Chapter 1164: Buying New Clothes

Gouwa lowered his head, looking at the big steamed bun in his hands. Was it really time for breakfast?

Everyone else at the table was eating, and after hesitating for a moment, Gouwa finally held the steamed bun and opened his mouth.

The bun was soft and full of meat juice, causing Gouwa to unconsciously eat faster.

Shu Yu poured him a glass of soy milk and noticed that he choked a bit after a few bites. She quickly handed him the soy milk and said, "Take it easy, no rush. This whole big steamed bun is yours."

Gouwa raised his head and drank some soy milk from her hand. It tasted sweet.

Even though Gouwa didn't speak and always appeared blank, if you observed him carefully, you could still see his emotional changes through his eyes or facial expressions.

The little guy was quite interesting.

As Gouwa ate slower, he finished the whole steamed bun, and his stomach was now full.

Meng Yunzheng and the others were calculating the time; they needed to set off soon.

While Meng Yunzheng was busy preparing the horse carriage, he secretly handed a silver ticket to Shu Yu.

"This money is for Aunt Hong. She took care of my cousin and Gouwa for such a long time. Now that the head of the Hong family has passed away, she'll have to rely on her son and daughter-in-law for her livelihood. Life will undoubtedly be tough for her. It's not much money, but it can at least give her some support and allow her to live a bit better occasionally."

Shu Yu accepted the silver ticket and said, "I understand. Thank you."

Meng Yunzheng held her hand for a moment and then let go. "Thank you for your hard work."

Meng Yunzheng heard someone calling him, so he got up and left the courtyard.

Time was limited, and Shu Yu also prepared to go out.

She wiped Gouwa's hands and then picked him up. "Come, I'll take you to buy some new clothes."

Gouwa blinked and obediently wrapped his arms around her neck.

In his right hand, he was still holding the wooden bead.

He had hardly let go of that bead, except when he carefully put it in the pocket of his clothes while eating the big steamed bun.

There weren't many ready-to-wear children's clothing stores around, as most children's clothes were usually handmade by their elders. Otherwise, they wore hand-me-downs from older siblings. The clothes sold in ready-to-wear stores were expensive and often ill-fitting, and children would outgrow them quickly.

However, this was the capital city, and they weren't lacking in any type of shop.

Especially in the south of the capital, there was a concentration of commercial establishments, and everything was available for purchase.

Shu Yu carried Gouwa into a shop and directly asked the shopkeeper, "Help me find clothes suitable for this child. Bring everything that fits him, and I want them to be comfortable, soft, breathable, and not irritating to the skin."

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper knew that a big customer had come.

He quickly had his assistants bring out the clothes. Initially, they brought out brocade and satin clothes, which looked beautiful and luxurious, but children would definitely be uncomfortable wearing them.

Shu Yu frowned and repeated her requirements.

The shopkeeper was afraid of losing this customer and kicked one of his assistants, telling him to bring the right clothes this time.

This time, the clothes met Shu Yu's requirements. She took Gouwa into the fitting room and changed his clothes.

They fit quite well.

Gouwa was actually quite good-looking, especially his eyes, which resembled Meng Yunzheng's.

However, he was just too thin. Once he gained some weight, he would definitely be an adorable little child.

Shu Yu was unexpectedly looking forward to that.

Gouwa lowered his head and looked at his new clothes, holding his hands a bit stiffly, as if he was afraid of accidentally tearing them.

Shu Yu noticed this and held his small hand, gently squeezing the new clothes. "What do you think, Gouwa? If you feel uncomfortable, shake your head, and we'll change to another outfit."

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 363: Refusing to Leave and Asking to Expel Others (Part 3)

Seeing everyone enjoying the pastries so much, Xiao Hua and Da Bai were also eager. They rubbed against Mo Yan's thighs, wanting to eat the delicious small pastries she made, especially the various meat-filled cakes.

At this moment, Zhen'er returned angrily with two opened letters of pastries. Placing them on the table, she pouted discontentedly and complained, "Big sister, when will the Wang family move out? They're really annoying! These pastries were originally meant for the children to eat. Several of Wang's older children grabbed them, which I could understand, but Auntie Wang, an adult, came over and snatched them too. She even scolded another little brother. It's just shameless!"

Mo Yan furrowed her brows, smiled, and comforted Zhen'er for a few moments. Her impression of Auntie Wang worsened.

Not only did Auntie Wang have personal issues, but these days, with such good weather, everyone went to the mountains to cut trees and repair houses. The Wang family, on the other hand, lounged under the wall corner all day, sunbathing as if repairing their house was not their concern at all. Could it be that they intended to squat in her house forever? Disgusting! No, she had to remind them to hurry up and repair their house and move back. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing to ask them to leave later.

At this moment, the Wang family was basking in the sun in the corner, eating the pastries snatched from Zhen'er. Seeing Mo Yan approaching, Auntie Wang handed over the remaining bits of pastries with a flattering smile, saying, "Yan girl, we don't have anything good at home to entertain you. These pastry crumbs aren't bad. Have a taste!"

Mo Yan looked at the pastry crumbs on the oil paper, seemingly contaminated with saliva, and then at Auntie Wang, who looked pleased with herself. Suddenly, she didn't feel like speaking, but she had to.

"Auntie Wang, please don't be so polite. We still have these pastries at home. Keep them for yourself to enjoy!"

Auntie Wang grinned, revealing her yellowed large teeth. She gathered the oil paper and poured all the pastry crumbs into her mouth, almost spraying Mo Yan's face with crumbs as she continued to chatter.

"Yan girl, these pastries are really good. They're much tastier than the white sugar cakes sold on the street! Who was that old gentleman who came this morning? He looked so wealthy and even brought so many things to your house, including these pastries, right? Oh my, your family is really something. If you have any good opportunities in the future, don't forget us villagers!"

Wang Dali, who had been lounging in the chair without moving, straightened up and looked at Mo Yan with a flattering yet expectant smile on his face.

Mo Yan pulled the corners of her mouth, casually responding, and then asked casually, "The weather has been good these days, and the snow on the mountain has melted. Auntie, why hasn't your family gone up the mountain to cut trees and repair the house?"

Auntie Wang's face changed slightly. She secretly observed Mo Yan's expression and, seeing that she seemed to have just asked casually, breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again, "Yan girl, Auntie was just thinking of talking to you about this matter. Now that you're here, let's talk about it!"

Mo Yan had a gut feeling that what she was about to say wouldn't be good news, but she still pretended to listen attentively, "Auntie Wang, go ahead."

Auntie Wang rubbed her hands, glanced discreetly at Wang Dali, received a hint from her husband, and her smile turned into a bitter one, "Yan girl, Auntie isn't afraid of you laughing at me. Living in a thatched house is hot in summer and cold in winter. Just the other day, after a heavy snowfall, the house collapsed. Now it's the coldest time of the year. If the old and young in the family catch a cold, what should we do?"

She glanced at Mo Yan secretly, seeing her remain silent, and gritted her teeth to bring up what she and her husband had calculated for a long time, "So, my husband and I plan to wait until next spring when the weather warms up and then hire someone to build an adobe house. It'll be much better than living in a thatched house! Yan girl, what do you think?"

