Chapter 90: So it's the Yu family's shop

As she walked, Shu Yu asked about the situation. "What was this shop originally selling? And why did they stop?"

"Actually, this shop used to sell rouge and face powder. It was the Yu family's shop here in Wenlan Town."

"The Yu family?" Shu Yu's steps halted abruptly.

"Yes, the shop used to be managed by Madam Yu. But a few days ago, she fell seriously ill and didn't have the energy to keep it up. Master Yu didn't understand much about rouge and face powder, and with another shop selling similar products across the street, business was just average. So he decided to rent it out. You're lucky, Miss, to have found it."

Shu Yu gave a dry laugh. Yes, she was lucky. But it was also her own doing that had caused the situation with the Yu family.

It seemed that Master Yu intended to use Madam Yu's illness as an excuse to keep her trapped in the mansion. It was understandable; if news of Madam Yu's affair got out, Master Yu's reputation would be ruined.

As they talked, they arrived at Ningshui Street.

This street was located in the very center of Jiangyuan County. The road was wide, clean, and could accommodate three or four carriages side by side.

Quan Zhong led her to a spot near the end of the street. Compared to the beginning and middle of the street, it was quieter here.

But Shu Yu didn't mind the quietness. This area was where people with some wealth in the county would come to shop. Shops like restaurants, rouge shops, silver shops, and silk shops were all nearby.

"Miss, we're here. Let's go in."

Shu Yu followed him into the shop. The rouge shop wasn't completely emptied out yet, according to Quan Zhong. The better quality rouge and face powder had already been bought up by the shop across the street that had heard the news.

The Yu family's shop wasn't very big, with a small courtyard behind it. The courtyard was also tiny, with only two small rooms and a kitchen.

The Yu family's steward was in the courtyard directing the workers to throw out the bedding and furniture in the rooms.

"Judging by his disgusted expression, it seems like...," Shu Yu guessed, wondering if this shop was one of the places where Mrs. Yu met her secret lover.

Upon hearing some noise, the butler turned around. 

Quan Zhong approached and said a few words, and the butler looked at Shu Yu, "So, you want to rent the shop?"

Shu Yu smiled, "Yes, my family wants to do some small business, and we asked Quan Zhong to help us keep an eye out."

"Our shop's rent is not cheap, it costs this much." The butler extended his hand and made a gesture.

Not just Shu Yu, even Quan Zhong was surprised. This small shop cost five taels of silver a month? That was a bit too much. Other shops in the area cost only three or four taels.

Shu Yu felt that the Yu family was trying to rip her off. From the butler's expression, it was clear that they weren't really interested in renting the shop to her.

It seemed that the other two families who were coming to see the shop later had more power and might have already revealed their rental budget.

After a moment of silence, just as Quan Zhong was trying to mediate and help with the bargaining, Shu Yu lifted her head and said to the butler, "The rent is indeed a bit expensive, but the location of this shop is very rare. I really like it."

Quan Zhong was anxious. Hey, girl, bargaining is not done like that. You told them you like it, now you won't be able to even negotiate a penny off.

Didn't she see the butler's satisfied expression? At this point, she should have made a gesture to leave.

As expected, the girl was too young. The butler was fooled by her calm and composed demeanor and thought she was experienced.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 89: Found a suitable shop

Perhaps sensing the displeasure in Shu Yu's gaze, he looked up and gave her an apologetic smile before trying to persuade Da Ya, "Why don't you stay here today? It's rare for the family to be together, we should spend more time together."

Da Ya's face showed a hint of struggle, but she quickly shook her head. "I'll still go back. Now that Second Sister is back, it'll be more convenient for us to meet in the future. It's okay."

Shu Yu frowned and was about to step forward, but was stopped by the old lady.

The old lady shook her head at Shu Yu, who could only swallow the words on her lips.

In the end, Da Ya left, and Shu Yu's family only had time to see them off at the door.

Not long after, Cui Hua and her husband left too. They lived far away and couldn't stay too long as they were worried about their children at home.

Li Shi and Liang Shi helped tidy up the place before leaving.

Soon, only Lu Erbai's family was left in the house.

It was only then that Shu Yu asked the old lady, "Didn't you say you were going to persuade Eldest Sister to stay?"

The old lady sighed. "I wanted to, but Da Ya is in such a difficult position. It's better not to make it harder for her."

