Chapter 530: A Joyful Meeting (1)

The orchard housed over a thousand chickens, and since Mo Yan did not restrict their movement, there wasn’t a corner of the orchard untouched by these chickens or free from their droppings. Fortunately, the chickens mostly ate grass and vegetables, so their manure wasn’t too smelly, though stepping on it was somewhat unpleasant.

Seeing the scattered chicken droppings all over the ground, Yan Junyu, with only one shoe left, refused to step further into the orchard. He insisted on waiting until Mo Yan brought the fruits back to taste them. He then asked Guan Yu to fetch a spare pair of shoes from the carriage and hurriedly left the mountain.

Mo Yan didn’t push the matter and instead picked a variety of fruits, filling a bamboo basket before carrying it back home.

Yan Junyu was already waiting under the vines. He had not only changed his shoes but also donned a completely new outfit, still in purple, which made him appear even more handsome and imposing.

Seeing the vibrant and plump fruits in the basket, Yan Junyu’s eyes lit up. “It seems the feng shui here is indeed quite good. I’m tempted to build a villa here to stay regularly.”

Mo Yan thought for a moment and, while cleaning the fruits, suggested, “The feng shui is indeed favorable here, and the local people are very genuine. It would be an excellent place for cultivating oneself! If Young Master Yan builds a few exquisite villas here, it could be quite profitable.”

Yan Junyu raised his eyebrows and genuinely considered the suggestion. “Your advice is quite good. Once the winery is established, I’ll think it over.”

Mo Yan didn’t expect that a casual remark would spark his interest. Whether to praise his courage or his wealth and indulgence, it was hard to say.

Nevertheless, this was beneficial. Building villas was a substantial project, which would certainly require hiring workers from the impoverished Liu Yang Village, bringing a positive impact to the community.

After washing the fruits, Mo Yan placed the bamboo basket on the stone table, letting Yan Junyu handle them. The fruits were served unpeeled and uncut. Freshly picked, the fruit skins were juicy and sweet, so peeling them would have been a waste.

Yan Junyu washed his hands and, setting aside his usual fastidiousness, picked a glistening purple grape and ate it whole, skin and all. The delight in his eyes was evident. “Not bad, not bad! Better than the tribute from the southern barbarians! Hmph, let’s see what the officials of the Agricultural Affairs Department have to say now!”

His smug expression suggested he felt he had finally one-upped the officials, as if this victory was a personal triumph.

Like apples, grapes were rare fruits, usually only enjoyed by the royal court and high officials. The Agricultural Affairs Department spent significant sums every year importing these rare seedlings from southern frontier states, but few survived and even fewer bore fruit. Last year, despite the pressure from the Agricultural Affairs Department officials, Yan Junyu managed to secure the seedlings thanks to the favor of Emperor Hui’an. If they had failed to thrive, he would have lost face before those officials.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Now, Mo Yan not only made the fruit trees thrive but also produced large and delicious fruits, earning Yan Junyu considerable prestige.

On the other hand, Yan Junyu had some worries about the upcoming construction of the winery. After tasting these fruits, those worries vanished. Even if the wine did not sell, the fruit alone could bring substantial profit. At the very least, the tens of thousands of taels invested would not be in vain.

Perhaps feeling he had been too expressive, Yan Junyu touched his nose and proudly said to Mo Yan, “When I send these fruits to the palace, you’ll definitely get some benefits! Take good care of those fruit trees. I’m counting on them to make those old fellows in the Agricultural Affairs Department lose face every year!”

 Chapter 529: Orchard Harvest (4)

Everything in the Mo family courtyard was designed by Mo Yan herself. Hearing Yan Junyu’s praise, she felt pleased but remained modest, saying, “It’s just some wild things from the mountains, not worth the praise of Young Master Yan.”

Yan Junyu’s hand holding the fan paused slightly, then he shook his head with a tone of unconscious expectation: “You girl, having known me for so long, when will you ever show your true self to me more openly?”

Mo Yan smiled faintly and served him a glass of chilled pear juice.

The person in front of her was from a distinguished background, with a high status and good business connections. She didn't want to think too deeply about the relationship beyond ordinary interactions. It was better to maintain some distance in regular dealings.

Yan Junyu, feeling slightly uncomfortable, sighed and changed the topic to the fruits.

Mo Yan didn’t say much and directly brought out three plates of fruit for Yan Junyu to taste.

Seeing the fruits cut into uniform pieces but with their skins still on, Yan Junyu thought it was Mo Yan’s habit not to peel them. He politely picked up a juicy pear and took a casual bite.

At the moment the fruit entered his mouth, Mo Yan clearly saw the surprise in Yan Junyu’s eyes, and then he ate the rest of the pear, skin and all.

Not satisfied with just the pear, Yan Junyu also tried the peaches and plums. After cleaning his hands with a handkerchief, he showed a shrewd smile and said, “These fruits are quite good. You really surprised me! Tell me, how many of these fruits do you have? I want them all!”

He had thought these pears and peaches were ordinary, and even if they tasted good, it would be nothing special. However, after the first bite, he realized he had been completely wrong! These fruits were as exceptional as the rare treasures from the southern barbarians.

Moreover, he felt that besides their excellent taste, there was an indescribable sweetness that made him feel pleasantly refreshed.

Mo Yan knew that these fruits would fetch a good price. With this in mind, her smile became more genuine: “Since these fruit trees are bearing fruit for the first time, there aren’t many left. All the fruits combined are just under two thousand pounds. If Young Master Yan wants them all, it’s best to transport them today. If they’re left for a few more days, they’ll lose moisture and their taste will deteriorate.”

Pears are relatively okay; they can be stored in a cool place for a long time. Peaches, however, ripen quickly and can spoil within two days, especially if they’re jostled. Plums are similar but not as perishable as peaches. The longer they are stored, the less flavor they have.

Yan Junyu knew this well. He immediately had Guan Yu hand over one hundred taels of silver to Mo Yan and instructed him to gather the guards to transport the fruits back and store them in the cellar.

With the profit multiplied tenfold, Mo Yan was very satisfied. She then mentioned another orchard: “The fruit trees Young Master Yan sent earlier have nearly all borne fruit and the quality is quite good. If you have enough people, you can harvest them now and transport them back to the city.”

Yan Junyu’s eyes lit up with interest: “I’m curious to see what’s so special about your orchard that makes those difficult-to-survive saplings thrive and bear fruit so quickly.”

Mo Yan gladly agreed, took a bamboo basket, and led Yan Junyu to the orchard.

However, when Yan Junyu, full of enthusiasm, followed Mo Yan into the orchard, he was met not with delicious fruits but with a patch of grayish chicken droppings with a hint of white.

For someone like Yan Junyu, who was meticulous about his manners and had a slight cleanliness obsession, stepping on dirt and getting a bit of dust on his clothes was tolerable, but being "contaminated" by feces was a disaster!

