Chapter 127: Cooperation with Reliable People

 Chapter 126: He Disgusts Me

Intense??

Meng Yunzheng actually used the words "intense"?

If it were before, Shu Yu's reaction wouldn't have been so quick, but she had just learned that Zhang Shu hadn't touched Da Ya for two years, and her mind already felt that something was off about him.

So almost as soon as Meng Yunzheng wrote the last two words, she immediately understood.

Looking at Meng Yunzheng again, elegant and talented, even someone like her who had seen plenty of handsome male celebrities in the modern entertainment industry couldn't help but say that he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

Not to mention Zhang Shu, who had never left the county in his entire life. If he really were the same, could he even muster the courage to approach Meng Yunzheng?

No wonder the Pu's matter had been resolved long ago, yet he stayed in the county instead of going back. No wonder a person who was clearly familiar with the county would ask a stranger for directions. So that's how it is.

Shu Yu confirmed Zhang Shu's problem but became even more furious. "This trash, scum, despicable person with an ugly appearance and a poisonous heart, how has this mentally challenged creature survived this long without being struck down by the heavens?"

Meng Yunzheng looked up and quietly watched her.

Shu Yu finished her tirade and stopped, lowering her head to meet his gaze directly. She didn't feel the least bit embarrassed for swearing, but instead said, "I got a bit carried away. Don't mind it."

Shu Yu didn't reject homosexuality at all. Whether someone liked men or women was their own freedom, and emotions were not something one could control.

But if you like someone, go pursue them and find a way to be together. Why drag an innocent woman into it? Make her bear all the rumors and gossip, suffer at home, and carry immense psychological pressure and grievances. Ruin her life completely.

Shu Yu thought Zhang Shu deserved to die, that a thousand cuts wouldn't be enough.

She exhaled slowly and said to Meng Yunzheng, "Thank you, Young Master Meng, for telling me about this. I will handle this matter properly and make sure he won't bother you again."

Meng Yunzheng looked at her intently, then lowered his head to write, "What is he to you?"

This matter would inevitably become a big scandal, and Shu Yu had no intention of hiding it. Her gaze turned cold. "He's my brother-in-law."

Those three words stunned Meng Yunzheng for a moment. He remained silent for a long time before writing, "What do you want to do? I can help you."

Shu Yu was taken aback, "Hmm?"

Meng Yunzheng wrote, "His behavior disgusts me."

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, "Hmm, it seems Zhang Shu has truly become everyone's target."

Meng Yunzheng asked again, "Do you have any plans?"

"Not yet, but the outcome I desire is for my sister to divorce him, for his homosexual activities to be exposed, and for him to be ruined and become everyone's target. I wonder what Young Master Meng thinks?"

Meng Yunzheng lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment, then began writing. Perhaps he had grown accustomed to writing slowly with a charcoal pencil, but now it flowed smoothly and quickly.

"He should have a place to stay in the county. Let's start by finding his residence."

Shu Yu replied, "Not only does he have a place to stay, but he might also have a lover. He realized his interest in men many years ago, and for most of these years, he has been doing odd jobs in the county and rarely goes home. It's highly likely that he has a family here."

Meng Yunzheng nodded and wrote, "Given his age, his lover is probably not young."

"Which means there might be another person deceived by him, just like my sister."

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 125: Fiery Gaze

Lu Sanzhu had already inquired about the address from Da Niu a long time ago. Yesterday, the first thing he did after coming to the county was to come and take a look at the shop. He even arrogantly instructed Zheng Gong and the others, as if he were the owner himself.

It's fortunate that Zheng Gong knew Lu Erbai and understood Lu Sanzhu's character. He simply smiled and didn't say much, and the two of them chatted for a while.

Shu Yu got off the mule cart, and Lu Sanzhu immediately said, "I'll go find someone right now."

Without even entering the shop, he led the mule cart away.

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Shu Yu entered the store.

Zheng Gong was indeed fast. It was only the third day, and he had already almost finished repairing the fitting rooms and the passage. They would deal with the remaining details after completing all the repairs. Now they were starting to renovate the hall.

Seeing Shu Yu coming over, Zheng Gong wiped away his sweat and said, "Ms Lu, take a look. Is the handling of the fitting rooms acceptable? According to your instructions, they have good ventilation and lighting."

Shu Yu looked and saw that it was exactly as she had imagined.

She nodded in satisfaction and discussed further with Zheng Gong.

When she came out again, she saw a young worker suddenly approaching and saying, "Ms Lu, there's a quite noble gentleman outside. I don't know what he wants. He's just standing at the entrance and smiling, shaking his head when asked any questions."

Shu Yu was startled and followed the worker to the shop's entrance.

Then she looked at the person in front of her with surprise and said, "Master Meng? Are you here to see me?"

Meng Yunzheng nodded and glanced inside the shop.

Shu Yu immediately said, "Come in, please have a seat first."

Meng Yunzheng smiled at Zheng Gong and the others, displaying a gentle and refined demeanor that made people unconsciously feel a warm breeze.

Seeing the kind expressions on Zheng Gong and the others, Meng Yunzheng understood that it wasn't his smile that was the problem; it was Shu Yu's gaze.

His perfectly executed smile... was clearly flawless.

Shu Yu took Meng Yunzheng to the backyard, which had already been partitioned off. Although it was a bit messy, at least there was enough private space.

"Meng Gongzi, please have a seat. I'll go pour you a glass of water," Shu Yu said.

But Meng Yunzheng stopped her with a hand gesture.

Shu Yu asked, "Do you want paper and pen?"

Seeing him nod, Shu Yu agreed, "Alright, wait a moment."

Their communication indeed relied heavily on paper and pen.

Shu Yu quickly returned with the items. However, when Meng Yunzheng saw the rough paper and charcoal pen, his facial expression involuntarily cracked.

Shu Yu waved her hand and said, "Just make do with them for now. I haven't prepared ink and paper for painting. This paper is a bit rough but durable, suitable for Zheng Gong's painting size."

Meng Yunzheng remained silent.

He took the charcoal pen, and his fingers were instantly stained black.

Glancing at it briefly, he continued writing.

