Chapter 515: Separation (2)

Mo Dani snapped out of her thoughts and, seeing her mother's anxious expression, suddenly smiled. She gently held Wu shi's trembling hand and said earnestly, "Mother, whatever you decide to do, I will support you. Wherever you go, I will go. You will always be my dear mother!"

Wu shi's tears instantly fell. She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs. These tears were not of sadness but of genuine joy.

Seeing their mother cry again, San Ni and Shi Tou stood by her side. Ten-year-old Da Ni seemed to understand something, and with a stern face, she said, "Mother, San Ni'er will follow you too. We siblings all want to follow you. You can't leave us behind. San Ni doesn't want to be a child without a mother..."

By the end of her words, her eyes were red, and she choked up, unable to continue.

Four-year-old Shi Tou didn't fully understand what his mother and sisters were talking about, but he grasped the word "follow" and thought they were going somewhere. He hurriedly shouted, "Follow, follow, Shi Tou wants to follow!"

Wu shi could no longer hold back her tears. She sobbed as she pulled her son and daughter into her arms. "Everyone will follow, everyone will follow. Mother won't leave anyone behind."

The three of them cried together, and even Mo Dani, who was bedridden, was in tears.

The thin wooden door couldn't block the sound of their crying. Hearing it in the main hall, Hong shi slammed the table and shouted towards the bedroom door, "You unlucky wenches, I'm not dead yet, and you're already wailing like it's a funeral? If you keep it up, get out of my house!"

Old Mo, thinking about living under the same roof with a daughter-in-law who had miscarried, frowned and felt uneasy. He remained silent, watching Hong shi's increasingly loud scolding.

He wanted no part in these sinful acts!

The other three, aside from Mo Yongxi occasionally chiming in with insults, kept their heads down. Niu shi and Mo Yongfu looked at the dust at their feet as if they hadn't heard anything. One was indifferent, and the other had already given up.

Three days passed quickly, and the Mo household appeared calm and normal.

Just when the villagers thought the Mo family had a change of heart and would treat Wu shi and her daughter better, they were thrown out on the fourth day, in the heat of midday.

"Wu Shi, you failed to preserve the Mo family lineage, making you a sinner in the Mo family! With such a sin, you can't stay here, or else the ancestors will be angered. Who could bear that? And Wu Dani, your life is too tough. You cursed your mother’s unborn child! Don’t blame me for being harsh. If you stay, you'll only bring more harm. From now on, you will take your mother’s surname and are no longer part of the Mo family. Your fate, good or bad, is yours to bear. The Mo family will no longer care for you!"

Hong shi stood at the door, hands on hips, addressing Wu shi and her daughter, as well as the villagers who had come to watch, with these grandiose words. She acted as if she had no choice, thinking someone might actually believe her.

Whether from guilt or something else, none of the other Mo family members were present. In the hall facing the door, only San Ni'er held her brother’s hand, her young face devoid of expression.

"This is inhuman, inhuman! How can they treat a daughter-in-law who had a miscarriage and their own granddaughter this way? Heaven is watching, the Mo family will face retribution, they surely will!"

"Humph, the Mo family has already faced retribution. Look at Mo Yongshou, he was exiled and is probably dead by now; and their daughter, if she were from another family, matchmakers would be lining up, but she hasn't had a single suitor. If that's not retribution, what is?"

  Chapter 514: Separation (1)

Seeing her daughter's understanding brought tears to Wu shi's eyes. Noticing her daughter's disapproving look, she quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve and choked out, "I'm not sad, I'm not sad! As long as you get better soon, I'll be at ease."

Hearing her mother's words, Mo Dani's body began to tremble. She quickly turned her face away, afraid her mother would see her tears and become more upset.

Mo Dani knew her bone was set, but she had also heard what Doctor Du said in the hall. She believed that even if she recovered, she wouldn't be able to work and would be bedridden for life.

At such a young age, what girl would want to spend her life in bed? If she couldn't recover, even living a long life would be meaningless.

Wu shi understood her daughter's thoughts and felt a mix of pain and relief. Relief that her daughter's injury wasn't as severe as they had made it out to be, and that she hadn't ruined her daughter's future due to a moment's negligence.

Ignoring the protests of her younger children, she insisted on getting out of bed and walked to Mo Dani's bedside. She touched her daughter's tear-stained face and said with certainty, "Dani, trust your mother, your injury will be fine! I'm waiting for you to recover soon so we can start our business together!"

The loss of three taels of silver and the miscarriage were all part of Mo Yan's plan to help Wu shi successfully divorce and take her children away from the Mo family. This plan was meant to preserve Wu shi's reputation, allow her to leave the family with dignity, and tarnish the Mo family's name.

However, they hadn't anticipated Mo Dani's injury. If they had, they wouldn't have risked her getting hurt, even if they couldn't think of a better plan at the time.

Mo Dani hurriedly wiped her tears and urged her mother to go back to bed. "Mother, you shouldn't be out of bed. Please go back, I'm fine, really."

Wu shi smiled and shook her head. She listened to the sounds outside, hearing the family discussing how to get rid of them. A cold smile appeared on her face.

Turning back to her daughter, her cold smile turned into a gentle motherly look. She whispered a few words into Mo Dani's ear.

Mo Dani's eyes widened in disbelief. If it weren't for the genuine smile on her mother's face, she would have thought she misheard.

Her gentle, submissive mother, who didn't even dare raise her voice at home, was now determined to divorce her father and take the children away from this cold home to live a free life.

How much suffering and pain had her mother endured to reach such a resolute decision!

Thinking back to the years of hard work, the lack of kindness from her grandparents, the absence of good things in their lives, and even the money her father earned from odd jobs all went to please her grandparents and aunt, not considering the poor conditions his own family lived in.

Recalling how her father had even threatened to divorce her mother to get her to hand over money, and how he hadn't comforted them at all despite all that had happened today, Mo Dani's heart grew cold.

Seeing Mo Dani's uncertain expression, Wu shi's heart was filled with worry.

Whether it was divorce or taking the children away, she had never mentioned it to her children. She feared they wouldn't be able to hide it from the Mo family, feared the plan would fail and they couldn't leave, and most of all, feared her children wouldn't understand or want to go with her, thinking she was abandoning them and growing to hate her.

  Chapter 513: The Plan Succeeds (2)

These people gathered to watch the drama unfold, curious to see if the Mo family would cause another scene and if Hong shi, the malicious mother-in-law, would once again torment her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Seeing Mo Yan standing there, they wondered if she would stand up for Wu shi and her daughter, as everyone in Liuyang Village knew of their close relationship.

The villagers were mainly there for gossip, not ill-intentioned. Without them, Wu shi and her daughter might still be lying under the old poplar tree!

Mo Yan ignored their probing questions and, after greeting familiar faces, kept her eyes fixed on the Mo family's gate, unfazed by the scrutinizing gazes.