Even if this disaster was only on the part of his shoe that couldn’t be seen, it was absolutely unacceptable.

Without waiting for Mo Yan to react, Yan Junyu swiftly removed his “hit” shoe and threw it outside the thorns.

Mo Yan: …

Young Master Yan, are you sure your stance on one leg is fitting for your high status? 

 Chapter 528: Orchard Harvest (3)

The villagers working in the fields had never seen such a grand spectacle before. They put down their hoes and gathered around the carriage to watch the excitement. Fortunately, the more than twenty guards brought by Yan Junyu surrounded the carriage, and the villagers, sensing that the people inside were not to be trifled with, dared not get too close to avoid trouble.

When the carriage finally stopped in the open area in front of the Mo family’s home, it was already surrounded by layers of villagers. When Mo Yan arrived after hearing the commotion, she saw the villagers chattering and estimating the price of the horse and carriage.

Mo Yan looked at the dazzling golden carriage with a black line on her forehead. The carriage had nine glaring characters written on it: “I’m a rich man, come and rob me!”

The carriage door opened from inside, and the first person to step out was Yan Junyu’s attendant, Guan Yu.

The villagers noticed that Guan Yu was dressed impeccably and moved with an air of distinction that set him apart from ordinary people. They assumed he was the esteemed guest. While they were speculating, a hand emerged from the carriage.

Just seeing that elegant and extraordinary hand, the villagers immediately guessed that its owner was the true noble.

When Yan Junyu, dressed in a purple robe embroidered with golden peonies and wearing a purple jade crown, appeared before them, Mo Yan felt as though her eyes were dazzled!

This person's taste was, as always, extraordinarily... unique!

However, Mo Yan had to admit one thing: someone who was handsome, well-built, and charismatic could make anything look good. If this outfit were worn by someone else, it would be deemed gaudy, but on Yan Junyu, it was elevated to several levels of sophistication.

Yan Junyu slowly descended from the carriage, seemingly indifferent to the surrounding astonishment. After surveying the residence with a hint of surprise, he composed himself and approached Mo Yan with a languid voice, as if a cloud drifting lazily across the sky: “Miss Mo, as a guest, shouldn’t you invite me in for a sit?”

Mo Yan twitched at the corner of her eye and stepped aside with a smile, “Young Master Yan’s visit is a great honor. I welcome you warmly!”

Yan Junyu glanced at the insincere Mo Yan with a smile, then elegantly opened his jade fan and walked in without any reservations.

That slight smile was so captivating that it instantly captivated everyone’s attention. By the time the onlookers came to their senses, the Mo family’s courtyard gate was already closed, and even the twenty or so guards and the carriage had vanished from sight.

The crowd was initially disappointed but soon became excited, gathering in small groups to speculate about the identity of the elegantly dressed noble and the relationship between Mo Yan and him.

Thus, under the old sycamore tree, a new topic for gossip emerged in the following days.

In this topic, the relationship between Mo Yan and Yan Junyu was shrouded in an ambiguous hue.

Mo Yan led Yan Junyu to the main hall, intending to discuss the fruit and then have him leave. However, he behaved as if he were in his own backyard, exploring the entire Mo residence without needing a guide, not even missing the chicken coop in the back courtyard.

“Not bad, not bad. I didn’t expect to see such a unique residence in this remote place! Little girl, your taste is quite good!” Yan Junyu lazily remarked as he sat on a stone bench, admiring the lush vines overhead that completely enveloped the stone table and chairs, making even the midday heat outside feel nonexistent.

 Chapter 527: Orchard Harvest (2)

She knew it was the result of the spiritual spring water. Otherwise, those pears, which used to be gritty, now were almost entirely juicy, with only a small amount of residue that went down smoothly with the juice.

Looking at the heavy pears and peaches hanging from the not particularly robust fruit trees, Mo Yan squinted and said with a smile, “Aunt Tong, these pears and peaches need to be picked. Go to the village and find people to do the picking. Pay them by the basket, two wen per basket. Even the younger kids can help. After picking, give each person two pears and two peaches to taste.”

“Alright, I’ll go right now! Those people have already asked about it and are just waiting for word!” Aunt Tong agreed eagerly and was about to leave for the village when she turned back to ask Mo Yan, “Young Mistress, the rare fruits in the other orchard are also ready to be picked. Do you want to include them?”

Mo Yan swallowed the last bite of pear, wiped her mouth, and replied, “No need. Someone will come to pick them in a couple of days. Aunt Tong, just make sure to have a few more baskets prepared. We want to sell them for a good price!”

Aunt Tong was delighted and quickly set off.

That afternoon, ten or so women and a few older children arrived at the orchard as scheduled, carrying bamboo baskets provided by Aunt Tong. They happily went to another orchard to pick the fruits.

Seeing the fresh and juicy fruits on the trees, the group couldn’t help but salivate. These fruits were just ordinary pears, peaches, and plums, but even ordinary fruits required silver to purchase.

Life in the village was tight, and every wen was counted, so buying fruits was a luxury only affordable to those with a bit more to spend.

When they saw so many fresh and tender fruits, it was no wonder they were so eager.

Aunt Tong, who came with them, said with a smile, “Pick the fruits first, and later everyone can take a few home to taste.”

The older children jumped up and down, shouting around the trees, while the women were more careful, trying not to damage the fruit skins, fearing that damaged fruits would lower the selling price and cause trouble for the Mo family.

This mountain only had half an orchard planted, and each tree bore only three to five fruits, so the picking went quickly. By evening, all the fruits were harvested.

The fruits were carried in baskets to the Mo family’s courtyard, filling about a third of the spacious front yard. After settling the payment, the workers thanked Mo Yan repeatedly before leaving, happily carrying their share of the fruits home.

Before dinner, Mo Yan, Aunt Tong, and Li Xiu worked together to weigh all the fruits. The final tally showed 700 pounds of pears, 580 pounds of peaches, and 450 pounds of plums, the smallest of which were still quite substantial.

This was only the first year, deliberately controlled by Mo Yan. By the same time next year, the yield would likely be four times more.

At prices of six wen per pound for pears, seven wen for peaches, and four wen for plums, selling all the fruits as fresh produce would yield about ten taels of silver. It seemed like a lot, much more than farming would earn, but Mo Yan knew that the fruits imbued with spiritual energy were worth far more than that.

Selling these fruits on the street wouldn’t fetch a good price, and Mo Yan didn’t have time to sell them by the pound. So, the next morning, she asked Li Zhong to relay a message to Shopkeeper Xing, informing him that the fruits tasted good and asking if he was interested.

Mo Yan expected Shopkeeper Xing to send someone to handle the matter, but unexpectedly, he arrived the next day in an incredibly luxurious golden carriage, accompanied by more than twenty guards, making a grand entrance into Liuyang Village.

