Seeing the state of the two, Shen Can felt something within her crumble.
She ran over and grabbed Shen Mu, "What about the jewelry in my bundle? Give me back my jewelry!"
Shen Mu and Shen Wang were indeed guilty and flustered when they saw her, but her questioning ignited their anger.
Shen Wang shoved her away, "What are you doing? I am your elder brother, she is your mother. Are you accusing us of stealing your things?"
Shen Can was pushed to the ground by him, her eyes filled with rage as she looked at them. "Then where did the things in your hands come from? Before I returned, you couldn't even afford a single coin. You used to dig wild vegetables on the mountain and ration them for two days. Where did you get the money to buy these things!"
Shen Wang's expression stiffened. He was too guilty to meet her eyes but still stubbornly retorted, "We usually just live frugally. Besides, you are married to Steward Li and enjoying a good life, can't you share some of your fortune with us!"
Shen Mu chimed in from the side, "Exactly, Can'er, your mother is doing this for your own good. After you got married all these years, you never cared about the family. Do you know what the villagers say about you?"
"Now that everyone sees me with so many nice things, as long as I tell them you bought them for me, everyone will know you are a filial child."
Listening to their shameless words, Shen Can felt as if all her strength had been drained from her body.
It's over... she had nothing left!
Everything she had endured and secretly saved over the years was gone.
The maidservant had been following her and naturally knew what had happened, so she couldn't help but frown.
She was arranged by the steward to follow this woman back and knew that the steward had asked her for thirty taels to buy her freedom.
In reality, Steward Li didn't care about this woman at all, and thirty taels was not even necessary.
The only reason she was willing to follow her to this impoverished place was that she had agreed to help the steward keep an eye on her and potentially gain some benefits from it.
But now it seemed her trip had been in vain!
Shen Can slumped to the ground, seemingly devoid of any hope.
Just then, she suddenly thought of Li Yue Shu.
No, she still had a chance!
As long as Li Yue Shu was willing to help her, she could escape the cage of Steward Li's mansion.
Shen Can seemed to have grasped the last straw, and hope reignited in her eyes.
If she went back like this, her end would be nothing short of death.
If that was the case, she would gamble one last time for herself!
And so, from that day on, two tails appeared behind Li Yue Shu.
Shen Can diligently followed Li Yue Shu, while the maidservant, fearing she would run away, kept a close watch on her.
Shen Can didn't mind being watched. She focused all her attention on Li Yue Shu, always being able to help her immediately after knowing what she intended to do.
Her hands and feet were indeed nimble, sometimes even handling minor details so neatly and orderly that Li Yue Shu couldn't find any reason to dismiss her.
She had spoken to Shen Can a few times, but since the latter still wanted her help to get money for her freedom, she simply stopped mentioning it.
She figured it was like having someone work for free, so she was actually gaining something.
Li Yue Shu didn't mind, but the maidservant couldn't stand it.
She had planned to return to Steward Li's mansion after realizing her trip was in vain, but Shen Can refused to leave.
Naturally, the maidservant couldn't go back alone. Seeing that she couldn't persuade Shen Can, she secretly sent a message back to Steward Li's mansion.
One day, Shen Can, who was busy helping out at the restaurant, was suddenly pulled aside by the maidservant. "Someone from Steward Li's mansion is here. They are waiting for you at the Shen family's house."
Shen Can's face changed. "Why would someone from Steward Li's mansion come here?"
She wasn't an important person; why would Steward Li's mansion specifically send someone all the way here?
The maidservant sneered, "Steward Li's mansion is a respectable family. What would outsiders think of our Li mansion if you ran away?"
"Besides, you were released by the steward. If you run away, it will be the steward who bears the responsibility."
Hearing this, Shen Can understood. The people from Steward Li's mansion were likely sent by the steward.
Shen Can wasn't foolish. She knew it must have been this maidservant who informed them, otherwise, people from Steward Li's mansion wouldn't have found her so quickly.
Shen Can didn't have time to say much to Li Yue Shu and hurriedly left with the maidservant.
Li Yue Shu was puzzled but didn't ask further.
She never intended to get too involved with Shen Can, and now that the woman was willingly leaving, it saved her a lot of trouble.
Li Yue Shu dealt with the matters at the restaurant and decided to go home early.
Today was Shen Wei's birthday. She had prepared the ingredients last night and planned to make him a birthday cake today.
Since she had started going to the restaurant every day, Shen Wei had mostly stayed at home and hadn't gone to the pharmacy, which had caused him to throw a few tantrums like a child.
Li Yue Shu had become experienced in raising children and quickly appeased him. This birthday, of course, couldn't be overlooked.
She would buy him a gift on her way back and create a surprise!
Li Yue Shu had already thought of what gift to give, so she went directly to a jade shop.
After all, it was just a small town. Even though Li Yue Shu meticulously selected it and pre-ordered it two months in advance, she only managed to get a hair crown of ordinary quality.
The style of the hair crown was designed by Li Yue Shu herself. Although the jade was of ordinary quality, the craftsmanship was excellent.
After paying the final balance, Li Yue Shu bought some small trinkets before driving her carriage home.
Passing by Old Man Liu's house, she also invited them to have dinner that evening, saying she was planning a birthday celebration for Shen Wei.
The couple naturally did not refuse, and Aunt Liu decided to personally cook a signature dish that evening.
Upon returning home, only Mother Mo and Wei Ling were there. Shen Tan and the others were still at the pharmacy.
Li Yue Shu took out the hair crown in advance and placed it by Shen Wei's pillow, intending to surprise him.
However, after searching everywhere, she couldn't find Shen Wei.
She had to ask Mother Mo, but Mother Mo was also clueless.
Shen Wei was restless and liked to wander around, so Mother Mo often didn't know where he had gone.
"I know where Uncle Shen went!" Wei Ling raised her small hand, saying excitedly.
Seeing Li Yue Shu looking at her, she quickly pointed towards the back of the mountain. "Uncle Shen often goes there. Ling'er has wanted to go with him several times, but Uncle Shen never agreed."
She said the last sentence with a hint of grievance.
Li Yue Shu was surprised. "Ling'er, do you know what Uncle Shen goes to the back of the mountain to do?"
Wei Ling shook her head. "Uncle Shen didn't say."
Li Yue Shu frowned. She told Wei Ling to stay at home and then went to the back of the mountain to look for him.
Meanwhile, Shen Wei was discussing the matter of Chongzhou with Chai Yang and Xing He.
Since they learned he was still alive, the people of Chongzhou, while outwardly obedient, were becoming increasingly active behind the scenes.
Chai Yang said worriedly, "Master, you must return soon. Many people are now investigating Tongmu County, and the young masters' identities will likely be exposed."
Shen Wei was well aware of the current situation, but he didn't mention returning. "I still have some matters to attend to here. Continue to stall in Chongzhou."
Hearing this, Chai Yang and Xing He exchanged glances, seeing the same meaning in each other's eyes.