    Luo Qingfeng felt helpless; forget it, consider it free entertainment for them. Being stuck at home often due to pregnancy must indeed be quite tough.


    But not Bai Yifan, they weren¡¯t just fellow sect brothers, but also worship brothers, yet he dared to sell him out!


    This was absolutely intolerable!


    However, Bai Yifan knew Luo Qingfeng¡¯s temperament inside out, so by the time Luo Qingfeng was ready to make his move, Bai Yifan had already dashed out of the Government Office.


    "Don¡¯t think you can escape just because you run away!"


    Luo Qingfeng said proudly, knowing that as long as he intended to poison someone, nobody could escape.


    Cough cough, except for the Savage Lady he had encountered this time.


    Watching Luo Qingfeng¡¯s retreating figure, Chen Yiling said mischievously, "I always feel like they will end up together."


    Constantly competing in medical skills, bickering, and not having to worry about the issues of childbirth, their life must be full of love.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er used to think they were a good match, but now she had other ideas.


    "I think he will end up with the Savage Lady he peeked at."


    It seems that¡¯s the routine in TV shows and plays, starting with an accidental kiss or a full exposure, then they become bickering lovers.


    "That would be good, hope the Savage Lady finds him soon."


    "It¡¯d be best if she¡¯s a poison refining master even more formidable than Luo Qingfeng, then someone can take him down."


    "Great idea!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    If Luo Qingfeng knew what they were thinking, he would surely be angered to the point of spitting blood.


    Because their baleful predictions actually came true!


    Bai Yifan was always reliable; after having lunch, someone indeed came over to invite Qiao Duo¡¯er to the court.


    Sitting in the court was a man dressed in dark clothes, and he was King Qin.


    King Qin, probably just over twenty, exuded an aura of unspoken authority.


    He looked like the epitome of a tough guy and was unlikely to engage in petty thievery like Prince Liang, but further observation was still required.


    Because judging a book by its cover is very unwise.


    "Greetings, King Qin," Qiao Duo¡¯er curtsied.


    "No need for such formalities, just now Lord Li accused you of colluding with Qin Longyun to traffic illegal salt and claimed that Mrs. Tan was profiting from the epidemic. Do you have any explanation?"


    King Qin¡¯s voice was deep and resonant, alluring, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but give him an extra point.


    However, what he said seriously annoyed her.


    Couldn¡¯t he tell from Lord Li¡¯s shifty eyes and rat-like appearance who was in the wrong?


    But since he was a handsome man, she might as well play along.

 Chapter 946 - 949: Where’s the Evidence?

    Chapter 946: Chapter 949: Where¡¯s the Evidence?Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke with composure, "Smuggling private salt was just an excuse by Li Zhengtian to frame Lord Qin, and as for seeking personal gain, I only had one piece of musk, which was distributed among the people of my village."


    If she had done it, she would have admitted it without hesitation.


    But for the things she had never done, even if a knife were pressed to her throat, she would remain unflappable.


    Impatient, Li Zhengtian blurted out, "Prince, she is lying. I discovered that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s deer farm has over a hundred male musk deer, and most of the musk used for disaster relief came from her farm. A piece of musk is worth a hundred gold; she must have made a fortune."


    He had been in prison these days, but Servant Fu had been busy, having already managed everything.


    Besides bribing Aunt Fu, he also dealt with Jia Wenjing, who even showed up today.


    Without any surprises, he was sure to topple Qiao Duo and her people.


    "Do you have evidence?" King Qin asked.


    Li Zhengtian nodded, "I have the accounts of the deer farm, and I have already persuaded her; she can testify for me."


    "Bring the witness forward," King Qin ordered his guard.


    His guards were selected from the Border Army; he only trusted his own people.


    Soon, Aunt Fu was brought into the hall.


    "She is in charge of the deer farm?" King Qin confirmed with Duo¡¯er.


    Seeing Aunt Fu, Qiao Duo¡¯er was surprised, but she couldn¡¯t deny that it was indeed Aunt Fu whom she had bought to raise musk deer.


    Before King Qin could ask, Aunt Fu volunteered, "Your Highness, my husband and I went to Tan Family last year to take up the work of raising musk deer, and nobody knows the situation better than we do."


    "Tell me how many musk deer the Tan Family has raised in total."


    "There are a total of six to seven hundred musk deer, nearly half of which are males. This summer, a hundred more young deer were born."


    Aunt Fu said this while casting a guilty glance at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Although it was only a momentary glance, King Qin still caught it.


    But he was judging a case at the moment, where evidence was vital. Announcing the verdict prematurely would certainly lead to dissatisfaction.


    Like Servant Fu, who was sitting in the auditor¡¯s seat.


    Some people¡¯s entire purpose was to find fault with him, but he was intent on making his case airtight.


    "How much musk did you collect in total?"


    "Just under three hundred pieces, Young Master Bai had also been there to see it."


    Hearing Aunt Fu speak brazen-faced lies, Qiao Duo¡¯er was both infuriated and amused.


    "You and Uncle Fu are truly remarkable, managing to raise six to seven hundred musk deer by yourselves? Not to mention anything else, when the musk deer mature, they dig out the fragrance pouches and cover them with excrement; could the two of you keep up with that?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    At that time, she and Tan Zhenghong were exhausted just watching two musk deer.


    Aunt Fu retorted with annoyance, "Madam, it was you who said that on a regular basis we don¡¯t need that many people, and to find some temporary workers to help out when the deer start digging for musk." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That could be a viable explanation, so Qiao Duo decided to stay silent.


    A single lie requires many more lies to cover it up, and with too many lies, the truth will eventually come to light.


    King Qin then turned to Bai Yifan, "Have you been there?"


    "Of course, I have. That hill used to be my land, which I bought to plant medicinal herbs, but the soil was poor, so I sold it to my sworn sister. I have never seen three hundred fragrance pouches, though," Bai Yifan spoke frankly.


    He had visited several times and even adjusted the deer¡¯s diet.


    Aunt Fu wiped the sweat from her forehead, "Young Master Bai, people must have a conscience. At the time, you said it could be very profitable."


    Bai Yifan bowed respectfully, "Prince, I may not have seen the fragrance pouches, but I did see one thousand taels of silver."

 Chapter 947 - 950: Just Kill with a Collision

    Chapter 947: Chapter 950: Just Kill with a CollisionAunt Fu¡¯s body trembled involuntarily, but she quickly calmed down.


    Her son had already run off with the silver, and Bai Yifan couldn¡¯t possibly know that, and the person had given two thousand taels, not one thousand.


    "Is that so, Fu Wu Clan?"


    "My man and I have sold ourselves into servitude long ago, if we had that much silver, we would have surely bought our freedom by now. Who would want their descendants to serve others forever, right?"


    Aunt Fu spoke with sincere and heartfelt words.


    This was also her most genuine thought; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed to do such a malicious deed.


    Bai Yifan said innocently, "Don¡¯t be nervous, I didn¡¯t say the silver was yours."


    Aunt Fu¡¯s heart settled back in place; Bai Yifan was indeed bluffing her.


    If that person hadn¡¯t reminded her not to easily trust others, she might have been deceived.


    "Then how did you know that all the musk was used for disaster relief?" King Qin asked again.


    "It was Madam who told me herself. She asked if she could collect the musk now, and I said there is so little musk liquid available that collecting it would be of no use. She scolded me for not raising the musk deer properly, saying I caused her to earn more than one million taels less."


    Li Zhengtian added, "Not one tael of silver is left in the coffers of White Stone County, all of it was embezzled by Qin Longyun and Qiao Duo¡¯er." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is outrageous! To profit from a national crisis, Prince, such people cannot be spared!"


    A sharp voice came through.


    "The laws of the Daxing Dynasty state that eunuchs shall not interfere with state affairs. Your presence at this trial is already an exception, please remember your place, Servant Fu."


    King Qin swept a cold glance at Servant Fu, who was favored by the Empress.


    But in his presence, Servant Fu had no special privileges.


    With gritted teeth, Servant Fu could only maintain silence and watch how things would unfold.


    Last year, King Qin drove away the people from Beijiang and even recaptured two cities that had been occupied by the previous dynasty.


    The Emperor was very pleased; not only did he appoint King Qin as the Divine Martial Art General, but his attitude towards him also became much warmer.


    Now, with King Qin in the ascendancy, a direct confrontation would not be a wise choice.


    Seeing that Servant Fu had quieted down, King Qin then said, "Show this ledger to Lord Li."


    Upon receiving the ledger, Li Zhengtian was flabbergasted.


    Every entry in the ledger was recorded clearly, and most importantly, there was a surplus of two and half million taels at the end!


    But why was there not one tael of silver when he visited the treasury?


    Qin Longyun, who had been silent, spoke up, "The treasury was found to be leaking last year, so the silver was transferred elsewhere, which unfortunately led to a misunderstanding by Lord Li."


    Li Zhengtian fell to his knees, "Prince, this ledger only shows that Lord Qin and the Qiao Clan didn¡¯t dare to embezzle all the silver. Anyway, I have never heard that musk can cure the plague. You must keep your eyes peeled so that you¡¯re not fooled by the deceitful."


    Luo Qingfeng whistled, successfully drawing everyone¡¯s attention to him.


    "If it weren¡¯t for your own ignorance, so many people might have died. If I were you, I¡¯d find a wall to bash my head against."


    Seeing that Li Zhengtian was still unconvinced, Luo Qingfeng added, "It¡¯s simple to test if musk is effective. Just contract the plague yourself, then drink medicine without musk in it."


    To him, the lives of others were mere trifles, but his own was different.


    But he had spoken the words himself; if he accidentally died, it would just be his own doing.


    "This is a good idea. Once the case is closed, send him to the quarantine area, and he will surely be convinced," King Qin agreed heartily.


    Different methods must be employed for different people.


    "Prince, isn¡¯t this somewhat partial on your part?"


    Servant Fu reminded.

 Chapter 948 - 951 Accuse Him

    Chapter 948: Chapter 951 Accuse HimKing Qin fiddled with the Court Beating Wood, as if speaking offhandedly, "It is universally acknowledged by all doctors that musk, once added to medicine, works wonders against epidemic diseases."


    "Furthermore, according to the account books, the relief for White Stone Town totaled two hundred thousand taels of silver. Servant Fu, if you are willing, I too will give you two hundred thousand taels to go and provide relief in Cheng County. If there¡¯s any surplus, I will immediately deal with Lord Qin," he said.


    Who would dare to guarantee that only two hundred thousand taels would suffice for disaster relief when using musk?


    Even he himself would not dare to make such a guarantee.


    Yet Qin Longyun managed to do so, which proved just how beloved he was in White Stone County.


    If there weren¡¯t enough trust and recognition, who would be willing to help out?


    What was most precious was that besides wealthy households providing silver, medicine, and food, the common people also organized themselves to gather herbs in the mountains, to alleviate the imperial burden.


    How could someone dare to strike at an official so loved by the people? Did they really think those above were all clueless?


    "Perhaps the Prince has forgotten the charges against Lord Qin for smuggling salt and iron."


    King Qin, accepting Servant Fu¡¯s advice humbly, said, "No rush, we must investigate each case one by one. Let¡¯s now look into the salt and iron case. Eleven, share your findings."


    His guard was comprised of nineteen personnel, each named by a number.


    "Prince, this subordinate discovered remnants of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village in Lady Qin¡¯s shop. To take revenge on Lord Qin, they concocted this plot. They also produced correspondence with Lord Li, proving that Lord Li was an accomplice," Eleven reported.


    This raised deep questions about why Li Zhengtian had arrested Qin Longyun.


    The whole Daxing Dynasty abhorred bandits, yet an official colluding with them¡ªwhat else could that be if not treason?


    Li Zhengtian, in a panic, blurted out, "You...you¡¯re talking nonsense!"


    "I had someone authenticate it; the handwriting is indeed yours," Eleven said calmly, producing the letters. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The remnants of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village left the letters with the goal of extorting Li Zhengtian once their plan succeeded. They never expected the letters would become ironclad evidence of his crimes.


    Li Zhengtian¡¯s face turned pale instantly.


    Many things can be falsified, but handwriting is a habit formed over many years, and even the most skilled individual can¡¯t perfectly replicate it.


    Moreover, he was left-handed; the chances of the handwriting being forged were even slimmer.


    "Does anyone present have any further questions? If not, I will proceed with the judgment," said the Prince.


    Servant Fu was almost grinding his teeth in frustration, wondering why King Qin had so readily agreed to his request for a public trial.


    It turned out King Qin had been well-prepared, just waiting to slap him in the face!


    He knew he had to remind the Empress and Prince Liang to eliminate King Qin as soon as possible; otherwise, if King Qin continued to grow in power, there would likely be trouble down the line.


    Everyone in attendance looked toward Servant Fu, who was backed by Prince Liang. With both sides in a state of hostility, it was uncertain who would come out on top.


    "Prince, I wish to accuse Lord Li and Prince Liang," Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly said.


    "Speak," replied the Prince.


    An accusation against Prince Liang was exactly what King Qin could hope for.


    His own mother had died wrongfully, and the Empress could not be separated from the blame. He had just been looking for an excuse to take action against them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath and slowly outlined the crimes of the two men.


    "Lord Li came this time with four carts of supplies, all of inferior quality. His subordinates said he had given the relief funds to Prince Liang. However, feeling that the relief funds were inadequate, he contemplated setting the city on fire."


    "Lord Li once sent men to assassinate me and Lady Qin. Fortunately, at that time, Young Master Bai had sent men to secretly protect me and Lady Qin. We even captured an assassin on the spot, who had a marker from the Li Family on him. But because he was sheltered by Prince Liang, Li Zhengtian escaped punishment," Qiao Duo¡¯er alleged.

 Chapter 949 - 952: Heartache

    Chapter 949: Chapter 952: Heartache"Last year when Lord Yu went to Ning Tian Mansion to investigate a case, Lord Li had evidently accepted bribes, and Lord Yu had already made a ruling, yet Prince Liang protected him anyway."


    "I think you owe me an explanation for these matters."


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er finished speaking, many in the court drew a sharp breath of cold air.


    Anyone who thought about these issues could understand them, but she was the only one bold enough to speak so bluntly.


    But all they wanted to say was well done!


    Servant Fu was so angry that his hands shook: "You... you actually dare to slander Prince Liang, are you tired of living?!"


    "Prince, you¡¯ll protect me, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked steadily at King Qin, thinking that after telling such a major truth, she needed to find a strong backer, or else someone might want to kill her.


    King Qin, meticulous as ever, said, "Of course, anyone who dares to harm you is going against me. I have taken note of all that you have said; I will continue the investigation. For now, I declare Lord Qin and the Tan Family innocent, and all others are to be taken into custody awaiting trial, including Servant Fu."


    Besides, he would also send people to protect the Qiao Clan.


    Even as a man, he couldn¡¯t help but admire this woman.


    Servant Fu was stunned: "Prince, all this is nonsense from this woman, why detain me?"


    King Qin countered, "If the report is true, do you think the silver made its way to the Capital by itself?"


    There must be an intermediary, and the most suspicious individual is Servant Fu.


    Because the impact was bad, and the amount of money involved was significant, suspicious individuals had to be controlled.


    Servant Fu wanted to resist, but he was no match for the guard, who hauled him away like a small chicken.


    However, he had been clever enough to thrive in the palace, and seeing there was no turning back from this matter, he conceded.


    "Court is adjourned."


    King Qin declared authoritatively.


    King Qin¡¯s efficiency pleased Qiao Duo; those who lead armies should be this decisive.


    Amid a drawn-out cry of "majestic," Qin Longyun and his wife, Tan Zhenghong, returned to the back courtyard together.


    "Thank you for taking care of Ling¡¯er, and thank you for doing everything possible to clear my name. I will remember this kindness in my heart."


    Qin Longyun bowed to them both, for it was because of them that he had been less worried during his days in prison.


    "If we were the unfortunate ones, you¡¯d have done no less for us, so no need for thanks. Go see Ling¡¯er now; she and Little Ruirui are in the birthing room," urged Qiao Duo.


    If Ling¡¯er found out that the first thing Qin Long did upon returning wasn¡¯t to see her, the consequences would be severe.


    Qin Long looked at his dirty clothes but suppressed his longing heart: "I¡¯ll take a bath first."


    Otherwise, he would not only scare his wife but also ruin his image.


    "Alright, while you clean yourself up, think about how to coax Ling¡¯er later. Don¡¯t come to me if you can¡¯t manage it," Qiao Duo hinted. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She really wanted to tell Lord Qin, "At a time like this, can you afford not to be so rational?"


    Suddenly, Qin Long realized that his wife would probably not have the heart to blame him upon seeing his disheveled appearance.


    So he showed up at the birthing room, just as messy as he was.


    Knowing today was the day of the public trial, Chen Yiling had been waiting for the outcome, thus she had not slept.


    "My dear wife, I¡¯m back," Qin Long said with guilt.


    He couldn¡¯t even say that he loved and cared for her anymore because each time she needed encouragement the most, he was never there.


    It was the same when she first became pregnant and at the time of childbirth.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes reddened, her previous anger replaced with heartache.


    It¡¯s likely that Qin Long had never suffered like this in his lifetime.

 Chapter 950 - 953: Ugly in one word!

    Chapter 950: Chapter 953: Ugly in one word!"You... how did you become like this?"


    Disheveled and filthy, with several dried bloodstains on his prison clothes, who dared to treat her beloved husband in such a way?


    Qin Longyun didn¡¯t mind it in the slightest and simply said, "This is what it¡¯s like in prison, I¡¯m actually one of the better-off ones."


    But Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but have tears in her eyes, she knew life in prison was tough, but she never imagined it would reduce the proud and spirited Qin Longyun to such a state.


    At this moment, Qin Longyun could pass for a beggar on the streets without any makeup.


    Qin Longyun quickly reassured her, "If I couldn¡¯t even endure this much hardship, what kind of man would I be? You just gave birth, crying will hurt your eyes."


    "You jerk, coming back only now, do you know how worried I was? I was so afraid that I wouldn¡¯t see you again."


    Chen Yiling sniffled, worrying during labor that she might not wake up, and after giving birth, fearing Qin Longyun might be assassinated.


    "Miss, today is a day of celebration, don¡¯t speak such ominous words."


    ChunTao reminded.


    Today Mr. Son-in-law has returned safely, and a new member has been added to the family; what a glorious day, why spoil it by talking about things like never seeing each other again?


    Qin Longyun nodded repeatedly in haste, "From now on, we¡¯ll be a family of three, we need to stay together properly, I also promise I¡¯ll never leave you again."


    If worst came to worst, he would resign his official post and take Ling¡¯er to live in seclusion in their hometown.


    Only those who have experienced it know how insignificant dreams and aspirations are compared to family.


    The phrase ¡¯a family of three¡¯ struck a chord with Chen Yiling, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    She had the fruit of her and Qin Longyun¡¯s love.


    Qin Longyun wanted to tease Chen Yiling¡¯s nose, but seeing his original skin color on his hand, he withdrew.


    His wife was so clean and pretty, for sure his hand would leave a dark mark, so he decided against it.


    "You¡¯re filthy, go get cleaned up before you talk to me," Chen Yiling said with a look of disgust.


    Qin Longyun obediently nodded and after cleaning himself up, he hurried back into the room.


    "Just in time, the little master has just woken up. Mr. Son-in-law, you can hold him." ChunTao brought over the little master who had just had his diaper changed.


    Seeing the soft little thing for the first time, Qin Longyun was pleasantly surprised. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking that this was his blood-connected son, he found life to be a very wonderful thing.


    Qin Longyun carefully took the child, and with ChunTao¡¯s help, he quickly got the hang of it.


    "Wife, thank you for giving me such a beautiful son."


    Qin Longyun lowered his head and gently left a kiss on Little Ruirui¡¯s face.


    Chen Yiling also glanced at Little Ruirui and couldn¡¯t help but criticize, "Where is he beautiful? He¡¯s actually quite ugly."


    Looking at the little, wrinkled red thing in her arms, she felt repressed.


    If this weren¡¯t the little one she had endured a tough pregnancy and labor to bring into the world, she would have definitely tossed him out.


    Qin Longyun disagreed and said, "A child should look like this when just born, right? My mother also said I was a little monster when I was born, do you think I¡¯m still ugly now?"


    He also heard people say that babies who are ugly when they¡¯re little turn out to be beautiful when they grow up.


    So, it¡¯s okay for the baby to be a little ugly now; he¡¯ll be fine once he¡¯s a bit older.


    "Ugly," Chen Yiling said seriously.


    Qin Longyun felt helpless; she was already a mother, how could she still be so mischievous?


    He believed his current face was hopelessly handsome; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have captured Chen Yiling¡¯s heart.


    Seeing Qin Longyun safe and sound, Chen Yiling¡¯s drowsiness returned.


    Qin Longyun hadn¡¯t slept well in jail either, so he simply decided to sleep with his wife, putting off all matters until after they woke up.

 Chapter 951 - 954: Can You Give Me a Smile?

    Chapter 951: Chapter 954: Can You Give Me a Smile?The next day, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er came to see the little one.


    The month-old baby mostly just ate and slept, and they happened to come when Little Ruirui was sleeping soundly, so they quietly left again.


    While seeing them out, Qin Longyun whispered, "I¡¯m very grateful, everything went smoothly."


    Last night they had employed a Self Harming Trick, which indeed proved quite effective.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked, "Words alone aren¡¯t enough, when will you take some real action?"


    "Absolutely!"


    Qin Longyun nodded hurriedly, feeling uneasy until he could repay the favor.


    After lunch, Qin Longyun left a wet kiss on Chen Yiling¡¯s face.


    "I¡¯ll step out this afternoon and come back to have dinner with you," Qin Longyun said tenderly. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling pouted and asked, "You¡¯re going out again?"


    Shouldn¡¯t he be staying home and keeping her company properly?


    "Now that King Qin is stationed in White Stone County, and I¡¯m the County Magistrate, it wouldn¡¯t look right if I didn¡¯t show my face," Qin Longyun explained.


    But King Qin was not one to drag things out; she didn¡¯t need to worry about him loitering too late.


    "You said King Qin has arrived?" Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    "What¡¯s the matter?"


    Qin Longyun looked at Chen Yiling in puzzlement; he had heard of King Qin¡¯s distant and stern character¡ªcould his wife possibly know him?


    "He¡¯s my sworn brother, please invite him over," Chen Yiling exclaimed excitedly.


    At the time of her wedding, King Qin had been defending the border and probably didn¡¯t even know she was married and had a child.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s mouth fell open; he was dying to know how his wife managed to become sworn siblings with the aloof King Qin¡ªit was utterly unbelievable!


    But since his wife had spoken, he could only obey, "I¡¯ll speak to King Qin, but there¡¯s been a lot happening these last few days; I¡¯m not sure he¡¯ll be able to make time."


    What he really meant was he wasn¡¯t sure King Qin would come at all.


    He used to think himself quite serious, but compared to King Qin, he was but a minor sorcerer before a great wizard.


    "Don¡¯t worry, no matter how busy, he will come," Chen Yiling said with certainty.


    Even though she hadn¡¯t seen him in many years, she was still confident about the bond they shared during their childhood.


    Indeed, King Qin arrived that evening.


    Having been on the frontier for a decade, the years of warfare had earned him the title of war hero and also a frosty demeanor. His mere presence in the room caused the atmospheric pressure to spike, and all the maids lowered their heads.


    The maids trembled and King Qin frowned slightly, "You may all leave."


    After all, Chen Yiling was the only one he wished to see.


    The maids scattered like pardoned convicts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er remained in place, not because she didn¡¯t want to leave, but because Chen Yiling was clutching her clothes tightly.


    Wasn¡¯t King Qin her sworn brother? Why did it seem like she was scared stiff?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er extricated her clothes from Chen Yiling¡¯s grasp, "Ling¡¯er, are you okay?"


    Chen Yiling gulped; it had been twelve years, and she had no idea that King Qin was no longer the frail young man he once was.


    Ah... she finally understood the feeling of everything changing.


    King Qin touched his nose; was he really that frightening?


    In a feeble voice, Chen Yiling said, "Big Brother King Qin, could you please smile?"


    King Qin¡¯s eye twitched, and it took great effort for him to muster a smile; he hadn¡¯t smiled in so long that the expression seemed stiff.


    His awkward look made Qiao Duo¡¯er wonder if he was suffering from facial paralysis.


    But, at last, he smiled, and Chen Yiling¡¯s tense heartstrings eased. King Qin had undergone a drastic transformation, but he harbored no malice towards her.

 Chapter 952 - 955: Toothless Little Child

    Chapter 952: Chapter 955: Toothless Little Child"Little girl, it¡¯s only been a few years since I¡¯ve seen you, and I never expected you to be a mother now."


    The words were meant to be tender, but coming from King Qin, they felt utterly cold.


    Realizing that his tone was off, he said weakly in explanation, "I¡¯ve been on the frontier for so long, that¡¯s just how I¡¯ve become. No other meaning intended."


    Every battle was an ordeal of life and death, and with all the hidden dangers ever-present, over time he had grown accustomed to hiding his emotions. Put simply, his face was always stern, and now changing that habit seemed quite difficult.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s heart winced slightly, "I know these years must have been very hard for you."


    Many in the palace eyed him with ill intent, and had he not turned into what he was now, he very likely would have died under some sinister plot.


    "Being alive is good enough."


    King Qin said this indifferently, but those four words were all the more poignant for it.


    He was born of noble status, destined to sit above the rest, receiving the adoration of all.


    Yet his wish was extraordinarily simple: merely to stay alive.


    Having stood by silently all this while, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly changed her opinion. Someone who could remain so open-minded after enduring such hardships must fundamentally be kind-hearted.


    She was unable to change the existing social system, but she could hope to meet a wise and just ruler.


    History in China hadn¡¯t there been an enlightened emperor like Emperor Qin Han Wu?


    King Qin¡¯s eyes landed again on the Little Ruirui that Duo¡¯er was holding, clearly he was interested.


    "Give him to me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly passed the child over, yet in her heart, she was worried that Little Ruirui might get frightened.


    King Qin did not reach out to take him, but asked instead, "How do I hold him?"


    "Support his bottom with one hand and his head and neck with the other, try to keep both hands at the same level; this way you won¡¯t harm him." Qiao Duo¡¯er explained the technique.


    It really was quite simple, just a matter of protecting the newborn¡¯s head, neck, and spine.


    Following Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s instructions, King Qin gingerly took the baby. The little fellow was only about seven or eight pounds, but to him, it felt as if he was lifting something tremendously heavy.


    Chen Yiling said with a smile, "Relax a bit, you being so tense is actually making him uncomfortable."


    King Qin, however, did not dare to relax. Every child was a mother¡¯s life; he did not want to make a woman heartbroken due to his own carelessness.


    "Bring your hands back a little to let him lean against you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gently shifted Little Ruirui into King Qin¡¯s embrace, making the scene look a bit less strange.


    King Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the little guy wasn¡¯t so cooperative and started to wail at the top of his lungs.


    "What¡¯s wrong with him?" King Qin asked with a scowl.


    He never should have dealt with this toothless little child; the crying was too unpleasant to bear.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instinctively glanced at Qin Mingrui¡¯s diaper and saw that it was indeed wet. Because the baby had urinated quite a bit, King Qin¡¯s clothes were also stained, and she wondered what he would think.


    King Qin realized what had happened as his clothes were now wet.


    Hmm... this kid¡¯s got nerve, presenting him with such a "special" gift for their first encounter. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling felt the atmosphere in the room turn awkward and couldn¡¯t help but say, "What¡¯s going on? Someone please say something!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke up faintly, "He wet himself."


    "Go call ChunTao here, and have her prepare a change of clothes for the Prince."


    Chen Yiling shot Qiao Duo¡¯er a look, urging her to quickly take Rui Rui back before King Qin could snap at him.


    King Qin must have had an incredibly tough time at the frontier, but his status meant he could ill afford to endure such an incident.

 Chapter 953 - 956: Desperate for face

    Chapter 953: Chapter 956: Desperate for faceQiao Duo¡¯er also had such worries, but when she went to hand him the thing, King Qin said, "Leave it be, my clothes are already dirty. Bring me a diaper."


    He hadn¡¯t had much contact with children, but he knew the basics.


    Now, apart from him, there were only two women in the room, one who had just given birth and one with a belly so large it was frightening. He figured he might as well do it himself. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, he had commanded thousands of troops; changing a diaper should be no problem.


    Seeing that King Qin was not joking, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly fetched a diaper for him.


    "How do I do this?" King Qin asked with an expressionless face.


    Would it be embarrassing to admit he didn¡¯t know how to change a diaper?


    "Just put him down first, then lift his bottom, remove the dirty one, put the clean one underneath, and let me handle the rest," she instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er played the role of a tutor once again, but she stood a bit farther away because she was very sensitive to the smell and felt like vomiting if she got too close.


    King Qin¡¯s movements were clumsy, but he managed to get the clean diaper in place with some fumbling around.


    Perhaps Little Ruirui felt comfortable with the diaper underneath him and decided it was a good time to relieve himself again, so he strained and pushed out another heap of poo.


    This was too much for King Qin, who, with a grimace, said, "How can your child be like this?"


    Had he not dodged quickly, it would have ended up all over his hands.


    Chen Yiling replied helplessly, "Just hurry up and find yourself a queen, let her bear you a child, and then you¡¯ll realize your own child would do the same."


    All the young ladies in the Capital knew that since his youth, King Qin had been fond of one person, but for some reason, he had not succeeded in winning her over even now.


    "Impossible!" King Qin immediately dismissed the idea.


    How could his son urinate and then immediately defecate? Surely his child would not do such a foolish thing.


    "Try it and you¡¯ll see," said Chen Yiling, uninterested in arguing further.


    The most King Qin¡¯s son could do would be to defecate and then urinate, since eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping are unavoidable for every mortal.


    King Qin, sure that his own son would not be so... unsophisticated, did not bother to argue with Chen Yiling. Instead, he turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Now what?"


    "This is serious. You¡¯ll need to get some water to wash him first and then change the diaper," she explained.


    King Qin frowned deeply. Was he actually expected to do this?


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "Don¡¯t tease him anymore. He has been pampered all his life; how could he know how to do this? Call ChunTao over."


    Now, there was hardly any emotion on King Qin¡¯s face, but he gave off an entirely different impression.


    Where there was once fear, there was now a sense of his being adorable.


    King Qin, thinking Chen Yiling was mocking him, instantly retorted, "How could such a trifle defeat me?"


    Looking again at the mess, he steeled himself, poured water from a nearby teapot, mixed it with cold water to make it lukewarm, dampened a towel, moved away the soiled diaper, and then wiped clean spot by spot.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took over the final steps, impressed that a prince had managed to do so much.


    After helping Little Ruirui with his diaper, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed King Qin washing his hands vigorously, as if trying to scrub off a layer of skin.


    Unable to watch this any longer, Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him, "Little Ruirui is only drinking milk; it¡¯s not smelly."


    King Qin grimaced. He just wanted to say that even if it wasn¡¯t smelly, it was still poo!


    By the time he had finished all this, Ling¡¯er and Duo¡¯er were not in the least bit afraid of him anymore.


    It turned out that King Qin only looked intimidating; beneath that icy exterior was a soft, warm heart.


    Chen Yiling gave Duo¡¯er a look, and understanding what she was implying, Duo¡¯er immediately took a sachet from Chen Yiling¡¯s makeup box.

 Chapter 954 - 957 The Vengeful Person

    Chapter 954: Chapter 957 The Vengeful PersonAfter King Qin wiped his hands, she passed it over.


    "Is this... a reward Silver?" King Qin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    When had he stooped to taking reward Silver from a woman? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "To be precise, it¡¯s a celebratory Silver. When someone does something they¡¯ve never done before, they should be given congratulatory money."


    King Qin thought about it and realized he indeed had never changed a child¡¯s diaper before, so he accepted it.


    Opening the purse, he found two Golden Melon Seeds inside and his expression changed.


    ...Was this really not a joke?


    After all, he was a Prince, and also acted as the Mighty General. Was he receiving two Golden Melon Seeds for changing a child¡¯s diaper?


    Chen Yiling was secretly thrilled, she had the mighty commander Qin Longyun do chores, and now she finally got her revenge.


    "Don¡¯t think it¡¯s too little. My husband is only a Seventh Grade Sesame Official."


    King Qin plunked down on a stool, "Are you suggesting a salary increase?"


    "If you feel it¡¯s necessary and decide to do it, I won¡¯t stop you."


    Chen Yiling readily agreed, who would complain about having more of their own Silver, right?


    King Qin, with a stern face, said, "How much salary does a Seventh Grade Sesame Official even earn to be rewarding people with Golden Melon Seeds? I¡¯ve decided to conduct a thorough investigation."


    "Investigate if you must, but when I return to the Capital, I¡¯ll have to speak with the Imperial Concubine. It seems someone can¡¯t resist taking advantage of her elder¡¯s dowry gift," said Chen Yiling with a smirk.


    In the Royal Family, the only ones she could approach were King Qin and the Imperial Concubine, and the relationship between King Qin and the Imperial Concubine was also quite good.


    King Qin said no more; men could never outtalk women, otherwise, it would be men who were always arguing in the streets.


    Perhaps feeling that what he had just done was beneath his dignity, King Qin didn¡¯t stay much longer before he left.


    Before leaving, he gave Qin Mingrui a special look, which probably meant that a gentleman¡¯s revenge could wait ten years.


    After King Qin left, Chen Yiling asked eagerly, "What do you think of King Qin?"


    With the imperial succession at hand, it was time to take sides.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a while before saying, "If he can maintain his current intentions, he should be a wise king."


    "I think so too. He has seen the people¡¯s suffering and will not make unreasonable decisions. But the affairs of the Royal Family are too complex; no one can be sure of the final outcome," sighed Chen Yiling.


    She hoped King Qin would ascend to the throne, for he was the most suitable candidate.


    Then his hardships would end.


    "Let¡¯s not worry too much about it; our opinions don¡¯t count for much anyway. Better to just let things take their natural course," said Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    At most, they¡¯d lend a hand when necessary, because the happiness of the people depended on a wise ruler, and she was one of the commoners.


    Chen Yiling no longer dwelled on it and had Qiao Duo¡¯er bring Rui Rui over.


    "In the future, have some foresight; it¡¯s enough to attract your father¡¯s attention. Just don¡¯t do it on distinguished guests, got it?"


    Chen Yiling tapped Rui Rui¡¯s forehead.


    It was a good thing it was King Qin today; anyone else might have ended up dead.


    But Little Ruirui was completely unaware of the danger that had passed, still happily blowing milk bubbles to himself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly, "I think it¡¯s an honor for Rui Rui. He¡¯s probably the only baby who could enjoy such treatment."


    With this experience, King Qin would surely keep his distance from all babies, let alone take care of changing diapers.


    "And his own child. It wouldn¡¯t be right if he didn¡¯t help change a diaper at least once," added Chen Yiling.


    She had already made up her mind to ask King Qin when he had a child.


    Yes... that¡¯s how she held a grudge.

 Chapter 955 - 958 Clues

    Chapter 955: Chapter 958 CluesKing Qin was decisive and swift in his actions, so none beneath him dared to slack off, reducing the pressure of disaster relief significantly.


    Qin Yunlong finally found the time to deal with Hu Banxian, and this time he was truly ruthless, applying all one hundred and eight sets of torture devices in sequence, fearing he would not break Hu Banxian¡¯s silence.


    It was not until the seventy-eighth form of punishment that Hu Banxian collapsed, spilling everything he knew.


    Honestly, death isn¡¯t scary, what¡¯s terrifying is when someone who wants to die can¡¯t.


    Hu Banxian coughed up a mouthful of Bloody Water. By then, his mouth was so swollen he could barely speak, but he managed to make himself understood.


    "Last year, only the headman was burned to death in the fire. The night before the attack on Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, he selected fifty people to escort Second Master and Third Master to safety."


    Qin Longyun frowned, "But Xuan San was poisoned."


    The bones of a poisoned person turn black after death, and a Silver Needle test will also blacken. The signs are unmistakable.


    He had personally watched the Wu Zuo conduct the autopsy, concluding that Xuan San had perished in the flames.


    "The poisoned one was the headman. He drew the poison into himself, how he did it I don¡¯t know."


    Hu Banxian revealed all that he knew, but he was just a minor figure in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and unaware of many things.


    Qin Longyun decided not to dwell on this matter any longer, knowing Xuan Er and Xuan San were still alive was enough.


    What he was more interested in now was another matter.


    "Does the plague have anything to do with Xuan Eagle Mountain Village?"


    "I don¡¯t know either," Hu Banxian still shook his head, but seeing Qin Longyun¡¯s suddenly dark expression, he hurriedly added, "I only know that Third Master left with a caravan after the New Year and didn¡¯t return until just before the Dragon Boat Festival. But after that, he wasn¡¯t seen again."


    Qin Longyun took a deep breath, but he knew he would get no more information from Hu Banxian.


    Upon leaving the prison, he immediately sought an audience with King Qin to report that Xuan Er and Xuan San were still alive.


    Now that disaster relief was much easier than before, he should be able to spare some manpower to track them down.


    If these two were not removed, danger could occur at any time.


    After listening, King Qin said gravely, "I don¡¯t think this epidemic is simple. Do not act recklessly for now; let me figure it out first."


    Beijiang People now believed that Daxing had suffered a severe blow to its vitality and had gathered a considerable army outside the border, poised to strike. Perhaps at the next moment, they might forcefully attack the city, so King Qin suspected Beijiang People played a role in this.


    Based on his experience, the most likely scenario was that Xuan San had collaborated with Beijiang People.


    He now had to follow the trail from Xuan Eagle Mountain Village and try to unearth those Beijiang People behind it as well.


    "Yes," said Qin Longyun, nodding at once.


    It just so happened that this way he could also spend enough time with his wife.


    By late August, the plague had been largely eradicated, and King Qin had new findings.


    Scouts reported that Prince Kuro of Beijiang had been away from Beijiang for nearly four months, leading him to suspect that Kuro was the mastermind behind all this. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The second finding was that during the plague¡¯s chaos, Xuan Eagle Mountain Village had managed to infiltrate the Government Office, presenting a golden opportunity that King Qin did not want to miss.


    If he didn¡¯t use this lead to dig out Xuan San, it would be a disservice to his own intellect.


    Thus, this evening, King Qin set up a banquet on the first floor, officially to commend two officials.


    When Tan Zhenghong arrived, however, he saw two Qiao Duo¡¯ers in the room.


    Thinking he was seeing things, he blinked vigorously, but the vision before him remained unchanged. What scene was this?


    He believed his wife was the best woman in the world. Because she was the best, one of her was enough.

 Chapter 956 - 959: Once in a Thousand Years

    Chapter 956: Chapter 959: Once in a Thousand Years"Let¡¯s see which one is your wife, and if you pick the wrong one, you can only take the wrong one home," Qin Longyun said with schadenfreude.


    Tan Zhenghong loved deeply, but no one had seen just how deeply.


    Today, the time to test him had arrived. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two Qiao Duo¡¯ers had the same face, wore the same clothes, and wore the same makeup; they both exuded a cool temperament. Anyway, he couldn¡¯t see any difference between them.


    It was only then that Tan Zhenghong realized that this was a test.


    Knowing the rules of the game, what came next was not difficult for him.


    He looked over the two Duo¡¯ers and then firmly took the hand of one of them.


    "Wife, even if you turned to ashes, I would recognize you."


    Tan Zhenghong whispered boastfully in Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, trusting his feelings, which he knew were never wrong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, "You¡¯ve recognized the wrong person."


    Tan Zhenghong still insisted, "It doesn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m wrong, you¡¯re the one from now on."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless and could only roll her eyes at Tan Zhenghong. When she had first seen the other her, she felt as if she was looking in a mirror.


    How did Tan Zhenghong recognize her right away?


    That was just too unscientific!


    King Qin stood up and scrutinized both Qiao Duo¡¯ers, still finding them completely identical.


    Tan Zhenghong indeed had some tricks up his sleeve.


    He would never say such a thing, but he simply said, "The person beside me is Leng Shuang, my Guard. I have a plan I¡¯d like to hear your opinions on."


    Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong both nodded for King Qin to speak quickly.


    King Qin shared his plan to use Qiao Duo¡¯er as bait to lure out Xuan San.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s stomach was already very big, posing a safety risk. Hence, there was a need for the counterfeit Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "I think it¡¯s feasible," Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately expressed.


    Without any danger to herself, she really couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded as well, not caring about anything as long as his wife¡¯s safety was assured.


    After discussing the matter, the Guard brought in the food and drinks.


    The meal was prepared personally by the Shopkeeper, flavorful and delicious, but their hearts were preoccupied with other matters.


    Midway through the meal, Qiao Duo¡¯er stormed out of the private room with her Maid.


    The three men continued to drink and toast, during which a few graceful women entered, and none were seen leaving afterward.


    The two lackeys guarding the entrance of the first floor discussed briefly, one continued to stand guard, and the other went back to report.


    Ji Xiang Teahouse.


    "Third Master, tonight, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er had a disagreement. Tan Zhenghong even sought other women. I think this is a good opportunity to strike them individually," one reported.


    "Did you see that with your own eyes?"


    Xuan San stroked his chin, his eyes flickering coldly.


    If the situation was true, it certainly was an opportunity not to be missed.


    "There were King Qin¡¯s Guards watching around the room. I only saw women entering from afar. When they came out, each one was clutching their waist¡ªI suppose Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong had been abstaining for a while."


    Since the women at home were pregnant, they had to seek pleasures outside.


    After all, with King Qin¡¯s protection, the women at home couldn¡¯t make a fuss.


    "Keep watching, and report back immediately if there¡¯s any news."


    Xuan San¡¯s mouth curved up coldly. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Duo¡¯er discovering that musk could cure the epidemic, Ning Tian Mansion would by now be mostly reduced to ashes.


    It was she who had ruined his great plans, so let her be the first to pay tribute to Yin Yinyue and his elder brother.


    He had been waiting for this day for far too long.


    "Yes."

 Chapter 957 - 960 I Believed It All

    Chapter 957: Chapter 960 I Believed It AllThe next morning, the three men who had been gallivanting all night returned, and soon after, a quarrel broke out in the back yard.


    "You actually flirted and dallied with some cheap woman, I want a divorce!" Qiao Duo¡¯er exploded on the spot.


    Finding another woman outside? She absolutely couldn¡¯t tolerate this!


    Tan Zhenghong said roguishly, "You want a divorce while carrying my child? If we divorced, where would you go? Let me tell you, even if I married her, you¡¯d have no choice but to accept her with a smile."


    "Qiao Clan, don¡¯t be too overbearing. Which man doesn¡¯t have multiple wives and concubines?"


    King Qin pleaded earnestly.


    With King Qin backing him up, Tan Zhenghong became even more brazen, "I¡¯m not that poor youth anymore, what makes you think I should be content with just you? You are indeed beautiful, but doesn¡¯t one get tired of seeing the same thing every day?"


    Qin Longyun also chimed in, "And you¡¯re pregnant, we can¡¯t exactly be monks, right?"


    "Do you think I¡¯m like other women, who have to live by your moods? Dream on, the child and I will be just fine without you!"


    "Look at you, do you even resemble a woman anymore? Didn¡¯t your mother teach you the Three Obediences and Four Virtues? I¡¯m your husband, you should listen to everything I say!"


    "Psycho!" Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes.


    Running out of patience, Tan Zhenghong threatened, "If you keep making a scene like this, I will write the divorce letter." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No need for you to lift a finger. Last night, when you said you wanted to take a concubine, I already wrote the divorce letter. Hurry up and scram; get as far away as possible!"


    With that, she pulled out a divorce letter from her bosom and threw it at Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest.


    King Qin said with a dark face, "You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you!"


    "That¡¯s better than you smelly men who are always thinking about trivial matters and have no ambition at all!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was fierce, looking as if she was ready to fight King Qin.


    Seeing two shadows disappear from the window, Qin Longyun could no longer hold back, "Alright, I almost believed you."


    All of a sudden, King Qin swept a teacup off the table with his hand, startling everyone in the room.


    Didn¡¯t he pacify his Prince? But obviously, he made the people outside believe it.


    "I did it to make the effect look better."


    King Qin explained.


    Maybe it¡¯s because he had spent too much time in the barracks; he found it somewhat challenging to interact with people.


    The others all had three black lines on their foreheads¡ªif their hearts weren¡¯t strong enough, they wouldn¡¯t be able to handle having a cold and unconventional friend like their Prince.


    Touching his nose, King Qin said, "In the future, I¡¯ll tell you guys in advance. I¡¯m tired from the night; I¡¯ll head back early to rest."


    Both Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong resisted that idea inwardly.


    They hadn¡¯t even touched a woman¡¯s hand last night; how could they be tired from it? Weren¡¯t they blatantly lying?


    Back in the room, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately grabbed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s ear.


    Tan Zhenghong confessed right away, "Last night, I just slept on the first floor, but I slept with Qin Longyun. The two of us, men, sleeping in the same bed felt really weird; we hardly slept all night."


    Ever since Qiao Duo¡¯er explained to him what "gay" meant, he had been resistant towards men.


    "Then I¡¯ll forgive you for now." Qiao Duo¡¯er was satisfied.


    If Tan Zhenghong dared to lie in the same bed with another woman, she would tear him apart immediately.


    No, that would be letting him off too easy¡ªshe would open a brothel with Ling¡¯er, and let Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun serve old and ugly women.


    Ugh...such an eyesore.


    While Qiao Duo¡¯er was dealing with Tan Zhenghong, an impostor Qiao Duo left the Government Office with a bundle on her back.

 Chapter 958 - 961: Where’s the Face?

    Chapter 958: Chapter 961: Where¡¯s the Face?Soon, various rumors and gossip began to circulate within the Government Office. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mrs. Tan is really formidable. If it were someone else, they could only suffer in silence, but she dared to smash the Prince¡¯s teacup and then walk away without looking back. If every woman were as tough as her, that would be great."


    "You think she didn¡¯t suffer a loss? She might say she¡¯s divorcing Master Tan, but in the end, she¡¯s the one who left, right? She¡¯s even pregnant, where can she go?"


    "Alas, who knows what got into Lord Li¡¯s head this time."


    "Men are all the same, when they are nothing they can pamper their wives to the skies, but once they make something of themselves they become so arrogant, even neglecting their own flesh and blood."


    "That¡¯s why it¡¯s better to be with a beggar mother than a father who¡¯s an official!"


    Just like that, Tan Zhenghong was labeled a scumbag, and Qiao Duo¡¯er solidified her reputation as a shrew.


    Fortunately, neither of them was the sort to care about other people¡¯s opinions. Otherwise, they could be angered to death.


    In the next several days, Qiao Duo¡¯er kept herself hidden in the back courtyard of the Government Office.


    Although she didn¡¯t leave the front gate or step beyond the second, she didn¡¯t feel bored with Chen Yiling and Qin Mingrui for company.


    Meanwhile, Leng Shuang, who was disguised as Qiao Duo¡¯er, had left White Stone County in a stop-and-go manner.


    She portrayed the image of a resentful wife, furious yet reluctantly hoping for Tan Zhenghong to chase after her, to perfection, almost deceiving herself in the process.


    At night, Qiao Duo¡¯er only asked for a pot of wine.


    Drinking alone and getting thoroughly drunk, she leaned on the table, crying and laughing with the help of the alcohol¡¯s courage.


    In the end, the innkeeper¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and took her to her room.


    "Third Master, are we really going to tie her up?" Panther asked uncertainly.


    These past few days, the woman had been heartbroken, and on top of that, she was a pregnant lass. He felt like he couldn¡¯t bring himself to lay a hand on her.


    Xuan San chuckled lightly, "You¡¯re feeling pity now? But they didn¡¯t hesitate at all when they killed Silver Moon. Give the order, we make our move tonight."


    Once they left Qin Longyun¡¯s territory, it would be the best opportunity to take action.


    Panther could only nod, yet he couldn¡¯t help feeling sympathy.


    If this woman were his, he would risk his life to ensure she never suffered the slightest grievance. He really couldn¡¯t fathom what Tan Zhenghong was thinking.


    Alas, good cabbages are ruined by pigs, and yet a good man like him couldn¡¯t even find a wife.


    When the night grew deep and quiet, Xuan San and his people began their operation.


    "Third Master, the people in the inn have all been knocked out. We can proceed," Panther reported.


    Xuan San nodded, pulled up his facemask, and led two people quietly into the inn.


    The inn was utterly silent, everyone deep in sleep from the effects of the sleeping drug. They successfully reached the door of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s room.


    Xuan San slid a dagger through the gap in the door, carefully moving the latch aside bit by bit.


    The woman on the bed in the room lay on her side, the moonlight cast upon her, creating a painting so beautiful that it pained one to disturb her.


    Xuan San shook his head, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.


    His heart only had room for Yin Yinyue, and he had never been moved by any other woman. Now, he was bewildered by a pregnant woman, which was absolutely abnormal!


    By the time he figured it out, it was already too late.


    Because there was already a dagger pressed against his lower back, and the person who had been on the bed was now gone without a trace.


    "The esteemed Third Master actually uses sleeping drugs, could you be any more disgraceful?" Leng Shuang mocked.


    To think he even used a sleeping drug on a woman, where was his sense of shame?


    Did he not consider who Luo Qingfeng was? With just a little use of sleep-inducing incense, Xuan San was thrown into disarray.


    His two subordinates were even more disgraceful, still not having recovered their senses up to now.


    Xuan San gritted his teeth and said, "You are not Qiao Duo¡¯er."

 Chapter 959 - 962: Worse Than a Bear

    Chapter 959: Chapter 962: Worse Than a BearNo wonder Qiao Duo¡¯er never made a fuss all the way here, I thought she was bottling up all her sadness, but now I know it was to prevent giving herself away.


    The two voices were very different, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s voice was sweet and delicate, whereas this one... somewhat resembled a man¡¯s.


    Leng Shuang didn¡¯t reply, she merely used the chains she had previously prepared to bind Xuan San.


    She couldn¡¯t let Xuan San, whom she had taken great pains to capture, escape.


    By then, the reinforcements had arrived, and after Leng Shuang handed the person over to them, she was free to pull off the human skin mask on her face.


    Returning to her original appearance, she couldn¡¯t help but remark, "It¡¯s more comfortable to be oneself."


    Carrying someone else¡¯s face and mimicking their behavior all day, she felt like she was almost splitting into two.


    "Sister Shuang, let¡¯s go back and report our mission."


    Leng Shuang raised a finger and shook it, then approached Xuan San, and seeing that he was quite handsome, she couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to touch his face.


    "What a pity, with a face like this, you could have done anything. Why resort to being a bandit? Now, you¡¯re probably going to die," Leng Shuang said regretfully.


    The next second, a red pill slid into Xuan San¡¯s mouth.


    Leng Shuang immediately lifted his chin, forcing him to swallow it.


    Just a moment before, she showed pity, but in a blink of an eye, she had fed someone poison. Only Leng Shuang could do something like this.


    The other guards showed no change in expression because they were used to such matters.


    Because of Leng Shuang, they learned what a femme fatale truly was.


    "Traveling at night is too dangerous. I will sleep on the bed, the rest of you can sleep wherever you want except on the bed. We will resume our journey tomorrow morning."


    Leng Shuang ordered.


    They still had not fully understood the remaining strength of Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and moving at midnight could likely lead to an ambush.


    "Sister Shuang, remember to take out your belly before you go to sleep," A Jiu reminded.


    Leng Shuang glanced at her fake belly, indeed, it was necessary to remove it, as it had been causing her sleepless nights.


    She then turned her back and slowly began to undress.


    The beauty in front of them was undressing, but everyone averted their gaze, not daring to entertain any vulgar thoughts.


    Because if they did look or think inappropriately, their deaths would be extremely unpleasant.


    The next morning, Leng Shuang and her company set out on their journey.


    Leaving with hesitance and stopping repeatedly on their way, but upon returning, they rode their horses wildly; what took them several days to travel initially, they managed to cover in just half a day on their return.


    King Qin was eager to find out if there was any inside story to this epidemic and arrived at the prison at the first moment.


    "Your Highness, I took the liberty of feeding him Five Poison Powder. Should I give him the antidote?" Leng Shuang asked respectfully.


    King Qin shook his head, "No need, just keep him alive."


    Five Poison Powder acted at noon every day, causing unbearable abdominal pain that would worsen over time, eventually torturing a person to death.


    It was most suitable for dealing with a notorious bandit leader. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Leng Shuang finally let out a sigh of relief; only heaven knew how worried she was that the Prince would punish her for acting on her own.


    "Your Highness, please come with me."


    Guided by Leng Shuang, King Qin soon saw Xuan San, who was tied to a crucifix.


    King Qin appraised Xuan San with a stoic gaze.


    This was the bandit leader who had been a thorn in the Imperial side for nearly a decade; his father the emperor had even considered leading an army to flatten Xuan Eagle Mountain at one point.


    He had thought at least the bandit could be considered a hero; turned out, he was no better than a bear.


    "Now the Beijiang People are eying our borders greedily, they think the Daxing Dynasty is afflicted with the plague and want to seize the opportunity to attack Daxing. This matter cannot be unrelated to you," King Qin stood before Xuan San.


    Based on the information he had received so far, he was almost certain of his speculation.

 Chapter 960 - 963: The Rhythm of Selling Smiles

    Chapter 960: Chapter 963: The Rhythm of Selling Smiles"Without Silver Moon and my elder brother, what do I want with Daxing?" Xuan San chuckled mockingly at himself.


    From the moment they died, his only reason to live was to seek revenge.


    When he got his hands on that vial of poisoned blood, he guessed that things were not simple, but what of it?


    As long as it helped him achieve his goal, it would be his ally.


    He just didn¡¯t expect King Qin to come in person.


    King Qin, frowning, said, "I have reviewed the Yin Family¡¯s records, they got what they deserved, they must bear the consequences for their actions, what¡¯s the problem? Have you ever thought about what would happen if the Beijiang people succeeded?"


    Looking back at history, whenever foreign tribes entered the Central Plains, wasn¡¯t it always steeped in the blood and tears of the people? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They looted, killed, and did all manner of evil deeds; the great lands would be destroyed in their hands.


    Can one really disregard the lives of the people of the world for the sake of a single woman?


    "I¡¯m not as noble as you, and the people of the world have nothing to do with me," Xuan San slowly replied.


    King Qin gave up trying to persuade Xuan San; most mountain bandits engage in self-serving misdeeds, what logic is there to discuss with such a person?


    He had actually entertained the fantasy that such a person would be concerned about the country and its people; it was laughable.


    King Qin cut straight to the subject: "Where is Kuro?"


    Kuro, his sworn enemy, whose life mission was to invade the Daxing Dynasty.


    "I can tell you, but you have to promise me one condition," Xuan San curved his lips slightly.


    Once in the hands of King Qin, he never thought he¡¯d still be alive, but he would never let the people who caused the death of Yin Yinyue and his elder brother off easily.


    "Let¡¯s hear it."


    "Execute Qin Longyun and the entire Tan Zhenghong family immediately."


    To trade the lives of two families for a single Kuro, in King Qin¡¯s view, was no loss at all.


    Without Kuro, the Beijiang people would no longer harass the border as frequently as before, and thus many soldiers could be spared from death.


    The most enticing part must be that, once Kuro is captured, King Qin¡¯s position in the imperial court would be more stable, and ascending to the ultimate seat would be within reach.


    "They are the meritorious subjects of the Daxing Dynasty; I have no reason to execute them," King Qin instantly refused, without any hesitation.


    To do such a thing would be dishonorable; he couldn¡¯t commit such a shameless act.


    "Then you may leave," Xuan San closed his eyes.


    He could wait, wait for King Qin to come to his senses on his own.


    "Not everyone is as bloodless as you think, I would rather marshal troops and flatten Beijiang than betray a friend," King Qin said, each word resounding heavily.


    Not everyone is like Xuan San, ready to do anything to achieve their goals.


    Others have lines they will not cross, a conscience they will not betray, and will not do things that break those lines or that conscience.


    Xuan San chuckled softly, "Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will perish him. Your Highness, think it over."


    Without seeing the heads of Qin Longyun and those people fall, he would not disclose Kuro¡¯s hiding place.


    After leaving the dungeon, King Qin made his way to the back yard.


    Now that Xuan San had been captured, Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer needed to stay in her room all day.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously, "Your Highness, why aren¡¯t you happy that Xuan San has been captured? Can¡¯t you smile just once?"


    Actually, King Qin looked quite handsome when he smiled.


    King Qin obediently curled the corners of his mouth upwards and then said, "We¡¯re still searching for Kuro; he surely means no good lurking within the Daxing Dynasty."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood; Xuan San was indeed not the sort of person who would cooperate and reveal Kuro¡¯s location.


    "Your Highness, I have an idea you might try," Qiao Duo¡¯er said mysteriously.


    King Qin immediately responded, "If it¡¯s useful, I will smile again."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth twitched slightly; was this the rhythm of selling smiles?

 Chapter 961 - 964 Vulnerable Point

    Chapter 961: Chapter 964 Vulnerable PointHis Prince¡¯s bundle had been cast to the winds.


    But who could blame him for being handsome? Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to help him this once.


    "The person Xuan San cared about the most in his life was Yin Yinyue. Even in death, he would certainly want to be buried with Yin Yinyue."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed out the crucial factor.


    Yin Yinyue was Xuan San¡¯s greatest vulnerability, and as long as she targeted the right spot, she could easily bring him down.


    The corners of King Qin¡¯s mouth curled upward into a handsome smile; he already knew what he needed to do.


    "I shall take my leave now; I will thank you another day," he said.


    King Qin returned to the prison, and his return was completely within Xuan San¡¯s expectations.


    That was more like it. Born in the Imperial family, just a step away from the throne, he didn¡¯t believe King Qin could remain indifferent.


    "Have you thought it through?"


    Xuan San asked with a smile.


    "I am going to disappoint you. The words I¡¯ve spoken I shall never retract. I came here for another matter. Just now, Liu Yuanwai told me his daughter had long harbored admiration for you. Unfortunately, she succumbed to the plague and passed away. He wishes to fulfill his daughter¡¯s last wish, to arrange a posthumous marriage for you two, so that over there, you won¡¯t be so lonely," said King Qin slowly, his tone was declarative, not up for debate.


    Although Xuan San was a bandit, he was devoted to Yin Yinyue, and many young ladies admired him for it.


    And then there was his face, captivating enough to make many a woman fall.


    So it wasn¡¯t strange that some families actively sought to arrange a posthumous marriage with him.


    Xuan San immediately said, "Impossible!"


    He hadn¡¯t been able to marry Silver Moon during her lifetime; in death, he owed it to her to explain, let alone arrange a posthumous marriage with someone else. What did that amount to?


    If that became a reality, how could he face Silver Moon?


    "This is the reward I am giving you. Even if you don¡¯t like it, you must accept it," stated King Qin, leaving no room for refusal.


    In truth, he wasn¡¯t someone who liked to be despotic, but some matters necessitated special handling.


    "I have already promised them. However, I am also aware of your deep feelings for Silver Moon, so when the time comes, in addition to burying you with Miss Liu, I will also bury Silver Moon on your right side," he said.


    At that time, favoring the left and demeaning the right was customary; burying Silver Moon on the right side of the joint grave would at most make her a lowly concubine.


    The most important thing was that the dead and the living differed; the living could divorce and remarry, but for the dead, there was hardly any room for change.


    Because no one could see how good their feelings were beneath the earth.


    Xuan San closed his eyes; he knew King Qin was threatening him, but he had no choice but to accept this threat.


    For King Qin, such matters were but a word away.


    King Qin sat down in the chair, "Don¡¯t consider it too long. After one stick of incense, I¡¯ll reply to Liu Yuanwai."


    After weighing his options, Xuan San spoke up.


    "I don¡¯t know his whereabouts, but I only know that Ling Shuang Pavilion is their contact point. If they have matters, they will contact each other there. You better bury me and Silver Moon together, otherwise, I will not let you off, even as a ghost," he said.


    King Qin nodded, "When I am in a good mood, I also occasionally like to fulfill others¡¯ wishes."


    In fact, he had never intended to separate Xuan San and Yin Yinyue, lest they bring harm upon others again.


    Ling Shuang Pavilion, one of the most famous taverns in Daxing, had branches in some slightly developed Mansion Cities.


    It was unexpected that it was also Kuro¡¯s secret stronghold.


    King Qin immediately took action; he didn¡¯t want to face enemies on both fronts when the war began. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In a very short time, Ling Shuang Pavilion had changed ownership. The only pity was that he was still a step too late and didn¡¯t catch Kuro.


    Had he been easily captured, he wouldn¡¯t be the Kuro who had given King Qin headaches for more than ten years.


    To destroy the Ling Shuang Pavilion which Kuro had operated for many years was already no small gain.

 Chapter 962 - 965: Gone?

    Chapter 962: Chapter 965: Gone?Time slipped by unnoticed, and the plague had been completely cured. Lord Qin even provided the refugees gathered in the county town with a one-time travel expense to return home.


    Those families who had lost their primary labor force were also given some compensation.


    In addition, two more Shan Halls were set up to take in orphans and elderly individuals who had lost all their children.


    In doing so, while ensuring everyone¡¯s quality of life, it also returned the people¡¯s hard-earned wealth that had been plundered by the Yin Family and Xuan Eagle Stronghold.


    In Qin Longyun¡¯s view, only when the common people were prosperous could White Stone Town get better and better.


    Gradually, the town regained its past bustle.


    Unwittingly, Little Ruirui had already turned one month old, and many people came to celebrate with gifts.


    The plague had not only broken out in White Stone County, but White Stone was the first to drive it away, and with King Qin personally coming to inspect, Lord Qin¡¯s future prospects were certainly looking up.


    So they had to make good on the relationship with him before he became too lofty to reach.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s body had not yet fully recovered and could only stay in the birthing room.


    In the birthing room, one wave of ladies and young mistresses came after another.


    Little Ruirui had the same personality as Chen Yiling, not shy with strangers, and would laugh heartily at the slightest amusement, making him extremely likable.


    "The little master is both adorable and smart, Lady Qin is truly fortunate," they said.


    What made others most envious was that she had securely obtained a son, solidifying her position even more.


    Those who wanted to push their daughters into Qin¡¯s Mansion now had even less hope.


    "He is the spitting image of Lord Qin; he will certainly be someone with great accomplishments in the future."


    "Lord Qin was the number one ranked Advanced Scholar in his second degree class, and this child will surely surpass his father, perhaps even bringing home a top scholarly title!"


    Being born into a poor family, it was impressive enough that Lord Qin already ranked first in the second degree as an Advanced Scholar.


    After all, he had far fewer resources growing up than the scions of wealthy families.


    Chen Yiling humbly said, "I do not expect him to accomplish anything extraordinary; I just hope he grows up safely."


    She did not care about fame and achievements at all; if he wished to pursue them, he would, and if not, he would not.


    Several ladies complimented her a few more times and then left together.


    Chen Yiling let out a long sigh, "Ah, I feel like my face is about to freeze from all the smiling ¨C oh, how I wish for fewer of these gatherings."


    Especially when her body had not yet recovered.


    "Where¡¯s Ruirui?" Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly realized someone was missing from the room.


    Chen Yiling looked at ChunTao: "Weren¡¯t you holding him?"


    ChunTao shook her head, the room had been nearly filled to the brim just moments ago, and everyone wanted to hold the young master. She thought the last person had given the child back to her young mistress.


    So... was the child missing?


    "ChunTao, go to the gatekeeper immediately, and have someone notify the Government Office to seal the city gates. Do not let anyone out. I will take a few people to search in different directions," Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered right away.


    They had to find him before someone could take Ruirui out of the Government Office. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At worst, they couldn¡¯t let him be taken beyond White Stone County.


    Otherwise, looking for a month-old baby in the vast sea of people would be very difficult.


    The shock was too great for Chen Yiling, who also wanted to get out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt dizzy, and if she hadn¡¯t grabbed the bedpost in time, she would have collapsed to the floor.


    "Yi Ling, you stay here. It may be that someone took him by mistake, and when they bring him back, you need to be here," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed before hastily leaving.


    They had to prepare for the worst, but also keep hope for the best.


    Burdened by pregnancy, Qiao Duo¡¯er moved more slowly and could only ask Qing Xin to inform Lord Qin and the others.


    She then carefully recalled everyone who had been in the birthing room before Ruirui disappeared.

 Chapter 963 - 966: Give It a Try

    Chapter 963: Chapter 966: Give It a TryNow, Qin Longyun¡¯s future was very bright, and with King Qin himself present today, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare to make a move so rashly, even if they held grievances against Qin Longyun.


    And the only ones who had such a big grudge against the Qin Family and were bold enough would be Xuan Er or Prince Liang¡¯s confidants.


    If it were the former, Xuan Er, having an agenda, would only use Rui Rui as a bargaining chip for revenge.


    If it were the latter, Prince Liang might have intended only to teach Qin Longyun a lesson, and if they were too slow, Rui Rui could be in great danger!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but quicken her pace, but with her belly already blocking her line of sight, her speed was limited.


    By the time she reached the front courtyard, King Qin and Qin Longyun had already taken action, and only then did she feel a bit more at ease.


    From the incident to now, at most only half a stick of incense had passed, so there should still be time.


    Chen Yiling waited in the room for a while, her last sliver of hope shattered. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She hurried to the front yard and said anxiously, "Husband, elder brother, we must save Rui Rui."


    If she lost her baby, she couldn¡¯t live on either, because her baby was her life.


    "Even if I have to turn the Daxing Dynasty upside down, I will find your son."


    King Qin clenched his fists, recalling how that little thing had peed on him and deliberately pooped while being changed. He hadn¡¯t settled this account with him yet, and someone dared to take Qin Mingrui away. Did they think he was dead?


    Qin Longyun pulled Chen Yiling into his arms: "Don¡¯t be afraid, the Prince¡¯s guards and government officials are searching the estate, surely we will be able to find our son."


    Chen Yiling nodded vigorously, but tears still blurred her eyes.


    It was all her fault; if she had been more careful, Rui Rui wouldn¡¯t have been abducted.


    King Qin¡¯s guards quickly took control of the entire Government Office, and it wasn¡¯t long before they found Xuan Er.


    With nowhere to hide, Xuan Er was eventually cornered on Lake Heart Pavilion.


    "Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll throw him into the water!" Xuan Er warned, eyeing the people around him vigilantly.


    Xuan Er¡¯s hand hovered over the water¡¯s surface, and with just a release of his grip, the child would fall in.


    The pond in the Government Office was small, but it was deep enough to drown an infant barely a month old.


    He had intended to take the child out of the Government Office and negotiate with them when Qin Longyun and the others were frantic with worry. By then, no matter what demands he made, Qin Longyun would surely agree.


    But he had never anticipated that the people of Qin¡¯s Mansion would react so swiftly, surrounding him shortly after he had taken the child.


    Negotiating now would be far less effective.


    However, being cornered like this, he had no other choice but to gamble everything.


    "Don¡¯t, please don¡¯t harm my child!" Chen Yiling pleaded.


    King Qin yanked Chen Yiling back; her near-collapsed emotions would only embolden Xuan Er.


    "What do you want to release the child?"


    Xuan Er immediately said, "Release Xuan San, and in the future, don¡¯t trouble him anymore; whatever crimes he¡¯s accused of, I¡¯ll take his place. You won¡¯t lose out."


    One for one, quite fair.


    King Qin scoffed lightly, "You¡¯re Xuan San¡¯s accomplice and should rightfully be a condemned prisoner. What right do you have to trade for Xuan San¡¯s release? Besides, you¡¯ve delivered yourself to us, do you think I will let you go?"


    "With the young master of the Qin Family accompanying me on Huangquan Road, I won¡¯t be lonely." Xuan Er said indifferently.


    If they were willing, he had no objections.


    Xuan Er¡¯s hand lowered slightly, and everyone¡¯s hearts rose to their throats.


    The Xuan Family¡¯s Three Brothers were notorious for their cruelty and countless misdeeds, but their brotherly affection was strong. Xuan Er truly might do something crazy for the sake of Xuan San.

 Chapter 964 - 967: The Mighty Prince

    Chapter 964: Chapter 967: The Mighty Prince"Ah Da, Ah Er, bring the prisoner here."


    King Qin gave Ah Da a look, as Xuan Er was on high alert and could not find an opportunity.


    Before long, Xuan San, locked in chains, was brought over; he had been continuously tormented by the Five Poison Powder and had lost a lot of weight, his body curled up as he walked.


    Seeing his younger brother in such a state, Xuan Er clenched his fists tightly.


    "What have you done to him?"


    "Xuan San has killed nearly thirty thousand people of the Daxing Dynasty; he is atoning for his sins."


    He had thought about ending Xuan San with one stroke, but he felt that would be letting him off too easily.


    When Xuan San heard Xuan Er¡¯s voice, his eyes flickered with a glimmer of light, "Second brother, you must leave quickly. There is no difference between my life and death; take good care of yourself in the future."


    Every day, he was tortured by pain to the point where death seemed preferable, and he had long lost any desire for revenge.


    Now, he only wanted to be reunited with Silver Moon quickly.


    "Third Boss, don¡¯t be stubborn. Big brother has repeatedly entrusted me to take good care of you; how could I live with myself if I were to leave you behind?"


    Xuan Er pleaded earnestly, hoping that Xuan San would cooperate with his plan.


    At this moment, all his attention was on Xuan San. King Qin seized the opportunity, lunging forward at lightning speed and grabbing the bamboo basket from Xuan Er¡¯s hand.


    He had specifically instructed Ah Da to bring Xuan San to the other side, as his chances of a successful attack from behind were greater.


    Fortunately, the little one inside the basket was still sleeping peacefully.


    In a few years, this mischievous ¡¯little thing¡¯ would be able to follow him around and call him uncle.


    At the same time, Ah Er and Ah San rushed forward and restrained Xuan Er firmly.


    All of this happened in the blink of an eye.


    "The Prince is mighty!"


    "Worthy of being King Qin, worthy of being the war god of Daxing!"


    The onlookers applauded spontaneously; as long as the Prince was present, what did they have to fear from bandits or Beijiang People?


    "Keep a close eye this time." King Qin handed Rui Rui back to Chen Yiling¡¯s arms.


    Chen Yiling nodded vigorously, tears rolling down uncontrollably¡ªthis was her precious baby, regained!


    Qin Longyun gently wiped the tears off her cheeks, "No more crying, Rui Rui is safe now."


    He had been negligent; he should have anticipated that Xuan Er would try to rescue Xuan San. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a lesson he would remember well; he needed to be more considerate in the future to prevent his family from getting hurt.


    Xuan San gritted his teeth and said, "Release my second brother!"


    His eldest brother had died for him, and now his second brother had fallen into the trap because of him; it was truly too cruel!


    King Qin spoke coldly, "You bandits have occupied Xuan Eagle Mountain, looted the people, later trafficked in illicit salt and iron, endangering national security, and this time you colluded with Beijiang People to spread a plague among the populace. What right do you have to demand that I release you? Even if I agreed, could the people you have harmed consent? Could those you have killed agree?"


    Knowing the source of the plague, everyone was furious.


    "We don¡¯t agree; they must be killed!"


    "If they are not executed, those who died at their hands won¡¯t rest in peace!"


    "We are all citizens of Daxing; why harm your own people? Heaven cannot tolerate such people!"


    "Please King Qin, administer justice for the people!"


    Everyone kneeled on the ground, no one could predict what these people might do next if they lived!


    King Qin nodded, "At the third quarter of Noon tomorrow, execute them by beheading in public."


    Considering that it was Qin Mingrui¡¯s full month celebration today, King Qin quickly ordered people to take Xuan Er and Xuan San down.


    Xuan Er and Xuan San received the punishment they deserved, and everyone¡¯s blood was boiling.

 Chapter 965 - 968 Suspicious Mud Stains

    Chapter 965: Chapter 968 Suspicious Mud StainsQin Mingrui had successfully been found, and the women, in groups of threes and fives, returned to the back yard.


    Although they all wanted to see the splendor of King Qin again, the distinction between men and women had to be to observed, and they had to consider their own status.


    Moving around, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly noticed the mud stain on the hem of Du Yingxue¡¯s skirt; if she remembered correctly, the basket Xuan San had just carried also had mud hanging from it.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, she had been in the birthing room the whole time, and if Xuan Er had appeared, it would have been unreasonable for her not to notice.


    Back then, the room was filled with women, and a man¡¯s presence would have been very conspicuous. Even if she hadn¡¯t paid attention, there was a room full of people at the time¡ªhad none of them noticed?


    The only explanation was that a female member of the family must have collaborated with Xuan San to carry the child out before handing the child over to Xuan San.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly glanced over everyone¡¯s hemlines; apart from Du Yingxue¡¯s, everyone else¡¯s skirts were neat.


    "Miss Du, why are you in such a hurry?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er called out to Du Yingxue with a harmless smile on her face.


    Du Yingxue replied impatiently, "Mrs. Tan, are you even going to manage my bathroom affairs?"


    "It¡¯s understandable for people to have urgent needs, I only wanted to remind you to wash your hemline," Qiao Duo¡¯er purposely spoke loudly.


    Du Yingxue looked down and said in a fluster, "Thank you for the reminder, Mrs. Tan. It must have been from when I was carelessly searching for the young master just now."


    It had rained yesterday, and getting a bit of mud on oneself was normal¡ªit should cover things up.


    "Don¡¯t mention it; it just looks a bit like the outline of a basket."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said seemingly offhandedly, but she was always paying attention to Du Yingxue¡¯s expression.


    With just one look, Qiao Duo¡¯er had an idea.


    Madam Qian¡¯s gaze was complex, "It does indeed look quite like the basket that was carrying the young master."


    If Du Yingxue had been in contact with that basket before... could it have been Du Yingxue who handed the child over to Xuan San?


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Qiao Hua¡¯er said displeased.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised, judging by Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s manner, she must be the Du family¡¯s legitimate madam.


    Hmm... not bad tactics.


    Seeing the astonishment in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes, Qiao Hua¡¯er felt even more proud.


    This time, Du Haofeng had contracted the plague and was unconscious.


    She had bribed a Jianghu Sorcerer to declare that her birth chart would bring prosperity to her husband, and by marrying her, Haofeng¡¯s safety was ensured and they could bear a precious child. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Du family, panicking, immediately believed the sorcerer and took her in as a wife.


    Indeed, on the third day after she entered their home, she claimed she had a medicine to treat the plague, and the Du Family Members¡¯ faith in the sorcerer¡¯s words only grew stronger.


    Now, even her mother-in-law was willing to bring her along to social gatherings.


    However, what disappointed Qiao Hua¡¯er was that after only one glance at her, Qiao Duo¡¯er then proceeded to ignore her existence. What did this mean?


    "This might be a misunderstanding, the Du family has no animosity with the Qin family, and wouldn¡¯t do such a thing," someone suggested.


    "But it really is the mark of bamboo strips, just like the basket Xuan San was carrying."


    "It could also be from somewhere it rubbed against, we mustn¡¯t make unfounded speculations."


    The mud on Du Yingxue¡¯s skirt became the subject of everyone¡¯s discussion.


    Upon hearing unfavorable comments about Du Yingxue, Qiao Hua¡¯er immediately retorted, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, Yingxue is very kind, she wouldn¡¯t even harm an ant in ordinary times."


    As Yingxue¡¯s sister-in-law, it was her responsibility to protect her.


    If she could appease Yingxue, her days in the Du family would also become much easier.


    Upon hearing something related to her son, Chen Yiling could not help but take a closer look, and when she saw that mark, she became unsettled.


    "ChunTao, go and call over the Prince and my husband, please."

 Chapter 966 - 969: Is This How You Treat Your Guests?

    Chapter 966: Chapter 969: Is This How You Treat Your Guests?ChunTao hurried to the front courtyard, fearing that if the person who harmed the young master didn¡¯t receive their due punishment, others might target the young master again in the future.


    This time the young master was fortunate enough to have a narrow escape, but what about next time?


    With clenched teeth, Du Yingxue demanded, "What do you mean by this?"


    "We are guests here; you can¡¯t bully people like this!" Qiao Hua¡¯er also spoke up, dissatisfied.


    "I just want to know the truth. If I have misunderstood you, I will apologize," Chen Yiling stated earnestly.


    Of course, if it were proved to be Du Yingxue, she would certainly not let it go easily.


    Panic filled Du Yingxue¡¯s heart, but fortunately, Qiao Hua¡¯er stood firmly in front of her.


    "You¡¯ve smeared my sister¡¯s reputation; do you think an apology is enough? The Qin Family might have some status, but how can you slander a guest like this?"


    Chen Yiling glanced at Qiao Hua¡¯er and decided to remain silent for the sake of Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Lady Qin just lost her son; it¡¯s only natural for her to want to clarify the situation. Moreover, she never directly accused Du Yingxue of being the murderer, so how can you say she¡¯s been slandered?"


    "If it were me, I would want to clear things up as well; otherwise, there¡¯s always an unease in everyone¡¯s hearts."


    "Even in an investigation, there are suspects. If you have nothing to hide, let them investigate."


    The ladies of the inner court were all very astute and could guess what was going on just by watching the behavior of the Du Family ladies.


    However, due to a lack of evidence, everyone spoke rather cryptically.


    "Aren¡¯t your insinuations targeting my Xue¡¯er? It rained yesterday; isn¡¯t it normal for the edge of a skirt to get a little muddy?"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er looked at everyone present with contempt.


    What did their noble status amount to if they lacked even basic common sense?


    "Lady Du, could you ask your daughter-in-law to quiet down? I¡¯m not feeling well, and the slightest noise gives me a headache," Madam Qian said as she rubbed her throbbing forehead.


    She wasn¡¯t being delicate; she genuinely suffered from migraines.


    Lady Du¡¯s face turned pale and then flushed as she glared at Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    At home, she felt that Qiao Hua¡¯er was obedient and saw nothing wrong with her.


    Now, with a point of reference, she realized that Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s rustic demeanor was all too apparent, and it was embarrassing!


    At that moment, she was even reminded of a vulgar, brawling woman on the streets.


    Perhaps allowing Qiao Hua¡¯er into their home was a gross mistake.


    And then there was Qiao Duo, who, despite sharing the same background as Qiao Hua¡¯er, carried herself with dignity and grace. How could there be such a vast difference?


    Receiving a warning look from the Zhong Clan, Qiao Hua¡¯er reluctantly fell silent.


    Seeing her daughter look aggrieved, the Zhong Clan spoke up again, "Xue¡¯er, don¡¯t be afraid. Our Du Family doesn¡¯t have much wealth, but we won¡¯t let our daughter suffer any injustice."


    Furthermore, interacting more with King Qin wasn¡¯t a bad thing. She even wanted to thank Lady Qin for providing her daughter with this opportunity.


    "Stop arguing; the Prince is here!" a woman alerted. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The previously chattering ladies all fell silent and hastily paid their respects to King Qin.


    King Qin merely said, "Dispense with the formalities," and went straight over to Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Is there any new discovery?"


    Chen Yiling nodded, "There are mud stains on the hem of a lady¡¯s skirt with the shape of bamboo strips; I beseech the Prince to investigate this matter thoroughly."


    Immediately, the Zhong Clan pushed Du Yingxue forward, "Prince, Lord Qin, you must bring justice for my daughter. She got her dress dirty by accident while looking for the young master, and now she is suspected; it¡¯s truly unfair!"


    She repeated the same explanation without a trace of doubt in her story.

 Chapter 967 - 970: The Pearl is Pregnant with a Hidden Knot

    Chapter 967: Chapter 970: The Pearl is Pregnant with a Hidden KnotDu Yingxue bowed her head, her body tensed up, hoping to hide her nervous emotions.


    She had been very careful, it was impossible for anyone to have seen, as long as she firmly denied everything, no one could do anything to her.


    King Qin immediately said, "Go see where the soil is soft and muddy in the Government Office."


    By the tenth day of the eighth month, the sun had lost its summer fierceness and wouldn¡¯t dry up the ground moisture quickly, but yesterday¡¯s rain was light and wouldn¡¯t leave too many muddy places.


    Soon, Ah Da came to report, "Prince, there are a total of thirty-one places with soft and muddy soil within the Government Office, and under a tree in the backyard, there is the impression of a basket and a footprint. I believe the culprit stayed there."


    The Zhong Clan woman pinched Du Yingxue¡¯s arm, "Stupid girl, you haven¡¯t done anything foolish, have you?"


    Before Du Yingxue could respond, Leng Shuang and Clear Autumn were already escorting her to the backyard.


    "Prince, my daughter is still of marriageable age, your way of conducting this investigation could affect her reputation," the Zhong Clan woman anxiously said.


    "If she is innocent, tell me which family¡¯s son you¡¯ve set your sights on, and I will arrange the marriage," King Qin said coldly.


    These words successfully shut the Zhong Clan woman up, what else could she say?


    "Mother, it would be great if the Prince¡¯s word is his bond, and he brings Snow into his residence," Qiao Hua¡¯er whispered in the Zhong Clan woman¡¯s ear.


    That way, not only would Du Yingxue gain glory, but the Du Family would bask in the reflected light.


    The Zhong Clan woman thought it made sense but still felt uneasy.


    This was an opportunity for the Du Family to soar, provided that Du Yingxue was innocent.


    Du Yingxue¡¯s reaction just now had made her uneasy, but considering that Du Yingxue had always been smart since childhood, she couldn¡¯t possibly have done that sort of thing.


    Besides, it was unlikely she would know the bandit leader.


    With these thoughts, the Zhong Clan woman felt somewhat relieved.


    King Qin, a martial artist, had heard every single word Qiao Hua¡¯er said without missing a beat.


    His face darkened instantly, finding the woman utterly senseless!


    "Prince, the footprints match Miss Du¡¯s exactly," Leng Shuang reported the final result. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you have anything else you¡¯d like to explain?"


    Chen Yiling glared furiously at Du Yingxue. She could somewhat understand Xuan Er¡¯s motive to steal Child; he wished to save his brother.


    But what business did Du Yingxue have getting involved? She had almost no interactions with Du Yingxue and had never offended her. What reason did she have to treat Rui Rui this way?


    Du Yingxue opened her mouth but then her head tilted, and she fainted.


    The Zhong Clan woman quickly pushed Chen Yiling away, "What have you done to Snow? I¡¯m just a busybody. Why did I even come to congratulate you on your new child? Now look, I¡¯ve even lost my daughter over it!"


    "You¡¯re bullying others because you can. If something happens to Snow, you¡¯ll all pay with your lives!"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was very perceptive and quickly stood beside her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.


    Leng Shuang, with disdain, said, "She won¡¯t die; she just fainted from being pregnant and getting a fright."


    "Nonsense, my daughter is still a virgin, how could she be pregnant!" the Zhong Clan woman retorted irritably.


    This was a blatant defamation!


    Leng Shuang spread her hands, "Ask your daughter how she got pregnant. I have no idea."


    Why act as if it was she who had impregnated Du Yingxue?


    And did she look like she had that capability, please?


    "You are not a doctor, don¡¯t pretend to know what you¡¯re talking about!"


    Leng Shuang simply tossed the person into the Zhong Clan woman¡¯s arms, then retreated behind King Qin.


    It didn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t believe her; she was too lazy to waste her energy anyway.


    Du Yingxue lay limply in the Zhong Clan woman¡¯s arms, who was almost heartbroken.


    But thinking about the shameless things Du Yingxue had done, she wished she could strangle her to death.

 Chapter 968 - 971: Engagement for Life

    Chapter 968: Chapter 971: Engagement for Life"You may not trust Guard Leng, but it doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll get a doctor." Clear Autumn said unhappily.


    People from Wang Mansion would usually turn to Leng Shuang for minor illnesses and pains, guaranteed to be cured once medicated.


    Not to mention, she definitely wouldn¡¯t misdiagnose something like a pregnancy.


    "Isn¡¯t Young Master Bai right ahead? Please call him over quickly, the person has fainted, it¡¯d be bad if something were to happen."


    Qing Xin immediately said, "There¡¯s no need to bother Young Master Bai with such a trivial matter, I¡¯m a medical woman from Deji Hall, I¡¯ll know once I take a look."


    She had assisted many ladies from noble households in successful childbirths; many people were aware of her capabilities.


    "What are you? Don¡¯t touch my daughter!"


    The Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian supported Du Yingxue with Qiao Hua¡¯er and the maid, while she herself blocked Qing Xin, not giving her a chance to get close to Du Yingxue.


    If Du Yingxue was indeed pregnant with an illegitimate child, the reputation of the Du Family would be completely destroyed. What would they do then?


    ChunTao decisively pulled Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian away: "Lady Du, you wouldn¡¯t want Miss Du to suffer an injustice either, please step aside and let¡¯s clarify this as soon as she wakes up."


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qing Xin quickly


    Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian struggled fiercely, trying to break free from ChunTao¡¯s hold.


    "Lady Du, why do you keep blocking? Could it be that you¡¯re feeling guilty?" Madam Qian asked.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er said to the maid, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and carry the miss back, and if anything happens to her, none of you who serve her can escape responsibility!"


    Just as Du Yingxue¡¯s maid was about to step forward, Du Yingxue slowly came to.


    Although she had awakened, her eyes were devoid of spirit, as if she had gone mad.


    All Du Yingxue could think about was Xuan Ling, the man who said he¡¯d avenge his brother¡¯s death and then marry her, the man who said he¡¯d welcome the child with her.


    King Qin asked from his high position, "Why did you secretly hand Qin Mingrui over to Xuan Er?"


    Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian hurriedly said, "Quickly say it wasn¡¯t you, that you¡¯ve been wronged!" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I love Xuan Ling, he said he needed to avenge his brother, and once the revenge was taken he would marry me." Du Yingxue spoke slowly.


    Unfortunately, he failed.


    The things she had done had been exposed, her life was ruined, and there was no point in making excuses anymore. It was better to tell everything.


    "Impossible, you stay at home all day, how could you possibly know Mountain Bandits?"


    Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian shook Du Yingxue vigorously; the child¡¯s mind must have been broken!


    Du Yingxue said with a bitter smile, "On the thirteenth of May, I went to the mountain to worship Buddha and encountered Xuan Ling. We watched the stars together, rode horses together, and I was very happy with him. In this life, I only want to marry him."


    Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian fell to the ground, covered her face, and cried, "How could I have given birth to such a shameless thing? I taught you from a young age to respect yourself, to marry a good husband. How could you not listen?"


    "Mother, don¡¯t cry."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er tried to offer some comfort but was met with a torrent of abuse.


    "Get lost, you¡¯re nothing but a Star of Misfortune. Yue¡¯er could never have known such a despicable person. It must have been you who brought that filth back!"


    The eyes of Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian were like venom, clearly, she attributed all the fault to Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er felt aggrieved, but no matter how aggrieved, she could only endure it.


    She didn¡¯t have her family¡¯s support and often had to beg; Du Haofeng, fearing ridicule, had always been lukewarm towards her, and without a son to rely on, she had no confidence to resist.


    After all, no matter how unhappy life at the Du Family was, it was better than staying with the Qiao Family.


    Zhong Clan¡¯s Madam Qian then knelt before King Qin: "Your Highness, Yue¡¯er must have been deceived by the Mountain Bandits. Please, considering her young age, forgive her."

 Chapter 969 - 972: Gifting Deer Whip Wine

    Chapter 969: Chapter 972: Gifting Deer Whip Wine"Du Yingxue colluded with mountain bandits and deserves to be punished with fifty strokes and five years of imprisonment. However, considering she is pregnant, she will first be returned to her family to give birth before she comes to the Government Office to receive her punishment,"


    King Qin said without a trace of mercy.


    If every trivial mistake made by the young were overlooked, the children would become lawless in the future.


    Besides, Du Yingxue was already fifteen, with a child in her belly, so she could hardly be counted as a child herself.


    "Alas, she could have been a fine young lady, but she chose to be in cahoots with mountain bandits. King Qin is being merciful enough, allowing her to give birth to the child."


    "Even if she gives birth, it¡¯s a pitiful life; that child will never be able to hold its head high."


    Not to mention being born out of wedlock, having a mountain bandit for a father is enough to make the child feel inferior.


    "After all, it¡¯s a life; giving the child away to a good family would at least be an explanation to the child."


    "That¡¯s a good idea, just not sure if the Du Family has such a good heart."


    The ladies and madams huddled together in groups of threes and fives, whispering to each other.


    It was quite pitiful for Du Yingxue to end up like this, but those deserving of pity often have detestable reasons behind them, and she should have foreseen the consequences when she laid her hands on such a small child.


    The news quickly reached the front yard, where Du Zhiming and Du Haofeng, father and son, hurried to the back yard to bring the person back home.


    Chen Yiling was scared enough by this incident, clutching onto Qin Mingrui and refusing to let go no matter what.


    King Qin also showed his human side for once, granting Qin Longyun three days of leave, allowing him to stay at home to comfort Chen Yiling properly.


    With some free time, Qin Longyun, together with Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, decided to return to Big Willow Village early the next morning.


    For them, that was truly their home.


    Big Willow Village had also been struck by an epidemic, but fortunately, it was controlled in time, and only six people in the entire village died from it.


    Compared to other villages, they were far more fortunate, but for their families, it was still a profound blow.


    However, life had to go on, and time would eventually heal all wounds.


    Madam Wang had been recuperating at the Tan Family for so long that she had fully recovered.


    Now, seeing Tan Zhenghong and his wife return, she felt very delighted.


    But remembering what she had done to them in the past, she dared not be too affectionate and decided to remain hidden in her room, invisible.


    She also had a selfish concern: she feared Qiao Duo¡¯er might reconsider and drive her out.


    Back in their familiar home, Tan Zhenghong started tidying up both inside and outside the house.


    By accident, he came across the Deer Whip Wine he had brewed several months ago.


    Deer Whip Wine was best when infused for half a month to a year, though it won¡¯t spoil with longer infusions, its effects and flavor tend to diminish. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong had thought that, once the child was born, he would be able to truly cherish his wife. But it was after seeing Qin Mingrui that he realized more time would be needed to care for the child after birth.


    By then, drinking Deer Whip Wine would only add to the chaos, and Duo¡¯er might even hit him for it.


    "It¡¯s such a waste!" Tan Zhenghong sighed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully suggested, "Pour out the wine and send it over to Big Brother Huang."


    She had always thought the marriage between Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan was imminent, but it had yet to happen.


    The reason was both were too shy, lacking the courage to break through that final barrier.


    Now was the time for the Deer Whip Wine to show its power.


    Huang Zhong was only in his twenties, still a vigorous young man; a couple of drinks would surely stir up some thoughts. With that frustration building up over time, he¡¯d grow impatient.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a thumbs up, indeed a great idea!


    But a direct delivery would be too ostentatious, so Tan Zhenghong found a clean wine jar to transfer the wine.

 Chapter 970 - 973 Don’t Play Tricks

    Chapter 970: Chapter 973 Don¡¯t Play TricksApproaching noon, Almond returned with Fat Fat and Fatty.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong, the two big ones immediately came over and were content only after being petted for a while. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Madam, you¡¯re finally back, I¡¯ve missed you so much!"


    Almond¡¯s eyes reddened as she spoke, they had been gone for over a month, and she had feared they would never return.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked Almond¡¯s head, "We should have come back earlier to cure you, running around as soon as you¡¯re better. The wild herbs on the mountain won¡¯t grow legs and run away, why would you fear them escaping?"


    Bai Yan had mentioned that the girl was constantly running up the mountain, and they had accumulated quite a collection of herbs at home.


    That is to say, she¡¯d been busy ever since she¡¯d been able to get up and about.


    "I got better a long time ago. If we wait any longer, the herbs will wither. It would be a pity not to pick them. Besides, staying idle at home makes me restless," Almond said cheekily.


    She had been lying at home for a full ten days, feeling as if her bones were falling apart, and she became terribly bored.


    It was better to run around the mountains and fields, considering it as a form of physical exercise.


    "I don¡¯t care about all that, but you can¡¯t make jokes with your health."


    Almond solemnly agreed, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitude made one thing clearer to her¡ªshe would never leave the Tan Family in this lifetime.


    After talking with Qiao Duo¡¯er for a while, Almond went to help in the kitchen; she had to make a few of her specialty dishes for Madam.


    Seeing her busily engaged, Qiao Duo¡¯er was completely reassured.


    From her behavior, she could see that Almond no longer dwelled on being sold, which was a good thing, as one could only live properly without harboring resentment.


    At lunchtime, there was still an empty seat at the table.


    "I went to invite the elder Madam, but she said she wouldn¡¯t come over," Bai Yan explained.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong, "You go and call her again. If she really won¡¯t come, then send her meal to her."


    She didn¡¯t want the relationship to be too tense, as it made her uncomfortable as well.


    She did what she should, and if the Wang Clan truly could not appreciate it, she could only send her away. At most, another son could take on the responsibility to support her, and the fourth branch could contribute some silver.


    Tan Zhenghong carried half her blood in his veins; cutting off relations was merely an empty threat.


    "You start eating first, don¡¯t starve yourself," Tan Zhenghong instructed before getting up to leave.


    In the eastern wing, Tan Zhenghong knocked on the door of the Wang Clan.


    "Mother, why aren¡¯t you coming to eat?"


    The Wang Clan spoke feebly, "I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll despise me. I¡¯m not in good health, and I¡¯ve never treated you well in the past."


    If she were Qiao Duo¡¯er, she probably wouldn¡¯t want to give her a second glance.


    "I am your son, it¡¯s my duty to provide for you. My wife is not one to hold grudges, but don¡¯t treat her as you did before, and don¡¯t be too scheming. Eat when it¡¯s time to eat, sleep when it¡¯s time to sleep, and keep silent when it¡¯s best to pretend deaf and dumb," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    No matter what, his attitude always remained the same. He would not wrong others, but neither would he let others take him for a fool.


    Also, he married his wife to cherish her, and he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to bully her.


    The Wang Clan quickly responded, "Duo¡¯er has said the same to me, I promise not to cause trouble."


    Being thrown out to die was a dreadful experience, and she didn¡¯t want to go through it ever again.


    "Then why aren¡¯t you going to eat?" Tan Zhenghong asked, exasperated.


    If she didn¡¯t go to eat at mealtime, wasn¡¯t it simply because she wanted to see his and Duo¡¯er¡¯s attitudes?


    This too was a sort of scheming.


    The Wang Clan obediently went to the main house. She could no longer act high and mighty as before, but her heart felt warm.


    Fortunately, she had a good son, and he had married a good daughter-in-law.


    To have someone to rely on in old age was enough for this lifetime.

 Chapter 971 - 974: That Scary?

    Chapter 971: Chapter 974: That Scary?Another Mid-Autumn Festival had arrived, and seized by a sudden impulse, Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to make her own mooncakes since the variety sold outside was too limited, offering only bean paste and mixed nuts fillings, neither of which she liked.


    Early that day, Tan Zhenghong had rented an oven from the town¡¯s pastry shop and brought it back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er examined it and saw that the ancient oven was divided into two levels, the lower for burning firewood, the upper for the baking rack.


    There was no major issue with the oven, except she didn¡¯t know how to control the temperature.


    Sigh, modern electric ovens were so much easier to use.


    Simply set the temperature and time, and everything would be just perfect.


    With an understanding smile, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, I¡¯ve made an arrangement with the master baker from the shop, and he gave me two mooncake molds and shared the tricks of the trade with me. I¡¯ll take care of the fire, and we¡¯ll definitely bake the mooncakes till they¡¯re beautifully done."


    Among the tricks was to maintain a moderate fire, placing the mooncakes on the middle rack, and during baking, take them out to spray some water on them or brush them with an egg wash.


    "You¡¯re getting better and better at winning hearts, let¡¯s get to work!"


    With a loud call, Qiao Duo¡¯er summoned all the maids and housekeepers to the courtyard.


    Duo¡¯er loved lotus paste and fresh meat mooncakes the most. She knew how to make varieties with egg yolks, sweet osmanthus, salty meat, and assorted nuts fillings.


    Since she was making them herself, why not try a little of each?


    No, that¡¯s not right, her job was to direct others to do the work.


    "Madam, is this much sugar with two bowls of water enough?"


    "Hmm, slow cook it on a low flame, and it will turn into syrup. Once the syrup cools down, mix it with the flour to create the syrup crust; that¡¯s the outer skin of the mooncakes."


    "Madam, do we need to crush all these ingredients?"


    "All except for the egg yolks."


    ...


    As laughter and chatter filled the air outside, envy gnawed at the Wang Clan member.


    To be fair, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo had always treated her kindly, never shorting her on food, clothing, or necessities.


    But she always felt like an outsider, struggling to fit into the family.


    She felt that Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo were closer to the servants than they were to her, and she wondered where the problem lay.


    Now she might have understood, it was because they seldom did things together, hardly ever communicated unless they worked together.


    So, from now on, she couldn¡¯t be as lazy, she too needed to pitch in and do some work.


    After wrestling with her thoughts in the room for a while, she finally mustered the courage to come out.


    "Can I... can I help you?" the Wang Clan member asked tentatively.


    Qiao Duo glanced at her before asking, "Do you know how to make mooncakes?"


    There shouldn¡¯t be any task easier than this, right?


    "Can I learn?"


    Wang felt embarrassed, as a woman her age should know how to do everything, yet she only knew how to cook a few dishes, and they weren¡¯t even particularly tasty.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "Sure, I wasn¡¯t doing anything anyway, I¡¯ll teach you."


    Wang did not expect Qiao Duo to agree, and felt overwhelmingly grateful.


    Seeing Wang hadn¡¯t moved for a while, Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t help but ask, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Nothing, I¡¯m just going to wash my hands."


    Wang hurriedly replied, carefully washing her hands twice with the fragrant saponin before coming over, for fear that Qiao Duo might find her disagreeable.


    Qiao Duo demonstrated with a piece of mooncake skin. It was actually quite simple, just slowly sealing the skin around the filling to completely enclose it.


    Nevertheless, Wang, not being particularly dexterous, failed to wrap them correctly after several attempts.


    Wang sneakily glanced at Qiao Duo and, seeing no expression of annoyance on her face, felt slightly relieved.


    Qiao Duo, forehead lined with black sweat, wondered if she really was that intimidating.


    "It¡¯s natural to be a little awkward when you¡¯re just starting to learn. Keep practicing, and you¡¯ll improve in no time."


    S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 972 - 975: Why are you looking at me?

    Chapter 972: Chapter 975: Why are you looking at me?Qiao Duo¡¯er thought carefully and felt that her temperament was not bad, only that her bottom lines were clear. Above those lines, she was easy to talk to, but once crossed, she would immediately turn her face and refuse to recognize anyone.


    There was nothing wrong with that, to not fight for what one should, to not get angry when one should¡ªthat would be being a pushover.


    If one chose to be a pushover, then they shouldn¡¯t complain when dogs always stared at them.


    "I¡¯ll practice some more."


    Wang Clan picked up another piece of rolled mooncake dough, this time handling it with the utmost care.


    If she failed to make it right again, she would even despise herself for being foolish.


    Thankfully this time she didn¡¯t tear the mooncake dough nor did she squeeze the filling out, though when compared to others¡¯ mooncakes, there was still a bit of a difference.


    The mooncakes made by others were round and delicate, while hers were crooked and lopsided.


    Seeing Wang Clan¡¯s embarrassment, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It doesn¡¯t matter how it looks, once you press it with the mold, they¡¯ll all turn out the same."


    Wang Clan felt so moved she almost cried, for she¡¯d never been treated so gently by anyone before.


    No wonder Duo¡¯er was fierce¡ªit really was because she had been too excessive before.


    On the other side, Almond brought over another basin of prepared filling.


    "Madam, the fresh meat filling is ready, you can start wrapping them now. The egg yolks will also be ready soon."


    Seeing the wrapped mooncakes, Almond couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva, knowing her madam¡¯s creations would undoubtedly be delicious.


    "You can put meat and egg yolk in mooncakes?" Wang Clan asked curiously.


    But suddenly she remembered that both Fourth Boss and his spouse had told her not to meddle in things that weren¡¯t her concern; whatever filling others wanted to use for their mooncakes was their choice, and she shouldn¡¯t interfere.


    So, Wang Clan added, "I was just asking casually, pay me no mind."


    "I¡¯ll just try making a few of each kind first. If they taste good, I¡¯ll make more," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded nonetheless.


    Wang Clan chuckled awkwardly, "That¡¯s good, so many fillings, there must be something tasty."


    It even saved from wasting ingredients!


    Before long, the first batch of mooncakes was out of the oven; they were Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s favorite lotus seed paste filling.


    After they¡¯d cooled down a little, Tan Zhenghong took out two, cut them into small pieces, and brought a piece to Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth.


    "Wife, try this."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a bite and found the flavor almost matched what she had imagined, just a bit off in sweetness, which was perfect for her as she found overly sweet things to be cloying. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile, "Then I¡¯ll get you another one."


    "No," Qiao Duo¡¯er refused decisively.


    Mooncakes were high in sugar and fats, and consuming too many could lead to gestational diabetes in pregnant women, which is bad for both mother and baby.


    So, although she really liked them, she still had to practice moderation.


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed everyone was watching her and Tan Zhenghong, and she said with a blushed face, "Why are you all looking at me? I¡¯m not the mooncake, go ahead and try them!"


    To prevent Qiao Duo¡¯er from feeling embarrassed, Granny Su quickly divided the mooncakes on the plate.


    "Madam, this is the best mooncake I¡¯ve ever tasted!" Almond gave a thumbs-up.


    Qing Xin nodded vigorously, "I¡¯ve never tasted anything like this before, you can even sense the fragrance of the lotus seeds."


    With the first batch of mooncakes causing such a sensation, everyone¡¯s enthusiasm was even higher.


    In the morning, a few people made over a hundred mooncakes.


    Looking at each delicate mooncake, Qiao Duo¡¯er was in a good mood.


    But then the worries came; there were too many mooncakes for her family to consume, yet not enough to give away, so Duo¡¯er simply let them make more and send a few to each household.


    This way they could not only enhance the festive atmosphere but also express gratitude for everyone¡¯s goodwill towards the Tan Family.


    Since she arrived in this world, there had been too many people who had been kind to her.

 Chapter 973 - 976: A Cup, A Lifetime

    Chapter 973: Chapter 976: A Cup, A LifetimeIn the afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er still wanted to help, but she would get a sore back from standing too long and her calves would swell, so she could only retreat to her room to rest.


    Lying on the bed, she habitually lifted her clothes to glance at her stomach.


    The smooth belly was the only thing she felt fortunate about.


    Because from the fourth month, she had started using the anti-stretch mark fragrance paste twice a day, morning and evening, and now, she had no stretch marks.


    Otherwise, she might have cried herself to death.


    According to Granny Su, once you get stretch marks, they can itch on cloudy days, which is very uncomfortable.


    Outside, the Wang Clan looked into the room with concern.


    "Ah Hong, why don¡¯t you go back and take care of your wife? I¡¯ll take care of the fire," she said.


    Tan Zhenghong also wanted to leave the task, but it was a delicate job; one careless moment and a pot of mooncakes could be ruined.


    Before Fourth Boss could respond, the Wang Clan pushed Tan Zhenghong into the house: "Hurry back and take care of your wife. This little matter won¡¯t stump me!"


    She might not handle delicate tasks well, but she had learned a thing or two from watching Tan Zhenghong make the fire.


    And she knew that in this house, everything was decided by Qiao Duo, so keeping her happy was certainly the right move.


    Tan Zhenghong gave some uneasy instructions, "Use medium heat for the fire, try to keep it consistently strong."


    "At my age, making fire is the one skill I can show off, I¡¯ll definitely do it well," the Wang Clan reassured him repeatedly. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong feel at ease enough to enter the house, and what pleased him even more was the Wang Clan¡¯s attitude. If it could always be like this, the household would remain stable.


    In the evening, Granny Su specially prepared a table of delicious dishes for Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong.


    The couple needed some privacy to exchange intimate words during dinner, so they needed to give them some space.


    The rest of the people could have a separate table in the kitchen. That would be lively enough.


    Tan Zhenghong added a piece of fish to her plate, carefully picking out the bones: "Eat quickly, afterwards I¡¯ll take you to the rooftop to watch the moon," he said.


    "Great idea!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up. Admiring the moon from the rooftop offered a great view and they wouldn¡¯t be disturbed¡ªit couldn¡¯t be more perfect.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile, feeling happy to satisfy his wife.


    What was most important was that he had other arrangements.


    After dinner, the two of them climbed up to the rooftop together.


    It was evident that Tan Zhenghong had put in a lot of effort into organizing the setting.


    On a small tea table there was a plate of mooncakes and a tea set, as well as a bunch of flowers for decoration. Together with the favorable weather and beautiful view, it was very romantic.


    Tan Zhenghong raised his eyebrow, "Moved already? Just wait and see, I have more prepared!"


    As he spoke, he took out a specially prepared gift from under the table.


    "Do you like it?" Tan Zhenghong looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er expectantly.


    This was a pair of ceramic cups, one red and one blue, decorated respectively with his and Duo¡¯er¡¯s portraits, and joined together by a red string.


    A set of cups symbolizing a lifetime.


    As he handed over his lifetime to Duo¡¯er, he also took hers.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded vigorously, "So cute!"


    "There¡¯s another cup for our child, but since we don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll look like, we¡¯ll have to wait until they¡¯re born to draw them on," he said.


    With pursed lips, Qiao Duo¡¯er hadn¡¯t expected her man to become more and more thoughtful.


    But well... she really liked these little romantic gestures.


    Tan Zhenghong felt awkward under Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze and hurriedly said, "Sit down, I¡¯ll pour you some tea."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently sat down, but her eyes kept stealing glances at the matching cups.

 Chapter 974 - 977: Isn’t it Awkward?

    Chapter 974: Chapter 977: Isn¡¯t it Awkward?She began to suspect that Tan Zhenghong had time-traveled with her; otherwise, how would he know about something like a couple¡¯s cup?


    But all signs indicated that Tan Zhenghong was just an ancient man. The only reason he came up with these ideas was to make her happy, nothing more.


    After taking a sip of water, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt even sweeter inside, because it was water steeped with osmanthus honey.


    Tan Zhenghong said gently, "Wife, I¡¯ve discovered how truly beautiful you are."


    "Was there ever a time when I wasn¡¯t beautiful?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said self-admiringly. After getting pregnant, she had only gained a little weight, and problems like pregnancy masque or dull skin color had never troubled her.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, "You were beautiful before, now you¡¯re even more beautiful."


    Noticing that someone¡¯s gaze was becoming more intense, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly reminded him, "You¡¯re here to admire the moon!"


    Why was he staring at her all the time?


    "You are more beautiful than the moon, and you are within my reach, of course I want to look at you," Tan Zhenghong said very naturally.


    However, with the tea table in between, he couldn¡¯t help feeling it wasn¡¯t satisfying enough, so he simply sat down next to Duo¡¯er and held his wife in his arms, which made him content.


    "Aiyo, you two seem to be having quite a good time!"


    Luo Qingfeng, with his arms crossed, looked at the two of them cuddling under the moonlight.


    Admiring the moon from the rooftop, quite romantic, indeed.


    No wonder Qin Longyun moved out in a hurry, and these two were eager to move back. Otherwise, where could they find such a romantic world for two?


    Tan Zhenghong looked casually at the seat opposite, "Come up and sit."


    Luo Qingfeng, without any hesitation, scurried up and settled down opposite the couple, then took out the last cup from the box.


    "Do you treat me as invisible? I¡¯m sitting right here, and yet you can still hold each other so tightly," Luo Qingfeng complained.


    Don¡¯t these two know what modesty is?


    Tan Zhenghong said unconcernedly, "I¡¯m holding my wife; why should I feel embarrassed? Besides, I think the person who should be embarrassed is you."


    "What do I have to be embarrassed about? I¡¯m not like you laymen, who at such a young age find wives and spoil their whole lives," Luo Qingfeng said disdainfully.


    Is there any freedom after getting married?


    Without freedom, can a man still play as he pleases?


    If you don¡¯t play around when you are young, by the time you¡¯re old and come across a beauty, you can only just look because your energy and stamina can¡¯t keep up. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s regrettable?


    But Luo Qingfeng seemed to forget one thing, that he was still a virgin.


    Truthfully, he really shouldn¡¯t ridicule those who are married.


    Tan Zhenghong said at a leisurely pace, "This is the cup I¡¯ve prepared for our child." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The look on Luo Qingfeng¡¯s face turned sour in an instant, and glancing at the much larger cup that each Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong had, he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    He had inadvertently become Tan Zhenghong¡¯s son for a moment!


    Oh my, this was a tremendous humiliation!


    A thought suddenly struck Luo Qingfeng¡¯s mind, that he had to poison Tan Zhenghong, that bastard!


    Otherwise, he¡¯d have no face to meet anyone again!


    But then looking at Qiao Duo¡¯er, he gave up on the idea.


    If Tan Zhenghong died, Bai Yifan, that detestable brat, would definitely take advantage and come to mock him again.


    Ah, why did he feel the world was so malicious towards him?


    "Take this cup as a gift for you, and when my baby is born, you can give a gift to my baby," Qiao Duo quickly intervened to resolve the situation, because knowing Luo Qingfeng¡¯s tendency to resort to poisoning at the slightest provocation, Tan Zhenghong could probably suffer quite a bit.

 Chapter 976 - 979: Unable to Restrain Oneself

    Chapter 976: Chapter 979: Unable to Restrain OneselfQiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before saying, "Should be fine, we were just laughing and talking a while ago."


    Maybe... it was possibly because she had a disagreement with Bai Yifan.


    However, she chose not to mention that to Granny Su which she found hard to accept.


    Reassured by Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, Granny Su decided to still bring him some late-night snacks; with a full stomach, there wouldn¡¯t be any hurdle too difficult to overcome.


    Heading back to her room, Tan Zhenghong prepared the bathwater for Duo¡¯er, but he didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of leaving.


    "I¡¯m going to take a bath now, why are you still standing here?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with exasperation. Could it be that he actually wanted to join her in the bath?


    The bathtub at home was not small, but her belly was big; it felt a bit cramped even for just her, so Tan Zhenghong really should forget about it. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your belly is big now, and there¡¯s still water on the bathroom floor; I need to accompany you," said Tan Zhenghong earnestly.


    He had been too busy with external affairs recently and hadn¡¯t had the time to accompany his wife. Now that he was free, he couldn¡¯t be absent again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at her own belly and finally compromised.


    If there were any accidents, regret would be futile. It was better to be careful at all times.


    "Scrub my back for me!"


    Adhering to the principle of not wasting labor, Qiao Duo¡¯er set Tan Zhenghong to work.


    Tan Zhenghong took the towel and gently started to scrub her back. "Wife, is this much strength okay?"


    "Mmm, just right."


    He really wanted to do something in the bathtub.


    "Shall we switch to Almond or Qing Xin?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered considerately.


    There was a screen in the washroom, and she could let them wait outside of it.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head firmly, "No, I know it¡¯s late in the pregnancy, and we can¡¯t mess around."


    He had heard the saying ¡¯the seventh month may survive; the eighth may not¡¯; their child was just at eight months, and he couldn¡¯t put the baby at risk for a moment of impulse.


    Just hold on a little longer, only three months left.


    Yet Tan Zhenghong¡¯s breathing grew heavier, and Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go out and cool down a bit?"


    Tan Zhenghong still shook his head; although he was quite flushed, he hadn¡¯t reached the point of a nosebleed and could hold on a bit longer.


    After finally helping Duo¡¯er with her bath, Tan Zhenghong immediately darted into the bathroom.


    The water Duo¡¯er had used was now cold, but for him, it was perfect and even helped quench some of his desire.


    Tan Zhenghong was somewhat impatient and didn¡¯t notice an extra person had arrived in the washroom.


    That person was the object of his yearning, Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She hadn¡¯t come on purpose, but because the baby, in the late stages of pregnancy, was pressing on her bladder, causing her to frequently visit the toilet.


    "You..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was stunned; at that moment, he was indescribably wild and sexy.


    At the same time, a twinge of sympathy arose within her heart.

 Chapter 977 - 980: It’s in His Nature

    Chapter 977: Chapter 980: It¡¯s in His NatureTan Zhenghong had high demands in this matter, desiring twice a night if possible, but ever since the pregnancy, he had been restraining himself, even in the few pitiable instances he hadn¡¯t fully let go.


    During the time of the epidemic, he left early and returned late, and after the epidemic ended, she entered the late stage of pregnancy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "Go to bed."


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth, as he now had no choice but to pull the bow and shoot, but even going to bed wouldn¡¯t help him sleep!


    "I¡¯ll help you," Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes shifted away.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, and after getting out of the bath tub, he grabbed a towel and left.


    If he was in the bath tub, his wife certainly would feel too embarrassed to take care of her urgent needs; by going out to dry himself, he could save some time.


    Waiting was an agonizing process, but the thought of his wife coming to love him in a while brought some comfort to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart.


    When Qiao Duo¡¯er returned to the bed, Tan Zhenghong kissed her unrestrainedly until both were breathless before he was willing to let her go.


    The next day when Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, Granny Su told her Luo Qingfeng had left early in the morning.


    To this, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t feel surprised at all.


    Being wild and unrestrained was simply Luo Qingfeng¡¯s nature,


    Uh... this isn¡¯t a negative term, but rather a state of life that is free and spontaneous.


    After the Mid-Autumn Festival, many people came with needlework from the epidemic period to exchange for their wages.


    Fat Aunt and Chao Lian discussed and decided to reopen the Embroidery Room, because the Duo Meifang store in town had already resumed normal operations. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, they must ask for Qiao Duo¡¯s opinion before proceeding.


    "Of course, there¡¯s no problem," Qiao Duo immediately agreed.


    Before the epidemic, the Tan Family¡¯s two Embroidery Rooms and two Duo Meifang stores had all got on the right track, and reopening them would not require her and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s intervention, basically having no impact on their lives.


    Fat Aunt nodded, "Then I will inform the Embroidery Ladies shortly; this will also help to stabilize people¡¯s hearts."


    During the epidemic, the Tan Family provided a lot of medicines, leading to rumors in the village that another Embroidery Room was going to be disbanded.


    Although she knew who was spreading the false information, with enough repetitions even a lie can be believed, and some people unaware of the truth would take it seriously.


    "From now on, please take more care of the affairs of the Embroidery Room. By the way, were there any Embroidery Ladies or their family members who were victims of the epidemic?" Qiao Duo recalled a matter.


    The epidemic had almost no impact on Big Willow Village, but some villages suffered severely.


    If it affected the Embroidery Ladies or their families, the Tan Family should offer some gesture of support.


    "I know of four Embroidery Ladies, skilled and hardworking; beyond that, I¡¯m not aware," Fat Aunt sighed.


    They were once colleagues, and their sudden loss was truly saddening.

 Chapter 978 - 981 A Little Token of Appreciation

    Chapter 978: Chapter 981 A Little Token of AppreciationQiao Duo¡¯er instructed, "You must quickly find out the details and on behalf of the Embroidery Room, send some gifts as a token of our sincere regard."


    "Understood, I will make sure to deliver the gifts to each and every one without fail."


    Fat Aunt took careful note.


    She hadn¡¯t thought of this before, thankfully Duo¡¯er reminded her, or else some people would once again accuse Tan Family Shore of being rich but unkind.


    Chao Lian then asked, "How is business in town nowadays? Tell me so that I have an understanding and can reassure the Embroidery Ladies, preventing them from believing someone else¡¯s rumors."


    She knew that once again it was the Xiao Family resorting to their old tricks, slandering the Tan Family everywhere.


    But she couldn¡¯t understand why the Xiao Family harbored such animosity towards Duo¡¯er and her husband?


    Upon reviewing the entire situation, it was easy to see that everything was initiated by the Xiao Family¡¯s wrongdoing.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s counterattack could at most be considered self-defense; had it been someone else, the Xiao Family¡¯s fate would have been even more tragic.


    Sigh, they¡¯re truly a family of lunatics, getting entangled with them is like incurring eight generations of bad luck!


    "The epidemic has affected Duo Meifang somewhat, but we have weathered the epidemic, what more could we fear? Tell the Embroidery Ladies to rest assured, even if Duo Meifang doesn¡¯t sell a single thing for three years, the Tan Family can withstand it."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated calmly.


    She was very clear about the Tan Family¡¯s wealth, and her mention of three years was modest.


    If it really came down to it, she would exchange the jewelry bestowed by the Emperor for silver; after all, she would not let those who worked for the Tan Family suffer any losses.


    Chao Lian swallowed and said, "I think some people really need to hear what you¡¯ve just said."


    It would surely shut them up!


    "We will do our work well; let others say what they will," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    To live with a clear conscience is enough.


    "It¡¯s best that you think this way, don¡¯t let those kinds of people upset you!" Fat Aunt agreed wholeheartedly.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, you must take good care of yourself and don¡¯t give the Xiao Family any opportunities to take advantage. I feel that Zheng Shi will not stop at just one method."


    Chao Lian warned, having seen Zheng Shi two days prior and feeling that she was like a demon.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "I wouldn¡¯t give anyone the chance to harm my child."


    She was a mother, and that was her responsibility.


    Because the Embroidery Room had many matters to attend to, Fat Aunt and Chen Yiling did not stay long and hurriedly took their leave.


    The next day, the Embroidery Room reopened its doors.


    Many people had embroidered small items while idle at home.


    Chao Lian checked the quality one by one and distributed wages according to the previously discussed price.


    "There have been more rumors about the Embroidery Room closing down recently. I hope everyone can discern truth from falsehood and dedicate themselves to our work, showing those who wait to laugh at us who the real fools are!"


    Chao Lian said a few brief words.


    They were simple, yet they stirred people¡¯s passions.


    "Well said, someone even laughed at me this morning for working for free, but I¡¯ll show them my wages later!"


    "I won¡¯t show anyone; we¡¯ll prosper in silence. Otherwise, everyone will crowd into the Embroidery Room, wouldn¡¯t they be taking our livelihood?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think those who mock us are just jealous, we don¡¯t need to bother with them."


    ...


    After a bit of discussion, everyone took their seats and waited for Chao Lian to assign them tasks.


    The Owner treated them well, and they were determined to work even harder.


    Chao Lian was satisfied with the outcome; compared to the initial chaos, everyone was much calmer this time.


    Soon, Zheng Shi¡¯s ploys would prove utterly useless.

 Chapter 979 - 982: Heading to the Tan Family

    Chapter 979: Chapter 982: Heading to the Tan FamilyTime flew by, and it was already September¡ªQiao Duo¡¯er had begun to count the days until her expected delivery date.


    Every day in the late stages of pregnancy was a happy torment; she couldn¡¯t wait to meet the baby, but at the same time, she was suffering from the discomfort of her large belly.


    Because of her round belly, the quality of her sleep had seriously deteriorated.


    Especially in the mornings, when the little one inside her belly would wake her up early, leaving her feeling quite helpless.


    That morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er was again kicked awake on schedule, wanting to sleep a bit longer, but without any trace of drowsiness left. Lying in bed was uncomfortable, so she had no choice but to get dressed in a wobbly fashion.


    Now, during the crisp autumn days, it was nice to get up early and take a walk outside, exercising to ease the suffering during childbirth.


    "Wife, were you woken up by the commotion again?" Tan Zhenghong asked with concern.


    As the birth approached, he had hardly seen his wife gain much weight. These past few nights, she hadn¡¯t slept well and had even lost a little more weight. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why couldn¡¯t their baby be a bit more considerate toward its mother?


    Pouting, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It¡¯s just him, always restless. But after breakfast, I can still go for a walk. If worst comes to worst, I¡¯ll just sleep more during the nap."


    "That¡¯s fine. Wait for me a moment, I¡¯ll go cook some noodles."


    The fish soup had been simmered by Tan Zhenghong early in the morning and kept warm on the stove. Now, all he needed to do was to add some green vegetables and noodles to boil for a bit, along with a couple of fried eggs and a plate of dried sliced beef, so breakfast was quickly served.


    Ever since she became pregnant, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t get enough of fish, so she was particularly satisfied with this breakfast.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er finished eating, she saw Almond bring in a vase.


    "Madam, look at these flowers I just picked¡ªaren¡¯t they beautiful?"


    Almond looked contently at the flowers she had just arranged.


    Having a vase of flowers in the room made the whole place look different.


    Normally, Qiao Duo¡¯er would lavish praise without hesitation, but this time she reacted as if facing a great enemy.


    Because these weren¡¯t ordinary flowers; they were the highly poisonous oleander.


    Oleanders could bloom all year round, with a peak during summer and autumn. The flowers were delicate and pretty, suitable as ornamental plants.


    However, the plant¡¯s flowers, fruits, leaves, and stems all contained strong poisons that could easily cause death if ingested.


    For pregnant women, these plants were especially dangerous. Contact with the toxic sap could harm the fetus and, in severe cases, could lead to miscarriage.


    "Where did you pick these flowers?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked earnestly.


    Speaking timidly, Almond replied, "I picked them from a tree not far from our house; there are several more in the village. Is something wrong?"


    "These flowers are toxic. Quickly throw them away, and then have Tan Zhenghong tell the village head to cut down all those trees."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said sternly, and the fact that the flowers were even planted at the Tan Family¡¯s door likely meant they were targeted at the Tan Family.


    Trusting Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words completely, Almond immediately took the vase out, including the flowers.


    Seeing the madam¡¯s complexion, Almond knew the toxicity must be serious.


    Before long, Tie Niu hurried over.


    "Lucky you discovered it in time. So far, only cattle and sheep have died from eating it, no harm has come to people. Ah Hong is already leading people to keep watch over those flowers, preventing anyone from getting close. I came to ask what¡¯s the deal with these flowers," Tie Niu asked humbly.


    Having lived in the village for so long, he had never seen such flowers before; he was even certain they didn¡¯t exist in the entire Ning Tian Mansion.


    Finding out where the poisonous flowers came from would lead to the culprit.


    "This is called oleander, originally from Tian Zhu. Although the flowers are poisonous, they can be used in medicine and are usually only seen in the Imperial court," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.

 Chapter 980 - 983 Too Cruel

    Chapter 980: Chapter 983 Too Cruel"This is strange, the oleander was tribute to the Imperial, and it¡¯s poisonous. The Imperial would definitely keep a strict watch on it. How could our village possibly have it?" Tie Niu was filled with doubts.


    Those who could obtain such a thing were definitely either rich or noble, but looking around Big Willow Village, there was simply no one with that kind of capability!


    The Tan Family was the one closest to the Guang House, but they had no reason to harm the villagers, and besides, they were the ones who informed him about the oleander as soon as it was found, so it definitely couldn¡¯t have been them.


    Unable to figure it out, Tie Niu simply didn¡¯t think about it anymore, clearing out the oleander would mean peace and quiet.


    "I¡¯ll have someone start chopping down the tree right away, you should come by my place when you have time,"


    Tie Niu said politely.


    He had a little scheme in mind, which was hoping Duo¡¯er could help persuade Big Niu¡¯er.


    Big Niu¡¯er liked Zhang Ziwen and he was very supportive of it, but a travel companion who went on a study tour with Zhang Ziwen said they encountered mountain bandits, and it was very possible that Zhang Ziwen met with a misfortune.


    He could no longer stand by and watch his own daughter ruin her entire life for a man she was not even betrothed to. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I just heard about Big Niu¡¯er from Almond yesterday, I¡¯ll go see her this afternoon."


    "I don¡¯t know how to thank you enough, your body is not in a good condition, and I am still troubling you," Tie Niu said, feeling embarrassed.


    Duo¡¯er was in no condition to be overexerted now, but he was genuinely worried about Big Niu¡¯er.


    Not eating, drinking, or sleeping all day, and locking herself in the room, she was bound to become ill.


    "Uncle Tie, that¡¯s too serious. I think of Big Niu¡¯er as a sister, how could I stand by and watch?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    After Tie Niu left, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw it was just past nine o¡¯clock and simply called Qing Xin to go with her to the Tie Family¡¯s house.


    Having not seen her for over a month, Big Niu¡¯er had lost a lot of weight and the cheerfulness she used to have was no longer visible.


    Love is indeed a strange thing, to have turned Big Niu¡¯er into what she is today.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re also here to persuade me, aren¡¯t you?"


    Big Niu¡¯er glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er lazily. She used to feel excited when she saw Qiao Duo¡¯er, but now she couldn¡¯t muster up the energy.


    It was as if nothing in the world held any attraction for her anymore.


    Duo¡¯er hesitated before speaking, "Not really, I just want to know what exactly you¡¯re thinking."


    "I just feel that Zhang Ziwen couldn¡¯t possibly have just died, and I want to wait for him to return."


    Mentioning Zhang Ziwen, a gleam finally appears in Big Niu¡¯er¡¯s eyes.


    She always felt that Zhang Ziwen wasn¡¯t dead, because he definitely couldn¡¯t leave his father at home.


    Even though his father had also, unfortunately, passed away now.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "I also think that Zhang Ziwen isn¡¯t dead, but you hide away at home all day, you don¡¯t go to Duo Meifang anymore, you don¡¯t come to play with me, and you look like this, who would believe that Zhang Ziwen is still alive?"


    Looking at Big Niu¡¯er¡¯s current state, it was clear she¡¯s convinced that Zhang Ziwen had already died.


    It seems she¡¯s only fooling herself now.


    "You also think that Zi Wen isn¡¯t dead?" Big Niu¡¯er looked steadily at Qiao Duo.


    This was the most comforting thing she had heard in these days.


    "Why not? Mountain bandits are just after money, just give them the cash and it would be fine. Zhang Ziwen isn¡¯t stupid, he wouldn¡¯t throw away his life over some silver,"


    Qiao Duo gave her an affirmative answer. In truth, she also didn¡¯t know about the current state of Zhang Ziwen, but one must always have some hope.


    If a misfortune had really occurred, time would slowly help Big Niu¡¯er to accept the reality.


    But this needed a transition, otherwise it would be too cruel for a young girl.

 Chapter 981 - 984 I understand

    Chapter 981: Chapter 984 I understand"What am I supposed to do? Everyone tells me he¡¯s gone and to move on, but I don¡¯t want to see them," she said.


    Da Niuer sighed, her eyes welling up involuntarily.


    What she feared most was that people would keep talking until Zhang Ziwen truly disappeared.


    She hated herself too. If she had been braver, if she had straightforwardly confessed her feelings to Zhang Ziwen, maybe he would have stayed for her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment, "Of course, you need to live well. Only then will people believe what you say and give you time to wait for him to return. You can¡¯t keep going on like this or when Zhang Ziwen comes back, you¡¯ll surely scare him to death."


    "Right, I remember someone vowed to help spread Duo Meifang throughout the entire Daxing Dynasty. But what¡¯s with slacking off all day now? If Duo Meifang¡¯s goods don¡¯t sell, I¡¯ll have no money to rent a warehouse, and then everything will have to be piled up in someone¡¯s house."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then brought up another serious matter.


    Touched by the understanding, Da Niuer was moved beyond words:"Sister Duo¡¯er..."


    "Don¡¯t cry to me, I can¡¯t stand men blubbering," Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned and mockingly stepped back.


    She preferred the carefree and free-spirited Da Niuer; this sullen and melancholic Da Niuer made her uncomfortable.


    Unable to hold back, Da Niuer revealed a smile that had been missing for so long.


    She had always felt she was a man. Who would have thought she could be so sentimental?


    Humph, Zhang Ziwen was just temporarily out of touch. No one could say he was no longer in this world.


    "I know what to do now," Da Niuer said earnestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ruffled Da Niuer¡¯s hair,"That¡¯s good then. I¡¯m almost due. Shouldn¡¯t you be getting out more, and keeping me company?"


    Da Niuer hurried to the dressing table, combing her hair into a simple updo. Without the messy hair, she looked instantly more spirited.


    Seeing Da Niuer change her demeanor, Old Lady Tie finally felt relieved.


    "It¡¯s all thanks to Duo¡¯er. As soon as you arrive, Da Niuer gets better," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded modestly, "I haven¡¯t done much. I¡¯m just here because Duo Meifang is short-handed, and I¡¯ve come to ask Da Niuer to come out of retirement."


    As for feelings, it was best to let nature take its course.


    The old lady nodded, "That¡¯s good too. Let me know when you plan to leave, and your mother will pack your things."


    "There¡¯s no rush. I still need Da Niuer to keep me entertained for a few more days or else I¡¯ll die of boredom."


    She needed the family to see Da Niuer¡¯s transformation so that they could be at ease.


    The old lady¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth, her heart filled with even more gratitude for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She felt that Duo¡¯er was Da Niuer¡¯s noble person. With her around, Da Niuer wouldn¡¯t be too unlucky.


    After leaving the Tie Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously, "These next few days aren¡¯t for resting alone. You should visit the Embroidery Room and check if the patterns Chao Lian has come up with lately will sell."


    Da Niuer pursed her lips, "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. You¡¯re just looking for things for me to do to stop me from overthinking."


    "You¡¯ve seen through me. Then I won¡¯t say more. You know what to do," Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted frankly.


    "I¡¯ll do my utmost, so those who love me don¡¯t have to worry," Da Niuer clenched her fists.


    She would become like she used to be, calmly waiting for Zhang Ziwen¡¯s return.


    The next day, the village¡¯s oleanders had been completely chopped down. After Tie Niu heard from Tan Zhenghong that oleanders could be used as medicine, he immediately arranged for the ox carts to deliver all the oleanders to Deji Hall. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 982 - 985: He’s Got Tough Luck

    Chapter 982: Chapter 985: He¡¯s Got Tough LuckOtherwise, he also knew how to handle it properly.


    Throwing it away risked someone accidentally ingesting it, and burying it might contaminate the water supply, which was how the plague began last time¡ªit spread through the water.


    "Both carts full of goods are poisonous; be careful on your way," Tie Niu repeatedly instructed.


    Oleander in the hands of those knowledgeable in medicine can save lives, but under the control of those with malicious intent, it becomes a tool for harm.


    The person in charge of the transport solemnly agreed, "We will certainly be careful and not let these harmful things get out."


    This time, two of his family¡¯s sheep died from eating the leaves, and he knew the danger better than anyone.


    Tie Niu patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, entrusting this important task to him.


    During lunch at the Tan Family, Wang Clan suddenly asked, "I heard that you arranged for the tree to be cut down. Why? I thought it was very beautiful."


    She saw the flowering tree when she went to town with Granny Su to shop yesterday, but she was too tired when she returned and forgot to pick some.


    To her surprise, it had disappeared when she went out to look for it today.


    "That flower is poisonous. Several peoples¡¯ cattle and sheep in the village died after eating it. Fortunately, Madam discovered it in time, otherwise people might have died," Almond explained first.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her family¡¯s Madam, who was experienced and knowledgeable, she might have harmed her entire family.


    So, she still felt uneasy about it.


    Wang Clan shook her head, "How could it be poisonous? I¡¯ve picked it several times before, and haven¡¯t I been fine all these years?"


    "You¡¯ve seen this flower before?" Qiao Duo¡¯er latched onto the crux of Wang Clan¡¯s statement.


    She suspected the oleander had been left there as a contingency by Xuan Er Xuan San. Xuan San hated her and had colluded with Kuro, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that he had access to oleander.


    Since Xuan Er Xuan San had been beheaded, she didn¡¯t intend to pursue it further.


    But now Wang Clan mentioned having seen it many years ago; that was problematic.


    Wang Clan nodded affirmatively, "Yes, we used to have one by our door. Then, it mysteriously disappeared."


    She thought the flower was beautiful, and its sudden disappearance had always been a source of regret for her.


    "When exactly was that?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked seriously.


    Wang Clan immediately replied, "It was when I was pregnant with Fourth Boss. Suddenly, a flowering tree appeared by our door, and I always thought I could have a daughter."


    She had always wanted a daughter, partly to recoup the dowries paid for her first three sons, and partly because she felt a daughter would be more caring in her old age.


    But then she hemorrhaged during childbirth, nearly losing her life and ended up with another son. After that, she frequently had chest pains, so she never looked favorably upon that child.


    "So, you had a difficult labor with Tan Zhenghong," Qiao Duo¡¯er pointed out. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She nearly lost her life and still acted as if it was nothing?


    How forgiving could a person¡¯s heart be?


    Wang Clan countered weakly, "That¡¯s not right. A fortune teller once read my son¡¯s fortune and said that Fourth Boss¡¯s life was tough..."


    He also mentioned that he came to the Tan Family to collect a debt, but because Tan Zhenghong was nearby, she refrained from saying more.


    Because of his poor fate, she and Tan Yuancheng discussed giving Tan Zhenghong away.


    Happening upon a distant relative whose wife had died, leaving only a daughter and difficulty in finding a new wife, they couldn¡¯t let their family line end, so they took Fourth Boss to their home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was exasperated; once again, it was deeply ingrained superstition causing harm.


    In those times, people would consult a fortune teller for the smallest issues, and the fortune teller¡¯s words could hold more sway than an Emperor¡¯s decree.


    She didn¡¯t deny that there were some masters capable of probing into destiny in this world, but many more were charlatans, and clearly, Wang Clan had encountered one.

 Chapter 983 - 986: What is the Purpose

    Chapter 983: Chapter 986: What is the PurposeSeeing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s expression, Wang Clan couldn¡¯t help but explain, "Many people say the master is very effective. I spent quite a bit of silver to see him, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have said anything wrong."


    He said that if Tan Zhenghong stayed with the Tan Family, the people of Tan Family would be in danger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Zhenghong with sympathy, guessing that at this moment, he must have hated the diviner to the core.


    "Tan Zhenghong returned to the Tan Family when he was eight years old. If his fate were really tough, the Tan Family would have been destroyed by him long ago," Qiao Duo¡¯er argued logically.


    But everyone in the Tan Family was doing fine up until the year Tan Zhenghong got married.


    After that, some people kept seeking death, but they only suffered instead of actually dying.


    Wasn¡¯t this fact enough to clarify things? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This oleander can burden the heart, causing an accelerated heartbeat or even a sudden stop, and it can cause irreversible damage to the heart. Pregnant women who come into contact with it can even have a miscarriage."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er introduced the toxicity of oleander to Wang Clan.


    Upon careful reflection, Wang Clan remembered that every time she picked the flowers, her heart would race.


    Once she picked a few too many, and afterwards, she felt pain in her chest, and before long, she went into labor.


    This means all the suffering she went through was because she had come into contact with oleander, yet all these years, she had been pinning the blame on Tan Zhenghong.


    Oh my god, what had she done?


    She had always resented Tan Zhenghong, never breastfed him, not even deigning to give him a proper look.


    Later, when they took him back in, he was the one supporting the family, yet they never once showed any compassion for him.


    Wang Clan looked guiltily at Fourth Boss, "I must have been cursed to have believed that master so wholeheartedly. Fourth Boss, I¡¯ve wronged you all these years."


    "Now everything¡¯s fine, no need to talk about being wronged," said Tan Zhenghong, curling the corner of his lip. He couldn¡¯t quite describe what he was feeling at the moment.


    He felt somewhat indignant, a bit sad, but mostly, he was mocking himself.


    But considering he was still alive, he again felt content.


    Wang Clan took out a handkerchief to dab at the corner of her eyes, now she didn¡¯t dare to look Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er in the eyes.


    Qiao Duo cleared her throat, "I think what¡¯s more important now is to catch the culprit. Think carefully, who have you offended?"


    Wang Clan grew uneasy, and accidentally dropped her chopsticks onto the table.


    She had offended many people ¨C back when she was pregnant with Tan Zhenghong, she had quarreled with many of the villagers of Big Willow Village.


