Chapter 325: Running a Business

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  Chapter 96: Mo Yan's Strategy (Part 1)

Upon hearing Mo Fang's words, Mo Qingze agreed, "This is necessary. Mo family should not be wandering without roots."

However, despite Mo Qingze's approval, Mo Fang's face didn't show much joy. He hesitated, glancing at Mo Qingze as if there was something difficult to express.

Seeing this, Mo Yan's heart sank. She could already guess what Mo Fang was about to say, especially judging by the secret satisfaction on the faces of the others. She even anticipated why they dared to make such shameless requests.

Sure enough, Mo Fang looked embarrassed as he said, "Building a clan hall is a big matter for the clan. Each household should contribute money and effort. However... Qingze, you know our village is not wealthy, and we spent a lot of money on the way here. Building the clan hall requires at least eighty taels of silver. If divided among each household, it would be four to five taels per family. We simply can't afford it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's hopeful eyes fixed on Mo Qingze. They practically told him directly, "We are poor, and your family is the richest. Just pay for the entire clan hall."

Now, even if Mo Qingze was foolish, he understood their intentions. He furrowed his brows, feeling a bit displeased.

"Clan head, building the clan hall is not something that can be done in a day or two. We can't afford it now, but it's only temporary. When times are better in the future, each family can contribute a bit. You don't need to worry."

Mo Yan praised her father's response silently. Acting dumb was the best approach at this moment. If Mo Fang dared to speak out clearly, she wouldn't give him face.

Mo Fang's disappointment was evident upon hearing this, but as the current clan head of the Mo clan in Liuyang Village, he couldn't directly voice his thoughts. He remained silent, contemplating his next move.

However, some people had no reservations. Mo Dashan, who had been the most enthusiastic in flattery earlier, stepped forward and said, "Qingze, building the clan hall is not easy for us, but for your family, which has prospered greatly, eighty taels of silver is just a drop in the bucket!"

"Yes, Qingze, you're also part of the Mo family. Since you have the ability, you should put your heart into it."

"Those of us without money will contribute with labor. When it comes to building the clan hall, leave it to us. You just need to provide the silver, without worrying about anything else."

"It's better to build the clan hall sooner rather than later. If we wait until we have enough silver, who knows when it will be! Qingze, despite what Uncle Mo's family did to your family, you're still good to them. Now that we're in trouble, consider it helping us poor relatives!"

One person spoke up, and four or five others followed suit with various comments.

"Heh heh~"

Hearing this, Mo Yan chuckled, but there was no humor in her eyes as she scanned the faces of the speakers. These people boldly made these statements, even using old Mo's family as leverage against her father. Did they think they would agree to this just because they had been lenient with old Mo's family?

Unfortunately, they were just ordinary clan members, not old Mo's family. She didn't need to consider so much.

"You all say building the clan hall is a big matter for the clan, but now you're forcing my family to provide all the silver. I wonder if the ancestors of the Mo clan will bless you when the clan hall is built."

As soon as this was said, several people's expressions changed. Indeed, even if the clan hall was built, what use would it be if the ancestors didn't bless them?

Mo Dashan retorted angrily, "We are all descendants of the Mo clan. As long as we offer sacrifices to our ancestors during festivals, why wouldn't they bless us?"

Some who had been wavering now thought Mo Dashan made sense, and their gazes towards the Mo family became less friendly.

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  Chapter 95: Building Relationships (Part 2)

Zhen'er retorted, "But they shouldn't snatch. When Zhen'er sees something he likes, he won't grab it."

"Well, Zhen'er is a good boy." Mo Yan patted his head to show approval, then changed the subject, "But not everyone is like Zhen'er, knowing not to take what doesn't belong to them! If you can't protect your treasures, it's best not to show them off."

Zhen'er nodded understandingly, troubled, "But now that they've taken the toys, how can Zhen'er get them back?"

Mo Yan glanced at her, planning to test her, "You lost them yourself, so figure out a way to get them back. Remember, no fighting!"

Zhen'er slumped his shoulders and dejectedly walked out of the room.

Mo Yan shook her head, lifted the lid of the pot, and stirred the bubbling dumplings inside.

