Chapter 30: Embrace

Ruan Shi nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, there is."

Old lady Ruan suddenly looked at her, furious. "What do you mean? Do you really believe this girl with an unknown origin over your own mother? Why would I bring a fake to impersonate Er Ya?"

Ruan Shi shrank back, and Shu Yu stood in front of her, smirking at the obviously guilty old lady Ruan. "Why are you so nervous? Didn't you say it yourself, if it's really Er Ya, her own mother would definitely know? Also, when you stole Er Ya away, you were so flustered and probably didn't pay attention to anything else, except for the two birthmarks on her arm."

"I...I..." Old lady Ruan couldn't speak.

She really didn't know what kind of markings Er Ya had on her body. At that time, she was in such a hurry to get away that she didn't even have time to open the swaddling clothes. After all, the other party wanted a boy, so she tricked the buyer.

In such a situation, she didn't even have the chance to argue back, as Shu Yu didn't give her the opportunity.

Shu Yu turned to Ruan Shi. "What else can prove that this is the real Er Ya?"

Ruan Shi steadied her nerves, and seeing Shu Yu's calm demeanor, she couldn't help but feel relieved.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Can I take a look at the back of your necks? Er Ya has a mole the size of a grain of rice on the back of her neck."

This was something that the Lu family hadn't told anyone. Also, with so many people around, it wasn't appropriate to mention other parts of the body.

Old lady Ruan and the girl looked at each other, and Old lady Ruan wanted to throw a tantrum. But Shu Yu had already pushed her hair to one side of her shoulder and calmly allowed Ruan Shi to see.

Shu Yu couldn't see the back of her neck herself, nor did she know if she really had such a mole. But she knew that the investigation by the head of Dongqing Temple couldn't be wrong.

With just one glance, tears flowed uncontrollably from Ruan Shi's eyes. If she was only eighty or ninety percent certain before, seeing the birthmark on the back of her neck now, Ruan Shi was certain that she was Er Ya.

"It's you, you're Er Ya, my daughter." Ruan Shi cried and hugged Shu Yu directly. "Er Ya, mother missed you so much. I almost thought I would never see you again in this life. Er Ya, you're finally back, sob..."

Shu Yu was a little dazed by her embrace. For many years, she had not been hugged with such intense emotion by anyone. In her previous life, her parents had died early, and she was single-mindedly seeking revenge, sometimes even using any means necessary. She had hardly had any close friends and did not trust anyone, let alone the kind of emotions that made her feel confined.

No one had ever hugged her, even when she had risen higher later on. She had always been alone on her way forward, forever on her own.

Now, facing Ruan Shi's tears, Shu Yu's hands were a little awkward, and for once, she didn't know how to react.

After a while, she lifted her hand slightly and clumsily patted Ruan Shi's back, whispering, "Don't cry."

"Yes, I won't cry. It's a happy thing that you're back home. How could I cry?" Ruan Shi finally reluctantly let go of her, wiped away her tears, and looked up at her, carefully examining her from her forehead to her nose and then to her mouth, as if she didn't want to miss even a single strand of her hair.

Shu Yu felt quite uncomfortable being looked at like this and was about to say something to shift the focus, but then she heard a terrified scream in her ear.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 29: You're Er Ya!!

Lu Dasong was almost driven mad by old  lady Ruan careless remarks as she got older. She said whatever was on her mind without any restraint.

Unfortunately, Lu Dasong was not good with words and couldn't find a way to refute her while he was filled with anger.

Lu Dasong could only turn to Shu Yu and say, "Miss Shu, I am Lu Erbai's elder brother. May I ask, since you are so sure that this girl is not Er Ya, do you have any evidence?"

"Yes, if you have any evidence, bring it out." Old lady Ruan was full of herself and didn't show any fear.

The villagers outside also joined in, "That's right, Miss Shu, you can't just say that someone is not who they are without any evidence. How can you prove it?"

"That's right, if you can't prove it, you shouldn't just drive her away if she is really Er Ya. Aren't you doing a bad thing?"

"You can't just say anything and it becomes true. Erbai's wife hasn't denied it either."

Shu Yu frowned and looked around. Before she could speak, she saw Da Hu and San Ya running over.

Da Hu stood in front of her, and San Ya, who was usually timid, lifted her head and said, "Sister Shu is a good person. She is not evil. Don't bully her."

Shu Yu's heart softened and she reached out to touch San Ya's head and whispered, "It's okay."

She patted Da Hu's shoulder and asked him to stand with San Ya.

Then she looked towards Ruan Pozi. Ruan Pozi had not spoken since earlier, and she didn't know why. Clearly, the girl had the same mole on her arm as Second Ya, but seeing her being hit and scolded by Shu Yu, Ruan Pozi couldn't bring herself to say anything to help her.

When old lady Ruan met Shu Yu's eyes, she was stunned.

Those eyes...

Shu Yu had her back facing the villagers outside the courtyard and lifted up the sleeve of her arm in front of Ruan Shi.

Ruan Shi lowered her head to take a look, but her eyes suddenly widened the next moment. She couldn't help but grab Shu Yu's arm with her hands and stared fixedly at the two moles on it.

Lu Dasong, who was standing nearby, also saw it and looked at her in shock.

"It's you, you have the same mole on your arm. Are you Er Ya?!" Ruan Shi's lips trembled. "Really, it's really you. I didn't recognize you wrong. You are Er Ya, I knew it, wuwuwu..."

She was so excited that if Shu Yu hadn't quickly supported her, Ruan Shi would have collapsed to the ground.

"What?!" Old lady Ruan on the other side changed her face drastically when she heard this and hurriedly took two steps forward to also see Shu Yu's arm.

She raised her head in disbelief. "You're Er Ya? No, it's impossible."

"Why is it impossible?" Shu Yu put her sleeve back down and smiled. "Didn't you ask me for evidence? I am the evidence. Since I am the child that you stole and sold, the others must be imposter."

"You, you, it's not possible. You're not her, she is." Ruan's old lady panicked.

"She?" Shu Yu looked at the girl and scrutinized her up and down for a while. "Ask the villagers present here and see where she resembles the Lu family? Flat nose, thick lips, and small eyes?"

"But she has a mole on her arm."

"So do I."

Ruan's Pozi became flustered. "Since both have it, how can you say that you are Second Miss and she is an imposter?"