    The Tan Family was very poor back then and many people looked down on her. She wasn¡¯t one to take things lying down; any small provocation and she would argue back, sometimes even getting physical.


    In summary, in her younger days, her temper was explosive.


    Qiao Duo added another question, "I¡¯m talking about d¨¦ep-seated hatred, the kind where they wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until you¡¯re dead. Do you have any of those?"


    Even the kind of foes who wouldn¡¯t spare the child in Wang Clan¡¯s belly.


    Such deep enmity shouldn¡¯t have been forgotten by Wang Clan.


    But Wang Clan shook her head, "I¡¯ve lived my whole life in Big Willow Village, where would I find such a big feud? All I have is a sharp tongue and a bad temper, it¡¯s just a quarrel and then it¡¯s over."


    If she didn¡¯t calm down after one quarrel, then she¡¯d argue a second time. If that still didn¡¯t work, they¡¯d just cut ties.


    Hmm... that¡¯s why she didn¡¯t have many people she could talk to now.


    When the old ladies gathered to chat, as soon as she approached, they would conspicuously fall silent.


    Qiao Duo did not doubt Wang Clan¡¯s words; she was just an ordinary village old lady who could never get enough of quarreling over trivial matters. It didn¡¯t seem likely that poison would ever enter the picture.


    Years later, the poisonous flowers appeared again. What was the

 Chapter 984 - 987 My Affairs

    Chapter 984: Chapter 987 My AffairsQiao Duo¡¯er had several suspicions in her heart, but that was all she could do.


    However, if someone did it on purpose, there would definitely be more moves to come. She just needed to wait patiently, and sooner or later the person would fall into the trap.


    But Wang Clan couldn¡¯t get it out of her mind, and she thought about it all night, which caused her to hardly sleep.


    Someone wanted to harm her, and she couldn¡¯t stay calm.


    She went over again in her mind every quarrel she had had since she married into Big Willow Village, with whom and why she fought, and the extent of the disputes.


    After sorting it all out once, she had a pretty good idea who the culprit was. By now it was broad daylight, and Wang Clan immediately sprang up from bed.


    Without bothering to wash up, she headed out the door with a hoe, sporting two panda eyes.


    Wang Clan¡¯s furious appearance scared Bai Yan, who hurriedly called out, "Madam, where are you going?"


    As if she hadn¡¯t heard, Wang Clan continued out the door, still fuming.


    Worried that Wang Clan might cause trouble, Bai Yan promptly reported the matter to Fourth Boss and Madam.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll go check it out," Tan Zhenghong said as he rubbed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s head. He thought his mother had finally settled down, but apparently her old habits were flaring up again.


    Taking a hoe out meant she was going to pick a fight with someone.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sensed that Wang Clan might have thought of something, so she quickly dressed. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let¡¯s go have a look too; it¡¯s better to prevent any trouble," Qiao Duo¡¯er said as she got up to follow.


    Granny Su advised, "Fourth Boss has already gone; he¡¯ll surely be able to persuade the Madam to return. You just wait at home with peace of mind."


    "He definitely won¡¯t be able to persuade her. I guess it¡¯s related to the Oleander incident. This time it¡¯s targeting the Tan Family; it¡¯s better to understand the situation sooner," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with narrowed eyes. Otherwise, they would always be anxious.


    Granny Su nodded, "Then wait a moment, I¡¯ll call Qing Xin and Bai Yan."


    That way, they would have more security.


    By now, Tan Zhenghong had already caught up with Wang Clan, but Stubbornly, Wang Clan said, "You stay out of this. I must confront that wretched woman and clear this matter up; otherwise, I¡¯ll never rest in peace!"


    If it weren¡¯t for that malicious family, she would never be at odds with her own son.


    She guessed that family had been gloating in secret all these years.


    "Mother, who are you going to find? Speak up, and let¡¯s analyze it together first," Tan Zhenghong tried to reason, since it was just Wang Clan¡¯s suspicion so far, and its credibility was yet to be verified.


    Shaking off Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand, Wang Clan insisted, "It can¡¯t be anyone else but her. I must get an explanation today!"


    She was determined, and no one could stop her resolve.


    Helpless, Tan Zhenghong could only let Wang Clan continue walking forward.


    Before long, they arrived at the Xiao Family¡¯s house.


    In the hall, Zheng Shi was kneeling in front of a Buddha statue, her mouth moving in silent prayer.


    But her voice was too low to make out what she was saying.


    Wang Clan asked angrily, "Why did you want to harm someone from the Tan Family?"


    She had racked her brains to pin down the suspect.


    When she gave birth to her fourth child, she had the worst relationship with Zheng Shi, whose man was always running around outside and could likely find Oleander.


    So it had to be Zheng Shi¡¯s doing.


    Smirking, Zheng Shi said, "You¡¯ve only reconciled with your fourth child¡¯s family for a few days? He lost a son, and you¡¯re in such a hurry?"


    "You heartless witch, you¡¯re too cruel!"


    How big a grudge could she hold against Wang Clan to nearly kill two members of her family?


    "Ever since Tian¡¯er, Yu¡¯er, and my husband died, I¡¯ve been kneeling here every day, cursing the Tan Family, and now finally my wish has come true," Zheng Shi said with a hooked corner of her lip.


    Wang Clan nearly died, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s child was gone; she was satisfied now.

 Chapter 985 - 988: Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other

    Chapter 985: Chapter 988: Six of One, Half a Dozen of the OtherTan Zhenghong furrowed his brows and said, "Your family member¡¯s death is unfortunate, and we sympathize, but what does that have to do with us?"


    This matter had already been explained at the time, so why wouldn¡¯t she believe it?


    "You talk nicely, but had you just brought out the medicine earlier, Tian¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have died. If it weren¡¯t for your collusion with the Government Office, Yu¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have died in the dungeon, and my head of the household wouldn¡¯t have suddenly passed away while in town."


    Zheng Shi listed each point, accusing the Tan Family of their crimes. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The origin of everything lay with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    If she had died earlier, none of this would have happened.


    Wang Clan, dissatisfied, said, "What do I have to do with this? What grudge do I owe you? Why harm me?"


    At that time, their families were neighbors, and although they often quarreled, it was always over trifles.


    "You think you¡¯re innocent? Back when I was pregnant with Biyu, you intentionally bumped into my belly, and my child was almost lost. Of course, I couldn¡¯t let you off easily!" Zheng Shi said almost hysterically.


    After having two children, she went years without news and then, with great difficulty, fell pregnant again. She treasured this pregnancy as if it were a pearl.


    Yet, Wang Clan nearly killed her child.


    Could she do nothing about it?


    Wang Clan finally understood, "You old Devout Granny deserve to die! I returned the chive blossoms to you, and you still insisted on chopping off Big Brother Tan¡¯s hand. Do you think that¡¯s reasonable?"


    That time, Big Brother Tan, tempted by hunger, stole some food from the Xiao Family. Zheng Shi chased him to his doorstep demanding it back, and hurled a lot of nasty words.


    Still unsatisfied, she firmly demanded Big Brother Tan¡¯s hand be chopped off.


    Seeing Zheng Shi raise her hand high, Wang Clan, in a panic, bumped into her.


    At that time, Zheng Shi was only a bit over a month pregnant, something Wang Clan didn¡¯t know at all until Wu Youcai arrived, and she found out then.


    Later, she had apologized and even brought six eggs to Zheng Shi to nurture her health¡ªnot much, but the most respectable thing her family could offer.


    But Zheng Shi was ungracious, planting oleander right in front of her door.


    Wang Clan still vividly remembered the time she gave birth to Fourth Boss and how the blood had dyed half the bed red.


    If not for her rough constitution, she probably would have died long ago!


    "You just dismissed stealing something so serious as ¡¯boys will be boys.¡¯ If I hadn¡¯t asked you about it, you wouldn¡¯t have even mentioned returning the chive blossoms. How is that not grating to the ears?"


    As if every family should expect to be stolen from?


    Wang Clan felt on the back foot, but then retorted, "What mother doesn¡¯t defend her own child?"


    Moreover, the things Tan Zhengyuan brought back were still edible; she even thought her son was capable.


    "It is precisely because you defended him that Tan Zhengyuan ended up in the dungeon."


    Zheng Shi rolled her eyes. Letting a child steal and cheat from a young age, he grew up to be trash, always wanting something for nothing.


    "You have the nerve to say that? Two of your own are sitting in the dungeon." Wang Clan said, refusing to back down.


    Uh... not correct, one died in the dungeon.


    "Go die!"


    Zheng Shi, her sore spot hit, lunged at Wang Clan with the fury of a starving tiger pouncing on its prey.


    Zheng Shi¡¯s assault was fierce, and even though Wang Clan wielded a hoe, she couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand.


    Tan Zhenghong stepped forward to break up the fight: "Mother, stop, we need to go to the Government Office."


    "No, I won¡¯t go until I¡¯ve killed her!"


    Wang Clan shook her head resolutely; beating Zheng Shi was the only thing that would quell her rage.


    Seizing the opportunity while Wang Clan spoke, Zheng Shi gained some advantage. She grabbed the other end of the hoe, leaving Wang Clan utterly unable to resist.

 Chapter 986 - 989 Malicious

    Chapter 986: Chapter 989 MaliciousBecause of the oleander¡¯s effects, the Wang Clan¡¯s strength was much less than Zheng Shi¡¯s.


    The onlookers became unsettled.


    They had lived in the village all their lives, and this was the first time they had heard of a neighbor poisoning a neighbor.


    "Isn¡¯t Zheng Shi¡¯s child fine? Why use poison to harm someone?"


    "She must be out of her mind; just look at how the Xiao Family spoiled their daughter rotten, what else can¡¯t they do?"


    "Knowing she was pregnant, couldn¡¯t she be a bit more peaceful?"


    That the Wang Clan indulged Big Brother Tan in stealing was definitely wrong, because a mother should manage her own child properly.


    But Zheng Shi, knowing she was just pregnant, went to make trouble and even wanted to chop off someone¡¯s hand; clearly, she also had a problem.


    And all this over a bunch of chive flowers!


    "I should argue less with others in the future; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t even know when I might be killed."


    "Or maybe buy a new homestead, find one without any neighbors."


    If everyone killed over trivial matters, there wouldn¡¯t be enough people left in Big Willow Village.


    Just as the two women fought to an impasse, a key figure appeared. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Zheng Shi hadn¡¯t concealed anything just now because she thought Wang Clan and Tan Zhenghong had come together to demand an explanation.


    She felt since Qiao Duo had suffered a miscarriage, she had gotten her revenge, so she felt no pressure at all.


    As for dying or not, she didn¡¯t care.


    After all, there was nothing left in this world for her to cling to.


    But now, Qiao Duo was standing right in front of her, looking rosy and healthy, with no signs of a miscarriage at all!


    Zheng Shi bit her teeth and said, "You¡¯re actually fine?"


    "Both of my sworn brothers are disciples of the Medicine King; if I were to fall for your little schemes, I would have no face to see my sworn brothers," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied with a faint smile.


    She was very grateful that Bai Yifan had given her his notebook before he went to Beijiang, and also that she happened to see the oleander.


    Otherwise, she might have repeated the Wang Clan¡¯s tragedy, or even suffered a worse fate.


    "Don¡¯t even think about coming after Duo¡¯er; I won¡¯t let you succeed!" Wang Clan warned.


    She had always wronged Zheng Hong, so today she would do something meaningful.


    Zheng Shi sneered and suddenly increased the force in her hands, pulling the hoe over in one go.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately rushed forward when he realized Zheng Shi¡¯s intentions, but the hoe still struck Wang Clan¡¯s arm, and blood gushed out instantly.


    Wang Clan glanced at her blood-soaked sleeve and collapsed to the ground.


    Ever since the difficult birth, she had acquired a condition: the sight of a large amount of blood would make her faint.


    Qiao Duo finally understood why Xiao Biyu and her brother Xiao Lingchuan were so cruel; obviously, it was inherited from Zheng Shi.


    "Someone¡¯s been killed, so much blood!"


    "Ah, quick, help!"


    "It¡¯s just an arm injury; she won¡¯t die. Hurry and find Uncle Wu, she¡¯ll be saved when he arrives!"


    With the sight of blood, many present became unsettled, leaving only a few courageous men.


    Tan Zhenghong, pressing down on the Wang Clan¡¯s wound, said, "Brothers, please help, restrain her first, I need to save my mother."


    "Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s watched."


    "Zheng Shi has gone too far, we can¡¯t let her go!"


    Several men readily agreed.


    Qiao Duo commanded, "First, bandage it simply, use a band to tighten the upper arm, then quickly carry her back, and use the golden sore medicine I prepared to stop the bleeding."


    Her golden sore medicine was still lacking the Golden Pair Grass, so its effects weren¡¯t the best yet, but it was already much better than any available golden sore medicine.

 Chapter 987 - 990: Overture

    Chapter 987: Chapter 990: OvertureTan Zhenghong immediately did as instructed, and then carried the Wang Clan member back. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By the time Duo¡¯er arrived home, Tan Zhenghong had already treated Wang Clan¡¯s wounds.


    "The bleeding has stopped, but there¡¯s still a smell of blood in the house. You should go out for a walk and come back when the smell has dissipated,"


    Tan Zhenghong said considerately.


    Having just settled his mother, he then started to prepare for cleaning up the bloodstains in the courtyard.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. "That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll go and see Sister Lan first."


    Hu¡¯s Clan was still renting the small courtyard, working hard every day on the stewed meat business, but now the courtyard often had three additional male figures.


    They were from the Huang Family: one adult and two children.


    In the past, the Bao¡¯s were dominant and aggressive, not allowing them to experience the happiness of family, but they found satisfaction with Hu¡¯s Clan.


    "Duo¡¯er, is your mother alright?" Hu¡¯s Clan asked worriedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. "She didn¡¯t hurt any vital parts, she¡¯ll recover after some time."


    Hu¡¯s Clan then felt reassured. She really wanted to go and check, after all, she was once the Wang Clan¡¯s daughter-in-law.


    But thinking of Wang Clan¡¯s harsh attitude towards her and her daughters, as well as their deliberate difficulties, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to move.


    She wasn¡¯t a saint and couldn¡¯t be that magnanimous, so it was better to follow her heart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was satisfied with Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s reaction. The buns had gradually become more aware, but what concerned her more was whether the Deer Whip Wine that Tan Zhenghong had painstakingly made had shown any effect.


    "Has Brother Zhong shown any kind of gesture toward you?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face turned red. "Nothing much, just that he does more work."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, wondering if Huang Zhong¡¯s help was a sign of good intentions, or if he was just shifting his energy elsewhere.


    Seeing Huang Zhong¡¯s clueless demeanor, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    When would they stop dragging their feet, as only a paper-thin window stood between the two of them?


    Huang Zhong was intently chopping wood when he looked up and saw Duo¡¯er watching him. He said naively, "Duo¡¯er, please have a seat, I¡¯ll pour you some tea."


    "No need, I¡¯m just going to talk to Sister Lan for a bit," Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand.


    Huang Zhong nodded. "I¡¯ll take care of the work outside, and you entertain Duo¡¯er properly."


    "Brother Zhong, I think you could totally fulfill the role of the man of the house," Qiao Duo¡¯er said teasingly, a twinkle in her eye.


    You¡¯re good at doing work and entertaining guests.


    All that¡¯s missing is a title.


    Huang Zhong touched his ear. The man of the house? Did that mean he could marry Lan¡¯er?


    He was very willing, but before that, it seemed he should prepare something. Even if it was a remarriage, he couldn¡¯t let her be shortchanged.


    The most important thing was to have silver ready. With silver, everything else was not a problem.


    It seemed he needed to do more work.


    In the afternoon, Wang Clan woke up, and she seemed like a completely different person, becoming sullen and dejected.


    Seeing Tan Zhenghong come in to deliver the medicine, she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer.


    "Fourth Boss, I¡¯m too ashamed to see you, this is all my fault, I shouldn¡¯t be a mother," Wang Clan felt very remorseful.


    She couldn¡¯t stand the care and service of Tan Zhenghong, as she felt unworthy.


    Tan Zhenghong said softly, "This was all Zheng Shi¡¯s scheming, none of it was our fault. You¡¯ve lost too much blood, you need to take good care of yourself."


    Regarding other things, there would be plenty of opportunities to discuss them slowly in the future.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s forgiveness only made Wang Clan feel worse. Just then, hearing some noise, she asked Tan Zhenghong to call Qiao Duo¡¯er in.


    When she had contracted the epidemic, no one else dared to touch her, so her silver bracelet on her wrist was left behind. That was all her property now.

 Chapter 988 - 991: Coming Back with Us?

    Chapter 988: Chapter 991: Coming Back with Us?Upon seeing Jian Duoer come in, Wang Clan gritted her teeth and slipped the silver bracelet off her arm.


    Her arm had been seriously injured this time, and any slight movement would pull at the wound on her arm.


    Ah, if only she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have tried to be brave.


    However, thinking about Zheng Shi being locked up in the dungeon, she felt it was all worth it.


    "Fourth Boss¡¯s wife, I¡¯ve been confused for half my life, and I owe you and Hu¡¯s Clan an apology. I should apologize to you both. You know my situation, I only have these two things left from before, one for each of you," she said sincerely.


    Wang Clan truly felt that the people she owed the most in her life were Tan Zhenghong and his spouse, as well as Hu¡¯s Clan.


    When Fourth Boss and his wife were in their toughest times, she had driven them out and, under Little Wang Clan¡¯s instigation, deliberately made things difficult for them.


    As for Hu¡¯s Clan, she had used the excuse of her not bearing a son as a reason to make her do more work¡ªthe chores both inside and outside the house she had never done in short supply.


    The pair of bracelets wasn¡¯t anything precious, but it represented her apology.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Keep it."


    She knew this was Wang Clan¡¯s sincerity, but the elderly needed to keep something on their hands, it was a source of their sense of security.


    "I know you don¡¯t care about my things, but this is a little token of my intention. I know I have made many foolish mistakes before, and I will try to make it up to you in the future," Wang Clan said earnestly.


    She was only in her early forties, and she could still do a lot of work.


    Sweeping the floor, washing dishes, working in the fields, she could handle all of them.


    "You have also been wronged, don¡¯t dwell on it any longer," Qiao Duo¡¯er firmly pushed the bracelets back.


    As for whether to forgive Wang Clan, that would have to be left to time to decide.


    Because she didn¡¯t know if Wang Clan would one day think of Tan Xiaofu again, remember her favoritism towards Second Brother Tan and Little Wang Clan that lasted half her life.


    A hint of loss flashed in Wang Clan¡¯s eyes, but understanding Duo¡¯er¡¯s temperament, she could only secretly put away the bracelets.


    Nevertheless, she would find another opportunity to give the things to them, that would make her a little more at ease.


    Stepping out of the house, Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow: "Do you think I¡¯m being unkind?"


    "I was born by my mother, who suffered when she gave birth to me. It¡¯s the debt I owed, what¡¯s unkind about that?" Tan Zhenghong said with a light smile.


    How Duo¡¯er treated his mother was not something he had any say in, and he felt his wife had already done very well.


    She had never stopped him from being filial and had always been very polite to his mother herself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with satisfaction, "That¡¯s more like it."


    Tan Zhenghong chuckled, feeling that since her choosing him who had nothing back then, he ought to be good to her forever.


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er had expected, upon seeing Wang Clan¡¯s happiness in the Tan Family, Little Wang Clan began to plot again.


    That morning, Bai Yan accompanied Wang Clan for a walk in the courtyard.


    "Mother, I¡¯ve come to see how you¡¯re feeling," said Little Wang Clan with a smile plastered on her face.


    She never imagined that Wang Clan and Fourth Boss would reconcile; otherwise, she would never have driven Wang Clan out in the first place.


    Tan Zhenghong was the richest man in Big Willow Village, as long as she firmly clung to his powerful thighs, she would at least not have to worry about food and clothing in the future.


    Xiao Fu also said with flattery, "Grandmother, when will you come back with me?"


    Wang Clan¡¯s face instantly darkened. She had been blind before to treat such a woman with a venomous heart and Little White-eyed Wolf as treasures.


    She had regarded them as her precious children, but in their eyes, she was just a tool, a vessel to climb up to Ah Hong¡¯s social ladder. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 989 - 992 Preferring Divorce

    Chapter 989: Chapter 992 Preferring Divorce"Mother, at that time I was afraid of infecting Xiao Fu, you know, since he¡¯s a child, he could easily catch it, I was really helpless," Little Wang Clan explained.


    "Don¡¯t just say nice things with your mouth, although I was deeply asleep back then, I heard everything you all said,"


    Wang Clan said with a stern face.


    Tan Zhengyong had said catching the plague meant certain death sooner or later; seeking medicine was merely wasting silver.


    Little Wang Clan said to send her away quickly, lest the whole family perished.


    Xiao Fu said he absolutely couldn¡¯t let Grandmother die, because if she did, Tan Zhenghong surely wouldn¡¯t send more silver or food.


    In the end, Tan Yuancheng said that the lives of the whole family mattered more and to let her fend for herself.


    If it weren¡¯t for Fourth Boss and his wife saving her, she might not even have the chance to speak now.


    Little Wang Clan still continued, "Mother, it was agreed initially that the second branch would take care of you, you still have to live with us, and now that you and Fourth Boss have cleared up the misunderstanding, he¡¯ll give you some money for elderly support in the future."


    By then, how to use it would be entirely up to her.


    "I¡¯m just an old lady who was kicked out of her home. Fourth Boss and his wife are kind-hearted, they took me in, gave me a place to live, fed me; I¡¯m already very content, and wouldn¡¯t hope for anything else,"


    This was how Wang Clan saw herself.


    Therefore, since Tan Zhenghong ignored her, she bore no complaints.


    If they were willing to be kind to her, she was immensely grateful.


    In the future, she would help with some household chores, and if Fourth Boss and Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t mind, she could also help take care of the child, at least she wouldn¡¯t be freeloading.


    Little Wang Clan clenched her fists in secret; this old thing really didn¡¯t know when to stop!


    She lowered her voice and said, "Fourth Boss and his wife must absolutely detest you; now that everyone knows about the things Zheng Shi did, they¡¯re forced to keep up appearances, but once this blows over, they¡¯ll surely reveal their true colors, so you better take some advantage now."


    "It looks to me you¡¯re running short on silver,"


    Wang Clan said pointedly, her tone slightly harsh; this was Little Wang Clan¡¯s real intent.


    Little Wang Clan blinked, completely taken aback by Wang Clan¡¯s blunt words that left her at a loss.


    At the right moment, Xiao Fu interjected, "Grandma, don¡¯t be angry, my mother knows she was wrong, she hasn¡¯t been able to sleep at night, and has been crying secretly."


    He was raised solely by Wang Clan, who always listened to him and took his advice.


    But this time, Wang Clan didn¡¯t make the same mistake. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "From the moment you sent me away to be quarantined, I was no longer related to you; once my arm heals, I will divorce Tan Yuancheng," Wang Clan said slowly.


    Only by doing so would Fourth Boss¡¯s family no longer be harassed by these people.


    She believed this would be her wisest decision.


    Little Wang Clan¡¯s mouth fell open, "Think it through, if you divorce, you won¡¯t be able to be buried in the ancestral tomb."


    Not being buried in the ancestral tomb meant being a wandering ghost.


    Wang Clan hesitated, but in the end, chose to believe in Tan Zhenghong.


    In the future, Ah Hong wouldn¡¯t be qualified to be buried in the ancestral tomb either; he would surely set up a new shrine, and would probably reserve a place for her.


    And Ah Hong was the most capable among the sons; in the future, he would surely bring prosperity and plenty of descendants.


    "You all better go back, Duo¡¯er doesn¡¯t like strangers visiting her home," Wang Clan said unceremoniously, showing them out.


    If she wanted to be good to Ah Hong, she wouldn¡¯t invite these people who coveted his property back.


    Upon leaving the Tan Family, Little Wang Clan was still indignant.


    "This old thing, only thinking about her comfort, at her age, actually contemplating divorce, she¡¯s truly shameless!" Wang Clan grumbled incessantly.

 Chapter 990 - 993: Are You a Man?

    Chapter 990: Chapter 993: Are You a Man?"Mother, why does Grandma want to divorce Grandfather?" Xiao Fu asked, puzzled. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Once she divorces, she¡¯ll have no relation to the Tan Family, and from then on, none of us, including your grandfather, should expect to benefit from your fourth uncle¡¯s Wen money," Little Wang Clan sighed.


    This was bad news; the loss was significant!


    Xiao Fu pouted, "Then why doesn¡¯t Grandfather just not divorce her?"


    "We can¡¯t control that much anymore; we can only go back and tell your great-grandfather to see if he can come up with a solution."


    Little Wang Clan, dragging Xiao Fu with her, hurried back. Although she had long known that Tan Yuancheng was indecisive and weak, he was now their only hope.


    After hearing Little Wang Clan¡¯s exaggerated description, Tan Yuancheng could not sit still any longer.


    He was already old, and his wife clamoring for a divorce was nothing but an embarrassment to him.


    "You shameless thing actually want to divorce, was it the work of two dead people who instigated you? Call them out right now; I need to have a good talk with them!" Tan Yuancheng said loudly, making sure those hiding in the room could hear.


    Wang Clan frowned, "Don¡¯t speak with a barbed tongue. Ah Hong has gone hunting in the mountains, and Duo¡¯er is resting for the baby. Arguing won¡¯t help."


    When Wang Clan arrived, Duo¡¯er had just woken up and had rested a while, now refreshed just in time to confront Tan Yuancheng¡¯s questioning.


    "Then let¡¯s sit down and have a proper talk."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at Tan Yuancheng with disdain.


    She had disliked Tan Yuancheng for a long time, but since he liked to use Wang Clan to do his bidding, he had remained unscathed until now.


    This was a rare opportunity, and she had no intention of letting it slip away.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat at the stone table, letting only Granny Su pour her a cup of tea.


    Tan Yuancheng was annoyed, but he had something more important to worry about and said anxiously, "You better explain yourself clearly, sowing discord between a husband and his wife, aren¡¯t you afraid of damaging your moral integrity?"


    "Firstly, you should know that Tan Zhenghong has cut ties with you, and you have no right to boss around in my house. Secondly, you can¡¯t provide for your wife and children, nor protect them, and all day long, you only sneak behind others to give rotten advice, showing zero responsibility. It¡¯s only natural for your wife to want a divorce from you; who needs to stir that up?"


    Qiao Duo calmly explained.


    When she learned that Wang Clan wanted a divorce, she was shocked but soon understood why.


    Being married to a man like Tan Yuancheng, who wasn¡¯t manly at all, happiness was impossible.


    The very fact that the Tan Family once had a well indicated that they were not always poor; this she had confirmed with the village elders.


    Yet, when Tan Zhenghong came home, the house was bare, which clearly pointed to Tan Yuancheng¡¯s laziness and lack of proper conduct.


    Since Tan Zhenghong¡¯s return, the family had been living off his hunting, and Tan Yuancheng no longer had to provide for the family.


    Lacking the ability to earn money and flawed in character, the sooner one left such a man, the sooner they could stop their losses.


    "Duo¡¯er is right; this is my own choice," Wang Clan interjected.


    Tan Yuancheng glared at Wang Clan, his eyes full of warning.


    This woman was growing bolder by the day, probably having forgotten all about the three obediences and four virtues!


    "Is there anything else you want to ask? I¡¯ll explain it all to you now while I¡¯m free," Qiao Duo said, batting her innocent eyes.


    Tan Yuancheng was so angry he gritted his teeth. He was adept at giving ideas to Wang Clan behind the scenes, but when confronted, he fell short.


    Little Wang Clan gently persuaded, "Mother, you must open your eyes wide."


    "That¡¯s why I¡¯m wary of you all," Wang Clan said earnestly, her mind much clearer after having walked through the Ghost Gate.

 Chapter 991 - 994 A Couple’s Experience

    Chapter 991: Chapter 994 A Couple¡¯s ExperienceLittle Wang Clan could only close her mouth, even though she was good at sweet-talking, she had no idea what to say to Wang Clan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er secretly gave Wang Clan a thumbs-up, Wang Clan had been confused for half her life, but now she finally saw things clearly, which was no easy feat.


    Tan Yuancheng sighed, "We¡¯re both getting on in years, it¡¯s embarrassing to keep fighting over pride. Just come back with me obediently, and we¡¯ll live our lives well from now on."


    Grandchildren were already grown up, and yet to quibble over whether to divorce or not just invites ridicule and laughter.


    "We can also not get a divorce, but I¡¯m laying it out here, if you dare to harass Fourth Boss and his wife, I¡¯ll tell everyone what you did. Anyway, I¡¯ve already ¡¯died¡¯ once, I don¡¯t care about anything anymore."


    But someone loves his own face most, definitely not wanting others to find out.


    "After all, we were husband and wife..."


    Before Tan Yuancheng could finish, Wang Clan impatiently said, "Husband and wife indeed, but I¡¯ve never seen you care much about me, there is no room for negotiation on this matter."


    Tan Yuancheng still had some land in his hands, as long as he didn¡¯t rashly divide it up, he could still get by in his old age.


    The old Wang Clan had soft ears, a little coaxing would have changed her mind, but now that was completely ineffective.


    Tan Yuancheng gritted his teeth and left with a dark face.


    "Mother, you better not regret this, when you think of wanting to come back to my house, there won¡¯t even be a door left for you!"


    Little Wang Clan said fiercely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er liked to be petty and wouldn¡¯t possibly forget what Wang Clan had done.


    Wang Clan calmly watched Little Wang Clan leave, knowing that once she walked out that door today, she would certainly regret it.


    The courtyard quieted down, leaving only Wang Clan and Qiao Duo¡¯er sitting beside the stone table, not knowing where to put her hands. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today, she had lost both her inside and outside face.


    "Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t bother with them, they get furious when they can¡¯t get an advantage," said Wang Clan.


    After speaking, Wang Clan¡¯s face also turned completely red, because she used to be that kind of person.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "Just send them away, I¡¯ll go check on the Embroidery Room."


    These past few days, the lead girl and Chao Lian had been modifying the patterns; she went to check the results and to comfort the lead girl as well.


    "What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll go make it for you," Wang Clan offered.


    "You have an injury on your arm, just get some rest. Let the maids in the house do the other stuff," Qiao Duo instructed.


    Even if Wang Clan¡¯s injury healed, Qiao Duo wouldn¡¯t agree to let Wang Clan enter the kitchen, because Wang Clan simply had no talent for cooking.


    Actually, she was very serious, but could only ensure the food was cooked.


    Upon arriving in the Embroidery Room, Qiao Duo first looked at the modified patterns.


    "It¡¯s even better than I imagined, lead girl, I think it would be a huge loss for me not to make good use of you," Qiao Duo praised generously.


    Once the new patterns hit the market, they were sure to be even more popular.


    The lead girl said proudly, "Of course, Chao Lian isn¡¯t a pushover either. With just a little guidance, she knows exactly what to do; sometimes, she even draws prettier scenes than I could imagine!"


    "You both are the pillars of Duo Meifang, without you, I would have been utterly lost," Qiao Duo confirmed readily, truly not wanting to imagine a life where everything sought her attention, and she had to organize every task.


    "Although you¡¯ve become a Hands-off Boss, you know how to delegate wisely."


    The lead girl wasn¡¯t shy at all; her praise was mainly targeted at Qiao Duo, with a bit of self-compliment on the side.


    Three black lines fell across Qiao Duo¡¯s forehead, "We¡¯re all family here, let¡¯s not flatter each other. It¡¯s such nice autumn weather, let¡¯s go out for a walk together."


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of such a lovely time?

 Chapter 992 - 995 Teasing with Words

    Chapter 992: Chapter 995 Teasing with Words"Great, being cooped up in this tiny space all day, I¡¯m about to suffocate from boredom," said the cheerful girl.


    Her smile was radiant, but Duo¡¯er could see a hint of reluctance deep in her eyes.


    She was still troubled by Zhang Ziwen¡¯s affairs, but had hidden it deep inside her heart.


    Only when alone would she remove her disguise.


    But understanding how to rein in one¡¯s pain is part of growing up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t tell her she had already asked Qin Longyun to look for Zhang Ziwen because the greater the hope, the greater the potential disappointment.


    The group of three chatted as they walked.


    When tired, they sat on the grass, and when hungry, they enjoyed snacks prepared by Granny Su, truly relaxed and comfortable.


    The only regret was that Qiao Duo was pregnant and Chao Lian was frail; otherwise, they could have had a horse race to add some excitement to their autumn outing.


    As evening approached, Qiao Duo¡¯er returned home leisurely, while Tan Zhenghong came back with a full load.


    He was in luck today, not only catching plenty of game but also stumbling upon an unexpected surprise, such as the apples in his basket.


    Apple trees were scarce in the mountains, and most of the fruit was sour and small, which made sweet and crisp apples very rare.


    But he had encountered one not long after ascending the mountain today.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes instantly lit up: "You¡¯re incredible!"


    She loved apples, but since arriving in this world, she had never seen one, so she had thought that apples didn¡¯t exist during the Daxing Dynasty.


    "The apple tree I saw today isn¡¯t big. If you like them, I¡¯ll transplant the tree back here," said Tan Zhenghong cheerfully.


    If they had the tree, his wife could enjoy apples often.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "People say that moving trees kills them, so let¡¯s not bother. We can just transplant a sapling later. Come spring, we can graft it, and that will enhance the quality of the fruit."


    "What¡¯s grafting?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled.


    "It¡¯s attaching the bud of one tree onto another tree to improve the quality and yield. However, I only know the basics, so I¡¯m not sure if it will work."


    Ever since her transmigration, she always felt her knowledge was insufficient.


    If she could have foreseen the future, she would have memorized an encyclopedia thoroughly. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What¡¯s there to fear? We¡¯re not committing a crime or anything. If we try several times, we¡¯ll surely find a way," he said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, and besides, even if the mother apple tree didn¡¯t make it, it just meant Tan Zhenghong had to walk a little further to pick apples from the mountain.


    Tan Zhenghong leaned close to Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear and said, "I walked deeper into the mountains today and found a spring¡ªit¡¯s a hot spring. After you give birth, I¡¯ll take you there, and we can soak together."


    His voice was full of seduction, and he lightly brushed against Duo¡¯er¡¯s earlobe.


    This left Qiao Duo¡¯er unsettled. In truth, it wasn¡¯t just Tan Zhenghong who was frustrated; she was also struggling with impulse.


    But she feared harming their child, so they tacitly chose to abstain.


    Tan Zhenghong began to ponder decorating the cave and constructing a large bath so that they could soak together.


    By then, with passions running high, some blushing and breathless moments would surely occur.


    Thinking of the exciting possibilities, Tan Zhenghong whispered into Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, "Hurry up and give birth to this little troublemaker, I¡¯m almost turning into a bear."


    "Why into a bear?"


    "Because I think a bear¡¯s is larger."


    "I still think you¡¯re more like a donkey. What do you think?"


    Tan Zhenghong was speechless, silently taking the game to the backyard to process. When women talked dirty, men couldn¡¯t handle it, and at that moment, he felt his ears burning hot.

 Chapter 993 - 996: Never Forget Our Roots

    Chapter 993: Chapter 996: Never Forget Our RootsAs October arrived, Qiao Duo¡¯er seldom ventured out aside from her walks, spending the rest of her time in the courtyard, basking in the sun and reading books.


    Even so, she still ended up exhausted every day.


    Feeling helpless about this, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only look forward to the little one¡¯s early arrival.


    On this day, the weather was bad, so Duo¡¯er stayed in her room.


    Before long, Qing Xin came rushing in, "Madam, it¡¯s terrible, King Qin has arrived, what should we do?"


    Just the thought of his stern face sent shivers down her spine.


    "He doesn¡¯t eat people. You all entertain him first; I¡¯ll get ready and go out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er got up from the couch without any hurry.


    King Qin was an important guest; she couldn¡¯t receive him looking unkempt. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing Xin immediately shook her head, "No, absolutely not, let me help you with your hair instead."


    With Granny Su and the maids outside, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems, but it could be different with one more person involved.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had never been fond of the ancient hairstyles, happy to let someone else handle it for her, so she didn¡¯t refuse Qing Xin¡¯s offer.


    As Qing Xin fixed Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair, she said enviously, "Your hair is so lovely, so black and smooth, prettier even than satin, and your skin is so delicately soft."


    Just by looking at her face, one couldn¡¯t tell at all that she was pregnant.


    After getting herself tidied up, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally appeared in the main hall.


    King Qin was sitting at the seat of honor, drinking tea as if no one else was there.


    Granny Su and the maids from the household stood to the side, ready to act on any of King Qin¡¯s needs immediately.


    Suddenly, one of them caught Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eye for a second look ¨C it was her sister, Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    From the rosy, flirtatious look on her face, it was likely she was entertaining thoughts about King Qin.


    Upon seeing Duo¡¯er arrive, King Qin teased, "No one besides you has ever dared to keep me waiting this long."


    Normally, others waited for him, or hurried out to greet him right away, but only Qiao Duo¡¯er was daring enough to have her maid send him off with just a cup of tea.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er apologized, "I didn¡¯t know you were coming by so suddenly, did I? You have to give me some time to dress up; otherwise, I feared coming out and frightening you."


    "These past few days, I¡¯ve been wandering through several villages to get a sense of the situation. When I got to Big Willow Village, I heard from my servants that you and Ah Hong were living here, so I decided to stop by and see for myself," explained King Qin.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was shocked because she never expected King Qin to explain.


    After all, he was a high-ranking prince with formidable military achievements to his name.


    Seeing Duo¡¯er¡¯s reaction, King Qin just smiled it off. He had seen enough deceit and life-or-death struggles; now, he cherished every friend that treated him with sincerity.


    Fortunately, Qiao Duo¡¯er counted as one among those friends.


    When the male protagonist didn¡¯t show up after a long time, King Qin couldn¡¯t help but ask, "How come I haven¡¯t seen Tan Zhenghong?"


    Could it be that his grooming took longer than a woman¡¯s?


    "He¡¯s gone hunting in the mountains; they are vast, and it could take a while to find him," Qiao Duo¡¯er apologetically explained.


    "Hunting?" King Qin was now the one surprised. He clearly remembered Qin Longyun mentioning that the Tan Family owned a shop, and he had even tasted their marinated meat, which was quite good and surely a hit.


    A family like that wouldn¡¯t be rich but would definitely be considered prosperous. Why would the male host need to go hunting in the mountains?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "His main profession is hunting. Now that he has some free time, he goes to the mountains to keep his skills sharp, otherwise, he¡¯ll get rusty."


    King Qin¡¯s impression of the Tan Family elevated, seeing them as wealthy yet grounded, indicating their strong character.


    "You¡¯re here inspecting the village; where is Lord Qin?"


    This matter concerned the public affairs; there was no reason for Lord Qin not to be present.

 Chapter 994 - 997: Self-Blame

    Chapter 994: Chapter 997: Self-Blame"I¡¯m completely at Chen Yi Ling¡¯s command now, and if it weren¡¯t for the sentimentality of our childhood, I would have dealt with them a long time ago," King Qin complained.


    Today, Chen Yi Ling acted coquettishly wanting someone to accompany her, so Qin Longyun immediately declared he must stay at home.


    He had come to realize that ever since the birth of Qin Mingrui, Qin Longyun had become even more compliant with Chen Yi Ling, turning into a complete henpecked husband.


    Alas, it¡¯s a disgrace to men.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and snickered. It really was beneath the War God Prince¡¯s dignity to be sent down to inspect civilian sentiments.


    Compared to the battlefield where he can achieve greater things, the Prince likely found domestic life less appealing.


    After chatting for a while, Tan Zhenghong came back.


    "My wife caught a young wild boar today. Want me to roast it for you?" Tan Zhenghong said smugly.


    It wasn¡¯t until after he finished speaking that he noticed the unusual atmosphere in his house that day.


    Everyone was on edge, and his wife even had her hair done up in a complex bun. There was definitely something amiss.


    "King Qin, I¡¯m sorry, I really didn¡¯t see you just now."


    Tan Zhenghong scratched the back of his head.


    He was just used to greeting his wife first, and today was no exception.


    King Qin waved his hand: "I am not that petty. It¡¯s getting late, I will take my leave now."


    In the end, like Qin Longyun, Tan Zhenghong was so devoted to his wife that he was at the point of neglecting friends. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay: "It¡¯s nearly noon. If the Prince doesn¡¯t mind, why not have a casual meal here? It¡¯s just some homemade dishes."


    King Qin was quite interested in the roast pork that Tan Zhenghong mentioned, so he sat back down in his original spot.


    "The suckling pig needs to be marinated with condiments for a long time and can only be eaten in the evening," Tan Zhenghong kindly reminded.


    He made it clear to avoid King Qin getting his hopes up too high.


    "No worries, I can come back in the evening."


    Anyway, he was set on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s suckling pig, and he wouldn¡¯t give up until he had some.


    Tan Zhenghong really wanted to criticize King Qin. This feast was prepared for his wife, and yet the Prince just had to meddle. But considering he was the Prince, Tan Zhenghong could only let it be.


    Heading to the backyard, he began sharpening the knife for the slaughter.


    In the front, King Qin brought up another matter: "I heard that you all want to start a school in the village."


    "Yes, but the school was used as a quarantine area during the epidemic, and since people have died inside, it doesn¡¯t feel right, so we thought about selecting another location," Qiao Duo¡¯er said somewhat regretfully.


    This meant their plans would be delayed for quite some time.


    "Leave this matter to me," King Qin said, slapping his chest.


    He thought everyone should learn to read and write, as it would be beneficial for the entire Daxing Dynasty.


    However, he noticed that the desire for education was highest in Big Willow Village. If he started a private school here, it wouldn¡¯t take long for other places to follow suit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er did not refuse: "Then I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of the villagers and the Embroidery Lady."


    "I hold power in my hands, but I haven¡¯t done nearly as much for the people as you have. I¡¯m really ashamed," King Qin said modestly.


    "You¡¯ve been preoccupied with the military affairs at the borders; it¡¯s understandable to overlook other matters."


    No one is a deity; it¡¯s impossible for someone to handle every matter perfectly.


    What mattered was that King Qin had the right intentions. Qiao Duo¡¯er also understood why Bai Yifan adamantly supported King Qin ¨C because he harboured genuine concern for the people in his heart, and he knew how to reflect on his actions.


    If one day he ascended the ultimate throne without forgetting the dreams he had as Prince, politics would likely be much clearer, and the lives of the people would be much better.


    After lunch, King Qin took his leave first; he had several more villages to visit.

 Chapter 995 - 998: Don’t Get Any Ideas

    Chapter 995: Chapter 998: Don¡¯t Get Any IdeasAfter King Qin left, Qiao Mei¡¯er still lingered, gazing at the doorway. Her feelings were so apparent that anyone but the blind would know what was in her heart.


    It must be said that the girl was quite bold; many young women dared not even look directly at King Qin.


    To save the young lady¡¯s face, Qiao Duo¡¯er called Qiao Mei¡¯er into the study.


    "Did you come for something?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, her tone neither cold nor warm.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er, somewhat absentmindedly, said, "I happened to have the day off, so I came to see you and also brought some walnuts I picked on the mountain. I heard you like them."


    "Thank you. As your elder sister, I also need to remind you that there are some people you simply can¡¯t afford to provoke. It¡¯s best not to set your heart on them." Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke earnestly.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er bit her lip before speaking weakly, "I want to try."


    She was just an ordinary girl from the mountain village, who should never have had the chance to see the Prince.


    But she had met him, and that was fate.


    Even if she could only be a concubine to the Prince, it was better than constantly scurrying up and down in the Embroidery Room.


    Most importantly, the Prince was upright and would not do anything as sordid as Xu Yuanwai.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment, "The Prince already has someone he fancies and is quite devoted. You cannot even imagine how vicious the Imperial court struggles can be. You¡¯d better think it over."


    The best outcome would be for Qiao Mei¡¯er to come to her senses and let her budding feelings rot away in her heart.


    For King Qin could never be her match, and any slight maneuvering from her would only bring shame upon herself.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er refused to believe it, "He is a Prince; he won¡¯t marry just one person."


    She didn¡¯t even need the Prince¡¯s love; she just wanted him to bring her a life of wealth.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er opened a drawer and took out a piece of paper.


    "This is your Servitude Contract; from now on, your actions have nothing to do with the Tan Family." Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over the contract.


    She had already explained the situation with King Qin, yet Qiao Mei¡¯er remained obstinately deluded. Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t want to be involved in her affairs any longer.


    For she couldn¡¯t stop someone so desperately courting her own downfall.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but lift into a smile, but she suppressed her inner exultation, "Sister, I will pay you back the Silver later."


    "There¡¯s no need. Without a family to rely on, that Silver is sufficient for you to settle down." Qiao Duo¡¯er declined.


    By doing so, she felt she was fulfilling the last bit of sisterly affection. As long as Qiao Mei¡¯er was smart enough, she could certainly find a way out for herself.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er took the contract, "Sister, I¡¯ll remember your kindness. If one day I make my fortune, I will surely repay you."


    If not for Qiao Duo¡¯er stopping Xu Yuanwai, she would never have gotten such an opportunity.


    "Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are from heaven; just let nature take its course."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words made Qiao Mei¡¯er frown¡ªdid Qiao Duo¡¯er mean to say that she¡¯d never stand a chance?


    But determined to prove a point, she would use all her strength to make King Qin fall in love with her.


    And then, to have the Tan Family Members kneel at her feet¡ªthat would be the true moment of triumph.


    "Madam, there¡¯s really no point in you being so good to her."


    Almond spoke out, unable to watch any longer. They were all of low birth, and their marriages were to be decided by their masters, yet Qiao Mei¡¯er took it upon herself to aim for the Prince!


    A Prince of such nobility, how could he possibly set his sights on a village girl?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "Everyone has different pursuits. We may not understand, but we must respect them."


    People want to live a life of ease, and no one has the right to interfere.


    All she could say was she hoped every choice would lead to a satisfying end, but many people found themselves empty-handed after all the toil.

 Chapter 996 - 999 Are you so happy?

    Chapter 996: Chapter 999 Are you so happy?In the evening, the roasted wild boar feast that King Qin had been looking forward to all afternoon began.


    Given King Qin¡¯s imposing presence, Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t call anyone else over.


    As the banquet commenced, Tan Zhenghong brought up the perfectly roasted wild boar, its golden color glistening and wafting waves of tempting aroma.


    King Qin couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of his decision; he often hunted game to improve the shared meals while on campaigns.


    Now that he had returned to court, this was the experience he missed the most.


    Tan Zhenghong personally cut off a piece of meat, "Prince, please try this."


    "This prince isn¡¯t so delicate, don¡¯t be restrained, just help yourselves to anything." King Qin¡¯s mouth curved upwards.


    "Then, let¡¯s eat while it¡¯s hot, it won¡¯t taste as good once it cools down."


    The dangerously tilted lips King Qin purposely made indicated his mood, but Qiao Duo¡¯er was already quite composed, knowing that was simply his nature.


    Thus, what she needed to do now was to ignore King Qin¡¯s expressionless face and focus on filling her stomach.


    The wild boar meat was firm and juicy, with a crispy outside and tender inside, every bite a delight. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, the three of them had finished half of the wild boar and were feeling a bit greasy when Qiao Mei¡¯er brought over her meticulously prepared sour plum juice.


    "Prince, this is sour plum juice, it¡¯s the best at cutting through greasiness, please try some." Qiao Mei¡¯er eagerly presented the bowl to King Qin.


    Thanks to Duo¡¯er, she had the opportunity to be this close to King Qin.


    King Qin didn¡¯t even lift his eyes, "This king never eats anything sweet."


    He always thought that such sweet and sour things were for women.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er looked at King Qin with a plaintive gaze, but King Qin was never a man to pity or indulge women, so he remained utterly indifferent to her.


    Unable to step down gracefully, Qiao Mei¡¯er had no choice but to seek help from Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Sister, when you have a poor appetite being pregnant, you can drink some of this."


    "Sour plum is cold in nature, you¡¯d better eat less of it as you¡¯re about to give birth," King Qin glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I¡¯ll just taste a little bit."


    The sour plum soup had a balanced sweetness and acidity, too bad it encountered the unromantic King Qin.


    If not for the fear that something too cold might harm the fetus, she could have drunk several bowls in one go.


    "Prince, what would you like to drink? I¡¯ll prepare it for you," Qiao Mei¡¯er asked in a soft voice.


    This was a voice she had practiced for a long time, believing it would show her at her most perfect.


    King Qin didn¡¯t pay any attention to Qiao Mei¡¯er, instead, he turned to his guard, "Leng Shuang, go brew tea."


    Leng Shuang saluted, "Yes!"


    After that, Qiao Mei¡¯er was completely ignored. King Qin continued eating a big piece of roasted meat with his tea, not even giving her a second look.


    He never showed a pleasant face to those bold and fawning women. Had he not been tricked once a few years ago, he would have long since married a beauty by now.


    Having eaten and drunk his fill, King Qin stood up, "Thank you both for your hospitality. This king will take his leave."


    With that, he swung his sleeves and left.


    "Sister, that King Qin..."


    Why couldn¡¯t he give her even a single glance? Was she really that ugly?


    "Realizing the truth now isn¡¯t too late, you¡¯ve hardly suffered any loss," Qiao Duo¡¯er said leisurely.


    Consider today¡¯s neglect a lesson learned; in the future, focus on your work then you¡¯ll still be a good girl.


    Many people have princess dreams when they are young, but they outgrow them when they get older.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er said resentfully, "I wasn¡¯t favored by King Qin, and you¡¯re happy about that?"


    After all, they were sisters, couldn¡¯t she show some sympathy?


    "If it makes you happy," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a light smile, after all, it wasn¡¯t her who was embarrassed.

 Chapter 997 - 1000: School

    Chapter 997: Chapter 1000: SchoolQiao Mei¡¯er could have crushed the teapot she was holding in her hand, her sour plum drink preparation from the afternoon had become the biggest joke.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er had been willing to help her, even just saying one word, the outcome might have been different.


    By this time, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already slipped into her room.


    The roast meat was delicious, but after eating it, she felt greasy all over and needed to wash up quickly.


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered with anything else and couldn¡¯t manage it anyway.


    Since King Qin was busy with government affairs, he might never have the chance to visit Dao Dalei Village again. Qiao Mei¡¯er, even with many strategies, could do nothing about it.


    King Qin had not been seen on the road after that, but he was very efficient at his job.


    In just a little over half a month, four spacious tile-roofed houses were built.


    With Tie Niu working hard before and after, the school officially opened two days later, and both Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er, as the dean and vice dean, attended the opening. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That day, parents came to the school with their children early in the morning.


    "I never thought that Dog Egg would one day be carrying a school bag to the academy."


    A woman said joyfully.


    If it weren¡¯t for this school, her son would have had no chance to study at all in his life.


    He should have been like most of the other lads in the village, idly passing the time until old enough to learn to farm, then a few years later, take a wife, have children, and repeat the same life.


    Now, at last, there was a turning point.


    Though she knew hope was slim, there was at least one more thing to look forward to¡ªher dull-witted son might be able to pass the examinations.


    Even if he only became a child scholar, it would reduce the family¡¯s taxes by ten percent.


    "Me too, it¡¯s like a dream, no, it¡¯s something that I never even dreamed possible, that one could go to school just by bringing lunch every day."


    "Ink, brush, paper, and inkstone also cost money. You listen to me, no fooling around in school. You have to obey the teacher, or I¡¯ll beat you to death when we get back home!"


    The little boy beside her nodded vigorously: "I will study diligently."


    "Me too, I want to become a scholar, an advanced scholar, and let my family live a better life!"


    The children were all very excited, and he didn¡¯t want to be just a mud-legged farmer.


    He wanted to be a distinguished official, and then, like the Tan Family, do what he could to help those in need.


    After a burst of firecrackers, Tie Niu led his wife Qiao Duo¡¯er up onto the stage, and the chattering crowd below fell silent.


    "First of all, I hope every student will study hard and bring honor to our school and hometown. Also, I have to make something clear in advance. The school has limited capacity, and in order to make better use of resources, there will be assessments at the end of each term. Those who do not meet the standards will have to make room for others."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er declared the rules. The school was completely non-profit, and such an arrangement would prevent people from wasting their time there.


    It was not only a waste of their own lives but also the resources of the school.


    "All study well. If you are sent back, then your dad and mom will lose face in front of everyone!"


    "Exactly, in a village this small, it¡¯s easy for everyone to find out."


    "That¡¯s not good either. There are more and more children in the village, and I think even those who study seriously could still be sent away."


    "There¡¯s also the difficulty of the assessments. If it¡¯s too hard, what then? It doesn¡¯t mean the children haven¡¯t been studying properly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "The assessment results will be divided into excellent, good, average, and poor. Those in the poor category will be eliminated, but rest assured, we will never intentionally make it difficult for the children. We guarantee that every earnest student will be able to score average or above. If everyone studies well, the school can be expanded."

 Chapter 998 - 1002: Always Together

    Chapter 998: Chapter 1002: Always TogetherThe people in the room quickly entered a state of readiness, with Almond and Bai Yan not skilled in medicine, only able to boil water and prepare food in the kitchen.


    "Our Madam is a good person, she mustn¡¯t encounter any mishaps!"


    While tending the fire, Almond prayed.


    Her Madam had helped so many people, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for her to suffer.


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense," Bai Yan hurriedly said. "Our Madam is destined for great fortune and is sure to be safe and sound."


    "I¡¯m just flustered," said Almond, "I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m saying. I am willing to give up ten years of my life to ensure the safety of our Madam and the young master."


    Almond spoke sincerely; her life had been saved by Madam, and so giving up those years was still to her benefit.


    Bai Yan nodded too: "I¡¯ll give five years." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Madam had always treated her with respect, never as a servant, and five years was her way of saying thanks.


    At that moment, in the birthing room.


    The Medical Woman monitored Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition constantly, while Tan Zhenghong tightly grasped Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    "Wife, shout out if it hurts, or bite me if you need to," Tan Zhenghong said with concern, willing to do anything to alleviate his wife¡¯s pain.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grimaced: "Look at you, acting like a fool. This is nothing, I can hold on."


    After all, she was a special agent; wouldn¡¯t it be shameful to make a fuss over such pain?


    And besides, not shouting would save her strength for now.


    "Duo¡¯er, it¡¯s all my fault."


    Tan Zhenghong knew that Duo¡¯er was only trying to comfort him. No one was made of iron; how could it be possible not to fear pain?


    So he felt very guilty, and the large man¡¯s eyes reddened with emotion.


    If only he had been more careful, Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have to suffer like this.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Tan Zhenghong: "Idiot, our Little Treasure will be born very soon."


    "All I want is for you to be safe," Tan Zhenghong said stubbornly.


    "You¡¯re about to be a father, don¡¯t act like a child," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, laughing.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly realized what his wife needed most was not his apology, but his encouragement.


    Therefore, he said earnestly: "Duo¡¯er, I will protect you and our baby from now on. You have to be strong, our family of three must stay together always."


    "Okay," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    They were a family; without any of them, it wouldn¡¯t be complete. So she and the baby would be fine.


    "Fourth Master, the food is here; please feed the Madam quickly."


    Almond delivered the food.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er clenched her teeth and ate two eggs, two pieces of boneless meat, and half a bowl of rice, which she hoped would sustain her until after the birth.


    After only half an hour, Qiao Duo¡¯er looked as if she had been fished out of water.


    "Madam, the toughest part is over; just hold on a little longer."


    Qing Xin said softly, knowing that dilating three centimeters was the hardest part for a woman giving birth for the first time, fortunately, their Madam had persevered.


    "How much longer?" Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously.


    It felt like a long time had passed; why hadn¡¯t the baby come yet?


    "Fourth Master, don¡¯t worry; Madam is in good health, her attitude is positive, and she and the young master will be safe. It¡¯s just that the first birth takes more time," Qing Yue reassured.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s brow remained furrowed; he hated that he could not bear the pain in place of Duo¡¯er.


    In the end, Qiao Duo¡¯er was consumed entirely by pain; now she had only one thought¡ªto quickly bring the Little thing into the world.


    "Fourth Master, Madam¡¯s bones are fully dilated, and it will not be long before the birth. Would you like to wait outside?"


    Granny Su tentatively asked, knowing the birthing room was unclean and could affect a man¡¯s fortune. Thus, other men shunned it, but Tan Zhenghong had not the slightest intention of leaving.

 Chapter 999 - 1003

    Chapter 999: Chapter 1003Tan Zhenghong immediately shook his head, "I can¡¯t be at ease if I can¡¯t see."


    As for good fortune, he still believed in the saying "heaven rewards the diligent," and he was certainly not a lazy man, he was sure to provide Qiao Duo¡¯er and the child with a good life. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Granny Su could only obediently shut her mouth and continued to tend to Duo¡¯er.


    After an indeterminable amount of time, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly heard a cry, and in that instant, she revealed a faint smile.


    Just as Old Lady Bai had said, hearing that cry made her feel all the suffering was worthwhile.


    "Congratulations to the Fourth Master, congratulations to Madam, the first one is a young master!"


    After saying this, Granny Su carefully took the baby to clean him while the others continued to surround Duo¡¯er.


    "Madam, push again!"


    "Isn¡¯t it over?" Tan Zhenghong naively asked.


    Duo¡¯er just gave birth to a son for her first child, why did she need to keep pushing?


    Qing Xin blinked, "Madam is carrying twins, the young master specifically instructed that Madam, being frail, must absolutely not speak of it during the pregnancy, lest it startles the fetal spirit."


    So, she had always claimed it was just the young master being expected because she assumed there would be at least one among the two.


    Tan Zhenghong was dumbfounded, could it be that even knowing as a father would disturb the fetal spirit?


    "Don¡¯t you know? That shouldn¡¯t be the case, our young master told us..."


    Qing Xin¡¯s voice abruptly stopped halfway.


    Nine times out of ten, this must have been deliberate by their young master.


    His objective was to have the Fourth Master in over his head, so he could then appear as if descending from the heavens, rescuing Madam and the baby from dire straits.


    Perhaps Madam would then ditch the Fourth Master for him, considering women can be emotionally unstable and prone to impulsive actions right after giving birth, and incidentally their madam was also someone who disliked admitting defeat.


    Needless to say, Young Master Bai¡¯s move was ruthless!


    "Bai Yifan, I really want to tear you to pieces!" Qiao Duo¡¯er uttered each word deliberately.


    She thought she was finally relieved, only to find out another ordeal awaited her.


    Qing Yue advised, "Madam, don¡¯t be distracted at this moment. Give another push, and maybe you¡¯ll have a daughter. Wouldn¡¯t that make a ¡¯good¡¯ character?"


    "At this point, can I say I don¡¯t want to give birth?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er grimaced in pain once again, the lack of mental preparation making her involuntarily groan.


    With a darkened face, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, rest assured, when that bastard Bai Yifan comes, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson!"


    Was it not clear that this was intentional mischief?


    Fortunately, everything was well prepared, and there should be enough left for another one.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no energy to speak with Tan Zhenghong but kept pushing just as she had been.


    Consider it a surprise gift from the heavens.


    She had to give birth quickly; otherwise, delaying might harm the child.


    This time, it was fast. After the duration of two incense sticks, another delicate cry echoed from the delivery room.


    Though Duo¡¯er had done her best, the baby¡¯s cry still seemed lacking.


    Having given birth, all Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to do was sleep, but concerned for her children, she insisted, "Bring the babies to me for a look."


    Without seeing the children were well, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep.


    "The two little things are fine, each has everything they should have and nothing they shouldn¡¯t. Go ahead and sleep for a while, don¡¯t talk." Tan Zhenghong said authoritatively.


    After childbirth, the body is weak; worrying too much can lead to severe blood loss, so he wished he could block Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth himself.


    Hearing Ah Hong¡¯s words, Duo¡¯er¡¯s head tilted and she promptly fell into a deep sleep.


    After giving birth to two little things, she was nearly exhausted and indeed needed a good sleep. This way, she could have the strength to nurse them.

 Chapter 1000 - 1004: The Petty Man

    Chapter 1000: Chapter 1004: The Petty ManBut this sleep was restless; she was preoccupied with her two little ones, and also tormented by postpartum uterine contractions. Roughly two hours later, Duo¡¯er opened her eyes.


    The first thing she saw was Tan Zhenghong dozing off by the bedside.


    The labor started at midnight, and by the time it was over, the day had already broken, wearing out everyone involved.


    So, he let everyone else go to rest and stood watch by her side.


    This fella... Her ordeal just now hadn¡¯t been for nothing, after all.


    "Wife, how do you feel?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked softly, almost afraid that speaking too loudly would startle her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "Nothing much, just the pain from the lochia expulsion. How about the babies?"


    "They cried out just after they were born, but they fell asleep as soon as I soothed them. I was thinking of feeding them some breast milk in a bit," he said, his voice brimming with excitement.


    It was his first time becoming a father, and he was thrilled.


    The wet nurse they had in reserve was a young wife from the same village. This arrangement, being familiar and convenient, meant that they could call her over in a pinch, and neither family¡¯s child would be neglected.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled, "Luckily, I woke up early. Otherwise, my babies would have had their first drink from someone else¡¯s milk."


    "Qing Yue said it¡¯s fine to feed them some sugar water first. I¡¯ll get you something to eat, and after you¡¯re full, you can feed them."


    Just then, the little thing was still asleep.


    Before Tan Zhenghong could leave the room, the little one began to wail, probably sensing that their mother had awakened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er craned her neck, "Bring them over to me first; I¡¯m not hungry right now."


    Tan Zhenghong understood the feelings of Duo¡¯er, a new mother, and complied.


    Since the daughter was more frail, he picked her up first and brought her over.


    As soon as she was in Duo¡¯er¡¯s arms, the little one ceased crying, her small head bobbing around, likely searching for food.


    "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll eat in a moment," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her lips curving up into a tender smile.


    After she undressed, the little girl quickly found her way, and her vigorous sucking made Qiao Duo¡¯er furrow her brow.


    Despite being such a little thing, she hadn¡¯t expected it to be so strong.


    Tan Zhenghong asked anxiously, "Wife, is it very uncomfortable? Should I go find the wet nurse?"


    "No need. It was just a bit unusual at the start. Look, it¡¯s fine now," she replied.


    At first, she was just not accustomed to such forceful sucking.


    She had always been worried about not having milk, but now she felt a liquid spilling out, albeit not much, but this was the precious colostrum. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the babies didn¡¯t need much, so it should be enough for them.


    The brother left in the small bed was making even more of a fuss, and Qiao Duo¡¯er, with a look of distress, said, "Bring our son over too. I can feed both of them at the same time."


    Tan Zhenghong did as she asked, and soon both children were breastfeeding together.


    Having the heads of both children against each other felt a bit awkward, but as this situation would likely occur often in the future, they would get used to it after a few tries.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll find a wet nurse, and let that stinky boy drink her milk from now on," Tan Zhenghong suddenly suggested.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked puzzledly, "Why? Aren¡¯t they eating just fine?"


    "I just think it¡¯s too hard for you to feed both little ones. If you only nurse the daughter, it will be easier on you," Tan Zhenghong stated his main reason.


    He also had another, more private reason; it was about preserving his wife¡¯s physical privacy.


    Well... he admitted he was just as Bai Yifan had said, a petty man.

 Chapter 1001 - 1005: Sensible Daughter

    Chapter 1001: Chapter 1005: Sensible Daughter"My breast milk is definitely enough for them," Qiao Duo¡¯er said confidently.


    She had just finished feeding not long ago and already felt her breasts were refilling; at this rate, milk production wasn¡¯t going to be a problem.


    Tan Zhenghong was quite awkward, hesitating for a while before giving a clumsy excuse.


    "Although he is young, he is a man."


    The little guy was restless while nursing; besides eating, he couldn¡¯t help but reach out and touch now and then, which annoyed him greatly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Childish!"


    Both her son and daughter were her treasures; she wouldn¡¯t favor one over the other because favoritism could negatively impact the psychological growth of both children. She vowed to treat them equally.


    After a mental struggle, Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth and said, "Then he can only nurse until he¡¯s one year old."


    "Deal!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed promptly; after all, breastfeeding needed to be weaned off after one year as its nutritional value couldn¡¯t meet a growing child¡¯s needs.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at the two little ones seriously nursing and then at the spot they were latched onto; he resigned himself to it in silence.


    Forget it, he would lend it to them for a year, after which no one else should even think of touching his private territory.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attention was completely on the little ones, completely missing the rapidly changing expressions on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face, or else she could have teased him about this for a lifetime.


    In this world besides Tan Zhenghong, who else would compete with their children for affection?


    Newborns have tiny stomachs, and after just a few sips of milk, they drifted back to sleep.


    Just then, Qing Yue brought in the food, and Tan Zhenghong moved the little ones aside to let Duo¡¯er eat properly.


    Lunch was prepared with millet porridge, pork liver soup, and two light dishes. Qiao Duo¡¯er poked at them with her chopsticks, unsure of where to start.


    Now, most of her attention was on the pain of her contractions, the food tasted bland, and she had no appetite at all.


    "Madam, your body is weak now, you can only eat light foods, otherwise, it¡¯s not good for your health, and it can also lead to plugged ducts. Can we change the dishes once you feel a bit better?" Qing Yue patiently advised.


    This was the best food for a postpartum woman¡¯s body.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "I don¡¯t feel like eating anything right now." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then... I¡¯ll make you some fruit tea to stimulate your appetite, and then you won¡¯t feel this lack of appetite," Qing Yue suddenly thought of a solution.


    Soon after, the fruit tea was brought over.


    The fruit tea was sour and sweet, just right in flavor. Qiao Duo¡¯er finished it quickly, and although it filled her stomach, it also stoked her appetite.


    Eating the special postpartum meal prepared by Qing Yue then became easier to swallow.


    Following that, Qiao Duo¡¯er was only responsible for three things: eating, nursing, and sleeping. Even so, she still found it very exhausting.


    Because both little ones would cry every half hour, and each time, they wouldn¡¯t stop until they got what they wanted.


    Sigh, she wondered who they inherited their stubbornness from.


    They had just been put in their little beds not long ago when one of the babies started howling again.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately went to check and, seeing that his daughter had made a mess, his expression instantly changed.


    For him, there was indeed a different treatment between his son and daughter.


    "You can¡¯t disturb your mother¡¯s sleep; if she doesn¡¯t rest well, her health will suffer, and you need to be good," Tan Zhenghong tapped his daughter¡¯s nose then lifted her from the little bed.


    After washing her and changing her into clean clothes and diapers, the little girl laid her head sideways and fell back asleep, snoring softly.


    Tan Zhenghong was secretly pleased; he didn¡¯t see it as a fluke but rather believed that his daughter had understood his words and was also feeling sympathy for her own mother.

 Chapter 1002 - 1006: Not Ugly at All

    Chapter 1002: Chapter 1006: Not Ugly at AllLast time, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally slept for four hours, and when she woke up, she felt much more refreshed.


    "Did I sleep for a long time? Why didn¡¯t I hear the two little ones crying?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly asked.


    "Maybe they had just eaten well, perfectly timed for you to rest properly," Tan Zhenghong casually fabricated a reason.


    He wouldn¡¯t admit that in the meantime, he had fed them a little with someone else¡¯s milk using a small spoon. They didn¡¯t like it, but they reluctantly ate a bit.


    Otherwise, they would have woken up soon. When would his wife¡¯s body recover?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t think otherwise; her parenting philosophy was to feed on demand¡ªif the babies were hungry, she¡¯d feed them; if not, let them sleep or do other things.


    In the evening, Tan Zhenghong brought over some water.


    "Granny Su said this water was boiled with old ginger and mugwort leaves. I¡¯ll wipe you down with it," he offered.


    After giving birth, she would keep discharging lochia, and his wife was someone who loved cleanliness. She would definitely feel uncomfortable if she wasn¡¯t wiped clean.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately guarded her blanket: "You go out, I¡¯ll do it myself."


    "Stop fussing. You¡¯ve just given birth, can¡¯t be exposed to the cold. You stay under the blanket, and I¡¯ll wipe you from inside. Once I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll change all the bedding for you," Tan Zhenghong said insistently. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    During postpartum recovery, being careless could lead to lingering health issues¡ªit was necessary to be extra careful.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er still hesitated; she knew she was just being stubborn, but her postpartum body was certainly not a pleasant sight, especially the area that might be torn.


    She didn¡¯t want anyone to see, especially Tan Zhenghong.


    In her previous life, she read many news stories about soon-to-be fathers who attended childbirth and ended up repulsed by women. Some even needed therapy from a psychologist to recover.


    What if Tan Zhenghong felt the same way? Would her happy life then be gone forever?


    Although it wasn¡¯t quite appropriate to think about this now, it was a serious issue.


    If they couldn¡¯t be intimate, their relationship would definitely be affected.


    "Wife, I¡¯ve seen you so many times already. What is there to be shy about?" Tan Zhenghong said teasingly.


    He remembered that she wasn¡¯t this nervous the first time.


    No, each time she teased him, she was very open. Why was she so reserved now?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly said, "Ugly."


    "Not ugly. This is the place where life is born; it¡¯s always beautiful," he reassured.


    Tan Zhenghong firmly pulled Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand away.


    Even if there were slight changes, they were marks left from bearing his child; he was the last person who had the right to find fault.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered her face with the blanket, comforting herself that she couldn¡¯t see or know anything.


    Tan Zhenghong wrung out the towel gently and started to wipe, being very meticulous, afraid of missing any spot.


    "Does it look very bad?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weakly asked.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile, "I remember when you were not yet my wife¡ª you used to be very close to me. Back then, my legs looked way worse than you do now."


    At that time, he always covered his legs because he didn¡¯t want to see them.


    But Duo¡¯er helped him clean, set his bones, later applied medicine, and continued to clean without ever showing any signs of disgust.


    If Duo¡¯er could do that, what reason did he have to do any less than her?


    At this point, all of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s worries disappeared, and her mind was finally free of the burden.


    The mugwort and ginger slices both had warming effects, making the water used to wipe her body indescribably soothing.

 Chapter 1003 - 1007: The Name

    Chapter 1003: Chapter 1007: The Namefree????ebnovel.comIt was said to prevent postpartum illnesses.


    After one application, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt every pore on her body open up.


    "Wife, go ahead and walk around a bit while I change the sheets," he said.


    Although the Ground Dragon was heating the room, Tan Zhenghong insisted on draping a garment over Duo¡¯er before allowing her to get down.


    Once he had finished tidying up, Qiao Duo¡¯er eagerly lay down on the neat and clean bed, which completely changed her mood. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong brought over another quilt.


    "Didn¡¯t we agree that Almond would keep watch tonight?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly.


    She had thought she could sleep separately from Tan Zhenghong for a few days.


    Nowadays, people believed that the postpartum room was awash with vibrant qi, which could harm men¡¯s health, especially during the first few nights, which were particularly taboo.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "Could anyone else attend to you as well as your own husband?"


    He wasn¡¯t ignorant of the rules; he simply preferred to follow his own heart.


    Because she had slept too much during the day, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t very sleepy at night, so she lay in bed chatting with Tan Zhenghong off and on.


    "We haven¡¯t even picked the baby¡¯s name yet and this time, two came at once; it¡¯s really giving me a headache," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite frustrated because Tan Zhenghong had long entrusted her with the task of naming.


    But the vast and profound nature of Chinese characters made it difficult for her to settle on names.


    Now, with two names to consider, she was even more at a loss.


    "I spoke with the village elders about setting up a family shrine, and they asked us to select new generational names from our family genealogy. Once the generational names are decided, we can establish a new shrine. However, the choice of generational names is crucial, so I¡¯ll still need to discuss it with others. How about we first come up with some nicknames?"


    The choice of generational names was linked to the fate of future progeny and could not be taken lightly.


    "You do need to take that seriously; what about nicknames like Green Group and Tangyuan?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested, having developed a fondness for these names during her pregnancy.


    Moreover, the two little ones were plump, fitting the image of Green Group and Tangyuan perfectly.


    She wasn¡¯t in a hurry about their formal names; she could think about those later.


    In the village, many people feared the King of Hell would claim the lives of their children, so they waited until the children were older to name them, casually using nicknames like Dog Egg, Puppy, or Piglet. Only by growing up with such rough nicknames could the children be tough.


    Tan Zhenghong squinted and said, "That sounds great, but I¡¯m just afraid you won¡¯t be able to resist nibbling on them."


    After all, the twins¡¯ names were already so adorable.


    "A tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs; I would never do such a cruel thing. If you have no objections, shall we decide joyfully on that?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    "Then there¡¯s no problem!" Tan Zhenghong agreed promptly.


    Green Group and Tangyuan sounded cute, and it was easy to differentiate between the boy and the girl.


    During the night, the two little ones were still fussy, but the intervals between their fussiness grew longer, allowing them to sleep alone for nearly two hours.


    While sleeping soundly, Qiao Duo¡¯er was awakened by soft crying.


    "Wife, don¡¯t move; I¡¯ll bring them to you," Tan Zhenghong quickly got out of bed first.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat up, leaned back on the pillow, and half-closed her eyes as she fed them milk.


    Raising children is truly not a job that leaves one¡¯s mind at ease.


    In just this half night, she had fed them three times, and by the time it was light, she probably had to fuss with them two more times.


    Being first-time parents, they had already experienced the full spectrum of emotions involved.


    The next day, the news of Duo¡¯er having Dragon and Phoenix Twins spread, and many people came to their door to offer gifts and congratulations.


    This included Bai Yifan, who greatly displeased Tan Zhenghong.


    "You¡¯re such a quack, you didn¡¯t even tell me my wife was carrying twins," Tan Zhenghong glared at Bai Yifan.

 Chapter 1004 - 1008: Not Cute At All

    Chapter 1004: Chapter 1008: Not Cute At AllBai Yifan said mischievously, "You¡¯re wrong, I not only didn¡¯t tell you it was twins, I also didn¡¯t mention they were dragon and phoenix twins."


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the twins, he wouldn¡¯t have discarded a bunch of medicinal diet prescriptions for Tan Zhenghong to make for Duo¡¯er to eat, nor would he have had Almond, Granny Su, the sisters Qing Yue, and Bai Yan all come over.


    That is to say, he had prepared everything except for informing Tan Zhenghong.


    If Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t met the standards, Granny Su and the others wouldn¡¯t have skimped on Duo¡¯er.


    However, from their feedback, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s performance could be rated full marks.


    Almond and the sisters Qing Yue were in charge of making face mask powder, Granny Su and Bai Yan did some miscellaneous tasks, and the rest was all handled by Tan Zhenghong.


    According to Granny Su, as long as Tan Zhenghong was at home, nobody else should interfere with affairs concerning Duo¡¯er.


    Therefore, his righteous brother, who had prepared to come and dispense justice, backed down.


    "Don¡¯t think I¡¯m not onto your little schemes, but with me around, you won¡¯t get the chance."


    Tan Zhenghong appeared as proud as a victorious rooster.


    No matter when, he never expected to entirely entrust his wife and child to others because he was the closest person to them.


    Bai Yifan rolled his eyes, "Don¡¯t get cocky, there¡¯s still a lifetime to go."


    While the two men were bantering, Luo Qingfeng had already slipped into the delivery room.


    "I arrived just as he woke up, truly my clever little nephew!" Luo Qingfeng said joyfully.


    He was better than Qin Mingrui in this regard, who was almost always sound asleep whenever he visited him.


    The rare times he did catch him awake, the child had a look of complete disgust for him.


    He felt quite depressed because he couldn¡¯t understand how a handsome man like himself could possibly be disliked by children.


    But once he got to the Tan Family home, his annoyance immediately disappeared.


    Because the Tan child had good taste, constantly looking at him, and seeming quite serious in expression.


    "Second Brother, if you don¡¯t want him to pee on you, you might as well keep holding him," Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly reminded.


    Her twins had this habit: they would wake up once in the middle of two feeds to take care of their urgent needs.


    If the diapers weren¡¯t changed in time, they¡¯d start bawling at the top of their lungs.


    The smug look on Luo Qingfeng¡¯s face instantly stiffened¡ªhe really didn¡¯t want to be doused, so he had no choice but to stuff the baby into Bai Yan¡¯s arms.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed at the spectacle, and Luo Qingfeng said discontentedly, "I don¡¯t know what you all are thinking. Why is it not good enough to just look after yourselves? Not only do you have to get married, but you also have to have children¡ªit¡¯s such a hassle."


    Isn¡¯t it good for him to be carefree?


    Looking over at Green Group, the child shushes and falls asleep again.


    Children really aren¡¯t cute creatures; it seems they¡¯re always sleeping.


    "Because you haven¡¯t met a woman you want to marry and have kids with. There¡¯s nothing much for you to say," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a look of disdain. Being pregnant and giving birth are both very hard. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But anyone who has children knows it¡¯s also a blissful experience.


    Luo Qingfeng shuddered involuntarily because he had just thought of that crazy woman who chased him around the world.


    For an instant, he had actually entertained the idea of marrying her and having a child.


    Luo Qingfeng shook his head vigorously, trying to expel such terrifying thoughts.


    "So you mean even if you and Third Brother got together, you couldn¡¯t have children?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked innocently at Luo Qingfeng.


    It seemed that was the only explanation for why Luo Qingfeng was shaking his head.


    Same-sex couples having children is quite troublesome, but for someone like Luo Qingfeng, he probably wouldn¡¯t obsess over this issue.

 Chapter 1005 - 1009: A Lifetime Career

    Chapter 1005: Chapter 1009: A Lifetime CareerLuo Qingfeng saw Bai Yifan come in out of the corner of his eye and purposely said, "Yeah, we¡¯re both men, lacking that ability, guess we¡¯ll never have our own kids in this lifetime."


    Compared to that crazy woman, he was more willing to accept Bai Yifan.


    At least Bai Yifan was a normal person. He could sit down and chat, occasionally enjoy some drinks and play chess.


    "You two getting together is also a kind of public service."


    Tan Zhenghong said seriously, with Luo Qingfeng keeping an eye, Bai Yifan definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to mess around, knowing he could be poisoned at any time. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan cleared his throat, "It¡¯s quite lonely without a child. When the time comes, I¡¯ll snatch you away, make it three of us."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze wandered among the three men, unable to control her wicked thoughts.


    Three men together, and all three uniquely handsome, she nearly had the urge to nosebleed.


    Cough, cough, better not.


    Her husband liking men was not exactly a good thing.


    It took a while before Tan Zhenghong thought of the term, "Gay!"


    Bai Yifan always fancied men, isn¡¯t that being gay?


    "That¡¯s a fresh term, what does it mean?"


    Luo Qingfeng asked curiously.


    "A man having an abnormal orientation is called gay; saying it this way can protect your privacy," Tan Zhenghong explained earnestly.


    Bai Yifan shot back a look as if looking at an idiot and directly sat next to Duo¡¯er.


    With his long fingers, he lightly grasped Duo¡¯er¡¯s wrist, and Tan Zhenghong returned him a dagger-eyed glance but knowing Bai Yifan¡¯s exceptional medical skills, he didn¡¯t interfere further.


    "It¡¯s fine, but postpartum care can¡¯t be sloppy. You can¡¯t be cold or exert too much, Tan Zhenghong, I¡¯m entrusting my fourth sister to you."


    Bai Yifan instructed.


    Postpartum care was crucial; it was a great opportunity to improve her body¡¯s constitution.


    Tan Zhenghong slapped his chest, "Leave it to me, you just rest assured."


    But had Bai Yifan just let go of his concern?


    It was wise of him, but it was still better to be cautious.


    Because he knew emotions were uncontrollable, and it wasn¡¯t something that just talking could resolve.


    Just then, Tangyuan twitched, and Bai Yifan was the first to scoop her up.


    The baby girl Duo¡¯er had given birth to resembled her by seventy percent, the other thirty percent took after Tan Zhenghong¡¯s better traits; she would definitely grow up to be a beauty.


    "Duo¡¯er, have you picked a name yet?"


    Bai Yifan had endless affection for this little girl.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Her nickname is set. The daughter¡¯s called Tangyuan. The son is called Green Group, and we¡¯ll wait a while for the formal names."


    "Waiting for the generation name?" Bai Yifan asked.


    "Yes, we¡¯ll talk after Duo¡¯er gets through the postpartum period. I¡¯m worried she won¡¯t cope alone at home," Tan Zhenghong responded.


    The generation name was important; it couldn¡¯t be decided in half a day, he wasn¡¯t now in the mood to focus on that.


    "Are you being so nice to Duo¡¯er because you¡¯re afraid she¡¯ll be snatched away?"


    Luo Qingfeng always loved stirring up trouble.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at Bai Yifan. "I never felt like he could compete with me for my wife. I cherish my wife simply because she is my lifetime¡¯s endeavor."


    That¡¯s why he was willing to put aside everything for his wife.


    "Oh, my teeth are about to be sickened by the sweetness," Luo Qingfeng exaggeratedly held his half face.


    Had it been someone else, he would have burst out laughing, but since Duo¡¯er was his only sworn sister, he felt happy for her.


    Bai Yifan patted Tan Zhenghong¡¯s shoulder, "A very important part of loving your wife is showing respect to her brother."


    Before he could finish, he felt a warm current across his chest.

 Chapter 1006 - 1010: Competent Uncle

    Chapter 1006: Chapter 1010: Competent Uncle"Good girl, you already know how to stand up for Daddy." Tan Zhenghong wanted to pick up his daughter.


    Otherwise, if the diaper is wet and Tangyuan feels uncomfortable, she¡¯ll cry.


    For a daughter-doting fanatic, that¡¯s certainly a big deal.


    But as soon as Tan Zhenghong touched Tangyuan, she started howling, her hand still tightly grasping Bai Yifan¡¯s hair.


    That gesture meant she wanted the handsome guy to hold her.


    Bai Yifan raised an eyebrow, "Your daughter doesn¡¯t even want you to hold her, seems like you aren¡¯t up to snuff as a father."


    "Then you be a qualified uncle and change her diaper?" Tan Zhenghong deliberately provoked. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For Bai Yifan, this was a piece of cake, and he quickly changed the diaper.


    He had been the Medicine King¡¯s apprentice, and he wasn¡¯t new to watching the kids for his senior brothers while learning his craft.


    After he finished changing her, Tan Zhenghong remembered the notion of men and women not touching hands when giving or receiving things, and quickly blurted out, "You beast!"


    He couldn¡¯t believe he was even left alone with the baby!


    "You asked me to, and besides, I don¡¯t have such sordid thoughts!" Bai Yifan said earnestly.


    He was even considering taking Tangyuan as his goddaughter, so he definitely wouldn¡¯t harbor any inappropriate thoughts.


    Tan Zhenghong hastily picked up his daughter again, but she started crying once more, so he had no choice but to hand her over to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Little Tangyuan, don¡¯t cry, be good."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooed at her, and Tangyuan smacked her lips a couple of times, her eyes only on her own granary.


    Seeing Tangyuan wanted to nurse, Luo Qingfeng and Bai Yifan took this as a cue to leave.


    Tan Zhenghong personally walked them to the door, not out of respect for fellow heroes, but to make sure they had left, hmm... he was just that unwelcoming to Bai Yifan.


    In this gap, the Wang Clan knocked on the door of the delivery room.


    She didn¡¯t dare to come at other times for fear of disturbing Duo¡¯er¡¯s rest.


    "Duo¡¯er, this is a protective talisman I¡¯ve gotten from the temple. I originally wanted to give it to you and the child, but since you had twins, look..." the Wang Clan said with difficulty.


    If she had known earlier, she would have gotten another one.


    Qiao Duo immediately understood the Wang Clan¡¯s implication and simply said, "Hang it over the baby¡¯s crib. I, an adult, don¡¯t need it."


    She was already satisfied that the Wang Clan had thought of her before.


    The Wang Clan nodded hurriedly, "Good, this talisman has been blessed by a master, it will definitely protect them and ensure they grow up safe and sound."


    As for Duo¡¯er¡¯s talisman, she¡¯d get one for her when she had a chance to go up the mountain to pray again.


    Tangyuan wasn¡¯t really hungry, she just woke up wanting to pee, so after eating a bit she fell asleep again.


    Just as Qiao Duo wanted to move the child to her crib, the Wang Clan stepped in, "If you need anything just tell me, I¡¯ll help you with it."


    "I want to move Tangyuan to her crib."


    The Wang Clan carefully took Tangyuan and gently placed her in the crib.


    Having raised three children herself, she had this much experience.


    "Thank you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯s thanks surprised the Wang Clan, but it left her feeling rather delighted.


    The best decision she made in her life was letting Tan Zhenghong marry Qiao Duo, even though it was more by accident than design.


    Looking at the two siblings lying side by side in their cribs, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off them; they were just so adorable, like children in New Year¡¯s pictures.


    When Tan Zhenghong entered the room and saw the Wang Clan, he casually asked, "Have they fallen asleep?"


    The Wang Clan quickly stepped back two paces, her gaze flickering away from Tan Zhenghong.


    Fourth Boss never blamed her for her foolish deeds, but she couldn¡¯t get past this herself.


    Tan Zhenghong was clearly her son, yet she treated him like an enemy.


    In his presence, she always felt the urge to burrow into a hole and hide.

 Chapter 1007 - 1011: One for Each

    Chapter 1007: Chapter 1011: One for Each"Green Group and Tangyuan are your grandchildren; if you want to see them, just come over, but children are prone to sickness, so wash your hands and change your clothes before you hold them," Tan Zhenghong instructed.


    Wang Clan quickly nodded, "I remember now. Also... I see that Duo¡¯er is also tired. Please take good care of her."


    Having said that, she hurried out.


    It was then that Tan Zhenghong remembered something, "Wife, I forgot to ask you, if you don¡¯t like her, just tell me and I will speak to my mother."


    Now that Duo¡¯er was in her postpartum confinement, her emotions were most important.


    "As long as she does not make unreasonable troubles, I will acknowledge her as your mother," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, curving her lips.


    From now on, the Wang Clan had turned over a new leaf, and she did not mind living together with her.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile, "You¡¯re so kind. You¡¯ve been sitting for quite a while; hurry and lie down."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently lay down, taking the chance to sleep while both little ones were asleep.


    At night, Tan Zhenghong also had a task, and that was to bathe the little ones at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was lying on her side in bed when she happened to see the bloodshot eyes of Tan Zhenghong. She couldn¡¯t help but say, "Why not have Granny Su and Almond come over so you can rest a bit?"


    Since the child was born, both the child and mother¡¯s needs had mainly been managed by Tan Zhenghong, which definitely wore him out.


    Sometimes when she was too sleepy to keep her eyes open, Tan Zhenghong would let her lie sideways to feed the baby, and with him watching over, she could continue to sleep.


    "It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m just managing things inside the house; it¡¯s already quite relaxing," he replied.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, hoping to be present in every moment of the children¡¯s growth.


    This time wouldn¡¯t last long because as the children grew older, they would have their own lives with secretive smiles they didn¡¯t want others to know about; by then, they would not be relying on their parents¡¯ arms as they do now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only go along with him. Fortunately, both little ones were quite well-behaved, albeit the daughter occasionally threw a small temper tantrum.


    But being a little girl, it was inevitable to be a bit delicate; finding a man like Tan Zhenghong in the future would be good enough.


    Newborn babies are very soft, so one must be extra careful while bathing them.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands were large and his arms strong. He could scoop up the baby¡¯s bottom with one hand. From Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s perspective, it looked as though the baby was sitting in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand, using his arm as a backrest.


    Hmm... she felt envious; she wished she could receive that kind of treatment, but she would have to wait for her next life.


    She would also have to meet such a reliable father then.


    Tangyuan also appeared to be enjoying it, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    "Can a baby of just two days also smile?" Tan Zhenghong was surprised.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er really wanted to splash a bucket of cold water on Tan Zhenghong. The baby was only two days old, and this smile was just an unconscious action.


    It would probably take until after the full month for him to consciously smile.


    But as the words were about to leave her mouth, they changed tone, "You made her feel comfortable with the bath, so naturally, she feels good and just smiles."


    Perhaps being a mother now, she was more considerate of others¡¯ feelings.


    "Can children bathe often?"


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help asking. If so, he could often bathe her.


    "Of course, they can. Babies were in amniotic fluid in the belly, so bathing gives them a sense of security as if they were still in their mother¡¯s womb," Qiao Duo¡¯er affirmed. Anyway, the wormwood water currently used for bathing the babies would not harm their skin.


    Tan Zhenghong gladly accepted, "Alright, then. Bathing them will be my job from now on!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let¡¯s each take one after I¡¯m out of confinement."


    How could Qiao Duo¡¯er miss such an intimate moment?

 Chapter 1008 - 1012: Everything Else is Up to You

    Chapter 1008: Chapter 1012: Everything Else is Up to YouTan Zhenghong suggested, "Once they grow a little bigger, I¡¯ll get a big bathtub and put them together for a bath. They can play with the water as siblings, it will definitely be fun."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately nodded, thinking it was a good idea, but by then their house would be like it had been flooded.


    The house was kept warm day and night with the Ground Dragon heating, so it wasn¡¯t cold at all, but with the child being so small, Tan Zhenghong still worried about the child catching a cold, so he quickly lifted Tangyuan out of the water.


    No sooner had Tangyuan been dressed than Green Group started to howl.


    Tan Zhenghong put Tangyuan beside Duo¡¯er and continued to bathe Green Group himself.


    Before long, both siblings were lying on the bed, unusually both awake and unusually neither crying.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently marveled, it¡¯s when they don¡¯t cry that they¡¯re really angels.


    She teased the children from time to time, and the little guys weren¡¯t annoyed and even smiled at Duo¡¯er occasionally.


    Seeing mother and children having fun, Tan Zhenghong planned to sneak away for a bath.


    But just as he was about to fill the tub, the little one started crying again.


    Ah, the speed of this mood change was unparalleled.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hesitate to put back on the clothes he¡¯d half removed and fed the two little masters. He had no energy left to bathe anymore.


    This was also a good thing, so he didn¡¯t tempt his wife, who wouldn¡¯t be able to control herself, seeing him bathing.


    Everyone says you can¡¯t wash your hair or take a bath during the postpartum period, otherwise you¡¯ll suffer from postpartum illnesses. He considered it a special concession already letting Qiao Duo brush her teeth morning and night.


    Two days later, Qiao Duo remembered this matter.


    Tan Zhenghong had known this day would come, but he hadn¡¯t expected it so soon; it had only been four days since the birth!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooed, "Ah Hong, I feel like I¡¯m going to be covered in maggots, I need to bathe."


    She hadn¡¯t gone this long without a bath in either her past or current life.


    "I wipe you down every day, how could you possibly be covered in maggots?"


    Tan Zhenghong laughed it off, but he could confidently claim that his wife was definitely the cleanest postpartum woman in Big Willow Village.


    Especially those who gave birth in summer, the smell in the maternity ward was enough to knock someone out.


    Qiao Duo glanced at her hair with disgust, "Look at my hair, the grease scraped off could be used for cooking!"


    "That¡¯s easy to fix, I¡¯ll find a cloth to wrap it up for you."


    Tan Zhenghong immediately sprang into action, as it seemed this was what his sisters-in-law had done. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo spoke seriously, "A new mother is weak and sweats easily. If not cleaned properly, bacteria can grow, and bacteria can easily cause illness."


    "But others say it¡¯s easy to fall prey to postpartum illnesses, many people suffer their whole life with leg pain, back pain, headaches and such, all because of catching a chill," Tan Zhenghong argued earnestly. On all other matters, he might relent, but he was uncompromising on this one.


    "Our family is different from other families. We have the Ground Dragon heating, our house is newly built, and there are no drafts. How could I possibly catch a chill? If you really are worried, after I¡¯m done bathing, you can dry my hair with the heater," Qiao Duo tried to persuade Tan Zhenghong.


    Based on Tan Zhenghong¡¯s understanding, she would have to stay dirty for a month, and she felt she couldn¡¯t survive that.


    Tan Zhenghong still shook his head, "I won¡¯t let you joke about your health."


    "Why are you so stubborn? This is science, not like your superstitions!" Qiao Duo¡¯s temper flared up.


    She doubted whether Tan Zhenghong was just trying to irritate her to death!


    Tan Zhenghong said softly, "Wife, just listen to me this once, on everything else I¡¯ll listen to you, okay?"

 Chapter 1009 - 1013: Laboring the People, Not Harming Wealth

    Chapter 1009: Chapter 1013: Laboring the People, Not Harming Wealth?§Ôeew§×bnovel.com"But I really want to take a bath, I¡¯m sure nothing will go wrong if I use boiling water, Zheng Hong, you don¡¯t trust me anymore? I used to be in charge of delivering babies, you know it was me who saved Li Clan¡¯s life, I¡¯m even better than the midwife, right? And I told you, in our place, there¡¯s even cesarean section, it involves cutting open the stomach to get the child out..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mentioned a lot about knowledge related to childbirth, just to prove that she was more convincing.


    After hearing all this, Tan Zhenghong was almost dumbfounded.


    He had never heard of these things, let alone dared to imagine them.


    But Duo¡¯er spoke logically and persuasively, he couldn¡¯t help but believe her.


    Most importantly, his wife was almost never wrong, and the era she had lived in before was even more advanced, so it seemed that following her advice wouldn¡¯t be a mistake.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard, "Are you sure taking a bath won¡¯t harm your body? How about this, I¡¯ll keep you company during your convalescence, and I¡¯ll bathe whenever you do."


    Having someone to accompany her might just help her get through it.


    "I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, I wouldn¡¯t joke about my own body, I want to live many more years to be with you and our children,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said firmly.


    She definitely didn¡¯t want anyone taking over her man and baby.


    She didn¡¯t belong to this world, but fate quietly changed, giving her a life more rich and colorful, how could she not cherish that?


    Tan Zhenghong came up with a compromise, "You can take a shower, but you have to use wormwood water, bathe once every five days, it must be at noon, and I need to watch you to prevent you from bathing too long."


    This should minimize any harm.


    "Are you treating me like a prisoner?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked discontentedly.


    Well, being able to bathe wasn¡¯t too bad.


    And since Tan Zhenghong had seen her more than just once or twice, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to be prissy about it.


    All that remained was to bathe during the daytime, which meant waiting for the next day.


    In Duo¡¯er¡¯s eager anticipation, the time to bathe finally arrived, and Zheng Hong even managed to put together the shower she had been longing for.


    This was the result of his consultation with Granny Su, Duo¡¯er was still discharging lochia, and a basin bath could easily lead to infection, but a shower wouldn¡¯t have that problem.


    "It¡¯s quite simple for now, just make do with it." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong said as he continued to add water to the tank.


    The tank had to be kept full of water, otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be any water flowing down for Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the wooden basin substituted as a tank, the bamboo pipes connected together, and the animal skin showerhead punctured with many holes; it was incredibly crude, but she was satisfied.


    Because Zheng Hong had already given her the best of everything.


    After the bath, Tan Zhenghong immediately wrapped Duo¡¯er¡¯s hair with a towel and hurried to dry it with the brazier.


    "I feel like I¡¯m becoming Cixi, taking a bath seems to deplete the nation¡¯s wealth," Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed.


    It took Zheng Hong all morning to get the equipment ready, Bai Yan burned two large tubs full of water, and in the end, two braziers were needed to dry the hair.


    She guessed she would only enjoy such treatment during her confinement.


    Tan Zheng Hong corrected her, "It¡¯s just a bit of trouble, not even one Wen money was spent."


    All the materials were either available at home or fetched from the mountain, so there was no question of incurring any expense.


    The two of them chatted and laughed, and Bai Yan hesitated before interrupting their banter.


    "Madam, the young master and the little miss are crying, can I bring them over now?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips: "Those two really know when to pick their moments, bring them over."


    They had such an understanding probably because she would always inform them about what she was doing during her pregnancy.

 Chapter 1010 - 1014: Want to Drink Milk Too

    Chapter 1010: Chapter 1014: Want to Drink Milk TooTaking advantage of Bai Yan¡¯s absence to cuddle the baby, Tan Zhenghong sighed, "Now there¡¯s no world for just the two of us."


    "We¡¯re not even close yet. People say, ¡¯Raise a child for a hundred years, worry for ninety-nine.¡¯"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a laugh. She hadn¡¯t believed it before, but since she had her own child, she had discovered that she was worried the moment the child wasn¡¯t by her side.


    She knew it was anxiety, but she couldn¡¯t change it, no matter how hard she tried.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the two little ones were brought over.


    Once held by their own parents, the two little things quietened down and opened their dark, round eyes to look around.


    "What¡¯s wrong with them?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked with a dark face. Couldn¡¯t they let their parents get close to them?


    He had just been thinking about finding an opportunity to kiss Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pondered for a moment before speaking, "Maybe they don¡¯t like unfamiliar environments."


    Before she could finish, Tangyuan¡¯s hand reached eagerly towards a certain place.


    To her now, having milk was the top priority in life. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er unbuttoned her clothes to feed, and seeing this, Green Group also twisted his little body towards Duo¡¯er.


    "So young, and already knows how to guard his food?"


    Tan Zhenghong poked Green Group¡¯s forehead. After spending a few days together, he found that the two little ones at home had good temperaments, but did not want to share anything related to their mother and food.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er unbuttoned her other side and shifted Tangyuan to a different position so that Green Group could also feed.


    After they finished, Tan Zhenghong swallowed hard.


    "Wife, I¡¯m hungry too."


    Seeing the two little things eating happily, he also had the idea to try it, sure that it must taste good.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "You want to eat too?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded. He had grown up on rice soup and rice paste and had never known the taste of breast milk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "We¡¯ll talk about it later. Right now, there¡¯s just enough milk for them, and most importantly, I¡¯m hungry too."


    Tan Zhenghong reluctantly glanced at the swollen area, then went out to prepare something for Duo¡¯er to eat.


    It¡¯s said that if you go hungry in your postpartum confinement, you could end up with stomach problems later.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief. Every time she breastfed, Tan Zhenghong would eye her hungrily, and she feared he would suddenly lose control and pounce on her.


    She guessed that he was counting the days just like her, every day.


    She couldn¡¯t wait to finish her confinement so she wouldn¡¯t have to be cooped up in a small room all day, while Tan Zhenghong was looking forward to becoming intimate again once the confinement was over.


    Being a father was not easy, either.


    "Fourth Master, what¡¯s wrong with you?" Almond asked Tan Zhenghong with a puzzled face.


    What did this bent-over posture mean?


    "My stomach hurts. Go get something for Duo¡¯er to eat."


    Having said that, Tan Zhenghong quickly slipped away. He needed to cool down, or he might embarrass himself.


    Almond scratched her head in confusion. Normally, wasn¡¯t the Fourth Master the one who would go to the kitchen himself?


    Not coming up with an answer, Almond went straight into the kitchen. Her mind was simple and couldn¡¯t hold that many thoughts.


    After another ten days or so, a special guest arrived.


    It was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cousin, Wang Yun.


    In the past, Wang Yun was afraid her poor relatives would embarrass her, so ever since she married into the Niu Family, she had cut off contact with her family.


    Now the Tan Family¡¯s circumstances had greatly improved, and they had been granted an official title. Knowing that Tan Zhenghong had been blessed with a precious son, Wang Yun decided to take this opportunity to reconnect with her family.


    Niu Fuquan also had the same idea and accompanied her on the visit.


    They even brought along their just over one-year-old son, Niu Zijun, knowing that having a child would definitely earn them a bit more face with Tan Zhenghong.

 Chapter 1011 - 1015 Meddling

    Chapter 1011: Chapter 1015 MeddlingTan Zhenghong had some thoughts about them because he always remembered what Wang Yun had said.


    She said, "Don¡¯t ever come looking for me, if you do, you¡¯ll only be a burden to me."


    He had abided by that all these years, but what did her early morning visit mean now?


    Yet, visitors were guests, and he still politely welcomed them inside, and had Bai Yan serve them tea and pastries.


    "Ah Hong, I still remember when you first came to my house, you were just a little baby, and now, in the blink of an eye, you have a child of your own," Wang Yun said with a smile.


    She remembered the day her father suddenly brought a dirty little boy home, saying that if this child were raised well, he would be her support in the future.


    But food was scarce at home, and the more people there were, the less she received.


    So, she was never overly enthusiastic about this brother from childhood, even feeling a bit of distaste toward him.


    However, the kindness of her father¡¯s care for him was indelible, and now that she wanted to rely on him, he had no reason to refuse.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded his head, "Time indeed flies, several years have passed in a flash.


    He returned to the Tan family at the age of eight, and since then, had only seen her coincidentally on the street once.


    "Ah, childhood was better, carefree, with Dad still around..."


    Wang Clan said a lot about missing her childhood, but no matter how nicely she spoke, it was useless, for there was no sincerity in her eyes.


    Speaking of her father was just a reminder to Tan Zhenghong not to forget the kindness shown to him.


    Niu Fuquan was getting a bit impatient listening to this, and couldn¡¯t help but interject, "Today is a good day for you siblings, reunited after a long separation; don¡¯t talk about such sad things. Zi Jun, quickly kowtow to your uncle!"


    "That is absolutely unnecessary."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly shook his head, influenced by Duo¡¯er, he wasn¡¯t keen on the whole kneeling and kowtowing ritual either.


    Niu Fuquan patted his son on the head, "You foolish boy, he is your uncle, got it?"


    But he didn¡¯t force Niu Zijun, because he was just saying it casually anyway. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My nephew is named Zi Jun? That¡¯s a nice name."


    Tan Zhenghong complimented, trying to force a change in topic.


    Wang Yun secretly felt pleased, "It¡¯s the name his grandfather chose; I can¡¯t read, I just know it sounds smooth."


    Having the grandfather choose the name indicated that the child was highly regarded by the family elders.


    "What name do you plan for your child? I know a few literati who are good at naming; if you don¡¯t mind, I can introduce you to them," Niu Fuquan inserted at just the right moment.


    The Tan family was just starting to make their mark and could not compare to the Niu family¡¯s heritage.


    His comments also hinted at a mutual exchange of resources.


    Tan Zhenghong said politely, "The Tan family hasn¡¯t set the generational name yet, we¡¯ll need some more time, and then I¡¯ll bother my brother-in-law."


    "The generational name is more important, deciding whether the family will be prosperous for a long time. Why not let me take charge this once and find those friends of mine to come over, so that Ni Min can discuss it properly?"


    Wang Yun felt this was not the right time for such remarks; she hadn¡¯t seen Tan Zhenghong for years, and the familiarity they once had was gone.


    Coming right away and meddling in someone else¡¯s family affairs, people would definitely think they were being nosy.


    So, Wang Yun quickly changed the subject, "How is the baby doing? May I visit?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Just now when I came out, Duo¡¯er was awake; I will introduce her to you in a moment."


    They had a brief encounter on the road before, but now that his cousin was visiting as a guest, it was necessary to reintroduce her formally.


    "Indeed, it¡¯s better to be lucky than early; I¡¯ll go see her now."

 Chapter 1012 - 1016: Doting

    Chapter 1012: Chapter 1016: DotingBefore Wang Yun could finish, Niu Zijun tugged at her sleeve.


    Wang Yun quickly looked down and immediately understood what her son wanted.


    Wang Yun asked at once, "Ah Hong, do you still have any of these cakes? My precious child wants more."


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at the plate, which had held eight pieces of pastry just moments ago, but now it was empty, even the crumbs licked clean.


    Is it appropriate for a one-year-old child to eat so much?


    "How about we give the child something else to eat?" Tan Zhenghong suggested.


    Wang Yun shook her head, "If he likes it, let him eat. He was premature, and it¡¯s rare for him to find something he likes. Eating a bit more won¡¯t hurt, otherwise he¡¯ll cry, and no one can calm him down."


    Her son also had a problem; crying too hard could easily make him faint.


    Therefore, what she valued most in bringing up her child was ensuring he didn¡¯t cry.


    Tan Zhenghong had no choice but to compromise. The maids and older women were busy with other tasks, so Tan Zhenghong went to the kitchen himself.


    "How can your cousin act like this? As if Zi Jun eating a bit could bankrupt him or something!"


    Niu Fuquan said, frowning.


    What did it matter if he let his son eat to his heart¡¯s content?


    "The richer they are, the stingier they get. Besides, Zi Jun isn¡¯t his child; how could he possibly care wholeheartedly? But this isn¡¯t our own home, so bear with it," Wang Yun said as she patted Niu Fuquan¡¯s back.


    Only then did Niu Fuquan nod, "I know, when we need favors from people, it¡¯s natural to endure some grievances."


    "You rest here for a while; I¡¯ll go see my sister-in-law," she said.


    Wang Yun was very gentle, and even left a light kiss on Niu Fuquan¡¯s cheek, making his heart itch with pleasure.


    Now Niu Fuquan was even more satisfied with Wang Yun. Although she was a bit older, among the several women in the house, she was the one who understood him best.


    Now that she had also given him a son, his doting on her had not been in vain.


    In the delivery room, Almond brought Wang Yun a chair and thoughtfully laid a soft cushion on it.


    This was Qiao Duo¡¯s first visit to the Tan Family, and she didn¡¯t want to leave a bad impression. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Cousin, please have a seat," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out.


    Wang Yun looked around the room¡¯s furnishings and felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    Tan Zhenghong was brought up by her father, and now that he had made something of himself, why should all his accomplishments be credited to this woman?


    But she knew that Tan Zhenghong was utterly obedient to this woman; it was not the time to fall out with her.


    After sitting down, Wang Clan said enviously, "Sister-in-law, you are really fortunate to have both a son and a daughter at once."


    Qiao Duo responded modestly, "What fortune or misfortune, it can drive one mad."


    Raising two children was certainly not as simple as raising one. If one child started crying, the other wouldn¡¯t be able to lie still.


    Every time she heard their cries in duet, she felt her head was about to split.


    "Bringing up children is never easy, right? As long as you¡¯re happy in your heart, that¡¯s what matters. I just heard Ah Hong talking about setting up a separate household; since your foundations are not yet strong, in my opinion, you should have more children. That¡¯s how a family grows stronger," she said.


    Toward the end, Wang Yun¡¯s tone had taken on a preachy edge.


    Qiao Duo nodded noncommittally, "Having children also depends on fate."


    Whether to have children or not was a matter for her and Tan Zhenghong to decide, and others had no right to interfere.


    Wang Yun curled her lips. There¡¯s a saying ¡¯more children bring more fortune,¡¯ but with Qiao Duo¡¯s frail build, she doubted Qiao Duo could handle much ¡¯fortune.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t bother to remind Qiao Duo, instead, she brought up another matter.


    "Sister-in-law, I came here to discuss something with you," she said.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "Go ahead."

 Chapter 1013 - 1017: So Embarrassing

    Chapter 1013: Chapter 1017: So Embarrassing"I¡¯ve been living in Mansion City, and it¡¯s not easy to come back, so I just wanted to worship my father with Ah Hong. Otherwise, I¡¯d feel uneasy as a daughter. I just don¡¯t know if it¡¯s convenient for you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a seemingly harmless, light smile.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er maintained a calm exterior, but she understood what was happening inside. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Wang Yun really missed her father, she wouldn¡¯t have gone all these years without paying tribute.


    The fact that she brought it up now was merely an excuse to send Tan Zhenghong away.


    Wang Yun¡¯s actions were likely motivated by a twisted desire for satisfaction.


    Otherwise, Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t understand why she would want to send Tan Zhenghong, who had just become a father, away.


    "Without my uncle, there would be no Ah Hong; it¡¯s only right. I have nothing to worry about here, and the children and I are well looked after," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, nodding generously.


    If someone wanted to pay respects, she had no place to stop them, but whether Tan Zhenghong was willing to go with Wang Yun was another issue.


    It wasn¡¯t that Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t respect his uncle, but it was a special time, and he had more important matters than worshiping his uncle.


    If we take a step back, living people are definitely more important than the dead.


    Wang Yun nodded in satisfaction; this sister-in-law seemed to understand her intentions, which was quite insightful of her.


    They say the eldest sister acts like a mother; she now felt it was her time to exert some matriarchal authority.


    Before leaving, Wang Yun placed two red envelopes by the bedsides of the two little ones; as their aunt, it was her first time, and she needed to show some gesture.


    "Madam, I noticed that the Niu Family¡¯s attire and style seem quite elaborate; why is their greeting gift so stingy?" Almond straightforwardly remarked.


    Not to mention the wealthy families in town, even ordinary villagers from Big Willow Village generally bring twelve eggs, and a few families close to the Tan family might bring a silver lock, a small bracelet, or even a few sets of small clothes.


    And for Wang Yun, the biological aunt, to include only Nine Wen Money in the red envelopes was quite shocking!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless too but, considering Wang Yun was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cousin, she still saved some face for her.


    "Wishing the children a long and prosperous life is good, too. I¡¯ll accept your gesture, but it¡¯s not right to accept gifts without reciprocation. Please take another red envelope, put a copper coin in it, and add two golden melon seeds," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, squinting her eyes. She was eager to see Wang Yun¡¯s reaction when she opened the red envelope.


    Almond discontentedly added, "I always thought this Miss Wang wasn¡¯t a good person. We should keep our distance from her."


    Even if it killed her, she wouldn¡¯t believe that a person in her twenties wouldn¡¯t know that it¡¯s inauspicious to use singular items in celebratory occasions.


    "She probably won¡¯t stay long; there¡¯s no need for us to stoop to her level," Qiao Duo¡¯er casually remarked. Given that Wang Yun¡¯s father had raised Tan Zhenghong, she couldn¡¯t afford to let things get too strained.


    The fact was, Tan Zhenghong would suffer the most if stuck in the middle.


    When Wang Yun entered the living room, there was one more man there than before.


    "This is my cousin, and this is my good brother, Sun Erhu," Tan Zhenghong introduced them.


    Wang Yun gave a slight smile in greeting.


    Sun Erhu¡¯s smile was a bit stiff; he hadn¡¯t been snubbed like this in a long time.


    Really, the whole village knew about the Niu family¡¯s issues.


    Ruo Lan had once left the Niu family carrying a child, and by chance, that family was Niu Fuquan¡¯s. Ruo Lan mentioned that the Niu family was just a wealthy household; how could they be so arrogant?


    Poor Brother Hong, the Tan family didn¡¯t like showing off, yet these two felt they were the most important, probably making Brother Hong nearly die of embarrassment.

 Chapter 1014 - 1019: What Does It Mean?

    Chapter 1014: Chapter 1019: What Does It Mean?"Brother Hong, you just hunt whatever sister-in-law wants to eat. If she craves something specific, just tell me, and I¡¯ll be sure to keep an eye out when I¡¯m hunting,"


    Sun Erhu advised.


    When he hunted now, his subconscious always clung to game suitable for making soup, all to nourish his sister-in-law¡¯s health.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er was very picky and her tastes changed rapidly; he could never pin down what she liked.


    Tan Zhenghong was extremely grateful, "Thank you."


    "No need for politeness between brothers. You have guests at home, so I¡¯ll head back first,"


    After Sun Erhu left, Wang Yun reminded him, "Ah Hong, your status is different now. You should make connections with Noble Persons who can be useful to you in the future."


    It¡¯s better to cut ties with those country bumpkins early; otherwise, they¡¯ll drag down your status.


    "My life is set as it is, regardless of Noble Persons or not,"


    Sun Erhu had been with him through many hardships. Saying they had depended on each other for survival was not an exaggeration, and he was much more important than those other people.


    Wang Yun couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Tan Zhenghong was still as block-headed as when he was a child. He was wasting good opportunities that came his way. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why do all the good things end up in the hands of someone who doesn¡¯t appreciate them?


    What infuriated her the most was that Tan Zhenghong dared to contradict her!


    This anger made Wang Yun forget all about honoring her father.


    It wasn¡¯t until dinner that she remembered.


    "Ah Hong, I want to go back and visit my father. Could you accompany me?" Wang Yun looked at Tan Zhenghong with hope.


    Tan Zhenghong was taken aback, then said, "I won¡¯t go this time. The house can¡¯t be left unattended, and I just visited a while ago. This time, you have your brother-in-law and Zi Jun to accompany you. Uncle will surely be happier."


    Wang Yun¡¯s left hand clenched into a fist under the table. Tan Zhenghong had changed!


    Once upon a time, Tan Zhenghong would sneak over to the Niu Family to check if she was doing well. Now, she supposed that even if she died, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t feel the slightest guilt.


    And the source of all these changes was Qiao Duo¡¯er!


    Hmph, her father had said she would have an additional support in the future, but in the end, she ended up raising another woman¡¯s husband.


    "I still hope you can go. When dad was alive, he cared the most about us siblings."


    Wang Yun spoke softly, trying to persuade him, but her determination was growing stronger.


    She wanted to compete with Qiao Duo¡¯er and see who weighed heavier in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart.


    Tan Zhenghong was resolute. He would not sacrifice Duo¡¯er and the children to fulfill his own filial obligations.


    Moreover, he visited his uncle¡¯s grave every year and had a clear conscience.


    In order to express her anger, Wang Yun and her family left Big Willow Village early the next morning.


    The only way she could gain more benefits from the Tan Family was to pull Tan Zhenghong to her side.


    The obligations he owed her father for raising him were her biggest bargaining chip.


    It has to be said, her methods were effective, because Tan Zhenghong was a bit panicked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had just woken up when Tan Zhenghong talked to her about what had happened.


    "My cousin is angry; did I do something wrong?"


    Before his uncle passed away, he had entrusted Tan Zhenghong to take care of his cousin, but he seemed to have failed.


    "Look at you playing the fool. She¡¯s trying to trap you with this, and you¡¯re seriously considering jumping into it?" Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at him.


    Tan Zhenghong scratched the back of his head, "What do you mean?"


    "You still think your cousin is the same naive girl from before? She¡¯s been in the back house for years, where the matriarchs are fierce. She¡¯s the only one who can give birth to sons, and she has Niu Fuquan¡¯s heart in her grasp. You think she doesn¡¯t have any tricks up her sleeve?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.

 Chapter 1015 - 1020: In a Good Mood

    Chapter 1015: Chapter 1020: In a Good MoodLooking at childbirth alone, Wang Yun¡¯s methods were far more formidable than Ruo Lan¡¯s back in the day.


    "But... I promised my uncle..."


    "The one who raised you is your uncle, just perform the son¡¯s rites at his grave, and if your cousin needs help, we¡¯ll lend a hand."


    "But even with close relations, you need to know what you can help with and what you can¡¯t. Moreover, she is just trying to compete with me now, and if you help her, I will lose."


    While playing with the newly awake Green Group, Qiao Duo¡¯er seriously said.


    Everything about Wang Yun was good, but now this was all to gain control over Tan Zhenghong and then satisfy his own desires.


    If Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t see clearly, where would there be a place for her and her children in this family in the future?


    Tan Zhenghong was silent for a moment before nodding, "Wife, I know what to do now."


    He had just been slow to catch on, allowing such an absurd idea from his cousin to form.


    It¡¯s no wonder he was somewhat dissatisfied with his cousin¡¯s actions.


    Now he just needs to preserve his true self and do what he should.


    In a blink, the two little ones had already turned one month old, and that day the Tan Family invited only a few close families over for a meal.


    The main reason was that Qiao Duo¡¯er had been frightened by something concerning Rui Rui, so the simpler, the better.


    In this month, Green Group and Tangyuan had already changed a lot, their skin becoming fairer, and right when they were brought out, they received a swath of compliments.


    Old lady Bai held Tangyuan, reluctant to let go: "This little girl looks so vibrant, she¡¯s definitely going to be as charming and lovely as Duo¡¯er!"


    "Green Group isn¡¯t bad either, looking so handsome already, he¡¯s sure to be popular with the girls when he grows up!"


    "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such beautiful babies, even more gorgeous than those in paintings!"


    Zou¡¯s was full of praise for Green Group as well.


    "Don¡¯t make my baby so proud with your praises that he won¡¯t even be able to find his way north," Qiao Duo¡¯er chided.


    She was a bit late because of a bath, but she didn¡¯t miss others¡¯ compliments.


    Her children were very ordinary, nowhere near as exquisite as they said.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s appearance made everyone¡¯s eyes wide open. Even after childbirth, Duo¡¯er¡¯s figure hadn¡¯t changed, but her complexion improved a lot, and with the charm of a mature woman, she was simply mesmerizing.


    "Is this really Duo¡¯er? It¡¯s my first time seeing someone become more beautiful as they sit the month!"


    Old lady Bai gestured with her hands.


    Other families¡¯ daughters-in-law all looked disheveled after sitting the month, some couldn¡¯t even find their waist, a stark contrast to Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently sat down and took Tangyuan from Old lady Bai¡¯s hands.


    Returning to a familiar embrace, Tangyuan immediately relaxed and even let out a couple of delighted laughs.


    "This child is remarkable, so young and already smiling!"


    Not to be outdone, Green Group also started to smile broadly, his little body twisting as he tried to cuddle close to Duo¡¯er.


    There were many people here, but mother was always the best.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could only take her son in her arms as well, holding one in each arm, as she always maintained impartial treatment, not picking on either. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Both children have good temperaments, Duo¡¯er, you are blessed for the future!" Feng clan¡¯s Madam said with a smile.


    Those kids hardly ever made a fuss, truly enviable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt very guilty because the good temperaments of her little things had little to do with them.


    Today they were in good moods, doing whatever they were asked, otherwise scratching and biting would be just minor matters.


    However, since today was a day of celebration, she wouldn¡¯t tear down her son and daughter¡¯s stage.

 Chapter 1016 - 1021: The Adorable Man

    Chapter 1016: Chapter 1021: The Adorable ManBy noon, when the other guests began their meal, Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to carry the two soundly sleeping children back to the master bedroom, to ensure the little ones slept undisturbed.


    After settling the little things down, she also lay on the bed, her face completely filled with satisfaction.


    She had finally made it through the postpartum confinement, and from now on, she would be free!


    And with both a son and a daughter, her life could be considered complete.


    After lunch, the guests slowly started to leave, and Bai Yifan finally found the chance to speak with Tan Zhenghong alone.


    "I have some not-so-great news, but I can¡¯t keep it from you," Bai Yifan said with a sympathetic look at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "Spit it out!"


    What¡¯s with a grown man hemming and hawing like that? Today, no news could bother him because he was finally out of confinement and could do something that would make him very happy.


    "I just took Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse, and her body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet, probably needs another month," Bai Yifan said slowly.


    This meant that the thing Tan Zhenghong had been looking forward to for so long was going to be delayed.


    Tan Zhenghong was stunned, then said casually, "Bai Yifan, you think I would believe your nonsense?"


    "If you don¡¯t believe it, that¡¯s up to you, but don¡¯t say I wasn¡¯t kind if something goes wrong," Bai Yifan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    This gave him another opportunity.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes again, but he thought that if having one child requires a month¡¯s confinement, it seemed reasonable that Duo¡¯er¡¯s twin confinement would take two months.


    Well... he had endured for so long, did one more month really matter?


    But could they not wait until he had planned for several days and made all the preparations before telling him?


    Even if his heart were made of iron, he would still feel heartbroken!


    Bai Yifan secretly rejoiced, but he did it not only to give Tan Zhenghong a hard time. A month truly wasn¡¯t enough for a woman¡¯s body to fully recover, at least forty days were required.


    The extra half month was simply a trap for Tan Zhenghong, who rushed to stop him as soon as he held Tangyuan.


    It seemed a bit underhanded, but... it was not a big issue.


    Finally, Bai Yifan patted Tan Zhenghong on the shoulder, "A man has to bear a little more. But if you can¡¯t stand it, don¡¯t force yourself. You could consider finding someone else."


    "In your dreams!"


    Tan Zhenghong shot back an eye roll without hesitation.


    The corners of Bai Yifan¡¯s mouth lifted ever so slightly. As a man, he admired Tan Zhenghong.


    But in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes, his expression was nothing but a blatant provocation.


    Returning to his room, Tan Zhenghong hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the shock of the bad news.


    Alas, why was his life so hard?


    "Why such a gloomy face?" Qiao Duo¡¯er sensitively sensed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mood. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong replied irritably, "Isn¡¯t it because of that bastard Bai Yifan? Every time I see him, my mood turns sour."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh unkindly, "You¡¯re already a father, can¡¯t you be a little more mature?"


    If Green Group and Tangyuan could talk, they¡¯d probably give Tan Zhenghong a good scolding too.


    "The childish one is Bai Yifan; he¡¯s just jealous I married a good wife and always trying to set me up. That guy is too bad, stay away from him from now on," Tan Zhenghong said with disdain.


    Bai Yifan appeared innocent, but he could not hide his ulterior motives.


    Had it not been for Old lady Bai, Tan Zhenghong would have kicked Bai Yifan out long ago.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, silently thinking how cute Tan Zhenghong¡¯s jealous look was.


    No wonder Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng always said he was a petty cat ¨C indeed quite petty, but when it came to his wife, it would be a problem if he weren¡¯t!

 Chapter 1017 - 1022: Can’t Hold It Anymore

    Chapter 1017: Chapter 1022: Can¡¯t Hold It AnymoreIn the evening, Tan Zhenghong planted a gentle kiss on Duo¡¯er¡¯s face.


    "Wife, you must be exhausted today, try to sleep early."


    After speaking, Tan Zhenghong closed his eyes, and gradually, his breathing became shallow as if he had fallen asleep.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t someone easily fooled since she could always spot a flaw in pretenses. She sensed a hint of restlessness amidst Tan Zhenghong¡¯s calm.


    That restlessness stemmed from a man¡¯s primitive impulses.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er continued to glare for a while, but Tan Zhenghong made no move.


    She couldn¡¯t understand it; he had been very excited these past few days, so why did he seem so wilted at night?


    Could it be he had developed psychological trauma from the time of the childbirth?


    But Tan Zhenghong was a hunter and had seen his fair share of bloody scenes, so his psychological quality shouldn¡¯t be that poor.


    Thinking over and over, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only think of one possibility, that he was disdainful of her now.


    After giving birth, her body had slightly changed, and she always had a milk scent, and men perceive women firstly by sight and secondly by smell.


    "Stop pretending, I know you¡¯re not asleep."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said gravely.


    Tan Zhenghong hesitated but still opened his eyes, "Wife, I¡¯m really tired today."


    He was just hoping that Qiao Duo¡¯er would fall asleep quickly so he could go take a cold shower.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very dissatisfied with his cold demeanor; she wasn¡¯t someone who could easily hold back her grievances, so she asked unhappily, "Are you disgusted by me?"


    Were all those sweet nothings he had said before deceptive?


    Was his kindness to her just a facade?


    "Wife, if you keep talking, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to hold back," Tan Zhenghong said with restrained frustration.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face reddened thoroughly when Tan Zhenghong pulled her hand to a certain spot.


    "That jerk Bai Yifan said your body hadn¡¯t recuperated fully," Tan Zhenghong revealed the reason.


    That evening, when Duo¡¯er was changing clothes, he paid special attention; there were still traces of lochia on her clothes, so Bai Yifan wasn¡¯t talking nonsense.


    Knowing his wife hadn¡¯t fully recovered, yet still demanding such intimacy, wouldn¡¯t that make him a beast?


    He had barely managed to restrain his desires, only to be met with Duo¡¯er¡¯s suspicions.


    Oh, how wronged he felt!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er understood¡ªno wonder Tan Zhenghong seemed upset when he came into the room that afternoon, so this was the critical reason.


    "Wife, I¡¯m going to take a shower."


    Tan Zhenghong gritted his teeth as he spoke; the little hand he had placed there had moved restlessly twice, and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered her face with her hands, her mind full of what Tan Zhenghong was doing in the bathroom.


    Half an hour later, Tan Zhenghong came out looking refreshed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is it over?" Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes curved into a smile.


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat, "I¡¯m still hurt here."


    "I realize my mistake now; I shouldn¡¯t have wrongly accused you," Qiao Duo¡¯er sincerely apologized.


    Tan Zhenghong was genuinely looking out for her, yet she wronged him for not caring about him. If the roles were reversed, she probably would have exploded on the spot.


    "You still have some conscience. Once you¡¯ve recuperated, I will definitely let you know how much I care about you," Tan Zhenghong whispered into Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, biting it gently.


    He just hoped that by then, someone would be more cooperative.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head away, his warm breath tingling her neck, tickling her from inside out.


    "Just a reminder, since you¡¯re my man, don¡¯t keep moving around, or you¡¯ll be the one suffering," she said.


    Because of their natural anatomy, men tend to be at a

 Chapter 1018 - 1023: Giant Baby

    Chapter 1018: Chapter 1023: Giant BabyTan Zhenghong pulled Duo¡¯er into his arms, "Sleep now, you still have to breastfeed the two little ones at night, don¡¯t be unaware when I¡¯ve unbuttoned your clothes."


    "We¡¯re an old married couple, what¡¯s the big deal about unbuttoning a shirt?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly.


    Tan Zhenghong raised an eyebrow, "You mean you¡¯re not interested in me anymore?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If I¡¯m not interested in you, who else would I be interested in? Hurry up and sleep, a man who gets overly serious is not cute at all!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pinched Tan Zhenghong¡¯s cheek, and Tan Zhenghong, unwilling to be outdone, the two then played around for a while before they finally closed their eyes contentedly.


    In the middle of the night, Duo¡¯er was awakened by an unusual sucking sensation on her chest.


    "Tan Zhenghong!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er enunciated each word.


    She had just felt someone unbuttoning her clothes and thought it was Tan Zhenghong letting the child breastfeed, but it turned out to be Tan Zhenghong himself!


    Tan Zhenghong lifted his head, "Wife, uh... it was leaking out."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er indeed felt a wet patch on her chest, this... She had never encountered a situation like this before.


    "Neither of the little ones have woken up?"


    If possible, she would prefer the two little ones to do it, as having a big head on her chest always felt a bit odd.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I just changed their diapers, they were sleeping soundly, so I didn¡¯t disturb them."


    "That¡¯s strange, they used to wake up for milk two or three times a night."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said in perplexity, now it was almost the middle of the night, and they hadn¡¯t stirred at all.


    "Sleeping through the night is good, it means you won¡¯t have to work as hard."


    But Duo¡¯er was still not at ease, and put on her shoes to check on the babies.


    She gently extended her hand to the noses of Green Group and Tangyuan, only when she felt the warm breath did she put her heart back in her stomach.


    It wasn¡¯t her first time to do this, she always felt that such small little ones were very fragile. However, she used to do it secretly by herself because she knew it was childish.


    If someone else saw her, they might die laughing.


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, "Wife, do you really have to do that? I just changed their diapers. If something was wrong, don¡¯t you think I would have noticed?"


    He admitted that men could be somewhat careless, but not noticing that would be more than carelessness; it would be a sign of a problem with the brain.


    "Isn¡¯t it more reassuring to check for oneself?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled dryly, feeling a bit embarrassed for being caught in the act.


    Tan Zhenghong patted Duo¡¯er on the shoulder, "Actually, I¡¯ve done it too."


    In the first few days after the baby was born, the first thing he did was to check for breathing.


    He never thought his clever wife would also do such silly things.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally found some consolation, but then couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for their babies, having parents like them, they must be rendered speechless.


    "It¡¯s also a way of loving the child, you change your clothes and go back to sleep," Tan Zhenghong reminded her.


    The milk stains on Duo¡¯er¡¯s chest hadn¡¯t dried yet, and it must be uncomfortable to wear.


    After changing her clothes, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay back on the bed, but due to the habit she developed earlier, she was now feeling a bit uncomfortable from the fullness.


    "Ah Hong, are you asleep yet?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked weakly.


    Tan Zhenghong opened his bleary eyes, "What¡¯s up?"


    "Uh... are you still hungry?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked awkwardly.


    Would asking this way be too subtle? She wondered if Tan Zhenghong, that dummy, could understand.


    Tan Zhenghong blinked, "Wife, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll scold me."


    His wife had been fierce when she first woke up, and now he didn¡¯t dare have any improper thoughts anymore.

 Chapter 1019 - 1024: Daddy Nursemaid

    Chapter 1019: Chapter 1024: Daddy Nursemaid?reeweb¦Çove?.com"No more talking, hurry up!"


    Having received Duo¡¯er¡¯s permission, Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t hold back since he was a bit hungry; he hadn¡¯t eaten dinner due to being upset. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once comfortable, Duo¡¯er finally fell asleep.


    But tragedy struck soon after, as two hours later, both little ones woke up.


    Because Tan Zhenghong had eaten everything, neither of the two little ones was full and they both started crying at the top of their lungs.


    "Wife, wait a moment, I¡¯m going to ask someone else for some milk."


    Tan Zhenghong felt guilty, but the most important thing was to solve the issue now.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "It¡¯s too early now, everyone else is still asleep; just use your chest for a while, I¡¯ll drink more water and try to produce more milk."


    It was now just past three in the morning, exactly when others were in deep sleep; disturbing them seemed wrong.


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong only had the option to bravely open his shirt.


    The crying finally stopped.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, "They¡¯re almost asleep, you sleep first."


    Just now, the two little ones had eaten enough to last until morning, by which time he could go out and borrow milk, or Duo¡¯er might have some milk by then.


    Qiao Duo¡¯s eyes were bright, "But I don¡¯t feel like sleeping at all now, I¡¯ll keep you company."


    Actually, she wanted to say it was rare to see Tan Zhenghong embarrass himself, how could she sleep?


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath; he finally understood that breastfeeding was not an easy task, and he should be more caring towards his wife in the future.


    Being a mother was really not easy!


    After much hassle, the two little ones finally settled down.


    Tan Zhenghong gasped, "I guess I¡¯ll never forget today¡¯s ordeal in this lifetime."


    He felt that even the pain of a broken leg would be preferable because at least that was straightforward.


    Qiao Duo giggled unkindly, then fetched an ointment prepared by Qing Yue.


    "Apply this and it should be better by tomorrow."


    She had also experienced insufficient milk before, but her symptoms were much less severe than Tan Zhenghong¡¯s.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded; this was just a one-time thing, how long could he suffer?


    And his wife had to breastfeed for many more months.


    Moreover, today¡¯s event taught him a lesson, which was not to mess with one¡¯s own babies, because eventually, they¡¯d settle scores with interest.


    In Duo¡¯er¡¯s words, it only took minutes to set her dad up.

 Chapter 1020 - 1025: Annoying Person

    Chapter 1020: Chapter 1025: Annoying PersonThe next morning, the three members of the Wang Yun family came again.


    She had thought that Tan Zhenghong would compromise, but after waiting for a few days without seeing Tan Zhenghong, she lost her patience.


    "Old Master Niu, Madam, our Fourth Boss and Madam haven¡¯t gotten up yet, please make yourselves comfortable," Bai Yan greeted politely.


    Wang Yun clenched her fists, yesterday Qiao Duo¡¯er had come out of her confinement, the two must have been eager to get down to business, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be still in bed at this hour.


    Madam Qiao is truly a shameless woman! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yan brought out tea and pastries again, and after she arranged for their guest rooms, she stepped aside.


    Considering the meeting gift of two little pearls that Wang Yun had given, she just couldn¡¯t muster any enthusiasm.


    The others were busy with their own things, only occasionally refilling their tea or adding more pastries.


    After adding two dishes of pastries, Bai Yan complained, "Do you think the red envelope the cousin miss gave is enough to buy pastries?"


    The young master wasn¡¯t big, but he had a big appetite.


    "Pastries are expensive items, if they could be bought for eighteen wen, I wouldn¡¯t have had to come to the Tan Family to know what pastries taste like," Almond said seriously.


    "They are always putting on airs as Mansion City people, I think they are worse than refugees!"


    Qing Xin chimed in too.


    Anyway, that Niu Family Member was disagreeable no matter how you looked at him.


    Qing Yue reminded them, "Don¡¯t gossip about others, it will damage the Tan Family¡¯s reputation if it gets out."


    By then, people would definitely say the Tan Family doesn¡¯t manage their servants well.


    The others stuck out their tongues and didn¡¯t dare to talk carelessly anymore, because Qing Yue made a lot of sense.


    Wang Yun felt snubbed and was extremely frustrated inside.


    However, her mood did not affect Niu Zijun¡¯s playful nature; he still played wildly in the courtyard.


    Niu Zijun had just turned one year old and wasn¡¯t very steady on his feet. His wet nurse followed closely behind him.


    Madam Wang had just entered the courtyard when she was bumped into by the wet nurse walking backward. The contents of her basket were spilled out¡ªmushrooms she had just picked!


    The worst part was the child even started stepping on the mushrooms.


    In no time, several mushrooms were trampled into a mushy mess.


    The wet nurse did not stop him, but instead clapped from the side, "Little Master is so impressive!"


    Madam Wang¡¯s temper rose rapidly. Since coming to the Tan Family, she rarely got angry, but that didn¡¯t mean anyone could bully her.


    "Whose family are you from? Keep your voices down, or you¡¯ll disturb others¡¯ rest," Madam Wang said with a dark face.


    Duo¡¯er said it was bad for children to be woken up by noise, so everyone who came to the Tan Family tread lightly. She had never seen such an unruly household before.


    Children might not understand, but surely the adults should know better?


    "Mom, Mom!" Niu Zijun cried out twice, implying that he had been bullied.


    Niu Fuquan and Wang Yun hurried out of the house upon hearing the noise.


    "Zi Jun, who is the blind person who bullied you? Point them out to me, and Dad will take revenge for you!" Niu Fuquan said angrily.


    He had already been holding in a lot of anger these past few days, and now it was a good opportunity to let it out, sending a warning to Tan Zhenghong as well.


    With his parents backing him up, Niu Zijun immediately pointed at Madam Wang, "Her, her!"


    Just as Niu Fuquan was about to lash out, Wang Yun tugged at his clothes.


    "Aunt, what are you doing here? I heard... Fourth Boss and the Tan Family..."


    Wang Yun said hesitantly.


    Madam Wang admitted frankly, "Yes, that¡¯s true, but the couple was magnanimous and didn¡¯t hold it against an old woman like me. They not only forgave my foolish actions but also allowed me to stay here and enjoy the blessings."


    "How come I didn¡¯t see you when I came a few days ago?"


    Wang Yun wanted to expose Madam Wang¡¯s lie.

 Chapter 1021 - 1026: Competing in Acting Skills

    Chapter 1021: Chapter 1026: Competing in Acting SkillsLet¡¯s not even mention that the Wang Clan was vain, just consider how Tan Zhenghong and his wife had finally shaken off their burdens, how could they possibly seek out trouble again?


    So when the Wang Clan said she lived here, it definitely was a bluff.


    The Wang Clan explained, "That time I just happened to be visiting the temple to pray. Before Duo¡¯er gave birth, I prayed for two peace charms, hoping she and the child would be safe. Unexpectedly, she had twins and I could only give the charms to the children. Later, when someone from the village went to pray, I took the chance to ask for another charm for Duo¡¯er."


    Because the journey was far, she stayed overnight at the temple.


    By the time she returned, Wang Yun¡¯s family had already left.


    However, she and Wang Yun weren¡¯t close, so she didn¡¯t think much of it.


    "You surely have good fortune, having given birth to a fine son," Wang Yun complimented, and then introduced, "This is my husband, you can just call him Fu Quan, and this is my son, Brother Jun¡¯er."


    The Wang Clan nodded, "Very good, your husband is talented, and the child is clever and quick-witted, I¡¯ve always known you were blessed."


    "I¡¯m still young, what fortune could I possibly have?" the Wang Clan said with self-mocking laughter.


    She had been married into the Niu Family for eight years now, yet she was still a concubine.


    If it weren¡¯t for the desperate effort to save her first pregnancy and the fortunate birth of a son, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to turn her situation around.


