Chapter 168: I'm so happy

Da Ya and Da Niu had been waiting at the city gate all afternoon until they were finally allowed in not long ago.

Once they arrived in the county town, they went straight to the shop, only to find it locked. Shu Yu didn't know where she had gone, which made them even more anxious.

Shu Yu put down the cat in her arms and explained to the two of them, "Something did happen in the county town. It seems that the county magistrate of Jiangyuan County got into trouble and was arrested. His son escaped, and they have been searching for him in the past few days, which is why the city gates were closed. But now they have caught him, so everything is fine."

Da Ya and Da Niu couldn't help but widen their eyes in astonishment. "Such a big thing happened?"

The county magistrate was arrested! They had only been away from the county town for two days, and it had completely changed? They didn't even know what kind of person the new county magistrate was. If he was the same as the previous one, then the lives of ordinary people like them would still be difficult.

Unknowingly, they started to worry.

However, as soon as they saw the shop, which had been renovated and looked brand new, all their worries were instantly forgotten.

When they had come before, the shop was in a mess, but now it was neatly arranged and brightly lit.

"Ah Yu, is the shop ready now?"

The two of them showed joy on their faces, excited about the upcoming opening of the shop.

Shu Yu nodded and said, "Everything is ready. Now we just need to decorate it ourselves and hang up the clothes."

Da Ya looked at the empty shop and started imagining how it would look when it was filled with customers.

Da Niu chuckled and said to Shu Yu, "Ah Yu, since you're fine, I'll head back now. While the city gates are still open, I'll go home and let my family know so they won't worry. Da Ya can stay here to save the trouble of coming back and forth."

Shu Yu was taken aback. "You're leaving now?"

"Yes," Da Niu confirmed.

Shu Yu looked at the time and realized that it wouldn't be safe for him to go back when it got dark. So she didn't stop him and said, "Alright, you take the mule cart back. Tomorrow, I'll need you to bring my family here, as well as the finished clothes and the clothing racks for the models."

Da Niu nodded, "Sure."

He went to the backyard and brought out the mule cart. Shu Yu bought a bag of meat buns for him to eat on the way, as he wouldn't make it back home in time for dinner.

After seeing off Da Niu, the two sisters had a meal on the street and then slowly walked towards the shop.

As they looked at the brightly lit shops along the street and heard the laughter of passersby, Da Ya felt an unusual sense of calmness.

It seemed that she had never experienced anything like this before.

"Ah Yu, it seems like everything has been good at home ever since you came back."

Shu Yu suddenly heard Da Ya's words and turned her head to see Da Ya looking up at the sky, with a relaxed and warm smile on her face. Being away from the suffocating and oppressive environment of the Zhang family seemed to have elevated her entire being.

"Ah Yu, I'm so happy," Da Ya said.

Shu Yu smiled and replied, "I am too." It felt so good to have a sense of family.

While Shu Yu brought material prosperity to the Lu family, the Lu family provided her with spiritual fulfillment.

The two sisters exchanged smiles and happily went back to the shop.

The next morning, Shu Yu was thinking about finding a rental house and got ready to go out early.

Da Ya initially wanted to go with her, but Shu Yu thought for a moment and stopped her. "Sis, stay at the shop. We don't know when our parents will come, and if they arrive while nobody is at the shop, they'll have to wait outside."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 167: Worried About You

Meng Yunzheng asked again, "Go together?"

He pointed to the two bound individuals, indicating for her to join.

After hesitating for a moment this time, Shu Yu nodded in agreement.

She knew that Meng Yunzheng was considering her well-being, and she always understood his feelings.

Soon, following Meng Yunzheng's instructions, she went to the streets and found the soldiers who were searching for the fugitives, bringing them back.

As witnesses and the captors of the fugitives, they went together to the county yamen.

To Shu Yu's surprise, the official currently presiding over the county yamen was quite young, appearing to be in his twenties.

However, his expression was very serious. After learning the details, he approached Meng Yunzheng and Shu Yu, nodding his head. "Young Master Meng, Miss Lu, thank you for apprehending the fugitives and bringing them to justice. Regarding the injured young man, Zhao, I will send for the best doctor in the city to come and see him. Both of you have rendered a great service and have helped me tremendously. Is there any reward you would like?"

Meng Yunzheng then looked at Shu Yu.

Shu Yu had already observed that this official was currently acting as the temporary county magistrate of Jiangyuan County. He would remain in office until the court sent a new county magistrate.

When the court appoints officials and waits for the arrival of the appointed person, it would certainly take more than three months.

Shu Yu immediately said, "Sir, I haven't thought of any reward at the moment. Can I leave it for now?" She wanted to keep it for a crucial moment when she might need it.

The official was momentarily surprised by her answer but quickly agreed, "Of course, you can."

He then turned to Meng Yunzheng and asked, "What about you?"

Shu Yu couldn't help but feel that the official's tone became more casual when speaking to Meng Yunzheng and her. Could it be that these two knew each other?

Meng Yunzheng, like Shu Yu, decided to keep it for now and ask for it later if needed.

