Chapter 43: Thunderclap on Level Ground

Don't worry!

Du Shanü handed over the two sets of ready-made clothes she had bought from the tailor shop to the other party:

Don't force yourself.

"It's nothing more than: if you learn well, I'll let you handle more accounts later; if you don't learn well, then you'll handle fewer accounts later!"

"I've said before, I won't shortchange you...... This is the winter clothing for you and your son; keep it safe, and wear it when it gets colder later."

Ouyang Yan had a stack of books in his hands, and then two sets of clothes were stuffed into his arms, making his chest immediately bulge.

He still had something to say, but when the words reached his lips, he ended up tightening his grip on everything in his arms.

As Du Shanü said, some people repeatedly nag that they are not capable; essentially, they just want to lower others' expectations so they won't have to bear responsibility and be blamed.

But, if the other party truly has expectations of him, then everything is completely different.

Du Shanü vaguely could see the other's thoughts, and with a casual wave:

"Go on, from now on don't sway in front of me when you have nothing to do..."

"You handle the accounts, Yu Baobao handles disbursements; the two of you, one doing the bookkeeping and the other approving, is just right—no one can be idle."

Ouyang Yan came in a dazed, tea‑fogged manner, walked in a muddled way, vaguely felt something was off, but couldn't put his finger on it.

Du Shanü hummed a song while sorting out the bought items bit by bit; the metalware was naturally Leitie's, and as for the medicinal herbs, they were one share each for Yu Baobao, Chinu, A Chou, and Leitie—must not mix them up...

Although there is no Chen Weifang, and I also don't know how to obtain the county office and the world.

But, there are always many things to do under heaven.

Worldly affairs always treat leniently those who take them seriously.

Du Shanü busied herself bit by bit, and the last bit of gloom in her heart also dissipated...

Then, she was embraced at the trouser leg by A Chou, who came rushing out of the house in tears, rolling and crawling.

A Chou had earlier been seized and beaten inside the house; now he cried piteously, opening his mouth with the same shout as Yu Baobao:

"Wife Master! Wife Master!"

"Chinu hit me! You can't just ignore it!"

Du Shanü was startled, but not because A Chou got beaten, but rather...

"Otherwise who would take care of it? Me!"

Du Shanü pointed at her own nose tip, her expression twisting for a moment——

"With Chinu's temper, how could I possibly manage Chinu!"

"Once Chinu comes out, maybe they'll beat her together!"

A Chou didn't care about those details; he only knew he had been wronged, and the master hadn't come out of the mill, so he had no choice but to seek help from the master's Wife Master:

"Wuuu—let's go kneel and beg Chinu; Chinu will surely forgive me!"

Du Shanü wanted to speak but stopped:

"Do I have to kneel too?"

A Chou nodded heavily:

"Yes! We'll kneel together, that shows sincerity! If Chinu doesn't forgive me, we'll knock our heads until we die in front of Chinu—!"

Du Shanü stopped speaking, then wanted to speak again:

"Do I have to die too?"

"Is this right?"

"Is this really right?!"

"Clearly this isn't right, is it?!"

Du Shanü's pupils contracted violently; she was about to refuse.

However, in just a few breaths, a gaunt figure had already appeared inside her home's newly made, upright, lacquer‑red gate...

Du Shanü didn't even think, and with a plop she knelt down.

A Chou shivered tremblingly:

"Ch-Ch-Chinu......."

The person inside the door gave a cold snort, without speaking.

On the other side, a person came feeling his way, eyes open but obviously dazed; Yu Baobao clung to the money box with one hand while probing the solid earth wall with the other.

His gaze had clearly improved, but he still couldn't see far; his vision extended only about the space in front of him.

He approached silently, saw A Chou and Du Shanü kneeling on the ground, first startled, then as if recalling something amusing.

He took a few steps forward, stood before the two, holding the money box and raising his hand:

"Ura!"

This posture, this movement, simply made Du Shanü hallucinate the classic image from her past life of holding up a little lion.

Therefore she didn't even think, directly raised her hand and bowed her head:

"Ura——!"