Next Chapter▶▶

  **Chapter 179: A Happy Childhood**

Suisui was embarrassed after receiving a series of compliments. Her face turned red as she shyly lowered her head, feeling too bashful to speak further. 

Marquis Guo continued to praise her, and his compliments were not mere flattery; they were based on tangible details.

It was evident that he was generous with his praise towards children in his household, which explained his familiarity with the art of complimenting.

After praising Suisui, Marquis Guo thought for a moment and then respectfully said to Qi Wangfei, "Your Highness, the Ministry of Works plans to report on the coal briquette matter soon. If the Emperor grants rewards, Suisui will certainly receive her share."

Hearing Marquis Guo praise Suisui made Qi Wangfei happy. At that moment, she prepared to respond modestly, thinking it wouldn't be appropriate to accept such praise directly.

Of course, outright refusal was not an option.

So, she smiled and said, "It’s just that the child was fortunate to meet you. Others might not take it seriously; the credit really goes to you."

Marquis Guo was too bashful to accept this and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Oh no, no, it’s just my good fortune to have encountered Suisui."

Qi Wangfei thought to herself: Isn't it just luck?

Of course, it was mainly Suisui's good fortune. However, with things turning out this way… she wondered whether it was a blessing or a curse.

With a sigh inwardly, Qi Wangfei had intended to keep Marquis Guo for a meal, but he said he had urgent matters at the Ministry of Works and needed to return quickly. 

Seeing this, Qi Wangfei did not insist further.

After sending off Marquis Guo, Zhou shi returned with Song Kuan. 

On the way, Song Kuan had woven a little rabbit and two small hats.

Seeing Suisui, he hurriedly took out the grass-crafted little toys and said, "Suisui, look!"

Upon discovering the cute little items, Suisui's eyes lit up, and she happily leaned in closer, saying, "Wow, a little rabbit and a hat! Brother Song Kuan, you’re amazing!"

The young boy felt embarrassed by the praise, blushing as he waved his hands. "No, no, it’s just that Suisui doesn’t mind my craftsmanship."

The two children quickly began to play together again.

Zhou shi didn’t ask much about Marquis Guo’s visit; she knew that if it were something convenient to share, Qi Wangfei would have mentioned it. The absence of mention indicated it was likely sensitive information.

Being straightforward by nature, Zhou shi quickly said, "I think it’s quite interesting that they’re foraging for wild vegetables. Why don’t we go take a look this afternoon? The wildflowers on the mountain have bloomed quite a bit; we could pick some and make a crown for the little ones. Suisui could wear it; it would look lovely!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Wangfei hadn’t responded yet, but Song Kuan stood up first, saying, "I can do that! I’m really good at it!"

Song Kuan felt confident in his skills, but unfortunately, he had never had the chance to showcase them.

He didn’t have a younger sister, but his uncle’s household had two younger female cousins.

Unfortunately, one didn’t like to play with them, saying they smelled bad, and the other was timid and didn’t want to leave the house.

When they saw their older brothers, they would run away faster than rabbits.

If it weren’t for family meals during the holidays, Song Kuan wouldn’t even know what his younger sister looked like!

So, did he have the chance to display his skills?

Absolutely none!

Now, hearing about making a flower crown, Song Kuan eagerly raised his hand, eager to participate!

Seeing her son’s reaction, Zhou shi laughed and teased him, "You better make it well; if it looks ugly, Suisui won’t wear it."

Song Kuan, brimming with confidence, replied, "Don’t worry, my craftsmanship is great!"

Qi Wangfei initially didn’t have much interest in going out under the sun to forage for wild vegetables. 

However, hearing about the blooming flowers piqued her interest a bit.

When she heard about making a crown for Suisui, her interest grew even more. 

Ultimately, she decided to go!

After they finished their meal and the two children took a nap, they finally set off with the necessary tools.

Worried about sun exposure, Qi Wangfei found a sunshade to bring along and asked her aunt to quickly make a simple sunshade for Suisui to wear.

As Qi Wangfei carefully adjusted the shade on Suisui’s head, she murmured, "It’s hard to keep Suisui’s skin this fair; we mustn’t let her get sunburned."

Zhou shi, watching from the side, couldn’t help but smile. 

She wasn’t too keen on wearing such things herself; she lived a bit more roughly than other noblewomen.

However, Qi Wangfei kept urging her, and then Song Kuan chimed in, "If Mother gets much darker after spring and summer, I bet she’ll be the laughingstock for a long time."

Zhou shi: …!

So, it’s still about the delicate daughter.

Her stubborn son could really be blunt at times!

In the end, Zhou shi reluctantly put it on.

The shade was a bit inconvenient to wear, blocking her view somewhat.

After walking for a while, Zhou shi became impatient and decided to take it off, setting it aside. 

Her maid couldn’t persuade her otherwise, and eventually, she had to let her put on a veil instead.

As the maid helped her put it on, she advised, "Oh my lady, cover up a bit! What if you get completely sunburned?"

To this, Zhou shi retorted flatly, "Isn’t it more unattractive to be half sunburned and half not?"

Servant: …

The Servant’s hand paused, suddenly unsure of what to do next.

Suisui and Song Kuan had no such worries.

The little girl found the shade annoying, quickly took it off, and ran alongside Song Kuan, holding it in her hand.

Aunt Xiang was fit enough to keep up with them.

The servant attending to Song Kuan was also busy running around, helping to pick wildflowers, preparing to assist the young master in making the crown later.

At that moment, in the Prince Qing's residence, Prince Qing had just returned after a busy day, not even pausing for a sip of water before hurriedly seeking out Master Hanshuang.

Prince Qing respected his strategist a lot, and upon entering, he waved off formalities, immediately asking, "I heard Master Hanshuang sent someone to Qingzhou, planning to swindle that family out of all their money?"

In response, Master Hanshuang nodded, "That’s true. I didn’t think it was a big deal, so I didn’t mention it to Your Highness. Do you feel that this course of action is inappropriate?"

After hearing this, Prince Qing pursed his lips and hesitated before saying, "I was thinking, what if they have no money and come to the capital? If they see Suisui, they might act out of desperation…"

Prince Qing had no sympathy for the Chen family.

He was just worried that their arrival in the capital would disturb Suisui's peaceful life.

Master Hanshuang understood his hesitation and smiled, asking, "What did the prince just say? I didn’t catch that."

Prince Qing had no doubts and quickly repeated, "I said, what if they have no money and…"

Before he could finish, Master Hanshuang interrupted with a laugh, "Not that part, go back a bit further."

Prince Qing thought for a moment and then recounted what he had said upon entering, "I heard Master Hanshuang sent someone…"

He asked the same question again.

This time, Master Hanshuang listened quietly before shaking his head, "I didn’t make such arrangements; it must be the people below talking nonsense. Your Highness can rest assured."

Prince Qing:？？？

Next Chapter▶▶

"IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON."

 Chapter 1163: Bewildered Gouwa

The neighbors mentioned that they had heard Aunt Hong and her daughter-in-law quarreling several times, but in the end, Aunt Hong always compromised.

As for Gouwa, the neighbors hardly saw him. He always stayed indoors and rarely went outside.

In such a short period, Ying Xi could only gather this much information.

