After Da Niu finished speaking, he walked towards Zhang's house with a stern face, clenching his fists and taking heavy steps.

To his surprise, Shu Yu, with a tense expression, went in the opposite direction on her own.

Da Niu was taken aback. He looked at Zhang's house and then at Shu Yu's retreating figure. He stomped his foot and followed her.

"Ah Yu, should we go back and call for help?" It made sense. Zhang's family had three sons, and that old lady was not easy to deal with. They were just younger generation members, and it might not be so easy to take Da Ya away. They might end up hurting Da Ya instead.

However, Shu Yu, with a blank expression, said, "She said she hasn't eaten all day."

Da Niu suddenly stopped in his tracks. Yes, Da Ya had just said that she hadn't eaten all day. These beasts from Zhang's family must have seen that there was no one from their Lu family around. No wonder Da Ya had become so thin.

And what they witnessed and heard was only the tip of the iceberg. They didn't know how much more mistreatment Da Ya had endured in the past.

Da Niu felt his breath getting heavy, and he quickened his pace. He had to hurry back and call for help. He needed to gather his father, his third uncle, and a few of his friends. The girl from their Lu family must not be treated like this.

He arrived at the mule cart ahead of Shu Yu and sat on the cart shaft, ready to take the reins.

But when Shu Yu arrived, she asked him to get down. She searched inside the cart for a while and then took out a bundle.

Following that, she got off the mule cart and walked back towards Da Yan Village.

Da Niu was a bit puzzled. He stood by the cart for a while before quickening his pace to catch up.

"Ah Yu, what are you doing?"

"If we're going to take Da Ya away later, it might take some time. We need to let her eat first," Shu Yu replied.

Da Niu: "Should the two of us take her away?"

Shu Yu: "Yes, just the two of us." Shu Yu's face grew darker, and her pace gradually quickened.

Meanwhile, Zhang's family was still unaware that someone was angrily approaching their house.

After finishing washing the dishes, Da Ya was urged by Zhang's old lady to shell the corn kernels. "You're so slow at washing dishes. Are you intentionally defying me?" The old lady gave her a push, nearly causing her to lose her balance.

Da Ya hadn't eaten all day. In the morning, she had worked in the fields for half a day, and when she returned, the entire family had finished their meal, not leaving a single bit for her.

She had only drunk two bowls of water to fill her stomach. Now her vision was blurry, and she felt her limbs growing weak.

But she remained silent, sitting in the corner of the wall and starting to shell the corn cob with a stick.

Zhou Shi and Feng Shi were cracking melon seeds, chatting and watching the children running around in the yard.

The boys were mischievous. The clothes of the entire family that Da Ya had just washed were hanging on the bamboo pole in the yard, and the children were running around them.

Zhou Shi glanced at Da Ya, pretending to be angry as she scolded them, "Be careful! These clothes were just washed by your Third Aunt. Don't dirty them."

 old lady Zhang came out of the house, vigorously shaking her clothes, and scolded Zhou Shi, "If they get dirty, let her wash them again. Mischievous children are smarter. What are they doing?"

Zhou Shi wasn't annoyed, just smiling. "I thought Third Sister-in-law was working too hard."

"What hard work? She's now a criminal of our Zhang family. She can't escape punishment by clinging to her natal family and using their resources. She needs to work harder to atone for her sins."

Feng Shi wholeheartedly agreed, "Mother is right."

Then they looked at Da Ya and said, "Third Sister-in-law, did you hear that? If it were another family, they would have divorced you long ago. It's only because of Mother and Third Brother's generosity that you're still here."

(End of this chapter)

Shu Yu's hand, raised to knock on the door, froze in midair. She furrowed her brow and made a gesture to Da Niu, signaling him to be quiet.

In the next moment, a voice filled with a strange tone came from inside, "Little Third Sister, look at what you're saying. It's already mealtime, and we've been waiting for you. We thought you had already found something to eat outside. If that were the case, we would have finished the food by now."

Da Ya clutched her clothes corners with both hands and said softly, "But I haven't eaten anything all day."

Another voice followed immediately, "How could you not have eaten anything? Didn't your maternal family send you a big basket of peaches a few days ago? And you even had the ability to give your sister such a nice piece of fabric. With such skill, how could you not find something to eat?"

"That's right, Little Third Sister, are you hiding and secretly eating something good outside without telling us?"

"If you have anything on you, let us search and see."

Shu Yu looked around and saw that the wall of Zhang's house was low. She quickly took a few steps, lifted a large stone, and stepped on it to expose half of her head from the wall. In an instant, she could clearly see the situation inside.

At that moment, the two women who had been sitting on chairs in the courtyard stood up and walked toward Da Ya with a smile.

Then they began patting and searching Da Ya, claiming to be searching but taking the opportunity to pinch her several times. "Little Third Sister, you can't support your maternal family anymore. You're married into the Zhang family now. You're a member of the Zhang family. Even your three nephews haven't tasted the peaches. You're being too generous."

"And that piece of fabric, you didn't even think about using it to pay respects to your mother. You're the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family. You should make clothes for your mother."

Da Ya winced in pain and shrank back. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, I don't have anything on me. I have nothing."

"That's not necessarily true. You're always silent and who would have known that you're a deceitful person. We've all been deceived by you," the two women laughed and teased, pulling on Da Ya's hair.

Shu Yu's face turned cold. She grabbed a clump of dirt from the courtyard wall, ready to throw it. Da Niu, who had followed her and was also peering over the wall, widened his eyes in astonishment.

However, just then, an old woman came out of the house and looked sternly at the three daughters-in-law. "What are you arguing about? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Zhou and Feng immediately let go of Da Ya and walked over to the woman with smiles on their faces. "Mother, did we disturb you?"

"Mother, it's not our fault. It's Little Third Sister. As soon as she came back, she interrogated us about why we didn't save her any food."

Upon hearing this, the old woman glared fiercely at Da Ya and said, "You still have the audacity to ask? You're like a non-egg-laying hen, what do you expect to eat? You only know how to cause trouble by eating from others. What are you standing there for? Go and clean up the dishes and wash all the corn kernels from the cob in the corner. Also, the water in the barrel is empty, fill it up later. You have so many chores, but you're here being lazy. Why aren't you hurrying up? If you don't finish your work, don't even think about sleeping tonight."