With forty-three adults and children visiting for New Year's, Mo Yan used up the remaining three hundred-plus dumplings from yesterday. She divided them into big and small bowls to accommodate everyone. Fortunately, the dumplings were large, so there was no issue with everyone getting full.

However, there was a slight friction during the meal. These children, having tasted a bit of meat during the New Year, couldn't get enough of Mo's dumplings, which were particularly delicious due to their ample meat filling. Even though they were full, they wanted more, leading to arguments with their parents.

Those with thin skin gave their portions to their children, while those with thick skin directly asked Mo Yan for more.

Xin'er disliked the people from the Mo family village and didn't want to give them dumplings at all. So, she took the rowdy kids to the kitchen and pointed to the cutting board where the dumplings were laid out, saying, "Look, they're all gone. I haven't even eaten any myself!"

Several children slinked out of the kitchen without causing any more trouble, and their parents, feeling embarrassed, scolded them for being "unreasonable."

After finishing the dumplings, Zhang Dayou and his group bid farewell to the Mo family and hurried back. During the New Year, the greenhouse vegetables couldn't be left unattended; watering and tending to them was their responsibility.

Once they left, only members of the Mo family were left in the house, and they felt it was safe to speak openly.

Organizing his thoughts, Mo Fang, who had been rejected as the head of the Mo clan in Liuyang Village, patted Mo Qingze on the shoulder and said, "Qingze, even though we're settling in Liuyang Village in the future, we mustn't forget our roots in the Mo family."

Mo Qingze nodded in agreement. Wherever one goes, it's important not to forget one's origins and ancestors.

Seeing this, Mo Fang's heart filled with joy. It seemed that today's purpose might be achieved. With a more obvious smile on his face, he generously praised, "I knew Qingze was a good person, unlike those who forget their ancestors once they become successful."

Mo Qingze modestly responded, while Mo Yan became wary. She had a feeling that the village chief had something else in mind!

Sure enough, Mo Fang's expression turned grave as he said, "Back then, when we fled from the Mo family village, we originally planned to go to Yongcheng. However, halfway there, we heard that Yongcheng was inaccessible, so we turned towards the direction of the capital instead. It's just that the journey was too far, and many old people and children didn't make it here."

Pausing for a moment, Mo Fang continued, "Later, when the war ended, apart from those willing to return to their homes with more land, the rest of us stayed and were assigned to various resettlement areas. Our ten-plus families were allocated to Liuyang Village. From now on, we are a branch of the Mo clan."

At this point, Mo Fang became extremely excited. "Before the New Year, our ten-plus families agreed to build a clan hall in Liuyang Village. Firstly, we can't let our ancestors go unattended underground. Secondly, we hope that our ancestors will bless our branch. Thirdly, it's also to establish a foundation for our Mo clan!"

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 Chapter 828: Put an End to It

Due to years of habit, Aunt Xue still occasionally treated Shu Yu as the weak and transparent little girl she used to be, despite having suffered a few losses in front of her.

But at this moment, Aunt Xue suddenly felt that the current Shu Yu had become terrifying.

She couldn't help but want to retreat, but she couldn't move and could only stare at Shu Yu with wide eyes.

Shu Yu smiled. "You were so ruthless to me back then, but did you ever think that you would have such a day? Is your arm hurting? Are you hungry? Do you see no future? Look, I have experienced all of that, and now you are experiencing it. It's fair, isn't it?"

"I originally thought that you should live like this for the rest of your life. After all, I've lived this kind of life for so many years, haven't I? Unfortunately, I'm leaving now, and we probably won't see each other again. I thought that before I left, we should put an end to our grievances from the past ten years, right?"

Put an end to it?

Aunt Xue's eyes filled with fear, and her lips trembled. "You... Do you want to kill me?"

She immediately shook her head. "No, no, you can't kill me." She urgently grasped her own skirt. "You were just recently appointed as the village lord. If you kill me, everyone will think you're ruthless. There are so many eyes on you right now. You can't kill me."

Shu Yu found it amusing. "Why are you so nervous? I didn't say I want to personally put an end to it."

"What do you mean?"

"I guess you came to find my parents, but the other members of the Shu family probably don't know, right?"

Aunt Xue widened her eyes. She understood. Shu Yu wanted to use the Shu family as a scapegoat.

