Yang’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately slapped Shen Cheng Cai on the back. “You silly child, what are you saying! Murder is punishable by beheading!”
Shen Cheng Cai pouted and didn’t reply.
He had just thought of it and said it casually.
The group fell silent, but their expressions suggested they hadn’t dismissed Shen Cheng Cai’s words.
After a long while, Yang finally couldn’t help but speak first. “Actually, Mother is right. If it weren’t for that poisonous woman, your uncle and we would still be of one mind.”
Shen Wang glared at her unhappily. “What wicked idea are you hatching now!”
Yang was a little annoyed. “Am I not thinking for this family! Look at the situation at home now; we can’t even eat a full meal.”
“It’s fine for me, but Cheng Cai is preparing to take the Tong Sheng and Xiu Cai exams. If his health isn’t even taken care of, where will we get the money to pay tuition fees!”
Mentioning Shen Cheng Cai, Shen Wang was instantly silenced.
He only had this one precious son, and he was counting on him to succeed in the future and bring him a life of comfort!
Yang knew this very well, which was why she could strike at his most vulnerable point with a single sentence.
She continued, “Ultimately, Li Yue Shu is Shen family’s daughter-in-law. No matter how much she earns, it still belongs to your uncle.”
“Mother, Li Yue Shu was married into the family by your decision. Making her an out-caste woman is just a word from you!”
Shen Mu instantly understood her meaning, her eyes lighting up. “Then won’t all her belongings become ours, the Shen family’s?”
Yang liked this most about Shen Mu; with just a few words, she could instantly grasp her meaning.
But Shen Wang looked displeased. “Third Brother is back now. Mother can’t make the decision to divorce his wife! Besides, Third Brother is now a fool and follows Li Yue Shu’s every word. How could he divorce her!”
Yang couldn’t help but slap him on the back. “You said Third Brother is foolish now, what does he know! If Li Yue Shu herself committed an unforgivable mistake, no one would say anything even if Mother stepped in to make the decision to divorce her.”
Shen Mu frowned. “Then what kind of mistake is considered unforgivable?”
This question stumped the three of them.
In the ensuing silence, Shen Wang suddenly thought of Li Yue Shu he had seen at the pharmacy that day, and a tingling sensation ran through him.
He looked at Shen Mu and Yang, and hesitantly said, “What if… she committed adultery?”
…
Li Yue Shu was unaware of the wicked schemes brewing in the Shen family’s hearts. After a satisfying meal, she left the older children to clean up the kitchen and rested on the rocking chair in the courtyard.
Shen Ting Wen sat beside her with a small stool, his face full of curiosity. “Stepmother, that… fried chicken you made at noon? Can that be made in large quantities?”
Li Yue Shu tilted her head and looked at him. “What wicked idea do you have now?”
Shen Ting Wen chuckled. “Something this delicious, not only will children like it, but adults will definitely like it too. If we opened a shop specializing in fried chicken, the business would surely be great!”
Li Yue Shu hadn’t expected him to think of this.
As expected of a future great swindler, he had such business acumen at such a young age.
Li Yue Shu reached out and poked his forehead. “If you call me ‘Mother,’ I’ll teach you.”
Shen Ting Wen’s face turned red at a visible speed, and he instinctively glared at her. “Dream on, humph!”
He stamped his foot and ran off, his retreating figure looking exactly like someone fleeing in disarray.
“Pfft—”
Li Yue Shu couldn’t help but laugh. Hearing the sound, Shen Ting Wen ran even faster.
Mo Lian, who was walking over, happened to see this scene and asked curiously, “What’s wrong with the second young master?”
Li Yue Shu shook her head. “It’s just the pride of a child. Pretend you didn’t see anything!”
As she spoke, she looked at Mo Lian. “Is there something you need?”
Mo Lian sat down on the small stool and spoke hesitantly, “Madam, you previously asked the magistrate to keep an eye out for lung sources. Have there been any updates?”
Seeing the worry and tension in his brows, Li Yue Shu sat up from the rocking chair.
She knew that Mo Lian had always been worried about his mother’s condition, but because he trusted her, he didn’t want to pressure her, so he hadn’t asked.
However, after returning this time and seeing his mother’s pale face, he couldn’t suppress his worry any longer.
After a moment of hesitation, Li Yue Shu said, “Actually, the magistrate sent me a letter before. There was a condemned prisoner willing to donate his lungs after death, but his test results did not match Aunt Mo’s, so I didn’t tell you.”
Mo Lian drooped his head, his expression clearly becoming dejected.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu sighed. “I have nothing to do this afternoon. Accompany me to the county office. We can go to the prison to take a look ourselves. The magistrate should allow it.”
Mo Lian looked up at her in surprise.
Li Yue Shu reached out and rubbed his head, smiling gently. “Instead of waiting like this, it’s better to be proactive. If we find a suitable match, we can do something about it.”
A glimmer of hope appeared in Mo Lian’s eyes, and he nodded repeatedly. “I’ll go tell my mother, and we’ll leave shortly!”
Li Yue Shu smiled and nodded, and also told Shen Yi Min and the others about it.
Everyone naturally didn’t say much, but Shen Wei wanted to go along.
Li Yue Shu did not agree.
She was going on important business, meeting the magistrate, and going to a place like a dungeon. If it weren’t for the desire to put Mo Lian at ease, she would have gone alone.
Thus, Li Yue Shu only took Mo Lian and headed towards the town.
Because the Heng De Pharmacy’s reputation had spread, many people in town recognized Li Yue Shu and would greet her proactively.
Just as Li Yue Shu was talking to an old woman, an exquisite carriage slowly drove past them.
A gust of wind happened to lift the curtain of the carriage window, revealing a woman with delicate makeup and a pretty face. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The woman looked about the same age as Li Yue Shu, but her refined attire made her look like a young lady of noble birth.
As they passed each other, neither noticed the other, and they went in opposite directions.
The carriage passed through the bustling street and arrived at a secluded alley.
Because the alley was somewhat narrow, the woman had to get off the carriage and walk inside, finally stopping in front of a dilapidated courtyard gate.
Those living here were all poor people struggling to make ends meet.
If Li Yue Shu were there, she would surely recognize this as the place where Mo Lian had lived before.
The woman covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, a hint of disgust in her eyes, and motioned for the coachman beside her to knock on the door.
After a moment, the courtyard gate opened, and a boy, wearing clothes full of patches, with dark skin and a thin frame, opened the door.
The woman lowered her handkerchief and stared at the boy, who still had snot on his face, for a moment.
But soon, a gentle and friendly smile spread across her face. “You are Mo Lian, right?”
The boy looked bewildered, clearly not understanding the situation.
The woman smiled, her eyes curving, making it easy to lower his guard. “My name is Li Xiang Ru, and I’ve come to help you.”