Shu Yu didn't need to ask; he had already written down his purpose for coming here.

However, initially, Shu Yu thought he had encountered some problem and wanted her help. But to her surprise, Meng Yunzheng wrote about Zhang Shu.

"The man who asked me for directions a few days ago, do you know him?" he wrote.

Shu Yu frowned and nodded, "Yes, you... have you seen him again?"

Meng Yunzheng thought Shu Yu was truly perceptive and nodded slightly.

Shu Yu immediately became alert. "Where did you see him? What was he doing when you saw him?"

Meng Yunzheng lowered his head and continued writing, "He was at my doorstep. These past two days, whenever I went out, I saw him squatting at the door, watching me. His gaze..."

He paused his pen for a moment, glanced at Shu Yu, and continued writing, "His gaze was intense."

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 124: Has Zhang Shu Disappeared?

Shu Yu and Da Ya were in the room helping Ruan Shi cut the fabric. Ruan Shi was fast, and within two days, she had finished all the templates based on Shu Yu's drawings.

The sample clothes looked great, and Ruan Shi planned to start making the finished garments. If she finished them early, she could open the shop sooner.

However, the fabrics Shu Yu bought were expensive, including some silk mixed in. Ruan Shi was afraid of damaging the fabric, so she washed her hands several times and used the ointment Shu Yu brought to moisturize them.

The two sisters carefully assisted in cutting the fabric.

At this moment, the loud voice of Lu Sanzhu came from outside the door, "Ah Yu, I'm back! Come out, I need to tell you something."

Ruan Shi's hand trembled, and she nearly cut the fabric wrong with the scissors.

Shu Yu, quick to react, hurriedly steadied her hand and said, "Mother, it's okay, take it slowly."

Ruan Shi breathed a sigh of relief and felt an intense urge to rush out of the room and scold Lu Sanzhu.

Even the old lady took the twins outside to collect firewood and feed the pigs, just to provide them a quiet working environment. Yet, as soon as Lu Sanzhu entered, he started shouting.

Shu Yu asked Ruan Shi to finish cutting the fabric before putting it down and saying, "I'll go out and see."

"Go ahead."

Shu Yu left the room, and Lu Sanzhu hurriedly approached her.

He led her to a corner of the courtyard wall and, without waiting for Shu Yu to speak, anxiously said, "Ah Yu, I can't find Zhang Shu. He's gone missing."

"Missing?"

Lu Sanzhu nodded vigorously and said, "Early in the morning, I went to Da Yan Village first. I heard from the neighbors next to Zhang's house that Zhang Shu went to Master Pu's house in the county town to do temporary work. I immediately drove the mule cart to the county town and inquired at Master Pu's house. You know what they said? Master Pu's servants said that a few days ago, they did hire five or six people to help with transportation and organizing at the estate, but that work was finished several days ago, and everyone was paid and sent back."

Shu Yu furrowed her brows.

Lu Sanzhu swallowed and continued, "By the way, the day they settled the wages at the Pu family was the day after your celebration. It's been a few days, and he still hasn't returned home. I thought maybe Zhang Shu found some other work, so I asked around at several households that hire temporary labor, but I couldn't find any trace of Zhang Shu. Do you think something happened to him?"

Something happened? What could possibly happen?

She saw Zhang Shu when she went to the county town that day.

Lu Sanzhu furrowed his brow and pondered. However, his mind was not as sharp as Shu Yu's, and he couldn't figure out the reason even after thinking for a long time. So he simply said, "But don't worry, leave this matter to me. I will definitely handle it properly. Tomorrow, lend me your mule cart again, and I'll inquire about it. I have plenty of friends in the county town, and I'll get news soon."

Shu Yu listened to his bragging and nodded, indicating that she understood. "Good. I'm also going to the county town tomorrow. Let's go together."

"Okay."

Shu Yu didn't tell Da Ya and the others about not finding Zhang Shu.

The next morning, she set off for the county town again with Lu Sanzhu.

Lu Sanzhu skillfully drove the horse cart to the front of the ready-made clothes shop on Ningshui Street. Shu Yu glanced at him askance, "Have you been here before?" She had rented this shop and brought Da Niu and Da Ya here.

Even the old lady and the others hadn't had time to come to the county town these days.

Lu Sanzhu immediately lowered his head and looked around, feeling somewhat guilty.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 123: The Role of Lu Sanzhu

After going through this experience, the entire Lu family stood on the same side, determined to make Da Ya divorce Zhang Shu.

Immediately, Shu Yu went to find Lu Sanzhu across the street. Lu Sanzhu looked confused and asked, "What's wrong? Did you come to see your donkey? Don't worry, it's well-fed and in good spirits."

"...I came to see you." Are you the donkey?

Shu Yu was speechless. She glanced at Liang Shi, who was peeking her head out of the kitchen while washing, and then took Lu Sanzhu to the courtyard, standing next to the donkey cart. She asked him, "Do you know which household in the county town Zhang Shu is working for as a laborer?"

Lu Sanzhu shook his head, "How would I know?"

Shu Yu pursed her lips. Da Ya didn't know either, so it seemed that only Zhang's family would know.

"Here's the plan. Tomorrow, go and find out where Zhang Shu is working. Once you find him, secretly keep an eye on him, observe what he's doing and who he's interacting with."

Considering that he had previously found out about the affairs between the Ruan family and the Yu family, Shu Yu entrusted him with this kind of gossip.

Upon hearing this, Lu Sanzhu's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. He asked eagerly, "Are you planning to take action against Zhang's family?"

But in the next moment, he became puzzled again, "Why are you keeping an eye on Zhang Shu? Zhang Shu is a good person. You should be keeping an eye on Zhang's family."

"I have my own plan. Just keep an eye on Zhang Shu."

"Alright." Lu Sanzhu's eyes wandered, and he suddenly became doubtful, "But Zhang Shu is in the county town. I have to rely on my two legs to go back and forth between Da Yan Village and the county town. I don't have the energy."

As he spoke, his eyes occasionally glanced at the muke cart beside them.

Shu Yu "..."

She said, "You can use the mule cart tomorrow." It just so happened that she had already handed the keys to Zheng Gong, so she wouldn't be going to the county town tomorrow. There were still many things to take care of at home.