By now, Doctor Du had taken Wu shi’s pulse, set Mo Dani’s bone, and applied medicine. He was inside, explaining the diagnosis to the family.

Ignoring the long faces of old Mo, Hong shi, and the others, Doctor Du explained the severity of the mother and daughter's condition in refined language. Finally, with a grave expression, he told the ashen-faced Mo Yongfu, "Given your wife's age, conceiving is already difficult. This miscarriage has severely damaged her vitality. Even if she appears to recover, internally, she is thoroughly weakened. If she is well-nourished with good medicine, she might live peacefully, though she will be unable to do any heavy work. As for your daughter, she is in a dangerous condition. She should stay in bed and rest, or the broken bone might shift, potentially injuring her internal organs and threatening her life..."

“What? What did you say?” Before Doctor Du could finish, Hong shi shrieked, “Can't work and needs good medicine to nourish her? Bah! Those two wretches are nothing but disasters. Do they expect me to support them like some noble ladies? They should take a look at themselves in the mirror!”

Hong shi's coarse words flowed smoothly, but Doctor Du found them extremely jarring. He glanced at her indifferently and said, “Everything I’ve said is true. If you don’t believe me, feel free to consult another doctor. I’ve said all I can; whether you treat them or not is up to you.”

With that, he didn’t bother arguing further and walked out of the Mo family’s gate with his medical box.

Doctor Du’s voice was loud, and the Mo family’s thatched house had poor sound insulation. The onlookers outside heard everything clearly, and their hearts filled with even more sympathy for Wu shi and her daughter. Some villagers, understanding the Mo family’s character, began to worry about the mother and daughter. However, this concern was weak, as no one had the courage or ability to solve their impending difficulties.

With no more drama to see, the villagers gradually dispersed. Mo Yan took Doctor Du back to her home and inquired about the condition of Wu shi and her daughter.

Learning that their health wasn't in serious jeopardy and that Da Ni’s shoulder blade was set correctly, Mo Yan felt relieved. She eagerly went to the kitchen to prepare a meal to thank Doctor Du.

...

“Mother, should we treat those two wretches as the doctor said?” As soon as Doctor Du left, Mo Yongxi impatiently asked.

Treating them would cost money, and she didn't want the family to spend her dowry on this bottomless pit. Besides, the doctor had said that even if they recovered, they would be useless. Treating them was a waste! They would need good medicine and care; better to throw them out!

“Treat, treat, treat? What for? Those two ungrateful wretches, treat them so they can spite me more?” Hong shi glared at Mo Yongxi, uncharacteristically harsh toward her daughter.

Mo Yongxi was pleased and said, “But Mother, if we leave them untreated, they won’t get better, but they won’t die either. They’ll just lie in bed, needing food and care. We can’t leave them like that!”

Hong shi’s face grew even darker. She pursed her lips and didn’t respond, but her eyes showed she was plotting something related to Wu shi and her daughter.

Mo Yongfu hesitated, looking from Hong shi to old Mo, whose face was also dark. A struggle flashed across his face, but he swallowed his words.

The earlier guilt he felt for his wife and daughter was fading, replaced by fear of the financial burden and the future. 

A weak and selfish man, pitiful and detestable!

Niu shi, who was eating sunflower seeds, looked at the faces of old Mo, Hong shi, Mo Yongfu, and Mo Yongxi, noting their indifference and compromise. She felt a sudden sense of confusion.

She was also a daughter-in-law in the Mo family, considered an “outsider” like her elder sister-in-law. Yet she had joined her mother-in-law and sister-in-law in tormenting her elder sister-in-law, causing her to lose her child, her daughter to become disabled, and leaving her with lingering health issues—all for a few taels of silver. Had she done the right thing? Could she have a good outcome living with such a cold-blooded family?

No, it was different. She was different from her elder sister-in-law! Her elder sister-in-law was too soft-hearted and easy to bully, with a weak and useless husband. That’s why she was bullied so badly! She was different, she could be ruthless, and her husband wouldn’t let her be bullied. She couldn’t end up like her elder sister-in-law, right?

Except for Tie Tou, who had gone to the grain shop, Mo Yonglu, who was working in the city, and a few clueless children, the five people in the hall, each with their own thoughts, seemed to be subtly drawn together, silently reaching a dark consensus...

In the room, Wu shi, with a bit of color returning to her face, sat on the bed gently comforting her frightened younger daughter and son. Her eyes shone with a burning light, the light of joy and hope as her wish was about to come true.

However, when she looked at her eldest daughter on the opposite bed, her face still pale, the light in her eyes dimmed instantly, filled with guilt and self-blame.

Mo Dani happened to look over and met her mother’s gaze. She forced a smile and softly comforted her, “Mother, I’m fine. Please don’t blame yourself, or I will truly be sad!”

  Chapter 512: The Plan Succeeds (1)

Mo Yan and the others, napping at home, were unaware of the incident under the old poplar tree until a woman who had helped Wu shi and her daughter knocked on the Mo family's gate, asking to borrow a cart to fetch a doctor for them. It was then they learned of the dire situation.

Upon hearing the details, Mo Yan and her companions were furious. When they found out that old Mo and Hong shi were unwilling to spend money on a doctor for Wu shi and her daughter, they were even more enraged, wanting to rush to old Mo's house, bring the mother and daughter back, and let the villagers' scorn drown those heartless people.

The doctor was urgently needed. Mo Yan personally drove the cart to fetch the doctor, not having time to ponder why Wu shi didn't inform her of the plan beforehand.

Although Wu shi wasn't really having a miscarriage, Mo Dani's shoulder blade was indeed broken. Mo Yan urged Xiao Hei to run faster, fearing that any delay would cause Da Ni's bones to heal improperly and leave her disabled. This wasn't the modern era with advanced medical equipment.

Xiao Hei ran swiftly, and the road was sparsely populated. The cart quickly reached the city. Mo Yan headed straight to the clinic of Doctor Du, whom she knew well, and brought him back to the village in a hurry.

Doctor Du was the one who had previously treated Xin'er and prescribed calming medicine for Mo Yan. Mo Yan considered Doctor Du highly skilled and ethical, so she gradually sold him some herbs she grew in her space.

The herbs from her space were top-notch, considered the best of their kind. Naturally, Doctor Du was eager to acquire them and grew fond of Mo Yan, a straightforward and cheerful young girl. Over time, they became familiar with each other.

As for the source of the herbs, Mo Yan simply said she had gathered them from the "mountains."

On the way back, Mo Yan confided in Doctor Du that Wu shi wasn't really having a miscarriage and pleaded with him to confirm it in front of the Mo family, emphasizing the severity of Wu shi's condition—saying she was too weak to do heavy work and needed to rest. She also asked him to say that Da Ni's bone was badly broken and required careful treatment to prevent it from injuring her internal organs.