It seemed that Aunt Hong wasn't lying; she indeed didn't have the means to take care of Gouwa, which was why she sent him away.

Shu Yu even suspected that if they had arrived later, Aunt Hong's daughter-in-law might have sent Gouwa away when Aunt Hong wasn't paying attention.

Aunt Hong could only find the best way for him, and her care for the child was genuine.

While wiping Gouwa's face and hands earlier, Shu Yu had observed closely.

The child was indeed extremely thin, but his body was clean. His clothes were old and oversized, but they were neat. At least in terms of hygiene, Aunt Hong had taken good care of him.

His face and hands were a little dirty, but it seemed deliberately smeared.

Perhaps Aunt Hong was worried that they wouldn't accept the child, so she intentionally made him look pitiful, hoping to gain some sympathy.

Ying Xi added, "I followed Aunt Hong earlier, and I saw her wiping tears while walking. She must be feeling uneasy."

Meng Pei sighed, "They have had a tough time all these years."

He turned to Meng Yunzheng and said, "Tomorrow, you take Gouwa to bid farewell to Aunt Hong. Tell her that we will take good care of the child and get him treated. When there's a chance, we'll bring him back to visit her, so she can feel at ease."

Shu Yu took over the conversation, "Let me go instead. Tomorrow, you will be going to the graves, and there won't be much time. I'll take Gouwa to the market, buy him some clothes and things a child needs, and then visit Aunt Hong."

Meng Pei thought about it and said, "That's fine. It will be up to you then. "

The plan was set. The next morning, Meng Yunzheng and his father would go outside the city, Doctor Zhao would prepare everything at home, and Zhao Xi would accompany Shu Yu and Ying Xi to buy the necessary items.

As they needed to continue their journey the next day, they rested in their rooms after the discussion.

Gouwa slept in Meng Yunzheng's room. After all, he was his uncle.

Early the next morning, when Meng Yunzheng woke up, he saw Gouwa sitting quietly at the foot of the bed, his messy hair indicating that he had slept restlessly.

Meng Yunzheng couldn't help but smile. He picked up the clothes Gouwa wore yesterday and said, "When did you wake up? Did you need to go to the latrine? Why didn't you call me?"

Gouwa still didn't answer, but when Meng Yunzheng spoke, he turned his head slightly to look at him.

Meng Yunzheng unexpectedly saw a look of confusion in his eyes.

Indeed, Gouwa was puzzled. In the past, it would be noisy outside early in the morning, and then he would be picked up and taken out by Aunt Hong to watch her work.

But today, he woke up early, and it was quiet outside. The adults around him were still sleeping, so it was okay for him to sit here and daydream without anyone scolding him.

Meng Yunzheng dressed him in the clothes from yesterday. "Come, let's go to the latrine."

Upon hearing the movement, Shu Yu also came out of her room with warm water to wash his face.

After cleaning him up, Zhao Xi had already returned with two breakfast boxes.

Meng Yunzheng carried Gouwa to a chair and handed him a steamed bun to hold and eat.

Then, Gouwa showed that same bewildered expression again.

Shu Yu gestured to him, "Take your time eating. After you finish, I'll take you outside, alright?"

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 362: Refusing to Leave and Asking to Expel Others (Part 2)

Unable to bear seeing his goddaughter so sad, he lovingly comforted her, "Regardless of any connection, Erni is my most cherished goddaughter. Those sad memories, Erni should completely forget them and focus on living well in the days to come."

Mo Erni, with tears brimming in her eyes, threw herself into Steward Song's arms, coquettishly saying that he was the one who loved her the most.

Steward Song was amused by her antics and couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling fortunate to have such a good goddaughter. He must have been sent by his own daughter, who couldn't bear to see him living alone in the world, deliberately sending a goddaughter who looked similar to her and had a similar temperament to accompany him.

Mo Erni closed her eyes and enjoyed the "paternal love" Steward Song gave her, but her mind was spinning rapidly.

The Xue family was the wealthiest and most powerful family she had ever seen. She had thought that with some careful maneuvering, she could use the Xue family's influence to "repay" those who had humiliated her. However, the reality was that a second-tier steward from the Wu'an Manor could make the Xue family's master kneel in submission. What could she, a mere third-tier maidservant, do?

What was even more infuriating was that wretched woman had actually seduced the lofty Young Master Yan and persuaded him to stand up for her. Truly, like mother, like daughter—all despicable creatures.

Currently, the Xue family was useless to her. She had to find a way to find a more powerful patron to overwhelm that wretched woman. However, having entered the Xue family as a slave, unless she died, there was no way to escape from the Xue family.

However, her godfather was only employed by the Xue family, not their slave. Originally, she had just wanted to find a support to slowly climb up, but now he was her only chance to break free from the Xue family and climb up to the powerful. She had to seize this opportunity tightly.

Thinking of this, a trace of fanaticism flashed in Mo Erni's cold eyes—a fanaticism for power!

...

As the saying goes, excessive courtesy does not harm, watching the half-hall filled with apologies, Mo Yan politely sent away the smiling master of the Xue family.

Closing the courtyard door and seeing the envious glances from the villagers staying in her house, she couldn't help but shake her head with a bitter smile. If it weren't for Young Master Yan of the Wu'an Manor, the Xue family wouldn't have come running obediently to apologize, let alone hastily appease her.

However, Young Master Yan hadn't done anything to the Xue family. Moreover, the Xue family itself was a prominent business family. Since they had plotted against her shop, it was best to let bygones be bygones.

Sorting through the Xue family's apologies, Mo Yan couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement.

Various flavors of pastries from Baiwei Pavilion were fine, and exquisite satin fabrics were sent over as if they were free. Dozens of them. The gifts prepared individually for each person were either gold or jade, and there were even six roots of hundred-year-old ginseng...

This generosity was truly remarkable. The wealth and power of the Xue family only revealed the tip of the iceberg. It's no wonder that throughout history, so many people have tried their best to establish relationships with those in power. Once connected, it's definitely a path to wealth and status. However, high returns often come with high risks. She still thought that honest farming was better.

Fabrics and other items could be kept and used slowly, but pastries like these would go bad in at most three days unless they were placed in storage space. There were too many pastries; even if used as meals, they couldn't be finished in three days. Mo Yan had Xin'er send a letter to Cai shi, Zhou shi, Xiong shi, and other well-wishing families. She had Zhen'er bring a few letters to invite the children living in her house to eat.

With this gift, half of it was consumed. The pastries from Baiwei Pavilion were very good, but some were too sweet, and Mo Yan couldn't eat them after a few bites. The appetites of the Three Beasts were large, but except for Mao Tuan, the other two were very picky, and they wouldn't taste such sweet pastries.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 361: Refusing to Leave and Asking to Expel Others (Part 1)

However, the wishes of Young Master Xue and Steward Song were destined to be in vain. After the household Steward of the Wu'an Manor, a second-tier steward, was sent away by Master Xue, full of cold sweat, he harshly summoned Young Master Xue to his study and reprimanded him severely. Not only did he cite Young Master Xue's inadequate abilities, revoking all his authority, but he also personally ordered that the nearly lifeless household steward Guo be sent to the yamen, while steward Guo's family was sold off to a distant place in Mangzhou, hoping to appease the anger of Young Master Yan of the Wu'an Manor.

