Chapter 110: She Too Is a Hard‑Luck Person

She thinks those are raised by the girl, they look so delicate, only eggs may be eaten, not a single chicken may be slaughtered, and to eat chicken you have to buy it outside, but elder sister‑in‑law clearly snatched a few.

"Father and mother, there are no outsiders here, so I'll speak honestly with you."

"What's the matter, is there still something inside?"

"This house belongs to Qiao Niang, not me."

"What, not yours?"

"Right,"

Lu Guoshi, standing aside, pursed his lips, "Is this because you're afraid we'll ask you for things when we leave?"

"If you don't believe it, just have elder sister‑in‑law ask the town mayor."

"What exactly is going on?"

Every day the peasants who come to his shop to sell vegetables line up, Qiao Mai, together with the old woman, washes cabbage at home daily and then drains the water.

There was no one else in the house, Xin'er said apologetically.

"Hehe, how old are you now, still acting like you're from your natal family."

Alright, don't go empty‑handed; even if the gentleman looks down on your goods, a modest gift carries deep sentiment, and the gift must not be discarded.

Because she still has many tasks, this season she must stock up a lot of goods for winter.

"Don't worry, the Qiao Family has me covering them."

One portion is for pickling sour cabbage, another for spicy cabbage, another for fragrant spicy dried radish, and another for a mixed stew kimchi.

The three of them all assured Lu Sanniang, but Lu Guoshi just gave a cold hum.

"Hold on, they are the Main Family, we are a branch; as long as they don't fall, we can thrive like fish in water."

"Indeed, never mind that, look how she has arranged the house so nicely, the courtyard full of flowers and plants, everywhere spotless; wherever your eyes can see there is no clutter, not to mention how comfortable it feels."

"Yes, mother‑in‑law!"

"Mother, I've told Yinshi about the matters of the master and our family."

Each jar has a matching sealed lid; Niu Shopkeeper wrote at the shop entrance that he buys cabbage, radish, etc.; as long as the goods are good, price is no issue.

"She too is a hard‑luck person."

"Hmph, however good she is, you are also an Enemy; without you, could she have achieved this?"

She especially likes Wu Zhui and Sai Xue, always goes out to buy meat, and in her Xiaochufang stews a pot for them.

"Lu Shopkeeper's natal family is good, but her elder sister‑in‑law is hard to get along with."

"I didn't expect she caught your eye; when you have time, keep reminding her. Don't think she has any skill; this forest is vast and has all kinds of birds. Speak or act wrongly and you'll easily attract jealousy. Even if we protect her, a visible spear is easy to dodge but a hidden arrow is hard to guard; still, be careful and steer the ten‑thousand‑year ship."

Wang Lao Yezi's wife glared at him and gave him a fist‑like tap; she wasn't afraid of him—back in the day she was a fierce woman.

In the Keting, Lu Shopkeeper held Xin'er's hand, Feng Yinshi sat at the lower seat, slightly bowing his head, looking respectful.

"Don't worry, I will; if you can't, there's still this old lady of mine, my natal family isn't one to be taken lightly."

"It is like this."

"Hmm, don't be fooled by her kind appearance; her eyes are cold, exuding a fierce resolve, at a glance she's not someone to befriend."

She ordered many large jars from the craftsman, placed them along the wall, one after another, and they look quite nice.

"No, no, you made it clear; how could we possibly be so indifferent to right and wrong?"

After the outside matters are done, she'll have time to tidy the space properly and make another plan.

"No problem, later the young son‑in‑law and Xin'er will go pay a visit; if it works, fine; if not, don't force it."

The two dogs are spirited; knowing the old lady treats them well, they often stay by her side, and at any sign of movement they guard in front of her.

"Rest assured, we won't tell."

As for Feng Family's son‑in‑law returning home after three days, Qiao Mai handed it over to Lu Shopkeeper and no longer dealt with it.

Lu Sanniang looked at the son‑in‑law, "I can't agree to what the in‑laws said, because that's the grandfather of my sister's friend, not a proper gentleman; they accept students based on personal preference."

Wang Lao Yezi didn't regard the scholar at all, and Wang Lao Yezi's wife let out a cold hum.