Lu Sanzhu jumped up happily, "Don't worry, I'll take care of your affairs clearly and unmistakably."

As Shu Yu left, Liang Shi couldn't wait and came out, wiping her hands on her clothes. She leaned closer and asked, "What did Ah Yu come to you for?"

Lu Sanzhu looked mysterious and said, "What else could it be? Let me tell you, Zhang's family is finished. Ah Yu wants to avenge Da Ya."

Liang Shi clicked her tongue, "Avenge what? She's young and just can't think straight. Da Ya married into Zhang's family, and now that she has offended Zhang's family, if she goes back, won't she suffer even more? Your second brother and sister-in-law should advise her more. Let me tell you, don't get involved. If Da Ya doesn't live well later, she might even blame you."

Lu Sanzhu waved his hand impatiently and said, ''I didn't get involved. I just helped find out where Zhang Shu was working. If there was really trouble, I would have stayed far away. Don't worry.''

Liang Shi didn't ask further. She still thought Shu Yu was too young and had a simplistic understanding of things, lacking knowledge of social conventions.

She thought to herself that she would ruin Da Ya's life later and see how Shu Yu would handle the situation.

Lu Sanzhu didn't dwell on these thoughts. He couldn't calm down, knowing that he would have the freedom to enjoy the mule cart all day tomorrow, which he had been craving for three days. Excitedly, he even got up in the middle of the night to feed the mule, and the next morning he woke up early to clean the carriage.

After everything was prepared, he had the proud look of 'this mule cart is mine' and drove out of the village.

He first went to Da Yan Village to inquire and then headed to the county town.

However, not long after noon, he returned.

Compared to his radiant appearance when he left, Lu Sanzhu came back with a dejected and downcast look.

After parking the mule cart, he hurriedly came to find Shu Yu.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 121: Getting Rid of the Zhang Family

However...

Shu Yu understood her concerns. "You don't have to worry about dragging us down. The current problem lies with Zhang Shu. If you had wanted a divorce earlier, others might have criticized our family, thinking that we were too domineering and that you couldn't bear any suffering. They would have even attacked you for not being able to conceive. But once the real reason is exposed, the rumors and gossip will mostly concentrate on Zhang Shu and the Zhang family."

Shu Yu sneered and continued, "Give me a few days, and I will find evidence that will ruin the Zhang family."

If Zhang Shu had only become impotent but had treated Da Ya well over the past two years, Shu Yu wouldn't have acted so ruthlessly.

But now, unless she completely ruins the Zhang family, she won't be surnamed Lu.

Da Ya sat beside Shu Yu on the shaft of the cart, gazing at the scenery along the way, breathing the air that no longer felt suffocating and oppressive.

Finally, she nodded slowly and said, "Okay, I will divorce him."

Shu Yu turned her head and glanced at her, finally seeing a glimmer of hope in Da Ya's eyes.

She smiled faintly, shook the reins, and said, "Drive..."

The two sisters returned home, and Lu Dasong and Lu Sanzhu also came back.

Lu Dasong and Lu Sanzhu were both at the Lu family's place. While helping Lu Erbai cut wood for modeling, they angrily talked about their visit to the Zhang family.

When they saw Shu Yu, Lu Sanzhu didn't waste any time and dropped the piece of wood he was holding, rushing over to complain. "Ah Yu, you finally came back. Let me tell you, the Zhang family is shameless. We went to Dayan Village early this morning to settle the score, but all the men from the Zhang family were hiding. Only old woman and her two daughters-in-law came out to argue with us."

Unfortunately, those who went from the Lu family were all grown men, and when faced with women's tantrums and curses, besides Lu Sanzhu responding in kind, the others were somewhat at a loss.

Even though Lu Sanzhu was audacious, he was still just one person. The old woman had lost face the day before yesterday and didn't care about her image anymore. She brazenly said all sorts of dirty and offensive things that no one could bear to listen to.

Mr. Feng and Mr. Zhou came over to interfere with them. Lu Dasong song couldn't do anything about it. If things continued like this, even they themselves wouldn't be able to explain clearly. They had no choice but to leave Dayan Village as soon as possible.

Lu Sanzhu, enraged, said, "If it wasn't for my eldest brother stopping me, I would have almost resorted to violence. If I had known earlier, I would have taken my wife and sister-in-law with me to see who could out-argue whom."

Lu Dasong sighed on the side and said, "Ah, I thought that with a few of us men going over, the Zhang family would also send out a few men to deal with us. Who knew..." The other side unexpectedly disregarded martial virtue and had several women confront them.

Lu Dasong felt ashamed. With so many of them, they were still less effective than Shu Yu and Da Niu were yesterday.

Shu Yu pondered for a moment and asked, "Is Zhang Shu not at home?"

"No, he's not," Lu Sanzhu sneered. "He went to the county town to do casual labor. He probably hasn't received the news yet. According to what that old woman meant, she doesn't plan on telling Zhang Shu at all. She even said that once Da Ya leaves, she shouldn't come back. She doesn't have in-laws like us. If they divorce Da Ya, she won't let Zhang Shu take Da Ya back... She..."

"Third brother," Lu Dasong interrupted him with a stern voice, looking at Da Ya, afraid that she would feel uncomfortable.

However, Da Ya remained calm. On the way back, she had gradually come to accept Shu Yu's words.

Seeing that Uncle and Third Uncle seemed reluctant to speak in front of her, she said to the others, "I'm going inside to help mother make clothes."

After saying that, she left.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 120: Da Ya's Breakdown

Shu Yu took a deep breath and looked at Da Ya, who sat there restlessly fidgeting with her fingers. She thought about the suffering Da Ya had endured over the past two years. The ridicule she faced from others for not getting pregnant, the constant nagging from the Zhang family, and the enormous psychological pressure she had to bear.

Shu Yu felt heartbroken for her. She embraced Da Ya's shoulders and whispered in her ear, "Sister, consummating the marriage is not as simple as two people sleeping in the same bed. It doesn't guarantee having a child."

In a soft voice, Shu Yu briefly explained to the still naive Da Ya what it meant to engage in intimate relations between a man and a woman, the joy of physical love.

