Chapter 689: Mother Relying on Her Son to Rise to Power, Controlling the Life and Death of the Hou Family

In the main viewing room, the most luxurious and best-viewed room.

Gong Yibo held a cigarette and exhaled swirling smoke from his mouth.

He withdrew his gaze from the arena and said to Hou Yunjiao sitting beside him with a faint smile, "It's a tie."

The Third Young Master's deep brows slightly raised, and a gentle light shimmered in his eyes.

He was very sure and said, "Brother Yibo, you lost this time."

Gong Yibo held the cigarette in his mouth, glancing at him with a half-smile, "Didn't you say that everything is uncertain and anything is possible? There's still one more round to go."

Hou Yunjiao lazily leaned on the chair, supporting his head with one hand, and looked at him with a hint of a smile, "The second round values the overwhelming momentum."

With the cigarette in his mouth, Gong Yibo turned to look at the contestant he had placed his bet on in the stands.

After the referee determined the victory, the other contestant stood up but couldn't hide the unwillingness, anger, and restlessness in his expression.

Gong Yibo furrowed his brows and changed the topic, "Winning or losing doesn't matter."

Hou Yunjiao nodded, "Indeed."

Gong Wei, who was sitting behind them, interjected, "I think they are evenly matched now. Brother Yibo, Third Young Master, are you gambling with each other? What's the stakes?"

Unfortunately, neither of the two men paid her any attention.

Gong Wei waited for a while but got no response. She bit her lip awkwardly.

"Knock, knock—"

The door behind them was suddenly knocked.

Gong Yibo frowned, displeased, and looked at the bodyguard beside him.

What day was it today that one after another came to disturb him?

He had never seen such impudent people before, rushing to bring him trouble.

The bodyguard caught Gong Yibo's gaze, turned, and walked towards the door.

Hou Qiang, standing beside Hou Yunjiao walked over without getting involved and poured tea for his master.

The Gong family's bodyguard with a stern voice asked from behind, "Whom are you looking for?"

"Looking for Lord San."

A familiar and pleasant female voice followed.

Hou Qiang had just put down the teapot, and he widened his eyes and looked over.

The Gong's bodyguard was tall, completely blocking the doorway, making it hard to see who was outside.

While Hou Qiang was still hesitating, Hou Yunjiao had already stood up and hurriedly walked away.

This unusual behavior caught Gong Yibo's attention.

The Gong family's bodyguard, with an unfriendly gaze, stared at Qin Ruan and asked coldly, "Who are you?"

Before Qin Ruan could reply, the bodyguard who stood in front of her was pulled back by someone from behind.

She met a pair of gentle and affectionate eyes.

Qin Ruan stood still, quietly looking at Third Young Master as he approached.

Hou Yunjiao came closer and extended his hand to Qin Ruan.

He looked surprised and asked with a smile, "Why are you here?"

Qin Ruan took out her hand from the pocket of her windbreaker and placed it in his palm, saying, "I didn't intend to disturb you. I came to resolve some issues."

"What happened?" Hou Yunjiao held Qin Ruan's hand and led her into the room.

Gong Yibo saw Qin Ruan and his eyes lit up, "Is this younger sister?"

What a cold and beautiful woman, beautiful without aggression, but with a hidden sense of wildness.

Such a woman is the most capable of igniting a man's desire to conquer.

Hou Yunjiao settled Qin Ruan in his previous seat, and he sat beside her.

He introduced her to Gong Yibo, "This is the head of the Gong family."

Qin Ruan looked at the other person with a calm gaze and greeted, "Hello Head of the Gong family."

Gong Yibo smiled with a hint of malicious intent, "Don't be so formal, just call me Brother Yibo, like Yunjiao does."

Qin Ruan nodded but remained silent.

She wasn't that familiar with him to call him "brother" just like that. It felt like taking advantage.

Hou Yunjiao held Qin Ruan's hand and introduced her to Gong Yibo, "This is my little girl, Qin Ruan. She's still young, shy, and not good at speaking. Please take care of her, Brother Yibo."

Gong Yibo sneered, "You want me to take care of your little girl? Can I handle that?"

It's not that he didn't want to give face, but the women from the Hou family were beyond his capacity to handle.

Hou Yunjiao gently rubbed Qin Ruan's hand with his fingertips.

He looked into Gong Yibo's calm and deep eyes, with seriousness and caution, "After Ruan Ruan gives birth, she will have more opportunities to interact with major families. She will need someone to accompany her."

Gong Yibo's eyes became calm, and the smile on his face faded.

He tapped the half-empty cigarette in his hand, his rugged face tensed, and his sharp gaze shot towards Hou Yunjiao.

Huo Yunjiao remained composed, without any hint of joking.

Gong Yibo lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Qin Ruan's bulging belly.

He showed a trace of contempt on his face and asked with a smile, "Playing it big, huh?"

As intelligent individuals, how could they not understand the implications behind Hou Yunjiao's words.

After Qin Ruan gives birth, she will interact with major families, implying that she will officially take over the affairs of the Hou family.

A woman with a lowly background, relying on her child's noble status, how dare she control the Hou family?

Hou Yunjiao's dark eyes narrowed slightly, his voice gentle but warning, "Brother Yibo, Ruan Ruan is my wife now. There are things I can't decide alone, and both of our elders at home agree."

Gong Yibo's fingertip holding the cigarette tightened slightly, incredulously looking at Qin Ruan, as if trying to find an advantage in her.

To him, a pregnant woman with a little ability in metaphysics was not enough to grant her the authority to control the life and death of the Huo family.

Qin Ruan seemed oblivious to Gong Yi Bo's disdain and mild mockery. She also didn't want to get tangled up in the discussion between the two men.

She took out her phone from her pocket, opened the photo Su Jingshu had sent her, and placed it in front of Hou Yunjiao.

"Third Young Master, who is this woman?"