Despite his high regard for Mo Yan, Doctor Du, a man of integrity, refused to lie. Mo Yan pleaded with him, but he wouldn't agree until she recounted the years of abuse and mistreatment Wu shi and her daughter had endured. Something in her story moved Doctor Du, and he finally agreed to help, but on one condition: Mo Yan had to gather fifty catties of good herbs for him.

Knowing Doctor Du's temper, Mo Yan dared not refuse.

The Mo family had severed ties with old Mo's family on New Year's Day. Despite getting along well with Wu shi and her children, this fact remained unchanged. 

Whenever they met, Hong shi and her people would often hurl insults. To avoid trouble, Mo Yan left Doctor Du at old Mo's doorstep and watched from a distance, ready to intervene if Hong shi or anyone else caused more trouble for Wu shi and her daughter.

It wasn't long before a crowd of villagers gathered outside old Mo's house. Word had already spread throughout Liuyang Village about Hong shi's brutal kick that caused her daughter-in-law's miscarriage and the heartless stomp that broke her granddaughter's shoulder blade. Everyone condemned Hong shi as "vicious," and even children as young as three would cry at the mention of her name.

From the women who had brought Wu shi and her daughter back, the villagers learned that the Mo family refused to call a doctor. Mo Yan bringing Doctor Du to the village wasn't a secret and soon spread.

  Chapter 511: The Unexpected Ruse (2)

Mo Hongshi glared at the woman and, hands on her hips, retorted without any remorse, "You said these two wretched people are my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. I'll discipline them however I want. Why is it any of your business?"

"You—you're the dog! Your whole Mo family are mad dogs that bite anyone they see!"

The woman, enraged at being called a dog, angrily retorted and rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight. She had long been fed up with this old woman and saw this as a chance to teach her a lesson. But before she could act, her husband glared at her and forcefully pulled her back into the crowd.

Hong shi, hearing her whole family insulted, couldn't stand it and rolled up her sleeves, ready to rush at the woman, but Mo Yongxi held her back. "Mother, don't be impulsive. Dani's arm is broken because of you. If you keep causing trouble, it'll only make things worse for our family. Don't forget what the village chief said."

Hearing this and seeing the villagers' looks, Hong shi felt a bit uneasy and didn't dare to confront the woman further.

Seeing that the woman who stood up for Wu shi and her daughter didn't fare well, the other kind-hearted women refrained from speaking out. They approached Wu shi and her daughter, separated them, and had one of the men fetch a door panel from the village to carry Mo Dani back to the village and find a city doctor to treat her injuries. Otherwise, her arm might be permanently disabled.

A young girl with a disability would have no chance of finding a good husband.

As the women were about to place Mo Dani on the door panel, one of them noticed dark red blood seeping from the hem of Wu shi's gray-brown skirt and screamed in shock, "Oh my God, so much blood! Mo's daughter-in-law, you're bleeding a lot. What's going on? Could it be...could it be..."

Could it be a miscarriage? A menstrual period wouldn't cause so much blood!

This exclamation drew everyone's attention. Realizing what had happened, the women hurriedly pushed their men away to avoid them seeing anything inappropriate and damaging Wu shi's reputation.

Wu shi, with vacant eyes, looked at the blood beneath her, subconsciously touching her deflated abdomen. Seeing her weak daughter lying on the door panel, she suddenly covered her face with her hands and cried out in pain, like a mother beast who had lost her cub.

The onlookers naturally interpreted her grief as mourning a miscarriage.

First, her eldest daughter's arm was broken, and now she had lost an unborn child. Even villagers who had no dealings with Wu shi felt sympathy for her and detested Hong shi even more for causing this tragedy.

All the men except old Mo and Mo Yongfu left. Old, who had silently allowed Hong shi to beat Wu shi, walked over with a sullen face, followed by a silent and thoughtful Mo Yongfu.

Old Mo glared fiercely at Hong shi for disgracing him again. Then, looking coldly at the dazed Mo Wushi, he said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, today's incident was just an accident. The child was unlucky, so don't blame your mother-in-law! If you hadn't made such a fuss, she wouldn't have hit you. It's your fault! Considering you lost a child, we won't punish you further. Go home now and stop embarrassing us in front of others!"

His words, sounding so magnanimous, painted Wu shi as the culprit ruining the family's reputation, while he and Mo Hongshi seemed forgiving.

Wu shi, not seeming to hear him, kept stroking her daughter's hair with her blood-stained hand, muttering something inaudible.

No one knew she was apologizing to her daughter, regretting her actions that led to her injury, and for harboring false hopes about that man.

Her "oblivious" behavior infuriated old Mo, who coldly snorted and rebuked his eldest son, "Useless fool, can't even control your wife. Get her home now before we lose more face!"

Mo Yongfu stiffened, but didn't move or look at Wu shi.

During the whole ordeal, he didn't speak up or stop his mother from beating his wife, and when his daughter's bone was broken, he still stood by silently.

Now, facing old Mo's rebuke, he couldn't argue or face Wu shi. He feared her disappointed gaze and her future hatred.

Seeing his cowardice, old Mo fumed, "How did I raise such a useless son? Get out of my sight!"

Mo Yongfu, pale and trembling, finally mustered the courage to approach Wu shi, trying to help her up, but she recoiled in disgust.

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Wu shi bit her lip and spat out the words, looking at him coldly before turning away.

The women, seeing this, glanced at Mo Yongfu with disdain before helping Wu shi up.

Wu shi, supported by the women, walked past Mo Yongfu without looking back, her last hopes for him extinguished when he didn't stop their daughter's assault. She no longer had any affection for him.

  Chapter 510: The Unexpected Ruse (1)

Hong shi's buttocks hurt badly, and she was frightened by Wu shi. She was completely at a loss and didn't know what to do. Hearing her daughter's words at this moment, the little bit of guilt she had felt vanished instantly. In her eyes, Wu shi's painful expression was entirely an act, aimed at ruining her reputation in front of others and making her give up the silver she had in hand. It was truly hateful!

"You wretched woman, how dare you play tricks right under my nose! I'll beat you to death, you ungrateful wretch!" Hong shi's anger surged. She stood up abruptly and kicked Wu shi hard in the stomach. "Keep pretending, I'll make you keep pretending! If I don't teach you a lesson today, others will think my Mo family has no discipline!"

One kick wasn't enough to calm her anger. Ignoring Wu shi's screams, Hong shi lifted her right foot high and stomped down heavily again. She didn't consider that the Mo family's reputation was already in ruins in Liuyang Village. Her own reputation as a cruel mother-in-law who mistreated her daughter-in-law and loved to stir up trouble had spread to neighboring villages. She had no reputation left to speak of!

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

With that stomp, Wu shi's frail body couldn't bear it. Her pale face and increasingly weak cries told everyone about her fragility. How could she withstand such a heavy blow?

A few nearby villagers, unable to bear it any longer, wanted to stop Hong shi's violence, but it was too late. They could only watch helplessly as her heavy foot came down on the prostrate Mo Wushi, who couldn't even sit up.

