A male voice suddenly rang in her ears, and Ye Yunniang trembled, losing her balance and falling backward.

The man behind her hugged Ye Yunniang, lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Be careful, it will break my heart if you fall."

Ye Yunniang used the man's arm to steady herself, then stomped on his foot and pushed the person behind her away.

"Tong Mo, don't learn all that nonsense from your uncle."

Ye Yunniang cursed inwardly, thinking that all the men in the Bao family were sick.

Bao Min is constantly pestering Cai Damei, it's getting annoying. And this Tong Mo, I don't know what's wrong with him lately, what's wrong with his brain? His words are strange.

Ye Yunniang closed the courtyard gate and went inside to check on the two children.

Tong Mo, following behind Ye Yunniang, muttered, "I think Uncle did the right thing." Otherwise, how could he have won the heart of such a beauty?

Li Ping and Xu Erlei were already asleep inside.

Ye Yunniang took a small quilt and covered the two of them with it.

"Ye," Tong Mo was about to say something when Ye Yunniang interrupted him, gesturing for him to go to the backyard to talk.

The backyard, the gazebo.

"Ye Yunniang, answer me seriously. Are you still thinking about Jiang Mingzhe?"

“This is between him and me, it’s none of your business,” Ye Yunniang refused to answer.

“It has a lot to do with me,” Tong Mo retorted. “You’ve waited three years for Jiang Mingzhe enough. You can consider finding another man.”

Tong Mo straightened his chest as he spoke.

"Stop fooling around." Ye Yunniang said helplessly, feeling that Tong Mo was just bored and using her for amusement.

"Can't you tell I'm being sincere?" Tong Mo felt he had made his intentions very clear.

"Tong Mo, I have three sons to raise." Ye Yunniang didn't have time to play games of love and intimacy.

"You think I'm poor?" Tong Mo touched his empty wallet. He was thinking about writing a letter back to the capital to ask his stepmother and stepfather for money.

“You can think that way if you want,” Ye Yunniang said without arguing.

Cai Damei pushed open the door of courtyard No. 3 and entered the backyard of courtyard No. 4.

What are you talking about?

"Mother," Ye Yunniang stood up and helped Cai Damei up, "Is your morning sickness still severe today?"

When morning sickness was mentioned, Cai Damei blushed.

Three years ago, Courtyard No. 3 was bought by Bao Min at a high price.

After some renovations, Bao Min and Tong Mo moved in. At Cai Damei's insistence, they were introduced as uncle and nephew, making a living by selling paintings.

Cai Damei's initial idea was to stay with Bao Min for a while. Once he lost interest, she could then settle down and live a peaceful life with her daughter-in-law and three grandsons.

But to her surprise, what she thought was a period of time turned into three years.

Bao Min not only didn't get tired of it, but became increasingly addicted. They used to have sex once a month, then it became once every three days. Lately, he's gone even further, hinting that he wants Cai Damei to give him a formal status.

How can this be allowed?

She, Cai Damei, was born a daughter-in-law of the Li family, and she would die a wife of the Li family. Add to that a single herb, and after three years of eating it, she's getting a little tired of it.

Cai Damei and Bao Min subtly suggested that their relationship should end at the appropriate time.

"Madam, do you want to end this?" Min stopped stroking the bag on Cai Damei's back.

"Yes." Cai Damei made her decision and readily admitted it.

Bao Min rolled over and pinned Cai Damei beneath him. "Madam, stay with me for three more days."

As Cai Damei thought about how her three-year relationship was about to end, she felt a little reluctant.

"good."

For the next three days, Cai Damei let Bao Min run wild.

Cai Damei woke up in bed, but Bao Min was no longer in the room.

After a moment of silence, Cai Damei composed herself, packed her belongings into a bundle, and carried it back to Courtyard No. 4.

"Yunniang, please take good care of the house from now on. I need to focus all my efforts on finding a shop."

In three years, Cai Damei's pickled vegetable stall has grown from a corner of Xu's noodle stall into a standalone stall.

The variety of side dishes has also increased from the original two to six.

Cai Damei is planning to buy a shop to sell side dishes.

“Okay, I’ll take care of things at home. Mother, feel free to do whatever you want.” Ye Yun’s mother fully supported Cai Damei’s wishes.

Led by the broker, Cai Damei traveled all over Jiangcheng and finally found a shop she liked.

The shop is located in the latter half of Daliu Street, in a somewhat out-of-the-way location, and it's not very big. However, it has front and back yards. The back yard has a well and is quite spacious, making it ideal for washing vegetables and pickling side dishes.

After two months of renovations, Xiao Cai Ji opened for business.

The shop's name was chosen after discussion among the five merchants – Xiaocai Ji (小菜记).

Within a month, the business stabilized.

Cai Damei relaxed and then realized something was wrong with her stomach. She went to the hospital to have her pulse checked, and it turned out she was pregnant.

For Cai Damei, this was a bolt from the blue.

Cai Damei quickly figured out what to do. "Doctor, please prescribe an abortion pill."

"Madam, why don't you reconsider?" the doctor advised.

“No need,” Cai Damei replied firmly, explaining that the baby in her womb could not be kept.

The doctor didn't try to dissuade them any further and readily wrote down the prescription for an abortion.

Cai Damei carried the medicine home.

Ye Yunniang looked at the medicine packet in Cai Damei's hand and stepped forward to ask her about it.

"Where does Mother feel unwell?"

"Yunniang, I'm going to my room to rest for a while. Go and brew the medicine." Cai Damei handed the medicine packet to Ye Yunniang.

"Mother, let me help you back to your room to rest." Ye Yunniang took the medicine packet and helped Cai Damei into her room to rest. Then she went to the kitchen to brew the medicine.

The medicine is ready. Ye Yunniang brought it into the room.

"Mother, the medicine is ready. Take your medicine."

Cai Damei sat up, reached out and took the medicine bowl, and without the slightest hesitation, poured the medicine into her mouth.

Snap!

The medicine bowl in Cai Damei's hand was smashed, and Tong Mo jumped in through the window carrying Bao Min.

"Sister Cai, you mustn't abort our child."

Bao Min, who has always been calm and composed in the face of anything, sounded panicked and looked terrified.

Ye Yunniang looked at Cai Damei in shock, "Mother, you're pregnant!"

Cai Damei remained silent.

Ye Yunniang was about to say something when Tong Mo pulled her up and led her towards the door.

"Let me go." Ye Yunniang struggled, but her strength was no match for the martial arts master Tong Mo, and she was pulled out of the door.

Tong Mo made a shushing gesture and pulled Ye Yunniang to the windowsill to eavesdrop.

Bao Min sat down in front of Cai Damei's bed. "Madam, I won't force you. Please don't abort my child."

“She shouldn’t have it,” Cai Damei shook her head. “I can’t have your child.”

"Madam, the doors of the Bao family are always open for you." Bao Min had said three years ago that he wanted to marry Cai Damei. But even now, Cai Damei still disagrees.

"Sir, I am a daughter-in-law of the Li family." Cai Damei was unwilling to remarry.