Young Master Xue returned to his courtyard with a dark expression. Upon seeing Steward Song, who came hurriedly after hearing the news, and upon learning that the support behind the Mo Family's fragrant rice was Young Master Yan of the Wu'an Manor, he too broke out in a cold sweat, secretly relieved that he had only incited Zhang and his son to cause trouble, and hadn't proceeded to the next step. Otherwise, he feared he would have met the same fate as Household steward Guo.

Upon learning that Young Master Xue had lost the authority he had barely managed to grasp, Steward Song's expression wasn't any better. When one rises, all rise; when one falls, all fall. He had barely climbed to his current position, receiving favor from the future master of the household. But now, with this incident, Young Master Xue's position was also in jeopardy. It should be noted that the Xue family had more than one young master, and Young Master Xue wasn't even the sole legitimate son.

After calming down Young Master Xue with patience, Steward Song returned to his residence with a mind full of worries.

Not long after, Mo Erni, who had obtained the news, specially brought a prepared purse to find Steward Song. Upon meeting him, she sweetly called him "godfather," closer than she had ever addressed her biological father, Mo Yonglu.

Upon seeing her, Steward Song's face showed an affectionate smile. Seeing the purse she had embroidered herself, though not particularly exquisite, it lightened his otherwise gloomy mood somewhat.

Mo Erni was adept at gauging others' thoughts. Seeing Steward Song burdened with worries, she cautiously inquired under the guise of sharing his concerns.

The considerate and mature behavior of his goddaughter moved Steward Song deeply, and he didn't guard against her. He briefly recounted the situation, concluding with a sigh, "Who could have imagined that a small peasant household from the south, without status or background, could gain the support of Young Master Yan? Otherwise, even if I gave the Xue family a hundred guts, they wouldn't dare to provoke such a powerful figure."

Mo Erni absentmindedly looked at the glaring sunlight outside the window, her heart full of jealousy and resentment growing like wild weeds. "Yes, who could have imagined that back then, barely able to eat, living like pigs and dogs, that wretched thing could find such a powerful patron!"

Steward Song noticed the strangeness in his goddaughter's words and remembered her original surname was also Mo. Unable to help himself, he asked, "Erni, do you have any connection with that Mo family?"

Mo Erni's expression changed, she thought for a moment, but decided not to reveal the grievances with the Mo family. Her godfather was just a steward of the Xue family now; even if she told him, he wouldn't be able to intervene. It was better to keep it hidden for now, making her godfather feel more protective of her. She would do her best to seek revenge when she had the ability.

Thinking of this, she showed a pained and sorrowful expression. "Although Erni's surname is Mo, she has no connection whatsoever with that Mo family."

Steward Song had lived for half a lifetime and had seen all kinds of people. With one glance, he could tell she was lying; something must have happened with that Mo family to make her like this. However, since Erni didn't want to say, he wouldn't force her. He would wait for an appropriate opportunity in the future to investigate further.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 360 Solving the Hidden Danger Qingwu Girl (2)

Mo Yan smiled but didn't speak.

Such a huge achievement! How could a small village girl like her bear such a responsibility? Seeking Yan Junyu's help was also a testament to her trust in his character. By giving him such a big gift, she ensured that he would assist her family in times of need.

Thinking about it, this was just a fair transaction after all!

Yan Junyu showed disdain on the surface for Mo Yan's cunning and craftiness, but deep down, he admired her indifference to fame and wealth. "In consideration of our acquaintance, I'll reluctantly agree to this matter."

Mo Yan felt delighted inwardly. Even his slightly arrogant tone sounded pleasing to her ears. She smoothly flattered, "Young Master Yan's decisiveness is truly admirable."

Yan Junyu hummed softly, curled his lips, and opened his jade bone fan with a snap. Then, as if remembering something, he closed it again and leaned forward, looking at Mo Yan seriously. "Can this new type of grain really yield 1,000 catties per mu?"

This question was crucial. Mo Yan restrained her smile and replied seriously, "As long as the weather is good and the paddy fields are fertile enough, the yield per mu could possibly exceed 1,000 catties!"

1,000 catties was her conservative estimate; with proper care, it would likely yield even more.

Seeing her confident reply, Yan Junyu leaned back lazily, a seductive smile returning to his face. "That's good then! Since you've entrusted me with this great achievement, I won't inquire further about the origin of this grain. As for the Xue family, you need not worry. If anyone asks in the future, just mention my name."

Previously, he didn't want others to know about their dealings because he feared it might be detrimental to her if the matter of the potion leaked out. Now, even if people knew, their relationship was one of cooperation. As long as the potion remained a secret, there was nothing to worry about.

Mo Yan hesitated for a moment, agreed gracefully, and then shifted the topic to the orchard.

"...I was worried about the survival of the fruit seedlings before, so I didn't discuss certain things with you in detail. Now that all the seedlings have survived and are likely to bear fruit in two years, I cannot accept those fruit seedlings for free."

Yan Junyu was astonished. "How did you manage to grow such difficult fruit seedlings?"

Mo Yan replied calmly, "I planted them just like ordinary fruit seedlings, regularly watering and weeding. Perhaps the Feng Shui of Liuyang Village is good, but in any case, they survived."

Yan Junyu clicked his tongue but didn't delve deeper. He wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. "Those fruit seedlings aren't mine. After they bear fruit, aside from what you keep for yourself, sell the rest to me at market price."

Mo Yan frowned slightly. What was the difference between this and giving them to her? She didn't want to take advantage of him.

"I propose this instead: let's agree on a five-year period. Half of the fruits from the fruit trees will be yours and half mine. I'll sell my half to you at market price, except for what I keep for myself. After five years, if you still need them, I'll sell them all to you at market price."

Yan Junyu stared at her as if she were a fool but ultimately yielded to her determined gaze. "As you wish. But don't blame me for being blunt; these fruit seedlings might not necessarily bear fruit even if they survive. Don't set your expectations too high."

Mo Yan's expression drooped slightly, pretending to be worried, she nodded. However, inside, her joyous spirit was already dancing. In just two years, her orchard would surely be abundant with fruits.

With a weight lifted off her mind, Mo Yan bid farewell to Yan Junyu and returned to her shop feeling relaxed, eager to share the good news about Yan Junyu agreeing to warn the Xue family with Li Zhong, hoping he would no longer blame himself.

Li Zhong was overjoyed upon hearing this and as long as they confirmed the crime of arson against the Zhang family, he could conduct business peacefully.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the Xue family's eldest son, there was chaos. The eldest son of the Xue family ordered his men to press shopkeeper Gou, who managed the estate, onto a stool and personally administered a severe beating of twenty lashes, nearly costing Gou's life.

If it weren't for shopkeeper Gou's daughter, Guo Niangniang, kneeling on the ground with a large belly and begging desperately, the eldest son of the Xue family might have beaten shopkeeper Gou to death. The instigator behind the arson at the Zhang family turned out to be shopkeeper Gou.

If the arson had succeeded, it would have been fine, but it was exposed and sent to the yamen, not only ruining Steward Song's plan, but also possibly bringing great trouble to the Xue family, which was surrounded by powerful enemies. The eldest son of the Xue family was furious!