  Chapter 526: Orchard Harvest

The ancestral hall was built on a vacant lot in the southern part of the village. Following Mo Fang’s suggestion and consulting a feng shui master, Mo Yan spent two taels of silver to purchase the one-and-a-half-acre plot.

The ancestral hall didn't need to be very large. Typically, a main hall to honor the ancestors, surrounded by a courtyard, would suffice, costing no more than thirty taels. However, Mo Yan allocated two hundred taels to construct a main hall, two side halls, and two rows of houses on each side, each row consisting of three rooms, totaling six large rooms.

"The houses in the village are mostly thatched cottages, and in winter, with strong winds and heavy snow, they are at risk of collapsing! These houses will be kept empty and used temporarily if anyone's house becomes uninhabitable," Mo Yan explained calmly to the puzzled Mo Fang and other clan members.

Since they were building the ancestral hall, it had to be done properly. Having those extra houses ready was better than having people seek shelter at her home if their houses did collapse. Besides, the additional cost of a few dozen taels of silver was insignificant to her.

"Yan girl, on behalf of the Mo clan, I thank you," Mo Fang said gratefully, unaware of Mo Yan’s true intentions. He thought she was solely focused on the clan’s welfare.

As the clan leader, he considered the bigger picture. Even if the clan didn’t need these houses, they could be lent to other villagers, which would elevate the Mo clan’s status in Liuyang Village.

That night, Mo Fang gathered all the clan members except the Mo family, including a few from the old Mo family, and shared what Mo Yan had said earlier.

Seeing some people’s suspicious expressions, Mo Fang’s face darkened as he sternly warned, “Liuyang Village is large, but our Mo clan has less than ten households and fewer than sixty people, making us vulnerable. Therefore, we must unite to avoid being bullied by outsiders! I don’t want to see internal conflicts or anyone envying the Qingze family’s good days and doing harm to the clan. Otherwise, don’t blame me for enforcing the clan rules strictly!”

Those who harbored small schemes were frightened by Mo Fang’s warning look and quickly dismissed their thoughts, but they couldn’t help glancing at the old Mo family members. They hadn’t forgotten that back in Mo Village, this family had schemed against the Mo family the most.

Noticing these strange looks, the old Mo family members’ faces turned extremely ugly, but they pretended not to see and had no way to argue.

Mo Fang also looked at the old Mo family members and shook his head almost imperceptibly. People shouldn’t act too ruthlessly, or retribution would come someday!

The events of that night soon reached Mo Yan’s ears. She smiled and continued calculating the costs of purchasing materials for the winery.

By mid-July, the ancestral hall was completed, and the newly made ancestral tablets were placed inside.

The weather had started to cool down, and although the late summer heat persisted, Mo Yan’s mood was unaffected.

“Yan girl, these pears are large and juicy, much better than any I’ve had before. It seems our feng shui is truly good. The same tree variety yields different quality fruit here,” Aunt Tong praised, smiling while eating a pear. Her wrinkled face looked even more amiable.

Mo Yan casually picked a pear larger than her fist, wiped it with a cloth, and took a bite. It was indeed juicy and sweet, comparable to the best varieties she had cultivated in her previous life.

 Chapter 525: Dust Settles (6)

Establishing ancestral shrines, erecting ancestral tombs, and founding the Mo Clan School... Each of these undertakings was advantageous for the clan. As the patriarch, Mo Fang wished for nothing more than the prosperity and development of the Mo clan. Just the establishment of the Mo Clan School alone made it impossible for him to refuse!

With the clan school, children would have books to read. Even if not every child was suited for scholarly pursuits, there was always hope, right? Even if in the end none of them achieved academic success, enhancing the family's reputation was better than toiling in obscurity. In the future, even if they sought menial jobs in the city, they would be looked upon with more respect than mere peasants.

At the same time, he valued Mo Qingze's talent and believed his name would surely appear on the autumn examination list this year, perhaps even further. With such considerations in mind, sacrificing the old Mo family's interests was nothing at all. Moreover, it was their own ruthless actions that brought this upon them!

With Mo Fang's bias and the support of clan members who endorsed the new clan rules, Hong Shi and the others couldn't stir up any trouble. Tie Tou smoothly led his siblings away from the old Mo household and temporarily settled in Mo Yan's home, awaiting their new household registration and the construction of a new house where they could start afresh.

However, Hong Shi demanded a "fostering fee" of one hundred taels, citing her years of raising Tie Tou and his siblings as justification. This demand seemed reasonable, and Wu Shi and Tie Tou agreed to it for the sake of peaceful days ahead.

Yet, the children had never enjoyed good days in the old Mo household and had always helped with chores, far from justifying one hundred taels. Eventually, with Mo Fang's intervention, they settled it with thirty taels of silver, severing all familial ties devoid of affection.

Wu Shi's family finally reunited. Once their new registration was settled, they joyously bought a plot of land and began purchasing bricks and tiles, preparing to build their new home once the weather cooled after the autumn harvest.

When Hong Shi heard that Wu Shi planned to build a brick-and-tile house, she went mad, smashing everything in her home as if possessed. When Mo Yonglu returned from the fields, he vented all his pent-up anger and frustration onto Mo Yongfu, who grew increasingly silent.

Upon hearing the news from a well-wisher, Niu Shi's expression remained indifferent, showing neither feigned sympathy nor schadenfreude, as if she were merely listening to a story.

Once she had observed for several days and confirmed that the old Mo family dared not entertain any sinister thoughts, Mo Yan fully devoted herself to the construction of the winery business.

However, while receiving the first sum of money from Ye Junyu, she kept her promise and bought a piece of land in the village. She also enlisted Master Lu, Lu Tinglan's uncle, to help construct the Mo Clan Ancestral Shrine.

The construction of the ancestral shrine wasn't solely for aiding Wu Shi's family; Mo Yan had this plan since Mo Qingze decided to participate in this year's autumn examinations.

Mo Qingze aimed for a successful examination and an entry into officialdom without any blemish on his reputation.

It was common knowledge in the village that the Mo family was wealthy, yet they lacked an ancestral shrine despite having a clan leader. Though it wasn't right to impose the construction of an ancestral shrine on the Mo family just because they were wealthy, if Mo Qingze were to offend someone in the future, this could be used against them. She had to be cautious.

This time, due to Wu Shi's family affairs, she approached Mo Fang and proposed the construction of the ancestral shrine. While it would cost a significant sum, in the long run, it would definitely benefit the Mo family more than harm!

 Chapter 524: Dust Settles (5)

Seeing Hong Shi turn pale with fear, Liu Qingqing paused for a moment and casually remarked, "Besides the gold bracelets, your family doesn't have anything else valuable? That's hard to believe. Even a five or six-year-old boy sold to the palace as a servant could fetch one or two dozen taels. Pretty young girls are even more valuable. With the right connections, you could exchange them for a large brick-and-tile house and even acquire several acres of good farmland!"