Hou Yunjiao lowered his head, examining the ambiguous photo taken in dim light, which clearly appeared before his eyes.

The angle of the photo was quite cunning, capturing an intimate pose that looked like a kiss.

A dark emotion surged in Hou Yunjiao's eyes, his refined features slightly furrowed.

He glanced up at Qin Ruan.

Her expression remained calm, her eyes devoid of any ripples, quietly observing him.

Hou Yunjiao's lips parted slightly as he asked, "What did you come here for?"

His tone was faint, devoid of emotion.

Qin Ruan's eyebrow arched slightly, seemingly saying, "What else?"

Hou Yunjiao reached out to brush aside the soft strands of hair that had fallen onto Qin Ruan's shoulder.

His voice was gentle, "Don't you trust me?"

Qin Ruan shook her head, "If I didn't, I wouldn't have come."

Hearing their cryptic conversation, Gong Yi Bo leaned curiously, peering at the phone in Qin Ruan's hand.

Coincidentally, just as he glanced at it, the screen went dark.

In that brief glimpse, he had seen the photo on the screen.

The expectant expression on Gong face twisted from amusement to hostility, his gaze turning cold and piercing as he looked at Gong Wei seated behind him.

"Did you do this?"

His voice was devoid of any emotion, carrying an air of bloodthirstiness.

Gong Wei had been trying to remain invisible since Qin Ruan's arrival.

This woman was too terrifying, and she couldn't afford to provoke her.

Despite her efforts to stay unnoticed, she had been unwittingly drawn into this.

Trembling, Gong Wei looked helplessly at the man before her, "Brother Yi Bo... I didn't do anything."

She had no idea what Qin Ruan's presence meant, but she was certain it couldn't be good.

Upon hearing Gong Wei's voice, Qin Ruan glanced at her.

Though she hadn't noticed when entering the room, now that she looked closer, she realized she knew this person.

Qin Ruan scrutinized Gong Wei's attire; it was identical to the woman in the picture who hadn't shown her face.

She narrowed her eyes and once again illuminated the photo that had been secretly taken. She held it up for Gong Wei to see.

"The woman in the photo is you, right?"

Gong Wei was already terrified of Qin Ruan, and now that she saw the photo she had taken, she almost slid off her seat in fear.

Nervous, she glanced beyond Qin Ruan to Hou Yunjiao, sitting beside her.

He exuded an air of refined elegance and charm, his demeanor both humble and dignified.

His every movement was graceful and noble, naturally inherent, evoking deep respect from those around him.

From her occasional and distant observations, Gong Wei had never noticed this man's captivating aura. She had been deceived by Hou Yunjiao's outward gentleness, mistaking it for indifference.

A hint of calculation stirred within her.

Qin Ruan wasn't pleased with Gong Wei's admiring gaze, fixated on Hou Yunjiao.

She subtly moved to block Gong Wei's line of sight.

Gong Wei's complexion, once pale from fear, regained some color.

Lowering her head and revealing her graceful neck, Gong Wei whispered, "It's me. There's nothing between me and Lord Hou. Third Madam, please don't misunderstand."

Her speech, laden with tea metaphors, didn't sit well with Qin Ruan.

She tapped her thumb on the phone screen, tilting her head in confusion, "Misunderstand?"

Gong Wei raised her head, blinking her innocent-looking eyes, "Third Madam, even though you had your issues with me before, it was a misunderstanding. I'm not holding any grudges over it. This time, the misunderstanding is on my part. But how can you suspect Third Young Master because of this? You are Third Young Master's wife. You should trust and support him unconditionally. He is your everything."

This speech left Hou Yunjiao, Qin Ruan, and Gong Sun Yi Bo all frowning.

Especially Qin Ruan, who was rather astonished, her eyes widening slightly.

Gong Wei, formerly a "green tea b*tch," had quickly transformed into a "white lotus," and her pace of change caught Qin Ruan off guard.

In fact, Qin Ruan wanted to tell Gong Wei that she had no intentions against her; after all, Hou Yunjiao hadn't noticed, and someone had manipulated the situation.

But Gong Yibo sternly ordered, "Wei Wei, enough!"

This girl truly dared to say anything.

Being a side branch descendant, she indeed lacked proper training.

To treat everyone as fools... her intentions were too obvious.

However, Gong Wei felt quite excited. She had secretly glimpsed the faint smile at the corner of Third Young Master's lips.

That smile felt like an affirmation to her.

Gong Sun Wei completely overlooked the cold detachment emanating from Hou Yunjiao's chilling eyes.

 Chapter 91: New Year's Greetings

The New Year's Eve dinner at the Mo family was very sumptuous, with twelve dishes of meat and vegetables. Both families sat around the table, enjoying the food and chatting happily for nearly an hour before putting down their chopsticks to continue the vigil.

At midnight, the Mo family lit incense in the courtyard, offered fish as a sacrifice, and set off a long string of firecrackers. After everyone had eaten dumplings, the vigil was considered over.

Listening to the continuous sound of firecrackers outside, everyone yawned contentedly and returned to their rooms to sleep.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Mo Yan and the younger generation got up early, dressed in new clothes, and went to pay New Year's respects to Mo Qingze and Li Zhong, the elders of the family.

Mo Qingze and Li Zhong were already prepared and happily took out a few red envelopes from their sleeves, giving one to each person.

Mo Yan graciously accepted the envelopes and tucked them into her waist pouch. The three youngsters couldn't wait to open theirs and found that each envelope contained half a tael of silver. They were delighted and quickly held onto them, fearing they might lose them.

After freshening up, Mo Yan cooked a pot of longevity noodles with old chicken soup for breakfast, symbolizing peace and prosperity in the new year for the family.

After finishing the delicious noodles, the six of them, carrying the New Year's gifts prepared the night before, planned to go to Liuyang Village to pay New Year's visits.

However, before they could leave, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. Mo Yan opened it and was surprised to see Lin Yong, Lin Da, and more than ten others coming to pay their respects.