"No! Grandma, no!"

Mo Dani, who had been following Wu shi, had just arrived and witnessed this horrifying scene. She screamed shrilly and, without thinking, threw herself onto Wu shi, her frail body protecting her equally frail mother.

Wu shi couldn't stop her daughter in time. She felt a weight on her body as Hong shi's heavy foot came down. She clearly heard the dull thud as it landed on her daughter's shoulder and back.

"Ah—"

Mo Dani let out a cry of pain, her face drained of color, and her right arm hung limply to the ground as if it had lost all support.

Hong shi's stomp had actually broken Mo Dani's shoulder blade.

The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.

Niu shi, who had been sitting on a rock watching the spectacle, widened her eyes and stood up abruptly. She started to walk towards Mo Dani, but after a few steps, as if thinking of something, a look of struggle crossed her face. She saw Mo Dani, drenched in sweat from the pain and on the verge of fainting, and finally stopped in her tracks.

"Dani, Dani, my child, why are you so foolish? Why are you so foolish..." Wu shi wept bitterly, holding the unconscious Mo Dani, crying out in grief.

At this moment, she forgot all her calculations, forgot about her plans to separate and live a peaceful and happy life with her children away from the Mo family. She was just a mother, a mother heartbroken for her injured child!

Wu shi's helpless wails echoed in the hearts of every villager under the ancient poplar tree. Many felt secretly guilty for not stepping up earlier to stop Hong shi's violence, causing such suffering for the mother and daughter.

Hong shi was too heartless, to lay such a heavy hand on her own granddaughter, she was simply inhuman!

A straightforward woman couldn't help but step forward to defend Wu shi and her daughter, "Mo Daye, they're your daughter-in-law and granddaughter, how can you not feel any remorse for being so harsh on them?"

  ## Chapter 509: Kicking Up Trouble (Part 3)

These few silver coins added up to just over three taels, but for Hong Shi and the others, it was already quite a sum. Yet, they were not satisfied, sensing that there might still be more money yet to be found.

When Wu Shi and Da Ni'er returned from their stall, what greeted them was a scene of chaos. Beddings were strewn across the floor, and the only piece of furniture—a crude wooden box—was overturned and emptied onto the ground.

Wu Shi said nothing, immediately rushing out of the house towards the several ancient poplar trees in the center of the village. Da Ni'er, worried that something might happen, hurriedly followed.

At this hour, under the scorching sun, most of the villagers were cooling off and chatting under the shade of the ancient poplar trees. It wasn't until the weather cooled down a bit that they would pick up their hoes and head to the fields to work. The people of the old Mo family were no exception, except for a few children who were napping at home; all the adults were gathered here.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

When Wu Shi arrived under the ancient poplar tree, her face was already streaked with tears. She knelt directly in front of Mo Yongxi, who was eating dried fruits, and cried out with a heart-wrenching voice, "Younger sister-in-law, I beg you, please return the silver to me. That's my dowry silver, specifically saved for Tie Tou to marry. Tie Tou is already nineteen; we can't delay any longer. Please, have mercy on your nephew and return that dowry silver to me!"

With that said, Wu Shi's forehead hit the ground heavily, knocking loudly against Mo Yongxi's feet. In a short while, her not particularly fair forehead turned purple.

From the moment Wu Shi rushed out and said those words to knocking her head, it was only a short moment. The villagers sitting under the acacia tree to cool down were unable to react. When they finally realized what was happening, Wu Shi's forehead was already broken, and beads of blood rolled down her face, looking particularly pitiful.

At first, there was silence all around, then it was like a drop of water had fallen into a boiling oil pan, and the buzzing discussion began.

"What is Mo Jia Dajie doing? Why is she knocking her head in front of her younger sister-in-law?"

"Where have your ears gone? Didn't you hear Mo Wu Shi say that the dowry money for her son's bride had been taken away by Mo Yongxi?"

"Tsk tsk, in the past, she was wild and willful, and her thoughts were wicked, but it didn't affect anyone else if she couldn't get married. Now, she has simply stolen her sister-in-law's silver. From now on, we must be careful. We don't have so much family property for others to steal!"

......

There was a lot of discussion among the crowd, and the villagers pointed and talked about the people of the old Mo family with obvious disdain on their faces.

Mo Yongxi was initially stunned by Wu Shi's actions. When she heard those unpleasant words, she was so angry that she wanted to tear Wu Shi apart. However, after being framed and seriously injured by Mo Yan last time, she became much smarter, at least not as impulsive as before.

Suppressing her anger, Yong Xi pulled her mouth and concealed her distorted face. She was about to step forward to help Wu Shi and salvage her reputation. However, before she could act, Hong Shi rushed over and pointed at Wu Shi, cursing loudly, "You despicable thing! Eating my food and drinking my drink, you still dare to ask me for money? Where do you get the face?"

Wu Shi seemed to be frightened and suddenly softened to the ground. She looked at Hong Shi fearfully, gritted her teeth, rushed up, and hugged Mo Hong Shi's legs, crying sadly, "Mother, that's my dowry silver. It's for Tie Tou's marriage. If you want money, I will definitely earn more money in the future and take it back for you to spend. Please return that silver to me!"

Hong Shi was shocked by such a fierce hug. Under the impact, she did not stabilize for a while. She sat down on the ground with a sudden pain in her buttocks. She didn't think about it and kicked it over, kicking it directly on Wu Shi's stomach, but she didn't expect that this kick would cause a big event!

"Ah—!" Mo Wu Shi was kicked out and fell on her back to the ground, letting out a miserable scream. She covered her stomach, her face suddenly turned pale, and large drops of sweat rolled down her cheeks, looking even worse.

"Ah—It hurts—my stomach hurts!" Wu Shi curled up, weakly screaming.

Mo Hong Shi, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. Her buttocks hurt badly, and the kick she kicked out didn't use much force at all. How did she kick the person up and couldn't get up?

Mo Yongxi frowned and looked at Mo Wu Shi, who was crying and screaming with her hands on her stomach. She had clearly seen the kick just now and couldn't have kicked anyone. Mo Wu Shi was pretending to be like this and wanted to get back the money.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt like this. She snorted coldly, squatted down to Hong Shi's ear, and quietly said her guess...

  ## Chapter 508: Kicking Up Trouble (Part 2)

The fluffy, soft touch seemed to reach deep into Mo Yan's heart, miraculously lifting her spirits from the depths of despair.

In times like these, there were some things that couldn't be changed just by disapproval. Ultimately, she was just an ordinary person. Could she really oppose the entrenched feudal customs that had existed for centuries?

It was more productive to live well herself and grow stronger. In the future, if she encountered unfortunate women, she could lend a helping hand. That would count as a small act of kindness...