This statement seemed to awaken Hong Shi. Her cloudy old eyes suddenly lit up: That's right, why hadn't she thought of the two little bastards born to that surname Wu?

Liu Qingqing clearly saw the greed in her eyes and a hint of mocking contempt flickered across her lips!

...

The next day, Mo Yan received a message from the secret guards informing her that Hong Shi had entered the city early in the morning and was searching for "reliable" human traffickers. Sensing the timing was right, that night she went to Mo Fang's house, the patriarch of the Mo clan, with a chicken, a wild rabbit, and a piece of meat.

Although Mo Fang was the patriarch of the Mo clan, his family was large, with two elderly people still alive, making their lives even harder compared to other Mo families. If it weren't for occasionally earning some money by working for the Mo family, they probably wouldn't have enough to eat.

Mo Yan brought so much meat, and the elderly and children of Mo Fang's family were overjoyed. However, Mo Fang frowned, clearly understanding that such food wasn't easy to come by.

Following Mo Yan's hint, Mo Fang sent his family to the cool shade of the ancient poplar trees. Then, he closed the door and talked for a long time inside the house. During the conversation, there were moments of firm refusal from Mo Fang, followed by silence.

The contents of this conversation were known only to them, and no one else.

Hong Shi, using all her cunning, spent several days in the city until she finally found a "reliable" human trafficker. This time, she was smart, knowing that bringing the trafficker directly into her home would not only invite ridicule and condemnation but might also jeopardize her daughter's marriage.

Therefore, she deceitfully brought San Ni'er and Shi Tou to the city and arrived at the trafficker's residence. She planned to simply say that the two children had been abducted by the trafficker. Who would know that she had sold them herself?

Hong Shi was confident that nothing could go wrong. But just as she happily accepted the sixty taels of silver handed to her by the trafficker, the poorly secured door was kicked open. Standing there with an expression of rage was Tie Tou, followed by the solemn-faced Mo Fang and other members of the Mo clan.

...

Back when they were still in Mo Village, there was a family rule that had been passed down for centuries. The general meaning of this rule was that no member of the Mo clan should sell their descendants unless absolutely necessary. Violators would be dealt with according to clan rules.

Why such a rule existed was now impossible to ascertain. Over the centuries, due to hardships or other reasons, villagers occasionally sold their children for silver, and the clan elders turned a blind eye. Eventually, this rule had become virtually non-existent, offering no restraint to the clan members.

After all, Mo Village was not wealthy. During years of disaster and famine, who would care about clan rules? Selling a child could ensure the survival of a whole family, so why not?

This time, Mo Yan's memory provided her with this family rule, which proved to be immensely helpful. She sought out clan patriarch Mo Fang specifically to revive this rule and stipulate that anyone selling their child would not only face clan sanctions but also that the sold child could establish a separate household, free from interference in future matters, both big and small.

This condition was something Mo Fang couldn't refuse, not because of the meat or the reasons Mo Yan presented, but because he simply couldn't reject the terms she proposed.

 Chapter 523: Dust Settles (4)

The one hundred taels of silver had long been exchanged for cash, already spent on bolstering the engagement ceremony and outfitting Mo Yongxi with jewelry and clothes. Where could the old Mo family find more now?

Even if they could, Mo Hong Shi and the others would never regurgitate what they had already swallowed. That would be suicidal!

Perhaps feeling brazen on her own turf, Mo Hong Shi shamelessly declared the silver was spent. Want money? Fine, go to the city and ask Tie Tou for it; he's the one refusing to sign the marriage contract, it's none of their business!

After receiving the money, Tie Tou was released by Mo Hong Shi the same day and promptly sent to work at the rice mill. After all, delaying even a day meant losing a day's wages, which would all end up in Mo Hong Shi's hands. Naturally, she wouldn't let Tie Tou idle at home for nothing.

"Madam Mo, you borrowed the money, and it was you who put your handprint on the promissory note. Originally, if you had kept your word and delivered the marriage contract within ten days, I wouldn't have troubled you. But now that you've taken the money and done nothing, I'm terribly disappointed! If you can't produce the money today and can't produce the marriage contract, I'll have to take this promissory note to the authorities!"

Liu Qingqing was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with delicate features and a very charming appearance. She seemed elegant and refined, not at all like a fallen woman of the world. However, the sharpness in her words revealed that this young woman was not someone to be trifled with.

The incident where Mo Yongshou was punished and exiled by the authorities had left a deep shadow on Mo Hong Shi. Now, hearing Liu Qingqing's words, she trembled with fear. Seeing Liu Qingqing's genuine demeanor, she realized there was big trouble today. In that moment, she cursed Tie Tou to the bone for stubbornly refusing to sign the marriage contract.

"Qingqing, rest assured. When my grandson returns tonight, I will make sure he signs the marriage contract. Our old Mo family's roots are here; there's no escape. Can you give us some more time?"

Mo Hong Shi's face lost its previous arrogance. She forced a smile at Liu Qingqing, and her loose old skin twitched, looking extremely distorted.

Liu Qingqing also smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Madam, don't deceive me. Your grandson simply doesn't want to marry me. Otherwise, the marriage contract would have been signed long ago. Even if I give you ten more days, you probably won't get the marriage contract. I suggest you return the silver to me. For the sake of our acquaintance, I won't charge you interest!"

Mo Hong Shi, seeing Liu Qingqing being so difficult, felt anxious. She had just gone out to flaunt the gold bracelets. Now, if she were to borrow money from the village, even if she offered interest, she doubted anyone would pay her any attention. She couldn't bear to lower her face and go begging like that.

She hesitated and reluctantly revealed the truth, once again pleading with Liu Qingqing for more time. Dragging it out day by day, perhaps one day that blockhead might come to his senses and agree to sign the marriage contract? Then she wouldn't have to return the silver!

After hearing Mo Hong Shi's explanation, Liu Qingqing's smile seemed even more sincere. "Madam, I think your daughter's gold bracelets are worth a lot of money. Convert them for me and bring out the rest of the silver. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Mo Hong Shi widened her eyes and immediately refused without thinking, "Absolutely not! Those are the engagement tokens for my daughter. Even if you report me to the authorities, I won't give you the bracelets!"

Liu Qingqing's smile suddenly turned colder, a hint of mockery in her expression. "One hundred taels of silver may not be much, but if I report this to the authorities, not only will you have to repay the silver, but you won't escape a beating. I heard those beatings are quite severe. If they hit the wrong spot and damage your tendons and bones, it could even kill you or leave you paralyzed. I just wonder if you could survive such a beating at your age..."

  Chapter 522: Dust Settles (3)

Upon hearing about Mo Yonglu's actions, Mo Yan merely raised an eyebrow, thinking that the only person who could possibly save the old Mo family was probably him!