    The Wang Clan laughed, "Being well myself is better than anything else. What else matters? By the way, Duo¡¯er and the child both need rest, you see..."


    She didn¡¯t say anything else, but anyone with a bit of self-awareness knew what she meant.


    "Auntie, you truly are a good mother-in-law. The Qiao Clan must have accumulated virtues for eight generations!" Wang Yun expressed her envy. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s because I did good deeds in my past life that I met such a good daughter-in-law."


    The Wang Clan sincerely said, without a trace of pretense. Initially, she had been very afraid of Qiao Duo¡¯er, but the more they interacted, the closer she wanted to be to her.


    Actually, she had never understood what kind of charm Duo¡¯er had.


    Wang Yun took the child from Niu Fuquan¡¯s hands, "My Brother Jun¡¯er is also tired, I¡¯ll take him back to the room to sleep."


    The Wang Clan rolled her eyes at the backs of the Niu¡¯s family of three, only then beginning to clean up the mess Niu Zi Jun had made.


    So what if they lived in Mansion City?


    They were still far worse than the Fourth Boss and his wife!


    It was only around noon that Qiao Duo¡¯er got up. She had been fussing about all night and didn¡¯t feel refreshed until she had slept through the morning.


    "Madam, the Niu family members are here again," Qing Xin reported quietly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips, "I¡¯ve already seen them."


    Moreover, they seemed to intend to have a heart-to-heart with her. Fortunately, she had already handled Tan Zhenghong.


    "Sister-in-law, how is your health?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Almost completely recovered."


    "That¡¯s good. I fell ill after worshiping my father and missed the full moon celebration entirely. I truly regret it," the Wang Clan said with feigned concern.


    She had been in White Stone Town a few days ago. The reason she didn¡¯t show up was firstly to see Tan Zhenghong¡¯s attitude and secondly to save some gift money.


    Business had been bad since the epidemic, and saving a little was still something.


    But now she somewhat regretted it, because if she had come, she might have formed connections with influential people.


    With connections, anything would be easier to handle.


    "We didn¡¯t celebrate the full moon grandly, just invited a few families from the village with good relationships. You and Old Master Niu might not have been used to it," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded dismissively.


    When others showed disinterest, she too couldn¡¯t be bothered to invest emotions.


    They say life is like a play, and now was the time to compete in acting skills.


    This completely dispelled any regret Wang Yun might have felt.

 Chapter 1022 - 1027: Promise Me This

    Chapter 1022: Chapter 1027: Promise Me ThisMadam Wang suddenly realized that her expression was a bit too obvious, and she quickly regained composure, "I have something to discuss with Ah Hong."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stepped aside to make way, while also giving Almond a knowing look.


    She trusted Tan Zhenghong, but the depth of Wang Yun City¡¯s scheming gave her pause, fearing that the foolish Zhenghong could be deceived by it.


    Moreover, she suspected Zhenghong, not wanting her to worry, would definitely not tell her the truth.


    Almond nodded and quietly followed them.


    Before long, Almond stormed into the study, fuming with anger.


    "Madam, you must send that Miss Ye away immediately, I have never seen anyone so shameless in my life!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down the book in her hands, "Give me the details."


    "Miss Ye said that the Niu Family business is struggling and has suffered significant losses these past few months; she asked the Fourth Master to lend her silver, and even demanded the estate granted by the Emperor, claiming it would secure her position as the principal wife. Thank goodness the Fourth Master didn¡¯t agree!"


    Almond relayed the entire incident in one breath,


    Granny Su and Qing Xin were also in the room and, after hearing all this, both were shocked; such shamelessness was unheard of!


    They hoped the Madam wouldn¡¯t be a pushover and not let Miss Ye succeed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked her chin, "She certainly has quite the appetite, but she has come to the wrong place."


    The two estates bestowed by the Emperor each had a thousand acres of fine farmland. Even though the harvests were poor, they were exempt from taxes, yielding a considerable annual income.


    She had only just gotten a hold of last year¡¯s financial records, and now people were already coveting them.


    "I think you still need to come up with a plan. With Miss Ye¡¯s weeping and wailing, the Fourth Master might just soften," Granny Su cautiously reminded her.


    The Fourth Master was kind-hearted and sentimental, which was a good thing for Madam, but at Wang Yun¡¯s hands, he was likely to suffer a loss. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "No need to rush; just keep an eye on them."


    Tan Zhenghong was sincere in his dealings with people, but he wasn¡¯t a fool who could be easily deceived by anyone; she should give him more trust.


    "Leave this matter to me, I¡¯ve always had sharp ears," Qing Xin patted her chest.


    As for eavesdropping from behind corners, no one was more suitable than her; she always managed to hear things others couldn¡¯t.


    "Then I¡¯ll leave it in your hands."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curved her lips into a smile; she never actively schemed against others, but when pushed to her limit, she wouldn¡¯t tolerate it either.


    As night fell, Niu Fuquan sat at his desk, agitated.


    "If I can¡¯t borrow more silver, these two shops will be finished."


    These were the two most profitable stores for the Niu Family in the past; a failure would possibly spell the family¡¯s doom.


    Wang Yun soothed him, "Master, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely get silver from the Tan Family, but when the time comes, don¡¯t forget what you promised me."


    "Rest assured, a daughter is a money-losing proposition, and I definitely won¡¯t agree to have her accompany Yin as part of her dowry."


    Niu Fuquan was certain; these were the dowry shops of his wedded wife, but since she had married into the Niu Family, her dowry naturally bore the Niu surname and must be left for his son.


    But this assurance did not satisfy Wang Yun, "And what else?"


    "I know, I can¡¯t wait to get rid of that woman; of course I¡¯ll promote you to the principal position."


    Niu Fuquan squinted with a smile, knowing that once Wang Yun became the principal wife, nobody would interfere with whom he mingled.


    Wang Yun gently patted her son, Niu Zijun, in her arms; watching his sleeping face, her resolve hardened.


    With Zi Jun still young, it was up to her to guard everything meant for him.


    Once her son took control of the Niu Family, she would deal with those who had ridiculed and bullied her, starting with the execution of Ye Clan¡¯s principal wife, the first on her list!

 Chapter 1023 - 1028: No Capital Business?

    Chapter 1023: Chapter 1028: No Capital Business?Over the next two days, Wang Yun hustled around, constantly using her father¡¯s kindness to negotiate with Tan Zhenghong.


    But once Tan Zhenghong had put forward his accumulated silver, he became impervious to persuasion, not only ignoring her points, but also walking away when she irritated him.


    Just fifty taels, she was too embarrassed to offer that to Niu Fuquan!


    By the third day, the Wang Clan could no longer sit still.


    Because if they couldn¡¯t raise more silver soon, the Silver Bank would use the shop as collateral for the Niu Family¡¯s debts.


    With Tan Zhenghong unyielding, she could only set her sights on Duo¡¯er.


    "Duo¡¯er, I specially stewed some chicken soup for you, please rest for a bit," Wang Yun said solicitously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already finished her confinement, but she still cooped up in her room all day. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong explained that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and she needed more time to recuperate.


    But she knew it was just to avoid her.


    As long as they didn¡¯t meet, she wouldn¡¯t have the chance to bring up borrowing silver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed the ledger: "I¡¯m really sorry, I just had my afternoon tea. You previously said Zi Jun was premature, you should take it back and use it to nourish him."


    "That works too, you have no idea how scared I was when Zi Jun was born weighing just a little over four pounds. I watched over him day and night, fearing anything might discomfort him," Wang Yun took the opportunity to carry away the chicken soup.


    She wouldn¡¯t admit that she had intentionally instructed the maid not to add salt, just waiting for Duo¡¯er to dislike it so she could take it back.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently admired Wang Yun; it really wasn¡¯t easy to nourish a child from four pounds to over forty pounds in a year.


    Considering a normal one-year-old boy only weighs about twenty pounds.


    Wang Yun peered in and said, "Sister-in-law, you are working too hard, looking at ledgers right after confinement is bad for your eyes."


    "I was just flipping through casually, it won¡¯t harm my eyes, by the way, cousin, did you need something from the study?" Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her innocent eyes.


    "I was talking to Ah Hong earlier, and the Niu Family¡¯s business has run into some trouble, we thought of borrowing some silver to tide us over," Wang Yun said straightforwardly, eager to secure the silver sooner.


    "How much do you need?"


    Wang Yun pondered for a moment: "About thirty thousand taels."


    "That¡¯s no small sum. Since the plague, many shops have been struggling to turn over. We¡¯re barely managing ourselves."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er braced her chin, frowning intently.


    The Wang Clan pleaded, "Could you maybe piece together some for me first? Once the Niu Family recovers, we¡¯ll immediately send the silver over."


    Seeing Duo¡¯er still looked distressed, she added, "If the Niu Family goes under, Zi Jun and I will have no good days ahead. Ah Hong and I grew up together, just like real siblings. You surely wouldn¡¯t bear to see us mother and son thrown out on the streets."


    "Ah Hong is the one your father raised. Now that you¡¯re in trouble, we definitely can¡¯t stand by idly, but our financial means are limited. We can only contribute five hundred taels, please don¡¯t take offense, cousin," Qiao Duo¡¯er continued, offering the five hundred taels on behalf of Uncle Ah Hong.


    But it was much less than Wang Yun expected.


    Together with the fifty taels Tan Zhenghong had given her, that was only five hundred fifty taels total¡ªhardly enough to pay off debts.


    Wang Yun took a deep breath, "Sister-in-law, please help me think of a solution."


    "Times are hard for everyone now; I¡¯m even planning to cut half of the Tan Family¡¯s staff," Qiao Duo¡¯er scratched her head.


    Wang Yun asked outright for thirty thousand taels, but she really didn¡¯t have it.


    "Those who could afford to shop at Duo Meifang are wealthy families, hardly any have died; the estate granted from above is a business without costs, how could they possibly be unable to make ends meet?"


    Wang Yun dropped her pretense, revealing her sharp and acerbic nature.

 Chapter 1024 - 1029: Ignoring

    Chapter 1024: Chapter 1029: IgnoringQiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "A no-cost business? You¡¯re a merchant¡¯s wife after all, do you really believe such good fortune exists?"


    "Did I speak incorrectly?"


    Wang Yun¡¯s voice was hoarse with exertion as she spoke, but the next second she suddenly knelt on the ground, "I truly have no other option, please save the Niu Family!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips; was this a split personality?


    Duo¡¯er quickly realized what was happening as she saw Tan Zhenghong entering the room at a trot.


    She was pretending to be pitiful to sow discord between her and Tan Zhenghong.


    Unfortunately for Wang Yun, her cunning plan did not work, because the person Tan Zhenghong lashed out at wasn¡¯t her, but Wang Yun.


    "What are you doing? I told you my wife is not in good health, how can you still come and disturb her?"


    Tan Zhenghong picked Wang Yun up from the ground.


    Crying, Wang Yun said, "Why did my father raise an ingrate like you? I can barely survive, and you can actually stand by and do nothing?"


    "Cousin, are you really forcing me to tell the truth?" Tan Zhenghong said impatiently.


    The Niu Family had previously lived in White Stone County, and although they moved away last year, many of their businesses were still left in White Stone Town, including a grain and oil shop.


    This was the Niu Family¡¯s cornerstone business, but it was also the one suffering the heaviest losses.


    But these were all consequences of their own doing; previously selling smuggled salt to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, they were caught and fined a large amount of silver. Without the smuggled salt, their profits drastically decreased, and they began selling substandard goods and short-weight products.


    If he helped them with all his might, his conscience would not allow it!


    Wang Yun felt a twinge of guilt, but she quickly covered it up.


    "You promised my father you would take good care of me. If the Niu Family falls, how am I supposed to live?"


    "My life is so hard," she lamented, "Your parents made me a concubine, and now you are heartless and ungrateful. I might as well take Zi Jun and die!"


    Tan Zhenghong enunciated every word, "The Niu Family is not yet in such a desperate situation."


    "Out of respect for your father and Ah Hong, I have already agreed to give you five hundred taels. You and your son can live modestly on that for the rest of your lives; stop bringing up your father."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a silver note worth five hundred taels and stuffed it into Wang Yun¡¯s hand.


    Clenching the silver note, Wang Yun felt dissatisfied, but since the couple were united in their stance, making more of a scene wouldn¡¯t get her any further benefits.


    She would have to think of another plan.


    After Bai Yan sent Wang Yun away, Tan Zhenghong finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Wife, I hope I didn¡¯t frighten you?"


    "No, but you should still think about how to send her away," Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Given Wang Yun¡¯s temperament, Qiao Duo was certain she wouldn¡¯t leave easily if she didn¡¯t achieve her goal.


    After a moment of contemplation, Tan Zhenghong said, "If she continues like this, I will have no choice but to drive her out. She is my cousin, and I will definitely sort it out."


    He hoped his uncle would understand his actions.


    If Wang Yun had reasonable requests, he certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    But to empty his coffers all at once and collude with tyranny¡ªthere was no way he could agree to that.


    He was a man; he had principles and limits.


    Aside from taking care of his wife, he would not compromise.


    With Wang Yun in the house, the atmosphere had become much heavier, but everyone had gradually learned to adjust on their own: to ignore the existence of the Niu Family trio.


    As long as they were not mistreated in terms of food and shelter, they had fulfilled the duty of a landlord.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no time to deal with that family; she would rather spend more time with her own two little ones.


    After the confinement period, the two little ones began to stay awake longer and often made murmuring noises; if ignored, their small tempers would flare up quickly.

 Chapter 1025 - 1030: It’s All My Fault

    Chapter 1025: Chapter 1030: It¡¯s All My FaultA few days later, taking advantage of Green Group and Tangyuan falling asleep, Duo¡¯er went to the workshop where the medicinal powder was produced.


    She suddenly had a new idea, which was to create a special cream for babies. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No matter the era, parental love for their children is always selfless, with a wish to give them the best the world has to offer.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er entered, a man rushed in.


    He was looking for Almond.


    "Almond, I know I was wrong, please forgive me. I truly love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life," Zhu Jianzhi said sincerely.


    Almond snorted, "Don¡¯t disgust me with that nonsense!"


    She had always thought that Zhu Jianzhi harbored some true feelings for her, but after returning to the village, she found out that Zhu Jianzhi had married the daughter of a wealthy farmer, who had not escaped the epidemic.


    "Don¡¯t be like this, my mother is no longer against us now," Zhu Jianzhi said urgently. He knew that what Almond cared about the most was that his mother had once objected to their relationship.


    "Your mother agrees because of the money I earn monthly, now get lost!" Almond said unequivocally.


    Now she had seen through Zhu Jianzhi. She couldn¡¯t possibly make the foolish decision to be with him again.


    Zhu Jianzhi grabbed Almond¡¯s hand and said, "Are you saying that when you said you wanted to be with me before, you were lying?"


    "Yes, liking you was a mistake on my part," Almond said irritably. His wife¡¯s body was still warm, yet there wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of sadness or regret on his face. If she agreed today, she would be treated the same way in the future.


    Zhu Jianzhi suddenly embraced Almond in his arms; he didn¡¯t believe he could possess her body without also capturing her heart.


    Qiao Duo sneered, she had thought there was a misunderstanding between the two, but now she saw the man was a jerk!


    In the face of such scum, Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand moved, and a teapot smashed onto Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s head.


    Unfortunately, it lacked hot water.


    However, a teapot was enough for dealing with Zhu Jianzhi, a scholar. Almond took the opportunity to hide by Qiao Duo¡¯s side.


    At that moment, the door was pushed open with force.


    "Ah Hong, look, this is your fine wife,"


    Wang Yun looked at Duo¡¯er with contempt. How could she be in the same room with a strange man, especially one in disarray?


    Almond hurriedly explained, "Elder Brother, he came to look for..."


    Before Almond could finish speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er cut her off, "In a word, do you believe me or your own eyes?"


    "You¡¯re here tugging and pulling with a strange man, how dare you still be fierce to Ah Hong? Ah Hong loves you, but you can¡¯t just hurt him because he loves you. Ah Hong, don¡¯t be sad. I won¡¯t let anyone bully you like this."


    Wang Yun had just finished speaking when she became terribly embarrassed, as Tan Zhenghong was already standing by Duo¡¯er¡¯s side.


    Tan Zhenghong said calmly, "Wife, I believe you."


    As for this man... he was far inferior to himself. Duo¡¯er would never be interested in him in this lifetime.


    Receiving Wang Yun¡¯s gaze, Zhu Jianzhi immediately knelt on the ground: "Elder Brother, I was wrong. The last time I came to take Almond home, I was captivated by the Madam at first sight. I¡¯ve been haunted by thoughts of her day and night. Madam was also very troubled by my persistence, only agreeing to me because of that. She still loves you in her heart."


    Almond said in disappointment, "Do you... do you realize what you¡¯re saying?"


    "I¡¯m sorry, the one I like isn¡¯t you. Please stop pestering me," Zhu Jianzhi pleaded.


    Almond was dumbfounded. She could never have imagined that the man who had just been sweet-talking her would now declare his love for another person.

 Chapter 1026 - 1031: Suspect Me?

    Chapter 1026: Chapter 1031: Suspect Me?He had only met Qiao Duo¡¯er once, yet he unflinchingly spoke sweet nothings and lies.


    My God, was she blind before?


    Why had she fallen for such a shameless man?


    "Madam, it¡¯s all my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have disrupted your family, but every word I said was true. If you are willing to come with me, I will strive to give you a good life," Zhu Jianzhi knelt at Duo¡¯er¡¯s feet again.


    Wang Yunyi sternly said, "Ah Hong, the evidence is right in front of you, hurry up and kick her out!"


    As long as Qiao Duo¡¯er was driven away, she could no longer influence Tan Zhenghong, and he would surely obey her as before. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By then, not to mention demanding silver or shops, even if he was made to work for free, he would certainly not resist.


    "Have you all had enough?" Tan Zhenghong stared steadily at Wang Yun.


    Did they really think he was an idiot?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "Just you being impatient, bastard."


    Although their acting was a bit poor, there weren¡¯t many entertainments available, so watching this wasn¡¯t too bad.


    Tan Zhenghong felt wronged; his wife was being verbally harassed by someone else, how could he not feel heartache?


    It took a while for Wang Yun to retort angrily, "Tan Zhenghong, what do you mean by looking at me like that? It¡¯s not like I made her have an affair!"


    "Even if you had, my wife would never do such a thing. It¡¯s just that some people shouldn¡¯t spray people with blood because of past affections,"


    Tan Zhenghong said sternly.


    This matter wasn¡¯t as simple as it appeared. The door of the Tan Family was always closed; if no one inside had cooperated, this man couldn¡¯t possibly have got in.


    The only person in the family who could do this was Wang Yun.


    Wang Yun incredulously said, "You suspect me?"


    "It¡¯s not suspicion, I know it was you. Cousin, this is really pointless, you better go back."


    Tan Zhenghong dismissed her, allowing her to stay any longer would only cause his wife more suffering.


    Having said that, he didn¡¯t bother to look again and directly walked away with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Wife, you are still in confinement, don¡¯t get angry," Tan Zhenghong cautioned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "Do you think I am angry?"


    She was just amazed at Wang Yun¡¯s intelligence. She didn¡¯t understand the situation of the Tan Family at all, yet dared to bring a man with unknown details to act, which was quite something.


    Knowing they were leaving, Wang Yun couldn¡¯t think of anything to say.


    Because she never knew that there could be such a solid love in the world, she intended to stir trouble, but now even inserting a needle seemed difficult.


    Almond said coldly, "The Tan family does not entertain despicable villains like you, hurry up and leave, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!"


    Especially Zhu Jianzhi, she never wanted to see him in her life again!


    "Miss, you better leave voluntarily; it won¡¯t look good if you¡¯re kicked out," Granny Su cautioned.


    Zhu Jianzhi, a scholar, slinked away after his plan was exposed.


    Wang Yun sat in a chair, ashen-faced, unable to move.


    Almond felt guilty and worried about causing trouble for the madam, so she hurried back to the main room.


    She knew if today the fourth master showed even a slight suspicion towards the madam, their relationship would likely come to an end.


    "Madam, I am sorry, I almost destroyed your reputation."


    Almond, with tears in her eyes, knelt on the ground.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly, "I don¡¯t blame you, but remember to stay away from that man in the future, you were also frightened, go back and rest."


    Dealing with such a scumbag, Almond was more heartbroken than anyone.


    Almond bowed once more before standing up, sighing, her debt to the madam was immeasurable in this lifetime.

 Chapter 1027 - 1032: The Pitiable Person

    Chapter 1027: Chapter 1032: The Pitiable PersonWang Yun sat by the stone mill for quite a while, only coming back to her senses when a maidservant called for her.


    "Madam, the master is getting impatient. You should hurry back and see him," the maidservant said.


    Wang Yun¡¯s body couldn¡¯t help but tremble, but if she didn¡¯t go back now, Niu Fuquan¡¯s rage would be even more intense.


    The maidservant, feeling some sympathy, couldn¡¯t help but support Wang Yun by the arm.


    She was a longtime servant of the Niu family, always serving in the study until Yun Mother-in-law had a son, and then she was transferred to serve Yun Mother-in-law.


    The master of the Niu family was heartless, the madam was harsh; at the end of the day, Yun Mother-in-law was also a pitiable person.


    Seeing Wang Yun¡¯s state, Niu Fuquan¡¯s face darkened even further.


    "No luck again?" he said.


    Wang Yun, with her head bowed, didn¡¯t say a word. She had thought her plan was perfect, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to have no effect at all.


    How could she even begin to announce such an outcome?


    Niu Fuquan slapped Wang Yun¡¯s face, "Is this the certainty you spoke of in securing the silver? Do you know how much you¡¯ve delayed me? Because of you, a wretched woman, the Niu family can¡¯t even save a single shop!"


    If the silver wasn¡¯t repaid by early morning tomorrow, the bank would take away the deed to one of their shops.


    With less than half a day left, even a deity descending to earth couldn¡¯t gather the silver.


    Wang Yun, covering her face, spoke weakly, "Give me another chance."


    "Haven¡¯t I given you enough chances? Or do you not rest until you¡¯ve ruined the Niu family?"


    Niu Fuquan¡¯s voice grew louder. If this were not Tan Zhenghong¡¯s house, he would have truly wished to beat Wang Yun viciously. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Yun sobbed quietly. She didn¡¯t want to see such an outcome either. Why must they treat her this way?


    "What kind of man relies on a woman to bring back silver?" Tan Zhenghong taunted.


    He had intended to see if the Niu family had any intention of leaving but hadn¡¯t expected to witness Niu Fuquan¡¯s aggressive demeanor.


    Niu Fuquan dismissively said, "This is my family¡¯s affair; it¡¯s not your place to interfere!"


    "She is my cousin," Tan Zhenghong reminded him.


    He was Wang Yun¡¯s maternal cousin. Shouldn¡¯t he step in when Wang Yun was being mistreated?


    Niu Fuquan sneered, "Don¡¯t just talk big. If you truly cared about this cousin, you wouldn¡¯t watch us struggle like this."


    As far as he knew, that amount of silver was nothing to Tan Zhenghong.


    The back and forth, in the end, pointed to one reason: he did not want to part with the silver.


    "It¡¯s a man¡¯s duty to provide for the family, so the one troubled by silver is you, but I don¡¯t owe you anything," said Tan Zhenghong.


    Niu Fuquan shot Wang Yun a glare. Her cousin¡¯s real purpose must be to aggravate him to death and then support Wang Yun and Niu Zijun in taking over.


    What a pity that he was still in the prime of life, far from death.


    Wang Yun begged again, "Ah Hong, please help your brother-in-law."


    Upon seeing the slap mark on Wang Yun¡¯s face, Tan Zhenghong could only think that those deserving of pity often have loathsome qualities.


    She had been bullied to this extent and yet she was still speaking on behalf of Niu Fuquan!


    Wasn¡¯t this being cheap?


    "Cousin, where it¡¯s my duty to help, I will not shirk it; but I will never meddle in what isn¡¯t my affair. My refusal to give silver is to prevent the profiteering from continuing to harm the common folk. Moreover, I have always remembered my uncle¡¯s last words to me, telling me not to let people bully his daughter."


    This was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s promise to Wang Yun.


    As he spoke, he looked at Niu Fuquan, his eyes full of warning.


    He truly couldn¡¯t find any reason to show mercy to Niu Fuquan.


    Niu Fuquan, wary of Tan Zhenghong, could only shrink his neck and stand to the side.

 Chapter 1028 - 1033: No Ordinary Man

    Chapter 1028: Chapter 1033: No Ordinary Man"You¡¯re all smart people, you know what to do; in addition, please leave before nightfall."


    Upon exiting the door, Tan Zhenghong still felt a heavy unease in his heart.


    But then he thought, marrying Niu Fuquan was Wang Yun¡¯s own choice, and he could not interfere.


    All he could do was use this method to control Niu Fuquan, to keep him from going too far. As long as Wang Yun was happy, he could then offer his uncle an explanation.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Granny Su came to report: "Fourth Master, Madam, Old Master Niu and his family have left."


    "It¡¯s better that they¡¯ve left, now let¡¯s see who dares to bully you," Tan Zhenghong said, not in a good mood.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stuffed the Green Group that had just been fed into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms: "Calm down, you talk as if someone could actually bully me."


    Tan Zhenghong expertly patted the Green Group¡¯s back; it wasn¡¯t long before the child burped.


    This was done to help the baby expel any accidentally inhaled air to prevent spit-up.


    "Stinky little thing, you need to grow up fast, don¡¯t just drink milk all day," Tan Zhenghong advised. Otherwise, this little thing would cling to his wife all day, and he would be the one who suffered.


    The Green Group blinked its watery eyes, then aimed and poked its hand into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s nostril.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t dare to use too much force and could only dodge gently.


    But the Green Group was stubborn, adamantly chasing Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with schadenfreude, "Ah, retribution comes so fast, it catches one off guard."


    Tan Zhenghong lifted the Green Group high above, finally escaping the tiny clutches; however, at that moment, the Green Group giggled as if mocking its own father.


    "Unappreciative little thing!" Tan Zhenghong complained. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His own little girl was gentle, always caressing him softly and smiling tenderly at him. Every time he recalled it, his heart nearly melted.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him again, "You¡¯re not allowed to be biased; son or daughter, both are my treasures."


    Tan Zhenghong gave the Green Group another disdainful look, but his eyes were filled with warmth.


    Both were brought into the world by his wife¡¯s hard work; how could he not love them?


    Moreover, he had himself suffered from unfair treatment and knew that feeling well; he would never let his own children experience it.


    It¡¯s just that boys have to bear the responsibilities of the family in the future; they cannot be raised as delicately as girls.


    After the Niu family members left, the tense atmosphere immediately eased; Tan Zhenghong also began to prepare for the generation naming ceremony.


    Generation names are usually in the form of four characters, making up sixteen characters in sequence.


    After several days of deliberation, the generation names were finally set: Zheng Shao Liang Tu, Wen Xue Xing Bang, Guang Zong Yao Zu, Shi Dai Yong Chang.


    "Wife, take another look; if there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll have someone prepare to build the ancestral hall."


    Generally, for such major matters, it was Tan Zheng¡¯s decision alone that mattered, no need for a woman¡¯s agreement.


    But Tan Zhenghong was no ordinary man. If his wife wasn¡¯t satisfied, he himself wouldn¡¯t feel right.


    Hmm... it seemed that he was the only man to go to such lengths.


    Qiao Duo wanted to make a comment, because it was quite common.


    But on second thought, it takes skill to create elegant names from common characters; most importantly, she had no better ideas.


    She then nodded her approval: "The implications are quite good, let¡¯s settle on that."


    That meant that Green Group and Tangyuan¡¯s generation name was ¡¯Shao¡¯.


    "Hm, what names should we choose for Green Group and Tangyuan?" Tan Zhenghong asked excitedly.


    Qiao Duo spouted many options, "Tan Shaoxuan, Tan Shaoling, Tan Shaoyong, Tan Shaofei, Tan Shaoli..."


    There were so many characters with beautiful meanings, and ¡¯Shao¡¯ was quite versatile; anything added after it sounded nice.

 Chapter 1029 - 1034: Name

    Chapter 1029: Chapter 1034: Name"Hold on, I¡¯ll write them down and pick slowly."


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly said, lest he really couldn¡¯t remember so many similar names.


    Before long, a large white paper was filled with names.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er propped up her chin and said, "I can¡¯t do this, decision paralysis is setting in. I feel like every name is good, but at the same time, none of them seems right..."


    How could she be so contradictory?


    She knew full well that a name was just a label, that whatever it was wouldn¡¯t make much difference.


    "How about we first pick a few, then let Green Group and Tangyuan draw lots to decide?"


    Tan Zhenghong suggested.


    He and Duo¡¯er would first go through the list, eliminating the implausible names. The ones they couldn¡¯t decide on would be left for the two little ones to choose.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the two innocent little ones. "Will they blame us later for being too arbitrary?"


    Drawing lots was a bit too... outrageous.


    "We should give them the right to choose. If they have any objections later, they can change their names themselves, it¡¯s not difficult," Tan Zhenghong confidently stated.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er went through the names again but still couldn¡¯t make a decision.


    She steeled her heart and decided to adopt Tan Zhenghong¡¯s method.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong was ready.


    "Green Group, Tangyuan, your dad and I have picked three names each for you. Just grab one, and the one you pick will be yours."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er arranged the options, in front of Green Group were Hui, Chen, and Yin, and in front of Tangyuan were Yi, Si, and Yun.


    For a long time, there was no movement from them.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly realized something. "Wife, do they understand what we¡¯re saying?"


    After all, they were only a bit more than a month old.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stroked her chin. "Let¡¯s wait a bit longer; they might be thinking. Give them some more time."


    During her pregnancy, she often let them choose what they wanted to do or eat, so choosing a name could be similar and shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for them. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, Green Group picked up the character for Chen, and Tangyuan picked up the character for Yi.


    Following their earlier agreement, Green Group¡¯s full name would be Tan Shaochen, and Tangyuan¡¯s full name would be Tan Shaoyi.


    "These little things made quite the choice; Chen symbolizes treasures, and Yi symbolizes memories. Together, they mean precious memories," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up.


    Aren¡¯t precious memories what one values most in life?


    The two little ones certainly didn¡¯t disappoint her!


    Although Qiao Duo¡¯er knew it was just a coincidence, she couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    Tan Zhenghong ruffled the little ones¡¯ heads. "They¡¯re worthy of being our kids. Oh, and there¡¯s one more thing. I want to add our daughter¡¯s name to the family register, and add another rule to the family regulations: Descent of the Tan Family and those who marry Tan women shall not take concubines."


    "That means we have to work even harder to give our girl more confidence," Qiao Duo¡¯er said without any objections.


    Love is always selfish. With a third person involved, happiness is impossible.


    But to enforce this, they would have to ensure the girls had something to be proud of, such as powerful financial resources, strong authority, or enough prestige.


    Tan Zhenghong patted his chest. "You¡¯ve got me!"


    He couldn¡¯t stand seeing his precious daughter suffer anyway.


    "Aww... ooh... ooh..."


    Green Group and Tangyuan started speaking in baby talk that Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t understand, but she could tell they were in a good mood.


    The two-month-old babies still treated sleeping as their main job and didn¡¯t have the energy to stay awake long before they closed their eyes.


    But even then, the corners of their mouths still curled up slightly.


    No wonder they were happy ¨C with open-minded parents and pleasing names, how could they not be?

 Chapter 1030 - 1035: Year-End Bonus

    Chapter 1030: Chapter 1035: Year-End BonusThe Lunar New Year was approaching, and Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong began preparing for the celebration.


    Their own shopping list was simple: food, clothes, and household items¡ªas long as they liked them, that was enough.


    The key issue this year was the significant increase in the workforce at Duo Meifang Embroidery Room and the permanent workers hired by the Tan Family, which could complicate matters.


    To minimize the hassle, they finally decided to give these people year-end bonuses, along with pastries and Spring Festival couplets as gifts.


    On the twenty-fourth of the twelfth lunar month, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong slipped out while their kids were asleep.


    Giving out year-end bonuses in person was a way to motivate employees and also an excuse for a stroll.


    "The outside is so much more comfortable!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stretched lazily, not even remembering the last time she had stepped outside the Tan Family courtyard.


    Every time she wanted to go out for a walk, Tan Zhenghong would disagree, citing the cold weather and the risk of catching a lingering illness.


    Now, after nearly two months, going outside still meant she was bundled up like a rice dumpling. Was she really that delicate?


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat, "Wife, I heard you cursing me."


    "We might as well have Bai Yifan check your ears."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with squinting eyes, merely wanting to complain since Tan Zhenghong was being overbearing for her sake.


    Tan Zhenghong replied aggrievedly, "There¡¯s nothing wrong with my ears, it¡¯s just that I know you too well."


    "Then you guessed wrong. I didn¡¯t want to curse you, I just wanted to give you a thrashing."


    Before Duo¡¯er could finish, Tan Zhenghong had already run away.


    He thought that since his wife had just had a baby, her body had changed, and she surely couldn¡¯t catch up with him.


    But soon, Qiao Duo¡¯er had grabbed hold of his ear.


    "I was wrong, I won¡¯t dare to run off again." Tan Zhenghong hurriedly pleaded for mercy.


    "Do you think just not running off is enough? Will you dare to guess my thoughts wrong again?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    "I won¡¯t dare! It¡¯s all my fault. My wife is not only beautiful and kind but also generous, and would never curse someone secretly. Please, let me off."


    Praise flowed from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth like it was free.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was finally satisfied and let go of Ah Hong¡¯s ear.


    Upon arrival at the Embroidery Room, Qiao Duo¡¯er had Fat Aunt gather the workers in the dining hall.


    "Today¡¯s holiday gifts are different and a bit less."


    No sooner had Qiao Duo¡¯er spoken than someone grew restless, "Why is it less?"


    "Yes, hasn¡¯t the pandemic not affected Duo Meifang¡¯s business? Will our wages be reduced in the future too?"


    "Why are your demands so high? I think it¡¯s quite good to have anything at all."


    Facing the chattering crowd, Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her voice, "Let me finish before you all discuss." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If everyone¡¯s holiday gift is the same, wouldn¡¯t the embroidery ladies who have been working long and hard feel it¡¯s unfair?"


    "To resolve this, I¡¯ve decided to introduce year-end bonuses, which will be based on years of service and efficiency. The longer the tenure and the higher the efficiency, the bigger the bonus."


    "Does anyone still have objections?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave the embroidery ladies a chance to speak¡ªshould they find this approach unpleasant, she had no qualms about continuing the holiday gifts next year.


    Though it would be troublesome, it certainly would save quite a bit of silver.


    "Are there really such good things? Isn¡¯t that just handing out silver for free?"


    "I almost thought my ears were broken, how could this be?"


    "Why not? Haven¡¯t the Tan Family done many odd things before? But all for our benefit."


    "How much silver can we get?"


    As the most concerned topic was brought up, the dining hall instantly quieted down.

 Chapter 1031 - 1036: Luo Qingfeng’s Arch-Enemy

    Chapter 1031: Chapter 1036: Luo Qingfeng¡¯s Arch-EnemyQiao Duo¡¯er stated truthfully, "Those who have worked diligently for more than two years can receive a month¡¯s wage."


    That would be a little over one tael.


    "That¡¯s too much!"


    "Right, who gives out so much silver for the New Year? It¡¯s terrifying!"


    While everyone was still discussing the feasibility of this matter, Fat Aunt and Chao Lian began distributing wages, year-end bonuses, and festival gifts.


    They wanted to finish early so that Duo¡¯er could go home to rest sooner.


    Although the courtyard was already cleaned, it was still not suitable for exertion.


    This time, everyone received two money bags, and upon comparison, it was found that the year-end bonus was at least half of the wages, meaning they had received at least one and a half months¡¯ wages!


    It has to be said that the Tan Family¡¯s treatment was really too good!


    "Those who¡¯ve got their money bags, keep them safe. We¡¯ll clean the Embroidery Room and then take a holiday. Those who want to buy jewelry should buy jewelry, and those who need to buy clothes for their children should buy clothes, but don¡¯t forget to come back to work on the sixth day of the new year,"


    Fat Aunt reminded.


    After distributing the festival gifts, Qiao Duo¡¯er hurried home, otherwise the two little ones would not find her and might start throwing tantrums.


    But at the doorway, she was stopped by a young girl.


    "I caught this man lurking around your home; he was sneaking about, so I grabbed him," the young girl said proudly.


    Despite her youth, she was quite skilled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the man restrained by the young girl and immediately expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, young lady."


    Because the man caught was none other than Zhu Jianzhi, who had wronged her last time, and now he was loitering around Tan¡¯s Shop again, probably up to no good.


    "I¡¯m not a young lady, my name is Lu Ke-kun. You can just call me Ke-kun,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily nodded, "I am Qiao Duo¡¯er. Please come inside and sit."


    "No need, I¡¯m here looking for Luo Qingfeng. Is he inside?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes, suddenly realizing that this was the girl who Luo Qingfeng had peeked at while she was bathing.


    She didn¡¯t expect her to actually chase him all the way to the Tan Family¡¯s premises; she was indeed persistent.


    But then again, Luo Qingfeng¡¯s taste was really poor.


    The girl was lively and cute. Marrying her would surely be endlessly delightful, but he, on the other hand, acted like he was avoiding a ghost.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er invited Lu Ke-kun inside, then asked Granny Su, "Has Luo Qingfeng come by today?"


    "No," Granny Su truthfully replied.


    Apart from Hu¡¯s Clan and Feng Clan, who sent over two sets of children¡¯s clothes, no one else had visited.


    "You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?" Lu Ke-kun asked threateningly.


    But she was just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, and no matter how threatening she tried to appear, she still exuded a bit of charm and cuteness. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was worlds apart from the crazy woman and fury that Luo Qingfeng had described.


    Granny Su hastened to respond, "I dare not lie, I truly haven¡¯t seen Young Master Luo."


    "I believe you. I want to ask you for a favor; could you provide me a room and keep it a secret?" Lu Ke-kun looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er expectantly.


    Luo Qingfeng knew Qiao Duo¡¯er and had once hidden here, so if she just waited here, she could surely catch that despicable man!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cautioned, "Ke-kun, you should be more cautious being alone outside."


    To ask for accommodation merely minutes after meeting her was indeed bold.


    "Don¡¯t worry, if you dare touch me..." Lu Ke-kun quickly changed her tone, "Never mind, just treat me well and I definitely won¡¯t let you down."


    She even pulled out a silver note from her sleeve to make Qiao Duo¡¯er trust her.


    One thousand taels should be enough to cover the room fee.

 Chapter 1032 - 1037: Whipping

    Chapter 1032: Chapter 1037: Whipping"I don¡¯t want the silver, in light of his situation I can agree to you, but you also have to promise me one thing."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Zhu Jianzhi who was trembling uncontrollably.


    She had not let this shameless man off last time, but Tan Zhenghong had dragged her away. This time he walked right into the trap; she wouldn¡¯t be blamed for being ruthless now.


    "What matter?"


    "You have to have a proper talk with Luo Qingfeng, you can¡¯t hurt him," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated her condition.


    This girl was no simple character, she would find Luo Qingfeng one day, it was better to deal with the matter swiftly.


    If it was a calamitous relationship, they should separate; if it was marriage fate, there was no need to torment each other.


    Lu Kejun nodded without hesitation, "If I promise you, that¡¯s it."


    As long as she saw Luo Qingfeng, she had plenty of ways to deal with him, without letting anyone see through her.


    "Bai Yan, go and tidy up a guest room immediately, then go and explain to the villagers, don¡¯t let the news about Ke-kun being here get out," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    "Thank you, I¡¯ll help you out with one more thing!" Lu Kejun said cheerfully.


    She was always clear about gratitude and grudges. If someone treated her well, she would return the favor; if someone offended her, she would chase them to the ends of the earth to get even.


    As for the help she mentioned, it was to interrogate this man with ulterior motives.


    In Red Cloud Villa, no one had interrogation techniques that were more sophisticated than hers. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lu Kejun took off a soft whip from her waist, adorned with barbs that made it look intimidating.


    "Speak up, what are you up to sneaking around?"


    Shivering, Zhu Jianzhi said, "I... I... was looking for Almond, not sneaking around."


    "You still want to get back together with Almond?"


    Qiao Duo scoffed lightly.


    She really had an eye-opener today; after making such a scene last time, he still had the audacity to look for Almond!


    Interested, Lu Kejun asked, "Tell me, what happened?"


    "After his wife passed, he started hitting on another girl. When the girl didn¡¯t reciprocate, he tried to force his way, and then he maliciously claimed that I fancied him."


    Qiao Duo summarised the Sword-Casting master¡¯s ¡¯glorious¡¯ actions briefly.


    Zhu Jianzhi hurried to explain, "What I did last time was because of that woman, I just wanted to see Almond."


    Even through a myriad of mistakes, his feelings for Almond would never change.


    "Was it because of pressure? Did she use five liang of silver or ten taels of silver to pressure you?" Qiao Duo curled her lip.


    Hmm... she probably overestimated.


    With only nine wen in Wang Yun¡¯s red packet, how much would she be willing to spend to bribe Zhu Jianzhi?


    Ashamed by the exposure, Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s face flushed as he stuttered, "She didn¡¯t give any silver."


    That woman had said she would pay after the job was done, and he figured that if she dared to back out, he would make the matter public, and she would surely comply.


    But who would have thought that the woman just disappeared without a trace? Without that money, he couldn¡¯t even afford to eat now.


    "You¡¯re fit to get married? With no money, wouldn¡¯t you end up selling your wife for cash?" Lu Kejun said angrily.


    And it wouldn¡¯t take much, only a few taels of silver would do the job.


    "I... won¡¯t do that."


    Zhu Jianzhi hurriedly shook his head, but his tone betrayed him.


    "Shameless thing, see how grandma here will teach you a lesson!"


    Lu Kejun raised the whip and lashed it across Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s body, where the barbs not only tore his clothes but also hooked into his flesh.


    Even though Zhu Jianzhi screamed from the beating, Lu Kejun still didn¡¯t feel it was enough.


    Hmph, when a woman marries a man, is it for him to sell her off when he runs out of money?

 Chapter 1033 - 1038: Didn’t Hit You Again

    Chapter 1033: Chapter 1038: Didn¡¯t Hit You AgainAfter about a dozen lashes, Duo¡¯er finally stopped her, "Don¡¯t beat him to death, having officials from the Guang House come by would be troublesome."


    Lu Kejun wielded considerable strength, and her whip was used with great agility and precision.


    By now, Zhu Jianzhi¡¯s body was certainly ripped open, surely taking no less than a month to heal properly; this lesson wouldn¡¯t be light for Zhu Jianzhi.


    "I¡¯d like to see which Guang House official dares to come after me!"


    Lu Kejun said dismissively.


    With the protection of Red Cloud Villa, even if she killed a dozen worthless men, no one would dare touch a hair on her head!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lowered her voice, "But I heard from the third brother that Second Brother Luo seems to prefer gentle and quiet women."


    "My father told me not to cause trouble when I¡¯m out and about, I¡¯ll let you off this time, but if I ever find out you¡¯re harassing young women again, I¡¯ll beat you until you¡¯re paralyzed from the waist down!"


    Lu Kejun glared at Zhu Jianzhi.


    Anyway, she would never admit that it was Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words that made her stop.


    She could never fall for a rogue who peeped at women bathing; she was scouring the world for Luo Qingfeng only to kill him.


    Only when those who had taken liberties with her were dead, would she not be at a loss. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Jianzhi scrambled away, without a doubt, experiencing the most terrifying day of his life.


    He had no chance of escaping against someone of such noble birth and such skill.


    After getting out, Zhu Jianzhi looked at his wounds and finally believed what his parents had told him.


    Almond¡¯s physiognomy foretold meager blessings; marrying her would affect the fortune of his entire family, and his wounded body was the best evidence of that.


    From now on, it would be better to stay away from her, poor as she was, at least she was alive.


    After driving off Zhu Jianzhi, Qing Xin looked at Lu Kejun with admiration, "You and your whip are both amazing!"


    "This is a special whip my father gave me, the barbs are coated with poison; in a couple of days, poison sores will break out on his face, and it will take a month before they start to heal. If they accidentally break open, they will leave scars."


    Lu Kejun caressed her beloved whip; she had been training in martial arts since she was four years old, and this whip was her choice weapon.


    That Zhu Jianzhi dressed in scholar¡¯s robes will have no future in the officialdom with a scarred face.


    After all, a shameless wretch like him becoming an official would only bully the weak and fear the strong, oppressing the common people; it was better to dash his hopes early.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs-up, "Impressive!"


    "Beating someone up is really tiring, I need to rest for a while," Lu Kejun yawned.


    She had been chasing after Luo Qingfeng for a while and was already exhausted; it would be better to take advantage of this period of waiting for a chance to recover well.


    Once she had restored her energy, she would surely catch Luo Qingfeng... to use for her medicinal practices!


    But when she looked up, she saw a girl with a face full of tears.


    Lu Kejun paused, then said, "You... I didn¡¯t hit you, why are you crying like that?"


    She didn¡¯t think she had been too harsh on that man; after all, he was so despicable.


    If she hadn¡¯t made it hurt, he probably wouldn¡¯t remember the lesson.


    "I¡¯m fine," Almond sobbed.


    She hated herself for still feeling pity for Zhu Jianzhi, knowing he was such a despicable person.


    After saying that, she quickly ran off, afraid her tears would affect others¡¯ moods.


    Lu Kejun looked towards Qiao Duo¡¯er with an innocent expression, "Was I too fierce?"


    "No, she¡¯s a girl who values her feelings, it¡¯s just taking her a while to come to terms with it."


    Lu Kejun then patted her chest, relieved it wasn¡¯t her problem, and decided she should just go to sleep.

 Chapter 1034 - 1039: Why Do It Yourself

    Chapter 1034: Chapter 1039: Why Do It YourselfTan Zhenghong hurriedly pulled Duo¡¯er into the room and even took the opportunity to close the door.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er watched the two little things while asking, "Do you have something you want to ask me?"


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "Duo¡¯er, do you think keeping Miss Lu here until Luo Qingfeng arrives will make him angry?"


    If that guy got angry, it was likely that someone in the Tan Family would suffer again.


    Alas, that dreadful poison!


    "Lu Kejun helped me a lot, don¡¯t you think I should show my gratitude to her?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er found herself a perfect reason.


    If it really couldn¡¯t be concealed, then she would just tell the truth.


    She guessed that with Lu Kejun there, Luo Qingfeng wouldn¡¯t dare to be too arrogant.


    All of a sudden, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Wife, you¡¯re not thinking of setting those two up together, are you?"


    "What¡¯s wrong with that?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was puzzled.


    Luo Qingfeng and Lu Kejun were both talented and good-looking, and they had common interests. Weren¡¯t they a good match?


    "I guess the world will have a lot more strange and curious poisons in the future," Tan Zhenghong said, glancing at his own wardrobe subconsciously.


    Luo Qingfeng sent over a poison every now and then, filling up the box. Those poisons were enough to kill the entire population of White Stone County without blinking an eye.


    He couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what it would be like if they added Lu Kejun, who was skilled at using poisons, to the mix.


    It was likely that while other couples made buns, these two would be making poisons at home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "You do have a point; we¡¯ll need to be even more cautious in the future."


    She might accidentally be taken down by this poisonous couple one day. Although it wouldn¡¯t be fatal, it would still be enough to be laughed at for a while.


    "Enough of that, let¡¯s just be good hosts for now. Fate is something that comes when it comes, and nobody can stop it."


    Tan Zhenghong said.


    Right now, all their worrying was simply a waste of effort.


    In the afternoon, Lu Kejun discovered an interesting creature in the house, which were Green Group and Tangyuan.


    "Your babies are so beautiful, I even want to take one home to raise!" Lu Kejun said, leaning over the crib.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly reminded her, "They only behave a little when they¡¯re asleep; at other times, they can drive you crazy. I guess you¡¯ll want to send them back after just one hour."


    Her two little things were not even two months old, but they never had a moment¡¯s peace when they were awake, constantly on the move.


    "Really?"


    Lu Kejun found it hard to believe. How could such little creatures make noise?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t argue; she had fed them milk before lunch, and they¡¯d gone to sleep after eating. It had already been an hour and a half, and they were probably about to wake up.


    But she had overestimated Lu Kejun¡¯s patience; after waiting for a few minutes, Lu Kejun went out for a walk.


    She needed to get ready so she could capture Luo Qingfeng alive.


    When Lu Kejun came back into the room, she happened to see Qiao Duo¡¯er changing diapers.


    She quickly covered her mouth, "Oh my, why are you doing this dirty job? Doesn¡¯t your family have maids?"


    There was something yellow on the diaper; why not let a maid handle it?


    "We¡¯ve been taking care of him and his dad since they were babies; it¡¯s a habit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, then poured water and washed the little bums clean for the two little things.


    These two siblings truly had a telepathic connection; they did everything together, drinking milk and even pooping at the same time.


    That was good in a way; it saved the trouble of doing it twice.


    In fact, Qiao Duo¡¯er had the same thoughts as Lu Kejun before, but after having children, everything came naturally.


    Only after Qiao Duo¡¯er had cleaned up the babies did Lu Kejun dare to approach again.


    Seeing a beautiful woman by the bed, Tangyuan started kicking his little legs, inching closer to the edge of the bed. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1035 - 1040: Fond of Beauties

    Chapter 1035: Chapter 1040: Fond of Beauties"What does she want to do?" Lu Kejun looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er nervously.


    Watching the little one slowly approach her, she felt the urge to turn and run.


    She felt she was bringing disgrace to Red Cloud Villa!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "She likes handsome men and beautiful women, and wants to be held by them when she sees them."


    When Bai Yifan came over earlier, this girl wanted to monopolize him too. She would even get angry if Bai Yifan held Green Group.


    It was then that Lu Kejun let out a sigh of relief, realizing there was no malice. She then pointed at Green Group, "Why isn¡¯t he coming over? Does he think I¡¯m not pretty?"


    "He likes to play by himself," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.


    After the full moon, the personalities of the two little ones had gradually started to differ.


    Tangyuan was enthusiastic and lively, often actively seeking cuddles, while Green Group was a bit more aloof, responding indifferently even when someone tried to hold him.


    Lu Kejun blinked her eyes and patted the bed next to Green Group, "Ignoring girls like this and always putting on a stern face, you¡¯ll definitely end up like Luo Qingfeng, unable to find a wife well into your twenties!"


    Green Group turned his head away, looking elsewhere.


    "Your son is terribly naughty!" Lu Kejun pouted.


    Fortunately, Tangyuan had already made the effort and managed to scoot over next to Lu Kejun, even grabbing the corner of Lu Kejun¡¯s clothes.


    Lu Kejun gently picked up Tangyuan and kissed her on the face.


    The little girl¡¯s eyes sparkled as if they held a star within them, and along with her fine eyebrows, delicate nose, and small mouth, she was absolutely radiant with spirit.


    What was most important was that this little girl¡¯s personality was so much more pleasant than the other one, truly endearing.


    Tangyuan giggled with a smile, revealing two shallow dimples.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was exasperated. Both she and Tan Zhenghong were the reserved type¡ªhow did they end up with such an outgoing daughter?


    Of course, a personality like Green Group¡¯s, only interested in the things around him, wasn¡¯t cute either.


    If only the two little ones could balance each other out a bit.


    Meanwhile, Green Group was happily playing with a cloth doll, sewn in the shape of a giant panda.


    "Have you seen this before? When I went to Antong Prefecture, they told me it¡¯s called a ¡¯panda¡¯ and that it¡¯s only found there."


    "I... just made it up based on a drawing, not sure if it¡¯s accurate," Qiao Duo¡¯er said modestly.


    Pandas mainly eat bamboo, and since bamboo is scarce within Ning Tian Mansion, it¡¯s nearly impossible for pandas to be found there.


    She has only been to White Stone County so far, admitting to more would be giving herself away.


    Lu Kejun did not dwell on this subject, as her attention was fully captivated by the appearance of the ¡¯panda¡¯.


    Previously, the pandas she had seen were quite large, and although cute, the level of cuteness was limited. However, turned into a stuffed toy by Qiao Duo, it suddenly became irresistible.


    "I think you could make them some clothes just like the panda¡¯s, using Fox Fur. It would certainly look just like the real thing," Lu Kejun said excitedly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "There¡¯s enough clothing for this year; we could wait until next winter to make it."


    She had only prepared items for one child, but there was plenty. Having twins hadn¡¯t caused her any concern.


    Especially with clothing¡ªmany people had sent clothes for the baby, so she probably wouldn¡¯t need to add any new clothes until after their first birthday.


    Lu Kejun whistled, and soon, two women in black appeared.


    "Go find the White Fox Fur and the Silver Tiger Fur immediately, and make a ¡¯panda¡¯ outfit for them," Lu Kejun ordered.


    She was the embodiment of action, having to get things done as soon as she thought of them, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t feel at ease.


    S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1036 - 1041: Seems to Make Sense

    Chapter 1036: Chapter 1041: Seems to Make SenseQiao Duo¡¯er immediately stopped him, "Ke-kun, this is too valuable, I can¡¯t accept it."


    Fox furs have always been precious items; even with mixed and loose hairs, they could sell for One or Two Silver, and good-quality pelts are priceless.


    And her family needed at least four or five complete fox furs for the two little ones.


    Even with someone she was well acquainted with, she couldn¡¯t accept such a gift.


    "This is the New Year¡¯s gift I am giving them. If you still feel embarrassed, then consider it the rent for me staying at your home," said Lu Kejun generously.


    That was her nature, once she gave something away, she never took it back.


    "Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and go!"


    Lu Kejun urged the two to quickly find the fox furs.


    The last day of this year was the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month; the New Year was just five days away, and it would definitely be too late if they didn¡¯t hurry.


    They answered and left. White Fox and Silver Fox, one pure white and the other pure black, were rare in numbers, and those of good quality were even scarcer, making this task quite difficult.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a pout, "It wasn¡¯t much trouble having you at my home, why would you need that much rent?"


    "Hmm, I have another favor to ask of you," Lu Kejun said mischievously as she winked.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er could help her, let alone two pieces of fox fur, she wouldn¡¯t mind even if it filled a whole carriage. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "As long as it¡¯s within my power, I will certainly help."


    "I want to know about matters related to Luo Qingfeng," Lu Kejun said as she unconsciously hugged Green Group and pressed it against her face.


    That way, even if her face turned red, Qiao Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t see it.


    "Luo Qingfeng is a poor child; he was thrown into Medicine King Valley just after he was born. The Medicine King felt they were fated, so he took him in as a disciple. He¡¯s quite knowledgeable about poisons and has often drifted outside these years, looking for his parents, but he has never found any news."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared everything she knew.


    Lu Kejun spoke quietly, "Not that, I mean this."


    She felt that Luo Qingfeng was always avoiding her; it was very likely that he was already married or engaged.


    "Absolutely not, he just likes to be cheap with his mouth occasionally, other times he keeps his distance from women," Qiao Duo¡¯er quirked an eyebrow.


    "You said last time that he likes gentle girls?"


    "Not exactly, but chasing him all over the place like you do now definitely won¡¯t work. It¡¯s best for everyone to sit down calmly and have a proper talk about how to resolve that matter."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er offered her advice; there were generally two methods: either get married or offer an apology and compensation for emotional distress.


    Lu Kejun was not lacking in Silver, so the only viable option was the former.


    "He definitely wouldn¡¯t want to marry me," said Lu Kejun, lamenting.


    The corners of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up; she had guessed as much when Bai Yifan told her about it.


    She didn¡¯t expect the truth to come out so quickly, and moreover, it was an outright admission.


    Lu Kejun cleared her throat, "Don¡¯t misunderstand, I have to kill him to protect my honor. I was asking those questions so that I could know my enemy and ensure victory in every battle."


    If he had a love interest, she would have another bargaining chip.


    "Hmm, makes sense," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave the girl face.


    A young girl experiencing the bloom of early romance, it¡¯s normal to be shy.


    Lu Kejun pursed her lips; this Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit formidable, she decided it was better to play with the little ones.


    But Green Group wouldn¡¯t look at Lu Kejun; she went to grab a panda toy, the little fellow always waving the toy around, never allowing her to catch it.


    After several unsuccessful attempts by Lu Kejun, Green Group began to laugh. In Lu Kejun¡¯s eyes, this was nothing but barefaced mockery.

 Chapter 1037 - 1042: The Child Follows the Mother

    Chapter 1037: Chapter 1042: The Child Follows the Mother"I finally know who your son takes after."


    Lu Kejun couldn¡¯t help but complain, his cunning and sly demeanor was exactly like his mother¡¯s.


    Alas, she should have listened to her own parents and stayed quietly at Red Cloud Villa.


    There certainly wouldn¡¯t be any disrespectful brats mocking her there.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow: "He¡¯s my son, I can¡¯t help it."


    "Can¡¯t you be a little more humble? You even gasp when someone says you¡¯re fat!"


    "I think humility is too hypocritical."


    Lu Kejun found herself at a loss for words, but she liked this straightforward and honest friend. Regardless of how things ended up with Luo Qingfeng, it wouldn¡¯t affect their relationship.


    For several days, Luo Qingfeng hadn¡¯t shown up, and Lu Kejun had been staying at the Tan Family¡¯s house.


    From Lu Kejun¡¯s attire and demeanor, it was clear that she wasn¡¯t from an ordinary family, so Granny Su and Bai Yan were always nervous while cooking, and they tried their best to serve her well in other areas too.


    Fortunately, Lu Kejun wasn¡¯t picky and had never complained about anything.


    Seeing that New Year¡¯s Eve was approaching, Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly suggested, "Tomorrow is New Year¡¯s Eve, do you want me to ask Ah Hong to arrange a carriage to take you back?"


    Living elsewhere usually wasn¡¯t a big deal, but it was better to be with family during the New Year.


    "Are you tired of me causing you trouble?"


    Lu Kejun looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er with an accusing expression.


    She had only been there for a few days and hadn¡¯t caused any trouble, so why would she be disliked? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly clarified, "I don¡¯t mind you at all, I¡¯m just worried you might be homesick."


    "I¡¯m not going back. I like it here, even though the food and lodging are a bit worse, I¡¯ve never been this happy," Lu Kejun said earnestly.


    At Red Cloud Villa, there were famous chefs and beautiful houses, but she always felt uncomfortable with people governing her.


    She preferred the freedom she had here.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "As long as you¡¯re happy here, just tell me if you need anything."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I brought nine guards with me. Just one whistle and they¡¯ll be here," Lu Kejun whispered.


    Those were the Shadow Guards from Red Cloud Villa, well-hidden in their movements.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had already sensed strangers in the house, so she wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    But she became more curious about Lu Kejun¡¯s identity. However, it would be rude to ask directly, so she decided to wait until Lu Kejun was willing to share.


    At night, Tan Zhenghong had just put the two little ones to bed when someone knocked on the door.


    But when he opened it, he saw no one, only a bundle left on the ground.


    "Whose is this? Why deliver it so sneakily?" Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered what Lu Kejun had mentioned about the fox fur and said, "Bring it in, it¡¯s from Ke-kun, delivered by someone."


    The guards had their faces covered with light veils the other day, not wanting their identities revealed.


    They probably left the bundle at the door for the same reason and left.


    Only then did Tan Zhenghong confidently bring the bundle inside. Indeed, it contained clothes made from fox fur for a panda.


    The fox fur was smooth to the touch with no extraneous hairs, clearly a product of fine craftsmanship.


    Moreover, each piece of fur was perfectly joined together, making it impossible to see any seams from the outside.


    Tan Zhenghong was astonished: "That lady Lu must be no ordinary person."


    "You¡¯ve been busy settling accounts outside these last few days and haven¡¯t spent much time with her, otherwise you would have noticed earlier."


    Ke-kun must be a member of the royal family, perhaps even a favored princess currently in power.


    "I¡¯ll go to the Government Office and ask tomorrow," Tan Zhenghong decided immediately.

 Chapter 1038 - 1043 Ke-kun’s Identity

    Chapter 1038: Chapter 1043 Ke-kun¡¯s IdentityQiao Duo¡¯er pouted and asked, "But tomorrow is Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve, why do you still need to go out?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shouldn¡¯t you be at home preparing delicious food and pasting up Spring Festival couplets for Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve?


    "I still have to make another trip to the Feng Family, Wind Liyang¡¯s household is extremely busy, and we didn¡¯t get to discuss matters today, so I arranged to meet him a little earlier."


    Now that Wind Liyang has a golden axe bestowed by the Saint, many people come to him by reputation to have their furniture made.


    With the year-end upon us, he¡¯s busier than ever, hardly touching the ground with his feet.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood finally improved, Wind Liyang had always been trustworthy, since it was an appointment made in advance, it surely won¡¯t take long.


    The sooner you go, the sooner you return, the less it will hold things up.


    The next day, when Qiao Duo¡¯er woke up, Tan Zhenghong was sitting by the bed.


    "You went to town so early?"


    Tan Zhenghong poked Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s forehead: "Look at you, you¡¯ve slept silly, I¡¯m already back from town."


    The first thing he did upon returning was to check on his baby and daughter-in-law. The babies were sleeping well, but Qiao Duo¡¯er had kicked off her blanket.


    He meant to cover her up properly, but unexpectedly that woke her up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her eyes, the time Tan Zhenghong and Wind Liyang had agreed on was indeed early, probably departing at dawn.


    "Right, I also went to the Government Office, Ling¡¯er¡¯s Maternal Home sent someone, they said they¡¯d come to stay at our place for a couple of days after the New Year, and by then we need to keep a close watch on our Tangyuan."


    Tan Zhenghong said anxiously.


    The purpose of Chen Yiling¡¯s short stay was to cultivate a relationship between Qin Mingrui and Tangyuan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips: "It¡¯s too early to talk about this now, and besides, we and the Qin Family are well acquainted. If the two kids like each other, then just let it be."


    "Not now," Tan Zhenghong said, his attitude uncompromising.


    Right now, it wasn¡¯t clear what Qin Mingrui would be like when he grew up, he still needed to observe him more.


    If there was anything bad about him, he couldn¡¯t hand Tangyuan over to him.


    "Got it, you¡¯re Tangyuan¡¯s father, and no one can marry our daughter over your head. Stop ranting and tell me more about Ke-kun."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er got to the main point.


    Currently, Tangyuan only liked handsome guys and beautiful girls, and the matter of marrying was still far off.


    Tan Zhenghong lowered his voice: "She is the sole daughter of Red Cloud Villa Lu Feiping."


    "What¡¯s the significance of Red Cloud Villa?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s first reaction was the leader of the martial arts world. If that¡¯s the case, she ought to find an opportunity to visit.


    "In his youth, Lu Feiping deterred Beijiang and was honored as King of the North of Town. Later, he suffered severe wounds and retired to his hometown, where the Saint ordered the construction of Red Cloud Villa and also rewarded him with a Golden Book Iron Ticket, ensuring the Lu Family¡¯s eternal glory. However, Old Lu sustained injuries in battle and only had a daughter in his forties."


    Talking about Lu Feiping, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes shone brightly.


    He often heard his grandfather tell of Lu Feiping¡¯s heroic deeds when he was little, and now he didn¡¯t remember the specifics, only that if it weren¡¯t for Lu Feiping, the Beijiang People might have taken over the Central Plains long ago.


    From that time on, a hero named Lu Feiping resided in his heart.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er fell silent for a moment: "Let¡¯s pretend we don¡¯t know this matter."


    Lu Kejun came from a noble family but wasn¡¯t at the center of power, and Ke-kun was also a kind girl. This way, there was no need to worry about attracting any troublesome matters.


    "Alright," Tan Zhenghong had no objections.


    Since it was Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve, Duo¡¯er quickly got dressed and out of bed.


    After breakfast, the whole family joyfully engaged in pasting up Spring Festival couplets and cutting paper decorations.


    The happiest among them was Ke-kun, who found each and every thing here a novel and exciting experience.

 Chapter 1039 - 1044 New Year’s Eve

    Chapter 1039: Chapter 1044 New Year¡¯s EveQiao Duo¡¯er also entered the kitchen in the afternoon because she felt that the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner she participated in herself would taste more blissful.


    "Prepare an extra table of dishes tonight and set it up in the mill¡ªmake sure there¡¯s plenty," she instructed.


    Lu Kejun¡¯s Shadow Guards were all women, but as martial artists, they had large appetites, so it was important to prepare extra.


    It¡¯s better to have leftovers when hosting, as it would be embarrassing if there wasn¡¯t enough food.


    Almond shook her head, "No need to set it up so far away. Granny Su said we could eat in the kitchen, so we can come over immediately if you need anything."


    To them, having a good meal was satisfying enough, where they ate didn¡¯t really matter.


    "It¡¯s not just for you; we¡¯ll eat together tonight. The more the merrier," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.


    She had been preparing another table for Lu Kejun¡¯s Shadow Guards. A few days before the New Year, she had Almond stop working and even got the mill cleaned up carefully. The place was spacious and wouldn¡¯t be disturbed, perfect for the Shadow Guards.


    Almond was puzzled, "Another table for whom, then?"


    Setting it up in a mill didn¡¯t seem appropriate for hosting guests.


    "Don¡¯t ask so many questions. After we¡¯re done eating, don¡¯t clear it up; we¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, without further explanation.


    "I¡¯ll go talk to Granny Su right away."


    Almond didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. Her madam had her reasons for doing things this way, and it was her job to follow them.


    By the time it got dark, all the dishes were ready.


    Since she had already asked Lu Kejun for her preference and knew she didn¡¯t like hotpot, she had prepared sixteen dishes, crowding the table with them.


    Lu Kejun widened her eyes, "Did you make all these?"


    "It¡¯s New Year¡¯s, of course, we have to eat happily. Come, take a seat," Qiao Duo¡¯er felt there was nothing amiss.


    With Lu Kejun and Qiao Duo¡¯er leading by example, others also began to sit down.


    "Eat whatever you like, no need to be polite," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lu Kejun could be her future sister-in-law, and it definitely wouldn¡¯t hurt to have her well-disposed towards herself in advance.


    It might come in handy when Luo Qingfeng decided to make things difficult for her.


    Lu Kejun nodded her head, "Do I look like someone who¡¯s shy? You too, don¡¯t just watch me eat; let¡¯s all eat together."


    Maybe it was the good atmosphere, but she found everyone pleasing to the eye today.


    After varying flavors of dishes and several rounds of drinks, Lu Kejun raised her glass.


    "I¡¯m very grateful that you¡¯ve taken me in, giving me a different experience. You have no idea how pitiful I am at home. My old master would pull me aside and lecture me on how things should be; sometimes, my ears would grow calluses, I swear. But let¡¯s not talk about that; this drink¡¯s to you all!"


    Lu Kejun felt a twinge of pain in her nose, but she held back her emotions.


    New Year¡¯s Eve was a festive day. While everyone else was happily welcoming the new year, she couldn¡¯t spoil the mood.


    You could see all the young girl¡¯s thoughts written on her face, and Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but feel sad for her.


    Seeing others happy and harmonious probably reminded her of her own family.


    Despite having many complaints about her family, they were still her parents¡ªtheir constant nagging was laden with heavy love.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her glass, "All I want to say is I wish you and him can go home together next year."


    By then, General Old Lu is sure to be very happy.


    "You¡¯re making fun of me again!" exclaimed Lu Kejun.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er whispered in Lu Kejun¡¯s ear, "Reliable sources tell me that someone is about to throw themselves into the net in the next few days. I think you won¡¯t lose out, right?"


    Lu Kejun excitedly asked, "Are you serious?"

 Chapter 1040 - 1045: Blushed

    Chapter 1040: Chapter 1045: Blushed"I still need to breastfeed, so let¡¯s toast with tea instead of alcohol!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t answer directly, but her meaning couldn¡¯t be clearer.


    According to local customs, the first and second days of the Lunar New Year are for visiting relatives and friends to exchange New Year¡¯s greetings. Luo Qingfeng doesn¡¯t have many relatives, so he will definitely come here.


    Lu Kejun nodded and drained the wine in her quilt-covered glass.


    The fragrance of the green plum wine was refreshing and lingered, enough to make her forget all her sorrows.


    The most she would do after bringing Luo Qingfeng back was to behave better and spend more time with her own parents.


    "Madam, what are you talking about?" Qing Xin scratched her head.


    It felt like solving a riddle, which she hadn¡¯t understood at all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her glass, "What I mean is that you should all toast Ke-kun, wishing her that her wishes may come true next year."


    The others raised their glasses and said in unison, "Miss Lu, may your wishes come true tomorrow, and may everything be as you desire."


    Lu Kejun¡¯s face turned slightly red, but it was everyone¡¯s kindness, and she couldn¡¯t refuse.


    After draining the wine in her glass, she felt her face getting even hotter.


    Done for, how could she have gotten like this?


    "The wine today seems quite strong, it¡¯s all gone to my face."


    Lu Kejun fanned herself with her hand, which wasn¡¯t very effective, but it made her cheeks feel a bit better.


    Qing Xin suddenly blurted out, "I know now, Miss Lu will definitely find an ideal husband next year!"


    Qing Yue quickly pulled at Qing Xin¡¯s clothes; this girl had never been able to hold her tongue since she was young, and might one day get herself into trouble with it.


    Ugh, as her older sister, I¡¯m almost worried to death!


    Lu Kejun placed a piece of meat into Qing Xin¡¯s bowl with her chopsticks, "Even eating won¡¯t shut you up. Be careful or I¡¯ll get your master to sell you off!"


    "Miss Lu, please don¡¯t take it against me, I don¡¯t know anything..."


    Qing Xin quickly begged for mercy.


    But in her mind, she was secretly guessing who Miss Lu¡¯s beloved was, probably Luo Qingfeng whom she¡¯d been mentioning these past few days.


    "Miss here has a big heart, I¡¯ll let it slide this time," Lu Kejun said generously.


    She wasn¡¯t a mean person by nature.


    After everyone had their fill, Granny Su told the help to clear the dishes and brought out fruits and desserts.


    Qiao Duo peeled an orange, "These were all previously stored in the cellar; they don¡¯t look very appealing, but they taste pretty good."


    "I¡¯ll try some too."


    Lu Kejun gained a new understanding of the Tan Family.


    She used to think the Tan Family was just a bit richer than the average household, but now it was clear that they simply didn¡¯t like to show off their wealth.


    The Tan Family¡¯s standard of living was much higher than that of the wealthiest families in town.


    What¡¯s most valuable is that even though they are wealthy, they still adhere to the purest and simplest way of life.


    These are the final hours of the year, and there was much to talk about. The Green Group and Tangyuan also didn¡¯t want to miss out on the fun and quickly joined in.


    "Oo oo..."


    Tangyuan kept gazing longingly up at Lu Kejun.


    Melted by the cuteness, Lu Kejun could only pick up Tangyuan, the big and the small having a great time together.


    Meanwhile, Green Group looked around curiously from within Tan Zhenghong¡¯s embrace, especially interested in the freshly pasted paper-cut windows.


    "Green Group, come to Mommy," Qiao Duo clapped her hands. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Green Group never resisted his own mother, and immediately stretched out his arms.


    Lu Kejun said disdainfully, "You little stinker, only wanting your mother to hold you. Are you afraid that your future wife will get jealous?"


    Every time she tried to hold him, the little guy would twist and turn, completely uncooperative.


    But in his mother¡¯s arms, he was so well-behaved. Wasn¡¯t it blatantly bullying?

 Chapter 1041 - 1046: Giving Out Red Envelopes!

    Chapter 1041: Chapter 1046: Giving Out Red Envelopes!Green Group¡¯s little mouth moved, and a childish voice was emitted.


    She must have been arguing back, saying wives are meant to be cherished, not feared!


    "Send her over to have a hold, and who knows, she might be family in the future. We need to maintain a good relationship, understand?" Qiao Duo¡¯er patiently instructed.


    Green Group looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er and then at Lu Kejun, but finally, he reluctantly stretched out his hand.


    Lu Kejun became embarrassed and angry, "You little brat, do you even understand what your mom is saying?"


    However, not often she got the chance to hold Green Group, she didn¡¯t want to miss it.


    Once in Lu Kejun¡¯s arms, Green Group mumbled some more.


    Qing Xin scratched her head, "Why do I feel like the young master is arguing with Miss Lu?"


    If their young master really understood, that would be almost impossible; he¡¯s only two months old.


    But to say he didn¡¯t understand, she felt that the young master was way too serious.


    "I feel the same. Miss Lu, please let our young master be, his face is all red," Qing Xin also pleaded for mercy.


    Green Group and Tangyuan were cute and cherished, pampered in everyone¡¯s hands¡ªhow could they bear to let someone else bully them?


    Lu Kejun had a face full of disbelief: "I was just talking casually, I didn¡¯t really bully him."


    Although he¡¯s young, he has quite the temper.


    Everyone in the house gathered around Qiao Duo¡¯er, playing with the two little ones and casually chatting about life¡ªit was really comfortable.


    A year¡¯s work leads to today¡¯s prosperity, doesn¡¯t it?


    Tan Zhenghong was the head of the family, and he also had the task of going to the Earth Temple to offer incense.


    It¡¯s said that offering incense at the Earth Temple after dark and providing four types of dishes as offerings could ensure the wellbeing of the family for the coming year. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Earth Temple was very close to the Tan Family, and Tan Zhenghong was back in less than half an hour.


    Once home, he took out the red envelopes that he had prepared earlier, and there was one for everyone present.


    "The Tan Family doesn¡¯t have so many formalities; this red envelope has no other meaning but to wish everyone peace and prosperity," Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    Normally, red envelopes are given by elders to juniors, but since the Wang Clan wasn¡¯t able to give them out, Tan Zhenghong took on this task.


    Here were his elders, as well as his peers, so these were not New Year¡¯s money but just meant for good luck.


    "Even I have one? I feel somewhat embarrassed."


    Lu Kejun said this and confidently accepted the red envelope; she was never coy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked laughingly, "Isn¡¯t this what you call acting cute while pocketing a bargain?"


    "If I act cute, will you buy it?"


    Lu Kejun blinked her innocent eyes as if if she were bought, of course, Silver would be involved.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took out a golden hairpin from her bosom. "Your hair ornament is missing a corner; wear this tomorrow."


    "My hair ornament is broken? Then I will gladly take this, and you can get Silver from Luo Qingfeng later."


    Lu Kejun took the golden hairpin; it was missing a little piece, but if you don¡¯t look closely, you wouldn¡¯t notice, only Qiao Duo¡¯er was so attentive.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Okay, but I¡¯ll still need your help. Luo Qingfeng loves using poison, and I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t beat him."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this!"


    Lu Kejun confidently slapped her chest; if she doesn¡¯t torture Luo Qingfeng to death, it wouldn¡¯t quell the hatred in her heart!


    She has always been proud and haughty, many men didn¡¯t appeal to her. And the one she finally took a liking to, he avoided her as if she were the plague. If this got out, she would be too ashamed to face anyone!


    Qing Xin and Almond exchanged looks, then both smiled knowingly.


    When the time comes, not just the money for the golden hairpin, they estimate they would have to give their miss a matchmaker¡¯s red envelope too!

 Chapter 1042 - 1047: The Monkey’s Impatient Nature

    Chapter 1042: Chapter 1047: The Monkey¡¯s Impatient NatureAfter some idle chat, Tan Zhenghong saw that Tangyuan and Green Group were too sleepy to keep their eyes open. He immediately said, "Green Group and Tangyuan should go to sleep, Qiao Duo¡¯er and I will take them back to the room; the rest of you do as you please."


    Hmm... he had other plans tonight.


    Other people were sufficient for the night watch.


    It has to be said, having kids is a good excuse, and as for what happens behind closed doors, nobody knows.


    However, Tan Zhenghong felt that he had celebrated too early. Not long after returning to the room, someone knocked on the door.


    When he opened the door, it turned out to be from the Wang Clan.


    "I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you?" Wang Clan asked tentatively.


    Although Tan Zhenghong had told her she could come in and see the children, she had never visited their room, fearing she might disturb them.


    She only had the chance to admire the child when Qiao Duo¡¯er took the child out to bask in the sun.


    However, she never complained. Being a recipient of the family¡¯s charity, she always remembered her place. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head: "Come in."


    Wang Clan nodded her head, walked into the room, and then stuffed a red envelope into Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hand.


    It was the very same one Tan Zhenghong had just given her.


    She looked inside, and there were eight taels of silver.


    "I¡¯m already old, and I live and eat at your place; what do I need silver for? You keep it for yourselves. I know you have broad visions. You will surely let Green Group go to school and raising a scholar can cost quite a bit of money."


    Xiao Fu had just started primer and silver had flowed out like water.


    Bindings, brushes, paper, inkstone, and books; everything cost silver. Besides, studying strains the brain, so one can¡¯t spare expenses on food either.


    Now that she didn¡¯t have much silver on her, she could hardly be of help and could only try not to be a burden on them.


    Tan Zhenghong urged, "Since I¡¯ve given it to you, just keep it. You live here, but you still need to buy things occasionally."


    As long as the silver was spent on Wang Clan herself, he had no objections.


    "I can¡¯t accept this, and this is the New Year¡¯s money I¡¯ve prepared for Green Group and Tangyuan. Please don¡¯t think it¡¯s too little."


    Wang Clan then took out two red envelopes embroidered with the character for "fortune."


    She had sold her own bracelet, divided the money into four parts, and gave each child from the eldest and Fourth Boss¡¯s house one portion, as a small token of her heart.


    After thinking it over, Tan Zhenghong only accepted the two red envelopes for the children, the other one he firmly returned to Wang Clan.


    Having no silver on person can make one uneasy.


    Wang Clan really couldn¡¯t refuse, so she reluctantly put away the purse: "Miss Lu just said they¡¯re starting a game of Mahjong, I¡¯ll go join the fun. You guys have worked hard with the kids, try to rest early tonight."


    After saying this, she hurriedly left. Being experienced, she could guess a little about her son¡¯s thoughts.


    "Wife, you go take a bath quickly, I¡¯ll wash their little bottoms," Tan Zhenghong urged.


    It had been just a few days since the babies turned two months old, but he had been too busy settling accounts to manage that affair.


    Today he finally had some spare time and couldn¡¯t put it off any longer.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a big eye roll, but obediently went into the washroom. After she emerged clean, Tan Zhenghong, as usual, helped her dry her hair.


    Then he dashed into the washroom.


    The corners of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth curled slightly upward, eventually revealing her husband¡¯s eager nature.


    Though he wanted to devour his wife pronto, bathing could not be rushed.


    This was her first bath since giving birth, and he wanted to leave her with a beautiful memory.


    So, he not only brushed his teeth thoroughly but also specifically used his wife¡¯s fragrant soap.


    Back in the bedroom, Tan Zhenghong could hardly wait to throw back the covers.

 Chapter 1043 - 1048 Declaration of War

    Chapter 1043: Chapter 1048 Declaration of WarThe very next second, Tan Zhenghong felt a rush of heat surge through him.


    Bright red panties paired with a modified red bellyband that only covered the crucial areas of the body.


    He had never seen his wife wear such seductive clothing before; it nearly shattered his reason!


    There seemed to be something about to spray out of his nose; he touched it subconsciously, relieved that he had not embarrassed himself.


    "You don¡¯t think it looks good?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Tan Zhenghong touched his chin in a lustful manner, "Not only does it look good, but I bet it tastes even better!"


    Ever since they had the two little ones, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s attentions had been entirely on them.


    He understood the hardships of a mother¡¯s love and the difficulties of nursing a child, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of loss; he still preferred the way things were before when he was Duo¡¯er¡¯s only one.


    But seeing her dressed like this instantly lifted his spirits.


    Because his wife still cared about him and wanted to be close to him.


    Tan Zhenghong lay down beside Qiao Duo¡¯er, his fingers tracing the shape of the fabric on her chest.


    "Wife, is this also called a bellyband?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked like a curious baby.


    Both items were for covering the chest; their names should be somewhat similar, right?


    "It¡¯s a bra I made myself to prevent sagging during breastfeeding," Qiao Duo¡¯er candidly explained.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "But how is this supposed to come off?"


    Although it was tied behind the neck like a bellyband, simply undoing that wouldn¡¯t allow it to come off.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er taunted, "That depends on your skills."


    If he couldn¡¯t figure it out, someone¡¯s plans for the evening might just have to be scrapped.


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips, having felt around Duo¡¯er¡¯s for quite a while without finding the key spot.


    "Tan Zhenghong, you¡¯ve got it!"


    Qiao Duo quickly pushed away Tan Zhenghong¡¯s big head.


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at a certain area that stood erect: "Not at all, it hasn¡¯t even started yet."


    He had always been robust and would never face the embarrassment of finishing before even starting.


    Qiao Duo took a deep breath, "I wasn¡¯t talking about you."


    She too had the feature to spray now; if she hadn¡¯t padded the bra with several layers of cloth, she would¡¯ve drenched his face directly.


    "So it was you, huh. Being all wet must be uncomfortable; you should take it off quickly," Tan Zhenghong said naughtily, having accidentally stumbled upon a great idea.


    His wife hated the feeling of dampness on her chest the most; she would change clothes immediately even if it were just a little bit.


    Seeing Qiao Duo start to move, he didn¡¯t dare to blink, needing to see clearly so he wouldn¡¯t be clueless next time. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So the catch for this garment was on the back.


    "Wife, you¡¯re so naughty," Tan Zhenghong pressed down on her again.


    He began to plant meticulous kisses on the nape of her neck as a sort of punishment, because even if he searched for half a day more, he would never have guessed how to remove it like this.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er hummed lightly, "It¡¯s simply because your brain is slow."


    Tan Zhenghong looked up, the gaze he fixed on Qiao Duo¡¯er could only be described as scorching.


    "I¡¯ll stop as soon as you admit I¡¯m smart," Tan Zhenghong declared war.


    He then began to conquer territory gently and meticulously, tirelessly pleasing his wife.


    He had heard others say that after a woman gives birth, she might become resistant to intimate matters.

 Chapter 1044 - 1049: The Final Kick

    Chapter 1044: Chapter 1049: The Final KickJust when Tan Zhenghong had made all the preparations, the two babies began to cry one after another.


    Tan Zhenghong had black lines all over his forehead. Was this a deliberate act of sabotage?


    He had been looking forward to this moment for a whole half a year, and now that the crucial moment had come, something went wrong?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed Tan Zhenghong, "Go check on them quick."


    "They just had their milk half an hour ago, and I just changed their diapers. They must be doing it on purpose," Tan Zhenghong concluded. Those two little things were simply sworn enemies in their past lives.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still worried; the babies were too young and accidents could easily happen.


    If that were the case, she wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive herself for the rest of her life.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled back the bed curtain and took a peek; the two little ones were sleeping well in their crib.


    He negotiated in a good-natured tone, "Little thing, go to sleep. Your mom and I have important things to deal with¡ªonce we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll come and hold you."


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense with the child," Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded.


    What if the two little ones were also transmigrated, possessing mature souls from the moment they settled in? Where would that leave her dignity in the future?


    But the next second, the two little ones stopped crying. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong raised an eyebrow, recalling how these two had been so understanding even when they were still in their mother¡¯s belly.


    Every time he wanted to do something with Duo¡¯er, they would start moving around wildly; she would speak kindly to them, and all would be calm.


    New Year¡¯s Eve was supposed to be a night of vigil, but now he had simply changed the way he carried it out.


    Suddenly, Tan Zhenghong remembered his own little ones; he hurriedly put on his underwear and went to check on them. Thankfully, they were all sleeping peacefully.


    Even now, they needed their milk; he wasn¡¯t sure if they were hungry.


    Tan Zhenghong changed the diapers while silently reminding himself to not be as frivolous as he was today in the future. Now he was a father and had to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of the babies.


    After tending to the two little ones, he also cleaned Duo¡¯er up.


    His idea was that as long as he cleaned up the mess, he could deny any accountability tomorrow.


    No sooner had he finished up than the two little ones started crying from hunger again, needing to be fed milk.


    After doing all this, it was already broad daylight outside. Tan Zhenghong was wide awake, so he simply put on his clothes.

 Chapter 1045 - 1050 Panda Costume

    Chapter 1045: Chapter 1050 Panda CostumeBut thinking about it, since the breakfast was handled by the maid, there was no use in him getting up early. It might even lead to some unsavory rumors, so it was better to stay in bed and conserve energy.


    So, Tan Zhenghong stripped again and lay down, getting close to Duo¡¯er¡¯s body, he felt the urge again.


    He felt helpless, didn¡¯t every part of him need a rest?


    Honestly, his back was a bit sore.


    "You little enchantress!"


    Tan Zhenghong complained, but still he reached out and pulled Duo¡¯er into his embrace.


    Even if she truly was a succubus who drained his yang to supplement her yin, he accepted it.


    No, even if one day he died from it, it would be because his self-control was too weak.


    Every time he encountered her, he felt like he couldn¡¯t stop.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, however, was woken up by their two little ones. She checked the time, and it was just past seven. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did they eat last night?" Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately nodded, "I¡¯m not their stepdad, how could I neglect them? I fed them milk as soon as I heard them cry."


    But he didn¡¯t dare say that it was only just before dawn when he fed them, because if Duo¡¯er knew, she would definitely scold him.


    The old folks in the village say that if you get beaten on the first day of the year, you¡¯ll be beaten all year long, and he definitely didn¡¯t want that misery.


    "They must be hungry then, quickly bring them here."


    Tan Zhenghong quickly did as told, but the two little ones didn¡¯t eat much before they refused more.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a disdainful look. She had been feeding them for two months and knew their eating habits better than anyone.


    This was clearly a case of just having eaten recently!


    "You¡¯ve got some nerve!"


    "They really didn¡¯t cry, otherwise even at the last moment I would have stopped and waited for them to be full before continuing," said Tan Zhenghong weakly.


    The key point was that the two little ones were sleeping peacefully, neither crying nor fussing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, disapproving, said, "Seeing as today is the first day of the New Year, I¡¯ll let it slide, but hurry up and get out of bed."


    Otherwise, if we don¡¯t open the door soon, we¡¯ll probably be the talk of the town all day.


    "Yes, sir!" Tan Zhenghong responded.


    Then he brought over the new clothes for Duo¡¯er and the little ones.


    Once they were all dressed, the family of four appeared together.


    "Lord, Madam, young master, young miss, wishing you a healthy and prosperous new year."


    "Wishing you prosperity and wealth!"


    Seeing them, Granny Su and the others quickly exchanged auspicious phrases.


    Last night they had opened their red envelopes in their rooms, and everyone was stunned; even the least amount was one tael of silver, so everyone¡¯s smile was exceptionally bright this morning.


    Hearing the voices, Lu Kejun also came out of her room. Seeing the two little ones, her eyes lit up with excitement.


    "So cute, let me hold one!"


    But just as she was about to reach out, she froze because the two were dressed identically, showing only their little faces, and she couldn¡¯t tell which one was Tangyuan.


    Today being the start of the New Year, she definitely wanted to hold a baby who smiled at her.


    "Since it¡¯s New Year¡¯s Day, Green Group¡¯s mood is also pretty good, you can hold either one," said Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Without any hesitation, Lu Kejun immediately took the baby from Duo¡¯er¡¯s arms.


    As soon as she held the baby, she knew she was holding Green Group. Perhaps won over by the panda outfit she had gifted, the baby even grinned at her.


    Lu Kejun was unsettled, this was absolutely a first!


    "Seeing you smile so brightly, I¡¯d feel awful not giving you a gift,"


    Lu Kejun handed the baby back to Qiao Duo¡¯er, then pulled off the jade pendant at her waist.


    "Here, this is for you. From now on, you¡¯re one of mine, and I¡¯ll have your back no matter where you are!"

 Chapter 1046 - 1051: Extremely Lucky

    Chapter 1046: Chapter 1051: Extremely LuckyWith this jade pendant, ordinary people would think twice before messing with the Green Group, since the name of Red Cloud Villa resonated throughout the entire Daxing Dynasty!


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could speak, Lu Kejun said, "This is for the child, you mustn¡¯t refuse."


    Green Group and Tangyuan were twins; she had to treat them equally.


    So she pulled off the jade plaque at her waist.


    In comparison, Tangyuan¡¯s pendant was better, but Tangyuan was better at cheering her up.


    "Then I¡¯ll thank you on their behalf," Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her gratitude.


    The gift was valuable, and by rights, she shouldn¡¯t accept it, but to refuse on New Year¡¯s Day would definitely not be appropriate.


    Oh well, friends should reciprocate gifts, and they would have plenty of time in the future to return the favor.


    Green Group started to stuff the jade pendant into his mouth, and Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly intervened.


    "Silly boy, not everything is edible!"


    Green Group protested when his object was taken away, but this time his protest was futile. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rarely restricted the child¡¯s actions because children grow by exploring the world, but she had one principle: never let the child be in danger.


    Lu Kejun playfully teased him, "If you smile for me, I¡¯ll find something else for you to play with."


    Green Group didn¡¯t agree because he could find something fun on his own, like the little pompoms on Lu Kejun¡¯s clothes.


    Lu Kejun quickly handed Green Group over to Qiao Duo¡¯er; she might as well hold Tangyuan.


    This Green Group was simply a little devil!


    After watching the two little ones play for a while, the hall had been set with tables.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, Miss Lu, time to eat!"


    Breakfast consisted of Tangyuan, sesame balls, and a few delicate pastries, which were tempting to the eyes.


    The breakfast on the first day of New Year was mainly sweet, as this meal marked the beginning of the year, and every household paid great attention to it.


    They also ate more sweets, so that life throughout the year would be sweet and joyful.


    Tan Zhenghong, who didn¡¯t like sweets, had no strength to complain about these customs, but he knew it was just to seek a good start; thankfully, it was only this one meal, or he would go crazy.


    After breakfast, people started going out to wish others a happy new year.


    Wherever one went that day, one could hear auspicious words, and the atmosphere was fully festive.


    Lu Kejun stayed at home all day, lacking interest in visiting others, simply hoping a certain someone would show up soon.


    Now, her biggest goal in life was to win over Luo Qingfeng.


    Seeing Lu Kejun bored all afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er called over the big girl and Yang Ruoruo, and they started playing cards.


    Lu Kejun, who was very clever, understood the rules after playing a couple of hands and soon got the hang of it.


    Before long, Lu Kejun slapped the cards on the table: "Bomb!"


    This was the most powerful weapon in card games; no one could match her.


    "Ke-kun, having both jokers with you, you¡¯re so lucky!" Yang Ruoruo said enviously.


    The four of them playing together to collect the two jokers was not something just anyone could achieve.


    Lu Kejun modestly replied, "Just luck, but this is so fun. I¡¯ll definitely teach my family to play this when I get back!"


    The big girl nodded, "That¡¯s necessary. When my family has nothing to do, we gather to play a few rounds. It¡¯s both a way to pass the time and to bond."


    "However, this should just be a casual pastime; don¡¯t get addicted," Qiao Duo¡¯er warned.


    Even the best things should be enjoyed in moderation;


    if played too heavily, it¡¯s not entertainment, it¡¯s gambling.


    After a few more rounds, a young man hurriedly rushed in.

 Chapter 1047 - 1052: Someone at the Village Entrance

    Chapter 1047: Chapter 1052: Someone at the Village Entrance"Quick, go look, there¡¯s someone at the entrance to the village, kind of looks like Zhang Ziwen, but he doesn¡¯t let anyone touch him."


    "Did you say Zhang Ziwen?"


    The first reaction of the big girl was to doubt her own ears.


    The person nodded, "We¡¯re not sure either, you better go and see for yourself, and his mood seems very unstable, I¡¯m afraid the villagers won¡¯t be able to keep him."


    After confirming that her ears were not deceiving her, the big girl sprang up and followed the person, running there.


    Even if there was only one in ten thousand chance, she couldn¡¯t miss it.


    "Ke-kun, once you¡¯re finished, find someone to take over. I¡¯m going to see how the big girl is doing," Qiao Duo¡¯er ordered.


    She had seen the big girl¡¯s deep affection for Zhang Ziwen these days; now that Zhang Ziwen was back, and there seemed to be some unexpected situation, she worried that the big girl wouldn¡¯t hold up.


    Lu Kejun threw down the cards, "This can be played any time, there¡¯s no rush for this moment."


    She was more curious to know what kind of man could make the big girl¡¯s heart flutter.


    At the village entrance, many people had already gathered.


    "Make way, make way!" The big girl didn¡¯t care about her appearance and pushed her way through the crowd.


    In the middle of the crowd, a disheveled person squatted on the ground, arms tightly wrapped around his head¡ªa clear sign of being scared.


    But even so, the big girl still recognized the person.


    In the past, she had quietly admired him, observing his every move. Then, after nightmares began to plague her daily, she almost saw his shadow every time she closed her eyes.


    So no matter what he had become, she would recognize him.


    She just knew Zhang Ziwen would come back; she knew he wouldn¡¯t let her down!


    "Zhang Ziwen, you¡¯ve finally come back!" The big girl immediately threw herself at him.


    Zhang Ziwen lifted his head, his eyes full of fear.


    The big girl¡¯s heart turned cold in an instant¡ªwhy did she feel like Zhang Ziwen didn¡¯t recognize her?


    "Don¡¯t... don¡¯t come any closer," Zhang Ziwen¡¯s lips shivered.


    Tears slid down the corner of the big girl¡¯s eyes, "Don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?"


    "I don¡¯t have silver anymore, I gave all my silver to you, I have nothing left, and my companions abandoned me."


    "Don¡¯t kill me, my father is still waiting for me to return home, I can¡¯t live without him."


    The people around him sighed, figuring the chances were that his mind had gone bad.


    And once someone¡¯s mind had gone bad, they almost never recovered.


    Zhang Ziwen was the youngest scholar in the village, and it was thought that he had a boundless future. But fate played a cruel trick, and he had ended up like this.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you he was Zhang Ziwen? Just now you all didn¡¯t believe me."


    "What a shame, such a good child has turned into this," said a woman sadly. This child had been motherless since he was young, and his father died in the plague. Now having ended up like this himself, he truly is pitiable.


    "Those mountain bandits are just vile. Next year would have been the imperial examination. If not for this calamity, Zhang Ziwen might have become a scholar!"


    "Ah, let¡¯s hope the Tie Family doesn¡¯t call off the engagement now, otherwise he really won¡¯t be able to live."


    When Father Zhang had died, the big girl had worn mourning attire, which meant that her engagement to Zhang Ziwen had been settled. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But looking at the current situation, it seemed almost impossible for the Tie Family to acknowledge it.


    "If they really cancel it, we can¡¯t say anything. Who would want their daughter to marry a man with a bad mind? That¡¯s a lifetime of hardship. Would you be willing if it were your daughter?"


    "I¡¯m just saying, don¡¯t curse me, my family is fine!"


    The voices of the crowd made Zhang Ziwen revert to his ostrich-like behavior, shaking even more violently.

 Chapter 1048 - 1053: Must Be Cured

    Chapter 1048: Chapter 1053: Must Be CuredDa Niu¡¯er fought back her tears and said, "Zi Wen, rest assured, no one will harm you once we get to Big Willow Village, and no matter what, I will never abandon you."


    As long as he¡¯s back, everything else will gradually get better.


    However, Zhang Ziwen seemed as if he had not heard, curling his body even tighter as if only this could provide him some sense of security.


    It was impossible to communicate with Zhang Ziwen in this state, which was both worrying and heartbreaking.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er addressed the onlookers, "Folks, Zi Wen seems very afraid of crowds. The adults should disperse for now. If there¡¯s any new change, I will definitely send someone to inform everyone."


    "Then we¡¯ll head back first. You be careful too, his emotions are unstable."


    "Right, let him calm down. Maybe he will get better."


    "Don¡¯t talk loudly, our voices make Zi Wen tremble severely."


    The crowd gradually dispersed, with the Tie Family and Tan Family around, Zhang Ziwen wouldn¡¯t encounter any major trouble.


    At least he wouldn¡¯t starve or freeze to death.


    But even after everyone had left, Zhang Ziwen¡¯s condition not only didn¡¯t improve, it actually triggered another type of emotion in him.


    "I¡¯ve always treated you as my friends, how could you do this to me?"


    "You all ran away, I¡¯m so scared."


    Da Niu¡¯er wiped her tears haphazardly, "Oh, Heaven, what on earth happened to you? Can¡¯t you tell me about it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Da Niu¡¯er on the shoulder, "Now is not the time to fuss over this, let¡¯s first help him get back and have Uncle Wu take a look."


    Da Niu¡¯er nodded, but there was no need to assist him; she carried Zhang Ziwen back instead.


    The person on her shoulder was almost weightless, causing Da Niu¡¯er¡¯s eyes to redden again.


    Once he was well, if he was willing to be with her, she would definitely stick close to him.


    Da Niu¡¯er walked swiftly, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Lu Kejun had to jog to keep up and not be left behind.


    Tie Family.


    Wu Youcai was examining Zhang Ziwen¡¯s body; the womenfolk could only wait outside.


    Feng Clan wiped her tears and said, "It¡¯s good that he¡¯s back. As long as this illness can be cured, the Tie Family is willing to spend all we have to treat him."


    She hoped Zhang Ziwen would be all right, because she knew her daughter¡¯s temperament: once she decided on someone, she would definitely marry him.


    If Zhang Ziwen were to remain like this forever, the one who would suffer the most would be her own daughter.


    How could she, as a mother, bear to see her child suffer? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He¡¯ll definitely get better. He must have been frightened," the Tie Family¡¯s sister-in-law consoled.


    Lu Kejun¡¯s lips moved, but in the end, she swallowed her words. She was proficient in using poisons but only mediocre in medical skills, and she wouldn¡¯t be of much help going inside.


    After a while, the door slowly opened.


    "How is he?" Da Niu¡¯er asked eagerly.


    "He¡¯s skin and bones from hunger, has some minor flesh wounds on his body, which will heal with good care. As for his head, I can¡¯t say for sure," Wu Youcai said with a grave expression.


    Based on his diagnosis, it appeared he had suffered a blow to the head that caused internal bleeding.


    However, his skills were limited, and he did not dare to draw hasty conclusions.


    Gratefully, Da Niu¡¯er said, "Thank you, Uncle Wu. I will go to town later and find a doctor to examine his head."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll head back first and send over some calming medicine later."


    After Wu Youcai left, Tie Niu and Da Niu¡¯er¡¯s brother cleaned up Zhang Ziwen, and only then did the others go inside.


    Now clean, the person on the bed finally revealed his handsome features, but he was so haggard that he looked as if a strong breeze could carry him away.


    He must have suffered a great deal on the road, but he actually managed to make it back to Big Willow Village, which was a feat in itself.

 Chapter 1049 - 1054 Continue to Consume

    Chapter 1049: Chapter 1054 Continue to ConsumeTie Chengxin clenched his fist and said, "I¡¯m going to ask those bastards what kind of good deeds they¡¯ve done!"


    Zhang Ziwen was traveling to study with a scholar from the next village, and he kept saying not to leave him behind, so he probably can¡¯t get away from that group of people.


    "Tie Brother, calm down a bit, they won¡¯t tell the truth even if you go there, and they might even bite back."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er advised.


    Confronting them in such an agitated state could easily lead to a misunderstanding.


    Moreover, it¡¯s not against the law to run away at the sight of mountain bandits, it¡¯s just unethical. What can we really do to them?


    Tie Niu nodded, "Duo¡¯er is right, keep calm, and see what your sister thinks."


    "I¡¯ll take care of him first, if he can get better, that¡¯s stronger than anything," said the oldest Daughter firmly.


    She had been longing for him and had finally waited for his return; how could she bear to leave him?


    "Let¡¯s just keep this debt in mind. Just say the word, and your big brother and second brother will immediately bring those people back," Tie Chengxin said, thumping his chest.


    Now that Zhang Ziwen was settled for the moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er went back home, as there were two children at home relying on her for food.


    She hurried home as fast as she could, but it was still a little late. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "These kids are so picky, they refused to drink anyone else¡¯s milk, so I had Granny Su cook some rice paste for them, and that at least fooled them," Tan Zhenghong said, expressing his exhaustion.


    It¡¯s good that his wife has enough breastmilk; otherwise, what would he do with these two?


    Lu Kejun gave a thumbs up, "That¡¯s what good children do, no matter how tasty someone else¡¯s milk is, it¡¯s not their own mother¡¯s."


    "But it¡¯s wearing out their own mother. The rice paste won¡¯t last long; I¡¯ll go check on them," Qiao Duo apologized.


    She really wanted to stay with Lu Kejun, but the twins wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    "Go ahead, I have some things to handle myself."


    After saying that, Lu Kejun headed into his own room.


    By now, nine people were already waiting inside the house.


    "Miss, Young Master Luo has vanished as if he¡¯s evaporated from the face of the Earth; we¡¯ve turned White Stone County upside down and found no sign of him."


    "We searched the surrounding villages, too, and saw no trace of him."


    That is to say, they had been shaken off again, a truly depressing subject.


    Lu Kejun leaned against the sofa and, after a while, finally said, "Take a break for the next few days; there¡¯s no need to look for that bastard for a while."


    There¡¯s no need to think about it; Luo Qingfeng must have gone into hiding, and he¡¯s hiding very well at that.


    Having confronted each other so many times, it¡¯s normal that Luo Qingfeng¡¯s skills have improved.


    It might be better to let him lower his guard and wait for him to come to them.


    It¡¯s said that Luo Qingfeng is very fond of Duo¡¯er¡¯s twins; she doesn¡¯t believe he won¡¯t come to see the babies.


    "Miss, we must stay nearby to protect your safety."


    The Shadow Guard turned down the holiday without hesitation.


    Their reason for living is to protect Lu Kejun; if anything happens to her, they wouldn¡¯t be able to clear their guilt even in death.


    Lu Kejun waved her hand, "What danger could I possibly be in in this mountain village? This is an order; whoever disobeys won¡¯t be allowed to stay by my side."


    These people were given to her by her father, but now that they were hers, they had to remember that she was their only master.


    No matter what she said, they had only to obey.


    The Shadow Guards looked at each other and then respectfully bowed, "Yes!"


    Lu Kejun was left alone in the house, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    In her life, there had never been anything she wanted that she hadn¡¯t obtained; Luo Qingfeng would be no different.


    After all, she was only fifteen, with at least another thirty years to live, plenty of time to entangle with Luo Qingfeng.

 Chapter 1050 - 1055: A Touch of Color

    Chapter 1050: Chapter 1055: A Touch of ColorIn the master bedroom, Duo¡¯er was feeding the baby again and talking about Zhang Ziwen, both of them sighing repeatedly.


    "Later, I will talk about the other scholars and the town scholars."


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lips.


    To participate in the autumn exams, they needed recommendation letters, only those who were scholars or higher had the privilege to write them.


    If those scholars knew about these people¡¯s shameless acts, they¡¯d have to think carefully about whether they could write them or not.


    Because once they encountered a problem in the future, the recommenders couldn¡¯t escape responsibility either.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Don¡¯t say it outright, just hint around."


    "I know," Tan Zhenghong immediately responded.


    After Zhang Ziwen disappeared, he had secretly investigated and suspected at the time that it was those people who had offered Zhang Ziwen to the mountain bandits as a hostage while they themselves escaped under the pretext of collecting Silver.


    Now, from Zhang Ziwen¡¯s mutterings, he was almost certain of it.


    He couldn¡¯t openly challenge them; he could only seek justice for Zhang Ziwen in this manner.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er made another trip to the Tie Family.


    "How is Zi Wen today?"


    Dani, with eyes red, said, "Still like yesterday, not talking to anyone, only curling up in bed. The doctor from Deji Hall also came and said the injury to the head isn¡¯t serious."


    They mentioned spending more time with him, but how should she accompany him?


    Each time she got a bit closer, Zhang Ziwen would panic like mad, wanting to flee, which was starting to dishearten her. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when Qiao Duo¡¯er arrived, Dani saw hope again.


    She said expectantly, "Sister Duo¡¯er, you always have a way; teach me how to interact with him, otherwise, I¡¯ll go crazy."


    Because she cared so much, his indifference and disregard pierced her heart like a sharp knife.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "I¡¯ll try, but I¡¯m not sure it will work."


    Observing him, she noted Zhang Ziwen was very cautious and vigilant, fearful of being hurt again, becoming agitated when someone got too close.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tested the waters little by little, stopping before reaching the limits of what Zhang Ziwen could tolerate.


    Now Zhang Ziwen was repelling everyone; they couldn¡¯t force too much; otherwise, they would end up with counterproductive results.


    He was completely immersed in his own world with a way of thinking that others couldn¡¯t understand.


    In such a situation, the most crucial thing was to smooth out his troubled heart.


    "Zi Wen, this is Big Willow Village, your hometown; you are safe now."


    "You know Prince Liang, right? He is the war god of the current Emperor and the only general who can be mentioned in the same breath as Lu Feiping. With him around, he will surely eliminate the mountain bandits¡¯ lair, and in the future, the mountain bandits will definitely not dare to wreak havoc."


    "Don¡¯t you also want to be a good official? Then you need to start by being strong."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said gently yet firmly.


    "You¡¯re all not good people; if you want to kill me, just do it, using me to threaten my family is cowardly!"


    Dani said with a heartache, "No one wants to threaten you; we are your good friends, just hoping you get better."


    Zhang Ziwen scoffed, "Nicely spoken, full of false righteousness!"


    "All I have spoken are truths. We care about you and don¡¯t want to see you hurt."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said as gently as a breeze.


    Zhang Ziwen cautiously observed the two women intruding into his territory, and the taut string in his heart loosened slightly.


    But the state of communication didn¡¯t last long before he retreated into his own world again.


    He lay on the bed, pulled up the quilt, and covered himself fully.


    Dani was somewhat disheartened but still spiritedly said, "There¡¯s a slight improvement already."

 Chapter 1051 - 1056: Because of Love

    Chapter 1051: Chapter 1056: Because of LoveQiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "The fact that he can communicate with us is a huge step forward, if you want to get closer to him, you need to gain his trust first. Talk to him every day like I do, about the people he cares about, the things he cares about, but make sure to do it in moderation and not to put too much pressure on him."


    It was Big Niu who had been taking care of him, so it was more necessary for Big Niu to get close to him.


    And this was also Big Niu¡¯s opportunity, a chance to win over his heart. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Big Niu responded earnestly, "I know what to do."


    She felt that when Qiao Duo¡¯er approached Zhang Ziwen, she treated him like a naughty child, going along with him, coddling him.


    Then she would treat this as an opportunity for practice; after all, there would come a time in her life when she would be a mother.


    Big Niu¡¯s state of mind suddenly became peaceful, even if he never recovered in this lifetime, it wouldn¡¯t matter, because this was her fate.


    Since Zhang Ziwen had returned, Big Niu devoted herself wholeheartedly to him, unwilling to leave his side for even half a step, even when he was asleep.


    The Feng Clan was very grateful for Qiao Duo¡¯s continuous assistance and personally escorted Qiao Duo¡¯er and Lu Kejun out of the house.


    At the doorstep, with reddened eyes, the Feng Clan asked, "Duo¡¯er, do you think Big Niu can persuade him to return?"


    She didn¡¯t mind supporting Zhang Ziwen for life, but her heart ached for her daughter.


    "Love cannot be forced; Zi Wen hasn¡¯t reached that point yet," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    Zhang Ziwen¡¯s wounds were not physical, meaning they weren¡¯t permanent injuries; as long as someone attended to his inner world, there was a complete possibility of him getting better.


    It¡¯s just that it would be hard on Big Niu during the time it took for him to recover.


    The Feng Clan nodded, now that was all they could hope for.


    If one were optimistic, once Zhang Ziwen recovered, he would surely treat Big Niu well, just like Tan Zhenghong did with Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    When Tan Zhenghong was disabled and had nothing, Qiao Duo¡¯er stood by him unwaveringly, and now that their life had improved, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t entertain any fancies.


    Upon leaving the Tie Family, Lu Kejun sighed, "Big Niu is a girl of great loyalty and righteousness, but what is so good about Zhang Ziwen that has made her so utterly devoted?"


    Big Niu was a very good girl, clearly deserving of someone better.


    "Because of love," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a faint smile, just like Lu Kejun, who had been running around for Luo Qingfeng.


    Lu Kejun sighed, "Love is such a troublesome thing, yet you can¡¯t escape it once you grow up."


    Like her, she never imagined she would fall for someone so easily.


    "It¡¯s quite troublesome, but it also feels sweet," Qiao Duo¡¯er said.


    As someone who had been through it, Qiao Duo¡¯er had a deeper understanding of the word ¡¯marriage.¡¯


    Since she had Tan Zhenghong, she had lost the freedom she once longed for and had endured childbirth, a pain she had never anticipated.


    But because it was Tan Zhenghong, she felt that everything was worth it.


    Lu Kejun pressed her lips together, because, up to this point, she hadn¡¯t felt that way.


    The scholars from the surrounding villages, upon hearing the news of Zhang Ziwen¡¯s return, all came to visit together on the afternoon of the second day.


    As educated men, it would have been a source of ridicule had they not come for Zi Wen, a former classmate.


    The Feng Clan harbored opinions against these people, but guests were guests, and she courteously led them into the courtyard.


    Among this group, the leader was Shi Yongli, the man who had passed the scholar examination following Zhang Ziwen.


    "Auntie, we came over as soon as we heard that Brother Zi Wen had returned; thank heavens, he¡¯s safely back," Shi Yongli said earnestly.


    But his earnestness was only on the surface, more akin to an act.

 Chapter 1052 - 1057: Evil Begets Evil

    Chapter 1052: Chapter 1057: Evil Begets Evilfreew§×bno¦Íel.comThe Feng Clan spoke with a smile that did not reach her eyes, "I still feel that Heaven has eyes, it won¡¯t wrongly accuse any good person, nor will it let a single bad person go, this is called karma, right?"


    These people abandoned their companion, their behavior was reprehensible.


    Someday, retribution would find them.


    "Auntie is right, Brother Zi Wen is a good man; he¡¯s surely blessed," Shi Yongli said with a smile.


    But he felt uncomfortable inside as if there was a hidden meaning in those words.


    After a few words, the Feng Clan led them to the guest room.


    "Zi Wen is staying here now, wait here," the Feng Clan knocked on the door, "Da Niuer, Zi Wen¡¯s classmate is here to see him, is it convenient for them to come in?"


    Shi Yongli smiled scornfully, not expecting Zhang Ziwen, the bookish nerd, to have such luck.


    He had become a fool, yet the girl was still determinedly devoted to him.


    Whereas he, who was hundreds of times better than Zhang Ziwen, did not have a single girl willing to spare him a glance to this day.


    He had heard that the Tie Family¡¯s girl was the Store Manager at Duo Meifang, earning two taels of silver or more each month; if he could win this woman¡¯s favor, he would never have to worry about money again.


    The girl busy wringing out a towel snorted, were these people, who had abandoned Zhang Ziwen back then, now here with fake concern?


    She did not care for it one bit, but since they had come all this way, she could not let them leave empty-handed.


    "You¡¯ll have to wait a moment, Mother, go make some tea first," the big girl said through the door.


    The Feng Clan, unsuspecting, agreed and headed to the kitchen to make tea.


    But she had only taken a few steps when she heard a splash, followed by a collective shriek.


    She hurriedly turned around to find that the big girl had doused these people with a bucket of water.


    "We kindly came to see Brother Zi Wen, how could you treat us like this?"


    "Exactly, we¡¯ve come all this way to see him, how could you treat us like this?"


    "Indeed, women and villains are difficult to raise; do you know what the ¡¯Three Obediences and Four Virtues¡¯ are?"


    "As the saying goes, ¡¯A virtuous wife means less trouble for her husband,¡¯ the ancients indeed did not deceive us!"


    All five of them were very dissatisfied, each rebuking the big girl.


    The big girl sneered, "My Zi Wen said he didn¡¯t want to see any of you hypocrites; you abandoned Zi Wen, nearly costing him his life, what right do you have to visit him now?"


    They were just there for the sake of their own reputations.


    She wasn¡¯t foolish; why should she accommodate these people?


    "You can eat messily, but words can¡¯t be spoken recklessly; we were scattered by the mountain bandits at the time; we couldn¡¯t think of much else," Shi Yongli explained.


    "So you were too busy saving yourselves to even report to the authorities? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If officials had intervened, did Zi Wen need to suffer so much?"


    The big girl was relentless, she absolutely disagreed with Zhang Ziwen mixing with these callous people.


    A scholar flapped open his fan and spoke down from on high, "What does a foolish woman like you know? Affairs of great men are none of a woman¡¯s business!"


    The big girl couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with this group any longer, drenching them with cold water in the dead of winter was punishment enough.


    In the end, she disdainfully said, "If you don¡¯t get out, I¡¯ll call the authorities. A group of men who¡¯ve read the Saint¡¯s Book, when faced with bandits, got cleaned out completely; don¡¯t you find that embarrassing?"


    A gust of cold wind swept by, causing the five men to shiver uncontrollably.


    If they continued to stand there they would surely catch an illness from the cold, it would be better to bring more people next time.


    "Unreasonable!"


    "You just wait; I will seek justice for this matter!" said Shi Yongli, leading the group.


    And this wretched woman had the gall to throw water on him; someday, he would have to take her back to his home and teach her a lesson.

 Chapter 1053 - 1058: Visitor from the Tan Family

    Chapter 1053: Chapter 1058: Visitor from the Tan Family"Hey Big Sister, they still have to walk several miles. Wouldn¡¯t it be bad if they froze to death?" Feng Clan asked softly.


    Big Sister patted her hands, "What does it have to do with me if they freeze?"


    She actually wished they would all freeze to death!


    Feng Clan poked Big Sister¡¯s head, "I knew you were one to hold grudges, but after throwing that bucket of water, I feel much better!"


    She thought it wasn¡¯t all that bad, better than always being watched by a dog.


    "Me too. If Zi Wen doesn¡¯t recover, there will be more of these incidents in the future!"


    Big Sister clenched her teeth and said, the Government Office couldn¡¯t do anything to them, but she had plenty of methods up her sleeve.


    Like hiring someone to beat them up or burning down a house; there were always ways to make their lives miserable.


    "But don¡¯t hurt anyone," Feng Clan instructed.


    Being kind in life is essential, lest the seeds of evil you sow come back to afflict your own family.


    Big Sister nodded, "I know; I won¡¯t get myself in trouble."


    Feng Clan¡¯s heart returned to her stomach; Big Sister had grown up and no longer required her constant worrying.


    It just... made her more heartbroken.


    Leaving Big Willow Village, Shi Yongli stroked his chin, "Zhang Ziwen¡¯s wife isn¡¯t bad, too bad she¡¯s stuck in a crap situation."


    "Big Brother, you didn¡¯t fall for that woman, did you?"


    His companion joked.


    Shi Yongli noncommittally said, "I just think it¡¯s not easy for that woman to be living with a fool."


    "From today¡¯s event, it looks like you still have to put in more effort."


    His companion couldn¡¯t help but take joy in calamity, already imagining Shi Yongli being tormented. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shi Yongli stopped talking and kept thinking about that fierce woman, finding her far more interesting than those delicate young ladies!


    On the other side, Qiao Duo¡¯er miscalculated. She thought Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng would come to visit during the first or second day of the new year, but four or five days had passed without a sign of anyone.


    Lu Kejun was so bored, she felt she was going to grow fur, only able to play cards every day with a few people.


    But after playing for days, she was sick of it.


    After winning another round, Lu Kejun threw down the cards: "You guys keep playing; I¡¯ll take a break."


    The weather was nice today. Qiao Duo¡¯er took the two little ones out to bask in the sun; she might as well go watch the little ones.


    "How did you fall asleep again?" Lu Kejun pouted and said.


    Life was too boring!


    It was either playing cards at home all day or visiting the Tie Family to see Zhang Ziwen. Now Zhang Ziwen¡¯s condition had stabilized a lot, but he was uninhibited only around Big Sister, leaving her with nothing to do.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "Now they only sleep eight or nine hours, much better than during the month."


    When awake, they would interact with adults, filled with fun.


    "Argh, I¡¯m going crazy!"


    Just as Lu Kejun was nearing her breaking point, someone from the Tan Family arrived.


    There were Qin Longyun and his wife, Bai Yifan, and Luo Qingfeng, who someone dearly missed.


    "Did you all forget about me? No one has been around for days," Qiao Duo¡¯er said discontentedly.


    As she spoke, she also picked up Qin Mingrui, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time and missed dearly.


    She used to feel indifferent about babies, but after having her own, all the world¡¯s babies became angels.


    Chen Yiling immediately shook her head, "Not at all. My mother and sister-in-law only left on the fifth day, and Little Ruirui had a fever on the sixth. He only got better yesterday, and I came over early this morning."


    "I was accompanying my grandmother to her parental home for a stay. Didn¡¯t he tell you?" Bai Yifan looked at Luo Qingfeng.


    Had Luo Qingfeng not come to check on her during the holidays at all?

 Chapter 1054 - 1059: I... am gay

    Chapter 1054: Chapter 1059: I... am gayThis fire pit is just too much!


    He had specifically mentioned this before setting off, and at that time, Luo Qingfeng also patted his chest in assurance, saying he would definitely come to check on Duo¡¯er¡¯s health, and incidentally look in on the two little ones.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stated truthfully, "It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen Second Brother. Are you telling me you¡¯ve been hiding somewhere having a good time?"


    "I was in closed-door cultivation making medicine."


    Luo Qingfeng found a lame excuse, but a lame one was still better than saying he was hiding at home, not daring to come out.


    He had barely managed to shake off that crazy girl last time, and now he still didn¡¯t know if she had left White Stone County. If she was still parading around, wouldn¡¯t that be courting death?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er generously said, "Then I¡¯ll forgive you. Come on inside."


    Luo Qingfeng felt a bit uneasy in his heart, so he followed behind the group of people.


    The moment he entered the hall, he finally understood where his unease was coming from; there was a person sitting inside the hall¡ªLu Kejun!


    The crazy woman who had chased after her for thousands of miles!


    Why would she appear at the Tan Family?


    Just as Luo Qingfeng thought about slipping away, Lu Kejun blocked the door.


    Luo Qingfeng gritted his teeth, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯ve doomed me!"


    But where was Qiao Duo¡¯er in the hall? Even Ling¡¯er and Bai Yifan had all gone into the main bedroom.


    Damn it, he should have gone in earlier!


    Lu Kejun snorted lightly, "You want to run? Let me tell you, if you don¡¯t give me an explanation, I will find you even if I have to dig three feet into the ground!"


    Luo Qingfeng took a sharp intake of breath¡ªthis woman was still as vicious as ever!


    But he wanted to say, unless he was dead, he definitely wouldn¡¯t hide under the ground. Forget about digging three feet, even five feet wouldn¡¯t find him.


    However, he only dared to think this quietly to himself because this was a woman he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke.


    "Uh, no, that¡¯s not right, come here, let¡¯s have some tea."


    Lu Kejun softened her tone a bit, since Qiao Duo¡¯er said the two of them should sit down and have a good talk.


    Luo Qingfeng took a step back. He had experienced Lu Kejun¡¯s poison before¡ªwhat if she spiked it with something like Crane¡¯s Crown Red Heartbreak Grass? Why endure the misery?


    So he definitely couldn¡¯t drink this tea!


    "Luo Qingfeng, wouldn¡¯t it hurt your dignity if I beat you up today?"


    Lu Kejun raised an eyebrow.


    All his sworn siblings were here today; she didn¡¯t want to embarrass him.


    Luo Qingfeng took a deep breath, "But let¡¯s make it clear, today we only drink tea; no rough stuff, no comparing poisons."


    "Deal," Lu Kejun indicated a seat.


    Luo Qingfeng begrudgingly went over and sat down with his body tensed.


    Lu Kejun personally poured a cup of tea for Luo Qingfeng. Sitting face to face with him for the first time, she felt her heartbeat quickening.


    "Why so nervous? Do you think I¡¯m going to eat you?"


    Luo Qingfeng cleared his throat, "I think you should just be straight with me, but I still need to explain about that night. I really only saw half a back, and I am a gentleman who doesn¡¯t take advantage of others." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You, a gentleman?" Lu Kejun sneered lightly.


    If all the men in the world died out, it still wouldn¡¯t be Luo Qingfeng¡¯s turn, okay?


    Luo Qingfeng said in a low voice, "Actually... I like men, the one in white clothes just now, named Bai Yifan, I and him... so I am not interested in women."


    "You mean with the one just now?" Lu Kejun¡¯s eyes widened.


    She had often heard about such preferences, and now she had finally seen it.


    She had been very curious before, but now she only felt one thing¡ªwhy on earth did such twisted things exist?


    Luo Qingfeng nodded, with a look of dejection.

 Chapter 1055 - 1060: No Problem

    Chapter 1055: Chapter 1060: No ProblemLu Kejun was very conflicted. On one hand, she was angry because Luo Qingfeng liked men; on the other hand, she felt sorry for Luo Qingfeng and Bai Yifan because their relationship would definitely not be accepted by society.


    Perhaps it was the fear of being looked at differently by others that made him live with an attitude as if he was above the concerns of the world.


    Alas, one could only say that love is truly a wearing thing.


    To like was a mistake, to love even more so.


    After a while, Lu Kejun slowly spoke, "Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely keep your secret and won¡¯t mock you."


    Having seen too many men and women in love, seeing two men together was quite novel.


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s lips curled up immediately, but then he clenched his fist and covered his mouth, coughing twice.


    Damn, he almost revealed himself!


    "Don¡¯t misunderstand, I didn¡¯t expect there would still be someone who could accept us," Luo Qingfeng explained.


    "You just happen to like a man; why can¡¯t it be accepted?"


    Lu Kejun just glanced at Luo Qingfeng before quickly averting her gaze because she feared she wouldn¡¯t be able to control her anger and might beat or poison Luo Qingfeng to death.


    Ever since she was little, her only method for dealing with things she desired but couldn¡¯t have was to destroy them.


    But this time was different; the other party was a person, and they were together because of true love. She had no right to object.


    Deeply moved, Luo Qingfeng said, "I¡¯m sorry, you are a good girl. It¡¯s just my misfortune."


    Seeing Lu Kejun upset, he added, "Miss, there¡¯s no need to be sad. I have nothing to offer; you won¡¯t be happy with me."


    The Lu family had an illustrious background, while he was just a free spirit. Even if they were forced together, they wouldn¡¯t find happiness.


    So why be so sorrowfully envious of him?


    This would only make him feel guilty.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about this. Let¡¯s go inside and see the baby," he said.


    Lu Kejun forced a smile and then turned to enter the master bedroom.


    She had not been moved by anyone for more than a decade. When she finally met someone, he liked men, and she didn¡¯t even have a chance to compete.


    Because she had already lost, simply based on gender.


    Luo Qingfeng snickered to himself before he composed himself and followed her inside.


    Having admitted to his inclination towards the same sex, he had to commit to the act.


    "Second Brother, you must be tired. Let me hold the baby," Luo Qingfeng said gently.


    Bai Yifan frowned at Luo Qingfeng, "Are you okay? Did you get poisoned again? Do you need me to check on you?"


    He had never heard of any poison that caused such an affliction in this world.


    Was it something the crazy lass came up with?


    "Absolutely nothing¡¯s wrong with me, just let me hold the baby," he insisted.


    Luo Qingfeng picked up Tangyuan into his arms, but Tangyuan was not having it and started crying with a pouty mouth.


    Although they were both handsome men, he preferred Bai Yifan because Bai Yifan¡¯s embrace was much more comfortable. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan shot Luo Qingfeng a glance: "Look at you, so clumsy. You can¡¯t even hold a child properly. Let me do it."


    "I know you love children," Luo Qingfeng said dejectedly.


    Bai Yifan, a towering Monk, was clueless about what Luo Qingfeng was getting at with his strange behavior.


    But since Luo Qingfeng¡¯s mind often short-circuited, Bai Yifan did not delve deeper.


    All this was seen by Lu Kejun. She became more convinced of the two men¡¯s romance and understood their heartache.


    Although they were in love, they had to act as if they didn¡¯t care about each other.


    Because they could never have children of their own, they had to pour all their feelings into someone else¡¯s child.


    She really wanted to shout out about their relationship, to let them love each other openly, but she was afraid of causing them trouble.

 Chapter 1056 - 1061: A Forced Melon Is Not Sweet

    Chapter 1056: Chapter 1061: A Forced Melon Is Not Sweet"So you¡¯re Ke-kun, right? I¡¯ve heard about you and am glad to finally meet you today," Chen Yiling greeted amiably.


    Luo Qingfeng had always called her a crazy girl, but after meeting her, she felt that Luo Qingfeng¡¯s description was an exaggeration.


    Most importantly, wasn¡¯t she actually very quiet?


    Lu Kejun nodded, "I¡¯m pleased to meet you all, but I¡¯ve received word that there¡¯s an issue at home, and I must leave immediately."


    She already knew that Luo Qingfeng and Bai Yifan were a couple, so she no longer had any reason to stay.


    Besides, leaving this place of heartache would allow her to find a better life.


    "Why so sudden?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    She glared at Luo Qingfeng, certain that he had annoyed Lu Kejun.


    But Luo Qingfeng seemed not to feel it and just continued to play with Tangyuan around Bai Yifan.


    Lu Kejun forced a smile, "I hadn¡¯t expected to leave so soon either, but I hope we¡¯ll have the chance to meet again in the future."


    "Lunchtime is approaching, why not stay for lunch before you go?"


    "Of course, I¡¯d like that. I¡¯ll go pack my things now."


    Lu Kejun¡¯s mouth curved into a smile, yet it inexplicably seemed somewhat oppressive.


    After he left, Chen Yiling tugged on Luo Qingfeng¡¯s ear, "Did you do something to upset her?"


    "No... nope, look, you all have been through this; don¡¯t you know that love has to be mutual? What¡¯s the point of forced affection?"


    To save his own ears, Luo Qingfeng immediately confessed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled Chen Yiling back, "He makes sense; a melon forced off its vine isn¡¯t sweet."


    So they should respect Luo Qingfeng¡¯s choice.


    Though she also thought Luo Qingfeng had really poor taste.


    "You¡¯ll be on child-watching duty at noon to prevent any further upset when she sees you," said Chen Yiling as she let go of Luo Qingfeng¡¯s ear but without making things easier for him.


    She knew that affection couldn¡¯t be forced, but men should take on more responsibility, and even if they weren¡¯t interested, they shouldn¡¯t make a girl so sad.


    Bai Yifan couldn¡¯t help but gloat, "I like this plan, someone needs to teach him a lesson."


    "I find it agreeable."


    Luo Qingfeng willingly accepted, especially since he felt guilty upon seeing Lu Kejun, and thought that the best solution was to stay out of each other¡¯s sight forever.


    Qin Longyun added a warning, "You better handle this responsibly because if something goes wrong, I won¡¯t be able to save you."


    Ever since his wife had given birth, she had become much fiercer, and he didn¡¯t dare say a word against her.


    "Leave it to me," Luo Qingfeng said, patting his chest confidently.


    The child sleeping would be ideal; if not, he¡¯d have to soothe him. In any case, it was still better than being with Lu Kejun.


    Lu Kejun returned to her room and ordered the Shadow Guard to pack, while she herself lay across the dressing table.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, she became lost in thought.


    She admitted that the man named Bai Yifan was handsome, but she wasn¡¯t lacking either. What kind of magic did he possess that had Luo Qingfeng so bewitched?


    "A Mei, do you really think I¡¯m that bad?" Lu Kejun asked listlessly.


    A Mei hastily replied, "Miss, what are you saying? You¡¯re intelligent and beautiful, and you¡¯ll be the future master of Red Cloud Villa; how could that have anything to do with being bad?"


    In the entire Daxing Dynasty, countless people would envy her mistress.


    But being born well is a skill, and envying doesn¡¯t make it so.


    Lu Kejun sighed again. She used to think so too, but now she was no longer sure. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss, has something happened?" A Mei asked with concern.

 Chapter 1057 - 1062: Surveillance

    Chapter 1057: Chapter 1062: SurveillanceShe had followed the young lady from a tender age and had never seen her so melancholy and sentimental before.


    Lu Kejun shook her head, "I just miss my parents, quickly pack up, I want to return early."


    "Yes!" A Mei stopped talking further.


    She thought her young mistress must be worried about the possibility of Madam and the master getting angry because she hadn¡¯t gone home for the New Year.


    In reality, they doted on the young mistress the most. At most, they would scold her a bit, but afterwards, they would still hold her in the palm of their hand, wishing to present the best things in the world in front of their young mistress.


    After lunch, A Mei had already packed everything neatly.


    "I don¡¯t want to disturb others, let¡¯s go," Lu Kejun ordered.


    She disliked farewells the most and often just slipped away secretly.


    "Miss, I think leaving without saying goodbye is not very nice. Maybe you should say something," A Mei advised.


    The Tan family had taken such meticulous care of her young mistress in the past few days that it seemed only polite to say something before leaving.


    "That¡¯s true, we¡¯ll have to interact in the future."


    Lu Kejun nodded and hoped not to see that person when she went to say goodbye.


    She had just walked out when she saw Qing Xin carrying a bowl of medicinal soup heading to the main room.


    "Is someone not feeling well?" Lu Kejun asked.


    Qing Xin shook her head, "No, this is a tonic prescribed by our young master for Madam, it strengthens the body fundamentally."


    "Your young master?"


    Lu Kejun was confused, Qing Xin was a maid of the Tan family, which young master?


    "It¡¯s the Young Master Bai who just visited. My sister and I were medical women at Deji Hall, but were later taken to care for Madam. However, we still haven¡¯t changed our way of addressing him," Qing Xin explained.


    Neither the Tan family nor the Bai family cared much about formalities, they let them call as they pleased.


    Lu Kejun remembered that young master dressed in white, squeezing out a smile, "I can tell he really likes children."


    "Not really, the young master is aloof by nature. If it weren¡¯t for his fondness for Madam, he wouldn¡¯t be so attentive!"


    There are so many children in the world, how could he possibly care for each one?


    There were only two or three children whom Young Master Bai truly cared about, all because of his love by association.


    Lu Kejun caught the essential point in Qing Xin¡¯s words, "Are you saying Bai Yifan likes Duo¡¯er?"


    Qing Xin quickly covered her mouth and shook her head vigorously, "Don¡¯t misunderstand; that was in the past. Now, Madam only has Si Ye in her heart."


    This explanation didn¡¯t seem quite right either, Qing Xin was so anxious she stomped her feet.


    How could she explain to prevent any misunderstandings about the relationship between her young master and Madam?


    In the past, her young master indeed had a fondness for Madam, but now he had let go and considered Madam only as a family member.


    Lu Kejun bit her lip and immediately asked, "Are Luo Qingfeng and Bai Yifan still here?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "They just left. Miss Lu, what¡¯s the matter?"


    "You quickly deliver this to Duo¡¯er; it¡¯s not good if it cools down, and also let them know I will be away for a few days," Lu Kejun ordered.


    Going by what Qing Xin said, Luo Qingfeng must have deceived her; she simply couldn¡¯t tolerate such a thing.


    Qing Xin bowed slightly; Miss Lu was lively by nature, perhaps she was bored staying at the Tan family and wanted to go out.


    Lu Kejun hastened to the Bai family, but by the time she arrived, she had calmed down.


    Qing Xin was originally a servant of the Bai family, possibly she had just casually heard someone speak a few words; if she judged Luo Qingfeng based on this, it might seem rather hasty.


    She decided to observe in secret a little longer to avoid wrongly accusing the innocent.


    "A Min, A Mei, go in and keep an eye on Luo Qingfeng, and tell me if anything happens," Lu Kejun said, squinting her eyes.

 Chapter 1058 - 1063: Someone Comes at Midnight

    Chapter 1058: Chapter 1063: Someone Comes at MidnightTwo days later, A Mei found Lu Kejun at the inn.


    "Miss, I have found out everything. Young Master Bai did indeed like Mrs. Tan. At that time, a jealous cousin made things difficult for Mrs. Tan. The matter was so well-known it was practically public. Miss, do you want me to capture him?"


    A Mei stole a glance at her own mistress.


    At that moment, a trace of a smile played on Lu Kejun¡¯s lips, and A Mei couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous for Young Master Luo.


    Every time her mistress wore such an expression, it meant someone was about to be unfortunate.


    Lu Kejun tapped her fingers on the tabletop, "Continue your undercover work at the Bai Mansion and find a way for me to meet Luo Qingfeng. You can ignore the rest."


    Damn Luo Qingfeng for taking advantage of her sympathy; she would not be polite anymore.


    "The Bai Mansion is strictly managed, Miss. If you want to get in, it can only be done at midnight. I will meet you at the back door then."


    A Mei pondered before laying out her plan.


    However, the thought of her mistress sneaking into the Bai Mansion at midnight didn¡¯t seem proper. If the master ever found out, A Mei would be the one in trouble again.


    But the Miss was her master, and she could not defy her.


    Lu Kejun nodded, "Very well, arrange it for tonight."


    "Miss... Isn¡¯t this too soon?"


    "Of course, it needs to be quick. I should seek out Luo Qingfeng while he thinks I believe his lies. If we wait for him to become alert, who knows where he might run off to next!"


    Lu Kejun thought about the roads she had followed Luo Qingfeng down and wanted to commit murder.


    She had nearly traversed half of the Daxing Dynasty!


    Truly, the farthest she had ever walked in her life was while chasing down the paths Luo Qingfeng had taken.


    A Mei saluted, "I will make the arrangements right away."


    At midnight, Luo Qingfeng was sleeping soundly. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But suddenly, he felt someone sitting beside him, and he immediately opened his eyes.


    "Miss Lu, you should leave quickly. If people find out, it could tarnish your reputation," Luo Qingfeng said anxiously.


    Lu Kejun said with a mocking smile, "You¡¯re concerned about my reputation now? I think you¡¯re just afraid your man will misunderstand."


    "Um... yes, my other half has a terrible temper. If he misunderstands, I¡¯m not going to have a good life," Luo Qingfeng hurriedly agreed.


    To preserve his future freedom, he could only besmirch Bai Yifan further.


    After all, this kind of deception was second nature to him, without a hint of guilt.


    Lu Kejun said indifferently, "Don¡¯t be so nervous. Everyone says true love can withstand a test, and if it can¡¯t even withstand a misunderstanding, isn¡¯t that too fragile?"


    Luo Qingfeng just felt a headache coming on. Who could tell him what to do?


    How could he send away this persistent and crazy woman?


    Lu Kejun didn¡¯t care whether Luo Qingfeng had an answer and asked again, "Didn¡¯t you say that you and Bai Yifan are in love with each other? Why aren¡¯t you sharing a bed then?"


    "The old lady is unwell; I didn¡¯t want to upset her," Luo Qingfeng replied, his scalp tingling.


    Judging by Lu Kejun¡¯s expression, he had the unnerving feeling that she knew he was lying.


    This woman had silently appeared in his room, which meant she could also quietly poison him.


    If his intuition was correct, he was about to be very unlucky.


    "Oh, is that so? But I just went to see Bai Yifan, and he told me he would rather go blind than like you. Could that also be to conceal your feelings?"


    Lu Kejun raised an eyebrow.


    Luo Qingfeng choked on his saliva. This woman was audacious, sneaking into Bai Yifan¡¯s room in the middle of the night!

 Chapter 1059 - 1064: Becoming a Eunuch?

    Chapter 1059: Chapter 1064: Becoming a Eunuch?Before Luo Qingfeng could speak, a small dagger was pressed against somewhere.