The three beasts keenly sensed Mo Yan's change in mood and began playing with her without reservation. Xiao Hua and Mao Tuan were especially mischievous, chasing their tails one moment, tumbling into a playful tussle the next, finding endless ways to amuse their master.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

"Hahaha! Mao Tuan, you're so clumsy! Can't you use your claws to take off that cloth from your head?" Mo Yan pointed at Mao Tuan, who kept stumbling backwards, either bumping into walls or the stone table, instead of removing the black cloth, and burst into tears of laughter.

This guy was truly hopeless. No matter how many times they played this game, Mao Tuan still couldn't figure out how to untie the black cloth, despite it being loosely tied by Xiao Hua.

On the side, Xiao Hua excitedly darted around, howling with laughter, clearly teasing Mao Tuan.

Da Bai stood by, watching disdainfully with its aloof demeanor. It didn't hide its contempt as it observed Xiao Hua's antics. It had no intention of mating with such a foolish creature!

Xiao Hua was oblivious to Da Bai's thoughts. Ignoring its lack of interest in playing, Xiao Hua continued to pounce on it, nibbling ears and tugging tails with all its might, persistently "harassing" Da Bai.

Initially, Da Bai could ignore it. But after repeated attempts, especially when its sleek fur was left disheveled and unkempt, Da Bai couldn't take it anymore. It chased after Xiao Hua, ruthlessly roughhousing until Xiao Hua transformed from a majestic silver wolf into a disheveled "mud dog." Only then did it cease its one-sided "torture"!

Xiao Hua, however, was thoroughly satisfied. Covered in dirt, it circled around Da Bai, continually wagging its tail and emitting a pleading whimper. Despite being swatted away repeatedly by Da Bai's unceremonious paw, Xiao Hua showed no signs of stopping.

This creature not only loved mischief but was also a glutton for punishment!

Mo Yan's laughter didn't cease. Tears streamed down her face. The laughter of one person and three beasts echoed through the vast night, traveling far and wide...

Over the next few days, Mo Yan didn't venture outside, keeping a close watch on the affairs of the old Mo family. Little did she expect that the shamelessness of the old Mo family would once again reach new heights.

As Mo Yan anticipated, when the old Mo family mentioned driving out Wu Shi, it was merely a threat aimed at coercing her into surrendering the money and recipe she had earned over the past few months. They had no intention of actually writing a divorce decree.

After all, given the reputation and financial circumstances of the old Mo family, they didn't have spare silver to find a new bride for Mo Yongfu. Even if someone overlooked their reputation and the bride price, they would likely end up with a lazy, disreputable older girl or a widow with dependents—certainly not someone as capable as Wu Shi.

Seeing that Wu Shi refused to hand over the money despite their relentless pressure, Hong Shi and her daughter, along with Niu Shi, finally couldn't sit still. Taking advantage of the moment when Mo Wu Shi was at her stall, Niu Shi kicked open the dilapidated door and searched every inch of the house, not even sparing the mouse holes. Finally, in the crevice under the mattress, they unearthed four or five silver coins.

 ## Chapter 507: Kicking Up Trouble (Part 1)

Although Wu Shi couldn't take her four children with her when divorcing Mo Yongfu, it wouldn't be difficult for the four children if they were willing to break away from the old Mo family and establish themselves elsewhere.

However, there was a prerequisite for this "breakaway"—Tie Tou and his siblings must not carry the label of being unfilial and endure the villagers' scorn when leaving the old Mo family! 

While the old Mo family had long lost any reputation and was despised by everyone in the village, Mo Yongfu, Hong Shi, and Mo Yongxi were still the immediate elders of the four siblings. If they dared to abandon their grandparents and father, even if the villagers didn't side with the old Mo family, they would still privately criticize the siblings for their unfilial behavior. They would never be able to hold their heads up in the village, and worse, they would not be accepted by the villagers, who would fear their corrupting influence on the village's customs.

Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for the four siblings to marry well in the future. After all, respectable families wouldn't accept tainted individuals as sons-in-law or daughters-in-law.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

But what if the four siblings were pushed to the brink by the old Mo family and had to leave to seek a new path?

The more Mo Yan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She detailed her thoughts to Wu Shi and sought her opinion.

Wu Shi, on the verge of collapse, couldn't think of any other way. She grasped Mo Yan's hand like a drowning person clutching at a straw and exclaimed emotionally, "Yan, I'm willing, I'm willing! As long as I can be with the children, I'm willing to do anything!"

Mo Yan patted her hand reassuringly and reminded her, "Aunt, the most important thing right now is to obtain the divorce certificate. Don't tell Tie Tou and the others about what I just said. We don't want the old Mo family to catch wind of our plans and spoil everything."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Wu Shi nodded hastily. She had already informed the children of her decision when she arrived, and thankfully, they all stood by her side, crying and pleading to leave with her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known how to convince them.

After discussing for half a day and ensuring there were no loopholes in their plan, Wu Shi thanked Mo Yan repeatedly and left the Mo family home with hope in her heart.

Despite having a solution in sight, Mo Yan couldn't shake off her melancholy.

In this world, life was too harsh for women! Before marriage, if parents were loving, it was bearable. But if a girl was born into a family that favored sons over daughters, she would be treated like a commodity—beaten and scolded at will.

As girls grew up and reached marriageable age, their parents often valued the groom's wealth. In such cases, the chances of encountering a terrible husband were high.

They said marriage was a woman's second life. If she didn't "reborn" well, the rest of her life could be utterly ruined.

Such misfortunes, even in a past life of gender equality and freedom of marriage, occasionally occurred. In this era, they were even more prevalent. Just around her, there were already two examples. Compared to Li Xiu's fate, Wu Shi was much luckier.

Mo Yan sat in the courtyard, staring blankly at the starry sky, maintaining the same posture motionlessly. It wasn't until the dew moistened her forehead, forming a droplet that slid down to her nose, cooling her with its tiny chill, that she was jolted awake.

She smiled bitterly, rubbed her slightly numb and stiff legs, and slowly stood up. Turning back towards the house, she noticed under the moonlight three beasts sitting in a row at the doorstep, their six eyes fixed on her without blinking.

It turned out that the three beasts, sensing Mo Yan's distress, had understood and didn't demand to enter the space, choosing instead to sit quietly behind her, silently keeping her company.

Mo Yan's eyes grew warm. She rushed forward, opened her arms, and awkwardly hugged the necks of the three beasts, rubbing their big heads over and over.

 Chapter 506: The Way to Divorce (Part 4)

Thinking of this, Mo Yan stopped hesitating and directly asked, "Aunt, it's not difficult to get a divorce document. But what about Tie Tou, Dani, and the other two? What do you plan to do?"

Upon hearing this question, the faint smile on Wu shi's face faded, and her eyes filled with tears again. "I want to take them with me. The five of us can support ourselves... but the Mo family won't agree. After all, they are blood relatives of the Mo family. No matter what, they won't go too far..."

