As Zhao Laizi and her son walked in, they looked around and were increasingly amazed.

"This house is so beautiful!" Upon entering the hall, I glanced to the side and saw another door leading to a square courtyard made of blue bricks.

The courtyard was paved entirely with stone slabs, it was quite grand.

The mother and son stared blankly for a moment, only coming to their senses after they sat down in the outer hall.

"Where's Cai Ping?" Zhao Laizi's eyes darted around, searching for Ye Cai Ping's figure.

“Caiping is busy with her own things.” Old Mrs. Ye sat down. “Lai Pozi, what brings you here today? I can’t make the decision about hiring for the workshop. Caiping said that if we don’t get selected this time, there will be other opportunities next time.”

Grandma Ye realized that the only reason they had come to her was because the workshop was hiring.

Since the selection results were announced yesterday, several villagers have approached her, hoping she could ask Ye Caiping to make an exception for them. Some even offered gifts, but Old Lady Ye turned them all down.

Granny Lai said smugly, "Hey, don't panic, sister-in-law. We're different from others. We're very insightful. If we don't get selected, we don't get selected."

Grandma Ye was quite surprised.

If it's not for work, why would I need to talk to her?

Before Old Lady Ye could ask, Granny Lai excitedly said:

"Sister-in-law, I'm a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. Your Caiping is 30 now, isn't she? She'll have to get married soon!"

"As you know, sister-in-law, I really like Caiping. I've always liked her, but it's a pity you didn't accept our marriage proposal back then."

Before Ye Caiping was married, Zhao Laizi had already taken a liking to her and had come to propose marriage.

As a result, neither the Ye family nor Ye Caiping herself thought highly of Zhao Laizi and rejected him outright.

Grandma Ye was stunned. It turned out that these two people weren't after the job, but after Cai Ping!

“Auntie, my feelings for Caiping are genuine,” Zhao Laizi said, patting his chest. “The reason I haven’t wanted to get married all these years is because of her! I’ve remained chaste for her sake!”

As he spoke, a deeply affectionate expression appeared on his face.

Hearing these frivolous words, Old Mrs. Ye almost fainted.

"You don't want to get married, not because you don't want to, but because you can't find one!" Ye Caiping walked in and sneered.

The expressions on Zhao Laizi and his mother's faces changed.

"How can you talk like that!" Granny Lai jumped up. "My son is completely devoted to you. He doesn't mind that you're a divorced woman, or that you have two children in tow! This is his first marriage! You should be grateful that he's willing to marry you."

Grandma Ye was furious and stepped forward to confront him: "Burning incense? Do you really think your son is something special! It's one thing to be poor, but he's also lazy. He doesn't work in the fields, he doesn't cultivate the land, and this nearly forty-year-old man just loafs around all day waiting to die."

Old Mrs. Ye was rarely so sharp-tongued, but Granny Lai had crossed her line! She actually dared to covet and despise her daughter!

"Who are you calling a lazy bum? My Daxiong hasn't been in the village all these years! How could he be farming? My Daxiong is making big money outside!"

"How much money does he make back?"

Granny Lai choked: "Later... he lost everything in business. Anyway, my son is very capable, he's just unlucky. Give him a year or two, and I guarantee he'll make a fortune."

"I don't care how much you can earn, my family will never agree to this marriage!"

Putting aside their family background, just based on that attitude of "not minding" and "being a burden" just now, I can't agree to this marriage!

“Sister Caiping…” Zhao Laizi looked at Ye Caiping with a hurt expression.

Ye Caiping felt nauseous: "I looked down on you before, and I still do now. Don't come to my house again, or I'll kick you out."

"Get out! Get out! If you don't leave, I'll unleash my full power!"

Zhao Laizi and her son's expressions changed; Ye Daquan was known for throwing excrement!

The mother and son slunk away from Ye Caiping's house.

Zhao Laizi was furious.

I thought that Ye Caiping was divorced, and no matter how much money she earned, she was still a woman who needed a man's care and protection.

He's getting married for the first time, and she's willing to marry a divorced man; she should be secretly happy.

He'll not only be able to marry a beautiful bride, but the workshop and the brick house will all be his.

To my surprise, she actually refused.

Zhao Laizi was very unwilling, but there was nothing he could do, so he could only leave dejectedly.

...

After Zhao Laizi and his companion left, Old Lady Ye was so angry that her face turned black.

Ye Caiping said, "What's wrong with Zhao Laizi? I haven't seen him for many years."

Old Mrs. Ye said, "He was just a local thug. He used to be around the village teasing cats and dogs every day, but he suddenly disappeared seven or eight years ago. His mother keeps saying he's making a lot of money outside."

"He's back now, and he's still a scoundrel. You should avoid people like that in normal times."

Ye Caiping nodded.

"Is anyone home?" a voice called out from outside.

The voice was unfamiliar, and Ye Caiping and Grandma Ye went out the door.

A village woman in her thirties stood at the doorway. She was dark-skinned, with a shrewd glint in her eyes. Upon seeing her, she gave a smirk.

"It really is Zhiyuan's wife's house! I've heard you built a big house before, but I didn't believe it. Now that I see it, it's true."

Ye Caiping's expression was unpleasant: "I have nothing to do with Li Zhiyuan anymore. By the way, who are you?"

The woman paused for a moment, then laughed, "Oh, look at me... I've gotten used to calling you that. Your memory is terrible! I'm your cousin-in-law... Oh, I'm Li Zhiyuan's cousin-in-law! We used to be sisters-in-law."

Ye Caiping racked her brains and realized that there really was such a person.

Li Zhiyuan's cousin's wife is two houses away from him.

"What's wrong?" Old Mrs. Ye was in a bad mood.

The woman looked at Ye Caiping with a stern face: "I'm here to inform you that my great-grandmother passed away yesterday. Even though you're no longer Zhiyuan's wife, my great-grandmother used to be very kind to you and your daughter."

“When your daughters Zhaodi and Laidi were starving, my great-grandmother fed them countless meals. Now that she’s gone, you should at least see her off, shouldn’t you?”

Ye Caiping frowned; she did indeed remember this part.

The woman's great-grandmother, Li Qinai, lived behind Li Zhiyuan's house and usually took good care of the original owner and the Jin'er sisters.

Ye Caiping nodded: "When is the funeral?"

The woman was delighted: "Five days from now, you must properly express your gratitude to the deceased. I'll be going now."

After saying that, he left happily.

Grandma Ye frowned: "Someone in the family died, and you're still so happy."

"Of course I'm happy to receive an extra gift."

Ye Caiping guessed correctly.

Lijia Village had long heard that Ye Caiping had built a big house and made money selling spicy soup.

After Li Qinai passed away, the woman and her family decided to inform Ye Caiping.

Given Ye Caiping's current financial situation, the funeral expenses shouldn't be too low.

Moreover, Ye Caiping has a grudge against the Li family, so she probably won't stay long after giving the gift, let alone eat.

This way, they can get a gift money for free without having to provide food, so why not?

Ye Caiping was too lazy to care about their petty schemes.

Given the kindness that Li Qinai had shown them during her lifetime, it was only right that they contribute to her funeral expenses.