Despite her tough talk the day before about not letting Da Ya leave, her stance changed immediately upon seeing Da Ya's struggle.

At the end of the day, it was Da Ya who was single-handedly holding up the family in her husband's home.

Shu Yu wanted to say that if she couldn't handle it, she should just get a divorce. That Lu Shan Zhang may look honest and simple, but he couldn't even protect his own wife. What's the use of keeping such a husband? If Da Ya continued to stay in the Zhang family, she would eventually be worn down.

But such thoughts were considered rebellious here, and even mentioning them would frighten Da Ya.

Shu Yu planned to talk to Da Ya later. If she didn't want to get a divorce, then she should stand up for herself. Even if it was a physical issue that prevented her from having children, she needed to assert her place in the Zhang family.

Later that day, Lu Sixing sent over a dozen eggs and a message that she couldn't come to see Second Miss because something had come up at home. The eggs were a gift, and even Li Shi, Cui Hua, and even Liang Shi who had visited earlier had brought gifts.

In rural areas, the better gifts were things like eggs. Cui Hua lived in town and brought a piece of cloth as a gift.

Now that she had recognized her relatives, Shu Yu needed to focus on her shop. So, the next day, she went to the county town.

When the shopkeeper saw her, he hurried over, saying with a smile, "Miss Lu, come in and have a seat."

"No, I came to the county town for something today and just stopped by to see you. Mr. Quanzhong, have you heard any news about what I asked you to look into?" Shu Yu asked.

Quanzhong folded his hands and said, "Yes, indeed. I was just about to tell you. If Miss Lu isn't in a hurry, why don't you come in and we'll talk slowly?"

Shu Yu entered the dental clinic, and Quanzhong poured her a glass of water before talking about the shop's situation. "There is indeed a shop that is perfect according to Miss Lu's requirements. However, the rent may be a bit high, and the landlord also has requirements for what kind of shop it will be."

That made sense, so Shu Yu nodded and asked, "When can I meet the landlord?"

"Right now is fine. The landlord is in the shop. Later tonight, two potential tenants have also made appointments to discuss the rental. Let's go now. We might be able to secure the shop first," Quanzhong said.

Shu Yu put down her tea cup and said, "Alright, let's not delay then. Let's go."

Quanzhong quickly tidied up and led Shu Yu out.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 88: Bone-Piercing Hand

The old lady's heart became more and more uncomfortable. she hadn't lost weight? She looked even thinner than the last time they met, and visibly older.

She couldn't help but glare at Zhang Shu, who was standing next to her daughter. She was obviously blaming him.

Zhang Shu looked guilty and said, "I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't take good care of her."

Da Ya quickly changed the subject, "Grandma, where's Er Ya? I want to see her."

The old lady turned around and shouted to Shu Yu behind her, "Er Ya, come and meet your sister and brother-in-law."

Shu Yu came over to Da Ya and she excitedly grabbed her hand, looking her up and down. "Good, good. Our Er Ya is safe and sound, back home where she belongs. The family is reunited and won't leave again, ah."

Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, I'm back, Sister."

She hugged Da Ya's hand, but found that her body was almost all bone, very bony to the touch.

Shu Yu couldn't help but frown, but Da Ya quickly let go of her and smiled, "Let's go inside. We can talk there."

Shu Yu looked at her sister's complexion, with dark circles and eye bags under her eyes, and her lips without much color, not to mention her pale face.

How could life be so bad that it could make a person deteriorate to this extent?

Shu Yu guessed that Da Ya had a hard life, but she didn't expect it to be this difficult.

She opened her mouth and looked straight at Zhang Shu, until Da Ya squeezed her hand. Only then did Shu Yu suppress her anger and held onto Da Ya's hand tightly. The group then entered the house together.

Zhang Shu, after accompanying Da Ya to see Lu Er Bai, went to a corner and spoke quietly with Da Niu and Lai Jin Hai, very conscious of his presence.

Da Ya was very concerned about Shu Yu, asking her where she had been for these years, how she was doing, and whether she had suffered.

Shu Yu used her old words, and Da Ya listened before feeling relieved.

Soon, the old lady came over to call them for dinner. 

Lu Sixing still hadn't arrived, and the old lady thought there might be something holding her up. 

"Let's eat first. I'll save some food for them. We can't have the whole family waiting with empty stomachs for them." 