"Ah, Brother Lin Da, Happy New Year to you all!"

After a moment of surprise, Mo Yan quickly welcomed them in.

Lin Yong's stern face softened slightly as he handed over two rabbits that had been cleaned already to Mo Yan. "We caught these yesterday afternoon and already marinated them."

Mo Yan accepted them with a smile and thanked him. Mo Qingze quickly invited them into the house, where they were served with snacks and tea.

Mo Yan took the rabbits into the kitchen and started making dumplings. With seventeen extra guests, they needed at least two hundred dumplings to satisfy everyone. She put two pots of water on the stove to boil and cooked four pots of dumplings before they were done.

When the steaming dumplings were served on the table, the delicious aroma aroused everyone's appetite. Lin Yong and the others, feeling famished, knew they couldn't refuse the courtesy and eagerly grabbed their chopsticks to enjoy the feast.

Having dined at the Mo family's house before, they knew the food was delicious, but they didn't expect even the ordinary dumplings to be better than those made at home. The ample fillings and rich flavor made them wish they could swallow their tongues.

Each person filled a large bowl with dumplings and soup and drank everything clean. Seeing the empty bowls on the table, they felt a bit embarrassed. After calculating how many dumplings they had eaten, they felt even more embarrassed.

Seeing that it was almost time for the hour of the snake, and knowing that the Mo family had to rush to Liuyang Village to pay respects and return in the afternoon, Lin Yong and the others didn't delay and prepared to leave after a short rest.

Mo Yan and the others quickly packed up the cured meats, sausages, and other New Year's gifts and went with them. Lin Da and the others kindly helped carry the items.

It was the first day of the new year, and there were no ox carts available on the street. They had to rely on their legs to walk to Liuyang Village. Lin Yong and the others had gotten up at the hour of the tiger, and it took them two hours to reach the Mo family's house.

Adults didn't feel tired walking with their hands empty, Mo Yan and the three older children could barely keep up, but Zhen'er, being young with short legs, couldn't hold on for more than half an hour. Mo Qingze stopped and carried him on his back, but he insisted on walking, feeling like a man and refusing to be carried.

Mo Qingze didn't care and lifted him onto his shoulders anyway. However, in the past few months, with the Mo family's good food, Zhen'er had gained quite a bit of weight. Mo Qingze, a scholar, didn't have the strength of a farmer, and carrying him for a while made him very tired.

Seeing this, Lin Yong immediately took Zhen'er and put him on his back, but his pace didn't slow down at all.

Watching from behind, Mo Yan envied them and rubbed her slightly sore legs. She decided to buy a cart after the New Year. She had been so busy before that she had forgotten about such an important matter.

They rested twice along the way and finally arrived at Liuyang Village at noon.

Li Zhong and his granddaughter, in addition to paying New Year's respects to familiar acquaintances like Lin Meng, also planned to visit the village head's house. After all, since they would be living in Liuyang Village in the future, it was necessary to have a good relationship with the village head.

Mo Yan and the others also intended to visit the village head's house, but the first place they had to pay respects to was the old Mo family's house.

Regardless of their relationship, the old head of the Mo family was Mo Qingze's second uncle by blood and an elder with close blood ties. The old head of the Mo family could close the door and refuse to let Mo Yan and the others in, but they couldn't skip paying respects to their elders.

From a distance, they saw smoke rising from the chimney of the old Mo family's house, indicating that they were cooking lunch. As the Mo family approached with their New Year's gifts, they saw the younger generation playing at the door.

Little Shi Tou was the first to notice them. He dropped the stone in his hand and ran towards them. When he reached Mo Yan, he hugged her leg and looked at Mo Qingze and the others, calling them cousin and uncle affectionately.

Mo Yan pinched his cheek, bent down, and lifted him up. Seeing that he was wearing an old, faded shirt outside and the new cotton jacket she had made for him not long ago underneath, it was clear that his family hadn't made him new clothes. Looking at Goudan and Ni'er glaring at them, also in old clothes, she knew that the old Mo family hadn't had a good New Year.

Not only had the old Mo family not had a good New Year, but ever since Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu were imprisoned, one of them to be exiled three thousand miles away and never return, the old Mo family hadn't had a peaceful day.

Just last night, during the New Year's Eve dinner, Hong Shi looked at the empty seats of her second and third sons and couldn't help but cry bitterly, cursing Mo Yan and her family with venomous words.

The old head of the Mo family had fallen seriously ill, and it wasn't until the past few days that he had recovered somewhat. After Hong Shi's outburst and thinking about his two sons suffering, he fainted again from the shock, luckily without vomiting blood.

"Who let you into my house? You bunch of despicable scoundrels, I'll kill you!"

At this moment, a harsh shout rang out, frightening little Shi Tou to tremble all over. Mo Yan looked up and saw Mo Yongxi, her face contorted, rushing towards them and raising her hand to strike Xin'er, who was in the front...

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 Chapter 825: Aunt Xue's Dilemma

Aunt Xue had had enough of working every day in Zhengdao Village. Now, the hope was right in front of her, and she just wanted to seize it tightly.

However, she was well aware that Shu Yu didn't hold a favorable opinion of her. Even if she went to plead with her, Shu Yu would not only ignore her but might also cause trouble for her.

But that didn't matter. If Shu Yu couldn't help her, she could find someone else.

Aunt Xue remained quiet and didn't share her plans with the Shu family members.

After it was dark, she quietly slipped out of the house when no one was paying attention.

At that moment, Shu Yu was accompanying her parents to the estate. As there weren't enough rooms in the Lu family's residence, Lu Erbai and the others were still staying at the estate.

Zhao Xi and Meng Yunzheng also lived there. However, it wasn't convenient for them to stay at the Lu family's residence now.

Shu Yu and Da Ya accompanied her parents to the estate, and then Meng Yunzheng and the others returned to escort them back home.