However, Shu Yu didn't want to say anything more to her. She forcefully pulled her skirt from Aunt Xue's grasp, stood up, and walked toward the officials in the Zhuangzi.

Aunt Xue was momentarily stunned. Then, she desperately turned her head around and shouted, "Spare me! I know I was wrong. I won't bother you anymore, and I won't come to find your family again. Spare me, I beg you. I'm sorry, truly sorry. I won't dare anymore."

But Shu Yu acted as if she hadn't heard her. She sighed and said to the two officials, "She's in no condition to get up now. Please help send her back to the Shu family. Also, remind the Shu family to be more careful next time. This person's mind seems to be even more unclear now. The imperial decree has already stated that I have no connection with the Shu family, but she insists that I'm a daughter of the Shu family and expects them to be exempt from punishment too."

Shaking her head, she continued, "It's fine if she says that to me, but if it spreads, it might make it seem like the Shu family is dissatisfied with the emperor's decree. The Shu family is still able to live well in exile now, but if she continues causing trouble, who knows what might happen in the future."

The two officials exchanged glances and nodded. "You're right. We've just received praise from the magistrate, so we can't let anything happen."

After speaking, the two officials approached and lifted Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue wanted to say something to Shu Yu, but the officials immediately covered her mouth.

The two officials were already dissatisfied with her causing trouble by coming to the Zhuangzi. Moreover, they vaguely suspected that Wang Changdong would be transferred to the county seat, and one of them might be selected from among the people here. Today, they happened to be on duty, and yet such a big commotion occurred. If it left a bad impression, what would they do?

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  Chapter 94: Building Relationships (Part 1)

There's a saying, "On the first day, pay respects to your parents and elders; on the second day, the son-in-law visits his in-laws; after the third day, it's time to visit other relatives."

In the capital, both the Mo and Li families had no other relatives. Mo Yan thought they could sleep in peace and laziness until the market reopened on the seventh day of the new year. However, not long after dawn, there was a knock on the courtyard door, so she had to get up and dress to answer it.

"Happy New Year, Miss Mo!"

"Happy New Year, Miss Mo!"

"Yan'e, the uncles are here to pay their New Year's respects!"

The synchronized New Year's greetings startled Mo Yan. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Zhang Dayou, Zhang Erniu, Lin Laogen, and twelve others. Behind them was a large group of people, including men, women, and children, forming a dense crowd.

Mo Yan recognized these people; they were from the Mo family village, just like her.

After exchanging greetings one by one, Mo Yan invited them into the main hall. She then knocked on her father's door and woke up her sister Xin'er, instructing her to entertain the children brought by the adults.

These relatives of the Mo family didn't come to pay New Year's respects yesterday when Mo Yan visited Liuyang Village. Mo Yan thought they wouldn't come today, considering the distance, but she didn't expect so many of them to show up.

Mo Qingze quickly tidied up and came out to entertain the guests. After exchanging pleasantries, the room was filled with laughter and chatter.

"Back then, who didn't know that brother Qingze were the most promising in our Mo family village? Look, settling here, only Qingze's family is doing well."

"That's right, brother Qingze capable. They conduct business on such a large scale in the city. How can we compare?"

"Why bother with these polite words? We all share the same ancestor. If Qingze prospers, we can also benefit!"

...

Surrounded by a group of peers who had previously mocked him, Mo Qingze felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. He could only smile awkwardly and say, "Where, where. I've just been lucky. Fortunately, everyone safely survived the disaster, and things will get better in the future."

"Indeed, scholars speak differently!"

"That's right, brother Qingze's blessings is great!"

They uttered flattering words as if they had amnesia, forgetting the ridicule and sarcasm they had directed at Mo Qingze in the past.

Zhang Dayou, Zhang Erniu, and the others were dumbfounded and felt embarrassed for these people. Since they were all from the same family, was it necessary to flatter each other like this?

The noise in the main hall, coupled with the kitchen door being open, allowed Mo Yan, who was cooking dumplings, to easily hear these words. She twitched her mouth in disbelief, not knowing what to say.

Perhaps these people were using the excuse of paying New Year's respects to repair their relationships. After all, in their eyes, their own family was considered wealthy.

"Sister, those annoying brats snatched Zhen'er's wooden horse and clay figurines."

