Chapter 81: Guarantee You Haven't Eaten This Before

Without much thought, Shu Yu could observe from Lan Hua's behavior what she was thinking.

She took a few steps forward and stood in front of Lan Hua, asking with a smile, "You must be Lan Hua, right? I was wondering where you went earlier. Come in and take a rest first."

Lan Hua followed her into the hall, where Da Bao and Er Niu were already arguing.

At that moment, the old lady came in holding a fruit plate and shouted at the group, "Alright, stop arguing. Come and eat something, be quiet for a while."

Shu Yu looked at the peanuts and chestnuts on the plate, as well as the slightly sour wild fruits picked from the mountain, and couldn't help but touch her forehead.

Lu Sanzhu, who was in the room, rushed out with his daughter and was shocked when he saw the food on the plate. "Mother, you're only giving us this to eat? What about cakes and sweets?"

He had seen Shu Yu bring them back from the county when he went with her yesterday. Why weren't they used to entertain guests? This was a bit too much, wasn't it?

The old lady sneered, "It's good enough that there's something to eat. Don't you see how hard your second brother's life is? You still want cakes and sweets? Dream on."

Lu Sanzhu was about to say that Shu Yu had them, but when he looked at her, she gave him a brilliant smile. Lu Sanzhu suddenly shuddered, remembering that it was the same smile she had when she went to find the Ruan family.

He didn't dare provoke her.

Lu Sanzhu quickly handed Bao Ya to Lan Hua's arms and said, "Watch over Bao Ya for Third Uncle." Then he ran away.

Lan Hua was confused for a moment until she realized that Bao Ya was struggling to reach for the fruit plate on the table. She quickly took a fruit and gave it to her.

Bao Ya took a bite, and the sourness made her whole body shudder. Then she threw the fruit on the ground and started crying loudly.

Lan Hua hurriedly comforted her, "Don't cry, Bao Ya, don't cry."

San Ya also looked up and grabbed Bao Ya's small hand, "Bao Ya, don't cry. Look, look at my shoes. My second sister bought them for me. They're new, and they look good, don't they?"

"Bao Ya, ..." Bao Ya cried even harder.

San Ya looked at Shu Yu in confusion, and even she felt like crying because of Bao Ya's tears.

Shu Yu couldn't help but laugh and rubbed San Ya's head. She said to Bao Ya, "If you stop crying, I'll give you something delicious to eat later."

Bao Ya stopped crying and blinked her eyes, asking, "Is it cake?"

As expected, she was the daughter of Lu Sanzhu. She remembered her father's words very clearly.

However, when the others present heard their conversation, they all turned to look at Shu Yu. Even Er Niu and Da Bao came over, forgetting their past animosity towards her. Da Bao had previously been fierce towards her, but now his chubby face trembled with excitement.

Shu Yu smiled and said, "It's even more delicious than cake. I guarantee you've never had it before."

Shu Yu had indeed bought some cakes and candies and had planned to treat her guests today. However, the old lady had also said that there was only a small amount, and Zhang Shu and Da Ya had not yet arrived. If she brought it out now, it would probably be eaten by the few people there.

It would be better to wait for everyone to arrive, then give a little to each of the younger ones and satisfy their sweet tooth.

Shu Yu thought the old lady made sense and didn't object.

When Lu Sanzhu heard that it was even more delicious than cake, she had already run out, but then ran back excitedly and asked, "What is it?"

Shu Yu's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 80: Uncle Lu's Family

Da Hu changed into a clean set of clothes and put on the shoes that Shu Yu bought for him that day, and happily came out.

Da Niu came over with his younger brother and sister.

When they passed by Lu Sanzhu's house, they also called over the two older siblings, Da Bao and Bao Ya, who had just woken up.

Lu Dasong had a total of four children. The eldest was a daughter named Cui Hua, followed by Da Niu, then Lan Hua, and finally Er Niu.

Cui Hua had not arrived yet. She was 20 years old and the oldest among all the girls. She had married a few years ago and her child was already four years old. It was estimated that she was on her way.

Da Niu was one year older than Da Ya. He had already been engaged for a while and was supposed to have gotten married two years ago. However, the girl's family he was engaged to had an incident. Her mother became ill and passed away, and she had to observe mourning for three years. The mourning period was over at the end of this year, and the plan was to get married then.

Lan Hua was the same age as Shu Yu. 

Er Niu was ten years old and the youngest, and was at the age where he was lively and active.

Lu Sanzhu had a son and a daughter. The eldest son was the little chubby boy Da Bao that Shu Yu had met that day. The youngest daughter, Bao Ya, was only three years old and was usually kept at home and didn't understand anything.

As soon as the children from both families arrived, the Lu family became lively.

Da Niu, Er Niu, Da Bao, and Bao Ya all went to see Lu Erbai.

Lan Hua, however, went into the kitchen to help, and Li Shi immediately became unhappy, waving her hand to drive her away. "We don't need you here. This kitchen is small enough. Go out and play."

Grandma Lu gave Li Shi a glare, but her expression towards her granddaughter became much better. "There are enough people in the kitchen. It's so small. Go out and talk to your sister, Er Ya."

Then, she also sent San Ya out.

"Even Lan Hua doesn't want to work," said San Ya, taking Lan Hua's hand. "Come, take me to find Er Ya."

San Ya wiped her hands and pulled Lan Hua outside. "Lan Hua , have you met my Second Sister? She's very beautiful and knows everything. She's amazing. My Second Sister even said she'll help me remove the scars on my face and make me a little beauty. We were all so happy when she came back. I even laughed in my dreams at night."

Lan Hua looked at San Ya in surprise. This was the same timid girl who used to hide in the corner even when she came to her house, and now she was talking so much, with a glint in her eyes.

Lu Hua became even more curious about Er Ya. She followed San Ya to the yard and saw Shu Yu talking to Da bao and the others.

Not just her looks, but Shu Yu's confident and open demeanor made her stand out from the other girls in the Lu family. Even Da bao, the eldest grandson of the Lu family, seemed a bit awkward and restrained in her presence, as if she was the most promising and talented child in the whole family.