The eldest son of the Xue family dragged shopkeeper Gou away with a dark face, sent away the weeping Guo Niangniang, and summoned Steward Song to the study, anxiously asking how to resolve this crisis and prevent his father from blaming him.

Steward Song pondered for a moment, then said cautiously, "This matter has not reached your father's ears yet. Young Master, you can first send someone to stabilize the Zhang family in prison, ensuring they don't speak out. Meanwhile, I'll demonstrate sincerity by meeting with the owner of Mo Family Fragrant Rice, explaining the situation clearly. I believe there will be a way out."

The eldest son of the Xue family fell silent for a moment. He had no choice but to admit that this was the only way. He looked at shopkeeper Song gratefully and said, "Luckily, you're here to advise me. If this matter is successfully handled, I'll remember your great contribution."

Steward Song modestly replied a few words, then subtly flattered the eldest son of the Xue family, making him smile broadly. After Song left the study, he began arranging the next steps.

Turning a corner, he coincidentally bumped into a slender and lovely young girl. Instinctively reaching out to help her, Steward Song recognized her surprise face. "So, it's Qingwu Girl."

Qingwu Girl, Mo Erni'er, lifted her head and saw Steward Song. Feigning panic, she took a step back and hastily greeted him, bowing respectfully. "Master Song, it's Mo... Mo Erni'er who has bumped into you. I hope Master Song will forgive Mo Erni'er."

After speaking, her eyes, brimming with moisture, looked at Steward Song, making it difficult for anyone to blame her for her pitiful appearance.

Steward Song hadn't blamed her from the start. Seeing her like this now, he felt great pity, unable to resist patting her head affectionately and showing a loving smile. "Qingwu, don't be afraid. Uncle Song doesn't blame you."

The words "Uncle Song" caused Mo Erni'er's tears, already on the verge of falling, to slip down like beads off a broken thread. She threw herself into Steward Song's arms, crying bitterly, mumbling something indistinctly.

Steward Song, somewhat at a loss, could clearly hear her words. His body trembled, his expression trance-like as he held the girl in his arms tightly. The reddened corners of his eyes and trembling hands betrayed the sorrow in his heart.

Mo Erni'er, burying her head in his embrace, sobbed softly. However, a smug smile of success adorned the corner of her mouth...

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 359 Solving the Hidden Danger Qingwu Girl (1)

A new type of grain that can yield 1,000 catties per mu?

Yan Junyu looked at Mo Yan with a half-smile, half-smirk expression, a hint of peculiarity flashing in his narrow eyes.

This girl was quite clever. She appeared indifferent to fame and wealth, attributing this monumental achievement solely to him. In reality, she was safeguarding herself from any danger or disturbance to the fullest extent, leaving him indebted to her for a significant favor. She could simply hide behind the scenes and count the money.

Truly a cunning girl!

Although he couldn't refuse the temptation of this big piece of pie, he couldn't agree to it too readily either. Wouldn't that make this little girl too smug?

With these thoughts in mind, Yan Junyu lazily leaned back in his chair, lips curling slightly, his provocative gaze drifting lightly over Mo Yan's face. He languidly said, "I've always liked doing things that please without much effort. What you've said... it actually puts me in a dilemma."

However, Mo Yan was not as calm inside as she appeared on the surface. While this matter seemed to have no downsides for Yan Junyu, if he didn't trust her or had other reasons he couldn't agree, she would be helpless.

Hearing this now, she couldn't quite grasp whether his words were sincere or not, feeling a bit anxious.

"Young master Yan, for this matter, you only need to take the credit and handle those ill-intentioned people. With your status in the capital, it's just a matter of a word. You don't need to worry too much about it," Mo Yan said.

Yan Junyu remained unmoved, countering her words, "Although I am the Young Lord of the Duke's Mansion, the Duke's Mansion today neither commands troops nor holds power. It's nothing more than an empty shell in name. The capital is full of dignitaries. If someone wants to snatch this piece of meat, even if I exert all my effort, I may not be able to stop them."

Mo Yan's eyes twitched. If Yan Junyu didn't smile so charmingly, there might have been some credibility in his words. Moreover, with the Empress Dowager as his paternal aunt and the Emperor as his cousin, and being deeply favored by these two bigwigs, even if the Imperial Prince Longsun wanted to interfere, as long as Yan Junyu was unwilling, who would dare snatch it from him?

"Since Young Master Yan is unwilling, I won't force it. I just need your help to deal with the people from the Xue family. This should not be difficult for you. As for the matter of the new type of grain, I will find someone else. I believe there will be many interested parties!" Mo Yan replied.

Yan Junyu narrowed his eyes. Why wasn't this girl following the script? Wasn't she supposed to cry and beg to cling to his thigh, pleading desperately for his consent? How could she change her mind so easily, planning to find someone else, and even asking him to deal with the Xue family? This was a thankless task that he had to undertake due to their previous agreement. It was truly frustrating!

"Of course, Young Master Yan can take his time to consider. I'm not in a hurry," Mo Yan said cheerfully. Although she was seeking his favor, their transaction was based on equality. She wouldn't stoop to groveling, nor would she.

Even if he didn't agree today, it wouldn't matter. She could simply hold off on introducing the high-yield grain variety from her spatial storage until a more opportune moment to promote it widely in Da Chu.

"Hmph, do you think such a person is easy to find? Don't find a wolf, only to be gnawed until not even bone crumbs are left!" Unable to bear it, Yan Junyu lashed out, feeling extremely frustrated. Clearly, he held the upper hand, but in the end, he was thwarted by a little girl.

Mo Yan smiled knowingly, "No need for Young Master Yan to worry about this. Things that leave a mark in history are things that no one would refuse. I don't covet this credit, nor do I fear being 'gnawed' by anyone."

The young master Yan's irritation grew as he rolled his eyes and said, "Aren't you refusing now?"

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 358: Meddling of the Xue Family Offers Assistance (2)

Later, people from the Xue family approached them, offering fifty taels of silver if they caused trouble at the Mo Family Fragrant Rice Shop every day, disrupting their business. For the impoverished Zhang family mother and son, fifty taels of silver was a windfall, so they agreed without hesitation.

Thus, the Zhang family mother and son started causing disturbances at the shop. When Mo Yan questioned them that day, Wang Pangtou hesitated to speak, not wanting to trouble Mo Yan with such matters and thinking that Shopkeeper Li could handle it.

But the mother and son were only concerned about the fifty taels of silver. Even when driven away by Li Zhong, they continued to come and cause trouble. Fortunately, most of the customers who came to buy grains were old patrons who had heard about the Zhang family's previous sale of moldy grains and naturally disliked them, so the business in the shop was not affected.

This result displeased the Xue family greatly. Therefore, they decided to take drastic action by directly instructing the Zhang family to set fire to the Mo Family warehouse.

Once the grain in the warehouse was burned, not only would it severely damage the Mo Family Fragrant Rice Shop's vitality, but they would certainly find a way to procure grains again. This would allow them to trace back to the source of Mo Family Fragrant Rice and potentially take over.

One had to admit, the Xue family's plan was quite cunning. Even if the Zhang family were exposed, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to the Xue family. After all, it was normal for the Zhang family to seek revenge against the Li family due to their past grievances.