Since many people came, two tables were set up, one in the main room and one in the kitchen. 

As soon as the food was served, everyone immediately felt their stomachs grumbling. The food was even more abundant than they had imagined. Although there were more vegetables, there were also fish, meat, and eggs. The food was oily and delicious, making everyone drool with hunger. 

The old lady glanced at everyone and said, "Let's eat." 

Almost everyone subconsciously reached for the meat dishes, except for Da Ya, who smiled and picked up a chopstick to take the closest dish of silk gourd to her. 

Shu Yu sat two seats away from Daya but had been paying attention to her. In the end, Daya didn't eat much. This made Shu Yu furrow her brow. 

After finishing the meal, Lu Sixing still hadn't arrived, and they estimated that she might not be coming. The old lady was just about to ask Da Niu to run over and check when she heard Zhang Shu and Da Ya say that they were leaving. 

"The plan was for you to stay at home today. Your younger sister has just come back, don't you want to spend some time with her?" The old lady was surprised. 

Da Ya wanted to stay, but she was hesitant. 

She held the old lady's hand and said with a smile, "I had already promised my mother-in-law that we would return early. It's not very appropriate to stay here for too long." 

Shu Yu looked at Zhang Shu, who just stood there silently. 

(End of chapter)

Chapter 87: Da Ya Has Arrived

Da Bao walked up to San Ya and Da Hu and said, "This is the preserved fruit that I've been saving for a long time. I even can't bear to eat it myself, so I'll share it with you."

Everyone was taken aback.

It was raining heavily outside, and Da Bao actually voluntarily shared his food?

Shu Yu looked at the preserved fruit with some disgust.

But then, in the next moment, Da Bao raised his head and asked her, "Now that I've shared my good things with them, and I won't bully them anymore, can you cook something delicious for me?"

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, while others were shocked.

"Is that okay?" Da Bao asked again. "I didn't cry, scold, or hit you this time, and I even shared my preserved fruit with them. I did so well that I should be rewarded."

He's quite something.

Shu Yu thought to herself sarcastically, but she said, "You admitted your mistake and made changes, which is good. However, I'm not sure if you will keep it up in the future, so I need to observe you for some time. If you indeed become a better person, I'll let you know when I cook something delicious."

Da Bao frowned slightly, dissatisfied with the result.

But never mind, his elder sister Er Ya had promised him.

Without a word, he gave one piece of preserved fruit to Da Hu and San Ya each, and also gave one to the nearby envious Er Niu.

No one else got any because they were all adults, and he only had five pieces in total.

Several children of the same age each got one piece of preserved fruit, and it seemed that the distance between them had suddenly narrowed.

Da Hu and San Ya, who had never played with Da Bao before, now ran hand in hand to the courtyard with Er Niu.

Others didn't know what to think, but the old lady who had just come out of the kitchen couldn't help wiping her eyes.

It's good. Da Hu and San Ya always worked and never played outside, while Da Bao always bullied others, and Er Niu usually hung out with other kids from the village.

"In scenes like this nowadays, even a few families getting together for Chinese New Year hasn't happened."

The old lady felt satisfied and took a deep breath as she walked towards the main room.

Cui Hua was the first to see her and quickly stood up, "Grandma."

"Cui Hua, Jinhai is here, come sit down. We'll be starting the meal soon, you can rest for a bit," said the old lady.

Cui Hua felt embarrassed, "I should go to the kitchen to help."

"No need, we have so many people here, everything is already prepared," replied the old lady, but then frowned, "But we're about to start the meal, why haven't Si Xing and Da Ya arrived yet?"

Shu Yu looked at the time and realized it was already noon.

In theory, since Cui Hua's sick child lived in town, even she should have arrived earlier than everyone else. 

Just as they were thinking about it, they heard some commotion at the door.

The next moment, Da Hu ran in excitedly and said, "Big Sister is back!"

Everyone turned their heads towards the direction of the door and saw two figures slowly moving towards them.

Shu Yu looked at the woman on the left and her first impression was that she was thin, as if she was just a set of bones that could be blown away by the wind.

The old lady had already gone out to greet them and when she saw Da Ya, her eyes turned red, "How long has it been since you came back? Look at you, how much weight have you lost?"