"It's actually simple to find out who is real and who is fake." Shu Yu looked at Ruan Shi. "I think the real Er Ya should have other marks on her body besides these two well-known moles, right?" 

(End of this chapter)

Terminology:

"Pozi" (婆子) is a Chinese term that can have different meanings depending on the context:

Old lady: It can refer to an elderly woman or an older lady in general, often used to show respect or affection.

Mother-in-law: It can be used to refer to one's mother-in-law, especially in a traditional or familial setting.

 Chapter 28: Lu Dasong

As soon as Lu Dasong arrived, Old lady Ruan in the yard had already noticed and rushed over to Shu Yu in just a few steps.

Shu Yu thought she was going to start cursing at her, but old lady Ruan  smiled at her and said, "You must be Miss Shu? It was  a misunderstanding. This is really Er Ya. Miss Shu, please let her go. Let's talk slowly."

Shu Yu turned her head suspiciously, "Do you know me?"

"I know, I heard that the Lu family had a noble guest arrive. Early in the morning, and took my son-in-law to the county to treat his leg. Hey, my daughter has finally turned her luck around. Look, with your help, she has found her long-lost daughter. This is such a good day, and there's more to come." Old lady Ruan laughed so much that the wrinkles on her face could have squeezed a fly to death.

Shu Yu finally understood why old lady Ruan was here. It turned out that she was after her.

When the Lu family had no money, they didn't come. But when they heard that they might turn their luck around, they immediately brought a fake to appear here and try to build a good relationship with their in-laws.

Old day Ruan smiled, "Miss Shu, how is my son-in-law's leg? Why didn't he come back with his mother-in-law?"

"What does it have to do with you whether they come back or not?" The person in front of her was the culprit who had stolen Er Ya and sold her to the Shu family back then. The more Shu Yu looked at her, the more she felt disgusted. "You'd better take your fake and leave, or don't blame me for being impolite."

"You..." Old lady Ruan was caught off guard by her lack of face, and the smile on her face couldn't be maintained.

The girl on the ground had already gotten up. She had seen Shu Yu's methods just now and didn't dare to rush forward to fight anymore. However, she still hid behind old lady Ruan and shouted, "Are you crazy? This is our family's business. Why should an outsider like you interfere? I don't even know you. Who are you to say that I'm fake? This is my home, and you should be the one who leaves."

"Yes, Miss Shu, you're an outsider who knows nothing about Er Ya's situation. What gives you the right to say such things? My daughter has finally found her child, and since you are a guest of the Lu family, you should offer your blessings and maybe a gift. But instead, not only do you call her a fake, you even used physical violence. That's unacceptable!"

Old lady Ruan didn't bother to pretend anymore and chimed in loudly.

She turned her head to the villagers outside and said, "Everyone, let's discuss this. Do you really think that this mother doesn't know what's best for her child, while this outsider does? My daughter hasn't said anything, but she's taking charge and even hitting and scolding me, her own mother-in-law. If you didn't know any better, you would think she's the mistress of this Lu family. Isn't that right?"

The villagers looked at each other in confusion. The information in old lady Ruan's words was overwhelming.

Could it be that Miss Shu, the outsider, has her sights set on Lu Erbai, an old man who is broke and has a lame leg?

That couldn't be possible, could it?

Everyone quickly shook their heads, but Lu Dasong couldn't take it anymore. He walked in from outside and glared at old lady Ruan, "I think you're the one talking nonsense here. With everything you've done in the past, how can you genuinely claim to have found Er Ya? I think Miss Shu's words make sense."

Old lady Ruan wasn't afraid of Lu Dasong and sneered, "Oh really? Do you know Miss Shu? Are you two close? Or is there something scandalous between you? She has no evidence to prove that Er Ya is a fake. What kind of logic is that?"

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 27: You are a fake

Shu Yu's slap not only stunned the people in the courtyard, including the old lady Ruan, but also the villagers outside who were staring in confusion.

Isn't this girl the one who came from the Lu family yesterday? What is she doing here? Does the Lu family want to recognize her as their own and take care of her?

Just then, Uncle Lu Dabao and Lu Dasong were called back from the fields and rushed over to see what was happening. They were still confused as they listened to Lu San, who was explaining the situation.

Shu Yu stood in the courtyard, frowned, and looked at the girl who was holding onto Ruan's arm. She said, "Let go."

The girl's body trembled a bit, but she still stubbornly replied, "Who are you? This is my mother, why should I let go?"

"Just because you're a fake."

Fake? This statement not only changed the expressions of Ruan and the girl, but also caused the villagers outside to start whispering to each other.

Shu Yu walked past the old lady Ruan and took steps toward Ruan and the girl.

When she got closer, she saw the girl holding onto Ruan's bony hand and reached out to pull her hand away.

"You..." The girl widened her eyes in anger and wanted to fight Shu Yu.

But she quickly realized her situation and suppressed her anger, instead looking pitifully at Ruan. "Mom, who is she? How could she treat me like this?"

Ruan Shi's fingers trembled as she grabbed the girl again and looked at Shu Yu. She opened her mouth and called out weakly, "Miss Shu."

Her expression was pleading and confused, and Shu Yu understood. Ruan Shi was not completely sure, but as Lu Erbai had said, she was already a bit crazy about Er Ya's situation.

She had an obsession in her heart, even if she knew that the other person might be fake, her subconscious still wanted to believe that she was her own daughter.

Without Lu Erbai or the old lady to wake her up, Ruan Shi walked into her own illusion and refused to come out.

Shu Yu looked at the girl beside her and saw her raise her chin proudly since she was held by Ruan Shi again. Shu Yu squinted, and this time she wasn't as gentle as before. She raised her hand and swung it directly at the girl.

"Ah..." The girl screamed in pain and quickly let go.

She was really angry now. Without saying a word, she opened her five fingers and grabbed towards Shu Yu's face with a ferocious expression.

Ruan Shi stood nearby, watching everything clearly. Instinctively, she shouted, "Miss Shu, be careful!"

Shu Yu tilted her head to avoid the attack and lifted her knee to hit the girl's stomach. While she was bent over in pain, Shu Yu kicked her legs and sent her tumbling to the ground, unable to get up.