Zhen'er ran in angrily to complain, his mouth pouting as if it could hold a bottle of oil.

Mo Yan inserted a piece of firewood into the stove and replied without raising her head, "Who asked you to show off? It serves you right!"

Zhen'er had come seeking comfort but was scolded by his elder sister instead. He pouted even more, kicking the firewood in frustration.

"What's wrong? Still not satisfied? If you didn't show off and didn't bring out those toys to play with, would they have gone to your room to find them?"

Mo Yan understood the child's thoughts. Although he appeared obedient and sensible for his age, he was still a six-year-old child with a strong sense of vanity. It was normal for him to like showing off good things and boasting to others, but this time, he clearly went too far.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 827: How the Tables Have Turned

Aunt Xue couldn't believe that Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi refused to listen to her explanation. Even when she cried heartbreakingly, they remained unmoved and only focused on accusing her of buying a person.

Caught off guard, she screamed and desperately tried to avoid the blows.

Lu Erbai stood quietly at the door, watching his wife vent her anger. He hadn't intervened, but if Aunt Xue fought back, he would step in to help Ruan Shi.

However, with one hand already crippled and the constant lack of food and warm clothing, Aunt Xue didn't have the strength to retaliate, not even to dodge the stick. She had exhausted all her energy.

The commotion at the door quickly attracted the people staying at the Zhuangzi, and they rushed out. However, upon witnessing Ruan Shi's one-sided aggression, they remained rooted to the spot. They were afraid that if they intervened, it would only escalate and someone might end up dead.

Since no one acted, Aunt Xue was on the verge of collapse from the beatings. She had been struck multiple times, and her injured hand was causing spasms of pain. She couldn't stand any longer and fell to the ground.

As she fell, Lu Erbai stepped forward to restrain Ruan Shi, who was on the verge of losing control.

Ruan Shi panted heavily and sneered, "Don't play dead. My stick isn't thick, and I didn't use much force. I couldn't have killed you."

Indeed, Ruan Shi couldn't kill her, but it hurt.

Aunt Xue couldn't control her tears anymore, and her body trembled slightly. She was unable to speak.

"Aunt Xue..."

Suddenly, a pair of feet stopped in front of her, causing Aunt Xue to pause. She struggled to lift her head and saw that Shu Yu had appeared in front of her at some point.

Her expression changed. "You..."

Shu Yu looked down at her from a higher position for a while, then raised her head and said to Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi, "Father, please help Mother rest for a while. I will talk to her."

"Alright, take your time."

Lu Erbai supported Ruan Shi as they left. In the courtyard, only Shu Yu and Aunt Xue remained.

The lantern under the eaves outside the courtyard emitted a soft glow, making Shu Yu's face appear gentle.

This gentleness gave Aunt Xue a sense of illusion.

She raised her head, and her tears flowed even more intensely. "A Yu, I... I was wrong... Please forgive me... Save me..."

Shu Yu stood there silently for a long time. In truth, she hadn't gone far.

She rarely had the opportunity to spend time alone with Meng Yunzheng. Combined with her recent appointment as the village lord and the news she wanted to ask him about regarding the capital, they were walking slowly. They had even sent Zhao Xi back first, leaving only the two of them not far from the Zhuangzi to talk.

They heard the commotion at the same time.

Shu Yu watched Aunt Xue's miserable state, and suddenly, she laughed. Squatting down, she reached out and lifted Aunt Xue's chin, whispering, "Do you remember when I was beaten by the Shu family servants as a child? I was just like you now, unable to crawl off the ground. And you came over, towering above me, and kicked away the bun I had fought so hard to get. Then you said to me, 'You are the third miss of the Shu family. How could you eat such food?' As punishment, you let me starve and locked me in a dark room."

Aunt Xue's pupils dilated, and Shu Yu's smile grew brighter. "Now the tables have turned, don't you think?"

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 324: A Good Knife

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 323: Casual

Next Chapter ▶▶

  Chapter 93: Acting Crazy (Part 2)

Mo Qingze knew it was impossible for his second aunt to let him in, so he stopped insisting and left, holding his children's hands.