Da Ya had been smiling, but when she saw the old lady's reaction, she couldn't help but stiffen her lips and suppress her tears, "I haven't lost any weight, Grandma, I haven't lost any weight."

(End of chapter)

Chapter 86: Cui Hua 

When Da Niu reached the door, he saw Cui Hua and her husband Lai Jinhai standing in the yard. Da Niu instinctively stopped and happily called out, "Big sister, big brother-in-law."

Cui Hua waved her hand and said, "You go after Da bao first."

She then walked towards the main hall and greeted the people inside.

Finally, Lu Dasong found an opportunity to speak and said to Shu Yu, "Er Ya, this is your sister Cui Hua."

Shu Yu had a cold face just now, as if she didn't want to talk to strangers. But now, she suddenly changed her expression and warmly welcomed Cui Hua, "So you're sister Cui Hua, come in and have a seat. I just made some snacks, can you help me taste them?"

Everyone was surprised by Shu Yu's sudden change of attitude, even Cui Hua was momentarily stunned.

It wasn't until she had a cup of water in her hand that she smiled and looked at Shu Yu, "You must be Er Ya, right? Uncle and aunt have been looking for you all these years, and now that you're back, they can finally rest assured."

She didn't bring up the earlier conflict between Shu Yu and Da bao.

This kind of conflict between children was not a big deal, especially since Da bao had a bad temper. It was Er Ya's behavior that surprised Cui Hua. Normally, when someone returns home after a long absence, they would feel awkward and put themselves in a delicate position. At least, they wouldn't pick a fight with their relatives who came to visit.

Even if they were wronged, they would swallow it and put on a smiling face to greet people.

But Er Ya did the opposite, and didn't seem to feel wronged at all.

Cui Hua couldn't quite figure out Er Ya's personality, and wasn't sure whether her return was a good thing or a bad thing.

But as a married cousin, even though she had a good relationship with Uncle and Aunt, this kind of thing was not something she could control.

Since Big Sister came in, Lan Hua had been standing behind her. After seeing Shu Yu's behavior, she inexplicably felt a little scared of her.

Cui Hua was doing well. As the eldest sister, she had always taken care of her younger siblings. She was also very sympathetic to her cousin, Er Ya, who had been separated from the family for many years.

She introduced her husband to Shu Yu. Cui Hua had married into town, and her husband's family, the Lai family, was considered one of the best in the area.

Lai Jinhai ran a small eatery to support his large family. Although they barely made ends meet, they managed to get by.

Cui Hua didn't bring her son with her that day because he had caught a cold a few days ago. Although he was feeling much better now, she and her husband didn't want to risk taking him out.

Shu Yu could tell that although Lai Jinhai wasn't very talkative, he treated Cui Hua very well and always deferred to her wishes.

Shu Yu talked with Cui Hua for a while and found her to be decisive and outgoing, with a clear sense of what she wanted. As the first girl born into the family before it split up, Cui Hua had been coddled by everyone as she grew up. When she got older, she naturally took on the responsibility of being the Elder sister.

Compared to Lan Hua, Shu Yu found she had more in common with Cui Hua.

However, their conversation was interrupted when Da Bao, who had gone out, returned. Upon entering, Da Hu and San Ya immediately stood in front of Shu Yu as if they were facing an enemy.

Da Bao, however, stopped a couple of steps away and looked at Shu Yu, then at Da Hu and San Ya. After a moment, he reached out his right hand and presented some stale candies in his chubby palm.

Although the candies looked like they had been sitting around for a while, Shu Yu was grateful for the gesture.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 85: Make Him Cry!!

Lu Dasong and Lu Erbai, who were talking in the room, also heard the commotion and immediately came out.

Liang Shi in the kitchen also wanted to come over, but was stared at by the old lady. "Your man is over there in the hall. Why do you want to join in the fun? Da Bao has always been tough and doesn't cry. What are you worried about?"

Liang Shi thought about it and realized it made sense, so she didn't go over. After all, she was also worried that the popcorn would be eaten by Da Sao and Er Sao.

However, what Liang Shi didn't know was that her precious son was really upset this time, with tears and snot streaming down his face.

Da Niu was the oldest after all, and Lan Hua had grown up and become sensible. Seeing the conflict between their father and third uncle as elders, they could only come forward to persuade them.

However, they were stopped by Shu Yu just a few steps away.

"Make him cry!!"

Just as Cui Hua and her husband walked into the yard, they heard this.