She also mentioned that the decision of having a boy or a girl ultimately rested with the man.

The more Da Ya listened, the more shocked she became. She couldn't even grasp why her younger sister, who had not yet married, knew so much about such matters. Her worldview was completely shattered, leaving her speechless for a while.

After a while, her body began to tremble gently, and the trembling grew stronger. Eventually, she couldn't sit still and felt like sliding to the ground.

"S-So, I, I..."

Shu Yu firmly held her shoulder. "Sister, you are still pure. It's not that you can't have children; you never had the chance. Zhang Shu has deceived you for two years."

"But, but why? What does he gain from doing this?" Da Ya's lips quivered, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears. "What does he want? He said he likes children. He has been lying to me all these years and allowed his parents and siblings to constantly scold me. He never defended me."

Shu Yu sneered, "Either he is incapable, or..."

Thinking of another possibility, Shu Yu's face turned extremely grim.

She patted Da Ya's back. "Sister, don't be afraid. You still have us. We won't let them bully you anymore."

Da Ya lifted her head and stared blankly at her. After a while, she finally broke down and hugged Shu Yu tightly, crying in pain. "Ah Yu, these past two years, I've suffered so much. I'm on the verge of collapse. Several times, I've looked at the water in the creek and thought of jumping in to end it all."

Shu Yu tightened her grip, her eyes turning red.

Zhang Shu deserved to die a thousand deaths.

"Shu Yu, Shu Yu? What's happening?" Suddenly, Doctor Xu's voice came from outside the door.

It was probably Da Ya's sudden crying that made him think something was wrong.

Shu Yu quickly replied, "It's nothing." She took a handkerchief and wiped Da Ya's face, whispering, "Stay here for a while, I'll go out."

Da Ya choked and murmured, "Okay."

Shu Yu went out and had a brief conversation with Doctor Xu, then she took the medicine he prescribed and went back inside.

Da Ya calmed down a bit, but she was already extremely weak. Shu Yu helped her sit up and then said, "Let's go, let's go home first."

"Okay," Da Ya's voice was hoarse. When she stood up, she stumbled, but fortunately, Shu Yu supported her.

Da Ya forced a faint smile at her, and they went out together.

Doctor Xu glanced at Da Ya's swollen eyes, didn't say anything, and only asked Shu Yu to bring San Ya to see him another day.

Da Ya remained silent for the rest of the time, her heart in turmoil.

Shu Yu returned to the shop and handed the keys to Zheng Gong, planning to go back to the village first.

It wasn't until they were on the mule cart and out of the city that Shu Yu asked Da Ya, "Do you want to divorce now?"

Yes, she wanted to, very much. Da Ya deeply hated Zhang Shu and didn't want to continue living with him.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 119: Zhang Shu, the despicable man

Shu Yu remembered that in this era, unless they had access to special channels, unmarried women would typically be taught about marital relations by their close elders on the night before their wedding.

Could it be that Ruan Shi was too shy to say anything? She didn't mention it?

Da Ya thought for a moment, "On the day before the wedding, Mother did say she wanted to have a private conversation with me and teach me about being a daughter-in-law. However, then Grandma came over and made a scene about not being informed of her granddaughter's wedding, causing a lot of trouble. By the time the situation was resolved and she sent Grandma away, it was already late. Mother was afraid I would look tired the next day, so she didn't say much more, just told me that Zhang Shu understood..."

Ruan Shi was a shy person by nature, and it took courage for her to even consider speaking about intimate matters. But then old lady Ruan arrived, and it happened to be her maternal relative causing a commotion at the doorstep, attracting many onlookers.

Ruan Shi was so busy and overwhelmed that day that she didn't have a chance to say anything. The words she told Da Ya about Zhang Shu understanding were only mentioned the next day.

After all, when Ruan Shi got married herself, old lady Ruan didn't say much to her either. It was all taught to her by Lu Erbai.

Later, when Da Ya married into Dayan Village as a new daughter-in-law, no one was so tactless as to approach her and talk about explicit matters.

And later on, Da Ya became occupied with chores and had too many important things to do. She had no time for gossip or idle conversations with other women. The only source of knowledge she had in this aspect was Zhang Shu.

Shu Yu tightened her fingers slightly. Da Ya didn't know, but Zhang Shu couldn't possibly be ignorant as well, right?

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, Shu Yu asked Da Ya again, "On the second day of your wedding, did your mother-in-law say anything? Like... asking if there was any blood on the bedsheet?"

Shu Yu knew that the absence of blood the first time didn't necessarily mean the person wasn't a virgin, but most people in this era considered it as the standard.

Zhang's mother-in-law, with her despicable character, must have cared a lot about this.

After thinking for a moment, Da Ya said, "There was blood on the bedsheet. On the night of our wedding, Zhang Shu was drunk, stumbling as he entered the room. I don't know where he knocked his fingers, and blood droplets started oozing out. When he collapsed on the bed, the blood stained the sheets. I was worried and wanted to go find someone, but he stopped me, saying it wouldn't be auspicious if news of the injury on our wedding night spread. Others might think it was a bad omen."

At that time, she had just married into the family and was at a loss, so she naturally believed whatever Zhang Shu said.

The next morning, when she went to cook, her mother-in-law took the opportunity to enter her room. She was terrified when she saw her, but her mother-in-law didn't say anything and even smiled at her.

She asked Zhang Shu about the bedsheet incident, and he said he had come up with an excuse to brush it off and told her not to bring it up again to avoid being scolded.

At that time, Da Ya was grateful to him, thinking that her new husband was defending her and believed that she would be happy in the future.

Upon hearing this, Shu Yu's eyes turned icy cold. Zhang Shu indeed understood. Not only did he understand, but he also deliberately presented himself as someone who cared for others, making Da Ya grateful. He was truly skilled at manipulating others' emotions.

As Da Ya observed Shu Yu's expression and recalled the questions she had asked, she suddenly felt restless and uneasy.

She sensed that something was amiss.

"Yu, is it... is there something wrong with your brother-in-law?" she asked anxiously.

