Li Yue Shu wiped her dagger, not looking up. "What is it?"
Mo Lian replied, "I heard that when the Shen family's mother and daughter-in-law returned from town today, they brought back seven or eight beggar children, saying they looked pitiful and decided to adopt them."
Li Yue Shu's hand paused. "Adopt?"
Mo Lian nodded, frowning slightly. "I heard Yi Min talk about the Shen family before. They wouldn't do such a good deed. I fear their intentions are not simple."
Seeing his serious expression, Li Yue Shu couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you worried the Shen family will harm me?"
After all, everyone in the village knew she had adopted seven children. It wasn't strange for the Shen family to follow suit, and for Mo Lian to worry.
She put away her dagger and gently patted Mo Lian's head. "Don't worry. If they dare to cause trouble, I guarantee they will regret being born into this world."
As she spoke, a gentle smile graced her face, but her tone was somewhat cold, not at all like she was joking.
Mo Lian was slightly stunned. Looking at Li Yue Shu's smile, his worries inexplicably dissipated.
With Li Yue Shu's words, everyone stopped paying attention to the Shen family's movements, but the villagers were in an uproar.
First, one person went mad, and then the Shen family followed. Is this whole family sick!
Li Yue Shu ignored the villagers' gossip and, the next day, took the children out as usual, also sending Shen Yi Min and the others to the academy.
But as she drove the ox cart to the village entrance, Shen Wang's voice came from behind, "Sister-in-law, wait!"
Li Yue Shu ignored him, even giving the ox's hindquarters an extra lash.
But Shen Wang was determined to catch up, even directly blocking the ox cart.
Li Yue Shu's mind quickly considered the consequences of stomping him to death in public, and she chose to pull the ox rope.
Shen Wang, seeing the ox so close, couldn't help but glare at Li Yue Shu. "Didn't I tell you to wait?"
Li Yue Shu lowered her gaze to him, her expression indifferent. "Is there something?"
Shen Wang was displeased and directly spoke in a commanding tone, "I'm going to town too. Give me a ride on the ox cart!"
With that, he walked directly behind the cart and pushed Shen Chen. "What is a servant doing on an ox cart? Get down quickly!"
Shen Chen's expression changed, but he knew who this man was and dared not disobey. He instinctively started to stand up.
"Shen Chen."
Li Yue Shu's voice suddenly rang out. Although it had no inflection, it seemed to exert an invisible force on Shen Chen's shoulders, making him lower his raised backside back down.
Seeing this, Shen Wang's expression instantly darkened. "Li Yue Shu, what do you mean!"
"I'm sorry, I don't have any servants. These are all children I've adopted." Li Yue Shu looked at him expressionlessly. "If you want a ride on the ox cart, you can find Uncle Liu. One copper coin per person is not expensive. I don't have any extra seats here."
After speaking, she whipped the ox's hindquarters and left immediately.
"Li! Yue! Shu!"
Shen Wang was so angry he was jumping, shouting ferociously, but he didn't even get a glance.
Only when the shouting behind them could no longer be heard did Li Yue Shu speak again, "From now on, don't pay attention to anyone from the Shen family. If they dare to provoke you, fight back directly. If one person can't win, attack together. I'll take responsibility for anything that happens."
Shen Chen was stunned, a warm current he couldn't express welling up in his heart. "Thank you, Madam. Shen Chen understands."
Li Yue Shu glanced back at him, then at the others. "And you all, I've said it before. As long as you don't betray me, I will make sure you live decent lives."
Shen Ting Yi glanced at Shen Tan and the others, whose eyes were slightly red, and her heart stirred.
Did this woman... did she know how much her words meant to Shen Tan and the others!
Shen Ting Yi looked at Li Yue Shu's retreating back as she drove the cart, her expression very complicated.
Li Yue Shu could feel several gazes from behind. She didn't look back and sent Shen Yi Min and the other three to the academy before taking the rest to Heng De Pharmacy.
Watching her distant figure, Shen Ting Wen couldn't help but tug on Shen Yi Min's sleeve. "Big Brother, she seems more and more like a mother."
Shen Yi Min pursed his lips but didn't reply.
The investigation results from Chai Yang Xing He had not yet arrived. It was either that nothing was found, or some clues had been uncovered and were being verified.
If it was the latter, he didn't know if his younger brothers and sisters could handle it.
Especially his fourth brother, he had already changed his address for that woman...
Mo Lian looked at his friend's gentle face, filled with worry, and felt confused.
He had always felt that Yi Min's demeanor was extraordinary, not something a person from a farming family could possess.
After spending more time together, he could better appreciate that feeling, and he even vaguely sensed that the Shen children seemed to have stories hidden within them.
But he didn't pry, only hoping that this peaceful and warm life could continue.
With their own thoughts, the brothers quickly returned to their respective classrooms.
Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian began to review their lessons as usual. Suddenly, two figures walked over, blocking the light on their books.
They looked up and saw Shen Cheng Cai standing there with his nostrils pointed upwards, his face full of arrogance and pride.
Standing beside him was a small, thin boy with dark skin, looking like a refugee, even though his clothes were somewhat clean.
With just one look, Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian tacitly averted their gazes and continued reviewing their lessons.
This attitude changed Shen Cheng Cai's expression. He directly kicked the table. "Shen Yi Min, what are you so proud of? I have a book boy now too!"
Families that could attend the academy naturally had some assets, and it wasn't strange to have a book boy, but it was rather unusual for the Shen family.
Shen Yi Min was a little surprised and looked up at the boy who looked like a thin monkey.
Seeing this, Shen Cheng Cai's face became even more smug. "This is the book boy my grandmother found for me. Not only does he have to serve my daily life in the academy, but I don't have to pay for his tuition. He's much better than your book boy!"
Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian were both somewhat surprised, clearly not expecting Shen's mother to be willing to buy Shen Cheng Cai a book boy.
Shen Cheng Cai mistook their expressions for envy and became even more pleased.
He patted the cloth bag hanging on the book boy. "My mother bought me new stationery, so I won't have to use the same as the servants!"
Mo Lian, who was mentioned repeatedly, felt speechless. He felt that Shen Cheng Cai was even more childish than A Yu.
Shen Yi Min was somewhat annoyed, but his gentle appearance showed no anger. "If you're finished, can you move aside?"
His attitude made Shen Cheng Cai feel like he was punching cotton.
"Shen Yi Min, don't be smug! Do you think your wicked stepmother is the only one who can make money?"
"Let me tell you, my grandmother found seven beggars in town, and she didn't have to pay for them. They are all strong and sturdy, definitely more capable of working and earning money than your seven!"
Mo Lian looked at the book boy beside him, who was as thin as a monkey, and found it impossible to associate him with the word "sturdy."
Shen Yi Min, however, noticed the implication in Shen Cheng Cai's words.
So, the Shen family thought Li Yue Shu adopted Shen Tan and the others to make money from them?