Lu Hua looked down at herself, dressed in a new outfit for the day, but compared to Shu Yu, she looked bulky and dull, and quite unattractive.

Even her hairstyle, which she had spent a long time working on in the morning, was the most popular style in town with a hairpin, but Er Ya's simple two braids with a wooden hairpin made her even more beautiful than any of the girls she had seen in town.

Lan Hua inexplicably didn't want to go forward, but San Ya had already let go of her hand and ran ahead.

"Second Sister, I brought Lan Hua here," said San Ya.

Shu Yu looked up and saw a girl standing not far away, seeming to want to shrink back.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 79: Er Ya Cannot Be So Lazy

Shu Yu greeted the couple as they entered the main room.

As soon as Li Shi sat down, the old lady came over and snorted, "What are you sitting there for? Didn't you come over early in the morning to help? You really think of yourself as a guest. Come with me to the kitchen to pick vegetables."

Li Shi's face immediately turned ugly, but she didn't say much and told Lu Dasong before going to the kitchen.

Lu Dasong went to check on Lu Er Bai in the room while Shu Yu poured him a glass of water. Then, she went to the backyard to make medicine for Lu Erbai's leg, which needed to be changed every day. This was something that Shu Yu was good at.

When Li Shi entered the kitchen, she saw the old lady, Ruan Shi, and even San Ya, but she didn't see Shu Yu come in with her. She felt uneasy and spoke sourly, "Why isn't Er Ya helping? When entertaining guests at home, she hides away. A girl shouldn't be so lazy."

The old lady suddenly stood up and glared at her, "Who are you calling lazy? If you're not happy doing it, you can go back to your own home. Why are you so strange? Er Ya is both obedient and hardworking. I won't let her come to the kitchen. Do you have any objections?"

The old lady wasn't lying. Er Ya was a child who was too straightforward. When she cooked, she wouldn't be stingy with the ingredients. If she cooked, Li Shi and the others would want to eat lunch and dinner. The old lady wanted to prevent this from happening.

They were currently going through difficult times, so they had to save wherever they could. Besides, they usually ate like this anyway.

Li Shi didn't dare to argue with her mother-in-law, but she felt that Shu Yu, despite being a young lady, still carried some of her privileged air.

The old lady didn't care what Li Shi thought. She thought that Er Ya had seen more of the world and knew more than them. She was meant to do bigger things, so how could she be stuck in the kitchen?

Not long after, Lu Sanzhu also brought Liang Shi over.

Li Shi was shocked and looked up at the sky. The sun hadn't even set yet.

This elderly couple usually rushes in just in time for meals, eats quickly with their utensils, and then leaves without helping. But today, they arrived early, and Liang Shi even rolled up her sleeves and helped out, looking very energetic.

"Mother, sister-in-law, what can I do? Please tell me," she said.

The old lady glanced at her, thinking that it must be because her son had told her about Er Ya's abilities. She handed her a basket of vegetables and said, "Go wash these by the river."

Liang Shi happily complied and left.

The old lady looked at her three troublesome daughters-in-law and was not satisfied with any of them. The eldest was hypocritical and stingy, always smiling to your face but doing sneaky things behind your back. The second daughter-in-law was timid and lacked initiative, especially with her malicious family. The third daughter-in-law was lazy and indulged her children too much, and her husband could not control them.

But despite her dislike, she couldn't do anything about it.

As she thought about this, she stepped out of the kitchen and saw Da Niu coming over with a fish in his hand.

"Grandma, I caught this fish in the river just now. It's still lively, and we can cook it for lunch," he said with a smile.

The old lady beamed and said, "Oh, my clever grandson. Give me the fish. You go change your clothes. Look at how wet you are. You don't want to catch a cold."

Da Hu came out from behind Da Niu, also soaking wet. The old lady told him to go change his clothes too.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 78: Meeting Aunt-in-law

While eating, the old lady discussed with Lu Erbai, "Now that you've come back, we need to arrange for Er Ya's marriage too. It just so happens that our eldest daughter-in-law and her children are also coming back from her mother's place tomorrow. Let's have a gathering and invite some people over. Lao San, after you finish eating, go to our eldest son's house and tell them we're coming. Don't disappear again tomorrow."

Lu Sanzhu buried his head and slurped his noodles, nodding vaguely in agreement, "Got it."

As long as there's food, running errands is not a big deal.

The old lady couldn't bear to see him like this and quickly shifted her attention to Lu Erbai, "And your fourth sister's family, I've already sent someone to talk to them. It's the same with Da Ya's family. It's been a long time since we've seen her. When she comes back tomorrow, let her stay here for the night, so she can rest at home instead of going back and working again, and don't tire out the children."

Thinking of how hard Da Ya's life was, Ruan shi lost her appetite even with the delicious noodles in front of her.

However, Lu Erbai frowned, "It's good to have Da Ya stay, but we only have two rooms at home. I'm afraid we won't have enough space."

It was one thing when it was just them, but now that Er Ya had come back, and Da Ya had married and would be staying, they couldn't just kick Zhang Shu out.

But the old lady had an idea, "Why won't there be enough space? I'll go stay at Eldest Son's house, and Eldest Ya and Er Ya can stay here. The two sisters can catch up. As for Zhang Shu, the two families aren't far apart. He can just go back."

When San Ya heard this, she quickly raised her head, swallowed the noodles in her mouth, and said, "Me too three sisters should talk together."

Da Hu was about to speak, but realizing he wasn't a sister, he sighed dejectedly and went back to eating his noodles.

The old lady smiled, "Good, you three can talk all you want."

She used to feel a bit guilty towards the Zhang family and Zhang Shu, thinking that it was Da Ya's fault for not having children yet. But now that she had been brainwashed successfully by Shu Yu, she believed that it was definitely Zhang Shu's problem since they had been married for two years without any children.

Even though Zhang Shu was honest and hardworking, the old lady still found him somewhat unappealing.

She gave a cold snort, and Lu Erbai didn't say much more. He also hoped that Da Ya would come back and rest well.

So that was decided, and the old lady was satisfied as she carried the empty dishes back to the kitchen.

However, when it came to the issue of accommodations, Shu Yu remembered the need to build an additional room.