Da Ya shrank back and quickly walked towards the kitchen with her head down.

The old woman spat out a disdainful "hmph" at her retreating figure. "Take the fabric back to your maternal family. You've got quite the nerve."

Zhou and Feng covered their mouths and giggled. "Exactly! She deserves a good lesson to understand her true worth."

Shu Yu climbed down from the wall, and Da Niu quickly followed. "Ah Yu, don't worry. Let's go and bring Da Ya out now. Zhang's family has gone too far in their mistreatment."

(End of the chapter)

It was getting late, so the two of them packed their things and prepared to go back.

The cart was driven by Da Niu, who was skilled at handling the ox cart. They had only tested the mule cart in the morning when it arrived.

The young man was enthusiastic about it, while Shu Yu was tired from walking all day and decided to rest inside the cart.

However, as soon as she closed her eyes, she inexplicably thought of Zhang Shu, whom she had encountered today.

Shu Yu instantly sat up again, furrowing her brows.

The Da Niu on the cart heard the movement and asked her through the curtain, "Yu, what's wrong? Did I drive too fast?"

"It's not that," Shu Yu poked her head out and said to him, "Let's go to Dayan Village."

"Dayan Village?" Big Niu was surprised. "Do you want to look for Da Ya?"

Shu Yu nodded. "Exactly. Since we have the mule cart, we don't have to worry about the journey. I have something here that I want to give her."

She had kept two boxes of rouge and powder in the cart, which she planned to give to Da Ya. And also... to see how she was doing.

Da Niu happily agreed, "Alright, last time when Da Ya hurried back, we didn't even have a chance to exchange a few words. It's a good opportunity to tell her the good news about opening a shop. If the Zhang family knows, they will treat Da Ya much better from now on."

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at him. Indeed, Da Niu was a sensitive young man.

He knew that Da Ya had been living a difficult life, partly because she still didn't have a child. And the other reason was that the Zhang family knew about the situation with the Lu family and thought that even if Da Ya suffered, the Lu family couldn't help her.

This time, let the Zhang family know that the Lu family is doing well now. If they dare to bully Da Ya again, the Lu family will definitely not let them get away with it.

Da Niu quickly pulled the reins and turned the cart to the left.

With the mule cart, the speed did increase significantly, and before long, the cart stopped at the entrance of Da Yan Village.

Unlike Shishi Village, there was a bridge at the entrance of Da Yan Village. The ox cart could slowly enter, but Shu Yu's mule cart was relatively large and inconvenient to cross the bridge.

So the two of them parked the mule cart at the entrance and walked into the village.

Shu Yu didn't know where the Zhang family lived, so after crossing the bridge, she let Da Niu lead the way.

As they walked for a short distance, Da Niu suddenly pointed ahead and said, "That seems to be Da Ya."

Shu Yu looked up and indeed saw Da Ya washing clothes with her head down by the creek.

Da Niu waved his hand and called out to her, "Da Ya, Da Ya..."

However, the rushing water made a lot of noise, and there were many people washing clothes and talking by the creek. Da Ya not only didn't hear them but also finished washing the last piece of clothing and walked away, carrying a basket.

"Hey." Da Niu could only put his hand down and said to Shu Yu, "Let's catch up quickly."

However, they were far behind, and by the time they caught up, Da Ya had already turned into the center of the village, and they couldn't see her anymore.

The two of them had to go to Zhang's family themselves. Zhang's family was a bit far from the stream, on the other side of the village center.

Da Niu had come here a year ago to inform Da Ya about Lu Erbai's 

leg injury. He wasn't very familiar with Da Yan Village, and even got lost once.

So despite their fast pace, when they arrived at Zhang's house, Da Ya had already gone inside.

Shu Yu took a couple of quick steps and stood at the gate of Zhang's house. She noticed that the gate was already closed. Just as she was about to knock, she heard voices from inside.

"Sister-in-law, did you not leave any food for me in the kitchen?"

This voice... it was Da Ya's voice, timid and helpless.

(End of Chapter)

Meng Yunzheng's face showed a look of confusion.

Shu Yu pointed in the direction where Zhang Shu had left. "That's the man just now."

Meng Yunzheng suddenly realized and then shook his head with a smile.

He habitually raised his smile, but immediately remembered what Shu Yu had said before. She mentioned that his smile... seemed a bit fake.

So Meng Yunzheng immediately suppressed his smile, opened his mouth, and silently mouthed two words.

Shu Yu couldn't hear the sound, but he said two words, and his lip movements were clear. She understood immediately, "Asking for directions? Are you saying that he asked you for directions?"

Meng Yunzheng shook his head.

Shu Yu asked, "He asked you for directions?"

Meng Yunzheng nodded.

Shu Yu furrowed her brow suddenly, "He's a local here and should be very familiar with this county town. Why would he come to you for directions?"

She had heard from the old lady that Zhang Shu would take on odd jobs in the county town during the agricultural slack season. He was able to find work every time because of his hard work and low profile. Even if others encountered problems, he could still earn his wages.

When they married off Da Ya to him, this was a significant plus point.

Both the old lady and Lu Erbai of the Lu family thought that Zhang Shu was honest, hardworking, and could earn money, while Da Ya was gentle, virtuous, and could manage the household well. If the couple worked hard together, they would definitely lead a prosperous life.

Who would have known that Da Ya's life in the Zhang family would become so difficult?

Why would someone who worked odd jobs in the county town every year need to ask for directions? And why would he ask someone who isn't a local?

Shu Yu found Zhang Shu very strange.

As she was pondering, a hand suddenly reached out in front of her and waved.

Shu Yu looked up and met Meng Yunzheng's perplexed gaze. She smiled and asked, "Why is Young Master Meng here? Where is Doctor Zhao?"

Meng Yunzheng pointed towards where he lived, and Shu Yu understood. She didn't know what to say to him at that moment.

Meng Yunzheng couldn't speak now and couldn't have a conversation. Even if he made gestures, Shu Yu could only guess to a certain extent.

In the end, all she could say was, "Um, I've opened a ready-to-wear shop on Ning Shui Street. As I've said before, if Young Master Meng needs any help, you can come find me there."

Meng Yunzheng nodded and then turned around and walked away.