    "Two men together, that¡¯s quite inconvenient, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t mind helping you settle that," Lu Kejun said with a suggestive look.


    When N¨¹wa created humans, she considered that men and women should complement each other.


    And two men each having their own ¡¯little brother¡¯, handling things must be really troublesome, not to mention arguing over who should be on top¡ªI even feel troubled for Luo Qingfeng.


    Luo Qingfeng shuddered¡ªdid she mean to castrate him?


    If that got cut off, he¡¯d only be able to go to the palace and become an eunuch!


    Good heavens, must she be so cruel?


    "Can¡¯t I even speak the truth?" Luo Qingfeng immediately submitted.


    Lu Kejun moved the dagger even closer, "Speak."


    If Luo Qingfeng didn¡¯t cooperate, she wouldn¡¯t actually sever his ¡¯little brother¡¯, but rather, she would slit open his clothes there and then parade him through the streets.


    Hehe, she really looked forward to seeing Luo Qingfeng ridiculed by everyone.


    "I don¡¯t like men, but I have many flaws you may not accept¡ªlike grinding teeth, snoring, expelling gas in my sleep, often not bathing, not changing shoes¡ªbut I¡¯m too embarrassed to say it, so I just made up an excuse to cover it up," he said.


    Having blackened himself to this extent, they might as well just let him go.


    Lu Kejun said indifferently, "What¡¯s that? I can help you change even the worst habits!"


    Red Cloud Villa had a unique set of punishments, and once Luo Qingfeng tried them, he¡¯d remember everything.


    Luo Qingfeng felt his heart quiver a few times¡ªwas he really going to be made to cry out loud as a grown man?


    "The tea you drank tonight contained a poison that temporarily scrambled your thoughts. At noon, you¡¯d involuntarily go to a well-lit place and confess the shameful acts you¡¯ve done," she disclosed.


    "By the way, this poison was made from the Ecstasy Fruit from the Extremely Cold Place. If you don¡¯t want to become a laughingstock, find me at Duo¡¯er¡¯s House before noon¡ªonly if you have a reason that makes me believe you dislike me, I will let you off."


    Lu Kejun was very straightforward, for by telling Luo Qingfeng the ingredients of the poison, he wouldn¡¯t have enough time to find an antidote.


    By the time Luo Qingfeng realized what was happening, Lu Kejun had already disappeared.


    In the past, he thought Qiao Duo¡¯er was hard to deal with. Now he¡¯d encountered someone even more challenging.


    The main reason was that Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s poisons were all provided by him, and he had ready-made antidotes.


    However, Lu Kejun¡¯s poisons were her own concoction¡ªit would take some time for him to make an antidote.


    The antidote for Ecstasy Fruit was the Qing Xin Grass that grew near it.


    Finding that by tomorrow noon would indeed be difficult.


    Luo Qingfeng sighed¡ªbest he cherish this final night of freedom.


    By tomorrow, if he couldn¡¯t find a reason, that female mountain bandit Lu Kejun would take him by force.


    He felt he now understood the feelings of the girls forcibly sold to the Qing Building.


    In his sleep, Luo Qingfeng didn¡¯t notice another person appearing at the window¡ªit was still the often nightmarish Lu Kejun.


    Lu Kejun couldn¡¯t stand unhygienic men, so she had come back specifically to take another look.


    From Luo Qingfeng¡¯s sleeping posture, it seemed he had tricked her again.


    Hmph, this deceitful man!


    It was already deep into the night. Lu Kejun refrained from causing more trouble and instead rested in a room arranged by Bai Yifan.


    The Bai Family had strict security; A Mei had long been secretly watched. Today when she entered, Bai Yifan was already waiting for her.


    But Bai Yifan was such a bad friend; the moment he saw her, he immediately made concessions. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only with the homeowner¡¯s permission could she sneak into Luo Qingfeng¡¯s room so smoothly.

 Chapter 1060 - 1065: Just Watch the Show

    Chapter 1060: Chapter 1065: Just Watch the ShowThe next morning, Lu Kejun hummed an unknown tune on his way to the Tan Family.


    "Duo¡¯er, I¡¯m back!"


    No sooner had he entered the room than Lu Kejun turned his back, "I didn¡¯t see anything just now, I¡¯ll go out first."


    She truly had no idea that two people would be playing kissy-face while feeding their baby early in the morning, and she, with her innocence pure as a sheet of white paper, felt her face flush so red it almost could drip blood.


    She swore that from now on, she would knock on the door before entering someone¡¯s room, regardless of whether the door was closed or not.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "It¡¯s all your fault, bringing back a musk deer and still wanting kisses, you¡¯re not a three-year-old child anymore."


    "I will definitely close the door next time."


    Tan Zhenghong said something that didn¡¯t quite seem to fit the topic.


    He had been up early to hunt and even had an unexpected windfall, why couldn¡¯t he ask for a reward?


    But it must be said, it was a good idea indeed.


    With the door closed, even rolling in the sheets wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.


    Hmm... they¡¯d have to try that in the future!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong, then seriously educated her son who was drinking milk, "Child, you must never learn from your dad, he¡¯s lost face all the way to Java Country!"


    The baby, Green Group, being very cooperative, grunted twice and continued to drink his milk.


    "What is Java Country?" Tan Zhenghong asked curiously.


    The name sounded quite fresh.


    "It¡¯s a foreign land; it means you¡¯ve lost face very far away."


    Tan Zhenghong stroked his chin and said, "I think that¡¯s a good thing, I like it when everyone knows we got married and that our relationship is still very good."


    This way, no one who doesn¡¯t know any better would covet his wife anymore.


    Cough cough, he was just taking this opportunity to hint that Bai Yifan wasn¡¯t insightful.


    "I think we shouldn¡¯t be too affectionate in front of the child in the future, as it could lead to premature infatuation."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered a very serious issue.


    Tan Zhenghong reminded her, "You say people here fall in love early, our son will definitely do the same, so what¡¯s there to worry about?"


    Boys can marry a little later, but at the very latest by seventeen or eighteen years old.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was speechless for a while, as this was indeed the case, but discussing this topic was still a bit too premature, better to be more cautious in the future.


    Just as Green Group finished his meal, Tan Zhenghong was busy burping him and missed his chance to banter.


    During breakfast, Lu Kejun¡¯s eyes involuntarily kept falling on Qiao Duo¡¯er; she knew the couple was close, but did not expect them to be this intimate, not even sparing a moment while feeding their baby.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt embarrassed by his gaze, but she decided to strike first.


    "You seem to have reaped quite the rewards outside, your face is almost blooming with a big flower."


    Lu Kejun cleared his throat, "Just saw a person clearly, full of lies, he definitely needs a good lesson." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I wholeheartedly agree, need any help with that?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t surprised at all; if Luo Qingfeng didn¡¯t act out, he wouldn¡¯t be Luo Qingfeng, nor would he have caught Lu Kejun¡¯s attention.


    "No need, just make sure to soothe the baby by noon, and don¡¯t miss the show," Lu Kejun reminded her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded her head, "The kids usually wake up for an hour around noon, I¡¯ll bring them along then."


    Lu Kejun gave her a thumbs up; the more the merrier when it comes to watching a commotion after all.


    With half an hour until noon, Luo Qingfeng finally arrived.


    The Ecstasy Fruit had one unique characteristic, it bloomed at noon, and the fruit ripened at noon, so its effects were only active at that time; if he didn¡¯t come soon, Luo Qingfeng dared not think what might happen when noon arrived.

 Chapter 1061 - 1066: Very Direct

    Chapter 1061: Chapter 1066: Very DirectQiao Duo¡¯er dismissed the maid and personally poured tea for the two of them.


    "You should talk things out properly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Lu Kejun a meaningful glance.


    She and Chen Yiling had agreed to take their respective children to watch Luo Qingfeng make a fool of himself, but Tan Zhenghong vetoed the plan.


    He said that men are animals who take great pride in their appearance, and if Luo Qingfeng were to lose face, it could turn potential lovers into enemies.


    Especially for Luo Qingfeng and Lu Kejun, whose love didn¡¯t have much of an emotional foundation.


    If the joke went too far, there might not be a future for them.


    Therefore, after discussion, they decided to cancel the original plan and also persuaded Lu Kejun.


    Seeing Lu Kejun giving a firm answer, Qiao Duo¡¯er left, thoughtfully closing the door behind her for the two of them.


    "Give me the antidote, quick," Luo Qingfeng said eagerly.


    Lu Kejun raised an eyebrow, "If I remember correctly, you should be pleading with me, isn¡¯t your demeanor supposed to be a bit nicer when asking for help?"


    Luo Qingfeng took a deep breath, his master had said he was a poison-refining prodigy, and the only reason he lost to Lu Kejun this time was due to the urgency of time and the scarcity of Qing Xin Grass. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He couldn¡¯t bear to grovel!


    "Don¡¯t overexert yourself, if you can give me one reason why you don¡¯t love me, I can let you go," Lu Kejun said slowly.


    She could change anything about herself that he didn¡¯t like.


    Luo Qingfeng laughed stupidly a couple of times, his gaze softened a lot as he looked at Lu Kejun.


    This wasn¡¯t normal for him, not at all normal.


    Lu Kejun cleared her throat, "Luo Qingfeng, it¡¯s not yet the hour, don¡¯t mess around."


    The effects of the Ecstasy Fruit begin at noon, but there is still half an hour until noon.


    Could it be that this guy wants to take the opportunity to take liberties with her?


    Thinking of the possibility, Lu Kejun moved her body back a bit, keeping herself further away from Luo Qingfeng.


    In doing so, even if he wanted to take advantage of her, she would have time to react.


    But Luo Qingfeng appeared as if he heard nothing, only lecherously lifting Lu Kejun¡¯s chin with a flirtatious gesture and a salacious expression on his face.


    "Luo Qingfeng, what are you trying to do?"


    The overpowered Lu Kejun felt somewhat lacking in momentum.


    She, who had always been pampered and adored, never expected to be bullied by someone, and the worst part was that deep down she was willing.


    Luo Qingfeng licked his dry lips, "I¡¯ve wanted to do this for a long time, I have nothing but my poison refining skills, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t like me, I fear your family will oppose us, don¡¯t speak, I want to kiss you."


    After speaking, he landed a light kiss on Lu Kejun¡¯s cherry lips.


    Not only does the Ecstasy Fruit make one speak the truth, but it also causes one¡¯s actions to follow one¡¯s true desires.


    This means Luo Qingfeng had always liked the little woman before him.


    Only knowing she was the daughter of Lu Feiping, the future mistress of Red Cloud Villa, he felt inferior and dared not speak his true feelings.


    And the best way to disguise inferiority is to act as if he didn¡¯t care.


    "You should speak properly," Lu Kejun¡¯s face blushed thoroughly.


    If she didn¡¯t stop Luo Qingfeng, there would certainly be further developments soon.


    Luo Qingfeng pursed his lips, "I think speaking is meaningless, I want to show you through my actions."


    He knew where Lu Kejun¡¯s room was, so he picked her up and headed in that direction.


    At this moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling were in the room soothing the children, hearing the commotion in the main room, they quickly opened the door to check, but only saw Luo Qingfeng¡¯s retreating back.


    "I didn¡¯t expect Luo Qingfeng to be such an impatient man," Qiao Duo¡¯er remarked.


    Surprisingly, Luo Qingfeng, who always claimed that love was a shackle, was so straightforward that he was taking someone straight to bed.

 Chapter 1062 - 1067: Embracing the Beauty and Returning Home

    Chapter 1062: Chapter 1067: Embracing the Beauty and Returning HomeWhat a hypocritical guy!


    But now a more important question is whether to intervene or not.


    Lu Kejun does like Luo Qingfeng, but probably not so soon.


    Chen Yiling pondered before saying, "There are Shadow Guards secretly protecting Lu Kejun, let¡¯s leave this to them."


    To intervene seems tactless, yet if left unaddressed, any future mishap between the two would certainly breed hatred from Lu Kejun towards them.


    Alas, what a dilemma.


    At the right moment, Tan Zhenghong said, "I believe Luo Qingfeng is a responsible man, don¡¯t overthink it."


    With that, Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer had any reservations. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luo Qingfeng might occasionally make crude remarks, but he doesn¡¯t have any serious flaws; there was no need for them to be so anxious.


    In the guest room, Luo Qingfeng had already sealed Lu Kejun¡¯s acupoints and was pressing down on her body.


    "Luo Qingfeng, you scoundrel!"


    Struggling, Lu Kejun admitted she wanted to tease Luo Qingfeng, but did he really need to punish her like this?


    Before she could finish her sentence, Luo Qingfeng smothered her with kisses again, and after a good while, he lifted his head and said, "You¡¯ve eaten osmanthus cake, it tastes not bad."


    Lu Kejun shot him a glare sharp as a knife. Was this guy a dog in disguise?


    She had eaten a small piece of osmanthus cake about two hours ago and now even that had been detected.


    Just now, she was immersed in someone¡¯s tender love, but at this moment, she just wanted to slap him.


    Because mentioning it during an intimate moment is quite a mood-killer.


    Unfortunately, the man in question remained blissfully unaware.


    "Ke-kun, you¡¯re really beautiful, and you have a great figure too. What if one day you fall for someone else? What then?" murmured Luo Qingfeng.


    Given Lu Feiping¡¯s past accomplishments, Lu Kejun could aim for the Empress¡¯ throne and no one would raise an objection.


    So what was he?


    In the eyes of the nobility, he was nothing more than a Doctor who wasn¡¯t fit for high society.


    "Do you really like me that much?" Lu Kejun asked intently.


    Luo Qingfeng seemed to have a moment of clarity, but soon his reason would be engulfed as he tenderly said, "The moment I saw you, I felt my heart was finally filled."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than he let out a muffled groan, and then his head fell onto Lu Kejun¡¯s shoulder, motionless.


    Anxiously, A Min asked, "Miss, how are you? Did he take advantage of you?"


    Lu Kejun pursed her lips. Could she curse someone out?


    She finally had the chance to hear Luo Qingfeng pour out his heart, and now, after just a few words, someone had knocked him unconscious!


    But A Min meant well. She was afraid Lu Kejun would be bullied, so the words of blame were swallowed back down.


    "I¡¯m fine, he just needs to sleep it off."


    Lu Kejun pushed Luo Qingfeng away and prepared to step out into the courtyard for some fresh air, otherwise, her face would catch fire.


    But there, in the courtyard cradling a child, Qiao Duo and Chen Yiling looked at her with an ambiguous smile, their eyes seemed to ask if she had done something naughty?


    A lone man and a single woman in one room do readily provoke the imagination.


    Lu Kejun quickly explained, "Luo Qingfeng was knocked out, nothing happened."


    Cough cough, saying it like that seemed to imply she was somewhat disappointed.


    She swore to the heavens, she truly hadn¡¯t anticipated anything happening.


    "It¡¯s bound to happen sooner or later. We just want to congratulate you for finally getting your hands on a beauty," Qiao Duo teased deliberately.


    Chen Yiling fully agreed, "Actually, it has already been accomplished, it¡¯s just that that fool Luo Qingfeng is too good at hiding."


    If one were to listen only to Luo Qingfeng, no one would believe he was in love with Lu Kejun.


    But in reality, he had long been deeply rooted in his affections.

 Chapter 1063 - 1068: Preparing to Propose

    Chapter 1063: Chapter 1068: Preparing to Propose"I¡¯m not going to talk with you anymore, I¡¯m going out for a walk."


    Lu Kejun called Fat Fat and Fatty to go out of the yard together.


    At this time, let¡¯s talk about the dogs at Duo¡¯er¡¯s house. These two creatures, though looking fierce and a bit bigger than ordinary dogs, were extremely understanding of human nature. As soon as Qiao Duo¡¯er declared someone a guest, they immediately calmed down.


    Chen Yiling said in a good mood, "I hope the second child wakes up soon."


    It will definitely be very exciting.


    "Do you smell something?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Chen Yiling sniffed, "Did your two treasures take a dump?"


    "It shouldn¡¯t be, my house usually handles that in the morning."


    Chen Yiling looked around; there were only three children present. If it wasn¡¯t Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s pair of children, then it must have been her son!


    She said with a bitter face, "Qin Mingrui, you little rascal, did you poop again? Can¡¯t you give a warning? To think you would do such an embarrassing thing in front of your future wife!"


    While saying this, she walked towards the house. This kind of thing was better left to the Maid, because she really couldn¡¯t handle it.


    Tan Zhenghong chimed in at the right moment, "Tangyuan, you must never choose him, his poop could literally kill with the stench."


    Um... he harbored a deep hostility towards anyone who might steal Tangyuan from him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed angrily, but thinking about a stinky boy taking her dearly raised daughter in the future didn¡¯t sit well with her.


    Tangyuan, thinking her parents were speaking to her, responded with the brightest smile.


    Her smile seemed to have healing powers, and upon hearing her laughter, the slight melancholy in their hearts was immediately expelled.


    As long as she was happy, nothing else mattered.


    Two hours later, Luo Qingfeng slowly woke up.


    "What happened to me?"


    Luo Qingfeng rubbed his sore neck.


    A Min said irritably, "I don¡¯t know what got into you, almost taking advantage of our young miss. She hasn¡¯t come back yet, and let me tell you, if anything happens to the young miss, I will definitely chop you into pieces!"


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to explain it to the lord and Madam.


    Luo Qingfeng blinked. He had almost taken advantage of Lu Kejun? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Does that mean he almost forced himself on someone¡¯s daughter?


    "Our young miss wasn¡¯t wrong about you; you are a scoundrel. How much longer do you plan to sleep in our young miss¡¯s bed?" A Min was getting anxious.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her young miss asking her to take good care of this man before leaving, she would have thrown him out long ago.


    Luo Qingfeng got up feeling quite ashamed; he felt he had no face to meet anyone!


    But no matter how shameless, he still needed to leave. How could he loiter in someone¡¯s daughter¡¯s boudoir?


    "Younger brother, slept well, didn¡¯t you? You look quite refreshed," Chen Yiling teased.


    Luo Qingfeng feigned a cough, "It was okay, I have something to attend to, I need to go back."


    "After all the lovey-dovey words you said and even kissed her, don¡¯t you think you owe her an explanation?"


    Getting a young girl¡¯s hopes up and then just walking away, what kind of man does that?


    After some thought, Luo Qingfeng then said, "I plan to go to Red Cloud Villa right away to ask for her hand in marriage. You are my sister-in-law, you should help organize this."


    He was not one to hide after showing his feelings.


    Even if his father-in-law disagrees, he must at least fight for himself and the girl in his heart.


    He had nothing now, but he was willing to start working hard from now to provide Lu Kejun a carefree life; this was his true heart.

 Chapter 1064 - 1069: Got Wine?

    Chapter 1064: Chapter 1069: Got Wine?Chen Yiling patted her chest, "I¡¯ll definitely give you some reference."


    But that was all she dared to promise, as even though she had gone through it herself, her affairs had been arranged by others.


    "Let¡¯s hurry, you definitely understand better than I do," Luo Qingfeng urged.


    Meanwhile, Lu Kejun had been wandering on the mountain until almost dark before returning to the Tan Family.


    Even now, she could hardly believe that Luo Qingfeng had said those words to her.


    But once she got home, her heart turned cold.


    Because as soon as she entered, A Min had already informed her that Luo Qingfeng had already left.


    "Ke-kun, dinner time, we must celebrate properly today."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er called out, believing that it was not easy to make the frivolous Luo Qingfeng settle down, which showed that he must truly love Lu Kejun.


    Lu Kejun pouted and said, "I¡¯ve been abandoned, I don¡¯t want to celebrate."


    "Second sister-in-law, are you angry because Second Brother Luo left without saying goodbye? He isn¡¯t being irresponsible, but he went back to prepare the betrothal gifts," Qiao Duo¡¯er revealed the truth.


    The marital customs in ancient times were very complicated; the Three Letters and Six Rites had to be followed without missing any, otherwise, the woman¡¯s family would be criticized later.


    Since Luo Qingfeng had never thought of taking a wife before, everything had to be arranged from scratch.


    Lu Kejun blinked, "You mean he¡¯s gone to propose?"


    "Yes, Second Brother Luo likes to joke around, but when it comes to important matters, he is never vague. Rest assured and wait to be the bride!" Qiao Duo¡¯er patted Lu Kejun¡¯s shoulder.


    Lu Kejun smiled and asked, "Is there green plum wine tonight?"


    "Of course, we need wine to enhance the joy of a celebration."


    Because of the happy occasion, the atmosphere that evening was great. The only regret was that Qiao Duo¡¯er had to nurse the baby and could only watch others drink merrily.


    Lu Kejun got drunk, happy like a child.


    "Duo¡¯er, I always thought Luo Qingfeng disliked me, but he said he loves me. It feels just like a dream," she said.


    "The effects of the Ecstasy Fruit should have taken hold at noon, but Luo Qingfeng was affected half an hour earlier. He was completely unguarded and ended up saying everything."


    Lu Kejun shared the happy events of the day, feeling as if she had been blessed by the heavens.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought carefully and guessed it must have been the musk that caused the trouble.


    Lu Kejun liked to burn incense, and today Bai Yan accidentally used the wrong one, using incense containing musk. It was under the influence of the musk that the effects of the Ecstasy Fruit manifested earlier.


    However, it was a blessing in disguise, and it helped complete a beautiful affair.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, please don¡¯t laugh at us. My mistress has always been like this," A Mei apologized.


    Her mistress, sigh, couldn¡¯t she pay a little more attention to her image?


    What if her future husband saw her like this?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, understandingly said, "I understand her feelings. You help her back, and I¡¯ll send Almond over with a bowl of hangover soup later."


    All good wines in this world have one thing in common: a strong kick that comes afterwards.


    If she didn¡¯t drink the hangover soup, she would definitely wake up with a headache tomorrow.


    After thanking her, A Mei quickly helped Lu Kejun back. Fortunately, Lu Kejun had been tired out enough during the day, and she didn¡¯t resist too much now.


    The next day, Lu Kejun slept until Three Poles Day.


    Thinking that Luo Qingfeng was already preparing to propose, she didn¡¯t delay any further and hurried back to inform her parents, so they wouldn¡¯t worry about her becoming an old maid nobody wanted.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er escorted her to the gate.


    "I¡¯ll wait for the good news of your marriage," Qiao Duo¡¯er waved.


    Lu Kejun shyly said, "When the time comes, you¡¯re not allowed to go back on your word because it¡¯s too far away."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded without hesitation. There was no reason not to attend Second Brother¡¯s wedding!


    S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1065 - 1070: Little Calculations

    Chapter 1065: Chapter 1070: Little CalculationsAfter sending off Luo Qingfeng and Lu Kejun, that pair of cheerful enemies, the first lunar month also entered its final phase.


    Tan Zhenghong suddenly remembered the hot spring he had discovered before the new year. If they didn¡¯t go now, they would have to wait until next winter.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for him to discover that treasured spot; not to enjoy it soon would be a real waste.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was hesitant. Children have a poor ability to regulate their body temperature, and the hot water of the hot springs could easily cause a baby to suffer from heatstroke, or even affect brain development. Yet, she didn¡¯t feel at ease not taking them either.


    It was truly a troublesome matter, but fortunately, she soon thought of a perfect solution.


    "We could take Green Group and Tangyuan with us, then let them float in wooden basins, couldn¡¯t we?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    But Tan Zhenghong was unhappy because he had a little secret in his heart.


    He had thought that after the confinement period, his happy life would begin. However, there had been fewer opportunities than expected, and during those times his wife was not particularly focused.


    Today, he wanted to avoid the two little ones and fully enjoy a world of just the two of them.


    He didn¡¯t anticipate his wife still wanting to bring the kids along. What was he to do?


    His skin was already thick, but he still couldn¡¯t accept doing intimate things in front of the children.


    Tan Zhenghong advised tactfully, "The hot spring is on the mountain. We would have no problem walking the mountain paths, but their skin is so tender. A scratch could bring trouble, and the fluctuating temperature makes it easy for them to fall ill."


    Even children breastfed by their mothers can¡¯t withstand such rough and tumble.


    "But..."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was still hesitant. Leaving Green Group and Tangyuan at home would surely upset the two little ones.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly said, "No buts. Granny Su and my mother are both here, and they will definitely take good care of the children."


    "Madam, please agree with the master. We surely won¡¯t let down the young master or the young miss."


    Granny Su chimed in just in time.


    The Tan Family had recently added two little ones, and the couple had been busy day and night. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Going to take a dip in the hot springs now would be a leisurely break from the busyness, and also an opportunity to communicate their emotions as a couple.


    Only when their relationship was good could their home be harmonious and content.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I¡¯ll pump out the milk first and store it in the icehouse. When Green Group and Tangyuan wake up, someone can warm it up and feed it to them. Ah Hong and I will try to come back early."


    The truth was, she had been bored staying at home all the time.


    Granny Su immediately brought over two clean bowls, and Qiao Duo¡¯er lifted the curtain and entered the inner room.


    Pumping the milk in advance also spared her from feeling engorged later on the mountain.


    By the time she had prepared two bowls of milk for the little ones, Tan Zhenghong had already packed up everything for the hot springs, and he happily pulled his wife up the mountain.


    Breathing in the fresh mountain air, Qiao Duo¡¯er exclaimed, "It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve felt this free."


    "Wife, do you feel like life has trapped you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded seriously. She used to be carefree, but now no matter where she went, there were attachments she couldn¡¯t cut away.


    Tan Zhenghong cleared his throat, "This is the trouble you brought upon yourself, and you dragged me into it, too."


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Qiao Duo secretly switching his medicine, they would still be free now.


    He had always said he didn¡¯t want to see Duo¡¯er suffer; it would be perfectly fine for just the two of them to live together.


    "You heartless jerk, without Green Group and Tangyuan, wouldn¡¯t our life have less joy?" Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted disdainfully.


    Children are a sweet burden, painful and joyful at the same time.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded compliantly. Ever since two little ones entered their lives, his mentality had changed.


    It was probably more mature than before, and he became somewhat more meticulous in his actions.

 Chapter 1066 - 1071: A Person with Sense of Propriety

    Chapter 1066: Chapter 1071: A Person with Sense of ProprietyAfter about half an hour, Tan Zhenghong stopped by a mountain wall.


    "Is there a hot spring here?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked incredulously.


    When she had just traveled here, she often went up the mountain to hunt and gather herbs, passing by this spot countless times. How had she never discovered it?


    Tan Zhenghong pushed aside the vines, "There is a natural cave here, but it¡¯s usually blocked by stuff, if it hadn¡¯t rained that day, I wouldn¡¯t have found it even if I lingered around."


    After clearing a path that could be passed through, Tan Zhenghong said, "You go in quickly, I¡¯ll disguise the entrance."


    His wife was a bit of a clean freak, if someone else discovered this place, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to comfortably come here for hot springs again in the future.


    The best he could do was to keep people from noticing.


    Once he earned more silver, he¡¯d buy this mountaintop. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Um... That kind of felt like the Mountain King sensation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently crawled into the cave, pulled out a prepared flint and lit a candle, and only then could see the cave path clearly.


    The path was very narrow, barely allowing one person to pass through.


    The walls on both sides were covered in moss due to the constant moisture.


    Having passed through a tunnel over a hundred meters long, Qiao Duo¡¯er finally saw the steaming hot spring pool.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could hardly wait. She ran to the edge of the pool, touched the warm water with her hand ¨C where was the poise of a mother of two?


    Tan Zhenghong was somewhat mesmerized.


    "The water feels so nice, but what if someone crashes in here?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, no one will discover this place," Tan Zhenghong assured, patting his chest.


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er stand up to undress, having removed half of her outer garment when her eyes suddenly caught sight of some fruit not far away.


    The fruit resembled strawberries, but they were only as big as a fingernail.


    This was a treasure!


    "Want to try some?" Qiao Duo¡¯er picked two small fruits.


    "There are many plants in the mountains, and a lot of them are unknown and could be poisonous. You mustn¡¯t just eat anything," Tan Zhenghong warned.


    "I¡¯ve seen it in my Third Brother¡¯s notebook. It¡¯s edible," she replied.


    Tan Zhenghong reached out and took them, "You go ahead and soak first, be careful not to catch cold."


    Quietly nodding, Qiao Duo turned around, but as she did, the corners of her mouth revealed a sly smile.


    Today, she just wanted to enjoy the hot spring without any additional fatigue.


    Soon, Tan Zhenghong sat down leaning against Duo¡¯er, their skin touching, and he immediately felt aroused.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at a certain spot, "This isn¡¯t home. Don¡¯t mess around."


    With a look of grievance, Tan Zhenghong said, "Wife, we haven¡¯t been intimate for two days now, just this once, okay?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced again at the red fruits nearby. Could Bai Yifan¡¯s notebook have been wrong?


    It clearly stated that eating these would temporarily disable that function.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smirk, "I forgot to eat one just now, are you hiding some unspeakable little schemes?"


    "No... I¡¯m not," Qiao Duo¡¯er said guiltily.


    "Actually, I¡¯ve known for a long time that eating those would make me impotent, and most of the men in Big Willow Village know about it. I¡¯ve just been quietly watching you try to deceive me," Tan Zhenghong said proudly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er crossed her arms over her chest, "Don¡¯t you mess around."


    With a hum, Tan Zhenghong muttered, "I am a man of measure."


    "Jerk!"

 Chapter 1067 - 1072 Playing the Hooligan

    Chapter 1067: Chapter 1072 Playing the HooliganTan Zhenghong sighed, "Wife, I love you to death, but you have no idea how eager I am."


    "Love my foot! You¡¯re just using love as an excuse to be a hooligan!" Qiao Duo¡¯er retorted.


    She silently told herself that she must have a hole in her head to agree to come to the hot springs with Tan Zhenghong.


    Knowing full well his intentions weren¡¯t pure, she still foolishly walked right into it.


    Also, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s intelligence surged while hers regressed a bit due to the pregnancy¡ªotherwise, how could she have let Tan Zhenghong succeed?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had intended to relax at the hot springs, but in the end, she was so tired that she fell asleep.


    "Wife, wake up quickly, we need to get home before it gets dark," Tan Zhenghong called out tenderly.


    He hadn¡¯t brought weapons or provisions up the mountain today, so staying overnight in the mountains was impractical.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly opened her eyes: "What hour is it?"


    "If we leave now, we should make it back in time for lunch," Tan Zhenghong said, touching his nose.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath and let it go. Seeing that he had pulled her out of the water, she decided not to be angry. Otherwise, by now, her skin would definitely be all wrinkled.


    The most important thing was that what¡¯s done was done, and getting angry wouldn¡¯t help.


    Just as she stood up, Qiao Duo¡¯er let out a muffled groan.


    She suspected her legs were rented, feeling both sore and painful.


    Tan Zhenghong instinctively squatted down: "Get on, I¡¯ll carry you back."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t play coy. Since Tan Zhenghong had worn her out, he should bear the consequences.


    As the sky darkened, they finally made it home.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Granny Su finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, you should quickly go check on the young master and young miss. They¡¯ve been in a bad mood ever since you left," she said.


    She thought she could take good care of the two children, but she really overestimated herself.


    The Wang Clan and maids took turns trying to soothe them, but they kept frowning, unable to be consoled.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shot Tan Zhenghong a glare and hurried into the bedroom.


    "Green Group, Tangyuan, Mommy¡¯s back."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the little ones lying side by side in their cribs, her eyes full of tenderness.


    And as if they had made a pact, Green Group and Tangyuan both closed their eyes.


    "If you¡¯re going to ignore me, fine, I¡¯ll go feed someone else¡¯s baby," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, feeling wronged.


    She had given birth to them only three months ago and this was her first time going out. These two heartless little things had already turned their backs on her.


    When food was mentioned, Tangyuan couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.


    She immediately opened her eyes and waved her little hands, asking to be held by her mother.


    Green Group initially appeared indifferent, but seeing Tangyuan being picked up, he promptly decided to drop all pretenses and waved his little hands too.


    "You two mischievous kids, your mother is my wife. Is it wrong for me to want my wife to keep me company?"


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. With today¡¯s incident, his wife would be even more reluctant to go out with him in the future.


    Sigh, it looks like the hot spring pool he had carefully arranged could only be used this one time. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Green Group glanced at Tan Zhenghong, then continued to gulp down the milk voraciously¡ªa blatant show-off.


    Only because Tan Zhenghong had been well-fed today did he decide to not argue with a little brat.

 Chapter 1068 - 1073: Tangyuan Gets Sick

    Chapter 1068: Chapter 1073: Tangyuan Gets SickAfter dinner, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to bed early.


    Tan Zhenghong hugged his wife, blood pumping with desire. It wasn¡¯t really his fault; he was at an age of restless energy and couldn¡¯t control himself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er warned in a low voice, "If you dare to mess around, from now on, I¡¯ll sleep with the baby, and you can sleep in the crib."


    The little bed was quite big; Tan Zhenghong could definitely fit if he curled up.


    "Duo¡¯er, I think you¡¯re the best woman in the world, both beautiful and understanding..."


    Compliments flowed from Tan Zhenghong like they cost nothing. Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly interrupted, "Even if you talk flowers today, you won¡¯t get your way."


    If it happened again, separation wouldn¡¯t be far off, and besides, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back wouldn¡¯t be able to take it if it happened too often.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, hugging his wife and closing his eyes, but his breathing was still heavy.


    "Did you take some medicine you shouldn¡¯t have today?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked seriously.


    They¡¯d already been intimate several times at the hot spring, and he had even carried her down from the mountain. Now he was pestering her again; it was not normal at all.


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath, "You don¡¯t know how tempting you are right now, holding back until this moment has been really tough."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gritted her teeth; she was breastfeeding, for goodness¡¯ sake!


    It was a sacred and serious matter. How could it have a different meaning to Tan Zhenghong?


    The next morning, Tangyuan cried softly, a sound like a teasing kitten that stirred affection.


    Normally, Tangyuan should still be asleep at this time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately went to check, changed her diaper, but that didn¡¯t help, so she picked up her daughter and started feeding her by the bed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Usually greedy, Tangyuan had no appetite today, drinking just a couple of mouthfuls before turning her head away.


    "Ah Hong, touch her, Tangyuan feels a bit hot." Qiao Duo¡¯er said anxiously.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately came over, touched Tangyuan¡¯s forehead, and compared it with Green Group¡¯s.


    "She¡¯s indeed running a fever. I¡¯ll go call Uncle Wu to have a look."


    A three-month-old baby¡¯s illness can¡¯t be neglected.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped him, "The fever isn¡¯t severe right now, let¡¯s observe a bit longer. Ask Granny Su to boil some mugwort water, and later we¡¯ll give Tangyuan a bath."


    If they could control the temperature with physical cooling, it was better not to take medicine; after all, every medicine has its side effects.


    Of course, if the fever got worse, then medicine was necessary, because it might lead to other complications.


    "I¡¯ll go right away." Tan Zhenghong acted immediately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er first wiped Tangyuan¡¯s face with a warm towel, then fed her some warm water.


    Tangyuan felt a bit better but still didn¡¯t sleep soundly.


    Seeing her in discomfort, Qiao Duo¡¯er said with self-reproach, "It must be because the two kids were fussy yesterday and caught a chill by accident."


    She had brought these two children into the world, yet she hadn¡¯t fulfilled her duty to take care of them properly.


    Tan Zhenghong soothed, "It¡¯s normal for children to have minor illnesses. How could anyone never get sick?"


    He had also heard it said: frequent minor illnesses keep major ones at bay. Maybe getting sick occasionally wasn¡¯t such a bad thing.

 Chapter 1069 - 1074 Raising Children

    Chapter 1069: Chapter 1074 Raising ChildrenMoreover, if anyone was to blame for negligence, it was him who bore the greater responsibility. It was he who insisted on taking Duo¡¯er to the hot springs, and it was he who delayed for such a long time.


    If he could, he would not hesitate to take his daughter¡¯s place and endure the hardship himself.


    But children will eventually become independent one day, so let this be a small trial.


    "I know, hurry and move Green Group to another place, so they don¡¯t get infected," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    Now that Tangyuan was sick, they couldn¡¯t afford to let Green Group catch it too.


    Otherwise, if the children suffered, the two adults wouldn¡¯t be able to manage two sick children.


    As soon as Green Group was sent away, Wang Clan brought in a wooden basin with cooled wormwood water in it, with no tap water mixed in.


    "Fourth Boss, Duo¡¯er, the wormwood water is ready. Wash Tangyuan with it, then cover her with the quilt and let her sleep, and she will get better soon," Wang Clan comforted.


    She had raised her children this way, and generally, as long as they sweated it out, there would be no problem.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thanked her, then immediately undressed Tangyuan and gently placed her in the basin.


    After the bath, Tangyuan¡¯s spirit improved a bit, and she even cooperated in drinking a few sips of milk.


    However, Qiao Duo¡¯er still didn¡¯t dare to relax and stayed by Tangyuan¡¯s side until the fever subsided by evening, and only then did her heart settle back into her chest.


    Fevers, even in the more developed future, still have a significant mortality rate, so one can imagine the danger for an infant of merely three months old in ancient times.


    Fortunately, it was just a false alarm.


    Tan Zhenghong gently touched his daughter¡¯s cheek: "Tangyuan is really brave, a little hero indeed."


    Having a fever is very uncomfortable, but Tangyuan only whimpered twice in the morning and did not cry or make a fuss at other times.


    She has the same temperament as Duo¡¯er.


    Even though she is a woman, she likes to shoulder everything herself, so what¡¯s the need for a man?


    After another night, Tangyuan was lively once again.


    Once she was full and satisfied, she started figuring out how to roll over.


    In terms of athletic talent, Green Group was even better; he could already roll over smoothly.


    Watching them playing joyfully, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt extremely content. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as Tan Zhenghong had anticipated, from then on Qiao Duo almost always stayed home, and hadn¡¯t gone to the hot springs again until May.


    Now, Green Group and Tangyuan were able to crawl slowly, and with even more energy, plus with fewer clothes in the summer, without any restraints at all, the two would play all day long.


    Qiao Duo simply laid a quilt on the floor, letting them crawl wherever they wanted.


    All the furniture was wrapped with cotton cloth, eliminating worries about them knocking or bumping into anything.


    At mealtimes, Tan Zhenghong would bring specially prepared food for the two little ones.


    From six months on, his wife had said that milk alone could not satisfy the baby¡¯s needs as they grew.


    He thought his wife knew more than he did, so he did everything according to what she said.


    In addition to milk, they gradually added complementary foods, starting with various vegetable purees, then egg yolks and rice cereal.


    It turned out that Duo¡¯er knew how to nourish children well.


    Now both children were plump, white and chubby, lively and smart, and aside from that one oversight, they hadn¡¯t been sick again.


    "Wife, you go eat first, I¡¯ll feed them," Tan Zhenghong called out.


    Seeing that the two children were sitting steadily, Qiao Duo said, "Bring out the low table we made the other day, let¡¯s eat together."


    A seven-month-old child can begin to practice eating on their own, even if it means using their hands to grasp the food and bringing it to their mouths, that¡¯s still their skill.

 Chapter 1070 - 1075: Eat by Yourself

    Chapter 1070: Chapter 1075: Eat by YourselfTan Zhenghong was somewhat hesitant because he saw that other families always fed their babies.


    If they ate by themselves, not only would they not get full, but they would also let the food go cold.


    Once Tan Zhenghong voiced his concerns, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "It¡¯s summer now, eating something cold is not a problem. They have to eat by themselves someday, so starting to practice early is not harmful."


    If they missed this summer, they would have to wait another year to train them.


    "Fine, if they¡¯re not full, I¡¯ll cook more for them."


    Tan Zhenghong cheerfully went to move the small table.


    In fact, he didn¡¯t expect the two little fellows to eat much by themselves, it was more like letting them play.


    Soon, Green Group and Tangyuan received their own special bowls and spoons. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bowls and spoons were made of wood and had little images carved by Li Yang, so they weren¡¯t only distinguishable but also pretty.


    "Watch me demonstrate. This is how you eat rice!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er performed a slow-motion action and repeated it a few times.


    The two little fellows tilted their heads and watched for a while, then clumsily scooped some vegetable puree with their wooden spoons, but only the edge of the spoons touched some vegetable puree, and they didn¡¯t manage to get it to their mouths, but smeared it on their own faces instead.


    Green Group and Tangyuan, however, were tirelessly happy, failing again and again, trying over and over.


    After a long while, they still hadn¡¯t eaten anything.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er uncharitably laughed, it was just a pity that there were no mobile phones in this era, otherwise she would definitely have captured this scene.


    As they failed time and time again, Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, he meekly asked, "Wife, do we really not need to help them?"


    At this rate, how long would it take for them to eat?


    "Being able to eat this much for the first time is already very impressive. Our babies are so clever," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up.


    Now that the children were willing to eat by themselves and found it fun, why stop them?


    A lot of curiosity is lost due to too much parental interference.


    Later on, Green Group simply threw the spoon and grabbed a handful of vegetable puree and stuffed it into his mouth.


    There, didn¡¯t he manage to eat?


    Tangyuan followed suit and even grabbed a handful of vegetable puree to feed her own parents.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a meaningful look, "Your daughter is feeding you, eat it quickly."


    Tan Zhenghong happily leaned over. This vegetable puree was low in oil and salt, so the taste definitely wasn¡¯t good, but seeing his daughter¡¯s expectant face, he couldn¡¯t bear to let her down.


    "Tangyuan is the best," Tan Zhenghong patted Tangyuan¡¯s head.


    Tangyuan smiled broadly.


    Having gained a benefit, Tan Zhenghong sought advantages for Tangyuan, "Can we make the complementary food tastier?"


    "Their organs are very delicate, exceeding the amount of oil and salt would only burden their bodies."


    When it concerned the babies¡¯ health, Qiao Duo¡¯er would never be negligent.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded and then silently hoped Tangyuan would stuff his wife¡¯s mouth with the tasteless vegetable puree, sharing both the blessings and hardships indeed.


    But he noticed that when Green Group and Tangyuan were feeding them, Qiao Duo¡¯er mostly shielded him.


    The atmosphere during the meal was very good, filled with almost continuous laughter.


    However, the place where they ate completely turned into a battlefield.


    By the time they finished the meal, Green Group and Tangyuan had successfully turned into little "calico cats."


    "I¡¯ll go fetch water to wash them."


    Tan Zhenghong lovingly watched the two little things, after all, his own babies always looked good to him.


    After changing the water twice, they finally cleaned up the two little ones. They had exerted a lot of effort during the meal, and after bathing, they lay on the bed unwilling to move.

 Chapter 1071 - 1076: Joyous Occasions

    Chapter 1071: Chapter 1076: Joyous OccasionsEating was still not easy for them, laborious to say the least, and they also had to figure out how to get the food into their mouths.


    Before long, the two little ones had fallen asleep.


    "From now on, we need to let them eat on their own more." Qiao Duo¡¯er said with satisfaction.


    If it were just letting them play, it would take at least an hour and a half to achieve this effect.


    Tan Zhenghong greatly agreed. Although he had to clean up after the meal, at least they were sitting quietly; otherwise, they would definitely be rolling and crawling all over the house, turning everything upside down.


    In the following days, the two little ones each spent at least an hour eating every day.


    Because there were different varieties of delicious food every day, they were always excited, and it had become a habit to take a nap after each meal.


    Thus, their problem of excessive energy was solved.


    By the time the two little dumplings woke up, it was already evening.


    At this time, the light wasn¡¯t strong, so Qiao Duo¡¯er took the two little things out for a stroll in the stroller.


    Not long after they started, Aunt Huang came walking towards them from the opposite side.


    "Let me see, oh my, they are getting prettier!" Aunt Huang exclaimed.


    Seeing these two children always made her feel like her heart was melting. She hoped that soon her family would also have a new little child.


    Curious, Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, "Aunt Huang, you seem in a good mood, is there some happy news?"


    Now, Aunt Huang looked energized, seemingly much younger all of a sudden.


    Aunt Huang looked around and then lowered her voice to say, "The wine you gave me worked, Zhong Zi is urging me to ask for her hand in marriage, and I¡¯m thinking of asking the village chief¡¯s wife to help me with it."


    "At last, you¡¯ve achieved your goal!" Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit excited.


    This was really good news!


    Aunt Huang fully agreed, "I have been looking forward to this day, and now it¡¯s finally here. Once I pick a good date, I¡¯ll invite you to the wedding banquet and give you a big red envelope!"


    "Then I will gratefully accept."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully winked; she knew Aunt Huang was grateful for that jar of Deer Whip Wine.


    Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s were both very shy, and if not for a little trick, who knows how long they would have hesitated.


    But she felt that Huang Zhong had been patient up till now, and still insisted that Aunt Huang ask for the girl¡¯s hand first, which made him quite a gentleman.


    Additionally, with sensible Aunt Huang and the old couple, it was hard for Hu¡¯s not to be happy this time.


    "This should have been yours. Zhong Zi also said not to make a big fuss this time. I think Lan is good, and I shouldn¡¯t let her down, so we need to provide whatever¡¯s normally required, but this time we won¡¯t accept any gifts at the banquet, so please don¡¯t be shy,"


    Aunt Huang remembered something about the gift money.


    When Zhong Zi got married to Bao¡¯s, they had already hosted a banquet. To charge for gifts again at this marriage would certainly lead to criticism of the Huang Family.


    She simply decided to skip the gift money, as a banquet wouldn¡¯t really be a matter of life or death for the Huang Family.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I definitely won¡¯t break the rules."


    In the past, Hu¡¯s would often secretly look after Ah Hong, always saving a bite of food for him; she considered this a part of Hu¡¯s dowry.


    With this, Hu¡¯s could stand tall as she crossed into marriage.


    After saying goodbye to Aunt Huang, Qiao Duo¡¯er went to Hu¡¯s small courtyard. Now that the Huang Family was getting busy with the wedding arrangements, it was time for Hu¡¯s to start making her own preparations. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er, Hu¡¯s almost blossomed into a flower with her smile.


    "Sister Lan, you are glowing with happiness, looking even more beautiful," Qiao Duo¡¯er teased.


    Now, Hu¡¯s had a rosy complexion, exuding a charm of her own.

 Chapter 1072 - 1077: Discussing the Dowry

    Chapter 1072: Chapter 1077: Discussing the DowryHu¡¯s Clan couldn¡¯t help but blush, "You¡¯re just teasing me, my heart is all over the place, I really don¡¯t know what to do."


    Fearing that the children would worry, she had temporarily sent the two girls to her mother¡¯s home.


    "Anyway, I don¡¯t have much to do today, so you can take your time and tell me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sat down on a bench under the shade of a tree.


    Hu¡¯s Clan organized her thoughts before speaking, "A couple of days ago, Zhong Zi mentioned wanting another child. I haven¡¯t been pregnant since giving birth to Er Ya."


    "The Huang Family already has two grandsons. Brother Zhong probably wants another child to solidify your relationship a bit more. If it happens, great; if not, no worries, as long as you two are truly committed to living life together," Qiao Duo¡¯er consoled.


    Hu¡¯s Clan pursed her lips, "A couple of days ago, father came to see me, suggesting I wait for Big Brother Tan¡¯s return, saying that a stepfather can¡¯t compare to a real father."


    "Are you talking about Tan Yuancheng?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised.


    She had not expected Tan Yuancheng to come in person.


    Probably because the house was overwhelmed with work, they turned their attention to the capable Hu¡¯s Clan.


    She was curious about what end would come to such a heartless old man.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded. Tan Yuancheng had a heartfelt conversation with her for a good while, and her heart was somewhat swayed again.


    At this age, her highest priority was her two children; even if it meant suffering or exhaustion on her part, she couldn¡¯t allow her children to face the slightest hardship.


    "You¡¯ve been working with Brother Zhong for so long, don¡¯t you know what kind of person he is? And have you forgotten how Tan Zhengyuan treated you? Even a stranger would treat the girls better, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit exasperated, she remembered how selfish Tan Zhengyuan had been; had Hu¡¯s Clan forgotten?


    And yet she still entertained thoughts of rekindling their old relationship after Tan Zhengyuan got out of prison; perhaps she had been living too comfortably lately.


    Hu¡¯s Clan suddenly realized, "I was thinking amiss."


    "It¡¯s easy to let your mind wander before getting married, but as long as you¡¯re sure the Huang Family truly treats you and the girls well, go ahead and marry," Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed understanding.


    Getting into a dead end isn¡¯t scary; what¡¯s frightening is knowing there¡¯s a dead end ahead and still stubbornly moving forward.


    What else could happen but ending up battered and bruised?


    Having alleviated Hu¡¯s Clan concerns, they happily began discussing the dowry.


    This was Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s second marriage, but the first time she had a dowry.


    Soon, they decided to add four installments to the dowry on top of what the Huang Family was already providing.


    That is, the Huang Family was contributing six installments, and Hu¡¯s Clan would bring ten installments back, making it look good for everyone. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister Lan, I¡¯m very optimistic about you and Brother Zhong, but there¡¯s one more thing. We shouldn¡¯t covet others¡¯ possessions, but we must guard against being exploited. Once married, you should protect your large assets as a safety net for the girls and yourself," Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded.


    Of course, the Huang Family likely wouldn¡¯t touch Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s money and should understand her concerns.


    Hu¡¯s Clan nodded, "I know that. I¡¯ll definitely prepare the girls¡¯ dowry separately to ensure they can stand tall in their in-laws¡¯ home."


    The main reason she had been ordered around in the Tan Family was her lack of a dowry.


    She would never let her children endure such an ordeal again.


    "But don¡¯t be too obvious with your precautions; after all, barring any accidents, you¡¯ll be one family from now on."


    The discretion was now Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s to manage, but having managed the pickled meat shop for so long, she likely knew how to maintain a

 Chapter 1073 - 1078: The First Time Speaking

    Chapter 1073: Chapter 1078: The First Time SpeakingBy June, it was as hot as a furnace outside, and Qiao Duo¡¯er spent most of her days huddled at home with the two little ones.


    Since the arrival of Green Group and Tangyuan, she had never felt bored, so life felt anything but tough.


    On the contrary, she wished time would slow down a bit more.


    Because as the babies grew up, they wouldn¡¯t depend on her completely anymore.


    After lunch, Qiao Duo¡¯er slept with the two little ones, and while she was in a daze, she started to hear some strange noises.


    "Mommy, Mommy."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instantly opened her eyes. In the bedroom was just her family of four; only Tangyuan and Green Group could produce such tender voices.


    "Did you hear someone calling Mom?"


    Tan Zhenghong bolted upright, "I heard it, it seemed like Tangyuan¡¯s voice."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately leaned over to the two children, "Call again, I was asleep just now and didn¡¯t hear clearly."


    But both kids acted as if nothing had happened, hugging their toys and playing on their own.


    Was it really just her imagination?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit disappointed, "It¡¯s okay if it wasn¡¯t you two calling. You¡¯re still small, you¡¯ll talk when you grow a bit more."


    "Yeah, these things can¡¯t be rushed," Tan Zhenghong consoled.


    They were only eight months old now, so it was normal for them not to be speaking yet.


    As the saying goes, ¡¯sit by three months, crawl by seven, walk by eight.¡¯ Until now, their babies had been developing right on this schedule, occasionally even a little earlier, which showed they were perfectly normal.


    No sooner had Qiao Duo¡¯er lain down again than she heard the two little ones calling out ¡¯Mommy¡¯.


    This time, she was sure it was the two little ones calling, and they both did.


    "They can talk now!" Tan Zhenghong was also very excited.


    "The first step is the hardest, now they can say ¡¯Mom,¡¯ and soon they¡¯ll be saying a lot more," Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled, her eyes creasing.


    Indeed, raising children was like an adventure because one might find surprises anywhere, anytime.


    Tan Zhenghong said confidently, "I¡¯m going to teach them to call ¡¯Dad.¡¯ Although I didn¡¯t experience the pain of childbirth, I¡¯ve taken great care of them."


    As long as he was at home, he was the one worried about the children, even Duo¡¯er had to step aside.


    He had devoted so much effort; why shouldn¡¯t they call ¡¯Dad¡¯ as well as ¡¯Mom¡¯?


    "I have no objections."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised both hands in agreement; this way, when the twins started crying later on, they would know to call their dad, and she was more than willing to be a hands-off boss.


    Thus, Tan Zhenghong fell victim to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s little scheme.


    With this discovery, Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er tried their best to talk with the two children, guiding them to express their own thoughts.


    Once the babies had developed the ability to communicate, they would be much easier to manage.


    As the twins neared their first birthday, they could already say some simple words such as "eat," "pee," and "dog."


    Besides talking, they could also walk a few steps while holding onto things. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By then, many people in town had also begun to send their congratulations.


    Tan Zhenghong handed Duo¡¯er the list of gifts: "Wife, these families will inevitably be in touch in the future; why don¡¯t we invite them all over this time?"


    "It would be rude not to invite them to the Tan Family, but the future interactions might be troublesome,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, expressing her dislike for participating in those banquets that were nothing more than going through the motions with no real sentiment.


    "Isn¡¯t that simple? If you want to go, go; if not, just send gifts,"


    Tan Zhenghong said lightly.


    At most, prepare more generous gifts when not attending, and the hosts surely won¡¯t make a fuss over it.


    At this point, Qiao Duo¡¯er could only comfort herself with these thoughts.

 Chapter 1074 - 1079: Where’s Your Face?

    Chapter 1074: Chapter 1079: Where¡¯s Your Face?On the birthday of the Green Group and Tangyuan, the Tan Family welcomed a significant number of guests.


    The Tan Family, situated in the village and hosting guests for the first time, made it a first-time visit for many.


    They could hardly believe this was the home of a Fifth Rank inspector.


    It was modest yet possessed a unique charm.


    The Tan Family, a newly emerging wealthy household, showed no trace of vulgarity; instead, it exuded an elegant and cozy lifestyle.


    "The Tan Family has mountains and water, truly a feng shui treasure land. No wonder they have given birth to two bizarre and spirited babies," Madam Qian said with a smile. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ve only heard that this pair of Dragon and Phoenix Twins are both beautiful and intelligent. I must go see them."


    "I¡¯ll go too and ask Mrs. Tan how she raises her children."


    Groups of women, having asked the Maid, made their way to the guest room.


    In the guest room, the two treasures had changed into festive red attire.


    This was arranged by Duo¡¯er early on; she disliked others visiting her bedroom, so she prepared the largest guest room. This made her comfortable and allowed the guests to play with the children.


    The personality differences between the twins were becoming more pronounced; Green Group was reserved, while Tangyuan was lively.


    Especially when encountering strangers, the twins¡¯ reactions were vastly different.


    No matter who teased them, Green Group remained silent, while Tangyuan would act coquettishly and beg to be held.


    "Duo¡¯er, how did you give birth to two children with such completely different personalities? They are just too adorable!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied with resignation, "I actually wish their temperaments were more alike, so they could play together."


    "It¡¯s normal for a boy and a girl to be different; otherwise, you¡¯d be bothered later on," commented someone with experience, chuckling.


    If a male child were effeminate or a female child a tomboy, it would be problematic when discussing marriage prospects.


    Currently, the Tan Family¡¯s two little ones had just the right personalities: the boy was composed and reticent, his feelings not readily visible, while the girl was lively and warm-hearted, with a gentle temper. Surely, they would both find good matches in the future.


    In the end, isn¡¯t the hope in raising sons and daughters that they find suitable partners and live a prosperous and joyful life?


    At this moment, some commotion stirred among the guests admiring the rural scenery in the front yard.


    The Du Family had also sent people, specifically the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Zhong Clan, and Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    Seeing them, many couldn¡¯t help but frown; if it were them, they assuredly would have stayed hidden at home their entire life.


    "The Du Family has been too ashamed to see anyone for more than a year; what¡¯s happened today?"


    Du Yingxue first had an illicit affair with mountain bandits, resulting in a secret pregnancy, and later she colluded with her bandit lover to steal away the barely month-old Qin Mingrui.


    And yet, the Du Family could still shamelessly appear at others¡¯ homes, where had their faces gone?


    "They must think that after more than a year, everyone has forgotten about it; perhaps they even want to take advantage of their daughter-in-law to curry some favor with the old Tan Family."


    "Qiao Hua¡¯er and Mrs. Tan may be sisters, but the gap between them is really huge."


    "It¡¯s like one is from heaven, and the other from earth, okay? Qiao Hua¡¯er couldn¡¯t catch up to Mrs. Tan¡¯s demeanor even if she studied for several lifetimes."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was always composed in her interactions, exuding an ethereal, unworldly aura.


    As for Qiao Hua¡¯er, she emanated a mercenary air that instinctively made people keep their distance.


    "What happened to Du Yingxue and the child? If not for seeing them today, I would¡¯ve completely forgotten about that mess."


    "I heard the mother died in childbirth, but the son was fine, though he was given away."


    "Let¡¯s hope they placed the poor child with a kind family so at least he can hold his head high."


    The group of women nodded in agreement, regardless of how shameless the parents were, the child was innocent and deserved attention and love.

 Chapter 1075 - 1080: A Guarded Heart

    Chapter 1075: Chapter 1080: A Guarded HeartSeeing the people around her whispering, Qiao Hua¡¯er could hardly contain herself and wanted to argue with that group of people, but was stopped by the Zhong Clan.


    A year ago, it was indeed Du Yingxue who was at fault first. Even if they argued with others, they couldn¡¯t win the argument.


    In the end, they just made themselves a laughing stock to others.


    "Mother, do you think they¡¯re being too much?" Qiao Hua¡¯er said unhappily.


    It¡¯s Du Yingxue¡¯s shameless business, why must they drag the Du Family into it?


    Madam Zhong said irritably, "What if they are too much? Do you have the confidence to argue with them now?"


    After the incident, the Du Family¡¯s business had plummeted. Now they were counting on the people present to lend a hand. What right did they have to offend others?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er gritted her teeth, "How do we know we can¡¯t win the argument if we don¡¯t try?"


    They all think they¡¯re so high and mighty, but aren¡¯t they just good at gossiping behind others¡¯ backs?


    "You¡¯d better keep your eyes sharp. If you mess things up again, I¡¯ll have Hao Feng divorce you!" Lady Du warned.


    If it weren¡¯t for the relationship between Qiao Hua¡¯er and Qiao Duo¡¯er, she wouldn¡¯t have brought Qiao Hua¡¯er along at all.


    She hoped that today Qiao Hua¡¯er would put on a good show and win an opportunity for the Du Family.


    "Yes," Qiao Hua¡¯er nodded.


    But deep down, she was still seething with resentment. Humph, she¡¯d remember this debt; when the Du Family became prosperous again, she¡¯d definitely settle this score with them!


    Only when she saw Qiao Hua¡¯er was no longer so impulsive did Madam Zhong take her to the guest room.


    As soon as they entered, the originally cheerful crowd turned to look at them, and the room instantly fell silent.


    In that moment, the awkwardness reached its peak.


    As Duo¡¯er¡¯s best friend, Chen Yiling was also among them.


    Seeing the Du Family members, her first reaction was to hug her child tightly and also to give Duo¡¯er a look.


    The disappearance of Qin Mingrui was the biggest nightmare of her life.


    Although Qin Mingrui was found again, when midnight dreams returned, she would often wake up in a cold sweat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, understanding the hint, watched the two children even more closely.


    "Greetings to Mrs. Tan, Lady Qin."


    Madam Zhong and Qiao Hua¡¯er curtsied, finally breaking the awkward atmosphere in the room.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded indifferently, "No need for such courtesy, Almond, please usher the guests to sit outside." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Du Family had a history of issues, and she wasn¡¯t comfortable with these two wandering around the room.


    For a mother, protecting her child is the most important duty.


    "Big sister, it wasn¡¯t me who kidnapped children, why are you sending me away? I¡¯m the babies¡¯ aunt and I¡¯ve even prepared gifts for them," Qiao Hua¡¯er approached Green Group and Tangyuan smilingly.


    Looking at the two adorable children, her hand holding the Longevity Lock unconsciously tightened.


    How could Qiao Duo¡¯er be so lucky?


    Just marrying a poor man, and he strikes it rich.


    Having children seemingly at random, and not only does she have both a son and a daughter, but the children are also extraordinarily lovable.


    How can there be any fairness left in the world for others?


    "Green Group, Tangyuan, do you like this Golden Lock?"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er tried to make her voice as gentle as possible.


    At that moment, Green Group and Tangyuan had a consistent reaction: they ignored Qiao Hua¡¯er.


    No matter how brightly she smiled, they only played with the building blocks in their hands.


    The building blocks were designed by Qiao Duo¡¯er, made by Wind Liyang, and since they arrived, the children had been inseparable from them.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er continued to coax them, "What you have in your hands is just a broken piece of wood, is it worth as much as gold? Look at this Golden Lock, how shiny and pretty it is!"


    The kids were really foolish; could there be anything in this world more desirable than gold?

 Chapter 1076 - 1081: Ignorant of the Treasure

    Chapter 1076: Chapter 1081: Ignorant of the TreasureBefore she could finish, some madams laughed disdainfully.


    The building blocks in the hands of the two children were personally made by Wind Liyang of the Golden Axe, and just that fact made them hundreds of times more valuable than gold and silver.


    "I reckon that only Lady Du in all the land would call these mere scraps of wood."


    Madam Qian, who was always blunt, couldn¡¯t help but blurt it out.


    After all, she could only dream of bringing something made personally by Wind Liyang back home.


    Unfortunately, with the Feng Family¡¯s reputation soaring, most of their furniture ended up in the palace, and even some officials had to patiently wait their turn. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A small merchant¡¯s daughter like herself could only wish.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er rolled her eyes, even if Qiao Duo said it, wood was still wood, wasn¡¯t it? What¡¯s so special about that?


    Zhong Clan hurriedly tugged at Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s clothes: "This is a fine item, personally crafted by Master Feng. You can¡¯t buy it with silver, and here in White Stone Town, probably only Mrs. Tan could have such an honor."


    "My eldest sister is indeed impressive," Qiao Hua¡¯er laughed dryly.


    But should she still give away the golden lock she held in her hand?


    To give it away, the little things might not fancy it, but to take it back would be a loss of face.


    She blamed her stingy mother-in-law, who, knowing well the status of the Tan Family, still had the nerve to use hollow golden locks to deceive people.


    Almond helped to ease the situation: "Many thanks to Lady Du for your kind intention. Why not hand the longevity lock over to me, and I¡¯ll place it in front of the offering table?"


    According to custom, all congratulatory gifts should be given to the host family to place on the star of longevity¡¯s offering table, where the gifts would then be imbued with the star¡¯s blessings.


    For the Du Family to want to personally place it around the child¡¯s neck was indeed against proper etiquette.


    Probably everyone sitting there understood their motive.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er handed over the longevity lock without hesitation.


    To alleviate her own embarrassment, she mocked herself, "Ever since I got pregnant, I keep overlooking things. Big sister, you must be upset with me."


    As she spoke, she touched her belly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head: "Of course not."


    In fact, she thought that Qiao Hua¡¯er had never handled things properly, even when she wasn¡¯t pregnant.


    It¡¯s not that Qiao Hua¡¯er was foolish, but she had only cunning tricks that couldn¡¯t be brought to the forefront.


    "I¡¯ve heard that if you spend time with smart children while pregnant, your own child will also be smart. Come on, let me hug you," she said, reaching out to hug Tangyuan, who quickly stepped aside.


    Qiao Duo reminded, "Then you¡¯d better stay a little further away from the children. They don¡¯t know their own strength and like to move about; it wouldn¡¯t be good if they accidentally hurt you."


    "Right, a pregnant woman shouldn¡¯t overexert herself or be disturbed by noise. I¡¯ll accompany you for a walk outside," Madam Qian agreed, then pulled Qiao Hua¡¯er out.


    With the person Tangyuan found annoying now gone, she became lively again.


    "Nasty, don¡¯t wanna play!"


    Tangyuan said in her baby voice, amusing everyone with laughter.


    The Tan family¡¯s daughter will surely know how to handle people when she grows up, discerning people¡¯s intentions at just one year old.


    Qiao Duo and touched her daughter¡¯s head, silently thinking she must teach Tangyuan to not be so straightforward in the future, for childish comments might be passed off now, but not when she¡¯s older.


    After a while, someone called for the guests to take their seats.


    The ladies reluctantly left the guest room and moved to the front yard to sit down.


    The Tan Family didn¡¯t have a dedicated banquet hall because when the house was built, they never imagined there would be a time when so many guests were to be entertained.


    Luckily, the weather was fine that day. The male guests were arranged in the front yard, and the female family members sat in the main hall.

 Chapter 1077 - 1082: Sabotage?

    Chapter 1077: Chapter 1082: Sabotage?This, in Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s view, was even more disgraceful because only peasant families did such things.


    Yet, what she heard was nothing but praise.


    People actually said the Tan Family had a very warm and cozy life, that Tan Zhenghong was better than any rich young master, considerate and good at chores.


    In their eyes, anything associated with the Tan Family was good.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was struggling to contain herself; otherwise, she feared she would stand up and say that the Tan Family was just being cheap, deliberately choosing a lower standard of living when they could have had a better one!


    After finising her meal in frustration, an even more upsetting event awaited her.


    After the banquet ended, Tan Zhenghong took Duo¡¯er and the children to pay their respects to the birthday star.


    Next came the most exciting part of the first birthday celebration, the Grasping Rite.


    The Grasping Rite, also known as the "Test of the Child," predicts a child¡¯s future behavior based on the items they grab.


    Two square tables were pushed together, covered with various small items¡ªbows and arrows, paper and ink, knives and rulers, needles and thread, food, treasures, apparel, and toys, each symbolizing different meanings.


    Tangyuan was very excited and rushed toward the table. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Green Group, on the other hand, seemed disinterested, his eyes fixed on the Zhong Clan, as if he were attracted by something.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er¡¯s eyes flickered, and she immediately thought of a plan, "I see Green Group keeps looking at the hairpin on my mother¡¯s head, why don¡¯t we put it on the table for the children to play with?"


    If a male child grabs a Golden Hairpin, it suggests he will grow up to be a worthless man, obsessed with women.


    If Green Group grabbed it, then she would see how Qiao Duo¡¯er could ever hold her head high in front of others!


    "Lady Du, the Grasping Rite is all about seeking good fortune, your actions seem to be sabotaging the event," said the Zou¡¯s, frowning.


    Knowing that the child was interested in the Golden Hairpin, yet still insisting on placing it on the table, wasn¡¯t she intentionally causing trouble?


    How could this woman be so thoughtless?


    "I am just pitying the child. What¡¯s wrong with giving them what they like?"


    Qiao Hua¡¯er looked innocent, thinking that if she didn¡¯t place the hairpin on the table, wouldn¡¯t that be deceiving herself and others?


    The Zou¡¯s glared at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Du Family; the younger one was naive, the elder didn¡¯t know how to teach properly, and yet they still had the audacity to come out and lose face publicly!


    From their initial interaction, the Zhong Clan knew that Qiao Duo would not help Qiao Hua¡¯er and thought it would be enjoyable to witness Qiao Duo¡¯s embarrassment.


    But when the battle came to her, it was different.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was Qiao Duo¡¯s sister, another coarse village girl; at worst, people would say she lacked manners.


    But it was not the same for her. She was older, had learned manners from a young age, and people would certainly think she did it on purpose.


    The Zhong Clan immediately said, "No fooling around. All children like shiny things."


    If someone¡¯s son truly ended up indulging in pleasures because of this, wouldn¡¯t all the blame fall on the Du Family?


    "Then let¡¯s put everything out. But if a child grabs something, you might not be able to get it back," said Qiao Duo nonchalantly, knowing that Green Group¡¯s interest lay in the gemstone on the Zhong Clan¡¯s forehead. The child had a habit of picking at things; not doing so would leave him feeling uneasy.


    Perhaps this could be called an obsessive-compulsive disorder.


    And even if Green Group really did grab the Golden Hairpin, she wouldn¡¯t be upset.


    To her, who was forward-thinking, the Grasping Rite was nothing more than a small game, to be easily laughed off.


    What mattered for the future was the guidance of the parents and the efforts of the child.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er immediately pulled the Golden Hairpin from the Zhong Clan¡¯s head.


    Her movements were extremely quick; the Zhong Clan had just thought to stop her, but the Golden Hairpin was already placed in the center of the table.


    The antics, reminiscent of a clown¡¯s performance, disgusted everyone present.


    They were already thinking that they must remind themselves never to let the Du Family members in the door during future celebrations, for this family seemed to bring nothing but bad luck.

 Chapter 1078 - 1083: Accepting Disciples

    Chapter 1078: Chapter 1083: Accepting DisciplesThe Zhong Clan harshly criticized Qiao Hua¡¯er to the point she started doubting whether Qiao Hua¡¯er was deliberately targeting the Du Family.


    Yet this foolish woman was still self-congratulatory, as if she had overshadowed Qiao Duo¡¯er altogether.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong each placed their children on the table.


    "Green Group, Tangyuan, take whatever you like, but don¡¯t be too greedy," Qiao Duo¡¯er gently patted the heads of the little ones.


    Green Group and Tangyuan nodded, searching the table for their favorite trinkets.


    Soon, Green Group crawled towards a golden hairpin and grabbed it without hesitation.


    But before Qiao Hua¡¯er could revel in her smugness, Green Group had already flung the hairpin away.


    This hairpin was in the way; Green Group seemed very upset.


    "Lady Du, didn¡¯t you say Green Group liked this hairpin? I can¡¯t seem to see it," Madam Qian retorted sharply.


    Bai Yifan chimed in, "I¡¯ve seen a condition, constantly fantasizing that others like oneself and one¡¯s belongings. Such people often lack love, but fixating on barely a year-old child like this is something I see for the first time. It might be quite a severe case."


    "Young Master Bai, you are a divine doctor; please have a look and see if it¡¯s curable," someone teased.


    "Today is a celebration, consultations should wait till after the party,"


    "Right, I¡¯ve heard that meddling in others¡¯ affairs invites divine punishment,"


    With Madam Qian and Bai Yifan pitching in, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Du Family were unable to save face.


    The Zhong Clan gave a forced laugh before speaking, "My daughter-in-law is just not very smart, please excuse us."


    "Sister-in-law, you must thoroughly check Lady Du. Make sure this ¡¯disease¡¯ doesn¡¯t spread to others," Chen Yiling remarked coolly.


    She just couldn¡¯t stand the sight of the Du Family Members, who were a group of people blatantly lacking tact, always causing trouble for her godson and goddaughter.


    Well, she couldn¡¯t be blamed for speaking harshly then.


    Bai Yifan bowed slightly, "If big sister has spoken, I dare not be careless."


    After speaking, he even hid his face with a fan, because laughing at this moment would ruin the whole act.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er silently cursed those who meddled unnecessarily.


    Green Group wasn¡¯t their child; why were they behaving like busybodies?


    Especially Bai Yifan, no matter how much he schemed, Qiao Duo¡¯er still didn¡¯t like him!


    Elsewhere, Green Group and Tangyuan had made their choices.


    Green Group took a dagger and a pen while Tangyuan picked up a medical book.


    "Green Group will surely excel in both arts and martial skills when she grows up; the young lady is a rare jewel with unlimited potential!" Old Lady Bai gave a thumbs up.


    Living to this age, it was her first time seeing such an exceptional child.


    Has heaven any reason to not bless such a brilliant and adorable child?


    "Indeed, so many choices and yet not distracted at all, truly impressive!"


    "When you become a top scholar, don¡¯t forget us from White Stone County; we are the ones who saw you in diapers!"


    Everyone gave a thumbs-up, their esteem for the Tan Family¡¯s children growing even more.


    After a moment of silence, Bai Yifan announced a significant decision.


    "I declare that henceforth, Tan Shaoyi will be my main disciple,"


    As the disciple of Medicine King and the next Medicine King himself, to take the little girl of the Tan Family as a main disciple at such a young age made many envious.


    This honor was something many could only dream of. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him, "Third brother, Tangyuan is still just a baby."


    Bestowing the title of The Disciple Grandson of Medicine King on him so early, how much pressure would that put on such a young child?

 Chapter 1079 - 1084: Stark Jealousy

    Chapter 1079: Chapter 1084: Stark Jealousy"You don¡¯t understand, choosing a disciple is all about the connection at first sight. I see that Tangyuan has an excellent foundation, which makes her great material for learning medicine; of course, I had to make the first move," Bai Yifan said with a slight smile.


    Compassion and perseverance are the most crucial aspects of learning medicine, and both of Duo¡¯er¡¯s children possess them.


    Until today, he had always wanted to take Green Group as his disciple.


    But seeing Green Group grasp a pen and a dagger, following him in studying medicine would have been a waste of his talents.


    Tangyuan, being a girl, did not have the grand ambition of making a name for herself, nor did the era grant her such opportunities.


    Therefore, after weighing his options, he chose Tangyuan.


    As for Green Group, King Qin¡¯s place should be a good destination.


    Someone cautioned, "Young Master Bai, have you thought this through? The young miss is lovely, but she is ultimately a girl."


    "True, women are ultimately not the same as men."


    Later on, a girl has to marry, to support her husband, and manage the household; how much time will she have to study medicine? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I¡¯m afraid in the end, she will still disappoint Young Master Bai¡¯s painstaking efforts.


    "Successors of the mantle are generally men, but it¡¯s not specified that girls can¡¯t be one. Moreover, whether it succeeds depends on what Tangyuan accomplishes; there¡¯s no need for everyone to worry about this," he said.


    Accepting a disciple is his personal matter, at most related only to Medicine King Valley.


    "Young Master Bai, you treat Mrs. Tan so well, aren¡¯t you afraid that Fourth Master Tan might have some thoughts?" Qiao Hua¡¯er said sarcastically.


    Bai Yifan responded amiably, "Lady Du is mistaken. My accepting a disciple is solely because I have a connection with Shao Yi, and it¡¯s unrelated to Mrs. Tan. Please be cautious with your words."


    Qiao Hua¡¯er glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er with a provocative look that greatly irritated Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She had already been quite tolerant towards Qiao Hua¡¯er, considering their blood relationship; having a fallout would be quite unsightly.


    Yet the other party remained ungrateful, provoking her repeatedly. If she endured any more, she might turn into a Ninja Turtle!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "I know you¡¯re jealous of my family¡¯s Shao Yi. If you just admitted it, no one would laugh at you."


    Many women¡¯s emotions stem from comparisons: comparing their natal family, in-laws, husband, and children.


    Among them, some even develop a twisted mindset.


    If they find themselves better, they could brag to the heavens; but once they discover that they are inferior to others in some way, they can¡¯t help but denigrate and slander those others.


    Clearly, Qiao Hua¡¯er is one of the less cunning ones.


    Saying she is not cunning is because she almost wears her emotions clearly on her face.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er snorted lightly, "Why would I be jealous of you? In what way am I inferior to you?"


    "You tell us what aspects you think you equal. With so many people here today, we will surely give you justice," Chen Yiling chimed in.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er was taken aback, her face gradually turning red.


    The Tan family is wealthier than the Du family; Tan Zhenghong holds an official position and is more devoted than Du Haofeng. Qiao Duo¡¯er herself has made the Embroidery Room prosperous and is blessed with both a son and a daughter; in what way could she surpass Qiao Duo¡¯er?


    With everyone looking on disdainfully, Qiao Hua¡¯er bit her lip, her head nearly hanging to the ground.


    Seeing her quieten down, the others shifted the topic back to the subject of the first birthday grab.


    The first birthday grab ceremony is elaborate, requiring that the items the child grabs be placed in front of the Buddha for offering; it also involves inviting the Elders Quan Fu from the village to speak auspicious words.


    When the ceremony concluded, two soldiers in armor arrived.


    They were soldiers under King Qin.


    The soldiers presented the gifts prepared by King Qin.


    Tan Zhenghong graciously said, "King Qin is concerned about the whole world and remembers my son¡¯s birthday. My whole family is immensely grateful."

 Chapter 1080 - 1085: King Qin’s Congratulations Gift

    Chapter 1080: Chapter 1085: King Qin¡¯s Congratulations Giftfreew§×bn?¦Íe?.com"Fourth Master Tan, Mrs. Tan, this is the celebratory gift prepared by our prince. He wanted to attend in person, but there are military conflicts at the border, and the prince cannot leave. Please accept his apologies," one of the soldiers said respectfully.


    Although Kuro had successfully returned to Beijiang, he still felt that he had lost face in Daxing.


    To regain his honor, Kuro frequently harassed the border, which greatly annoyed the local people.


    Therefore, King Qin was planning a major battle to resolve the threat from Beijiang once and for all.


    The soldier handed over the item to Tan Zhenghong, "We must return and report back to the prince, so we will take our leave now."


    "Today is my child¡¯s birthday. Why don¡¯t you two brothers stay for some celebratory wine before leaving?"


    Tan Zhenghong invited, as it would be improper for the Tan Family not to offer a meal since they had come all the way from the border to deliver a gift.


    The two soldiers, having traveled day and night, were extremely tired and no longer declined.


    Granny Su promptly took them to the guest room, allowing the two military men to wash up before dining.


    After sending off the two military men, Tan Zhenghong saw Duo¡¯er laughing merrily and quietly asked, "What is so funny?"


    "I just find your serious demeanor quite amusing,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er revealed the truth.


    However, when Tan Zhenghong was serious, he indeed seemed quite official.


    Tan Zhenghong curled his lip. Surely, he couldn¡¯t chuckle and giggle while speaking to others.


    It is said that dealing with people is exhausting mainly because one needs to pretend in front of others while being completely at ease with family.


    Before they could chat much longer, someone suggested, "Being gifted by King Qin is indeed a great honor. Could we possibly take a look?"


    "Master Tan, Mrs. Tan, you must bring it out for us to see!"


    Everyone was focusing on the tray with the gift, and Tan Zhenghong had no choice but to lift the red cloth covering it.


    The gift from King Qin was two red coral hangings; the coral was of a pure hue and exquisitely crafted, astonishing everyone present.


    "I had only heard of red coral before, but I had never seen it."


    "I have seen it though, but it was nothing compared to this. I¡¯ve also heard that wearing red coral can strengthen the body and bones."


    "Red coral grows under the sea, and those without real capability can¡¯t get it at all; just a tiny piece the size of a finger costs One Hundred Taels!"


    "This shows that King Qin holds the Tan Family¡¯s child in high regard. With the support of such a noble person, the future is bound to be incredible!"


    "Master Tan, Mrs. Tan, we congratulate you first!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er modestly said, "Ah Hong and I were fortunate enough to host King Qin once. It might be because King Qin was quite satisfied, and it has nothing to do with the children."


    But others didn¡¯t see it that way; today¡¯s events, with Tan Zhenghong accepting an apprentice and King Qin sending a gift, were enough to demonstrate the good fortune of the children. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such blessings are truly enviable!


    These praises made Qiao Hua¡¯er increasingly uncomfortable. She sneakily slipped away while everyone¡¯s attention was on the red coral, otherwise, she might have exploded with irritation.


    Barely reaching the courtyard, Qiao Hua¡¯er saw a familiar face¡ªit was her sister, Qiao Mei¡¯er.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er was dressed no different from an ordinary village girl, which showed she wasn¡¯t living any better life following Qiao Duo.


    If she had married Xu Yuanwai back then, it would definitely have been better.


    "Humph, I thought it was who!" Qiao Hua¡¯er said sarcastically.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er gave Qiao Hua¡¯er a look, then turned around and walked away.


    Her elder sister was the most selfish, always trying to scoop the best for herself.


    Today, she had a Few Hundred Wen in her purse; to keep it safe, she better not engage with her at all.

 Chapter 1081 - 1086: Instigation

    Chapter 1081: Chapter 1086: InstigationQiao Hua¡¯er, however, stepped in front of her first, blocking the way. "Qiao Mei¡¯er, why are you still an Embroidery Lady? When you had the chance to live a good life, you stubbornly refused, insisting on becoming an Embroidery Lady. Isn¡¯t that degrading?"


    "What does it have to do with you?"


    Qiao Mei¡¯er was very cautious. She had been deceived so many times that she had learned to be smart.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er spoke with a light smile, "Of course, it has nothing to do with me. I am just expressing a bit of sympathy for you, considering we are sisters."


    "Being born a girl in the Qiao Family is unfortunate. From a young age, we have no status and must always think about Jin Gui. We can¡¯t get enough food or clothing."


    "However, you¡¯re also lucky. Look at our eldest sister now, how happy she is. Her husband has eyes only for her, and she has both a son and a daughter."


    "I¡¯m slightly less fortunate than our eldest sister, but I¡¯m also the Main Wife of a wealthy family. I¡¯m pregnant now and no one will surpass me in the future."


    "As for you, even though you have someone in your heart, even though our eldest sister could fulfill your wish with just a flick of her finger, why don¡¯t you even dare to try?"


    She had just noticed when Qiao Mei¡¯er came out, her face flush with the bloom of spring¡ªa clear sign of a heart stirred by love.


    Yet when Qiao Mei¡¯er realized someone had seen her, she acted very nervously, which meant she had fallen for someone she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Who it specifically was, she did not know.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er lowered her head, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.


    The only time the school was back, Qiao Duo¡¯er had said she couldn¡¯t help her with King Qin because they weren¡¯t close.


    But for Green Group and Tangyuan¡¯s birthday, King Qin had specifically sent gifts over, which clearly showed a deep connection.


    If her eldest sister had been willing to help her just once, maybe everything would have been different now.


    Perhaps King Qin might have given her more care, taking the Tan Family into account.


    It was just one request; why couldn¡¯t it be fulfilled?


    Did her eldest sister really hope for her misery, just to mock her?


    Qiao Hua¡¯er continued, "Among the three of us sisters, you and our eldest sister look the most alike. What she can have, you should also be able to obtain easily. Take some time to think about why she lives so comfortably while you get nothing!"


    The person Qiao Mei¡¯er fancied was most likely Tan Zhenghong. It would be best if she could be clever enough to captivate Tan Zhenghong¡¯s soul.


    Then, Qiao Duo would become a laughingstock. Just wait and see how arrogant she can be then!


    Qiao Mei¡¯er resented Qiao Duo, but she also clearly understood one thing¡ªQiao Hua¡¯er was no good either.


    "You should worry about yourself. While you¡¯re pregnant, your second brother-in-law will definitely bring other women home," sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er cautioned.


    That¡¯s just how wealthy families are; if a woman wears herself out and can¡¯t serve her man, the man thinks about bringing more women home.


    As for settling the score with Qiao Duo, she kept it in her mind, waiting for an opportunity to repay all of today¡¯s indignities.


    But now was not the time to confront her openly because she still needed to rely on the Embroidery Room to save up some silver.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er gave a faint smile, "Remember not to wear your emotions on your face in the future; otherwise, before you even make a move, you¡¯ll already have been caught."


    From the hatred in Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s eyes, they could become allies, since they shared a common disdain for someone.


    Qiao Mei¡¯er rushed out of the courtyard, disliking Qiao Hua¡¯er, but she had to admit that what was said made a lot of sense.


    It was time for her to change!


    Watching Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s retreating figure, Qiao Hua¡¯er felt extremely pleased.


    Having hatred meant there would definitely be retaliation; it was just a matter of time.


    Hopefully, the eldest sister would appreciate the gift she sent.


    "Hua¡¯er, what are you doing out here?" Du Haofeng frowned.

 Chapter 1082 - 1087: Surprises Galore

    Chapter 1082: Chapter 1087: Surprises GaloreEveryone else was in the main hall celebrating the Tan family¡¯s child¡¯s birthday, and only Qiao Hua¡¯er ran out, really out of touch!


    No wonder her mother always complains that Qiao Hua¡¯er is no good at anything.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er forced a smile, "There are too many people inside, and I felt so stuffy I thought I¡¯d throw up, so I came out for some fresh air. Is there a problem?"


    She was three months pregnant, and it was normal to have morning sickness.


    To make it look more convincing, she even deliberately patted her chest.


    "Who gets as delicate as you during pregnancy? Thinking of throwing up just because there are many people? I think you just hope our Du family meets a bad end!" Du Haofeng said, clearly irritated.


    The Du family had pinned all their hopes on this banquet, but Qiao Hua¡¯er had not lived up to expectations, and he was very angry.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er could hardly believe her ears. Shouldn¡¯t Du Haofeng be concerned about her first at this moment?


    After all, the child was half his!


    "Don¡¯t act as if you¡¯re at death¡¯s door; if there¡¯s nothing wrong, then hurry back inside!"


    Du Haofeng left these words behind and strode into the main hall.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er always thought that getting pregnant would put her in a position of power, but her family didn¡¯t seem to be looking forward to the child at all.


    The eldest son was from a village girl, quite a shame to talk about.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er clenched her fists tightly, but she didn¡¯t dare to irritate Du Haofeng and could only do as he said.


    If going back inside was what it took, she¡¯d do it, and she¡¯d put on an act of flattery.


    That way, no one would be able to find fault with her.


    But at the moment, there were many people hostile towards her, hardly giving her a chance to speak, a feeling that almost smothered her.


    And Du Haofeng, he didn¡¯t understand her feelings at all, continuously signaling her with his eyes to please Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Hua¡¯er nearly bit her silver teeth in frustration. They were both men; how could they be so different?


    While Tan Zhenghong would do anything to put his wife on a pedestal, Du Haofeng seemed like he couldn¡¯t wait to sell her for some silver.


    It was around three or four o¡¯clock when the guests finally dispersed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er collapsed on the sofa, "That was exhausting!"


    Children are easier, at least they don¡¯t miss out on sleep even when there are guests at home.


    The two little things had slept for nearly two hours, now fully energized.


    "I¡¯ll give you a massage." Tan Zheng Hong was very attentive.


    He was in a very good mood today; after his persistent coaxing, his wife had agreed to start weaning the kids from today, which meant he was finally regaining lost territory.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes in enjoyment. With practice, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s technique had improved a lot.


    "Wife, look at our son and our daughter."


    Tan Zhenghong nudged Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She glanced over, and instantly, her drowsiness vanished. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From the eleventh month, Tangyuan and Green Group could stand up while holding onto things, and when in a good mood, they could even take a couple of steps.


    Today they managed to walk several steps without holding onto anything.


    This had to count as walking, right?


    "Green Group, Tangyuan, can you come over to mom and dad?" Qiao Duo¡¯er clapped her hands.


    The two little ones nodded and toddled over, step by step.


    Tangyuan and Green Group were very cautious, making sure they were steady before taking the next step.


    They were only a bit over a meter away from the sofa, but it took nearly a minute to get there.


    But being able to walk over was quite an achievement, as it was an important milestone in their lives.


    From now on, they could walk upright!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er kissed each of the little ones, "Well done!"


    Green Group and Tangyuan were also in a good mood, resting in between their parents for a while before starting to show off their newly learned skill.


    Through practice, the children¡¯s walking posture became more and more natural, and their speed increased considerably.

 Chapter 1083 - 1088: Weaning Off Milk

    Chapter 1083: Chapter 1088: Weaning Off MilkClearly, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they could run around everywhere.


    Babies¡¯ bones are soft, and walking for too long at a time can deform their bones.


    So, after the twins had walked back and forth a few times, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought them over to the little dining table.


    She decided to wean the babies but didn¡¯t want to use a harsh method, because that could leave psychological scars on the babies.


    Therefore, she aimed to fill their bellies with something else before their craving for milk kicked in.


    But these two little things were not easy to fool. Although Tan Zhenghong brought over their favorite steamed eggs, the twins¡¯ eyes still lingered on a certain part of Duo¡¯er.


    In their hearts, no food was more delicious than their mother¡¯s breast milk.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er earnestly said, "You both have teeth now, and if you keep drinking milk, you might bite me and it will hurt. Besides, you¡¯re big babies now and can¡¯t drink milk anymore." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tangyuan pouted, looking like he was about to cry, while Green Group also looked unhappy and sullen.


    "Your mother is already not in good health, and if she keeps feeding you, she will become even thinner. From now on, if you want to drink milk, you should drink cow¡¯s milk, which tastes almost the same as your mother¡¯s," Tan Zhenghong advised too.


    Qiao Duo had finally put on some weight during her pregnancy, but now there wasn¡¯t much of it left.


    Being a mother is hard work, and even with help from others, a mother still has to worry.


    After speaking, Tan Zhenghong picked up a bowl, scooped up some milk, and brought it close to Green Group¡¯s face.


    "You are the big brother, you need to set a good example for your sister. Take a sip," Tan Zhenghong coaxed.


    Honestly, there is a big difference between the taste of cow¡¯s milk and breast milk.


    But there always comes a day for weaning.


    Green Group turned his head away, refusing to even glance at the cow¡¯s milk.


    Tan Zhenghong could only move towards Tangyuan: "How about you show your brother how to do it?"


    Tangyuan puckered his lips, also unwilling to drink it.


    "How about we feed them for a few more days, wait until they are a bit older and then talk about it seriously?" Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a bit heartbroken.


    Her twins had strong comprehension abilities; in another couple of months, they should be able to fully understand.


    Tan Zhenghong firmly said, "We have been discussing weaning since they were eight months old, and four months have passed already. We can¡¯t delay any longer. You¡¯re too thin, and with both children nursing, you simply can¡¯t cope."


    Previous attempts had been made twice, both times ending with their capitulation to the tears of the twins.


    This time he was determined to staunchly protect his own interests.


    "I will eat more in the future," Qiao Duo¡¯er earnestly said, confident that eating more would surely provide enough milk for the twins.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "Do I not know you? As soon as you say that you¡¯re full, you won¡¯t drink any milk and force yourself until you throw up."


    Wouldn¡¯t that be tormenting his wife even more?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew Tan Zhenghong spoke the truth and fell silent.


    "It¡¯s not that your mother doesn¡¯t want to continue breastfeeding you, it¡¯s that her body can¡¯t handle it. If you keep drinking milk, your mother could become ill, which would make her feel very uncomfortable, and then she wouldn¡¯t be in the mood to play with you."


    Tan Zhenghong tried to persuade them with all the patience and compassion he could muster.


    Green Group looked at his own mother and eventually pushed away the spoon that Tan Zhenghong was holding.


    He didn¡¯t like the taste of cow¡¯s milk and preferred to eat the steamed eggs.


    Tangyuan, though still reluctant, saw that everyone else had given up on milk, and it made little sense for her to insist alone.


    The twins¡¯ reaction warmed Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart. They were only a year old, but they already knew how to be considerate of her.


    The weaning process went smoothly. Ever since the twins agreed to be weaned, they hadn¡¯t made a fuss again, though occasionally they would gaze absently at their mother or make sucking motions in their sleep.


    This was just one of the prices paid for growth.

 Chapter 1084 - 1090: Sly Person

    Chapter 1084: Chapter 1090: Sly PersonAfter the first birthday celebration of the two children, the wedding date for Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan was set.


    Because it was a second marriage, Hu¡¯s Clan decided to skip the unnecessary rituals like adding dowry items, and simply married from the house she rented on November 16th.


    Actually, if Aunt Huang hadn¡¯t insisted, Hu¡¯s Clan would have preferred to just invite a few close friends for a meal.


    Not many people were close to Hu¡¯s Clan, but all of them attended her wedding day.


    When everyone was ready with bright faces and made-up, a completely different Hu¡¯s Clan appeared before them.


    "Sister Lan, you look really beautiful today!" Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up.


    Previously, Hu¡¯s Clan always kept a plain face and wore simple clothes, but today, dressed in a red wedding gown and with makeup, she immediately looked spirited.


    Er Ya nodded, "Uncle Huang will be dazzled when he sees you later."


    "You little girl, always talking nonsense!" Hu¡¯s Clan chastised.


    How could such small girls talk about such things?


    But Big Girl supported Er Ya, "Not only will his eyes be dazzled, but his heart will secretly be joyful too."


    Hu¡¯s Clan was hardworking and kind, hundreds of times better than the previous daughter-in-law.


    No, today was a joyous day for Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan, and she was still thinking about the past matters, wasn¡¯t that deliberately bringing bad luck? Fortunately, she didn¡¯t say it aloud.


    "These days, Brother Zhong has been wearing a smile every day, even his walk carries a breeze," Qiao Duo¡¯er corrected Big Girl¡¯s mistake.


    Happiness was written all over his face; he wasn¡¯t hiding his joy at all.


    Hu¡¯s Clan looked down and said, "You all just laugh at me, I won¡¯t listen to you anymore." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was over twenty years old, already with two daughters; how was beauty even relevant to her anymore?


    These girls just knew how to cheer someone up.


    "Sister Lan, don¡¯t be shy, the rouge cannot hide the blush on your face," Chao Lian said while covering her mouth.


    It seemed like her own wedding scene, blushing a little when teased.


    A few women laughed and joked for a while, when Granny Su came in holding Tangyuan.


    "Little Miss woke up looking for Madam."


    Granny Su apologized as Little Master and Little Miss were brought up by Fourth Master and Madam, and were closest to them.


    Particularly Little Miss, being a girl, she naturally clung more and must see Madam and Fourth Master when she woke up.


    Qiao Duo took over Tangyuan, "Do you remember what mom taught you to say yesterday?"


    Tangyuan thought for a while, then seriously said, "Remember, wish Aunt Lan and Uncle spend a lifetime together."


    She was still small, her speech slightly stumbling, but she managed to say it all.


    Hu¡¯s Clan exclaimed, "No wonder Young Master Bai wants to take Tangyuan as his disciple, she is too clever!"


    A one-year-old child articulating so clearly was already amazing, and Tangyuan even remembered what Duo¡¯er taught her the day before!


    "Sister Duo¡¯er and Brother Hong¡¯s child being smart is only natural!" Big Girl also gave a thumbs up.


    "Tangyuan, can you tell Aunt Ruo Ruo how you learned?"


    "Learned for a long time." Tangyuan blinked her innocent big eyes.


    Hu¡¯s Clan quickly took out a red envelope, "Thank you Tangyuan, since you said this, Aunt has to try to live longer."


    At least until her hair turned white, only then would she dare to go to another world.


    Otherwise, it would let down Tangyuan¡¯s kindness.


    "Thank you, Aunt Lan."


    Tangyuan openly received the red envelope, her smile becoming even brighter with the weighty red envelope in her hands.


    Her baby voice and cute behavior made everyone in the room burst into laughter.


    This clever little girl was really something!

 Chapter 1085 - 1091: Climbing Into the Bridal Sedan Chair

    Chapter 1085: Chapter 1091: Climbing Into the Bridal Sedan Chair"May I come in?" Wang Clan stood at the doorway, asking nervously.


    "Yes, are you looking for me for something?"


    Hu¡¯s Clan asked anxiously.


    The moment she saw Wang Clan, the smile on her face immediately vanished; it was a habit formed over many years, and although they had been separated for a long time, she hadn¡¯t shaken it off.


    In the past, Wang Clan had despised her for not bearing a son and for not being charming enough; she had not spared her from scolding, and sometimes even had Tan Zhengyuan beat her.


    That period had truly been worse than death; even now, she felt a lingering sense of dread when she thought back to it.


    Seeing Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s nervous look, Wang Clan quickly said, "I mean no harm, I¡¯ve bought a pair of bracelets for you to take."


    "I can¡¯t accept them," Hu¡¯s Clan declined on the spot.


    She had no more connections with the Tan Family and absolutely could not take someone else¡¯s things for free.


    Wang Clan said earnestly, "I was the one who wronged you in the past, I caused you so much suffering, I was wrong; I hope you can forgive me."


    This way, she could ease her own sense of guilt.


    During the epidemic, she was lucky to have survived; since then, she started to believe in Buddhism.


    The abbot of the temple told her life was all about cause and effect; she fell ill and was driven out of her home as retribution. If she wanted to live peacefully and happily in the future, she had to settle past debts first.


    Beyond that, she could no longer commit evil acts. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hu¡¯s Clan stepped back a few steps, unsure of how to react at the moment.


    "Sister Lan, just accept it," Qiao Duo¡¯er urged.


    The Wang Clan of today was drastically different from before; it was possible to try and let go of past grudges and accept her.


    Wang Clan nodded, "I don¡¯t insist on your forgiveness; this is just part of your dowry, and I hope you will be happy in your new home."


    Thinking of Tan Zhengyuan who was still languishing in prison, Wang Clan always felt a sourness in her heart.


    If she hadn¡¯t been so foolish in the past, if the eldest son could have been a bit more dependable, it never would have come to this.


    In the future, she would do more good deeds to pray for blessings for herself and her descendants.


    "Thank you," Hu¡¯s Clan reached out and accepted them.


    Still, she thought about finding time to return them later.


    Whether to forgive or not wasn¡¯t important because the days of suffering had become part of the past.


    Not wanting to make anyone feel uncomfortable, Wang Clan quickly left after handing over the bracelets.


    "My goodness, am I seeing things?" Yang Ruoruo exclaimed in disbelief.


    "It¡¯s normal; the more one lives, the more one understands,"


    the eldest daughter said with a smile, noting how her grandmother, despite her age, understood everything so clearly.


    When the auspicious hour arrived, Huang Zhong reached Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s courtyard amidst the joyous sounds of gongs, drums, and suona.


    "Quickly, block the door!"


    The eldest daughter called out.


    She had been part of the wedding procession when Qiao Duo and Chao Lian married; she was already skilled at this.


    Huang Zhong, timid and honest, faced little over-the-top demands from Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others; after receiving several red packets for the door games, they opened the door for him.


    At this moment, Granny Su and Yang Ruo Ruo helped Hu¡¯s Clan out together.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a stern face, "Brother Zhong, Sister Lan is now in your care. If you dare mistreat her, we won¡¯t let you off!"


    "Don¡¯t worry, now that I have married Lan¡¯er, there¡¯s no reason for me to mistreat her," Huang Zhong said earnestly.


    Moreover, she was wonderful, and he felt she was worth treating well.


    "Then don¡¯t just stand there, hurry up and carry Sister Lan onto the bridal sedan!" Qiao Duo¡¯er said with satisfaction.


    Huang Zhong laughed heartily and nodded, then without any hesitation, he lifted his bride into his arms.


    The Xi Niang on the side thought this was not quite proper, but in the end, she wisely kept quiet; a wedding was about joy, and it was good as long as everyone was happy.


    Hu¡¯s Clan asked weakly, "Am I very heavy?"

 Chapter 1086 - 1092: Chaos in the Wedding Hall

    Chapter 1086: Chapter 1092: Chaos in the Wedding HallShe was already big-boned, and having gained some weight after living alone, hugging him would definitely be a challenge.


    "It¡¯s okay, I could probably carry you for twenty years."


    Huang Zhong said in a low voice, knowing that in twenty years he¡¯d be an old man with definitely less strength than now.


    Mrs. Hu pursed her lips, experiencing a sweetness she had never felt before.


    After Mrs. Hu got into the palanquin, others followed the procession to the Huang Family¡¯s home.


    Once at the Huang Family¡¯s residence, after the jolts and stepping over the fire pan and other rituals, Huang Zhong led Mrs. Hu to the main hall with a red silk cord.


    "Mei¡¯er, why aren¡¯t you going to watch the ceremony?" Almond asked curiously.


    Witnessing the crucial moment of paying respects to Heaven and Earth during a marriage was eagerly anticipated by all, young and old alike; why did Qiao Mei¡¯er show no interest in attending?


    Qiao Mei¡¯er explained, "I went to the restroom with someone who came with me, and they asked me to wait for them."


    Almond didn¡¯t inquire further but hurried off to the main hall.


    Thanks to her relentless efforts, Zhang Ziwen had already shown signs of improvement.


    She hoped that today she could bask in the joy of the occasion so that her own day of great happiness would come soon.


    Almond was a straightforward and carefree person, not noticing the sinister smile that suddenly appeared on the face of the person behind her. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ever since her confession to King Qin failed, Qiao Mei¡¯er had held a grudge against Qiao Duo¡¯er, always feeling that if Qiao Duo¡¯er had just said a word on her behalf back then, she might now be a noble consort in King Qin Mansion.


    Since Qiao Duo¡¯er dashed her hopes, she would not let her have it easy either.


    But for now, she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke Qiao Duo¡¯er, so she had to start with those around her.


    A normal person couldn¡¯t understand Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s way of thinking, but that didn¡¯t stop her from savoring the thrill of revenge.


    The wedding hall was festively decorated, and anyone with eyes could see that the Huang Family placed great importance on their new daughter-in-law.


    "First bow to heaven and earth!"


    "Second bow to the high hall!"


    "Husband and wife..."


    Before the master of ceremonies could finish, a woman¡¯s voice interrupted.


    "Huang Zhong, do you have no shame? After the way you treated me, you dare to marry another woman!" Mrs. Bao stood with hands on hips.


    Aunt Huang said with a stern face, "Today is Zhong Zi¡¯s happy day; get out now, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude!"


    If possible, she did not want to embarrass the mother of Big Dog and Second Dog in front of them.


    Because it might make it harder for them to lift their heads.


    "You ungrateful wretches of the Huang Family! I bore you two healthy boys, and not only do you forget my kindness, you conspire against me, eager to drive me out to make room for this cheap woman!"


    Mrs. Bao grew more agitated as she spoke, wiping away tears for dramatic effect.


    Huang Zhong gritted his teeth and said, "You know very well what happened back then; if you have any shame, stop this scene."


    It would at least allow them to maintain some dignity.


    Mrs. Bao had been caught having an affair in town, even secretly selling the shop to support her paramour; if others found out, they would not only call her licentious but also think him an ineffectual man.


    "You **, you can¡¯t keep your man, so you seduce someone else¡¯s husband, do you have no face? Your man is still rotting in jail, how can you live with your conscience?"


    Mrs. Bao charged at Mrs. Hu and snatched away her red bridal veil.


    Realizing what had happened, Huang Zhong pushed Mrs. Bao away, "What on earth do you want? Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble?"


    "Mother, are you alright?"


    Second Dog handed the red bridal veil back to Mrs. Hu.


    Mrs. Hu was kind to him and his brother, always thinking of them when there was good food, so Mrs. Hu had long become the mother in their hearts.


    As for their birth mother... they really couldn¡¯t bring themselves to love her.

 Chapter 1087 - 1093: Making Decisions

    Chapter 1087: Chapter 1093: Making DecisionsBao¡¯s became even more incensed, "You two scoundrels, have the dogs eaten your conscience? If not for me, you¡¯d still be wandering souls without a clue where you are!"


    And now, before her very eyes, they¡¯re protecting another woman. Are they even human?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "You drive her away, spouting all kinds of nonsense, probably because she¡¯s gone mad."


    Fortunately, this morning Ah Hong brought over permanent workers to help; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have known whom to send.


    "It¡¯s all because of you, woman!" Bao¡¯s turned the spearhead towards Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Because of me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat slow to respond. How could it be her fault?


    She was merely an outsider who, due to the ceremony being interrupted by a madwoman, wanted to drive away the chief culprit. Couldn¡¯t she do that?


    With a sneer, Bao¡¯s said, "Pretending to be innocent? Zhong Zi has always been honest. If not for you, would he be selling stewed meat with that vixen? It¡¯s you who deliberately wrecked my relationship with Zhong Zi, just to let this woman rise to my place!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was amused by the absurdity. So, they are blaming her now?


    It was Bao¡¯s who found herself a lover, disrespected her in-laws, and treated her children poorly that got her divorced. Were all these bad traits taught by her?


    Moreover, her matchmaking of Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan was entirely after the two had divorced; there was absolutely nothing wrong with it, right?


    Thinking that Qiao Duo¡¯er had nothing to retort, Bao¡¯s sat down on the ground with a thud.


    Huang Zhong used to heed her every command; she would never allow him to marry another woman! S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aunt Huang spoke gravely, "There are some things the Huang Family didn¡¯t want to bicker over, but since you are relentless today, let¡¯s make things clear."


    "You fancy Wu Wuer from the town, thinking he can charm you and give you a good life. Go to him by all means; no one is stopping you!"


    "But once you go, don¡¯t bother coming back. The Huang Family hasn¡¯t wronged you. What else could you possibly want?"


    Just now, Aunt Huang had coaxed the two children to leave; now there was no need to hold back.


    If Bao¡¯s had no shame, she¡¯d make sure Bao¡¯s lost all of it!


    "Isn¡¯t Wu Wuer just the town ruffian? How did you get mixed up with him?"


    "Cheap, she is. She even gave away the vegetable shop the Huang Family had struggled to build up to that man, without any clear reason."


    "Now you come running back to the Huang Family because you can¡¯t make it in the town anymore?"


    "Certainly, but the Huang Family is no fool; it¡¯s not for her to come and go as she pleases!"


    What¡¯s more important is that they have already found a better daughter-in-law, so where would there be a place for Bao¡¯s in that household?


    Bao¡¯s just doesn¡¯t get it and still came back to make a scene.


    Uncle Huang, pulling Aunt Huang, knelt down in front of Tan Zhenghong, "Master Tan, please stand up for my family and punish this woman severely."


    In the Daxing Dynasty, the punishment for unfaithful women is drowning in a pig cage.


    He didn¡¯t want to be so ruthless, but the Huang Family had tried to keep a low profile, and yet Bao¡¯s found out. If things continued like this, his entire family wouldn¡¯t be able to live in peace.


    "I am an inspector, without the authority to hear cases, but I can report to the Guang House. Don¡¯t just stand there; take her away," Tan Zhenghong said, sitting upright.


    Bao¡¯s sneered, "What skill is it to bully people by throwing your weight around? Just a good-for-nothing official, acting more pompous than anyone. The saint must have been blind to appoint someone like you as an inspector!"


    The people in the wedding hall were dumbfounded; they had never seen someone so reckless in their entire lives.


    Saying even the saint is blind, is there anything in the world she wouldn¡¯t dare to do?

 Chapter 1088 - 1094: About to Suffer Divine Retribution

    Chapter 1088: Chapter 1094: About to Suffer Divine Retribution"How reckless, how could we simpletons casually mention the Saint?"


    "This is a grave crime that could lead to beheading, and if things go wrong, it could even implicate others. I once heard my grandfather say that during the previous dynasty, someone cursed the Saint and the entire village suffered."


    "Just a casual remark, and they killed an entire village of people? That¡¯s too cruel!"


    "That was the harsh rule of the previous dynasty. Our current dynasty practices benevolence, so such things definitely won¡¯t happen, but the Saint is a true Dragon Emperor. Speaking casually like this is offending Heaven, and who knows if divine retribution might follow!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Master Yun Xu said sternly.


    He had performed rituals for Chao Lian Niang twice, and his reputation had already spread in the vicinity.


    As soon as he spoke, many people became alert.


    "Divine retribution?"


    "Bao¡¯s cursed the Saint, not offended Heaven, right?"


    Master Yun Xu stroked his newly grown goatee: "What I said is of course true. The Saint governs mankind on Heaven¡¯s command. Whether it¡¯s good or bad, Heaven will judge. Now, someone is trying to act on behalf of Heaven. Don¡¯t you think Heaven should be angry?"


    Thinking carefully, what Yun Xu said did seem reasonable.


    If there were a natural disaster, it would be less painful than being beheaded.


    "What if the deities overhear? We¡¯d be doomed!"


    "Right? Famine is the most tormenting, many people have starved to death!"


    The populace buzzed with discussion. Those older had truly experienced natural disasters, and even the younger ones had suffered through famine years, so everyone was very cautious.


    In Duo¡¯er¡¯s view, all this was completely nonsensical.


    But now, she was very grateful for the exalted imperial power, otherwise the Tan Family might indeed have gained a reputation for bullying.


    Because many people considered Bao¡¯s disruption as just an extreme action, they might resort to such methods under certain circumstances.


    Now that Tan Zhenghong could send Bao¡¯s to the dungeon, he would also do so with them later.


    And when it affected their own interests, many people would become unsettled.


    "Master Tan, please stand up for our village and ensure this ignorant woman is sent to the dungeon."


    "Right. She said it on her own, it has nothing to do with us."


    The villagers, who had just been watching the excitement, knelt down one after another; they all wanted to live well.


    Being careful about things like divine retribution seemed prudent. Last year, Ruo Lan had a deformed baby, and not long after, an epidemic broke out; that was solid proof.


    "I was thinking of sparing you for Brother Zhong¡¯s sake, but you¡¯ve spoken such rebellious words, I can no longer tolerate you even if I wanted to help!"


    Tan Zhenghong said sternly.


    After he finished speaking, he even signaled to the permanent workers at home, telling them to quickly take Bao¡¯s away.


    There¡¯s a saying that it¡¯s better to demolish ten temples than to ruin a single marriage. Bao¡¯s causing a disturbance at someone else¡¯s wedding hall was against all reason, and it was only right for her to suffer a bit.


    Before the workers could step forward, Bao¡¯s plopped down on the ground.


    "Don¡¯t come near! Otherwise, I¡¯ll accuse you of molestation!"


    Bao¡¯s crossed her arms over her chest.


    "Folks, we need to help out. Hurry up and get her out of here!" a young man proposed.


    Several others immediately responded and came forward to help.


    Collectively, they quickly pulled Bao¡¯s away.


    Having finally sent the troublesome Bao¡¯s away, Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded, "The auspicious moment hasn¡¯t passed yet, what are we waiting for?"


    The master of ceremonies spoke promptly, "The noise and clamor, vibrant and lively, are a good omen. Let the two newlyweds continue the ceremony, three bows to heaven and earth!"


    Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan bowed to each other, everything went as usual, but the joy in their hearts had diminished significantly.


    Encountering such incidents on a joyous day, no one could feel happy.

 Chapter 1089 - 1095: You Can’t Reject Me

    Chapter 1089: Chapter 1095: You Can¡¯t Reject MeHaving completed the final bow, Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong were sent into the bridal chamber.


    The bride should have been overjoyed, but Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s eyebrows were almost knit together.


    Since Huang Zhong had to entertain the guests at the front, Duo¡¯er and a few others who accompanied the bridal procession stayed in the bridal room with Hu¡¯s Clan.


    Hu¡¯s Clan forced a smile, "You all go ahead and take your seats up front. I¡¯m not a three-year-old child; I don¡¯t need anyone to stay with me."


    "Sister Lan, don¡¯t be unhappy. I saw on the wedding hall that Brother Zhong was really standing up for you," Big Dog comforted.


    From this, one could see Huang Zhong¡¯s sincerity towards Hu¡¯s Clan.


    It might be better to think of Bao¡¯s as a touchstone.


    The most important thing is that the outcome is good.


    Hu¡¯s Clan hesitated before saying, "I know. I¡¯m worried that the two boys are upset. Duo¡¯er, could you release Bao¡¯s?"


    Although they were sent away today, the matter was so blown up that they would inevitably hear the truth from others sooner or later.


    And no matter what, Bao¡¯s is still the two children¡¯s birth mother; the children couldn¡¯t possibly be without thoughts in their hearts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Ah Hong wouldn¡¯t really harm Bao¡¯s, but she did wrong, and she must learn a lesson. Otherwise, if she continues to speak nonsense in front of others like this, she might not be so lucky."


    "I just fear for the boys..."


    At the end, only a sigh remained from Hu¡¯s Clan.


    If the boys felt she was responsible for harming their birth mother, then harmony in the family would definitely not be possible afterward.


    No wonder people always say that being a stepmother is hard.


    "Mom, my grandma said that one must discern right from wrong in life; if we ourselves do wrong, we must bear the consequences. We won¡¯t blame you,"


    Big Dog pushed open the door and spoke seriously.


    He and Second Dog had been at the door all along but had been afraid to come in because they worried Hu¡¯s Clan might not want them after the recent incident.


    Hu¡¯s Clan was somewhat surprised but still spoke with self-reproach, "It¡¯s all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t married your dad, nothing would have happened to your mom."


    "Mom, are you going to abandon us?"


    With tears in his eyes, Second Dog looked at Hu¡¯s Clan. He and Second Dog had been abandoned once by their birth mother; were they going to experience it all over again? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This past year, Hu¡¯s Clan had been really good to them; they truly regarded her as their own mother.


    They even felt she was closer than their birth mother.


    Seeing Hu¡¯s Clan at a loss for words, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly intervened to help.


    "Sister Lan definitely wants you. She¡¯s just afraid you might blame her, but you both are clear about debts of gratitude and grudges, right? You won¡¯t blame her without understanding the situation, will you?"


    Second Dog nodded while Big Dog hesitated and asked, "My mom really won¡¯t be harmed, right?"


    After all, she was his mother, and he hoped she would be all right.


    "That¡¯s certainly true; as long as she realizes her mistakes and promises not to repeat them, your mom can come back home immediately,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said earnestly.


    However, what she required Bao¡¯s to promise was not to stop slandering the saint but that she must not disrupt the relationship between Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong in the future.


    When they had it before, they didn¡¯t value it; now that they¡¯ve lost it, they think of recapturing it by any means necessary.


    All she could say was that had they known, why did they ever start?


    Second Dog, clinging to Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s legs, said, "You are my mother, you can¡¯t abandon me, and you can¡¯t abandon my dad either."


    Hu¡¯s Clan hurriedly nodded; as long as Big Dog and Second Dog harbored no ill thoughts, she had nothing to worry about.


    "You have to keep your word, or else my sister and I will take our mother away!"


    Er Ya said seriously on the side.


    In the past, the three of them had lived in a rented courtyard; although it was tough, the family was together and harmonious.

 Chapter 1090 - 1096: Anxious Wedding Night 1

    Chapter 1090: Chapter 1096: Anxious Wedding Night 1She just felt that her mother worked too hard and wanted someone to cherish her. If that couldn¡¯t be done, she would rather things stayed as they had been before.


    Moreover, she and her elder sister had both grown up, and they wouldn¡¯t let their mother suffer as before.


    Second Dog extended his hand, "Let¡¯s make a pinky promise!"


    "Okay!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two kids, in the most childish way, had agreed on something¡ªthat was to be good to Hu¡¯s Clan from now on.


    Er Ya¡¯s request was simple; she didn¡¯t need Second Dog to treat Hu¡¯s Clan like his own mother, but however Hu¡¯s Clan treated them, they would respond in kind.


    Having resolved Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s unease, the atmosphere in the bridal room finally livened up.


    The considerate Aunt Huang even brought over some food, and they happened to have just enough to start eating together.


    By the time they had eaten and drunk their fill, the banquet at the front had also dispersed.


    "The groom is coming!"


    Erhu shouted from outside the door.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her eyes, "Sister Lan, good luck, we¡¯re heading out first!"


    Huang Zhong was the one who had drunk the Deer Whip Wine. He would surely be vigorous tonight. Hopefully, Sister Lan would still be fine tomorrow.


    "Why are you leaving so soon?" Hu¡¯s Clan was a bit panicked.


    Wasn¡¯t the next step normally to have some fun in the bridal chamber?


    Well... she just wished they could stay with her a little longer now, otherwise she felt nervous.


    The mischievous girl said, "You¡¯ve delayed getting married for so long, we wouldn¡¯t want to hold up your evening. And besides, Zi Wen is still at home. I need to rush back and check on him."


    Zhang Ziwen now only wanted to interact with her alone. She had been out for so long, he must be in a bad mood by now.


    Hu¡¯s Clan looked towards Qiao Duo¡¯er, who was always the most empathetic and surely understood her anxiety.


    But unexpectedly, Qiao Duo¡¯er also declined, "Green Group and Tangyuan will start causing trouble if they don¡¯t see me. I need to head back and check on them."


    "Sister-in-law, we¡¯ll leave Brother Zhong in your care. We¡¯re heading out."


    Erhu gave a heads-up, and although Huang Zhong was somewhat drunk, whether it was real or not, he didn¡¯t know. Anyway, the man was left in the bridal chamber, and what happened next was not his concern anymore.


    Hu¡¯s Clan felt a sudden urge to flee, but still smilingly sent the group to the door.


    Agreeing to the marriage was her choice, so running away now would be irresponsible.


    Once the door was closed, the previously drunken Huang Zhong suddenly sobered up.


    The liquor he had drunk was diluted with water, a trick he had learned from Tan Zhenghong.


    "I¡¯m sorry for making you uncomfortable." Huang Zhong said with a face full of remorse.


    He admitted that some things hadn¡¯t been handled well, resulting in Hu¡¯s Clan losing so much face during the wedding.


    Hu¡¯s Clan shook her head, "I¡¯m already married to you; there¡¯s nothing about being comfortable or uncomfortable."


    "That¡¯s good. It¡¯s getting late, shall we wash up and go to bed early?"


    Huang Zhong asked.


    As for today¡¯s shortcomings to Hu¡¯s Clan, he would definitely make it up to her later.


    Hu¡¯s Clan blushed and said, "You go ahead, I¡¯ll fix my hair."


    She had styled her hair elaborately today and wore quite a few pieces of jewelry; it should take enough time for Huang Zhong to finish washing up.


    Huang Zhong pulled Hu¡¯s Clan to sit in front of the vanity, "No one made a scene in the bridal room today, and it¡¯s still early; I¡¯ll take my time fixing it for you."


    While speaking, he gently began removing the hairpin from Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s head.


    This was Erhu¡¯s teaching, hoping it might help them relax a bit.


    Hu¡¯s Clan sat stiffly, not even knowing where to place her hands; this was the first time a man had combed her hair.


    Huang Zhong¡¯s hands were a bit clumsy, but he was very careful, afraid of hurting Hu¡¯s Clan.


    After fixing her hair, Huang Zhong fetched water for Hu¡¯s Clan, suggesting she freshen up first. Second Dog had said that washing together was best for bonding.


    But he really couldn¡¯t bring himself to do such a thing, also fearing that Hu¡¯s Clan might beat him up.

 Chapter 1091 - 1097: Anxious Wedding Night 2

    Chapter 1091: Chapter 1097: Anxious Wedding Night 2?§Ôeew§×bnovel.comAlthough it was their second marriage, the two shy individuals together hesitated even more than during their first.


    Two hours had passed since Huang Zhong entered the room until both were lying on the bed. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such pace was unmatched.


    The two lay side by side on the bed, the atmosphere slightly awkward.


    Hu¡¯s Clan closed her eyes, hoping she would fall asleep soon, as Huang Zhong became anxious.


    If this delay continued, their wedding night would be ruined, so he had to take some action.


    "Lan¡¯er, I¡¯m uncomfortable, is it okay?" Huang Zhong asked subtly.


    When he had stepped out to fetch water earlier, his mother had given him a cup of wine, and after drinking it, he felt an intense heat all over.


    Hu¡¯s Clan responded in a voice quieter than a mosquito¡¯s, her voice trembling lightly.


    Huang Zhong could no longer hold back and slowly moved closer to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    After taking the first step, everything else naturally followed.


    Hu¡¯s Clan silently pulled up the duvet over her head, clueless about everything; she just wanted to fall asleep quickly and think about things in the morning.


    Huang Zhong chuckled softly, surprised at how shy his wife was.


    However, her timidity stirred him again, making him wish they could stay up all night.


    But he wasn¡¯t a young boy anymore; he knew restraint was important in these matters, after all, "slow and steady wins the race."


    The next day, Huang Zhong and Hu¡¯s Clan brought gifts to the Tan Family¡¯s house.


    Today was supposed to be for meeting the elders in the family, but they felt indebted to the Tan Family and decided to visit them too.


    During their time at the Tan Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er had taken good care of Hu¡¯s Clan, even securing her a livelihood.


    When the Huang Family was at their lowest, the Tan Family had also offered help; without Ah Hong and Duo¡¯er, the Huang Family could have been in a dire situation.


    Both morally and emotionally, they felt they must express their gratitude properly.


    "Don¡¯t just stand there, have a seat," Qiao Duo¡¯er invited.


    "I¡¯m not tired."


    As soon as these words were out, Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s face turned red and Huang Zhong also felt embarrassed.


    Speaking of being tired right after their wedding night was bound to lead to misinterpretations.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, holding back laughter, said, "Have some tea, this is Almond¡¯s own concoction and it tastes pretty good."


    Since tea leaves contain anti-aging properties used in facial masks, Almond had bought a lot and even selected the best buds to make into tea leaves.


    As for whether or not they were happy, one could tell from the expressions on their faces¡ªthey were not just happy, but very happy indeed.


    Knowing the couple¡¯s modesty, everyone tactfully did not mention Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s slip of the tongue.


    Still, despite this, Hu¡¯s Clan and Huang Zhong remained very reserved, their faces blushing, and soon after barely finishing their tea, they hurriedly bid their farewells.


    Expressions of gratitude would have to wait for another time, since the couple at the Tan Family were not sticklers for formalities.


    Watching the couple walk off shoulder to shoulder, Qiao Duo¡¯er squinted and said, "True lovers finally united."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, acknowledging the sweetness after the bitterness.


    "It feels like this year has generally been a good one," Qiao Duo¡¯er remarked.


    Despite the epidemic, almost everyone around had found their own piece of happiness.


    She hoped that everyone striving in life around her would continue to thrive and improve.

 Chapter 1092 - 1098: Old Husband and Old Wife

    Chapter 1092: Chapter 1098: Old Husband and Old WifeAnother year of spring brought warmth and blooming flowers, as Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family prepared to set out for Mansion City.


    Previously, Tan Zhenghong had entrusted Qin Longyun to rent out their shop in Mansion City for two years. However, since the renters suddenly had to deal with an urgent matter and gave up the lease, they decided to move their departure date forward.


    The evening before departure, Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her feelings: "After living here for so long, I suddenly find it hard to leave."


    More than two years had made her familiar with everything in Big Willow Village¡ªboth the people and the surroundings, which she had grown accustomed to.


    "As long as you and the child are with me, I¡¯ll feel at home anywhere."


    Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    Without Qiao Duo¡¯er, this place wouldn¡¯t truly be home.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered her cheeks: "We¡¯ve been married for ages, can¡¯t you be a little more subtle? I¡¯m going to get a cavity from all this sweetness."


    "What do you mean, ¡¯married for ages¡¯? Just last night was twice, the night before was three times, and the night before that was a bit less, only once."


    Tan Zhenghong recalled seriously; they had previously been full of passion.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes: "A man has a limited number of times he can be ¡¯up to the task.¡¯ Don¡¯t run out of steam in a couple of years." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anyway, she deeply felt that Tan Zhenghong was way too flirty.


    Tan Zhenghong stretched out his hand to draw Duo¡¯er into his embrace, nibbling at her ear as he spoke: "I think no matter how old I am, just seeing you will get me going. Let¡¯s wait and see if you don¡¯t believe me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly pictured an old couple wrapped in each other¡¯s embrace and couldn¡¯t help but shiver at the thought.


    Youthful spouses become companions in old age; in the future, she would be content simply watching the stars and the moon together.


    As for the rest, best to do it while they were still young.


    "Wife, I think you¡¯ll look down on me when I get older," Tan Zhenghong pouted as he spoke.


    He could already visualize his wife¡¯s disdainful look.


    My God, what would he do then?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a full head of imaginary black lines: "You think I¡¯ll start despising you only when you get old?"


    She was already at her wits¡¯ end with him, wasn¡¯t she?


    Tan Zhenghong huffed: "Then I¡¯ll run away from home."


    "Fine, I¡¯ll just find someone I actually like then."


    Both of them were having a blast bantering, so engrossed that neither realized they were hugging each other the whole time.


    Some couples seem to immerse themselves in showing off their affection no matter what they do.


    Before they could bask in their sweetness for much longer, a milky voice piped up.


    "Daddy, Mommy, it¡¯s shameful," Tangyuan said, covering his eyes, but he left a gap between his fingers.


    "You just have to not look," Tan Zhenghong said with no pressure at all.


    His son and daughter, only a year and four months old, were incredibly sharp, as if there wasn¡¯t anything in this world they didn¡¯t understand.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slipped out from Tan Zhenghong¡¯s embrace and rubbed Tangyuan¡¯s little head: "Didn¡¯t I tell you to chat with grandma and your brother for a while? How come you ran back so quickly?"


    By now, the Wang Clan practically considered the two children their lifeblood. Their departure on this long journey would likely cause much heartache.


    Tangyuan¡¯s face scrunched up: "It¡¯s bullying to kick the kids out just because you want to kiss and don¡¯t want me to see."


    Qiao Duo shook her head. She wasn¡¯t trying to kick the children out to get affectionate; she just wanted to exchange a few loving words while the children weren¡¯t around.


    "Where¡¯s your brother?"


    Tan Zhenghong immediately changed the subject, as discussing intimacy with his own children wasn¡¯t exactly appropriate.


    "Brother is pooping, grandma told me to call you guys."


    Tan Zhenghong nodded: "Then let¡¯s go together and see what grandma needs."


    He picked up Tangyuan, then gave Duo¡¯er a look: "You wash up first, and wait for me to come back."


    They were leaving on a long journey tomorrow; they might as well have one last round tonight.

 Chapter 1093 - 1099: Parting Emotions

    Chapter 1093: Chapter 1099: Parting EmotionsQiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "Let¡¯s go together."


    Tan Zhenghong never asked her to treat the Wang Clan a certain way, because he was born to the Wang Clan; it was his obligation to treat the Wang Clan well, not his wife¡¯s.


    Previously, Qiao Duo¡¯er had the same opinion, but since the epidemic, the Wang Clan had changed her nature, and she began to treat the Wang Clan as an elder, regardless of anything else since the Wang Clan was Tan Zhenghong¡¯s biological mother.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Wang Clan¡¯s desperate efforts to save Tan Zhenghong, she might still be alone.


    The Wang Clan¡¯s smile brightened further when she saw that Qiao Duo¡¯er was willing to come to her room. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She liked that Duo¡¯er was getting closer to her because it increasingly showed that Duo¡¯er had forgiven her.


    "Please, sit down quickly."


    The Wang Clan quickly cleared the chair of its belongings to make space for Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to sit down, while the Wang Clan not only poured water but also murmured, "I still have some freshly roasted seeds in my room, I¡¯ll bring them over to you."


    "Mother, we are going back to our room to sleep soon, let¡¯s not bother," Tan Zhenghong quickly intervened.


    To set a good example for the baby, he and Duo¡¯er avoided snacks after dinner, lest their children see and also want to eat.


    The Wang Clan nodded, then sat down hugging Tangyuan and said, "Actually, I don¡¯t have much to tell you, just to remind you to be extra careful when you are outside."


    Thinking about how Zi Wen still refused to talk to this day made her feel uneasy.


    "Don¡¯t worry, both Duo¡¯er and I know martial arts, and we also brought two Permanent Workers with us, so nothing can go wrong," Tan Zhenghong confidently stated.


    Especially his wife¡¯s techniques, which were as smooth as flowing clouds and as fast as lightning.


    Except for extremely skilled experts, they could handle anyone.


    And they were just ordinary merchants who would not attract such formidable individuals.


    The Wang Clan took out a money pouch from her bosom, "This is what you normally give me, I have no place to spend it, so take it with you. People say to be wealthy on the road, you must eat and dress well outside, don¡¯t let yourself be shortchanged."


    Especially since they were traveling with two children, they had to be meticulous about food, clothing, and accommodations.


    And being meticulous came at the cost of silver.


    Reaching Mansion City without a few hundred pieces of silver was unlikely; she couldn¡¯t provide that much, so she could only help as much as possible.


    "We brought enough silver, so you don¡¯t need to worry about this," Tan Zhenghong said as he stuffed the silver pouch back.


    Over the past year, Duo Meifang¡¯s revenue had been considerable, far surpassing the amount of silver his mother had; they truly did not need that bit of money, but for the elderly woman, it represented all her savings.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s firm stance left the Wang Clan no choice but to put the silver away.


    After chatting about family matters for a while, Tangyuan was already struggling to stay awake.


    Tan Zhenghong picked up Tangyuan, "Mother, we¡¯re going back to our room to rest now, and you should also sleep early."


    Seeing the reluctance in the Wang Clan¡¯s eyes, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "This is our first time going to Mansion City, and being unfamiliar with the place makes it inconvenient with more people. Next time, we could bring you along."


    Now that Tan Zhenghong was the Wang Clan¡¯s only reliance, she could understand the Wang Clan¡¯s feelings.


    The Wang Clan touched her nose, "I¡¯m old already, I won¡¯t join in your excitement."


    "While I can still walk, I should go out more. When everything is arranged, it won¡¯t be much trouble," Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    His mother had almost spent her whole life in Big Willow Village, so going out more certainly wouldn¡¯t harm her.


    Staying at home too long could lead to overthinking, and excessive thoughts could lead to incomprehensible actions.

 Chapter 1094 - 1100: Encounter Danger

    Chapter 1094: Chapter 1100: Encounter DangerThe following morning, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family of four set off early.


    It was the first time Green Group and Tangyuan had ventured far from home, they were extremely excited and kept their eyes glued to the scenery outside.


    "Mom, is Mansion City fun?" asked Tangyuan with a look of anticipation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er honestly replied, "I haven¡¯t been to Mansion City either, so we¡¯ll find out when we get there."


    "There¡¯s godmother and Rui Rui," Green Group said, squinting with happiness.


    He enjoyed playing with Qin Mingrui.


    Earlier in the year, Qin Longyun was promoted to Magistrate, coincidentally, they would meet up this time.


    "Godmother said she would give me tasty treats," Tangyuan stated seriously, "I¡¯m going to find her."


    The two children chattered nonstop, their thoughts leaping from one topic to the next, whatever crossed their minds, they vocalized. Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that this was just how her children were, otherwise, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have the patience for such aimless chatter.


    More than an hour later, the two children finally tired themselves into sleep.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er exhaled deeply, "Talking to them always makes me feel like I¡¯m turning into a chatterbox."


    Once so reserved, she was transformed by the vitality of her children into a bundle of nerves; sometimes she couldn¡¯t help but loathe herself for it.


    "I like chatterboxes, too," Tan Zhenghong said as he handed her a cup of water.


    After drinking, Qiao Duo¡¯er leaned on Tan Zhenghong for a short rest, the previous night they had agreed to do it just once, but that once lasted unexpectedly long. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps he figured they would be on the road for the next few days and wouldn¡¯t be in the mood for amorous endeavors.


    At noon, they stopped at an inn for a break before continuing their journey.


    They hadn¡¯t gone far before they left the territory of White Stone County.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart suddenly clenched, as the speed of the carriage had abruptly increased.


    The driver was Big Lei, who was always reliable and wouldn¡¯t drive at such a fast pace.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was also startled awake; it was a vigilance born from her years as a special agent.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, it seems the horse has lost control,"


    Big Lei¡¯s voice trembled.


    Surrounded by large trees, if they allowed the horse to continue to rampage unchecked, everyone in the carriage might end up dead.


    "Wife, take care of yourself and the children, I¡¯ll go out and help with the carriage," Tan Zhenghong instructed.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er then hugged the two children close to her, so that in case of an accident, she could minimize the harm to them.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately lifted the curtain and climbed out.


    "Fourth Master, the horse must be mad, I can¡¯t control it at all," said Big Lei anxiously.


    Tan Zhenghong narrowed his eyes; the horse was frenzied, beyond any human intervention.


    The only solution now was to cut the ropes connecting the horse to the carriage, but this was very risky, and any mishandling could lead to the carriage overturning.


    Despite the danger, it was their only option.


    As the horse charged down a straight path, Tan Zhenghong seized the moment and severed the ropes on both sides with the swiftest of movements.


    Due to the inevitable slight delay, the carriage veered off course, but thankfully the road was wide enough and scarcely trafficked, the carriage ultimately came to a stable halt on the road.


    However, there wasn¡¯t much of the roadside left to spare.


    After the carriage stopped, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s back was drenched in sweat.


    If he had been any slower, the carriage would surely have crashed into the nearby forest.


    Even if his family was extraordinarily lucky, he speculated that death or severe injury would have been the likely outcome.


    After taking a moment to catch his breath, Tan Zhenghong immediately climbed back into the carriage.


    "Wife, how are you and the children?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, "We¡¯re all fine."


    Only she had bumped herself in the effort to protect the children, probably scraping off a good chunk of skin, but as long as the two treasures were safe and sound, she felt utterly content.

 Chapter 1095 - 1101: Camping in the Wild

    Chapter 1095: Chapter 1101: Camping in the WildGreen Group swallowed and asked, "Dad, we¡¯re not going to die, right?"


    "Mm, it¡¯s alright now, can I carry you down first?" Tan Zhenghong said with heartache.


    The two children were only a year and a half old, yet they hadn¡¯t uttered a single cry despite experiencing such a terrifying incident.


    Meanwhile, his daughter-in-law spoke as if it was nothing, but judging by the color of her face, her arm must have been severely injured.


    Green Group and Tangyuan cooperated well, sitting on a stone by the roadside to wait.


    On the carriage, Tan Zhenghong was helping Qiao Duo¡¯er dress her wounds.


    "It¡¯s all my fault for making you suffer."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes turned red, such a large wound must be very painful.


    He had once sworn never to let his daughter-in-law suffer any grievances, yet time and again, she was injured. What kind of man was he?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er bit her lip and said, "It doesn¡¯t matter whether it hurts or not, we¡¯re alive, and that¡¯s enough."


    Tan Zhenghong had already done very well; if it weren¡¯t for him, they might have all lost their lives right there.


    In fact, if it had been only adults, jumping from the carriage could have saved their lives. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But with two small children, a jump from the carriage would most likely result in death or serious injury.


    "Right, don¡¯t let Tangyuan and Green Group find out, just say that the clothes were damaged and you changed them," Qiao Duo reminded specifically.


    If they knew she was injured, they would definitely cry. She didn¡¯t want to see them upset.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "I¡¯ll listen to you regarding this matter, but you have to be obedient and heal your arm as soon as possible."


    "Deal!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed without hesitation.


    Soon, Tan Zhenghong finished bandaging Qiao Duo¡¯er and carefully cleaned the bloodied clothes before helping her off the carriage.


    Families huddled together, treasuring each other more for having survived the ordeal.


    "Fourth Master, Madam, it¡¯s all my fault for not driving the carriage well; please punish me." Big Lei knelt on the ground full of guilt.


    The Tan Family had been good to everyone, and since his own family was struggling, they had taken extra care of him. Yet, he nearly caused the disaster that could have taken the lives of the entire family.


    "This isn¡¯t your fault. Think about it, were the horses startled?"


    Qiao Duo asked; the situation was very strange.


    The horse that had gone mad was her choice, known for its gentle temperament and understanding of humans. How could it have lost control?


    After carefully thinking, Big Lei said, "I didn¡¯t notice anything unusual; it just went crazy all of a sudden, running forward. I couldn¡¯t hold it back at all. I¡¯ve been taking care of this horse and its feed and water have been quite normal these past few days. It shouldn¡¯t have acted like this."


    He was familiar with the horse; he knew its every condition.


    "Could it have seen another horse?"


    Zheng Hong voiced his own speculation, knowing their horse was a stallion which could have gotten excited upon seeing a mare.


    Big Lei and Qiao Duo couldn¡¯t think of any other possibilities and had to agree with Zheng Hong¡¯s guess.


    "We don¡¯t know where the horse ran off to, and it¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s prepare to spend the night here," Zheng Hong proposed.


    Fortunately, they were fully prepared before leaving the house; otherwise, they would really be at a loss now.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "That¡¯s the only option we have; let¡¯s rest for the night and talk about other things later."


    Zheng Hong took his bow and arrows and went into the woods, while Big Lei collected dry firewood and picked wild vegetables.


    Before night fell, they had grilled fish and rabbit, wild chicken mushroom soup, and half a pot of cooked rice.


    "Dad, have some fish."


    Tangyuan and Green Group both crouched beside Zheng Hong.


    The children have a short memory and were excited about their first night out, having already forgotten those unpleasant events completely.


    Zheng Hong picked out the meat from the fish belly and put it into the bowls of the two children.

 Chapter 1096 - 1102: Neutral Attitude

    Chapter 1096: Chapter 1102: Neutral AttitudeGreen Group and Tangyuan quickly finished eating and then they eagerly looked at their father.


    They had never tasted something so delicious before, the small amount they had was simply not enough.