This was a pressing matter that needed to be addressed as soon as possible.

The recognition of relatives would end tomorrow, and they could start working on it..

That night, the family went to bed early. With fewer worries on their minds, they all looked much better.

So the next morning when Lu Dasong came with his wife Li Shi to help, it had been several days since they had seen Ruan Shi. She was clearly taken aback.

It had only been a few days, but although she was still thin and weak-looking, she seemed different. Her complexion was radiant, and she looked like a flower. It seemed that with Er Ya back, the second household was going to be quite different.

This was Li Shi's first time seeing Shu Yu. She looked at her fair and tall figure, with a face like jade, and knew she had been pampered. Li Shi felt a pang of jealousy.

Now, of all the members of the Lu family, Er Ya was the most beautiful. 

(End of chapter)

Terminology 

In Chinese, "lao san" (老三), "laoda" (老大), and "laoer" (老二) are terms used to refer to the oldest brother, middle brother, and youngest brother, respectively, within a family or a group of siblings. These terms are commonly used in informal settings or within close-knit communities to address or describe the birth order of siblings or individuals. "Lao" (老) means "old" or "elder," and the numbers "san" (三), "da" (大), and "er" (二) correspond to "three," "big," and "two" respectively.

Chapter 77: Unexpected Evaluation

Meng Yunzheng was surprised to hear such an evaluation from Shu Yu. He turned his head and looked at Doctor Zhao.

The latter was tilting his head and eating the other half of the pastry left. When he saw Meng looking at him, he grinned foolishly.

After a while, he heavily nodded his head.

Meng Yunzheng's face turned black, and he went straight into the room.

But Shu Yu had already returned to the entrance of the medical clinic, where Lu Erbai and his group were anxiously waiting for her.

When they saw her return, they all breathed a sigh of relief. When Shu Yu got into the carriage, Lu Erbai couldn't wait to ask, "How did it go? Did you catch up with Doctor Zhao? Is he okay?"

"Don't worry, father. Doctor Zhao is fine, and someone is taking care of him. He just accidentally ran out today and got bullied. He won't have such trouble again in the future."

Shu Yu promised not to reveal Meng Yunzheng's involvement and naturally kept it a secret.

Lu Erbai was a little relieved and asked, "Then how did he end up like this?"

Shu Yu shook her head, "I don't know. The other party had some hidden reasons, and I didn't want to ask too much."

Lu Erbai nodded, "That's understandable."

On the side, Lu Sanzhu didn't know who Doctor Zhao was. Seeing that everything was fine, he hurriedly urged, "Okay, okay. Since someone is taking care of him, let's not worry about it. Second Brother, let's hurry back home. Mother and the two children must be waiting anxiously. We've been delayed for so long, and she must be very worried."

Lu Erbai couldn't help but glare at him, but when he thought of his mother and two children at home, he also felt a sense of urgency to return.

Shu Yu had the carriage driver set off first and return to Shishi Village.

The journey was slow, as Lu Erbai's legs couldn't withstand too much jolting. By the time they arrived in the village, the sky was already darkening.

The old lady and the twins looked so anxious that they thought something had happened to them.

It wasn't until the mule cart stopped at the gate of the Lu family's house that the old lady hurriedly came out to greet them.

"Why are you back so late? Did something happen on the way?" the old lady asked.

Lu Erbai smiled, "No, I intentionally walked slowly because of my leg. Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go inside."

Under the gaze of Shu Yu, Lu Sanzhu carried Lu Erbai on his back and got off the mule cart.

The old lady clicked her tongue and said, "Does Lu Sanzhu have something on Lu Er Ya? He's so obedient."

The house was already prepared, and Lu Erbai was taken straight to his room to rest.

Seeing that everyone was tired from the journey, the old lady quickly asked them to sit down. "The noodles are ready, let me cook them. You can sit and rest for a while."

Ruan Shi quickly stood up and said, "Mother, let me help you."

Feeling even more guilty towards the old lady, Ruan Shi knew of her plans. From now on, she only had her husband's family, not her own.

The old lady glanced at her and solemnly said, "Hmm," before going to the kitchen.

Lu Sanzhu naturally wouldn't leave when there was noodles to eat. If Shu Yu wasn't staring at him, he would have gone back to fetch his wife and children to eat together.

Several bowls of noodles were brought to the table, and Lu Sanzhu looked at the oil on top, feeling even more pleased. It seemed that he would be a regular visitor at his second brother's house from now on.

As he watched everyone at the table eating with satisfaction, Lu Erbai's heart ached with bitterness.

This is so good, everyone in the family is together, it's so good.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 76: Meng Yunzheng

Doctor Zhao quickly stepped aside, and Meng Yunzheng naturally ended up face to face with Shu Yu, who was standing outside the door.

A hint of surprise flashed across his face as he looked at her.

Shu Yu knew that Meng Yunzheng had recognized her.

She covered her face and realized that it was too late to turn and leave. Letting out a sigh, she raised her hand in greeting, "Master Meng, long time no see."

Meng Yunzheng nodded at her and wore a gentle smile on his face. Then, he gestured to the side, as if inviting her in.

Shu Yu hesitated for a moment but eventually went inside.

The courtyard was small, not very spacious. After taking a quick look around, Shu Yu turned her head to ask Doctor Zhao what was going on.

To her surprise, she saw Meng Yunzheng gesturing to Doctor Zhao and patting his head, smiling as he let him in.

As Shu Yu watched the scene unfold, she felt her head spinning and a sense of foreboding washed over her.

"Master Meng, you..."

Meng Yunzheng remained the same, not minding at all. He pointed at his own throat and waved his hand, making his meaning very clear.

Shu Yu was taken aback. Master Meng had lost his ability to speak??

That wonderful voice of his, how could it just... disappear like that?

"What exactly is going on here? Doctor Zhao has become like this, and you..." Just a year ago, they were both skilled doctors, one with a noble demeanor and the other with exceptional beauty. But now, one was a fool and the other was mute, both looking much worse off than her.

Meng Yunzheng smiled, turned around, and entered the house. Then, he took a piece of paper and started writing.

