Lu Shi entered the main hall with Liu Cuijin.
The mother and daughter had gone out to collect pigs, and Da Shui Village was their last stop. Hearing that the old Yun family had built a new house, they decided to come and take a look…
Gu Shi had a very bad impression of these mother and daughter.
It was they who had sold Xiao Bao to Chen Laohu back then.
Although Lu Shi later opened a steamed bun shop and could make a living and support herself, the Yun family still had no contact with them.
“I… I came to see Cuirong!” Lu Shi forced a smile.
Yun Erman put down his chopsticks. “I’ve divorced her. If you want to see her, go to the steamed bun shop!”
“What did you say?” Lu Shi’s eyes widened, and she stumbled forward. “How could she be divorced for no reason? Did she cause trouble again?”
“What for no reason? Don’t you know what Liu Cuirong is like?” Yun Erman stood up angrily. “All she does is slack off and cause trouble. She’s a complete troublemaker. Why keep her around for the New Year when we can kick her out sooner…”
Old Man Yun glanced at Lu Shi with a muffled expression, saying nothing.
Gu Shi also held her bowl, drinking porridge with little appetite.
She had nothing more to say to Lu Shi…
Liu Cuijin frowned, hands on her hips. “You must have bullied my sister. She’s given Erman two sons over the years, what more do you want?”
“Don’t you spout nonsense!” Yun Erman rushed over, waving his fist. “That Liu Cuirong lorded over our old Yun family, enjoying herself more than empresses in the palace. She could crack melon seeds all day. Which of your eyes saw us bullying her?”
“Hmph, so what if she gave birth to two sons? Look at Jinshan and Xiao Bao, neither of them is close to her. People would believe they were adopted children…”
“Erman!” Old Man Yun tapped the dining table with his pipe. “Sit down and eat!”
Lu Shi looked at Prefect Chen and Governor Qin. She didn’t know who these two were, but judging by their demeanor, she knew they were important.
She had known from the start that Liu Cuirong was not good, and now it was over. Kicked out by the old Yun family, and with a child in her belly, she wondered how she would manage from now on…
She didn’t do any work at the old Yun family’s house, and now she had to be served at the steamed bun shop in the county town. Lu Shi still had to take care of her.
How did this daughter become so difficult?
“Alright, since she’s been divorced, so be it!” Lu Shi tugged Liu Cuijin. “Let’s go back!”
There were still over three taels of silver hidden behind the stove at the steamed bun shop.
She was afraid Liu Cuirong would find it and squander it all…
After walking out of the Yun family’s gate, Liu Cuijin grabbed Lu Shi. “Mother, did you see that woman?”
“Who?” Lu Shi walked to the cart used for hauling goods and took a bunch of spinach from the basket, throwing it into a cage.
Several pigs grunted and crowded over, gobbling up the leaves in a few bites.
“Mother, the woman sitting next to Erman. She’s so pretty and kept serving Erman food. Tell me, did he remarry?” Liu Cuijin guessed.
Lu Shi heard this and shot her a sideways glance. “Whether he remarried or not, don’t get any ideas. We have no fate with the old Yun family…”
Liu Cuijin was still unmarried. She was thinking that once Jinhe grew a few more years older, she would marry Yun Jinhe.
If Jinhe didn’t want her, and Erman had just divorced his wife, she wouldn’t mind marrying Yun Erman.
The old Yun family’s life was getting better and better. As long as she could become a wife in their family, what would she lack in the future…
“Mother, will you find a matchmaker tomorrow?” Liu Cuijin smoothed her braided pigtails.
“No, what are you doing? How can you be so bold? Erman is your brother-in-law.” Lu Shi glared at her, picked up the whip, and sat on the cart shaft, flicking it a couple of times.
The cart slowly drove away, and Liu Cuijin followed, saying as she walked, “What brother-in-law? My sister has already been divorced by him, he will definitely remarry. Besides, I’m still a maiden, unmarried. Erman would surely be eager to marry me!”
Lu Shi: “……”
Neither of her daughters was worry-free.
She didn’t know what they were thinking all day. It didn’t matter if they were thick-skinned, but they had to have some self-awareness!
After breakfast, the old Yun family went about their respective tasks.
Prefect Chen had intended to return to the county town to work, but Madam Jin came to inform them that the young master would be hosting a banquet that evening to reward the two lords…
Prefect Chen’s eyes disappeared with joy, and Governor Qin was even more beaming.
The young prince was actually setting up a banquet to reward them. What immense honor and glory this was.
“Prefect Chen, accompany me to the next village!” Governor Qin had the carriage prepared and then strode out of the Yun family’s house.
Prefect Chen didn’t want to go. He had drunk too much last night and felt unwell…
As soon as he got into the carriage and it swayed, he would vomit up his breakfast.
“Your subordinate, your subordinate is unwell, so, so…”
“Get in!”
“Oh, alright!”
Prefect Chen scrambled onto the carriage and went on an informal visit with Governor Qin.
Old Man Yun went to the fields with his son. Yun Daman, after sending Jinshan and Jinhe, also went to the fields to help his father.
The villagers were all busy cutting cabbage and picking kohlrabi.
Cabbage could be pickled into sauerkraut or made into kimchi. Kohlrabi, mixed with scallions, carrots, and chili peppers, sprinkled with salt, and then pickled for a day and a night, could be eaten.
Served with sorghum rice or millet porridge, these small pickled vegetables were very appetizing…
“Fourth brother, you haven’t done farm work all these years, do you still know how to cut cabbage? Haha!” Yun Sanman asked with a smile.
Yun Siman sat on the ridge, cross-legged, rolling a pipe of dried tobacco. “Why wouldn’t I know how to do it? I worked for others when I was out, I’ve done all sorts of jobs!”
“Pfft!” He spat on the rolling paper, twisted it with his hand, and a dried tobacco cigarette was rolled. “Dad, I see there’s a lake in your village, there must be a lot of fish in it, right?”
“After we finish working, I’ll go to the lake and catch a few grass carp for you to go with your drinks…”
Yun Siman had worked by the sea back then and had rich fishing experience.
Catching a few fish was not a problem.
Old Man Yun looked back at him. “Siman, you’ve finally come home, why not stay a few more days? Haven’t you seen your mother? She misses you dearly. If you suddenly leave, your mother’s heart will ache…”
“That’s right, fourth brother, why don’t you stay!” Yun Sanman casually lifted a basket of cabbage onto the cart. “My shop’s employee is useless at everything. When I go back, I’ll get rid of him, and then you can come and help me manage the shop, how about it?”
Since childhood, he had always liked playing with his fourth brother.
This kid was good-looking, could always get food and drink wherever he went, and his mind was quick, so he never lost out in anything…
“No, third brother, I have to go back to the capital. I’ll come back to see you when I have time!” Yun Siman refused with a smile.
Just then, Xiao Xitian, along with three little girls and five puppies, came running over.