Shu Yu said, "... It seems fine."

She and Lu Erbai waved their hands. "Father, mother, rest early. If you have any issues, just ask brother Wang"

"Alright, you can go."

As they watched the four of them leave, Ruan Shi couldn't help but sigh. "Meng Yunzheng is really a good person. Now that Ah Yu can return to her hometown, shouldn't we start arranging their wedding?"

Lu Erbai pondered for a moment. "There's no rush. Ah Yu hasn't reached the age of fifteen yet."

"That's true. We should wait until she comes of age." Besides, they hadn't met Meng Yunzheng's family yet.

As they chatted, they closed the front door and turned around to return to the backyard for some rest.

Little did they know that as soon as they took a few steps, they heard a knock on the door.

The couple exchanged glances. "Did Ah Yu forget something?"

As Lu Erbai spoke, he opened the front door.

To his surprise, there was an unfamiliar woman standing outside. He paused for a moment. "Who are you?"

"You are Ah Yu's parents, right? Lu Er Ge and his wife, correct?"

"Who are you?" Lu Erbai became cautious. Even though the woman seemed rather pitiful and harmless, as soon as he heard her mention Ah Yu, he involuntarily took a step back.

"I am Ah Yu's foster mother."

Ah Yu's foster mother?

Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi's expressions changed abruptly, and anger flashed in their eyes. "You're the one who mistreated our daughter, Xue Shi? How dare you come to our doorstep?"

Aunt Xue, seeing their anger, hurriedly said, "Brother Lu, Sister-in-law, please don't be angry. I know I was not good in the past, but I had my reasons. Please listen to my explanation."

"Reasons? No matter what reasons you have, it's not an excuse to mistreat our daughter." Ruan Shi's eyes turned red, and she looked around, even considering grabbing something nearby to hit her.

Aunt Xue hurriedly spoke, "But I didn't treat her that way. If I didn't treat her like that, she would have lost her life."

Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi were taken aback. They listened as Aunt Xue continued, "I don't know what Ah Yu told you, but there are some things I never had a chance to tell her. Now that she has been appointed as a village lord, we may never have the chance to meet again. If we don't talk now, we will regret it with these misunderstandings between us for the rest of our lives."

Without giving Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi a chance to speak, she wiped away her tears and said, "Ah Yu has been beautiful since she was young. Among the entire Shu family, she was the most beautiful. I really liked her and treated her as my own daughter sincerely. It wasn't just me; my husband also felt the same way. She was such a beautiful and obedient child. Who wouldn't like her, right?"

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 Chapter 322: Prepare an Extra Lunch

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 Chapter 321: Sister-in-law, You're Different from What I Imagined

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  Chapter 90: Gift Giving

In the customs of Da Chu, the New Year's Eve dinner is not eaten until it's dark outside. The New Year's Eve dinner is very particular; it not only includes fish and meat but also continues until the third day of the first lunar month.

Although eating leftover dishes for three days is not beneficial for health, this custom symbolizes a family's hope for the coming year. Moreover, since it's only once a year, Mo Yan prepared three days' worth of meals.

The ingredients in the house were abundant. Half a month ago, they bought half a pig, with half of it marinated with spices to make unique-flavored cured meat, and the other half chopped to make spicy and fragrant sausages.

There were also many chickens in the space, apart from the roosters. There were also old hens that no longer laid eggs. They were all nourished by the aura in the space, and not only were they nutritious, but their taste was also indescribable.

Speaking of chickens, Mo Yan had a headache. The hens in the space often laid eggs, and there were already seven to eight hundred of them, which was the result of her efforts to suppress their numbers. Otherwise, the entire space would probably be occupied by the flock of chickens.

Fortunately, they were going to buy barren hills next year, and by then, they would be able to raise all these chickens on the mountains.

The Mo family loved braised meats, so they naturally couldn't do without delicious braised pork, chicken, and sausages. The braising sauce that Mo Yan personally prepared emitted a delicious aroma as soon as it boiled, attracting Zhen'er to keep running into the kitchen.

Mo Yan tore off a chicken leg and handed it to him. He eagerly took several bites, his cheeks bulging like an inflated frog.

While Mo Yan was busy in the kitchen, the others were not idle. They were gathered in the hall, rolling out dough, chopping fillings, and wrapping dumplings.

On New Year's Eve, not only did the family eat dumplings, but also when relatives and friends came to visit, they would eat dumplings first to fill their stomachs. If there were many relatives and friends, even a few hundred dumplings might not be enough.

Back when they were resettled in Liuyang Village, it wasn't just the Mo family and the old Mo family who were resettled there, but also more than ten other families surnamed Mo. If they were still in Mojia village, they would all come to visit on the first day of the lunar New Year. If they were close, they would eat dumplings before leaving, and if they were distant, they would usually just pay a New Year visit and leave.

Mo Yan wasn't sure if those relatives of the Mo family would come to visit on the first day of the lunar New Year. Back in Mojia Village, these so-called relatives were not friendly to the original owner's family. Some even occasionally took advantage of them. Whether they came or not, Mo Yan didn't care, but if they did come, she couldn't shut them out.

As for people like Lin Da and Lin Meng, who had closer relationships with the Mo family, they would definitely come to visit, and most of these dumplings were prepared for them.

When the kitchen tasks were almost done, they were just waiting to cook the New Year's Eve dinner at night. Mo Yan washed her hands and went to the hall to help wrap dumplings.

This time, they made a lot of dumplings, and there were also several types of fillings. In addition to the mushroom and lean meat filling that the family loved, there were also corn and lean meat, mushroom and chicken, and leek and egg fillings.

Mo Qingze and Li Zhong were responsible for chopping the meat filling, while Li Yan and Xin'er rolled out the dough skins. Mo Yan alone could handle all the dumpling wrappers.