"Wow." The villagers outside the courtyard exclaimed, "Why did they just start fighting like that?"

Lu Laosan couldn't help but touch his own leg. He had taken the best spot to watch the excitement early on, so he naturally saw everything that Shu Yu did.

Aren't women supposed to fight by scratching, biting, pulling hair, and cursing at each other? But this girl's moves were clean and neat. Clearly, she was a skilled fighter.

Fortunately, when he wanted to settle the score with her the night before, his own mother threatened him and made him go back home. Otherwise, he would have been the one lying on the ground after just a few moves.

Lu Dasong, who was standing next to him, had already heard the whole story and was about to go inside.

Although he didn't usually have much contact with the second family, with the mother and second brother both absent, and the matter of finding Er Ya, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

(End of this chapter)

Note:

"Shi" (氏) is used to indicate the family name or maiden name of a person. It can also be used to refer to a married person, highlighting their marital status without explicitly mentioning their given name.

 Chapter 26: Old lady Ruan

The sudden kneel made Shu Yu, who was standing at the door, startled.

The other villagers were also taken aback and whispered to each other, "Is she really Er Ya, from Lu Lao Er's family?"

"I think so. Look at how Old lady Ruan is crying, it seems like she truly regrets what she has done."

"Old Ruan is a wicked woman, she doesn't treat Er Bai's wife well either. Is it possible that she went through all this trouble just to help her find her daughter?"

"Why else would she do it? She had no reason to deceive Er Bai's wife about this. Given the situation in Er Bai's family, what benefit would she gain from lying?"

The villagers thought about it and realized it made sense. Why would old Ruan go through all this trouble if she didn't have a good reason to?

One of the villagers asked Lu Lao San, who was just there to watch the commotion, "San Lu, what do you think?"

Lu Lao San glanced at the courtyard and smirked, "What can I say? My unfortunate niece has been missing since childhood, it's been over a decade now. Who knows what she looks like now. I certainly can't tell, but my sister-in-law should be able to recognize her own daughter, right?"

The villagers nodded, "Exactly, Er Bai's wife should know if Er Ya has any distinguishing marks on her."

Just then, Old lady Ruan happened to lift the girl's sleeve and said to Ruan Shi, "Look, my child. Look at her arm, are these two moles not the same as when she was a child? She's been through a lot outside, look how thin she is, so pitiful."

When Ruan Shi saw the girl's arm, her eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly grabbed the girl who had been helped up by Madam Ruan and asked in a trembling voice, "You, you really are Er Ya?"

The girl nodded and cried, "Mom, Er Ya missed you so much. I've been wandering outside for all these years, always wondering where my parents are and why they haven't found me yet. I really wanted to go home. It rained and thundered outside, and there were so many bad people who bullied me, beat me, and didn't give me any food. I was so hungry that I had to drink water to fill my stomach. I had nowhere to sleep, so I curled up under the bridge. It was really like shouting into the void and praying to a deaf god."

"Stop, don't say anymore," Ruan Shi couldn't bear it. She had been thinking about this scene day and night, it was breaking her heart.

The girl saw her distress and quickly held her, "Okay, I won't say anymore. Mom, I'm back now, our family is reunited, and I have a father, a mother, and a home. I'm not alone anymore."

Old lady Ruan nodded repeatedly on the side and said, "Yes, yes, seeing you mother and daughter reunite makes me feel much better too."

Ruan Shi was supported by two people, one on each side. Her head was pounding, and her thoughts were in chaos.

Lu Erbai and the old lady were both absent, and she was no match for old lady Ruan. She didn't even have a chance to speak, as she was interrupted by old lady Ruan who didn't give her any opportunity to ask the questions she had in mind.

old lady Ruan even ran up to Da Hu and San Ya, looked at them with a kind smile, holding two candies in her hand that she didn't know how long she had kept them, and said, "Da Hu, San Ya, your second sister has returned. Are you happy? Come on, these are candies that grandma prepared for you. They will make your mouth sweet."

The twins looked at each other and couldn't help but take a step back.

old lady Ruan's face flashed with displeasure, but she quickly put on a smile again and said, "Take it, this is specially bought by grandma for you to eat."

As soon as she finished speaking, the candies in her hand were suddenly slapped to the ground.

old lady Ruan exclaimed, "Who is so ignorant!"

As she lifted her head, she met the cold gaze of Shu Yu.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 25: Has Er Ya Returned?

Shu Yu sat on the ox cart with the rice and flour placed on the board of the cart, swaying as they headed towards Shishi village.

Although Da Niu was a shy and introverted person, he unexpectedly had a good business sense. Along the way, they also picked up a few villagers who were heading towards Shishi village, and each person paid a penny for the fare. After all, although the ox cart was borrowed, they still had to pay rent, which added up to ten pennies for the round trip. This rent made the old lady very distressed.

However, Da Niu earned four pennies on the way back and was quite happy about it. When they arrived at Shishi village, there were only Da Niu, Shu Yu, and another woman from Shishi village left in the cart.

Who knew that just as they entered the village, a villager ran up to them and asked, "Da Niu, have you come back? How about your grandmother and your second uncle?"

Da Niu was stunned for a moment and said, "My second uncle is getting treatment for his leg in the county town and can't come back for the time being. My grandmother is taking care of him. What's wrong, Aunt Fang?"

"Ah, your second uncle's family is in trouble," Aunt Fang said.

Before Da Niu could speak, Shu Yu frowned and asked, "What happened?"

"Aunt Ruan from the Ruan family came again, and this time she brought a girl with her, claiming that she was Er Ya who was abducted and sold by her back then. Now she has found her and they are both at your second uncle's house," Aunt Fang replied.

"What?!" Shu Yu jumped off the cart abruptly and exclaimed, "You mean Er Ya has been brought back by her?"

Aunt Fang only noticed that Shu Yu's attitude was abnormal at this point, and nodded subconsciously, "Yes, that's right."

Shu Yu immediately said to Da Niu, "You bring the things back for me. I'll go and take a look first."

Without waiting for anyone to react, she ran straight towards the Lu family's house.

They didn't react in time, and when they snapped out of it, Shu Yu had already disappeared without a trace.

He didn't have time to think too much and quickly pulled the cart towards the village.

When Shu Yu arrived at the Lu family's house, many villagers had already gathered outside.