"There was an accident. How did Miss Shu end up here?"

Shu Yu knew that he didn't want to explain the reasons, and coincidentally, she couldn't either.

So she simply said, "I also had a little accident. I happened to see Doctor Zhao and followed him here. Master Meng, just... pretend you haven't seen me today, alright?"

Meng Yunzheng remained silent for a moment, then nodded with a smile.

Although Shu Yu had only known him for a short time, she had some understanding that he was a trustworthy person. Since he agreed, he wouldn't say anything unnecessary.

However, Meng Yunzheng quickly wrote another line, "Miss Shu, let's both pretend we haven't seen each other today."

Shu Yu agreed. Seeing that it was getting late, she had to leave.

She was initially worried about Doctor Zhao being alone and encountering any difficulties, but since he was with Master Meng, she felt relieved.

It was clear that Master Meng didn't want to get too involved with her. Shu Yu would consider today's encounter as an accident.

She prepared to take her leave. "I have to go now. If Master Meng and Doctor Zhao encounter any difficulties and need help, you can let me know. Although there might not be much I can do, I will do my best."

If it weren't for Doctor Zhao exceptional medical skills and assistance in the past, she might not be standing here healthy and well today.

She was a grateful person, after all.

However, Meng Yunzheng shook his head, indicating that it was not necessary.

Shu Yu understood and turned to walk towards the exit of the courtyard.

But when she reached the gate, she resisted the urge, turned back, and faced Meng Yunzheng's smiling face. She spoke softly, "Master Meng, if you... aren't truly happy, you don't have to keep smiling like this. Your smile seems a bit forced."

After saying that, Shu Yu quickly ran away.

Once the courtyard gate closed again, the smile on Meng Yunzheng's face gradually faded.

He touched his own face. Did he smile so falsely? Even though others couldn't see it and said that he brought a refreshing breeze with his smile.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 75: Doctor Zhao is Dumbfounded

Although they were old acquaintances, Shu Yu didn't want to be recognized. After all, she was no longer the third miss of the Shu family.

However, Lu Erbai suddenly exclaimed in shock, "What are they doing?"

Shu Yu turned her head to look, only to see Doctor Zhao, who used to be lively and patient when treating patients, being pushed to the ground by someone. Several children surrounded him, laughing and jumping, while insulting him and spitting at him.

Doctor Zhao, who was once so gentle and courteous, was now stunned for a moment before covering his face and crying, waving his hands and pleading, "Don't hit me, don't eat me, I'm not tasty, wuwu..." He was holding a pastry in his hand, which was snatched away by two children.

He looked so pitiful, "I'm hungry, give it back to me, please."

Shu Yu was stunned. She never expected that the affable Doctor Zhao would become like this.

Did Lord Meng know about this? Where was Lord Meng?

Lu Erbai couldn't just stand by and watch the doctor who had saved him being bullied like this, and neither could Shu Yu.

As Lu Erbai was about to step forward, Shu Yu stopped him and said, "I'll go."

She jumped down from the carriage and ran straight to the children. She frowned and sternly warned them, "Stop it, or I'll throw each one of you into the river."

Shu Yu looked quite intimidating with her serious expression. The children looked at each other and quickly ran away with the pastry in hand.

After they left, Shu Yu crouched down and called out to the person in front of her in a low voice, "Doctor Zhao, Doctor Zhao?"

Doctor Zhao covered his face and curled up into a ball, his stomach growling.

Shu Yu paused, then turned and walked to Ruan Shi's side, taking out a pastry from her bag.

This is something she just bought, intending to take it back to Da Hu and San Ya to eat.

Shu Yu returned to Zhao Daifu's side and handed him the pastry. "Doctor Zhao, this is for you to eat."

Doctor Zhao raised his head, stared at Shu Yu carefully, and then quickly reached out and snatched the pastry, eating it fiercely.

Shu Yu opened her mouth to speak, but Doctor Zhao quickly gathered the pastry in his arms, afraid that it would be taken away again, and then stood up and ran away without looking back.

"Hey..." Shu Yu was stunned for a moment, then turned to Lu Er Bai and the others. "Dad, Mom, you go ahead to the cart, I'll go see what's going on and be back soon."

Lu Erbai stuck his head out. "Be careful."

Shu Yu rushed out, but fortunately Doctor Zhao wasn't running very fast, and he kept bumping into people. Soon, she caught up with him.

Doctor Zhao noticed someone following him and became even more nervous. Before long, he ran into an alley and started banging on the door of a small courtyard, shouting in terror, "Open the door, Yun, open the door! There's a bad guy chasing me, he's going to kill me, I'm so scared!"

Shu Yu could only stop and explain helplessly, "I'm not a bad person, and I haven't..."

Before she could finish speaking, the courtyard door opened, and a familiar figure walked out.

Meng, Meng Gongzi??

He was actually here too.

As soon as the door opened, Doctor Zhao quickly slipped under Meng Yunzheng's arm and grabbed his clothes, peering out at Shu Yu from his side.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 74: Meeting an Acquaintance

After handing over the money, Shu Yu turned to Lu Sanzhu and said, "Third Uncle, can you help catch the medicine here? I'll go to the street and rent a mule cart."

"Sure, don't worry about it, leave it to me," Lu Sanzhu replied.

His words actually made Shu Yu feel uneasy.

After saying goodbye to Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi, Shu Yu left.

Apart from renting the cart, her main purpose for going to the street was to understand the prices of the stores in the county.

Shu Yu wanted to buy a store, but she didn't have enough money. Even if she could buy a store in a remote location, she wouldn't have enough money left for decoration and other things.

It seemed that she could only rent a store.

Shu Yu walked slowly along the street, her target customer group being women with some wealth who were willing to spend money.

She found that there were not many ready-made clothing stores here. Nowadays, there were fewer customers who bought ready-made clothes. Wealthy families had their own embroidery maidens and servants, while those who didn't have much money would just make do with a piece of cloth. On the other hand, there were many cloth shops on this street, and they were all crowded together.

After looking around, Shu Yu found that there were very few available stores for rent, especially on the street she was interested in, where there were only two small and inconspicuous stores.