Seeing that the timing was about right, Mo Yan secretly made some arrangements. Soon, the two matchmakers who had arranged the marriage for Tie Tou and Mo Yongxi came successively to the old Mo family, urging them to quickly finalize the marriage. Whether it was the brothel girl or the wealthy man from the city, both wanted the wedding done before the autumn harvest.

It was already late June now, less than two months away from the autumn harvest, and with six rituals to go through, time was running short.

Mo Yongxi had sought this marriage herself, and no one knew the specifics. Since it was a wealthy man from the city, it was generally unlikely for him to marry a girl from a peasant background unless she had exceptional qualities. But Mo Yongxi lacked talent and family background, carried a reputation for malice and misconduct, yet managed to attract the interest of a household enough to send matchmakers. Anyone who believed there was no trickery involved would be a fool!

However, that household had also stipulated that if the old Mo family couldn't provide a dowry of fifty taels of silver, they wouldn't agree to the marriage. Their reasoning was that marrying a country girl was embarrassing enough in front of relatives and friends; if the bride entered with nothing, their face would be trampled in the dirt.

Because of this, Mo Hong Shi, for Mo Yongxi's fifty taels of silver dowry, found a former courtesan who had married well. In other words, for Mo Yongxi's "good" marriage to proceed, they first had to secure Tie Tou, then obtain the one hundred taels of silver from the former courtesan to purchase the dowry.

Now Tie Tou was being stubborn, and the pressure from both families was mounting. Mo Hong Shi had no choice but to directly approach the former courtesan, shamelessly claiming that they would soon be family, and since the old Mo family was facing difficulties, she asked the former courtesan to advance them the one hundred taels of silver. Otherwise, the marriage would have to be called off.

The former courtesan was named Liu Qingqing. After learning about the old Mo family's plight, for reasons unknown, she actually agreed. She had someone write a promissory note for Mo Hong Shi to sign, then happily handed over the one hundred taels of silver.

Mo Hong Shi had initially been unwilling, but in order to get her hands on the silver, she had no choice but to press her handprint on the promissory note. As soon as she received the silver ticket and confirmed its authenticity at the money exchange, she tightly held onto the silver ticket and hurried back home.

With money in hand, things went smoothly. Within two days, Mo Yongxi successfully became engaged to the wealthy household in the city.

It was said that on the day of the engagement ceremony, both families exchanged tokens. The old Mo family presented a plain jade pendant, albeit costing five taels of silver. When she bought it, Mo Hong Shi was heartbroken, but in order to save face for her daughter-in-law when she entered her in-laws' home, she gritted her teeth and bought it anyway!

The Fang family gave a pair of glittering gold-carved bracelets, weighing a total of three taels. It seemed like they highly valued Mo Yongxi as their daughter-in-law, which delighted Old Mo and Mo Hong Shi while they flattered and pleased them with words that didn't cost a penny, making the matchmakers nearby feel embarrassed.

After the Fang family left, Mo Hong Shi couldn't wait to show off the pair of bracelets around the village.

Although most villagers disliked Mo Hong Shi, they still envied the pair of gold bracelets worth dozens of taels. Those envious looks made Mo Hong Shi swell with pride, feeling like she had won a battle, and she returned home with her head held high.

Little did she know, there was a creditor waiting for her at home, who had waited for ten days but never received the marriage contract. Liu Qingqing, holding the previously signed promissory note and the matchmaker, came together to collect the debt.

 Chapter 1400: Scholar Meng is Ranked First

Shu Yu raised her eyebrows; it seemed that the third-ranked scholar was quite good.

Without realizing it, she held Meng Yunzheng's hand, and when she turned to look at him, she could feel him smiling at her, even with the hat covering his face.

When they reached the entrance of a private room, Shu Yu asked the waiter, "Your inn offered special discounts for the third-ranked scholar. The inn where the second and first-ranked scholars are staying must be even more lively, right?"

The waiter chuckled, "No, no. The second-ranked scholar is a local, and he is staying at his own home. As for the first-ranked scholar..."

Shu Yu suddenly felt a little nervous.

The waiter continued, "The first-ranked scholar, Young Master Meng, is staying at a rented courtyard."

Shu Yu's eyes lit up when she heard "rented courtyard." She immediately grabbed Meng Yunzheng's hand and turned to look at him.

It was really him. He had indeed ranked first.

Seeing them holding hands, the Daoist from Dongqing glanced at them, then looked away and stepped into the private room first.

The waiter didn't notice anything unusual and continued to talk, "That Master Meng's rented courtyard is surrounded by a lot of people right now. It's a pity that he left the city early in the morning, and no one knows where he went. Can you believe it? On such an important day, he actually left the city. What could be more important than the announcement of the exam results? After studying hard for ten years, isn't it all for this moment?"

Shu Yu turned her head to look at Meng Yunzheng again. What could be more important than the exam results? It was her matter.

Her nose felt a bit sour, and she immediately pursed her lips.

The waiter continued, "But when Master Meng's rented courtyard becomes available for rent again, the rent will definitely be doubled. Tsk tsk, you know, if Master Meng had stayed at our inn, our boss would have waived his rent and meal expenses as soon as he passed the exam."

Shu Yu sighed, "Maybe the landlord of that courtyard might also waive his rent. After all, it's such an important occasion."

The waiter was taken aback and scratched his head, "You're right." But he was still unwilling and added, "But if he had stayed at our inn, our boss might have given him some money as well."

The landlord of that courtyard would definitely be unwilling, after all, the inn was running a business.

....

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....

This time, Shu Yu didn't retort. She knew that just knowing that Yunzheng was the top scorer was enough.

The waiter didn't notice the change in her mood and continued, "Dear guests, what would you like to eat? Our inn has some good signature dishes."

"We don't need anything special...," Meng Yunzheng said, but before he finished, Dongqing Temple master interrupted, "Don't worry about me. Since it's a happy day, let's celebrate and order some special dishes."

Although she said that, Dongqing Temple master only ordered three special dishes, and the others were relatively light.

She didn't say anything about it, but she felt content with this decision.

When the waiter left, Shu Yu immediately grabbed Meng Yunzheng hand and said, "You really made it! The top scorer! The first rank!"

"Why are you so happy?"

"Of course, I'm thrilled!"

"In that case, let's eat more later." In fact, compared to becoming the top scorer, Meng Yunzheng was more excited about reuniting with her.

It had been almost half a year since they last met.

Luckily, the exams were finally over.

After the waiter served the dishes and left, Meng Yunzheng took off his hat.

hello dear patrons we only have 1000 chapters left with this pace we will be able to finished this novel in 2 months thank you so much for the support guys.

 Chapter 1399: Exam Results Are Out Today

Shu Yu was completely stunned, "The exam results for the prefectural were supposed to be out tomorrow, right?"

As someone who cared deeply about Meng Yunzheng's future, she had been keeping track of when the academy exams were held and when the results would be announced.

When the exams took place and when the results would be released were all dates she had carefully calculated.