In the end, Wu shi wasn't even sure herself. She looked at Mo Yan hopefully, as if seeking confirmation. "Yan girl, the Mo family... the Mo family won't mistreat them, right?"

Seeing Wu shi like this, Mo Yan felt a pang of sorrow but had to shatter her illusions by cruelly presenting the possible outcomes.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Wu shi's face turned pale, filled with despair and struggle.

On one side was the desire for freedom, and on the other, the beloved children. Such a choice was too painful and difficult for a mother!

Mo Yan silently watched Wu shi, seeing tears slip through her fingers and disappear into her clothes, unable to utter a word of comfort.

In this era of male dominance and significant gender inequality, women endured too much unfairness. If she were in Wu shi's position and there was no perfect solution, she wouldn't know what to do either.

Unconsciously, she thought of Xiao Ruiyuan! He was noble, promising, handsome, and rarely matched in temperament. Men who could rival him were extremely rare...

Despite his sincere confession and his non-philandering nature, human hearts are fickle. Given his status, who knows if he would one day force her into such a dilemma...

Mo Yan looked into the void, lost in thought. The mere possibility made her heart ache as if cut by a knife! She unconsciously clutched her chest and smiled wryly. It turned out she already cared so much about that person!

"Aunt, no divorce... I won't divorce, sob..."

Mo Yan was startled by Wu shi's desperate sobbing. She shook her head, quickly dismissing her distractions, and began persuading Mo Wu, who had made up her mind. "Aunt, don't rush. We still have time. We can find a solution. You can't give up like this!"

Wu shi shook her head in pain, "No way... There's no way. Their hearts are black. They won't let me go, and they won't let my children go either..."

Seeing Wu shi like this, Mo Yan became increasingly anxious. When a person is pushed to the brink, they easily make mistakes. Forcing Wu shi to make a decision now would only fuel her resentment, which could be vented on herself or the Mo family. Neither outcome was what Mo Yan wanted to see.

"Aunt, there will be a way. Please stay strong. We will find a solution together!"

At this moment, Wu shi couldn't listen to any comfort. She cried numbly, like a soulless puppet.

Mo Yan forced herself to calm down and tried to think of a perfect solution. Divorce for Wu shi was not difficult, but taking four children was almost impossible unless the Mo family voluntarily gave up and expelled them. However, they might still want to recoup their "losses" through the children. How could they let them go?

However, the Mo family's pressure on Wu shi was for money. If Mo Wu was willing to give them money in exchange for them severing ties with the children, it might be possible.

But given the Mo family's greed, they would demand an exorbitant amount. Wu shi might end up in debt before the divorce, which would be too advantageous for the Mo family.

This idea was set aside for now, to be used only as a last resort.

After discarding one idea after another, Mo Yan frowned in deep thought for a long time. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she thought of a perfect solution...

 ## Chapter 505: The Way to Divorce (Part 3)

In the past, even though that man was foolish and overly filial, he still cared about her and the children. Despite the hardships and struggles, she was willing to endure it all for the sake of their children and their little family. But now, all he cared about were his suffering parents and his sister who couldn't find a husband. Where was the place for her and their five children in his heart?

If his parents and younger sister treated her and the children like family, she would willingly use the money to build a house and live happily together. But they didn't!

After so many years in the old Mo family, she was exhausted. Now that things had come to this point, he even mentioned divorce—what was there left for her to hold on to?

She had hands, feet, and a successful food stall business. Once she left the old Mo family, she would only live a better life than before!

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Wu Shi's determination surprised Mo Yan greatly. Seeing that this decision wasn't made in anger, she couldn't help but feel happy for her. "Aunt, now that you've made up your mind, that's great! As I said before, if you encounter any difficulties and need my help, I won't hesitate. Even if you divorce and are no longer a daughter-in-law of the old Mo family, I will still treat you as my own aunt!"

Mo Wu Shi's tears flowed even more violently. She tightly held Mo Yan's hand, too moved to speak.

After wiping away her tears and calming down, Mo Wu Shi expressed her concern, "Yan girl, even if the old Mo family agrees to let me go, they probably won't give me a formal divorce letter. I haven't committed any major wrongdoings, and I don't want a divorce letter stained with accusations. Can you help me think of a solution?"

Mo Yan suddenly recalled a legal book on the laws of the Da Chu that she had read before and said, "Aunt, since you haven't committed any major wrongdoings and it was the old Mo family who first mentioned divorce, they are in the wrong. You can ask the clan leader to arbitrate. If the clan leader favors the old Mo family, then go to the village chief. Considering the reputation of the old Mo family in the village, the villagers will likely support you. If all else fails, you can spend some money to ask the authorities to intervene. The old Mo family wouldn't dare to oppose the authorities!"

In the Da Chu, although women were economically dependent on men and had lower status, the legal system was not particularly harsh on them.

If a woman was determined to sever ties with her husband's family and hadn't committed any major wrongdoings, she could request a divorce. If the husband's family disagreed, she could spend money to request the authorities to enforce a divorce.

After a woman divorced, she could take her dowry with her. However, any children she bore belonged to the husband's family, and she had no right to visit them.

If Wu Shi divorced Mo Yongfu, Tie Tou, Da Ni, San Ni'er, and Shi Tou would inevitably remain in the old Mo family. Despite having their mother's protection before, their lives weren't easy. Once Wu Shi left, they would likely face even more hardships. Moreover, Tie Tou and Da Ni's marriages might become tools for the old Mo family to profit from. Not to mention the younger two—perhaps one day, Hong Shi might sell them to provide dowries for Mo Yongxi.

The people of the old Mo family were insatiable, and with such an incompetent and overly filial father, such things were entirely possible. Seeing Wu Shi's joyful expression, Mo Yan hesitated, unsure if she should say something.

Wu Shi, however, sensed her hesitation and had a bad premonition. She asked cautiously, "Yan girl, is there something you want to tell me?"

Mo Yan's expression stiffened. After thinking it over, she decided it would be best to lay out all the issues and find solutions together. Otherwise, even if the divorce succeeded, seeing her children suffer, Aunt, as a mother, would not be happy.

 Chapter 504: The Way to Divorce (Part 2)

No one knows a son better than his mother. Hong Shi had already sensed that her eldest son was no longer as obedient as before. This time, she cleverly did not directly ask Mo Yongfu to demand money or recipes from Wu Shi. Instead, she transformed into a caring mother, rare in her show of concern for him. Not only did she speak to him kindly, but she also mended some old, unwearable clothes, staying up several nights to sew new shoes for him.

Although Mo Yongfu harbored dissatisfaction towards Hong Shi, he still yearned for his mother's attention and approval. So, when Hong Shi showed him a bit of care, his attitude towards her reverted to how it used to be, becoming even more obedient and filial.

One overcast afternoon, Hong Shi, holding the newly made shoes and tearfully recounting the family's hardships while holding Mo Yongfu's hand, prompted him to voluntarily offer money to build a house for his parents and to prepare a decent dowry for his sister, so she could marry into a good family.