"Yan girl, what do you plan to do with these two?" Li Zhong looked at the Zhang family mother and son, who looked like dead dogs, his hatred evident. Although this matter didn't have much to do with his Li family, it was because of their feud with the Zhang family that the Xue family had managed to scheme their way into the shop. If Mo Yan hadn't been foresighted and stationed someone there, the warehouse might have been burned down.

Upon hearing this, the Zhang family mother and son looked anxiously at Mo Yan. Seeing that she hadn't put away the sharp knife, their faces turned even paler.

Mo Yan looked at them expressionlessly and said coldly, "Take them to the yamen and let the Zhang family reunite there."

"Wu, wu—" The Zhang's mother and son struggled violently. They didn't want to go to the yamen or stay in a cold and damp cell where they couldn't even eat enough.

"They attempted arson. The yamen won't give them a severe punishment," Li Zhong hated them to the core. Sending them to the yamen to sit in jail for a few years was letting them off too easily.

Watching the Zhang family mother and son continue to struggle, Mo Yan shook her head. "For them, a few years in jail is already enough punishment."

She hadn't experienced the jails of this era, but the environment couldn't be better than in her previous life. For the lazy Zhang's mother and son who had no relatives to visit them, this punishment would be a dual physical and mental torment.

Li Zhong had to relent and asked again, "What about the Xue family?"

"The Xue family?" Mo Yan frowned. Then she turned to the Zhang family mother and son with a malicious look and said, "If it weren't for listening to the Xue family's instructions, you wouldn't have come to cause trouble that day. Yao Taohua wouldn't have had the opportunity to take away your Zhang family's only grandson and all your silver. You wouldn't have ended up in this situation today. So when you go to the court, don't forget that it was the Xue family who brought this upon you."

The eyes of the Zhang's mother and son changed. They gradually stopped struggling and their eyes showed a glimmer of hatred, clearly blaming everything on the Xue family.

Coming out of the small room, Li Zhong frowned. "Even if the Zhang family clings to blaming the Xue family, as long as the Xue family doesn't admit it and even uses some connections, the yamen won't dare to do anything to them. They might even turn the tables and accuse us of falsely accusing the Xue family."

Mo Yan smiled with a hint of malice on her face. "The Xue family went through so much trouble to use the Zhang family against us, clearly they still have their fears. As you said before, because of the moldy grains incident, the Xue family's reputation suffered a great blow and was criticized by other imperial merchants. If news of this spreads to their rivals, even if they can't do anything to the Xue family directly, it would be enough to busy them for a while."

This was just to gain some interest from the arson! However, since the Xue family had discovered their own fragrant rice, they might be discovered by other families, so they had to bring Yan Junyu into the fold.

After pondering for a moment, Li Zhong thought it was a good idea. He went to the yamen to lodge a complaint, and soon several constables followed him to the shop and took the Zhang family mother and son away.

Seeing that there was no time to delay, Mo Yan planned to go to Huixian Residence to ask about shopkeeper Xing. Unexpectedly, shopkeeper Xing came over first.

Seeing Mo Yan, shopkeeper Xing smiled and said, "Miss Mo is here, that's great. My master has some free time today and is having tea at Huixian. If Miss Mo is free, you can come with me now."

"That's wonderful!" Mo Yan was pleasantly surprised. She briefed Li Zhong and then went with the head of the punishment to Huixian.

Shopkeeper Xing led Mo Yan directly to the third floor and into the elegant room where they had met last time. Guan Yu was guarding the door. After nodding to them, he knocked on the door and pushed it open, gesturing for Mo Yan to enter.

Upon entering, Mo Yan saw Yan Junyu standing by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.

He was dressed in a luxurious purple fur coat, his already tall figure appearing even more extraordinary. Half of his jet-black hair was neatly tied by a white jade hairpin, while the other half casually draped over his shoulders. The bright sunlight cast a slanted halo on him, giving him a dazzling aura. The noble air surrounding him made people dare not to gaze directly at him.

Mo Yan was captivated by his appearance, involuntarily comparing him to Xiao Ruiyuan. Both were extraordinarily handsome men, but their auras were completely different. One exuded a strong presence, as cold as an iceberg, while the other was as bright and charming as polished jade. They each had their own unique characteristics, and she couldn't determine who was better.

"How about it? Have you been overwhelmed by my charm, wanting to kneel at my feet? Hmm, considering our brief acquaintance, I might just leave a position for you as my personal maid."

Yan Junyu turned around with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, his narrow fox-like eyes flashing with a hint of mischief.

Mo Yan rolled her eyes silently, but her smile was incredibly sincere. "Young Master Yan is joking. There are plenty of women who would vie to be your maid all over the capital. I won't join in that excitement."

Yan Junyu narrowed his eyes, knowing he couldn't take advantage in the verbal joust, so he ended the joke and sat down. Seeing Mo Yan still standing, he elegantly picked up the teapot with his jade-like fingers and poured two cups of tea.

Mo Yan didn't stand on ceremony either. She sat down opposite him, drank a cup of tea, and then went straight to the point.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 357: Meddling of the Xue Family Offers Assistance (1)

"Grandpa Li, there's no need for you to blame yourself. Let's first clarify the situation," Mo Yan comforted softly. Without understanding the truth, she wouldn't vent her anger on anyone, even though it seemed like the Zhang family's arson was driven by personal grudges against the Li family.

Li Zhong nodded with low spirits. He instructed Tie Tou to temporarily close the shop and accompanied Mo Yan to a small room where the Zhang family mother and son were currently confined.

Opening the door, Mo Yan saw the Zhang family mother and son sitting on the cold floor, their hands and feet tightly bound, hair disheveled, and their mouths gagged with cloth, looking extremely miserable.

As they noticed Mo Yan entering, they initially showed fear on their faces, then began struggling violently. The mother glared ferociously and made muffled threats.

Mo Yan gave a cold smile and produced a bone-piercing dagger from somewhere, slowly approaching the Zhang family mother and son. The sharp blade emitted a chilling gleam under the light, causing the mother and son to shudder in fear.

Starting with a blade right away startled not only the Zhang family but also Li Zhong, who was about to step forward to stop her, but Mo Yan stopped him with a single glance.

Watching her approach with an unfriendly expression, the mother and son felt deep fear. Hu Shi's previous fierceness vanished completely, and involuntarily, she huddled closer to her son.

Mo Yan was satisfied with their reaction. She waved the sharp dagger, making a few passes near their necks before finally resting it against her neck.

Dealing with such cowardly people required a tough approach.

"I won't waste words with you. You'll answer honestly to whatever I ask. Otherwise, don't blame my knife for not being mindful!" Mo Yan threatened.

Hu Shi's face turned pale. She looked at Mo Yan with suspicion, obviously doubting the truth of her words. She didn't believe Mo Yan would dare to kill them here.

Seeming to understand her thoughts, Mo Yan continued threateningly, "Even if I can't kill you here, I can drag you to the desolate mountains in the middle of the night and feed you to wild beasts. It's said that because of the heavy snow, wild beasts in the mountains can't find food. This is when they're most ferocious! Imagine a group of fierce beasts seeing you—what do you think they'd do?"