Mo Yan picked up the two pieces of cured meat, two chickens, and a few packets of snacks placed on the ground and handed them to Wu Shi with a deliberate loud voice:

"Auntie, these are gifts my dad brought to help Grandpa's health. Since we can't see Grandpa, please convey our greetings to him. We'll visit him next time."

The commotion at the Mo family's house had already attracted the attention of the neighbors, and many people stood at the door watching.

At this moment, seeing Mo Yan, who had been rejected, not only not angry but also leaving such generous New Year's gifts behind, coupled with the sharp and malicious faces of Hong Shi and her daughter, the onlookers couldn't help but click their tongues in surprise. They felt that Hong Shi must have lost her mind to drive away such generous and wealthy relatives.

On the way to the village head's house, seeing his father's low spirits, the two children kept joking and making faces, finally making Mo Qingze feel a little better.

Patting his children's heads and looking at their joyful smiles, coupled with Hong Shi's repeated insults, Mo Qingze felt uncomfortable and silently resolved never to let them suffer again at his second uncle's house unless it was absolutely necessary!

The village head's house was located in the center of the village and was not far away.

Compared to the simple thatched and adobe houses of other villagers, the brick and tile house of the village head stood out, surrounded by a large courtyard, indicating a relatively good living condition.

"Oh, what wind blew Master Mo here? What a rare guest!"

At this time, the village head's family was having lunch. Seeing the Mo family, Yang Bao welcomed them in with a smile on his face. Seeing Mo Yan holding gifts, his smile grew even wider.

This Mo Qingze was not only the only scholar in Liuyang Village, but his family was also wealthy. Who knew what the future held? Being on good terms with him would certainly be beneficial.

With this in mind, Yang Bao quickly instructed his wife to set four more sets of tableware and invited the Mo family to sit down and eat together.

Mo Qingze quickly declined, saying they had already eaten at home.

Seeing this, Yang Bao didn't insist and had his wife bring four bowls of red sugar water to serve them.

In rural households, red sugar water was only served to important guests. Yang Bao's attitude made Mo Yan very satisfied. In the future, if they wanted to buy barren mountains or land, they couldn't avoid this village head. Maintaining a good relationship with him was naturally the best option.

"This time, I came to visit you before New Year's to express my gratitude for the village head's care of our greenhouse vegetables over the past few months. Secondly, in the future, when my family settles in the village, if there's anything we need help with, I'll trouble the village head to take care of it."

After exchanging pleasantries, Mo Qingze took the bamboo basket containing the New Year's gifts from Mo Yan and handed it to Yang Bao, expressing gratitude.

The matter of the greenhouse vegetables had nothing to do with Yang Bao, but after being the village head for twenty years, how could Yang Bao not understand Mo Qingze's meaning? Seeing the two hefty pieces of cured meat and other items in the basket, he pretended to decline a few times before smiling and accepting them.

"Master Mo is too polite. You are a member of Liuyang Village, and I am the village head of Liuyang Village. Your matters are my matters. In the future, if you need anything from me, Master Mo, just let me know. As long as I can do it, I won't refuse!"

Mo Qingze, hearing this, clasped his hands and expressed his gratitude. Seeing that Yang's family was still waiting for Yang Bao to eat, he bid farewell and left. Yang Bao intended to befriend the Mo family, so he personally escorted them out of the courtyard.

Afterward, the Mo family visited Lin Da and Lin Meng's house to return the visit, then went to visit a dozen or so other relatives, and finally had dinner at Lin Yong's house. They didn't leave Liuyang Village until the sun began to set...

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 690: Dare to Covet the Man I Care About, How Many Lives Do You Have?

Gong Wei saw the smile on Third Young Master's face and felt encouraged. She wiped the nonexistent tears from the corner of her eyes with her hand.

She glared at Qin Ruan and arrogantly said, "Addressing you as Third Young Master's wife is just out of respect for the Hou family. Don't forget your humble origins as a poor commoner from the Western City. Being able to marry into the prestigious Hou family is the result of several lifetimes of good fortune. Don't be ungrateful and cherish it. Even if Third Young Master has something outside, you should protect his reputation and not cause a fuss in public. You don't have the bearing of a wife and matriarch of a prominent family."

Gong Wei didn't see it, but when she sarcastically mentioned Qin Ruan's background, Hou Yunjiao's handsome face suddenly darkened, and a terrifying aura surrounded him.