    Although Tan Zhenghong knew that the children shouldn¡¯t eat too much barbecue, he was defeated by their adorably persuasive gazes.


    After separating the fish and meat, Tan Zhenghong instructed, "Be careful while eating, spit out all the bones."


    After taking care of the little ones, Tan Zhenghong also picked up a piece of fish for Duo¡¯er.


    "You need to eat more."


    Eating more fish and meat would help her wounds heal faster, otherwise, if left until summer, the wounds might become inflamed and fester.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, while eating, felt fortunate that her wound was on her left arm.


    Otherwise, if she herself had difficulty eating and had to be fed by Tan Zhenghong, the children would definitely laugh at her. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After dinner, Tangyuan patted her round belly, "Dad, Mom, will we often stay outside in the future?"


    "Whenever there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll let you experience it a few more times, but remember, no crying to go home in the middle of the night," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded without hesitation.


    "I surely won¡¯t; it¡¯s brother who cries."


    Tangyuan was certain, as long as her dad, mom, and brother were with her, she wouldn¡¯t cry.


    Green Group did not contradict her directly, but imitated Tangyuan, crying out, "Mom, someone stole my candy."


    "Annoying, that was a long time ago!" Tangyuan pouted and said. That time, she took candy for her friends but was robbed by Tan Xiaofu, who also threatened her to frequently give him candy thereafter, and she cried only because she was scared.


    Moreover, now she was not scared of Xiaofu at all, because that day her mom took her to Xiaofu¡¯s house and got her stolen candy back.


    Although she knew that Xiaofu¡¯s family was afraid of her mother, as a daughter, she should be assertive.


    Green Group slightly smiled, he might remember this incident for a few more years.


    Tangyuan sought help from her mother, she was a girl, so what if she cried a bit?


    Green Group sneered, "That¡¯s between us."


    "You two continue, Mom is tired today and wants to rest for a while."


    Qiao Duo maintained a neutral stance, hands and palms were all flesh; it wouldn¡¯t be right to favor one over the other.


    Moreover, arguing was a way for the children to communicate and grow closer; excessive adult intervention might create conflicts for them.


    After a while, Tan Zhenghong brought a basin of hot water over, cleaned the children¡¯s hands and faces, and then urged them to go to sleep.


    The space in the carriage was limited, so Duo¡¯er and the children had to sleep in the carriage.


    Tan Zhenghong and Big Lei slept beside the fire, so they could respond promptly in case anything happened.


    Qiao Duo lying in the carriage, however, felt no sleepiness at all; lying uncomfortably, she then draped her clothes on and got out of the carriage.


    The best way to reduce pain was to divert the attention.


    At that moment, Tan Zhenghong was sitting next to the fire. Seeing Duo¡¯er come out, he asked with concern, "Are you in pain and can¡¯t sleep?"


    "It hurts a bit and feels rather lonely, what are you thinking about sitting here alone?"


    Qiao Duo sat down next to Tan Zhenghong.


    "Just thinking that I almost lost you and the children today makes me unable to sleep," Tan Zhenghong said morosely. Whenever he closed his eyes, the images of the day flashed before him.


    He feared that upon waking up, the most important people to him would have disappeared.


    Qiao Duo comforted him, "Our family is lucky and strong, we will surely turn danger into safety; you just relax."


    Sensing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s unease, she moved closer to him.


    They just needed to be more cautious in the future.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Duo¡¯er into his arms, feeling somewhat more at ease.

 Chapter 1097 - 1103: Bath Time

    Chapter 1097: Chapter 1103: Bath TimeThe next morning, Tan Zhenghong hailed an ox cart headed to town, choosing it mainly because an ox cart was slow and easier to control.


    After agreeing on the price, the Tan family set off on their journey.


    Only after two long hours did they finally arrive at the town.


    Having had a poor night¡¯s sleep and jostled about all the way, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt like she was falling apart. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sir, Madam, you go ahead and rest at the inn. I¡¯ll go buy a horse and get the carriage fixed as well,"


    Big Lei took the initiative to undertake this task.


    Being the coachman, it was his responsibility after such an incident happened yesterday.


    The Tan family didn¡¯t blame him, which was very generous of them; he knew he had to be even more diligent in the future.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded, "This time, make sure you choose a steady horse. Speed and appearance don¡¯t matter."


    Big Lei earnestly replied, "Sir, rest assured, I¡¯ll first pick a dull horse to make do."


    A dull horse may not be smart, but it is loyal and reliable.


    If one wants a horse of better quality, it¡¯s best to raise it from a young age and only use it once the horse¡¯s temperament is stable.


    Tan Zhenghong thought this was a very dependable idea and went with his wife and children to find an inn to settle down.


    "The carriage was too stiff, I want to sleep on a bed next time," Tangyuan said while pulling at her clothes.


    She hadn¡¯t slept long before she understood the meaning behind her mother¡¯s instruction not to cry at midnight.


    Green Group didn¡¯t say anything but was also struggling to keep his eyes open.


    Tan Zhenghong helped Tangyuan and Green Group out of their outerwear and settled them into bed.


    "You hardly slept last night. Why don¡¯t you join the kids for a while?" Tan Zhenghong asked for Duo¡¯er¡¯s opinion.


    "I¡¯m not very sleepy, I want to take a bath."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked disgusted with herself.


    She was weak from her injuries and sweated easily, feeling disgusted with herself.


    Tan Zhenghong then prepared bath items for Duo¡¯er. Watching his busy figure, Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt like Tan Zhenghong was the father of three children.


    Green Group and Tangyuan were two little kids, and she was a giant baby.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Tan Zhenghong had all the items ready.


    "Come here; I¡¯ll help you bathe."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently complied but reminded him, "The two kids are sleeping outside; don¡¯t mess around."


    "I know," Tan Zhenghong said with a wistful tone.


    Oh, what an opportunity, yet he could only touch and quench his thirst momentarily; truly, happiness exists only when it¡¯s just the two of them.


    However, throughout the process, he didn¡¯t have a single inappropriate thought, for all of his attention was focused on Duo¡¯er¡¯s wound since it couldn¡¯t get wet.


    After the bath, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt much more comfortable.


    Even though her arm still hurt terribly, she was so tired that she quickly fell asleep.


    Duo¡¯er and her children slept through until noon, and by the time they freshened up and dressed, Big Lei had returned from the horse market.


    "Sir, Madam, while I was buying the horse, I chatted with the horse trader, and he said our horse might have been drugged. He mentioned that there¡¯s a drug on the black market that makes horses very excited," Big Lei reported.


    He thought this was a serious matter and came back to tell them.


    "Where did the horse eat yesterday?" Qiao Duo asked.


    Big Lei said with certainty, "The horse ate hay during a midday break. If someone drugged it, it would have been either at home or at the inn."


    At the inn, he fed the horse hay from the inn, and all the horses there were eating it, so it should¡¯ve been fine.


    But nothing in life is absolute, so he didn¡¯t dare speak with complete certainty.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately instructed, "Send a letter back home and explain the situation clearly. Make sure Granny Su investigates thoroughly."


    If it was as the horse trader suggested, then someone had their sights set on his family.


    Since it involved the lives of the entire family, they couldn¡¯t afford to be careless.


    "Yes," Big Lei bowed and then exited.

 Chapter 1098 - 1104 Too Cold-Blooded

    Chapter 1098: Chapter 1104 Too Cold-BloodedHaving traveled on and off, it took half a month for Duo¡¯er and her company to finally reach the suburbs of Mansion City.


    The two manors that were given as a reward by the Saint were located here, and Qiao Duo¡¯er planned to check on these two manors before entering the city.


    Early in the morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er said with fiery enthusiasm, "I¡¯m going to catch some borers later, do you want to join me?"


    "What borers?"


    Green Group was a curious child and needed to ask for clarification whenever encountering something unknown.


    "Those are the people who hide our family¡¯s silver in their own pockets."


    Tangyuan clenched her little fist, "I¡¯ll go beat them up!"


    "You¡¯re too weak, let me do it!" Green Group said disdainfully after glancing at Tangyuan.


    A little girl like Tangyuan wasn¡¯t even worth the effort of a punch from those people.


    Seeing that the two children were about to start arguing again, Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly said, "Let¡¯s go have breakfast now, we need a full stomach to have the strength to dig out the borers!"


    After breakfast, the Tan Zhenghong family headed to the manor together.


    As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the manor, they saw some people using wheelbarrows to move, evidently tenant farmers from the manor, and it looked like several families were moving at the same time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with confusion, "The wheat in the field has only just begun to sprout, why move out now?"


    It was normal for tenant farmers to move, but usually, they did so after the harvest.


    Otherwise, their previous efforts would have been in vain.


    Tan Zhenghong got off the horse-drawn carriage, stopped a tenant farmer, and asked politely, "Brothers, is the harvest on this manor not good?"


    "What¡¯s the use of a good harvest if we still can¡¯t fill our bellies?" the tenant farmer sighed.


    If it weren¡¯t for being at the end of one¡¯s rope, who would want to move again and again?


    Not to mention, just changing places means building a new house, which costs silver, a significant burden for families like theirs.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t understand, "How can you not have enough to eat if the harvest is good?"


    What if they encountered a natural disaster or calamity? Wouldn¡¯t they starve to death?


    "This manor¡¯s owner is so ruthless, charging a fifty percent rent. Even if I toil away at over ten acres of land, it¡¯s still not enough to feed my family. Life is truly unbearable," the tenant farmer said, growing more and more indignant.


    The rent here was the most expensive in the region, and he had really been blind to choose this place.


    "Fifty percent?" Tan Zhenghong was also surprised.


    A normal rent was thirty percentand for the manager of the manor to dare charge fifty percent was truly outrageous.


    What was most abhorrent was that the Tan Family had not seen a fifty percent rent. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nine out of ten, it had all ended up in the hands of the person In Charge.


    "Indeed? And to think of how the Owner planned for this, we¡¯re already having a hard time, and now we¡¯re being driven to our deaths, huh? I notice you guys don¡¯t look like tenant farmers, why so many questions?" the tenant farmer finally sensed something was amiss.


    These people were dressed finely and arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, clearly wealthy individuals.


    Could such rich people also be planning to become tenant farmers?


    Tan Zhenghong replied truthfully, "We are the owners of this manor, and we¡¯ve come to have a look."


    The tenant farmer was taken aback, so the person he¡¯d been complaining about was right in front of him?


    It was over. He¡¯d been caught bad-mouthing to their face, how embarrassing...


    "I¡¯m really sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it," the tenant farmer hurriedly said.


    People who owned such a large manor were surely either rich or noble, and for them, killing him would be as easy as stepping on an ant.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly said, "It¡¯s all right, the manor has been managed by the In Charge for the last couple of years, and we came over because we heard the harvest was not good."


    The tenant farmer¡¯s expression changed instantly, they were already collecting fifty percent rent and still thought it was too little?


    Businessmen truly were cold creatures, oblivious to whether people like them lived or died!

 Chapter 1099 - 1105: Who Has a Problem?

    Chapter 1099: Chapter 1105: Who Has a Problem?"Don¡¯t misunderstand; we only received the usual twenty percent of the harvest, and I suspect the In-Charge is lining his own pockets," Tan Zhenghong explained.


    He knew how tough it was for the farmers and would definitely not agree to a fifty percent rent.


    The Tenant Farmer then said, "If you don¡¯t mind, you can come to my house, and I¡¯ll explain everything slowly."


    If this man spoke the truth, then the Owner was also a victim.


    "Then we¡¯ll take you up on your kind offer," they said.


    It was a good opportunity for him to ask a few more households about their situation to avoid wrongfully accusing the innocent.


    "What¡¯s there to trouble about? If you can help us survive, I would welcome you to my house every day," the Tenant Farmer said with a naive smile.


    He was a simple and hardworking man, but no matter how much he toiled daily, he could barely feed his family of five. He was almost suffocating from the frustration, but now he finally saw hope. Who could understand his feelings?


    After walking through a vast expanse of lush green fields, they saw a row of thatched cottages, the dwellings of the Tenant Farmers.


    Upon reaching his front door, the man called out, "Wife, come quick, we have a Noble Person at home!"


    Soon, a woman heavy with child came out from inside.


    Seeing her, Tan Zhenghong knew why; the family had an additional mouth to feed, which inevitably made their burdens heavier. That¡¯s why they were preparing to relocate.


    "Head of the house, who is this?" the woman asked warily as she looked at Tan Zhenghong and his family.


    Could it be another debt collector?


    "They are the Owners of the estate. They suspect In-Charge has embezzled funds and have come to investigate," the man said. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the man finished speaking, the woman countered, "How is that possible? The In-Charge is a good person. Last year when our rent was short after scraping everything together, In-Charge didn¡¯t say a word and just covered it for us."


    She assumed the Owner had caught wind of In-Charge discreetly reducing the rent and had come to demand an account.


    This family looked decent enough, but their hearts were too dark!


    "Indeed, In-Charge always helps out families in need whenever he sees one," the man agreed.


    Because of this, In-Charge was very popular in the estate, and usually, everyone only complained about the Owner.


    Seeing the hostility on the woman¡¯s face, Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke calmly, "I¡¯ve brought the account books. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can show them to you."


    If it weren¡¯t for the harvest being incredibly low, she wouldn¡¯t have even thought to come and clarify matters.


    The woman scrutinized Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully and noticed that she was very open and did not show any sign of lying.


    Green Group earnestly said, "Auntie, my mother doesn¡¯t lie."


    The child was unhappy someone was maligning his mother.


    "Right, my mother says that children who lie are not good children," Tangyuan also solemnly added for once.


    Moved by the children¡¯s innocent appeal, the woman turned aside and said, "Come in then, I¡¯ll get you some water to drink."


    "No need to trouble yourself; we just want to clear things up as soon as possible," Qiao Duo¡¯er waved her hand as she was anxious to vindicate herself.


    The woman was still holding resentment in her heart, and her offer to fetch water was nothing more than polite conversation.


    "Did you just say your name is Zhao Sigeng?"


    The man hastily nodded, "Yes, that¡¯s right, I¡¯m the fourth in the family, so I took that name."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er searched through the account books quickly, and soon found the name Zhao Sigeng.


    "The accounts show that you rented fifteen mu of land, harvesting two thousand and five hundred jin of rice with extras, and two thousand and three hundred jin of wheat with extras. Is there a mistake?" Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the man.


    Zhao Sigeng immediately said, "That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve been farming for many years and only once, when there was a flood, was the harvest worse than this."


    "Head of the house, I recall that you only rented twelve mu of land," the woman said, frowning. According to this, In-Charge really might have been up to something.

 Chapter 1100 - 1106: Genius Child

    Chapter 1100: Chapter 1106: Genius ChildZhao Sigeng patted his head, "I was only focused on mentioning the harvest just now. Our family indeed only farms twelve acres of land, but the harvest is more than that."


    Due to heavy rent, he could only tend the crops carefully, and harvesting more would allow him to keep more for his family.


    So, generally speaking, each acre should yield at least four hundred catties of grain.


    But the accounts showed half less!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tapped her forefinger on the table, "I wonder if you could call some more tenant farmers over."


    Just Zhao Sigeng¡¯s family alone cannot prove anything, to prevent Yue Ming from saying he was wronged.


    "Leave this matter to me, I¡¯ll have them bring over the deeds to their tenanted lands as well," he said.


    Zhao Sigeng was very willing to cooperate with the investigation; if possible, he would like to continue living in these three thatched cottages.


    Soon, tenant farmers came one after another, and after verification, it was found that every family was the same, the reported harvest was only half or even less than the actual harvest, yet the tenanted land had increased by several acres.


    "We are all good at farming, only harvesting two hundred catties per acre? How could we even show our faces?"


    "My family harvested three hundred catties per acre last year, and my wife nagged me about it for a long time."


    A few people could not help but complain.


    To them, three hundred catties was a passing grade, and anything below that was too embarrassing to show to others.


    "I just remembered something else, Yue Ming must have kept all the best land for himself; otherwise, it¡¯s impossible that for several years I never farmed any high-quality land."


    "That¡¯s very possible!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I get understating the harvest, but how could having more acres be Yue Ming¡¯s loss? The rent to be paid on the accounts has increased a lot!" a man asked, puzzled.


    If Manager Yue was indeed a bad person, why would he do something that made him pay more silver?


    Could there be some misunderstanding?


    After all, based on past events, he didn¡¯t seem like someone who would do such a thing.


    Green Group spoke calmly, "The remaining produce after paying the rent is all pocketed by the Manager."


    The farmers, whether they harvested more or less, always had some portion left, but in Yue Ming¡¯s eyes, any remaining was still a huge loss.


    Everyone looked towards the speaker, a young child; they all thought they might be seeing things.


    How old was this child? How did he understand so much?


    "Little young master is really impressive, understanding the issue at such a young age, even better than me at my age," a man said, giving a thumbs up.


    "Right? I also understood after listening to the little young master."


    Amid a string of praises, Green Group¡¯s face turned a bit red; he thought it was quite easy to understand.


    Perhaps he should just be a quiet child in the future.


    Tan Zhenghong timely said, "Manager Yue has taken nearly thirty percent of the manor¡¯s income, I need to have a word with him about this. Could you all serve as witnesses?"


    "Of course, we are willing, should we go now?"


    "I¡¯ll go too, that old fox has duped us so badly, he must not be let off easily!"


    "You must stand up for us; our lives are so hard, the winter before last, there were people who starved to death!"


    The tenant farmers all responded, as they had no reason not to.


    It was only a few months till the next rent collection, and if they could pay less, their lives would be much easier.


    Tan Zhenghong solemnly said, "Don¡¯t worry, now that I am here, I will definitely give everyone an explanation."


    He wouldn¡¯t stand idle, not just for the tenant farmers.


    The manor had been under Yue Ming¡¯s management for exactly two years, and these two years had also cost the Tan Family a lot.


    Zhao Sigeng¡¯s pregnant wife definitely couldn¡¯t go, but she still insisted on seeing Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family to the door.

 Chapter 1101 - 1107: A Guilty Conscience

    Chapter 1101: Chapter 1107: A Guilty Conscience"Owner, I almost wronged you. You are generous, please don¡¯t take it to heart," said the woman, feeling guilty and anxious.


    Just now, she was so upset that she even neglected to pour tea for the guests, which was really inexcusable.


    Moreover, they were the owners. If they took offense, her family might not be able to lease land in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reassured her, "Anyone whose hard work is taken from them would feel uncomfortable. You¡¯re pregnant, don¡¯t overthink; it¡¯s bad for your health."


    If someone did that to her, she would be angry too.


    Ever since she had her own child, she had grown more tolerant toward mothers.


    Which mother could bear to see her child crying from hunger while she was helpless to do anything?


    The woman touched her belly, "Thank you, Madam."


    If this matter could be resolved, the child would be blessed after it was born.


    Accompanied by a group of tenant farmers, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family went to Yue Ming¡¯s house.


    Yue Ming¡¯s family lived in a grand brick house that at first glance looked like it belonged to a landlord¡¯s family.


    A housekeeper who had achieved such a position was indeed remarkable.


    "Folks, are you looking for my master for something? It¡¯s not yet time for the rent collection."


    The young servant at the gate was very polite.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er saw the disdain in his eyes instantaneously.


    One had to admit Yue Ming was cunning. He was doing wicked things, yet everyone thought he was a good person.


    "He is the master of the estate, here to see Manager Yue," Zhao Sigeng explained.


    The young servant sized up Tan Zhenghong¡¯s family; the man was handsome, the woman was aloof, and they had two tender babies. Clearly, they were people of status, so his expression immediately became more serious.


    The owner¡¯s sudden visit left them unprepared. What were they to do?


    After a moment¡¯s lapse, the servant quickly said, "Oh my, it¡¯s the master and the madam. Please wait a moment; I¡¯ll inform my master."


    Zhao Sigeng could not help but comment, "Why do I feel like they are acting guilty, like thieves?"


    He might have been a poor man, but he knew some manners.


    The owner was an important guest. Even if the manager was not home, they should have invited them in to sit down.


    "Exactly, if it weren¡¯t for the owner¡¯s visit, we¡¯d still be in the dark."


    The tenant farmers sighed again. Were they that naive?


    After a short wait, Yue Ming hurried out.


    "I wasn¡¯t aware of the master and the madam¡¯s visit; please forgive any rudeness," Yue Ming said humbly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "It¡¯s understandable for Manager Yue to be busy managing such a large estate. Waiting for a while is no issue." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Manager Yue wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead but held his poise at the critical moment, "Madam jests. I just washed my face to not look too shabby and scare the madam."


    "It looks shabby just the same," Qiao Duo¡¯er was not polite in her response.


    Although his appearance was neatly arranged, his soul was still filthy.


    Tan Zhenghong frowned, "Manager Yue, surely you don¡¯t intend for us to just stand and talk at the door?"


    "No, please come inside,"


    Yue Ming gestured them in. He had already dragged on for so long, the people inside should have tidied everything away by now.


    Then he said to the tenant farmers, "Please come in and have some tea."


    His ability to maintain appearances was indeed impressive.


    Under Yue Ming¡¯s guidance, they soon reached the living room.


    "Manager Yue, I want to ask you a question," Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly stopped, her eyes lingering on the flower racks on both sides of the living room.

 Chapter 1102 - 1108 Eating from Inside Out

    Chapter 1102: Chapter 1108 Eating from Inside OutYue Ming hurriedly said, "Madam, please speak."


    "Had we announced our visit in advance, would you have dismantled this house?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked with a smirk.


    The rack was made of high-quality pear wood, beautifully carved with intricate patterns, yet conspicuously bare, one could easily guess what had happened using their toes.


    It¡¯s quite rude to have someone clear out so many things in such a short amount of time.


    "My nephew is a carpenter, he made me a rack, I thought it would be nice to grow some plants."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "So you are Brother Feng¡¯s elder, I apologize for my oversight." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Previously, she had suggested that Wind Liyang make a mark to reduce counterfeit goods, not realizing that it would end up helping her.


    Because by seeing that mark, she knew that Manager Yue was lying.


    Yue Ming¡¯s face turned thoroughly red, he had heard that the owners of the estate were just two clodhoppers, which made him a bit presumptuous.


    He had been lining his pockets for two years, and the Tan Family hadn¡¯t shown any sign of objection, which made him even more convinced that they were simpletons.


    But now, he saw that this woman was formidable indeed.


    Tan Zhenghong said cheerfully, "If you like the wooden rack, I¡¯ll have Brother Feng make you a couple later, but let¡¯s get down to the real business for today."


    Manager Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his anxiety quickly returned.


    Because Mrs. Tan had brought out the account book!


    Compared to this, a pear wood collectible rack was just a trifling matter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er opened the account book, "I¡¯ve looked at the account book you sent over, is there anything you wish to explain?"


    "I don¡¯t know which part the Madam does not understand, I can explain it to you," said Yue Ming with a forced laugh.


    He hoped that she really couldn¡¯t understand the account book, which would make it easier to fool her.


    "Then let me be direct, on the way here I chatted with the tenant farmers, and I found that their figures are vastly different from those in the account book, can you tell me why?" Qiao Duo¡¯er tapped on the account book as she spoke.


    It was fortunate she encountered Zhao Sigeng on her way here, or she might have been deceived by Yue Ming.


    Because this man could lie without even blushing.


    Yue Ming glanced at the tenant farmers standing in the room, "Perhaps they remembered incorrectly, I had verified with them when I did the accounts."


    "Nonsense, my contract is very clear, I only rented eight acres, yet in your account book, it¡¯s written as twelve, that¡¯s a huge difference!"


    "My family has nine acres, but you wrote eleven!" said the tenant farmers, voicing a bitter truth, still daring to mock them at such a time!


    Tan Zhenghong raised an eyebrow, "Manager Yue, you had better explain yourself clearly."


    After all, Yue Ming¡¯s servitude contract was still in his possession; he had plenty of ways to deal with Yue Ming.


    "Madam, I know you want to raise the rent, but please also consider the tenant farmers, if they stop renting, the estate lands will go to waste," Yue Ming said earnestly and imploringly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Raise the rent?"


    This counteraccusation was clever, and it struck at the tenant farmers¡¯ weak spot.


    "It¡¯s clear at a glance that these are falsified accounts; in plain terms, you are just dissatisfied with the amount of silver," Yue Ming declared with righteousness.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips, "Let¡¯s put aside the account book for now and talk about how you collected fifty percent of the rent, yet I only received thirty percent, why is that?"


    The discrepancy in the silver was indeed real.


    "I... when it left my hands, there was certainly nothing wrong with it; perhaps it was skimmed by someone along the way," Yue Ming quickly exonerated himself.


    Having sold himself into servitude in his early years, he would suffer no good end if the crime of embezzlement was confirmed against him.

 Chapter 1103 - 1109: Come Prepared

    Chapter 1103: Chapter 1109: Come Preparedfreewe?novel.c?m"Then summon the person who delivered the account books and silver and ask them for a clear explanation. After all, Manager Yue has worked hard and tirelessly; we can¡¯t wrong you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said seriously.


    Otherwise, who would dare to be wholeheartedly loyal to the Tan Family in the future?


    "Master, Madam, the person who delivered the account books and silver is called Zhou Keqing. He suddenly disappeared a while ago, most likely fearing that his misdeeds would be exposed and slipped away."


    The young servant on the side quickly spoke up.


    He needed to protect Yue Ming; only then could he continue to enjoy the good life.


    Zhou Keqing was unfortunate enough to die young; he was trampled to death by a horse the last time he went out to purchase goods, making him the perfect scapegoat.


    Yue Ming, like clutching at straws, suddenly knelt down with a thud, "Master, Madam, please forgive me, Zhou Keqing was my adopted son. I trusted him for his attentiveness and advancement and let him take care of all the major and minor matters of the estate, not expecting to have let a wolf into the house."


    In this way, he would only bear the blame for lax oversight.


    "What is your name?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the speaking young servant.


    Overjoyed to be noticed, the young servant replied, "Chang Qingzhu, Madam, you can just call me Bamboo."


    "Look back and see where hard labor is needed and send him over."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong, not daring to employ a servant who does not even know who their master is in the Tan Family.


    Tan Zhenghong nodded indulgently; as long as his wife was appeased, that was all that mattered.


    Chang Qingzhu was dumbfounded; why wasn¡¯t he being promoted but instead being sent for hard labor?


    In the past few years, he had only been responsible for collecting rents; how could he possibly do hard labor?


    "Madam, have I done something wrong? Just tell me, and I will surely change!" Chang Qingzhu pleaded on his knees.


    Qiao Duo was too lazy to bother with him but turned to Big Lei, "You tell me what you found out at the bank."


    "Manager Yue stored five thousand taels of silver at the bank in his son¡¯s name, and his son is a well-known local hoodlum with no ancestors who had silver. So, certainly, that silver belongs to Manager Yue," Big Lei reported truthfully.


    Five thousand taels was already a considerable sum, but it was only part of it.


    Looking at Yue Ming again, he could no longer contain the tremors in his body.


    Damn it, he knew the Tan Family came prepared, but he never imagined they had investigated everything thoroughly.


    "Go inform Guang House to help us investigate all assets belonging to Yue Ming¡¯s family," Qiao Duo instructed. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Defiant, Yue Ming protested, "I did this alone, why investigate my whole family?"


    "You were only fifteen years old when you sold yourself into servitude, and the children born after you bought your freedom are of a base status. Moreover, when Grandpa Zhang handed over the servitude contract to me, he said it was for your whole family. Is there a problem for me to investigate your entire family?" Qiao Duo retorted.


    Investigating just Yue Ming, how much could he be forced to cough up?


    It was clear enough from the way he placed the bank money under his son¡¯s name.


    Pushed into a corner, Yue Ming abruptly stood up.


    "You better realize, I have been managing these two estates, and it¡¯s been ten years now. The permanent workers and tenant farmers recognize only me. Do you think you can take over?"


    If these people had to push him, he didn¡¯t mind going down with them.


    After all, without the silver, life was meaningless.


    "If the Saint has rewarded these two estates to the Tan Family, then there¡¯s no need for you to worry," said Qiao Duo slowly.


    With the hearts of the tenant farmers won over, what difficulty could there be in managing them?


    A look of despair spread across Yue Ming¡¯s face; after all these years, this was the first time he encountered such a ruthless woman. Once she was set on something, she would see it through.


    So, no matter what he said, he couldn¡¯t escape the fate that awaited him.


    At that moment, he finally believed in the saying, "Evil deeds will inevitably lead to self-destruction."

 Chapter 1104 - 1110: Don’t Beat Him to Death

    Chapter 1104: Chapter 1110: Don¡¯t Beat Him to DeathIn previous years, he was discreet, skimming just a little each time, so the Owner didn¡¯t notice at all.


    Even if they did notice, they couldn¡¯t be bothered to chase after such a small amount of silver.


    Two years ago, when the estate changed hands, he thought that the clodhoppers surely wouldn¡¯t understand anything and that their eyes would glisten at the sight of one or two silver, so he became completely unrestrained.


    Little did he expect that he would harm himself and drag his family down with him.


    "Serves you right for coveting our hard-earned money!"


    "People like you deserve to go to Hell!"


    "We must have been blind to have ever believed you were a good person!"


    The Tenant Farmers were furious, and several hot-tempered ones had already pinned Yue Ming to the ground and given him a few beatings.


    If they didn¡¯t kill him, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to compensate for their years of suffering.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded them, "Don¡¯t kill him, it¡¯s not worth getting into trouble over someone like that, and besides, we still need to wait for him to cough up the silver."


    "But that¡¯s letting him off too easily!"


    The man who was beating him felt extremely dissatisfied.


    His wife had just lost their child due to malnutrition, and he hated Yue Ming bitterly.


    After pondering for a moment, Qiao Duo then said, "When the investigation starts, let him be paraded through the streets so that everyone can see the true face of this hypocrite and beast."


    Yue Ming deserved death, but not at this moment.


    "If you kill someone, you must pay with your life. Let¡¯s lock him up in the firewood shed, so he can also taste the flavor of hunger!" someone suggested. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because the rent was so high, many families alternated between hunger and satiation, living a miserable life.


    After dealing with Yue Ming, the Tenant Farmers elected a representative, which was Zhao Sigeng, the one who had led the Tan Family to the village.


    "Master Tan, Madam, if it weren¡¯t for you uncovering Yue Ming¡¯s true identity, we would all have been forced to leave our homes. We want to invite you to a meal as a token of our gratitude," Zhao Sigeng said, scratching his head whilst he spoke.


    This could also be considered a form of apology, since they had cursed the Owner many times before.


    "However, this meal should be on the Tan Family, for Yue Ming was able to commit his crimes for so long also because of our indulgence," Qiao Duo¡¯er cheerfully agreed.


    Zhao Sigeng looked at the others before nodding: "Then it¡¯s settled!"


    The Owner had two large estates and wouldn¡¯t miss this bit of silver.


    The Tenant Farmers had it tough, but they were truly grateful to the Tan Family, and nearly every family brought out their best to entertain them.


    "Master Tan, Madam, our village doesn¡¯t have much to offer, please make do with what we have."


    Zhao Sigeng nervously twisted his fingers.


    The men had taken it upon themselves to invite the Owner over for a meal, and upon their return, they were scolded by the women in their families.


    It was only right to invite the Owner for a meal to express their gratitude for the great deed they had done, but they should have prepared in advance.


    Now, with only a hastily prepared few dishes, they didn¡¯t even know if the Owner would be accustomed to their food.


    "There are already a lot of dishes, stop fussing and come sit down to eat with us," Tan Zhenghong said with a smile.


    After all, how could his family of four finish a whole table of food?


    Zhao Sigeng quickly shook his head: "There¡¯s still food left in the kitchen, we¡¯ll eat there."


    "If you don¡¯t call everyone over, we won¡¯t start eating,"


    Persuaded by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s insistence, Zhao Sigeng finally compromised. At first, everyone was very restrained, but soon they found the Owner to be surprisingly approachable.


    Not only did he not find fault with them, but he was also chatty and jolly as if he were among friends.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er ate her meal with satisfaction, perhaps influenced by the moods of the Tenant Farmers.


    For the Tenant Farmers, being without Yue Ming was like having a mountain removed from above their heads. From now on, they could rely on their own hardworking hands to live a prosperous life.

 Chapter 1105 - 1111: Spit Out Silver

    Chapter 1105: Chapter 1111: Spit Out SilverThe Government House acted swiftly, by the afternoon the County Magistrate had personally arrived.


    He had originally thought that a housekeeper wouldn¡¯t be of much importance, but after the estate had been accounted for, he dared not delay any further.


    "Master Tan, Madam, Yue Ming¡¯s family¡¯s assets have been calculated, totaling eight thousand taels, I have brought over the ledgers and silver notes," the County Magistrate said respectfully.


    Tan Zhenghong gave a gesture of thanks: "We are grateful for Lord Tao¡¯s efforts."


    With Yue Ming¡¯s servitude contracts in hand, this matter could have been handled privately, but since the Bank was involved, it had to be managed by the Guang House. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This falls under my jurisdiction, it¡¯s my duty to address. By the way, the tenant farmers are strongly demanding Yue Ming¡¯s public execution, might I inquire as to Master Tan¡¯s thoughts on this?"


    The County Magistrate expressed the issue that troubled him the most.


    The tenant farmers weren¡¯t really a major problem; at most they would only complain, but the Tan Family couldn¡¯t be treated as such.


    Tan Zhenghong was quite amicable: "Since the authorities have been alerted, just follow the law. Whatever decision you make, I have no objections."


    "According to the regulations, Yue Ming¡¯s family should be paraded for three days before being exiled."


    "Then I will trouble Lord County Magistrate to find them a suitable place," said Tan Zhenghong, his eyes narrowed, for in truth, death was a simple affair, far happier than a lifetime of suffering.


    The County Magistrate nodded; he was well aware of the implications.


    Exile meant different things for different people; some lived comfortably, while others could only die in misery.


    Even if Madam had not given the order, he would have treated Yue Ming¡¯s family well.


    While they were speaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er flipped through a couple of pages of the ledger and couldn¡¯t help asking, "Who used to own this estate?"


    Yue Ming¡¯s embezzlement of silver was divided into three parts: the former Owner, the Tan Family, and the tenant farmers were all victims.


    Now that Yue Ming had regurgitated the silver, it was time to distribute it.


    The County Magistrate immediately said, "It belonged to Officer Wen Shu from the Mansion City. After getting involved in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village¡¯s illegal salt case, he was implicated by Master Yu Zheng and his property was confiscated. He is now relegated to the border."


    Two years prior, Yu Zheng had purged nearly half the officials of Ning Tian Mansion, an event the magistrate still remembered vividly.


    Qiao Duo silently criticized, no wonder they ended up with such a housekeeper.


    Master Yu generally imposed lighter sentences; the fact that the former Owner was exiled and his property confiscated suggested he had been highly corrupt, and Yue Ming¡¯s behavior was very much in keeping with that influence.


    The former Owner¡¯s share should then be reserved for Qin Longyun, to let him build more roads and bridges.


    Not only would this benefit the people, but it would also boost his achievements.


    "Would you mind issuing an announcement for me, asking the tenant farmers who have cultivated these two estates over the past ten years to bring their contracts to Yue Ming¡¯s house tomorrow afternoon to receive compensation. For the previous households, the compensation will be thirty wen per mu per year, and for the last two years, eighty wen," Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly requested.


    Surprised, the County Magistrate quickly understood.


    It was Yue Ming who caused the scandal, but the estates belonged to the Tan Family, and unflattering rumors were bound to spread to some degree.


    By doing this, not only would she salvage the reputation, but also engender gratitude among the estate¡¯s tenant farmers for the Tan Family, making the transition to a new manager smoother.


    Truth be told, managing such matters isn¡¯t difficult if the people are united, but if they are not, no amount of effort will suffice.


    "Yes, I will arrange for this immediately," he responded.


    Unaware of the multitude of thoughts the County Magistrate had just conjured, Qiao Duo¡¯er was simply intent on acting in accordance with her conscience.


    If she kept this sum of silver, she would become another oppressor of the tenant farmers.

 Chapter 1106 - 1112: One Day?

    Chapter 1106: Chapter 1112: One Day?The children at the farmhouse were plentiful, and the two kids had a blast playing together until after dinner when they finally remembered it was time to head home.


    Having played so hard during the day, they fell into a deep sleep shortly after getting in the car.


    Looking at the children¡¯s innocent sleeping faces, Tan Zhenghong asked, "Do you think we should shield them from these upsetting matters?"


    Children of that age should be innocent and carefree, but his two seemed to know too much.


    If things continued this way, would they still be able to have a happy childhood?


    "They¡¯ll have to become independent sooner or later, and if this issue is resolved smoothly, it won¡¯t be an upsetting matter anymore,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shared her thoughts.


    She always believed that only those with high emotional intelligence could achieve happiness, and emotional intelligence was something developed over time.


    Moreover, it was now the time for the children to establish their principles, to know what was right and what was wrong.


    Merely talking about it wasn¡¯t enough; they had to be involved in the process.


    "That¡¯s true. Once they grow up, we can enjoy our time as a couple again,"


    Tan Zhenghong calculated that the children should be able to stand on their own feet by the age of ten. By then, both he and Duo¡¯er would be under thirty, with plenty of beautiful times ahead.


    He hoped that day would come soon!


    Back at the inn, Duo¡¯er settled the children in bed and got some water to wipe them down.


    They had sweat a lot today, and they would need another bath once they woke up.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had just finished wiping down the children, but Tan Zhenghong, who went to another room to get clothes, hadn¡¯t returned. She covered the children with a blanket and prepared to go check on him.


    The moment she opened the door, the County Magistrate¡¯s voice came to an abrupt halt.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er swore she hadn¡¯t intended to eavesdrop; it¡¯s just that her hearing was too good, and she had overheard most of the County Magistrate¡¯s conversation.


    Tan Zhenghong was becoming more impressive by the day, with confidantes in every place, and astonishingly one of them was a maidservant bought by Yue Ming from Hua Building.


    Isn¡¯t that taste a bit too much?


    The County Magistrate sneaked a glance at Tan Zhenghong, feeling a chill down his spine at that moment.


    He guessed that Master Tan must have been a previous patron of that woman, and Mrs. Tan would surely make a big scene.


    If he had known that Madam would suddenly appear, he wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it even if it was tied to his neck.


    "Master Tan, I¡¯ll take my leave now," the County Magistrate quickly bid farewell. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong was exasperated. Couldn¡¯t he have cleared things up before leaving?


    "Another confidante?" Qiao Duo¡¯er gave Tan Zhenghong a piercing look.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s head shook like a rattle-drums, "No, absolutely not, this must be a misunderstanding."


    "From Hua Building?" "That means you¡¯ve been to Hua Building so often you can¡¯t even remember which one."


    "I¡¯ve really never been!"


    "I¡¯m truly wronged! I have no idea who Lord Tao is talking about!"


    Tan Zhenghong felt like crying; he didn¡¯t even know the woman¡¯s name, and Lord Tao hadn¡¯t had the chance to say it.


    "Then what does she want with you? As the saying goes, ¡¯Even a day-old marriage has a hundred days¡¯ grace.¡¯ She must be hoping you¡¯ll look kindly upon your past relationship and possibly even rekindle what you had."


    As Qiao Duo¡¯er closed in, Tan Zhenghong found himself backed against a wall with nowhere to retreat.


    With a look of grievance, Tan Zhenghong said, "One day amounts to a hundred days of grace? Considering how many times we¡¯ve been together, that accounts for a lifetime. How can you not have the slightest trust in me?"


    His heart and his body recognized only Qiao Duo, impossible to be involved with anyone else.


    Qiao Duo¡¯s face turned red all of a sudden; she meant ¡¯one day¡¯ literally, so why did it become ¡¯one time¡¯ when it came to Tan Zhenghong?


    They were discussing a serious topic; could he avoid making off-color jokes?

 Chapter 1107 - 1113: Disagree with One Word

    Chapter 1107: Chapter 1113: Disagree with One Word"I know, it must not be enough yet," she said.


    Tan Zhenghong felt as if he had been enlightened.


    Ever since they had children, Duo¡¯er had insisted on not being intimate with him, making every night an agony for him.


    But now, he had finally found an opportunity, and it was his wife who had brought it up!


    It didn¡¯t matter if she didn¡¯t believe him, he would prove it through his actions.


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could react, she found herself pinned against the wall, everything had happened too fast!


    "Don¡¯t move, the kids are in the room, you¡¯ll wake them up," she warned.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put her arm between them, stopping Tan Zhenghong from getting any closer.


    She really wanted to punch Tan Zhenghong in the face. Getting intimate without agreement, what was wrong with him?


    Tan Zhenghong whispered, "Keep your voice down, and no fighting today, otherwise when I wake up, I will definitely claim both principal and interest."


    Then, it wouldn¡¯t be something that could be resolved with just one time.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to knee him, Tan Zhenghong cleverly dodged.


    "Wife, I know all your tricks already, don¡¯t waste your energy," Tan Zhenghong said cheekily.


    And he knew how to please Qiao Duo¡¯er, swiftly making her drop most of her resistance.


    In reality, intimacy made them both very pleased. His wife liked it too, she was just too shy to admit it.


    He would have to be even more shameless under such circumstances.


    There was a beautiful couch in the outer room, too small for two to lie down, so they had to stack up, one over the other.


    After their lovemaking, Qiao Duo¡¯er lay there, melted into a puddle of spring water.


    "I will fetch water to bathe you," Tan Zhenghong kissed his wife¡¯s face.


    He always felt refreshed after each session, which upset Qiao Duo¡¯er, so she took the chance to flick him while he strutted in front of her.


    Tan Zhenghong grunted, "You started it this time, so I won¡¯t be polite."


    After saying that, he turned into a wolf and devoured her once again.


    From then on, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided never to doubt Tan Zhenghong unless she saw it with her own eyes, otherwise she would definitely be the one at a loss.


    The next day, the county magistrate sent someone to politely invite her again.


    The woman in the jail kept talking about her past with Tan Zhenghong, and if Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t go to clarify things soon, her reputation would be completely ruined.


    Finally, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to visit in person, because she was still curious about what sort of romantic tales Tan Zhenghong really had.


    The prison.


    The government official opened the cell door: "Madam, this is the woman, and to prevent her from spreading rumors, we have gagged her."


    "She is indeed an old acquaintance, please remove the cloth from her mouth," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smirk.


    Ruo Lan had disappeared without a trace after being sold. Granny Liu¡¯s family never mentioned her, and Qiao Duo was surprised to encounter her here.


    It seems the world isn¡¯t that big after all!


    The official did as instructed and then silently moved aside to prevent the woman from hurting Mrs. Tan.


    "Why is it you?" Ruo Lan stared at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She had wanted to see Tan Zhenghong, hoping he would save her out of his true affection for her, desperately not wanting to be exiled. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why can¡¯t it be me? Someone is pining for my husband, shouldn¡¯t I care?" Qiao Duo¡¯er said, amused.


    Some women have been through life¡¯s trials, how can they still be so naive?

 Chapter 1108 - 1114: The Path Chosen by Oneself

    Chapter 1108: Chapter 1114: The Path Chosen by OneselfRuo Lan lowered her head and said, "I have no other intention, I just wanted to tell him that I didn¡¯t know what Yue Ming was doing, I shouldn¡¯t be exiled."


    She really did not want to go to Beijiang, which was King Qin¡¯s territory.


    At Hua Building, she had heard that King Qin was cold-blooded and had no mercy for women.


    There, she would become a soldier¡¯s entertainment, and those men, long starved for pleasure, would definitely torment her. How long could she survive?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "You didn¡¯t know Yue Ming¡¯s identity? Or did you find it normal for a housekeeper to have almost ten thousand taels of wealth? The moment you allowed him to buy your freedom, you should have realized that your fate was in his hands."


    Hua Building was a gathering place for all sorts of people, making it easy to gather information.


    And Ruo Lan was very good at seeking advantages and avoiding harms; she must have made sure things before entrusting herself to Yue Ming.


    By that time, she should have considered what outcome awaited her once Yue Ming was exposed.


    Thus, she didn¡¯t think Ruo Lan was wronged.


    "I just wanted a better life, is that wrong?" Ruo Lan looked steadily at Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    She did not want to flatter those despicable men in Hua Building, she wanted a home, and to live a wealthy life.


    That must be the wish of every girl in the Hua Building.


    "Wanting a better life is not wrong, but why didn¡¯t you choose a good man if you wanted stability?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er countered, knowing the other was not a good person and aware that his wealth came from dubious sources, why didn¡¯t she refuse?


    She clearly wanted to enjoy problematic wealth, and now that troubles had arisen, whom could she blame?


    Ruo Lan was left speechless, resorting to tears to garner some sympathy.


    "Mrs. Tan, please help me, I will never dare to have improper thoughts about Fourth Master again, save me," Ruo Lan cried, her tears like rain in pear blossoms.


    During her time at Hua Building, she had learned how to make herself appear pitiful.


    Unfortunately, Duo¡¯er was not her patron, and this tactic was useless against her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said coldly, "I don¡¯t mind that you have improper thoughts because you won¡¯t have the opportunity to act on them."


    Someone admiring Tan Zhenghong showed she had good taste.


    After finishing, Qiao Duo¡¯er left, believing that one must complete the path they chose even if they were kneeling; one should never expect others to pity them.


    This saying applied to everyone.


    So, she would not interfere with the County Magistrate¡¯s decision.


    "As expected of a girl from Hua Building, she lies without a draft; she even said earlier that Master Tan was going to marry her."


    "She also mentioned that she wouldn¡¯t let us down in the future, yet Master Tan doesn¡¯t even glance at her."


    "Look at the aura around Mrs. Tan; if Master Tan didn¡¯t like her, he would be blind!"


    "These two together, even a blind man knows what to feel for!"


    A group of officials gathered and chatted idly for a while.


    In the cell, Ruo Lan slumped to the ground. Only then did she realize that Qiao Duo¡¯er had never really regarded her highly.


    The truth was, despite her many efforts, she had indeed not shaken their relationship, giving Qiao Duo¡¯er enough confidence to ignore her.


    Unfortunately, she had miscalculated, resulting in her current predicament.


    If life could be redone, she would rather choose an honest man and live a normal life. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back at the inn, Qiao Duo¡¯er reported the situation to Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, "For the sake of a better life, she gave up even her own dignity."


    "It¡¯s as if she had any dignity to begin with," Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes. From the moment she calculated against Tan Zhenghong in Big Willow Village, trying to make him happy to be a father, she had seen Ruo Lan as a shameless little wretch.


    Today¡¯s events only reinforced her opinion.

 Chapter 1109 - 1115: It’s Time to Give Out Money!

    Chapter 1109: Chapter 1115: It¡¯s Time to Give Out Money!n?vel.comTan Zhenghong gave a thumbs-up. "Wife, you¡¯re getting more and more skilled at throwing insults."


    "And you¡¯re getting better and better at misinterpreting others."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed her sore lower back, and some other places were also swelling with ache.


    Her body had been well taken care of, and she often exercised, but it still couldn¡¯t withstand Tan Zhenghong¡¯s antics.


    Tan Zhenghong said with a goofy smile, "Wife, I¡¯m doing this for our own good."


    The more often it happened, the deeper their affection grew, ensuring they¡¯d stay together for a long, long time, a truth he had just learned yesterday.


    After testing, this method proved to be very effective.


    "I can¡¯t be bothered to deal with you; I¡¯m going to check on the babies, they should be awake by now." Qiao Duo¡¯er awarded Tan Zhenghong with her turning back.


    Someone had become incurably ill, beyond the help of medicine.


    Tan Zhenghong was in very high spirits, so he didn¡¯t mind that Duo¡¯er was ignoring him and happily followed her.


    Raising children is a miraculous thing. Initially, he resisted the idea of Duo¡¯er being pregnant, but now they¡¯ve become an inseparable part of his life, hardly wishing to leave anything undone himself.


    Yesterday, the babies were so tired, they slept for half an hour more than Qiao Duo¡¯er had anticipated.


    After lunch, Tangyuan still remembered his playmates from the day before and begged his parents to go to the manor with him.


    Seeing the children happy, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong left Big Lei to watch over them while they made a trip to Yue Ming¡¯s home.


    When they reached the Yue family¡¯s gate, the people coming to receive compensation had already arrived.


    To them, it was a windfall, each tenant farmer¡¯s face beamed with joy.


    "Look, the Owner is here!" someone recognized them and shouted.


    The others promptly knelt on the ground.


    "Greetings, Master Tan."


    They had heard that the owner of the manor was a saint-anointed Inspector and even the County Magistrate had to behave respectfully around them; it was only right for these humble farmer folks to kneel.


    Especially since the Owner had bestowed such a great favor upon them.


    These silvers meant little to the Owner, but they were enough for an ordinary family to use for quite some time.


    Tan Zhenghong helped an elderly man with white hair back to his feet. "Everyone, please rise. This was due to my negligence, causing everyone undue hardship for two years."


    "It¡¯s no fault of the Owner, it is Yue Ming who was unreasonable. Even a three-year-old child in our family knows not to just take things from others."


    And yet Yue Ming, who was no longer young, didn¡¯t even understand this simple principle!


    "Yes, and the Owner has already been good enough to us!"


    "I¡¯ve dealt with many Owners, and yours are by far the kindest-hearted." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd responded in agreement, grateful that the Tan family had considered the hardships of tenant farmers and was willing to distribute the silvers among them.


    Tan Zhenghong humbly said, "This is the extra rent that Yue Ming had collected, which rightly belongs to you all. Take this silver, and may everyone live better days."


    "Owner, I¡¯d like to rent a few more acres. How will the rent be calculated in the future?"


    Someone asked eagerly, confident that a proprietor this benevolent wouldn¡¯t shortchange them on the rent.


    Tan Zhenghong explained, "From now on, the rent won¡¯t depend on the harvest. For average land, it¡¯ll be eighty jin of rice or seventy jin of wheat, which converts to six hundred wen in copper coins. The rate might vary by ten jin depending on the quality of the land. Does this rate work for you?"


    He and Duo¡¯er agreed that setting clear rules was better as it would prevent tenant farmers from hoarding crops and leave no room for supervisors to engage in mischief.


    It also helped reduce the manor¡¯s expenses, as there was no need to have someone in charge of weighing the total crop yield at the tenant farmers¡¯ homes.

 Chapter 1110 - 1116: The Legend of King Qin

    Chapter 1110: Chapter 1116: The Legend of King QinThe tenant farmers did some quick calculations in their heads, one mu of average quality land could yield three hundred and fifty jin of wheat, and rice yielded slightly more than wheat.


    For each mu, the rent was one hundred and fifty jin, which didn¡¯t even reach thirty percent!


    Although yield might fall short in years of disaster, bountiful harvests also came, and on average, they didn¡¯t lose out at all!


    "This year, I must rent more fields, life is looking up now!"


    "Paying much less in rent, how could life not get better?"


    And the tenant farmers who hadn¡¯t renewed their leases all deeply regretted it now.


    Most had given up their fields after the rent was increased; if they could have endured just one more year, wouldn¡¯t they have met the owner?


    "Master Tan, can we make a reservation now?"


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "You¡¯ll need to wait a few more days. I¡¯m already selecting a new person in charge, and they should be in position in a few days. By then, you can mention it to the person in charge. Additionally, I hope everyone encourages each other, and if such incidents occur again, you can ask someone to bring a message to the Tan Family at Big Willow Village in White Stone County."


    The Tan Family were merchants, and it was their nature to value profit, but that didn¡¯t mean they would accept ill-gotten gains.


    If such an incident happened again, he certainly wouldn¡¯t let it slide easily.


    "With such a tough person in charge, no one would dare to mistreat us!"


    "But we also need to be more disciplined, don¡¯t take advantage of the owner¡¯s kindness to cheat on the rent, and if someone is shameless, we¡¯ll boot them out of our village."


    In the past, when rent was high, it was normal for everyone to find ways to support their family, but it would truly be shameless to continue such practices in the future.


    "Let¡¯s supervise the new person in charge and also watch over one another."


    Seeing that the villagers were responding positively, Tan Zhenghong finally felt at ease.


    He and Duo¡¯er planned to expand Duo Meifang and the braised meat shop in the next two years, so they wouldn¡¯t have much energy to spare for the management of their estate.


    The best outcome would be for the person in charge and the tenant farmers to take care of their respective duties, leading to contentment for all.


    Three days later, Tan Zhenghong, accompanied by his family of four, was strolling around the town.


    When they grew tired, they stopped at a tea house to rest a bit.


    There was a professional storyteller in the tea house, and today he was recounting tales of King Qin, and Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s family all pricked up their ears.


    "Today we continue from last time. King Qin ventured alone into the enemy camp and beheaded the enemy commander Kuro, then fought for two hours. It was not until the reinforcements arrived that he fainted from exhaustion. When he fainted, he was still holding Kuro¡¯s head, and it¡¯s said that King Qin beheaded as many as a thousand men this time!"


    "Truly worthy of being the new god of war for our Daxing Dynasty, not giving an inch to General Old Lu!"


    "With King Qin around, the northern barbarians dare not cause trouble."


    The storyteller stroked his goatee: "Now let me tell you about the situation at that time. Kuro had captured Daxing Dynasty¡¯s citizens and used them as leverage to demand that King Qin attend a banquet alone."


    "King Qin, who carried the well-being of the common people in his heart, could not bear to see his subjects suffer, so he accepted the invitation."


    "On that dark and windy night, King Qin rode his Wind Chasing Horse, wielding the Cold Cloud Sword, and alone, he arrived at the enemy¡¯s camp. Watching Kuro release the hostages, he then followed into the tent. Before he departed, he ate a Detoxification Pill personally mixed by Medicine King, allowing him to drink three cups of poisoned wine without batting an eyelid." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Kuro thought for sure that King Qin was doomed, but King Qin drew his long sword and lopped off his head!"


    "When the enemy troops saw their commander killed, they surrounded King Qin from all sides, but he fought ferociously, cutting a bloody path through them!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, Kuro had been King Qin¡¯s sworn enemy for over a decade, and finally, there was a conclusion to their conflict.

 Chapter 1111 - 1117: Might Be Overthinking

    Chapter 1111: Chapter 1117: Might Be OverthinkingIn recent years, King Qin had fought hard with Kuro for two reasons: first, to maintain the stability of the frontier, and second, to avenge his prospective father-in-law.


    The woman King Qin valued said she wouldn¡¯t marry until her great vengeance was avenged.


    Hmm... It¡¯s truly rare for someone in the imperial family to remain so dedicated.


    "Mother, is King Qin really that powerful?"


    The Green Group¡¯s eyes sparkled, the little boy already understanding what it means to be a hero and whom to admire.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "He¡¯s even more formidable than the man described. Perhaps you¡¯ll have the chance to meet him one day and see for yourself."


    "Okay, I want to learn Martial Arts and compete with King Qin," said Green Group earnestly.


    Once he became as formidable as King Qin, he too could go to the battlefield, kill enemies, and become a hero defending his country.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded him, "Think it over clearly. Learning Martial Arts is very tough and tiring."


    She had always planned to have both children learn Martial Arts, not only to strengthen and keep themselves fit but also to protect themselves in crucial moments.


    However, she intended to consider this matter after the child turned three.


    "I¡¯m not afraid, I will go kill enemies too!"


    Green Group patted his chest; he was a man, and what kind of man would he be if he couldn¡¯t endure this bit of hardship?


    Hearing Green Group say this, Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to stop him, but she swallowed her words before they could leave her lips.


    She was Green Group¡¯s mother, and she¡¯d rather have her child live as an ordinary person with a peaceful and joyous life. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But even though she was his mother, she had no right to dictate his life; his life should be decided by himself.


    There was a hint of dimness in Green Group¡¯s eyes, "Mother, don¡¯t you want me to become a Great General?"


    "If you like it, mother likes it too. But the battlefield is very dangerous, you must master true skills before you can go," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile.


    If Green Group insisted on this path, she could only teach him everything she knew, hoping he would always keep himself safe, no matter the circumstance.


    Green Group nodded, "Mother, I will definitely study hard."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t say anything, but it was clear his feelings were complicated.


    This too was a form of love, letting a child pursue what he desires.


    "What did this person do to deserve such a beating?" a person by the window asked.


    It was normal for prisoners to be paraded, but to see the prison cart almost filled up with rotten vegetables and stones was a first; what deep hatred had caused this?


    "He was a supervisor on a manor, nothing major; just exploiting his position and inflating rent to line his own pockets. If the owner hadn¡¯t been clever, no one would have known when he would have been exposed."


    "That is really a pleasure for the people, such despicable people deserve to be beaten."


    "I heard they are going to be exiled to Cangzhou, where water turns to ice. Going there, these people would chisel ice for the imperial needs, and it¡¯s said that many die from freezing every year."


    "Better to be beheaded now!"


    "A housekeeper amassed eight thousand Taels of Silver; if he doesn¡¯t suffer, how can justice be served for the people he harmed?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er also glanced out of the window, at that moment, Yue Ming, shackled in his chains, was locked in the prisoner cart and seemed to have lost all vitality.


    It had only been a few days, yet Yue Ming went from a radiant manager to a rat everyone on the street wanted to stone; such a downfall could destroy a person.


    But he deserved no sympathy, for he had brought this upon himself.


    After Yue Ming¡¯s prisoner cart passed, the storyteller started telling tales of King Qin¡¯s legendary exploits again, and Green Group listened with great interest.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently hoped that Green Group¡¯s enthusiasm was merely a fleeting interest, or that he would forget King Qin¡¯s great deeds after sleeping on it.


    But from the look in his eyes, she might have been thinking too much.

 Chapter 1112 - 1118: Mom is a Fool

    Chapter 1112: Chapter 1118: Mom is a FoolSoon the new In Charge had arrived, named Yu LePing, who was a fallen scholar who had failed the examinations many times over the years and had also squandered his family fortune, without getting married or having children at the proper age.


    Despondent, he then sold himself into servitude, seeking a stable old age.


    He was alone, and unlike Yue Ming, would not embezzle money; of course, the pride inherent in a scholar also would not allow him to do so.


    Previously, he had worked as Mr. Accountant at a shop, until the Owner sold the place and he ended up at the Tan Family after being passed around several times by the Human Teeth.


    "Meeting Master Tan, Madam."


    A man in his thirties knelt on the ground.


    "Please rise, the Tan Family does not stand on ceremony."


    Yu LePing earnestly said, "Rules must not be abandoned, as I am a servant bought by the Tan Family, I ought to act like one."


    After performing the ritual, he then stood aside with his hands hanging down.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er casually chatted a few more words and clarified his place of origin and general life story.


    She concluded that he was a rather stubborn and old-fashioned person, which was a disadvantage in social interactions, but excellent for managing an estate.


    Feeling assured about Yu LePing, Qiao Duo¡¯er handed over the estate¡¯s account books to him.


    "Familiarize yourself with the estate¡¯s affairs as soon as possible. We will not be staying here very long, and the estate will be in your care from now on," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    "Yes."


    Yu LePing respectfully complied.


    As the saying goes, a gentleman¡¯s promise is worth its weight in gold; having undertaken this task, he would certainly handle it well.


    After observing for two days, Tan Zhenghong and Duo¡¯er were even more confident that Yu LePing was reliable, not only did he manage things well, but he also got along well with the Tenant Farmers; thus, they confidently set out on their journey.


    In early April, Duo¡¯er and her family finally arrived at Mansion City.


    Qin Longyun and Chen Yiling welcomed them and had barely sat down when Chen Yiling started to complain.


    "Duo¡¯er, you finally came. You have no idea how pitiful I am now, practically a lonesome woman," Chen Yiling said with a pout.


    Without any intimate friends and seldom seeing Qin Longyun, she could only stay at home accompanying Qin Mingrui, nearly bored enough to grow hair.


    She had been eagerly awaiting Duo¡¯er¡¯s arrival, thinking she finally had something to look forward to.


    To her surprise, it took a full twenty days longer than she had expected!


    Qin Longyun touched his nose: "It¡¯s just the beginning of my role here, I¡¯ll be able to keep you company after this busy period."


    He had just taken up his new post and was incredibly busy every day.


    "The children are too young for long carriage rides, so we took our time and played along the way, also handling some matters in between, which caused the delay."


    If possible, she wouldn¡¯t have wanted to arrive any later either.


    "I¡¯ll forgive you, but you¡¯ll have to make it up to me later," Chen Yiling said, feeling aggrieved.


    "I¡¯m planning to set up a shop in Mansion City this time. If you really want compensation, I can keep you so busy you won¡¯t touch the ground," Joi Duo¡¯er said mischievously, unsure if Chen Yiling would be willing.


    Chen Yiling immediately agreed: "It¡¯s a deal."


    They would just pair up Qin Mingrui and the Tan children and have a Maid watch over them, thereby solving that issue.


    "If you find her clumsy, just send her back," Qin Longyun said, undermining his wife¡¯s capability in front of others.


    Qin Mingrui even added insult to injury: "My mom is clumsy."


    He had deeply felt it; every time his mother tried cooking, it was a disaster.


    "I think you should discuss with your godparents about the possibility of taking you back to raise," Chen Yiling glanced at her own son.


    After all, she had no intention of keeping this son.


    S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1113 - 1119: Take Me Home?

    Chapter 1113: Chapter 1119: Take Me Home?Qin Mingrui thought carefully before looking towards Qiao Duo¡¯er, "Godmother, can you take me home today?"


    Well... As he¡¯s not at home, it won¡¯t disturb the world of just the two of them¡ªhis parents.


    "We¡¯ve only just arrived in Mansion City, the yard isn¡¯t sorted out yet, there are two children to take care of, and I was hoping Green Group could make use of your place for some time."


    Tan Zhenghong said guardedly.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s thoughts were almost written on her face; he had to be careful, otherwise, one day his daughter might be spirited away by that brat from the Qin Family, and he would have nowhere to cry.


    Since Green Group is a boy, there aren¡¯t so many worries.


    Qin Mingrui looked at Tangyuan sympathetically, "We are but pitiful children, our parents only care about the unborn brother or sister."


    Would their status diminish even further once the baby was born?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er turned to Chen Yiling, "Pregnant again?"


    "I have a cold constitution and it¡¯s not easy for me to get pregnant. Having just Rui Rui, I¡¯m already content."


    Chen Yiling sighed. Otherwise, she would have definitely had a second child, as beautiful and considerate as Tangyuan.


    But now, it was just wishful thinking.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips and sneaked a smile; Qin Mingrui¡¯s words clearly meant they were busy making siblings.


    Chen Yiling whispered in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear, "You¡¯re mocking me again, but look at your rosy complexion, you must have squeezed your man dry."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er closed her mouth. A happy marriage had one thing in common¡ªoften doing something a little improper.


    As Tan Zhenghong would say, there was no quicker or more convenient way to express affection.


    And the culprits, Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong, quietly shoveled their food.


    They grumbled inwardly that they were quite romantic, but seemed lacking compared to women; they only became wolves in the official bedroom, demanding over and over.


    Women were different; they made small gestures at the dining table that they thought only they understood.


    After lunch, Qin Longyun immediately went to the Government Office, while Chen Yiling took Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong to a small courtyard not far away.


    "This is the courtyard I found for you, it¡¯s a bit small, but the decoration is nice, and I had someone clean it beforehand. With a bit of tidying up, it will be ready to move into," Chen Yiling handed the keys to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The location of the house was also convenient, so if Qiao Duo didn¡¯t like it, selling it wouldn¡¯t be difficult.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked over the house, a small, courtyard-type home that was entirely suitable for their family of four, and the surroundings were quite nice.


    She didn¡¯t like having too many servants at home; the size was just right¡ªnot too cramped, yet not too spacious.


    "You didn¡¯t let me down with your choice."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a heartfelt thumbs-up.


    Chen Yiling boasted, "Of course, and I really did put in effort."


    As the saying goes, a good family girl is sought after by a hundred families, so the Tan Family¡¯s daughter was bound to attract attention.


    Therefore, if she made a good impression on Duo¡¯er, her own son¡¯s chances in the future would definitely be better.


    "To thank you, I¡¯ve decided to personally cook a meal tonight. You and Qin Longyun come over to warm the house."


    When moving into a new house, it was customary to celebrate the move.


    Chen Yiling didn¡¯t refuse, "I¡¯ll come help out in a while."


    "Don¡¯t, I was hoping to use my kitchen for a few more days," Qiao Duo¡¯er said nervously.


    Back in White Stone Town, Chen Yiling had also wanted to make baby food herself, and as a result, the kitchen and her hands suffered. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whether the kitchen got burned, or her hand got scalded or cut, it was always a series of calamities.

 Chapter 1114 - 1120: Just a Coincidence?

    Chapter 1114: Chapter 1120: Just a Coincidence?After much anticipation, Chen Yiling eagerly took Qiao Duo¡¯er out shopping the very next day. Mansion City was more bustling than White Stone Town and had plenty of fun activities.


    Among them, Chen Yiling¡¯s favorite was the arrow tossing game.


    The game started by purchasing ten arrows and then throwing them into a narrow-necked bottle. The more arrows you got in, the better the prizes you would receive.


    She had played many times, but each time she could only get two or three arrows in, which was nowhere near enough to meet the minimum standard for a prize.


    "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re the best¡ªit¡¯s up to you to redeem my honor."


    Chen Yiling clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.


    She even started to think the stall owner was a swindler.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Today I¡¯ll definitely reclaim the field for you."


    Chen Yiling nodded delightedly and then said to the owner, "Owner, bring over ten arrows."


    "Madam, are ten enough? Why not buy more?" the stall owner sycophantically suggested.


    He loved it when this woman came by; she never managed to take anything yet always was willing to spend Silver, allowing him to make a tidy profit each time. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling gladly agreed, "Then add twenty more, but don¡¯t make a sour face when it¡¯s time to pay."


    If all ten were successful, the reward would be one tael of Silver.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve always done business here and definitely wouldn¡¯t do anything to spoil my own reputation," the stall owner confidently asserted.


    Soon, Qiao Duo¡¯er was holding thirty headless arrows.


    Chen Yiling patted Qiao Duo¡¯er on the shoulder, "Whether I can get back the Silver I lost before is all up to you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er confidently accepted, for she was a trained agent after all. If she couldn¡¯t handle this, she wouldn¡¯t be worthy of her title.


    Picking up an arrow, Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes.


    No wonder the stall owner dared to set the stakes so high; the arrows were made of two different types of wood. The varying weights of the woods meant that their trajectory would be completely different from what was expected.


    But she was Qiao Duo¡¯er and was certainly better than most people.


    Quickly, the first arrow flew out. Although it hit the neck of the bottle, it eventually went in.


    Three kids clapped endlessly; they had been watching for a while now but had rarely seen anyone get an arrow in.


    Chen Yiling was even more excited, "Duo¡¯er, you have to get them all in!"


    Soon another four arrows flew out.


    "Girl, you¡¯re really skilled," the stall owner gave a thumbs-up.


    But the smile on his face was strained; she had hit five in a row. With this level of precision, his Silver was as good as given away!


    Not just one tael, but a full three taels.


    This was a month¡¯s income for him!


    As he watched the arrows fall into the bottle one after the other, the stall owner quickly signaled someone mingling in the crowd.


    At this point, he could only hope that the person in the crowd could distract Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    The ninth arrow steadily made its target, but the following arrow landed near the narrow-necked bottle.


    "Sorry, I¡¯m not very accurate," a man apologized.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er merely smiled faintly. If his throwing skill was off when aiming into the bottle, it seemed too perfect when targeting her arrow, suggesting she needed to be more cautious.


    It was not that she suspected malice in others without reason, but some people just looked dishonest and clearly had bad intentions.


    After a feint, the arrow hit the bottle, followed by another person¡¯s arrow also landing.


    Chen Yiling rolled her eyes, "What are you trying to imply? Are you deliberately not letting people enjoy the game?"


    If it had been just once, she might have believed it was a coincidence.

 Chapter 1115 - 1121: Out of Luck When Leaving Home?

    Chapter 1115: Chapter 1121: Out of Luck When Leaving Home?Just so happens that the same incident occurred twice, both times around the same time as Duo¡¯er, do they really think everyone else is a fool?


    The stall owner hurriedly explained, "I really don¡¯t know what happened; I¡¯ve been doing business here for two or three years. If I were dishonest, I wouldn¡¯t last long in business."


    "That¡¯s because you never encountered someone who could get it right every time!"


    "There must be a trick to it. I¡¯ve tried several times and haven¡¯t won even once!" a young man complained discontentedly.


    He had played the game of tossing arrows into a pot before, and although he wasn¡¯t very skilled, he had never been this unsuccessful.


    "I think so too, I just can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s wrong." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The stall owner quickly took out One Tael of Silver, "Please accept this, Madams. Our store never deceives any customers, and we award prizes to anyone who achieves the score."


    Chen Yiling accepted the Silver and the unpleasantness from earlier seemed forgotten.


    At least, judging by the attitude of the stall owner, he didn¡¯t seem like the type to cheat or play dirty tricks.


    "There are twenty more, shall we throw?" Qiao Duo¡¯er reminded Chen Yiling with a look.


    Getting a bit of sweetener and forgetting who you are¡ªhow can a mother still be so easily deceived?


    Chen Yiling nodded excitedly, "Of course, I want to. It¡¯s not like the owner wouldn¡¯t let me buy more arrows when I didn¡¯t win before!"


    The stall owner wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and humbly said, "Please have mercy, Madams. I run a small business and don¡¯t make much profit, plus I have a family to support. Please leave me a way out."


    "Look at the way you¡¯re talking, as if we have wronged you. For so long you¡¯ve had this stall, most people walk away with nothing. How could you be at a loss?"


    "This young lady¡¯s skills are legitimate, why wouldn¡¯t it be okay?"


    The onlookers grew indignant once again. If he couldn¡¯t afford to lose, why did he say the first prize was One Tael of Silver?


    With a light snort, Chen Yiling said, "I¡¯ve been here a few times and I¡¯ve never seen you award prizes to anyone. It¡¯s almost like you¡¯re doing business without any costs, so why can¡¯t you afford to leave us a way out?"


    Humph, how much Silver did he give this time to cry and wail like that?


    "The Madam is right; you¡¯d better clear off, otherwise, who would dare to come play at your stall in the future?"


    "I wouldn¡¯t dare either. Just give me back my copper coins, I¡¯m not playing anymore!"


    "Return the money at once! I¡¯m out!"


    The stall owner¡¯s face wrinkled like a bitter gourd, left with no choice but to step aside, watching helplessly as Qiao Duo¡¯er won another Two Taels of Silver.


    While handing over the Silver, the stall owner gritted his teeth and said, "You¡¯d better think carefully. If you dare take everything, don¡¯t be afraid if trouble comes looking for you."


    He had survived in Mansion City for so long, did he not have connections?


    These two didn¡¯t look like wives from very rich and noble families¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be a problem to handle them.


    In a low voice, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "I feel that cutting off someone¡¯s means of sustenance isn¡¯t very kind, but some people like to run shady businesses, and I don¡¯t really feel like showing mercy. What do you think we should do?"


    "Who do you think you are?" said the stall owner disdainfully.


    "Neither of us is a big shot, but one of our husbands is a Magistrate and the other¡¯s husband is an Inspector. Do you think you can compete with us?"


    Chen Yiling said it unhurriedly.


    She really disliked such pretense, but it was the best method to deal with a shameless stall owner.


    Jolted by the realization, the stall owner quickly knelt to the ground. "I was only joking with the two Madams; please don¡¯t take offense."


    He had an uncle who was the leader of the government officials in Mansion City who would scare off ordinary folk quite sufficiently, but these two great Buddhas were simply beyond his capacity to offend!

 Chapter 1116 - 1122: It’s All Over!

    Chapter 1116: Chapter 1122: It¡¯s All Over!"Ladies, the stall owner has already paid you the silver, why haven¡¯t you let this go yet? It¡¯s normal for the stall owner to feel upset after losing half a year¡¯s earnings in one go, why must you persist for a man?"


    "You are wealthy, how would you know the difficulty of making a living?"


    Two voices of protest rose from the crowd.


    Upon closer scrutiny, they were indeed the ones who had just tried to interfere with Duo¡¯er.


    Green Group innocently stated, "It was the stall owner who encouraged my foster mother to buy more."


    "I heard the same, he said buying more could increase the chances of winning." Qin Mingrui also seriously chimed in.


    This comment was meant for other customers, but he happened to overhear it.


    "I didn¡¯t expect my sister to pick up something so good."


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes narrowed with a smile, initially, her plan was only to make one or two silver, but the stall owner, knowing her capability, had egged her on to buy more.


    Isn¡¯t it like lifting a rock only to drop it on one¡¯s own foot, could she be blamed?


    The stall owner gave his two brothers a signal, these two individuals were no ordinary people, better to give them the silver and ask for peace.


    "Brother, you¡¯ve been in business for a long time, how come you still get so easily scared?"


    The stall owner¡¯s second brother whispered.


    The three brothers had run this stall for years and had never seen anyone from a rich and noble family come to play this game because they simply do not care for that bit of silver.


    The stall owner felt troubled because these two women¡¯s clothes and hair decorations were very simple, they did not look like the prefect¡¯s wife at all. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what if what they said was true?


    If he offended the magistrate and the inspector, he would definitely not be able to continue running his stall!


    "I think my second brother makes sense, this woman is so formidable, if she came every day, even mountains of gold and silver would eventually be taken by them to their home."


    The stall owner hardened his heart and covertly signaled his two brothers.


    Then he turned his head and said, "Ladies, the silver has already been given to you, I need to attend to other customers, I can¡¯t entertain you any longer."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke calmly, "People die for money, I initially thought your little tricks to make money were harmless, but now it seems you are downright unscrupulous merchants. It might be better if you visit the Government Office. I reckon Lord Qin would not like to have such scum within his jurisdiction."


    The stall owner¡¯s gesture was made early in the year, but it did not escape her eyes.


    It was a gesture to slit the throat.


    For three or two silver, attempting to cause someone¡¯s death, how could such people be allowed to stay?


    Before anyone noticed, three individuals appeared in the crowd standing beside the stall owner and the two plants.


    "Madam, what does this mean?" the stall owner¡¯s legs trembled.


    "What it means you can ask Lord Qin at the Government Office, and don¡¯t forget to tell him that you wanted to secretly dispose of his wife, he might very well appreciate it."


    Chen Yiling said with a hooked lip, at times she even despised her own bad temper, presumably, Qin Longyun had had enough of it long ago.


    If someone could deal with her, Qin Longyun might actually be thrilled.


    Qin Mingrui spoke in disdain, "My dad is not that kind of person."


    Those who bullied his mother would not have good days ahead, even him, his own son!


    The stall owner and his two brothers could not help but shudder, now it was all over!


    It was said that the newly appointed magistrate was upright and would certainly carefully review their case, and it might even bring up all the mischief they had done in the past.


    The year before last, someone won big, and they had a thug rob back the silver.


    Last year, someone saw through their tricks, and they beat the man to paralysis while ostensibly inviting him to a meal.


    This year, they had offended the Prefect¡¯s wife.


    All these offenses piled up, and they were likely to spend several years in prison.

 Chapter 1117 - 1123: Luck Explodes

    Chapter 1117: Chapter 1123: Luck ExplodesThose close by heard Qin Mingrui¡¯s words and one after another greeted them, for a child could not possibly lie.


    Chen Yiling waved her hand, "Let¡¯s not spread word about this matter."


    She did not want to be disturbed while shopping, nor did she want sellers to refuse Silver because of her identity.


    "Lady Qin, you truly eradicated a scourge for the people this time. They have relatives in the Government Office, frequently occupying others¡¯ stalls and not paying Silver for their purchases, which is just too much!"


    "With a virtuous wife like Lady Qin, no wonder Lord Qin is a good official."


    But too many people knew about it, and some invariably ignored Chen Yiling¡¯s words.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t cope and had no choice but to let the followers immediately take the stall owner to the Government Office, while she and Qiao Duo¡¯er took the child and quickly ducked into a teahouse.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Duo¡¯er, do you think our clothes are too plain?"


    She remembered the look the stall owner gave her, which seemed to carry a hint of disdain, clearly suggesting how could she be the Prefect¡¯s wife dressed like that.


    "Indeed, a bit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. However, the material was brought by Chen Yiling¡¯s mother, the finest Kesi silk from the Jiangnan region, and very precious.


    It¡¯s just that the color was very plain and with a subtle pattern, there were only one or two hairpins adorning their clothes, and at a glance, they really looked like ordinary housewives.


    Alas, it was the stall owner¡¯s fault for not recognizing it.


    Qin Mingrui excitedly said, "Mother and godmother are both heroes."


    "That¡¯s right; we did manage to punish the wicked and promote the good for once," Chen Yiling said, narrowing her eyes.


    This time they owed it to Duo¡¯er; without her, it would have been difficult to expose the stall owner¡¯s true colors.


    Suddenly, a sound of gongs rang out on the street, accompanied by Government Officials shouting, "Make way, bystanders!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked out and saw the guards quickly taking control of the street, with vendors and pedestrians having to wait on either side.


    "What¡¯s going on?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    Chen Yiling also looked confused; she had not heard of any major event about to unfold.


    Why were so many guards deployed, and the whole street placed under martial law?


    "Go and see what¡¯s happening," Chen Yiling ordered the maid behind her.


    After a while, the maid hurried back, "It¡¯s Prince Liang coming to pick up the Side Concubine."


    "It¡¯s for Li Mu¡¯er," Chen Yiling understood immediately.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was somewhat surprised, "Is she still hopping around?"


    With Li Zhengtian fallen, for Li Mu¡¯er to still snatch the title of Side Concubine was quite impressive.


    "The matter with Li Zhengtian implicated Prince Liang, who was already displeased. Li Mu¡¯er then caused another incident, and, in a fit of rage, he banished her to his family¡¯s temple to pray for blessings. But she was lucky; she found out she was pregnant as soon as she got to the temple. Just a few days ago, she gave birth to a son, who is the eldest son of Prince Liang," Chen Yiling explained.


    That Prince Liang must be a glutton for sensuality reincarnated; despite having many women in his mansion, they all bore daughters. But Li Mu¡¯er gave birth to the first son, and Prince Liang certainly cherished that.


    They were in the process of formalizing Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s status as Side Concubine.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Your average person really wouldn¡¯t have her luck."


    Normally, to be sent back to the natal family would mean being discarded, but now, with her son elevating her status, she had turned her fate around.


    "I must hurry back and report this to Qin Longyun."


    Chen Yiling spoke earnestly; almost no one supported Prince Liang after the disaster relief incident, so he was now trying to forge relationships with officials wherever he went.


    It was essential to keep Qin Longyun out of the way, but they couldn¡¯t leave their house unmanned either, as Prince Liang was still a royal and they couldn¡¯t embarrass him.


    S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1122 - 1128 Restless Mind

    Chapter 1122: Chapter 1128 Restless MindIn the entire Daxing Dynasty, there was only one Prime Minister, and to make such a promise to a mere Fourth Rank Official, how should one deal with those senior ministers in the Capital?


    Is it to grant lands and titles, or to promise someone¡¯s daughter in marriage, or perhaps to let one¡¯s grandson become the Crown Prince?


    Regardless of which, each possibility strengthened Qin Longyun¡¯s belief that Prince Liang was not fit to ascend to the throne. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A ruler must have clear-cut and measured rewards and punishments, not just come up with solutions on the fly.


    The smile on Prince Liang¡¯s face stiffened slightly, "Doesn¡¯t Lord Qin care about the future of his descendants at all?"


    "Children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes, whatever they become is their own doing,"


    Qin Longyun said indifferently. He just wanted to live well with Chen Yiling; as for descendants, whatever they want, they should strive for themselves. After all, what one gains from others never lasts.


    Seeing that he was set in his ways, Prince Liang immediately changed the subject, "This afternoon, I heard you went out with Master Tan to handle a case; how is it that I only see you alone now?"


    "Master Tan was dragged along by me; as soon as the case was over, he couldn¡¯t wait to return home. He treasures his wife and child very much."


    Qin Longyun reported truthfully.


    Compared to Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eagerness to rush home to his wife, Qin sometimes felt quite inadequate.


    Li Mu¡¯er inwardly sneered but still advised on the surface, "Both officials are so good to their wives that it¡¯s enviable, but a man still needs to make his mark in the world, so that he can provide a good life for his wife and child, right?"


    "It can only be said that different people have different aspirations. Master Tan and I both think that it¡¯s enough if the family is together and we have enough to eat and wear,"


    Fame and fortune are fleeting, so why pay them too much attention?


    Prince Liang tried to persuade him a few more times, but he didn¡¯t get the response he wanted.


    He could only watch helplessly as Qin Longyun took his leave, silently nursing an internal injury.


    Was he just ignored like that?


    Li Mu¡¯er hypocritically patted her chest, "Prince, those two don¡¯t take you seriously at all!"


    Otherwise, having been an official for so long, how could he not pick up on the underlying tones?


    "Chen¡¯s and King Qin are very close friends, of course, she wouldn¡¯t agree so quickly. You must behave in the next few days, don¡¯t you dare hold me back," Prince Liang instructed.


    Qin Longyun and others had a good relationship with King Qin, and if they could be persuaded to support him, what reason would others have to object?


    However, based on the current situation, he still needed to put in more effort.


    Li Mu¡¯er expressed discontentedly, "Prince, do I really hold no value in your heart?"


    "How could that be? Just for giving birth to my first son, that alone is a great achievement!" Prince Liang quickly soothed her.


    As the saying goes, the beginning is the hardest part; having had the first son, could the second one be far behind?


    Li Mu¡¯er nestled in Prince Liang¡¯s arms, coyly said, "Since it¡¯s a great achievement, the Prince must reward me generously."


    Prince Liang agreed without hesitation, women coveted nothing more than the usual things like gold and silver, clothes and jewelry, and the Prince¡¯s mansion lacked none of these.


    But Li Mu¡¯er was rather vulgar, indeed; it would be better to find a lady from a reputable family to raise the child, lest she be always asking for rewards, joyful when she gets them and throwing tantrums when she doesn¡¯t, completely lacking the royal demeanor.


    Of course, seeing as Li Mu¡¯er is the mother, he wouldn¡¯t be too hard on her.


    At night, Chen Yiling tossed and turned but couldn¡¯t fall asleep.


    "Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to find an opportunity for Rui Rui and Tangyuan to cultivate a relationship? Why are you so restless after just one night?" Qin Longyun said with a chuckle.

 Chapter 1123 - 1129: Put it on, then take it off

    Chapter 1123: Chapter 1129: Put it on, then take it offChen Yiling continued to put on a brave face, "I¡¯m just not quite used to it."


    She was accustomed to having Rui Rui by her side every day, and not seeing him for most of the day had her truly missing him.


    "I have a way to make you get used to it," Qin Longyun said wickedly.


    Qin Mingrui was very clingy, often insisting on sleeping with them. Now that the little thing wasn¡¯t around, he could finally make proper use of his rights as a husband.


    "Can you be careful? You¡¯ll tear it!" Chen Yiling said anxiously, protecting her clothes.


    She always thought of Qin Longyun as a delicate scholar, but why was he so rough when it came to ripping clothes?


    Qin Longyun explained in a low voice, "The harder I rip, the more it shows how much I love you."


    Because the more you love, the more honest the body¡¯s reaction?


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes; where had she ever heard such a justification?


    She knew every family must have this kind of logic; wouldn¡¯t the owners of cloth shops make a fortune?


    Soon Chen Yiling could only let out dissatisfied moans, as a certain old fox had found just the right spot, probably leaving her legs weak.


    After their moment of passion, Chen Yiling lay in Qin Longyun¡¯s arms.


    "Do you think if we send Rui Rui to the Tan Family, Tan Zhenghong will end up hating us?" Chen Yiling asked languidly, closing her eyes.


    Qin Longyun dismissively said, "Tan Zhenghong told me his kids have been sleeping in separate rooms from themselves since they were very young. I was just foolishly indulgent when I agreed to let you sleep with Rui Rui."


    At the Tan Family, Qin Mingrui would certainly learn from their kids, and maybe by the time he returns, he¡¯ll be used to sleeping alone.


    "Rui Rui really should play more with Green Group. We¡¯ve pampered our son too much; he¡¯s not even as brave as Tangyuan," Chen Yiling reflected.


    Someday, Qin Mingrui will have to stand up for his wife and child; always sheltering him under her wing is no good at all.


    Qin Longyun nodded in agreement, "Then let¡¯s start with sleeping in separate beds."


    "Can¡¯t you be serious for a moment? What on earth did my dad see in you, you hypocritical fellow?"


    Chen Yiling pouted, reflecting on her new marriage, thinking her dear father¡¯s judgment was flawed; he had plenty of students to choose from, yet he picked the poorest and most conservative.


    But now she only wanted to say her father misjudged; this man wasn¡¯t conservative at all, and was quite the dark horse.


    Qin Longyun tugged at the corner of his mouth, "That must be because I am of the same kind as your father. Look at how many siblings you have."


    It implied that her father wasn¡¯t above being a bit improper himself.


    "Keep talking. I¡¯ll have a chat with my dad when I get the chance, to see if what you¡¯re saying makes any sense." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s scalp tingled and he hastily begged for mercy, "Wife, I admit my mistake."


    If his father-in-law knew he was being discussed like this behind his back, his days ahead surely wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    "I¡¯m thirsty, pour me a cup of tea." Chen Yiling commanded delightedly.


    Qin Longyun immediately threw back the quilt and got out of bed, "As you wish."


    "Why don¡¯t you put some clothes on?" Chen Yiling shrank her head under the quilt.


    Even though there were just the two of them in the room, walking around naked didn¡¯t seem right.


    Even if Qin Longyun didn¡¯t care, the person watching couldn¡¯t help blushing.


    Qin Longyun slowly said, "I¡¯ll have to take them off later anyway, it¡¯s too much hassle."


    He had been left hanging for a while; did she really think one round would be enough to please her?


    Unable to resist grinding her teeth, Chen Yiling resolved that the next time she went back to her parent¡¯s house, she would put in a good word for Qin Longyun to her father, suggesting that Lord Qin was philandering or taking bribes outside.

 Chapter 1124 - 1130 Suspicion

    Chapter 1124: Chapter 1130 SuspicionThe next morning, Chen Yiling hurried to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s house.


    No sooner had she sat down than Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    "Let me tell you, that Li Mu¡¯er is truly shameless, to actually expect me to pour tea for her! Has she even considered her own status? Would she dare to drink the tea poured by yours truly?"


    Just thinking about Li Mu¡¯er, carrying her status and asking Lady Qin to pour a cup of tea, made her angry.


    Both the Chen Family and her maternal family were prominent clans, so where did Li Mu¡¯er get the audacity to command her?


    "Relying on that son to behave even more outrageously is also no big deal."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands, feeling that now Li Mu¡¯er would even dare to pluck the stars from the sky.


    Who made it so Prince Liang lacks a son?


    Although she really wanted to tell Li Mu¡¯er that the child wasn¡¯t someone else¡¯s, besides Prince Liang who is obliged to indulge her?


    But that¡¯s just the way society is, living here means playing by its rules.


    "Don¡¯t mention that child. I saw him last night and I really don¡¯t think he looks anything like Prince Liang," Chen Yiling whispered.


    Thus she suspected that the child truly wasn¡¯t Prince Liang¡¯s.


    However, she couldn¡¯t specify exactly why, it was just a strange feeling.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er caught the scent of gossip and immediately perked up, "Does he look like Li Mu¡¯er then?"


    "Only the eyes do. With so many eyes watching in the temple, it¡¯s not easy to deceive, so the child is certainly Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s, but as for who the father is, that¡¯s uncertain."


    By now, all sorts of scenes had flashed through Chen Yiling¡¯s mind, all resembling illicit tales from operas.


    Um... Could someone explain why her thoughts were so impure?


    Anyway, she knew that at 13, Prince Liang was sent out by the Saint because of his involvement with a palace maid, and since then he¡¯s been with countless women, even more than in the Saint¡¯s harem.


    Yet despite this, Prince Liang didn¡¯t have a son, and many said he had offended some deity and was doomed to only have daughters in his lifetime.


    How then could Li Mu¡¯er be so lucky? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She¡¯s not kind-hearted, nor is she a good person, so why would heaven favor her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sipped her tea before slowly saying, "Then we could investigate, we¡¯re just a bunch of idle ladies after all."


    "I¡¯ll send someone right away. If it¡¯s true, then Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s toast," Chen Yiling agreed wholeheartedly.


    If they discovered something, it would be a stroke of luck for them, and if everything was normal, it wouldn¡¯t cause much harm.


    She was decisive and acted immediately, sending Ping¡¯er to find the guard who had stayed at the manor.


    After they finished gossiping, the three children got up one after another.


    "Rui Rui, are you enjoying your stay at your godmother¡¯s house?"


    Chen Yiling was in high spirits watching Qin Mingrui eat heartily.


    Qin Mingrui¡¯s eating and studying habits were more like hers, somewhat picky and sophisticated.


    But at the Tan Family, he ate only slightly slower than Green Group.


    Qin Mingrui nodded between bites, "It¡¯s very nice here, I like it."


    "Then stay a little longer. After a while, your dad and I will come back to take you home," Chen Yiling decided cheerfully.


    He had become more independent at the Tan Family, and she was willing to let him toughen up here for a while.


    It would also save him from being pampered into a young lady by her, which would surely be scoffed at by Tangyuan.


    Women are inherently weak and all like to be cherished in a man¡¯s palm.


    The three kids finished breakfast and burrowed into the study, each holding a book and looking extremely focused.


    "They¡¯re so young, can they understand it?"


    Chen Yiling watched with a skeptical face and turned to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Normally a child starts learning at three, and these kids aren¡¯t even two years old yet ¨C could it really work?

 Chapter 1125 - 1131: You guys are a bit noisy

    Chapter 1125: Chapter 1131: You guys are a bit noisyQiao Duo¡¯er lowered her voice, "It was me who had Chao Lian draw up the booklet. This time I¡¯ve also brought Rui Rui¡¯s portion. The content is very simple, you can definitely understand it, and even if you can¡¯t, it will at least keep you quiet."


    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for the three of them to demolish the house.


    Chen Yiling gave a thumbs-up; this was indeed a solution.


    "Mom, foster mom, you are being very loud," Green Group complained with a pout.


    Couldn¡¯t they just let them read in peace? Instead, they were whispering on the side.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed, "Then you all read nicely; we¡¯ll step outside."


    After being chased out of the study, Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed there was still plenty of time, so she suggested, "Let¡¯s not talk about those annoying matters. I¡¯ll go check on the shop, want to come with?"


    "Of course, I¡¯ll come along," Chen Yiling nodded without hesitation.


    Anything to avoid going home and facing those shameless creatures of Prince Liang.


    As for leaving the three children, having Ping¡¯er and Ruyi to watch them was enough.


    Ji Xiang and Ruyi were the maids Chen Yiling had carefully selected for her. Although they were only seventeen or eighteen years old, they were very composed and trustworthy. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The distance from Duo¡¯er¡¯s living quarters to the shop was just a short walk, around the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling chatted as they leisurely made their way there.


    Soon, they arrived in front of the shop.


    Chen Yiling raised her thumb in admiration, "Your speed is impressive. It¡¯s only been a couple of days, and you¡¯ve already stripped down the building?"


    "Demolishing buildings is actually the quick part, one day is enough. It¡¯s what comes after that¡¯s troublesome," Qiao Duo¡¯er admitted.


    Especially the later stages of renovation; that¡¯s the most exhausting time.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "But the workers Ah Hong hired are plenty, and it won¡¯t take much time. In a few days, when I seize the opportunity during Lord Qin¡¯s birthday banquet, I¡¯ll invite the ladies and misses from the different households in the mansion city."


    She had deliberately waited for Qiao Duo¡¯er, which is why she pushed the banquet so late.


    Otherwise, as soon as Qin Longyun took office, she would have already familiarized herself with the family members of other officials.


    "Then I must thank you in advance," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a ceremonious bow.


    The previous opening of Duo Meifang went very smoothly because the branch was near White Stone County, and people knew of Duo Meifang¡¯s reputation.


    However, Mansion City was different; it was far from White Stone Town, and few people here knew of Duo Meifang.


    Aside from advertising at the banquet, she also planned to distribute trial packs at the entrance of Duo Meifang.


    With good word-of-mouth, future business would be easier to do.


    Seeing his daughter-in-law, Tan Zhenghong quickly put aside his work.


    "How come I don¡¯t see the three children?" Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled.


    "The three kids are reading in the study. They felt we were disturbing them, so we came out for a walk," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.


    Tan Zhenghong frowned and said, "When I get back, I¡¯m going to deal with those little rascals. They even dared to bully my daughter-in-law while I wasn¡¯t home."


    He had understood it as the children driving his daughter-in-law out of the study.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "You better get back to your work, and Yi Ling and I will just browse around."


    "Be careful of the broken bricks and tiles on the ground," Tan Zhenghong cautioned before returning to his own tasks.


    This time he was really fortunate; as soon as he arrived in Mansion City, he saw a house that had been recently built, with both design and quality that were very good.


    He had hired the workers exactly as they were, not expecting everything to go so quickly, which is why there were still many things he had not prepared for.


    Fortunately, this wasn¡¯t his first time building a house. He had some idea of what to do and managed not to be completely flustered.

 Chapter 1126 - 1132: Better to Die Early

    Chapter 1126: Chapter 1132: Better to Die Early"This shop is quite large; it should be enough for you,"


    Chen Yiling said, squinting her eyes.


    Back then, she spotted this shop among a stack of Land Deeds and House Deeds just like that, and as Lord Yu was about to reward achievements, the shop ended up in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded. "Of course it¡¯s enough, but it¡¯s too troublesome to transport embroidery from White Stone County, so I¡¯m planning to set up an Embroidery Room too. Could you ask Brother Qin what would be a suitable place to build it?"


    "Leave it to me, I¡¯ll tell you when I come back to see Rui Rui," Chen Yiling said, patting her chest.


    Qin Longyun was always wandering outside; he would definitely know a suitable place.


    "Then thank you very much."


    Chen Yiling brushed away Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands as she was about to bow: "We are friends, isn¡¯t helping each other expected?"


    Moreover, she wasn¡¯t of much use; she could only help with these little things.


    But Qiao Duo¡¯er had given her thirty percent of the profits, and if she wasn¡¯t more active in helping, she would feel guilty.


    Suddenly, a woman dressed in mourning hemp kneeled in front of Duo Meifang¡¯s foundation.


    "God, you¡¯re really not leaving us any way to live, it¡¯s these two vicious women who had my three sons thrown into prison, now leaving a whole family of orphans and widows; what are we to do?"


    "It¡¯s true, crows are black everywhere, Lord Li is just biased towards his daughter-in-law, yet my children are harmed!"


    "Heaven, just open your eyes and look, send these black-hearted people to Hell, to let them fully experience those tortures!"


    An elderly woman said forcefully, like a fighting cock poised to attack.


    "Was it Mo¡¯er who sent them to cause trouble?" Chen Yiling asked weakly.


    "No, Mo¡¯er has to take care of the child and has to take the chance to capture Prince Liang¡¯s heart; she¡¯s very busy. Hearing this person¡¯s words, it seems that it¡¯s the mother of the stall owner from yesterday," Qiao Duo¡¯er analyzed.


    As for this shop, Mo¡¯er would eventually remember it.


    Chen Yiling realized, it turned out that she and Duo¡¯er were being blamed for exposing someone¡¯s scam.


    "Let¡¯s go have a look."


    Chen Yiling strode over.


    As they approached, the woman¡¯s cursing grew even more venomous.


    "With the way you harm others, you will definitely not have a good end, and your descendants will pay for today¡¯s deeds!"


    "Then your families will fall apart, your offspring lying sickly in bed; both your families will be finished!"


    Chen Yiling felt a surge of anger within her; it was one thing to accuse her and Duo¡¯er, but involving their children was out of line.


    They were still tender little dumplings; what had they done wrong?


    Chen Yiling said resolutely, "If you think this is a wrongful case, you could ask Lord Li to reopen the court and review the case. If you¡¯re not reassured, you could invite the whole Mansion City to attend. If even one person thinks it¡¯s unfair, then it¡¯ll be revisited. Do you dare?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The case was judged yesterday afternoon. Qin Longyun was busy and, to avoid suspicion, he didn¡¯t participate at all; there could not possibly have been deliberate partiality.


    Moreover, if she was dissatisfied, she could have spoken up in court; why come here instead?


    Do they think that by making a scene here, the Guang House would let those unscrupulous merchants go unpunished?


    The elderly woman beat her chest and stomped her feet, saying, "I won¡¯t talk to you, I¡¯m going to hang myself with all my family right now. Living is suffering anyway, better to go sooner rather than later."


    She cried pitifully and simultaneously kept an eye on the reactions of the people around her.


    A large part of the crowd sympathized with her, because most of them were commoners who knew that confronting the authorities was tantamount to seeking death.


    So facing unfair treatment, all they could do was swallow their grievances, teeth and blood together.

 Chapter 1127 - 1133: Don’t Have This Uncle

    Chapter 1127: Chapter 1133: Don¡¯t Have This Uncle"Alas, it truly is pitiable."


    "Pity won¡¯t solve anything. Of all the people to offend, they had to cross Madam Guang, and that she left them alive is already merciful enough."


    "I used to hear people say all crows under the sky are black, and now I finally believe it."


    One thought that Lord Li was different from the previous magistrates, but how is he different?


    He is still just a man who engages in corruption and bribery, showing favoritism to those related to him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er coldly said, "Don¡¯t worry, the ill-gotten gains your three sons have made over the years should be enough to support your family for a long time."


    To alter the arrows into that kind of model is nearly cost-free business, how could they not profit?


    Of course, this is provided that the family is willing to work hard.


    It¡¯s just that I fear they¡¯ve long grown accustomed to a life of swindling money.


    "Don¡¯t just take her word for it; this family lives in a compound with three courtyards. Everyone around knows they make a living by setting up a stall on the street. However, they tampered with the arrows, which is why they became so wealthy and are now suffering the consequences¡ªthey brought it on themselves."


    Wang Yun suddenly interjected.


    "A compound with three courtyards, that¡¯s rather exaggerated!" some people said in disbelief.


    Those who can live in such residences are certainly considered wealthy; they must be strictly disciplined, so how could they cause trouble at someone else¡¯s doorstep?


    "If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go and see for yourselves. Their family name is Cao, and they live in Yan Zi Alley. They have three daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren; the oldest is fifteen, and the youngest is just a year old."


    "I also heard that during a good business period, they could sell five thousand arrows, which is five liang of silver. I¡¯m afraid even Master Guang doesn¡¯t see such rewards." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Yun said with conviction, having a good relationship with the family¡¯s second daughter-in-law and knowing many of their affairs well.


    "Earning so much from just running a pitch-pot game? They must be conducting business that goes against conscience. They deserve to be thrown in jail!"


    "Exactly, let¡¯s go quickly, or the ones who were cheated of their money may only have your family to turn to for compensation."


    "I¡¯ve played the pitch-pot game myself, and I kept wondering why I never won a single one. So, it was all because you were cheating! But keep the money; you¡¯ll need it for your family¡¯s coffins."


    It¡¯s only ten wen money, after all. Kicking up a fuss to get it back would be more trouble than it¡¯s worth.


    "I played about ten times, and each time I could only get one or two pots. In the end, my eyes turned red with urgency. I need to get that money back."


    "Nobody¡¯s silver blows in with the wind; we don¡¯t earn silver easily either. Even if they don¡¯t give it all back, they should at least return half."


    "You speak sensibly, let us hurry!"


    And where was the woman who was making such a scene just now? She had vanished without a trace.


    Those who had played the pitch-pot game were even more angry, heading straight for Yan Zi Alley, with others following to watch the excitement; Duo Meifang¡¯s door front temporarily quieted down.


    "Cousin, you¡¯ve come at just the right time."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slightly bowed.


    She was so timely that Qiao Duo¡¯er suspected Wang Yun had been waiting close by, seizing the opportunity to step forward.


    Thinking so might seem dark, but she couldn¡¯t help it.


    "I was just buying something in a shop next door with Brother Jun¡¯er, and he said he saw his uncle. He pulled me over to see, and to my surprise, it was indeed your family. It¡¯s tough on Brother Jun¡¯er; he still recognizes you all." Wang Yun said, tenderly rubbing Niu Zijun¡¯s head.


    Niu Zijun rolled his eyes; had his mother not just warned him, he would have said that his most detested person was this very uncle.


    Tan Zhenghong clearly had the ability, with just a flick of his fingers, he could have helped the Niu Family through tough times, but he was unwilling to part with his silver. He did not need such an uncle!

 Chapter 1128 - 1134: Not Doing Well

    Chapter 1128: Chapter 1134: Not Doing WellNiu Zijun¡¯s attitude was cold, causing Wang Yun¡¯s face to struggle to maintain composure.


    But with things as they were, she had no choice but to continue speaking through sheer grit.


    "Ah Hong, Duo¡¯er, you two will be living in Mansion City from now on, right? Could you take us mother and son to see your place? At least we would have someone to look out for us in the future."


    Tan Zhenghong said indifferently, "If you have any issues in the future, just mention it at the store. Even if I am not around, the clerks there will definitely inform me."


    He did not want anyone to disturb his and Duo¡¯er¡¯s life, especially those who had once tried to harm Duo¡¯er. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling nodded to herself, thinking that this Tan Zhenghong wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    No wonder Qiao Duo¡¯er was so devoted to him.


    "In the past, I was blinded by lard, and Niu Fuquan also forced me. I now realize my mistakes. We grew up together, and it¡¯s only when I see you happy that I feel joy," Wang Yun said, her eyes reddening.


    Niu Zijun, sobbing, said, "Mother, you are truly pitiful. Today, I luckily rescued you, but what will we do when I go to school in the future?"


    "Did something happen?"


    Tan Zhenghong asked, his voice heavy. Niu Zijun¡¯s use of the word "rescue" suggested that his cousin faced mortal danger in the Niu Family.


    Wang Yun gave a bleak smile: "Nothing much, just that the Niu family closed down another store a few days ago, and everyone says that Zi Jun and I are debt-collecting ghosts."


    "My father beats my mother, and her body is covered in bruises. The eldest aunt also bullies my mother," Niu Zijun said indignantly.


    What kind of miserable life were they leading in the Niu Family?


    However, his mother had said that as long as they performed well in this act, their future life would be better.


    Wang Yun quickly covered Niu Zijun¡¯s mouth: "He is just a child, he doesn¡¯t know anything and just talks nonsense."


    But what was said was said; was there any use in covering it up now?


    At this point, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face had turned so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it. He had told Niu Fuquan to treat Wang Yun well, always feeling that Niu Fuquan would treat her a bit better for his sake.


    But now it was clear not only was there not the slightest kindness, but it was actually much worse!


    Through gritted teeth, Tan Zhenghong said, "You lead me to the Niu Family; I have to ask what is going on here."


    "Don¡¯t be impulsive; Zi Jun¡¯er and I are still counting on the Niu Family for our livelihood. We can¡¯t completely fall out with them."


    Wang Yun was very anxious. It was a well-known principle that one should not cause trouble unless it was absolutely necessary lest her own family be disturbed.


    Tan Zhenghong frowned, showing a hint of anger at their lack of resistance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested, "It seems to be almost time for dinner. How about we find a place to eat and clarify everything while we¡¯re at it, then figure out what to do?"


    That way, if Wang Yun was not doing well, Tan Zhenghong wouldn¡¯t be able to rest easy either.


    "That sounds good; there¡¯s a restaurant just nearby."


    Tan Zhenghong agreed readily, noting that Wang Yun appeared emaciated and probably couldn¡¯t even eat her fill.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sought Chen Yiling¡¯s opinion with her eyes.


    Chen Yiling had come with her, but Qiao Duo¡¯er knew that Chen Yiling never dined with people she disliked, as it would give her a stomachache.


    In that case, Lord Qin would definitely come knocking on their door.


    "That woman doesn¡¯t seem easy to deal with. Be careful on your own. I¡¯ll go back and accompany the three kids," Yiling whispered, her voice barely audible. The children were all at the Tan Family, and leaving them alone at home worried her.


    "I definitely won¡¯t let her bully me," Qiao Duo earnestly replied.


    She remembered the past events clearly and would not easily trust Wang Yun.


    Her accompaniment this time was not only to give face to Tan Zhenghong but also to see what kind of scheme Wang Yun was up to.


    As the saying goes, know thyself, know thy enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. She strongly agreed with this

 Chapter 1129 - 1135: Regretting It

    Chapter 1129: Chapter 1135: Regretting ItWhen they arrived at the restaurant, the waiter eagerly ushered them in.


    "Dear guests, please come inside!"


    Tan Zhenghong requested a private room, which would make conversation more convenient.


    "Dear guests, what would you like to eat? Our restaurant has many special dishes that are the specialties of Ning Tian Mansion."


    Before anyone else could speak, Niu Zijun immediately said, "I want soy sauce duck, roast chicken, braised pork, steamed fish, braised pig¡¯s knuckle, old goose soup, and let¡¯s also have two kilograms each of beef and lamb, plus six baskets of steamed dumplings and two plates of osmanthus cake." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing his manner, he seemed accustomed to dining out.


    As the waiter left, Wang Yun wiped away tears, "Child, why don¡¯t you listen? I could just buy these things for you later. You¡¯ll make Uncle spend too much."


    "I haven¡¯t eaten meat in so long, I¡¯ve almost forgotten what it tastes like, Mom, can¡¯t I just have some?"


    Niu Zijun pleaded.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke up to persuade, "Let him eat if he likes, how much can one child eat, really?"


    "Family from the mother¡¯s side really is the best, otherwise Brother Jun¡¯er would have been scolded," Wang Yun said with heartache.


    Tan Zhenghong asked, puzzled, "Wasn¡¯t Niu Fuquan good to you and the child before?"


    He remembered that at that time, Niu Fuquan would carry Niu Zijun wherever he went.


    "Let¡¯s not talk about this, he just didn¡¯t get what he wanted and could be seen as a cornered dog," Wang Yun said evasively.


    But Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo had heard the undertones.


    The implication was that since the Tan Family had not given Silver to help Niu Fuquan, Niu Fuquan held a grudge and was taking it out on Wang Yun and the child every day.


    Qiao Duo said indifferently, "Knowing he¡¯s a man who takes advantage, you must keep your distance from him in the future."


    Wang Yun¡¯s mouth opened, but she said nothing.


    She felt guilty towards the Tan couple and hoped they would treat her wholeheartedly in the future.


    Wang Yun gave Niu Zijun a look, but Niu Zijun¡¯s mind was completely focussed on waiting for the waiter to quickly bring the dishes, and he didn¡¯t catch Wang Yun¡¯s hint.


    Thus, the conversation awkwardly came to a stop.


    Fortunately, just then the waiter brought the food, which somewhat eased the atmosphere.


    Niu Zijun immediately began to eat voraciously, using his hands because he was still clumsy with chopsticks.


    Seeing his sooty paws completely ruined Qiao Duo¡¯s appetite, and she could only pour herself a cup of water to sip slowly.


    Tan Zhenghong was not much better, holding his chopsticks unsure of where to begin.


    Wang Yun explained, "The fortune teller said he was starved to death in his past life, which is why he eats like this. He was also premature, we can¡¯t control his food intake too much, or it would affect his health."


    Tan Zhenghong put down his chopsticks, "Then let him eat first, we¡¯re not hungry, tell me what you¡¯re planning."


    He felt there was no need for the Niu Family to stay, as no one really regarded them as family.


    "What can I plan? I¡¯m already married."


    Wang Yun gulped down a shot of strong liquor and choked on it due to the haste, her face turning beet red.


    "If you divorce Niu Fuquan, I won¡¯t abandon you and the child," Tan Zhenghong said emphatically.


    His uncle had taken care of him for seven years, and now he could repay that kindness by taking care of Wang Yun and her child for the rest of their lives.


    Of course, that meant giving Wang Yun a small house to live in on her own.


    If they got along well, they could become closer, but if there were too many conflicts, they should try to avoid seeing each other.


    Wang Yun didn¡¯t respond, but poured herself another glass of alcohol.


    After two glasses, Wang Yun actually started to cry softly on the table.

 Chapter 1130 - 1136: The Feeling of Being Coerced

    Chapter 1130: Chapter 1136: The Feeling of Being Coerced"Ah Hong, I regret it, I should have listened to your advice back then, even if I had married a farmer, my life wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this."


    "Niu Fuquan either beats or scolds me constantly, never cares about Brother Jun¡¯er normally, but the moment he does something wrong, he gets a beating."


    "Madam blames me for secretly having a son and often makes trouble for me. Not long ago, she even forced me to drink a bowl of Red Flower and caused me to miscarry a formed male fetus."


    As she spoke, Wang Yun was already unable to continue through her tears.


    But all of these things were not something Tan Zhenghong could help with.


    Niu Fuquan was inherently not the type to cherish his daughter-in-law; he couldn¡¯t be changed by others.


    And within the Niu Family, the matriarch had the power to decide whether or not the concubines could have children, as long as the men in the family supported it.


    So the only thing Tan Zhenghong could do was to advise Wang Yun to leave this sea of misery as soon as possible.


    "You can still get a divorce now, there¡¯s still a long life ahead of you."


    "I can¡¯t be without Brother Jun¡¯er, but Niu Fuquan will not agree to it. What should I do? Ah Hong, please, for the sake of our past, save us!"


    Wang Yun knelt on the ground, pleading pitifully.


    "Cousin, stand up first, let¡¯s talk this through properly," said Tan Zhenghong, unable to help furrowing his brows.


    It was a tragic situation, yet he felt coerced by it, a very unpleasant feeling.


    Wang Yun quickly shook her head: "I know you all blame me; when I was at the Tan Family, I truly went too far, but I was just a concubine subject to others¡¯ looks, I had my difficulties too, I know I was wrong, please don¡¯t blame me."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s heart grew softer, but before conceding, he remembered to glance at his own wife.


    A home was not his alone to decide, it required the agreement of both. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er weighed the situation before speaking, "First find a place for cousin and the child to settle down, and we¡¯ll plan for the future afterward."


    Wang Yun¡¯s father had a debt of gratitude toward Tan Zhenghong, and this kind of favor could always be called upon when needed.


    However, considering what had happened in Big Willow Village, she would absolutely not agree to live together.


    Whether or not to forgive Niu Fuquan was Wang Yun¡¯s decision to make, she would have to think about it when she calmed down.


    If she forgave them, they would send her back; if not, they would divorce, and with Ah Hong there, Niu Fuquan wouldn¡¯t dare to forcibly take the child.


    Wang Yun knocked her head heavily on the ground: "Thank you, I can only repay your kindness by being as hardworking as an ox and a horse in my next life."


    "I promised your father I would take care of you, stay here with peace of mind, for anything else, you have me and Duo¡¯er."


    Tan Zhenghong helped Wang Yun up and comforted her with a few more words.


    By the time they finished talking, Niu Zijun had eaten everything, leaving only a mess on the table.


    "How can you only think of gobbling up everything? Look, no one else has even touched their chopsticks yet."


    Wang Yun feigned a reprimand of Niu Zijun, but her light taps probably didn¡¯t even dust off his clothes.


    Niu Zijun retorted defensively, "All the silver was spent, wouldn¡¯t it be wasted if I didn¡¯t eat as much as I could?"


    But clearly, his way of eating was more wasteful, having eaten only what he liked and carelessly piling the rest on the table.


    "It¡¯s rare for him to enjoy it so, order more if it¡¯s not enough. We will have to trouble you to stay in the inn for a few days, until we find a suitable place for you to move to," Tan Zhenghong apologized somewhat.


    Not inviting relatives to stay at one¡¯s house was a bit odd, but that couldn¡¯t be blamed on others.


    If Wang Yun had been even slightly nicer to Duo¡¯er and the child, Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have turned her away from the door.


    Wang Yun hastily responded, "As long as we have a place to stay, it¡¯s enough. How could we feel aggrieved?"

 Chapter 1131 - 1137: Where is the Bottom Line?

    Chapter 1131: Chapter 1137: Where is the Bottom Line?Seeing that Wang Yun had no objections, Tan Zhenghong took leave with his wife.


    "Mom, why don¡¯t we move in with Uncle?" Niu Zijun discontentedly asked.


    If they didn¡¯t move into the Tan Family¡¯s home, how could they pocket the Tan Family¡¯s silver?


    Wang Yun said seriously, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense in the future, or you¡¯ll have none of these good things to eat."


    "Then I¡¯ll stop talking, but I still want a roasted chicken," Niu Zijun said, still not fully satisfied.


    Wang Yun never refused him when it came to food, and immediately agreed, completely disregarding the fact that the roasted chicken from earlier was missing two legs.


    This restaurant also offered accommodations, and Tan Zhenghong handed over twenty taels of silver to the shopkeeper.


    "There will be two other people staying in the private room for a few days. I¡¯ll give ten taels now for the room and food, and the other ten taels, please hand them to her," Tan Zhenghong instructed.


    That would make a total of twenty taels, which should be enough for Wang Yun and her child for a few days.


    The shopkeeper nodded his head, "Rest assured, I will definitely deliver it into that madam¡¯s hands."


    "Thank you, and please take care of them a bit more," he said.


    "Don¡¯t worry, as long as they are here, I can guarantee their safety," the shopkeeper assured.


    After leaving the restaurant, Qiao Duo¡¯er found another noodle shop.


    She had barely eaten during the previous meal and was famished by now.


    However, due to the greasy dishes ordered by Niu Zijun, she now only wanted something light to eat.


    "Wife, thank you," Tan Zhenghong sincerely said.


    His wife had always loathed wickedness. Knowing what Wang Yun had done, she definitely wouldn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her for the rest of her life.


    Yet, for his sake, Duo¡¯er was willing to help.


    Qiao Duo waved her hand, "To me, anything that can be solved with silver is not a big deal, but if it affects my life, I won¡¯t be so easy-going."


    Thirty taels of silver per month for Wang Yun and Niu Zijun was enough; to her, it was merely a trifle.


    "I know where your limits are, and I won¡¯t let it trouble you," Tan Zhenghong earnestly said.


    He and Qiao Duo could be considered an old married couple by now. Even if Qiao Duo didn¡¯t say it, he knew.


    Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow, "If you make me unhappy, you can roll up your bedding and live with your cousin."


    "I¡¯m committed to you for life," Tan Zhenghong declared firmly, for he was well aware that Qiao Duo and their child were the most important people in his life, with everyone else taking a back seat. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sometime later, the server brought the noodles over, and Qiao Duo urged, "Hurry up and eat, so we can finish our business and head home early."


    The Green Group and Tangyuan were very sensible, but they were only one and a half years old. Being away from their parents for too long would cause them anxiety.


    After eating their fill, they immediately headed to the nearby Tooth Row.


    They needed to secure a house quickly, as it was dangerous for Wang Yun and her motherless child to stay outside.


    However, since they didn¡¯t know how long Wang Yun would need it, they could only rent a house for now.


    If they confirm the divorce later, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to buy one.


    Once Tan Zhenghong explained his intention, the Tooth Granny said with surprise, "Has something happened? Recently, many people are looking to rent houses; it¡¯s kept me extremely busy."


    She had been running the Tooth Row for many years, and this was the first time she encountered such a situation.


    "Who are these people looking for houses?" Tan Zhenghong inquired casually.


    Unless absolutely necessary, most people are reluctant to leave their hometowns. The sudden influx of people looking to rent indicated that something was amiss.


    Yet, if there really was an incident, he should have heard about it during his visit to the Prefecture Officer.

 Chapter 1132 - 1138: No More Silver

    Chapter 1132: Chapter 1138: No More SilverTooth Granny thought for a moment before saying, "They seem wealthy, but they hardly interact with others. They¡¯re reluctant to answer any questions, which feels quite intimidating."


    Sometimes she didn¡¯t even want to deal with such clients, but she couldn¡¯t resist the handsome commissions they offered, forcing her to press on regardless.


    Tan Zhenghong did not pursue further, as he knew Tooth Granny would not know more.


    However, he kept this matter in mind to discuss with Qin Longyun when the opportunity arose.


    "How long might it take to find a house?"


    Tooth Granny honestly replied, "I can¡¯t say for certain. If you¡¯re lucky, it might just be a day or two, but if not, it could take up to ten or fifteen days. However, I can assure you that my Tooth Row is the fastest around."


    Her Tooth Row was the biggest in Mansion City, with many clients, surely faster than others.


    Tan Zhenghong pressed his palms together in a gesture of request, "I urgently need a house, so I would appreciate your vigilant assistance."


    "Leave it to me. Give me your address, and I will have someone notify you as soon as there¡¯s news so you can come and see the house," she said, pounding her chest in assurance, not worried about him backing out given his urgency.


    Moreover, even if he did back out, it wouldn¡¯t matter much. There were plenty of people looking to rent houses; a simple shout from her would suffice to draw them in.


    Taking a deposit might lead to disputes, better not to have it.


    Tan Zhenghong wrote down his address in a notebook. All that was left was to wait for the news.


    For the next two days, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling stayed in the courtyard, watching the three children study and write, chatting about gossip and not finding the days dull.


    "I heard that last year, the Saint took in a concubine who, to secure her favor, drugged his tea. The Saint¡¯s health has severely deteriorated, even the Medicine King estimates he has only two or three years left. This will ensure that Prince Liang won¡¯t leave easily," Chen Yiling propped her chin with her hands.


    Prince Liang, lacking compared to King Qin in achievements, had to make extra efforts in winning people¡¯s hearts.


    If the public¡¯s heart is with him, it is entirely possible for the Saint to lean toward him.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er disdained, "I would have respected Prince Liang if he had simply revolted."


    But now, she only felt profound disdain.


    Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong were unwilling to support him, sticking to him like a troublesome plaster. He likely thought that by annoying others enough, they would have no choice but to compromise.


    Alas, to be a prince and yet resort to such despicable means.


    "The Saint is also foolish to still favor Prince Liang," Chen Yiling expressed her dissatisfaction.


    Clearly, from any perspective, King Qin was more suitable for the throne, yet the Saint still deliberated over legitimacy issues, puzzling her.


    Her words had barely ended when the gate of the courtyard was knocked upon. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ruyi opened the gate and led a middle-aged man inside.


    "Madam, I am the shopkeeper of Fu Yuan Tavern." The man introduced himself first.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I remember, we met the day before yesterday. What brings you here?"


    Since Wang Yun and his mother were staying in Fu Yuan Inn, the shopkeeper¡¯s visit could only be about them.


    "You left ten taels of silver the day you left, for room and food expenses. Today it has run out, and if no more silver is provided, I will have to reclaim the rooms," the shopkeeper stated bluntly.


    He was in business, after all; his priority was to make money however he could.


    "Really?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was skeptical.


    It had been only two days. How could ten taels of silver have been spent already?


    During this era, commodities were cheap; spending one tael of silver a day was already more than sufficient.


    The shopkeeper explained, "The room charge is one hundred wen per day, the rest went to food expenses."

 Chapter 1133 - 1139: Is it a pig?

    Chapter 1133: Chapter 1139: Is it a pig?Qiao Duo¡¯er grew even more suspicious. It had only been five meals since the day before yesterday, including two breakfasts. How much could Wang Yun and a child possibly eat?


    "Here is the ledger, you may take a look," the shopkeeper said, considerately bringing out the ledger.


    He knew it would be hard for anyone to believe, so he had prepared in advance.


    The ledger was clearly written, understandable at a glance to anyone literate.


    Chen Yi Ling, hearing Qiao Duo¡¯er make several comments, also glanced curiously.


    After looking, she couldn¡¯t help saying, "Duo¡¯er, are you raising two pigs?"


    For just one adult and a child to order six dishes and two soups in one meal, with hardly any vegetarian options, how could normal people eat that much?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily. She wanted to ask which family¡¯s pigs ate caterpillar fungus and ginseng every day?


    The Niu Family was not excessively rich, this... shouldn¡¯t be the lifestyle of Wang Yun and her child.


    The Tan Family had saved some money, but whose silver was blown in by the wind?


    Couldn¡¯t they be a bit more frugal when spending?


    "Madam, it¡¯s not that we are being ungenerous, but your guests are too wasteful. Our worker reminded them not to order too much, but that lady said her child needed to nourish his body well, and in the end, most of the food was thrown away," the shopkeeper said weakly.


    He could assure that the workers in the restaurant would never encourage customers to spend more. If someone insisted on burning their silver, they could not stop them. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tapped her index finger on the table, feeling she should ask the doctor to check Wang Yun¡¯s eyes.


    Niu Zijun was already quite chubby, but she seemed to always believe her child was malnourished and must be seriously blind.


    "You need to decide quickly, there are other guests waiting for a room." The shopkeeper urged.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mused for a moment, "From now on, provide them with food at the cost of one tael of silver per day, and each meal should not exceed three dishes and a soup. If they have additional demands, let them pay out of their own pockets."


    Three dishes and a soup were enough for an adult and a child, and one tael of silver was enough for them to eat well.


    "The silver is paid by you, I will listen to you," the shopkeeper said, weighing his options and then agreeing.


    However, he still felt this was being overly generous to the mother and child in the inn.


    In order to prevent Wang Yun from going too far, Qiao Duo¡¯er only gave five liang of silver this time. According to her plan, it should last until they moved.


    Once they had their own courtyard, they would arrange for two rough maids, and then give them a fixed monthly allowance. This way, there would not be such a severe overspending incident again.


    "The first time I met Ah Hong¡¯s cousin, I felt she was not a good person. Now it seems I was right, you should be more cautious in the future," Chen Yi Ling reminded.


    It was outrageous to be so arrogant while living under another¡¯s roof. The only explanation was that they considered this place as their own home.


    There¡¯s a saying that a sister-in-law is half a mother-in-law, and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are the hardest to manage. It seemed there would be troubles ahead.


    "Ah Hong is not foolish, he won¡¯t let her make random decisions," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, not taking this matter too seriously but feeling somewhat disgusted.


    "Right, it would be difficult for anyone to wedge even a needle between you and Ah Hong, let alone a knife," Chen Yi Ling said, laughing.


    Indeed, she had been worrying over nothing.


    "Who¡¯s trying to wedge a knife? Why would they wedge a knife?" Tangyuan, who had just come out from the study, asked curiously.


    Chen Yi Ling smiled and explained, "It means there are people who are envious of your parents¡¯ good relationship and try everything to drive a wedge between them, aiming to tear them apart."


    "Dad and brother haven¡¯t made Mom and Dad split up, who could possibly be so capable?" Tangyuan asked, tilting his head.

 Chapter 1134 - 1140: Being Ridiculed?

    Chapter 1134: Chapter 1140: Being Ridiculed?Chen Yiling glanced at Duo¡¯er, her eyes full of teasing.


    It seemed that Tangyuan was harboring quite a grudge as he spoke.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately changed the subject, "I heard that there is a place called Unnamed Lake in Mansion City. The scenery is the most beautiful in early summer. When we have some free time, let¡¯s all go for a stroll."


    "That sounds great, we could row on the lake, brew some aromatic tea, set up a chessboard, and truly enjoy life."


    Chen Yiling happily agreed, she was someone who couldn¡¯t sit still, always excited at the mention of a fun place. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tangyuan also nodded, "I¡¯ll go inform my brother and Rui Rui."


    They would need to prepare a lot of things, bringing enough food, drinks, and entertainment.


    "Alright, your mother and I will head to the kitchen to cook."


    Tangyuan hesitated for a moment, then warned, "Mom, be careful."


    At first, Chen Yiling thought her daughter was being considerate, no wonder they say she is as comforting as a quilted jacket.


    Only when she entered the kitchen did she slowly ask, "Was I just mocked by my future daughter-in-law?"


    By specifically telling Duo¡¯er to be careful, wasn¡¯t the underlying message that being with her was risky?


    No need to think, it was most certainly because of Qin Mingrui, that little rascal, deliberately saying so.


    Well... it was purely accidental those few times!


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Qin Mingrui wasn¡¯t actually concerned about burning down the kitchen, but rather the meals Chen Yiling cooked.


    Even the best ingredients, once through her hands, were guaranteed to turn into accidents.


    "Whether she¡¯s my future daughter-in-law or not, I don¡¯t know, but being mocked is for certain," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, laughing mischievously.


    Chen Yiling pouted; she would definitely learn to cook well in the future, wouldn¡¯t she?


    She couldn¡¯t help but touch her nose, "What are we having tonight?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at the ingredients in the kitchen, all bought by Ruyi early in the market.


    "There will be fish slice porridge, six dishes ready¡ªstir-fried Lotus Whip with preserved meat, cold lettuce strips, braised chicken wings, cumin lamb, minced meat vermicelli, and stir-fried eggs, and some pan-fried buns as dessert. Do you think that¡¯s enough?"


    Chen Yiling never had an opinion, as long as it was made by Duo¡¯er, it was delicious.


    By the time Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong reached the courtyard, the two women had just served the food.


    "What¡¯s the special occasion today to have you cooking personally?" Qin Longyun said with anticipation.


    Since leaving White Stone Town, he had missed Duo¡¯er¡¯s cooking quite a bit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "Seeing you guys have been down lately, I made some tasty food to treat you."


    Several days had passed, but Prince Liang showed no signs of leaving.


    "You always know how to warm our hearts,"


    Qin Longyun gave a thumbs up; he was indeed beginning to doubt his life.


    Day in, day out, he was dragged by someone he disliked but couldn¡¯t refuse to talk about life and aspirations; dealing with someone so thick-skinned, who acted as if talking to him was a great favor, was indescribably painful.


    But since Prince Liang held a high status, he could only complain behind his back.


    Tan Zhenghong said gratefully, "Luckily I don¡¯t really have any power and just spend my days at the shop, so Prince Liang hasn¡¯t come after me yet."


    "You¡¯re not far off," Qin Longyun said with a mischievous raised eyebrow.


    Prince Liang was eager for achievements, and these days, getting nothing from him would likely have run out his patience, so next would be Tan Zhenghong.


    He hoped that when the time came, Tan Zhenghong could hold his own.


    Tan Zhenghong said helplessly, "We¡¯ll deal with it when he comes knocking, but for now, let¡¯s eat and not waste my daughter-in-law¡¯s hard work."


    He had seen clear, the best way to deal with King Qin was to be indifferent.


    Eventually, when Prince Liang got bored and fed up, he would leave on his own.

 Chapter 1135 - 1141: A Revolting Physique

    Chapter 1135: Chapter 1141: A Revolting PhysiqueAt nightfall, Prince Liang pushed Li Mu¡¯er onto the bed, but her looks no longer stirred any appetite in him.


    Li Mu¡¯er once was beautiful, with a shapely figure, but since having a child, her face had developed many spots, and her figure was completely out of shape, leaving him with no desire whatsoever.


    And yet, Li Mu¡¯er, relying on the fact that she had just given birth to a son, became particularly controlling over their sexual relations.


    He even had to find an excuse to go to the Qing Building if he wanted to indulge in the pleasures he longed for.


    Alas, life was simply unbearable!


    Prince Liang closed his eyes, but still felt unable to proceed, so he lay down beside Li Mu¡¯er.


    "My Prince, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Li Mu¡¯er tried hard to hide it, but still inadvertently revealed a touch of loss.


    Now, she was the only woman by Prince Liang¡¯s side. If she couldn¡¯t win him over at this time, what place would she have in the Wang Mansion later on?


    Prince Liang let out a sigh, "This Prince is thinking about how to win over Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong. Several days have passed, but there¡¯s been no progress whatsoever."


    "My Prince, there are so many people willing to serve you. Why are you fixated on just those two?"


    Li Mu¡¯er pouted as she asked.


    Her father had already been dealt with, but she still had uncles and other relatives who could be entrusted with important tasks.


    And because of her, her relatives would surely be utterly loyal.


    Wouldn¡¯t they be better than two outsiders?


    However, these thoughts were only in Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s mind, as Prince Liang still had concerns about her father¡¯s affairs.


    "Qin Longyun¡¯s father-in-law is Minister Chen, the Emperor has a good impression of Tan Zhenghong. Moreover, I received information that the Emperor values the agricultural tools produced by the Tan Family, and is planning to promote Tan Zhenghong, leapfrogging him two ranks, an honor unprecedented."


    Li Mu¡¯er propped herself up, half of her body pressing against the man.


    "My Prince, if you must have them, I have a way."


    "Let¡¯s hear it," Prince Liang said indifferently.


    He never thought a woman could be very capable, especially one as unintelligent as Li Mu¡¯er.


    "I¡¯ve heard that Duo Meifang is quite profitable, but the Tan Family started from scratch without any powerful backers, so their growth has been slow. If you could lend them strong support, they would surely be grateful to you. Besides, you would also get a share of the silver, and silver is a good thing; with it, you could buy as many people¡¯s hearts as you want," Li Mu¡¯er said slowly.


    The struggle for the heir apparent ultimately came down to who had stronger backing, which, to some extent, was a matter of power and silver.


    Prince Liang gave a thumbs up, "Killing two birds with one stone, this idea is excellent!"


    "Should the Prince then give me a reward?" Li Mu¡¯er asked softly.


    At this moment, her clothing was half-undone, supposedly her most enchanting state.


    A tease from Prince Liang.


    Just when Li Mu¡¯er couldn¡¯t resist any longer, Prince Liang suddenly stopped, "This Prince is tired; let¡¯s talk about this in the morning."


    His mind was willing, but his body was not up to the task.


    "Okay," Li Mu¡¯er responded softly. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, she almost bit through a silver tooth in frustration. How could she not know that he was disgusted by her flabby belly?


    During her pregnancy, she had stayed in the temple, carefully concealing her condition, with poor food and rest, how could she possibly maintain her figure?


    Not even twenty years old, was she destined to live like a widow from then on?


    Looking at Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er, they too had children but didn¡¯t become as frumpy as her. How could she not envy them?

 Chapter 1136 - 1142: A Dog Relying on Human Power

    Chapter 1136: Chapter 1142: A Dog Relying on Human PowerThe next day, Qin Longyun and the Tan Zhenghong family arrived at Unnamed Lake as promised.


    "Today, this place has been reserved by my family, Prince Liang. I apologize for having both of you come all this way for nothing," a maid said apologetically.


    Qin Longyun furrowed his brows, but then suggested, "Not far from here, there¡¯s a racecourse. Let¡¯s go check it out together."


    Though slightly disappointed, it was still better than bumping into Prince Liang.


    "The Side Concubine said to tour the lake before heading to the racecourse."


    The maid spoke again, her face now carrying a hint of arrogance.


    Ever since the Side Concubine gave birth to the Little Prince, her status had risen dramatically. Wherever the Side Concubine wanted to go, King Qin would have the place reserved to prevent any unforeseen disturbances to her mood.


    It was expected that once the Side Concubine returned to the Capital with the Little Prince, the Queen, who had been inconspicuous, would have to step aside.


    Qin Longyun thought about other nearby places they could visit, as both families had come out in high spirits and shouldn¡¯t return home disappointed.


    Especially those three children¡ªthey were very interested in boating and had woken up early in the morning.


    Before the maid could finish gloating, Prince Liang arrived. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ning Shuang, Master Qin and Master Tan are honored guests, not strangers. How can you chase them away?" he said.


    Ning Shuang quickly knelt down, "But... the Side Concubine instructed that no one must disturb."


    "I am not dead yet. Since when did the Side Concubine make decisions?" Prince Liang said irritably.


    Merely having a son and she wants to climb on top of him?


    Li Mu¡¯er could bear children, and so could other women; she was just slightly luckier than others.


    Ning Shuang nodded repeatedly, her body trembling slightly.


    Prince Liang had always harbored resentment towards the Li Family. However, since the Side Concubine had borne a child, he had to treat her well, transferring his resentment towards him instead.


    "I apologize for the scene. My Side Concubine is unsophisticated. Please do not take it to heart, gentlemen. I have already prepared a boat, and I invite you all to join me."


    Prince Liang bowed in apology.


    "We wouldn¡¯t want to disturb Prince and the Side Concubine¡¯s enjoyment; it¡¯s alright, we¡¯ll head back. My lotus pond might not compare to Unnamed Lake, but the young shoots are just breaking the surface and also have their own charm," said Qiao Duo¡¯er without hesitation.


    After such an unpleasant start to the day, there was no longer a desire to stay and play.


    Better to enjoy some pastries in the comfort of her own courtyard.


    Qin Longyun agreed, "Prince Liang and the Side Concubine have not seen each other for a long time, it¡¯s understandable they do not wish to be disturbed."


    "Though I extend my courtesy, and you refuse, could it be that you look down on me?" Prince Liang narrowed his eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to tell him the exact answer: that she indeed looked down on him, especially his character.


    But because of his noble background, she had to go along with it.


    Sigh, it was still because she was not strong enough. Otherwise, why would she be led around by others?


    It seems she and Tan Zhenghong still had more effort to make.


    When they reached the boat, Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested, "These three children are very active and find everything fascinating. It might be dangerous for them to sit in the same boat with the Little Prince; it would be better to arrange a separate boat for them to play on."


    With Prince Liang and Li Mu¡¯er, it¡¯s inevitable for the four adults to feel awkward.


    She only hoped the three children could have fun.


    "That¡¯s an excellent idea. Yi¡¯er is no ordinary child. If something were to happen, they could not bear the responsibility," said Li Mu¡¯er, casting a sidelong glance at Duo¡¯er.


    Her child was born a royal relative, and perhaps his future might be even brighter, something Duo¡¯er¡¯s children could not even hope to

 Chapter 1137 - 1143: Genetic Mutation?

    Chapter 1137: Chapter 1143: Genetic Mutation?fre§×webno?el.comSo, not being able to marry the one you love¡ªis it fortune or misfortune, gain or loss? Who can clarify?


    Prince Liang glared at Li Mu¡¯er, silently reaffirming in his mind that this woman was all hair and no brains.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took these actions precisely to prevent him from using the child as a pawn, as well as to spare those three children from having too much interaction with his son.


    Li Mu¡¯er, on the other hand, not only did not stop it, but actually helped them.


    Li Mu¡¯er said with a grievance, "Prince, I am doing this for Yi¡¯er¡¯s sake. It wasn¡¯t easy for you to long for a son, and I will not allow him to be threatened in the least."


    Who knows if those unruly children would plot against Yi¡¯er?


    Jalousie has always been a terrifying thing.


    "Then let¡¯s do as Mrs. Tan says, it will also spare the child from feeling constrained around us," Prince Liang, caring about his son, could only compromise.


    Qiao Duo urged, "Take good care of them, and keep them away from the water."


    "Yes," Ji Xiang and Ruyi quickly nodded.


    These three children were all clever and easy to take care of, so they were not too worried.


    Watching the three children get on the boat, the adults also took their seats under the guidance of the maids.


    Qiao Duo just happened to sit opposite Li Mu¡¯er, finally getting a clear view of the child in Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s arms. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She then exchanged a knowing look with Chen Yiling.


    Both Prince Liang and Li Mu¡¯er were fair-skinned with lustrous black hair, yet they had a child with dark skin and sparse, yellowish hair.


    This could be due to malnutrition in the womb or simply because the child was too young to have fully developed.


    But how do you explain two oval-faced parents having a square-faced child?


    Perhaps... it was a genetic mutation?


    "Mrs. Tan, why do you keep looking at Yi¡¯er?" Li Mu¡¯er tucked her child closer into her arms.


    Qiao Duo retracted her gaze, "The Little Prince has a noble aura, unlike other children. I inadvertently looked a few times longer, please don¡¯t take offense, Side Concubine."