The family chatted and laughed as they wrapped dumplings. They heard a knock on the door, and since Zhen'er was the only one free, he ran to the courtyard to open the door.

"You're all busy!"

Shopkeeper Xing greeted them with a smile. Behind him was Xiao Zhu, who was carrying a square silver box.

Seeing them, Mo Yan quickly clapped the flour off her hands, invited them to sit down, and went to wash her hands and brew tea.

"Don't be so polite, Miss Mo. I was instructed by the young master to bring you something. I won't stay long."

Shopkeeper Xing quickly stopped her, then instructed Xiao Zhu, "Go and bring in everything from the carriage."

Xiao Zhu quickly obeyed and handed the silver box to Mo Yan before running outside to carry things in.

The Mo family watched as the small Xiao Zhu kept running back and forth, carrying things. In a short while, the cloth and food brought in were piled up in the hall.

Mo Yan twitched her eyes. She thought it was just "bringing something," but she didn't expect so much. Moreover, they were all household items, not particularly precious. She couldn't even refuse them.

The others were not familiar with Shopkeeper Xing, only knowing that Mo Yan had business dealings with him, and he had also taken a lot of vegetables away a few days ago.

Only Mo Yan knew that the vegetable delivery was just a cover, and what was really transported was Spirit Spring water from the space. To avoid attracting attention, she and Shopkeeper Xing claimed that the two families had reached a cooperation agreement.

With reciprocity in mind, Mo Yan had to pack up the freshly wrapped dumplings and take out a basket of cured meats, sausages, and braised meats from under the eaves, filling a basket full of them. After some thought, she also took out several old hens from the kitchen and quietly took out some vegetables and fruits from the space, putting them together as a return gift.

"There's nothing good at home. These are all produced by ourselves, and they taste pretty good. Especially these chickens are very nourishing. If Shopkeeper doesn't mind, take them back."

"I don't mind, I don't mind. These are all good things that can't be bought outside!"

Shopkeeper Xing personally took the dumplings and braised meat, and let Xiao Zhu carry the chickens and vegetables onto the car.

From his master, he vaguely knew that this Miss Mo was not simple. If it were someone else's family sending these foods, he wouldn't be interested, but since it was sent by Miss Mo, it must be good.

After Shopkeeper Xing and his party left, Mo Yan began to sort out the gifts they had brought. The gifts were heavier than she had imagined. Apart from the smooth and soft fabrics, the pile of snacks were all bought from famous shops, with each small packet costing a tael of silver.

The things in the silver box were even more precious. There were jade ornaments, gemstones, and pearl jewelry, suitable for young girls of ten or so years old. Each set had a different design; there were also three pieces of jade pendants for men, which even included Li Zhong and Li Yan. It had to be said that this gift was thoughtful.

On Shopkeeper Xing's side, he brought the return gift from the Mo family and delivered it to the residence of Wu'an.

As a result, during the New Year's Eve dinner at the Wu'an Mansion residence that night, the young master Wu'an ate only a few bites of the food with great disgust and didn't touch his chopsticks again until the chef brought in a pot of fragrant chicken soup and a bowl of steaming dumplings. After the young master Wu'an personally served a bowl of chicken soup and dumplings to his grandfather, the other dishes were all eaten by him alone, which made Wu'an's wife—the young master Wu'an's step-grandmother—feel extremely aggrieved. They had a big quarrel that night, and as a result, she was severely punished by the old master Wu'an before calming down!

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 Chapter 688: Although He's Not a Person, Qin Jingcen Is Truly Loyal!

Hu Yiyuan learned the significance of the bracelet and nervously declined, "Uncle, I can't accept this!"

Ignoring whether the jade bracelet is valuable or not, its meaning is too precious.

He is not Qin Jingcen's true partner and feels unworthy of such a gift.

Qin Anguo insisted and handed it to him, saying, "You silly child, just take it. Don't be shy. Just live happily with Jingcen in the future."

Afraid of changing his mind, he quickly walked towards the hall after giving the gift.

Hu Yiyuan held the jade bracelet in his hand, feeling unsure, and looked at Qin Jingcen.

Qin Jingcen extended his hand and said softly, "Give it to me."

Hu Yiyuan hesitated, feeling like he was holding a hot potato, and carefully placed the jade bracelet wrapped in red cloth into Qin Jingcen's hand.

The two of them didn't return to the room but headed towards the parking lot.

After taking a few steps, Qin Jingcen turned back and cast a cold glance at Hu Yiyuan.

He suddenly said, "It's easy to get a cab here."

"Huh?" Hu Yiyi was confused.

Qin Jingcen raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Since everything is settled, do you still want to come back to the company with me?"

Hu Yiyuan understood, was he being used and discarded after serving his purpose?

He tugged at the corners of his lips, looking incredulous, "Are you telling me to take a cab home?"

Qin Jingcen didn't say anything, but his eyes already conveyed the message.

The disdainful look in his eyes was like that of a disposable rag, as if he found Hu Yiyuan's presence unbearable and didn't want him to appear before him.

Hu Yiyuan clutched his chest in pain, saying, "I've been careless in choosing friends!"

Although he's not a person, Qin Jingcen is truly loyal!

Qin Jingcen shook the car keys in his hand and smiled slightly, "I don't mind taking you to the company and further confirming your current identity."

"Forget it. Goodbye."

Hu Yiyuan ran away hurriedly, his speed comparable to a frightened rabbit.

His slippery remarks and escaping posture made Qin Jingcen laugh heartily in place.

...

Underground boxing arena.

Qin Ruan was stopped at the entrance and only then did she realize that this place operates on a membership system, and non-members can't enter.

As she was about to contact Hou Yunjiao, a familiar face appeared before her eyes.

Bei Jinzhou walked towards her slowly and bowed slightly, showing respect, "Mrs. Huo, my young lady invites you in."

Qin Ruan looked aloof and cold, scanning him up and down, "The previous pictures were sent to me by Su Jingshu?"