His deep and bottomless eyes stared at Gong Wei, filled with impending uncontrollable rage.

Since when could anyone in the Hou family be talked about behind their backs by irrelevant people?

Gong Yibo noticed the changes in Hou Yunjiao's expression.

He looked at Gong Wei with pity, silently wiping his face.

This girl was done for.

He had originally planned to use her for a marriage alliance, but now he had to consider other options.

After Gong Wei finished speaking, a saintly aura emanated from her, but those who could see beyond the surface could sense her malicious and scheming nature.

Qin Ruan gritted her teeth and asked her with a bright smile, "Are you done talking?"

Gong Wei, oblivious to the impending danger, nodded pitifully.

In the dimly lit room, Qin Ruan's exquisite features wore a smile that seemed to be both genuine and mocking, rendering her perfect appearance without any flaws.

Her beauty wasn't breathtaking, but it was enough to captivate everyone's attention, making all eyes focus on her.

Qin Ruan slowly stood up, her posture straight, and her raised chin displayed a perfect air of arrogance.

With a cold smile, she stared into Gong Wei's eyes, saying, "I understand your words, both the obvious and the hidden meaning. You imply that Third Young Master has something to do with you and that I should not be ungrateful and serve him as his mistress, right?"

Gong Wei looked flustered, but she couldn't hide a trace of excitement.

She tried to suppress her excitement, pleading, "No, I didn't mean that."

But in her heart, she indeed had such thoughts.

Even if Third Young Master had only a few years to live, if she could get involved with the Hou family at this time, her future would undoubtedly be much better than an ordinary marriage into an average family.

Qin Ruan's beautiful eyes locked onto Gong Wei, and she nodded lightly, "So, you mean I'm not worthy of being Third Young Master's wife and lack the bearing of a high-ranking wife in a prestigious family?"

Gong Wei continued, "You come from a lowly background, and I can teach you..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Qin Ruan walked up to her and grabbed her hair.

"Gah! It hurts!" Gong Wei cried out in pain.

Everyone in the room focused their gazes on Qin Ruan due to her actions.

Qin Ruan held Gong Wei's hair firmly and stared into her eyes, her voice chilling, "What authority do you have to teach me?"

Gong Wei's scalp was being pulled, and it was painful. She gasped for breath and pleaded, "It hurts, let go of me!"

"Let you go?" Qin Ruan's eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.

She pressed Gong Wei's head against the table with force.

With a loud bang, it was evident that she used considerable strength.

Gong Yibo heard the sound and couldn't help but take a sharp breath, feeling a slight chill in his back teeth.

Qin Ruan reached out and patted Gong Wei's cheek, sneering, "I've only heard of foot-binding, but I've never seen anyone with a brain-bound. Did you forget your brain at home when you went out today?"

Gong Wei's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe that Qin Ruan would resort to violence in front of Third Young Master.

Her lips trembled, and she wanted to look at Third Young Master's expression.

However, the angle didn't allow her to do so, and she could only glare resentfully at Qin Ruan, saying, "How can you be so rude? The Hou family has always had good manners and etiquette. A woman like you, with such an uncouth temperament, doesn't deserve respect."

"Huh!" Qin Ruan coldly laughed, fixing her gaze on Gong Wei.

She stared directly into the other woman's eyes and said in a low voice, "I don't need people's respect; I want them to fear me. Dare to covet the man I care about? How many lives do you have?"

Qin Ruan held onto Gong Wei's hair, her other hand picking up the wine glass on Gong Yibo's table.

The glass of wine was poured over Gong Sun Wei's head.

Splashing water sounds filled the room and quickly dissipated.

But it wasn't enough.

Qin Ruan picked up the teapot from the table and pointed its spout at Gong Wei's face.

"Your mind seems unclear. Let me help you wash it, so you won't be thinking about the wrong man."

With a slight tilt of the teapot, water started flowing out.

"No, don't! Let go of me!" Gong Wei struggled fiercely, trying to stand up.

During her struggle, tea splashed all over her body.

Hou Yunjiao looked at Gong Wei's intense struggle and furrowed his eyebrows lightly.

He glanced at Hou Qiang beside him and said with a faint smile, "Go and help, don't let Madam get injured."