The two of them were stunned and looked towards the middle of the room. No one had noticed their arrival.

Cui Hua only saw a beautiful stranger standing in the middle, attracting everyone's attention.

Looking at Da Bao crying loudly on the ground, she thought it must be a conflict.

As the eldest sister of this generation, Cui Hua naturally wanted to step forward to help mediate.

But before she could speak, Shu Yu had already crouched down and said to the chubby boy, "Your mouth stinks. Do you want it sewn shut? I'm right here in front of you. I won't make you any food. Come on, hit me."

Da Bao opened his eyes and looked at Shu Yu's cold gaze, feeling inexplicably nervous.

This fear caused him to cry even louder.

Lu Sanzhu could see that Shu Yu was getting angry and could only awkwardly say, "Well, Da Bao is still young and doesn't understand."

"Young? He's eight years old, and yet Little Da Hu, who's younger than him, knows how to pick pigweed and chop wood. He never cries and throws a fit because he doesn't have anything to eat. What kind of family is the Lu family? If Da Bao wants to eat deer antler and bear paw, is he just going to cry and expect you to conjure them up? You speak so harshly, but with his behavior, anyone who meets him outside of this village could just kill him directly."

Lu Sanzhu was immediately silenced. He had never thought about it before, but ever since following Er Ya and experiencing the world a few times, he realized that this was definitely a possibility. Wasn't Er Ya the type to take an axe and start chopping people with just a word?

So he could only go and manage his son, "Da Bao, stop crying. Er Ya is right, we can't just cry whenever we want to eat something."

Da Bao didn't expect that even his own father wouldn't be on his side, and his mother didn't come to his aid either. Everyone in the room was stopped by Shu Yu.

He suddenly realized that no matter how much he cried, there would still be nothing to eat.

Shu Yu was still crouching in front of him, speaking to him one word at a time, "Either you stop crying now, or you continue to curse me and I'll go get a needle and thread and sew your mouth shut one stitch at a time. Or you can hit me, and I'll hang you from a tree outside for everyone to laugh at. If you think I'll make you something to eat, that's a pipe dream."

Da Bao was stunned, wiping away his tears and snot with his sleeve, and sniffing as he got up.

Without saying another word, he lowered his head and ran outside.

Everyone was stunned by his sudden actions, and Da Niu, feeling worried, quickly chased after him.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 84: I'll beat you up

Er Niu and Da Bao had smelled the fragrance of the popcorn a long time ago and rushed over to Shu Yu's side.

"I want to eat, give me some!" Da Bao exclaimed, his eyes shining as he reached out to grab some.

Shu Yu immediately looked at Lu Sanzhu, "Third Uncle, can you..."

The latter's eyelids twitched, and he quickly grabbed his son back, "What's the hurry? Go sit over there and you'll get your share."

When Lu Sanzhu looked serious, Da Bao was a little afraid of him, so he could only sit on a stool, grumbling and pouting.

Shu Yu then placed the popcorn on the table and said to everyone, "You can all eat, but no grabbing or monopolizing. If I catch anyone doing that, they won't get to eat anymore."

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

Shu Yu turned to the side, and the others crowded around.

Lu Sanzhu squeezed himself in among the children, feeling no embarrassment at all.

Fortunately, with him there, he used his seniority to suppress the several children who were eager to grab and stuff the popcorn into their own pockets. He severely reprimanded them and gave each person a small portion, while the rest was placed on the platform.

Da Niu and Lan Hua were older and didn't compete, but they also had a handful of popcorn in their hands.

The two of them tasted it and couldn't help but widen their eyes in surprise.

This popcorn was too delicious. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed that it was made from corn.

The children who had been clamoring and making noise just a moment ago suddenly quieted down and began to discuss the popcorn as they ate.

Because of this delicious snack, Da Bao and Er Niu regarded Shu Yu with newfound respect.

Da Bao had eaten a lot, and as he ate, he asked, "do you know how to make anything else?"

"call me big sister."

"Er Ya, can you do anything else?" Like his own father, he changes his attitude very quickly when there's food around.

"I can do many things as long as there are ingredients." Shu Yu raised an eyebrow at him.

"Then, can you make something for me to eat?"

"No, I can't." Shu Yu refused him firmly.

Da Bao was stunned for a moment and even forgot to eat the popcorn in his hand. "Why not? I already called you big sister."