"He certainly has a problem, and it's a very big problem," Shu Yu replied through gritted teeth.

The Zhang family was despicable, and Zhang Shu was even more despicable.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 118: Do You Know What "First Night" Means?

Shu Yu nodded, "Okay. By the way, Doctor Xu, please prepare the medicine for my father. I'll take it later. Can I use your backyard?"

Doctor Xu looked at the bags of medicine in her hand and thought she wanted to borrow his equipment again for making scar ointment or something similar. Since it had happened before, he didn't mind and waved his hand, "Go ahead."

Shu Yu took Da Ya directly to the backyard, entered the room where Shu Yu had stayed before, and closed the door behind them. She sat down and pulled Da Ya to sit as well.

Da Ya's heart was filled with unease. She didn't understand what Shu Yu was planning to do. Shu Yu had been wearing a gloomy expression since they left the clinic. Could there be something wrong with her condition?

Sitting across from Da Ya, Shu Yu took a deep breath and lowered her voice, "Sister, I'm going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer me honestly."

Da Ya nodded eagerly, "Ask, ask away. I promise to answer honestly."

"Don't be nervous."

Da Ya didn't want to be nervous either, but her younger sister's expression was too serious.

Shu Yu opened her mouth but suddenly didn't know where to begin. How could she express the matter of a sister and her husband's intimate relations without it becoming too awkward?

"...Sister, did you and Zhang Shu not have the 'first night'?"

Da Ya widened her eyes, her face blushing, "Er Ya, how can you ask such a question? You're an unmarried girl, you shouldn't speak of such things."

"But did you or didn't you?"

She's still asking?

Da Ya felt somewhat embarrassed, "Your brother-in-law and I have been married for two years, so, of course, we did."

Shu Yu scratched her head, feeling a headache coming on. She had no idea how to approach the subject.

After a long silence, she gritted her teeth and continued, "Sister, do you know... what 'first night' means?"

"Of course, I know. But you, talking about this before getting married, isn't it embarrassing?"

Shu Yu was on the verge of going crazy, "Sister, you promised to answer my questions honestly. Let's not talk about anything else. Just tell me, how did you have your first night?"

Da Ya remained silent.

"If you don't want to say, we'll go home, and I'll have Mother and Grandma ask you this question."

Da Ya... She thought her sister had gone mad.

But she pursed her lips and said, "These things you're asking, it's fine if we discuss them privately. Don't talk about them in front of other people. You'll be scolded, you know? Well, anyway, since you're at the age to get married, I'll tell you in advance so you know."

She lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, "The 'first night' refers to the wedding night, where the husband and wife sleep in the same room, on the same bed."

Shu Yu: Is that it?

"Don't they do anything else?"

Da Ya blinked, "Of course, there are other things. On the night your brother-in-law and I got married, we became husband and wife. As a wife, I had to fetch water for him to bathe and tidy up the clothes."

Shu Yu's face turned red, "What I mean is, did you two take off your clothes and roll around together?"

Da Ya was stunned, "Take off our clothes? We got married in winter, it would be too cold to sleep naked. We don't have that custom."

Shu Yu understood. So it seemed that nothing had happened between them.

Damn it, is Zhang Shu incapable or something? Her sister was completely clueless about such matters, even more so than her, an unmarried girl.

However...

"Sister, the night before your wedding, didn't Mother tell you anything about the bridal chamber?"

(End of the chapter)

 Chapter 117: Still a Virgin

Da Ya nervously placed her hand on her wrist. Doctor Hu took her pulse for a moment and then looked at her complexion, frowning. "Deficiency of Qi and blood, spleen and stomach dampness and cold, insufficient sleep. Your body is severely depleted."

Da Ya pursed her lips, and Shu Yu asked from the side, "Doctor, is my sister's condition serious?"

"I'll prescribe two medications for her. She needs to take good care of her stomach and avoid further damage to the spleen and stomach. Also, she should get enough sleep and avoid excessive fatigue. For the next half month, she shouldn't engage in heavy or tiring work. If she doesn't take care of her body now, she'll suffer in the future."

As Doctor Hu spoke, he lowered his head to write a prescription.

After finishing, he handed it to Shu Yu. "Go and get the medicine."

Shu Yu didn't leave; she looked towards the entrance and whispered, "Doctor Hu, please also check if my sister has symptoms of cold-induced infertility."

Doctor Hu was taken aback. "Infertility?"

He furrowed his brows, a trace of confusion crossing his face. He spoke to Da Ya, who seemed like she wanted to shrink away, "Extend your hand again, let me take a look."

Da Ya extended her wrist, and this time, Doctor Hu didn't take as long to feel her pulse.

He said, "Indeed, there is some coldness in the body. But as long as she takes good care of herself and receives proper treatment, it will still be relatively easy for her to conceive in the future."

After pausing, he looked at Da Ya's appearance. "You're already married?"

"Yes, I'm married."

Doctor Hu asked, "But according to the pulse, it indicates that she hasn't experienced marital relations?"

Shu Yu suddenly looked up. "Doctor Hu, what did you say? Not experienced marital relations? Are you saying that my sister is still a virgin?"

A woman who has been married for two years and is still a virgin??

How is that possible?!!

Shu Yu looked at Da Ya, who had a bewildered expression on her face.

Shu Yu's mind flashed with thoughts, and her lips tightened. She said to Doctor Hu, "Doctor, we understand. Thank you. Here's the consultation fee. We'll go to the counter to get the medicine."

Doctor Hu was experienced and had encountered all kinds of patients. From their reactions and pulses, he could somewhat guess that there might be some hidden privacy involved. As a doctor, he wouldn't pry further. Hearing Shu Yu's words, he nodded and said, "Alright, take care and remember to properly nurture your bodies."

"Thank you."

Shu Yu took Da Ya to collect the prescribed medicine and then left the clinic carrying the medicine package.

Da Ya noticed Shu Yu's stern expression and hesitated to speak. She had a hunch that her sister was angry, and it seemed like a big deal.

They returned to the shop on Ning Shui Street in silence. Zheng Gong greeted them, "Back already? How did it go? Is Da Ya alright?"