Seeing that Hu Shi didn't look like she was joking at all, her pupils dilated and her face twisted in fear. She made whimpering sounds and nodded frantically, as if her head were being pounded like garlic.

Satisfied with her assessment of the situation, Mo Yan revealed a hint of a smile. But in the eyes of the mother and son, it seemed more like a devil's smile.

...

After thorough interrogation, Mo Yan finally understood the ins and outs of the matter.

The arson by the Zhang family was indeed related to the grudge with the Li family, but the reason they dared to take such action was due to the instigation and temptation of someone with ulterior motives.

Although this mother and son didn't know who the mastermind was, Mo Yan had a good guess. Even the incident where they came to cause trouble last time and were brutally beaten by Li Zhong was likely orchestrated by the Xue family.

The Zhang family dared to take this risk because Yao Taohua took away all of the Zhang family's money and left them destitute. Besides their empty house, they had nothing of value left.

Hu Shi, a woman who had never suffered hardships, had no idea how to make ends meet. Zhang Ming was weak and incompetent, unwilling to work hard. The mother and son had no choice but to shamelessly beg for food from neighbors.

However, the Zhang family had never been on good terms with their neighbors, who soon grew tired of them and shut their doors firmly at mealtime, refusing to have anything to do with them.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 356: Malicious Intentions of the Zhang Family Arson (3)

Wang Dali thought the matter hadn't been resolved and immediately cursed, "You useless woman! You can't even handle such a small matter. If that girl doesn't let it go, what's the harm in putting your face in front of her? Once she calms down, won't those matters be forgotten?"

"You useless thing! Is that how you talk to people?" Wang Dali's wife was furious and punched Wang Dali again, "I've followed you for so many years. This is the first time we've lived in a brick house, even if it's someone else's. If you have the ability, do you need me to lower myself to smile at her?"

Wang Dali pushed her away impatiently, saying, "What's the use of saying all this? Once we appease that girl, won't we benefit in the future? Look at those families who are on good terms with her. Aren't their lives getting better and better?"

Wang Dali's wife snorted coldly, "That girl is cunning. She won't fall for my tricks. If she just forgets about the past, that would be good enough. I don't have the ability to make her happy."

Wang Dali brightened up, grinned, and hugged his wife's sturdy waist, saying, "If that girl doesn't hold onto the past, does that mean we can benefit from the Mo family in the future?"

Wang Dali's wife blushed and spat at him, smugly saying, "That girl said to let us stay at ease here. We'll settle down in this good house. Why waste such a good house?"

Wang Dali looked around the spacious and warm house and really didn't want to move out. "But this isn't our house. Once the weather clears up, we'll have to move out even if we don't want to."

"Humph, if you want to move, move. I don't want to live in that drafty old grass hut." Wang Dali's wife pushed him away disdainfully and turned aside.

Wang Dali scratched his head, very puzzled. "If we refuse to leave, that girl will definitely drive us out. It'll be embarrassing by then."

Wang Dali's wife snorted and calculated, "Isn't the Mo family concerned about their reputation? When the time comes, we'll figure out a way to make sure they can't drive us out."

Wang Dali instantly perked up, "Do you have a plan? Tell your man quickly."

Wang Dali's wife rolled her eyes at him, "Isn't that what I'm thinking about?"

Wang Dali stared at her disappointedly.

...

The conditions at the Liu family weren't good, so Mo Yan couldn't accept the fried dough without reciprocating. That evening, she steamed another batch of meat buns in chicken broth and had Xin'er bring them over under the pretext of delivering a basket.

A basket contained twelve chicken broth meat buns, equivalent in value to the fried dough. This way, the Liu family wouldn't feel like they were taking advantage.

Xin'er went to the Liu family, worried that they might refuse the meat buns. She simply placed the basket on the table, said a few polite words, and hurriedly left.

Seeing the hot and plump buns, the Liu couple looked somewhat conflicted. They had sent the fried dough to express their gratitude for being hosted by the Mo family, and now they received a basket of meat buns in return.

Their children were delighted. Smelling the rich aroma of the buns, they looked eagerly at their parents, silently swallowing saliva. They hadn't tasted such fragrant buns during the New Year!

Seeing their children's longing eyes, the Liu couple felt heartache. They couldn't send the buns back, so each took one. The remaining seven buns were left in the basket for the children to enjoy as a treat the next day.

The children, seeing their parents not eating, shared half of their buns with them. As the first bun was torn apart, the extreme aroma of meat made the mouth water non-stop.

The Liu couple watched the buns wrapped in meat and felt some reluctance to eat them. But with their children urging them on, they reluctantly took a small bite, finding them more delicious than anything they had eaten before.

After a day of melting snow, the temperature dropped even further at night, and people went to bed early. Just as dawn was breaking, the Mo family's courtyard door was pounded loudly. The Liu family and others nearest to the courtyard thought they were dreaming.

Before they could get up to check, Li Xiu had already dressed and rushed out anxiously. She asked through the door and recognized Wang Pangtou's voice, quickly opening the courtyard gate.

Seeing Wang Pangtou looking anxious, Li Xiu was surprised, "Why are you back at this hour? Is there something wrong with the shop?"

Wang Pangtou pushed the door open and nodded vaguely, "Aunt Li, please hurry and urge the young lady. Ask her to hurry into the city."

Worried, Li Xiu rushed towards Mo Yan's small courtyard.

Mo Yan had just woken up and was still playing with Miao Tuan in bed. Upon hearing that something had happened at the shop, she quickly sat up and hurriedly put on her clothes. When she rushed to the hall in a hurry, Wang Pangtou quickly explained what had happened.

"What? The Zhang family actually set fire to the warehouse?" Mo Yan couldn't believe her ears, "Do you know why they did this?"

It turned out that last night, the Zhang family mother and son were caught red-handed by friends of Xiao Zhu while trying to set fire to the Mo family's warehouse. They were promptly taken to Mo's Fragrant Rice Shop. Since it was too late last night and the city gates were closed, Wang Pangtou had to wait at the city gate and only returned to deliver the news once the gates were opened.

Upon hearing Mo Yan's question, Wang Pangtou looked troubled and didn't dare to answer her directly. He could only say reluctantly, "The Zhang family mother and son are now in the shop. Young Miss can ask them in person."

Mo Yan nodded. The most important thing now was to go to the shop and find out what had happened. If the Zhang family's arson was just retaliation against the Li family, she would have to be on guard if the Xue family was involved.

Yesterday's snow had just melted, and today's road was covered with a thick layer of ice, making it slippery to walk on. Mo Yan wrapped Xiao Hei's feet with coarse cloth and tied the wheels with hemp rope, hoping to prevent slipping.

This method was somewhat effective. Coupled with Xiao Hei not moving too fast, they proceeded smoothly and arrived at the shop about two quarters earlier than usual.

At this moment, Li Zhong had been waiting outside. His face was deeply exhausted. When he saw Mo Yan, he couldn't help but bow his head in self-blame...

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 355: Malicious Intentions of the Zhang Family Arson (2)

Ever since moving into the front yard of the Mo family, the Wang family had been discussing how to apologize to the Mo family and resolve their past grievances. This way, they could also establish a good relationship for future favors.