Her words held a hint of certainty.

Bei Jinzhou stood in place without speaking, silently gazing at her.

Silence was a tacit approval, and Qin Ruan understood.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of her lips, "It seems that Miss Su Jingshu has a lot of free time."

Her voice carried a mocking chill.

Bei Jinzhou made way for her, gesturing for her to enter, "Mrs. Hou, please."

Qin Ruan made a nonchalant hum and walked into the boxing arena.

They took the elevator and went straight to the second floor.

As soon as the elevator door opened, excited roars and screams filled their ears.

Qin Ruan walked out of the elevator and headed towards the corridor's glass railing.

From where she stood, she had a clear view of the arena below.

The outcome on the ring was already decided, and the crowd in the stands was cheering fiercely, mixed with unpleasant curses.

Qin Ruan's eyes glanced over the ring with an indifferent and cold gaze.

A man wearing black shorts was firmly suppressed on the ground by his opponent, a man with semi-long hair, who used both hands and feet to dominate him.

The long-haired man had used a technique of getting around his opponent's legs to achieve a side control, completely controlling his opponent, and then setting up a choking technique.

This method could easily exhaust the opponent's strength and make it difficult for him to return to his original attacking position.

The man on the ground was muscular, and judging from his unwilling expression, he could still launch a counterattack if he waited for the right opportunity.

As long as the long-haired man suppressed him for long enough, he could drag the time and win this round.

Qin Ruan placed her hand on the railing and lightly scratched the glass with her fingers.

The hot blood flowing in her body seemed to be itching for action.

Behind her, footsteps approached, light and agile.

Qin Ruan turned her head and collided with Su Jingshu's taunting gaze.

In this bloody and brutal environment, Su Jingshu, who displayed elegance and grace, looked out of place.

Su Jingshu's beautiful face carried a smile as she glanced at Qin Ruan's belly.

She teasingly said, "Mrs. Hou, your belly is so big, and you still came out to play?"

Qin Ruan's deep and cold gaze met Su Jingshu's.

Su Jingshu walked to her side and raised her lips, "Do you know that your husband has other women outside? Are you upset?"

Qin Ruan's tone was calm as she finally spoke, "He won't."

Her voice was calm and pleasing, just like her, giving off a cold and distant feeling.

Su Jingshu wrinkled her brows and tilted her head, looking at Qin Ruan, "You mean, you believe that he won't be unfaithful to you?"

Qin Ruan shook her head, "No."

She sighed softly, her voice carrying a hint of coldness, "I just trust his character."

"Even if one day he does develop feelings for another woman, he will never put me in an awkward position, nor will he betray our marriage. The most basic loyalty in a marriage is something we give to each other."

Although Su Jingshu understood every word she said, she couldn't fully comprehend where Qin Ruan's unwavering confidence came from.

She shook her head in denial, "Your words lack logic. Men are like that by nature. They will never be satisfied with just one woman. Sooner or later, they will cheat."

Su Jingshu tried to transmit her knowledge of how men behave to Qin Ruan.

Qin Ruan lightly hummed, pulling her coat together in a casual manner.

She looked into Su Jingshu's eyes, her gaze cold and deep, "What you said applies to men with low intelligence and selfish nature. They will seek self-validation in marriage and believe that trampling on their partner's feelings will give them dignity and a sense of satisfaction. Such men are despicable and incompetent. They can't be compared to Third Young Master

Su Jingshu's smile faded away, and she stared at Qin Ruan, showing a hint of hostility.

Su Jingshu pulled her lips, showing disdain towards Qin Ruan's beliefs.

She coldly laughed twice and stepped aside, revealing the room number where Hou Yunjiao and Gong Yibo were.

  Chapter 89: Night Conversation

Returning from Liuyang Village, the sky had already darkened completely. Li Zhong and his granddaughter had prepared dinner and left it simmering in the pot, awaiting the return of Mo Yan's family.

After dinner, Mo Yan gathered her family in the room, indicating that she had something important to discuss. Li Zhong, sensing the seriousness of the matter, knew it wasn't appropriate for him, an outsider, to listen in. Therefore, he went to another room to spend time with his granddaughter.

Mo Yan took out a key and opened the large wooden chest at the bedside, revealing a small wooden box inside, which was used by their family to store silver coins.

When the small box was opened, revealing the thick silver bills and a pile of silver coins inside, the eyes of the father and children were all fixed on it in amazement. They had never imagined their family would have so much silver!

Mo Yan found it amusing to see their reactions. She then took out an account book from the bottom, which clearly recorded all the expenses and income since they started building the greenhouse.

"Father, our vegetable business has been running for one month and six days. After deducting the wages paid to the villagers and the cost of building the greenhouse, the net profit totals two thousand and fifty-six taels."

Originally, they didn't have this much money. It was only in the past few days, as tomatoes, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables came to market successively, coupled with the approaching end of the year when both wealthy households and common people would stock up on vegetables for the New Year, that business unexpectedly boomed, tripling their sales in the final few days.

"Wow, so much?" Mo Qingze stared blankly at the silver bills lying in the box. He was not particularly interested in money matters, but to have accumulated such a large sum in just over a month left him unable to remain calm.

Xin'er eagerly pulled out all the silver bills and coins, carefully counting them twice before finally believing it wasn't a dream. For a moment, she stared at the silver bills in disbelief, lost in thought.

"With so much silver, how many candied haws can we buy?" Zhen'er blurted out, earning himself a scolding from his elder sister. Seeing his father and sisters smiling at him, his face turned red with embarrassment.

After the family laughter subsided, Mo Yan spoke seriously, "In addition to this, plus the previous thirteen hundred taels of silver, our family now has nearly three thousand four hundred taels of silver. When we start building the house next spring, I estimate it will cost about eight hundred taels."

