The natural disaster destroyed all the houses in the village. Luckily, she sold her house in the village because of what happened, otherwise it would have been a huge loss.

Even so, she didn't gain much advantage.

Even though he was satisfied, he still got divorced.

Wasn't all that money just wasted on the Peng family?

That's considered money thrown out.

As for her family, they're still entangled with these two old people, tormenting each other every day. When will this ever end?

Even after the two elders have passed away, there's still a young child who's been abandoned and needs to be raised; it seems endless.

"I'd like to send your grandparents to live at your uncle's house, but your uncle's family would have to be willing to accept them. It's always going to involve reporting to the authorities and going to court. Who would dare to go there?"

An Xian pouted, "Well, we can at least go and take a look, right?"

"Going somewhere? Doesn't that cost money for travel? Just stay home."

"What can I do at home? I'm just stuck at home with nowhere to go and no one to play with. My older cousins ​​aren't here anymore."

Upon hearing An Xian mention Wu Qiaoxin, Liu Xiufen's face darkened, and her expression immediately fell.

"Don't mention this family in front of me again." If it weren't for her sister-in-law An Manxin causing all this trouble, would her family have ended up in such a mess? Keeping such a sister-in-law in the house is such an embarrassment.

It was all done by that bitch An Manxin. What kind of family did she find for An Manyi? She even betrayed her own sister. I've never seen such a vicious person.

Upon seeing Liu Xiufen's displeased expression, An Xian reluctantly shut her mouth and didn't dare mention her cousins ​​again.

Now, everyone from her aunt's side of the family has become a taboo subject. Even her grandparents would turn pale at the mere mention of it, and would constantly curse them with words like "ungrateful wretch," "heartless," and "beast."

Her younger aunt, in particular, harbored a deep hatred for her older aunt.

She would curse under her breath, saying that if she ever saw her aunt, she would definitely chop her up with a knife.

Thinking of her aunt's resentful face, I couldn't help but shudder. I'd better not mention it again.

"Mother, didn't the government give us disaster relief money? Didn't our family get a few taels of silver? Can you give me some money to spend? I want to buy a new outfit and a beaded hairpin."

"Why buy those things? You're not old enough to get married yet. Let's wait a couple of years."

"Mom, I'm doing this for the sake of our family. Look, now that we can't count on my aunt, the whole family has to rely on me to marry into a good family. If I dress up and can marry into a rich family, then you'll all be able to enjoy a life of luxury."

Mother, let me tell you, you can't stop me from marrying into a good family. I've found someone I like these past few days, someone from the government.

Although the government officials are not from Jincheng, this territory of Jincheng no longer belongs to Tianqi, but to Islael.

"If I were to marry one of the officials from Islaile's side, our family would be rich, and we'd have hope and someone to rely on."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiufen's eyes lit up.

"What? Who have you taken a fancy to? Do you even know any government officials?"

An Xian raised her eyebrows smugly, tilted her chin up, and looked haughty.

"That's right. The government officials often patrol the streets around here, right? There was a young man there who glanced at me several times. Once, when I dropped my handkerchief, he even picked it up and handed it to me. He was obviously interested in me."

After that, every time they saw me, they would stare at me, and over time we became familiar with each other.

"Mother, you must buy me some nice clothes and jewelry to dress me up."

Upon hearing An Xian say this, Liu Xiufen hurriedly pressed for more information.

"Do you know anything about this family? Do they have wives or concubines? How old are they?"

"Oh dear, Mother, this matter is still in its infancy, and you're already in such a hurry to find out about other people's backgrounds. I should find out about them slowly, shouldn't I?"

Anyway, they were government officials, so their status was different from that of us ordinary people.

If I could marry him, that would be a very respectable thing. I'm guessing he doesn't have any wives or concubines, otherwise why would he be interested in me?

"Mother, do you see this beaded flower in my hand? He gave it to me."

Upon hearing her daughter's words, Liu Xiufen's gaze immediately fell on the beaded flower that An Xian was fiddling with—

"I don't recognize this beaded flower; I've never seen you wear it before." He paused, then added.

"They've already given you the pearl flower, and they still say it's not even close to happening. Giving you gifts means they're interested in you. You should quickly find out more about this man. If he doesn't have any wives or concubines, you should marry him in a couple of years."

"No, two years is too long. We don't want any more complications. It's not uncommon for girls to get married at thirteen; she's not exactly young anymore. Getting married at thirteen is fine, so let's do it next year."

An Xian's small face was adorned with the shy charm of a young girl.

"Mother, isn't it a bit too fast to get married next year?"

"You have to be eager to marry into such good families, otherwise they'll be snatched up by someone else. You'd better go and find out for me, understand?"

"I know, I know. When he patrols our streets again tomorrow, I'll pull him over and ask him."

Mother, my new clothes and headdress—"

Liu Xiufen readily took out a string of copper coins and stuffed them into An Xian's hand, saying, "You'd better be careful with these two hundred coins."

An Xian smiled broadly, "I know, I know."

Liu Xiufen sighed as she mended the clothes.

"Given the current state of Jincheng, business in carpentry shops is really slow. Even though there's no business in the shops and your father won't earn much this month, he can still make a couple of coins to supplement the family income."

But now the carpentry shop is going to be demolished, and all the carpenters in the shop have been sent back.

"From now on, your father will be unable to work and won't be able to earn a single penny. There will be many ways for our family to save money."

"Didn't the government already provide disaster relief funds and subsidies?"

"What do you know? Holding onto this little bit of disaster relief money isn't a long-term solution. It's more reassuring to have a job."

I was thinking, why don't you have your dad go to the next city and see if there are any carpentry shops hiring?

"Mother, are we going to Hongcheng?" Anxian perked up immediately upon hearing this.

"If Dad really goes to Hongcheng, can you take me with you?"

Liu Xiufen glared at An Xian.

"More people means more travel expenses. What are you going there for? Just stay put."

An Xian snuggled up to Liu Xiufen and hugged her arm affectionately.

"Mom, I just want to go to Hongcheng to take a look, to join in the fun, and see what kind of house my uncle's family bought. They say it's a big mansion."

I absolutely have to see for myself, to see if it's as mystical as they say.

"Oh, you silly child, why don't you go with your father in a couple of days? Your father is also planning to go and take a look around and get acquainted with the place."