He brought them many gifts, among which were numerous items from Qiao Mai's shop.

"What a fool!"

With a spirit stone, she can not only cultivate, but also purchase cultivation‑related items on the Platform.

Wang Lao Yezi lay comfortably on the kang, his old wife sat beside him, guarding the kang table while sipping hot water.

Although they didn't favor elder sister‑in‑law, when they left, Lu Sanniang still didn't let them go empty‑handed.

"County Town scholars roam everywhere, so what of the scholars?"

Only after aging does one begin to cultivate oneself; now she also enjoys planting flowers, tending grass, and upon arriving at the Qiao Family fell in love with feeding small animals.

"Speaking of it, Qiao Niang is truly wonderful; not only kind‑hearted but also good‑tempered. If you treat her well, she'll treat you ten or a hundred times better. During my stay at her house, I was truly comfortable, more so than at my own home. You know my temperament, I hardly get along with many."

"No problem, Lu Shopkeeper lives in the Qiao Family, not his own; his elder sister‑in‑law has parents‑in‑law and a husband, so he dares not act rashly."

"Is that apparent?"

"Anyway I don't favor them."

These are all return gifts Qiao Mai prepared in advance; today the guests attending the wedding banquet all left with something in hand.

Lu Sanniang briefly recounted Qiao Mai's matter, and the Lu family finally understood; emotionally, today the granddaughter's splendid marriage is thanks to Qiao Niang's blessing.

"Wang Laoyezi sister‑in‑law, don't speak so harshly; without me, perhaps someone else would have saved her. She has that skill; if I don't save her and someone else does, then the one who becomes prosperous is that other person, while I only benefit from her glow."

"Hmm, with the wealthy town mayor shielding them, they don't dare."

Even now she hasn't had time to grow vegetables; the thousands of mu of land are all planted with rare medicinal herbs. Once this batch is sold, she'll earn a lot of gold, which can be exchanged for spirit stones.

Seeing the couple step down from the carriage, their faces shy and sweet, you can tell they are deeply affectionate.

"Given your status, of course you don't look down on scholars, but here, in the eyes of the common folk, a scholar holds merit, and generally no one dares to provoke him."

Three days later, Ruxin returns home, and Lu Shopkeeper meets her at the door with Ruyi.

Hmph, don't think that just because my parents are gone that my brothers stop sending gifts every year; they keep a close eye on me, the older sister, unlike your Wang Family, who outwardly claim unity but secretly skim off things from the side.

Indeed, she doesn't have many demands; she treats us like family, lets you use the household items at will, never meddles, and if she does speak up, it's surely to make you something tasty.

The kimchi contains cabbage, radish, ginger, long beans, etc.; the latter few are just stock from her storage.

Lu Sanniang ignored her, "Father, mother, elder brother, you just need to know this; it's best not to tell anyone else—she doesn't want to be entangled by that blood‑sucking natal family and in‑laws."

Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl and the old woman carried many gifts and brought them straight back to the Yuanzi where Shopkeeper Lu lives.

"If you're not welcome, say less; just keep it in your heart."

"I heard her elder brother is even a scholar."

Especially the Lu family, whose gifts are the most numerous and heaviest.

After this planning is finished, a portion of the land will never be moved again.

"Yes, but she's kind‑hearted; even with money she doesn't forget her daughter. She took Ruxin and Ruyi as disciples, taught them Double‑sided Embroidery. My house is small, so she let us move in together, saying she wants Ruxin to leave here in a splendid marriage. Our whole family ate, drank, and lived for free at her house; even this wedding banquet is hers. Everyone is willing, so father and mother, don't bring up anything else in the future."

Watching the two walk hand in hand out of the Keting, Shopkeeper Lu sighed; their returning home was incidental—this is the real matter, and what's meant to happen can't be avoided.

She also wants a good son‑in‑law, but everyone says it's unsuitable; still she insists on trying, which is a bit unfair.

Qiao Mai was rolling up her sleeves to put cabbage into the jar; after hearing the old woman tell her about this, she merely raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm, understood, you go do your work."

(End of chapter)