In the end, Shu Yu went to find intermediaries and asked them to keep an eye out for her. She explained her requirements and said that she would come back to check in a few days, pretending to be unhurried even though time was running short.

After dealing with this matter, Shu Yu went to buy some things. Da Hu and San Ya's shoes were in a very bad condition, with their toes sticking out. This was something that couldn't be saved, unlike other things that could be put off for later.

After buying the shoes, Shu Yu picked out two pieces of cloth. She wanted Ruan Shi to try and make the clothes she wanted in the next few days.

She also bought some other miscellaneous items.

By the time she had a lot of things in her hands, she went to rent a mule cart. She didn't need to look for someone else, the carter she rented from last time was good, so she found him again.

After everything was settled, it was already past noon.

As Shu Yu came back carrying all those things, Ruan Shi looked helpless. 

Lu Erbai also sighed, "Don't spend money recklessly. Our family is not rich, and we don't need to hurry to buy those things. Just take care of yourself, and your parents will be happy."

"I know, I won't spend recklessly anymore." Shu Yu said, but she still spent money as before.

Shu Yu handed the things to Ruan Shi and helped her father, supported by the envious Lu Sanzhu, slowly walked towards the door.

The mule cart was parked outside, and Shu Yu got on the cart first. Then she bent down to help Lu Erbai up.

Unexpectedly, Lu Erbai stopped halfway through reaching out his hand.

Shu Yu was puzzled. "Dad, what's wrong?"

This was the first time Shu Yu had called him "Dad," and it was very natural. Ruan Shi, who was standing behind them, was so excited that she almost couldn't hold the things.

But Lu Erbai focused all his attention on the front, and he didn't hear what Shu Yu said at all.

He pointed forward and asked, "Er, Er Ya, do you see that person? Is that the doctor?"

"The doctor?" Shu Yu turned her head and followed his gaze.

In the next moment, her face changed dramatically, and she quickly turned her head back.

She thought she rarely went out and didn't know many people, let alone in the remote Jiangyuan County.

Who knew she would meet someone who knew her identity exactly?

The person was the itinerant doctor who had given her and Lu Erbai emergency treatment at Dongqing Guan! 

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 73: Lu Erbai is Really Rich

Grandma had already heard about the clothing store from Shu Yu.

She didn't really understand all the details about matching, customizing, and adapting to people's skin color, face shape, body type, makeup, and hairstyle. It all sounded complicated to her.

But Er Ya was someone who had seen the world, and there might be such things in the capital. Since Er Ya plan was so detailed, she must understand it well.

Grandma didn't object anymore because she was just an old woman with no skills or money. She would just listen and leave it at that.

After taking the broken silver, Grandma thought about what she wanted to buy and planned to get the most cost-effective ingredients with the least amount of money. She still believed that their family didn't need to eat too well since they were poor and knew it.

The day when Lu Erbai would return home was just one day away. Early in the morning, Shu Yu set off to the county to pick him up.

Grandma and the two kids stayed at home to avoid causing trouble and just cleaned up the house.

However, Lu Sanzhu from the next door knew about it and tagged along with Shu Yu, saying that he wanted to help.

Shu Yu took a ox cart at the village entrance, and the villagers along the way looked at her curiously. Although she had been back for a few days, she had hardly walked around the village, staying at home to prepare the plan for the clothing store.

But her name was widely circulated in the village, especially the incident where she allegedly split old lady Ruan into two halves with an axe, which was shocking to the whole family. So, many people were curious about Lu Er Ya but didn't dare approach the entrance of the Lu family's home.

Until Shu Yu walked to the village entrance, the scrutinizing glances only dissipated slightly.

Today was not market day, so there were not many people taking the cart. It was only her and Lu Sanzhu on their way to Shishi Village.

They arrived in the county slowly. As soon as they got off the ox cart, Lu Sanzhu said to the old man driving the carriage, "Wait for us this afternoon. When we come back..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Shu Yu interrupted him, "You don't have to wait for us. We won't be taking the ox cart."

The old man nodded. "Understood."

Shu Yu then walked towards the city, with Lu Sanzhu hurrying to catch up. "Er Ya, if we don't make prior arrangements with the driver, he won't reserve seats for us."

"I know, but we won't be taking the ox cart on the way back. My dad's leg is just starting to recover, and the ox cart is not suitable with so many people bouncing around. We'll rent a mule cart later."

They really needed to buy a cart. It was too inconvenient. However, the silver in her hand was reserved for opening a shop, so she couldn't afford to buy one yet.

Shu Yu lamented while walking towards the medical clinic, and Lu Sanzhu was stunned for a moment before immediately becoming happy. He knew that following Er Ya meant there was food to eat.

When they arrived at the clinic, Doctor Xu was there, rewrapping the bandages on Lu Erbai. He saw Shu Yu come in and instructed her, "Take good care of him when you go back. Don't apply any random ointments. When you run out of medicine, come back to get more. Alright, come with me to get the medicine. After that, you can leave."

Shu Yu nodded and followed him to the front desk.

She paid the remaining medical and accommodation fees. "Here's eight taels of silver. Thank you for taking care of us, Doctor Xu."

Including the five taels she paid earlier, they had spent a total of thirteen taels. However, this did not include the cost of the medicine they would need to purchase later. They would have to pay for the medicine each time they came to get it, which would add up to approximately seventeen taels.

Lu Sanzhu, who was following behind, look at the eight taels of silver and swallowed hard.

Er Ya really was rich.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 72: Village Chief Fan

Shu Yu squatted down and asked, "What's wrong?"

Da Hu swallowed and took out a small box from his hand. "Second sister, this is the ointment you asked me to make."

Shu Yu took it and opened it, smelling the unpleasant but strong scent. It was clear that Da Hu had made it with great care.

Da Hu looked at her anxiously. "Second sister, is it okay?"

"Of course it is," Shu Yu nodded. While she helped the twins with their treatment, the two little ones were also diligently following her instructions, not being careless at all.

Da Hu became happy. "That's great. I was worried that I had ruined it. Can we apply it to San Ya now?"

"Not yet, I need to add something," Shu Yu stood up. "Leave the rest to me. Don't worry, San Ya will become a little beauty soon."