"Eight hundred taels? So much?" Just as Mo Qingze was recovering from the shock of having "three thousand four hundred taels of silver," he fell into another pit of astonishment at the thought of needing "eight hundred taels to build a house," his expression fluctuating comically.

"Father, eight hundred taels is just a preliminary estimate. It might be even more." Mo Yan calmly added, anticipating her father's inability to accept it.

Their family's house naturally had to be the best it could be. In this era, labor costs were not high, but using green bricks and green tiles for construction would still require a lot of silver.

If they wanted to decorate the interior, the cost would be even higher. If she were to follow her own preferences, eight hundred taels might not be enough.

"The land we bought has seventy mu. Apart from the ten mu reserved for the front fruit orchard, I plan to enclose the rest and keep it for future planning."

Mo Qingze furrowed his brows, feeling conflicted. He had seen the architectural drawings of the house and really liked the layout, but the thought of spending so much silver made him feel helpless.

The two children looked at their father eagerly, unable to intervene in the conversation. However, the thought of living in a spacious and bright beautiful house made them ecstatic. They were already imagining what the house would look like.

Then, Mo Yan dropped another bombshell, "Father, when the house is built, I'll find a study for you, so you can continue your studies!"

"What?" Poor Mo Qingze was so shocked by his daughter's words that he felt as if he were in a dream, his whole person appearing dazed.

Mo Yan didn't rush him. She had planned all this in advance and wanted to prepare her family for it today.

After digesting these two pieces of news, Mo Qingze finally said, "Yan'er, our family is not lacking in silver now, so you can handle the house-building matters. However, as for entering the academy to study, it's not as simple as you think."

Towards the end, his voice carried a hint of bitterness.

Is entering the academy to study really that difficult?

Seeing her father's expression, Mo Yan didn't quite understand, but this matter wasn't urgent. There were two major official academies in the capital, as well as several private schools. She could inquire slowly after the New Year and would surely find a suitable one.

Setting this matter aside for now, Mo Yan brought up another plan that she had been planning for a long time, "Father, let's buy the barren hills behind the land foundation and plant fruit trees for farming!"

With the two previous matters settled, Mo Qingze quickly accepted the idea of buying barren hills to plant fruit trees, "Yan'er, you handle this matter. If you need anything from me, just let me know. However, as for whether these fruit trees are easy to cultivate, let's not talk about it for now. Where are we going to get the tree seedlings?"

As for the tree seedlings, this was the difficulty that Mo Yan was facing, but she wasn't particularly worried. "Let's start with ordinary peach trees and pear trees. As for other tree species, we'll explore them slowly. If they're not available in the capital, we'll look elsewhere. We'll surely find them."

It was almost impossible for fruits from the south to grow in the north, but with her space and Spirit Spring water, this wasn't a problem. The key was the tree species.

Seeing her daughter so confident, Mo Qingze couldn't say anything to dampen her spirits. He decided to go to the market in the village after the spring festival to inquire. Perhaps they could really find what they were looking for.

After discussing some details about building the house, it was already late. Thinking that they had to get up early the next day, they exchanged a few words and dispersed.

In the quiet night, holding his son's warm and soft body, Mo Qingze's mind was filled with thoughts. After thinking about many things in a daze, he forced himself to sleep when the first crow of the rooster sounded...

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 824: The Delusions of the Shu Family

When the Shu family returned to their residence, they were still exhausted. When they arrived at the estate, they only saw Wang Changdong registering, but Shu Yu was nowhere to be seen. Initially, they didn't think much of it.

After all, Shu Yu occasionally took leave to go to the county town. It wasn't unusual.

However, when they arrived home and saw unwashed clothes and no dinner prepared, they were about to unleash their anger on Aunt Xue. It was at that moment that they heard from her that Shu Yu was about to return to Dong'an Prefecture and had become a village lord.

The Shu family members were dumbfounded.

After coming back to their senses, they rushed to the Lu family. But before they reached there, they saw the two officers guarding the Lu family's gate from a distance. They suddenly calmed down and returned home one by one.

However, this incident was too shocking for them. The Shu family members were too preoccupied to do anything else. They didn't even care about eating and gathered in the main hall to discuss the matter.

"Why is she allowed to return to her hometown? Even if she made achievements and submitted those heating packs, she is still Shu family's adopted daughter. She should have submitted them in the name of the Shu family. If she can be released without guilt, we, as her family members, should also be released. Otherwise, she is not qualified to leave this place."

"Yes, if she is pardoned, the whole family should be pardoned."

"We were exiled here together with her. We are her family. If she can return to her hometown, we can too. Otherwise, she has no right to leave."

"That's right, why should she be the only one benefiting?"

The Shu family members were indignant, and their discussion became heated, with some of them even standing up with flushed faces.

Only Shu Feng leaned against the door of the main hall, observing his family members with a clear mind.

When everyone had said almost everything, he sneered and reminded them, "Didn't you hear Aunt Xue? The imperial edict clearly states that there is no relationship between Lu Shu Yu and the Shu family. The emperor has removed her from the status of Shu family's adopted daughter. What else can you do? Do you dare to question the emperor's decision at the yamen?"

The Shu family members fell silent instantly. Their faces showed a mix of unwillingness, but they didn't dare to speak up.

Shu Feng stood up straight. "Be more clear-headed. Regardless of how well she does in the future, she is no longer related to the Shu family. It's late now, let's prepare dinner. We're hungry."

The Shu family members fell into silence. Weren't they clear-headed?

No, they were fully aware that Lu Shu Yu had drifted further and further away from them. They knew that she would thrive in the future.

They were well aware of that.

But working day after day, constantly toiling, made them exhausted. They couldn't help but indulge in their delusions, even though they knew it was foolish.

However, Shu Feng's words were like a bucket of cold water that extinguished their delusions. They didn't dare to entertain such thoughts anymore.

Yes, could they question the emperor's decision? They were still in exile. If they dared to cause trouble, they wouldn't even be able to protect their lives.