Yesterday, she was relieved that she had rushed over in time and could celebrate with him when the results were announced. However, now it seemed that something didn't add up with her calculations.

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "You must be counting according to the time in Dong'an Prefecture. Although the exam results are generally released around the same time, sometimes there could be a day or two difference between two different places."

Shu Yu swallowed nervously, "So, they are really out now?"

"Yes."

Shu Yu became excited, "You must have passed the exam! Has the messenger already gone to our little courtyard? Xia Yan, we should hurry back home!"

Xia Yan also wanted to hurry back, but the road was too congested.

The carriage couldn't move forward for a long time, and Shu Yu almost felt dizzy sitting inside.

Meng Yunzheng chuckled, "Calm down. At this hour, the messenger has probably already been to the little courtyard. There might be a crowd outside the courtyard now. If we go back at this time, we'll probably get stuck at the entrance."

"But..."

"I think it's getting late. Why don't we find a restaurant nearby and have a meal first? After eating, the road should be smoother."

Shu Yu felt anxious, but she could only listen to his arrangement as there was no way they could get through this scene.

The group found a restaurant nearby, and when Meng Yunzheng got off the carriage, he took out two hats—one for himself and one for Shu Yu.

Shu Yu was surprised when she saw him wearing one too.

Then she realized that when Meng Yunzheng was the top scorer during the prefectural examination, many people must have recognized him.

....

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....

Now that the results of the academy exams were out, even though she didn't know his exact ranking or whether he was still the top scorer, she could guess that he had definitely performed well and achieved a high position.

Wearing the hat would prevent others from recognizing him and causing unnecessary trouble.

Shu Yu chuckled and got off the carriage to enter the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, it was also lively. The waiter came over and said, "Dear guests, please come inside. We have a special offer in our restaurant today. Everything is discounted by 20%."

Shu Yu asked curiously, "Is there a special occasion in your restaurant today?"

The waiter smiled, "Of course! Miss, are you new to the city? Today is the day when the academy exam results are announced. The person ranked third on the list stayed in our restaurant a few days ago. When the messenger came to deliver the good news, our boss was overjoyed, so today we offer special discounts."

Third place?

The waiter led Shu Yu upstairs, and in a short while, the upper and lower floors were filled with people. Especially, there were many scholars and students, some discussing various topics enthusiastically, while others looked downcast, probably preparing to leave.

When Shu Yu reached the second floor and looked down, she saw a man talking excitedly in the center of the hall, with many people surrounding him and engaging in discussions.

Seeing her pause, the waiter said, "That scholar also passed the exam. He ranked thirteenth and stayed in our restaurant as well. The people around him are discussing academic matters with him. They've been surrounding him since the announcement of the results."

Shu Yu nodded and asked, "Why didn't I see the scholar who ranked third?"

"The scholar who ranked third went to thank his mentor as soon as he learned about his success. He's not in the restaurant."

 Chapter 521: Dust Settles (2)

At this moment, neither of them knew that the girl who would wholeheartedly treat Iron Head well would appear so soon, especially due to her identity, catching them off guard!

...

Seeing that Mo Yongxi's supposedly "good" marriage in Mo Hong Shi's eyes was about to fall through because the old Mo family couldn't produce a decent dowry, Mo Hong Shi intensified her coercion on Tie Tou. Not only did she prevent him from working at the rice mill, she also confined him at home, withholding food and water, intending to force his compliance through these means.

But Tie Tou was as stubborn as iron, even though Mo Hong Shi painted a rosy picture of the brothel girl, he wouldn't be swayed into pressing his handprint on the marriage contract.

"Humph, you can resist all you want! I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. I don't believe I can't handle you!" Mo Hong Shi spat out with resentment, kicked Tie Tou who remained silent, and stormed out of the room with a grim expression to discuss with Mo Yongxi for a solution.

The brothel girl had said that as long as the marriage contract was stamped and registered at the government office, she would give her family one hundred taels of silver! That was one hundred taels of silver! She had lived for most of her life and had never had more than thirty taels of silver, much of which came from the old dead man and his dead sister-in-law.

With this one hundred taels, she could take out half to provide a decent dowry for Xi'er, make two sets of fine clothes, and buy two sets of silver jewelry. Then, she could marry into the city in a grand and prosperous manner.

With the remaining silver, she could also build several spacious and bright brick houses. Living in brick houses was much better than being crushed under a thatched roof by snow, except for that family of hypocrites, no other family in the village had the ability to live in a brick house!

Humph, she wanted to be the second, and even if she couldn't compare to that family of hypocrites, she wanted to trample on those gossiping bitches in the village underfoot!

Mo Hong Shi and Mo Yongxi, this pair of mother and daughter, in cahoots, still had no way to force Tie Tou to comply. She spread the news of her grandson being deprived of food and water throughout the entire village again. The villagers said all kinds of harsh things, and even many villagers spontaneously went to the village head's house to request that Yang Bao evict the old Mo family from the village so that the village's atmosphere would not be corrupted by them.

Although Yang Bao also wanted to do so, what the old Mo family had done recently did not violate the village rules previously formulated. No matter how they tossed and turned, they were only tormenting their own people, neither hindering others nor harming the interests of the village. Even if they were really evicted, they had to find a reasonable and legitimate reason to do so. Otherwise, with the temper of those shameless people in the old Mo family, if they were forced to do so, who knew what kind of trouble they would cause.

Seeing that the village head did not take action, the other villagers sympathized with Tie Tou's plight, but they had no way to help him. They could only spit on those who came from the old Mo family to show their disdain.

Mo Hong Shi's entire mind was focused on forcing Tie Tou to comply. Faced with the villagers' contempt and scorn, she completely ignored them. But no matter how hard she and Mo Yongxi tried, whether using soft or hard tactics, Tie Tou not only did not die of thirst or hunger, but his spirits seemed even higher than before.

Mo Hong Shi and her daughter found it very strange. After observing for several days in turns, they finally caught Mo Yonglu who secretly brought water and food to Tie Tou. The mother and daughter were so angry that they smashed the bowl on the spot.

Mo Yonglu was scolded so badly that he couldn't argue with these two already crazy women, so he carried his hoe to the field, just heartbroken and hungry for his nephew.

After Mo Yonglu left, seeing Tie Tou's flushed face, this pair of top-notch mother and daughter were so angry that they wanted to put a knife to his neck and force him to press the handprint!

But they didn't have the guts!

Tie Tou became more spirited the more he was confined, naturally thanks to Mo Yan. Knowing that Tie Tou was deprived of food and water, she prepared clear water mixed with spiritual springs and food every night to be secretly sent to him by the night guard.

  Chapter 520: Dust Settles (1)

Lately, Tie Tou had been frequently pressured by Mo Hong Shi to marry the brothel girl. Although he was a bit slow and simple-minded, often seen by others as just a step above a fool, he had one strong point: he could heed kind words from others, especially those spoken by his birth mother, Wu Shi.