Da Hu pursed his lips and smiled, looking very happy.

Over the next two days, Shu Yu followed the old lady to visit the village chief in Shishi Village.

The village chief was surnamed Fan and was appointed because of some familial relationship with the mayor of Wen Lan Town. The villagers were not surprised by this.

Fan was not a particularly good person. He had his own selfish motives, would take advantage of small things, enjoyed hearing praise, and would make some small money to spend. However, he had a bottom line and would not excessively exploit the villagers.

Overall, he was mediocre and could not be considered good or bad.

The first time Shu Yu visited, he was a little unhappy, perhaps because he felt that she did not value him enough, only coming after several days had passed. But he put up a good facade, and his wife picked some fresh vegetables to give as a congratulatory gift.

Later, the old lady took Shu Yu to the home of Uncle Lu. Except for Lu Dasong and Lu Da Niu, whom Shu Yu had met before, the other children in the family had all gone to their mother's family for a happy occasion and to attend a wedding feast.

The old lady was somewhat unhappy, feeling that this daughter-in-law was doing it on purpose. Despite knowing that Er Ya had returned, she didn't even come to take a look and took all the grandchildren away, without any sense of being an elder.

Lu Dasong was embarrassed and explained on the side, "The child's mother went to Er Di's house. At that time, there was no one at home, so she came back. Er Niu and the others also wanted to see Er Ya. It just happened to coincide."

The old lady coldly snorted and went back with Shu Yu.

Shu Yu didn't care. She would see Er niu and the others sooner or later.

What she cared about now was only the second family of Lu Erbai.

After returning, Shu Yu gave the old lady a piece of broken silver, "Grandmother, Fourth Aunt and the others will come to our house in a few days, and we have to entertain them. Take this money to buy some food."

The old lady refused, "What's there to eat? We're all family. They all know our family situation. Eating some steamed buns with pickles is enough."

Shu Yu said, "..."

She took back the silver, "Okay, if grandmother doesn't want it, I'll take it and buy something myself."

The old lady panicked when she heard this and quickly grabbed the silver back, "No, if you buy something, who knows how expensive it will be. Look at the rice and flour in the cabinet. We can't buy anymore."

When Shu Yu tried to give her the silver again, the old lady sighed and ultimately accepted it, "You, spending so little money on yourself and all on us. What about your dowry in the future?"

"I have you, don't I? When the shop opens, you will be the ones busy with it. You can help me save up for my dowry."

The old lady loved to hear this.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 71: Discussing Matters

Shu Yu was earnestly explaining the situation to the old lady, but she was interrupted when the old lady patted her on the shoulder. "You are still so young, why are you talking about men and women going into the bridal chamber? You shouldn't speak of such things in public."

Shu Yu facepalmed. "Grandma, you misunderstood me."

"Anyway, it may not necessarily be Da Ya's problem," Shu Yu continued, trying to educate the old lady. She didn't want Da Ya to feel isolated and helpless if even her own relatives believed she couldn't conceive.

"Think about Master Yu in the town," Shu Yu whispered in the old lady's ear, "He's been married to many wives for so long but still hasn't fathered a child. Does that mean all of his wives are infertile?"

The old lady was stunned. Could it be that women were not always the ones with fertility problems and men could also be infertile?

Shu Yu added, "If Zhang Shu is willing, they could go to the medical clinic together to check it out."

The old lady shook her head. "That wouldn't work."

Shu Yu didn't say anything more. This was a matter between Zhang Shu and Da Ya, and it might not be appropriate for them to discuss it too much.

Just then, Da Hu and San Ya came in with a few large peaches, and the conversation stopped.

Da Hu handed the peaches to Shu Yu and smiled. "Second sister, eat these. Big sister's peaches are always delicious."

Shu Yu looked at the peaches in her hand. They were big and plump and looked quite good. But how did he know they were delicious before even trying them?

San Ya also handed an apricot to the old lady and whispered, "Grandma, here you go."

The old lady glanced at the little girl. In the past, she would have acted like a mouse meeting a cat when she saw her. How come she had become bolder now?

As she thought about it, San Ya finished giving out the apricots and stepped back to stand next to Shu Yu.

The old lady shook her head and remembered something she wanted to discuss with Er Ya. "Er Ya, let's talk about something."

"What is it, Grandma?" Shu Yu took a bite of the apricot. It was delicious with thin skin and juicy flesh.

"Now that you're back home and reunited with your family, it's a good thing. Why don't we arrange a time for Da Ya and the others to come back home and get to know everyone? We don't need a big gathering, just our own family, your uncle's family, your third uncle's family, and your fourth aunt's family. As for your uncle's in mother's side, let's just pretend they're not related from now on."

Shu Yu had no objections. "That sounds reasonable."

"Alright, we'll wait for your dad to come back before we make arrangements. According to Doctor Xu, your dad will be able to come home and recover in two days. Then, he just needs to go to the hospital regularly for medicine and dressing changes. He doesn't have to stay there."

"Okay, I'll follow Grandma's arrangements."

The old lady smiled so much that the wrinkles around her eyes squished together. She stood up cheerfully. "Great! Rest early tonight, and tomorrow morning, I'll take you to the village head's house. You've been back for a few days and haven't had a chance to meet him yet."

If they were going to live in the village, they needed to know where the village head lived.

After finishing their conversation, the old lady collected the dishes and utensils on the table, and Shu Yu took the basket back to her room.

Unexpectedly, when she came out again, Da Hu was blocking her way.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 70: Da Ya Can't Have Children

Old Madam knew that the money was definitely given by Er Ya, but she felt guilty about taking it.

Shu Yu had wanted to start a small business from scratch and build a solid foundation, but unfortunately, she didn't have enough time.

Old Madam wanted to say something else, but Shu Yu had already gotten up and went into the house.

Before long, she came back with a basket in hand.

"Grandma, Third Aunt said that Da Ya came by when we were gone, but then left this behind. It seems to be from her."

Old Madam was stunned and her attention was diverted.

Even Da Hu and San Ya stopped eating their buns and looked over at the basket.