Shu Yu suddenly remembered that there were people in the shop, and it wasn't the right time to talk. She nodded at Zheng Gong and replied, "She's fine. The doctor said that with proper care for the next half month, she'll improve."

"That's good. Eating well is better than anything else."

Shu Yu continued, "Uncle Zheng, please carry on with your work. We need to go out again."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Shu Yu then led Da Ya out of the shop and headed straight to Doctor Xu's clinic.

In addition to the shop, the only place Shu Yu could go in the county was Doctor Xu's clinic. As she went there, she also planned to pick up the medicine for Lu Erbai.

The clinic was as quiet as usual, and Shu Yu was familiar with Doctor Xu. When he saw her approaching, he immediately raised his hand and asked, "How is your father's leg? And how is the scar ointment working?"

"The ointment is working well. The scar on my younger sister's face has faded a lot."

Doctor Xu smiled, "Don't brag. Bring her over one day so I can take a look."

(End of the chapter)

 Chapter 115: They Will Be Implicated

The incident involving Da Ya shocked everyone in the Lu family.

In fact, when she was extremely thin before, the grandmother naturally asked if she didn't have enough to eat at the Zhang family.

But Da Ya only shared good news and kept her worries to herself, saying that she had been without a pregnancy and had a heavy burden on her mind, thinking too much and losing her appetite, which resulted in her weight loss.

Grandmother and the others always thought highly of Zhang Shu. Moreover, he often went out to do short-term work, so he must have had some money with him. He would surely buy some food for Da Ya when he returned occasionally.

Even if the Zhang family's parents-in-law were dissatisfied with Da Ya for not getting pregnant after two years of marriage and might have treated her poorly by not giving her new clothes, they wouldn't be too harsh on her when it came to food.

Who could have imagined that the Zhang family would really force her to work all day on an empty stomach and come home to beat and scold her?

grandmother Lu felt her heart twist upon hearing about Da Ya's suffering.

She held Da Ya's hand tightly and said, "Don't go back. From now on, stay at home and let Zhang Shu live his own life."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shu Yu said, "Why not get a divorce?"

When these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Divorce?

Shu Yu looked at their expressions and realized that they had never even considered this option. She said, "Are you willing to let her continue to endure such things?"

Lu Erbai and the others immediately shook their heads, but Li Shi and Liang Shi exchanged a glance.

Lu Dasong lowered his head in silence for a moment before asking, "Da Ya, what do you think? Do you want to get a divorce from Zhang Shu?"

"I, I don't know." She had never thought about getting a divorce before, but after Er Ya mentioned it several times today, she began to waver.

Liang Shi murmured softly, "We all know the hardships Da Ya has endured, and she has indeed had a difficult time. But divorce doesn't sound good if it gets out, and the Zhang family won't agree either."

Li Shi chimed in, "Exactly. What will happen to Da Ya after the divorce? She will still be talked about in this household. Besides, having a divorced girl in this family, not to mention Lan Hua and Bao Ya. Just think about Er Ya and San Ya, they will be most affected, and how will they get married in the future?"

Da Ya suddenly lifted her head and hurriedly shook it at the people in the room, saying, "I won't get a divorce, I won't."

She couldn't let her younger sisters suffer and be unable to get married, especially Er Ya, who was already of marriageable age. If her situation caused a delay, it would be a real pity.

Shu Yu wanted to punch Li Shi but held onto Da Ya, saying, "What kind of implication? This isn't abandoning a wife. Divorce was our suggestion, indicating that it's Zhang family's fault. If..."

Da Ya abruptly stood up and said, "I won't get a divorce. I disagree. Please don't try to persuade me."

After speaking, she stood up and ran into the house, closing the door behind her.

Shu Yu turned her head abruptly and gave Li Shi a cold stare.

Li Shi trembled and quickly hid behind Lu Dasong.

Lu Da Song sighed, "Let's discuss this matter later. For now, let's have Da Ya stay at home and not return to the Zhang family for the time being. Regardless of whether we get a divorce or not, it's a fact that the Zhang family has mistreated our Lu family's girl. Tomorrow morning, myself, the third brother, and Da Niu will take a few brothers from the village and go settle accounts with the Zhang family."

Lu Sanzhu's neck shrank, "Can I come too?"

"You're Da Ya's third uncle. If you don't go, who will?" 

Lu Sanzhu laughed bitterly, then looked at Shu Yu. "Ah Yu, will you come?" With her presence, he felt a little more at ease.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 116: Taking Da Ya to See a Doctor

Shu Yu shook her head, "I won't go. I have an appointment with the craftsmen tomorrow to repair the shop. I have to go to the county town."

She had already dealt with the Zhang family today, and whether she went or not wouldn't make much of a difference.

Unless they got a divorce, all the calculations and outcomes would ultimately remain the same.

Shu Yu turned to look at the old lady and said, "Nai, I'll take Sister to the county town tomorrow. She's not in a good mood, so I'll take her out to relax and also take her to see a doctor. Besides her external injuries, I don't know if she has any other internal injuries. Especially from frequently experiencing hunger, it's possible that her digestive system has been affected."

The old lady quickly nodded, "Good, good, you decide. It's good for her to go out and take a walk."

Lu Er Bai hated his injured leg. If it weren't for this injury, he would personally go to the Zhang family tomorrow.

The next day, Lu Da Song and the others indeed went to the Zhang family.

Shu Yu, on the other hand, took Da Ya on a mule cart early in the morning.

When the mule cart entered the county town and stopped at the end of Ning Shui Street, Da Ya realized that they were going to open a shop.

She was a bit dazed, looking at Shu Yu in astonishment, "You..."

"Sister, you see, we're going to open a shop. Our life will only get better from now on. You don't have to be afraid of the life after a divorce. You can live in this county town without worrying about gossip. Once the business in the shop is good, we can go to the capital city and leave this place. Who would dare to point fingers at us when our family's conditions improve? There will only be more people coming to propose marriage, and you won't have to worry about burdening us."

Da Ya raised her eyes and looked at the shop in front of her, walking inside for a tour.

However, Shu Yu's words had the opposite effect on her. Da Ya felt that it was precisely because they were opening a shop that she couldn't get a divorce.

Running a business and reputation were crucial.