At a glance, she saw the Lu family's third son and his wife standing in front of the gate.

Shu Yu's lips twitched, and she squeezed through the crowd to get a clear view of the scene in the courtyard.

An old woman with slightly graying hair sat on a stool, wiping her tears as she cried and wailed, "My child, it's all my fault, mother was blinded by greed back then and did such wicked things, causing you to suffer for so many years. You haven't visited us in more than a decade, and my heart has been in pain too."

Ruan Shi was a bit bewildered, with Da Hu and San Ya standing on her left and right sides. San Ya held Ruan Shi's hand tightly, obviously afraid of the old woman.

Da Hua, on the other hand, pursed his lips tightly and alternated his gaze between Ruan Shi and the old woman.

The old woman continued to cry, her voice getting louder, "I've been trying my best to make amends all these years, but I know you won't forgive me unless we find Er Ya. I don't have the face to come to your doorstep. But now, Er Ya has found you, and you can reunite with your daughter. Our mother-daughter relationship can also be reconciled."

As she spoke, the old woman pushed a thin girl next to her forward. "This is Er Ya, your daughter. Look for yourself, isn't she quite similar to you and son-in-law?"

Shu Yu squinted and glanced at the girl. She didn't resemble them in the slightest, from her eyes to her nose and mouth.

Ruan Shi also stared at the girl in a daze.

The girl suddenly rushed forward and knelt down in front of Ruan Shi with a thud, then raised her head and wailed, "Mother, your daughter has finally found you!" 

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 24: Shu Yu Goes Shopping

When the old lady heard that Shu Yu was returning to Shishi Village, she couldn't help but feel relieved.

She admitted to being a bit selfish, fearing that Shu Yu would never return after leaving, and without the diagnosis fee, they would not be able to treat the Lu Erbai leg.

The old lady quickly instructed Da Niu, "Take good care of Miss Shu, don't drive too fast, understand?"

"Yes, Grandma don't worry," Da Niu assured her.

It was already late, and after all the commotion, everyone was hungry. When the old lady came, she brought coarse cornbread as dry food, and also brought some leftover meat from yesterday as a side dish for Shu Yu, while she and Da Niu would have it with pickled vegetables.

She wanted to prepare something better for Shu Yu, but they couldn't afford it at home, so they had to make do.

Shu Yu declined the food and urged the old lady to eat the remaining meat before it spoiled. She then stood up and prepared to go out. "I have to go out and take a walk. I'll be back soon."

Shu Yu didn't go far. She ate a bowl of noodles at a street stall and then went to the rice shop. Since the Lu family should be running out of food by now, she needed to buy some food for herself since she was returning to Shishi Village.

To be honest, Shu Yu's appetite was still good, but she didn't feel comfortable eating too much at the Lu family's expense.

Shu Yu bought a bag of rice, a small bag of noodles, a small pot of oil (as the vegetables from yesterday didn't have much oil), and a piece of pork from the market.

As someone who had been hungry during childhood, Shu Yu didn't want to skimp on herself now.

Shu Yu didn't bring a basket, so she already had her hands full with these items. But when she passed by the grocery store, she couldn't help but think of the Lu family's damaged bowls. The dishes from last night were rich in variety, and San Ya ate too fast and accidentally cut her mouth on the chipped edges.

Shu Yu couldn't resist and went in to buy a few sets of bowls.

Although she didn't have much money, her shopping desire was unstoppable.

She needed to find a way to make money as soon as possible. Not only did Lu Er Bai need money for his leg treatment, but in three months, Shu Yu would be facing exile, and she would need money for her preparations.

Shu Yu surveyed the large county town, pondering how to make a quick fortune in a short amount of time.

However, the things in her hands were a bit heavy. It seemed like she would have to find another opportunity to conduct market research.

Shu Yu returned to the clinic carrying rice, noodles, oil, and meat. Lu Erbai had already woken up and was eating the food prepared by the clinic. The medical fees that Doctor Xu had mentioned included the cost of accommodation and food.

However, as an elderly companion, the cost of accommodation was saved, but she still had to pay for her meals.

The old lady was surprised to see the things in Shu Yu's hands. "Miss Shu, what is this for?"

"Oh, I just wanted to buy some snacks."

The old lady's expression was complicated. Although that was what she said, she knew that Shu Yu would bring it back to the Lu family, and everyone would share it.

Shu Yu was a truly honest person. She was grateful not only to Lu Erbai, but also to the entire Lu family.

But the old lady had her own selfish motives. There was nothing to eat at home, and it was okay to let Ruan Shi go hungry, but it would be nice if Da Hu and San Ya could have a good meal.

Therefore, the old lady didn't say much. She saw that it was getting late and asked Da Niu to bring out the ox cart so they could hurry back to Shishi village. 

Shu Yu found Doctor Xu alone and asked him to help prepare the old lady's meals. She would settle the medical fees and the cost of food together when she came back.

After all, it was only a small amount of money. Why make the old lady work harder than necessary?

(End of chapter)

Chapter 23: Shu Yu's Plan

Doctor Xu grunted and looked at everyone before finally fixing his gaze on Shu Yu.

"If you want me to treat him, there are some things I need to say upfront. My consultation and medicine fees are not low, and I assume you've inquired about them. Not to mention the bone resetting, the follow-up care will also require continued spending. Let me estimate for you, for a complete cure, it won't be less than fifteen taels of silver."

Shu Yu hadn't spoken yet, but the old lady and Lu Erbai both took in a sharp breath.

Fifteen taels? That's an amount they couldn't possibly produce.

The old lady thought that they could barely manage with six or seven taels at most, as long as their family worked hard and scraped by.

But now, hearing what Doctor Xu meant, fifteen taels was the minimum, and they might even need to spend more later.

Treating this leg was too expensive for an ordinary household to afford.

Doctor Xu didn't care about their reactions, as he could tell that Shu Yu was the decision-maker here. He said to her, "Don't worry, although the consultation fee is high, the medicine I'll use is of good quality, and I guarantee that his leg will be completely healed."

The old lady hurriedly asked, "Can we use cheaper medicine instead?"

Shu Yu intervened and stopped the old lady, "No, we will use the good medicine. Don't worry about the consultation fee. Doctor Xu can go ahead and begin treating him now. Here are five taels of silver."