"I don't care. You used to bully Da Hu and San Ya. You never shared your food with them or even intentionally teased them with it. If it weren't for Da Hu and San Ya not caring about it, you wouldn't have been able to eat this popcorn today. Do you still think you can eat good food in the future? I'm not your parents, who would spoil you?"

Da Bao was shocked and looked at Shu Yu mercilessly. Why? She was his big sister, why didn't she share her food with him? His mother had clearly said that older brothers and sisters should be considerate of the younger ones.

When he went to Uncle's house, except for Er Niu who occasionally argued with him, Cui Hua, Da Niu, and Lan Hua would all give in to him. Even Er Niu would compromise with him in the end.

When he went to his grandparents' house, his cousins had never said such cruel words.

Da Bao's mouth drooped and he immediately fell to the ground, kicking his legs and crying, "Er Ya, you're a bad sister. You're a worthless bitch who doesn't even pay back what you owe. You won't give me food, I'll kill you, kill you!"

His crying was earth-shattering, startling everyone.

Lu Sanzhu subconsciously wanted to help his son scold Shu Yu, but when he saw that she was the culprit, he immediately shrank his neck and said nothing.

It's okay, just cry a little. Once you've cried it out, it'll be better. Not getting hurt is already a blessing.

(End of this chapter)

  Chapter 83: Delicious Popcorn

Everyone watched as Shu Yu flipped the corn kernels, flipping and flipping.

Is that it???

Could it be that the delicious snack she was talking about was just coating corn kernels with oil and sugar, then frying them until they're crispy? It didn't look very appetizing.

Lan Hua, who was standing at the door and couldn't see what was happening at the stove, only saw the disappointed and disgusted expressions on Li Shi and Liang Shi's faces, which made her feel uneasy.

Suddenly, there was a "pop" sound from the pot, and something jumped out and bounced high into the air.

After one sound came another, making everyone in the kitchen jump in fright.

It was at this moment that Shu Yu quickly covered the pot with the lid.

But after covering it, the crackling sound inside became even more pronounced.

Ruan Shi was a bit worried, "Er Ya, it seems like it's about to explode? Are you okay?"

Li Shi said, "Don't break the pot."

Liang Shi... silently retreated to the kitchen doorway and held Bao Ya in her arms, ready to run at any time.

Shu Yu told Da Hu to stop the fire and removed the firewood from the stove. The crackling sounds inside also subsided.

Only then did she open the lid, and everyone was stunned when they saw it.

This...there was clearly only a pot bottom full of corn kernels, but now it had filled up half a large pot.

And the aroma... was so fragrant.

Shu Yu took one and gave it to Da Hu, who immediately stuffed it into his mouth.

Da Hua smacked his lips and tightly squeezed his small hand, "It's delicious, so delicious."

"This is popcorn, made by popping corn kernels. Have you never had it before?"

Da Hu vigorously nodded his head, "Popcorn made from popping corn kernels is even more delicious than cakes."

Shu Yu laughed, ''Go get that fruit platter and let's serve it for everyone.''

Da Hua hurriedly turned around to get the fruit platter, and Shu Yu filled it up, still having plenty left.

She then used a plate to serve some to the old lady, saying, ''Grandma, try some of these.''

The old lady waved her hand, ''No, I don't need it. I don't eat this, you kids can have it.''

But Li Shi and Liang Shi beside her couldn't help but salivate and eagerly stared at the popcorn.

Shu Yu directly stuffed a piece into the mouths of the old lady and Ruan Shi, ''There's plenty, you can all try my cooking.''

As soon as it entered her mouth, even the old lady couldn't help but squint her eyes. It was crispy and truly delicious.

Who would have thought that corn, fried in oil and sugar, could turn into such a delicacy.

Shu Yu left a plate in the kitchen and then went out with the fruit platter.

As soon as she left, Li Shi and Liang Shi couldn't wait and took a piece each. The old lady snorted, ''Didn't you say Er Ya couldn't cook? Look at her cooking skills, which one of you can compare to her?''

Li Shi felt embarrassed but still didn't hold back on eating the popcorn.

As soon as Shu Yu stepped out of the kitchen, Bao Ya drooled and pounced on her, ''I want to eat, I want to eat.''