Shu Yu watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance and sighed heavily after a long while.

Look, look, such a handsome young master, why can't he speak? It's such a pity.

Shaking her head, Shu Yu walked back to her shop with her hands behind her back.

Da Niu had already tidied everything up and happily greeted her when she returned. "Ah Yu, Uncle Zheng will start working tomorrow. Let me help too, so we can finish the work quickly and open the shop early."

"Sure, from now on, I'll rely on you, Big brother Niu."

Da Niu didn't feel troubled at all. He was even excited.

Although this wasn't his own shop, it was his second uncle's shop. He was eager to personally participate in the renovation of the shop and see it gradually improve.

"I'll bring the clothes over tomorrow and stay in the small room at the back. It'll be convenient."

The bedding in the small room had already been thrown away by Housekeeper Yu, but the bed frame was still there. Da Niu had just cleaned it up, and it would be enough to lay a straw mat and sleep on it.

Shu Yu didn't quite agree, but she didn't persuade him either. Whether Da Niu could move in depended on whether Li Shi was willing. If she wasn't, Da Niu might not even be able to come to the county town.

(End of chapter)

Craftsman Zheng adjusted the door panel and said, "That's no problem."

"And this left wall, I wonder if we can install some large windows to let more light in," Shu Yu asked.

Craftsman Zheng carefully examined it and marked out an area, saying, "We can remove this section and install windows here."

"Perfect," Shu Yu replied.

She then took Craftsman Zheng to see the door connecting to the backyard and said, "This needs to be removed to widen the passage. It will connect nicely to the room in the backyard, which I want to use as a fitting room."

Afterward, she planned to separate the fitting room from one of the rooms in the backyard and the kitchen so that the living and working areas could be separated.

This way, there would only be one room for living.

But there was no other choice since the original shop was a bit small.

Therefore, she planned to have a bunk bed in that room, with a wider bottom to accommodate two people and a narrower top for one person. It would be cramped to fit three people in one room, but the current conditions were limited.

Once she earned enough money, she could buy a house in the county town.

Shu Yu tried to make the most of the available resources, and thus she also wanted to allocate a storage room for storing goods.

In the end, the backyard was filled with her arrangements. Craftsman Zheng, being a professional, provided a few suggestions to make the layout more suitable and aesthetically pleasing.

Now Shu Yu truly believed in her father's words. This Craftsman Zheng was indeed meticulous and skilled.

"That's settled then," Craftsman Zheng said. "I'll go to the market later and pick out some things. There are still some items that need careful selection."

Shu Yu nodded and said, "I'll go with you. If the items are good, I'll make the purchase directly."

This time, Da Niu didn't mention going himself. He didn't want to get involved in the matter of paying money.

Shu Yu followed Craftsman Zheng to the bustling market, where he had his own connections and selected materials of average quality. Since this was just a rented shop, it was sufficient.

Shu Yu had some understanding of these materials and could tell that Craftsman Zheng wasn't trying to deceive her. Even if he did, it didn't matter. She might not understand, but her father was a carpenter, and a quick look would tell if the materials were good or not. Craftsman Zheng had no reason to cheat her in this regard.

Midway, the two of them stopped at a small stall to have a bowl of noodles before continuing their tour. By the time they finished the round, it was already late.

Craftsman Zheng needed to go home and prepare his tools. He also needed to call two young workers to help. After all, Shu Yu had given him limited time, and he needed assistance.

So Shu Yu parted ways with Craftsman Zheng at the intersection of Dongmen Street.

With one task completed, Shu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and walked with a lighter step.

However, just as she was about to turn onto Ningshui Street, she suddenly saw two familiar figures ahead.

Shu Yu's footsteps halted, and her gaze fell upon the man who was facing her.

Zhang Shu... What is he doing here?

And the person standing opposite him, isn't that Meng Yunzheng, the young master she had just seen a few days ago?

How could these two unrelated people know each other?

Shu Yu furrowed her brows slightly. In the next moment, she saw Zhang Shu smiling at Meng Yunzheng and bypassing him to leave.

Meng Yunzheng remained standing in place, but his indifferent eyes quickly turned toward Shu Yu. Their gazes abruptly met.

Shu Yu couldn't walk away in time, even though they had agreed to treat their previous encounter as if it never happened.

But now, after seeing her, Meng Yunzheng had yet to avert his gaze. Shu Yu hesitated for a moment before deciding to move forward and stand in front of him. She smiled and asked, "Do you know Zhang Shu?"

(End of chapter)

Da Niu felt somewhat dazed as he waited until the cart stopped.

Second Uncle was really going all out. At first, he thought that although they were renting a shop in the county town, it would be in a relatively remote area. But this turned out to be the busiest and most prosperous street in the whole county town.

"Let's get down," Shu Yu said as she jumped off the cart pole. Da Niu snapped out of his trance and quickly followed.

"This is the shop I rented. How does it look? It's small, but it's enough," Shu Yu said.

Da Niu looked up at the shop, his eyes filled with delight. "It's already quite spacious."

After all, he was a young man full of vigor. Da Niu couldn't help but walk around the shop, excitedly inspecting every nook and cranny.

Shu Yu wiped her hands and came out to speak to him. "Big Brother Da Niu, I'm going to Dongmen Street to find a craftsman. You can rest here for a while."

Da Niu snapped out of his excitement. "I'll accompany you."

"No need, you can stay here and watch over the shop and cart. That way, I don't have to lock the door," Shu Yu insisted.

After thinking for a moment, Da Niu agreed.

However, as soon as Shu Yu turned and left, he immediately looked around and found a broom and a cloth. He thoroughly cleaned every corner of the shop, both inside and out.

Shu Yu found Dongmen Street and quickly knocked on the gate of Craftsman Zheng's house.

Craftsman Zheng, who came to open the door, looked somewhat gloomy and dispirited. He paused for a moment when he saw Shu Yu. "Miss, who are you looking for?"

Shu Yu held a bag of jujube cakes in her hand. "Are you Uncle Zheng? I'm Lu Erbai's daughter from Shishi Village, Lu Erbai. My father asked me to find you."

Craftsman Zheng was momentarily surprised. "Erbai's daughter? Please come in."