    "A child of the royal family naturally differs from common folk¡¯s children. It¡¯s normal for you to enjoy looking," Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s narcissism made Qiao Duo feel embarrassed, and she hurriedly picked up the teacup from the table for a sip.


    She really wanted to know where this confidence came from?


    Dynasties rise and fall as a matter of course, so where is the royal family that once stood at the pinnacle?


    Therefore, it is better to be humble and low-profile in life.


    Chen Yiling immediately fanned the flames, "I also like him very much. It¡¯s just that the Little Prince is selective about his mother, nothing but the best woman in the world will do."


    Li Mu¡¯er glared at Chen Yiling because she heard the sarcasm.


    "Madam Chen is too kind. My child is of average talent. In my view, the sons of both of your distinguished families are of brilliant aptitude. How about sending them to Wang Mansion to accompany my son as study partners?"


    The alarm bells rang for everyone else. Ostensibly, they were talking about study partners, but in reality, they would be closer to hostages!


    Whoever agreed would be a fool!


    Chen Yiling, with the strongest backing among them, spoke up without hesitation.


    "Thank you for the Prince¡¯s generous offer, but my maternal grandfather has said he wants to personally raise these two children, and we wouldn¡¯t want to refuse the old man¡¯s kind intentions."


    Her grandfather was a senior official through several dynasties and had once held the position of Prime Minister, with disciples all over.


    Although he had already retired to the countryside, he still held some sway in the imperial court.


    "That¡¯s easily arranged; when the time comes, Yi¡¯er can also study under the old master," Li Mu¡¯er immediately proposed; Liang Gangyi was a great scholar of the Daxing Dynasty, and under his tutelage, her child had an even more limitless future.


    Chen Yiling indifferently replied, "Such an arrangement would be very good."


    The key question was, would her grandfather agree?

 Chapter 1138 - 1144: Two Goods and One Good

    Chapter 1138: Chapter 1144: Two Goods and One GoodEven if he was willing in his heart, he would refuse on account of his beloved granddaughter¡¯s dignity.


    In the entire Daxing Dynasty, no one dared to forcefully assign someone to her grandfather, so Prince Liang¡¯s calculations would naturally come to naught.


    Prince Liang, smiling, smoothed things over, "We can discuss this matter when the child is older. Today, however, there is another matter."


    "Please speak, Prince," Qin Longyun called out.


    "This matter concerns the Tan Family, and it is indeed an awkward request from me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently thought: Knowing it¡¯s an awkward request, how can you still have the audacity to speak of it?


    Forget it, both of them had thick skins; it would be odd if they didn¡¯t speak up.


    Prince Liang slowly said, "It is that my side concubine has taken a liking to your family¡¯s shop. I wonder if Madam could bear to part with it and transfer the shop to me?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "To bring a smile to the Side Concubine, what is one shop? Moreover, with Prince Liang himself asking, I have even less reason to refuse," Qiao Duo¡¯er readily agreed, but then her tone changed, "Just provide six thousand taels, and I will immediately hand over the deed."


    She didn¡¯t mind where the shop was located because, in no more than two years, her Duo Meifang would become the center of Mansion City.


    This wasn¡¯t arrogance; indeed, beauty-loving women truly have such capability.


    Prince Liang cleared his throat; his offer of transfer meant as a gift.


    Forget ten thousand taels, he hadn¡¯t prepared even one tael of silver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke seriously, "I know the price isn¡¯t cheap, but Ning Tian Mansion is naturally prosperous, and my shop is located in the city center, definitely worth the price."


    Once she received the silver, she would open a shop in both the eastern and western parts of the city; she was sure she wouldn¡¯t be at a loss.


    Prince Liang¡¯s face turned grim; this was completely different from what he had expected.


    He thought Qiao Duo¡¯er, seeing that he was the Prince, would ingratiate herself to him, and then he would graciously propose a partnership as he empathized with her reluctance.


    This way, he would have gained both face and profit.


    But with Qiao Duo¡¯er asking for six thousand taels right off the bat, he found himself in a passive position.


    If he didn¡¯t buy, it was clear he was toying with them.


    If he bought it, what did he need just one shop for?


    His target was the skincare formula in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s possession, which was the key to making silver!


    Prince Liang stiffly said, "I saw that Master Tan had rebuilt the shop recently, it¡¯s visibly with great care. It wouldn¡¯t be quite proper for me just to buy it; wouldn¡¯t it be better if we join both our good fortunes and expand Duo Meifang together?"


    He was a prince of the Daxing Dynasty, and nobody dared to criticize him.


    "What do you mean by joining both our good fortunes, Prince Liang?" Qiao Duo¡¯er caught the essence of his words.


    If it was merely a collaboration, why would he speak so ambiguously?


    The phrase was mostly used in talks of marriage and betrothal.


    Prince Liang no longer concealed it: "Both my Side Concubine and I are exceptionally pleased with the Tan Family¡¯s daughter. If possible, I would like to forge a kinship with the Tan Family, which would make business dealings much easier in the future."


    With the Tan Family¡¯s standing, the daughter could at most become a concubine.


    If they didn¡¯t want their daughter to achieve a higher position, the Tan Family would have to give away more benefits.


    "You and the Side Concubine are acquaintances; when the time comes, I will certainly favor her a bit," Li Mu¡¯er put on airs of a mother-in-law.


    "The young lady is still of tender age, discussing marriage is far too premature at this point, and with the Little Prince¡¯s noble status, the Tan Family dares not climb too high."


    Tan Zhenghong explicitly refused King Qin.

 Chapter 1139 - 1145: It’s Normal to Look Down on It

    Chapter 1139: Chapter 1145: It¡¯s Normal to Look Down on Itnove?.comHe could contend with Prince Liang on other matters, but this particular one was off-limits.


    Marriage was a matter of Tangyuan¡¯s lifelong happiness; he couldn¡¯t allow even the slightest compromise.


    "The Emperor has already drafted a decree appointing Master Tan as a Fourth Rank Inspector. His future is boundless, and in my opinion, the two children are well matched," said the Prince.


    "Tan Shaoyi is the Medicine King¡¯s senior apprentice, it¡¯s only normal for her to look down on your son," Bai Yifan said with a flick of his fan.


    Passing by, he saw the Qin Family¡¯s coachman and thought to visit a friend.


    However, he had not expected that the entire Duo¡¯er family would be there, and even less so that someone would be eyeing his prized apprentice.


    "Third Brother, how did you come here?"


    Duo¡¯er was delighted, having not expected Bai Yifan to appear so quietly on Unnamed Lake.


    Bai Yifan coldly glanced at Prince Liang, "If I hadn¡¯t come now, my direct disciple would have been spirited away."


    "I admit my limited knowledge and was unaware of this important relationship," said the Prince, his face sheepish.


    Prince Liang knew Bai Yifan had become the new Medicine King, with a very high standing, and as Green Group¡¯s senior apprentice, his status was beyond ordinary reach.


    Who could blame them? Medicine King Valley produced miraculous medicines, and the entire Imperial family relied on them for longevity and health.


    With a smile that was not quite a smile, Bai Yifan said, "Prince Liang, with the multitude of affairs you manage, it¡¯s normal not to know such a trivial matter. Do not take it to heart."


    "Meeting the Medicine King here is quite unexpected, may I have the honor of sharing a drink?"


    Prince Liang promptly changed the topic. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan glanced at another boat, "I¡¯m going to check on the child, I won¡¯t disturb the Prince any further."


    Having said that, he instructed the boatman to steer the boat closer to where the three children were. Laughter and cheerful voices soon drifted from the other boat.


    Especially Tangyuan, she burrowed into Bai Yifan¡¯s embrace as soon as she saw him, her fondness for handsome men unchanged since she was little.


    "Uncle Three, where is Uncle Two?" Tangyuan suddenly remembered something.


    She had heard that Uncle Two was skilled in poisons and had many eccentric ideas, perfect for dealing with ruffians. Now it was time for Uncle Two to take the stage.


    Otherwise, who knows when that Qin Mingrui boy would return to his own home.


    Bai Yifan indulgently asked, "Is it just Uncle Two you¡¯re missing?"


    "Not at all, I miss both of you," Tangyuan replied, tilting her head as everyone was charmed by her cuteness.


    Watching Bai Yifan¡¯s indulgent behavior towards Tangyuan, Li Mu¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but clench her hands.


    Tangyuan¡¯s looks and temperament were just average, yet Bai Yifan protected her at every turn, was it not all because of Qiao Duo?


    She was already married, so why couldn¡¯t she stay content?


    "Yi¡¯er, to think you have been shunned at just over a month old, such is your harsh fate," Li Mu¡¯er said, patting the child in her arms.


    However, what she was really thinking about was Prince Liang¡¯s future as a Saint. Yi¡¯er was his only son, and once he ascended to that supreme position, these people would only have regret.


    Qiao Duo didn¡¯t wish to put down her own child to praise someone else¡¯s, so she kept silent.


    Whether Prince Liang¡¯s child was good or bad she neither knew nor cared, but in her eyes, her own child was definitely the best.


    And Tan Zhenghong was not skilled at communicating with women, even less capable of speaking up.


    The atmosphere thus became very awkward.


    "Your Highness, I¡¯m feeling a bit under the weather; perhaps we should call it a day," Li Mu¡¯er said, no longer able to sit still.


    Repeatedly ridiculed, she could not stand it any longer.


    Prince Liang nodded, "I will take the Side Concubine home first. I will visit personally when there is another opportunity."


    He had spent quite a bit of time on these two people; if he were to leave without achieving anything, it wouldn¡¯t sit well with him.

 Chapter 1140 - 1146: Definite News

    Chapter 1140: Chapter 1146: Definite NewsPrince Liang had just left when Bai Yifan came over with three children.


    The three kids were not heavy; he could hold one in each hand and carry another on his back without any strain.


    Chen Yiling teased, "You, a mighty Medicine King, have become a ¡¯child king.¡¯ Aren¡¯t you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out?"


    "Do you think I¡¯m afraid of people laughing at me?" Bai Yifan said calmly.


    And with no one else around, he had no mental burden to bear.


    "Why did you not inform us about such an important matter as succeeding the Medicine King?" Duo¡¯er complained.


    "The Saint¡¯s health deteriorated severely, and master was unable to handle everything. I only took on the task at a critical moment," Bai Yifan explained.


    It was urgent, and with the journey being long, even if he wanted to inform others, he was powerless to do so.


    Moreover, he didn¡¯t think that succeeding as Medicine King was a good thing; not only did it bring more responsibilities, but he also found that Medicine King Valley was not as harmonious as he had imagined.


    Although it was not as vicious as competing for the throne, it was still a matter of life and death.


    Chen Yiling said dissatisfied, "Forcing the Medicine King to abdicate means the Saint is gravely ill. Why hasn¡¯t Prince Liang returned to the Capital? This is a critical time; we can¡¯t afford any negligence."


    "Isn¡¯t it because King Qin has no heirs? With the Empress overseeing the Capital, there won¡¯t be any mistakes."


    Bai Yifan suddenly smacked his forehead, "Look at my memory, I completely forgot the most important news, I got accurate information that King Qin is getting married at the end of the year."


    King Qin, already twenty-four, is finally about to achieve his goal.


    "It must be the Empress behind this, it¡¯s too much," Chen Yiling clenched her fists. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These people always bully King Qin and his mother. Finally, when King Qin was getting married, they set another trap!


    Only feeling sorry for the couple who suffered so many years,¡ª


    "King Qin must have his own plans. Let¡¯s not worry about it; we just need to go to the Capital when the time comes, I¡¯ve already inquired for you. The Queen of King Qin likes to collect various types of weapons and military books; you guys prepare in advance," Bai Yifan said without any concern.


    Now that King Qin has cultivated his own power, no one can do anything to him if he doesn¡¯t want them to.


    Now that he has accepted this date, perhaps it is more time for him to prepare.


    Qin Longyun readily agreed, "Then it¡¯s settled, Ah Hong and I both need to go to the Capital to report for duty."


    "What do I have to report?"


    Tan Zhenghong looked confused; he only remembered two things, one was to accompany his wife and child, and the second was to earn more silver to give his family a better life.


    Surely he can¡¯t go to the Capital to boast about these two things?


    A man should cherish his wife and children, but it¡¯s unnecessary for others to know.


    Qin Longyun, with a full head of black lines, reminded, "Didn¡¯t I get you involved in quite a few cases?"


    Tan Zhenghong quickly clasped his fists, "Thank you, elder brother."


    Without Qin Longyun¡¯s early preparation, he could only go to the Capital and embarrass himself.


    "I¡¯m helping my brother-in-law."


    Qin Longyun added silently, perhaps as a future father-in-law, treating you well is definitely not wrong.


    "Ah Hong, call me ¡¯third brother¡¯ and let me hear it," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, "Beautiful thinking, you don¡¯t look the part at all."


    "That means you still consider me your third brother; you just disdain that I don¡¯t look the part."


    Tan Zhenghong pursed his lips; previously, he thought it was nice for Duo¡¯er to have three extra brothers, but now he only felt stifled.


    Why couldn¡¯t Duo¡¯er be the eldest sister?


    Then he could also act like a proper brother-in-law.

 Chapter 1141 - 1147: All for Naught?

    Chapter 1141: Chapter 1147: All for Naught?At this moment, the Unnamed Lake was swathed in an air of warmth, yet Li Mu¡¯er was still seething with frustration.


    The child just wouldn¡¯t stop crying, no matter how much she tried to soothe him.


    Impatiently, Li Mu¡¯er pushed the child into the wet nurse¡¯s arms, "Take him to the carriage in the back, don¡¯t disturb the Prince¡¯s rest."


    Prince Liang¡¯s eyes snapped open, catching the disdain in Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s gaze without missing a beat.


    A hint of inquiry crept into his eyes; this woman truly saw the child as nothing more than a tool for gaining wealth and status, didn¡¯t she?


    He scoffed¡ªYi¡¯er was the child he had longed for, hoped for, like wishing upon stars and moons.


    He couldn¡¯t let anyone belittle the boy, not even his own birth mother.


    Unfortunately, Li Mu¡¯er failed to grasp Prince Liang¡¯s intent and instead brought up a topic she had been contemplating for a while.


    "I never expected my cousin to become the Medicine King; is the Medicine King really that remarkable? Why does he command such respect, even from the Prince?" Li Mu¡¯er asked deliberately.


    But truly, she didn¡¯t understand, what was so special about Medicine King Valley?


    Why did they dare to blatantly challenge the people of the Imperial family?


    A flicker of disdain crossed Prince Liang¡¯s eyes, "Medicine King Valley¡¯s medical expertise is unmatched in the entire world, and their services are essential to the Imperial family. Naturally, we must show them due respect."


    "But even the previous Medicine King couldn¡¯t heal the Saint when he was ill," Chen Yiling retorted, not convinced.


    "Can you find someone who can?"


    Prince Liang¡¯s words were laced with sarcasm; Medicine King Valley was the wellspring of medicine for the entire world. When the Medicine King admitted to being powerless to avert death, not even a Daluo God could save the dying.


    Most importantly, the previous Medicine King had once saved the life of the Founding Emperor, who had promised that as long as the Daxing Dynasty remained, the Medicine King would have authority over all his officials, generation after generation.


    "My Lord, why don¡¯t we just return to the Mansion of King Liang? Out here, you don¡¯t have the demeanor of a Prince at all," Li Mu¡¯er said coquettishly, clinging to Prince Liang¡¯s arm.


    Prince Liang was hot-tempered, ready to explode at the slightest provocation, and her words were sure to fan the flames of his anger.


    If she was destined never to have Bai Yifan, she might as well ruin him.


    Prince Liang cast a glance at Li Mu¡¯er, "We will set off for the capital after Yi¡¯er¡¯s second month has passed. Once we¡¯re at the Mansion of King Liang, you will hand Yi¡¯er over to the Queen to raise personally."


    He was not fond of the Queen. That woman always talked about propriety, righteousness, integrity as if carrying herself with pride even in her sleep¡ªutterly dreary.


    But she was excellent at child-rearing, with her several daughters all being well-mannered, sensible, and endearing.


    Li Mu¡¯er was stunned for a long while before pleading, "My Lord, Yi¡¯er is my life, I absolutely cannot hand him over to someone else; no woman would raise a non-biological child as her own."


    "The Queen is my principal wife, and I trust her character. This matter is settled," Prince Liang declared firmly.


    What qualifications did a woman who lacked patience with children have to be a mother? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I went through life and death to give birth to him; I can¡¯t be separated from him," Li Mu¡¯er fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.


    She couldn¡¯t bear to part with the child she¡¯d carried for ten months, but more than that, she grieved for herself.


    Coming from a family of humble status, she was about to lose her son, whom she had relied on for support, to someone else. How could she maintain her footing in the Wang Mansion?


    "Which woman doesn¡¯t give birth to children? Who else is as melodramatic as you? If you are unwilling, then your only choice will be to leave the Wang Mansion," Prince Liang said without a trace of reluctance.


    He had lost any sentiment for this woman long ago; his current indulgence was simply for the sake of the child.


    But Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s foolishness had eroded his patience completely.


    Li Mu¡¯er collapsed on the ground; facing such heartless repudiation from Prince Liang, what could she do but give up hope?


    Had all her efforts at the temple been in vain?

 Chapter 1142 - 1148: For the Small Treasury

    Chapter 1142: Chapter 1148: For the Small TreasuryLi Mu¡¯er¡¯s nails dug into her flesh, yet Prince Liang remained indifferent.


    "Prince, I beg you to remember me for the sake of Lin¡¯er whom I bore for you," Li Mu¡¯er pleaded timidly.


    She had had enough of living in poverty and had no wish to return to that broken temple.


    At least in the Wang Mansion, she had people to serve her, and there was no lack of food or clothing.


    "Rest assured, as you¡¯ve given birth to Yi¡¯er, you¡¯re a meritorious servant of the Mansion of Prince Liang. You shall not lack anything you¡¯re due," he said.


    Prince Liang lazily glanced at Qiao Duo¡¯er, but made it clear that she should not expect anything more.


    Li Mu¡¯er wiped the tears from her face and regained her usual composure. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having seen countless women, Prince Liang would not feel any compassion for a woman¡¯s tears.


    Gently, Li Mu¡¯er said, "Thank you for your grace, my lord. Please have some tea. I was mistaken just now. The queen is noble-born and knowledgeable; Yi¡¯er could benefit greatly from her guidance for a better future."


    "Good that you¡¯ve come to understand," Prince Liang nodded in approval.


    The carriage continued on its way, but the two exchanged no more words.


    As soon as they arrived at the Government Office, an attendant came to report, "Prince, the individuals have been brought over and are currently waiting in the study."


    Only then did a hint of a smile appear on Prince Liang¡¯s face, as he promptly said, "Let¡¯s go see them."


    He had stayed here all these days, ostensibly to court favor, but in truth, he intended to undertake a significant venture in Ning Tian Mansion.


    Two years ago, his coveting of the disaster relief funds had planted an idea in his father¡¯s heart. To show his repentance, he took the initiative to donate a portion of his wealth to the national treasury.


    Now that he needed to gain the support of the ministers and maintain an army, the discovery and crackdown on his private salt and iron smuggling by Qin Longyun, along with King Qin undermining his businesses, had created a substantial shortfall in his coffers. He needed to find lucrative ventures urgently.


    Upon investigation, the most profitable businesses besides smuggling, gambling dens, and operating Hua Buildings were two legitimate ones.


    One was Duo Meifang; the other was raising musk deer, both of which belonged to the Tan Family.


    He had been preparing for a long time to take both businesses into his fold.


    In the study, two individuals clad in peasants¡¯ garb quickly knelt on the ground.


    "Greetings, Prince," they said.


    "Were you formerly servants of the Tan Family?" Prince Liang scrutinized the two men.


    These men had previously provided false testimony for Li Zhengtian. After a few beatings, they had been sold off. He had dispatched many people before finally locating them.


    They appeared to be honest folk, unlikely to dare deceive him.


    Uncle Fu spoke obsequiously, "Indeed, Your Highness. What are your orders?"


    "I want you to raise musk deer," Prince Liang said bluntly.


    Musk deer were delicate and wild creatures, not easily tamed by most.


    Uncle Fu nodded eagerly, "Whatever your wish, my lord, I shall serve with all my heart. Although we may not be experts, having tended to them for several months gives us a bit more knowledge than others."


    "Should you succeed, I will surely reward you handsomely. Additionally, having been with the Tan Family for so long, might you know the formulas for Duo Meifang¡¯s products?"


    Prince Liang¡¯s eyes gleamed with avarice. The Imperial Physician had told him that facial masks and skin lotions were almost pure-profit enterprises.


    In just half a year, Duo Meifang could spread throughout the Daxing Dynasty, and all she had to do was sit at home and count her silver.


    "We are unlettered, Your Highness, and know nothing of formulas. Moreover, we hardly spent any time at the Tan Family, as we lived at the deer farm," Uncle Fu explained softly.


    Although they had seen the Owner only a few times, he indeed seemed a good man.


    Regrettably, they could not resist the temptation of a large sum of gold.

 Chapter 1143 - 1149: Boundless Prospects

    Chapter 1143: Chapter 1149: Boundless ProspectsPrince Liang waved his hand, "You may leave. Whatever you need to prepare for raising musk deer, speak with my attendant. They will take care of it."


    "Yes," the Fu Clan Couple nodded repeatedly.


    After the two had left the room, Prince Liang glanced at his own attendant.


    "Keep an eye on them, learn their techniques, and then you know what to do, right?"


    The attendant bowed, "Your servant understands."


    Prince Liang was heavily suspicious. He wouldn¡¯t trust anyone who wasn¡¯t personally raised by him.


    Ah, that old couple really were pitiable, having caught Prince Liang¡¯s attention.


    Then Prince Liang¡¯s face instantly darkened.


    Now he could rest easy about the Musk Deer, the remaining task was to secure the secret recipe of Duo Meifang.


    Given the attitude of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Zhenghong, this task wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    But he didn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t crack those two tough nuts. If all else failed, he would simply find an excuse to take over Duo Meifang.


    Because Prince Liang was waiting for the establishment of Duo Meifang, others enjoyed a few more days of peace.


    That afternoon, Qiao Duo¡¯er made milk tea for the three kids.


    The tea, an excellent red tea, was gifted by Chen Yiling the day before and was perfect for making milk tea.


    "Stop reading for now and try this," Qiao Duo¡¯er called out. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ever since Bai Yifan had arrived, he had been teaching them basic medical knowledge, and the three little ones would gather together to discuss whenever they had the chance, and even their mischief had decreased.


    The three children immediately gathered around and picked up their cups.


    "Godmother, how do you make this? It¡¯s really good!" Qin Mingrui asked curiously.


    Although it contained milk, there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of milkiness, and even someone like him who detested milk couldn¡¯t help but take another sip.


    Her eyes smiling, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "This is called milk tea, made with red tea and milk. However, because it contains tea leaves, you kids shouldn¡¯t drink too much of it."


    "Mom, you¡¯re amazing. Do you know how to make anything else?"


    Tangyuan asked with anticipation shining on her face.


    "Let me think, the weather is getting hotter now, and ginger is the best thing to eat, so let¡¯s make Ginger Milk Pudding, but..."


    Before Qiao Duo¡¯er could finish, Yin interrupted, "But we can¡¯t eat too much of it, because no matter what it is, no matter if it¡¯s good or bad, too much of anything isn¡¯t good, right?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked Yin¡¯s head, "You little rascal, dare to disdain your mom?"


    "Sister is laughing too," Yin immediately ratted out Tangyuan without hesitation.


    "You naughty girl!"


    "I learned it all from mom!" Tangyuan said playfully.


    Once she had heard her own dad say the same about her mom, but Granny Su quickly discovered her and snatched her away.


    So she never understood why her dad had said that, just remembering his voice sounded strange at the time.


    Maybe... Perhaps he had been hit by mom?


    Qin Mingrui did not get involved in their bickering, instead he asked, "Godmother, can you teach me?"


    "Why would you want to learn this?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was a bit surprised.


    "Just in case I end up with a wife as absent-minded as my mom, I¡¯ll have to make it for her to eat," Qin Mingrui said seriously.


    He had read a saying in a book stating that men often seek wives that resemble their own mothers.


    Considering how spoiled his mother was, he figured he¡¯d have a tough time in the future.


    So, it made more sense to learn how to make it himself.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed heartily, but she thought this tiny tike caring about his future wife was quite sweet. He would surely have a bright future ahead.


    Yin nodded as well, "I¡¯ll learn too, so I can make it for our greedy little sister."


    So that when the day came when his dad whisked away his mom, he and Tangyuan wouldn¡¯t be clueless.

 Chapter 1144 - 1150: True Colors

    Chapter 1144: Chapter 1150: True ColorsTangyuan said indignantly, "You¡¯re the greedy one, I can learn it on my own!"


    She was so intelligent; a mere milk tea was hardly a challenge for her.


    Just as Qiao Duo¡¯er was marveling at these mischievous maid and children¡¯s cunning ideas, Ruyi came to report, "Madam, a lady wishes to see you, claiming it¡¯s for an important matter. Ji Xiang has already led her to the parlor."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the three children, "Don¡¯t just keep staring at the books; it¡¯s bad for your eyes. I¡¯ll go attend to a guest first, then I¡¯ll tell you how milk tea is made."


    It was indeed odd, who could be visiting her?


    Could it be Wang Yun?


    In the parlor, Qiao Duo¡¯er saw the visitor.


    It was a woman in her early twenties whom she had never met before.


    The woman stood up proactively, "Mrs. Tan, my name is Huo Minglan, I belong to the Niu Fuquan Family. My sudden visit, please forgive my intrusion."


    Was this Niu Fuquan¡¯s wife?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s initial reaction was of surprise; Niu Fuquan was already in his thirties, how could his wife be so young?


    "My elder sister was Niu Fuquan¡¯s first wife. After her early demise, I married into the family as a levirate," Huo Minglan said with composure.


    "How presumptuous of me, please have a seat," Qiao Duo¡¯er felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    According to the customs of the era, a levirate wife had to perform concubine rites in front of the first wife¡¯s spirit tablet, hence many resented discussing this matter.


    Huo Minglan sat down, "It¡¯s just the truth, I don¡¯t mind it."


    "May I know the purpose of Lady Niu¡¯s visit?"


    "I¡¯ve come to tell you that Wang Yun aligning with your family was actually orchestrated by Niu Fuquan. His goal is the Tan Family¡¯s wealth. Aren¡¯t you surprised?"


    Huo Minglan found it odd that Qiao Duo¡¯er wasn¡¯t at least angry or skeptical.


    Had she approached the wrong person? But she had made sure of her facts, it couldn¡¯t have been in error.


    "They have never been kind-hearted. Considering their self-interest, such actions aren¡¯t surprising. Plus, as we¡¯ve just met, I naturally can¡¯t trust everything you say," Qiao Duo¡¯er frankly stated.


    However, she would definitely take these words seriously.


    Huo Minglan suddenly felt relieved; it seemed Wang Yun was not sophisticated enough to match this lady.


    But since she was here, she still had to speak her piece.


    "When my elder sister married into the Niu Family, they were prosperous, and gifted her a substantial dowry. She married splendidly, and Niu Fuquan was completely devoted to her. However, when the Huo family fell on hard times, her days grew difficult. Proud as she was, she ultimately succumbed to depression."


    "After my sister¡¯s death, Niu Fuquan and Wang Yun tried to lay hands on her dowry. Fearing for her children, I agreed to marry him to protect their inheritance."


    "Now, the dowry is in my hands. I thought Wang Yun had given up until yesterday when I overheard Niu Fuquan telling a maid to ¡¯keep cool, the Tan Family¡¯s wealth will be ours eventually,¡¯ then I realized they were targeting your family."


    "I was en route today and thought I¡¯d inform you. Of course, Mrs. Tan, you may choose not to believe me; I only seek a clear conscience."


    A flash of guilt crossed Huo Minglan¡¯s face, for she also had her own agenda.


    She intended to dash the hopes of Wang Yun and Niu Fuquan.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes, "So, it seems we have a common enemy, can we tentatively consider ourselves friends?"


    A woman who despised the evil, she was worth engaging with.


    Otherwise, in Mansion City, only the Qin Family was accessible which could be somewhat lonely.


    Huo Minglan was somewhat flattered, "You would consider me a friend?"


    "Whether we can become true friends will depend on the future," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1145 - 1151: Courtesy Calls for Reciprocity

    Chapter 1145: Chapter 1151: Courtesy Calls for ReciprocityAlthough it wasn¡¯t a definitive answer, it was enough to excite Huo Minglan.


    "I think we¡¯re quite similar, and should be able to get along well, by the way, will you join me in dealing with that despicable couple?"


    Her elder sister had already passed away, and that dowry should rightfully be inherited by the children her sister had given birth to.


    However, Niu Fuquan favored Wang Yun and wanted to give all the dowry to Niu Zijun, such a shameless person deserved to be condemned by everyone, didn¡¯t he?


    "I only want to protect what¡¯s mine," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    "If that¡¯s your attitude, then I¡¯m relieved. Also, the Niu Family established their business with my elder sister¡¯s dowry, and I want to take it back too. These days I¡¯ve been tampering with the Niu Family¡¯s business, forcing them to sell their shops. I¡¯ll take the opportunity to buy them. Now another shop is in urgent need, If Niu Fuquan comes to you for help, will you lend a hand?"


    Huo Minglan looked intently at Qiao Duo¡¯er, as this was what she was most worried about.


    If the Tan Family was willing to help, it would put her in a difficult position.


    After all, the resources she could mobilize were limited, and it was hard to compete with the Tan Family.


    "The person who was kind to Ah Hong was Wang Yun¡¯s father; repaying the debt has nothing to do with Niu Fuquan."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er solemnly made a promise.


    This Huo Minglan, still marrying a scoundrel for the sake of her family, she didn¡¯t approve, yet she couldn¡¯t help but admire.


    Moreover, it was the Niu Family¡¯s private matter, what right did she and Ah Hong have to interfere?


    "I appreciate it then," Huo Minglan said.


    Huo Minglan stood up and gave Duo¡¯er a deep bow.


    Her sister had bestowed enormous kindness upon her, and she couldn¡¯t allow her sister¡¯s children to be bullied.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sidestepped to avoid the bow, feeling she wasn¡¯t helping Huo Minglan; she was just making sure her own things didn¡¯t fall into the wrong hands.


    Huo Minglan said with a giggly voice, "This tea is very good; I wonder if I could take a pot back home. My nieces and nephews would definitely love it."


    "Wait a moment. I¡¯ll have someone fetch it for you," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded without hesitation.


    Before long, Huo Minglan left, satisfied, carrying the milk tea home.


    She planned to bring some of her homemade preserves later; now that they were somewhat friends, it was only proper to exchange gifts.


    If there¡¯s only taking from one side, no matter the relationship, it won¡¯t last.


    "Mom, who was that beautiful auntie just now?"


    Tangyuan¡¯s eyes sparkled with a hint of green.


    After thinking for a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "She¡¯s a friend of mine. I can introduce her to you the next time she comes."


    As for matters like the first wife and the second wife, she didn¡¯t discuss them with Tangyuan, because she would definitely find a man who was wholeheartedly devoted, and there was simply no need to know these things.


    Tangyuan had only one thought: Another chance to see a beautiful woman!


    By evening, Tan Zhenghong had returned.


    "Wife, the shop will be topped off in three days. If you have any requirements for the decoration, feel free to tell me," Tan Zhenghong said cheerfully.


    Once the shop was up and running, the promise he had made to Duo¡¯er would finally be truly fulfilled.


    "I¡¯ve already sketched out a draft. We can discuss it tonight to see if anything needs to be changed."


    "Wife, you¡¯re amazing!"


    Tan Zhenghong stole a kiss on Duo¡¯er¡¯s cheek.


    After exchanging a few more intimate words, Tan Zhenghong went off to play with the three children. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood in place, and although Tan Zhenghong acted as usual, she still felt that he was somewhat downcast; however, she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it.


    In any case, something was off.


    "Mom, come and help us identify this herb!" Tangyuan called out.


    It was strange for Tangyuan to see her mother not joining them voluntarily today, as usual, it was both parents together.

 Chapter 1146 - 1152: This Problem is Unsolvable

    Chapter 1146: Chapter 1152: This Problem is UnsolvableQiao Duo¡¯er repressed her own emotions, focusing on playing with the three children; as for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s concerns, she decided to wait until they were alone to discuss them.


    It wasn¡¯t until that evening that Qiao Duo¡¯er found an opportunity to be alone with Tan Zhenghong, typical of the headache that comes with having children.


    "What¡¯s wrong with you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at Tan Zhenghong.


    He had always tried to hide his feelings, but he wasn¡¯t good at concealing them, making it easy for others to notice.


    Alas, he had always thought he was doing a good job. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It would have been much better to speak honestly; otherwise, both of them would feel uncomfortable.


    "It¡¯s nothing," Tan Zhenghong said, eyes downcast.


    "Then let me guess, did Wang Yun come to you today?" Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Tan Zhenghong was momentarily surprised but quickly became composed. They had just settled in Mansion City, and with so few relatives and friends, it was an easy guess.


    The corners of Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s mouth curved slightly upward: "Did she tell you I¡¯ve been skimping on her food?"


    She had known all along that giving Wang Yun one or two silver a day would not be to her satisfaction; she was surprised Wang Yun had held out this long.


    "That¡¯s not what she meant; she just said she wants to find a job at Duo Meifang, so she can support herself and Zi Jun," Tan Zhenghong reported honestly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly: "If one were to give her one tael of silver daily, she might just get by."


    Unfortunately, Wang Yun would never be capable of earning that much in her lifetime.


    "Wife, what do you mean by that?"


    Tan Zhenghong caught the hint of sarcasm in her words, but he thought he might be imagining things.


    His wife never ridiculed others without cause; had something happened?


    "I mean exactly what I said. Your cousin and her son have high standards of living, starting at one or two silver a day. If your salary isn¡¯t enough, they¡¯ll still be expecting more," Qiao Duo¡¯er said coolly.


    But they think it¡¯s demeaning to hold out their hands for money and don¡¯t want to live at the mercy of others.


    So, this problem has no solution.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth fell open, and after a long while, he managed to utter, "That can¡¯t be right, can it?"


    The total cost of a meal for the sixteen craftsmen he had hired, with six dishes and a soup at midday, was only around three hundred wen.


    His cousin¡¯s family was only two people and one of them a child; how could they spend one tael of silver?


    "Forget it, from now on, you deal with your cousin yourself. I¡¯d rather not have people think I¡¯m mistreating them. I thought too highly of our relationship; it¡¯s really nothing special," Qiao Duo¡¯er turned her back, unwilling to deal with Tan Zhenghong any longer.


    She considered herself to have been very kind to Wang Yun, but it was futile when some people were still dissatisfied.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a pang in his heart and quickly explained, "Today she said she wants to divorce Niu Fuquan, and I hope to later recognize Niu Zijun as my son. It¡¯s a ridiculous matter, and I don¡¯t know how to explain it to others. I¡¯ve been bottling everything up inside; you¡¯ve definitely misunderstood."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er huffed, visibly angry. How could she be so easily appeased?


    Tan Zhenghong held up three fingers: "Wife, I swear to heaven, if I ever feel you¡¯re being unkind to my cousin, I¡¯ll... "


    He couldn¡¯t figure out how one could spend one tael of silver every day.


    Perhaps they were eating abalone and sea cucumbers in rotation?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er covered Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mouth to stop his foolish talk.


    "You should ask the shopkeeper how she¡¯s spending it. Plus, your cousin is quite the calculator, not only eyeing someone else¡¯s dowry but also setting her sights on our house. Does she think she¡¯s the only smart one in the world?"


    "What dowry?" Tan Zhenghong was completely confused.

 Chapter 1147 - 1153: Stingy Dad

    Chapter 1147: Chapter 1153: Stingy DadQiao Duo¡¯er repeated the matter as told by Huo Minglan without exaggeration, and Tan Zhenghong was so shocked he couldn¡¯t even speak.


    Was this really the work of his cousin and her husband?


    If he had to find a word to describe it, there was only one, insatiable greed.


    In fact, back in Big Willow Village, he should have seen through Wang Yun¡¯s true colors, but because she was his cousin, he still held onto some hope.


    "I¡¯ll tell her tomorrow that it¡¯s absolutely impossible for me to take Niu Zijun as my godson. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not someone who can¡¯t tell right from wrong," Tan Zhenghong said earnestly.


    Everyone wants their descendants to live a more prosperous life, but that¡¯s not a reason to snatch others¡¯ property.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er deliberately pouted, "You¡¯re always mixed up when it comes to right and wrong."


    Tan Zheng Hong suddenly closed in, "You must have seen wrong, I¡¯ll strip off my clothes completely clean right now so you can take a closer look at who I am."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt three black lines forming on her forehead. Had this man been possessed by a devil? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I never said I¡¯ve forgiven you," Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands pushed against Tan Zhenghong¡¯s chest.


    Tan Zhenghong said innocently, "You misunderstood me first, you need to make it up to me."


    After so many years as husband and wife, to still doubt his character¡ªhe was practically heartbroken. Duo¡¯er had to apologize.


    He felt the most sincere way to apologize was through physical compensation.


    However... he still hoped his wife would misunderstand him a few more times in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, only to find her hands had already been tied to the horizontal bar of the bed head by Tan Zhenghong¡¯s belt.


    Bondage?


    This guy¡¯s tastes were getting heavier!


    Actually, Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t have such deep thoughts; he was just preventing his wife from launching a sneak attack on him.


    Otherwise, it would be quite a mood killer if she knocked him out with a Knife Hand chop just as he was getting excited.


    The next day, Qiao Duo¡¯er slept until Three Poles Day.


    But considering Tan Zhenghong kept her up until dawn, she really hadn¡¯t slept much at all.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s peanut tendon porridge was delicious and fragrant, but Duo¡¯er still yawned incessantly.


    "Mom, did you not sleep last night?" Tangyuan couldn¡¯t help asking.


    Did her parents ditch them at home and sneak out to play?


    If that was true, she¡¯d be angry!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "I had insomnia last night and couldn¡¯t sleep at all, and now I¡¯m finally feeling sleepy."


    She had been engaged in intense physical activity almost all night, and now she could fall asleep even standing up.


    "Mom, then you should go back and rest well, and take good care of the baby," said Tangyuan gently stroking her mother¡¯s stomach.


    Her mother had a poor appetite in the morning and now was feeling sleepy again, which clearly meant she was pregnant.


    Actually, having a sister would be nice too, as long as she wasn¡¯t the youngest in the family anymore. Once there was another sibling, the Green Group would have to admit defeat.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed Tangyuan¡¯s head, "The two of you are enough."


    Moreover, since giving birth to a pair of twins, Tan Zhenghong insisted on taking birth control pills every month, and he always prepared them himself, so she had no chance to meddle with the medicine.


    Actually, this was fine. More children meant divided attention for each child.


    "But I want you to have another one," Tangyuan pouted and said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively passed the blame, "Your dad won¡¯t allow it. If you can convince him, maybe you¡¯ll get another brother or sister."


    "Then forget it, Dad always monopolizes Mom."


    If there was another younger one, her father¡¯s jealousy would spill over again.


    She preferred to keep being the eternal youngest.

 Chapter 1148 - 1154: Wife Rides on Husband’s Coattails

    Chapter 1148: Chapter 1154: Wife Rides on Husband¡¯s CoattailsQin Longyun¡¯s birthday was at the end of April, and that day, Duo¡¯er had gotten the two children ready early to visit Qin¡¯s Mansion.


    This was the first time the Magistrate was hosting a dinner for guests since taking office, and upon hearing the news, officials of high rank and wealthy merchants came to visit with gifts, making Qin¡¯s Mansion very lively.


    For Duo¡¯er, who preferred quiet, it was truly a torment, but she had no choice but to muster her energy and help attend to the guests.


    Not only because Yi Ling was too busy to manage alone, but also because it was essential for Duo¡¯er to interact with these people since the opening of Duo Meifang, and it was good to get acquainted with them in advance.


    Prince Liang naturally didn¡¯t miss this excellent opportunity to win people¡¯s hearts, taking the chance to also show off his newly born son.


    In the past, some said he sinned too much and couldn¡¯t have a son, but now it was time to prove them wrong.


    As a woman, Mo¡¯er enjoyed being the center of attention in the backyard.


    "Her Highness looks like a person blessed with good fortune."


    "Of course, Her Highness gave birth to the Royal Family¡¯s first grandson, a great merit!"


    "The Prince must have given lots of rewards. Can Her Highness let us have a look?"


    Mo¡¯er generously took out a jade pendant from her waist: "It¡¯s natural for women to bear children; what rewards do I need? The Prince forcibly gave me a piece of jade, saying it was for my health."


    This was a piece of Warm Jade, clear and translucent, a gem among jades.


    She had indeed put in a great deal of effort to obtain it.


    But in front of so many people, she couldn¡¯t reveal the truth.


    "The Prince is really generous, such a large piece of Warm Jade is rare!"


    "Since Her Highness has given birth to Lin¡¯er, not to mention a piece of jade, even if she wanted the stars in the sky, the Prince would pluck them down!"


    The never-ending praise made Mo¡¯er feel elated; this was the life she wanted!


    Just as she was feeling proud, she suddenly saw Qiao Duo¡¯er, and her good mood vanished almost entirely.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er always seemed to give off an aura of happiness.


    For Mo¡¯er, this was undoubtedly a ruthless mockery.


    "Don¡¯t just talk about me. Let me introduce someone to you. Over there is Mrs. Tan, a truly remarkable woman. In a short time, she rose from a poor farmwife to become Madam G¨´an."


    Mo¡¯er took her time saying this, intent on exposing Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s shortcomings and making it impossible for her to raise her head in front of others!


    Calmly, Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, "Thanks for the praise, Side Concubine, but a wife borrows prestige from her husband. It is Ah Hong who is formidable, otherwise I would have had no chance to meet the Side Concubine."


    She never felt inferior because she was born in Big Willow Village; instead, she considered it her forever home.


    So this attack from Mo¡¯er felt like a punch landing on cotton, having no effect whatsoever.


    But in front of everyone, she still managed a forced smile and said, "Master Tan is indeed capable." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The attendees were ladies from either wealthy or noble families, who had seen their fair share of women¡¯s rivalries in their lifetimes and could easily discern the underlying tensions between the Side Concubine and Mrs. Tan.


    In such a situation, some became opportunistic.


    One was the Prince¡¯s Side Concubine, with a child by her side.


    The other¡¯s husband merely held a titular sixth rank, which made it clear whose side they would support.


    Mrs. Tao complimented, "Prince Liang truly has great strategies, and in the future, it will truly be a case of a wife honored by her husband¡¯s stature."


    "With the Little Prince so talented, he is sure to have a limitless future and even bring honor to his mother by his achievements."


    Calmly, Yi Ling spoke, "You have always been in Ning Tian Mansion, so you might not be aware of the practices among the large families in the Capital. In those households, only the main wives have the right to raise children; many concubines¡¯ children don¡¯t even know who their biological mothers are."


    This is the most tragic aspect of being a concubine.

 Chapter 1149 - 1155: Concubine, Ultimately a Concubine

    Chapter 1149: Chapter 1155: Concubine, Ultimately a ConcubineIt was their own child they had given birth to, yet when they saw him, they could only call him "aunt." How could their hearts not ache?


    Even so, many concubines would still request for their children to be raised under the principal wife¡¯s knees, wanting a better future for them.


    This was because the treatment of legitimate children and peasant sons differed like heaven and earth.


    Families adhering to traditions would provide better education to legitimate children, marry them to well-matched and respectable young ladies, and only the legitimate child could inherit the family business.


    Peasant sons could only marry another peasant daughter or choose an inferior girl, and when it came to dividing the inheritance, they would receive but a small portion and had to set up their own households.


    If one was fortunate enough to be listed under the principal wife¡¯s name, that truly was a blessing of three lifetimes.


    Li Mu¡¯er, stepping on a sore spot, said through clenched teeth, "Lady Qin worries too much, the Prince has said that in the Mansion of King Liang, there is no distinction between legitimate and peasant children."


    "Indeed, there are families that do not adhere to traditions and end up favoring concubines over wives,"


    Chen Yiling responded lightly.


    As far as she knew, the Mansion of King Liang was of noble origin, and if a son were born, what would become of Li Mu¡¯er?


    Everyone attending the banquet was the principal wife, and there was an indescribable loathing towards presumptuous concubines, thus the enthusiasm for Li Mu¡¯er quickly dwindled.


    What was the use of having another son? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As long as the first wife was not divorced, one could never surpass her in this lifetime!


    Realizing what she had said, Chen Yiling quickly covered her mouth, "Madam, I¡¯m always too blunt, please don¡¯t take it personally."


    "I actually think it has been quite enlightening," Qiao Duo¡¯er sincerely remarked.


    She was a village girl from Big Willow Village, previously unaware of these conventions.


    "Actually, the reputable families in Mansion City do the same,"


    One courageous madam said earnestly, having recently been vexed by a concubine who had just given birth to a son, finding solace in venting her frustration now.


    Just as the atmosphere turned somewhat awkward, a government official hurried over.


    "A decree from the Emperor, please move to the front hall," he announced.


    Everyone immediately rushed to the front courtyard, fearful of being accused of negligence.


    For people of this era, an imperial edict was a matter more critical than life itself.


    In the front hall, when everyone had gathered, Grandpa Zhang began to read the imperial edict.


    "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qin Longyun is astute and compassionate, loves the people as his own children, bestowed with a command token, his wife Chen Yiling of noble birth, virtuous and righteous, noble yet frugal, conferred the title of Mistress of Qi¡¯an County."


    Qin Longyun respectfully received the imperial edict, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."


    Grandpa Zhang quickly helped Qin Longyun to his feet, "Master Tan¡¯s intentions will surely be conveyed to His Majesty by our household."


    Qin Longyun offered a few more polite remarks, to which Grandpa Zhang respectfully replied.


    "Could this be Master Tan and Mrs. Tan?"


    Grandpa Zhang still remembered them because of those delicious yet spicy dishes and thus remembered the couple.


    Tan Zhenghong bowed his hands, "I never expected Grandpa to remember us, it is an honor."


    "Master Tan is too modest. By the way, there is also an imperial decree for you. Why not read it now while we¡¯re here?" suggested Grandpa Zhang.


    Grandpa Zhang proposed, not expecting that this trip would prove so fortuitous.


    If it were not for the Tan Family Members being here, he would have had to travel to Big Willow Village, a journey that, even if swift, would take ten days back and forth.


    Tan Zhenghong did not want to make such a spectacle, but he could not disregard Grandpa Zhang¡¯s feelings, so he could only nod in agreement.


    The crowd knelt again, and Grandpa Zhang unfolded the imperial edict.


    "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Tan Zhenghong is kind-hearted, has contributed to disaster relief, and with his exquisite craftsmanship, has worked for the welfare of the people, conferred the title of Fourth Rank Inspector, granted the authority to assist in inspections, his wife of fine countenance, possessing both virtue and talent, conferred the title of Reverent Person."

 Chapter 1150 - 1156: Slightly Embarrassing...

    Chapter 1150: Chapter 1156: Slightly Embarrassing...Tan Zhenghong received the imperial decree with both hands, "Thank you, Saint, Grandpa Zhang, you¡¯ve also had a hard journey. Once Lord Qin¡¯s banquet is over, you must visit my home."


    "Of course, of course," Grandpa Zhang gladly accepted.


    In his heart, he hoped that Mrs. Tan might cook for him one more time, yet considering how her status had greatly changed, he wasn¡¯t sure if he would be so fortunate today.


    Even if he could dine once more, he would have no regrets in this life.


    "Congratulations to Lord Qin."


    "Master Tan, truly congratulations!"


    "Ning Tian Mansion is far from the Capital, yet the Saint has issued two imperial decrees in succession. This shows that he holds both gentlemen in high regard. When you prosper, do not forget your colleagues of today."


    "Well said, both gentlemen must say a good word for us when you see the Saint."


    "I am undeserving of the Saint¡¯s misplaced favor," Qin Longyun thanked them one by one.


    Tan Zhenghong followed suit, "Even if I met the Saint, I am sure I would be the one furthest away; how would I have the chance to speak to him?"


    He had never experienced the world, yet it was written clearly in books: meeting the Saint required numerous procedures and complex etiquette, and one must be composed and cautious in his words and acts in the presence of the Saint.


    Amid the endless stream of congratulations, the other women surrounded Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er as they returned to the back yard.


    The front yard was a place for men; if women lingered too long, various rumors were likely to arise.


    "Lady Qin and Mrs. Tan truly have good fortune. They have made us quite envious!"


    "Not only do they have status, but I¡¯ve also heard that both gentlemen are deeply devoted and only have eyes for their wife at home. That¡¯s truly rare!"


    "There are so many women in my household, and it¡¯s constantly a scene of chaos."


    Chen Yiling chuckled wryly, "I am the youngest daughter in my family, and I have quite the temper. If there were many women in my backyard, I would surely be furious. Thus, my husband often says I am jealous and not as virtuous as all of you sisters."


    "That may be true, my lord often says I am his virtuous helpmate."


    "When I was in my boudoir, my mother often said that the principle of ¡¯Three Obediences and Four Virtues¡¯ is most important to match our husbands¡¯ level and treat each other with due respect." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er exchanged glances; they did not understand if it was worth it to live one¡¯s entire life uncomfortably, just for the sake of a reputation for virtuousness.


    Alas, it could only be said that these women had been deeply afflicted by the ¡¯Three Obediences and Four Virtues¡¯.


    To them, as long as they could spend their lives with their beloved, what harm was there in being labeled a jealous wife or a shrew?


    When it came to the ¡¯Three Obediences and Four Virtues,¡¯ many women began to open up.


    There were even those who advised others to take concubines for their husbands; Ling¡¯er and Duo¡¯er could only feel helpless.


    Li Mu¡¯er had already twisted her handkerchief into a knot; she would never admit that she was envious of those two women.


    They simply won their husband¡¯s exclusive affection with ease, while she could only beg Prince Liang for a little love and affection.


    Was she inferior to these two women?


    No, that was absolutely impossible!


    If she couldn¡¯t rely on Prince Liang, she still had her son. When her son ascended to the throne, she would be the most honored woman under heaven.


    By that time, whether it be a Commandery Princess or a Princess, all would have to kneel before her obediently!


    After a while, someone thankfully changed the subject.


    "Lady Qin, as a distinguished lady of the Capital, you are well-informed. Have you heard of Duo Meifang?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked awkwardly at Chen Yiling; wasn¡¯t this product placement a bit too forced?


    The conversation had been going well, and suddenly blurting this out was so embarrassing!


    Chen Yiling blinked her innocent eyes; this was not something she had arranged in advance!


    She and a close madam had agreed that the latter would find an opportunity to ask about post-pregnancy care secrets, and then she would naturally bring up Duo Meifang.


    But no appropriate opportunity had arisen thus far.

 Chapter 1151 - 1157: Product Placement Advertising

    Chapter 1151: Chapter 1157: Product Placement Advertising"What¡¯s the matter?" the woman asked puzzledly, had she said something inappropriate?


    Chen Yiling quickly shook her head, "Nothing, I was just curious why you asked that."


    "During my grandmother-in-law¡¯s birthday celebration, someone gifted a box of ointment, claiming it could lighten the scars on the face. My grandmother-in-law found it very effective and wanted to buy more, but there was a mix-up with the gift list, and now we don¡¯t know who sent it."


    And so, now she couldn¡¯t even find a way to purchase it.


    Before Duo¡¯er could speak, someone else eagerly said, "There was a rumor that Duo Meifang came from the Capital, you¡¯ve asked the right person this time!"


    "I¡¯ve heard those products are extremely effective¡ªthey must be from the Capital, where all the best things of the Daxing Dynasty are gathered!"


    "It¡¯s not that mysterious. My husband is often out and about, and he says you can find them in the towns below; if it were from the Capital, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to open directly in those towns."


    But Mansion City is the wealthiest place in Ning Tian Mansion, wouldn¡¯t it be a loss not to open there?


    Chen Yiling laughed and said, "Duo Meifang originated from White Stone County, and now it has branches in several nearby counties. It just so happens that the owner of Duo Meifang is here today."


    "Really? I wonder if Lord Qin could introduce me."


    Mrs. Wu said excitedly.


    Once she found out where to buy it, she¡¯d immediately send someone to purchase it, thus solving a major concern for her grandmother-in-law.


    Chen Yiling pointed at Duo¡¯er, "She¡¯s standing right next to you, there¡¯s no need for Lord Qin to make an introduction."


    "Mrs. Tan?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Duo Meifang is indeed a Tan Family business. What do you need? I hope I can help."


    "I don¡¯t know the name, but after using it, my grandmother-in-law¡¯s spots have faded a lot, and it¡¯s been over a month without any recurrence."


    "That must be the anti-spot cream. We happen to have some stock at home. Just tell my maid the address, and someone will deliver it to you," Qiao Duo¡¯er was in a good mood.


    She had truly underestimated Duo Meifang¡¯s reputation before coming here.


    With this, opening a store in Mansion City would surely go much smoother. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mrs. Wu quickly said, "Thank you so much, I will definitely visit to express my gratitude another day."


    She thought it would take some effort to find it, but it was unexpectedly resolved so easily.


    "Is it really that effective? Can I use it on the spots on my face?"


    "And me, look at my skin, it¡¯s so yellowish and hideous."


    Love for beauty is a woman¡¯s nature; when it comes to beauty and skincare, everyone gets as excited as if they¡¯ve been injected with adrenaline.


    Qiao Duo explained, "Duo Meifang will open on the sixteenth day of the fifth month, and after that, you can go there. Duo Meifang has beauticians who will provide personalized solutions based on each person¡¯s situation, and if it doesn¡¯t work, Duo Meifang won¡¯t charge a single Wen."


    Chen Yiling quickly nudged Qiao Duo, wasn¡¯t she very clever? Why did she make such an all-encompassing promise this time?


    What if someone¡¯s skin simply doesn¡¯t improve and it doesn¡¯t work?


    Are they supposed to just give away the powder for free?


    No, that can¡¯t happen, or they¡¯ll be at a loss sooner or later!


    Qiao Duo reassured Chen Yiling with a look, confident in her claim.


    "It will definitely work; I must go and see when the time comes."


    "I also heard that Duo Meifang¡¯s products are miraculous, and they don¡¯t take money if there¡¯s no effect, why not go?"


    Almost every lady present had the idea, who would want to miss the chance to become more beautiful?


    Receiving a look from Li Mu¡¯er, Colorful Butterfly immediately said, "Mrs. Tan, please have a look at our side concubine. She has a scar on her neck from her childhood and it distresses her greatly."


    Li Mu¡¯er glanced at Qiao Duo, but her eyes couldn¡¯t hide her expectation.

 Chapter 1152 - 1158: Will Not Treat You Unfairly

    Chapter 1152: Chapter 1158: Will Not Treat You Unfairly"The Side Concubine¡¯s injury must have been from some time ago; if she persists in using aloe vera gel, it might fade, whether it can be completely eliminated depends on the individual¡¯s physique," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated truthfully.


    She melded the aloe vera gel with the Ancient Scar Removal Formula, enhancing its effectiveness by more than just a notch.


    However, it still had no immediate effect on old, longstanding scars.


    Li Mu¡¯er suppressed the wild joy in her heart, "Then you must send some to me as well. If it¡¯s effective, I will certainly not shortchange you."


    Not shortchange her?


    Is that implying she intends to treat her generously?


    Too bad she couldn¡¯t trust Li Mu¡¯er, much less Prince Liang standing behind her.


    "Unfortunately, the Side Concubine will have to wait for a while," Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her apology.


    "Why does she get it?" Colorful Butterfly pointed at Mrs. Wu.


    Mrs. Wu had just said that the old lady at home found it beneficial, and Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately agreed to send some over.


    So why was this woman making all sorts of excuses when it came to the Side Concubine?


    Could it be that she thinks just because she became a Fourth Rank Reverent Person, she can look down on the Side Concubine?


    "Of all products, the Scarless Paste is the rarest; its ingredients must be harvested from aloe leaves in deep autumn and refined over forty-nine days."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke without any pressure, blithely fabricating details.


    Anyway, she just wasn¡¯t willing to give her product to Li Mu¡¯er¡ªif she wasn¡¯t happy, let her challenge it!


    She also conveniently played a round of scarcity marketing because there¡¯s a psychology to it¡ªwhat one cannot obtain is what one desires most.


    Li Mu¡¯er clutched her teacup tightly, "I can see that you¡¯re doing this on purpose!"


    "The Side Concubine is mistaken," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained, "Products from Duo Meifang need to go through many processes to become finished goods, ensuring they achieve the best effect, so I ask the Side Concubine to be patient and wait a bit longer."


    "Great things take time, if the Side Concubine truly desires it, what harm is there in patiently waiting a little while?"


    Chen Yiling chimed in.


    The looks in people¡¯s eyes when they looked at Li Mu¡¯er were all a bit disdainful¡ªwho would have thought someone from the Royal Family would be so unruly and difficult?


    Mrs. Tan had already made her point as clear as could be, and her attitude was very friendly.


    Yet the Side Concubine and the Maid were both so aggressive from the moment they opened their mouths, it was contemptible. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s complexion grew increasingly dark; she felt that Duo¡¯er was deliberately withholding from her, and was moreover scheming to draw everyone else¡¯s attention.


    Otherwise, why didn¡¯t people compliment her or mention Yi¡¯er anymore?


    Chen Yiling quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "The banquet is ready, let¡¯s all take our seats."


    At the feast, toasts were made and cups exchanged.


    Prince Liang had a few drinks and felt overcome by heat. Not wanting to disgrace himself, he stood and said, "This Prince cannot hold his liquor and would like to step outside for a bit."


    After speaking, he took his confidant attendant and left the front hall.


    In the courtyard, the attendant immediately took out a green bottle, and after Prince Liang sniffed it, his complexion eased somewhat.


    "Find out who drugged my drink," Prince Liang ordered coldly.


    He enjoyed women, but that didn¡¯t mean he enjoyed being schemed against by them.


    This time it was an aphrodisiac, but who¡¯s to say it wouldn¡¯t be a deadly poison next time¡ªcaution was absolutely warranted.


    Because the drug was potent, Prince Liang broke out in sweat; he then stood by the pond to catch the breeze.


    From a bamboo grove not far from the lotus pond, conversation floated over, and Prince Liang pricked up his ears; he had a hunch that what those two people were discussing pertained to him.


    "How come the Little Prince doesn¡¯t resemble the Prince at all? Especially the shape of his face, it¡¯s so odd."


    "Are you suggesting that child isn¡¯t Prince Liang¡¯s?"


    "It feels that way, but to confuse the bloodline of the Royal Family is a capital offense, maybe even an Annihilate Whole Family situation, I think the consort would definitely not dare to take such a huge risk."

 Chapter 1153 - 1159: I’m Pregnant

    Chapter 1153: Chapter 1159: I¡¯m Pregnant"The Palace is full of secrets. Otherwise, why would the Saint have so many concubines and yet so few sons? Perhaps this Little Prince is actually brought back by the Side Concubine to deceive Prince Liang."


    "Wouldn¡¯t the Prince be raising another¡¯s child then? If it¡¯s true, he would surely go mad!


    "Not just the Prince; which man could tolerate this?"


    Seeing Prince Liang¡¯s face turn gloomy, the attendant quickly said, "Prince, I will teach them a lesson right away."


    "No need." Prince Liang placed his hands behind his back.


    The attendant stood aside with bowed head. Prince Liang was naturally suspicious, and it seemed he was starting to suspect the Side Concubine. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back door of the Government Office.


    Ping¡¯er stuffed prepared pouches of money into the hands of two women.


    "Take this silver and leave quickly."


    These two were purposely placed by Yi Ling in the bamboo grove to keep Mo¡¯er busy and out of the way, lest she becomes idle and causes more trouble.


    The two women weighed the pouch and then said with a smile, "Don¡¯t worry, we know what to do."


    Once they left this courtyard, they would never admit they had been to the Prefecture Officer or taken anyone¡¯s silver.


    Ping¡¯er nodded, though she didn¡¯t mind at all if the matter was known to others.


    As this was originally unfounded, the more people talked about it, the more likely Prince Liang would believe it to be true.


    After the banquet dispersed, Prince Liang entered the study.


    No matter what document he read, he felt irritable. Eventually, he simply tossed the papers aside and turned to look at the maid beside him.


    "Do you think Yi¡¯er and I resemble each other?" Prince Liang asked coldly.


    The Maid quickly knelt down. "This servant does not understand what the Prince means, please forgive me."


    How should she answer this question?


    She dared not lie to the Prince, but she feared saying the truth might get her killed.


    Impatient, Prince Liang said, "Did I ask you to kneel? Answer my question quickly, or I¡¯ll have you beheaded right now!"


    "The Little Prince does not resemble your Highness much, but it¡¯s common for children to look like their mothers. It¡¯s normal for the Little Prince to look like the Side Concubine Lady. Moreover... perhaps when the Little Prince grows up a bit more, he might take after you."


    The Maid spoke timidly.


    Her first words were true, but what followed was fabricated just to pacify Prince Liang.


    Prince Liang was silent for a long while before he said, "You may leave."


    The Maid felt a great relief and hurriedly left the room, as if she had been sitting with a demon.


    The attendant couldn¡¯t help but say, "Prince, you shouldn¡¯t listen to those gossiping women. The Little Prince was earnestly awaited by you and the Empress."


    There are three unfilial acts, of which the lack of a son is the greatest. Who could take the throne without a son?


    Thus, even if the child was someone else¡¯s, Prince Liang had to swallow his resentment.


    Prince Liang sighed, "Go investigate everything the Side Concubine has done in the temple, who she has contacted. Make sure you find out everything, and leave no stone unturned."


    He doubted that Mo¡¯er would commit such reckless acts but still wanted peace of mind.


    "Yes."


    The attendant bowed and then lightly leaped out of the window.


    At that moment, Prince Liang¡¯s heart was in turmoil, and just then, Mo¡¯er came in holding the child.


    Prince Liang glanced at the child only once before turning his eyes away. The more he saw, the less he felt any similarity to himself¡ªthere was not even a hint of likeness.


    Could it really be that Mo¡¯er had cuckolded him?


    Damnation, if the child was merely a bast**d, then all the affection he had invested was in vain!


    "Yi¡¯er, smile at your father. Make him as happy as you are; won¡¯t you?" Mo¡¯er brought the child closer.


    (I¡¯ve got a new baby, and my family won¡¯t let me write much, so updates are slow. I hope for your understanding.)

 Chapter 1154 - 1160: Better Not Lie to Me

    Chapter 1154: Chapter 1160: Better Not Lie to MePrince Liang said impatiently, "What child doesn¡¯t smile? Don¡¯t bother me with such trivial matters in the future. The study is no place for a woman, now get out!"


    Until he could confirm that this child was his, he had no interest in glancing at him.


    Li Mu¡¯er was startled. Why wouldn¡¯t he show her even a hint of tenderness?


    "Out!" Prince Liang¡¯s tone became even more harsh.


    Li Mu¡¯er sniffled, finally managing to hold back her tears.


    "Prince, I know you¡¯re troubled by Duo Meifang¡¯s affairs, but don¡¯t worry, once the Perfume Master from the palace arrives we¡¯ll have a solution," Li Mu¡¯er said gently.


    She had to win back Prince Liang¡¯s favor to secure her position in the Mansion of King Liang.


    Prince Liang furrowed his brows, "Perfume Master? What do you mean?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "In reward for giving birth to Yi¡¯er, my mother granted me one wish. I¡¯ve already sent an urgent letter a few days ago, hoping she would intervene and invite Yun Piaopiao to take part."


    Yun Piaopiao, her temperament was indeed strange.


    She never cared for fame or such empty titles; she was solely devoted to researching various fragrances and ordinary people couldn¡¯t simply enlist her services.


    Prince Liang couldn¡¯t help slamming his hand on the table, "How did I not think of it? My mother once saved Yun Piaopiao¡¯s life, she would surely be able to invite her by intervening."


    However, that woman was extremely capricious, and even with a life-saving debt, it would take some effort to persuade her.


    "I¡¯ve already had all of Duo Meifang¡¯s products bought out. We will definitely open our store before Qiao Duo¡¯er!"


    This time, Li Mu¡¯er was determined to succeed.


    She could already imagine Qiao Duo¡¯er frustrated and helpless yet unable to do anything.


    Prince Liang¡¯s lips curved into a smile, "Good, if you succeed, I will certainly credit you with a great merit."


    But upon glancing back at Long Zhenyi, his gaze turned cold again.


    "You¡¯d better not be deceiving me; even if you had a great merit, you would have nowhere to go but down a deadly path."


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s complexion turned deathly pale, yet she managed to feign composure, "Prince, you can¡¯t doubt me."


    Prince Liang slowly said, "It had better be so."


    Otherwise... both she and Long Zhenyi would meet a tragic end.


    "I only wish for your well-being, Prince," Li Mu¡¯er said with a smile.


    Apart from the child¡¯s matter, she too was compelled by circumstances, for if she didn¡¯t act this way, she would only be able to die lonely and forsaken in a temple.


    "Alright, get out," he said.


    Prince Liang waved his hand dismissively; he had heard too many of these insincere words.


    All these women appeared to be utterly respectful on the surface, but wasn¡¯t each of them just seeking her own gain from him?


    Li Mu¡¯er curtsied and then left with Long Zhenyi in her arms.


    Back in her own room, Li Mu¡¯er left only Colorful Lotus with her.


    Li Mu¡¯er lowered her voice and asked, "Colorful Lotus, have you arranged everything on your end?"


    "Everything is arranged; the Prince will never find out," she answered without a hint of hesitation.


    Colorful Lotus was certain; she had personally seen that man being dealt with, now he must have turned into a pile of bones.


    Li Mu¡¯er felt slightly relieved, but still she cautioned again, "Keep a close watch on the Prince; inform me immediately if there is any unusual activity."


    "Yes, but Your Highness need not worry. Little Prince is very important to the Prince right now," Colorful Lotus consoled.


    Prince Liang would have had his own son long ago if he could, why would he wait until now?


    Li Mu¡¯er replied with a bitter smile, "Prince Liang¡¯s harem is vast, and he will have his own son sooner or later. How could he tolerate Yi¡¯er? And once the truth comes out, we will be the first to die."


    Until Prince Liang had his own son, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t kill Long Zhenyi, but he would show no mercy towards her.


    Her only wish was to live a good life.

 Chapter 1155 - 1161: The Mother Who Lacks Tactfulness

    Chapter 1155: Chapter 1161: The Mother Who Lacks TactfulnessPrince Liang didn¡¯t take Li Mu¡¯er seriously, and Colorful Lotus mattered even less to him.


    Colorful Lotus immediately curtsied, "It is I who didn¡¯t consider thoroughly. I will go and keep a close watch now."


    Li Mu¡¯er nodded, but her heart was still restless.


    She had thought that this matter would never be exposed, but unexpectedly, just after less than two months, Prince Liang began to suspect.


    But wasn¡¯t Prince Liang fond of Yi¡¯er just yesterday? Why did his attitude change so abruptly today?


    Could it be that someone was deliberately framing her?


    Within Ning Tian Mansion, the only ones who had the courage and ability to talk nonsense in front of Prince Liang were the two who stole the limelight today, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling.


    Without realizing it, Li Mu¡¯er clenched her fists; whoever blocked her path to wealth would face but one fate¡ªdeath!


    By evening, the Tan Family Courtyard was all set for dinner.


    Grandpa Zhang was to head back to his hometown the next day to pay homage to his ancestors; this was like a farewell feast.


    "Grandpa Zhang, please take the seat of honor," Tan Zhenghong made a gesture of invitation.


    Grandpa Zhang shook his head, "Master Tan, you¡¯re too polite, I¡¯m fine sitting here."


    Tan Zhenghong, already a Fourth Rank Official with good relations with King Qin, would need to rely on others in the future, and naturally, he had to humble himself a bit more.


    Just then, Chen Yiling returned with her three children after washing their hands, "We¡¯re all old friends here. Let¡¯s not fuss about sitting arrangements; why bother with seat of honor or not?"


    "That¡¯s good too, as long as everyone enjoys the meal."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t insist any further; he, too, couldn¡¯t be bothered with formalities.


    Once everyone was seated, Grandpa Zhang raised his wine cup, "Today, I will borrow this occasion to congratulate both officials, wishing you a smooth ascent to power and prosperity, for the benefit of the people."


    "Thank you, Grandpa Zhang," both Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong raised their cups.


    Several dishes of spicy food were laid out on the table, their red colors vibrant and appealing.


    Qin Mingrui swallowed and said in a low voice, "Mom, I want to eat that one."


    Chen Yiling fished out a piece of blood curd from the spicy hot pot and put it into Qin Mingrui¡¯s bowl, "This is your godmother¡¯s specialty. It¡¯s really enjoyable."


    Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Mingrui was already choking.


    Chen Yiling slapped her forehead, "How could I forget you can¡¯t eat spicy food? Don¡¯t move; I¡¯ll go get you some water."


    Black lines sprawled across Qin Longyun¡¯s forehead. He was quicker on his feet; it would be better for him to go.


    The teapot contained cool water, which was just right for drinking.


    As Qin Longyun fed Qin Mingrui water, he silently criticized his own absentminded mother.


    Once the spiciness subsided, Qin Mingrui spoke slowly, "Mom, I think it¡¯s a miracle that I¡¯ve managed to grow up this big."


    "You sure know how to find joy amidst hardship," Qin Longyun added a jab.


    Only Chen Yiling touched her nose¡ªshe had made a mistake today, wouldn¡¯t an apology suffice? sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Today¡¯s milk tea has been chilled for a while. Drinking it now should be just right," said Qiao Duo¡¯er as she poured milk tea for Qin Mingrui.


    The hot and numbing dish had a strong after-effect; something cold was needed to counter the heat.


    Qin Mingrui said politely, "Thank you, Godmother."


    He decided it would be better to stick with his godmother in the future; she seemed far more reliable than his birth mother.


    Grandpa Zhang, watching the two families¡¯ joyful squabble, felt moved. However, in this life, he was a eunuch and could only hope for a life surrounded by lovely company and children in the next life.


    "Grandpa Zhang, a toast to you."


    Tangyuan held up her cup in a proper manner.


    Grandpa Zhang¡¯s heart melted instantly, and he said affectionately, "Good child, cheers."


    Now that the child had called him grandpa today, he would protect her as if she were his own granddaughter.


    When he was old and left the palace, he would buy a small courtyard next to the Tan family, so he could often see these lovely children. If he was lucky, he might even enjoy a meal at the Tan family¡¯s home.


    Having made up his mind, Grandpa Zhang¡¯s mood lifted immediately.

 Chapter 1156 - 1162: The Butt Decides the Brain

    Chapter 1156: Chapter 1162: The Butt Decides the BrainThree wily little things created a lively atmosphere at the table the whole time.


    After sending away Grandpa Zhang, Chen Yiling started playing with the three kids again.


    It was getting late, and Qin Longyun couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Wife, when are we going back?"


    "I¡¯m staying here tonight, you go back on your own."


    That way she would avoid the Side Concubine who always dragged her into conversations, revolving around Prince Liang and the children she bore for him¡ªher ears were practically developing calluses.


    Qin Longyun pitifully asked, "Do you really have the heart to let me go back alone?"


    Wouldn¡¯t that make him a lonesome soul?


    "Why wouldn¡¯t I? Li Mu¡¯er won¡¯t be seeking you out for a heart-to-heart," Chen Yiling patted Qin Longyun¡¯s shoulder.


    Thinking about dealing with Prince Liang, who was as disgusting as Li Mu¡¯er, just made her feel sorry for him.


    But was there any other option?


    Who asked Prince Liang to take a fancy to Qin Longyun? No, not to him¡ªto Qin Longyun¡¯s talents.


    Qin Longyun quickly covered his head, "I drank too much today, my head is all fuzzy, I¡¯ll go rest in the guest room." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A so-called family member is someone who lives in the same house.


    Since his son was staying at the Tan Family¡¯s residence and his wife was also staying there, naturally, he should stay at the Tan Family¡¯s as well.


    As for offending Prince Liang, he couldn¡¯t care less.


    If Prince Liang ever ascended the throne, he¡¯d be the first to resign his post.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er struggled to hold back her laughter, "Lord Qin¡¯s acting is not bad, he deserves an award. I hope even more that Prince Liang will come to his senses soon and give your nest back to you."


    "Sigh, keep dreaming. He won¡¯t leave until he has taken your family¡¯s business," Chen Yiling sighed.


    Prince Liang really was greedy enough, wanting to learn from Qiao Duo¡¯er how to breed musk deer, he even wanted to take over Duo Meifang completely.


    But with Qiao Duo¡¯er around, Prince Liang would just be wasting his time.


    Thinking that with Prince Liang out of the Capital, there¡¯d be one less person to check King Qin, she found some consolation.


    Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er smiling, Chen Yiling teased, "Qiao Duo¡¯er, are you enjoying the disaster unfolding?"


    "I just suddenly thought of a saying," Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head.


    "What saying?"


    "Your ass decides your head," said Qiao Duo¡¯er indifferently. It¡¯s a bit uncivilized to say so, but the phrase contains an undeniable truth.


    Seeing Chen Yiling not understanding, Qiao Duo¡¯er took the initiative to explain.


    "The musk secreted by male musk deer between three and eight years old is of the best quality, and it¡¯s hard to decide whether to hunt or to let female deer breed. Plus, musk deer are picky eaters and initially require a huge investment. Do you think Prince Liang can wait? He only sees the value of musk and decides on a whim to start a musk deer farm, hence why it¡¯s said ¡¯Your ass decides your head.¡¯"


    After a full three years, her musk deer farm was still operating at a loss.


    Because the male musk deer born did not produce musk, the female deer did not give birth, and they were all just eating and drinking for free.


    Add to that the silver spent on buying the land, she literally bled red.


    If it weren¡¯t for the family¡¯s fields, real estate, and the output from Duo Meifang, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold on.


    As for Prince Liang, not to mention.


    He raised musk deer for the silver, and probably couldn¡¯t even tolerate a face full of losses.


    Such an impatient mindset doomed him to utter failure, leaving nothing but a mess.


    Chen Yiling raised her thumb, "I love listening to you talk, so sharp!"


    However, since it¡¯s about Prince Liang, she thought ¡¯the brain is not as good as the ass¡¯ might be more apt.


    "Thanks for the praise, I¡¯m deeply honored," Qiao Duo¡¯er playfully said.


    It just felt a bit unsatisfying not being able to criticize him to his face.


    Alas, the evils of feudal society, where not only is there no equality among people, apart from the Emperor, no one is even entitled to freedom of speech.


    Otherwise, she would¡¯ve criticized Prince Liang so much that even his mother would refuse to acknowledge him as her son.

 Chapter 1157 - 1163: Protecting Tangyuan with Strength

    Chapter 1157: Chapter 1163: Protecting Tangyuan with StrengthOn the fourth day of May, it was the Dragon Boat Festival.


    After eating zongzi in the morning, Qiao Duo¡¯er divided the Threads of Longevity she had made among the three children.


    "This is the Thread of Longevity. It can ward off disaster and illness. Make sure you wear it properly. I¡¯ve heard the longer you wear it, the better it is."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    There¡¯s a saying that customs differ every ten miles, and traditions change every hundred miles. White Stone County and Mansion City are far apart, and their Dragon Boat Festival customs are no exception.


    In White Stone County, children wear Fragrance Pouches during the Dragon Boat Festival. In Mansion City, they wear Threads of Longevity, so she had bought colorful silk threads early to weave them.


    After the three children put them on, Chen Yiling dabbed some realgar on their foreheads in the form of a king character.


    "All set. Let¡¯s go watch the dragon boat racing!"


    Chen Yiling tossed aside her brush, shouted for Qiao Duo¡¯er, took the three children, and they set off.


    Linjiang Tower.


    "This private room has the best view, right by the finish line. I reserved it last year." Chen Yiling said proudly.


    Luckily, she had the foresight, otherwise how could she witness the sprint phase performance?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Indeed, it¡¯s great. Point out which boat is yours for me."


    As long as one had a dragon boat and rowers, one could register to participate in the race. Chen Yiling, who loved to have fun, also joined the excitement.


    "I¡¯m in boat number six, the one in the middle."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up, "If you win, you owe us a treat!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No problem!" Chen Yiling agreed cheerfully. Even if she didn¡¯t win, she would treat them to lunch.


    It used to be her staying at Duo¡¯er¡¯s House, but now with a family of three, she felt even more apologetic.


    This year, forty-four teams participated in the competition. The preliminaries had eleven teams per group, with the top two advancing to the finals.


    The first round of the preliminaries started soon.


    The three little ones all watched seriously, murmuring that they had to win.


    Chen Yiling waved her hand in front of the kids, "Don¡¯t be so tense. The rowers on our boat were carefully selected by me. There should be no problem in the preliminaries. Besides, this is just for fun; participation is what matters, not obsessing over winning."


    Life is short, enjoying oneself freely is most important. How tiring would it be to care so much about winning and losing?


    But, of course, winning would certainly be happier.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s words didn¡¯t have much effect. The three children¡¯s nerves remained wound tight.


    At the moment, boat number six was temporarily in the lead, but there were two teams close behind that might overtake them.


    During the sprint phase, Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er both put down their teacups and concentrated on watching the race.


    The race course was four hundred meters long, and the dragon boats sped along at a little over four meters per second, so in less than two minutes, the result was clear.


    Boat number six lived up to expectations and came in first!


    "Fantastic!"


    "Let¡¯s toast to celebrate!" Green Group suggested.


    The three children were thrilled. Not to disappoint them, Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling joined in and took a sip as well.


    Before their celebration was over, the door to the private room was pushed open.


    "Lady Qin, Mrs. Tan, what a refined pleasure you have here. I hope this Side Concubine is not interrupting your good time, am I?"


    Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s words were polite, but she had already entered the room.


    Because she believed the room with the best view should belong to her.


    Tangyuan said discontentedly, "Didn¡¯t your mother teach you to knock before entering someone¡¯s room?"


    "An impolite wild child."


    Green Group and Qin Mingrui stepped forward simultaneously, shielding Tangyuan behind them.


    Frowning, Green Group said, "Who are you calling a wild child?"


    "If you dare to insult Tangyuan again, I¡¯ll throw you out!" Qin Mingrui showed off his little fists.


    They were still children, but this did not diminish their resolve to protect the girl.


    "Can¡¯t you take a joke?" Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s complexion turned somewhat ugly, to have been stood up to by two little kids. What irked her the most was the flicker of fear she felt inside.

 Chapter 1158 - 1164: Making a Bet

    Chapter 1158: Chapter 1164: Making a BetGreen Group rolled their eyes, "You gave birth to the wild child, not knowing who the father is."


    "What are you talking about? I gave birth to the Little Prince, and his father is Prince Liang!" Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s face instantly turned pale.


    The thing she feared most in her life was people talking about the real father of her child.


    "Madam, my younger brother was just joking with you, surely you aren¡¯t going to take it seriously with a child?" Qin Mingrui explained.


    Green Group nodded, "You¡¯re being too petty, it was just a casual remark, I meant nothing by it, why get angry?"


    He often heard his mother and stepmother gossiping about this, they thought he hadn¡¯t heard, but he had heard everything loud and clear.


    The two children sang in tune, coordinating well, almost causing Li Mu¡¯er internal injury from anger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "She is a Side Concubine of Prince Liang, magnanimous in spirit, she wouldn¡¯t get angry with you, Madam, am I right?"


    Li Mu¡¯er took a deep breath, could she say no?


    If she said no, it would mean she was narrow-minded, but saying yes, she couldn¡¯t swallow the indignation.


    After restraining herself for a while, Li Mu¡¯er finally squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth, "Of course I¡¯m not angry, what does a child know?"


    Isn¡¯t it the adults who teach them?


    Did she have to suffer suspicion from Prince Liang and even have children mocking her, did these two women really believe she had no chance of rising in life?


    "We¡¯re young, but we know everything," Tangyuan defended herself.


    For instance, right now she knew her mother had dug a hole for the Side Concubine, who could only obediently jump in.


    Li Mu¡¯er glanced at Tangyuan and muttered to herself, truly like mother, like daughter, mocking others with the same expressions.


    Forget it, why should she bother arguing with kids still wet behind the ears?


    Without waiting for an invitation, Li Mu¡¯er found a chair and sat down, "Mrs. Tan, how about we make a bet?"


    "What¡¯s the bet?" Qiao Duo raised an eyebrow.


    Just in time, there was a tea break in between each round of the preliminaries, just the thing to pass the time.


    "We each pick a boat, and whoever¡¯s boat performs better wins, the loser must agree to a condition set by the winner, do you dare?"


    Li Mu¡¯er looked at Duo¡¯er challengingly.


    Today, her aim was to obtain the recipe for the aloe cream, as she was eager to remove the scars on her face.


    "Okay, I choose boat six," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded with no hesitation, crucially supporting her close friend at this moment.


    "I choose boat sixteen,"


    Li Mu¡¯er also made her choice, and now it was time to see each other¡¯s strength.


    After a while, the boats from the second round were nearing the finish line.


    Tangyuan disdainfully remarked, "Sixteen is really ugly!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked outward and immediately three words popped into her head, those words were ¡¯flower girl.¡¯


    Dressing a Dragon Boat like a bridal sedan... only Prince Liang would do such a thing.


    And influenced by her, Tangyuan preferred plain colors, but saying this was more because she disliked Li Mu¡¯er. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Country bumpkin!" Li Mu¡¯er snorted.


    Soon she received two warning looks, still from those two brats who hadn¡¯t even fully grown their fur yet.


    Tangyuan was not annoyed, "My grandmother likes red as much as you do."


    Sharing the same tastes as an old country lady is what really makes one a country bumpkin.


    Eventually, Li Mu¡¯er chose to shut her mouth, deeming it pointless to argue with children; winning would bring no glory, and losing would be even more shameful.


    Besides, it¡¯s not the appearance that matters, but her certain victory.


    As the second round ended, boat sixteen led the second place by an entire boat length, undoubtedly advancing to the finals.


    Now Li Mu¡¯er felt even more confident.

 Chapter 1159 - 1165: The Child’s Fate

    Chapter 1159: Chapter 1165: The Child¡¯s FateBoat number sixteen belonged to Prince Liang, rowed by robust guards with extraordinary strength, certainly capable of easily claiming the championship.


    Chen Yi Ling beckoned, and Ping¡¯er immediately leaned in close.


    "Go tell those rowers that if they win today, they¡¯ll share the reward equally," she instructed.


    There were twenty-three people on the dragon boat, and the reward was one hundred taels of silver, meaning that each person could get a little over four taels.


    The rowers¡¯ families were all quite ordinary, so the prospect of silver would definitely spur them to give their all.


    Li Mu¡¯er raised an eyebrow: "Lady Qin, could it be that you can¡¯t afford to lose, thinking of some trickery?"


    "I have always been upright and proper; I don¡¯t need to resort to trickery,"


    Chen Yiling said pridefully.


    She despised those who were unscrupulous and would never allow herself to become such a person.


    Besides, with three innocent and adorable children present, if she resorted to trickery, how could she have the credibility to educate her children in the future?


    "Actually, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you tried to be a bit clever since your defeat is inevitable," Li Mu¡¯er said generously.


    "You¡¯re really not afraid to bite your tongue talking big like that,"


    Chen Yiling retorted coldly. The preliminaries weren¡¯t even over yet, so how could she act like she had already won?


    Where did she get such confidence?


    Tangyuan blinked her innocent big eyes: "Should we close the window? That way, there¡¯s no fear of a tongue-twisting draft."


    "Alas, why haven¡¯t I been blessed with a daughter as sweet as you?"


    Chen Yiling embraced Tangyuan, finding the girl utterly charming!


    Qin Mingrui silently commented that it was good his mother hadn¡¯t gotten her wish, as boys needed to be a bit tougher in life.


    Chen Yiling catching Qin Mingrui¡¯s look, blurted out an amusing thought: "How about we exchange you for Tangyuan, would that be fair?"


    "Pure nonsense," Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded with a smile.


    "Then I suppose I¡¯ll reluctantly continue to take care of you," Chen Yiling joked.


    Green Group handed a piece of pastry to Qin Mingrui, his mother had said eating something sweet could treat heartache, and Qin Mingrui certainly needed it.


    Qin Mingrui took a bite and indeed felt much better inside.


    "How did you manage to raise such adorable children? I am tempted to take them home and raise myself,"


    Li Mu¡¯er expressed enviously.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt that Li Mu¡¯er wasn¡¯t just talking, considering Prince Liang and her character, it wasn¡¯t beyond them to take a child and then use that child to threaten.


    Li Mu¡¯er laughed lightly, "Mrs. Tan, why so nervous?"


    "As mothers, we should know what children mean to us."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words carried a hint of warning.


    To her, her children mattered more than her own life. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have such feelings, as she was extremely selfish and loved no one more than herself, but her child was the most important tool for attaining favor and glory; she wouldn¡¯t allow any mishaps.


    So it was in everyone¡¯s best interest to live peacefully, or they would both end up losing.


    Li Mu¡¯er reminded, "My son is an imperial descendant. Dare to touch him and see what happens!"


    "Even if it were the Heavenly King, as long as he crosses me, I will repay in double!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew no hesitation.


    She had always been indulged by Tan Zhenghong in life and rarely challenged like this, which mellowed her temperament, but that didn¡¯t mean she was weak and easily bullied.


    No matter who it was, as long as they touched something she cared about, they would pay a price!


    Li Mu¡¯er scoffed nonchalantly.


    As the Side Consort of King Liang and a mother to his child, she was curious to see how Qiao Duo¡¯er intended to pay her back doubly!


    One day, she would make Qiao Duo¡¯er abandon all her pride and kneel before her!

 Chapter 1160 - 1166: Seeking Peace and Quiet

    Chapter 1160: Chapter 1166: Seeking Peace and Quiet"The finals have started!" Tangyuan shouted.


    This was the climax of the dragon boat race, and she did not want her mother and godmother to miss it because of a bad woman.


    Everyone¡¯s attention was on the dragon boats.


    From the start, the No.6 Dragon Boat and the No.16 Dragon Boat were neck and neck, occasionally one slightly in the lead, but the other would quickly catch up.


    This tense state made everyone¡¯s hearts fluctuate intensely, extremely taxing on the nerves.


    Chen Yiling, who hadn¡¯t been taking the competition seriously, clenched her handkerchief. How could she live up to Duo¡¯er¡¯s trust if she lost?


    Moreover, it would bring trouble to her best friend because Li Mu¡¯er would surely make a very difficult condition for Duo¡¯er.


    Alas, had she known, she would have advised Duo¡¯er not to bet with Li Mu¡¯er.


    They were not gentlemen, but they had a conscience and a bottom line, and simply couldn¡¯t play Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s game.


    But now it was too late for any regrets, and she could only hope that the rowers would be strong enough.


    The No.16 boat took the lead again; this time, the No.6 seemed to lack the stamina to catch up as before.


    "You are bound to lose!" Li Mu¡¯er was confident of her victory.


    Qin Mingrui said discontentedly, "Bad woman, if you win, there¡¯s no justice in this world!"


    "Don¡¯t mind her, let¡¯s cheer for No.6," Tangyuan, dragging a little handsome boy with her, went to the window.


    "Go No.6! Go No.6!"


    Three kids leaned on the window shouting loudly.


    Li Mu¡¯er looked on scornfully, unconcerned even if they were to shout themselves hoarse.


    With fifty meters to the finish line, the rowers on the No.6 Dragon Boat suddenly put forth their strength and won the race by less than a meter.


    The margin was small, but the win was unquestionable!


    "Yay, godmother won!"


    "My mother is the best!"


    "The bad woman¡¯s nose is all crooked with anger! Serves her right!"


    The three kids happily high-fived and jumped around the room celebrating their victory.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s mouth curved up at the corner, "Li Mu¡¯er, you lost."


    At first, she simply thought of the dockworkers who worked hard day and night to provide for their families, not having an easy life.


    Four Taels of Silver would allow their family to live comfortably for a year; they would surely give it their all.


    And they did not disappoint her.


    Now that the rowers had received the silver, and Qiao Duo¡¯er had won the bet, it was perfect!


    Li Mu¡¯er, with a dark face, asked, "Say it, what¡¯s your condition?"


    "You can leave now," said Qiao Duo¡¯er, eager to get rid of her.


    There were many people watching the dragon boat race, and she wanted to enjoy the view a little longer. If Li Mu¡¯er stayed, it would affect their mood.


    This request was simple but enough to make Li Mu¡¯er lose face.


    She always thought she was above everyone else, yet she was unceremoniously kicked out.


    "Side Concubine Lady, actually you could just scratch your nose to default on the bet,"


    Tangyuan helpfully suggested,


    Li Mu¡¯er snorted and stormed out with her maid in tow.


    "You¡¯re too kind, you know. You should have made her tell us where Long Zhenyi came from," Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    She didn¡¯t believe that child was Prince Liang¡¯s, but without proof, it was like a wild cat scratching at her heart.


    But Duo¡¯er had just let such a good opportunity slip away.


    "Do you think she would tell the truth? It¡¯s better she leaves early. We¡¯re after some peace,"


    Qiao Duo was also helpless; Li Mu¡¯er was truly malicious. If the demand was excessive, she would just default.


    Li Mu¡¯er nodded, "I truly hope that woman disappears from my sight soon." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Otherwise, her constant trouble gave Mo¡¯er a headache.

 Chapter 1161 - 1167: One is Not Enough to Eat

    Chapter 1161: Chapter 1167: One is Not Enough to EatOn the other side, Li Mu¡¯er returned to her private room, her face grimy with dirt. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Madam, they overstepped their bounds too far; they don¡¯t regard you at all," Colorful Butterfly said resentfully.


    Even if they focused solely on the Little Prince, those two women should have shown the utmost respect to the Side Concubine.


    Li Mu¡¯er also loathed those two, but what could she do?


    Prince Liang was determined to win over Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong. If she interfered, the Prince would definitely not forgive her, but why should she endure this humiliation?


    "Fine those guards a year¡¯s salary."


    Colorful Butterfly quickly advised, "Madam, they are the Prince¡¯s personal guards, his confidants. Punishing them might not be wise."


    If they spoke a few words in front of the Prince, it would be enough to cause the Side Concubine a lot of trouble.


    Li Mu¡¯er disdainfully said, "They lost the contest, what face do they have to take their salary? Or do you think I don¡¯t even have the right to punish a few servants?"


    "Please calm down, I¡¯ll handle it right away. Even though they are the Prince¡¯s confidants, they are not as close to you," Colorful Butterfly assented hastily.


    As a young lady in her maiden home, the Side Concubine had a bad temper, and having suffered many hardships in the Mansion of Prince Liang, her temper had only gotten worse; it was better to comply with her wishes if one didn¡¯t want to be implicated.


    However, this approach was sure to cause more troubles in the long run.


    By the time Colorful Butterfly returned, Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s mood had already improved.


    "Do something for me," she said.


    Colorful Butterfly nodded, "As you command, Madam."


    Li Mu¡¯er whispered in her ear for a while, after which Colorful Butterfly nodded, "I¡¯ll do it right away."


    This time, she would definitely make those vile people beg for death!


    As the crowd along the riverside thinned out, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling finally took the three children shopping.


    Today, many people had come to Mansion City to watch the dragon boat race, and the vendors seized the opportunity to sell their goods.


    "Mother, I want this mask," Tangyuan said as he picked out a super cute mask, which was not only fun but also provided shade from the sun.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "Do you two want one too?"


    "I don¡¯t want girl stuff," Green Group disparaged.


    "There are also ones for boys. Let¡¯s go with this one. This one is called Tao Yu. Later, you can ask your godmother to tell you his story," Qiao Duo¡¯er suggested, handing two fiercer-looking masks to the boys.


    Green Group nodded, "Then this one."


    Though he still found it rather childish.


    Walking further, the children soon spotted candy figurines and each bought one.


    There were also interesting paintings made using names.


    Chen Yiling, however, was not interested in these attractions but was drawn to a nearby shouting.


    "Da Gao, fresh out of the oven Da Gao, fragrant and soft, one Wen money per piece, don¡¯t miss out as you pass by!"


    "Boss, what are these made of? It sounds very novel," Chen Yiling asked curiously.


    She had tried many snacks, but this was her first time hearing about Da Gao.


    "It¡¯s made with mugwort and sticky rice, and filled with red bean paste. Eating it during Dragon Boat Festival will keep illnesses away for the whole year; it¡¯s suitable for both adults and children. Madam, would you like two pieces?" the vendor said enthusiastically.


    "Give me six pieces," Chen Yiling handed over the copper coins.


    This way, there would be exactly one piece per person.


    The vendor inserted a bamboo stick into the rice cakes before handing them over to Chen Yiling.


    Chen Yiling smelled the rice cakes; indeed, they were full of a fragrant rice aroma. She eagerly divided the rice cakes among them.


    The rice cakes were sweet but not cloying, soft and delicious, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.


    "I should have bought more; just one small piece each is hardly enough," Chen Yiling complained.

 Chapter 1162 - 1168: Poisoned?

    Chapter 1162: Chapter 1168: Poisoned?Qiao Duo¡¯er deeply agreed, "However, glutinous rice is hard to digest, so eating less is also good."


    "Mother, I can¡¯t walk anymore, I would like to rest for a while."


    Tangyuan rubbed her eyes, feeling very sleepy and wanting to sleep for a bit.


    "There¡¯s the Drunken Fairy Building up ahead, let¡¯s have a meal there," Chen Yiling suggested.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, guessing that Tangyuan, knowing they were going to see the dragon boat race today, had not slept well the night before, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have complained of tiredness so soon.


    Upon entering the private room, Qiao Duo¡¯er also felt heaviness in her eyelids and weakness in her limbs.


    Damn, they had been drugged!


    The only thing she had eaten since leaving Linjiang Tower was... rice cake.


    "Ling¡¯er, where did we buy the rice cake we just had?" Qiao Duo¡¯er urgently asked.


    Chen Yiling barely opened her eyes, "It was just at a roadside stall, weird, I didn¡¯t do anything last night, why do I feel so sleepy?"


    Other than carrying Qin Mingrui, she had never been this sleepy.


    Could it be... she was pregnant again? But Qin Longyun clearly said he had taken the contraception medicine from the Tan Family, could the medicine have failed?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook Chen Yiling, "Don¡¯t sleep, we¡¯ve been drugged, we need to leave quickly."


    Chen Yiling tried to stand up, but she could no longer muster any strength.


    Qin Longyun knew her well, she truly excelled at trapping people.


    This time, Qiao Duo¡¯er, the three children, and herself had fallen into the trap.


    Li Mu¡¯er, seeing the helpless fellows, joyfully said, "Didn¡¯t expect this day would come for you all, did you? Rest assured, I will take good care of you."


    "Li Mu¡¯er, what exactly do you want?" Qiao Duo¡¯er glared fiercely at Li Mu¡¯er.


    Drugging the roadside snacks, how despicable! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know you¡¯re somewhat capable, but everyone has their moments of weakness, don¡¯t even think about resisting."


    Li Mu¡¯er signaled to Cai Cailian with a glance.


    Initially, her father had sent many to assassinate them, yet they never succeeded, proving Qiao Duo¡¯er was a capable fighter, she had no choice but to resort to this plan.


    Colorful Lotus clapped her hands, and someone came over carrying a sack, while Qiao Duo¡¯er eventually succumbed to sleep.


    Today, Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong were still at Linjiang Academy, engaging in poetry with the scholars, they definitely wouldn¡¯t think of them for a while, now they were in trouble.


    These were Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s last thoughts.


    When she awoke, she found herself in an opulently decorated room, yet her hands and feet were bound.


    The only consolation was that Chen Yiling and the three children were all there, seemingly still under the influence of the drug, in a state of unconsciousness.


    Thankful that Li Mu¡¯er still had some conscience, she had placed the three children on the bed.


    "Ling¡¯er, wake up quickly."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved over to Chen Yiling, trying to wake her.


    But after several shouts without a response, Qiao Duo¡¯er bit Chen Yiling¡¯s arm hard.


    Chen Yiling screamed, "There¡¯s a ghost!"


    "Stop shouting about ghosts, be careful or we might not survive this," Qiao Duo¡¯er said quietly.


    Li Mu¡¯er must have had people watching outside, it would not be good if they were heard.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s mind instantly cleared, remembering everything before the blackout.


    "Where is this?"


    "I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s definitely dangerous, untie my belt," Qiao Duo¡¯er commanded.


    Chen Yiling quickly shook her head, "No, I can never rest easy if I do that."


    She would rather die than have Duo¡¯er¡¯s reputation ruined.


    "What are you thinking? This belt was given to me by Lu Kejun, it can be used as a soft whip, connected at both ends with a dagger, it can cut through the ropes," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.

 Chapter 1163 - 1169 Abnormal

    Chapter 1163: Chapter 1169 AbnormalChen Yiling finally let out a sigh of relief, but her movements were somewhat clumsy since her hands were tied behind her.


    "Move a bit more to the left and just pull it apart," she instructed.


    "A bit more to the right."


    "Pull hard to the left and right, not up and down."


    Under Duo¡¯er¡¯s guidance, she finally managed to untie the belt, then pulled out the knife sheath, revealing a dagger as long as a little finger.


    Chen Yiling said in surprise, "This is truly Old Lu¡¯s handiwork, the design is so ingenious." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The dagger was also very sharp, easily cutting the rope.


    But no sooner had they freed Duo¡¯er¡¯s hands than the door was pushed open. To avoid suspicion, the two of them sat back to back.


    Since the three children were also in Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s hands, they did not dare to act rashly without full assurance.


    Li Mu¡¯er and several burly men entered.


    Li Mu¡¯er was somewhat surprised, "You woke up so soon?"


    Her plan had been for the two to wake up already defiled, but it was all the same now that they were awake¡ªthis way, they could experience the taste of utter despair without the ability to resist.


    That feeling would definitely be unforgettable for life.


    "What exactly do you want to do?" Chen Yiling was very angry.


    "I just want to know, if you lose your honor to another man, would your husbands still treasure you, holding you in the palm of their hands?" Li Mu¡¯er said, narrowing her eyes.


    Chen Yiling glanced at the still unconscious children and saw Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s smile grow crueler.


    Surely, the children would despise them as dirty and refuse to be close to them anymore.


    For a mother, there could be nothing more cruel.


    "Li Mu¡¯er, are you even human?" Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes became bloodshot.


    How twisted must one be to come up with such a scheme?


    Especially with the children watching!


    By doing this, not only would she and Qiao Duo¡¯er be ruined, but the three children would also be left with lifelong psychological scars!


    Li Mu¡¯er gave the burly men a sign with her eyes, "What are you waiting for? Are these two women not beautiful enough to arouse your desire?"


    It was then that Qiao Duo¡¯er noticed that the men¡¯s faces were flushed and their breathing heavy; they must have taken some drug.


    Damned Li Mu¡¯er, she would pay for this today!


    "Well then, we won¡¯t hold back," said the men with lecherous grins.


    These two women looked like fairies from a painting; they had merely been disbelieving their own eyes just a moment ago.


    They couldn¡¯t understand why that woman insisted on making them take drugs¡ªit wasn¡¯t as though they were being made to desire a three-hundred-pound ugly woman.


    "Enjoy yourselves. Men have several wives and concubines, why should we suffer by sticking to just one man? They will make you feel good," Li Mu¡¯er said excitedly.


    After today, she wanted to see how they could continue to act so high and mighty in front of her!


    In a low voice, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Take the children and leave as soon as you can, I¡¯ll hold these men off."


    All six burly men had consumed a potent aphrodisiac; she didn¡¯t want the children to witness the sordid scene, though she wasn¡¯t the main target.


    "No, that¡¯s too dangerous," Chen Yiling said, worried.


    The men were as massive as mountains; Duo¡¯er would be in great danger.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved quickly, cutting all the ropes and attaching the knife sheath, before the whip lashed out like a silver serpent.


    A man struck by the whip said angrily, "You wench, quite capable. Just you wait, you¡¯ll be so comfortable soon you won¡¯t be able to use any strength."


    Before he could finish, the whip struck him again.


    "Sweetheart, hit me a couple more times, don¡¯t be shy," said the man lewdly.


    Goosebumps erupted all over Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body, realizing she had encountered a masochist!


    How disgusting!

 Chapter 1164 - 1170: Enjoy It

    Chapter 1164: Chapter 1170: Enjoy ItHowever, to buy Chen Yiling more time, she continually lashed out with her whip, keeping everyone at bay and unable to free themselves to trouble Ling¡¯er.


    "None of you will leave this room alive today!"


    Li Mu¡¯er, sword in hand, blocked Chen Yiling¡¯s escape.


    She had initially just wanted to ruin their innocence, but now that circumstances had changed, she could only turn them into corpses.


    Otherwise, if Prince Liang found out, she would be in deep trouble.


    Chen Yiling stood upright and said, "You can kill me if you want, but you have to let the child go."


    It was she who had angered Li Mu¡¯er, and the children were innocent.


    "Don¡¯t worry, once you¡¯re all dead, I will naturally send them back," Li Mu¡¯er agreed to Chen Yiling¡¯s request.


    To the children, living now was torture; death would be a release.


    Because Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun would surely remarry, she was convinced that any stepmother would consider children of the first wife a thorn in their side.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er elegantly pirouetted to Chen Yiling¡¯s side, "You wish, but you¡¯ll have to ask if I agree!"


    In her past life, she was a special agent who could face a hundred enemies alone; did they really think they could take her life with just a few people?


    What a delusional dream!


    Then, her soft whip danced out like lightning, effortlessly knocking the sword from Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s grip.


    Without her sword, Li Mu¡¯er was utterly harmless.


    "Hand Rui Rui over to me, and I¡¯ll leave Green Group and Tangyuan in your care," Qiao Duo¡¯er made arrangements.


    Green Group and Tangyuan were lighter, so Chen Yiling could handle them, and she could also free up one hand to use her soft whip.


    Chen Yiling nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, as long as I live, the children won¡¯t get hurt."


    She had always felt she had three children, and she believed Qiao Duo was the same. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Mu¡¯er grew somewhat hysterical, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let them escape!


    "Stop them, quick! What you all drank was spring poison, and if you don¡¯t get it treated immediately, you¡¯ll only have one path left: death!"


    The men who had been knocked down earlier stood back up.


    "Brothers, it¡¯s worth it to get on top of these two women, even if we die!"


    One man¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, clearly at his limit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cradled Qin Mingrui in her arms and used one hand to fend off the group of desperate men.


    For a moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought about using her dagger to kill these men, but in the end, she forcibly held back her killing move.


    Because the most important thing was to escape quickly, and these men still had a bigger role to play.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shielded Chen Yiling as they fought and retreated, slowly making their way to the door.


    Li Mu¡¯er cursed in frustration, "Useless trash, you can¡¯t even stop two women, a bunch of waste!"


    The men were also distressed, who knew what kind of strange moves that woman was using; they couldn¡¯t even take a single step closer to them, let alone touch them.


    They were in a hurry too, but what could they do if they were no match for her?


    Finally, Chen Yiling and Duo¡¯er reached the door, and Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly closed and locked it behind them.


    "Enjoy yourself, Li Mu¡¯er," she said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled her lips with a hook.


    Chen Yiling asked, puzzled, "Enjoy what?"


    "The drug¡¯s effect should be kicking in by now. If they don¡¯t do something about it, the only end for them is death, and Li Mu¡¯er is a woman too."


    That Prince Liang looked sallow and unsteady on his feet, clearly a sign of having too many women and probably never really satisfying Li Mu¡¯er. This time, she was sure to be thoroughly pleased.


    It was also a taste of Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s own bitter medicine.

 Chapter 1165 - 1171: Making You Comfortable

    Chapter 1165: Chapter 1171: Making You ComfortableChen Yi Ling nodded vigorously, "It just so happens, I also want to know if she¡¯s been defiled, will Prince Liang still want her."


    "Let us hurry."


    If any discordant sounds were to be heard, it would be quite embarrassing.


    "Where are you two beauties off to?" A woman blocked their path.


    The guest just now had said he was leaving these two women to her, and she had thought that they might become the top courtesans of Tian Xiang Pavilion in the future.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pressed the dagger against the throat of the procuress, "Move aside, or would you rather die?"


    This person was dressed provocatively and vibrantly, with a peony flower pinned to her hair, a typical garb for a madam.


    Chen Yi Ling really knew how to pick a place.


    The Hua Building was basically empty of guests during the daytime, as the girls needed to rest.


    Even if guests were to come, they would not ask too many questions, simply assuming those noises were someone else¡¯s private pleasures.


    "Let¡¯s talk this out, I will let you go," the procuress said, trembling.


    This woman seemed vicious, and she dared not detain her.


    The men who came here for pleasure were either rich or noble, and if this woman harmed them, her entire Qing Building wouldn¡¯t be enough to compensate them.


    Only then did Qiao Duo¡¯er retract her dagger and began heading downstairs with Chen Yi Ling.


    They had not gone far when Duo¡¯er suddenly remembered something, "Right, the person in that room is Prince Liang¡¯s Side Concubine. If you value your life, it¡¯s best not to go near that room."


    "Prince Liang... Side Concubine?"


    The procuress¡¯s face turned pale in an instant, what should she do now?


    By the time she realized what was happening, the two women had already walked far away, and she hurriedly followed after them.


    "Madams, I¡¯m just a businesswoman. It was the Side Concubine who insisted on having a room. Please show me a way out so I can escape this disaster," the procuress pleaded on her knees. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If anything untoward happened to the Side Concubine in her establishment, she couldn¡¯t take the responsibility.


    And the two in front of her were definitely ladies of official families, if she didn¡¯t do as they said, Tian Xiang Pavilion would have no good fortune in the future.


    "Just stay away from that room," she said.


    Chen Yi Ling suddenly thought of Ping¡¯er and asked, "Where is my maid?"


    Ever since she woke up, she hadn¡¯t seen her. Could it be that Li Mu¡¯er had already taken harsh measures?


    The procuress thought carefully, "When the Side Concubine came, I only saw her bring the two of you, my lords. She also said that your family had had a misfortune, which was why she wanted to sell herself here. But she was in a bad mood and got drunk."


    Alas, she was also confused at the time.


    These two ladies didn¡¯t look like they had met with a misfortune at all.


    Qiao Duo narrowed her eyes, "She should still be at the Drunken Fairy Building."


    Li Mu¡¯er must still be hoping that Ping¡¯er would send a message to Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun.


    "Then that¡¯s a relief," Chen Yi Ling finally felt at ease.


    This was a brothel, and staying here always felt a bit eerie, so they left quickly.


    Meanwhile, a man inside the room was eyeing Li Mu¡¯er with predatory intent.


    "Don¡¯t mess around! The person you should be with is not me," Li Mu¡¯er protected her clothes tightly.


    She was the employer who had paid silver; they could not harm her!


    A man rubbed his chin, "Though she¡¯s not as pretty as the previous two, she¡¯s not too bad. You¡¯d better behave, to save us the trouble of hurting you."


    At this point, if there was a female pig in front of them, they wouldn¡¯t let it go, let alone the fairly attractive Li Mu¡¯er?


    Since they had already received the silver, they would not be at a loss in any case.


    Sleeping with one more woman would mean an extra profit.


    Li Mu¡¯er took a few steps back, attempting to flee through the main door.


    But the door was locked; she couldn¡¯t get out at all.


    "Why have you stopped running? If you want us brothers to join you, just say so. Why all the coy pretending?"

 Chapter 1166 - 1172: Cuckold Professional?

    Chapter 1166: Chapter 1172: Cuckold Professional?Li Mu¡¯er shook her head vigorously, "Don¡¯t come any closer! I¡¯ll kill you all!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why had things turned out this way?


    "Kill us if you have to, otherwise, we will suffocate to death," the man said as he pulled Li Mu¡¯er into his arms and began groping her.


    This fellow was used to doing manual labor, and it wasn¡¯t long before he¡¯d torn Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s clothes to shreds.


    "Let me go, I am the Side Consort of King Liang, if you dare act indecently, I will have the prince kill you!" Li Mu¡¯er announced her identity, hoping to frighten them.


    But her words had no effect whatsoever.


    The next second, something foreign invaded, and Li Mu¡¯er closed her eyes in despair.


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but be swayed by the sensations from that place, she... wanted more.


    Prince Liang seemed to be willing but unable, only touching her once every so many days, and even then, the thing was both small and soft, always leaving her in an uncomfortable limbo, in utter discomfort.


    But when she thought about the consequences, she felt scared.


    There were so many good things she hadn¡¯t enjoyed yet, she couldn¡¯t just die like this!


    But was an irrational man something she could contend with?


    All she could do was let them do as they pleased.


    Because the drug was so powerful, the man went on and on without giving her any rest.


    Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be Prince Liang who would deal with her, but rather she would be tormented to death.


    Six hours later, Prince Liang appeared at Tian Xiang Pavilion. Someone had just sent an anonymous letter claiming that Li Mu¡¯er was cheating there, and he immediately rushed over.


    "Is the Side Consort inside?"


    The madam shook her head: "I... I don¡¯t know anything, it was a woman who brought men in, I¡¯m just doing business, people gave Silver, so I had no reason to drive them out."


    Prince Liang waved his hand, and his followers kicked the door open.


    Pushing the door open, his face turned ashen in an instant.


    The room was strewn with clothes, and there was a familiar scent that Prince Liang recognized only too well; even though he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he could imagine that a fierce battle had just taken place.


    Prince Liang walked in with a dark expression. Lying on the ground were a total of seven people who seemed to have fallen asleep from exhaustion.


    Aside from Li Mu¡¯er, they were all men.


    This meant that six green hats had just sprung up on top of his head!


    This woman had no shame!


    Prince Liang stepped on Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s hand, crushing it with the tip of his boot, and immediately heard the woman¡¯s cry of pain.


    "You whore, you¡¯re this desperate and thirsty? I truly underestimated you!" Prince Liang¡¯s voice was icy, his eyes filled with murderous intent.


    Li Mu¡¯er immediately knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, spare my life, it was Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling who framed me, you must stand up for me!"


    "Their thoughts are malicious, they just want to use me to slap you in the face, please save me, I don¡¯t want to die!"


    Li Mu¡¯er knelt on the ground, desperately clinging to Prince Liang¡¯s leg.


    At that moment, she was completely nude, with various bruises and dried fluids on her body, all left behind by those wild men.


    Thinking about it, Prince Liang felt nauseated and kicked Li Mu¡¯er away.


    Completely filthy, what face did she have to beg for his forgiveness?


    "Your Highness, please believe me!"


    Li Mu¡¯er wept bitterly.


    It wasn¡¯t just now that she had met Prince Liang; she knew exactly what kind of person he was, and this time she was truly done for!


    "What does this prince believe? That you just took off your clothes and did nothing? Or that you inflicted these marks on your body by yourself?" After speaking, Prince Liang flung his sleeves and walked out of the room.


    He had so many women, and Li Mu¡¯er was the first to dare do such a thing!


    If he didn¡¯t deal with this seriously, in the future, there would certainly be more women getting involved with other men.


    Would he then become known for wearing green hats?

 Chapter 1167 - 1173: Retribution Has Come

    Chapter 1167: Chapter 1173: Retribution Has Come"Kill the men, bring the women back for interrogation, and also release a message that the Side Concubine unfortunately died of illness, and I do not want others to know about this," Prince Liang said. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The followers bowed, "As your subordinate, I will handle it at once."


    Only after Prince Liang left did the followers enter the room to clean up the aftermath.


    As people came in, Li Mu¡¯er quickly covered her chest, "What are you coming in for? Get out!"


    "After being with so many people, you still pretend to be pure?" one follower said rudely.


    Li Mu¡¯er had just penalized him a year¡¯s salary today, and called them useless. She didn¡¯t expect the retribution to come so quickly.


    For the sake of Silver, he couldn¡¯t let this woman off easy!


    Another person chimed in, "Right? Did you have enough fun today?"


    Lustful eyes spun around Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s body a few times, wishing he could have a turn if she weren¡¯t so dirty.


    "Her figure is really good; to be with her would indeed be a once-in-a-lifetime pleasure."


    "Once we get to the prison, won¡¯t you have plenty of chances? By then, you can do whatever you want, as the Prince never wants to see this woman again in his life," another remarked.


    "Then hurry up, following the Prince is such a hardship, we should really enjoy ourselves today."


    Thinking of how she was once the Prince¡¯s woman, his beastly instincts boiled.


    Li Mu¡¯er curled up into a ball, silently enduring the guard¡¯s harassment.


    A tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs; such was her state now.


    "Get a cloak to wrap her up, at least she was the Prince¡¯s Side Concubine. If the Prince hears what you¡¯re saying, we¡¯ll be in trouble," the leading guard said.


    Whatever ideas you have, keep them until we get to the prison, but now it¡¯s too dangerous.


    "Big brother, don¡¯t worry, the Prince will definitely go back and investigate the Little Prince¡¯s background," another said.


    The Prince is most suspicious, and the Side Concubine is promiscuous; maybe the child is from another man.


    As he had predicted, King Qin, after returning, called all the maids serving Li Mu¡¯er to his study.


    "Is the child born by Li Mu¡¯er actually mine?" King Qin asked.


    Colorful Butterfly knelt down quickly, "Of course it is, Your Majesty. The Queen was already feeling nauseous and unwell while she was still at the Wang Mansion, but she was expelled before she could inform you. You must believe in her, her feelings for you are entirely sincere."


    Prince Liang scoffed lightly, "Sincere? I saw her with another man with my own eyes!"


    He thought that Li Mu¡¯er was more devoted to some outsider!


    "The Queen would never do that, Your Highness, you must investigate thoroughly and not wrong a good person," Colorful Butterfly said, her heart pounding.


    Could the Side Concubine¡¯s plan have failed?


    If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have returned to the Government Office first, and could have fled in time if she noticed something wrong.


    Prince Liang slammed the desk hard, "I just want to know if that child is mine!"


    Colorful Butterfly hesitated, then finally said, "Of course."


    "Good, throw her into the prison and interrogate her severely."


    Colorful Butterfly said stubbornly, "Your Highness already has the answer in mind, why ask me? This is forcing a confession!"


    Prince Liang nodded, "Indeed, I already know the answer. Such affairs are all too common in the palace. If I wasn¡¯t so desperate for a heir, do you think your tricks could have fooled me?"


    As the child grows less and less like him, how could he possibly be his son?


    "Colorful Butterfly, I advise you to just tell the truth to the Prince," someone suggested.


    Colorful Butterfly insisted, "What I¡¯ve said is the truth."


    "Drag her away," Prince Liang said impatiently.


    This time Colorful Butterfly was quiet as the guard dragged her out.


    Because she still harbored a glimmer of hope in her heart, hoping that once in prison she and the Side Concubine could synchronize their stories, there might still be a chance to turn the tables.

 Chapter 1168 - 1174: Who is the Coward?

    Chapter 1168: Chapter 1174: Who is the Coward?The sky turned dark, and the two little ones woke up one after another. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing the noise, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Tan Zhenghong immediately rushed to the bedside.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked anxiously, "You¡¯ve finally woken up. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"


    "Mom, my head really hurts. Am I going to die?"


    Tangyuan said pitifully.


    Green Group did not speak, but his furrowed brows also showed how uncomfortable he was at the moment.


    "A wicked woman poisoned us with a drug, and feeling sleepy and headachy are because of that drug. Rest a little longer and you¡¯ll be all better," Qiao Duo¡¯er explained.


    The children were still young, but they had the right to know the truth.


    Green Group clenched his little fist, "When my second uncle arrives, I¡¯ll have him avenge us."


    His second uncle was so formidable, he would definitely make that woman regret it.


    "She has already received the punishment she deserved. All you need to do is focus on resting well and recuperating," Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes.


    Prince Liang had witnessed the filthy scene in the room, and being naturally fierce, Li Mu¡¯er was certainly not going to end well.


    Soon, Ruyi came in carrying a tray.


    "Fourth master, Madam, the medicine for the young master and young miss is ready to drink, and you¡¯ve been up for a long time, you need to eat something too."


    The medicine and dinner had been prepared earlier, kept warm on the stove.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er picked up the bowl of medicine, "Mm, thank you, I¡¯ll eat after I¡¯ve fed them."


    She couldn¡¯t eat with peace of mind until the two little ones were settled.


    Tangyuan glanced at the dark medicine in the bowl and immediately turned her head, "Mom, I don¡¯t want to take the medicine."


    The juice of the medicine emitted a bitter smell, surely deadly if consumed.


    And she still wanted to live a few more years, to be with her parents, brother, and many others who cared about her.


    "Drinking the medicine will stop your head from hurting."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was insistent.


    The sleep-inducing drug Li Mu¡¯er used was fierce, and without medicinal intervention, the kids would suffer for quite some time.


    But Tangyuan immediately hid in Tan Zhenghong¡¯s arms, refusing to show her little head no matter what.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had to change tactics, "This medicine was prescribed by your third uncle. If you don¡¯t drink it obediently, he surely won¡¯t want to visit you in the future."


    "Hmph, he didn¡¯t come today,"


    Tangyuan pouted and said, which is why she didn¡¯t believe this was medicine from her third uncle.


    She was young, but not easily fooled.


    "You ungrateful little thing, your third uncle exhausted himself today looking for you. If it weren¡¯t for a very important matter, he would definitely be here with you."


    Bai Yifan doted on Tangyuan as if she were his own daughter, his affection was beyond question.


    But now, being the Medicine King, he could no longer be as free as before.


    Tangyuan¡¯s little heart finally felt somewhat comforted, but even if this was medicine prescribed by her favorite third uncle, she still didn¡¯t want to drink it.


    Green Group patted his still tender chest, "Look at me."


    Having said that, he took the medicine in one gulp from his dad¡¯s hand. The medicine was bitter, but for his own pride, he endured.


    "It¡¯s not bitter at all."


    Green Group squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, thankfully his mom promptly stuffed some preserved fruit into his mouth.


    Tangyuan couldn¡¯t help but mock, "You¡¯re not very good at lying."


    "That¡¯s still better than a coward. You¡¯re scared to even drink the medicine," Green Group retorted.


    Tangyuan looked at the bowl of medicine, mustered her courage, and drank it all.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly stuffed the preserved fruit into Tangyuan¡¯s mouth.


    After swallowing a small handful, Tangyuan finally found her voice, "Who said I¡¯m a coward?"


    Green Group pursed his lips, satisfied with achieving his goal.

 Chapter 1169 - 1175: The Agony of Gain and Loss

    Chapter 1169: Chapter 1175: The Agony of Gain and LossQiao Duo¡¯er rubbed the heads of the two children, her eyes brimming with laughter.


    It was a good thing she had given birth to twins. After she and Tan Zhenghong were gone a hundred years from now, they would have each other for support.


    No, that day was still far away. Why borrow trouble from the future?


    Before long, the medicine took effect, and the children slipped back into sleep.


    Watching the quiet, sweet resting faces of the children, Tan Zhenghong and Duo¡¯er¡¯s hearts finally settled back down, and a strong sense of hunger followed.


    Tan Zhenghong first ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Duo¡¯er. Since she had been kidnapped by Li Mu¡¯er, she hadn¡¯t had a bite to eat, and starting with soup would prevent stomach injury.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gladly accepted it, but after two sips, she set the spoon down.


    It was because Tan Zhenghong, burdened with heavy thoughts yet feigning indifference, was something she could not ignore.


    "Stop blaming yourself," Duo¡¯er said with a smile. "Who could have expected Li Mu¡¯er to act in such a situation, let alone think she would use a peddler to drug us?"


    Even if Tan Zhenghong had been by their side all along, the likelihood of Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s success was still high.


    "When I heard from the inn¡¯s waiter that you were missing, I almost went mad," Tan Zhenghong said dully.


    He always said he would protect Duo¡¯er, but he had let her encounter danger time and again. He really felt useless.


    "Isn¡¯t everything fine now? I¡¯m more curious to know how you thought to look for us in the Red Mansion. Have you been going there often behind my back?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly changed the subject.


    Partly because she didn¡¯t want to see Tan Zhenghong feeling so guilty, and partly because she was truly curious.


    What normal person would think of going to that kind of place to find someone?


    And yet, Tan Zhenghong went, which showed he must be a man with a story.


    Scratching his head sheepishly, Tan Zhenghong replied, "We looked everywhere we could think of, and then I thought maybe Prince Liang was using you to force Brother Qin and me to submit, and his favorite place to go was the Red Mansion."


    His intention was not to overlook any possibility.


    However, he didn¡¯t expect to find the person he had been longing for right at the entrance of the Red Mansion. It was truly a blessing from the heavens.


    "Good thing you arrived just in time. If I had encountered Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s henchmen again, I really couldn¡¯t have coped," Qiao Duo¡¯er gave him a thumbs up.


    Under the influence of the drug, her strength was greatly reduced, and it was even worse for Chen Yiling.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Duo¡¯er into his embrace: "After dealing with Prince Liang, I¡¯ll take you back to Big Willow Village."


    Right now, Mansion City was a web of complex relationships, with Qin Longyun restricted everywhere. He could only offer more help.


    But competing for power and profit wasn¡¯t the life he enjoyed.


    He knew that Duo¡¯er also preferred to live a peaceful life in Big Willow Village. Days there were tranquil yet far from dull. Most importantly, they were safe.


    "Yes, this season is when the lotus whips are tender and fresh, and there are lots of wild fruits, really tasty," Duo¡¯er reminisced.


    But to fulfill this wish, they would have to wait quite a while longer.


    As the saying goes, "You can tell what someone will be like when they¡¯re old by the time they¡¯re three." Tangyuan and Green Group were at a critical time in their lives and needed the guidance of good teachers. In this regard, Big Willow Village couldn¡¯t compare to Mansion City, and Mansion City was slightly inferior to the Capital.


    "Don¡¯t you believe me?" Tan Zhenghong said, defeated.


    He could see a touch of despondency on Duo¡¯er¡¯s face.


    Indeed, he had broken his promises so many times, so it was only normal for Duo¡¯er to be reluctant to believe him.


    "If I can¡¯t trust you, whom can I trust? I¡¯m just saddened by the thought of Green Group and Tangyuan growing up and drifting further away from us," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a bitter smile.


    She knew such thoughts weren¡¯t right, but she couldn¡¯t control them no matter how hard she tried.


    Ah, being so anxious and insecure, she was close to not recognizing herself anymore. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1170 - 1176: Giving You a Chance

    Chapter 1170: Chapter 1176: Giving You a Chance"Shameless. Hurry up and fetch the water; I want to take a bath."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s lips curled up slightly, seemingly with a teasing intent.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately understood, "I¡¯ll do it right now!"


    Ruyi, completely confused, couldn¡¯t help but ask, "My lord, why are you so happy?"


    The lord had said that he adjusted the water to the perfect temperature, so he had always taken charge of Madam¡¯s bathing water, but she had never seen him this happy before.


    "Because the little ones woke up, I guess."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied perfunctorily.


    Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t very well say that she had already bathed today, and what she had meant just now was that she wanted to take a lovers¡¯ bath.


    Um... She would have to make him be a bit more subtle in the future.


    Ruyi didn¡¯t believe this explanation at all. The little master and little miss had woken up early; shouldn¡¯t he be done being happy by now?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er decisively changed the subject, "How is Rui Rui doing?"


    "Rui Rui just took his medicine; he should be fine."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, but she still felt an indescribable unease.


    After a while, that emotion was still lingering in her heart, so Duo¡¯er decided to ignore it.


    It was probably because her emotions had fluctuated too much today, leaving some aftereffects.


    By the time Tan Zhenghong had the hot water ready, Ruyi tactfully said, "Lord, Madam, you should rest early."


    As she left, she thoughtfully closed the door behind her.


    The very next second, Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hands reached for Duo¡¯er, stripping off her clothes in a few motions and then carrying her horizontally towards the washroom.


    Soaking in the warm water, Qiao Duo¡¯er breathed out a long sigh of relief.


    "I¡¯ll give you a massage," Tan Zhenghong stood behind Duo¡¯er.


    This technique, which he learned from Qing Xin, could effectively relieve headaches.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er teased, "I gave you the chance; it was you who didn¡¯t seize it properly."


    "I¡¯m not a beast; I wouldn¡¯t disregard your feelings," Tan Zhenghong protested. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Intimacy between a man and a woman should involve both parties, and reaching the climax together is the most exquisite experience.


    Today was not a good day for Duo¡¯er, as she was exhausted both physically and mentally.


    Meanwhile, the Prefecture Prison was still bustling.


    A group of men, disheveled, with wicked smiles on their faces, occasionally glanced at the man and woman engaged in activity in the middle of the cell.


    "No wonder the Prince is fond of her, it¡¯s incredibly satisfying. I need to have another go later!" one guard stroked his chin.


    In his life, he had only come across such a captivating woman once, and he would surely regret it for the rest of his life if he didn¡¯t enjoy himself to the fullest.


    An older guard hastily intervened, "Just getting a taste is enough, guys. If we actually kill her, we can¡¯t explain it away."


    "What¡¯s there to be afraid of? If the Prince doesn¡¯t order her execution tomorrow, I¡¯ll let you kick my head around like a ball."


    "Such a pity; I wanted to keep her around for a few more days of fun."


    "Xiao Yan, it¡¯s your turn. Come here!"


    The man engaged in the thrusting motion called out.


    Only then did the crowd notice Xiao Yan sitting there despondently, head down. This kid hadn¡¯t been here long and was shy by nature. They had taken considerable effort to bring him here today.


    But once you do it the first time, it gets easier the next. He¡¯ll loosen up eventually.


    "Brother Niu is the best at this stuff; you should ask him to show you the ropes."


    "I... I don¡¯t want to," Xiao Yan stuttered.


    "Don¡¯t keep your little crush to yourself. If you like her, go for it. After today, you won¡¯t have another chance. If you¡¯re worried about cleanliness, I¡¯ll have someone wash her first."


    Xiao Yan¡¯s head hung even lower. He had always cherished the Side Concubine, but his thoughts had never strayed beyond that.


    If he desecrated her today, he would never be able to forgive himself for the rest of his life.


    Seeing Xiao Yan¡¯s head nearly touching the floor, the crowd burst into uproarious laughter.

 Chapter 1171: The 1180th Bitterness Ends, Sweetness Begins

    Chapter 1171: The 1180th Bitterness Ends, Sweetness BeginsThe Guard Commander pushed open the prison door and saw that his subordinates were still not in proper form, which displeased him.


    "If you delay the Prince¡¯s matters, I won¡¯t spare any of you," the Guard Commander sternly said.


    Prince Liang was harsh on his subordinates, who were suffering greatly.


    Today, having witnessed the Side Concubine committing such disgraceful acts, he wanted to use this opportunity to reward everyone.


    Yet, six hours had passed and these people showed no sign of settling down. If Prince Liang were to blame anyone, who could bear the responsibility?


    Alas, it wasn¡¯t their first day following Prince Liang. How could they still be so unaware?


    "Big Brother, aren¡¯t we using torture? Give it another one or two hours and she¡¯ll confess everything,"


    explained a subordinate, bending over from the waist.


    The most delicate parts of a woman¡¯s body, when tormented excessively, would inevitably lead to unbearable pain; she would have no choice but to obediently reveal the truth.


    What they hadn¡¯t anticipated was the woman¡¯s ability to endure for so long, likely because Prince Liang wasn¡¯t quite up to par, leaving the Side Concubine unsatisfied for a long time.


    "I¡¯ll give you another hour. If there¡¯s still no result, you will have to plead guilty to the Prince yourselves,"


    the Guard Commander warned everyone present with a stern look.


    However, this woman indeed had attributes that could drive one mad with desire; despite his vast experience, he found it hard to maintain his composure around her.


    But life is far more important than a moment¡¯s pleasure.


    "Hurry up, bring out the torture instruments!"


    "Yes!"


    The guards hurried into action, and the once glamorous cell instantly turned into a hell on earth.


    Everyone was busy interrogating, and no one noticed Xiao Yan on the side. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with hatred.


    The deeds committed by the Side Concubine were indeed unforgivable, but as the saying goes, "a day as husband and wife earns a hundred days of grace." Why did they show no mercy at all?


    He hated the cruel Prince Liang, his inhuman companions, and his own useless self.


    At the Rat hour, the Guard Commander entered the study.


    "The Side Concubine and Colorful Butterfly have already confessed. The Side Concubine had an affair with the coachman while returning to Ning Tian Mansion, resulting in a secret pregnancy. Later, they devised a plan to pass the child off as the Prince¡¯s legitimate offspring."


    Having said this, the Guard Commander then bowed his head and gazed at his toes.


    Prince Liang had already guessed this fact, but he still couldn¡¯t help but rub his temples.


    He was the legitimate heir with formidable family backing and deeply favored by the emperor; born superior to others, he had never imagined being bested by a woman.


    What was most contemptible was that he knew the truth yet had to suppress it.


    How could he not hate?


    Prince Liang took a deep breath, "This Prince does not wish for a word of this matter to be leaked."


    "Yes, anyone who cannot keep their mouth shut will no longer have the chance to speak. And about the Little Prince...our subsequent actions are not suitable for a child to be involved."


    Prince Liang tapped his fingers on the table, "Send him back to the Capital, entrust him to the Queen for upbringing, and tell the Queen that the Little Prince¡¯s health is poor; unless necessary, he should not be seen in public."


    "Yes."


    "Also, release news tomorrow morning that this Prince is heartbroken and needs to recuperate in solitude; no one is to disturb him."


    The final words were practically squeezed out between Prince Liang¡¯s teeth.


    "I will have the Doctor attend to you first thing tomorrow morning,"


    Prince Liang nodded; the pretense indeed had to be somewhat convincing.


    This would also facilitate forthcoming actions.


    Everyone said Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong were rare talents, but now it seemed they were nothing special.


    Forget it, he might as well give up on trying to win them over in the future.


    Seeing that Prince Liang had no further instructions, the Guard Commander quickly bowed and exited the study.

 Chapter 1172 - 1178: Daddy Embarrassed

    Chapter 1172: Chapter 1178: Daddy Embarrassed"How is the Prince?" asked the Maid waiting at the door in a low voice.


    The Guard Commander shook his head, "You all be careful. Don¡¯t provoke the Prince at all costs."


    Otherwise, they would certainly have nowhere to bury their bodies.


    However, the Guard Commander could understand Prince Liang¡¯s mood. King Qin¡¯s grand wedding was impending, and the birth of Lin¡¯er was expected anytime now. And the Saint had already declared that whoever would have the first royal grandchild would become the Crown Prince.


    In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be bad if King Qin ascended to the throne. He was kind and tolerant, clear in his rewards and punishments. He would surely make the lives of the common people better.


    The Guard Commander was shocked by his own thoughts; he quickly shook his head.


    If King Qin were to ascend to the throne, those who followed Prince Liang would certainly meet a grim fate. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the sound of breaking dishes arose from the study. The Maid and the Guard Commander exchanged glances and swiftly left the contentious area.


    The next day, Duo¡¯er slept until Three Poles Day, then looked at the two little dumplings; they had just woken up too.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, "Do your heads still hurt?"


    "Much better," Tangyuan nestled into Duo¡¯er¡¯s embrace, "Mom, I want to sleep with you in the future so I can see you when I wake up."


    "Unless you switch your dad," Green Group said somberly.


    If it weren¡¯t for them feeling unwell, their stingy dad would never have let them sleep with their mom.


    "You¡¯re not big, but you certainly hit the nail on the head," Duo¡¯er said.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs up.


    She too felt blissful holding one child in each arm, but Tan Zhenghong simply disagreed, staunchly defending his happy life.


    After pondering, Tangyuan said, "Dad¡¯s good in every other aspect except being a bit stingy; it would be a pity to switch, but if we don¡¯t, I can¡¯t sleep with mom."


    And she also loved her own dad; it would hurt her to change.


    "Keep blaming me like that," Tan Zhenghong said resentfully.


    He had poured his heart out to these three, only to find out they were secretly planning to get rid of him!


    Where was their conscience?


    But they were much more spirited than yesterday, so he was relieved.


    The three caught in the act simultaneously stuck out their tongues.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er with a smile plastered on her face, said, "We weren¡¯t talking about you; you must have heard wrong."


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, then leaned down and, almost touching Duo¡¯er¡¯s face, said, "I heard wrong?"


    "Am I not allowed to be wrong?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er unscrupulously surrendered.


    Otherwise, Tan Zhenghong was very likely to kiss her forcibly.


    She was a mother and needed to maintain her image in front of her children.


    Satisfied with the response, Tan Zhenghong finally withdrew.


    At this point, both children were covering their eyes, but the smiles on their faces had already betrayed them.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blushed, "Get up for breakfast, nobody¡¯s allowed to stay in bed."


    "Dad, get my clothes; my head still hurts, you help me dress," Tangyuan said proudly.


    Duo¡¯er and Green Group also looked pitifully at Tan Zhenghong, they too were waiting for him to help get their clothes.


    "I must have owed you three in a past life," Tan Zhenghong sighed.


    Even if these three wanted to replace him, he still had to devote himself to taking care of them.


    Tangyuan, with a pout, said, "Dad, if you¡¯re tired, you can send us to stay with uncle for a few days."


    "I¡¯m happy to repay the debt."


    Tan Zhenghong said without any pressure.


    He hoped to owe more rather than repay it too soon so that he could be with them lifetime after lifetime.


    Tangyuan quickly covered her eyes, "Dad, that¡¯s embarrassing."


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t care, and just picked up Tangyuan on his lap and helped her get dressed.


    Men just have to pretend and earn face outside; at home, they can show their true selves.

 Chapter 1173 - 1179: Let Him Mess Around

    Chapter 1173: Chapter 1179: Let Him Mess AroundAfter washing up, Qiao Duo and her family of four went to the dining room together.


    "I have some good news to tell you all, Prince Liang fell ill out of anger yesterday, and it¡¯s quite serious!" Chen Yiling said eagerly.


    Ever since Prince Liang arrived in Ning Tian Mansion, she hadn¡¯t had a single day of peace, and now he was finally getting his comeuppance.


    "I actually think Prince Liang is just putting on a show to deceive others."


    Qin Longyun threw a wet blanket on the situation.


    Chen Yiling shook her head, "Ping¡¯er said that scoundrel Prince hasn¡¯t left his house since yesterday, and this morning he¡¯s even summoned all the Prefecture Officers to his mansion, that¡¯s going through quite a bit of trouble."


    "It¡¯s true that many Doctors were invited, but among them was Luo Yidan, and I guess Prince Liang has already found out that the child isn¡¯t his."


    Qin Longyun added.


    Luo Yidan had quite a reputation in Ning Tian Mansion, known even to three-year-old children.


    It was said that patients treated by Luo Yidan were able to have children successfully; he was called the ¡¯Child-Giving Guanyin¡¯, though he wasn¡¯t capable of much else.


    From this, it could be seen that Prince Liang¡¯s illness was fake; his real purpose was to seek a child.


    "This is called instant karma!"


    Chen Yiling said with a hint of schadenfreude.


    From the moment she first saw the child, she had this hunch, and she was indeed very wise.


    Qiao Duo nodded, "We need to find evidence as soon as possible; it might come in handy later."


    She believed that there were no secrets that couldn¡¯t be discovered; as long as something was true, there was bound to be evidence.


    "What about Prince Liang?"


    Chen Yiling was a bit worried.


    If Prince Liang really managed to produce a son, King Qin¡¯s pressure would become even greater.


    "If he could have had a son, would he have waited until now? Let him waste his efforts, it¡¯s not our time he¡¯s wasting."