"Miss Shu..." The old lady wanted to say something else, but Shu Yu shook her head at her.

"Uncle Lu's leg cannot be delayed any longer. Only when his leg is healed, can we have a better future."

Doctor Xu nodded, "The girl is right. We need to cure the leg before we can think about the future."

He beckoned for the medicine boy to come over and, together with Da Niu, carried Lu Er Bai inside.

Shu Yu and the old lady remained outside, while Da Niu helped inside.

Just thinking about breaking bones and resetting them made it clear how painful it would be.

Plus, the anesthetic's effect was not very good nowadays. When they heard Lu Er Bai's screams from inside, the old lady's legs went weak with fright.

Shu Yu has sharp eyes and quick hands. She quickly supported the person and said, ''Let's go sit over there.''

The soundproofing here is not very good. Not only can you hear it inside the clinic, but you can also hear it from the outside on the road. Shu Yu even saw passersby trembling with suspicion, looking towards the clinic.

After a while, Da Niu came out first. He was driven out by Doctor Xu. His face was pale as if he had suffered a great shock.

The old lady poured him a glass of water. He drank it gulpingly and spoke with lingering fear, ''Grandma, it's alright. Doctor Xu said that Second Uncle's leg has been reattached, and they are currently fixing it in place. However, Doctor Xu also said that Second Uncle cannot move now. It's best for him to stay in the clinic for a few days until he stabilizes before going back.''

"Stay in the clinic?" The old lady frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Alright, I'll stay here to take care of him today. Da Niu, you can return the ox cart to the village chief's house later and tell your Second Aunt about it."

"Okay."

The old lady then looked at Shu Yu and asked, "Miss Shu, what are your plans?"

"I'll go back to Shishi Village." She had already gone to Shishi Village late yesterday, and there were still some things she didn't quite understand. Since the old lady and Lu Erbai were staying in the county, she decided to go back and inquire further.

However, what Shu Yu didn't know was that it was precisely because of this decision that she had avoided another disaster for the Lu family.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 22: Treating the Leg

Originally, Da Ya lived with the old lady before she got married.

Now there is still a bed board in the room, piled up with some sundries.

The old lady cleaned up her own room for Shu Yu to live in. She took her bedding and went out, saying that she was going to live with the old head of the family.

Shu Yu couldn't stop her, so she had to let her go.

It seems that she can't stay at the Lu family tomorrow. It's unreasonable for her to stay for one night and not only eat up the Lu family's food, but also drive away the host.

Shu Yu originally thought that she would have a lot of things in her mind and probably couldn't sleep, but she had the most peaceful sleep since she came to her a year ago.

When she woke up the next day, everyone else had already packed up, and Ruan Shi had even come back after washing her clothes.

Shu Yu suddenly sat up, rubbing her face in disbelief.

Oh no, today, Lu Erbai will go to the county town to have his leg treated. Has she delayed the matter by sleeping until now?

Shu Yu quickly got up, dressed, opened the door, and sure enough, everyone was already waiting for her.

But the old lady said not to worry and let her take her time.

Shu Yu couldn't take her time. The kitchen had prepared breakfast for her, and she ate a few bites before setting off.

Lu Erbai and the old lady went to the county town this time, and Ruan Shi stayed at home to take care of the two children.

Although Ruan Shi also wanted to go, Lu Erbai was going to seek treatment, and the whole family going out together would be too much of a delay.

Shu Yu went with them because she wasn't sure if the rumored "bone doctor" really had the ability. If he was just someone seeking fame, Lu Erbai's leg would be in real trouble if it were to be messed up again.

The ox cart was parked outside, borrowed by the old lady the day before.

A young man was driving the cart. The old lady introduced him, saying, "This is the eldest son's son Da Niu. Since we don't know how to drive, I asked him to come and help."

The young man looked simple and honest, not daring to look at Shu Yu much. He sat on the cart, chuckled a few times, and only started driving the cart after everyone was seated.

On the road, many people were watching them. Many gazes were focused on Shu Yu, whispering and discussing something about her.

Shu Yu didn't mind and just asked about Lu Erbai's leg. Lu Erbai only said it hurt a bit, probably from yesterday's fall.

Although the ox driver didn't say anything, the speed slowed down. Shu Yu was surprised. This person seemed quiet, but was actually attentive.

When the group arrived at the county town, it was already midday and the whole town was bustling.

Following the address they had asked about, they arrived at the clinic of Doctor Xu.

It was called a clinic, but it was actually a very small shop. Inside were only Doctor Xu and his apprentice, and a whole row of medicine cabinets on the wall, which looked quite spectacular.

Perhaps because Doctor Xu's fees were too high, there were two customers picking up medicine in the shop, but not a single patient.

Shu Yu and the others entered, and Doctor Xu glanced up and without much small talk, had Lu Erbai sit aside and immediately took his pulse and checked his injury.

Shu Yu had been watching his expression all the while. In a moment, Doctor Xu stood up and said, "The bone is dislocated and needs to be reset."

He described some symptoms that were even more detailed than what Shu Yu had said.

Shu Yu felt relieved, and the old lady was even more angry. "That Yan Langzhong has indeed harmed people."

Doctor Xu was not interested in listening to her scolding and asked directly, "Will you treat him?"

The old lady looked at Shu Yu. After all, it was her money.

"Of course we'll treat him!" Shu Yu nodded without hesitation.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 21: The Lu Family Runs Out of Food

The old lady said, "I know you are the young miss from a big family, and must be more capable than us country folks. I was thinking, if you really appreciate the life-saving favor of our second son, please help us inquire about the whereabouts of Er Ya. As for the money for curing the leg, we will pay you back in the future."

Shu Yu didn't know what to say. Inquire about Er Ya's whereabouts? She is Er Ya, how could she inquire about herself?

Facing the old lady's earnest gaze, Shu Yu felt a little overwhelmed and could only nod and say, "Okay."

The old lady became happy, and at that moment, San Ya's voice came from outside, "Grandma, Sister Shu, mother said it's time for dinner."

Shu Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up and left the main room.

The Lu family's kitchen was very small, with only two stoves, a square table, a cupboard, a water bucket, and a few pickling jars.

Now there were four dishes and a soup on the table, besides the meat she brought, there was stir-fried cabbage, scrambled eggs with chives, leftover winter melon with oil residue, and a soup made with luffa.