"Yes, Master." Hou Qiang swiftly walked to where Qin Ruan and Gong Wei were.

He used both hands to restrain Gong Wei, making it easier for Qin Ruan to proceed.

The teapot in Qin Ruan's hand was now empty, and she casually placed it on the table.

Gong Wei's dress, once immaculate, was now stained with red wine and tea, making her look disheveled.

Her carefully crafted makeup was also ruined, and she looked pitifully resentful.

Qin Ruan didn't mind the water stains on herself, reaching out to lift Gong Wei's chin.

"I told you before, don't appear in front of me again. Otherwise, I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you. You haven't settled the debt from before, and now you dare to covet my man. How many lives do you have?"

This woman had committed two taboos: cursing Third Young Master's short life and thinking about getting involved with him.

Qin Ruan had no reason to spare her this time.

Gong Wei's eyes turned red, trembling with anger.

She stared into Qin Ruan's eyes, brimming with intense hatred. "You... You've gone too far!"

Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes, patted Gong Wei's cheek, and chuckled, "You are not even worth my time to bully. Moreover, even if I did, what can you do? Bite me?"

GonSun Wei was so angry that her teeth were clashing against each other, and she forcefully raised her head to look at Hou Yunjiao sitting not far away.

He still maintained his gentle and composed appearance, like a humble and refined gentleman.

Gong Wei tearfully complained, "Third Young Master, do you really allow this shrew to tarnish the century-old reputation of the Hou family?"

Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow, gazing at Hou Yunjiao as if waiting for him to speak.

Chapter 92: Acting Crazy (Part 1)

Seeing that a heavy slap was about to land on Xin'er's face, Mo Yan reacted quickly and hurriedly pulled Xin'er away, narrowly avoiding the blow. However, Mo Yongxi's long nails, covered in black mud, still scratched Xin'er's fair cheek, leaving behind a few red marks.

Mo Yongxi exerted too much force and couldn't stop herself in time, causing her to stumble forward and almost fall to the ground.

Seeing that he didn't hit anyone, Mo Yongxi, unwilling to give up, rushed forward again, swinging his arms to strike.

Mo Qingze stepped forward, blocking in front of his children, and grabbed her wrist, sternly shouting, "Mo Yongxi, what are you doing?"

"Pah!" Mo Yongxi tilted her head back and spat at Mo Qingze, "You white-eyed wolf, what are you? Let go of me!"

Mo Qingze trembled with anger upon hearing this, "Look at yourself, do you look like a girl?"

Mo Yongxi glared at him hatefully, resembling Hong Shi in appearance, expression, and even temperament, inheriting her characteristics completely.

"Hmph, my Ah Xi, you heartless person, not even worthy of being disciplined!"

At this moment, Hong Shi heard the commotion and walked out of the house. Seeing her beloved daughter being bullied, she grabbed the broom at the door and swung it at Mo Qingze.

Mo Qingze quickly let go and stepped back with Mo Yan and the others, avoiding being hit.

"Mom, they bullied me, hurry, hit them!" Seeing reinforcements arriving, Mo Yongxi, quick to blame others, quickly incited Hong Shi to act.

Hong Shi, upon hearing this, felt a surge of old and new grievances in her heart and rushed forward with the broom.

"Mom, let's talk things out. Please don't resort to violence!" Wu Shi, rushing out of the kitchen, grabbed her mother-in-law and said, "Cousin and his family are here to pay New Year's respects. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if we behaved like this?"

"New Year's respects? I don't care. Get out of my way, you wretched woman, or I'll kick you out!" Hong Shi spat at Wu Shi, glaring at Mo Yan and the others with hostility.

Wu Shi looked embarrassed but refused to give in, hastily signaling to Mo Yan with her eyes.

Mo Yan frowned. She didn't want to get entangled with this shrew and her daughter, nor did she want to see Wu Shi in a difficult position. So she said to Mo Qingze, "Dad, since Grandma doesn't welcome us, let's leave. It's better not to upset her."

Mo Qingze hesitated, "Dad... Dad wants to go in and see your second grandpa before leaving."

Despite the strained relationship between the two families, he still regarded his second uncle as a father figure and couldn't help but worry about him.