After they finished speaking, they didn't stay longer at the county yamen. The official seemed busy, especially considering that the fugitives had just been apprehended and hadn't been interrogated yet.

As Shu Yu left the county yamen, she let out a sigh and said to Meng Yunzheng, "I originally planned to find you today and look for a small courtyard near your place. But now it's getting late, so I can only do it tomorrow."

Meng Yunzheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that she wanted to rent a house near his place.

Shu Yu held the lucky cat in her arms. "I have to go back now. See you tomorrow morning."

"Goodbye," Meng Yunzheng silently mouthed the words.

The two quickly parted ways, heading in different directions.

Shu Yu went straight back to her lodging, but as soon as she reached the entrance of the shop, she saw two familiar figures standing there, looking extremely anxious.

She hurriedly took a few steps forward. "Elder sister, Big Brother Niu."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Da Ya immediately turned around and, upon seeing that she was okay, let out a long sigh of relief and rushed forward. "As long as you're fine, it's all good."

Shu Yu looked down at herself. "What could possibly be wrong with me? Why did you both come here?"

As she spoke, she opened the door and let the two of them inside.

Da Ya anxiously explained, "We heard about the trouble in the county town yesterday. The city gates were sealed shut, not allowing anyone in or out. Fortunately, you were able to stay at the shop, so we felt a bit relieved. But today, some uncles and elders from the village came to the county town, and the city gates were still closed, so they had to turn back. We are worried about what major event might have occurred inside, and we don't know when the city gates will open. Our mother and father are anxious, so Big Brother Niu and I came to take a look."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 166: The Startling News for Shu Yu

Then Shu Yu saw him swiftly writing a long passage.

"I visited the Shu residence before coming to Jiangyuan County. Besides meeting Mr. Shu, I also met several young masters and misses from the Shu family, including the third Miss... Shu Yu."

Shu Yu suddenly looked up, her face showing a trace of shock. "You're saying you met the third Miss of the Shu family?"

Meng Yunzheng nodded. "Initially, the Shu family only allowed two misses to come out, claiming that the third Miss was ill and couldn't receive guests. I mentioned that Dr. Zhao had exceptional medical skills and could take a look at her, so the Shu family had no choice but to let the third Miss come out."

"But the Shu family didn't know that I knew you and had spoken to you. After leaving the Shu residence, I found it suspicious and wanted to investigate. However, I couldn't take action during that period because the Shu family was heavily guarded. So I went to Dongqing Temple. You had a good relationship with the temple's master, and perhaps she knew something. But the temple's master was out traveling. After that, both Doctor Zhao and I encountered trouble, and we didn't have the time to think about anything else. I didn't expect to unexpectedly meet you here in Jiangyuan County."

"Although I find it strange how you suddenly went from being the third Miss of the Shu family to the second Miss of the Lu family, if you don't want to talk about it, then I won't ask. Everyone has their own privacy."

Shu Yu was momentarily stunned. She took a couple of steps to the side, furrowing her brows as she tried to sort out her thoughts.

She had already left the Shu family, but the third Miss of the Shu family had appeared before everyone. From the looks of it, the Shu family hadn't announced the news of her death. That made sense. Without finding her body at the bottom of the lotus pond, the Shu family knew she was still alive.

The Shu family hadn't immediately announced her death because they probably wanted to first find out her whereabouts. Who would have thought that at this time, Meng Yunzheng and the others happened to go to the Shu family and even had to meet the third Miss? For some reason, the Shu family, in their desperation, found a girl to impersonate her.

By the way, Meng Yunzheng mentioned that the Shu family was heavily guarded during that period, which means the family faced scrutiny after she left.

Under such circumstances, the Shu family couldn't send people to find her whereabouts, nor could they make any other moves. They also couldn't announce the death of the imposter as it would complicate matters.

In the eyes of the Shu family, this timid and weak girl, even if she miraculously escaped from the bottom of the lake, without proper identification, friends, or money, she probably wouldn't survive.

The situation that the Shu family currently faced was clearly much more important than their daughter.

Suddenly, Shu Yu thought of the ending in the book—Shu Yu followed the remaining members of the Shu family and was exiled to the southwest.

Indeed, the one who was exiled was Shu Yu, who now goes by the name Lu Shu Yu.

Is it possible that in the end, it won't be her who gets exiled but the girl impersonating the third Miss?

No, she couldn't hold onto such wishful thinking. She had to prepare for the worst. If she could avoid exile, that would be best, but if she did get exiled, she needed to return as soon as possible.

Shu Yu shook her head, though a smile couldn't help but appear on her face.

The destined outcome suddenly seemed to brighten and become full of possibilities. It felt incredibly wonderful.

While she was smiling over there, Meng Yunzheng wrote another sentence, "As long as your household registration is in order, you don't have to worry even if you go to the county office."

Of course, Shu Yu's household registration was in order. She had the documentation given to her by the master of Dongqing Temple, which she used to return to the village from the capital.

(End of this chapter)