Shu Yu entered the gate and took a look at the courtyard of Zheng's house. It was quite cluttered, with a lot of tools and materials piled up.

Craftsman Zheng called out to his wife and then invited Shu Yu into the main hall.

Shu Yu placed the jujube cakes on the table and got straight to the point, "Our family has rented a shop in Ning Shui Street and we plan to make some changes and renovations. My father said that Uncle Zheng has excellent and meticulous craftsmanship, so he asked me to come here and see if Uncle Zheng has the time."

Craftsman Zheng's wife, who had just brought a bowl of water, widened her eyes and hurriedly walked up to Shu Yu. "Yes, yes, he happens to have time."

Craftsman Zheng, with a look of surprise on his face, thought to himself, a shop? The Lu family is opening a shop? Just two months ago, when he visited Lu Erbai, he was still bedridden and could hardly move. It was raining that day, and the roof was leaking, so he helped to patch it up.

But now, they were actually planning to open a shop in Ning Shui Street?

Before he could think further, he was pushed by his wife and quickly reacted.

Immediately, Shu Yu discussed some requirements and compensation with him, and Craftsman Zheng said it was no problem. "Why don't I accompany you to the shop now to take a look? If everything is fine, we can start working tomorrow."

Shu Yu couldn't ask for more and immediately took Craftsman Zheng back to Ning Shui Street.

Upon entering the shop, they saw that the previously dirty and messy floor was now clean, and Da Niu was wiping the counter with a cloth.

Shu Yu couldn't help but laugh and cry. "Big Brother Da Niu, don't work so hard." She introduced him, "This is Uncle Zheng."

Da Niu quickly wiped his hands and came out from behind the counter, full of energy. "Uncle Zheng."

Craftsman Zheng nodded, and Shu Yu led him inside while explaining her plans. "This will be a ready-to-wear clothing shop, so it's best to have a larger storefront, allowing customers outside to see the clothes inside. The entrance of the shop is actually quite spacious, but the two adjacent door panels are fixed. I want to make them into opening doors."

(End of chapter)

Lu Erbai didn't want Shu Yu to be looked down upon just because of her name, which could even affect the success of the shop.

The old lady immediately realized the seriousness of the matter. "Then, let's call her Ah Yu."

After saying that, she turned to look at Shu Yu, seeking her opinion.

Shu Yu naturally nodded. She wasn't opposed to the name "Er Ya," but it did cause some confusion. At first, she wasn't used to it. Sometimes when the old lady mentioned "Er Ya," she couldn't immediately react.

Later, it became even more troublesome because there were too many people in the neighboring villages with the same nickname. A couple of days ago, when she heard "Er Ya," she instinctively turned around and almost responded.

The old lady made the decision, "Alright, it's settled. I'll let your eldest brother and third brother know later."

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of children quarreling could be heard from outside.

Da Hu's serious tone was particularly distinct, "Da Bao, stop crying. You shouldn't ride the mule, it'll get hurt. You need to listen."

Da Bao sobbed, "You should call me 'brother'."

Da Hu was in a dilemma. You don't have any of the qualities of an older brother, so it's difficult to call you that.

Although Da Bao had been treating them well these past few days, he had also bullied them before, and Da Hu held grudges.

When Shu Yu was about to leave, she saw Da Hu's conflicted and melancholic expression.

Hmm, Da Hu... he should be sent to school. We may be poor, but we shouldn't neglect education. It's the right age for him to start studying.

Shu Yu decided that when she went to the county town tomorrow, she would inquire about it.

Early the next morning, Shu Yu went to knock on Lu Sanzhu's door and got the mule cart ready to go.

To her surprise, Da Niu came over just as she was preparing to leave.

"Er... Ah Yu, my father said I should go with you. After all, I'm a man and I have strength. If there's any heavy work in the shop, I can lend a hand. I'm familiar with the county town," Da Niu said. He felt a bit embarrassed after speaking, but yesterday when he returned home, his father told the whole family about Er Ya's plan to open a shop, which shocked them and left them speechless.

Who could have imagined that their uncle, who previously couldn't even walk due to leg pain, would now be able to rent a shop in the county town?

Anyway, they had discussed this matter for most of the night and went to bed very late.

Shu Yu didn't refuse Da Niu's kind offer. She had already thought about it before. If there was a shortage of manpower in the shop, she could ask Da Niu for help. In the few days they had spent together, Shu Yu was quite certain about Da Niu's character.

He was filial to his elders, cared for his younger siblings, attentive, and had a good sense of judgment.

Shu Yu invited him to sit on the mule cart, and they headed towards the village entrance together.

Lu Sanzhu stood at his doorstep, crossed his arms, and watched the cart depart. He snorted coldly, "Big brother is truly cunning. He knew that Er Bai's family was going to prosper, so he sent Da Niu to fawn over them. Disgusting."

He had his plans to go with Er Ya to the county town, hitching a ride, enjoying meals, and building relationships.

Now he had no chance at all. It was utterly disgusting.

Lu Sanzhu turned around resentfully and went back to sleep. After all, there were plenty of opportunities, and the mule cart was parked at their house.

Shu Yu and Da Niu soon arrived in the county town and first went to Ning Shui Street.

When Da Niu heard the name Ning Shui Street, he was startled and turned his head to ask, "Ah Yu, did you rent the shop on Ning Shui Street?"

"Yes," Shu Yu replied.

Da Niu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. The rent in that area was not cheap.

However, as the cart continued further inside, his whole body stiffened. As far as he knew, the rent inside was even more expensive.

(End of this chapter)

Shu Yu said, "I want Dad to help me make a few mannequins and clothes racks. But the clothes rack I want is not the standing one next to the bed. It's a small rack that can be hung anywhere."

Making a small rack wasn't a big issue, but...

"What's a mannequin?" Lu Erbai was unfamiliar with this new term.

Shu Yu explained it to him, and Lu Er Bai quickly understood. "Alright, Dad can make it for you soon."

Mannequins weren't large items. They could be made piece by piece and then assembled. It wasn't a problem for the current Lu Erbai.

"But there's no rush. What's important now is your leg. Dad, recover from your injury as soon as possible so you can help me at the shop."

Lu Erbai understood and replied, "I will rest appropriately."

With the arrangements settled, Shu Yu remembered the few acres of land at home and asked the old lady, "Grandmother, has the land been rented out?"