The Shu family members swallowed their resentment, even if they were unwilling.

Only Aunt Xue's eyes still gleamed.

She was different from the Shu family members. She was just a concubine. If the master was still alive, she would naturally follow him. But now that the master was gone, beheaded, she could only rely on her children.

And her foster daughter was Shu Yu.

If her foster daughter became a village lord and was released without guilt, then as her "mother," she could also leave. After all, she wasn't a legitimate member of the Shu family, and there was a lot of leeway to maneuver in this situation.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 687: Third Young Master Is Doting on His Wife, Don't Give Him the Chance to Flaunt Her

Upon hearing Qin Ruan's name, Hou Yunjiao turned his gaze to Gongsun Wei.

His excellent composure caused a faint smile to appear on his thin lips.

His voice remained calm as he said to Gong Wei, "Then you should go and apologize to my wife."

His deep eyes showed no trace of amusement, as if they were as profound as an ancient well, capable of devouring one's heart and soul.

However, Gong Wei was captivated by the dazzling smile on Third Young Master Hou's face and subconsciously walked towards him.

Hou Yunjiao's exquisite and handsome appearance, combined with the alluring atmosphere of the dimly lit room, exuded a sense of nobility and elegance, which enticed her.

A man like him, even if he had limited time left, still possessed a fatal attraction to women.

And Gong Wei had already fallen for him.

She stood by Hou Yunjiao's side, slightly leaning forward, pretending to be close and said, "Third Young Master, Third Young Madam seems to have some misunderstanding about me. She has a bad temper and doesn't listen to my explanations. She also behaves rudely."

Hou Yunjiao leaned back, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, and his expression seemed to have a smiling but not smiling look, "My wife indeed has a bad temper, but she's very well-behaved. I think you must have offended her in some way."

Without knowing the full story, he had already taken the side of a woman of inferior background who climbed up from the mud and dust.

Jealousy surged in Gong Wei's heart, and her voice raised, "I didn't do anything. She provoked me first!"

Hou Yunjiao tightly furrowed his brows and pulled out a handkerchief from his coat pocket, elegantly covering his mouth and nose.

He stared at Gong Wei, and a strong sense of disdain and displeasure emanated from him.

"You have a strong odor. Please stay away from me."

"..." Gong Wei's face flushed instantly.

Her expression changed from red to blue, and then turned pale, displaying a dramatic range of colors.

If it were any other gentleman who cherished and valued women, seeing Gong Wei in such an awkward situation, they would have changed the topic right away.

But Hou Yunjiao didn't stop there.

He narrowed his eyes, and an expression of displeasure flashed in his deep gaze. In a magnetic and low voice, he said, "Miss, please don't speak ill of my wife in front of me in the future. She's pregnant and has a bad temper, but my temper is worse."

Gong Wei pursed her lips, feeling both speechless and disheartened.

Could it be that Third Young Master Hou had been bewitched by that woman? He didn't even wait for her to explain the situation before taking her side.

Gong Yibo, who was on the side, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing the conversation.

He covered his mouth with a fist to suppress the laughter.

Gong Wei, though unwilling, decided to sit down obediently.

She was from a collateral branch of the Gong family, with a lower status compared to the main branch. She had to save some face.

But she couldn't help but cast lingering glances at Third Young Master Hou.

...

At the Qin residence.

While Qin Ruan was talking to Qin Anguo, her phone received a notification sound for a text message.

She casually took out her phone from her pocket and opened the message.

It was a picture taken in a dimly lit room, clearly displayed in front of her.

A hint of surprise flickered in Qin Ruan's eyes, quickly followed by a surge of anger that seemed to unleash a storm inside her.

Her complexion didn't look good, and she furrowed her brows, unable to control the anger spreading throughout her body.

Qin Anguo sensed that something was wrong and asked her, "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing important." Qin Ruan quickly dimmed her phone screen and smiled, "Dad, I'm afraid I can't accompany you for dinner tonight. I have to go back."

Qin Anguo wasn't concerned about the dinner. He was worried about Qin Ruan, "Is everything alright?"

"It's nothing serious, just that I need to go back." Qin Ruan shook her head, "Dad, I'll visit you next time."

Deep inside, she was replaying the picture that had appeared on her phone.

Third Young Master was sitting in a dimly lit room, and there was a woman beside him, leaning close to him intimately.

From the angle of the shot, it seemed like they were kissing.

Qin Ruan couldn't say that she felt jealous, but she felt resentful.

Right now, her mind was filled with the image of Hou Yunjiao with that unfamiliar woman.

The message that came with the picture also included an address.

She now wanted to go there and find out what was going on.

Seeing her anxious expression, Qin Jingcen couldn't help but feel worried, "My dear, listen to your elder brother and don't rush around. When the baby is born, you can stay at home as long as you want. Running around like this is not good for your health."

"Well, let's see about that, Big Brother. I'm really leaving now," Qin Ruan replied, not wanting to think too far ahead. She was still filled with anger due to the picture she had just seen.

As the two of them went upstairs, Qin Anguo wore an unhappy expression as he said, "Come on, let's all go. None of you knows how to accompany me, always so busy. When I'm no longer around, who will accompany me?"

Qin Anguo was still harboring resentment. He had children and grandchildren, but he couldn't enjoy the joys of family life.

Qin Jingcen, who overheard their conversation, couldn't help but feel uneasy, "Dad, the company really has urgent matters to handle. I'll bring Ah Yan to accompany you for dinner tonight, okay?"

"Who said you could leave dinner for her? Don't disturb me while I'm watching my dramas," Qin Anguo said with a face full of grievances, but he seemed less restrained now.

As he walked into his room, he took out something from his pocket and handed it to Hu Yan, "This is the jade bracelet left by Jingcen's mother. It's not worth much, but you can wear it."

It was their first meeting, yet he was giving her presents already.

Hu Yan felt that Qin Anguo was too generous.