    Qiao Duo raised her eyebrows, knowing that Prince Liang had at least twenty daughters already.


    In her past life, she had heard of a condition where a man¡¯s Y sperm would die once inside a woman¡¯s body, leading to such individuals only having daughters no matter how many children they had; she suspected Prince Liang was in this situation.


    Otherwise, how unlucky would Prince Liang have to be?


    "Later, I¡¯ll find some beautiful girls to come to the mansion to serve him, hoping that Prince Liang¡¯s dreams will come true soon," Chen Yiling said with a mischievous smile on her face, "right, we must also instruct the kitchen to stew some medicinal dishes lest he lacks vigor."


    That sort of activity could damage one¡¯s health and a wrecked body would not only preclude having sons but would also leave one without the energy to ponder how to be Emperor; that was all she could do for her sworn brother.


    Qiao Duo shook her head, "Prince Liang is weak; using medicine would have a quicker effect."


    "He is a Prince; administrating drugs is not something to play around with."


    "Who could stop him if he asks for it himself?"


    ...


    The two women heatedly discussed while Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun exchanged a glance, both seeing embarrassment in each other¡¯s eyes. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sigh, couldn¡¯t they be considerate of them and the child?


    Qin Mingrui, who had been ignored for a long time, pouted, "I haven¡¯t had my fill yet."


    He had waited a long time but no one had offered him more porridge, how aggrieved he was.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s face turned red, and she quickly attended to her still-not-full Baby Qin.


    After breakfast, Qiao Duo went to the Embroidery Room alone.


    The day before yesterday, Eldest Sister had sent a message through Eldest Brother Niu, saying she had already arrived in Mansion City but had private matters to attend to, and they had agreed to meet in the Embroidery Room today.


    The Embroidery Room was a second-hand house purchased by Tan Zhenghong from Tooth Row, the location and size were quite suitable.


    Qiao Duo¡¯s idea was to use this place as the headquarters for the Embroidery Room in the future, so she was particularly attentive to it.


    Upon seeing Eldest Sister for the first time, Qiao Duo extended her fist.


    A fist bump was her and Eldest Sister¡¯s unique way of greeting each other.


    But before Eldest Sister could respond, a man leaped out and stood in front of her.

 Chapter 1174 - 1180: The Killer

    Chapter 1174: Chapter 1180: The Killer"Don¡¯t bully Big Niu!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang Ziwen watched Qiao Duo¡¯er warily, ready to protect her with his life.


    Big Niu quickly grabbed Zhang Ziwen, "Don¡¯t be reckless, she is Qiao Duo¡¯er, our benefactor. She had no intention of harming me just now; you must not be fierce to her."


    Initially, everyone had advised her to give up, but only Qiao Duo¡¯er supported her and told her how to interact with Zhang Ziwen, which gave her the courage to persevere.


    "So you are the Sister Duo¡¯er that Big Niu often talks about; I¡¯m sorry, that was disrespectful."


    Zhang Ziwen¡¯s face turned red instantly.


    He hung his head like a child who had made a mistake, somewhat at a loss.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow, "Not bad, this is what they call ¡¯after bitterness comes the sweet¡¯!"


    The current Zhang Ziwen, although a bit stunned, was filled with real affection for Big Niu.


    "It seems all is well now."


    Big Niu¡¯s tone was somewhat melancholic; she had taken Zhang Ziwen to see quite a few doctors over the past few days, but to little avail.


    The doctors all said that the illness was not physical and could not prescribe a cure, leaving it up to his fate.


    "Why aren¡¯t you happy?" Zhang Ziwen was very nervous.


    Big Niu quickly realized her emotional issue, worrying it might affect Zhang Ziwen adversely.


    She hastily said, "By the way, I also brought Almond for you this time. Go and bond with her for a while; I¡¯ll go and post the recruitment notice first."


    "He who knows me, Big Niu."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gave a thumbs-up.


    Being away from home for so long for the first time, she was really concerned about the situation at home and was eager to find out.


    Just as she entered the Embroidery Room, Almond dropped her broom and rushed towards her.


    "Madam, I¡¯m so glad to see you. From now on, no matter where you go, I must accompany you!"


    Almond said with tearful eyes, as being apart was torturous every day.


    Especially when she heard about the mishaps along the way, she was terrified.


    Qiao Duo reprimanded, "Aren¡¯t I fine? Stop crying, let¡¯s sit down and talk slowly."


    It took a while to console her, but eventually, Almond stopped crying.


    "How¡¯s everything at home?"


    Almond recounted everything about the home.


    The shop and the Embroidery Room were all normal, and the rent was collected.


    Everyone¡¯s health was good; Chao Lian and Sister Lan were both expecting and should be having their babies soon.


    Initially, the old lady at home would often mention her grandchildren, but then Fat Fat and Fatty brought back a female dog which soon gave birth to puppies. The old lady spent all her days caring for them, and this time she even refused to come to Mansion City.


    After listening, Duo¡¯er was overjoyed; it seemed everyone was living better days, and that was good.


    "Madam..."


    Almond hesitated to speak.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er guessed the difficulty Almond was facing, but it was a matter that needed to be dealt with sooner or later.


    "Go ahead, I also want to know the result."


    Almond nodded, "We have thoroughly investigated it; the day the horse went mad was no accident, but a deliberate arrangement by Qiao Mei¡¯er."


    "Is there evidence?"


    "Qing Xin almost questioned every horse dealer and pharmacist in White Stone County and confirmed that Qiao Mei¡¯er purchased that kind of medicine."


    "I went into her room, and there was a doll hidden in the wardrobe with the Madam¡¯s name and birthday written on the back, and many needles were jabbed into it¡ªit¡¯s a kind of witchcraft."


    "People living in the same dormitory said that the night before you all left, Qiao Mei¡¯er went out for about the length of two incenses."


    "Others saw Qiao Mei¡¯er often sneaking glances at our house, probably hoping for a misfortune to happen to you. That woman is too malicious!"


    All these pieces of evidence pointed to Qiao Mei¡¯er, enough to prove it was her.

 Chapter 1175 - 1181: Life and Death Decided by Heaven

    Chapter 1175: Chapter 1181: Life and Death Decided by HeavenAfter the incident, Qiao Duo¡¯er had considered this possibility, but she felt that Qiao Mei¡¯er should still have some conscience, not so heartless and deranged.


    But in the end, she still thought too highly of Qiao Mei¡¯er¡¯s goodness.


    Almond hesitated for a while before asking, "Madam, are you and Qiao Mei¡¯er really biological sisters?"


    Moreover, Madam is kind-hearted, but Qiao Mei¡¯er harbors malice, they are not of the same ilk.


    "Of course, we look very much alike,"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with resignation. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had once doubted her own origins, but she and the sisters of the Qiao Family looked too alike, she simply found no reason to be skeptical.


    Almond was even more puzzled, if they were real sisters and there was such a great favor, how could she do something so cruel?


    Unable to figure it out, Almond simply shook her head and stopped pondering the matter.


    "Granny Su went to the Government Office to find out, and none of you got hurt, so by the law, you won¡¯t be severely punished, we all think this lets her off too easily," Almond said, pursing her lips.


    Siy¨¨¡¯s family is safe and sound because they have accumulated good karma, and heaven protects them, why should that be the reason to spare Qiao Mei¡¯er?


    She truly intended to take someone¡¯s life!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tapped her fingers on the table top: "Then let her experience the terror of a wild horse in a frenzy, her life and death are left to fate."


    "Madam, you need to be clearer,"


    Almond said with a pout.


    However, she knew well that when the madam had such an expression, it meant someone was going to be unlucky.


    "Let Granny Su buy an untamed stallion, then call Qiao Mei¡¯er to the deer farm, let her sit on the horse, and the rest will depend on her luck."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt she had already done her utmost, at least she didn¡¯t use any drugs to madden the horse.


    If Qiao Mei¡¯er was lucky, she could get away unscathed.


    If not, she could only rest in peace.


    "But what if Qiao¡¯s Family Members come looking for her? When you are not here, they often come to the door asking for Silver, but Granny Su and the Old Madam had sent them away,"


    Almond said, still angry at the thought of Qiao¡¯s Family Members.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than she quickly covered her mouth; after all, the Qiao Family was the Madam¡¯s maternal family, it was not her place as a minor Maid to comment.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er mused for a moment: "Find someone to tell Qiao Mei¡¯er that she could be arranged to work at King Qin Mansion, she would surely follow along."


    Almond gave a thumbs up, glad that Granny Su had told her to ask for the madam¡¯s opinion first.


    The topic of Qiao Mei¡¯er was thus glossed over; they had not seen each other for a long time and had too much to talk about.


    By the time Danniu came back, it was already mealtime, and Duo¡¯er simply pulled them all to dine out at a restaurant.


    While waiting for the dishes to be served, Duo¡¯er gave a few more instructions on things to be mindful of.


    In Mansion City, there are many officials and nobles, and a few of them are difficult to deal with, so you must be careful when interacting with them.


    The one to be most wary of is Prince Liang; having suffered a loss, he will definitely not let it go easily.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, don¡¯t worry, with me around, no one dares to cause trouble!"


    Danniu said, thumping her chest confidently.


    In the past two years, she had become much more tactful in dealing with various emergencies on the business front.


    And with her monthly wage of Four Taels of Silver, plus bonuses, her monthly income was More than Ten Taels of Silver, what right did she have to not work hard?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smirked mischievously: "Then I will leave the hard work to you, and here¡¯s another piece of good news, I plan to raise Danniu¡¯s bonus by two points and give Almond one point."


    "Madam, I... I..."


    Almond was at a loss for words.


    She was originally a Maid bought by the Tan Family; receiving a high monthly pay was already a sign of the master family¡¯s kindness, why would she also get a bonus?

 Chapter 1176 - 1182: Is It Good to Get Married?

    Chapter 1176: Chapter 1182: Is It Good to Get Married?Duo¡¯er sighed contentedly and said, "Sister Duo¡¯er has already given it to you, just take it with peace of mind and work a bit harder from now on, got it?"


    "Exactly, the wages aren¡¯t given for free, there are many things to come."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er agreed wholeheartedly.


    Almond still felt uneasy, but she didn¡¯t push back anymore.


    After all, who doesn¡¯t like Silver?


    Soon, the waiter had the food and drinks served, and they discussed the details of the Embroidery Room and Duo Meifang while eating.


    After three rounds of drinks, Duo¡¯er realized a troubling issue.


    Zhang Zifan had finished a pot of wine when she wasn¡¯t looking, and by now he was completely inebriated.


    "Duo¡¯er, I want to marry you."


    Zhang Ziwen¡¯s eyes were hazy, his face covered with a silly smile.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense!" Duo¡¯er¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment.


    In fact, she had her own plans; she wanted to consider it only after Zhang Ziwen had completely recovered.


    Zhang Ziwen stubbornly said, "I want to get married, sleep with you at night, and have lots of hugs and kisses."


    Jian Duo¡¯er and Almond burst into laughter, leaving Duo¡¯er wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.


    He was supposed to be a scholar, how could he speak so bluntly?


    But Zhang Ziwen didn¡¯t understand Duo¡¯er¡¯s embarrassment and kept asking persistently if she would marry him.


    In fact, he just wanted to be able to see Duo¡¯er all the time, as she had said they could only sleep together after getting married.


    "He¡¯s had too much to drink; I¡¯ll take him home first."


    Duo¡¯er weakly dragged Zhang Ziwen away.


    After finally settling Zhang Ziwen, Duo¡¯er rushed back to deal with the Embroidery Room¡¯s matters.


    "Did you agree to his hugs and kisses?" Almond asked teasingly.


    People say it¡¯s easy to get things done when drunk, and those two were alone in the room for quite a while; who knows what might have happened.


    Duo¡¯er retorted, "What is a young girl thinking about all day? Get to work quickly. By the way, where¡¯s Sister Duo¡¯er?"


    "Madam was worried about the young master and the little miss, she went with me to Duo Meifang and then returned home."


    Almond reported truthfully.


    She already knew about yesterday¡¯s incident, so it was natural for Madam to be concerned.


    Duo¡¯er muttered, "I think we¡¯ve all been deceived by Sister Duo¡¯er."


    "How could Madam deceive us?" Almond couldn¡¯t believe it.


    She was all alone, with her indenture in Madam¡¯s hands, what could possibly be deceived?


    "Sister Duo¡¯er¡¯s role as a hands-off boss is quite carefree; now all the work will fall on us!" Duo¡¯er slumped onto a chair in frustration.


    Balancing both the Embroidery Room and Duo Meifang, how could they manage?


    If only Sister Duo¡¯er were here, they would simply do whatever she said, and things would be much simpler.


    But now that she had just received a raise, she didn¡¯t feel right troubling their boss.


    Oh, she didn¡¯t want so much money; she couldn¡¯t possibly spend it all! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯m happy to do any amount of work for Madam."


    Almond declared as if accepting her fate.


    After all, her life belonged to Madam, and any arrangement by Madam was acceptable to her.


    Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes at Almond, silently lamenting that Almond was beyond help.


    But it seemed she was also profoundly grateful to Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Darn, they were all hooked, and deeply so!


    "Speaking of which, the shop across from us is also being renovated; I hope it doesn¡¯t steal our business."


    That shop was being decorated very lavishly and was quite eye-catching.


    Duo¡¯er said disdainfully, "Our secret recipes were discussed by Sister Duo¡¯er and Brother Bai San, and the quality is top-notch, no one can replicate the effects of our shop."


    "You are the clever one!"


    Almond¡¯s heart settled back in place, many had tried to imitate Duo Meifang, but none had succeeded so far.

 Chapter 1177 - 1183: Madam’s Jealousy

    Chapter 1177: Chapter 1183: Madam¡¯s JealousyDuo¡¯er returned to the small courtyard where Chen Yiling and Bai Yifan were sitting in the pavilion playing Go. These two really reached a whole new level of boredom.


    "Duo¡¯er, come help me!"


    Chen Yiling¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, without a master to rescue her, she was about to lose again.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spread her hands, "You only have three pieces left, how can I help?"


    Thinking of overturning the game, at least give her some capital.


    "You might as well just admit defeat," Bai Yifan gloated.


    Chen Yiling had a scatterbrained personality, unsuited for this kind of game, and probably could only win against Qin Longyun.


    And even Qin Longyun would have to go out of his way to let Chen Yiling win.


    "Damn it, I¡¯m not playing anymore!"


    Chen Yiling deliberately messed up the chessboard, and inadvertently, she noticed a small patch of purplish-blue on Duo¡¯er¡¯s wrist; because Duo¡¯er¡¯s skin was delicate and fair, it was particularly conspicuous.


    "Duo¡¯er, your arm is bruised, have you put medicine on it?"


    When Chen Yiling rolled up Duo¡¯er¡¯s sleeve, she only found that it was just a small patch that was exposed.


    This must have been from the fight yesterday.


    It was all her fault; if it wasn¡¯t for her being utterly useless, Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have been hurt like this.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at it and said nonchalantly, "It¡¯s nothing, if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I wouldn¡¯t have even noticed it."


    Bai Yifan¡¯s expression immediately became grave, and he immediately grabbed Duo¡¯er¡¯s wrist and began to take her pulse.


    Duo¡¯er pursed her lips: "It¡¯s just a minor injury, do you need to be so worried?"


    Fighting with so many people yesterday, just having some bruises was already considered light; could it really be life-threatening?


    "It is ¡¯madam¡¯s jealousy¡¯ poison." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Yifan stated, pausing word by word.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling both looked baffled, what was this?


    Was it poison or a disease?


    "This is a Gu poison unique to Southern Xinjiang. The larvae need a resentful woman to feed them with the blood from her tongue for forty-nine days. Once mature, the Gu worm lodges itself in the human body, gradually causing the wounds not to scab over, resulting in death from complete blood loss. This kind of Gu poison is tricky and malicious, and the antidote must be made using the heart blood of the Gu breeder."


    Bai Yifan briefly explained.


    Urn Technique was a forbidden technique in the dynasty, both breeding and using Gu were capital offenses, thus very few knew about it.


    He had also only learned of the existence of Gu poison during his travels to Southern Xinjiang.


    "You mean we need to find the Gu breeder?" Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly understood.


    Bai Yifan nodded, "Yes, this Gu worm has been in your body for only a few days. Think carefully about whom you might have offended."


    The reason this Gu poison is called ¡¯madam¡¯s jealousy¡¯ is that it only affects the person whom the Gu breeder resents.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er carefully recalled the people and things she had come into contact with recently.


    After thinking it over, she still felt that it was most likely from yesterday.


    There was no doubt that Li Mu¡¯er hated her to the core; if she could secretly drug them yesterday, she could have infected them with Gu poison.


    Damn it, no, dead but not at peace!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a somber expression, "Check everyone who went out with me yesterday, Yi Ling, Ping¡¯er, and the three kids."


    Bai Yifan did not dare delay and immediately examined everyone one by one.


    The process of waiting for judgement was extremely agonizing; everyone dared not breathe too heavily, only staring fixatedly at Bai Yifan.


    In their hearts, they all silently prayed that no one else was poisoned.


    "The children are alright, but the adults..."


    Bai Yifan did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er, Chen Yiling, and Ping¡¯er were all poisoned with Gu.


    The room fell deathly silent...


    "We can guess who the Gu breeder is, and the fact that the children are unharmed is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune," Qiao Duo¡¯er broke the silence.

 Chapter 1178 - 1184: Trust

    Chapter 1178: Chapter 1184: Trust"Right, I saw some rice cakes decorated with little yellow flowers, so I asked for three to share with the young masters, ours didn¡¯t have the yellow flowers."


    Ping¡¯er suddenly remembered a detail.


    It meant that Li Mu¡¯er had intended to kill them all, and the three children merely escaped by luck.


    "I¡¯m so useless, I¡¯ve caused you all harm."


    Chen Yiling said with teary eyes.


    If it weren¡¯t for her buying rice cakes, nothing would have happened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reassured, "Li Mu¡¯er was hiding in the dark, determined to harm us, so no matter how careful we were, she could have succeeded. Besides, she was coming for me; I dragged you all into this." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ultimately, it was because Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s desires were unattainable, turning love into hatred.


    "Actually, it¡¯s not an incurable disease, I will personally treat you, you all need to be optimistic," Bai Yifan comforted everyone.


    Madam¡¯s envy can kill people unknowingly, but as long as the poison is treated in time, there will be no problem.


    "But Li Mu¡¯er has already been executed."


    Qin Longyun stated the depressing truth.


    So, obtaining the blood from her heart was simply not feasible.


    Bai Yifan then realized why everyone was silent. He added, "First, have someone interrogate thoroughly. If it was Li Mu¡¯er, it doesn¡¯t matter; as long as the body hasn¡¯t decomposed, it¡¯s still useful."


    He only hoped that after knowing the truth, these people wouldn¡¯t turn against him, because the process of making the antidote was bloody, and few could accept it.


    "Bai San, you stay and look after them, I will go find Prince Liang," Qin Longyun said as he stepped out.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly followed, not daring to delay a moment.


    By May, the weather was stiflingly hot, and a body wouldn¡¯t last long; they needed to retrieve it as soon as possible.


    Inside the house, three children looked uneasy.


    They had never experienced life and death before, but they already vaguely understood the meaning of death.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rubbed the children¡¯s heads, "Don¡¯t worry, we will be fine."


    "Master, is what my mother said true?"


    Tangyuan was skeptical.


    The adults¡¯ expressions were very solemn just now, obviously, it was serious.


    Bai Yifan solemnly replied, "Of course, it¡¯s true."


    Even if it cost him his life, he would save the ones he cared about.


    "I believe you, my master is the best," Tangyuan¡¯s sparkling black eyes shone brightly.


    Bai Yifan¡¯s smile slightly lifted, the feeling of being trusted was wonderful.


    And he would not disappoint those who trusted him.


    Prefecture Officer, study room.


    "Two officials, the Prince is unwell and cannot receive guests," the guard blocked Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun¡¯s path.


    Qin Longyun said irritably, "Go tell the Prince, I have very important matters and must see him immediately."


    The guard remained silent, for this was the Prince¡¯s command, and even if the sky fell, he could not step aside.


    Tan Zhenghong signaled Qin Longyun to back off, and quickly subdued the guard.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s life was in imminent danger, and they could only choose the simplest and most brutal way.


    Hearing the noise, Prince Liang hurriedly put away his documents.


    "What matter brings you here?" Prince Liang forcefully suppressed his anger.


    "Li Mu¡¯er used witchcraft to harm people, please Prince, we need an explanation," Qin Longyun got straight to the point.


    Prince Liang coldly said, "Officials, I favor you for your capabilities and virtues and treated you well, but do not overstep your bounds."


    He had feigned illness, yet these two still dared to force their way in, did they even regard him in their eyes?


    And that Li Mu¡¯er¡ªdespite her manifold faults, she was officially his Side Concubine, how could they dare call her by name?

 Chapter 1179 - 1185 Threat

    Chapter 1179: Chapter 1185 Threat"Prince, if this matter blows up, I¡¯m afraid it could damage Your Highness¡¯s reputation."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s tone was calm, but he carried an unmistakable threat.


    As a Fourth Rank Inspector, he bore the responsibility of reporting and oversight over everyone from nobles to commoners.


    "My side concubine couldn¡¯t possibly know the Urn Technique; do not slander her so."


    Prince Liang said with a darkened face.


    "Seeing that the Prince is so confident, you surely won¡¯t mind us investigating, to clear the side concubine¡¯s name," Qin Longyun deliberately followed up on Prince Liang¡¯s words.


    "With the Prince present, how could you act so impudently?" the guard sternly stopped them.


    Prince Liang gave a look to the guard beside him: "I trust the side concubine; let them investigate. However, I am indisposed, and beg to be excused."


    During this time, Li Mu¡¯er had always been under his watchful eye; she couldn¡¯t have been up to anything suspicious.


    It was better to let these two make a fuss; he might even take the opportunity to frame them for a crime.


    The guard said no more but was still furious at heart.


    Even in the Capital, the Prince had never suffered such indignity!


    Qin Longyun bowed: "Thank you, Your Highness."


    Seeing the Prince nod, Tan Zhenghong immediately led people to the prison.


    A short time later, Tan Zhenghong sent someone to report that Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s body had disappeared.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and after slightly calming his nerves, he immediately tore off the token at his waist.


    "Issue my order, close the city gates, search with all our might for the side concubine, the living must be found..."


    Before he could finish, Prince Liang interjected: "Lord Qin, you have no evidence. Allowing you to conduct an investigation was already an act of grace beyond the law, you would do well to stop at this point."


    If a city-wide search were to be ordered, rumors would certainly run rampant.


    Being cuckolded would make him a laughingstock, and his family¡¯s use of the Urn Technique could well cost him the throne.


    Humph, these two were indeed earnest in their efforts.


    Qin Longyun was silent for a while: "Does Your Highness mean that I must produce evidence?"


    "If the side concubine is guilty, I will not interfere with whatever Lord Qin deems the appropriate response," Prince Liang replied unhurriedly.


    If they sought to convict or capture without evidence, he wouldn¡¯t just sit back and wait for death.


    Qin Longyun bowed hastily and left the study.


    He had to find evidence quickly, to make Prince Liang yield; he certainly didn¡¯t believe this nonsense about a disappearing body.


    Qin Longyun first searched Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s bedroom, then interrogated the maids and wet nurses who served her, yet found nothing.


    "His Highness is of a noble rank; you had best pray for your own fortune."


    The Guard Commander glanced at Qin Longyun with a sidelong look.


    But he also had to admit, at such a time, Qin Longyun was the only one who could stay seated.


    Qin Longyun said indifferently: "There¡¯s no need for your concern, since I dared to do this, I am prepared to face the consequences."


    Having said this, he stood up himself, attempting to find some clues.


    The Guard Commander¡¯s mouth curved up in a sinister smile, quietly leaving the room.


    "His Highness is wise; they have found nothing."


    The Guard Commander raised his thumb in approval.


    Early that day, the Prince had ordered the side concubine¡¯s room to be cleaned out, originally to destroy evidence that could prove the Little Prince¡¯s lineage, but it had unexpectedly helped them greatly now.


    Prince Liang was secretly pleased and commanded: "Stop worrying about that; go check the prison to see what¡¯s really going on."


    "Is this... not arranged by Your Highness?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How would I arrange such a thing without prior knowledge of their investigation into the side concubine?" Prince Liang said irritably, disliking this unexpected development.


    The Guard Commander¡¯s face turned pale. Could it be... that his men had secretly hidden Li Mu¡¯er away?


    After all, they had been enjoying themselves just yesterday.

 Chapter 1180 - 1186 Conclusive Evidence

    Chapter 1180: Chapter 1186 Conclusive EvidenceIt was already late at night, and Qin Longyun still lingered in Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s room.


    Prince Liang snorted lightly, "Lord Qin, how long do you plan to keep this up?"


    Qin Longyun was inwardly flustered, but he maintained a facade of calm, "This official is still handling the case, but rest assured, Your Highness, I will make sure to control my men and will not disturb Your Highness¡¯s rest."


    But he had no intention of leaving just yet.


    According to his subordinates, Tan Zhenghong had hurriedly left the prison, probably having thought of a solution.


    He had to stay calm at this crucial moment, so as to buy Tan Zhenghong more time.


    Prince Liang took a deep breath, knowing that this was Qin Longyun¡¯s territory; he couldn¡¯t outright order him to leave.


    Instead, he simply sat down, determined to see what trick Qin Longyun was playing.


    The two men sat opposite each other in silence, and the oppressive atmosphere became too much for Prince Liang¡¯s maid, who quietly excused herself.


    Prince Liang¡¯s patience slowly eroded with time, and just when he was about to reach his limit, the maid at the door announced, "Your Highness, Master Tan requests an audience."


    "Let him in."


    Prince Liang answered without hesitation.


    This would finally give him a legitimate reason to deal with these two men.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was cold-hearted, but these two were unaware of their predicament.


    As soon as Tan Zhenghong entered, he lifted the red cloth from the tray, "This was found at Guanyin Temple."


    In four hours, he had made a trip to Guanyin Temple, and though he was exhausted, he radiated an air of triumph.


    Because he had found the evidence of Li Mu¡¯er raising the urn technique.


    Tan Zhenghong lifted the red cloth on the tray, revealing a vessel engraved with complex patterns and a heap of strange herbs, all unique to Southern Xinjiang.


    This was the real ace up his sleeve; Qin Longyun¡¯s aimless wandering in the Prefecture Officer was merely to divert Prince Liang¡¯s attention.


    The reason was simple, after arriving at the Prefecture Officer, Li Mu¡¯er had always been with Prince Liang, making it nearly impossible for her to engage in forbidden techniques; the only possibility was that she had already prepared the urn technique while at Guanyin Temple.


    "Your Highness, now you can hand over Li Mu¡¯er, right?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s face showed a trace of urgency.


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition was critical. The sooner the antidote was created, the less danger she faced.


    "The Side Concubine indeed has unforgivable sins. I had her put to death last night. You are welcome to flog or expose her corpse according to the law, and I also agree, but my guards carelessly threw her body into Chaotic Burial Mound. I¡¯m afraid wild dogs have scavenged her by now," said Prince Liang with an expression of regret.


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his teeth and said, "At this point, do you still think you can fob us off?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There is no need for me to cover up for a Sinful Consort. I can only promise to do my best to search for her. You may as well return and rest, and as soon as there is news, I will have someone inform you," said Prince Liang, clearly not taking the situation to heart. After all, Li Mu¡¯er hadn¡¯t been conjuring urn techniques under his watch, so no one could blame her.


    Qin Longyun, holding back an emotionally charged Tan Zhenghong, said, "We thank Your Highness."


    The numerous guards of Prince Liang would all be needed in the search for Li Mu¡¯er.


    "Your Highness, these people are far too excessive, completely disregarding you. Shall I dispose of them?" ask the Guard Commander considerately.


    More than once, he had seen a murderous intent in the eyes of Prince Liang.


    "They came with eight men, and now only five remain. If they were to die, my own safety would be at risk," said Prince Liang, clenching his fists, a reminder of today¡¯s events etched in his mind.


    One day, when he reigned supreme, he would sweep away all these stumbling blocks!


    The guard bowed respectfully, "Your Highness is wise."


    If they didn¡¯t leave alive, it would surely cause an uproar throughout the city, and the Prince would inevitably be implicated in the bloodshed.


    "Follow them, and report immediately if there is any situation," said Prince Liang, narrowing his eyes.

 Chapter 1181 - 1187: Decision

    Chapter 1181: Chapter 1187: DecisionTan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun immediately led people to East Mountain after coming out of the Government Office.


    They got this information from the prison guard, who said that after Li Mu¡¯er was hanged to death, she was thrown into the Chaotic Burial Mound on East Mountain.


    However, East Mountain was vast and rarely visited, often frequented by wild dogs and wolves, so no one knew the current situation.


    "If we can¡¯t find Li Mu¡¯er, I¡¯m willing to risk my life to kill Prince Liang."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s hatred was so intense he gnashed his teeth.


    Qin Longyun nodded without hesitation, "I¡¯ll join you."


    If his wife was indeed gone, life held little meaning for him.


    As for the child, they could leave him with Bai Yifan; after all, he believed Bai Yifan would never love anyone other than Qiao Duo¡¯er in this lifetime.


    The prison guard sitting on the horse behind them constantly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; these two men had gone mad.


    They dared to speak of killing Prince Liang, so they surely wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill him.


    Unfortunately, the Prince had ordered him to prevent them from finding her successfully, or else... his entire family would be doomed.


    In the end, he steeled his heart, deciding it was better for him to die alone than for his whole family to perish.


    They had only walked a few hundred meters into the mountain when the prison guard stopped.


    He had deliberately taken a roundabout route; if Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s body was still there, it must have already been taken by Prince Liang¡¯s men.


    As expected, the area under the tree was empty.


    "I remember that it was placed right under that crooked-neck tree."


    "Are you sure it¡¯s here?" Tan Zhenghong asked, grabbing the front of the prison guard¡¯s shirt.


    "This crooked-neck tree is very distinctive; even if you turn East Mountain upside down, you won¡¯t find a second one like it. The beasts must have taken them away. You better start looking. But be warned, there are wild animals on the mountain, and you may not live to come down."


    The prison guard couldn¡¯t help trembling at the thought of the wild animals on the mountain.


    Encountering them meant an inevitable fate of becoming bones with no remains left.


    Since he was a child, he had heard old people say that if you don¡¯t get a proper burial after death, you won¡¯t be able to be reincarnated.


    "Don¡¯t care if it¡¯s wild beasts or the King of Hell Palace, I¡¯m going," Tan Zhenghong stated confidently. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if it meant trading his life for Duo¡¯er, he was willing.


    Qin Longyun turned to the people he had brought, "The dangers of the mountain need no further mention. Anyone who doesn¡¯t wish to go up with us can leave now,"


    "Lord Qin, you saved my life. I¡¯ll follow you through fire and water."


    He had been framed by the previous Magistrate and a rich merchant, who conspired to seize his property and threw him into death row. It was Lord Qin who helped overturn his conviction, allowing him to live and even found work in the Government Office to support his family.


    To him, Qin Longyun was like a parent reborn.


    "The two lords have been kind to us; we are willing to follow."


    "Madam knows life is hard for us and often rewards us generously. We cannot stand by and do nothing."


    With so many of them together, they could handle any mishaps that might occur.


    "Thank you all. I will surely repay today¡¯s kindness in the future," Qin Longyun bowed deeply.


    Seeing that Qin Longyun¡¯s men had agreed, the prison guard hastily said, "If you all want to go and meet your deaths, that¡¯s your business. I¡¯m going down the mountain."


    He had led them to the place; his task was complete.


    The crowd cast contemptuous glances at him. If the beam is not straight above, the one below will be crooked; they didn¡¯t expect any better from Prince Liang¡¯s subordinates.


    Once they were far away, the prison guard knelt on the ground and sincerely kowtowed three times.


    "I didn¡¯t mean to jeopardize your lives intentionally. If you want to blame anyone, blame the Prince. It was all his coercion."


    After speaking, he got up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and hurried down the mountain.


    His family was in Prince Liang¡¯s hands; the sooner he reported back, the safer they would be.

 Chapter 1182 - 1188: Encountering a Wolf Pack

    Chapter 1182: Chapter 1188: Encountering a Wolf PackThe prison guard could never have imagined that just upon reaching the foot of the mountain, a long sword radiating cold light would pierce his chest.


    "Why do this to me?" the prison guard stared fixedly at the assailant.


    He recognized the man; he was Loyal Retainer Ah San, raised by Prince Liang.


    Ah San sneered coldly: "If your family fell into others¡¯ hands, you would also turn against the Prince."


    For the sake of preventing such accidents, he had to die.


    "The Prince promised that after I finished this task, I would be reunited with my family."


    "Close your eyes, and you¡¯ll see your family."


    Prince Liang didn¡¯t go back on his word, he merely reunited them in another world.


    The prison guard¡¯s eyes poisoned with rage: "Tell Prince Liang that I will become a Vengeful Ghost and will not let him go even in death, may he sire sons who never ascend the throne for the rest of his life!"


    Ah San wore a look of disdain; he couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste words with such people.


    If he truly had such capabilities, he wouldn¡¯t have died so easily.


    Tan Zhenghong and his group walked for roughly half an hour; the path had completely vanished, indicating that almost no one had gone this way before.


    And where there were no people, it was a paradise for wild beasts.


    Tan Zhenghong led the way at the front, clearing the path with a machete and reminding everyone, "Stay alert and ready your Sleeve Arrows."


    Suddenly, a sound made everyone¡¯s hair stand on end.


    "Sir, that¡¯s the howling of wolves," said the trembling speaker.


    The others also held their breath, watching as pairs of eyes glowing green in the dark gradually drew closer from all around.


    It felt... like waiting for the sentence of death.


    They wanted to turn and run, but reason told them that doing so would mark them as the first to die.


    "Everyone, stay calm. Gather slowly together, everyone back to back, forming a circle to prevent the wolves from attacking from behind," Tan Zhenghong commanded steadily.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had shared many of her experiences with him, including encounters with wolves.


    She had said that wolves were very clever animals; if they felt their opponents were strong, they would withdraw, so the best strategy was to overpower them with imposing vigor. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong quickly counted; there were indeed more than twenty wolves.


    Among them, there was one particularly robust; it must be the Wolf King.


    He glared fiercely at the Wolf King, trying his best not to show a trace of fear.


    But the wolf pack only hesitated for a moment before they continued to close in.


    Tan Zhenghong raised his sleeve, prepared for battle; he knew all too well that intimidating a wolf pack with a gaze was utterly unreliable.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that each of his companions wore a look of fear, and scaring off the wolves would have been truly astonishing.


    "Awooo~"


    The Wolf King lifted its head and howled, signaling the pack to attack.


    "Fire!" Tan Zhenghong said in a deep voice.


    After a round of shooting, a few wolves were injured, and the pack dared not proceed rashly.


    They retreated slightly, allowing only quick-moving wolves to advance and intimidate before swiftly retreating to safety.


    "Ah Hong, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t have enough arrows," Qin Longyun said worriedly.


    Tan Zhenghong looked at his own Arrow Quiver; only half of the arrows remained. It seemed he had underestimated the Wolf King¡¯s intelligence.


    "We need to take the initiative to attack, follow me, and wait for my command to shoot," Tan Zhenghong decided.


    Otherwise, once they ran out of arrows, they would have no choice but death.


    Tan Zhenghong led his people to slowly advance towards the wolf pack. The Wolf King howled again, believing its prey had run out of weapons.


    The pack came within shooting range once more, and Tan Zhenghong aimed his arrow at the Wolf King.


    If he could kill it first, the wolf pack would crumble into disarray.

 Chapter 1183 - 1189: Severed Arm

    Chapter 1183: Chapter 1189: Severed ArmA silver arrow quickly flew out, accurately striking the Wolf King between the brows.


    Without the Wolf King¡¯s command, the wolves¡¯ combat power decreased instantaneously, and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s people, buoyed by their initial victory, attacked even more fiercely.


    More and more wolves fell, and the remaining ones, frightened, could only flee into the night.


    "Quick, look, they¡¯re all running!"


    "We¡¯re safe now!"


    "Master Tan is formidable; from now on we¡¯re all depending on him!"


    Surviving the ordeal, joy was written on everyone¡¯s face.


    But just then, the Wolf King moved. It suddenly leaped up, lunging at Tan Zhenghong.


    Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t dodge in time; he could only fall back using the momentum and used his arm to block the wolf¡¯s attack.


    A pain that tore at his heart and lungs struck, and Tan Zhenghong couldn¡¯t help but groan. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only relief was that the Wolf King had gripped his arm, not his throat; otherwise, he definitely wouldn¡¯t see tomorrow¡¯s sun.


    The others quickly gathered their wits and attacked the Wolf King with their sidearms. Yet, the Wolf King was determined to die, and even covered in wounds, it didn¡¯t let go.


    This was its belief, defended with its life.


    It was the Wolf King; it either vanquished the opponent or died together with them.


    Tan Zhenghong reached for his dagger with his other hand, precisely slicing the Wolf King¡¯s throat and then fiercely stabbing it in the chest.


    Unwillingness filled the Wolf King¡¯s eyes as its strength slowly drained away, and it could not hold on any longer, its body finally collapsing onto Tan Zhenghong¡¯s.


    "Ah Hong, how are you?"


    Qin Longyun kicked the Wolf King¡¯s carcass aside, supporting Tan Zhenghong against himself.


    Tan Zhenghong forced a smile, "Won¡¯t die. Have them pick up the arrows; we might need them soon."


    Qin Longyun¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, but he ultimately swallowed the words he wanted to say.


    He thought about the wolves they had just encountered, enough to completely devour Li Mo¡¯er and her servant; searching further was just a waste of time.


    But this was the only chance for Chen Yiling to survive; he couldn¡¯t give up.


    Perhaps a miracle would happen?


    Once they had nearly finished regrouping, Bai Yifan arrived with reinforcements.


    Seeing the wolf carcasses and bloodstains on the ground, his face instantly turned pale.


    "You¡¯re really reckless, why didn¡¯t you wait for me to go up the mountain together?" Bai Yifan was very annoyed.


    This was deep in the dense forest, they should have at least brought some explosives and healing supplies.


    Though he was angry, saving lives was still the most important.


    After examining Tan Zhenghong, Bai Yifan finally relaxed, "It¡¯s broken but hasn¡¯t shifted. I¡¯ll stabilize it for now; you go back and have a doctor look at it properly."


    "I¡¯m not going back." Tan Zhenghong glanced at his arm.


    This injury was nothing; he could still endure. Back when Duo¡¯er had helped him reset a broken bone, he hadn¡¯t even uttered a sound.


    Bai Yifan rolled his eyes, "If you¡¯re not afraid of losing an arm and being scorned by Duo¡¯er, then go ahead and show off; I can¡¯t be bothered with you."


    It would just benefit him; not only would he win a beautiful partner, but he would also get two cute kids for free. That was a deal not at a loss.


    "You don¡¯t understand, this is a mark of love."


    Tan Zhenghong was confident.


    As long as he and Duo¡¯er both survived, they would be together, never scorning each other. His only concern was finding the antidote in time to save Duo¡¯er.


    Bai Yifan intentionally applied a bit more force, satisfied only when he heard Tan Zhenghong¡¯s grunt.


    He wanted Tan Zhenghong to know that the one thing you couldn¡¯t afford to offend in this world was a doctor, especially a skilled one.


    Bai Yifan then had someone carve out two wooden boards to stabilize the broken arm.


    Tan Zhenghong struggled to stand, "Let¡¯s go."

 Chapter 1184 - 1190

    Chapter 1184: Chapter 1190Bai Yifan fished out a medicine bottle from his embrace and threw it to Tan Zhenghong, "For the pain, eat it then go."


    Otherwise, Tan Zhenghong might have passed out halfway.


    Love is a powerful thing, but it is not yet so strong to transcend life and death.


    Tan Zhenghong swallowed two pills, and before long, the pain was no longer so sharp.


    He didn¡¯t like Bai Yifan, but he never denied his medical skills.


    "There are bones!" someone suddenly shouted.


    The others, hearing the commotion, immediately went to the cave. The scene was gruesome, unbearable to look at for long, and a few went aside to vomit directly.


    The body had been gnawed on, with only tattered clothes and bones remaining.


    "These are indeed the clothes of a Maid from the Mansion of King Liang," Qin Longyun said with a grim face.


    The Maids of major households all had a uniform dress and clothing, so this identification could not be wrong.


    "Wolves... bastards!"


    Looking again at the entrance of the cave, there were several adult wolves with their fur bristling, ready to pounce at any moment.


    Tan Zhenghong scanned the cave, "Don¡¯t harm the wolf cubs, let¡¯s break out."


    These wolves had just survived, seeing their children unharmed, they did not confront directly.


    Because they couldn¡¯t die, they had to raise their cubs.


    After exiting the wolf den, Bai Yifan had someone make a fire and also distributed dry food.


    Although they had traveled through the mountains all night, few had the appetite to eat.


    They had already reached the mountain top; finding Li Mu¡¯er was almost an impossibility.


    "It¡¯s already afternoon, let¡¯s head back early to spare Duo¡¯er and the others from worrying," Bai Yifan said tactfully.


    "That must have been the lair of the wolves we just encountered. They wouldn¡¯t have eaten just one person, but why have we found none of Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s belongings on our way here?" Tan Zhenghong said with furrowed brows.


    If Li Mu¡¯er had been eaten like Colorful Butterfly, then there should also be clothing and remains.


    Qin Longyun was no longer despondent, "What are you suggesting?"


    Tan Zhenghong was silent for a moment before speaking, "Could it be that Li Mu¡¯er isn¡¯t dead?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The prison guard said that Li Mu¡¯er and her servant were hanged. If someone tampered with the execution, there was a high probability she wasn¡¯t dead.


    "With the situation urgent, I¡¯ll go back and get the Tiger Talisman to call up the reserve army from Mansion City," Qin Longyun said immediately.


    Mansion City was vast, surrounded by many smaller counties, towns, and villages; the personnel from the Government Office alone were simply not enough.


    "Then let¡¯s eat and go down the mountain, I also need to find another way to counteract the poison, hoping to buy more time for you all," Bai Yifan said.


    "After descending the mountain, let¡¯s split up and act,"


    With a chance for a turnaround, the atmosphere finally lifted.


    Back home, Bai Yifan re-dressed Tan Zhenghong¡¯s wounds. It was fortunate that he moved quickly, or the children might have been exposed to the bloody scene.


    "Father, does it still hurt?"


    Tangyuan still caught sight of the bloodied gauze to one side.


    With his uninjured hand, Tan Zhenghong tousled Tangyuan¡¯s head, "Your Third Uncle has excellent medical skills, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all, do you want to come with me to see how your mother is?"


    He had not seen Duo¡¯er the entire day and was unsure of her condition.


    At the mention of Duo¡¯er, Tangyuan was close to tears, "Mother has been sleeping the whole time, I didn¡¯t dare wake her."


    Yet she was so worried not seeing her own mother awake.


    Tan Zhenghong felt a sting in his nose, hoping that heaven wouldn¡¯t be so cruel as to take away their most beloved one.


    Upon entering the master bedroom, a strong smell of medicine assailed their nostrils.


    Ruyi quickly wiped her tears, "Sir, Madam was just speaking of you. However, she¡¯s not very lucid and fell asleep again soon after."


    To be precise, she had passed out.


    But she was afraid that telling the truth might upset him.

 Chapter 1185 - 1191: Wang Yun’s Little Scheme

    Chapter 1185: Chapter 1191: Wang Yun¡¯s Little SchemeTan Zhenghong sat by the bed, suspecting something was wrong with his eyes.


    In just one day, Duo¡¯er had become gloomy and her breathing could stop at any moment.


    "Tangyuan, Green Group, take good care of your mother," Tan Zhenghong instructed.


    He needed to go and find Li Mu¡¯er.


    Green Group patted his chest, "I will take care of them. You be careful too and don¡¯t get hurt again."


    He was one of the only two men in the house and would take good care of the women when his father was not around.


    Ruyi wanted to persuade him further when she heard Bai Yifan say, "Let him go, at least it will ease his mind."


    Staying at home only led to restless thoughts.


    The next day, in the evening.


    "Mother, why don¡¯t we go inside and wait? Their pastries are really delicious."


    Niu Zijun asked discontentedly.


    Wang Yun took out a plate of pastries, "Eat these for now, and we¡¯ll go in when your uncle returns."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had instigated discord between her and her brother, and had even embezzled their silver, something she still remembered well.


    She wanted to let Tan Zhenghong know that his daughter-in-law was always bullying them behind his back.


    Niu Zijun ate a piece of pastry but refused to eat more because it tasted too awful.


    "Big mother is really mean, unwilling to give us silver," Niu Zijun complained.


    Wang Yun snorted lightly, "Don¡¯t call her big mother, that cheap woman is full of malice, there are no good days for us with her around!"


    She had barely made it through the Madam¡¯s death, hoping for better days, only to be blindsided by Huo Minglan, who was far more formidable than the Madam.


    She feared that, with her around, Niu Zijun would hardly get anything.


    In fact, Huo Minglan thought Niu Zijun would end up getting nothing at all.


    Only when the lanterns were first lit did Tan Zhenghong return.


    Having traveled relentlessly for three days, he had reached his limit. Plus the injury on his arm forced him to rest upon his return.


    Just as he reached the doorway, Wang Yun called out to him.


    "Ah Hong, you know my situation now. I can only offer these items, please don¡¯t reject them," Wang Yun said with regret.


    The past two months had been bleak for the Niu Family¡¯s business, with many shops closing down and a few barely managing to stay open. Managing to bring two ginseng roots was already their best effort.


    Tan Zhenghong pushed the box back, "Duo¡¯er doesn¡¯t need these things; keep them for Zi Jun to strengthen his body."


    "This is my sincerity, please accept it. How is Duo¡¯er now?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Yun was very determined. She had heard that Qiao Duo¡¯er was already half dead and she must win Tan Zhenghong to her side while Qiao Duo¡¯er could no longer whisper in his ear.


    Tan Zhenghong replied briefly, "She will be fine once we find the antidote."


    "I hope Duo¡¯er can get through this challenge."


    Wang Yun wiped her tears with a handkerchief, though there was little genuine sentiment here.


    Seeing that Wang Yun had no intention of leaving, Tan Zhenghong, exercising patience, asked, "Is there anything else?"


    "Ah Hong, I know you care deeply for Duo¡¯er, but you also need to manage the business. You all have to live," Wang Yun advised.


    "There are people handling that; I don¡¯t need to worry."


    Da Niu¡¯er and Almond can manage Duo Meifang and the Embroidery Room without issues, and their integrity is sound; he didn¡¯t need to worry.


    "Those are ultimately outsiders. You need to be cautious. You seem distracted. How about letting your brother-in-law help you manage the business so you can focus on caring for Duo¡¯er?" Wang Yun looked expectantly at Tan Zhenghong.


    This was her purpose for coming here today.


    If Niu Fuquan couldn¡¯t secure a large amount of silver, the Niu Family would be finished.

 Chapter 1186 - 1192: Sweet Whispers

    Chapter 1186: Chapter 1192: Sweet WhispersTan Zhenghong said impatiently, "Cousin, I don¡¯t have time to entertain you right now. Why don¡¯t you and Zi Jun go back first? Once Duo¡¯er is better, I will go to the Niu Family to express my thanks."


    "I¡¯m just trying to be helpful. If you don¡¯t want to listen, I won¡¯t say it again in the future. Let me accompany you to see Duo¡¯er."


    Wang Yun had a keen sense of propriety and immediately dropped the subject.


    Tan Zhenghong was deeply in love with Qiao Duo¡¯er. His heart must be heavy with sorrow at her sudden critical condition.


    But she had plenty of time. After Qiao Duo¡¯er passed away, she would find a way to sow discord between Tan Zhenghong and the Green Group.


    If it didn¡¯t work once, then twice; there would eventually be a successful attempt.


    Just as they reached the entrance, Ruyi blocked Wang Yun¡¯s path.


    "Our Madam has just gone to sleep and it is inconvenient for her to receive guests."


    "Then I¡¯ll take Jun¡¯er and go back first," Wang Yun said sheepishly.


    Having been put in her place by a Maid, she had lost face and couldn¡¯t stay any longer.


    Niu Zijun was very angry, "Uncle, Mother and I have been waiting for you at the door for so long. We¡¯re almost starving to death. Can you really bear to send us away?"


    "Ruyi, take them to the dining hall."


    Ruyi could not go against the adult¡¯s wishes in front of outsiders, so she led them away with reluctance in her heart.


    What did they mean by waiting outside for so long?


    Wasn¡¯t he implying that if the master of the house was not present, someone would bully them, mother and son?


    And she had only wanted to prevent Wang Yun from disturbing the Madam. How did that turn into sending people away?


    Neither mother nor son was good!


    She hoped the Madam would recover soon and get rid of them at the earliest.


    Before leaving, Wang Yun craned her neck to peek inside but could not see clearly through the beaded curtain.


    As Tan Zhenghong entered the room and saw the big and two small figures asleep on the bed, his heart ached even more.


    "Duo¡¯er, the place you used to live in was very good, but there was no me, no children of ours. You surely prefer it here, right? You need to hold on. You can¡¯t leave us. You said we¡¯re supposed to stay together forever, witnessing the Green Group marry and have children, dressing up Tangyuan into the prettiest bride to send her off to her wedding. And when we¡¯re old, leaning on canes to watch the sunrise and sunset together..." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong whispered into Duo¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    They still had so many things undone. How could she leave?


    At that moment, Qiao Duo¡¯er felt as if she were floating in darkness, no direction, no endpoint, and no visibility to the end.


    Suddenly, a tender, deep voice reached her¡ªit was Tan Zhenghong!


    Right, she couldn¡¯t go on like this. She couldn¡¯t make him and the children worry.


    Duo¡¯er slowly opened her eyes and said with a hoarse voice, "Ah Hong, you¡¯re hurt."


    "Just a minor injury, nothing serious. But you¡¯ve been sleeping so long and didn¡¯t say a word to me."


    Tan Zhenghong smiled slightly, yet tears uncontrollably slid down his face.


    "You¡¯re fooling me again. You broke it, didn¡¯t you?"


    Tan Zhenghong frankly admitted, "Bai Yifan¡¯s medical skills are better than yours. Thanks to him, I didn¡¯t have to endure excruciating pain."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but smile. Back then, Tan Zhenghong was just a brash young man who had gritted his teeth and bore the pain.


    If it were now, he would surely be acting spoiled, begging for favors.


    "Are you hungry? I¡¯ll go get you something to eat."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was about to refuse, but thinking that Tan Zhenghong also hadn¡¯t eaten properly for several days, she nodded her head.


    Bai Yifan had instructed that Qiao Duo¡¯er could only eat white porridge, which the kitchen had been keeping ready. Tan Zhenghong directly served a bowl.


    While passing the dining hall, he overheard Niu Zijun¡¯s complaints.


    "Mother, Uncle really doesn¡¯t take me seriously, just giving me such unpalatable food and expecting me to be content. It¡¯s not even as good as what we have at home." Niu Zijun pushed the bowl of white porridge aside.


    How could he eat when neither dish contained even a bit of minced meat?

 Chapter 1187 - 1193: A Little Punishment

    Chapter 1187: Chapter 1193: A Little PunishmentWang Yun also felt annoyed, "Your uncle only has eyes for Qiao Duo¡¯er; even if we starve to death, he wouldn¡¯t care. It¡¯s all because your grandfather was blind enough to raise such an ungrateful child."


    There¡¯s an old saying, "A man marries and forgets his mother." What is a cousin to her then?


    Just as she finished speaking, the door was forcefully pushed open.


    "If you think the service isn¡¯t good enough, you can leave," Tan Zhenghong said sharply.


    Finding Li Mu¡¯er was urgent, and everyone who could be helpful was busy. It was already good enough that Ruyi found time to cook a couple of dishes; what more did they want?


    "Zi Jun is still a child; he doesn¡¯t understand anything. I was just going along with what he said,"


    Wang Yun said with a forced smile.


    She was only thankful that Tan Zhenghong acted quickly, or it would have been even worse if he had heard her cursing Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "The Tan Family Temple is small; it cannot accommodate two of your size."


    After saying that, Tan Zhenghong left without looking back.


    Now, he could only sigh at how things had changed¡ª the once adorable and kind-hearted were no longer visible, replaced by malicious scheming.


    "Didn¡¯t you say you had a favor with Uncle and he wouldn¡¯t mind?" Niu Zijun sneered.


    It turned out that Tan Zhenghong, because of the past, grew to despise his mother; he had no patience with them at all. Maybe he was just waiting for a chance to find fault with them to drive them out.


    Wang Yun glared at Niu Zijun, "Shut up, or I¡¯ll kill you!"


    "I didn¡¯t say anything wrong; Tan Zhenghong doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge you as his sister. You might as well just hope that Qiao Duo¡¯er dies soon."


    "Shut up!" Wang Yun really got angry.


    Actually, that was exactly what she thought, but how could she say it so openly?


    If anyone else heard, all her plans would be ruined!


    Niu Zijun shrank his neck, forced to eat plain vegetables and rice porridge due to hunger.


    Wang Yun was still dwelling on what had just happened and didn¡¯t notice that three tiny figures had passed under the window.


    They hid under the window, discussing how to save their mother but accidentally overheard Wang Yun and her son¡¯s conversation.


    When they reached the guest room, Tangyuan opened the window, Green Group and Qin Mingrui cooperated in lifting the mosquito net and even cut a few holes in it.


    That night, Wang Yun and her son would definitely "sleep well."


    Half an hour later, the three little ones slipped back in to restore the scene.


    "Niu Zijun is such a pig, he ate all the plum blossom cakes," Tangyuan said regretfully.


    To buy time, she asked Ruyi to buy four kilograms of plum blossom cakes, but not a single piece was left.


    Qin Mingrui cheekily said, "If it weren¡¯t for his gluttony, could we have brought in so many mosquitoes? What goes around comes around."


    "Let¡¯s go back and keep our mom company; just wait and watch the drama unfold."


    Green Group also rarely smiled.


    These days everyone was worried because of the poison, but today they managed to find some joy amidst the suffering.


    At night, the lamp in the west wing was never turned off.


    "Mom, hurry up and kill the mosquitoes!" Niu Zijun, with his eyes closed, kept scratching himself, but it was still horribly itchy.


    Itchy and sleepy, his temper was rising rapidly.


    Wang Yun was also irritated, "Can¡¯t you just bear with it a bit?"


    The mosquito net had been gnawed by rats, she didn¡¯t know where the mugwort and the spare mosquito nets were kept, and no one responded to her calls; what else could she do? S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then stop sleeping and get rid of the mosquitoes for me!" Niu Zijun demanded.


    "I should have never had you, you little brat!"


    Wang Yun couldn¡¯t help but complain; she was also exhausted. Couldn¡¯t he show some sympathy for her?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was ill and her children always stayed by her side; why was there such a big difference?

 Chapter 1188 - 1194: Affairs After Death

    Chapter 1188: Chapter 1194: Affairs After DeathBut Niu Zijun was her beloved son, and seeing his body covered in self-inflicted, bloody wounds made her heart ache too; all she could do was to shake a fan to drive away the mosquitoes.


    Once she became the mistress of this place, she would see if the servants still dared to treat her with such disrespect!


    The next day, Wang Yun and Niu Zijun got up with their faces swollen and dark circles under their eyes. The three little ones had thought they would leave, but no signs of departure appeared even by evening.


    From this, the three little ones concluded that Wang Yun and her son had no shame at all.


    However, having been taught a lesson, Wang Yun became more aware and tried to minimize her presence in the Tan Family household.


    Two more days passed without any news from Li Mu¡¯er, yet Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition was already very dangerous.


    All those concerned for Duo¡¯er stayed at the Tan Family¡¯s side, unwilling to leave even for a moment, because this could very well be her last days.


    "This is the medicine prepared by Yi Fan; you feed it to Duo¡¯er," Bai Yifan delivered the medicine to the master bedroom.


    The once graceful gentleman had turned into a disheveled young man in the pharmacy, but he didn¡¯t care at all.


    Tan Zhenghong took the bowl of medicine: "Thank you."


    He was very grateful to Bai Yifan. Without his wholehearted effort, Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t have held on until now.


    When the medicine cooled down a bit, Qiao Duo¡¯er drank the medicinal juice in one gulp.


    She knew her own body very well, but she didn¡¯t want to disappoint those who cared about her.


    Even if... she could live just a second longer.


    Guessing that the medicine had started to take effect, Bai Yifan took Duo¡¯er¡¯s pulse, which was weak and floating, even showing brief disappearances.


    Which meant that Duo¡¯er probably wouldn¡¯t last through the day.


    "Duo¡¯er, wait for me, I have other methods," Bai Yifan gently let go of Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand.


    "I have something to tell you."


    Bai Yifan said in a panic, "I don¡¯t want to listen, not a single word."


    He didn¡¯t want to hear Duo¡¯er speak words of defeat.


    "I managed to send Ah Hong and the children away just in time; if I don¡¯t speak now, there might not be another chance," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a smile tinged with bitterness.


    She didn¡¯t want it to come to this either, but sometimes life does not go as one wishes.


    Bai Yifan, wiping away the tears that came unbidden, said: "Alright, I¡¯ll listen."


    "Don¡¯t lose heart, Ling¡¯er is still waiting for you to save her, and if there are really souls after death, I will help you."


    "The one I¡¯m most worried about is Ah Hong; he is so single-minded, I¡¯m afraid he might do something rash. You must stop him; and please, take good care of the two children in the future."


    "And you, you¡¯re like a clam, keeping everything bottled up inside. Life is too short; why live it so burdensomely?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt there was so much more to say, but apart from these most important things, she couldn¡¯t remember anything else.


    Perhaps at the end, one¡¯s mind really doesn¡¯t work that well.


    Bai Yifan managed to muster a smile: "Tan Zhenghong is a stubborn mule; who else could keep him in line but you? In Tangyuan and Green Group¡¯s hearts, you are irreplaceable, so don¡¯t give up."


    In his heart, there would always be a place reserved for Duo¡¯er.


    With her here, his heart could be at peace.


    "I won¡¯t admit defeat until the very last moment," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    Bai Yifan had no idea how he¡¯d left the room until he saw Tan Zhenghong and was jolted back to reality.


    "I¡¯m going to stay with her," Tan Zhenghong said in a subdued voice.


    In truth, he hadn¡¯t left her side at all; he had heard every word Duo¡¯er said. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he really couldn¡¯t do it.


    Without Duo¡¯er, how could he just barely survive?


    Bai Yifan nodded: "Don¡¯t be downhearted, she wouldn¡¯t want to see you all upset."


    Tan Zhenghong took a deep breath, letting the tears flow back into his heart.


    Upon entering the room, Qiao Duo¡¯er patted the space beside her, and Tan Zhenghong lay down obediently.

 Chapter 1189 - 1195 Madam’s Wisdom

    Chapter 1189: Chapter 1195 Madam¡¯s Wisdom"I¡¯ll give you my arm for a pillow; go to sleep if you¡¯re tired."


    "Stay with me as I sleep."


    "Of course."


    The two snuggled together, contentedly leaning on each other, wishing it could continue forever, until the end of time.


    Night fell, and the atmosphere in the Tan Family grew increasingly oppressive. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Yiling was full of self-reproach, "It¡¯s all my fault. Why couldn¡¯t I have died first?"


    "We all know it wasn¡¯t on purpose, don¡¯t be like this," Qin Longyun said as he clutched Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand, fearing she might harm herself.


    With things as they were, why burden another person?


    Chen Yiling¡¯s tears flowed continuously, especially when she saw Tangyuan and Green Group cry themselves faint; her guilt deepened.


    They were still so young, why should they have to experience something so cruel?


    Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks shattered the silent mood.


    "Bai San, what urgent matter made you call me back here in such a rush?" Luo Qingfeng asked discontentedly.


    He had just negotiated with Lu Kejun to put aside their poisons and take a break, only to be summoned back by Bai Yifan before they could go far.


    He too was feeling bitter.


    If it wasn¡¯t something urgent, he would tear Bai Yifan to pieces.


    Seeing Luo Qingfeng¡¯s jesting grin, Bai Yifan and Qin Longyun simultaneously rolled their eyes at him.


    "So you don¡¯t welcome me? I¡¯ve come from afar to see you, and yet you all look so gloomy," said Luo Qingfeng, pouting.


    Out of the four siblings, he was the least favored. Why?


    Bai Yifan took a deep breath and slowly said, "Duo¡¯er and Yi Ling were poisoned with Madam Envy; Li Mu¡¯er, the breeder, is missing, and Duo¡¯er has several hidden injuries."


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s face turned grave instantly, as he was well aware of the severe effects of Madam Envy.


    Especially with hidden injuries, the person wouldn¡¯t last more than three days.


    He had seen the recall signal from Medicine King Valley the day before, which meant... it was very likely he had missed the last chance to see her.


    "Am I... too late?"


    Bai Yifan pressed his lips together and after a long while managed to say, "If we can¡¯t think of a solution within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Duo¡¯er will..."


    Luo Qingfeng¡¯s eyes reddened in anxiety, "What can one think in the time it takes an incense stick to burn? If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered learning the damn poisons and gone straight to study Gu poison in Southern Xinjiang instead."


    At least that could have been useful right now.


    Lu Kejun took out a delicate box from inside his robes, "Good thing we hurried back without stopping, we¡¯re still in time."


    Bai Yifan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, "Sister-in-law, what¡¯s this?"


    "This is the Urn King, capable of temporarily suppressing Madam Envy," Lu Kejun explained.


    The Golden Silkworm Gu reigns supreme among Gu, to which other Gu show great wariness. However, the effect is limited because the Golden Silkworm Gu has a hibernation period, after which the effects of Madam Envy will flare up violently.


    Moreover, a Gu that¡¯s been suppressed for a long time turns more ferocious.


    In a somewhat sour tone, Luo Qingfeng said, "Wife, how come I didn¡¯t know you had such a treasure?"


    When they got married, he had brought out all his treasures, yet his wife had kept this one hidden.


    Likely had Duo¡¯er¡¯s life not been under threat, she would not have revealed it.


    "It¡¯s a secret of my sect. Besides, parading around with a Gu would be asking for death, right?"


    Lu Kejun looked disdainful. She was wise for a lifetime, how had she ended up with such a fool?


    Witch Gu Technique was considered taboo. If exploited by the wrong hands, it could bring disaster to her sect.


    In proper form, Luo Qingfeng bowed deeply, "Indeed, Madam is wise. Let¡¯s hurry and see how Duo¡¯er is."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s life was hanging by a thread; they could delay no longer.

 Chapter 1190 - 1196: Instigation

    Chapter 1190: Chapter 1196: InstigationAfter the incense stick had burned down, Duo¡¯er¡¯s condition had notably improved.


    "There is one month left until the Golden Silkworm Gu goes into hibernation. If you can¡¯t find the antidote by then, I will have all of you buried with it!" Lu Kejun intentionally sounded very fierce.


    Otherwise, she would have definitely cried.


    The last time she saw Duo¡¯er, she was brimming with vigor. Now, she was emaciated and lifeless, which she couldn¡¯t accept.


    Just then, a soldier clad in armor barged in.


    The matter was of great urgency, and he dared not delay for fear of incurring wrath.


    "My lord, someone said they saw the Side Concubine on the outskirts of the city in Ting Village."


    "Really?" Tan Zhenghong was overjoyed.


    "The witness confirmed it was the person in the portrait. Our men didn¡¯t see her themselves and didn¡¯t dare to startle the snake by hitting the grass. They could only come back to report first." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong bowed deeply to Lu Kejun, "I will forever remember the favor of saving a life. However, I have other urgent matters today and can only repay this debt another time."


    "You all go. Having me take care of Duo¡¯er is enough."


    Lu Kejun urged.


    No sooner had her words fallen than only she and Duo¡¯er, who was lying on the bed, remained in the room.


    These people were truly anxious, but she admired their sense of loyalty and their weight on emotions.


    She was even more grateful that she was one of them.


    Hearing that Lu Kejun had saved Qiao Duo, Wang Yun couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. After much contemplation, Wang Yun knocked on Chen Yiling¡¯s door.


    "I heard that Miss Lu brought something that can temporarily remove the threat to Duo¡¯er¡¯s life. Is that true?" Wang Yun got straight to the point.


    What she feared most was her carefully laid plans falling through.


    Chen Yiling lazily responded, "Hmm, that¡¯s Ke-kun¡¯s treasure."


    Yi Ling hadn¡¯t rested well, both because of Duo¡¯er¡¯s deteriorating condition and because she was scared of death.


    Now that Duo¡¯er¡¯s illness was stabilized and they had news about Li Mu¡¯er, fatigue suddenly overcame her.


    "It¡¯s as if a Bodhisattva was watching over us, it¡¯s good that things are fine," Wang Yun said insincerely, then quickly changed the subject, "What a pity there¡¯s only one. Otherwise, you could be out of danger too, and that would be a cause for universal celebration."


    "If they were everywhere, how could it be considered a rare treasure?" Chen Yiling responded irritably.


    The thing she hated most in this life was someone buzzing in her ear when she wanted to sleep, especially when they were spouting nonsense.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s slight moodiness was misunderstood by Wang Yun.


    There was only one chance to survive¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t assert all their effort to seize it?


    "I just saw Young Master Rui Rui secretly crying, and Lord Qin has also become much worn out. They must be hoping to escape from danger as soon as possible," Wang Yun said while wiping away tears.


    Chen Yiling couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, thinking that anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think she was bullying her.


    She had no close relationship with Wang Yun, and she knew about Wang Yun¡¯s past deeds, so she didn¡¯t believe that Wang Yun was simply concerned about her well-being.


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    Wang Yun said innocently, "I truly hope you get better."


    And the safest way to ensure that would be to snatch the Golden Silkworm Gu from Qiao Duo¡¯s body.


    "You¡¯d better not entertain any wild thoughts. Duo¡¯er has saved my life more than once, and Rui Rui owes his safety to her as well, so even if I have to trade my life for hers, I am willing to do so," Chen Yiling said bluntly to stop the woman from beating around the bush.


    Moreover, since her condition was not as critical as Duo¡¯er¡¯s, by all accounts, the Golden Silkworm Gu should be given to Duo¡¯er, and she had no objections.


    If Wang Yun was trying to sow discord, then she had truly picked the wrong person.


    "Lady Qin, I... didn¡¯t mean that,"


    Wang Yun said, looking guilt-stricken.


    Everyone said the Prefect¡¯s wife had no cunning, but she had not expected her secret intentions to be discovered before she even broached the subject.

 Chapter 1191 - 1197: It’s Good to be Alive

    Chapter 1191: Chapter 1197: It¡¯s Good to be Alive"Ji Xiang, see the guest out," Chen Yiling instructed.


    She was naively straightforward at heart, easily manipulated by others, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t distinguish right from wrong.


    After escorting Wang Yun out, Ji Xiang hurriedly poured a cup of tea for Chen Yiling.


    "Madam, don¡¯t let such people upset you to the point of harming your health."


    Chen Yiling drained the cup of water in one go, finally managing to suppress her anger.


    After lying on the soft bed, Chen Yiling gave another instruction, "Tell Ke-kun to have someone watch Wang Yun closely. She mustn¡¯t be given a chance to harm Duo¡¯er."


    Having gained no advantage from her, Wang Yun would surely think of another scheme.


    Ji Xiang felt warmth in her heart; she truly envied the madam for having such genuinely devoted friends.


    It wasn¡¯t until midnight that Qiao Duo¡¯er opened her eyes, the pain throughout her body making her feel somewhat unreal.


    Was she not dead, or had she traversed again?


    "Mom, don¡¯t abandon me!"


    As soon as Tangyuan finished speaking, she burst into tears; she had been nearly worried to death, but thankfully, her mom had finally awakened.


    "Don¡¯t cry, how could I ever abandon you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er gently wiped away the tears on Tangyuan¡¯s face, her heart aching with each tug.


    Green Group affectionately rubbed against Duo¡¯er¡¯s body. "If you scare us again, we will never forgive you."


    "I know I was wrong," Qiao Duo¡¯er promptly admitted her fault.


    Pouting, Lu Kejun said, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re really biased. I even brought out our treasured gem to save you, yet you don¡¯t seem to care about me at all."


    Suddenly, Qiao Duo¡¯er recalled feeling a cool sensation entering her body just as she was about to lose consciousness; that must have been the treasured gem Lu Kejun mentioned.


    Could there really be such a mythical medicine in ancient times that could bring the dead back to life?


    Seeing Duo¡¯er¡¯s confusion, Lu Kejun explained, "That¡¯s the Golden Silkworm Gu, which can suppress other gu. Just now, Soldier Big Brother also reported that they¡¯ve found news of Li Mu¡¯er. Ah Hong and the others have gone there overnight."


    "Thank you all," Duo¡¯er said gratefully.


    Lu Kejun mischievously responded, "Just saying thanks isn¡¯t enough; there should be some real action."


    "I¡¯ll definitely agree to anything I can do."


    "In stories, they say that one should commit themselves in return for saving a life, so let¡¯s do that," Lu Kejun, touching his chin, suggested with a lecherous look.


    Duo¡¯er, with her delicate and fragile nature, was perfect for her.


    "My mom has my dad; you trying to intrude would make you the other woman," Green Group seriously said.


    He also didn¡¯t want a woman to play his dad.


    "You have a point. Maybe I should just steal you away to be my little consort," Lu Kejun replied, laughing even more heartily.


    "Wait till my uncle comes back; I¡¯m telling on you. You¡¯re in big trouble then."


    To Green Group, Lu Kejun was a middle-aged woman, not to be corrupted by her.


    If she could have a daughter in the future, maybe then he could consider letting her be his mother-in-law.


    Lu Kejun pursed her lips, wondering how this little thing, not even two years old, knew so much?


    "I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with a little brat like you; I¡¯m going to catch some sleep."


    Lu Kejun felt her continued lack of sleep in recent nights must have dulled her brain, causing her to lose out to Green Group; she¡¯d get back at him after some rest.


    "Mom, I want to sleep with you,"


    Tangyuan looked at Qiao Duo¡¯er pitifully; otherwise, she was sure she couldn¡¯t sleep.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er moved over, making enough room for the two children.


    The children, having been worried for days, were utterly exhausted and fell into deep sleep as soon as they touched the pillow.


    Knowing their mother was safe, they both wore a relaxed smile on their lips.


    Gently observing the two rosy cherubs, Qiao Duo¡¯er thought to herself how good it was to be alive.


    S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1192 - 1198: A Big Deal Has Happened

    Chapter 1192: Chapter 1198: A Big Deal Has HappenedTan Zhenghong and his entourage only arrived at Ting Village early the next morning.


    At the entrance of the village was an inn, where they planned to replenish their strength and incidentally inquire about the village¡¯s situation.


    "Sister, bring us a pot of tea and some food", they requested.


    "Right away!"


    The innkeeper was delighted inside, these people looked wealthy and distinguished, which meant she could earn a good amount of money.


    The innkeeper was very efficient, swiftly bringing over a pot of tea and two plates of pastries.


    "Gentlemen, please start with this while I fry up some fine dishes for you, guaranteed to fill you up."


    Luo Qingfeng bowed slightly, "Thank you, sister. Please, show us your best, Silver is not an issue. Also, I¡¯d like to ask you something."


    At the mention of Silver, and with Luo Qingfeng¡¯s appealing demeanor, the innkeeper quickly agreed, "Please, speak your mind, sir."


    "Have there been any strange women in the village lately?"


    "I don¡¯t know," the innkeeper said hesitantly.


    She couldn¡¯t blurt out anything about that household with significant backing.


    Seeing the innkeeper¡¯s troubled expression, Tan Zhenghong pulled out a silver ingot from his chest.


    "We are from Guang House, you can speak freely, no one will trouble you," he reassured. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only after receiving the Silver did the innkeeper whisper, "I can tell you, but if someone asks, you must never reveal my name. Otherwise, I might not live to spend this Silver."


    "What¡¯s the matter?"


    Tan Zhenghong was eager to know the inside story.


    "There¡¯s this Hong Yan in our village, he brought back a wife a few days ago. She¡¯s incredibly delicate-looking, but very peculiar in nature, always cooped up in her room and unwilling to see anyone. I¡¯ve only had the chance to see her once. You really shouldn¡¯t get any ideas, the Hong Family¡¯s Boy works at Wang Mansion, and his temper has grown worse."


    An old saying goes, ¡¯The servant at the Prime Minister¡¯s gate is as powerful as a seventh-rank officer¡¯. These men from Guang House, it seems, wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Hong Family¡¯s Boy.


    "We are on official business and have no other intentions; please, sister, guide us on the right path," Luo Qingfeng threw her a charming look.


    The innkeeper waved her handkerchief, "I¡¯m only telling you because you all look so handsome. The Hong Family lives at the end of the village. If you follow the road, the most beautifully built house is theirs."


    Having obtained the information, they each grabbed a couple of pastries and left some Broken Silver before hurrying into the village.


    Otherwise, if Hong Yan got the news and hid the person away, that would become troublesome.


    "These folks don¡¯t seem like they¡¯re from the Government Office," the innkeeper muttered while cleaning up the table. "I hope the Hong Family hasn¡¯t gotten into serious trouble."


    Had she known, she wouldn¡¯t have spoken so much; what if she ended up harming the family?


    Feeling the Silver in her pocket, she became resigned again.


    If the boy hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, he should have nothing to fear from the government officer¡¯s visit.


    Ting Village wasn¡¯t big, with just over forty households. They easily found the home of Hong Yan.


    After the Government Officials surrounded the Hong Household, Qin Longyun stepped forward to knock on the door.


    A middle-aged woman cracked the door slightly and asked cautiously, "What do you want?"


    "Ma¡¯am, we are friends of Hong Yan and need to speak with him on a matter."


    The woman¡¯s behavior made Qin Longyun even more convinced there was something fishy inside, and he was thankful for the haste of their arrival¡ªotherwise, they might not have had the chance to even talk.


    "He¡¯s not at home; look for him elsewhere," she said.


    Just as the woman was about to close the door, Bai Yifan, quick as a flash, blocked her.


    "Ma¡¯am, Prince Liang¡¯s Side Concubine is guilty of a serious crime, and we suspect she¡¯s hidden by Hong Yan. If you persuade him to hand her over now, there¡¯s still time to avoid disaster, else there¡¯s only one way this ends."


    In panic, the woman remained firmly in denial, "I don¡¯t know what you are talking about."

 Chapter 1193 - 1199: Hand It Over

    Chapter 1193: Chapter 1199: Hand It OverShe also thought there was something fishy about the woman that Hong Yan brought back, but she absolutely did not believe she was a side consort of King Liang.


    With such a noble status, how could she possibly come to this place?


    Just then, a burst of wild laughter came from the west wing, sounding somewhat eerie.


    The woman furrowed her brows, ever since that woman arrived, there had not been a single day of peace at home.


    Yet, Hong Yan had made up his mind and was determined to keep that woman.


    While she was stunned, Luo Qingfeng squeezed through the door crack and unwittingly left the door ajar.


    When the woman came to her senses, she hurriedly tried to stop him, "Just who are you people? Be careful, or I¡¯ll take you to the government office, trespassing into a home is a serious crime!"


    Even though it wasn¡¯t a crime punishable by beheading, the local magistrate, on account of Hong Yan¡¯s face, would surely have enough to deal with these people.


    But as a mere woman, she could not stop several grown men, and could only watch helplessly as they went to the west wing.


    Upon opening the door, they indeed saw Li Mu¡¯er, who they had been desperately searching for.


    "Qiao Duo¡¯er you slut, you¡¯re finally dead. My cousin will be mine from now on, I will bear him many, many children."


    "Cousin, you must love me dearly, and never look at other women again, or else I¡¯ll make them all die!"


    "You¡¯re finally mine; you have no idea how much I¡¯ve suffered for you. I married King Liang who fancies men, and even bore children for an ugly coachman."


    Li Mu¡¯er, talking to a pillow, alternated between crying and laughing; she was most likely mad.


    Hong Yan, seeing the newcomers, quickly hid Li Mu¡¯er behind him, "What are you trying to do?"


    "How audacious of you, a guard of Prince Liang, knowing the law and breaking it, compounding your crime. However, considering that you were momentarily confused, if you hand her over, I can lessen your punishment." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun decided to give him another chance.


    Seeing Hong Yan¡¯s behavior, he realized he was simply too in love with Li Mu¡¯er, and there was nothing wrong with love itself.


    Hong Yan sneered lightly, "She may be at fault, but has she killed anyone? Your Madams and children have all gone back safely, yet she was humiliated by so many people and almost hanged. Is such punishment not enough?"


    "She used Urn Technique to harm others; for this one crime alone, she deserves to die a thousand times," Tan Zhenghong snorted coldly.


    Li Mu¡¯er, yearning for Bai Yifan but unable to obtain his love, thus harbored hatred for Qiao Duo, repeatedly harming her and even refusing to spare her children.


    What kind of mind would think such a ruthless woman innocent?


    "Urn Technique? Which of you officials is not more malicious than this? Accepting bribes, taking lives indiscriminately¡ªshe deserves death far less than you!"


    Qin Longyun straightened his back, "I¡¯ve been an official for three years and have never accepted a single bribe; the cases I¡¯ve handled had no wrongful judgment, and Tan Zhenghong has always been upright and just, saving the people from fire and water. Where is your conclusion coming from? I advise you to hand over the person honestly, otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to escape either!"


    "Don¡¯t waste words with him, they¡¯re all mad," Luo Qingfeng said, getting ready to seize the person. Hong Yan¡¯s fixation was too deep, and more talking was just a waste of time.


    "Don¡¯t come any closer!" Hong Yan revealed the explosives tied around his waist.


    He knew these people wanted Li Mu¡¯er¡¯s spirit blood, but as long as he lit the fuse, their plans would be thwarted!


    Qin Longyun and the others, fearing that Hong Yan would lose his sanity, could only take two steps back.


    Before they could speak, the woman collapsed to the ground.


    "Child, think about it clearly, do you really want to lose your life for this vixen?" the woman¡¯s face was streaked with tears.


    Having lost her husband early, she had raised Hong Yan with great difficulty and had even found him a position at the government office; she thought their lives would improve, so how did it come to this?

 Chapter 1194 - 1200: Charge In

    Chapter 1194: Chapter 1200: Charge In"She¡¯s not a vixen, I love her, I want to be with her," Hong Yan was very resolute.


    The woman covered her face and ran out crying, a flash of guilt crossed Hong Yan¡¯s mind.


    But things had come to this point, and there was no turning back for him.


    Qin Longyun An soothed, "Calm down, as long as you cooperate with us and give us some heart¡¯s blood, I will no longer pursue the things you and Li Mu¡¯er have done. You can leave here and live a peaceful life."


    "Heart¡¯s blood? Do you really think I¡¯m a fool? Either you kill me, or get out of my house immediately!"


    Hong Yan resolutely stood in front of Li Mu¡¯er.


    Using a knife to gouge out a cut over the heart, how could a person survive? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you wish to die, then mother will join you."


    The woman rushed in again, holding a kitchen knife to her neck.


    "Mother, put down the knife quickly!" Hong Yan¡¯s eyes reddened with urgency.


    He really was useless, not only unable to protect the woman he loved but also causing his mother to be unable to enjoy her later years in peace.


    "I am the current Medicine King, I can swear to heaven I won¡¯t harm her life,"


    Bai Yifan raised three fingers.


    He would spare her life, but from now on she would only be a simpleton, which was already the greatest leniency he could offer.


    "Child, just agree to him. They¡¯ve said they won¡¯t hurt her, what more do you want? The Hong Family has only you as a male heir. Do you really want our family line to end?"


    The woman was too agitated, and strands of blood had already seeped out on her neck.


    Hong Yan slowly collapsed to the ground: "Bai Yifan, you better remember your words, or else I won¡¯t let you off even as a ghost!"


    A quarter of an hour later, Bai Yifan came out of the house.


    The people who had been anxiously waiting outside all crowded around.


    "How is Mo¡¯er?"


    "Did you get the blood?"


    Bai Yifan swayed the small gourd in his hand: "It¡¯s done, Li Mu¡¯er just needs a few days to recover."


    "Lord Qin, are you still honoring your word?" Hong Yan looked steadily at Qin Longyun.


    He dreamt of being an ordinary husband and wife with Li Mu¡¯er.


    "Why haven¡¯t you taken her away yet?" Qin Longyun glanced sideways at Hong Yan.


    Hong Yan still doubted, "You... really are willing to let her go?"


    "Given the face you¡¯ve shown, I can spare her life for now, but if she commits evil again..."


    Before Qin Longyun could finish, Hong Yan suddenly knelt on the ground: "I, Hong Yan, swear to heaven, I will watch over Li Mu¡¯er, otherwise may lightning strike me dead."


    Qin Longyun took out a bag of silver, "You take Li Mu¡¯er ahead, help us from behind. Prince Liang will definitely not let you go, I¡¯ll send people to escort you out of here, find a place and live well afterwards."


    Hong Yan hesitated, then finally took the bag of silver.


    Hong Yan knelt before the woman again: "Mother, your son has been unfilial, from now on you¡¯ll have to suffer alongside me."


    "As long as you¡¯re alive, that¡¯s better than anything else."


    The woman¡¯s body still trembled slightly, she didn¡¯t care about anything else now.


    As soon as the Hong family left, Bai Yifan¡¯s expression immediately turned grave.


    "I need two hours to concoct the medicine, I can¡¯t be disturbed midway. I¡¯ll leave the outside matters to you."


    Bai Yifan took the furnace and herbs into the house, while Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun with others took strategic positions.


    As they had expected, it wasn¡¯t long before a group of people dressed in black quietly approached the Hong family¡¯s house.


    "Under the Prince¡¯s order, spare no one!"


    "Yes!"


    But the black-clad person leading the way into the yard had already fallen to the ground.


    "They have sleeve arrows, let¡¯s go together!"


    The rest of the black-clad people immediately reacted, drawing their swords and charging into the yard.

 Chapter 1195 - 1201 Reinforcements

    Chapter 1195: Chapter 1201 ReinforcementsQin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong only brought over thirty people on this trip, and they had just split off a few, definitely short on manpower. If they were to launch a strong attack, their chances of victory would be much greater.


    The sleeve arrows killed part of the enemy, but their numbers were large, and there were still some who slipped through the net and broke into the yard.


    "Charge in!" the leader made a hand signal.


    Seeing that they were about to reach the Main Room¡¯s door, Tan Zhenghong immediately drew his sword and charged into the crowd of men in black to fight.


    This was the most critical two hours. If there was any slip-up, all their efforts would be in vain.


    So even if it cost him his life, he had to hold his ground.


    "You all go and help," Qin Longyun ordered.


    "But..."


    The guard hesitated. They were not Government Officials, but Hidden Guards sent by the Chen Family, and their most important task was to protect the young lady and the son-in-law. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Longyun said coldly, "That¡¯s an order!"


    His Martial Arts weren¡¯t great, but he had been practicing shooting, which was enough to save his life.


    And what did his safety matter?


    The guard immediately jumped down from the tree. With the added help, Tan Zhenghong had an easier time, focusing mainly on confronting the leader.


    "You are not my match," the man in black scoffed.


    He was well-known in the martial arts world, unbeatable in a fair fight¡ªlet alone by someone with a broken arm.


    Tan Zhenghong was unconcerned, his sword tip swiftly aiming for the man¡¯s throat. He definitely wasn¡¯t the man¡¯s match before, but after meeting Duo¡¯er, he was ready to take him on.


    Moreover, he didn¡¯t need to win; he just had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.


    A few moves later, the man in black dropped his underestimation, as Tan Zhenghong¡¯s strikes were swift and tricky. Coupled with the other attendants¡¯ respectable Martial Arts skills constantly harassing him, he wasn¡¯t easy to handle.


    An hour later, the Chen Family Hidden Guards had cleared the other men in black, and all firepower was directed at the leader.


    Yet even so, the man in black was only slightly at a disadvantage.


    After all, in terms of individual strength and combat experience, he far surpassed the others.


    In the blink of an eye, nearly a hundred moves had passed, and Tan Zhenghong could no longer parry. The blood-dripping blade was now pressed against his neck.


    "You¡¯ve lost," said the man in black from a superior position.


    These people were not qualified enough to challenge him.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lips curved upwards slightly. It was too early to say who had won or lost¡ªthe real show was yet to come!


    Qin Longyun gritted his teeth and said, "What exactly do you want?"


    "What can I want? Blame yourselves for offending someone you shouldn¡¯t have. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t bother dealing with you losers!"


    If he had known they were this useless, he would have come alone.


    "I just want to know how I¡¯ve offended Prince Liang," Tan Zhenghong said calmly, showing no tension from being held captive.


    The man in black couldn¡¯t answer that and didn¡¯t want to.


    He always felt that Tan Zhenghong was too calm, so calm that it made him believe they had a backup plan, so he had to act swiftly and decisively.


    The man in black scanned the people surrounding him. "Step back, or I¡¯ll kill him!"


    Fearing to provoke the man in black, the guards could only do as told, though they maintained only a few steps¡¯ distance from him.


    The man in black cautiously approached the main house. Just as his hand touched the door, Tan Zhenghong suddenly revealed a relaxed smile.


    "Good thing we made it in time."


    Before Qin Longyun set out, he had contacted the Military Sima to request troop reinforcements.


    Judging by the commotion outside, it must be thousands of men.


    After all, Qin Longyun was the Chief of Staff¡¯s son-in-law and on good terms with King Qin; they would surely give him face.

 Chapter 1196 - 1202: Just a Little Pain

    Chapter 1196: Chapter 1202: Just a Little PainThe man in black also heard the sound of horse hooves rapidly approaching and a flicker of panic crossed his mind. It was at this moment that Tan Zhenghong produced a dagger, feinted with a move, and finally broke free from the black-clad figure¡¯s control.


    The Chen Family Shadow Guards quickly took action, lining up in a row to guard the main entrance.


    Qin Longyun warned, "This mission has failed, and you¡¯ve alerted the Guang House. What do you think King Liang will do to you?"


    King Liang was naturally suspicious and brutal, something that the man in black should be more aware of than anyone else.


    The man in black hesitated for a moment before hastily escaping the courtyard.


    He did not wish to live a life worse than death at the Mansion of King Liang, so he could only forsake the vows he had once made.


    However, there was none of the remorse he had expected to feel in his heart. After all, King Liang was a despicable man, and he saw no need to play the gentleman.


    Soldiers soon flooded into the courtyard.


    "Lord Qin, I apologize for my late arrival."


    Qin Longyun gave a supportive gesture, "General, your journey must have been hard, I am deeply grateful."


    Being a civilian official with no authority to command troops, he was fortunate that they agreed to come at all. How could he be picky? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lord Qin, please rest inside. I will have the military doctor treat your wounds."


    The chaos of the yard also had to be cleaned up quickly.


    Qin Longyun nodded his head and helped Tan Zhenghong into the main room as well.


    The military doctor examined them and looked troubled, only speaking up when Qin Longyun inquired, "The rest are superficial wounds that can be treated with some ointment, but this arm..."


    Old injuries compounded with new ones were beyond his ability to treat.


    "It¡¯s fine, just go ahead and bandage it," said Tan Zhenghong, who didn¡¯t regard his broken arm as a concern.


    Last time Bai Yifan had said that only he could mend such a fracture, and now only he could be asked to do it again.


    With the military stationed to stand guard, even if someone was watching from the shadows, they wouldn¡¯t dare to cause any more trouble.


    After Bai Yifan finished refining the medicine, the group set off back to Mansion City.


    Inside the carriage, Bai Yifan reset Tan Zhenghong¡¯s broken arm.


    "If you go through this again, I really won¡¯t be able to help you," he said.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke evenly, "I have obtained the antidote already. Naturally, there won¡¯t be a next time."


    "If Duo¡¯er knew how recklessly you risked yourself, she would surely be moved," said Bai Yifan, his tone somewhat sour.


    No wonder Duo¡¯er was loyally devoted to him. If the roles were switched, he had no confidence he could do better than Tan Zhenghong.


    "Everything I have now was given to me by Duo¡¯er, so why would such injuries move her?"


    Without Duo¡¯er, he would have been a cripple with a broken leg or perhaps even dead a long time ago. What was a bit of pain compared to that?


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was in good spirits, Qin Longyun asked curiously, "I really want to know where you and Duo¡¯er learned your martial arts skills."


    Apart from them, he had never seen anyone else use the same techniques.


    "When I was a child, I was adopted by my cousin, whose village had an old man who taught me a lot of martial arts skills. I guess he must have been a reclusive expert, but unfortunately, I was taken back to the Tan Family very early on," Tan Zhenghong explained but only partially.


    His mentor had once been a vanguard under General Old Lu, a very capable man.


    However, he was young when he studied under him and it wasn¡¯t for long, he only learned the basics, and the rest Duo¡¯er taught him.


    He thought Duo¡¯er¡¯s martial arts were quick and versatile and would surely be formidable on a battlefield.


    But... he probably would only ever dream about that in this lifetime.


    "It would be an honor to meet him just once," Bai Yifan said, also quite interested.


    "It¡¯s a pity he has been dead for many years."


    "Indeed, that is a pity," sighed Qin Longyun.


    If he had the fortune to become the old master¡¯s disciple, he wouldn¡¯t have been a burden during fights.

 Chapter 1197 - 1203: Another Henpecked Husband

    Chapter 1197: Chapter 1203: Another Henpecked HusbandBy the time Bai Yifan reached Mansion City, he had spent half a day and finally managed to produce nine red pills.


    "Take the antidote with warm water for three consecutive days, and the poison in their bodies will be completely eliminated," Bai Yifan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The hustle of the past few days was all for these pills, fortunately, the result was good.


    After swallowing an antidote, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately felt much better.


    Taking advantage of the cool evening, she asked to take a walk in the courtyard, otherwise she might suffocate.


    "Ke-kun, have you thought about how you are going to thank me?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was full of gratitude. If it wasn¡¯t for Lu Kejun¡¯s Golden Silkworm Gu, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have survived until Tan Zhenghong and the others found the antidote. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No need, I have already had Luo Qingfeng thank me,"


    Lu Kejun said mischievously.


    Suddenly, everyone looked at Luo Qingfeng who grimaced, "I am her husband, what can she do to me?"


    It was only about letting his junior down for a month.


    This fierce woman teased him daily; he was itching to do something, but in the end, he only ended up more agonized.


    The sensation... was simply too intoxicating.


    Qin Longyun¡¯s lips curled upward, "Be more specific."


    "Is that how you act as an elder brother?" Luo Qingfeng shot him a disdainful look.


    "Little sister, I am not competent enough as an elder brother, I¡¯ll have to rely on your discipline in the future," Qin Longyun gestured with a handclap.


    "Don¡¯t set me up!"


    Luo Qingfeng clasped his hands together.


    He once thought he was cunning enough, but facing Lu Kejun proved he was nowhere close, so he should never mess with his own wife.


    Tan Zhenghong raised an eyebrow, "Did we just witness the birth of another hen-pecked husband?"


    "What do you mean?" Luo Qingfeng was utterly confused.


    Lu Kejun sighed, "To think I was wise my whole life, how did I end up with such a fool?"


    What else could being hen-pecked mean? It¡¯s simply being afraid of one¡¯s wife.


    Luo Qingfeng pursed his lips, thinking to himself that he, too, had his moments of charm, if not for that unfortunate mistake of catching someone bathing, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation!


    Before he could finish his thoughts, his ear was already being pinched.


    "Wife, I am thrice lucky to have married such a gentle, lovely, and clever wife like you," Luo Qingfeng resolutely abandoned his dignity.


    Lu Kejun snorted, "This isn¡¯t over, we¡¯ll talk tonight!"


    With Luo Qingfeng and Lu Kejun, the two jokers, there was never a dull moment for everyone.


    Of course, while some families were happy, others were not, like Wang Yun and his mother.


    They were staying at the Tan Family just to see how Qiao Duo¡¯er would die, yet she kept getting better day by day!


    This was absolutely intolerable!


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er were to fully recover, they couldn¡¯t expect to gain any advantage from the Tan Family.


    Just as everyone was enjoying their time in the courtyard, Niu Zijun ran over smiling: "Auntie, it¡¯s great that you are getting better!"


    Niu Zijun appeared happy for Duo¡¯er, but no one felt reassured.


    Because his speed was enough to injure Duo¡¯er, and once bumped into, the consequences would be unthinkable.


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t even care about the wound on his arm and immediately shielded Duo¡¯er, while Lu Kejun swiftly picked up Niu Zijun from midair.


    She already disliked Wang Yun and his mother, and now her disgust had reached its peak.


    Lu Kejun furrowed his brow and said, "Keep him in check!"


    Niu Zijun struggled fiercely but could not escape Lu Kejun¡¯s grasp, only able to cry out, "Mom, help me!"


    "Zi Jun, are you alright?" Wang Yun was extremely anxious.


    Lu Kejun was a spoiled young lady with the worst temper, she must not hurt his son.

 Chapter 1198 - 1204: Do You Think I’m Stupid?

    Chapter 1198: Chapter 1204: Do You Think I¡¯m Stupid?"What could he possibly do? If Duo¡¯er is the one at risk, would you compensate for her life if something really happened?"


    Although Wang Yun was in the wrong, he still stubbornly said, "Isn¡¯t Duo¡¯er sitting there all fine? Who needs to compensate? Besides, Jun¡¯er is just a child, why bother with him so seriously?"


    "It¡¯s only right to compensate a life for a life."


    Lu Kejun said each word distinctly.


    "Young Master Bai has already developed an antidote, who could still kill Duo¡¯er? Jun¡¯er is just happy and wanted to play with her," Wang Yun retorted.


    Lu Kejun clenched his teeth but couldn¡¯t come up with a rebuttal right away.


    Bai Yifan had specifically instructed that one should avoid all bleeding for three days after taking the antidote.


    However, Wang Yun was not present at that time, so it really couldn¡¯t be said that it was intentional on her part.


    But she wouldn¡¯t believe, even if it killed her, that Niu Zijun suddenly ran over just because he was playful, nor would she believe he was happy because Duo¡¯er had recovered.


    Wang Yun added another sentence: "You don¡¯t have children, what do you know about a child¡¯s mind?"


    Lu Kejun gave her a disdainful look. She might not have children, but were Green Group Tangyuan and Rui Rui not children?


    They were kind and sensible, nothing like the willful and annoying Niu Zijun.


    "Miss, I just saw her secretly taking Madam Tan¡¯s antidote."


    Meng¡¯er, who just came out from the hall on time, accused Wang Yun of her crime.


    She was Lu Kejun¡¯s personal maid, and had always been ordered to keep an eye on Wang Yun.


    These days Wang Yun had been mostly staying quiet inside her room, only cursing occasionally, but today she really let the fox¡¯s tail show.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense!" Wang Yun shouted angrily.


    "Then explain why your earring was found in Madam¡¯s bedroom?" Meng¡¯er brought out the evidence.


    Wang Yun quickly touched her ear, only then realizing her left ear was indeed bare.


    How could she make such a grave mistake?


    No, she must not admit it!


    Wang Yun steadied her nerves before she finally said, "I went to see Duo¡¯er and even simmered a nutritious soup for her, but I didn¡¯t expect her to be out of her room."


    If you don¡¯t believe it, the soup is still in her room.


    Meng¡¯er was not in a hurry, she quickly approached Wang Yun and swiftly took a medicine bottle from her waist before she could react.


    "This is the medicine you stole, unfortunately, something as crucial as this couldn¡¯t just be found by you so easily," Meng¡¯er said with a slight smirk.


    Tan Zhenghong was extremely cautious with Duo¡¯er¡¯s medicine, keeping it on him at all times, and this was just to divert the attention of certain others.


    Too bad someone was foolish enough to fall for it.


    The next second, Wang Yun changed her expression completely.


    "You all go to great lengths just to frame me, Ah Hong, are you just going to watch me being bullied?"


    After saying that, she even wiped away nonexistent tears with a handkerchief.


    "Meng¡¯er is my personal maid, she would never lie," Lu Kejun said, utterly furious.


    Wang Yun really knows how to deflect blame!


    "I know Duo¡¯er has a problem with me, and you all don¡¯t like me either, but you can¡¯t just pin everything on me."


    "I admit I¡¯m not very fond of Duo¡¯er, but Ah Hong treasures her as his life. If anything happens to her, Ah Hong surely wouldn¡¯t want to live either. I wouldn¡¯t harm Duo¡¯er even just for Ah Hong¡¯s sake."


    Wang Yun cried sorrowfully, as if she truly was being wronged.


    Tan Zhenghong closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, his expression was clear.


    "Do you really think I¡¯m a fool?"


    With both human and physical evidence right before him, yet she still refused to admit her wrongs.


    Wang Yun¡¯s lips trembled, "Ah Hong, what do you mean by this?"


    sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1199 - 1205: A Lesson

    Chapter 1199: Chapter 1205: A Lesson"The first day I arrived, I had someone surveil you, so what do you think that means?" Lu Ke-kun curled her lips.


    She really didn¡¯t know whether to call this woman naive or just stupid.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time she had swindled Duo¡¯er and the Tan Family¡¯s silver, and now she¡¯s playing innocent¡ªwho would believe that?


    "It was you who conspired against me, stirring up trouble between Ah Hong and me." Wang Yun glared angrily at Lu Ke-kun.


    Then she turned pitifully to Tan Zhenghong: "Ah Hong, you mustn¡¯t be fooled by them; they¡¯re not good people; they have ulterior motives for getting close to you."


    "Tsk, a small fry like you isn¡¯t worth my time to frame!"


    Being the only daughter of the Lu Family, if it weren¡¯t for being friends with Duo¡¯er, she wouldn¡¯t even know who Wang Yun was in her next life, okay?


    As for Tan Zhenghong... she still understood the principle that a friend¡¯s husband is off-limits.


    No, what Wang Yun must have been talking about is the Tan Family¡¯s fortune, which she cared even less for.


    To her, money is just a number, a number that only increases.


    At the critical moment, Luo Qingfeng had to side with his own wife. He said coldly, "If you slander my wife any further, you¡¯ll bear the consequences!"


    Such as poisoning that little brat, or ruining Wang Yun¡¯s face...


    Anyway, he had more poison on hand than he could ever use.


    Right, there was also the newly developed poison that hadn¡¯t been tested on anyone yet.


    Frozen by Luo Qingfeng¡¯s gaze, Wang Yun dared not spout nonsense any longer.


    Before she could think of what to say next, Niu Zijun was already cursing at Duo¡¯er, pointing at her nose.


    "You¡¯re such a slut, always seducing men. Why don¡¯t you just go die sooner!"


    "When I¡¯m capable, I¡¯ll sell you to the Drunk Red Building so that you can serve the lowest of men every day!"


    Lu Ke-kun could no longer bear it and pulled out a white pill from her waistband, stuffing it into Niu Zijun¡¯s mouth.


    The unbearable noise finally stopped.


    "Jun¡¯er, that¡¯s poison, spit it out quickly!"


    Wang Yun hastily dug at Niu Zijun¡¯s throat.


    Lu Ke-kun crossed her arms, "My medicine dissolves upon contact with water; it can¡¯t be spit out. But don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not fatal¡ªjust means you can¡¯t speak for a few days."


    She was doing it for Zi Jun¡¯s own good; after all, it wasn¡¯t nice for someone so young to curse like a street thug.


    If she didn¡¯t teach him a lesson now, he¡¯d end up beaten to death sooner or later.


    Niu Zijun was still a child, and he cried out loud, overwhelmed by fright, with tears pouring down like rain.


    Wang Yun hugged her son, howling: "Do you have no humanity? How could you bear to harm a child? Dad, open your eyes and see; the ungrateful wretch you raised, who only knows how to side with outsiders to bully your daughter and grandson! Why is my life so miserable?"


    If only her father had strangled Tan Zhenghong at birth, there would¡¯ve been none of these issues.


    "You don¡¯t deserve to mention your father; he never had a malicious daughter like you!"


    Tan Zhenghong didn¡¯t spare her any more face.


    He had been tolerant time and again, but all it brought was her unrepentance and even more outrageous behavior.


    Perhaps Wang Yun had forgotten that he was also a human, capable of becoming disheartened and cold.


    "Your life was given by my father; I should kill you!"


    Wang Yun was still relentless, rising to pounce on Tan Zhenghong with a crazed look in her eyes.


    But Lu Ke-kun wouldn¡¯t discuss past favors with her; having been disgusted by Wang Yun¡¯s hypocrisy these past few days, and now with Tan Zhenghong¡¯s stance clear, she had her servants throw Wang Yun and her son out. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Besides, she issued another order.


    That was to beat up Wang Yun and her family should they show any intention of approaching the Tan Family again.

 Chapter 1200 - 1206: What breed?

    Chapter 1200: Chapter 1206: What breed?Tan Zhenghong knew all of this, but he didn¡¯t say a word; in fact, he even felt a sense of relief.


    Due to his uncle¡¯s relationship, he couldn¡¯t be too heartless toward Wang Yun, but if others wanted to deal with her, that was out of his control.


    Well... when the opportunity arose, he would properly thank Lu Kejun.


    "Forget about that woman, I¡¯ve prepared some delicious food for you."


    Lu Kejun clapped her hands, and someone immediately brought over some food.


    When everyone saw what was on the plate, their expressions changed.


    Because all the trouble in the past few days had originated from this very thing¡ªit was the rice cake from the Dragon Boat Festival temple fair.


    Chen Yiling turned her head away, "I never want to see this thing again in my life!"


    "I feel I¡¯m also not blessed enough to enjoy it for now." Qiao Duo¡¯er could relate deeply.


    "You guys are really not giving me face here, and your attitude is problematic too. It wasn¡¯t this that caused you trouble; it was Li Mu¡¯er, so why aren¡¯t you eating?" Lu Kejun tried to persuade them nicely.


    The most evil thing in the world is the human heart; everything else is merely a tool being used.


    Except for Luo Qingfeng who took one, no one else paid any attention to her.


    "Forget it, I¡¯ll take it to the study and see if the kids will eat it." Lu Kejun took the plate and left.


    "What do you think will happen?" Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows.


    Chen Yiling spread her hands, "I am a lady who has been well-mannered since childhood, how could I guess what those wild kids would do?"


    "Look who¡¯s talking about being a lady."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help commenting. Chen Yiling might look like a lady, but in reality... she was just a covertly passionate person.


    Chen Yiling wanted to say that when she was in the Capital, she really never ventured beyond her household gates, and she spoke softly and gently, afraid of frightening others.


    It was just that later, when no one was supervising, she went astray.


    Soon, Lu Kejun ran back from the backyard.


    "Aren¡¯t you managing your own children?" Lu Kejun asked furiously.


    The little brats even dared to catch mice, what kind were they? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Green Group exclaimed while running, "Second Aunt, come and play with us, I just caught it, it¡¯s so fun!"


    "Keep it away, it¡¯s disgusting!" Lu Kejun was extremely repulsed.


    Qin Mingrui said innocently, "We took a long time to catch just this one, my mom said good things should be shared, come play with us!"


    "Second Aunt, don¡¯t run away!"


    Tangyuan¡¯s voice was the most melodious, yet it made Lu Kejun¡¯s scalp numb.


    She really wanted to smack these three little brats to death!


    Chen Yiling cautioned, "Slow down while you run, falling down will hurt."


    As for that mouse... everyone knew Lu Kejun wouldn¡¯t really do anything to the kids, so they all folded their arms and enjoyed the show.


    Who would have thought that the fearless Miss Lu would be scared of mice?


    Luo Qingfeng, while helping Lu Kejun dodge the kids¡¯ attacks, secretly thought maybe he could keep a mouse too.


    Considering the mouse¡¯s face, his wife might even be gentler.


    But then again, he might end up poisoned at night.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ruyi brought over the late-night snacks that the three little ones finally quieted down.


    "See how good it is to have some normal late-night snacks."


    Chen Yiling laughed unkindly.


    Green Group swallowed a piece of pastry and then said, "Ruyi learned from my mom, she makes it tasty and pretty, much better than that whatever cake."


    Lu Kejun rolled her eyes, "You always defend your mom!"


    "You could have one too; she¡¯d definitely defend you." Green Group stuck out her tongue.


    Lu Kejun narrowed her eyes, "How about I have a daughter and make her your wife then?"


    She would definitely teach all she knew to her own daughter.

 Chapter 1201 - 1207: Too... close to the beast

    Chapter 1201: Chapter 1207: Too... close to the beastHmm...he should be able to tame the Green Group easily enough.


    The Green Group rubbed his cheeks, "My mom says you can¡¯t force feelings."


    Besides, what if he doesn¡¯t have a daughter¡ªshould he marry a man?


    Lu Kejun patted the Green Group¡¯s head; this little thing was good-looking, smart, and they knew everything about him; he would be a fine match.


    As for love, as long as she wanted it, she could surely make the Green Group willingly marry her daughter.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked at her son with sympathy and silently wished him the best of luck.


    The daughters of the Lu Family were truly not for the average person to handle.


    Luo Qingfeng said with great joy, "Wife, are you really going to have a daughter for me?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Does this mean his ascetic life should come to an end?


    "Daydreaming, aren¡¯t you? Did I say I¡¯d have one for you?"


    Lu Kejun looked disdainful; what if the child turned out as dumb as Luo Qingfeng? She might die of frustration, right?


    Luo Qingfeng said with hurt, "You ungrateful woman, I just risked my life to protect you, and you¡¯ve already forgotten?"


    "Let¡¯s talk about it later."


    Lu Kejun said calmly.


    She felt she was still young; this matter had to be delayed for a few years.


    Luo Qingfeng had to swallow his anger; facing Lu Kejun, what could he do?


    He couldn¡¯t fight, couldn¡¯t curse, and when it came to using poison or medicine, they were evenly matched; he couldn¡¯t get the upper hand at all.


    He could only endure...


    During these three days of medication, Bai Yifan closely monitored the condition of the three people; luckily, all three were recovering well.


    But when checking Qiao Duo¡¯s pulse, Bai Yifan¡¯s expression was somewhat complicated.


    "Is there a problem?"


    Tan Zhenghong was anxious.


    "Yes," Bai Yifan paused before saying, "Duo¡¯er is pregnant."


    "Tan Zhenghong, you¡¯re really something, aren¡¯t you? With Duo¡¯er like this, you actually..." Lu Kejun immediately gave him a look of contempt.


    "I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t even have the chance."


    Tan Zhenghong claimed innocence.


    Ever since he learned about the cursed poison in Duo¡¯er, he had been looking for Li Mu¡¯er, and then his arm was broken; even if he wanted to, he was physically incapable.


    "Don¡¯t jump to conclusions. It¡¯s been over a month; we were all focused on the poison and didn¡¯t notice this."


    But as far as he knew, Tan Zhenghong had been wanting a life with only the two of them, so he had consistently been drinking the contraceptive medicine Qiao Duo prepared.


    Could it be...umm...that Qiao Duo...?


    There¡¯s no way that would happen in this lifetime, otherwise, he would have made Qiao Duo his wife long ago.


    Tangyuan cheered, "Yay, I¡¯m going to be a big sister!"


    "Did you two do this?"


    Tan Zhenghong gave a menacing look.


    Tangyuan said with grievance, "All I... I just didn¡¯t want to be the youngest."


    Tan Zhenghong clenched his teeth; the one who made the mistake was his precious little daughter whom he doted on, so he could only bear it, no, where could Tangyuan get the medicine?


    "Was it you?"


    Tan Zhenghong glanced at the brothers who came out of Medicine King Valley.


    Tangyuan liked pretty things and naturally got close to these two enchantingly handsome individuals who had countless precious medicinal materials.


    Bai Yifan and Luo Qingfeng quickly shook their heads; they definitely did not partake in this matter.


    After all, human life is of utmost importance...


    Tangyuan said weakly, "I had someone buy medicine for the common cold from outside."


    Ji Xiang and Ruyi standing nearby immediately hung their heads.


    They prayed silently that the young missy wouldn¡¯t call out the person who bought the medicine.


    They had been threatened by the two young brats of the Tan Family; if they didn¡¯t comply, they would be driven out; what else could they do?


    How many owners as gentle and magnanimous as the Tan Family could there be?

 Chapter 1202 - 1208: Deciding to Keep Him

    Chapter 1202: Chapter 1208: Deciding to Keep Him"You little rascal, you can¡¯t sit still for a moment," Qiao Duo¡¯er scolded.


    However, she couldn¡¯t really blame Tangyuan; after all, she didn¡¯t have an obsession with having children. She wasn¡¯t insistent, and if it happened, it was meant to be.


    But Tan Zhenghong just sat in the chair with a gloomy look on his face.


    With Tangyuan and Green Group, the two little ones, he already felt overwhelmed. How could they be expecting another?


    "Just bear with it, and it will pass."


    Qin Longyun patted Tan Zhenghong on the shoulder, understanding his feelings very well.


    Thankfully, when Ling¡¯er gave birth to Qin Mingrui, the child, she had injured herself and couldn¡¯t get pregnant again.


    Luo Qingfeng just curled his lips, "Poor child, even broke an arm."


    "Cough cough, I¡¯m tired."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er walked into the inner room.


    Men are all the same, fundamentally driven by lust.


    Tan Zhenghong hurriedly followed her inside, "Wife, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? I¡¯ll make it for you."


    Although he didn¡¯t want children, he still had to take good care of his wife.


    "I¡¯m not hungry, I¡¯ll sleep for a while." Qiao Duo¡¯er lay down on the bed fully clothed.


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mood was still complex. He simply lay down as well, sighing at the thought that before long, another little devil of the world would be added to the household, and Duo¡¯er would have even less attention to spare for him.


    Being a man is indeed a hard fate.


    When Tan Zhenghong¡¯s breathing had steadied, Duo¡¯er tiptoed out of the bed and went straight to Bai Yifan¡¯s room.


    "Why aren¡¯t you resting properly?" Bai Yifan was somewhat surprised, but still moved aside to let Duo¡¯er into the room.


    "Could the urn poison I was exposed to before affect the child?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er got right to the point.


    Bai Yifan hadn¡¯t expected Duo¡¯er to have thought of this already, but he had no intention of hiding it from her.


    He pointed to the medical texts spread out on the table, "I haven¡¯t found an answer yet."


    Urn Technique is a forbidden technique. He knew only the basics, and since diagnosing Duo¡¯er¡¯s pregnancy, he had been pouring over medical books, but the records were also fragmented at best.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "What about your experience?"


    "It¡¯s still too early to tell from the pulse, and as for experience... it¡¯s certain the fetus will be frail, but beyond that, I can¡¯t say for sure."


    Bai Yifan spoke truthfully.


    "Could the medicine used before cause deformities?"


    Duo¡¯er¡¯s tone was somber, knowing that pregnant women shouldn¡¯t take medication carelessly.


    "The medicine I prescribed for you was for nourishing the blood and stopping bleeding. If a normal woman were showing signs of miscarriage, she would use the same. It won¡¯t harm the fetus."


    So the only difficulty was not knowing how significant the effects of Madam¡¯s envy might be.


    If it was just frailty, it wasn¡¯t a problem with Bai Yifan¡¯s care.


    But if it was a disability or stillbirth, Bai Yifan would be powerless as he was only a mortal.


    After a long silence, Bai Yifan finally said, "Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. The child is still small. You and Tan Zhenghong can work out a solution within two months."


    "No need, I want you to do your best to keep him." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er spoke earnestly.


    In this era, without advanced diagnostic tools like ultrasound, no one could be certain of the child¡¯s condition. She couldn¡¯t give up on him because of an uncertain factor.


    "Have you made up your mind?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "You know the Tan Family¡¯s situation. Even if there really is a problem, I can still take care of him for life."


    "It¡¯s better to keep it then. Your body can¡¯t stand the strain for now. Later on, just focus on nurturing the fetus, and I¡¯ll arrange the rest."


    Bai Yifan also felt much relieved.


    Even if there was a problem, he would still be there, wouldn¡¯t he?

 Chapter 1203 - 1209: Capital’s Richest Tycoon

    Chapter 1203: Chapter 1209: Capital¡¯s Richest Tycoon"Thank you," Qiao Duo¡¯er was very sincere.


    She would never be able to fully repay what Bai Yifan had done for her in this lifetime. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you have to be so formal with me? I¡¯m your third brother. It¡¯s my duty to do anything for you. Instead, you must take good care of yourself."


    Bai Yifan now felt only pity for Duo¡¯er.


    Pregnancy, which should have been a joyous occasion, had been complicated by the envy of the Madam.


    Had he known it would come to this, he would have struck deeper when taking the heart¡¯s blood from Li Mu¡¯er.


    After giving some more instructions, Duo¡¯er stood up to take her leave.


    Just as she stepped out, Tan Zhenghong greeted her, "Such a big incident and you weren¡¯t going to tell me, planning to shoulder it all alone?"


    "You knew already?" Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze flickered.


    Tan Zhenghong spoke truthfully, "I woke up just as you did and have been waiting at the door for you."


    So, he had heard every word she said to Bai Yifan.


    Thinking that he was not the person Duo¡¯er trusted and depended on the most, his eyes inevitably dimmed.


    "I was afraid you¡¯d worry."


    "If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll worry even more. From now on, you can¡¯t hide anything from me, and our child will definitely be fine," Tan Zhenghong said seriously.


    "I believe in you, and I believe in our child," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    If she, as a mother, couldn¡¯t trust her own child, then who else would?


    In truth, she should have told Tan Zhenghong earlier because he was the child¡¯s father. He had the right to know everything about the child.


    A month and a half flew by, and other than being sleepy, Duo¡¯er experienced no discomfort. Bai Yifan said the pregnancy was stabilizing, and the worried hearts of everyone began to settle.


    Taking advantage of the nice weather, Qiao Duo¡¯er invited Tan Zhenghong out to stroll the streets and inspect their family businesses.


    Otherwise, the eldest child would again complain about her being a hands-off boss.


    When they reached the entrance of Duo Meifang, Duo¡¯er was stunned.


    Duo Meifang had no patrons coming in; instead, it was so empty one could catch sparrows at the door.


    All the other branches were booming with business upon opening, in high demand. How could it be so desolate here in Mansion City?


    She had even advertised at the Qin Family banquet.


    Looking across at the shop opposite Duo Meifang, she instantly understood.


    A new establishment called Yan Meige had opened there. It was decadently decorated, with many ladies and young misses coming and going.


    Tan Zhenghong knew he couldn¡¯t hide it, so he revealed, "That shop is a cooperative venture between Prince Liang and the Capital¡¯s richest man, selling goods similar to ours but at prices thirty percent lower. Customers are willing to buy from them instead."


    "Who is the richest man in the Capital?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er narrowed her eyes; the title of richest man alone suggested that he was not a person to be trifled with.


    But to encroach onto her plate¡ªdid they really think she was just a paper tiger?


    "It¡¯s the Shen Family. When the Daxing Dynasty was founded, the Shen Family ancestor made significant contributions. The Great Ancestor Emperor bestowed many advantages on their family, and after two generations, they rose to the position of richest. Recently, the third head of the family died abruptly, and after a period of turmoil in the Shen Family, the peasant son Shen Liu became the head of the family with the support of the Empress¡¯s bloodline."


    Tan Zhenghong had already investigated the Shen Family¡¯s background, but he hadn¡¯t yet figured out how to deal with them.


    After all, the Shen Family controlled nearly forty percent of the Daxing Dynasty¡¯s economy and also had ties to the Royal Family.


    In comparison, the Tan Family was almost without any strength to fight.


    "It¡¯s a pity the Shen Family has come to this end," said Qiao Duo¡¯er with a sigh.


    The reason the Empress¡¯s bloodline supported Shen Liu was simple: the battle for the throne was never without the need for gold and silver support.


    Sometimes, the economic situation directly determined who was the final victor.


    Therefore, Shen Liu could only use his silver to support the Empress¡¯s bloodline until... the Shen Family was emptied, or the Empress¡¯s bloodline fell from power.

 Chapter 1204 - 1210: It Hits Hard

    Chapter 1204: Chapter 1210: It Hits HardNo matter the outcome, it would be a disaster for the Shen Family.


    "I¡¯ve heard that in meticulous households, not only is the family business inherited by the legitimate son, but there is also a huge difference in upbringing. Shen Liu is rather shortsighted."


    Tan Zhenghong strongly agreed with Duo¡¯er¡¯s view.


    Conspiring with a tiger; the only outcome is a dead end.


    It¡¯s just a pity that Shen Liu was only thinking about the position of family head and did not consider the future development of the Shen Family, hence he was destined to become the sinner of the Shen Family.


    "Do you know anyone in Daxing capable of contending with the Shen Family?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked.


    The self-destruction of the Shen Family was a great opportunity for others.


    After some thought, Tan Zhenghong said, "Apart from the Imperial, only the Jia Family and the Water Cloud Gang are left. Both the Jia Family and the Shen Family are Imperial merchants. The Jia Family mainly deals in silk and ceramics, while the Shen Family mainly deals in canal transport and gold and silver jewelry. The Water Cloud Gang is a commercial guild formed to prevent the dominance of Imperial merchants and is involved in various industries."


    Duo¡¯er was not unfamiliar with the Water Cloud Gang, whose headquarters was located in Ning Tian Mansion City, famously known far and wide.


    If she wanted a partner, the most convenient and reliable choice was the Water Cloud Gang.


    "Try to arrange a meeting with the head of the Water Cloud Gang."


    Tan Zhenghong patted his chest, "Leave this matter to me."


    Now, he held a nominal Fourth Rank Official rank, which should earn him some respect from the people at the Water Cloud Gang.


    Seeing that Tan Zhenghong was confident, Qiao Duo¡¯er no longer worried but walked into Yan Meige.


    As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. She needed to first investigate the enemy.


    "Madam, what would you like to buy? Our store has all sorts of rouge and face powder, as well as beauty and skincare products, guaranteed to satisfy you."


    A young girl greeted her enthusiastically.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced at the counter; indeed, they were all imitations of Duo Meifang.


    Not only the name, but even the packaging and the attire of the shopping guides in the store were strikingly similar.


    Currently, Duo Meifang¡¯s trademark was the logo designed by Wind Liyang.


    This... really hurts.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took a deep breath, suppressing the idea of smashing this lousy store.


    "I¡¯ll have a look at each item."


    The young girl quickly said, "Please take a seat upstairs, I¡¯ll bring them right up."


    In no time, a row of wooden boxes was placed in front of Duo¡¯er, and the more she looked, the more suffocated she felt. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed Prince Liang had found a mastermind who could analyze every product¡¯s components to the point even she couldn¡¯t tell the fake from the genuine.


    "Madam, let me introduce you, these beauty products have their special features. The one in your hand can whiten..."


    The shopping guide went on non-stop about the effects of various products.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er touched her ears; this was the spiel she had taught the guides, but she genuinely did not want to listen.


    Taking advantage of the girl¡¯s pause to breathe, Duo¡¯er interrupted her, "I heard Duo Meifang has a rouge called Peach Red Drunk. Why haven¡¯t I seen it?"


    "That one... our store doesn¡¯t have it temporarily. Why don¡¯t you look at these few? Their effects are even better than Peach Red Drunk."


    "But I really like the peach blossom fragrance."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er looked disappointed.


    Peach Red Drunk was the last new product she had created before coming to Mansion City; it made no sense that everything else was successfully copied except this one.


    The only possibility was that this mysterious mastermind couldn¡¯t replicate it.


    As for the reason... it might be because she was insensitive to or allergic to peach fragrance.


    The girl still wouldn¡¯t give up, "I think the Osmanthus Peony also smells very nice, why don¡¯t you try it?"


    "Then just these two."


    Duo¡¯er casually picked two boxes, and after Tan Zhenghong paid the silver, the two of them left together.

 Chapter 1205 - 1211: Harmful to a Significant Degree

    Chapter 1205: Chapter 1211: Harmful to a Significant DegreeUpon entering Duo Meifang, only Big Sister and Almond were in the shop.


    Both looked listless, but they perked up the moment they saw Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, how come you¡¯re out?" Big Sister asked with a smile plastered across her face.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes dismissively, "If I don¡¯t come, this store will soon have to close its doors for good."


    "We were afraid that it would be too much for you. Brother Ah Hong also said that even without Duo Meifang, he could still ensure you have a comfortable life."


    Big Sister looked apologetically at Tan Zhenghong, at this point she had to fend for herself.


    She had gone to him for a consultation when the competition first started across the street; it was he who suggested they hold their fire for the time being.


    That decision led to the business across the street booming, while Duo Meifang sometimes didn¡¯t even see a single customer in a day.


    At this rate, Duo Meifang was indeed close to shutting down.


    "How long will our funds last?" asked Qiao Duo¡¯er.


    Almond hurriedly presented the account book to Duo¡¯er, "The other branches are in crisis too. Even if we halt both the Embroidery Room and the production of beauty products, we would last only about half a year."


    Just keeping the doors open meant constant expenses.


    "Keep everything running as usual; I¡¯ll write up a few skin care recipes later. You guys rush to make them and send some to my house¡ªI need them urgently."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    She had already thought of a solution, one that would not only revitalize Duo Meifang but also give Prince Liang a taste of his own medicine.


    Big Sister immediately responded, "We will make sure to accomplish whatever task you set for us."


    After flipping through the account book some more, Duo¡¯er continued, "In the next few days, liquidate the stock at a discount, but don¡¯t sell at a loss; handle the rest however you need to¡ªthese items won¡¯t be of use in the future."


    In her previous life, she had treasured her own skin dearly, so she remembered plenty of formulas.


    Had it not been for a series of recent events and their failure to update Duo Meifang¡¯s products on time, how could Prince Liang have succeeded so smoothly?


    Big Sister¡¯s mind raced with ideas. Selling at half price would prevent a loss, allowing for various promotional techniques.


    Such as ¡¯buy one, get one free,¡¯ ¡¯spend more, save more,¡¯ ¡¯gift coupons for new products...¡¯


    Once word got out, Duo Meifang¡¯s loyal customers would surely flock to the store.


    And when Yan Meige started copying their strategy of slashing prices, Duo Meifang¡¯s new products would hit the market, leaving them without competitive power.


    Indeed, at critical moments, it was always necessary for Duo¡¯er to take charge.


    Of course, Duo¡¯er¡¯s plan was far more meticulous than anything Big Sister had considered.


    Leaving Duo Meifang, Tan Zhenghong carefully discerned Duo¡¯er¡¯s mood.


    "There, there. I won¡¯t have you dropped dead just yet," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with a curved brow. After all, her three children shouldn¡¯t be left fatherless, should they?


    Tan Zhenghong let out a couple of dry laughs, "Then I thank my wife for the mercy of not taking my life. Whatever commands you have in the future, I will brave any danger without hesitation."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips; it was only business, after all¡ªno need for braving any danger.


    But his attitude was excellent, and that alone made her secretly rejoice.


    The two bantered as they walked, occasionally overhearing comments from passersby.


    "Niu Fuquan really is no good. He ignored his legitimate children, and now he¡¯s even trying to take his wife¡¯s dowry. It¡¯s a good thing the Huo¡¯s Family had a plan and married the Second Miss to him as a concubine; otherwise, the dowry would have gone to his mistress."


    "I heard the Second Miss already threw them out. That¡¯s karma for you!"


    "What a pity for Second Miss, her whole life ruined by Niu Fuquan." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, finding a good family will be difficult for her now!"


    Although Huo Minglan and Niu Fuquan had divorced, what respectable man would marry a woman who has been divorced?


    That¡¯s how damaging a scoundrel can be!

 Chapter 1206 - 1212 Evened Out

    Chapter 1206: Chapter 1212 Evened OutQiao Duo¡¯er squinted her eyes, "Huo Minglan acted faster than I had anticipated."


    She remembered that during their last meeting, Huo Minglan hadn¡¯t been entirely sure.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have come to explore the Tan Family¡¯s attitude, nor would she have breathed a sigh of relief after finding out that the Tan Family would not intervene.


    "Wang Yun, upon returning to the Niu family, had administered a drug to the Eldest Young Master of the Niu family, and the child almost didn¡¯t survive. In her fury, she gave up forty percent of her properties."


    Tan Zhenghong had told the truth, otherwise the Niu Family might have held on for a few more months.


    "Do you want to go see?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked, knowing without needing to ask that Wang Yun was in a terrible state.


    Wang Yun had always wanted to gain without working, and Niu Fuquan had always been luxuriating in his late wife¡¯s dowry, and their child had been spoiled beyond measure. Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t imagine how such a family would maintain a basic life.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head, "No need, she chose her own path, and I can¡¯t help her forever."


    "It¡¯s good for her to experience some hardships," Qiao Duo¡¯er said lightly.


    At least she wouldn¡¯t take it for granted that everything in the world should belong to her.


    Speaking of Huo Minglan, Duo¡¯er felt her cravings stir.


    She had a taste for tartness, and there was never a lack of preserved fruits at home, but none compared to those personally made by Huo Minglan.


    Thus, Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately took Tan Zhenghong to the preserved fruit shop on West Street.


    This shop was purchased by Huo Minglan herself, and was also her most valued property, so unsurprisingly, she would be there.


    Sure enough, Huo Minglan was directing her clerks to change the shop sign.


    "Master Tan, Mrs. Tan, what rare visitors, please come inside and have a seat," Huo Minglan welcomed them warmly.


    She had dealt with Niu Fuquan and Wang Yun without the Tan family¡¯s interference, and just for that, she felt she should treat them especially well.


    It¡¯s easy to say "support justice not relationships," but how many can actually do it?


    Huo Minglan led them to the backyard and had someone serve tea. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I heard Mrs. Tan is expecting again, but with everything at home in chaos recently, I haven¡¯t had the chance to congratulate you," Huo Minglan said apologetically.


    "I haven¡¯t congratulated you on regaining your freedom either; we are even," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded.


    She also took the opportunity to observe the young servant following behind Huo Minglan.


    Though he wore simple attire, he couldn¡¯t conceal the scholarly aura and elegance about him.


    He appeared to be the man Huo Minglan had set her heart on.


    It was said that ever since Huo Minglan married into the Niu family, he had followed her silently, and it had been three years already¡ªtruly a devoted man.


    Mrs. Huo said shyly, "Madam truly has sharp eyes."


    She and Wen Qing had been very discreet, sans any exchange of glances in public, and nobody in the Niu family had realized in all these years. Yet, Duo¡¯er had noticed right away upon their meeting.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that her expression and her radiant face had already betrayed her.


    "We are old acquaintances, you can just call me Duo¡¯er."


    She was fundamentally a modern person, except on special occasions, she truly disliked being addressed as ¡¯Madam¡¯ or ¡¯Miss¡¯.


    "Then I shall respectfully comply; my name is Ming Lan."


    In just a few words, the clerk outside had already peeked in a few times, probably due to some urgent matter. Duo¡¯er thus directly stated the purpose of her visit.


    "You¡¯re busy, you don¡¯t need to entertain me, just bring out your best preserved fruits."


    Huo Minglan did not protest any further, "No problem, take whatever you like. I will check what¡¯s the matter and come back as soon as possible."


    Having said that, she signaled with her eyes to someone behind her to stay and attend to the guests.


    She wanted to foster a good relationship with Duo¡¯er, naturally, she could not afford to neglect her.

 Chapter 1207 - 1213: A Bit of Melancholy

    Chapter 1207: Chapter 1213: A Bit of Melancholy"Mrs. Tan, these were just pickled this year, and they are perfect to eat right now. You should try some."


    Wen Qing took some candied fruit with a small dish.


    He had a slight knowledge of medicine and had not brought over any hawthorn sweets.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly chose her favorite flavors, but she was a bit dumbfounded when she saw the jars Wen Qing had people bring over.


    The jar was half a meter tall; even if one were to eat it as a meal, it would last until next year.


    However, she had an idea.


    She owned several restaurants and had entrusted them to reliable managers. They were doing okay, which meant business was mediocre.


    Now that Duo Meifang was facing obstacles, why not consider some new dishes?


    Sour date cake, kumquat cake, rock sugar hawthorn drink, candied fruit shaved ice...


    These foods were not only novel but also appetizing and could dispel the summer heat. They were bound to be popular.


    "Pack two pounds of each for me," Duo¡¯er changed her mind, "and let Ming Lan know¡ªI¡¯ll come to visit in a few days."


    Wen Qing promptly complied, thinking that Ming Lan¡¯s desired acquaintance wouldn¡¯t deliberately make things difficult.


    Perhaps her thoughts were quicker due to her pregnancy.


    Duo¡¯er planned to consider these foods when she got home, but she realized she had overestimated her energy.


    Although this pregnancy did not have many symptoms, she was easily fatigued.


    As soon as she got home, she lay on her bed, not wanting to move even a finger.


    Tangyuan pouted and said, "Dad, mom is pregnant, and you don¡¯t even take care of her."


    What if it exhausted their little brother? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er laughed at her mature demeanor: "You seem to know quite a lot."


    "Of course, I¡¯m an apprentice of Medicine King, and I¡¯ll be a doctor too!" Tangyuan said proudly.


    If mom ever got hurt again, she wouldn¡¯t be as useless as before, only able to cry.


    "Amazing!" Duo¡¯er generously complimented.


    She had always thought Bai Yifan favored Tangyuan and felt she was cut out for medicine, but now that Tangyuan recognized most of the herbs, she believed her daughter truly had a gift.


    However, what worried her was Tangyuan¡¯s interest in poisons.


    Green Group said calmly, "Let¡¯s go to the study and let mom rest properly."


    After speaking, he took Tangyuan with him.


    In the study, Tangyuan pouted and said, "Suddenly, I don¡¯t want a little brother anymore."


    If she had known that a little brother would be a burden for her mother, she would never have secretly switched her father¡¯s medicine.


    Of course, what hurt her most was feeling that her parents didn¡¯t care about her as much, even though she knew it wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t love her, but her mother wasn¡¯t well and couldn¡¯t attend to everything.


    "Mom will give birth in a few months, and then we¡¯ll have a little follower."


    Green Group comforted her.


    Being an older brother or sister meant they could boss around a little brother, and the thought alone felt prestigious.


    "That¡¯s true; alright, I¡¯m going to play with Master." Tangyuan shook off her melancholy.


    Worst case, she could settle the score with her little brother once he arrived.


    Guest room.


    Bai Yifan was studying medical texts, and Tangyuan quickly climbed onto his lap.


    "Master, do you love me the most?"


    Tangyuan blinked her watery eyes.


    Bai Yifan was taken aback, but soon grasped Tangyuan¡¯s thoughts.


    "You¡¯re my only apprentice. If not you, whom would I love?" Bai Yifan teased by flicking her nose.


    Tangyuan nodded in satisfaction: "Then continue teaching me to recognize herbs, and take me to gather them when I¡¯ve learned them all."


    "No problem!"


    Bai Yifan agreed readily. In another two months, she should have completed her studies, and it would be autumn¡ªa good time to go to the mountain without harming her tender cheeks.

 Chapter 1208 - 1214: Let Him Be Reborn

    Chapter 1208: Chapter 1214: Let Him Be RebornThe next morning, Duo¡¯er dragged Ji Xiang and Ruyi into the kitchen.


    Throughout the morning, they prepared six cold dishes, eight pastries, four beverages, and two fruit porridges, filling up the table completely.


    Just after setting the bowls and chopsticks, Lu Kejun and Luo Qingfeng arrived.


    "I really chose the perfect time to come today!" Lu Kejun said delightedly.


    Ever since learning about Duo¡¯er¡¯s pregnancy, Bai Yifan hadn¡¯t returned to Medicine King Valley, leaving her and Luo Qingfeng to run errands.


    If not for good luck, she definitely would have missed this feast today.


    Bai Yifan asked, "Is everything handled?"


    Medicine King Valley had been passed down through generations, and with thousands of disciples, naturally, there were those with sinister intentions.


    This time, someone had designs on the Medicine King¡¯s Medical Canon, so Bai Yifan had Luo Qingfeng and his wife return to investigate thoroughly.


    "We¡¯ve almost finished the investigation. The mastermind is Ninth Junior Brother. I¡¯ve come to ask about your plan."


    Speaking of this matter made Luo Qingfeng feel irritated.


    Ninth Junior Brother was the disciple of his third uncle, and everyone in Medicine King Valley knew that his third uncle had long coveted the position of Medicine King. He was very dissatisfied with the suddenly appointed Bai Yifan.


    If his disciple was also targeted, Third Uncle would definitely make a scene.


    Adding to that, Ninth Junior Brother was also the heir of Anhe Marquis Mansion, which made the situation even harder to handle.


    Fearing his inability to handle the matter properly, he could only come to Bai Yifan.


    Bai Yifan tapped his fingers on the table, and after a while, he said, "Go and investigate the backgrounds of Third Uncle and Ninth Junior Brother."


    It seemed that some people just can¡¯t be treated too kindly, for they don¡¯t know the meaning of restraint.


    "The Marquis of Anhe is the Empress¡¯s brother," Luo Qingfeng reminded.


    If they confronted him directly, they would surely be at a disadvantage.


    A slight smile curved Bai Yifan¡¯s lips. "The Emperor is ailing, and he fears the Empress¡¯s maternal family¡¯s influence even more than us."


    With the support of the Gue¡¯s family, trying to use the theft of the medical canon to overturn Third Uncle and his disciple was impossible.


    But if they could pin other charges on them, like treason or colluding with the enemy, the Emperor would definitely side with them.


    Of course, pinning such crimes on them wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    "I¡¯ll have Ke-kun¡¯s men handle it. They certainly won¡¯t alert our targets."


    Luo Qingfeng instantly understood Bai Yifan¡¯s intentions.


    Perhaps... the Medicine King¡¯s birthday could be an opportunity. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He then looked toward Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong, "I have long heard of both gentlemen¡¯s legendary prowess in solving cases. If you have any clues, please enlighten us."


    Qin Longyun modestly replied, "Sure thing."


    "Eating and still can¡¯t keep quiet. Don¡¯t cry later if you end up not eating," Lu Kejun rolled her eyes.


    Couldn¡¯t they stop mentioning Third Uncle and ruining her appetite?


    That old fellow, with a wrinkled face and a sharp nose, was mean and vengeful. Just looking at him made her feel disgusted.


    If not for Luo Qingfeng holding her back, she would have made him reincarnate long ago.


    Tangyuan looked at the empty dishes and pouted, "Second Aunt, what kind of lady are you supposed to be?"


    What kind of lady eats so quickly?


    "What fun is there in that? I¡¯m a heroine!" Lu Kejun corrected.


    She disdained the confines of being obedient and staying indoors. She preferred a life of bold freedom and carefree independence.


    Qin Mingrui seriously said, "I also think Second Aunt is more fun than my other aunts."


    His reference to the other aunts pertained to the wives of the Chen Family in the Capital, all of whom strictly adhered to the traditional female virtues, being virtuous and gentle¡ªnot that they were bad, just a bit boring.


    Tangyuan had seen those people too and quickly pushed the plate towards Lu Kejun.


    "It¡¯s all yours."


    She definitely didn¡¯t want her Second Aunt to turn into that¡ªspeaking only with a handkerchief covering her mouth.

 Chapter 1209 - 1215: A Good Beating Will Do

    Chapter 1209: Chapter 1215: A Good Beating Will DoLu Kejun felt completely justified in accepting Tangyuan¡¯s kindness and earnestly advised, "Women have to be a bit crueler and tougher towards men¡ªbeating them up is far more effective than crying and causing a scene."