"I've asked your uncle to pay attention to that matter. I just discussed it with him when I went to his house earlier."

Initially, Lu Dasong didn't understand and was trying to persuade them, saying that once Lu Erbai's leg was healed, everything would be easier, and the few acres of land wouldn't be a problem.

It was at that moment when Da Hu and the others rushed in and interrupted their conversation, informing them that Shu Yu had returned.

"Er Ya, you mentioned before that you wanted to add another room to our house. I've thought it over and decided it's not urgent. There are too many things to handle with the shop, and we can't afford any distractions. Your mother also needs a peaceful environment for sewing, so let's wait until the shop is up and running before adding the room."

The old lady had made a wise decision. When the shop started making money, they would have more financial flexibility, and the pressure wouldn't be as great.

Shu Yu had no objections. She had initially thought that it would take longer to prepare the shop, which is why she wanted to build the house first.

Now, they couldn't spare too many hands.

"That's settled then. Tomorrow, I'll go to the county town to find some craftsmen. Dad, do you know any skilled craftsmen that you can recommend?" Shu Yu asked.

Lu Erbai had been a carpenter's apprentice in the county town before he got married, so he knew a few reliable craftsmen.

"Tomorrow, go to 57 East Gate Street and look for a craftsman surnamed Zheng. He's been a good friend of mine for many years, and he has helped us when our family was in difficulties. He has excellent craftsmanship, works diligently, and is fast, but his wages are not high. However, he injured someone years ago, and for some reason, people outside spread rumors that he has a bad temper and is difficult to get along with. They even say he threatens and intimidates his employers, so there are fewer people willing to hire him."

Shu Yu trusted her father's judgment and decided to find this craftsman named Zheng tomorrow.

With everything settled, Shu Yu planned to leave.

Just as she was getting up, Lu Erbai had a serious expression on his face and said, "There's one more thing we need to discuss."

"What is it?" the old lady asked.

Lu Er Bai said, "From now on, let's not call her 'Er Ya' but use her real name, Shu Yu, or Ah Yu."

The old lady frowned, "We're used to calling her 'Er Ya'."

Lu Er Bai helplessly explained, "Mother, although 'Er Ya' sounds affectionate, she's about to become the manager of the shop. While it's a common nickname in our village, if we call her that in front of customers, they might think it sounds unsophisticated and look down on her."

In his years of searching for Shu Yu, he had been to many places and met many people.

Most people were friendly, but some would sneer at such nicknames, considering them as something that a naive girl from the countryside would be called, unworthy of being compared to them.

(End of chapter)

Shu Yu then said to the old lady, "Grandmother, in the next few days, my mother won't have much free time, so the cooking will probably fall on you."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "That's nothing. I'm used to it. I'll make sure everything in the house is taken care of properly, so you don't have to worry."

Shu Yu thought that once they earned some money, they should hire a couple of servants. Although the old lady wasn't too old, she had worked hard in recent years and looked more exhausted compared to the gossiping old women at the village entrance.

Thinking about appearances, Shu Yu suddenly remembered the several boxes of cosmetics.

She hurriedly fetched the bundle and placed the boxes on the table.

"Grandmother, mother, pick two boxes."

"What is this?" Ruan Shi looked surprised at the various delicate ceramic jars on the table. The patterns on these jars were exquisite.

She couldn't help but pick one up and asked excitedly, "Is this the cosmetics you mentioned that were left to you by the Yu family?"

"Yes, these twenty or so boxes are of better quality. I thought of bringing them back to share with everyone."

Ruan Shi couldn't let go of them. When she was a young girl, the Ruan family didn't give her any money, so she wore coarse clothes and never adorned herself.

Later, when she married into the Lu family, Lu Erbai was unfamiliar with these things that girls used. But one time, he saw her looking at cosmetics at a small stall and knew she liked them, so he bought her a box.

But after just two days, Ruan Shi's mother came and took it away.

After that, Ruan Shi never bought cosmetics again and never used them.

The cosmetics in front of her were obviously of better quality than what she used to buy from the small stalls in town. Ruan Shi touched them and took a deep breath. Then she put them down and looked up at Shu Yu, saying, "I don't need these. Keep them for yourself and give them to those who need them in the future."

The old lady also chimed in, "Exactly, you're already at such a mature age. Using these things will only invite ridicule."

But Shu Yu still pushed the jars towards them. "That might not work. We're about to open our shop and receive all sorts of customers. We need to persuade them to buy our products and appreciate our craftsmanship. But if we don't even value our own appearance, why should the customers believe in our skills?"

Ruan Shi and the old lady couldn't find words to refute that logic. They had to accept it. However... even if they dressed up, they wouldn't look good.

Shu Yu smiled and said, "We can skip the cosmetics for now, but we still need to take care of our bodies and faces. At the very least, we can't be so thin. Our complexion should be a bit rosy. We can't skimp on meals in the coming days. We need to present ourselves properly as a family."

The old lady and Ruan Shi couldn't argue against it and had to agree. At this moment, they felt a bit regretful. Why did they open a clothing shop? It was unnecessary to spend money not only on the shop itself but also on their own well-being.

In the end, they picked two boxes from the jars.

Shu Yu packed up the rest and said, "I'll give one box to Big Sister later."

As for how and when to give it, they would figure it out later.

Shu Yu placed the bundle aside and turned to see Lu Erbai looking disappointed. She quickly figured out the reason.

She looked at Lu Er Bai and said, "Father, although you're currently in the recovery period, there's still something I need your help with."

Lu Erbai's spirit lifted, and he said, "Tell me, Father has no problem with that."

(End of this chapter)

Lu Dasong couldn't understand why they had to start with such a large investment, even if they wanted to do small business. They could start with low-cost options, such as setting up a small stall or selling small items as a peddler.

Renting a store in the county was a huge upfront investment. If they lost money, it would all be in vain.

Lu Dasong wanted to advise him, "Second brother, it's not easy to start a business by opening a store. You need to think carefully."

However, Lu Erbai smiled and said, "I know, big brother, don't worry. Er Ya has skills."

Skills?

He asked, "What skills?"

"Image design," Lu Erbai replied.

Lu Dasong widened his eyes, "What is that?" He had never even heard of it.