Da Hu and San Ya's eyes widened and they couldn't help but salivate.

"So many dishes, with eggs and meat..."

They never had such good food, even during Chinese New Year. Especially the meat, during New Year's, there was only a tiny bit of minced meat, now there were big chunks, and the portion was generous.

They really wished they could have so much meat every day.

Ruan Shi served Shu Yu a bowl of rice, and everyone else had only congee without even a single grain of rice visible.

Her bowl of rice was so heavily packed that it felt heavy to lift.

Perhaps afraid that she would feel uncomfortable, Lu Er Bai explained, "It's hot weather, we've been working outside all day and don't have much of an appetite. Congee is more appetizing."

Shu Yu didn't believe it at all, it seems that the Lu family probably didn't have much food left.

She picked up the bowl of porridge in front of San Ya and pushed the bowl of rice to the center. "You must be hungry after working all day. I ate something in the county before coming here, so I'm not very hungry now. Drinking porridge is enough."

"Miss Shu, you..." Ruan Shi wanted to persuade her, but Shu Yu had already started drinking the porridge.

The members of the Lu family looked at each other. Lu Er Bai hadn't taken a close look at Shu Yu before, after all, he was a man and it was a bit inappropriate.

But when he heard Ruan Shi's earlier speculation in the kitchen and looked again now, he realized that she really looked more and more like Da Ya. Especially when she smiled at San Ya, it was as if Da Ya was still at home.

Lu Er Bai quickly shook off the messy thoughts in his mind. He didn't try to persuade Shu Yu again and hesitated for a moment before dividing the bowl of rice.

At first, San Ya and Da Hu didn't dare to pick up the dishes, and even the other members of the Lu family were a bit restrained and only ate a few vegetarian dishes.

But as a guest, Shu Yu couldn't bear to see this and picked up a few pieces of meat for the twins.

Shu Yu ate quickly and didn't eat much meat. She quickly left the table.

She thought that if she didn't eat, everyone else would finish the dishes. However, when the old lady saw Shu Yu leave, she only picked up a small piece of meat for herself and put the rest in the cabinet. "Let's eat it tomorrow."

Shu Yu looked up at the sky. With this weather, will it spoil if left until tomorrow? 

It was already late, and the members of the Lu family finished their meal and began to tidy up before going to bed.

The Lu family had only two rooms, a larger one for Lu Er Bai and his wife with the twins, and a smaller one for the old lady to live in.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 20: Sold by Grandmother

The voices in the main room had stopped at some point, so Shu Yu heard everything the two children said.

For some reason, her eyes became slightly swollen.

San Ya didn't have many candies to begin with, so she couldn't have any after giving some away.

The old lady naturally heard this too. She turned her face away and looked a little gloomy.

Shu Yu couldn't help but ask, "Grandmother Lu, although it may seem impolite, I still want to ask, how did Er Ya get lost in the first place?"

The old lady was stunned for a moment, and after a moment, she sighed and said, "What's impolite about it? It's not a secret, everyone knows. Our family brought disaster upon ourselves by finding a money-grubbing and shameless in-law!!"

Speaking of this, the old lady became angry, gritting her teeth, "That old lady from the Ruan family is no good. I heard that someone wanted to buy a newborn baby, and Er Ya had just been born. She took advantage of the fact that my second daughter-in-law was in confinement and came to our house to say she would take care of them. She was the child's grandmother, how could we know she had such intentions? When we weren't paying attention, she took the child away."

"That damned woman, not only did she sell the child, she didn't even know who the buyer was. We wanted to find Er Ya, but the other party wasn't from here and had already left. I was really blind back then to find such a daughter-in-law for my second son. If it weren't for..."

If it weren't for the fact that Da Ya was still young at the time, the old lady really wanted her second son to divorce that broomstick Ruan.

Fortunately, Ruan's relationship with her family was not good, and they have been out of contact for these years. Otherwise, she would have driven Ruan out long ago.

Shu Yu was stunned. It turned out that this was done by her maternal grandmother's family?

No wonder when the old lady scolded Ruan, she hung her head low, allowing her to curse at her, speaking softly.

But obviously, Ruan must have been under tremendous psychological pressure, worrying about Er Ya who was sold, while also enduring the torture of self-blame in her heart.

The old lady said, "We reported this matter to the officials at the time, but our county's official... didn't care. He said that these were all family affairs, and if we caused trouble, everyone would be taken out and beaten."

Shu Yu furrowed her brows, but it was not unexpected.

Lord Shu was the magistrate of Dong'an Prefecture, and the entire Shu family was cold and ruthless. Lord Shu was not a good official and had handled countless dirty affairs. As the saying goes, "The fish rots from the head down", so it was easy to imagine that the county officials under his jurisdiction would be negligent in their duties.

"Afterwards, I called the men in my family and the people in the village to settle accounts with the Ruan family and we had a fight. The old lady of the Ruan family was bedridden for almost half a year before getting up. Ever since then, my second son has been looking for Er Ya, and he doesn't miss any bit of news. Whenever he hears that there's a clue, he rushes over to investigate. He's gone to many places."

As she spoke, the old lady looked at the house. "Our family has become poorer and poorer. Sometimes I think, why don't we just give up? Maybe Er Ya is living a good life and enjoying herself. But my second son said, what if things aren't good? What if Er Ya is suffering, and waiting for us to rescue her? If we give up, then Er Ya is truly lost."

Shu Yu lowered her head, and her hand, which was placed on the table, clenched into a fist, tightly gripping it.

The old lady wiped her eyes. "Miss Shu, to be honest, I have my own reasons for telling you all this."

Shu Yu looked up.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 19: Eat More candies and You Won't Be Bitter

Shu Yu remembered that the old man who drove the cart was called... Lu Lao san.

So the woman in the county who took advantage of him and got Lu Lao San to carry her basket for free was Lu Sanjie, who was from the Lu family?

So the chubby boy's parents were them, and it really was quite a coincidence.

Lu Lao San grumbled a few words at the door, probably because the old lady's threat had frightened him, and he didn't dare to come in. He stayed outside for a moment before returning.

The old lady snorted coldly. "You're becoming more and more out of touch."