    Essentially, her theory was that if men acted foolishly, a beating would set them straight, and if that didn¡¯t work, you¡¯d just beat them again.


    Chen Yiling silently griped, is it really okay to teach my daughter-in-law like this?


    Seeing her own son nodding along, she decided to keep quiet.


    It did not take long for the table full of appetizing snacks to be entirely consumed.


    When Ruyi brought out other dishes, even the braised pork was devoured happily by everyone.


    "I suddenly feel like I don¡¯t need to lose weight this summer."


    Chen Yiling¡¯s face was a picture of contentment.


    What troubled her the most in summer was the lack of appetite. Each year during this season, she would face criticism from Qin Longyun for her bony figure that was unpleasant to touch.


    Lu Kejun nodded, "I was thinking of just drinking some water and going to sleep, but I didn¡¯t expect to eat so much. Duo¡¯er, if I gain weight, you¡¯ll have to take responsibility."


    "I¡¯ll certainly carry you into my home with a grand sedan chair, through the formalities of the three letters and six etiquettes," Qiao Duo¡¯er said cheerfully.


    Luo Qingfeng glanced at Tan Zhenghong, who spread his hands, "My wife is pregnant, whatever she says goes."


    Having Duo¡¯er marry a woman would be perfect; they could chat, play cards, and avoid worrying about the business constantly.


    "Wife, let¡¯s go rest," Luo Qingfeng quickly pulled Lu Kejun away.


    Otherwise, he would keep feeling uneasy.


    Seeing everyone¡¯s positive reactions, Qiao Duo¡¯er decided to first test the waters with her restaurant in the Mansion City.


    The restaurant she owned was called Shang Xin Tower, a three-storied building in a decent location. Tan Zhenghong had it renovated after taking over, so Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t feel the need to make changes.


    However, before doing that, she paid a visit to a chef in the western part of the city.


    According to the shopkeeper, the chef, named Gao Ji, was nicknamed Gao Dian for his obsession with culinary arts.


    He came from a family with substantial wealth, which made him very proud and selective about his cooking for others.


    He would only cook if presented with a dish that piqued his interest.


    It was the first time in her two lifetimes that Qiao Duo heard of a chef with such peculiar habits.


    But if she could recruit him, her restaurant would never worry about business again.


    Upon arriving at Gao¡¯s residence, Ji Xiang stepped forward to knock on the door. Soon after, a young servant answered.


    "Where¡¯s the dish?"


    Ji Xiang hurriedly presented the food box that Duo¡¯er had prepared in advance.


    Inside were Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Eight-Treasure Duck, and Hawthorn Drink, all made under Duo¡¯er¡¯s direction¡ªdishes sure to arouse the chef¡¯s curiosity.


    One must know that both dishes were from the imperial court, rarely seen by common folks, and complicated to make. Duo¡¯er had simplified the steps as much as possible, yet it still took the better part of the day.


    Hmm... she wouldn¡¯t admit that the reason for simplification was that she only remembered the general steps.


    A quarter hour later, the young servant opened the door again, much more amicable than before.


    "Madam, the master invites you in."


    Qiao Duo followed the servant, observing the yard as they walked.


    The yard was sizable, planted with an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Here and there were maids and servants busily tending to the watering and fertilizing.


    It truly lived up to the name "madness."


    Arriving at a pavilion, an elderly man with a white beard personally received Qiao Duo.


    "Madam, please have some tea."


    The old man¡¯s face was full of smiles, clearly very pleased with the dishes recently sampled.


    Qiao Duo cut straight to the chase, "Why don¡¯t we talk about food?"


    Gao Ji eagerly nodded, "It¡¯s exactly what the old man had in mind, please do not hesitate to enlighten me."


    "The two dishes just now were merely a small gesture. I also know of dishes like Silver Thread Rolls, Jade Beads in Golden Broth, Braised Shark¡¯s Fin in Brown Sauce, and Myriad Blessings Pork, among many others. I wonder if Mr. Gao would be interested?"


    S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1210 - 1216: Feeling Trapped

    Chapter 1210: Chapter 1216: Feeling TrappedAlthough Gao Ji was eccentric, he was not foolish and caught the key point in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s words immediately.


    He narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you asking for my help to cook the dishes?"


    "Yes, with Mr. Gao¡¯s excellent culinary skills and constant pursuit, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult," Qiao Duo¡¯er responded, unfazed by how her thoughts had been revealed.


    Because she found dealing with clever people a pleasurable affair.


    Gao Ji replied irritably, "Don¡¯t think that by flattering me a few times, I¡¯ll slave away for you. There are plenty in the world who flatter me."


    Yet some people, let alone eating his food, had not even seen his face.


    "Since Mr. Gao is unwilling, I won¡¯t force it upon anyone and will have to find another chef."


    Duo¡¯er showed a look of regret but was already standing up.


    Gao Ji gritted his teeth, puzzled how he, the one being sought after, felt as if he was being controlled.


    Thinking about the two dishes he had just tasted, he felt a relentless itch.


    No, he must find out how to make those two dishes.


    As Duo¡¯er was about to step out of the pavilion, Gao Ji hurriedly said, "Wait a moment, come back and sit."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently returned, "Has Mr. Gao changed his mind?"


    "What will you give me in return?"


    Gao Ji asked awkwardly, this... was a bit of going back on one¡¯s word, affecting his image.


    "I¡¯ll tell you the recipes I know, you¡¯ll be the head chef at Shang Xin Tower, and I¡¯ll give you twenty percent of the profits," Qiao Duo¡¯er stated her proposition calmly.


    "What did you say?" Gao Ji felt provoked again. Was he only worth twenty percent of the profits?


    Didn¡¯t he know that many people held gold to beg him to make a single dish, and now how had his value dropped so suddenly here?


    "Did you think I would only have one restaurant forever? And the twenty percent I mentioned is in shares, as long as the restaurant is open, you won¡¯t lack bonuses."


    In her view, this was a very generous revenge.


    Although, for now, it might just be a big pie in the sky.


    Seeing that Qiao Duo¡¯er was not relenting, Gao Ji, after much indecision, steeled his heart, "Deal."


    "Then tomorrow at noon, Shang Xin Tower, don¡¯t miss it."


    Having achieved her goal, Duo¡¯er was in a good mood; however, Gao Ji felt like he had fallen into a trap.


    Blaming his own inability to resist temptation, weren¡¯t these just dishes he had never seen before? Couldn¡¯t he just figure them out on his own?


    Now, he had to work out the recipes for someone else and even be the head chef, he felt it was a big loss no matter how he thought about it.


    "Master, if you¡¯re unwilling, I can turn that lady down for you."


    The young servant cleverly spoke up when Gao Ji sighed for the eighteenth time.


    The Gao family didn¡¯t lack money or worry about basic needs, losing twenty percent of a small restaurant¡¯s profits wasn¡¯t a big deal since the master cooked mostly for pleasure anyway.


    Gao Ji replied irritatedly, "Then can you teach me how to make those two dishes?"


    The young servant quickly hung his head, knowing his cooking would probably end up being fed to the dogs by the master.


    "I won¡¯t bother talking to you, has Fei¡¯er finished the dishes?" Gao Ji still savored the taste.


    If only they had left him some soup.


    "The young master thought they were new dishes made by the master and gobbled them up in one go. He even said the master¡¯s culinary skills had reached their peak." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, Gao Ji found some consolation.


    His son had inherited his discerning taste, ordinary meals couldn¡¯t satisfy him, yet now he was diligently preparing for next year¡¯s examinations and needed to eat well.


    So, learning new dishes from that girl might be good, it could be seen as securing benefits for his son.


    Hmm... that¡¯s pleasantly decided then.

 Chapter 1211 - 1217 Very Proud

    Chapter 1211: Chapter 1217 Very ProudSo the next day, Mr. Gao stepped out of his house, beaming with joy, having arrived half an hour earlier than the time he had agreed with Duo¡¯er.


    "Mr. Gao, please wait a moment, I¡¯ll serve you some tea."


    Ji Xiang greeted him politely.


    "No need for these formalities, just hurry up and bring out that girl. I¡¯m in a rush to get to the kitchen."


    Mr. Gao waved his hand, a hint of impatience on his face.


    Ji Xiang nodded, "I¡¯ll go and get Madam right away."


    As for Mr. Gao¡¯s reaction, she didn¡¯t find it strange at all. If he acted like a normal person, would he have gotten the nickname Gao Dian?


    Soon, Qiao Duo¡¯er came downstairs, holding a stack of papers in her hand.


    "Here are the recipes for eight dishes. That¡¯s all I can help you with, can Chef Gao manage the rest?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s raised eyebrows carried a hint of provocation; it was clearly a challenge.


    Typically, Mr. Gao fell for this tactic, and after flipping through them briefly, he said, "Are you looking down on me? Just you wait, I¡¯ll have them ready by tonight!"


    The recipes on the paper were vague, but they were not too difficult for him.


    "Then I¡¯ll look forward to it." Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, feeling as if she had found a treasure.


    Ji Xiang still couldn¡¯t believe it: "I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Gao is hard to please, but to me, he seems quite easy-going."


    He didn¡¯t put on any airs at all, nor did he order people around.


    "That¡¯s called appealing to his interests." Qiao Duo¡¯er was quite proud.


    Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a gourmet dish in Chinese cuisine involving ingredients like dried scallops, abalone, sea cucumber, tendons, shiitake mushrooms, among others, each ingredient prepared separately and then slow-cooked in broth and yellow wine, making the process quite intricate.


    If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Gao, she wouldn¡¯t want to go through all this trouble.


    In the evening, a table of people sat in a private room having already gone through two pots of tea, yet there was no sign of any dishes being served.


    Lu Kejun couldn¡¯t help but complain, "Duo¡¯er, is this wild chef you hired up to the task? Should I talk to my father and have him arrange a couple of Imperial Chefs for you?"


    Those who could work in the Imperial Kitchen were no ordinary folks, skilled and varied, definitely able to meet Duo¡¯er¡¯s expectations.


    "You couldn¡¯t even handle it, Imperial Chefs would just be adequate to assist me." Mr. Gao was very annoyed.


    It was the first time he had seen someone so disrespectful towards him.


    Lu Kejun snorted, "I thought you knew how picky this miss is, scared you¡¯re hiding in the kitchen, not daring to come out."


    "Can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you."


    Mr. Gao signaled to the waiter behind him to bring the dishes out, some of which needed to be eaten hot, or else they would lose their flavor.


    After tasting a bite, Lu Kejun felt humbled today because the food was indeed very good.


    "Just a bit worse than the Imperial Chef." Lu Kejun felt he must stubbornly stick to his guns.


    After all, the Imperial Chef stayed in the Palace, and nobody else knew.


    Mr. Gao rolled his eyes, "Then don¡¯t eat!"


    Who complains about the food and still eats it voraciously?


    It was clear who was lying! S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lu Kejun stuffed another piece of meat into her mouth, "I will eat, just to spite you!"


    "Mom, it tastes even better than yours!" Tangyuan gave a thumbs up.


    "Kids know how to talk sweet. I¡¯ll go cook a couple more dishes."


    Mr. Gao, like a peacock spreading its feathers, threw a defiant look at Lu Kejun before leaving.


    "Vengeful old geezer, careful I might poison you!"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly intervened, "I¡¯m counting on him to make money. If you kill him, I won¡¯t be able to afford your dowry later."


    "Then forget it."


    Lu Kejun decided to be magnanimous this time; otherwise, without a dowry, her own daughter would be the one to suffer.

 Chapter 1212 - 1218: Robbing Money?

    Chapter 1212: Chapter 1218: Robbing Money?Several days later, Shang Xin Tower¡¯s menu was changed quietly. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Shopkeeper, this isn¡¯t very fair of you, how have all the dish prices gone up?" A regular customer showed his dissatisfaction.


    In just a day¡¯s time, most dishes had gone up by a staggering thirty percent, and the top few dishes, he felt, were pricier than eating gold.


    First Rank Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Two Taels of Silver.


    Crispy Eight Treasure Duck, One Tael of Silver.


    Seven Star Fish Balls, Five Hundred Wen.


    The most outrageous was the Boiled Cabbage, which had a startling price of Two Hundred Wen.


    This owner must be crazy for money!


    The shopkeeper stroked his beard, "Our owner has hired Mr. Gao to oversee things. The top few dishes are his newly concocted specialties. Although they are a bit expensive, I guarantee you won¡¯t regret trying them."


    "Are you talking about Gao Dian? Your owner managed to hire him?"


    Another knowledgeable diner expressed his disbelief.


    He often heard about that chef, but there weren¡¯t many who had actually tasted his cooking.


    Nor had he heard about him planning to work as a chef in a restaurant.


    "Our owner is impressive, just try ordering something. If you are not satisfied, I won¡¯t charge you!" the shopkeeper confidently declared.


    The shopkeeper had tried the dishes developed by Mr. Gao himself and was certain that once these people tried them, they would never forget them in their lifetime.


    With the shopkeeper¡¯s words, the diners felt reassured, and a wealthy, bold diner immediately said, "I¡¯ll take one of each of the dishes listed above."


    He just wanted to see how delicious the dishes had to be for the shopkeeper to make such grand claims.


    However, for most people, they were still reluctant to order such expensive dishes and picked a few cheaper and more appealing ones to start with, waiting to see how things turned out.


    "What¡¯s so special about this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?"


    The wealthy diner looked disdainfully at the small clay pot in front of him, which was hardly as big as two fists; how could it be worth Two Taels of Silver?


    "Of course, there¡¯s something special. It¡¯s said that even Buddha would jump over a wall to come and eat it, so you better hurry before Buddha gets here, or you won¡¯t get to eat it!"


    Right after the shopkeeper finished speaking, laughter broke out in the hall.


    "Blowing your own trumpet without drawing up a draft, hilarious!"


    "Buddha is worshipped by the world, what delicacies hasn¡¯t he seen that he would jump over a wall for a small restaurant?"


    "I also guess Buddha wouldn¡¯t lose face like that."


    Soon, the mocking voices abruptly stopped because the moment the lid was lifted, the fragrance was overwhelming, and they could only hurry to take a deep breath.


    The wealthy diner who had ordered the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was salivating copiously and quickly picked up a spoon to take a taste.


    The flavor... was absolutely divine!


    The soup was rich in meaty flavor yet didn¡¯t feel greasy, and what was most remarkable was the complex layering of flavors, with an aftertaste that lingered seductively on the palate.


    "Boss Zhu, you must tell us how it tastes!"


    The people next to him grew impatient, Two Taels of Silver was admittedly expensive, but it was a small matter for him as long as the dish was worth the price; he wouldn¡¯t even blink.


    But this fellow, after just one sip of the soup, had become meditative, like an old monk in a trance¡ªreally?


    Boss Zhu squinted his eyes and said, "Even if it cost Ten Taels, I would still find it worthwhile!"


    With his endorsement, the people who had been watching eagerly decided to act.


    "Shopkeeper, bring us a Buddha Jumps Over the Wall too!"


    "We want one too, hurry up!"


    Calls to add the dish were incessant, deepening the smile lines on the shopkeeper¡¯s face.


    However, just a few minutes later, he adopted an apologetic expression: "I¡¯m terribly sorry, esteemed guests, but the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is already sold out. If you want to try it, you¡¯ll have to come early tomorrow."


    "How could it be gone so quickly? Are you kidding me?" the diner was very upset.


    Could such a large restaurant really prepare so little food?

 Chapter 1213 - 1219: A Lifetime Event

    Chapter 1213: Chapter 1219: A Lifetime Event"Dear guests, you may not know this, but the preparation of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is meticulous. This dish was prepared by Mr. Gao since yesterday and has been stewing all night. There¡¯s only one pot, and at most, it will serve ten portions," explained the Shopkeeper.


    He wished Mr. Gao could make more because that¡¯s all money!


    But Mr. Gao had said that this dish is about capturing the essence; making more would spoil its uniqueness.


    "A dish takes that long to make?" someone gasped in shock.


    Probably only Gao Dian would be willing to spend so much time on a single dish in this world.


    "The preparation is one thing, but the ingredients for this dish are also particular, including abalone, sea cucumber, and more than a dozen other precious ingredients. We must justify the Silver you pay, right?"


    A small pot of soup without any substance, he wouldn¡¯t dare charge Two Taels of Silver.


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t that be asking for trouble?


    Boss Zhu took another look at the Boiled Cabbage in Clear Soup: "What¡¯s the deal with this dish?"


    "I can¡¯t explain exactly how it¡¯s made, but this soup has been simmered overnight with old hen, spare ribs, ham, dried scallops, and more."


    Someone joked: "Is your kitchen stove big enough?"


    "As soon as Mr. Gao arrived, he first had an artisan fix the stove. Just yesterday, he specifically hired four young men to tend the fire," the Shopkeeper replied truthfully. The boys responsible for the fire grumbled the most, with Mr. Gao often saying that the heat was still insufficient and needed to simmer longer.


    Even after hiring additional help, keeping the fire going all night still felt insufficient.


    The diners were amused, enlivening the atmosphere of the main hall even further.


    "What other signature dishes do you have? Quickly recommend some."


    "The weather today is dry and hot, so our guests might want to try our restaurant¡¯s ¡¯Summer Refreshment,¡¯ which is both refreshing and appetizing, and the prices are moderate, ensuring everyone enjoys their meal," the Shopkeeper energetically promoted the new dish.


    The number of exquisite dishes made by Mr. Gao is limited; of course, the goal isn¡¯t just to make money, but to build a reputation.


    The primary income of the restaurant still relies on moderately priced dishes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stood on the third floor, observing the situation below with great satisfaction.


    "Mom, you¡¯re amazing!"


    "We¡¯ll definitely fill up the third floor too!"


    Admiration filled the two little Buns¡¯ eyes.


    Tan Zhenghong said proudly, "Well, you see who¡¯s wife she is."


    "Later, let the Shopkeeper leak that the private rooms on the third floor can be reserved; they¡¯ll become hot commodities," Qiao Duo¡¯er said with narrowed eyes.


    She also discovered after time-traveling that she had quite a knack for business.


    Tan Zhenghong pulled Duo¡¯er into a private room: "Don¡¯t think about making Silver all day, staying healthy is important."


    Supporting the family has always been a man¡¯s responsibility.


    Tangyuan cheekily said: "I know Mom is worried that if Aunt and Uncle become too demanding and we can¡¯t afford the dowry, big brother won¡¯t be able to get a wife."


    "She¡¯s scared you won¡¯t be able to marry off, so she¡¯s working hard to save for your dowry," Green Group countered.


    "Hmph, that¡¯s nonsense!"


    Tangyuan¡¯s cheeks puffed up angrily; she was smart and cute, how could she not marry off?


    Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh: "A child¡¯s business is no longer mother¡¯s business, still a little brat but already worrying about their own lifelong matters."


    "It¡¯s good to plan early," Tan Zhenghong thought it was quite good.


    Once they had their own families, Duo¡¯er would be all his.


    "No, we want to spend more years with Mom," Tangyuan clung to her mother¡¯s arm.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cooperated: "I also want to keep you with me for a few more years."


    Tan Zhenghong rolled his eyes, but he had long been worn down by the three mischievous little imps.


    Anyway, once the two rascals met someone they liked, he didn¡¯t believe Qiao Duo could stop them.


    S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1214 - 1220: Could it be Jealousy?

    Chapter 1214: Chapter 1220: Could it be Jealousy?After a few days, Shang Xin Tower had received the patronage of countless officials and nobles, including none other than Prince Liang.


    Gao Ji glanced out the window with distaste, "Prince Liang is here, aren¡¯t you going to personally entertain him?"


    "His cooking is far inferior to Mr. Gao¡¯s." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said lazily, finding Prince Liang unsightly no matter how she looked at him, fearing he might upset her child¡¯s mood.


    Moreover, she¡¯d rather spend time offering suggestions to Mr. Zhou¡¯s dishes than engage with Prince Liang.


    "He also brought a woman with him, you might be interested."


    Gao Ji casually mentioned, his cooking skills had greatly improved thanks to this young lady, so he was quite willing to give her some tips.


    Youths always have their fiery moments.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glanced out the window and saw a lady in white just stepping out of her sedan chair.


    Due to the angle, she couldn¡¯t see the lady¡¯s face clearly, but her ethereal aura was somewhat captivating.


    Seeing Prince Liang treating her with such courteous and polite reverence, she certainly must be someone important.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er put down her chopsticks, "This dish could use some more pondering, I¡¯m going downstairs for a bit."


    Gao Ji nodded, already thinking about the suggestions from Duo¡¯er.


    These past days he had been making silver thread rolls. According to Duo¡¯er, the key was using syrup to create silver threads to wrap around the pastry¡¯s exterior, making the product white and glistening¡ªsweet yet not cloying.


    The silver threads were already forming, but the bean paste filling inside was too rich; he needed to find a substitute.


    Downstairs, Prince Liang had just entered just as Duo¡¯er was descending the stairs.


    Upon descending, she had already thought of a clich¨¦d greeting, "Prince Liang¡¯s visit truly brings light to our humble establishment."


    That¡¯s how they always did it on TV, anyway.


    Prince Liang had already investigated before coming, so he wasn¡¯t surprised to see Qiao Duo.


    "Mrs. Tan is talented in many arts, anything you touch turns to gold."


    Raising musk deer, Make-up Plaza, selling cosmetics, and now Shang Xin Tower¡ªeach one making a fortune, she¡¯s really too lucky.


    It¡¯s a pity her brain isn¡¯t as bright, stubbornly hanging onto Tan Zhenghong, that crooked tree.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t mind her past marriage and would¡¯ve directly taken her as a Side Concubine into the Mansion of King Liang.


    "Just getting by," Qiao Duo¡¯er said modestly, her gaze falling on the person beside Prince Liang, "Prince Liang has found a lovely companion. Wouldn¡¯t you introduce us?"


    This young lady had clear eyes and beautifully white skin, and more rare was the celestial air she carried, as if she was above worldly concerns.


    Oddly, despite her undeniable beauty, Duo¡¯er found herself genuinely disliking her.


    It was precisely because of this inexplicable hostility that she decided to meet Prince Liang.


    Could it be that being pregnant had made her insecure and jealous of beautiful women?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly dismissed the idea.


    Although she is beautiful, she isn¡¯t ugly either, nor is she a narrow-minded person from New Village, to dislike someone over this.


    "Yun Piaopiao, Perfume Master."


    Prince Liang said indifferently, but the pride in his eyes couldn¡¯t be concealed.


    "Ah, Miss Yun, a pleasure to meet you," Qiao Duo¡¯er said politely.


    The products from Duo Meifang were replicated overnight; they must have been her handiwork. No wonder Prince Liang treasures her so much.


    "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Tan." Yun Piaopiao bent her knees slightly, completing her courtesy.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes curved with a smile, "Miss, you needn¡¯t be so formal. However, there are many busybodies here¡ªperhaps it would be better if we moved to a private room."


    "Lead the way," commanded Prince Liang.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er silently complained¡ªdo I look like your maid, showing off this condescending attitude to whom?

 Chapter 1215 - 1221: Validate the Idea

    Chapter 1215: Chapter 1221: Validate the Idea?r¨¥ewebno?§×l.c¦ÒmAlthough feeling discontent, Duo¡¯er discreetly instructed the young servant and still led the two with a smile brimming on her face.


    Seizing the opportunity today, she had to verify one thing.


    Upon entering the private room, Prince Liang took the main seat, "You both sit together, I have some matters to attend to anyway."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chose a seat further away, while Yun Piaopiao sat next to Prince Liang, acting as if she was already the mistress of the Mansion of King Liang.


    Alas, she¡¯s just wasting a good facade.


    Seems harmless to humans and animals, yet steals others¡¯ achievements mercilessly.


    Her mind is also muddled, thinking that earning some silver for Prince Liang could take her to the heavens.


    She should know that since Prince Liang and the Shen Family are on good terms, he could never be short of silver.


    What he lacks most is a son of pure bloodline.


    But Yun Piaopiao had a frail body, which likely made it difficult to fulfill his wish.


    "Ruyi, bring the menu to the Prince and Miss Yun."


    Ruyi quickly presented the menu, "I¡¯ll hurry the kitchen once you¡¯ve ordered."


    "No need to look, pick the best and most expensive dishes, and bring a pot of wine as well," Prince Liang didn¡¯t reach out for the menu.


    He had been nurtured with luxury from a young age, wherever he went, arrangements were made for him, why bother to order himself?


    Ruyi hesitated and glanced at Duo¡¯er, following Prince Liang¡¯s request would cost a considerable amount of silver. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er slightly nodded, Prince Liang wouldn¡¯t stoop to dodging a meal¡¯s payment.


    As Ruyi left, Prince Liang stopped beating around the bush, "Mrs. Tan, I¡¯ve heard that Duo Meifang isn¡¯t doing very well, I wonder what your plans are."


    Yun Piaopiao was formidable, but she only knew how to imitate, for long-term growth, she would need even more formulas.


    That was why he had pushed Duo Meifang to a desperate corner.


    "Just let it be, as long as we can make ends meet," Qiao Duo¡¯er said nonchalantly.


    Wealth was external, having enough was good enough.


    Prince Liang frowned slightly, "Is it because of the pregnancy that Mrs. Tan has lost her fighting spirit?"


    He hadn¡¯t interacted much with Qiao Duo¡¯er, but he knew she wasn¡¯t someone to concede easily.


    "I¡¯m just a woman, what great ambitions could I have? If business can be conducted, I do it; if not, I close doors, it can¡¯t be helped."


    It seemed like Duo¡¯er had genuinely given up on Duo Meifang.


    But Prince Liang still wouldn¡¯t give up, "I think you must still have some secret formulas, it would be a pity not to make full use of them."


    Could sell them to her and achieve a win-win.


    "I think Mrs. Tan¡¯s formulas are just right, even more effective than those beauty prescriptions by the Imperial Physician, they shouldn¡¯t be wasted," Yun Piaopiao also persuaded.


    However, she thought the complete opposite internally.


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er indeed agreed, what would it mean for her?


    Forget about taking the most prestigious position, Prince Liang probably wouldn¡¯t spare her another glance.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "When I¡¯m in a bad mood, my mind doesn¡¯t work, I can¡¯t think of any more formulas, I can only let down the Prince¡¯s kind intention."


    Prince Liang¡¯s expression darkened, three rejections in a row, did she really think he had no temper?


    He was the eldest legitimate son of the current Emperor, his maternal family wielding substantial military power, it would be easy to dispose of a woman.


    Yun Piaopiao covered her nose with a handkerchief, "Prince, I feel unwell, I¡¯d like to go out for some air."


    She hated the scent of peach blossoms all her life, feeling uncomfortable at its smell.


    "Miss Yun, do you need a doctor to check on you?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er expressed her concern.


    If something happened to Yun Piaopiao in her restaurant, how could she continue doing business?


    "No, a walk outside will suffice."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t insist, "Prince, you rest for a moment, I¡¯ll show Miss Yun the way out."

 Chapter 1216 - 1222: She’s Not a Good Person

    Chapter 1216: Chapter 1222: She¡¯s Not a Good PersonAfter leaving the private room, Yun Piaopiao¡¯s complexion had improved a lot, but she was now dissatisfied with Qiao Duo¡¯er, the proprietress.


    "Did you do it on purpose?" Yun Piaopiao gritted her teeth and asked.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er wore an innocent face, "What does Miss Yun mean?"


    She had merely ordered some incense to be lit in the private room, was that not allowed?


    Yun Piaopiao kept staring at Duo¡¯er, observing her every expression, but from beginning to end, she couldn¡¯t detect a single flaw. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could today¡¯s incident truly have been a coincidence?


    It was quite a while before she spoke indifferently, "It¡¯s nothing, I have misunderstood Madam."


    "It¡¯s alright, but is your health truly of no concern?"


    "It¡¯s an old ailment, the doctors can¡¯t figure it out either." Yun Piaopiao deftly changed the subject, "Actually, you should know the scale of Yan Meige, Duo Meifang couldn¡¯t possibly turn things around."


    If Qiao Duo¡¯er was smart, she should be looking for another way out.


    And Prince Liang was the best option.


    "Miss Yun, there are only the two of us here, so I¡¯ll speak directly, no matter how you test me, I will not cooperate with Prince Liang."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was very firm in her stance.


    Prince Liang had not a lick of true ability and was arrogant; he was doomed to be an incompetent partner.


    "I... didn¡¯t mean that." Yun Piaopiao seemed very wronged.


    If someone unaware of the situation saw this, they would definitely think that Qiao Duo¡¯er was bullying her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "Indeed, you possess a face as pure as an angel, but how can one truly remain detached from worldly affairs? However, the things you care about have never crossed my mind, because, both now and in the future, I am Tan Zhenghong¡¯s wife."


    As she spoke, she gently caressed her slightly protruding belly.


    Ah Hong was wholeheartedly devoted to her, and with three lovely children, not even the greatest temptations could make her leave.


    For where they were was her home.


    "I hope you remember what you said today." Yun Piaopiao¡¯s soft voice was filled with caution.


    Yun Piaopiao, having dropped her facade, somehow became more agreeable to Duo¡¯er¡¯s eyes, and she happily accepted.


    Yun Piaopiao lost the desire to continue the conversation and went downstairs on her own.


    "Why did Miss Yun leave?" Ruyi asked, puzzled.


    The lunch wasn¡¯t even eaten, so why had she left?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er responded indifferently, "Perhaps she was tired and went to rest."


    "Then let¡¯s not worry about it, I¡¯ll make sure the one inside is well looked after; you go and rest first." Ruyi was always understanding.


    Her madam did not enjoy socializing, especially not with those with unkind intentions like Prince Liang.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I¡¯ll go to the backyard, come find me if there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t handle."


    She had just entered the backyard when a young maid stealthily followed her.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er stopped and looked towards the person¡¯s hiding spot, "You¡¯ve been following me the whole way, do you need something?"


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, do you still remember me?"


    The young girl looked at Duo¡¯er with hopeful eyes.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er thought for a moment before replying, "You are Cui Dianshi¡¯s young miss."


    She had met her at the Qin Family¡¯s banquet before, but since they hadn¡¯t talked much, her memory wasn¡¯t very clear.


    Cui Xindie excitedly said, "I can¡¯t believe you still remember me, my name is Cui Xindie, I just wanted to tell you that Yun Piaopiao is not a good person, you need to be extremely careful."


    She had seen them talking quite happily just before and was afraid that Duo¡¯er was being deceived.


    "What do you mean?" Duo¡¯er was quite intrigued.


    Yun Piaopiao was indeed not a good person, but her acting skills were excellent, enough to fool an ordinary crowd.


    This young girl was youthful, still exuding sweetness and innocence, likely the easiest type to deceive.


    What was it that made her despise Yun Piaopiao so much?

 Chapter 1217 - 1223: Swallowing the Dowry

    Chapter 1217: Chapter 1223: Swallowing the DowryCui Xindie lowered her voice and said, "My maternal grandfather lives in the Capital, and I visit him every year. One year, I saw her beat a maid to death simply because her earring was damaged."


    Although a servitude contract had been signed, life and death were at the master¡¯s discretion.


    But how could a life compare to an earring?


    The scene was too bloody, she would never forget it in her lifetime.


    She liked using products from Duo Meifang, and she had a good impression of the owner, not wanting to see her suffer any losses.


    "Thank you, I¡¯ll be cautious of her," Qiao Duo¡¯er replied earnestly.


    She had originally thought Yun Piaopiao was merely ambitious, but after knowing this, she could directly determine Yun Piaopiao was a malicious woman.


    People like her had a dark psychology, it was best to stay far away.


    Cui Xindie was satisfied, "As long as you are aware, that¡¯s good. My mother is still waiting for me, I need to go back now."


    After she finished speaking, she hurried away, warming Duo¡¯er¡¯s heart.


    Cui Xindie was straightforward and kind-hearted, and her family was a branch of the Scholarly Cui Family of the Capital, known for their integrity. There might be an opportunity to forge ties with this Cui Family in the future.


    Duo¡¯er only went to negotiate business at the preserved fruits shop when it became cooler in the evening.


    Huo Minglan had always intended to establish good relations with the Tan Family and readily agreed to the business opportunity that came knocking, cooperating very well.


    In just the duration of burning one incense stick, they had settled the deal.


    Finally, Huo Minglan and Qiao Duo¡¯er signed their names on the contract, and the collaboration took effect.


    "Here¡¯s to a pleasant cooperation."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "I¡¯ve always felt that making money is a delightful thing."


    Before Duo¡¯er could finish, a commotion erupted outside.


    "You little bitch, come out here! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about the disgusting things you¡¯ve done, you actually embezzled my property and hid here to indulge in luxuries!"


    It was Niu Fuquan¡¯s voice, and it was clear he was here to cause trouble.


    Huo Minglan apologetically said, "This shop doesn¡¯t have a back door, Duo¡¯er, you should hide in the back room for now."


    Niu Fuquan, crazy and reckless, might end up harming Duo¡¯er and the child in her womb.


    "Don¡¯t worry about me," Qiao Duo¡¯er was not accustomed to entering someone else¡¯s bedroom.


    After all, with her skills, Niu Fuquan could not get within three feet of her, so she was very safe.


    Huo Minglan gave a wry smile, "Then I apologize for the embarrassment."


    In fact, she knew that even if Duo¡¯er went to the back room, she could still clearly understand what was happening outside.


    She suggested Duo¡¯er go there just to deceive herself.


    The only comfort was that Duo¡¯er was not a gossip, otherwise, she would become the talk of the town by tomorrow.


    While they were talking, Niu Fuquan had entered the guest room, thinking about his own straitened circumstances while this woman indulged in luxury here, which inflamed his anger even more.


    "You damned woman, by what right do you encroach on the Niu Family¡¯s property?"


    Niu Fuquan¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    Huo Minglan scoffed lightly, "The Niu Family¡¯s? My sister brought ten shops and two estates as her dowry. Excluding the outputs and silver jewelry over the years, I¡¯ve only taken six shops and one estate now, and I still need to ask you where the rest have gone!"


    Normal families never seize a woman¡¯s dowry.


    Even if the person passes away, the dowry should be inherited by her biological children. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the Niu Family, managed by Niu Fuquan, had dabbed into shops and estates, and concubines had embezzled a lot of silver jewelry.


    Probably the entire Ning Tian Mansion couldn¡¯t find another so shameless!


    As this was mentioned, Niu Fuquan grew even angrier, probably because the Niu Family¡¯s business had been encountering various problems for the past two years.

 Chapter 1218 - 1224: Forcing a Woman

    Chapter 1218: Chapter 1224: Forcing a WomanTo save most of the family fortune, he had no choice but to sell off some odds and ends.


    But once he started, he couldn¡¯t stop.


    As he watched more and more of the family property being sold, Wang Yun made no progress with the Tan Family, and he was near desperation.


    To make matters worse, after Niu Ziming was poisoned, the Guang House investigation failed to identify the culprit and instead uncovered the selling of fake goods at the Niu Family Shop.


    According to the law, selling fake goods would result in the confiscation of all family property.


    He had planned to take his wife and child and move away, but Huo Minglan suddenly presented him with divorce papers.


    He originally thought she was afraid of being implicated and didn¡¯t want to live in hardship with him, so he could only grit his teeth and accept it.


    But the reality was, within just a few days, Huo Minglan had purchased a house and shop.


    And most of these were the Niu Family¡¯s assets.


    He only realized he¡¯d been schemed against by Huo Minglan after someone mentioned the matter to him.


    Or rather, from the moment she married into their family, she had been plotting a conspiracy!


    Knowing the truth, he immediately went to confront her, determined to reclaim what was originally his.


    "Your sister married into the Niu Family and became a member of the Niu Family, her dowry naturally belongs to the Niu surname now. You married me, and you became part of the Niu Family too, what right do you have to demand a dowry from me?" Niu Fuquan said with righteous indignation.


    Otherwise, where does it say in the three obediences and the four virtues that a wife must follow her husband?


    Huo Minglan was infuriated: "The most disgusting thing in my life is having married you."


    Had her sister not died young, she would have been living a happy and carefree life long ago.


    "I just remembered something, child, we haven¡¯t consummated our marriage in these years. I think tonight should make up for that."


    A gleam appeared in Niu Fuquan¡¯s eyes, Huo Minglan was still a virgin, how could he let any other man benefit from that?


    Also, these past few days he had been frustrated to no end, sorely in need of a place to vent his fire.


    Huo Minglan stepped back a few paces: "Someone come quickly, throw him out!"


    But Niu Fuquan was quicker, in a few strides he had Huo Minglan cornered with no way out, forcing her to fall into the chair behind her.


    He took a deep breath: "I never realized how alluring you were before, leaving you to pine away all these years has been this husband¡¯s mistake."


    Huo Minglan fiercely protected her clothes, her eyes filled with a determined resolution to face death.


    Better to die clean than be tainted by a man like him.


    "They say once a woman has been slept with and pleasured, she can¡¯t leave her man. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure you enjoy it to the heavens," Niu Fuquan¡¯s words grew increasingly explicit.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned involuntarily, what she detested most was men forcing women.


    Especially when it was motivated by a desire for revenge.


    She picked up two pieces of candied fruit from a dish beside her, aiming carefully before flicking them out at high speed.


    The candied fruits hit Niu Fuquan right in the back of his knees, draining all his strength in an instant and forcing him to collapse to his knees in front of the chair.


    Just then Wen Qing came in, the wooden stick in her hand ceaselessly beating down on Fu Quan.


    "Go to hell, Ming Lan is a good girl, she absolutely must not fall into your hands!"


    As long as Huo Minglan remained a maiden, even if divorced, she could still find a decent family to marry into.


    This time, he would protect her with his life, because his incompetence had already wasted too much of Huo Minglan¡¯s prime years.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er watched coldly, speaking out only when she felt it was enough: "I think paying with your life for such a man is too much of a loss. If I were you, I¡¯d rather use the rest of my life to protect the one I love."


    Instead of seeking death and causing heartache to the one you love. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qing paused, yet her anger remained fierce: "Am I just supposed to let him bully Ming Lan?"


    He was a man, he couldn¡¯t do it!

 Chapter 1219 - 1225: After Hardship Comes Sweetness

    Chapter 1219: Chapter 1225: After Hardship Comes Sweetness"Breaking into civilian homes, fighting, petty theft¡ªall are reasons to send him to prison, where no one can jump around," Qiao Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t put it too bluntly.


    However, Wen Qing was a smart man and immediately understood.


    "You guys throw him on North Street."


    Wen Qing commanded the shop¡¯s assistant.


    If they reported it to the authorities, today¡¯s event would definitely spread, and Huo Minglan¡¯s reputation would be completely ruined.


    North Street was a slum inhabited by all sorts of people, and the Guang House hardly interfered, so theft, fighting, and murder were rampant.


    Sending Niu Fuquan there, he wouldn¡¯t die but would be severely injured.


    Compared to the measures Niu Fuquan used against Huo Minglan, he was already being merciful.


    After getting rid of Niu Fuquan, Wen Qing hurriedly embraced Huo Minglan, "Lan¡¯er, it¡¯s all my fault, I didn¡¯t protect you well."


    "I¡¯m fine," Huo Minglan wiped away her tears.


    Then, pulling Wen Qing, she knelt down in front of Duo¡¯er, "Duo¡¯er, we cannot thank you enough, just command us whenever you need our help in the future."


    Only Duo¡¯er could have stopped Niu Fuquan from tearing open her bodice just in time.


    When Wen Qing was blinded by anger, it was also her who reminded him, thereby avoiding a greater disaster.


    So no matter what, Duo¡¯er was their benefactor.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er quickly lifted them up, "He¡¯s a scoundrel, you¡¯ll probably need to think of another way to completely resolve this trouble."


    North Street was chaotic, but one or two times wouldn¡¯t kill Niu Fuquan.


    But Huo Minglan and her husband had to live their days, how could they always think about dealing with him?


    Huo Minglan guiltily glanced at Wen Qing, knowing that it was never Wen Qing who failed to protect her but that she had always been dragging him down.


    They were at the stage of discussing marriage, but she suddenly changed her mind and married into the Niu Family.


    Wen Qing never blamed her and stayed loyally by her side.


    She had just managed to escape the Niu Family, but the days of fear had just started.


    Was this love?


    Wen Qing read the expression in Huo Minglan¡¯s eyes, and he immediately became anxious.


    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense, you saved my life when I was seven, and I am willing to do the same today."


    When he was seven, he fell into a pond, and Huo Minglan immediately jumped in to rescue him, completely forgetting that she was barely a swimmer.


    Later he was dragged ashore by her, but she fell severely ill and almost lost her life.


    Since then, protecting this girl had become his lifelong mission.


    Huo Minglan managed a faint smile, "That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m thinking of turning the shop and the estate into silver, putting it under my nephew¡¯s name until he¡¯s of age to manage it himself."


    This way, she could feel she had done right by her deceased sister and the Huo Family¡¯s upbringing and lessen her guilt towards Wen Qing.


    Life is short, there isn¡¯t so much time to waste.


    Wen Qing was so moved he couldn¡¯t utter a word, as even his lips were trembling.


    He... had finally reached this long-awaited day.


    Seeing the deep affection between the two, Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "The cooperation must continue, don¡¯t forget the delivery tomorrow, I¡¯ll take my leave now."


    The ice drinks and candied pastries at Shang Xin Tower were selling well, guests would be disappointed without stock tomorrow.


    "Rest assured, we will definitely supply enough." Huo Minglan managed a weak smile.


    She couldn¡¯t touch her sister¡¯s dowry, and for now, the partnership with the Tan Family was her only income. If she didn¡¯t handle it well, she might end up becoming a despicable person like Niu Fuquan.


    Since she couldn¡¯t earn her own, she would have to think of ways to snatch from others¡¯ pockets.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, then left the space to Huo Minglan and Wen Qing.


    Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1220 - 1226 Not Yet the Time

    Chapter 1220: Chapter 1226 Not Yet the TimeIn just a few more days, Shang Xin Tower would be on the right track, and Qiao Duo¡¯er would no longer need to watch over it every day.


    However, she wouldn¡¯t get a few days of rest because there was news from Big Sister.


    "The inventory at Duo Meifang has already been depleted by more than half, Qing Xin has produced the new products using your formula, and Chao Lian has come up with new patterns. Now we¡¯re just waiting for your command."


    Big Sister was somewhat impatient.


    During this period, she had been constantly mocked by the employees of Yan Meige, and it nearly drove her mad.


    There was even one who said in her face, "We are just imitating your family, but we have backers, what can you do about it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "It¡¯s not the right time yet."


    Big Sister pouted and said, "Then when do we wait until?"


    They had been working day and night on new products, all for the sake of bringing down Yan Meige as soon as possible.


    But Qiao Duo wanted them to hold back, which could affect morale.


    "It¡¯s not realistic to bring down Yan Meige just by ourselves, so I¡¯ve had Ah Hong make contact with Water Cloud Gang, we should have news in a few days."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised an eyebrow.


    Big Sister said excitedly, "You mean Water Cloud Gang?"


    "Yes, but don¡¯t get too excited yet, I don¡¯t have much confidence either," Qiao Duo¡¯er was also uncertain.


    In the face of the enormous Water Cloud Gang, the Tan Family was fairly insignificant.


    But Big Sister blindly worshiped her, thinking Qiao Duo was just being modest.


    "You¡¯ll definitely make it happen, but I understand what you mean. I won¡¯t spread the word, I will just ask Qing Xin and the rest to step up production."


    The shops of Water Cloud Gang were spread everywhere, with a tremendous demand for goods.


    It would not do if Qiao Duo settled everything and then there was a hiccup in the supply.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said helplessly, "Take it easy."


    Big Sister indicated that she understood; she had looked at the ledger and knew exactly how much silver she had at her disposal.


    After chatting for a while more, she took her leave as she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about the shop.


    She was also mentally exhausted, having an In Charge who didn¡¯t manage affairs meant she had to take on more worry herself.


    Not long after Big Sister left, Ah Hong came into the study, forcefully closing the ledger concerning Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s injury.


    "I can understand this stuff, why can¡¯t we talk about it in a bit?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er protested, "I¡¯m not made of paper!"


    Why couldn¡¯t she do anything?


    "Paper would be better, at least I could fix it if it were damaged."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er obediently lay down on the divan and couldn¡¯t help muttering, "I¡¯m so bored."


    Now that Green Group and Rui Rui had started their lessons, and Tangyuan was following Bai Yifan all day, apart from meddling in business, what else could she do?


    But Tan Zhenghong was always hindering her, which was extremely frustrating. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was a grand secret agent; after transmigrating, she was supposed to accomplish great things. How could she waste her time like this?


    "You better rest up, I¡¯ve heard that Prince Liang is going to make Yun Piaopiao Concubine Ping, and once the imperial edict arrives, he will host a banquet for guests. You and your sister-in-law are of significant standing, and you¡¯ll surely have to accompany them."


    Tan Zhenghong looked at Duo¡¯er sympathetically; by then, she would be worn out both mentally and physically.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er asked curiously, "Can Queen Liang agree to such an absurd matter?"


    In Daxing, only less prestigious families would entertain the idea of a secondary wife, mostly those who favored concubines over their primary wives.


    Moreover, the position of Concubine Ping was already threatening Queen Liang¡¯s position. Would she not take action?


    "Queen Liang has no direct son by her side, and with the Empress above her, even if she disagrees, what can she do?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er sighed, "This is what they mean by ¡¯Entering the palace gates is like diving into deep seas.¡¯ From now on, let¡¯s stay away from that place."

 Chapter 1221 - 1227

    Chapter 1221: Chapter 1227Tan Zhenghong said nonchalantly, "We don¡¯t have much connection with that place anyway."


    The role of a Fourth Rank Inspector was the peak of his career, and he had no intention of becoming kin with the imperial family through marriage, so he figured they would never even touch the gates of the palace.


    Duo¡¯er felt that it made sense, so she put the matter out of her mind and picked up a miscellany to read.


    Big Girl had brought three account books, and Tan Zhenghong had been reading them until night fell.


    By then, Duo¡¯er had already yawned three times, yet Tan Zhenghong showed no signs of wanting to sleep.


    Duo¡¯er pouted, wondering why Tan Zhenghong seemed uninterested in her.


    If it were before, he would have surely carried her to bed enthusiastically.


    The more she thought about it, the more it seemed off, so Duo¡¯er threw the miscellany aside and plopped herself onto Tan Zhenghong¡¯s lap.


    "Dear husband, the night is deep, why aren¡¯t you going to bed yet?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said tenderly.


    Feeling the tension in the body beneath her, she suddenly felt satisfied and understood why he had been resisting going to bed.


    Her vitality was low, and she was only three months pregnant, so he had no choice but to endure.


    It must be... pretty hard.


    Tan Zhenghong forcibly suppressed a certain urge, "Good girl, you go to sleep first."


    Since the weather had turned hot, Duo¡¯er liked to wear silk pajamas, which were as thin as a cicada¡¯s wings, revealing her enticing little garment and voluptuous figure clearly.


    The worst part was that Duo¡¯er was restless in her sleep, always rubbing against him.


    "Umm... I don¡¯t want to," Duo¡¯er dragged out her words.


    Tan Zhenghong wrapped his arms around Duo¡¯er¡¯s waist and hugged her tightly before giving her a fierce kiss, only releasing her when he noticed her breathing was constricted.


    "Do you still want to play?"


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s voice was husky and inadvertently carried a seductive tone.


    With a light grunt, Qiao Duo¡¯er said, "Just this child¡¯s play scares me away? Got anything more challenging?"


    After such a long time of unabashed and carefree living, even a kiss didn¡¯t make them blush, right?


    S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1222 - 1228: There Is Only One Female Lead

    Chapter 1222: Chapter 1228: There Is Only One Female LeadOn the first day of August, Prince Liang held a feast at the separate courtyard to confer the title of queen.


    Both the Tan Family and the Qin Family received invitations, but since there were still public affairs to handle at the Government Office, Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling went ahead to the separate courtyard with gifts.


    By the time they arrived, the entrance of the separate courtyard was already packed with sedans and carriages, suggesting that all the influential figures of Ning Tian Mansion had been invited.


    Chen Yiling showed a face of disdain, "Prince Liang is making too much of a fuss over Yun Piaopiao."


    Her anger stemmed not only from her unfair treatment of Duo¡¯er but also because Yan Meige had seriously affected her income.


    "We¡¯re only suffering a temporary loss; his stupidity can¡¯t be changed for a lifetime," Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently.


    Chen Yiling¡¯s mood cleared up instantly with this consolation.


    Indeed, what¡¯s stolen can never last long.


    What¡¯s more, with Duo¡¯er by her side, she simply needed to sit back and watch how Prince Liang and his people would be dealt with.


    After getting out of the carriage, a maid took their gifts and ushered them into the backyard.


    "Queen Liang is also here," the maid reminded.


    Ping¡¯er took out a purse and stuffed it into the maid¡¯s hand, "Please, sister, could you tell us how we should address the two Queens?"


    The maid weighed the purse in her hand and showed a satisfied expression.


    "Although both are queens, only one lady is the true mistress of Mansion King Liang. She not only has a good background but also is truly respected by the Prince; the other... only holds an appealing title."


    "Thank you, sister."


    Ping¡¯er hurriedly expressed her thanks.


    Chen Yiling and Qiao Duo¡¯er exchanged a glance, feeling a bit more sympathy for Yun Piaopiao in their hearts.


    Everyone knew that the "other" the maid referred to was Concubine Ping, who had just entered the Wang Mansion.


    Passing through three flower-hanging archways brought them to the backyard, where groups of ladies gathered to chat about domestic affairs. Upon seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling, these women found a new topic of conversation.


    " I reckon Duo Meifang will have to close its doors, what a pity."


    "That¡¯s her own fault. Prince Liang is the legitimate son of the current era, with high status and power. If she had been a bit wiser, why would she have ended up in such a rigid standoff?"


    "That¡¯s why I say, a country girl will always be a country girl, no matter how bright and shiny she dresses up, it won¡¯t hide the fact that she¡¯s unsophisticated!"


    "It¡¯s not necessarily so, perhaps they have other plans."


    "Yes, Madam Chen¡¯s father is the Chief of Staff; she must see things more clearly than us."


    "Who knows if he¡¯s getting senile? Since His Majesty the Emperor Tai Zu, the Daxing Dynasty has always been succeeded by the legitimate son. No matter how capable a peasant son is, he can only become an idle prince!"


    ...


    Although their voices were kept low, a phrase or two still reached the ears of those concerned.


    Chen Yiling clenched her fists, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Duo¡¯er remaining calm and composed as if unrelated to the matter; she quickly took a deep breath and suppressed her anger completely.


    Duo¡¯er had said that the more you are laughed at, the more you need to remain composed; otherwise, you¡¯ll just make an even bigger joke of yourself.


    Upon entering the main hall, the two ladies of the Mansion of King Liang were seated on the higher seats, one on the left and one on the right. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Greetings to Your Highnesses,"


    Duo¡¯er and Chen Yiling bowed gracefully.


    "You needn¡¯t be so formal. Let¡¯s sit down and have a talk," the amiable Queen Liang said with a smile.


    After sitting down, Duo¡¯er discreetly took in the two VIPs sitting in the primary seats.


    The queen was dressed in a regal red palace outfit, her face adorned with a gentle smile, the epitome of a lady from a distinguished family.


    Yun Piaopiao wore a water-red dress, lacking her usual detachment from the mundane world, but now exuded an added charm and seductiveness that made her even more eye-catching.


    It was a shame she had married Prince Liang, leaving the impression of a pearl cast before swine.


    "I had long heard from the Prince of both Madams¡¯ intelligence and virtue. Having met you today, I feel a natural affinity. You must visit more often in the future,"


    offered Queen Liang in a gesture of goodwill.

 Chapter 1223 - 1229: Who Sent It?

    Chapter 1223: Chapter 1229: Who Sent It?She had known from the moment she married into the imperial family that her husband would have many women.


    So, aside from occasional bitterness, she was able to maintain an image of virtuousness, and sometimes she even arranged for women for Prince Liang.


    This was done firstly to display her tolerant side.


    Secondly, because she had only given birth to two legitimate daughters after entering the mansion and her womb had been completely still for years, she could only pin her hopes on those women without status or power, waiting for them to bear sons who would then be raised under her name.


    Just like the once Li Mu¡¯er.


    But Yun Piaopiao¡¯s appearance had thrown her into a panic.


    Yun Piaopiao was a breathtaking beauty who brought advantages, holding a significant place in Prince Liang¡¯s heart.


    If she were to give birth to a child, the position of queen could very well be hers one day.


    The best solution to this problem was to win over Qiao Duo¡¯er and find an even more beautiful woman to replace Yun Piaopiao.


    Chen Yiling was very modest, "Madam flatters me."


    Even with the thickest skin, she dared not ascribe the virtues of virtuousness to herself and Duo¡¯er.


    Their reputation for jealousy had long been widespread; after all, there were no maids around the men in their family.


    With the actions of Queen Liang, Yun Piaopiao became even more restless.


    "Duo¡¯er, sister, the glory I have today is thanks to your blessing, so I had someone prepare a modest gift, please accept it with a smile."


    As soon as Yun Piaopiao finished speaking, a maid behind her brought out a brocade box.


    Inside, the jade bracelet was crystal clear, obviously not a common item.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er could no longer feign ignorance and had to stand up, supporting her slightly protruding belly, "Madam is naturally beautiful and skillful, which has won the prince¡¯s affection; I dare not take credit."


    Both seated were not to be underestimated; if she agreed with one, the other would surely find a way to kill her.


    She had only just returned from the brink of death, becoming more cautious about her life, she naturally wouldn¡¯t side with either party.


    What¡¯s more, both women had Prince Liang¡¯s interests in mind; she hoped the outcome would ultimately favor King Qin Mansion. With different standpoints, they would never become friends.


    Yun Piaopiao¡¯s expression turned sour, a thought suddenly crossing her mind.


    She couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Duo¡¯er and silently thought: It¡¯s not that I am heartless, but that you fail to recognize what¡¯s good for you.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er caught the unfriendly gaze and grew more cautious.


    Since there were other ladies coming to pay their respects, the topic naturally shifted, either praising Queen Liang as a wise helper or lauding the newly favored Yun Piaopiao to the skies.


    After sitting for a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s limited patience was worn thin by the flattering words.


    "I¡¯m feeling unwell, I¡¯d like to go outside for a walk; I hope the queen will understand."


    Queen Liang nodded, "Not at all, but be careful, Mrs. Tan, as it rained just yesterday."


    "Thank you for your concern, Queen; Mrs. Qin is accompanying me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er took the opportunity to take Chen Yiling away.


    Once in a less crowded place, Duo¡¯er stretched lazily without concern for appearances. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Carrying this child, she always felt exhausted; she couldn¡¯t sit or stand for long, otherwise the little one would start fussing in her belly, making her almost doubt Bai Yifan¡¯s diagnosis.


    Still frail? With this spirit, she could even become a general.


    As the two settled in the pavilion, a maid brought over some pastries.


    "Mrs. Tan, the queen says you are carrying twins, and mustn¡¯t go hungry; please have something to eat first."


    "May I ask who this is from? We should go thank them later." Chen Yiling was cautious.


    "It¡¯s from Liang Wang."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said regretfully, "The pastries from Wang Mansion are truly exquisite, but I don¡¯t have much of an appetite."

 Chapter 1224 - 1230: Rank Too Low

    Chapter 1224: Chapter 1230: Rank Too Low"Madam, rest assured," the maid picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth, swallowing it before continuing, "My mistress sincerely wishes to establish good relations with you."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gently touched her belly a few times, the corners of her mouth hanging with a barely there smile.


    Did they really think her a fool?


    In the next second, her figure flashed, and she had the maid pressed against the stone table.


    "Next time, remember to wash off the scent of the perfumed powder on your body before impersonating a Liang Wang," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, unhurriedly.


    All the servants at Wang Mansion were uniformly equipped with necessities, but occasionally received different rewards for following different masters.


    Yun Piaopiao was a Perfume Master, mainly rewarding her creations of rouge and face powder.


    She also had a fatal flaw; she came from a poor background, and even after becoming Concubine Ping, she couldn¡¯t shed some of the pettiness ingrained in her bones.


    For instance, the rewards she bestowed were often defective rejects due to poor mixing.


    However, for the maids, these were already sufficient, so they were grateful to Yun Piaopiao regardless of the quality of the gifts.


    The maid remained calm: "Mrs. Tan, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I am First-class Handmaid Lu Yi, by the side of Liang Wang. You can ask anyone in Wang Mansion; they all recognize me."


    "I didn¡¯t expect Yun Piaopiao to be capable of such things, but you¡¯d best tell her that playing dirty tricks with me is useless. If she wants to deal with me, she should just make her move openly and aboveboard."


    Duo¡¯er had no desire to listen to her excuses.


    Whether she was a first-class maid or something else, the scent on her body couldn¡¯t deceive anyone.


    Actually, Duo¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have noticed it before, but her sense of smell was exceptionally keen during pregnancy, and even the slightest discrepancy couldn¡¯t escape her nose.


    For this, Tan Zhenghong had even teased her about becoming a dog-nosed creature.


    Seeing that there was no chance to get Duo¡¯er to eat the pastry, the pressed-down maid immediately drew a dagger from her waistband. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For the safety of her entire family, she had to take the risk.


    In times of danger, Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s body reacted faster than her mind, and with a turn, she narrowly dodged the attack.


    At this moment, she was immensely grateful for the devilishly tough training of her previous life, because with Lu Yi¡¯s speed, that dagger would certainly have stabbed into her abdomen.


    Even if she survived, the child would not.


    With her first strike missing, Lu Yi quickly readjusted her stance, lunging at Qiao Duo¡¯er once again.


    In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several moves.


    Lu Yi was no match for Duo¡¯er¡¯s martial skills, but she wielded a dagger and aimed blow after blow at Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly. Qiao Duo¡¯er, unarmed and protecting her unborn child, found it difficult to gain the upper hand.


    Chen Yiling watched on, her heart pounding with fear: "Someone come quickly!"


    But they were in a secluded place, and someone had thoughtfully planned for that, rendering her cries for help useless.


    In desperation, she could only stealthily move towards Lu Yi, picking up a plate from the table as she went.


    It had always been Duo¡¯er protecting her, but this time it was her turn to protect Duo¡¯er.


    Lu Yi was fully focused on dealing with Qiao Duo¡¯er and failed to notice the danger approaching from behind.


    Suddenly struck on the back of her head, Lu Yi staggered. Although she quickly tried to recover her balance, Chen Yiling seized the opportunity to grab her from behind.


    "Run quickly!" Chen Yiling exerted all her strength.


    Even so, she couldn¡¯t hold on for long, which meant Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t have much time.


    Duo¡¯er didn¡¯t intend to leave Chen Yiling behind, but took the chance to strike the maid¡¯s pressure points and snatched the dagger from her hand.


    With that, the crisis was thoroughly averted.


    Having caused such a commotion, guards from the other courtyard finally arrived. However, due to incidents in the mansion, most attendants were assigned to more crowded areas, so only two of them showed up.


    They were actually assigned to move items and only discovered the situation upon arrival.

 Chapter 1225 - 1231: Giving you an Explanation

    Chapter 1225: Chapter 1231: Giving you an Explanation"Madams, are any of you injured?"


    Chen Yiling supported Qiao Duo¡¯er to sit down, took out a Fetus Protection Pill to feed her, and after observing for a good while, finally answered, "It¡¯s nothing serious."


    "Madam¡¯s complexion doesn¡¯t look good. You should still see a doctor. I will go and inform the Prince right away."


    Duo¡¯er waved her hand, "I¡¯ll be fine after resting here for a bit. You all make sure to deliver this maid and the pastries to the Queen without causing too much of a commotion."


    "But... that¡¯s against the rules," the guard said, clearly troubled.


    "Today is Prince Liang¡¯s big day. Making a fuss will only lead to ridicule. Just do as I say," Qiao Duo¡¯er said firmly.


    She simply wanted to give the Queen a warning, not to convict Yun Piaopiao.


    After pondering for a moment, the guard nodded, "Then Madam, please rest well. I will send someone over to protect you all immediately."


    Once everyone had left, Chen Yiling patted her chest, still shaken by the recent events.


    But she quickly became excited, "Duo¡¯er, was I not very brave today?"


    "I owe you my thanks," Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yiling¡¯s timely reaction, the outcome would have been difficult to predict.


    A radiant smile spread across Chen Yiling¡¯s face, "Haha, since meeting you, this is the one time I haven¡¯t been a burden. Now I have something to boast about. Also, do you think Yun Piaopiao is foolish?"


    Shouldn¡¯t her current priority be to establish a firm footing in the Mansion of King Liang?


    Yet she attacked Qiao Duo, wasn¡¯t that just handing the leverage to someone else?


    "Duo Meifang hasn¡¯t released any new products recently, she¡¯s anxious," Qiao Duo explained.


    "You¡¯re the smart one. With Prince Liang using her to acquire the formula, he certainly doesn¡¯t care about her as much as before, but... can you handle it?" Chen Yiling also saw the crux of the matter.


    But her worry deepened.


    If it were before, ten Yun Piaopiaos wouldn¡¯t matter, but now that Qiao Duo was pregnant, she was easily calculated against.


    Qiao Duo¡¯s fingers tapped on the stone table, "What do you think?"


    She had never intended to show weakness from the beginning, nor had she ever planned on giving away Duo Meifang, the business she had painstakingly managed, to anyone.


    Now, the only thing she had to wait for was the east wind, namely the Water Cloud Gang¡¯s Fang Ying.


    Tan Zhenghong was already in contact, and there should be a response in a few days. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once the business deal was nearly settled, it would be the birthday of the Medicine God of Medicine King Valley, and the former Medicine King would also return to the Valley; it would be the perfect time to ask him to confirm the condition of the fetus.


    With the protection of Medicine King Valley, no one could trouble her.


    Chen Yiling narrowed her eyes slightly, "Just say the word if you need anything. My father has already made his political stance clear; he will definitely spare no effort in striking at the Empress¡¯s Bloodline."


    Qiao Duo nodded; she and both the Qin Family and Chen Family had long been on the same boat, and she had no intention of being reserved.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Queen Liang arrived with people.


    "I¡¯ve had the pastries examined, and they contain a large amount of cold-natured medicine, harmful to the fetus. I will have the Imperial Physician check your pulse right away."


    Queen Liang looked anxious. If something happened to Duo¡¯er, as the head of the household, she would not be off the hook either.


    Qiao Duo nodded slightly, "Thank you, but I did not touch the pastries."


    Still, to be on the safe side, the Imperial Physician gave her a thorough pulse diagnosis.


    "Your Majesty, Mrs. Tan is just a bit shocked and is otherwise unharmed, but she still needs to rest for a few days."


    "That¡¯s good to hear. Thanks to Mrs. Tan¡¯s alertness. Rest assured, I will give you a proper account for this matter."


    A gleam flashed in Queen Liang¡¯s eyes. Yun Piaopiao had only just entered the mansion and dared to place someone beside her, committing such a malicious act. She would use this opportunity to suppress her rigorously.


    And preferably... make sure she never had the chance to turn the tables again.

 Chapter 1226 - 1232: Press Down

    Chapter 1226: Chapter 1232: Press DownQiao Duo¡¯er spoke indifferently, "I think it¡¯s better to let this matter rest, to avoid being bitten back."


    Queen Liang sighed. She knew all too well that pursuing this further would do her no good.


    Lu Yi was her bridal maid. Who would believe that Lu Yi was Yun Piaopiao¡¯s person?


    And even if evidence was found, the Prince wouldn¡¯t act against Yun Piaopiao at this time, because she still had value to him.


    "I¡¯ve wronged you. I¡¯ll come to apologize another day."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said lightly, "You are too kind, Queen."


    Yun Piaopiao also hurried over. Seeing Qiao Duo¡¯er unharmed, her forehead creased slightly, but the expression was fleeting.


    "I saw sister hurrying out. Has something happened?"


    Queen Liang cleared her throat, "Just dealing with a maid who betrayed us. I didn¡¯t expect to disturb you."


    Yun Piaopiao glared fiercely at Duo¡¯er, then insincerely said, "I will go report to the Prince and ask him to cleanse the Wang Mansion so that these blind servants don¡¯t harm sister."


    The Zhen Clan and Qiao Duo¡¯er wanted to suppress this incident, but she insisted on not letting them have their way.


    "She has already been beaten to death, and the Prince has never interfered with the affairs of the inner court," Queen Liang said coldly.


    Now, she was still the mistress of the inner court. Where did Yun Piaopiao get the right to speak?


    Yun Piaopiao wanted to say more, but Red Lotus spoke first, "My Queen only means well. Today is the auspicious day for the Prince and the Queen, so let¡¯s not delay over a mere maid."


    The implication was clear: if you keep causing a fuss, the crowning banquet will be ruined.


    "You..." Yun Piaopiao was fuming with anger.


    Queen Liang scolded, "Red Lotus, if you continue to be so uncouth, I cannot keep you here."


    "I have a loose tongue, please forgive me, my Queen," Red Lotus admitted her mistake smoothly.


    "Considering it¡¯s your first offense, I will spare you this time. Go to the front and see how the preparations for the Prince are coming along."


    As soon as the Prince gave the order, the banquet would begin, but Qiao Duo¡¯er had lost all interest.


    Watching palace schemes here was simply a waste of life. She¡¯d rather go home and spend time with two tender little dumplings.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er cleared her throat, "Madam, I think I should retire to rest."


    Queen Liang hurriedly said, "How could I forget? Granny Zhu, Granny Jin, escort Mrs. Tan back to the estate and take some tonic medicines for nourishing the fetus and her spirit."


    "Many thanks."


    After expressing thanks, Duo¡¯er left, helped by Chen Yiling. As she brushed past Yun Piaopiao, she paused for a moment.


    "Consort Ping, take good care of yourself."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er lowered her voice, yet her presence was undiminished.


    Being pushed to this point, it was time for her to make a move.


    Yun Piaopiao shivered, a sense of urgency rising within her... what did she intend to do?


    The expression on her face was all witnessed by Queen Liang.


    Queen Liang was in high spirits, "This Mrs. Tan is not simple. You¡¯d better know your place. If you bring trouble to the Prince, all your secret formulas will be useless." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the time came, nobody else would need to act; Prince Liang wouldn¡¯t spare her.


    Yun Piaopiao crumpled her handkerchief, as if it were Duo¡¯er and Queen Liang.


    Hmph, one day she would trample all these people underfoot!


    After an indeterminate amount of time, a gentle male voice sounded.


    "Piaopiao, what are you doing here?"


    Prince Liang pulled Yun Piaopiao into his embrace.


    Yun Piaopiao immediately put on a smile, "It¡¯s too noisy out front, I came here to find some quiet."


    "You are my queen, these social obligations are unavoidable. It¡¯s just like you to have such a temperament, what should I do with you?" Prince Liang said helplessly.

 Chapter 1227 - 1233: Get Ready to Take It On

    Chapter 1227: Chapter 1233: Get Ready to Take It On"Not with your sister still around? I just want to quietly stay with you, bear you another child, and watch our children grow up together, growing old together too. That would be enough for me."


    Yun Piaopiao¡¯s words slightly moved Prince Liang¡¯s heart; such sincerity was rare.


    "This prince will grant your wish tonight. The wind is strong here; you should hurry inside, the Enfeoffment Ceremony is about to begin," Prince Liang whispered into Yun Piaopiao¡¯s ear as he left a gentle kiss.


    Yun Piaopiao blushed, yet her heart harbored a different scene. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As long as she firmly grasped his heart, and once he ascended the throne, she would be his Empress.


    The grand Enfeoffment Banquet today was her first step.


    That afternoon, the ceremony was the talk of the town.


    "Have you heard? Today the Prince and Concubine Ping performed the marriage rites."


    "What¡¯s the big deal with that? I heard tomorrow he¡¯ll parade with the new concubine through the streets; even the chief wife hasn¡¯t received such honor!"


    "I bet the chief wife¡¯s days are numbered now!"


    "Isn¡¯t that obvious? The master says, ¡¯A wife is inferior to a concubine, a concubine to a secret affair, and a secret affair to one that can¡¯t be had!¡¯"


    When he finished, everyone laughed with ill intentions. It seemed even princes had the common man¡¯s bad roots.


    After that incident, it was firmly established that Prince Liang favored concubines over his wife.


    A few days later, Tan Zhenghong had already agreed on a time with Fang Ying of the Water Cloud Gang; the venue was the Shang Xin Tower Qiao Duo was managing.


    In a private room.


    "Fang Leader, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation," Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted Fang Ying with a bow.


    Fang Ying frowned slightly, "You¡¯re the owner of Duo Meifang?"


    How could it be a woman?


    And Tan Zhenghong, who had arranged the meeting, was standing protectively behind this woman.


    If it weren¡¯t for Tan Zhenghong¡¯s official position, he might have walked out then and there.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er caught Fang Ying¡¯s displeasure but didn¡¯t show any on her face, only generously admitting it.


    "Indeed, why don¡¯t you first look at a few items, Fang Leader?"


    At the right moment, a young woman placed a tray on the table with two rows of wooden boxes, all new products.


    Fang Ying, a man not versed in makeup, was uninterested, but knowing Duo Meifang was in this business, he came prepared.


    The woman In Charge behind him examined each box, her eyes filled with amazement.


    "Duo Meifang truly lives up to its reputation."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled slightly, remembering her initial days of isolation from the outside world, where these beauty-loving girls could only create skincare products themselves using various secret recipes.


    Thus, she was full of confidence in her products.


    "But I heard Prince Liang has a Perfume Master who is extremely sensitive to fragrances; once these products hit the market, it won¡¯t take long before there are imitations," Fang Ying bluntly stated.


    If this issue wasn¡¯t resolved, having good products at Duo Meifang would be useless.


    He was a businessman; he wouldn¡¯t engage in a business that only benefitted others.


    "Yan Meige is indeed formidable, but till now, they haven¡¯t replicated Duo Meifang¡¯s Peach Red Drunk. Guess why?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er raised her eyebrows, having come fully prepared to meet with Fang Ying.


    Fang Ying said disinterestedly, "I¡¯m all ears."


    He didn¡¯t hold much hope for this matter but listening wouldn¡¯t cause any harm.


    It was also a favor to Tan Zhenghong.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er revealed her trump card: "Because she¡¯s allergic to peach scent. Even the slightest amount makes her restless and agitated, let alone analyzing its components."


    Fang Ying inhaled; indeed, a faint peach scent lingered in the air.


    "What¡¯s your confidence level?"

 Chapter 1228 - 1234: Why Are You Looking for Me?

    Chapter 1228: Chapter 1234: Why Are You Looking for Me?Qiao Duo¡¯er stated earnestly, "A full certainty."


    After several attempts at probing, she had confirmed that Yun Piaopiao possessed this flaw.


    Fang Ying¡¯s fingers rhythmically tapped on the table for quite some time before he inquired, "Why do you seek me out?"


    Even if what Qiao Duo¡¯er said was true, collaborating with her would mean offending Prince Liang.


    "Liang and the wealthiest Shen Family have joined forces and stolen my business; I cannot swallow this grievance. And since you have a score to settle with the Shen Family, there¡¯s a saying¡ª¡¯the enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡¯ What are your thoughts on this, Gang Leader Fang?"


    At the mention of the Shen Family, a strong hatred flashed in Fang Ying¡¯s eyes.


    That year, both the Shen Family and Fang¡¯s House had taken an order from the Imperial court, but the Shen Family had deliberately framed them, leading to the tragic death of his parents in prison and nearly the destruction of the Water Cloud Gang.


    It had been a full decade; the Shen Family had long become an unrivaled tycoon, while he remained in hiding at Ning Tian Mansion.


    At every moment, he longed for revenge, but with the Shen Family under the protection of the Empress¡¯s Bloodline, they had grown even stronger. Seeking vengeance was easier said than done.


    "They have the backing of the imperial family; those people will never let anything happen to the Shen Family."


    Fang Ying¡¯s expression turned somewhat disheartened.


    "Could it be that you¡¯ve considered overthrowing both Prince Liang and the Shen Family?" Qiao Duo¡¯er asked lightly.


    One being a prince and the other the foremost tycoon of the realm¡ªEven the Emperor would need to ponder carefully before taking action against them. If they could even dislodge a corner, it would be considered a success.


    Fang Ying¡¯s brows furrowed tightly; indeed, that was his thought.


    But he knew even better that he could not achieve it by himself.


    "If this business succeeds and the Shen Family¡¯s investment in Yan Meige is decimated, they will inevitably experience a severe financial gap. Right now, the struggle for the imperial throne is at a critical juncture; the Empress will force the Shen Family to sell their assets for silver. If Gang Leader Fang seizes this good opportunity, you should be able to reclaim some of the industries that once belonged to Fang¡¯s House."


    The Shen Family had framed Fang¡¯s House; the Water Cloud Gang had withdrawn from the Capital overnight, and much of their property had been sold off cheaply.


    Fang Ying was formidable, managing to rise from the ashes at East Mountain three years later using the remaining assets. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, with the Shen Family as an impediment, the Water Cloud Gang found it difficult to get involved in the Capital¡¯s business, let alone reclaim their former properties.


    "Madam Tan understands me well," Fang Ying said, a murderous intent appearing in his eyes.


    This woman firmly grasped his vulnerability, thereby taking the leading position in this deal. He did not like this feeling.


    Yet, he had to admit, the woman spoke sensibly.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er remained composed: "I¡¯ve also heard some news from King Qin; he has obtained evidence of Prince Liang and the imperial uncle embezzling disaster relief funds, totaling thirty million taels. The rest is for you to consider; I await your response."


    After saying this, she stood up, ready to leave.


    This was a huge deal, and also one of great risk; she had not expected immediate agreement.


    However, Fang Ying was a shrewd man; he knew how to choose.


    Just as Duo¡¯er approached the door, Fang Ying suddenly spoke up, "How do you wish to collaborate?"


    "Duo Meifang will handle the supply, with me ensuring the quality of the goods, while the Water Cloud Gang takes care of the sales. Additionally, Duo Meifang under my name will continue its sales."


    "The Water Cloud Gang has many shops; you might want to reconsider."


    "You may rest assured, should there be any loss due to supply issues, Duo Meifang is ready to compensate double," Qiao Duo¡¯er said, her eyes curving into arcs.


    She estimated that the elder sister had already prepared at least half a year¡¯s worth of stock.


    "Then let¡¯s draft a contract."


    After the burning of an incense stick, the contract was finally agreed upon after several revisions.


    "Madam Tan, I hope you will not disappoint me," Fang Ying said, his gaze deep.


    This time, he was staking everything he had, including his life, which wasn¡¯t worth much.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pressed her handprint on the document in July, "Gang Leader Fang stands alone, whereas I have a family to take care of; in comparison, I have even more to lose."

 Chapter 1229 - 1235 When will it end?

    Chapter 1229: Chapter 1235 When will it end?Fang Ying had single-handedly propped up the declining Water Cloud Gang, which proved his capability. Therefore, after signing the contract, Qiao Duo¡¯er only needed to worry about the supply issues of Duo Meifang.


    "Sister Duo¡¯er, we have bought most of the herbal materials on the market, and I¡¯ve also notified the deer raising field to stop selling musk, but is this really okay?" Da Niu was still a bit worried.


    It was known that buying herbal materials was a huge expense.


    Currently, both the Tan Family and the Qin Family had nearly emptied their silver reserves and had also borrowed a large sum from King Qin, Medicine King Valley, and the Water Cloud Gang.


    If the plan failed, not to mention preserving Duo Meifang, the Tan Family might not even survive.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er reassured, "Don¡¯t you trust me?"


    With the monopoly over the market¡¯s herbal materials, even if Yun Piaopiao developed the formula, Yan Meige¡¯s costs would significantly increase. That was their second safeguard.


    "Of course not, it¡¯s just that this matter is too significant."


    Da Niu drew a large circle with her hands; she felt like she was living in a dream these past few days.


    No, wait... she had never dreamt that she would be involved in a succession dispute.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er chuckled, "I know what you¡¯re worried about, but you¡¯re really overthinking it. King Qin has survived in difficult conditions and ruled the battlefield for decades. Do you think we little guys can influence his success or failure?"


    King Qin strongly supported Duo Meifang for one reason only; he saw it as a potential way to overthrow Prince Liang.


    If it succeeded, that would be best; if it failed, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal as he surely had other plans.


    After all, a contender for succession would not lack cunning, right?


    Da Niu hesitated and then lowered her voice, "Could King Qin truly not blame us?"


    "Unless he doesn¡¯t know that doing business involves risks. Stop worrying about these useless things with that little head of yours. What you need to do now is to focus on increasing production; I don¡¯t want Fang Ying coming to me."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poked Da Niu¡¯s forehead.


    Da Niu patted her chest, "Don¡¯t worry about that; the first batch of goods has already been delivered, and there definitely won¡¯t be any problems. All you need to do is focus on your pregnancy."


    But it seemed she still had to worry needlessly for another month or so, at least until they could see the sales of the new products and she could stop fretting.


    This was also part of growing up.


    After sending Da Niu away, Tan Zhenghong also returned from the Government Office.


    The first thing he did when he got home was to embrace Duo¡¯er.


    "Did this little thing cause you any trouble today?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong placed his ear against Duo¡¯er¡¯s abdomen. Although he complained verbally, his face showed a father¡¯s tender expression.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted and said, "It hasn¡¯t stopped fussing at all, even more than Green Group and Tangyuan put together. It will definitely be a handful in the future."


    "It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll help you watch him."


    Green Group and Tangyuan poked their little heads through the window, their faces full of mischief.


    Tan Zhenghong frowned, "Why are you outside?"


    Weren¡¯t these little things supposed to be at Sir¡¯s house studying at this time?


    "We were sent back early today because Sir had some business," Tangyuan explained. As they passed by the study room, she suddenly thought their parents must be snuggling together, so she made a bet with Tangyuan.


    And she won.


    She knew her father would rush back to be with her mother whenever he had the chance, and sneak in some private conversation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er glared at Tan Zhenghong. She had already said that the little ones in the house were too cunning; they shouldn¡¯t be hugging and kissing all the time, which might teach the children bad habits.


    But the truth was they got caught every three days; granted, now they could only hug and kiss a little.


    Tan Zhenghong touched his nose feeling wronged. Ever since they had a child, he had been so frustrated.


    He just wanted to get close to his wife, and yet he had to act like a thief.


    Ah, when will these days end?

 Chapter 1230 - 1236 Medicine King Valley

    Chapter 1230: Chapter 1236 Medicine King ValleyAccording to the news from Chen Yiling¡¯s informants, Yun Piaopiao had shifted all her focus to continuing her lineage during the stable times of Yan Meige¡¯s business.


    The Liang Wang consort also refused to be outdone, managing her health while taking the opportunity to send people into the Liang Wang¡¯s chamber.


    In any case, the two women were seriously competing in the matter of having children.


    They searched for doctors and asked for medicine daily, naturally leaving no time to trouble Duo¡¯er, allowing her to peacefully reach Medicine King Valley.


    Upon reaching the entrance of the valley, everyone alighted from the carriage.


    "Little master, we were invited by White Medicine King to attend the ceremony," Qin Longyun explained their purpose.


    The attendant respectfully replied, "Master Uncle Bai has informed me, please follow me in."


    Upon entering the valley, everyone was captivated by the scenery in front of them.


    Here, the thin mist lingered, and the landscape was beautifully enchanting¡ªjust one glance and it was unforgettable.


    Chen Yiling took a deep breath, "No wonder everyone who comes out from Medicine King Valley carries a celestial air; this place is clearly a paradise!"


    Upon arriving, everyone immediately felt rejuvenated. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tangyuan said happily, "Mother, I will study medicine here with my master in the future!"


    "But Medicine King Valley does not allow outsiders to stay long-term; staying here means I won¡¯t be able to see you often."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt a pang of sadness.


    But she knew better that Tangyuan moving into Medicine King Valley was only a matter of time.


    "You are my mother, not an outsider; if it really doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll just go and plead with my master, he will surely agree," Tangyuan said, tilting her head.


    Qin Mingrui anxiously added, "I¡¯ll go with you, I also want to live here."


    Otherwise, it would be a long time before he could see Tangyuan again!


    Qin Longyun pursed his lips, "I think it¡¯s better to buy a piece of land outside Medicine King Valley and build a farmhouse; we can stay here occasionally without putting Bai Yifan in a difficult position."


    The rules of Medicine King Valley had been handed down through generations; it truly wasn¡¯t within Bai Yifan¡¯s power to change.


    "That¡¯s a good idea," Tan Zhenghong agreed.


    When he wanted to see Tangyuan, he could stay over; other times, he could spend quaint days with Duo¡¯er elsewhere, achieving the best of both worlds.


    The attendant timely said, "The lands nearby are all fertile but already owned; if you want to buy some, you must choose the right moment."


    "We must buy a piece in a couple of years."


    Chen Yiling clenched her fist, the reason for the two-year wait was that she had invested all her liquid funds into Duo Meifang.


    During their conversation, they had already reached the medicinal cottage; the attendant arranged for them to sit in the living room and even served fragrant tea.


    It was only after a cup of tea that Bai Yifan appeared.


    "Sorry to have kept you waiting; I was delayed for a little while."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er said indifferently, "The birthday of the Medicine God is soon, and it would be strange if you, as the Medicine King, were idling around all day."


    "That¡¯s true, but I still kept you waiting, I¡¯ve already had a medicinal feast prepared as an apology."


    The medicinal feast from Medicine King Valley was unparalleled, and everyone enjoyed it immensely.


    After lunch, Bai Yifan took Duo¡¯er¡¯s family to meet his own master.


    The former Medicine King, known as Xiao Feng, was a friendly and approachable old master.


    After Duo¡¯er¡¯s family paid their respects, Master Xiao stroked his beard, "Everyone, please take a seat."


    The old master¡¯s eyes swept around, eventually settling on Tangyuan.


    "Is this the disciple you¡¯ve taken?"


    Bai Yifan nodded, "Yes, it¡¯s her."


    The old master beckoned, and Tangyuan confidently walked forward a few steps, although she was very nervous, she couldn¡¯t let her master down at a critical moment.


    "What¡¯s your name?" Master Xiao asked.


    "I am Tan Shaoyi, but my nickname is Tangyuan," Tangyuan¡¯s voice was crisp and notably pleasant.

 Chapter 1231 - 1237: Bargaining

    Chapter 1231: Chapter 1237: Bargaining"Can I ask you two questions?"


    Tangyuan nodded, "Of course."


    Fortunately, the questions Master Xiao asked were not difficult, and Tangyuan answered them smoothly.


    Master Xiao¡¯s smile deepened, Bai Yifan had a good eye; this was indeed good material for learning medicine.


    "If you find some free time in the next few days, come to me," said Master Xiao cheerfully. "Even though this old man isn¡¯t of much use anymore, I can still teach you for a few more days."


    He planned to pass on all his life¡¯s experience to Tangyuan.


    Bai Yifan gave a respectful gesture, "Thank you, Master."


    But Tangyuan didn¡¯t express agreement for a long time, and Master Xiao asked again, "You don¡¯t want to?"


    "Of course I do, but Master, you need to check on my mother first. She was poisoned when she was pregnant with my brother, and even my father wasn¡¯t sure if my brother is safe," Tangyuan stated her condition.


    The old master grumbled, "You¡¯re really an ungrateful little thing!"


    How many people in the world dream of receiving his guidance, yet this girl dared to bargain.


    However, despite his complaint, he still asked Qiao Duo to sit beside him and carefully took her pulse.


    "I¡¯ve heard about your situation from Yi Fan, and it seems all is well for now. The supplements Yi Fan prescribed are just right. You should continue to take them, and by the time you give birth, this little fellow will be nicely nourished too."


    "It¡¯s a boy?" Tan Zhenghong was sullen.


    He had accepted the fact that there would be another child, but why couldn¡¯t it be a girl?


    With a head full of black lines, Green Group objected, "Dad, aren¡¯t you being a little too obvious with your favoritism?"


    He dared to pat his chest and say he wasn¡¯t troublesome, so why wasn¡¯t he welcomed?


    Or was it that daughters are cherished, while sons are picked up from the streets?


    Tan Zhenghong fell silent; he was indeed jealous of his own son, especially when Duo¡¯er was breastfeeding, wishing he could throw the little thing out.


    But he guessed that such a reason would be laughable if said aloud.


    Qiao Duo pressed her lips together, "You reap what you sow, just accept it."


    Besides, having a son wasn¡¯t bad either; there would be one more person to protect Tangyuan in the future.


    Tan Zhenghong sighed, "How much debt did I owe in my past life?"


    How could it be so easy to bring children into the world by accident?


    Medicine King was a bit astonished; he had dealt with the privileged all his life, and some families cherished their daughters like jewels, pampering them from birth, with a grand dowry when they married. But this was his first time encountering someone who resented having a son.


    This family... was quite interesting, and it seemed the days ahead wouldn¡¯t be dull.


    Tangyuan curiously asked, "Master, how could you tell my mother is carrying my brother?"


    "If you want to know, then study well with me."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be lazy," Tangyuan hurriedly nodded.


    Master Xiao was finally satisfied, "Then you¡¯ll stay in my medicine cottage, and I¡¯ll teach you how to take pulses in a while. Yi Fan, you¡¯re now in charge of all Medicine King Valley affairs and there¡¯s no need to report to me."


    In the limited years of his life, he only wanted to peacefully teach a disciple who would be looked up to by others.


    Bai Yifan pouted, "Master, have I fallen out of favor?"


    To those who practiced medicine, experience was far more valuable than just knowledge from books.


    He used to be the heir to his master¡¯s medical legacy, but now it seemed his master planned to directly pass it on to Tangyuan.


    "Tangyuan is cuter than you, smarter than you, and even more articulate than you, what do you think?" Master Xiao looked at Bai Yifan with disdain. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Turning to look at Tangyuan, his expression softened into a fond smile.


    Hmm... Why hadn¡¯t he thought of taking on a female disciple before?


    Certainly, they couldn¡¯t be as much trouble as the few rascals he had taken on.

 Chapter 1232 - 1238: No Small Affair

    Chapter 1232: Chapter 1238: No Small Affairfr§×ewe?¦Çovel.co?Because of the Medicine God Festival in three days, Bai Yifan was so busy that he barely touched the ground, leaving Qin Longyun and the others to find their own fun. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯m too busy these days to look after you. Not far from Medicine King Valley, there is a Bull Head Mountain. It¡¯s filled with maple trees, and now is the perfect time to enjoy them."


    There were many forbidden areas in Medicine King Valley where they definitely wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable.


    "I know where it is, I¡¯ll take you there tomorrow."


    Lu Kejun eagerly took on the task, afraid of missing the chance if he was too late.


    She had been staying in Medicine King Valley these past days and was almost bored to death.


    Chen Yiling squinted her eyes and said, "Let¡¯s all go together then. It¡¯s the perfect time for a trip to the countryside, and we can even barbecue!"


    The thought of Duo¡¯er¡¯s secret sauce made her swallow saliva.


    Qin Mingrui helplessly said, "Mother, you¡¯re drooling."


    "If you don¡¯t want to go, you don¡¯t have to." Chen Yiling rolled her eyes at him, doubting whether he was really her own child since he was always spoiling her moments.


    Qin Mingrui promptly nodded in agreement, "Then I won¡¯t go, I¡¯ll go listen to the master¡¯s stories."


    Chen Yiling saw through his little scheme immediately; pretending to listen to the stories was probably just an excuse to spend time with his little wife.


    The little guy was catching on quick, which was good. It saved her from worrying that her adorable Tangyuan might be lured away by someone else.


    Tan Zhenghong immediately became vigilant, "Green Group, you go listen to the stories too."


    Green Group pouted; could he not go?


    Otherwise, who knows how his father might torment him in the future? The only consolation was that the stories the master told were actually quite interesting, enough to make up for missing out on the barbecue.


    Early the next day, Chen Yiling grabbed Qin Longyun and Lu Kejun to prepare the barbecue ingredients, then headed towards the legendary Bull Head Mountain.


    But as soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, someone blocked their way.


    "Who are you?"


    Luo Qingfeng was about to speak when Qin Longyun quickly held him back.


    "Officer, we are merchants passing by. We heard that Bull Head Mountain is a beautiful view and wanted to come and see for ourselves."


    "Get lost, this isn¡¯t a place for you to come!"


    The government official flourished his large knife, trying to intimidate the group into leaving.


    Qin Longyun pulled out a silver ingot from his sleeve, "Officer, please make an exception this time. It just so happened that we were passing by, and missing it now, we wouldn¡¯t know when we¡¯d get the chance again."


    If they didn¡¯t have the barbecue today, his wife would be unhappy.


    The government official weighed the silver in his hand, slipped it into his pocket, and then put on a ferocious face again: "Roll back to where you came from, or my knife won¡¯t spare you!"


    "What kind of person are you? Taking the silver and not doing the job!"


    Chen Yiling¡¯s temper flared up; that was good silver just given away for nothing!


    The government official sneered, "That¡¯s just how I am, if you have the guts, just try me."


    His companions behind him all had ill-intentioned looks; they were nearly dying of boredom in this godforsaken place, and abducting this little dame wouldn¡¯t be too bad.


    But they had orders from above that anyone who dared to make trouble would be killed without mercy, which was why they had not acted yet.


    Qin Longyun held back his wife, "My inside lady lacks understanding, please forgive her, Officer."


    After speaking, he shoved her into the carriage with a combination of pulling and dragging.


    "Qin Longyun, what are you doing? Did you see that condescending look in his eyes? I really want to beat the crap out of him!" Chen Yiling felt a pain in her liver.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er poured her a cup of water, "Calm down, let¡¯s hear what Brother Qin has to say."


    "Those people are not simple," Qin Longyun lowered his voice.


    The silver he had just given weighed ten taels, but that man didn¡¯t care at all, and the government officials around him didn¡¯t have such strong willpower.

 Chapter 1233 - 1239: Asking a Question

    Chapter 1233: Chapter 1239: Asking a QuestionTan Zhenghong agreed heartily, "Those government officers are steady players, and their martial arts must be strong. If there wasn¡¯t something important in the mountains, employing them to guard it would be a waste of talent."


    "But it¡¯s just a broken mountain, what could be there?"


    Chen Yiling was still furious, her words tinged with rage.


    "Underground, there could be many valuable things, like treasure or iron mines," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    Chen Yiling calmed down, "It must be that bastard, Prince Liang!"


    Prince Liang was full of schemes and loved to engage in secretive deeds; moreover, he had a history of such behavior.


    "It¡¯s still too early to say, it would be best to sneak into the mountains and investigate."


    Qin Longyun pondered over the choice of candidates, but with Bull Head Mountain¡¯s strict defenses, it was tough to find a suitable person.


    Tan Zhenghong hesitated, then said, "I¡¯ll go."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had taught him well in the art of concealing his movements, and now his skills could be put to good use.


    "No," Qin Longyun refused without hesitation.


    What would happen to Duo¡¯er and the child in her womb if something went wrong on this journey? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tapped her fingers on the window frame. "Your lightness skills are still lacking; we should consult Bai Yifan on this matter, and it would be best to get Master Xiao involved."


    Having occupied the position of Medicine King steadily for forty years, Master Xiao surely had experts at his side.


    Actually, seeking help directly from King Qin was also plausible, but they feared that delaying could lead to complications.


    Previously, the downfall of Black Wind Stronghold had been manipulated by both the Empress and Prince Liang. Sadly, they hadn¡¯t managed to expose the mastermind behind it; eventually, the Empress presented some insignificant figures to take the blame, and the matter was dropped.


    Now, a new opportunity had arisen, and they had to seize it well.


    Ideally... it would leave Prince Liang permanently weakened.


    Because the matter was so important, Qiao Duo¡¯er and the others hurriedly returned to Medicine King Valley.


    Qin Longyun personally explained the situation to Master Xiao but didn¡¯t receive the response they hoped for.


    "I have maintained Medicine King Valley¡¯s independence for many years because we take no part in any power struggles," Master Xiao said earnestly.


    For Medicine King Valley, it mattered little who sat on the throne since anyone would fall ill and need their services.


    Thus, they did not concern themselves with the conflicts of the world, focusing only on improving their medical skills.


    Bai Yifan spoke sternly, "Prince Liang is naturally brutal, luxuriously arrogant, and fond of glory; if such a man ascends to greatness, the common people will suffer."


    In light of the greater good, should they still adhere to the rules of Medicine King Valley?


    "That¡¯s not your place to comment," Master Xiao glared at Bai Yifan.


    As the Medicine King, his responsibility was to protect Medicine King Valley.


    "But..."


    Bai Yifan wanted to persuade further but was ruthlessly interrupted by Master Xiao, "There are no buts. I could tolerate your mischief in other matters, but I cannot watch you destroy the centuries-old foundation of Medicine King Valley!"


    The room fell into silence, and after a long while, Qiao Duo¡¯er coughed lightly, "Master Xiao, I have a matter to consult you about."


    "Anything but going into the mountain is fine."


    "I heard you have four guards; I wonder who among them has the best lightness skills?" Qiao Duo¡¯er changed her approach.


    Master Xiao thought for a moment before responding, "That would be Qing Yan. He was once a famous Divine Thief in the martial arts world. If it weren¡¯t for the fortunate rescue of his wife by me, he wouldn¡¯t be serving me."


    "I wonder if you would lend Qing Yan for two days? Rest assured, during this period, Qing Yan won¡¯t step out of Medicine King Valley."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked slyly.

 Chapter 1234 - 1240: Default

    Chapter 1234: Chapter 1240: DefaultTangyuan timingly hugged the elder¡¯s neck and said, "Great-Grandmaster, please agree to my mother¡¯s request. My mother never lies."


    "This isn¡¯t according to the rules."


    The elder persisted, but he spoke much more gently to little Tangyuan.


    After a few days of companionship, he had grown very fond of this clever little girl and had even resolved to treat her like his own granddaughter in the future. He had even been tempted to agree to her request just now.


    Fortunately, he was a man who had seen the world, and in critical moments, reason prevailed by a narrow margin.


    He couldn¡¯t jeopardize Medicine King Valley because of his personal feelings, or else how could he face his seniors in a hundred years?


    "My mother just wants my brother and Rui Rui to learn light body techniques. How is that against the rules?" Tangyuan covertly gave a knowing look.


    Green Group immediately understood and said, "We want to learn martial arts so that we can protect Great-Grandmaster once we become masters."


    "We can protect Tangyuan too."


    Qin Mingrui added.


    Master Xiao stroked his beard, his eyes circling over the three children before saying, "I will have to ask Qing Yan about this matter, but let me say in advance, it¡¯s best not to have any accidents. Medicine King Valley will not acknowledge any."


    Qing Yan was with the elder to repay a favor, not as his subordinate.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s face lit up with joy, "Rest assured, if there¡¯s trouble, it¡¯s me who holds a grudge against Prince Liang, and I¡¯ll be the one finding fault with him everywhere."


    These past few days, the Water Cloud Gang¡¯s shops had begun selling products from Duo Meifang, which meant she and Prince Liang had already fallen out.


    Master Xiao snapped his fingers, and another person appeared in the room.


    This man, in his mid-twenties, had a somewhat scholarly air about him. If Medicine King hadn¡¯t previously revealed his identity, it would have been difficult for anyone to guess who he was.


    The rumors in the martial arts world were that if the Divine Thief set his eyes on something, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t steal.


    "Did you hear what was just discussed?"


    Qing Yan saluted with his hands, "I am willing to give it a try."


    He believed in his light body skills. Even if he couldn¡¯t gather information, he would never fall into enemy hands, naturally eliminating the chance to implicate Medicine King Valley.


    So the thing the elder was worried about would never happen.


    Actually, even if the elder hadn¡¯t relented, he would have agreed to head into the mountains privately.


    The one who injured his wife was a subordinate of Prince Liang¡¯s. Although Medicine King had tried his best to save her, their first child couldn¡¯t be saved.


    Years had passed, and whenever his wife thought of that child, she couldn¡¯t stop the tears.


    If he could personally bring about Prince Liang¡¯s demise, his great vengeance would be satisfied.


    Master Xiao nodded, "Be extremely careful."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er immediately borrowed a room from the elder and applied makeup to Qing Yan. He was completely transformed, making it so even if he was exposed, no one would be able to guess his identity.


    By the time Qing Yan departed, the elder did not show his face again, effectively giving tacit approval to their actions.


    Truthfully, aside from the risk of responsibility, he also did not wish for Prince Liang to ascend to the throne. Otherwise, as Bai Yifan had said, the common people would indeed suffer.


    Qing Yan was gone for two days, only returning on the night of the third.


    Qin Longyun asked anxiously, "Was everything smooth?"


    Qing Yan pulled out an item from his embrace and unwrapped the cloth around it, leaving everyone¡¯s eyes wide. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was actually a gold bar!


    "There¡¯s a gold mine inside. I observed for two days; the defenses are very strict, no one else could possibly get in. Moreover, Prince Liang seems to have run into some trouble and is adding more workers to the mining operation."


    Qing Yan succinctly described the situation in the mountains.


    "Prince Liang wouldn¡¯t really be planning a rebellion, would he?" Chen Yiling spoke in a very low voice.

 Chapter 1235 - 1241: Who is the Culprit?

    Chapter 1235: Chapter 1241: Who is the Culprit?"Ever since the Emperor turned forty, his health has declined," Qin Longyun analyzed. "Yet he has a strong fate; several times he faced deadly peril, but he survived each ordeal. Now, even Master Xiao cannot predict how much longer he will live. Moreover, with King Qin¡¯s power growing day by day, the Emperor is definitely shaken."


    Prince Liang, concerned about losing his power, made preparations, which was understandable.


    Furthermore, King Qin uncovered evidence of corruption in the Empress¡¯s Bloodline and suffered considerable loss due to the counterattack from Duo Meifang. This forced Prince Liang to urgently need a large amount of gold to fill the gaps, compelling him to dispatch more people to hasten the mining.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, "He¡¯s too anxious. If he did nothing and merely relied on being the legitimate eldest son, his odds would be better than now."


    "Duo¡¯er, do you have any idea?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er gestured for the others to gather close and whispered a few words; after hearing her out, everyone gave her a thumbs up.


    "Indeed, no merchant without guile; Prince Liang truly has rotten luck to meet you."


    "You lampoon me when you could be contacting King Qin. We alone can¡¯t deal with Prince Liang," Qiao Duo¡¯er kindly reminded.


    It wasn¡¯t that the plan wasn¡¯t perfect, but rather that with his power, Prince Liang could easily crush them. It was likely to end up just like last time, with only a few scapegoats suffering.


    Qin Longyun solemnly replied, "I¡¯ll arrange it right away."


    Half a month later, rumors were flying everywhere.


    "Have you heard? The bodhisattva at Changjing Convent in the west of the city wept tears of blood. Did something happen?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The same at Ningan Temple in the south of the city; something big must be about to happen!"


    "Nevermind those small temples. I heard even the bodhisattva at Huguo Temple wept tears of blood, and it happened on the day a Saint sought blessings!"


    "It must be some official committing heinous deeds. Even the bodhisattva can¡¯t stand it anymore."


    "I think the current Magistrate is decent, divine in passing judgments, and not corrupt. It definitely isn¡¯t bad luck for our Ning Tian Mansion."


    "Of course, the highest official in the Mansion City is just a Fourth Rank; how could he have alarmed so many bodhisattvas? It¡¯s surely someone with a significant reputation!"


    "Right, if bodhisattvas cared about every minor official, they would be crying every day!"


    Even a three-year-old child knows that corruption is common everywhere.


    "Could it be Lord Liang?"


    "I reckon so, the bodhisattva¡¯s tears of blood started from our Ning Tian Mansion."


    "I didn¡¯t say it, and I advise you to avoid speaking recklessly. Be wary, it could lead to fatal disasters."


    "I think we better not leave our homes recently. Bodhisattvas weeping, no matter the reason, signifies that troubling times are ahead!"


    "Right, let¡¯s just focus on living our lives and leave the worries to others."


    With such mysterious events, the longer the rumors circulated among the people, the more sensational they became.


    Eventually, it turned into claims that Lord Liang was a calamity incarnate, which would sever the fate of the Daxing Dynasty. The tears of the bodhisattva were a divine warning, and the only solution was to kill Lord Liang.


    At King Liang¡¯s Other House.


    "The common people outside are saying... they say you have caused heaven¡¯s fury by your immorality, Your Highness. The Emperor believes these slanderous words, and has confined the Empress and her family," said the guard, his voice faltering.


    Prince Liang frowned deeply, "Have you found who is spreading these vicious rumors?"


    He must have been set up by someone at a time when he took such a big fall.


    "Not yet."


    The guard bowed even lower.


    The temples had started having issues a month ago, and the rumors had flown instantly; their people simply couldn¡¯t react in time.


    Now even a three-year-old child knows about Prince Liang being a calamity; where could they possibly find the

 Chapter 1236 - 1242: Pregnant?

    Chapter 1236: Chapter 1242: Pregnant?Prince Liang took a deep breath, "How is the gold mine progressing?"


    "Mining is still underway, but you¡¯re in the eye of the storm right now, shouldn¡¯t we stop for a bit?"


    Prince Liang clenched his fists so tight that the cracking sounds made the guard too afraid to even breathe heavily.


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t meddle too much, but once the crime of illegal mining was confirmed, the whole Mansion of King Liang would be implicated, including himself.


    After a long while, Prince Liang finally said, "There are gaps everywhere now, how can we stop? You go to the mine and have them work day and night, I won¡¯t let their work go unrewarded."


    The guard knew it was futile to say more, so he could only bow, "Yes."


    No sooner had he left than Yun Piaopiao arrived.


    Seeing that Prince Liang was in a bad mood, she stood behind him and gently massaged his temples.


    "Prince, there hasn¡¯t been a single good event in the past two months. I feel that this definitely has something to do with Duo Meifang, you must take good care of yourself and not fall into their traps." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Prince Liang felt irritated and moved his head away from Yun Piaopiao¡¯s hands.


    "When can you produce the formula?"


    Yun Piaopiao¡¯s face turned pale, she also wanted to deliver the formula as soon as possible, but she simply couldn¡¯t stand the scent of the cosmetics; what could she do?


    She had sought other Perfume Masters, but the products they made were simply not presentable.


    Prince Liang swept the items on his desk to the floor, saying irritably, "You¡¯re of no help at all, what use are you?"


    He suddenly felt the whole world was against him, there wasn¡¯t a single thing going his way!


    Yun Piaopiao murmured weakly, "The losses of Yan Meige are borne by the Shen Family, what you should be most worried about now is that the Emperor truly believes in the supernatural and even witnessed the Buddha statue weeping blood, he will surely have his guards up against you, or even..."


    She stopped short, but Prince Liang understood clearly ¨C it meant his life could be at risk.


    After all, what did paternal love count for in the face of overwhelming power?


    Father and son murdering each other, siblings destroying one another, these things nearly always occur during power transitions.


    "Things have come to this, all you can do is make a desperate stand; if you win, the whole world will be yours."


    Yun Piaopiao added fuel to the fire at just the right moment.


    Prince Liang sighed, "My mother is still in their hands."


    He could kill anyone in the world, but he could never disappoint his mother, for she was the one who truly cared for him in this world.


    A flash of scorn flickered in Yun Piaopiao¡¯s eyes; with the situation so urgent, there was still time to worry about irrelevant people!


    But she had already chosen her side, and at this point, she could only try her best to persuade him.


    "If you raise an army now, they will hesitate to harm your mother out of fear, if we don¡¯t act, we¡¯ll be sitting ducks, and then not only your mother, but even you won¡¯t be able to save yourself."


    "Furthermore, it has always been your mother¡¯s lifelong wish for you to don the Dragon Robe and command the nation from the royal court, you cannot let her down."


    "But..."


    Prince Liang was still hesitant.


    If he were to rebel, he would bear a lifetime of infamy.


    Yun Piaopiao wrapped her arms around Prince Liang¡¯s neck and whispered, "I¡¯m worried that the weeping Buddha is a scheme by those coveting the gold mine to doom you, Prince, you must make a decision early. If we let those people gain the upper hand, we will only become the laughingstock of the world. I¡¯m not afraid of hardship, it¡¯s just that I feel regret for your unfulfilled ambitions."


    "And our child, he would surely wish for his father to be a man who stands tall in this world."


    Prince Liang showed a rare smile, "Are you saying you¡¯re pregnant?"

 Chapter 1237 - 1243: Return to Beijing

    Chapter 1237: Chapter 1243: Return to Beijing"I¡¯ve already had the Imperial Physician check, and he said our child is very likely a boy," Qiao Duo¡¯er said shyly, nodding.


    That was true, but the rest was her fabrication.


    Prince Liang gave a thumbs-up. "It¡¯s truly impressive, Piaopiao. I promise you, once you give birth to Lin¡¯er, I will request Mother to promote you to the official Queen!"


    "I¡¯m not the kind of woman who cares about status, I just don¡¯t want our child to be wronged," replied Yun Piaopiao, her expression growing somber.


    Throughout history, which Emperor¡¯s sons and grandsons who hadn¡¯t achieved high status didn¡¯t have to live carefully under the Emperor¡¯s hands?


    Especially with a once ambitious father, their days would only be harder.


    "I know what to do," she continued resolutely. "The old saying goes, ¡¯A victorious king and a defeated bandit.¡¯ I won¡¯t let my son become a prisoner, get ready¡ªno, stay here and look after the pregnancy, I need to return to the Capital."


    Prince Liang steeled his heart, realizing waiting for death was not an option.


    Once in the Capital, with the connections of his mother and maternal family, he could gather enough support. And once he led his men into the Palace, who would dare speak against him? sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those who disagreed would be killed on the spot¡ªafter all, the world was full of people, and there would always be those willing to serve him.


    "I don¡¯t want to stay here; I can only be at peace if I¡¯m with you," she insisted.


    Prince Liang wanted to refuse, but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist Yun Piaopiao¡¯s pleading gaze.


    Well, if she ruined her health, his priority would be her happiness.


    "Just be careful then, and take no risks with the future Crown Prince of Daxing."


    "Prince, don¡¯t say that, my sister has children too," Yun Piaopiao said, testing him deliberately.


    Prince Liang scoffed lightly, "How can her children compare with yours? Only our child is worthy of inheriting my throne."


    He wanted to call the other a bastard, but for the sake of face, he refrained.


    Yun Piaopiao finally felt relieved. She had suspected that the child was one Prince Liang and Queen Liang had picked up to deceive others, and now she was even more certain of it.


    If it was indeed a bastard, even if raised under the name of the official Queen, it would have no chance of competing.


    "You go back and rest first; I¡¯ll join you after I finish everything here."


    Since he had already decided to act, he needed to take swift action, taking the Capital by surprise¡ªthis was the surest way to succeed.


    Yun Piaopiao nodded, "I¡¯ll go back and pack your things."


    Watching Yun Piaopiao¡¯s receding figure, holding her waist, Prince Liang¡¯s resolve burned fiercer than ever.


    He now had a son; he had to seize the throne, so his dynasty could continue for generations!


    Three days later, Prince Liang discreetly led his men out of Ning Tian Mansion.


    He thought he was being cautious, but the news reached Qin Longyun and others almost immediately.


    "I hope King Qin prepares early, so Prince Liang doesn¡¯t cause too much disturbance. Otherwise, it¡¯s the common people who suffer," Qiao Duo commented.


    In any battle, regardless of the victor, it¡¯s always the common people who suffer the most.


    "King Qin has been on the frontier for years; he surely won¡¯t disappoint us," Chen Yiling said confidently.


    Her main reason for supporting King Qin was his compassionate heart. He would restrain his soldiers; his army would neither plunder the common people nor abduct women or slaughter children and the elderly.


    Qiao Duo fell silent. King Qin was indeed wise and benevolent, but being born into the Imperial family and entangled in a fate affecting himself and everyone around him for their entire lives meant that he could not place the interests of the common people first.


    What could possibly be done?

 Chapter 1238 - 1244: Going Home for the New Year

    Chapter 1238: Chapter 1244: Going Home for the New YearSuch a social system doomed the commoners to be ants unable to control their fates, and this would continue for a long time.


    He only hoped that King Qin was a talented ruler who, once ascended to the throne, could provide everyone with a more stable and prosperous life.


    Another month hastily passed, and the Capital had already received news of Prince Liang¡¯s rebellion. Thankfully, King Qin acted decisively and swiftly, crushing the rebel forces within three days and capturing a host of ringleaders involved in the uprising.


    The old Emperor was forced into the Diligent Government Hall by his son, hiding like a turtle retreating into its shell¡ªprobably because he deemed this too shameful. So, on the second day after the rebellion was quelled, he officiated their guilt.


    The Empress was cast into the cold palace, and Prince Liang was demoted to a commoner, he and his family forbidden to take a single step out of the Mansion of King Liang. Others among his faction were either executed with their entire families or exiled.


    In any case, none met with a good end.


    It must be said that Medicine King Valley truly was a splendid place. While outside the winds and rains of turmoil swirled, inside it remained tranquil and peaceful.


    Later on, whether it was due to shock or excessive grief, the old Emperor¡¯s health steadily declined, and all the distinguished figures of Medicine King Valley were summoned to the Palace.


    This was a matter of great importance at court, and Duo¡¯er only listened with one ear. To her, what was more important was preparing to return home for the New Year.


    As the twelfth lunar month arrived, Duo¡¯er¡¯s belly grew increasingly round, and she could only walk little by little, taking rests while shopping for New Year goods and gifts for relatives and friends.


    Not until the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month did they finally make it back to Big Willow Village, swaying and sauntering all the way.


    Upon returning to the familiar place, Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but reflect, "I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d been away for nearly a year. Looking around, it¡¯s really best at home."


    She felt that she had come to understand the meaning of home.


    It meant that no matter how long she left, every plant and tree here was profoundly familiar to her.


    "If you like it, stay for more days. After your confinement, we¡¯ll go to Mansion City," said Tan Zhenghong, his eyes brimming with indulgence.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er nodded, "That¡¯s a good idea, especially since Fang Ying and Big Miss are there to keep an eye on things. Nothing should go wrong."


    That way, she could avoid the flock of flattering women who would inevitably come to her door after the government reshuffle.


    Right now, she wanted nothing more than to safely give birth to the little one in her belly.


    At the door, the Wang Clan had already been waiting for half a day.


    "You must all be exhausted, come inside quick."


    Having once tasted death, the Wang Clan had come to see many things in a different light. Additionally, since living comfortably with the Tan Family, her former pettiness and stinginess had been replaced by composure and kindness. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing Yue had mentioned in her letter that the old lady seemed like a different person now, looking after chickens, ducks, and other animals at home, doing needlework, and even donating part of her earnings to help the surrounding poor.


    Of course, the rest of the family wouldn¡¯t allow her to overexert herself. They would help her whenever they could.


    An old lady like this was hard to dislike, so both Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo¡¯er greeted her affectionately as "Mother".


    Tears glinted in the Wang Clan¡¯s eyes, "Look at me being so useless, always dampening the spirits. Lunch is all ready. You must be starving."


    She had gotten up early that day specifically to prepare a table full of food.


    Since she didn¡¯t know if Duo¡¯er¡¯s tastes had changed during her pregnancy, she made a variety of dishes.


    Tangyuan said sweetly, "Grandma, your cooking is really great."


    "If you like it, I¡¯ll make more in the evening," the Wang Clan¡¯s smile grew even more radiant.


    "If we¡¯re short on hands at home, we can hire a few more. Don¡¯t tire yourself out."


    Tan Zhenghong was truly concerned about her.


    He was happy to see such a change in her, but now she really didn¡¯t need to do everything herself.


    The Wang Clan shook her head, "I lived the first half of my life in a daze. If I go on like that, my life would have been lived in vain. Now that I¡¯m old, I have to do something meaningful."

 Chapter 1239 - 1245: Showing Off Blindly

    Chapter 1239: Chapter 1245: Showing Off BlindlyShe was tired now, but every day felt full.


    And she thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being liked wherever she went.


    Tan Zhenghong still cautioned her, "You need to know your own body, no amount of silver can buy back your health if you damage it."


    "I know." Wang Clan hastily nodded.


    After resting for a day at home, Qiao Duo¡¯er brought gifts for her visit to Hu¡¯s Clan, who was still in her postpartum period.


    Hu¡¯s Clan had, as she wished, given birth to a son whose nickname kept a Huang Family trait because he was the third, so he was named San Gouzi (Puppy), thankfully his formal name was better, Huang Xiuyuan.


    "Sister Lan, this is my gift for Xiuyuan." Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed a yellowed piece of paper into Hu¡¯s Clan¡¯s hands.


    It was the land deed to the town¡¯s cured meat shop.


    Hu¡¯s Clan could recognize a few characters now and refused immediately, "This is too precious, I can¡¯t accept it."


    She knew the Tan Family was now different from the past, and Qiao Duo wasn¡¯t concerned about that one shop, but that wasn¡¯t a reason for her to be greedy.


    "If you don¡¯t want it as a gift, then buy it for thirty taels, you¡¯re not allowed to refuse."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er batted her eyes. The Huang Family was good to Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughter, but for a woman to gain a higher status, she needed financial independence. This was the security she provided for Hu¡¯s Clan and her daughter.


    Hu¡¯s Clan didn¡¯t know how to refuse and could only nod.


    "Duo¡¯er, I really don¡¯t know how to thank you."


    "Just live your life well," Qiao Duo comforted.


    This could be considered a small compensation from the Tan Family to Hu¡¯s Clan.


    After all, Hu¡¯s Clan had spent her most precious youth in the Tan Family without getting the desired outcome.


    After that, Duo¡¯er went to visit Chao Lian, whose daughter was only three days younger than Huang Xiuyuan.


    The little one was growing well, inheriting only the good qualities from Erhu and Chao Lian - fair and tender skin, big eyes, and small mouth, clearly a future beauty. No wonder Sun Erhu treasured her so deeply.


    Returning from Sun¡¯s Family, Qiao Duo¡¯er found her courtyard full of people.


    She understood immediately when she saw the crowd centered around Green Group and Tangyuan.


    "Everyone line up, make sure everyone gets a couplet, and no yelling, it¡¯ll disturb my brother¡¯s focus!" Tangyuan tried hard to maintain order at the scene.


    Meanwhile, Green Group, holding a brush nearly as thick as his arm, was earnestly writing spring couplets.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt an urge to faint - couldn¡¯t these kids keep a low profile?


    She admitted Green Group was bright and precocious, able to write many characters half a year into his studies, but he was still far from ready to write proper spring couplets.


    Before Duo¡¯er could speak, a delighted aunt said, "Duo¡¯er, you¡¯re truly blessed. Just look at how beautifully Green Group writes!"


    "Auntie, Ah Hong has gone to town now, why don¡¯t you wait for him to come back to write for you?" Qiao Duo¡¯er uncomfortably looked at the couplets.


    Or even her writing them would be better. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, this was something to be hung at the front door, one couldn¡¯t lose face, could they?


    The aunt waved her hand immediately, "A two-year-old child¡¯s writing is full of vitality. Hanging it on our door will bring blessings, and our family¡¯s fortunes will improve next year!"


    As for whether it was attractive or not, was that so important?


    Anyway, she thought it couldn¡¯t be more beautiful.


    Once the aunt spoke, everyone else echoed in agreement, ah... they had all set their hearts on spring couplets by Green Group.


    Their wishes were simple - they hoped the children in their families would be as smart and attractive as Green Group.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er felt a vein pulsing in her forehead, only able to watch helplessly as half of the village homes hung up the uneven and mismatched couplets.


    Hmm... It would be amusing to see what Green Group would think of this when he grew up.


    Because of writing couplets, Green Group and Tangyuan had become the children¡¯s kings of the village, so this Spring Festival was destined to be lively and bustling.

 Chapter 1240 - 1246: Little Bun

    Chapter 1240: Chapter 1246: Little BunOnce the first lunar month was over, Duo¡¯er rarely went out.


    "This time it¡¯s clearly a single child, so why am I so exhausted?" Qiao Duo¡¯er was pretty downhearted.


    Tan Zhenghong was kneading Duo¡¯er¡¯s unbearably swollen legs, "Once he¡¯s out, I¡¯m going to give him a good telling-off for daring to make my wife suffer like this."


    Qing Xin and Qing Yue said it was a sign that the birth was imminent, but it¡¯s been almost ten days of swelling and still no sign of the baby.


    What did it mean that his wife¡¯s belly was swelling like this?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er rolled her eyes, "You¡¯re going to punish one to show me?"


    The kid I struggled so hard to bring into the world, is he supposed to be bullied?


    "I was wrong, I will definitely take good care of him," Tan Zhenghong quickly corrected himself, anyway Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t possibly keep an eye on the little rascal all the time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pulled on Ah Hong¡¯s ear, "No going back on your word."


    "It¡¯s a promise, I¡¯ll rub your arms again for you."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s eyes rolled around, he remembered his wife once said that hitting is affection, scolding is love.


    Who said his love for his son wasn¡¯t real?


    Qiao Duo¡¯er frowned, "Quick, call Qing Xin over. I¡¯m going into labor."


    Because just a moment ago she felt a gush of water, it must be her water breaking.


    Tan Zhenghong, not even bothering with his shoes, dashed out like a gust of wind.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pursed her lips, clearly it was his second time being a dad, why was he acting like a madman?


    But in the blink of an eye, Tan Zhenghong was back in the room.


    They say a woman giving birth has one leg in the Ghost Gate, so at such a crucial moment, he had to be by her side.


    The second child usually comes faster, and with the help of the Qing Xin Sisters, the cries of a baby echoed in the room two hours later.


    Qing Xin did a quick clean up of the child, "It¡¯s a boy, quite sturdy-looking at that!"


    "Let me see."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er tried to stay conscious, refusing to faint.


    Qing Xin placed the newborn beside Duo¡¯er.


    Thankfully, the baby was well-formed and responsive to sound, even a bit larger than Green Group and Tangyuan had been at birth, apparently unaffected by Madam¡¯s jealousy, so she was relieved.


    Tan Zhenghong arrogantly whisked the baby away, "Close your eyes and get some good sleep. After you wake up, you can take all the time you want to look at him."


    Hmm... he knew his son was here to compete for attention, just born and his wife¡¯s heart was already filled with the little thing.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er knew what Tan Zhenghong was thinking, but because she was completely drained, she obediently fell asleep.


    By the time she woke up, there were three little bundles by her side, and Tan Zhenghong, full of love in his eyes.


    What could be happier than this?


    Thinking the little guy must be hungry, Duo¡¯er shifted him closer to her.


    "He¡¯s not hungry, I fed him some sugar water. The food has been kept warm on the stove; I¡¯ll go get it for you."


    Once she had her fill, Tan Zhenghong allowed her to breastfeed the soft, tender little guy.


    The little one didn¡¯t fuss, eagerly eating until full, and then blissfully fell asleep.


    This somewhat improved Tan Zhenghong¡¯s mood, hmm... the kid had a bit of sense after all.


    Tangyuan¡¯s eyes were glued to their little brother, "Mom, have you named the brother yet?" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "His official name will be Tan Shaoyin. How about you guys come up with a nickname, is that okay?"


    Tangyuan and Green Group were excited. They had been feeling a bit down about their brother¡¯s arrival since he was so little and needed more care, thus hogging most of their parents¡¯ attention. But now they were preoccupied with thinking up a nickname for their brother.


    After discussing, they finally settled on the nickname Bun.


    Why not? He looked like a little bun, always enticing someone to take a bite.

 Chapter 1241 - 1247 Too Ignorant of Good and Bad

    Chapter 1241: Chapter 1247 Too Ignorant of Good and BadAfter the new year, the old Emperor passed away, and King Qin ascended the throne, adopting "Tai Shun" as the name of his reign, and he granted amnesty to the entire nation.


    As the saying goes, "A new official lights three fires," and the Emperor was no exception.


    Having just ascended to the throne, King Qin urgently needed to establish his authority and grow his influence, so the originally scheduled May reporting-to-Capital was moved up by two months.


    Therefore, just after Tan Shaoyin¡¯s full-month celebration, Tan Zhenghong and Qin Longyun headed to the Capital.


    In the Diligent Government Hall, the once King Qin had a private audience with Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong.


    King Qin had managed to overthrow Prince Liang, and these two had played indispensable roles, so everyone knew that they would rise high in the future.


    By this time, many people in the Capital were already trying to form good relations with these two.


    Unfortunately, they could only wish.


    "My dear subjects, would you be willing to stay in the Capital to serve as officials?"


    Qin Longyun respectfully replied, "That would not be appropriate, and ever since my appointment, I have stayed at Ning Tian Mansion, which I have come to consider as a second home. Thus, I would prefer to stay there."


    "But with your capabilities, you should not merely be a Magistrate."


    "One should live freely according to their heart."


    Qin Longyun made his stance clear.


    The Emperor then looked at Tan Zhenghong, "And you?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tan Zhenghong shook his head directly, "I am merely a villager from the mountains, how could I possibly take up a court office?"


    "If you are unwilling, I can¡¯t force you. But should you ever wish to leave Ning Tian Mansion, just let me know. You can pick any official position below First Rank in the court."


    This was an enormous favor and trust, Qin Longyun and Tan Zhenghong exchanged glances, already having their answer in mind.


    They expressed their gratitude for the Emperor¡¯s grace but had to decline this offer.


    Watching their departing figures, the corners of the Emperor¡¯s mouth slightly lifted.


    He knew their concerns, with their achievements in assisting his rise, they could gain overwhelming power. But how many of these powerful or loyal officials could end well or have descendents who maintained their wealth and status?


    It was better not to get involved in those muddy waters from the beginning.


    "Your Highness, these two don¡¯t seem to appreciate good intentions," the Grand Manager couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    He had never seen the Emperor be so polite to anyone else, and yet they had declined.


    "Do not speak nonsense, they are my friends."


    Only those who do not covet power could be his long-term friends.


    Being in a high position, he had to always be cautious.


    "I spoke out of turn. Just now, the Empress sent someone, saying she has prepared a few dishes and invites Your Highness for a small drink."


    "Well, aren¡¯t you going?"


    The Emperor rose to leave without any hint of displeasure.


    Dressed in the Dragon Robe, maintaining two friends with whom he could share his heart, and having a beloved partner, what more could he be dissatisfied with?


    Outside the palace, Tan Zhenghong mounted his horse and whipped it into motion.


    Qin Longyun hurried after him, "The whole world knows I¡¯m bad at equestrian skills, yet you still show off in front of me? Are you trying to kill me?"


    "Showing off what? We should hurry back, Duoer is alone making the buns and she might not manage."


    Tan Zhenghong¡¯s pace did not slow down.


    Qin Longyun, with a bitter expression, could only endure the discomfort of the bumpy ride.


    What could he do when his brother was such a doting husband?


    Unbeknownst to them, Qiao Duo¡¯er had already become an old lady.


    Tangyuan took her pulse and asked, "Mother, how do you feel today?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er replied with a light smile, "Everything¡¯s fine. You are the famed Divine Doctor, how could you not see that?"


    Tan Shaoyi nodded, "Then I¡¯m relieved, mother, I¡¯m planning to take Gang¡¯er out for a walk, you know a lot, please guide us."


    Her heart was more bitter.


    If her mother¡¯s illness had been physical, she might have had some solutions.


    But her mother was suffering from a heart ailment, and all she could do was watch her weaken day by day.

 Chapter 1242 - 1248: Mom Loves Dad the Most

    Chapter 1242: Chapter 1248: Mom Loves Dad the MostQiao Duo¡¯er shook her head, "I¡¯ve gotten lazy now; I just want to stay at home."


    Why should she join in when a family of three goes out?


    "No, I want you to accompany me," Tangyuan pleaded as she clung to Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s arm.


    Before, when she used this tactic, her mother would agree, but this time all she got was an "I¡¯m old."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er was well aware of her own physical condition; in fact, people only live by a breath, and only the ones with desires can keep going.


    Now, she just wanted to find Tan Zhenghong and ask that bastard why he had abandoned her.


    She still remembered the night before they went to sleep, Tan Zhenghong had asked her, "Duo¡¯er, would you marry me again in the next life?"


    "No, you¡¯ll have to marry me this time."


    "Whatever you say is fine, as long as you stay by my side."


    Later, Qiao Duo¡¯er yawned, and they both went to sleep. The next morning, however, she found Tan Zhenghong already lying on the soft couch.


    She knew he had done it to spare her a fright.


    Remembering the past, Qiao Duo¡¯er looked tired, "I¡¯ll go back first; I want to rest for a while."


    Tangyuan held back her tears and finally managed a smile, "Then I¡¯ll bring Gang¡¯er over to see you tonight, he was still talking about you this morning."


    As soon as Tangyuan left the door, she got pulled aside by her brothers. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How is mother?" Tan Shaochen asked anxiously.


    Tangyuan sighed, "Mother only spoke a few words to me before she refused to talk more. You should spend more time with her these days, and... prepare yourselves mentally."


    She didn¡¯t want to say it, but as a doctor, she had to face reality.


    Tan Shaoyin shook his head, "No, that can¡¯t be, didn¡¯t you say mother¡¯s physically fine?"


    "Mother¡¯s most loved person was father."


    Tangyuan said helplessly; she had once envied her parents¡¯ love, but now that love threatened her mother¡¯s life, she suddenly hoped it wasn¡¯t so strong.


    She admitted she was selfish; she only wanted her mother to live a long life.


    The Tan siblings had always hoped for a miracle, but three days later, in the afternoon, the thing they feared most still happened.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er suddenly felt better and started talking more.


    "Brother, wake up; mother wants you to come over."


    Tears filled Tangyuan¡¯s eyes.


    Tan Shaochen, who had barely slept less than an hour over the past two days, quickly put on his shoes and dressed in no time.


    This time, his sister had come calling, which meant mother must be about to talk about her will.


    Main courtyard.


    "Green Group, go get the box from my jewelry box," Qiao Duo¡¯er instructed.


    The contents had been divided into three equal parts long ago, the shop lands, properties, jewelry, and silver.


    "This is what your father and I had saved throughout our lives. You three divide it up, just keep it as a souvenir," Qiao Duo¡¯er then looked towards her daughters-in-law, "Bing¡¯er, Ning¡¯er, don¡¯t mind, they are all my children; I¡¯d feel bad if I shortchanged anyone."


    In this era, only a few could accept gender equality; she couldn¡¯t ignore the feelings of her daughters-in-law.


    "Mother always talked about gender equality; I¡¯ve kept it in my heart, and besides, you gave such a good Shao Hui to me; what more could I ask for?"


    Luo Bing¡¯er said sincerely.


    She also had sons and daughters, and when her time came, she would do the same.


    Tang Ning also nodded, "In one¡¯s lifetime, there are only a few siblings. If we fight over things not personally ours, I¡¯d be terribly embarrassed."


    She was Tan Shao Yin¡¯s daughter-in-law; the very decree of the Tan family descendants not practicing concubinage was enough for her willingly to divide the family assets equally among the siblings.

 Chapter 1243 - 1249: The Longest Confession of Love

    Chapter 1243: Chapter 1249: The Longest Confession of Lovefre§×webno?el.com"You are all good children, I have to go, none of you should cry," Qiao Duo¡¯er said slowly.


    "Mother, do you not want us anymore?"


    Tan Shaoyi gripped Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand tightly, as if letting go would mean losing her forever.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled faintly, "Silly child, where in the world is there a feast that doesn¡¯t end? I miss your father, it¡¯s time for me to go."


    "I won¡¯t let you go, if you leave, I¡¯ll become an orphan."


    "Silly child, you still have your husband, and your children."


    Tan Shaoyi cried like a child, shaking her head vigorously, "I don¡¯t want them, I just want to be with you, having you is enough."


    There¡¯s a saying that you only understand your parents¡¯ kindness when you have children of your own, and ever since Tan Shaoyi had children, she cared even more for her own parents.


    Now she had lost her father, and she couldn¡¯t lose her mother as well.


    "Grandmother, I beg you, don¡¯t die. From now on, I¡¯ll stop making trouble, I¡¯ll study diligently, I¡¯ll eat and sleep well, and I¡¯ll never worry you again," Tan Yunchen clung tightly to Duo¡¯er¡¯s hand. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yunchen is the best behaved, don¡¯t cry, all of you should take good care of yourselves."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over each person present, she wanted to remember everyone there.


    After a while, she closed her eyes slowly.


    In fact, she still had much to say, but didn¡¯t know where to begin. The only thing that came to her mind right now were the happy times she had spent with her loved ones.


    She remembered the first time she saw Tan Zhenghong, who was actually peeing; she remembered the dry mouth and tongue when she first saw Tan Zhenghong naked; she remembered Tan Zhenghong¡¯s careful demeanor on their wedding night, and his caution and excitement the first time he held a baby; she also remembered the first fetal movements of Shao Hui, Shao Yi, and Shao Yin, their first cries, their first steps, their weddings, and becoming parents...


    All these trivial matters were cherished memories to her.


    With them, her life was worthwhile!


    After resting with her eyes closed for a while, Qiao Duo¡¯er opened them again.


    She looked at her and Tan Zhenghong¡¯s children once more, who said she and Tan Zhenghong were dead? With children, their lives had been continued.


    "Mother, will you stay and talk to me a little longer, please?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er shook her head slowly, "I¡¯m tired, you all should go out."


    "I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll just sit here and watch, I promise not to speak."


    Tan Shaoyin also said earnestly, "You can¡¯t send us away."


    Having a mother is the happiest thing, let them enjoy the last bit of time.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er had no choice but to let them be.


    Half an hour later, Qiao Duo¡¯er passed away peacefully, still with a smile on her lips.


    The person she was most grateful for in her life was Tan Zhenghong. He had taught her what the simplest form of love was: a house, two people, three meals, four seasons¡ªa complete life!


    If there was a next life, she would still be willing to accompany Tan Zhenghong through an ordinary life.


    One lives a whole life, why need there be too much fanfare and turbulence?


    Companionship is the longest confession of love.


    Modern day, hospital.


    "Doctor, come quickly, the patient¡¯s heartbeat has stopped!"


    Soon, doctors and nurses filed in one after the other, the attending physician urgently resuscitated the patient.


    "The patient¡¯s breathing has stopped, perhaps we should give up," the head nurse suggested. According to her experience, further resuscitation would be futile.


    "Yes, she¡¯s been comatose for three years; death would be a release."


    But the doctor persisted in performing CPR on the patient; the only thought in his mind was that she wouldn¡¯t die, he wouldn¡¯t let her die.


    Perhaps... it was because of the predestined affinities of a past life.


    "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and save her, two milliliters of adrenaline!" the young doctor knitted his brow.


    The nurse pursed her lips and could only do as instructed.

 Chapter 1244 - 1250: Love Arises Unknowingly

    Chapter 1244: Chapter 1250: Love Arises UnknowinglyDr. Tan seemed to be under some spell, showing an extraordinary amount of care for a comatose patient. He not only paid all her medical expenses but also spent all his free time on her.


    Could it be true what others said, that Dr. Tan had fallen in love with this woman?


    But this woman had been in a coma since her arrival and they had never communicated. How could there be any talk of love?


    Suddenly, the person on the bed opened her eyes, and in that instant, her pure black eyes shimmered brilliantly.


    Caught off guard, the doctor lost himself in her gaze. Those eyes were familiar, as if they stirred emotions buried deep in his heart.


    The person in the bed said with a hoarse voice, "Is it common for doctors in your hospital to place their hands on a patient¡¯s chest when treating them?"


    Dr. Tan was greatly embarrassed and quickly moved his offending hand away.


    However, he swore he had never had any improper thoughts toward her.


    This... this was really just standard resuscitation procedure.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er smiled, and the young doctor became even more flustered, unsure where to put his hands now.


    Great, we meet again, Tan Zhenghong.


    No, in this life, he is Dr. Tan Qing.


    He was a brilliant doctor, who gained fame at twenty, and compared to his previous life, he looked paler, with an added touch of scholarly air.


    But none of that mattered. What was important was that he was Tan Zhenghong, and they could be together again!


    Qiao Duo¡¯er finally believed that there was a "curse" in the world that bound loving people together, ensuring they would always meet, no matter where they were.


    The nurse reminded from the side, "The patient is awake, aren¡¯t you going to do a full examination on her?"


    This was a true revival from the brink of death and must be thoroughly studied; perhaps it could benefit future generations.


    "Mm, I¡¯ll write up the lab order right now."


    Dr. Tan Qing finally snapped out of it, but his hand still trembled as he held the pen.


    After writing the order, he returned to his office and sat down, lost in thought for two hours.


    This was an emotional experience he had never felt before. He didn¡¯t know where it came from or how to get rid of it, and worst of all, he seemed to quite enjoy this state.


    When the nurse knocked on the door, Dr. Tan Qing asked, "What¡¯s the matter?"


    The nurse cautiously inquired, "It¡¯s mealtime, but the VIP ward patient has no family. Should I prepare some food for her?"


    "I¡¯ll do it."


    The woman had been in a coma for three years; some plain congee would be best.


    When he reappeared in Qiao Duo¡¯er¡¯s ward, Dr. Tan Qing was holding a serving of plain congee.


    "Time to eat."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er pouted, "My arms are too weak."


    "I¡¯ll find a nurse¡¯s aide to feed you," said Dr. Tan Qing as he set down the congee bowl, his gaze still avoiding hers due to the incident during resuscitation.


    Qiao Duo¡¯er coquettishly insisted, "You feed me."


    "I¡¯m the attending physician."


    Feeding and personal care were tasks for a nursing aide.


    "Then just let me starve to death."


    Dr. Tan Qing resigned himself to the situation and began to feed Qiao Duo¡¯er spoonful by spoonful.


    After the meal, Qiao Duo¡¯er pushed her luck further, "I want to take a bath."


    "I¡¯ll go find a nurse to help you."


    "No, I want you to carry me to the bathroom."


    "That¡¯s not really appropriate."


    "What¡¯s inappropriate about it?"


    Qiao Duo¡¯er curled up her lips mischievously, pleased to see his pure and naive reaction. She decided she would claim him for herself!


    It took a while for Dr. Tan Qing to find the words, "Men and women shouldn¡¯t touch each other."


    "But I remembered when I just woke up..."


    "That was during resuscitation."


    "If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it. I¡¯m a bit of a clean freak; if I don¡¯t bathe for a long time, I start thinking about suicide." Qiao Duo¡¯er played her trump card.


    Dr. Tan Qing was a doctor, and Qiao Duo¡¯er was his patient whom he had painstakingly treated and for some unknown reason, had come back to life. He definitely didn¡¯t want her to die over something trivial.


    After being carried to the bathroom, Qiao Duo¡¯er blinked her innocent eyes again, "Go buy me a set of clothes; I want to wear something you picked out personally."


    "Wait for me."


    An hour later, Qiao Duo¡¯er tried on her new clothes in front of the mirror, "You seem to know my size pretty well. Shouldn¡¯t you be responsible for me?"


    "How should I be responsible?" asked a thoroughly bewildered Dr. Tan Qing.


    "Go request annual leave. I need to buy a wedding ring, take wedding photos, and then we¡¯ll go on a honeymoon."


    Qiao Duo¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but laugh, yet the thought of being hurt once more made her a bit melancholic.


    But such troubles were trivial compared to meeting the person she loved again.


    In fact, Dr. Tan Qing never quite understood why he, usually so clever, couldn¡¯t say no to a strange woman and ended up marrying her knowing only her name.


    But... he quite liked being bossed around by this woman.


    All he wanted to say was that love starts unconsciously, yet grows deeply, hoping that all affection is not in vain, hoping that at the end, someone will hold your hand, from the crack of dawn until snow whitens the dusk.


    Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.