Shu Yu couldn't explain it well, so she just said, "Uncle, we've already paid the rent. It's impossible to back out now. As for how to make money, you'll understand once the store opens."

Lu Dasong still thought it was unreliable, but the old lady suddenly slapped him, "Enough, Er Ya said it's okay, then it's okay. You've never even been out of the county, you don't know anything compared to Er Ya."

Lu Dasong felt a pang of hurt. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, if it's gotten to this point, you can try it. If you need any help, just tell me."

The old lady snorted, "What's the use of telling you? Your wife isn't happy to help your younger brother."

Lu Dasong felt embarrassed, he stood up and said, "Well then, I'll go to Third Brother's house to take a look at the mule cart." Actually, he had been itching to go all along.

After saying this, he left and gave them space to discuss privately.

Shu Yu then said to the old lady, "We have rented a shop for two taels of silver per month on Ning Shui Street. I paid half a year's rent."

"Ning Shui Street?" Lu Erbai furrowed his brow. "The rent on Ning Shui Street shouldn't be that cheap. Er Ya, is there something wrong with that shop?"

"There's nothing wrong," Shu Yu said truthfully and explained that the shop was a favor from Lord Yu.

After hearing this, the old lady snorted. "He took too much money from you. If it weren't for him wanting the twins, old lady Ruan wouldn't have had such bad intentions. Luckily, Er Ya was there, or I would have hung myself in front of the Yu family's gate."

Lu Erbai quickly interjected, "Mother, don't talk nonsense."

Shu Yu grabbed the old lady's hand and said, "The rent is a bit cheap, so we shouldn't mention it to anyone else to avoid trouble."

"We understand," they all said in agreement.

"Now we need to clean up the shop. I've already asked the steward Yu to help us move the extra cabinets. Later, we'll find a craftsman to rearrange the layout, and then we can open for business," Shu Yu said and then turned to Ruan Shi. "Mother, you will be busy next. I've drawn some sketches of clothes...they may be a bit rough, but they convey the idea. Please make a small sample of the clothes according to my drawings. If there are no problems, you can make them into adult-sized clothes. As for the size...just make them according to my measurements."

Ruan Shi was slightly excited. "Okay, you tell me in detail. The other mothers may not be able to help much, but I can definitely make clothes. I can start today."

(The end of this chapter.)

Lu Sanzhu was excitedly circling around the donkey cart, his mouth watering.

Shu Yu looked on and took the opportunity to ask him, "Third Uncle, can I park this cart in your yard?"

"Of course, of course, of course," Lu Sanzhu said, his head nearly spinning. He was eager to oblige.

Shu Yu then took the packages out of the carriage and was about to call for San Ya and Da Hu when she saw them both equally excited, touching and looking at the cart.

Previously, they thought the mule cart was rented, so they didn't dare touch it, fearing they might break it.

Even Da Hu, who wanted to climb aboard, was held back by the other two.

Now that they knew the cart was theirs, the two children, being young, were unable to control themselves.

Shu Yu felt helpless, but she couldn't leave the three of them alone to play. If the donkey got angry and kicked them accidentally, there would be no place to cry.

After San Ya, Da Hu, and Da bao climbed into the cart and searched inside for a while, Shu Yu called to them, "Alright, the mule needs to rest. We'll go out for a ride another day. You guys go find milk at Uncle's house. Tell them I have something to discuss with them."

San Ya and Da Hu always did whatever she said, while Da Bao wanted to climb onto the donkey's back to sit. But now he was a little afraid of Shu Yu and didn't dare to provoke her, so he followed the others to Uncle Lu's house to find uncle Lu.

Shu Yu then said to Lu Sanzhu, "You take the mule back to your yard first and give it something to eat. Don't even think about taking it out to play, or else..."

Lu Sanzhu's idea of taking the donkey out was instantly suppressed, and he chuckled, "Don't worry, don't worry, I'll take good care of it."

Shu Yu then took the packages of rouge, powder, and silk fabric back into her house and then went to the room of Lu Erbai.

Ruan shi has already made the medicine and is now feeding it to Lu Erbai

"Shu Yu went to the county today and got some more medicine, which is now on the table."

Seeing that Lu Erbai had finished drinking the medicine, Shu Yu sat down opposite him and asked, "How do you feel today, Dad?"

"Much better, but I feel a little itchy. Doctor said it's normal though."

"That's good." Shu Yu checked on him and re-bandaged the wound.

Just as she finished, footsteps could be heard outside the door. 

The next moment, the old lady came in followed by Lu Dasong.

Before the old lady could say anything, Lu Dasong anxiously asked, "Er Ya, I heard from your grandma that you're going to open a shop?"

He didn't know about this until just now, when Da Hu and Da Bao rushed over and excitedly announced that Er Ya had bought a mule cart. 

On the way here, he asked the old lady what was going on. Why did they buy a cart when they couldn't even afford food a few days ago? 

At first, the old lady hadn't heard about any plans to buy a cart, but she knew Er Ya was planning to rent a shop in the county today. With the cart already prepared, it was clear that the shop had been secured as well.

She then told Lu Dasong about Er Ya plan to open a shop.

Lu Dasong was stunned. Just a few days ago, Lu's family couldn't even afford to eat, and now they were opening a shop?

It was obvious that Er Ya had provided the money, but the problem was that the Lu family had no experience running a shop. At most, Cui Hua's mother-in-law had a small food shop in town.

They had no experience and didn't know how to deal with people in business. There were so many things to consider in business, and if they lost money, what would they do?

This was too impulsive. Why didn't they save the money they had? 

(End of chapter)

Although Shu Yu was far away, she could hear a few voices suddenly raising their tone with a weird intonation.

"Look at the Lu family, they're really doing well. This family not only goes to the county town every day, but also rents mules. What's wrong, their legs aren't working anymore? They're more precious than us, who can still walk."

"You don't understand. That young lady who just came back from the city is obviously someone who has never suffered. Whenever she has a few coins in her hand, she spends them recklessly. Wait and see, once she's spent all her money, she'll be in for some hard times."

"Yeah, she's been back for so many days, and I haven't seen her go to the fields, or feed the pigs, or even wash clothes by the river. Every day, she just goes to the county town and comes back with all kinds of delicious food."