''No hurry, let's bring it to the hall first.'' After all, Bao Ya was only three years old, and Shu Yu didn't want her to eat it alone. It would be better to keep an eye on her in the hall.

Lu Sanzhu also appeared out of nowhere, ''Er Ya, let Third Uncle help you bring it over.''

As soon as he finished speaking, he wanted to grab some popcorn, but Shu Yu swiftly made a hand gesture and said, ''Dare to grab it and try.''

Lu Sanzhu dryly laughed and withdrew his hand, not daring to move.

This scene shocked Lan Hua, who was following behind them, and she widened her eyes in disbelief. Third Uncle was afraid of Er Ya? He was always shameless, not even afraid of the old lady, but now a single movement from Er Ya scared him into submission.

Shu Yu first took some popcorn to the room of Lu Erbai and Uncle Lu, leaving some for them, before returning to the hall.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 82: Use Corn Kernels

Shu Yu did as she promised and went straight to the kitchen after telling Bao Ya. Everyone else immediately followed, even the usually composed Da Niu pretended to casually tag along at the back.

However, the kitchen in the Lu family's house was small and with several elderly women already inside, if everyone went in, they would not be able to move around. So Shu Yu told everyone to sit in the living room and wait, saying she would bring the food over soon.

Although she said that, children have a weak resistance to something that tastes even better than cake. They all refused to leave and stayed outside the kitchen.

Da Hu was quick to take action and went into the kitchen before Shu Yu, then stiffened his face and said, "Second Sister, I'll light the fire for you."

San Ya was a step slower and pouted, stomping her feet. How could her brother do this? He wouldn't even let her help with lighting the fire.

Shu Yu smiled and walked into the kitchen, instantly receiving the gazes of the other people inside.

Li Shi looked at Shu Yu's appearance, then at the daughter outside the door. It was one thing not to compare, but now that they were compared, she felt even more uncomfortable.

"Er Ya, why did you come into the kitchen? Your grandmother told you not to come and said you don't know how to cook. Not to speak out of turn, but girls should know how to cook, otherwise, they won't be able to marry well in the future."

Although Ruan Shi was timid, when it came to her daughter, she was unhappy and said, "My Er Ya is very good at cooking, she cooks really well, even better than us."

Liang Shi had already returned and nodded when she heard this. "That's true. Earlier, Sanzhu brought back a bowl of noodles that she said Er Ya cooked. The taste was so good, I still crave it now."

She then looked at the old lady and said, "Mother, why don't we let Er Ya be the head chef?"

The old lady did not care about the three daughter-in-laws' hidden conflicts and kindly looked at Shu Yu, saying, "What would you like to make, Er Ya? Just tell us, we are here to help."

"I'll make some snacks for everyone to taste. Milk, I need some corn kernels," said Shu Yu.

"Corn kernels??" The group outside the kitchen was disappointed. They thought it would be something even more delicious than pastries, made from ingredients like white flour or pork.

"What can you make with corn kernels??" They wondered.

"Can't I make a flower out of corn kernels?" Shu Yu replied.

"Nevermind, I'll go eat peanut and chestnut snacks," Da Bao said, shaking his head.

"I want some too. Don't eat them all by yourself," Er Niu followed.

"I can't finish such a big bowl. I'm not a pig," Da Bao said.

"Yes, you are," Er Niu argued.

The two of them continued to argue as they walked back to the main room.

Shu Yu ignored them and took the corn kernels that the old lady had handed her.

The cooking had not started yet, and the Lu family's stove had two burners, one of which was already cooking rice. The other one was still empty.

Shu Yu asked Da Hu to start the fire, then poured in some oil.

Although everyone was working, they were all watching Shu Yu's every move. When they saw how much oil she poured in, they felt a tightness in their chest.

Li Shi whispered, "You don't know how valuable rice and firewood are when you're not the one in charge. This is too wasteful."

After a few days, the old lady and Ruan Shi had gotten used to Shu Yu using more oil. This time, the oil she used was only a little more than what was used before. It wasn't a big deal.

After pouring in the oil, Shu Yu began to add sugar.

Even the old lady and Ruan Shi felt sorry for the amount of sugar she was using. Sugar was not cheap.

However, Shu Yu didn't use too much sugar. In relative terms, the taste was quite light.

After stirring for a few times, Shu Yu poured the bowl of corn kernels in.

(End of this chapter)

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)