After a while, Old Madam took a deep breath and sighed, "This is a token of goodwill from Da Ya. You should accept it."

Shu Yu nodded and took out a peach from under the fabric, handing it to Da Hu and San Ya to wash.

After the two little ones went out, Shu Yu asked, "Grandma, I haven't met Da Ya yet. Can you tell me about her? Which family did she marry into? Is her husband's family treating her well?"

Old Madam hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Shu Yu and sighed, "Da Ya is three years older than you. She married into Da Yan Village two years ago. Her husband's name is Zhang Shu, and he treats her pretty well. He helps out around the house and is an honest person."

"Da Ya is just a little thin, but she's pretty and looks a lot like you. When Zhang's family proposed marriage, they were attracted to Da Ya's sensible, virtuous, and hardworking nature, and the marriage was well-planned. In the first six months of their marriage, Da Ya would come back once every one and a half months, which was quite often. But half a year later, when Zhang's family saw that Da Ya's belly had not changed, their faces didn't look good. From that point on, Da Ya came back less often, and never stayed overnight at her mother's house. She couldn't stay for an hour before being called back home."

As she spoke, the old lady became upset, feeling that the second family's children were too unfortunate.

Da Ya was like this, and Er Ya was lost and separated for more than ten years since childhood. San Ya's face was also broken, and he was called ugly by the children in the village every day. Da Hu had fought with them several times, and returned each time with injuries. Now the two children can't even bear to eat a meat bun too quickly. They only eat half of it when it's cold.

"Why can't Da Ya's belly be a little more cooperative? It's been two years now. If she still hasn't had a child in another year, how will she live? Not only will Zhang's family treat her poorly, but the village will also point fingers at her. It may even affect your marriage to San Ya. Last time I saw her, she was so thin that she looked like she had aged several years."

Shu Yu patted her hand and whispered, "Grandmother, don't worry. This child's situation depends on fate. Besides, not being able to have a child is not necessarily Da Ya's fault. It could also be that Zhang has a disease."

The old lady suddenly looked up, "How is that possible?"

"Why not? Think about it, a woman can't give birth to a child alone. If she doesn't have a husband, if she doesn't consummate the marriage, if she doesn't need a man, can she still have a child? It's just that the child comes out of a woman's belly, so people think that if she can't have a child, it's her fault. But if the child came out of a man's belly, wouldn't it be the man's problem?" 

(End of chapter)

Chapter 69: The Clothing Store

The old lady didn't understand, "What does that mean?"

"I just need normal clothes to wear, if there is any need for embroidery or other embellishments, I can find a embroiderer to do it. What I'm selling is something else."

"What else?" the old lady was curious.

"Skills, makeup and styling skills." In this era, there was no such thing as a professional image designer.

As luck would have it, Shu Yu was skilled in this field. In her past life, she started with this skill, getting close to a popular star who was supported by a big shot. Through him, she met the big shot and deliberately showed off her other abilities in front of him. Eventually, step by step, she stood by the big shot's side.

Although she had not been in this business for a long time in this life, she still had the basics and knowledge in her mind.

Shu Yu had already made up her mind about her exile, and she didn't try to change it. But she could come back after her exile, it was not impossible even if it was only a month or two. After all, she was just a foster daughter of the Shu family who had almost been killed by them. No one cared about her fate.

However, if she wanted to come back in such a short time after her exile, she had to get to know someone who could bring her back.

Jiangyuan County was very poor now, and officials like the county magistrate were already tied to the Shu family's boat. With the Shu family being exiled, the officials in the county would also undergo a major turnover, so Shu Yu didn't count on these people.

She just needed to find someone who could help her return to the capital after her exile.

However, Shu Yu remembered a story from a book. The second wife of the Dali Temple's Chief Magistrate, Chang Shi, had a cousin named Deng Shi who married into the wealthy Jiang family in Jiangyuan County.

The relationship was quite complicated. When the wife of the Dali Temple's Chief Magistrate and Deng Shi were young, they were good friends. However, later on, Chang Shi's family fell on hard times, and the Deng family not only didn't help but also added insult to injury. The two families' relationship ruptured, and they never interacted again until their deaths. However, Deng Shi secretly maintained a good relationship with Chang Shi. When Chang Shi fell into difficulty, Deng Shi quietly helped her.

Perhaps even Deng Shi's husband's family didn't know about this. It wasn't until some time later when the Dali Temple's Chief Magistrate came to Dong'an Prefecture to investigate the Shu family's case that Chang Shi and Deng Shi met, and everyone learned about their relationship.

And Shu Yu had her eye on Deng Shi. Her background was such that as long as the Dali Temple's Chief Magistrate turned a blind eye, there was so much room for maneuver. Before, she didn't care if she was exiled or not. Even if she went to a remote place, Shu Yu could still thrive and live a good life. She didn't have any attachment to anyone or anything in Dong'an Prefecture, and it didn't matter to her if she went to a new place.

Therefore, she knew the outcome but never thought of a way to come back. But now it's different. She now... has a family. Whether it's the old lady who's tough on the outside but soft on the inside, or Lu Erbai, who was so stubborn that he almost broke his legs looking for her daughter, or even the gentle and warm Ruan Shi, the seemingly composed Da Hu, and San Ya, who's eyes lit up at the sight of her, and even the Da Ya who hadn't even met her face to face but gave her the best things.

They gave her the warmth of missing family for many years, and Shu Yu couldn't bear to leave them. She wanted to come back and live with them.

Thinking of this, Shu Yu reached out and grabbed the old lady's bewildered hand and smiled, "Grandma, let's open a ready-made clothing shop. I'll tell you more about it later."

A ready-made clothing shop? The old lady was surprised. They were going to open a shop? But the capital required to open a ready-made clothing shop was not low. 

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 68: Doing Some Small Business

Shu Yu had something to say to the old lady, and Lu Sanzhu was really an eyesore here.

She handed him two buns, and Lu Sanzhu turned his head and ran away as if afraid that she would change her mind.

After he had disappeared, the old lady said, "It's really like attracting like, San-ge rarely has such a clever moment."