Even though he didn't quite understand why his birth parents had left them siblings, in his heart, Wu Shi weighed heavier than anyone else. From childhood to adulthood, it was his mother who always protected him and never found fault in his simplicity.

When Mo Hong Shi tried to force him to marry, insisting he place his handprint on the marriage contract in front of the matchmaker, he staunchly refused. He silently resisted Mo Hong Shi's ill intentions, enduring her scolding without budging.

At midnight, after the old Mo family had fallen asleep, Tie Tou quietly left the house and came to knock on the Mo family's courtyard gate at the back mountain.

Knowing her son wasn't as clever as children from other families, and reasoning might not get through to him even if she talked herself hoarse, Wu Shi didn't say much to him. She only told him not to agree to this marriage, leaving everything else alone.

Tie Tou, upon hearing his mother's words, revealed a foolish grin, "If Ma says don't press, then I won't press today, nor in the future!"

Wu Shi couldn't help but laugh and cry, lightly patting his head, "Could it be that you won't marry in the future? Marrying means pressing your handprint on the marriage contract. However, if your grandparents ask you to press it, you absolutely must not, understand?"

Tie Tou understood that marrying meant bringing a girl home to live with and have children with. Hearing his mother teasing him, an image suddenly flashed in his mind, and his simple face turned red. He shook his head in confusion, driving away the image.

Seeing this, Wu Shi thought he was shy and couldn't stop laughing. Mo Yan also couldn't help but bend over laughing, embarrassing Tie Tou so much that his face turned red, wishing he could dig a hole and hide.

Using the excuse of caring for his sister's injury, he sneaked into the room to visit his eldest sister. Seeing his sister's spirits improving day by day, he relaxed and fled from the Mo family, fearing his mother would embarrass him again.

Wu Shi sighed and shook her head, her tone filled with worry, "Tie Tou's looks are just average, and his temperament is like this. I don't know if there will be a girl who likes him in the future!"

Although a mother would never dislike her own child, Wu Shi couldn't deny that her son's temperament was not very likable, and having such worries was only natural! She could try her best to set up a business for her son with her own hands, but she couldn't use money to find a daughter-in-law who knew the cold and warm, and really cared about him.

Mo Yan was clear about Wu Shi's concerns and reassured her, "What's wrong with Tie Tou? With such a temperament, he doesn't have many schemes. He will only treat others with single-hearted sincerity. For a girl who wants to live a steady life, it's probably hard to find such a husband. You don't need to worry too much."

She really felt that Tie Tou was a rare good man, and it would depend on which girl could recognize his worth! However, this girl not only needed to sincerely want to live her life with Tie Tou, but also needed to be a bit clever. After all, Aunt Wu couldn't watch them live together for the rest of her life.

This was something that reached Wu Shi's heart, and a loving smile appeared on her face, "Aunt can't guarantee anything else, but Aunt guarantees that Tie Tou is a good child. I just hope there's a girl who won't dislike him, and will live a steady life with him. In the future, Aunt can close her eyes and rest assured!"

Mo Yan nodded, "There will be such a girl!"

 Chapter 1398: Why Are There So Many People

Shu Yu pretended not to notice the look in the Dongqing Temple master's eyes and asked, "When did you find out about these things, Master?"

"A couple of days ago."

As someone skilled in physiognomy, the master of Dongqing Temple master naturally saw that Zhou Hao was not afflicted by any curse or illness.

Last time, when she arrived, Zhou, the village head, didn't trust her. However, this time, she demonstrated her abilities in front of the villagers, and many of her predictions came true, which earned her the respect of Zhou, the village head, who treated her as an esteemed guest.

However, Zhou Hao was still wary of her and tried to avoid her, fearing she might figure out his true intentions.

Unfortunately, Zhou Hao was still too naive in front of the master of Dongqing Temple, and his attempts to hide were quickly exposed.

When he realized he had been found out, Zhou Hao could only plead for the master of Dong Qing Temple's mercy and help. He genuinely wanted to be with Li Miao.

Although the Dongqing Temple master came to investigate and solve the issue with the Zhou family, she was not heartless. For minor favors, she wouldn't just stand by and do nothing.

She went to see Li Miao, and surprisingly, her physiognomy matched perfectly with Zhou Hao's. If they were to become a couple, their future together would be harmonious, loving, and dedicated, a rare example of a close and loving relationship.

As this was a good thing and a heaven-sent match, the Dongqing Temple master naturally supported it.

She promised Zhou Hao that when the half-month period was up, and Zhou Hao "relapsed," she would provide him with another talisman. However, she warned that relying on talismans was not a long-term solution. It would be better for him to find a woman whose destiny and zodiac sign were compatible with his own. This would help control his condition and gradually reduce its effects over time.

The Zhou family was bewildered. Where could they find such a woman?

The master of Dong Qing Temple gave them a date of birth and a direction to find a suitable match for Zhou Hao. Zhou, the village head, quickly found the Li family girl and brought her over.

When Shu Yu and Meng Yunzhi were at the entrance of Zhou Family Village, they saw Zhou, the village head, bringing people to the master of Dong Qing Temple for physiognomy reading.

After confirming that Li Miao was Zhou Hao's destined partner, the Zhou family was disappointed, but they had no choice for the sake of Zhou Hao.

Li Miao was from the same village, and the Zhou family had a good understanding of her. Despite her slightly lower social status and heavier burdens, her character was quite good.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Zhou Hao's wish was fulfilled, but for the Dongqing Temple master, it was just a case of going with the flow.

Given their physiognomy, even if she didn't help, they would have ended up together sooner or later. However, there would be many twists and turns and difficulties in the process. The result would be the same.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu couldn't help but look at her again and again.

Dongqing Temple master furrowed her brows, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Master, I didn't expect you to be a matchmaker for these two."

Dongqing Temple master "..."

Had she forgotten that she and Meng Yunzheng had met at Dongqing Temple?

While they were talking, the carriage had already entered the city gate.

At this moment, the city was even livelier, with a commotion ahead caused by the crowd of people.

Shu Yu poked her head out to take a look, surprised. "Why are there suddenly so many people?"

Meng Yunzheng calmly sipped his tea, "It's probably because today is the day when the results of the prefectural exam are announced."

Shu Yu was stunned, "What did you say?"

"He said today is the day when the results of the prefectural exam are announced," the Dongqing Temple master repeated for him.

 Chapter 1397: Cause and Effect

The village head, was the wealthiest family in Zhou Village. With a strong family background and two successful elder brothers – one a scholar and the other a businessman in the county, Zhou Hao's status and value in the village were the highest.

Now at the age of sixteen, matchmakers from neighboring areas almost broke through Zhou Family Village's threshold trying to propose marriage to Zhou Hao. If it weren't for the Zhou family being picky and unable to make a decision, Zhou Hao could have gotten married even when he was thirteen or fourteen.