She approached and immediately put on a smiley face, saying to Shu Yu, "Miss Shu, why are you standing here? Go inside and rest in the hall. I've borrowed a cart from the village chief and we'll leave early tomorrow morning."

As she spoke, she handed the basket of vegetables she was carrying to Ruan Shi.

Ruan Shi visibly breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worrying about what dish to make for dinner tonight. There was a small vegetable patch in the yard, but only a few beans and cabbage were planted. They had just picked the beans yesterday, and it would be two more days before they could pick the next batch.

If they didn't have any guests, they could just drink some porridge and eat some pickles to get by.

Now she didn't know where her mother-in-law  she got the vegetables from, and with the meat that Miss Shu had brought over, they could finally make a few decent dishes.

Ruan Shi was left to take care of the kitchen, while the old lady brought Shu Yu back to the hall.

She found that although the old lady spoke harshly at times, the elderly woman also had her own wisdom. When Shu Yu chatted with her, she didn't feel awkward at all. Listening to her talk about the interesting things in the village was actually quite entertaining.

She also learned that San Ya and Da Hu were twin siblings, the only dragon and phoenix twins in the village. She had an older sister above her who was three years older than her Da Ya and already married, living in the neighboring Da Yan village.

Lu Erbai had four siblings: the eldest, Lu Dasong; the second, Lu Erbai; the third, Lu Sanshu, who had just been scolded outside; and a younger sister, Lu Sihang.

As for why the old lady would live with her second son, she didn't say.

But Shu Yu guessed that perhaps the old lady saw that the Lu family was living a difficult life and wanted to help out.

As they were talking, Shu Yu saw San Ya and Da Hu secretly observing them outside.

Shu Yu looked over and the two quickly withdrew their heads.

Shu Yu smiled, and San Ya pulled Da Hu to sit on the steps in the courtyard. She took out a candy from her pocket and put it in Da Hu's mouth, whispering, "This is from Sister Shu, it's so sweet."

The first candy Sister Shu gave her was so sweet that she couldn't even eat half of it before putting it away, thinking she would give the other half to Da Hu when he returned.

But later, Shu Yu gave her all the remaining candies, and San Ya suddenly had a lot of candies in her hand.

When she came back just now, she gave one to her mother, one to her father, and now one to Da Hu, so everyone had one. She wanted to keep the rest for herself and give some to her older sister when she saw her in the future.

That way, her older sister's days would be sweet too.

San Ya told Da Hu her thoughts, and Da Hu nodded repeatedly. He added, "Let's keep one more for when we find Second Sister in the future."

"Okay." San Ya nodded vigorously. She thought for a moment and said, "I'll save two for Second Sister. Mom said Second Sister is alone outside and might have suffered a lot, so if she eats more candy, she won't feel so bitter." 

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 18: Little Brother Da Hu 

Shu Yu unconsciously touched her eyes and nose. She had never met Da Ya  before, so she didn't know how much they resembled each other. However, Shu Yu as a child was quite similar to San Ya now.

No wonder Ruan Shi had looked at her with such a fiery and excited gaze earlier. Her intuition was really accurate.

In the kitchen, Lu Er bai and Ruan Shi were still talking. Lu Er bai hesitated for a moment before saying, "Miss Shu... she has parents and a family, and it looks like she's living well. Even if, I mean even if she really is Er Ya, she must be living better than she would have in our family."

Ruan Shi was stunned, and the couple fell silent at the same time.

After a while, Ruan Shi sobbed softly, "When you say that, I... I hope she really is Er Ya. At least it means she's doing well and hasn't suffered too much. That way, I can feel more at ease."

Lu Er bai patted her shoulder and said, "Alright, don't think too much. Go wash your face and start cooking. Mother will be back soon."

Ruan Shi sniffled and replied with an "Mm-hmm" before turning around to get busy.

Shu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and stood up to walk into the courtyard.

Suddenly, the courtyard door creaked open, and Shu Yu looked up to see a small figure with a pale and skinny face struggling to drag a bundle of firewood inside.

When the figure saw her, he paused and turned his head around to look around.

After confirming that this was indeed his home, he asked in confusion, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

"Are you... Da Hu ?" The name didn't match his size at all.

"Do you know me?"

Shu Yu nodded and went over to pick up the bundle of firewood he was dragging behind him. As she passed him, she noticed that the rope tying the firewood together had worn away his palms.

This little guy was young and small, but he had a big heart. He insisted on dragging back such a big bundle of firewood before he would be satisfied.

Da Hu  was taken aback for a moment, then quickly followed her into the house.

Shu Yu placed the firewood at the corner of the wall, clapped her hands, and turned around to see Da Hu  following behind her curiously.

Shu Yu smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Do I look like a bad person?"

Da Hu  stared at her and quickly shook his head, "No, no, I... " He inexplicably became nervous and took a small step back.

Ruan Shi, who was cooking in the kitchen next to them, and Lu Er Bai, who was helping with the fire, heard the commotion outside and hurriedly came out. "Da Hu  why are you coming back so late?"

"I saw a lot of firewood at the foot of the mountain and wanted to pick up more, so I came back late," Da Hu  said while secretly glancing at Shu Yu. When he saw her looking over, he quickly lowered his head and blushed slightly.

Ruan Shi noticed this and said, "This is Miss Shu, our guest."

Guest? Da Hu  was shocked and widened his eyes. Does their family have such distinguished guests?

Just as he was thinking about this, he heard the old lady's voice outside, grumbling, "...Lao San, you go home now.  Er Bai has guests today. If you dare to come and cause trouble, I'll come and lie down in your house, and you can take care of me from now on."

As she spoke, she opened the courtyard door and led San Ya inside, then turned around and closed the door with a bang, blocking the man outside.

Shu Yu had sharp eyes and saw the man outside with a look of anger. Wasn't he the same person she saw when she first entered the village?

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 17: Very Similar to Er Ya

You should know that in recent years, Lu Er Bai has been looking for the missing Er Ya and had a broken leg. Even those who could lend him money have already done so, and now even his own brothers won't lend him anything.

The old lady had some worries lifted from her mind and her steps became lighter. She left the house not long after.

San Ya also went out, and Da Hu has yet to return. She needed to go out and look for him.

Shu Yu smiled, looked away, and saw that Ruan Shi was still looking at her with the same intense gaze as before.