Someone tried to intervene, "Alright, let's stop talking about this. It's their own business."

"Why can't we talk about it? As far as I'm concerned, the Lu family should thank old lady Ruan. If it weren't for her selling her daughter to a wealthy man, who knows if they could live such a good life now? Not to mention, they could afford to come back and use their money to cure Lu's second son's leg, and buy them delicious food every day."

Suddenly, Shu Yu pulled on the reins, and the mule immediately stopped

She turned her head and looked at those women with a smile, "Since you mentioned old lady Ruan, have you heard about me smashing her house? What's the matter, do you want me to help you smash something while I'm here?"

The women were momentarily choked and dared not speak.

How could they forget that this girl could even take action against her own grandmother and uncle, and had a ruthless heart?

What if she got upset and went to their homes and smashed things around?

Shu Yu coldly swept her gaze over them, "Also, this mule cart wasn't rented, I bought it. If you're not happy, keep it to yourselves."

Bought? Bought a mule cart?

Has the Lu family gone crazy? What's the point of buying a mule cart that can't plow the fields or pull a millstone? They just keep it at home every day and feed it?

Shu Yu didn't bother to pay any attention to them and urged the mule cart to move on.

However, news of Lu Er Ya's purchase of a mule cart quickly spread throughout the village.

Shu Yu didn't think about hiding it, because it was impossible to keep such a thing a secret, especially since they were about to open a shop soon.

When she returned home, San Ya and Da Hu had already rushed out to greet her.

"Second sister, you're back?"

"Er Ya, you're back?" Even Da Bao followed up behind.

Shu Yu was surprised. Their relationship had become this good already?

She got off the mule cart and asked San Ya, "Is mother at home making medicine for father? And did grandma go to Uncle's house?"

"Yes, mother is making medicine for father, and grandmother went to Uncle's house."

"Okay, let's go inside and talk." As for the mule cart, it couldn't fit in Lu's small yard, so Shu Yu's gaze fell on the opposite house of Lu Sanzhu.

Hmm, Uncle San Zhu's yard was more spacious. Especially since he and Aunt were lazy and didn't plant anything in the yard, it was empty except for a few chickens in the corner.

Thinking about it, Shu Yu's mind was made up, and just as the thought came to her, she heard Lu Sanzhu's voice shouting from behind.

"Er Ya, I heard you bought a mule cart? Is this the mule cart you bought?"

Shu Yu turned her head and saw Lu Sanzhu's eyes glowing as he ran quickly towards them.

In the blink of an eye, he had stopped in front of the mule cart, almost failing to stop his feet from colliding with it.

Just like modern men who have little resistance to the charm of cars, men of this era also had pitiful resistance to mule carts and horse carts.

(End of chapter)

Shu Yu followed the steward Yu to inspect the remaining rouge and powder. They were actually quite good, except for a few that were not very good, the rest of the twenty or so boxes were better than what Cui Hua and the others bought from the rouge shop in town.

Shu Yu thanked Steward Yu and he left, along with the middleman who received the commission.

Shu Yu stayed behind to inspect the shop. Now she was the only one in the shop, and she had to think carefully about how to arrange it according to the layout of the shop.

It wasn't until she walked out of the shop that Steward Yu whispered to the middleman, "You must keep what happened just now a secret, especially the rent. Our master also knows about their situation, and with this kind of connection, it's known that their family has suffered some fright and unjust treatment. If we didn't encounter this, it would be okay, but if we did, we could help them a little bit, and it could be considered as giving them some relief. We didn't directly waive the rent, but we also took care of the girl's self-esteem. However, if this matter is spread out, it's bound to destroy the market."

The middleman nodded in understanding. "I understand, I understand."

Steward Yu gave the middleman a couple of silver coins and left with a smile

The Yu family didn't care about the small amount of rent for the shop. If possible, the master would like to sell the shop directly. But now that he had just announced to the public that his wife was seriously ill, if he rushed to sell the shop she managed, outsiders would inevitably be suspicious and cause more trouble. It was better to rent it for a while and sell it later when the situation had calmed down.

Moreover, after listening to what the nun said, the master had been doing good deeds during this period of time, especially when it came to the matter of the children, which he took extra care of. Those twins who almost suffered a calamity, of course, had to be helped.

After Shu Yu finished inspecting the shop inside and out, she was very satisfied.

Then she went next door to the silk shop and bought some better quality fabrics. She picked and chose some good rouge and powders and prepared to go back.

When she passed by the carriage and horse shop, Shu Yu hesitated for a moment. She needed to buy a cart, not to mention a carriage, but at least a mule cart would be convenient for delivering goods and traveling.

She inquired and found out that there weren't many horses in Jiangyuan County, and good horses were out of the question. Those who had money and power all went to the capital to buy them. Therefore, the price of horses here was around fifteen to twenty-five taels.

"The mules are much cheaper, the lowest being eight taels, and the highest being twelve taels," the seller said.

After some hesitation, Shu Yu turned and went to the market for cattle and horses. Half an hour later, she led out a mule-drawn cart. The seller stood behind her, sighing incessantly, "This young girl sure knows how to bargain." He thought she was young and ignorant, and that he could make a killing off of her.

Unexpectedly, the mule that was originally priced at twelve taels ended up being sold for only eleven taels. But that wasn't all. The cart that was attached to the back was both beautiful and sturdy, and she was swindled into buying it.

Shu Yu gave twelve taels for both the mule and the cart, essentially getting the cart for free.

Shu Yu smiled as she put everything on the cart and headed towards Shishi Village. She had learned how to drive a mule-drawn cart, and the mule was well-behaved, making the journey smooth and easy.

As soon as she arrived at the entrance to Shishi Village, the cart caught the attention of the villagers. There were only two cows and a donkey in the entire village, so no one had ever bought a mule-drawn cart before.

Assuming that Shu Yu had rented the cart, since she had rented one twice before, the villagers glanced at her and then turned their heads to whisper in hushed tones.

(End of this chapter)

Quan Zhong was shocked as he looked at Steward Yu. How could there still be room for bargaining after such a low price was offered?

However, Shu Yu had a look of delight on her face and tried hard to suppress her excitement. She pursed her lips, coughed lightly, and said, "Three taels of silver...Actually, for families like us who live in the countryside, it's still a bit difficult. After all, during the initial stages of opening a shop, we're not sure if we can make money, and the rent is a fixed expense. Hmm..."