Shu Yu poured her a glass of water and let Da Hu slowly eat before saying, "Third uncle may not have any other advantages, but he is quite good at reading people."

The old lady smiled and finished the buns in her hand.

She hadn't eaten meat buns for a long time, and she couldn't resist them just now.

Shu Yu handed her another one, but the old lady waved it off. "That's enough, I'm full. Er Ya, you said you wanted to discuss something with me just now, what is it?"

"In our family, what is our main source of income?" Shu Yu asked.

Income source? The old lady didn't react at first to this phrasing.

After a moment of confusion, she said, "You mean how we make money, right?"

Shu Yu nodded, and the old lady didn't hide anything from her. "Our family used to have seven or eight mu of land, but we've sold a few mu over the years. Especially after your father broke his leg, it took a lot of money to treat it, and now we only have three mu of land left."

Those three mu of land were all managed by the old lady and Ruan Shi.

Both of them were very hardworking, but no matter how hard they worked, the grain was just that much, and after paying taxes, there wasn't much left.

"Other than this land, your mother and I do some sewing work to supplement the household. As for your father, he can't work in the fields because of his leg, so he stays at home. He worked as an apprentice with his master for a few years before and knows a bit of carpentry. He makes some small wooden pieces to sell, but he can't go up the mountain to chop wood himself, so he has to buy it. With all this back and forth, he doesn't make much money. Plus, with his condition, he can't sit for too long, otherwise his legs will get numb, and he'll work even slower."

Shu Yu understood that even though the current Lu family had planted three mu of land, it was probably not enough for their own consumption.

The rest of the work is sewing and small woodwork, which doesn't earn much. They still have to support the whole family and pay for the medical expenses of Lu Er's leg, and even the travel expenses to find their missing daughter.

The old lady finished speaking with a worried look on her face. Although they had confidence that once Lu Er's leg was cured, their life would get better, she had also heard from Doctor Xu that even if Lu Er's leg healed, he wouldn't be as agile as before. There were only a few people in the family who could work, so life would still be difficult.

After a moment of contemplation, Shu Yu spoke up, "Grandma, have you ever thought about renting out those few acres of land and starting a small business ourselves?"

"Small business?" The old lady was taken aback, then shook her head. "No, your mother and I don't have any skills except farming. Starting a small business isn't easy. Besides, we need capital, and it's difficult for our family to even come up with one hundred copper coins."

"How come you don't have any skills? You and Mom are both good at sewing and needlework, right?"

"I can only mend clothes, and your mother's needlework is good, but compared to the embroidery ladies in the city, it's not even close. She can repair ordinary hand fans or cloth fans, but she can't do anything else."

The old lady waved her hand repeatedly, thinking that Shu Yu's idea was a bit naive. But Shu Yu said, "That's not important. Mom's embroidery skills may not be as good as those of the professional embroidery ladies, but I've seen how skillful and beautiful she is at mending clothes. That alone is enough." 

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 67: Is this their real mother?

Shu Yu: "..." What? This rumor is too exaggerated.

But before Shu Yu could explain, the gossiping Lu Sanzhu had already excitedly told the old lady about it.

Shu Yu didn't say much and looked towards Da Hu and San Ya.

Presumably, the old lady had hurried back after hearing the rumor. The two children looked very disheveled and Shu Yu wasn't sure if they had taken a car or not. Their shoes were worn out, with their toes sticking out.

Shu Yu patted their heads and asked, "Are you tired from the journey? Are you hungry?"

"Not hungry," Da Hu immediately replied with a straight face, but as soon as he finished speaking, his stomach growled loudly.

The little guy blushed with embarrassment and quickly took a few steps back.

Shu Yu smiled. The two children were really adorable and could heal people's hearts. If they were stolen and sold by Ruan's old lady, what would happen in the future? Forget about living a good life in the Yu family, they were just tools in the scheme of Master Geng and Lady Yu, and once they were no longer useful, they would be abandoned and left with no way out.

Fortunately, everything was okay now.

Shu Yu took one child each by the hand and led them straight to the kitchen.

"Second sister bought several meat buns in the town this morning, but they're a bit cold now. Let's heat them up before we eat."

"Meat buns?" San Ya and Da Hu exclaimed in surprise, unable to resist swallowing their saliva.

Shu Yu chuckled and asked them to help start the fire. Soon, the meat buns were heated up and ready to eat.

Shu Yu brought out three bowls, and one of them had two steamed buns in it. She then greeted the old lady who was still blabbering on in the living room.

The old lady had a general idea of what had happened, and now that she had entered the kitchen, she held Shu Yu's hand with a face full of fear. "Thank goodness you're back, Er Ya. Thank goodness you're here, or else..."

She couldn't help but have tears well up in her eyes and choked up, "Or else our family would have been destroyed."

She also know that the old lady from the Ruan family had also set her sights on Da Hu and San Ya. They had come so close to being ruined.

That animal! That inhumane beast! Why doesn't heaven just take her away? If anything happened to Da Hu and San Ya, she would go down with her.

Shu Yu patted her gently to comfort her and said, "But everything is fine now, isn't it? Our family is safe and sound, and the Ruan family is now facing retribution. I think after this, they won't dare to do anything else."

"Thanks to you," the old lady said.

Shu Yu pushed the bowl in front of her and said, "Let's not talk about that anymore. You've come back hungry, so let's eat something to fill your stomach first. After we finish eating, I have something else to discuss with you."

"Okay, okay," the old lady was happy, and seeing the delicious meat buns, she didn't hold back and took a big bite.

On the side, Lu Sanzhu swallowed hard and smirked, "Er Ya..."

The old lady glanced at him, hey, this Lu Sanzhu can actually be controlled by Er Ya. If this were before, he would have just taken all the meat buns and run away, not even caring about her scolding him.

But now, although he was obviously drooling, he didn't dare to eat a single bun.

The old lady felt a bit of schadenfreude and, while looking at him, took a big bite, "Mmm, it's so delicious. Meat buns are meat buns, much tastier than vegetable buns. Da Hu, San Ya, quickly eat while they're hot, and eat more."

Lu Sanzhu, "...", is this his real mother? Does anyone have such a mean mother? 

(The end of this chapter)