Lu Er Bai also sensed it and couldn't help but reach out and pull Ruan Shi's arm, whispering, "wife, why don't you go make some food?"

But Ruan Shi took a deep breath and ignored Lu Er Bai, only asking Shu Yu, "Miss Shu, are there any family members at your home? Who are your parents? You're so young and came to Shangshi Village alone, is there no one with you?"

Lu Er Bai couldn't help but widen his eyes and his voice became heavier. "why are you asking about this? This is all Miss Shu's personal business. How can you ask so casually?"

However, Ruan Shi still paid no attention to him and continued to ask Shu Yu, "Miss Shu, may I ask if there are two moles on your left arm?" 

Lu Er Bai took a cold breath and scolded her, "please stop asking."

But Ruan Shi suddenly covered her face and burst into tears, leaving Lu Er Bai feeling somewhat unsure of what to do.

He looked at Shu Yu in embarrassment and said, "Sorry, Miss Shu. As you know, I have a daughter who went missing years ago, and I've been looking for her all this time. It's also been a source of pain for my wife. You and Er Ya are about the same age, so she might have thought of her when she saw you and got a little emotional. I apologize."

He stood up with his cane and reached out to pull Ruan Shi's arm. "Miss Shu, please wait here for a while. We'll go to the kitchen and see what dishes we can make."

Shu Yu silently nodded and watched the couple support each other as they stumbled out of the hall.

Until their figures disappeared, Shu Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If it wasn't for Lu Er bai's interruption, she really didn't know how to answer just now.

Shu Yu rolled up the sleeve on her left side and indeed, there were two small black moles on her wrist.

She still hasn't decided whether or not to acknowledge the Lu family. Although she knows that the Lu family didn't intentionally abandon her and has been looking for her all these years, even to the point of impoverishing themselves.

But she has to consider the powerful plot in the book. Although she has no relationship with the Shu family now, who knows if the ending in the book will pull her back when they are exiled.

She can handle it herself, but what if it also affects the Lu family?

The Lu family didn't appear in the book, so no one knows what the ending will be like.

As Shu Yu was thinking, she suddenly heard Ruan Shi's cries.

She was startled. The kitchen was on her left, and she could faintly hear their conversation.

Lu Er bai seemed to be comforting Ruan Shi, but Ruan Shi, who was usually timid and soft-spoken, became excited. "I'm not crazy. Brother Bai, you don't know. Just now, when Miss Shu turned around while holding San Ya's hand and was talking and laughing with her, I seemed to see Da Ya talking to San Ya."

"Brother Bai, haven't you noticed that Miss Shu looks a bit like Da Ya? Although Da Ya is thinner and darker, and seems a bit older. But if you think about it carefully, isn't Miss Shu's nose and eyes very similar to Da Ya's?" 

(End of this chapter)

Note:

In Chinese culture, it is common to use "Da," "Er," and "San" as informal ways to refer to someone based on their birth order or age within a group. These terms are often used among friends, siblings, or acquaintances to address or refer to each other.

"Da" (大) is used to refer to the eldest or the person with higher seniority.

"Er" (二) is used to refer to the second oldest or the person with the next level of seniority.

"San" (三) is used to refer to the third oldest or the person with the third level of seniority.

Chapter 16: I'll Pay for It

San Ya leaned against Ruan Shi and whispered, "While I was waiting for my brother outside, Da Bao came out and said that Third Aunt had bought him candy in the county today. I ignored him, but he came up to me and I couldn't resist saying that I had eaten candy today too."

Then, as Shu Yu saw, the chubby boy boasted while scolding San Ya, and finally cried loudly.

After all, the chubby boy was the old lady's grandson, so Shu Yu explained a few words.

But the old lady waved her hand, "It's okay, it's okay. If his father dares to come, I'll deal with it. " She obviously cared more about Lu Er Bai's leg and asked urgently, "Miss Shu, is there any other way to treat our second son's leg? Is the plaster really useless?"

Shu Yu shook her head, "Not only is it useless, it will also aggravate the injury. He fell on his leg again today. It's best to see a doctor tomorrow. Delaying it is not good."

The old lady was worried and sad, "Well, then, I'll think of something else."

Shu Yu knew that the Lu family was in dire straits, and even five taels of silver might not be available, let alone five qian.

Lu Er Bai's leg couldn't be delayed any longer.

She knew that wealth should not be displayed, but after the interaction just now, Shu Yu had a better understanding of several people's characters.

She took out two broken silver coins and put them on the table, "Uncle Lu's medical expenses, I'll pay for it."

The people in the hall all widened their eyes, and Lu Er Bai reacted the most, quickly pushing it back, "No, this won't do. How can I take your money?"

The old lady wanted to say something, but seeing her son's appearance, she finally sighed and turned her head to look elsewhere with red eyes.

Shu Yu's tone was particularly firm, "Uncle Lu, as you know, if you don't accept it, I won't feel at ease and won't be able to face you."

Lu Er Bai was stunned. He wanted to say that his leg was not her responsibility. He hadn't paid attention and left with the injury untreated. But he couldn't say such a thing in front of his mother. Otherwise, with his mother's personality, she would definitely make Shu Yu responsible to the end.

So he finally clenched his fists and asked in a low voice, "Then let's consider it a loan. When my leg is better, I'll work hard and pay you back."

The old lady nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, the most important thing now is to cure your leg. We'll get through this difficult time as a family and figure out how to make money later."

Ruan Shi nodded on the side, even San Ya said softly, "I, I can also work in the fields and pick lots of vegetables."

Shu Yu didn't refuse, he'd worry about paying back the money later. The priority now was to cure Lu Erbo's leg.

Feeling relieved, the old lady got up and said, "Since we're going to the county tomorrow, I'll go to the village head's house and borrow a cow cart."

Then she instructed Ruan Shi, "Second daughter-in-law, start cooking and cook the pork. Miss Shu must be hungry too. It's getting late and she probably can't leave today. Why not rest here for the night? Our house is very run-down, I'm afraid you won't be comfortable."

"It's okay, I'm just afraid of bothering you."

The old lady smiled so much her eyes were squinting, "It's no bother at all."

She had originally been reluctant to cook the pork, planning to slowly eat it over time. But Miss Shu was so generous, even lending money to help cure Lu Erbo's leg. How magnanimous! 

(End of chapter)