However, now that he was at this age, the Zhou family realized they couldn't delay any longer. They found a family with excellent conditions in the county and wanted to propose a marriage.

However, Zhou Hao disagreed. He was interested in Li Miao, a girl from the Li family in the village.

When the master of Dongqing Temple mentioned this, she took a sip of water and looked at Shu Yu. "She's the slim girl you saw today."

The reason why the village was called Zhou Village was that two-thirds of the people in the village had the surname Zhou; they were all from the same family.

On the other hand, the Li family was an outsider. Li Miao and her mother had moved to the village a few years ago to escape famine and settled down here.

Apart from Li Miao and her mother, there was also an eight-year-old younger brother in their family.

They lived a very difficult life, and in Zhou Family Village, where most people had the surname Zhou, they had little presence. Moreover, Li Miao's mother was not in good health, so Li Miao had to support the family in many ways.

As a result, despite being seventeen years old, Li Miao had not yet been married.

Not just the Zhou family, even the other villagers in the village didn't think much of the Li family's situation.

Zhou Hao was well aware of this.

Li Miao was even more aware of this. So, when she learned of Zhou Hao's feelings, instead of trying to climb the social ladder, she distanced herself from him and tried to avoid him.

Shu Yu asked curiously, "What does Li Miao think of Zhou Hao then?"

The master of Dongqing Temple sighed softly, "That's why I said they're a pair of infatuated youngsters. Li Miao and her mother came here to escape famine. They were strangers in the village and faced many difficulties. As the son of the village head, Zhou Hao helped them a lot and even saved Li Miao's life once."

Shu Yu understood; Li Miao also liked Zhou Hao.

However, due to their different backgrounds and the many concerns they had, she wouldn't let her emotions take over.

....

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....

Compared to the burdens on Li Miao's shoulders, Zhou Hao grew up being pampered by his family. He had not experienced the same hardships as Li Miao and therefore had a more straightforward and direct mindset.

As a result, Zhou Hao was resolute in his feelings, and the young boy's passion made him willing to brave all obstacles for their future.

Thankfully, despite being naive, he was not foolish. He didn't mention this matter to his family.

He knew where the root of the issue lay. His parents believed that Li Miao was not worthy of him, so he decided to make himself worthy of her.

Shu Yu nodded in understanding, "So, he intentionally eats a live chicken once every half month, waking up in the middle of the night to make it appear as if he is possessed. Wealthier families would look down on him, and his parents had to postpone the marriage proposal?"

"Yes," the master of Dong Qing Temple confirmed.

Shu Yu's expression was peculiar, filled with hesitation.

The master of Dongqing Temple raised an eyebrow, "I know you don't approve of his methods."

"No, it's not that I don't approve. I just think... isn't it disgusting to eat a live chicken? And doing it once every half month, how can he swallow it?" As she spoke, Shu Yu couldn't help but shudder at the thought.

Dongqing Temple master "..."

She began to doubt her fortune-telling skills. How could she not see what was on Shu Yu's mind?

  Chapter 519: A Plan with No Regrets (3)

Therefore, any movement or action in the old Mo family could not escape Mo Yan's ears. Inappropriate plans were adjusted accordingly, eventually achieving their desired results, even better than expected.

...

June was the hottest month of the year. After a day of scorching heat, the villagers finished their work, had a simple dinner, and then gathered in groups under the cool breeze of the ancient poplar trees to relax.

With more people, naturally, there were various topics of conversation. The men mostly discussed the weather and crops, while the women were more interested in neighborhood gossip. Soon enough, someone spilled some juicy news.

"Hey, hey, did you hear? Old Granny Mo Hong Shi has caused trouble again! This time, what she did was even more despicable than forcing Wu Shi and her daughter to leave!" a young woman whispered mysteriously.

As soon as these words were heard, someone immediately responded, "Ah? She caused trouble again? Tell us what happened. My mother-in-law got heatstroke, and I've been too busy to find out what's going on! I heard earlier that the old maid in the old Mo family, who couldn't get married, was spotted by a wealthy family in the city. They want to bring her back as the main wife, and Mo Hong Shi was flaunting it around the village!"

Before the first woman could respond, another slightly older woman interjected, "Hmph, it's all because of that unmarried old maid that Mo Hong Shi caused trouble, isn't it? In my opinion, Mo Hong Shi isn't causing trouble; she's digging her own grave. If we let her continue like this, the old Mo family will sooner or later be ruined by her."

Upon hearing this, the uninformed women became even more curious and began to ask eagerly.

When they finally learned what kind of trouble Mo Hong Shi had caused, they couldn't help but spit on the ground in disgust and relief. "Back then, I married into my husband's family for several years without giving birth to a child. My mother-in-law treated me like dirt and caused me a lot of grievances! When I finally got pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, my mother-in-law slapped me in the face and kicked me out of bed on the third day to work in the fields. During the months of breastfeeding, she didn't even give me an egg to eat!

At that time, I felt like there was no other daughter-in-law in the whole village who suffered more than me! Now, thinking back, my mother-in-law was still pretty good. Although she wasn't good to me, she was very kind to her granddaughters and grandsons. During the drought a few years ago, she even shared her food with several children! Later, when human traffickers exchanged biscuits for children, my mother-in-law refused to sell her child, saying she wouldn't sell even if she starved to death. Just because of this, I have to honor my mother-in-law well. If my mother-in-law were like Old Granny Mo Hong Shi, I'm afraid I would have hung myself with a rope long ago!"

After hearing the woman's words, the other two women fell silent for a moment and involuntarily thought of their own mothers-in-law.

Although their mothers-in-law were not as severe as the woman's, they were not easy to get along with either! Sometimes, they hated their mothers-in-law so much that they wished they would die sooner. But now, with the comparison to Mo Hong Shi, they realized their mothers-in-law had already been quite lenient. At least they had never beaten them, kicked them when they were pregnant, or broken their granddaughters' bones. Nor had they ever forced their sons to marry a brothel woman for her dowry money, as Mo Hong Shi had done to her own grandson for a hundred taels of silver.

Leaving aside the brothel woman's background, she had money but had long ruined her body and could never have children. Yet, to pave the way for her own daughter, Mo Hong Shi had no problem using her grandson as a stepping stone, even if it meant he would have no descendants!

The brothel woman was sensible and honest about her situation, wanting to find a good man to settle down with. She revealed her background and infertility, giving the Mo family the option to refuse. However, somehow, her background and infertility soon spread throughout the village.

Unbeknownst to Mo Yan, this scheme not only highlighted Mo Hong Shi's shamelessness but also became a "reference point" for many young wives in the village. Comparing their mothers-in-law to Mo Hong Shi, they all felt their own were reasonable people. They dropped their prejudices and began trying to get along better with their mothers-in-law.

For a time, the petty squabbles between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law significantly decreased, greatly improving the atmosphere in Liuyang Village.