Especially since the shop hadn't even opened yet, it couldn't withstand any accidents. She couldn't hold them back at this critical juncture.

The two sisters walked around the shop, and Zheng Gong arrived with two apprentices.

After chatting with Shu Yu for a while, Zheng Gong started working.

Shu Yu left them to their work and took Da Ya out of the shop. "I'll take you to the medical clinic."

Shu Yu and Da Ya went to the best medical clinic in the county town. Apart from having someone examine if Da Ya had any other injuries, Shu Yu also wanted the doctor to assess her ability to have children. It was a concern for Da Ya, and they needed to address it first.

Standing at the entrance of the medical clinic, Da Ya hesitated to go in.

The fees at this medical clinic were not low, and she hesitated to spend the money.

Shu Yu didn't care and directly pulled her inside, finding the doctor in the clinic who specialized in gynecology.

There was a bit of a wait because there were more patients waiting to see him.

Da Ya sat in the waiting area of the medical clinic, looking around anxiously. She whispered, "Ah Yu, let's go to another place. Zhang Shu once took me to see another doctor, and the clinic isn't far from here, with lower consultation fees."

"Sister, we're already here, so let's see the doctor before leaving."

"But..."

As they were talking, a pharmacy boy suddenly called for them.

Shu Yu immediately pulled Da Ya along. "It's our turn, let's go."

She led Da Ya into the room where Doctor Hu was seeing patients. The space wasn't large, but it offered privacy.

Doctor Hu glanced at Da Ya, somewhat surprised. "You're too thin. Come, put your hand on your wrist, and I'll take a look."

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 114: Something Big Happened

Lu Sanzhu, who had been paying attention to the commotion outside the door, rushed out immediately upon hearing the sound of rolling cartwheels.

"Ah Yu is back? Come, come, give me the mule cart. I'll feed the donkey for you," he said with a smile.

As soon as he spoke, Da Niu opened the curtain of the cart, revealing the figures of the two sisters inside.

Lu Sanzhu's smiling face froze instantly when he saw Da Ya's disheveled appearance with swollen, red eyes. "Da Ya, what happened to you?" he asked, his expression tense.

Shu Yu got off the mule cart and turned around to help Da Ya out.

Both Shu Yu and Da Niu had gloomy faces, which made Lu Sanzhu feel that something was off.

He immediately shouted inside, "Mother, Second Brother, something has happened. Da Ya is in trouble."

Shu Yu's ear was pricked by his words, and she glanced at him before taking Da Ya into the courtyard.

As soon as they entered, the elderly grandmother and others who had rushed over anxiously were already there to greet them.

"Da, Da Ya, why did you come back at this time? You... what happened?" The elderly grandmother looked at her disheveled state in shock and quickly grabbed her, asking, "What happened?"

"Mother, let's go inside first and talk," Da Niu said, entering the house after her and supporting the elderly grandmother to prevent her from walking unsteadily due to her anxiety.

Curious, Lu Sanzhu quickly brought the mule cart into his own courtyard and tied it up. He then told his son, who was playing there, "Da Bao, quickly go to your uncle's house and tell him that Da Ya is back and something has happened. Ask your uncle to come over."

After Da Bao ran out, he grabbed Liang Shi, who was holding Baby Ya, and ran towards Lu Erbai's house. "Let's go, let's go. We should also go and take a look. I have a feeling that something serious is happening in our family."

Others might not know, but Lu Sanzhu was well aware of Shu Yu's methods.

Last time, when she found out that Ruan Pozi wanted to sell San Ya and Da Hu, she had the same murderous expression.

When the two of them rushed into Lu Erbai's house, Shu Yu happened to mention the things done by the Zhang family. Upon seeing Lu Sanzhu and the others, she only glanced at them and didn't stop them from sitting on the side and listening.

She continued, "...Except for Zhang Shu, who wasn't at home, everyone from the Zhang family was sitting with their legs crossed, watching my eldest sister work. They didn't see my sister as a person at all. They made her squat in the corner like a wooden stake and had the three children throw melon seed shells at her head, competing to see who could throw the most. If my sister tried to block them with her hand, that Zhang wifes would take a corn cob and hit her on the head."

"The two daughters-in-law of the Zhang family, knowing that my sister brought back peaches last time and didn't leave any for their son, said they would punish her. They let her go hungry all day, but when my sister finished her work and came back, they suspected that she had hidden more peaches and immediately pinched and twisted her as soon as she entered the courtyard. Look, she doesn't have much flesh on her body, and all these bruises on her arms were caused by them pinching her."

The elderly grandmother's tears fell uncontrollably as she cursed the Zhang family and regretted not seeing people clearly, pushing her granddaughter into a pit of fire.

She held Da Ya's hand, looking at her arms that were blue and purple, and cried as if she was about to faint.

Da Ya choked and looked at Shu Yu, "Er Ya, don't say it, please stop."

Shu Yu didn't want to speak either, but she couldn't let her family know about the suffering Da Ya had endured. They didn't realize the severity of the situation, and Da Ya would eventually have to go back to that cannibalistic place.

Ruan Shi and San Ya were also crying with tears streaming down their faces. Lu Erbai was so angry that the veins on his forehead were bulging, and Da Hu tried to rush towards the door, saying, "I want to avenge my elder sister."

However, halfway through his run, he was pulled back by Lu Dasong and Li Shi, who had just entered the house.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 113: Is Zhang Shu Good to You?

Da Niu felt a sense of unease when he saw Shu Yu's silent and lost expression.

"Yu..." he called out.

Shu Yu snapped out of her thoughts, took a deep breath, and raised her head. She asked, "So, what do you suggest to do if they don't divorce?"

Da Niu fell silent, glanced at Da Ya, and hesitantly said, "Actually, they can live separately. If they're worried about Da Ya living in Da Yan Village, they can both move to Shishi Village. With us looking after her, Da Ya's life will be better. The Zhang family is malicious, but Zhang Shu is somewhat easy to talk to."

Easy to talk to? Shu Yu had no hope for Zhang Shu at all. She didn't respond to Da Niu's proposal and instead asked Da Ya, "Sister, do you like Zhang Shu?"