And A Chou, as if he had played this game with Yu Baobao before, immediately also raised his hand and bowed:

"Ura!!!"

The commotion of the three people not only attracted the Ouyang father and son trying on clothes inside the house, but also drew Leitie from the blacksmith shed beside the house.

Several people poked their heads out to look——

Instantly, everyone froze in place.

"What, what, what is this?!!!"

"These three people are more than just destined to be a family; they're practically fellow sufferers sympathizing with each other's ailments!!!"

The cold smile on Chinu's face faded, as if fearing to get involved with those people, he retreated back into the house...

She even casually closed the door halfway.

Du Shanü saw all this and burst out laughing, unable to straighten her back.

Yu Baobao was delighted too, bending over to reach out and help the two.

This wasn't the first time Du Shanü had gotten a clear look at Yu Hen's brows and eyes.

But it was Yu Hen who, for the first time, saw Du Shanü's brows and eyes clearly—

The girl was beautifully pure, her features delicate, like a few casual ink strokes in a painting.

Her brows and eyes curved like a crescent moon, her pupils deep as autumn water, faintly revealing a composed quality, yet elusive.

Her mouth corners naturally turned up slightly, as if always holding a faint smile.

The afterglow slanted across her, lighting half her face while the other half lay in shadow; her eyelashes cast a small shade on her cheekbones, trembling slightly, like the occasional flutter of a butterfly's wings when it rests.

Yu Hen drew nearer and nearer, unable to restrain himself, he pinched his collar and called out:

"Mother......"

A Chou: "?!"

Du Shanü: "?!"

We're doomed.

This time we're completely doomed!

How did we fix Yu Baobao's eyes, but her mind seems to have gone bad again?

No, no!

She doesn't have that kind of hobby!!!

If I'd known, I wouldn't have let that donkey cart leave; I'd have hired someone to take them to town to see Doctor Hei Lao Daifu!

Du Shanü's mind raced with a thousand thoughts; fortunately, Yu Hen was clearly not a true simpleton.

After he hesitantly called out 'Mother,' the words that followed were:

"...... Little Ai is doing well! Little Ai found a handsome Wife Master! From now on we'll live a good life!"

Du Shanü couldn't hold back and burst out laughing with a 'puchi' sound.

She sprang up, hooked her finger around Yu Baobao's, just like an ordinary countryside couple caring for each other, and casually chatted about today's affairs:

"Good baby, were there many people at the mill today?"

"Your eyes aren't fully healed yet; if you feel unwell, rest early. Other matters are covered by A Chou and Ouyang Lvcha......"

A Chou, still kneeling on the ground: "......"

Ouyang Yan, who was eavesdropping at the window, was forced to gain another name: "......"

Please!

Please, when you're being all lovey-dovey, also spare a thought for others' lives!

The two clung, shoving each other, advancing toward the courtyard gate like crabs.

The courtyard was much larger than before, the packed earth floor level and smooth, still exuding a damp, earthy smell.

In view was a small compound with frames already erected, three rooms in layout: the central hall widest, the two side rooms slightly narrower.

The room on the right was a side chamber, its walls only half-built, wooden beams leaning against it, the floor piled with wood shavings and sawdust.

The hall's walls were already finished, the brick gaps filled solidly, the newly installed wooden door on the frame half-open, revealing a square wooden table inside.

On the table sat coarse porcelain bowls, steam rising from them, the vapor infusing the air, giving this half-finished new home a touch of hearth warmth.

Du Shanü took the seat of honor, picked up her chopsticks, ate a few bites of plain congee and side dishes; only then did the others return to sit, holding their coarse bowls to drink congee and eat vegetables.

Ouyang An puffed out his small chest and asked loudly:

"Sister, everyone's busy today, this meal is my cooking~"

"Is it tasty? If it is, I'll make it for you every day, little An! ~(′? `?)"

Du Shanü smiled, took another sip, and answered off-topic:

"Everyone......"

"I want the world."

?? Shasha: really wants to be emperor but can't get the law. jpg