Just like that, a pair of shoes, a few tears, and a few words of concern were enough to make him forget the grievances his wife and children had suffered, and the fact that his youngest daughter had been sold by his mother!

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

"Yan girl, I'm filled with hatred! I really hate him! Twenty years of marriage, I bore him children and endured so much suffering, and now he uses the threat of divorce to force me to hand over the hard-earned money to build a house for his parents and prepare a dowry for his sister! Why? Why should I?" 

The more Wu Shi spoke, the more upset and agitated she became, teetering on the brink of an emotional explosion. Her final question was almost a shout.

Hearing this, Mo Yan slammed her hand on the table in anger, causing a loud bang. Several teacups jumped but fortunately did not fall!

There were men who treated their wives like this—so despicable!

Mo Yan struggled to suppress her urge to curse out loud. With a stern face, she said to the tearful Mo Wu Shi, "Aunt, as your niece, I shouldn't meddle in this, but since you've confided in me, it shows you don't see me as an outsider. I won't try to dissuade you. If you've decided to divorce, I will stand by you. If you need any help, I will not hesitate."

She would not play the mediator and persuade her aunt to abandon the idea of divorce. The old Mo family was a bottomless pit; if her aunt and cousin didn’t escape, no matter how much money they earned, they would never have a good life!

Previously, she only thought Mo Yongfu was a bit dull and overly filial but still good to his wife and children. He wasn’t like many men who were lazy, of bad character, or prone to taking their frustrations out on their families. 

But now, to please his parents and sister, he aimed his schemes at his wife! It was fine to honor his parents and love his sister, but he should earn the money himself! Instead, he was coercing his wife—how despicable!

Such a foolish and overly filial husband should be discarded quickly, lest he drive them to despair!

However, given her aunt’s nature, this idea of divorce was likely born out of extreme anger. Once her emotions stabilized, she might not go through with it, not for the sake of the marital bond, but for the children’s sake. She might not make up her mind anytime soon.

However, this time, she underestimated Wu Shi’s resolve!

Wu Shi was deeply moved by Mo Yan’s words. With teary eyes, she firmly grasped Mo Yan’s hand, her face showing unprecedented determination. "Yan girl, I really don't want to live with him anymore! Ever since coming to Liuyang Village, the old Mo family has caused so much trouble. I'm tired of it. Since opening the food stall in the city, I've realized that my past thirty years were wasted! I've spent nearly twenty years managing the old Mo family, and I haven't lived a day for myself. This time, I want to live for myself!"

  ## Chapter 503: The Way to Divorce (Part 1)

Mo Wu Shi's words struck Mo Yan like a thunderclap, leaving her stunned for a while before she could react. She quickly helped Wu Shi to sit down and anxiously asked, "Aunt, what happened? How did you come up with the idea of divorcing?"

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Mo Yan's surprise was understandable. Wu Shi had endured so much hardship in the past at the old Mo family's household without ever mentioning divorce from Mo Yongfu. Now, when their lives were gradually improving with the small food stall business, she suddenly wanted a divorce. Despite Wu Shi's soft nature, even though she had toughened up a bit after being forced to almost jump into the river last year, she was still a gentle woman. Something must have happened, something serious, to push her to this point. 

It had to be something that involved the old Mo family, and perhaps even Mo Yongfu himself, to have hurt her so deeply that she would want a divorce.

This question touched upon Wu Shi's sore spot, causing her to burst into tears again. After Mo Yan comforted her for a while, she finally stopped crying and choked out, "I can't stay with the old Mo family anymore. I don't want to stay. They're all forcing me... forcing me... After all these years, the feelings between husband and wife are gone... I want to divorce Mo Yongfu... divorce... get far away from that big pit of the old Mo family..."

When Mo Yan heard Wu Shi referring to herself as "I" instead of the usual "aunt" in her presence, she knew the situation was serious, and that the talk of divorce was not just casual.

Suppressing her own anxiety, Mo Yan patiently comforted Wu Shi. Once she had calmed down, Mo Yan carefully inquired about the details and finally understood the whole story.

It turned out that after Hong Shi and Niu Shi made a scene at the food stall last time without gaining any benefits and left in a huff, they developed a deep hatred for the "disobedient" Wu Shi. After returning home, the two of them, along with Mo Yongxi, concluded that Wu Shi must be holding onto a lot of money and began scheming to extract it from her.

Wu Shi had long seen through their true colors and was very cautious. Besides Da Ni who knew the real situation and that she had a share in the food stall, she told no one else and repeatedly warned Da Ni to be careful not to let any of them pry out any information.

Da Ni, inheriting Wu Shi's gentle nature, was very clear-minded and naturally wouldn't reveal anything about the food stall. Even when her father, Mo Yongfu, asked a few times inadvertently, she firmly insisted that the food stall belonged to her cousin, and she and her mother were just helping out for wages.

After months of trying every trick in the book—both hard and soft—the trio still couldn't pry open the mouths of Wu Shi and Da Ni. Aside from cursing and giving them dirty looks, they had no choice but to watch helplessly as the mother and daughter went out early and came back late, earning money, while their hearts itched like a hundred cats were scratching them.

The greedy trio wouldn't give up easily. If it weren't for the old Mo family's ruined reputation in the village and the village chief's warning that any more trouble would get the old Mo family expelled from Liuyang Village, they would have long since grabbed Wu Shi and her daughter to force them to hand over the money and the food recipes.

Unable to deal with Wu Shi and her daughter, they shifted their focus to Mo Yongfu.

Mo Yongfu was honest and dull, without any means to make his parents and siblings live well. From childhood to adulthood, he was always the one who worked the most and received the least among the four siblings.

He understood some things in his heart and knew his parents were biased, causing his wife and children to suffer many grievances. Yet he sided with his parents more, pretending not to see anything. Only after Si Ni was sold and subsequent events occurred did he start feeling dissatisfied with his parents and gradually stopped listening to them as much as before.

  ## Chapter 502: Hatred (Part 3)

With these thoughts, the remaining bit of Xiao Xiongweng's rationality vanished completely.

Wei Shi glanced up at Xiao Xiongweng's face, which fluctuated between emotions, and a glint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Seizing the moment, she continued to incite him, "Marquis, do you know that Qing'er allied with Prince Heng not for himself, but for you and the entire Marquis household? You know the Crown Prince's condition... if anything happens to him..."

At this point, Wei Shi abruptly stopped, quickly covering her mouth as if realizing she had said something taboo, her eyes wide with fear.

Xiao Xiongweng fully understood the implications of her unfinished sentence, and he was deeply shaken.

Indeed, the Crown Prince's health had long been in ruins, and with the capable Prince Heng favored by the Emperor, how could the Crown Prince ascend to the throne? Now, that unfilial son had become a thorn in the sides of those princes and kings, and once the Crown Prince fell, the entire Marquis household would suffer alongside that unfilial son!

