She made a decisive decision: she would stop being a tagalong and just stay home.

Fortunately, at that moment, Madam Cui arrived.

The two carriages, one in front and one behind, were still laden with chicken, fish, meat, and eggs.

"Jinrou, didn't I say it was good that you came to celebrate the festival? Why did you bring so much stuff again!" Old Mrs. Li scolded. "Keep the good stuff at home and sell it for more money! You're well-educated, but we can't be like those aloof scholars. Money is always a good thing, especially for you to live on. Having more money on hand gives you more confidence."

"Understood, Auntie," Madam Cui replied, taking the old lady's arm.

She listened to Old Lady Li's rambling with a smile on her face, not angry at all, but rather very happy.

She had no parents and lived alone on the estate. Only when she came to the Li family's house could she hear such nagging, which felt especially warm.

"Auntie, you know I live alone, so I don't enjoy any food. I'm sending it all over here so that Hongying can help me out, and I can also be lazy and eat what's ready-made."

“Hongying doesn’t have time to cook. They all went to the city today. The eldest son’s restaurant is opening tomorrow, and they’ve all gone to help out.” The old lady said, pulling Madam Cui inside.

Madam Cui instinctively reached out and took Jiayin's hand, causing Jiayin to scream in pain.

The old lady then remembered and was so frightened she almost fell over. She quickly squatted down to check her granddaughter's injured hand. She didn't see any blood, but she was still worried and called Shui Ling to go find Doctor Zhang.

Madam Cui was terrified. "Fu Niu'er... what happened to her hand? Who hurt the child like this!"

Grandma Li sighed, called her over, and carried Jiayin into the house together. Then she explained what had happened.

Madam Cui was both heartbroken and furious, and didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Dr. Zhang arrived quickly, removed the bandages, and examined the wound. It hadn't reopened and was healing well.

He couldn't help but boast, "I told you, stitches are the best way! Look, it's only been a few days, and the wound has healed completely. In another five or six days, we won't even need to wrap it with bandages anymore!"

Madam Cui held Jiayin in her arms, not daring to open her eyes to look at the hideous wound. "How could such a small child suffer so much!"

If she could take her place, she would gladly endure the pain and injury for Fu Niu.

Unfortunately, if it were that easy, it wouldn't be her turn; everyone in the Li family, young and old, would be willing.

After Dr. Zhang reapplied the medicine and bandaged the wound, he disappeared somewhere to spread his "great achievements."

Madam Cui was left holding Jiayin tightly, not letting go for even a moment.

Although she had been married before, she had no children, and she truly doted on Jiayin, this chubby girl, as if she were her own daughter.

Sometimes, she couldn't tell anyone about her pain and confusion.

But holding the chubby little girl and listening to her sweet, childish voice make all my worries disappear.

It's only been a few days, and the child is already so badly injured!

She had so much anger, but nowhere to vent it.

As luck would have it, Sister-in-law Li came to pick up her things today.

Perhaps because Sun Siyuan's family treated her and her servants well, she was no longer the dirty woman she had been before.

She had changed into a brand-new set of fine cotton dress, embroidered with flowers, and her hair was neatly combed. She looked clean, tidy, and energetic.

Upon entering, she didn't even glance at Jiayin's injured hand. Instead, she bowed to Old Madam Li and said, "Madam, I am deeply grateful for your previous shelter. Now that our young lady has been adopted by Master Tang, she will have someone to rely on in the future."

"I've come here today to retrieve some things. I plan to ask Master Tang to help me buy land and shops. Master Tang works in the yamen, so these things are easy for him to arrange."

Before Old Lady Li could respond, Madam Cui was already angry. "Whose servant are you? Whose rules did you learn? If you are so grateful, why did you come empty-handed? The Li family took you in and even found your relatives. Are you not even worth a few snacks?"

"Besides, you hurt Fu Niu'er so badly, and all you did when you came in was ask for things without asking a single question?"

Li's face turned red from being cornered. When she came out, her uncle really gave her money to buy things.

But she was reluctant to spend the money, thinking she would take the things first and deal with it later.

And Fu Niu'er's hand—if the children get hurt while playing and fighting over things, you can't entirely blame them...

Thinking this, she retorted, "I was in a hurry on the way here and didn't think about all that. Besides, Aunt Li didn't say anything, so who are you?"

Madam Cui had been waiting for this, and immediately shouted, "Slap her!"

Sister Qiong, who had been standing silently at the back, rushed forward in almost two steps and slapped Sister Li twice across the face.

The beating made Sister Li see stars and fall to the ground.

Li's mind was buzzing; she couldn't react for a moment and had no idea how she had been beaten!

Madam Cui ignored her and turned to Old Lady Li, saying, "Auntie, it's kind of you to be sentimental, but such a wicked servant should be dealt with!"

"You may have a past with Madam Sun, but I don't! We must have this discussed with the Sun family today, otherwise, if they keep letting such unruly servants out and about, they might cause trouble for the Sun family without them even realizing it!"

After saying that, she called out to Granny He, "Where are this wicked servant's things? Take them all and have Sister Qiong accompany you to the Sun family to explain things clearly!"

When Granny He looked at Old Madam Li and saw her nod, she quickly turned around and went into the house.

Soon, Granny He came out carrying a large package, and Sister Qiong immediately grabbed Sister Li and dragged her outside!

Sister-in-law Li panicked. She hadn't told her husband and wife about these things with the Li family. She had only said that her wife had helped the Li family when they were in trouble.

She also wanted to use the Li family's name to support them in the future!

"Madam, I was wrong, I will never do it again!" Sister Li pleaded.

Unfortunately, Sister Qiong was impatient and chopped her on the neck with a chop, silencing her completely!

The Cui family's carriage arrived quickly and left just as swiftly, disappearing from the village in the blink of an eye.

Jiayin's eyes widened. If she hadn't injured her hand, she would have loved to applaud Madam Cui.

That's so majestic and imposing!

"Master Aunt, Master Aunt, you are so amazing!"

Madam Cui chuckled, raised her hand and pinched her chubby cheek, scolding her, "Where did your usual cleverness go? You let a little girl bully you like this. You should have fought back hard!"

"There are adults in this family, so you can't bully the younger one, but you're a child too. If you fight back, no one can say you're wrong!"

"Hehe!" Jiayin squinted and grinned foolishly, revealing a row of small white teeth, unsure how to answer.

She's a child, but her soul is that of an adult. I always subconsciously feel that I shouldn't stoop to the level of a little girl a few years old...

Helpless, Madam Cui hugged her and then turned to Old Lady Li, "Auntie, our family is now an Earl's Mansion, Fu Niu'er is a Princess, and you are a First-Rank Imperial Lady. You should put on airs."

"If you don't like someone or their words, you should fight them without hesitation. Not everyone knows the rules or has a conscience; most people are shameless. You have to step on them, and they will respect and fear you in return."