Like? Da Ya was puzzled and furrowed her brows.

Shu Yu rephrased the question, "Is Zhang Shu good to you?"

Da Ya thought for a moment and said, "Well, he's alright. When he's at home, he tries to stop the Zhang family from mistreating me." But most of the time, he's not at home.

Shu Yu sighed inwardly. What should she do with her naive sister?

"So, that's considered being good to you?" Shu Yu suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Does he share the money he earns outside with you? Look at how thin you are from not having enough to eat. Does he secretly buy food for you when he comes back? Has he ever bought you a piece of cloth or taken you to the county town?"

Da Ya was stunned, and after a while, she shook her head slowly and murmured, "He says we haven't separated, so all the money has to be given to Mother to manage. He says he's parents are unhappy because I can't bear children, so he brings all his wages back home, hoping they will treat me better. He says he works hard outside, sacrificing even a bowl of plain noodles to save money, often going hungry and drinking water to fill his stomach. He comes back tired every time. He says that once I give birth to a child, he will buy cloth for me and take me to the county town."

Shu Yu felt like she was going to vomit blood from what she heard, and even Da Niu was dumbfounded.

"Da Ya, is Zhang Shu really treating you like this?" Shu Yu asked.

Da Ya nodded.

Shu Yu sneered. She couldn't believe it. Zhang Shu appeared to be simple and honest on the surface, but he was actually skilled in the art of manipulating women.

He shifted all the blame onto Da Ya, saying that she couldn't go to the county town without new clothes and that they didn't have money because of her. He made her suffer and be mistreated at home, all because she couldn't bear a son?

Da Niu couldn't utter a word and furrowed his brow tightly.

Men understand men the best, and Da Niu knew that all these things Zhang Shu said were just excuses. He occasionally did odd jobs himself, and sometimes if the employer was satisfied with his hard work, they would secretly give him a few extra coins as wages.

No one else knew about this. He would give most of his earnings to his mother, but he would also keep a few copper coins to buy a hairpin for his fiancée Qiao Qiao and some pastries for her.

Drinking water to fill his stomach? If that were the case, would Zhang Shu be so robust? Would he be capable of doing physical labor?

Da Niu silently turned his head and stopped expressing any opinions on what Shu Yu said.

He silently picked up the reins again and headed towards Shishi Village.

But Shu Yu also remained silent at this moment, and a certain thought in her mind became even more firm.

Either divorce or find a way to kill that bastard Zhang Shu.

She had previously thought about letting Da Ya stand on her own and trample on the Zhang family. But now it seemed that Da Ya was no match for Zhang Shu at all. Her character was already fixed and couldn't be changed in the short term.

The mule cart arrived at Shishi Village in a silent atmosphere among the three of them.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 112: Unhappily Separated, Bereaved?

The pitiful state of Da Ya naturally made the villagers believe her side of the story.

The three of them arrived at the village entrance, and Da Niu and Shu Yu helped Da Ya onto the mule cart.

As soon as the cart curtain fell, Da Niu's face turned grim as he urged the cart towards Shishi Village.

Meanwhile, the Zhang family members were wailing and complaining. They had hoped that the villagers would come in, overpowering the three of them, and exact revenge on the dead girl.

However, the villagers stood at the door, helplessly watching the three of them leave.

They left??

The Zhang family members were furious, especially after realizing what Shu Yu had said. Their hearts were in pain.

They desperately tried to explain, claiming that it was Da Ya's sisters who had beaten her. They never laid a hand on Da Ya, and her vomiting blood was all fake.

But the villagers didn't believe them. They had witnessed Da Ya unconscious, with a bloody hole on her forehead.

As for the Zhang family members being beaten, the villagers believed that. After all, it was the girl herself who had spoken those words. Even they, if they saw their own daughter being beaten half to death by her in-laws, would be unable to control themselves.

But it wasn't to the point where they couldn't get up at all, right? They were three grown men and three women, beaten up by a girl who hadn't even come of age? It was too absurd.

Soon, someone couldn't stand the Zhang family's wailing and sought help from the village's doctor.

The doctor's medical skills were average at best, and he could only treat external injuries. After glancing at them, he said there was nothing wrong and that the Zhang family was faking it.

Now things were different. Not only did the villagers not support them, but they also criticized the Zhang family and dispersed.

Although the subsequent events were not within Shu Yu's expectations, the outcome was not far off from what she had imagined.

She sat in the mule cart, wiping off the rouge from Da Ya's face while giving her soy milk to drink.

However, she still didn't throw away the melon seed shells in her hair. When Da Ya tried to reach for them, Shu Yu even stopped her.

Da Ya looked at her puzzled, but Shu Yu asked, "Sister, what are your plans from now on?"

Da Ya was stunned. Plans? She still felt like everything was a dream, so she hadn't thought about any plans.

"Today we caused such a scene at the Zhang family's place. They won't let it go just like that. If you go back, they will intensify their mistreatment of you and make you pay for what happened today even more."

Da Ya's body trembled slightly, and Shu Yu quickly embraced her.

"But, but if I don't go back, where else can I go?" Da Ya's eyes were filled with confusion.

Shu Yu held her hand and said, "Where else? Of course, back home. Leave Zhang Shu and go back home." Unfortunately, Zhang Shu wasn't at home today, or she would have forced him to agree on the spot.

"Hmm..." Da Ya hadn't spoken yet when Da Niu, who was driving the cart, heard this and immediately pulled on the reins in shock.

He hesitantly pulled aside the cart curtain and widened his eyes. "Ah Yu, what did you say? Leave him? How is that possible?"

"Why is it impossible?" Shu Yu raised her head and asked him. "Do you think she can go back and still have her life intact?"

Da Niu thought of the behavior of the Zhang family members and pursed his lips. After a while, he struggled to speak, "But... we've never heard of anyone leaving their spouse here. The Zhang family won't agree." Only divorce was allowed. "Moreover, if she leaves, Da Ya will be subject to gossip and won't be able to face others."

Shu Yu didn't think so. As long as it was handled properly, even if there were some rumors, it wouldn't be a big problem.

She began to consider the possibility of widowhood.

(End of this chapter)