Xun Hui had essentially lost her ability to speak, she was truly frightened, mainly because she had heard about the sharing of wives in the mountains, and she couldn’t imagine whether she would be able to survive if she really went there.
Seeing Xun Hui’s terrified demeanor, Yang Ruxin smiled, "If you can remember and do as I’ve instructed, then I won’t be angry with you. In the future, I’ll let you lead a good life, ensure you’re taken care of in your old age, and your younger sisters-in-law will also be very close to you..."
"Rest assured," Xun Hui said with determination, "Mother will definitely do as you say."
"Let’s have dinner..." Yang Ruxin finally revealed a smile and pointed at the basket, "I made dry pot chicken."
Xun Hui breathed a sigh of relief as well.
In the following days, the family seemed to return to the calm of before, with Yang Ruxin taking Erni out to sell pancake fruit every day, and of course, Gu Qingheng was with them, while the shrimp paste at home was left to Xun Hui and Sanni to grind.
The village workshop also started up, including the mountain peak Yang Ruxin bought which needed to be cleared and houses to be built, and people were needed everywhere.
Usually at this time of the year, everyone would go out looking for short-term work, but this year it was not necessary, as they could work right at their doorsteps. Yang Ruxin paid high wages and even provided meals with chicken, duck, fish, and meat, so everyone worked even harder.
The entire village was bustling with exceptional liveliness, and even people from nearby villages would come to ask if any hands were needed. In response, Yang Ruxin hands-off approach, leaving everything to the village head, Yang Mancang, to handle. As long as the work was well done, she was not stingy with silver.
It was precisely because of her non-interference that everyone else became even more diligent and wasted less.
Back to the Yang Family old house.
After two days of peace, Yang Anshi had completely returned to her previous sharp-tongued and critical self, only now the target of her bitterness had become Dong Family’s mother and daughter.
"Mother, I want to separate from the family. I don’t want to stay here anymore," Daya cried to Yang Dongshi, "Grandmother will torment us to death..."
Yang Dongshi was also full of sorrow. With things having come this far, what could she do? Where could she go?
Seeing her mother’s helpless demeanor, Daya’s resoluteness grew even stronger, and suddenly an idea popped into her head. If she too became an orphan with no parents, wouldn’t her eldest cousin take her in? In the past few days, she had been sneaking off to the back of the village and saw Erya dressed in new clothes and new shoes, with a Pearl Flower in her hair. At that moment, Erya was sitting in the courtyard with Sini and Xiaobao, holding cake and eating. She wanted to eat, she wanted new clothes and new shoes too...
Once a person develops an obsession, they will not easily let go, just like Daya. A nearly six-year-old child in ancient times could not be considered a little child anymore, especially since Daya’s understanding was quite mature. She only thought of following Yang Ruxin, but after several failed plans, an obsession had formed in her mind.
But how could she become an orphan? That required her to think carefully.
Before long, the day for the civil service examination arrived.
Although Yang Baifu had been involved in such a serious incident, the magistrate Mr. Fang was very humane and also considered saving Yang Ruxin’s face. He did not disturb Yang Rusong, as studying was difficult, and after all, Yang Rusong seldom returned home and really didn’t know much about the family affairs.
While Feng Caie had initiated a divorce and returned to her parents’ home, it was not with complete resolve for the sake of her son, and although she was cold towards Yang Baichuan who came to find her, she did not make a scene. She just wanted to wait until her son finished the examination before making any decisions.