As the saying goes, you can't eat someone's mouth short. If they were sincere about apologizing, they should have brought something to show their sincerity. The Wang family did have some valuable items, at least they raised some chickens, which they themselves were reluctant to eat. How could they bear to give them to the Mo family?

Now, just as they were about to come over, they saw the Liu family sending fried dough. Wang Dali's wife immediately had a twisted idea to curry favor with Mo Yan. As a result, not only was she embarrassed, but her scheming was also exposed on the spot, which was even more shameful than being embarrassed.

No matter how resentful Wang Dali's wife was towards Mo Yan for not giving her face, she didn't dare to confront her directly at this moment. Instead, she had to muster the courage to continue, "Auntie sincerely apologizes to you, Yan Yan. If Yan Yan feels our sincerity is lacking, should Auntie kneel to you?"

After saying that, she really softened her knees, ready to kneel down.

Li Xiu, quick-witted, stepped forward and grabbed her, speaking sternly, "Aunt Wang, what are you doing? As an elder, kneeling to a younger like Yan Yan is not showing respect, but rather mocking her!"

Wang Dali's wife looked panic-stricken at Mo Yan, shaking her head repeatedly, "Yan Yan, please don't misunderstand. Auntie really came here sincerely to apologize to you. Auntie is just a fool and doesn't know how to speak. Please don't take offense!"

Mo Yan didn't want to argue with her any longer and waved her hand dismissively, "How could I, a junior, take offense at Auntie? Auntie, just go back peacefully."

Wang Dali's wife's face lit up upon hearing this, and she asked presumptuously, "Does Yan Yan forgive Auntie and her husband for the mistakes they made before?"

Mo Yan twitched her eyes and ambiguously replied, "The past is the past. Auntie doesn't need to worry about it."

"That's good, that's good! Yan Yan is really a generous girl." Wang Dali's wife thought that Mo Yan had let go of the past issues, so she happily started flattering Mo Yan.

However, her flattery was quite superficial and uncomfortable for those listening.

Mo Yan couldn't be bothered to argue with her further and dismissed her with a few words.

"This Aunt Wang is really interesting!" Watching Wang Dali's wife's departing figure, Li Xiu remarked ambiguously.

Mo Yan smiled indifferently, "Such greedy and petty people should be avoided if possible, to avoid trouble."

Li Xiu nodded in agreement.

As soon as she turned around, Wang Dali's wife's face fell. She returned to her residence in a fit of anger, only to see Wang Dali lying motionless on the bed. Feeling more and more frustrated, she angrily lifted the blanket covering him and delivered a heavy punch to his back. This made Wang Dali jump up from the bed, shouting loudly, "Are you crazy?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dali's wife became even angrier, "Yes, I'm crazy! That's why I went to apologize to that stinky girl!"

"You... keep your voice down." Wang Dali quickly jumped off the bed and covered her mouth, cautiously looking outside the door. Seeing no one noticed, he let go and said fiercely, "Why are you yelling so loudly? You're afraid she won't hear you? If you provoke that girl, our whole family will freeze to death outside!"

Wang Dali's wife was about to explode, but when she heard the latter part of his sentence, she didn't say another word. She glared at the tightly sealed house with envy and extreme jealousy. How could such a good house not belong to her?

Wang Dali didn't care what she was thinking. He asked anxiously, "Didn't you go to apologize? What happened?"

The moment he mentioned it, Wang Dali's wife's anger surged again, "What happened? What do you think happened? I went to apologize with my tail between my legs, humiliating myself, and offering my face on a platter. What do you think happened?"

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 354: Malicious Intentions of the Zhang Family Arson (1)

At this moment, a malicious voice interjected, "Oh my, the Liu family is really something. Their whole family can't even have a proper meal, yet they still spare no effort to fry dough and show gratitude. We really can't compare!"

The owner of the voice was none other than Wang Dali's wife, who had previous dealings with the Mo family.

The young girl, who had been anxious because Mo Yan refused the fried dough, blushed deeply upon hearing these words. She tightened her grip on the sieve containing the fried dough and looked at Wang's wife angrily.

"Auntie Wang, what do you mean by that? My parents asked me to bring the fried dough over just to thank sister Yan Yan for her hospitality. What's wrong with that?"

Wang Dali's wife looked covetously at the fried dough in the sieve, smacked her lips, and chuckled like an old hen in response to the girl's questioning, "Auntie doesn't mean anything. Isn't it just saying that your parents are generous and gracious? What's wrong with that? Can't even say these nice words?"

"You... you clearly meant something else." The girl was furious, knowing full well that this woman was not speaking kindly, but she didn't know how to refute her.

"What's wrong? Are you trying to pick a fight?" Wang Dali's wife looked disdainfully at her, pointing at the fried dough in the sieve, "Yan Yatou has tasted all sorts of delicacies, why would she care about your shabby stuff? You better take it back and eat it yourself, so you won't embarrass yourself!"

With that, she turned to Mo Yan with a flattering smile and said, "Yan Yatou, am I right?"

The young girl stared at Wang Dali's wife with red eyes, feeling both angry and ashamed. She thought Mo Yan didn't want to accept it because she looked down on the fried dough. But this was the best food her family could offer, and her mother had asked her to bring it over without taking any for themselves.

Mo Yan looked expressionlessly at Wang Dali's wife until she lowered her head in embarrassment. Then she smiled at the almost crying young girl and said, "Fried dough is a good snack. I really like it. Please thank your mother for me."

With that, she reached out and took the sieve, picking up a piece and gently biting into it. It was thin, fragrant, and crispy, prompting her to praise, "Your mother's cooking is really good. I can't make it taste this delicious."

"Yan... Sister Yan Yan..." The young girl looked somewhat excited, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find the right words. Seeing Mo Yan inviting others to come and taste the fried dough, a warm feeling welled up inside her.

Others also wanted to save face, so they came forward one after another to taste the fried dough. After trying it, they all praised how delicious it was and complimented the girl's mother for her skill.

The young girl, perhaps too excited or for some other reason, suddenly turned and ran off without even taking back the sieve.

Wang Dali's wife, who had been embarrassed on the spot, alternated between turning red and pale. Standing there, she rubbed her hands together repeatedly, as if this could alleviate the awkwardness of being slapped in the face.

Mo Yan continued to eat several pieces of fried dough in a row until she felt a bit tired of it. Seeing Wang Dali's wife still standing there, she asked with some confusion, "Aunt Wang, is there something you need?"

"Huh?" Wang Dali's wife seemed not to have recovered from being humiliated on the spot. She was stunned for a moment before quickly putting on a smile and saying, "Auntie is here to apologize to you! Because of some trivial matters before, our two families had a little dispute. Thanks to Miss Yan's generosity, she didn't take it to heart and even let our whole family move in. Thank you so much!"

"Apologize, huh?" Mo Yan looked at her teasingly, drawing out the word "huh" for a long time, and then she chewed on a piece of fried dough with a loud crunch. She said something irrelevant: "Although this fried dough is not a precious delicacy, it's the thought that counts. It's comforting to eat!"

Wang Dali's wife was initially stunned, somewhat puzzled. After chewing on these words for a while, her face turned red, looking embarrassed but actually extremely angry!

Next Chapter▶▶