No, he had to find a way to prevent that unfilial son from dragging the Marquis household down and destroying their century-old foundation!

"Rou'er, you're right. Qing'er siding with Prince Heng is for the benefit of our Marquis household. He did nothing wrong. The one at fault is that unfilial son who wants to destroy our entire family! Don't worry, even if Qing'er is sent away this time, I'll find a way to bring him back. In the future, the Marquis household will definitely be handed over to Qing'er!"

With this thought, Xiao Xiongweng tightly embraced Wei Shi, comforting her while cursing Xiao Ruiyuan with hatred.

"Marquis, I knew it, I knew you were the most capable and loved Qing'er and me the most!" Wei Shi flattered him softly, clinging to Xiao Xiongweng like a delicate vine.

Xiao Xiongweng was very pleased by Wei Shi's words and behavior. With her deliberate hints, he finally came up with a "brilliant" idea.

...

Unaware of the events unfolding at the Weiyuan Marquis household, Mo Yan was busy digging a hole in her space, preparing to plant the ginseng Xiao Ruiyuan had sent back by the spiritual spring, allowing it to continue growing.

She learned that the ginseng was already 950 years old. Although it was a pity it wasn't a millennium ginseng, which couldn't be used immediately to make medicine to detoxify the Crown Prince, she was still excited. She carefully placed the ginseng in the hole, buried it, and watered it. She then watered another high-aged ginseng before feeling satisfied.

With the space acting as a "time accelerator," these two ginsengs would grow into millennium ginsengs in just three to four months. With the nourishment of spiritual energy, their efficacy would surely surpass that of wild millennium ginseng.

Leaving the space, Mo Yan took the three beasts to the orchard.

After being well-fed and cared for for half a month, the five growing puppies ran towards Mo Yan, wagging their tails and rubbing against her legs, making happy sounds, despite the watchful eyes of the furball.

These little ones had been given diluted spiritual spring water. Although they hadn't developed intelligence, they were much smarter than ordinary puppies. With their naturally keen sense of smell, Mo Yan's strong spiritual aura made them instinctively close to her.

Mo Yan squatted down, smiling as she patted their round bodies. She took out five tea eggs from her space and fed them one by one. After playing with them for a while, she began to check the growth of the fruits, secretly watering the fruit trees with spiritual spring water.

Currently, each fruit tree had two to four fruits. As long as there were no serious pests or diseases, these fruits would grow and ripen. Although the quantity was not large, the total number of fruits in the orchard was considerable. Moreover, Da Chu lacked these rare fruits. When the time came for Yan Junyu to sell them at high prices, even if she only got half the profit, it would still be a substantial amount of silver.

The chickens raised in the orchard were also growing well, not only eating but also laying eggs frequently. The weeds and insects in the orchard became their food, and feeding them rice bran mixed with vegetable leaves in the mornings and evenings didn't cost much.

As for the medicinal field on the other mountain, since she hadn't found suitable caretakers, Mo Yan had to spend several hours there. Fortunately, the herbs in the field were grown from seeds from the space, requiring only watering, weeding, and pest prevention, without worrying about diseases.

After watering the medicinal field with diluted spiritual spring water, Mo Yan returned home, already late in the evening.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Not long after dinner, Wu Shi came over in the dark. Her face looked terrible, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

Wu Shi tightly grasped Mo Yan's hand, tears streaming down her face before she could speak, "Yan girl, I want to divorce Mo Yongfu!"

  ## Chapter 501: Hatred (Part 2)

As soon as Xiao Ruiyuan stepped into the Marquis's residence, Wei Shi received the news. It was she who had instigated Xiao Ruiqing to secretly attempt to assassinate Xiao Ruiyuan. When she heard that Xiao Ruiyuan was poisoned and wouldn't survive, she felt heaven was finally on their side. She cursed Xiao Ruiyuan countless times in her heart, wishing for his swift death.

However, a series of unexpected events followed. She learned that not only did Xiao Ruiyuan not die, but he was also cured. This left her in constant fear, dreading the day Xiao Ruiyuan would discover their deeds and seek revenge.

When Xiao Ruiyuan returned in such an imposing manner, Wei Shi instinctively knew it was bad news. She had someone keep an eye on the study. Upon learning that her only son was to be banished from the capital to guard the ancestral tomb for life, she couldn't sit still any longer!

Hurrying over, Wei Shi's hair was slightly disheveled, her golden hairpin swaying haphazardly, and her face streaked with tears, making her look quite pathetic. Yet, she was born beautiful and appeared delicate. Despite being thirty-eight, she looked very young.

A frail and beautiful woman easily arouses a man's protective instinct. Sure enough, seeing Wei Shi in such a state, Xiao Xiongweng's anger vanished. Ignoring the presence of others, he embraced Wei Shi and comforted her gently.

Xiao Ruiyuan had long known someone was eavesdropping outside and that person would inform Wei Shi. But when Wei Shi entered, his already cold face seemed to freeze over, and the hatred in his eyes surged violently.

Seeing the two of them clinging to each other, he felt intensely disgusted and didn't want to look at them any longer. He walked out of the study, stopping outside the door to sternly instruct the waiting guards, "Escort Xiao Ruiqing out of the city before dark. If you fail, you will face punishment from Shiyi."

"Yes! Understood!" The guards responded in unison, their expressions serious.

The maids and servants who had followed Wei Shi were startled. Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan's fearsome demeanor, they were terrified, their faces pale, trembling as if they wished to shrink into the walls and never come out.

Xiao Ruiyuan glanced back at the study. Hearing no sound inside and then two hurried footsteps, a cold smile appeared on his lips. Without waiting for the obstructive pair to come out, he left with the guards.

Wei Shi hurriedly came out of the room, but all she saw was a fluttering corner of a robe as it disappeared around the corner. She felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she almost collapsed. Xiao Xiongweng, who had followed her out, caught her just in time.

Leaning weakly against Xiao Xion, tears streaming down her face, Wei Shi sobbed, "Marquis, Marquis, it's all my fault, not Qing'er's! If I hadn't admired you back then, hadn't acted on impulse and had Qing'er, my sister wouldn't have fallen ill and died early. The heir wouldn't have resented Qing'er and ruined his future. It's all my fault, my fault! I'm willing to guard the ancestral tomb in Qing'er's place. Please ask the heir to send me back to the ancestral home instead. Qing'er is innocent, boohoo!"

Although Wei Shi was blaming herself, Xiao Xiongweng heard it differently.

....This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at eternalnovelhits.com....

Beg? A father begging his eldest son to spare his younger son? There's no such thing as a father begging his son! Hmph, that unfilial son hates Rou'er (Wei Shi's name), hates Qing'er, and must hate him too.

Now, that unfilial son is punishing Qing'er. Who knows if he won't punish him next? No, he can't let this unfilial son drive away Qing'er. He must stop him!