She pondered for a moment and cautiously asked, "Steward Yu, what do you think of this? I'll pay half a year's rent in one go. Can you give us a discount of two taels of silver?"

The veins on the foreheads of the Quan Zhong twitched. How dare she ask for two taels of silver? Why didn't she just go and rob someone?

Moreover, the rent for shops in Jiangyuan County is generally paid annually, and some cheaper ones even require payment for three years in one go.

And yet, she dared to haggle so fiercely for just half a year's rent?

The Quan Zhong were afraid that Shu Yu's ignorance would offend Steward Yu and lead him to drive them out. They were about to speak up and ease the situation, but Steward Yu's face did stiffen for a moment before he quickly nodded and said, "Okay."

Shu Yu was stunned. She had underestimated her bargaining skills.

She felt regretful in her heart but looked very pleased on the surface. "So, is it settled? Shall we sign the lease now?"

"Okay." Steward Yu instructed the Quan Zhong to prepare the lease, which would require signatures from all three parties.

During this time, Steward Yu suddenly remembered something and asked, "May I ask, Miss Lu, what kind of shop are you planning to open?"

If it was a grocery store or something similar, then forget about it. Opening a grocery store in this area is definitely a losing proposition.

"It's a clothing store," Shu Yu replied.

"A clothing store?" Steward Yu was taken aback and suddenly had a feeling that they might lose even more money.

"Don't worry, Steward Yu. We'll take good care of this shop. Also, I looked at the layout of the store just now, and we won't make any major changes. We might just need to move some cabinets," Shu Yu said with a smile.

"I'm worried about this?" 

But the steward is just a steward, he doesn't know much about business. As long as this shop is not used to sell things like incense, candles, and paper money, he won't stop us.

The middleman quickly brought the lease agreement for both parties to sign.

Shu Yu immediately gave twelve taels of silver as rent, as well as five taels of silver as a deposit.

This cost her a total of seventeen taels of silver, which made her heart ache.

After everything was settled, the steward didn't want to stay any longer. Since everything that needed to be thrown away had been thrown away, he planned to go back to town.

After walking a few steps, he remembered something, "Oh, by the way, Miss Lu, there is some rouge and face powder in the shop. I don't know if you need it, but you can have it all."

Anyway, the master said to let him handle it himself. If he could sell it, he would sell it. If he couldn't sell it, he wouldn't bring it back.

Shu Yu actually needed it. She was a visual designer and the demand for rouge and face powder was quite high.

But just now, the middleman had said that all the better quality goods had been bought by the shop opposite. And her target customers were all well-off, so if she used this kind of rouge and face powder, she might ruin her reputation.

However, the rouge and face powder sold by the Yu family was still okay. Even if it was slightly inferior, for farmers in Shishi Village, they might not be able to afford it anyway. She could also give it away as a gift with confidence.

Shu Yu nodded, "Steward Yu, you're such a good person."

Steward Yu smiled and said, "Miss Lu, you're only flattering me now that the lease agreement has been signed, isn't it a little too late?" 

(End of this chapter)

However, in the next moment, Shu Yu said, "This money is not easy to come by, so I have to go back and discuss it with my parents. Maybe we can raise some money from relatives and friends since we need capital for our business later."

The entire group facepalmed, and even the butler was getting impatient, about to say that if they couldn't come up with the money, they wouldn't rent the shop.

But unexpectedly, Shu Yu said, "Butler Yu, could you wait a moment? My family lives in Shishi Village, not far from here, and I will be back this afternoon."

Yu, the butler, raised his hand and asked, "Shishi Village?"

Shu Yu innocently nodded and said, "Yes, I promise I will be back within an hour."

Butler Yu furrowed his brows and asked hesitantly, "Is your surname Lu?"

Shu Yu nodded again and said, "Yes, that's right."

"I heard there are twin siblings with the surname Lu in Shishi Village. Do you know them?" Butler Yu asked.

Shu Yu took a step back in alarm, on guard, and said, "Why do you ask about the twin siblings? Don't tell me the Yu family hasn't given up on taking my younger brother and sister away? I heard that Lord Yu didn't know about this and even smashed the Ruan family. Isn't this matter over yet?"

Butler Yu looked at her with a complicated expression. It turned out that the twin siblings were her younger brother and sister. He sighed heavily and said, "Miss Lu, let's sit down and talk about renting the shop."

Shu Yu still didn't move and said, "Butler Yu, renting the shop has nothing to do with my younger brother and sister. I do like the location of this shop very much, but I wouldn't exchange it for their safety. I thought these were two separate matters, so when I found out from Quanzhong that this shop belonged to the Yu family, I thought it wouldn't be mixed up. Anyway, we don't know each other, and both of our families are innocent victims. But if you have any intentions towards my family, I won't rent it."

"Miss Lu." Seeing that she was about to leave, Yu the housekeeper hurriedly stopped her and said helplessly, "Miss Lu, please calm down and listen to me. Our master really didn't know about this. There were rumors about adopting twins before, but that was a plot against us. Who knew that the Ruan family would take advantage of it to harm your family. As for this matter, it has indeed passed."

"Really?" 

Yu the housekeeper nodded sincerely, "Really."

Quan Zhongren listened roughly from the side. He was a local person and well-informed. Although the master's house was in the town, he, as a person of his status, could not have been unaware of the incident where someone went and smashed a peasant's house. However, what Quan zhong didn't know was that the rumored twins were actually her younger brother and sister.

Quan Zhongren saw that the housekeeper Yu's attitude had softened and knew that this was a good opportunity. He quickly tried to persuade Lu.

Shu Yu nimbly walked down the steps and soon sat down with the housekeeper in a room that had already been cleaned up.

"Miss Lu, I apologize for raising the rent earlier. I mainly did it because you are young, and I was afraid that you were just fooling around. Now that I know about your family's situation, let's talk formally. According to the market here, this shop should cost about three to five taels of silver."

Quan Zhongren's mouth twitched. Three to five taels of silver was considered the lowest price.

Who knew that the housekeeper would continue, "Of course, Miss Lu can still negotiate the price."

(End of chapter)