"Well, okay... Brother Jinlu, you don't even like to eat eggs? Your family must be living a really good life. Unlike my family, my parents favor my younger brother and never let me eat enough. My aunt loves me and took me to her house because she saw that I had lost a lot of weight. I've finally been able to eat my fill these past few days. I get a big bowl of brown rice and wild vegetable porridge every day."

Zhu Wenjuan's satisfied smile pierced Jin Lu's heart.

He couldn't hold back any longer.

"Wenjuan, I heard you're not engaged yet. How about me? If you marry me, I won't promise you a life of luxury, but I promise you'll never go hungry. I guarantee you'll have eggs every day. Mother says two eggs a day are good for your health. Once you're married into the family, Mother will treat you the same as everyone else. I'll give you all four eggs."

Jinlu looked at her expectantly.

Zhu Wenjuan lowered her head, revealing a smug expression, but it disappeared in just a second.

Her face then flushed with shyness.

"Brother Jinlu, this too..."

"That's too fast, can you let me think about it?"

Jin Lu was a little disappointed, but at least Zhu Wenjuan didn't refuse, right?

He nodded.

"Okay, then tell me tomorrow, and I'll wait for you right here, at the same time."

"good...."

They went back to their respective homes.

Full of worries.

But they are all different.

"Auntie, it's done!"

As soon as they got home, Zhu Wenjuan took Zhu Xiaohua's hand and said...

"Oh my, Juanzi, you're really something. As long as you get him under your thumb, marry him and whisper sweet nothings in his ear, all of Yan's money will be yours. She only has two sons. After you get married, make a good impression on her and make her dislike Shi Xiaohe. Then get Jinlu to squeeze out Jinfu and take his place at the shop. The shop will then naturally belong to you and your husband."

Zhu Xiaohua's eyes were full of calculation.

If her niece gets the Yan family's money and shop, she will have her two sons pretend to work there while secretly stealing the secret recipe, opening a shop next door, and taking over the business.

She didn't believe the big-mouthed woman's lies.

What do you mean, "If she can't make money, why would Yan Xia keep the shop running? And why did she renovate the newly built house?"

I heard it cost more than twenty taels.

They really have too much money to burn.

Moreover, that little bitch Yan Xia gave quite a lot in betrothal gifts.

She could keep a little for herself; her family was so poor they were barely able to afford food.

"Juanzi, after you agree to his request, give that boy a little something sweet to try and hook him up. That way, when we discuss the bride price, we can ask for more, maybe 10 taels. Then lie to your parents that you only have 4 taels, and I'll keep the remaining 6 taels for you. You know in your heart whether your aunt is good to you or not. I don't want you to keep it because I'm afraid that the money will be tricked away by that little slut Yan Xia. Don't worry, as long as you want it, your aunt will give it back to you."

If it were up to her, four ounces would be too much, but there were conditions when she brought her niece over.

His brother originally wanted to sell Juanzi to a landlord as a concubine.

But the clan chief disagreed, so they had to give up.

He also found Juanzi a marriage partner in town; I heard the man was already forty.

She was given a dowry of four taels of silver. Fortunately, she returned in time and brought her niece over before the engagement.

She had promised her parents.

They will definitely bring back 4 taels of silver within a month.

Therefore, Juanzi listened to her every word, after all, she had saved her from dire straits.

“Okay, I’ll do whatever Auntie says. Auntie treats me better than my parents, so I’ll agree to it tomorrow.”

Sure enough, Juanzi agreed.

Zhu Xiaohua smiled with satisfaction.

That evening, I gave her an extra half bowl of brown rice porridge.

Zhu Wenjuan was moved to tears.

The next day at noon, when Zhu Wenjuan went up the mountain, Jin Lu was already waiting there.

"Wenjuan, here you go, these are today's eggs."

Jinlu placed the egg in her hand; it was still warm.

Zhu Wenjuan didn't rush to eat; she took a moment to gather her emotions.

She squeezed out two tears.

"Brother Jinlu, I..."

She finished speaking, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Jinlu.

Jinlu was heartbroken.

"What happened? Who bullied you?"

Zhu Wenjuan shook her head.

"No, it's because my aunt is arranging marriages for me. I'm scared, Brother Jinlu. Actually, I like you too, but I'm worried that my aunt won't approve. I heard that she found a family in town for me. They want to give five taels of silver as a bride price and said that I'll live a life of luxury. My aunt is very tempted and wants me to meet him, but I refuse. Brother Jinlu, I don't want to marry someone else."

Zhu Wenjuan sobbed softly.

Jin Lu breathed a sigh of relief; he had been wondering what was wrong.

Mother will definitely give me five taels of silver.

He knows his mother too well; she's the fairest person, and his wife will definitely have everything his sister-in-law has.

“It’s alright, I can afford five taels of silver. Tell your aunt that I’ll take you to see my mother when she comes back.”

"Um--"

Zhu Wenjuan nodded gently, took Jin Lu's hand, and scratched his palm lightly twice.

These two touches seemed to scratch at Jin Lu's heart, making his body burn with heat.

"Brother Jinlu, will you be good to me?"

Zhu Wenjuan's voice became increasingly charming.

"Yes, as long as you are reasonable, filial to your mother, and good to my family, I will be good to you for the rest of my life."

Zhu Wenjuan's expression turned somewhat cold.

"What if your mother or family members bully me?"

"How could that be? My mother is the best mother in the world, and so are my brothers, sisters and cousins. They would never bully you."

"All right..."

Zhu Wenjuan didn't want to discuss this topic anymore.

She doesn't believe there are mothers-in-law in this world who don't torment their daughters-in-law.

After the two confirmed their relationship.

They gather on the other side of the low hill every day.

Like glue and lacquer.

On the seventh day, we visited Yan's Pastry Shop in Shuangqiao Town.

Yan Xia was just about to close the door for a nap.

Then I saw a familiar figure.

"Manager Yan, I'm so sorry, our village is too far away, so I only came at noon. This batch of peaches ripened a little late because it rained a few days ago and there was no sun. I hope I didn't delay you?"

It turned out to be Aunt Tao.

She was walking beside a man who looked somewhat like her.

It should be the youngest son she mentioned before.

"It won't take any time, the timing is perfect. Come in and sit down, have some cool water, and just put the peaches in the backyard."

Yan Xia quickly poured two glasses of water.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Shunzi, take the peaches to the backyard before you come out for a drink of water."

"Um."

Aunt Tao's youngest son is very quiet.

He looks very honest.

Just like her family's Kim Bok used to be.

"Gulp gurgle—"

Aunt Tao drank the water in one gulp again, and Yan Xia, seeing that she still wanted to drink, poured her another cup.

"Oh dear, it's so hot today. I'm exhausted from walking all this way. I don't know if it's because I'm getting old, but I'm tired just from walking without carrying anything."

Aunt Tao sat on a stool and took several breaths to catch her breath.

"I feel so hot standing here today, you must be exhausted. Come on, Aunt Tao, let's go to the backyard and weigh ourselves first."

Yan Xia specially bought a small scale and placed it in the backyard in case she needed to use it when buying things.