Mo Yan understood his feelings, but seeing the hostile attitudes of Hong Shi and her daughter, she shook her head and advised Mo Qingze, "Let's not anger Grandma. We'll visit Grandpa next time when we have the chance!"

"Next time? Hmph, unless you hand over the secret technique to rescue the second son, otherwise, even if I die, I won't let you bunch of villains into my old Mo family's gate."

Hong Shi's eyes lit up, and she uttered this threatening remark without a second thought.

Mo Yan twitched her eye corner, looking at Wu Shi as if she were looking at a fool. Did she really think they were eager to enter this gate? Where did she get her confidence from?

The reason they came to pay New Year's respects today was just to avoid gossip. Now that their intentions had been fulfilled, and Hong Shi didn't appreciate it but instead drove them away, others would only say that Hong Shi was being unreasonable, not that their family was at fault.

"Dad, we still have to visit other families for New Year's greetings. There's no carriage today, so we need to go home early!"

Xin'er and Zhen'er also tugged at their father's sleeves, urging him. They never wanted to see the fierce grandma and her bad daughter again in their lives.

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 Chapter 826: It's Wrong for You to Buy Ah Yu

Aunt Xue took a deep breath, and her tears flowed even more fiercely.

"But a prestigious family like the Shu family couldn't tolerate such favoritism. As a mere concubine, without money, power, or support, I was constantly under scrutiny. I could only do so much. I'm just an ordinary person. If people found fault with Ah Yu, even the main wife or other concubines could easily take her life."

Aunt Xue probably thought that the Lu family members, being from the countryside, had little knowledge. She described the Shu family as a treacherous place, as it truly wasn't a good environment.

"So, I had to keep her away from the main husband. As long as the main husband didn't favor Ah Yu, she would be safer. But that couldn't dispel the ill intentions of the Shu family members. I had no other choice. I'm a foolish person and couldn't think of a better solution. I could only make her wear tattered clothes, eat poorly, and become thin and small. If others saw her looking ugly and suffering, they wouldn't envy her anymore."

"Although it wasn't the best solution, it worked. Really, Ah Yu's presence in the Shu family was very weak these years. The other young ladies fought among themselves, but none of them cared about A Yu. I thought that when A Yu grew up and reached the age of fifteen, I would find her a good marriage and she could leave the Shu family."

Aunt Xue wiped away her tears. "But who could have expected that trouble would arise in the Shu family, and Ah Yu would be exiled here as a result. Fortunately, she is clever and capable, and her future can finally improve. However, she still can't understand me. The misunderstandings between us have deepened over the years."

"I don't expect her to forgive me. Even though my original intention was to protect her, the fact remains that she suffered as a child. I came here today to ask you for one thing: to love and cherish her in the future. As long as she lives well, I will have no regrets."

Aunt Xue was close to moving herself, and tears truly streamed down her face. She appeared genuinely heartbroken and reluctant.

However, Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi showed no signs of emotion.

Unable to bear it any longer, Aunt Xue looked up and saw a stick swinging towards her head.

Startled, Aunt Xue quickly dodged to the side.

"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"

"Don't call me sister-in-law." Ruan Shi finally found a stick within reach. With furious eyes, she stared at Aunt Xue. "You don't need to tell me about your difficulties and struggles. If you couldn't protect our daughter, you shouldn't have bought her in the first place. If you hadn't bought her, she would have stayed with us, living a life where her parents doted on her."

Ruan Shi became more agitated as she spoke, pointing the stick directly at Aunt Xue. "It's because of you that our family has been separated for so many years. The main culprit behind our current situation is you. Don't tell me about your excuses—I don't understand them. All I know is that you bought my daughter, and you mistreated her."

As she spoke, Ruan Shi rushed forward, swinging the stick at Aunt Xue.

"Why are you crying? I'm not crying. What right do you have to cry?"

In reality, Ruan Shi didn't know the specific mistreatment Aunt Xue had subjected Ah Yu to. They didn't dare to ask before, but later, even without asking, they could somewhat guess that Ah Yu's childhood wasn't good. Otherwise, why would she hold such a grudge against the Shu family members?

Even though they didn't know the specifics of Aunt Xue's actions, the fact that she had bought Ah Yu was already a heinous crime.

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