Gu Hanjun's expression changed slightly. As the heir of the Marquis of Ningguo, he certainly wouldn't be idle.

But……

Seeing that he remained silent, Li Jiaojiao frowned: "Say something!"

Gu Han, who had been holding back for so long, finally exploded: "Even so, you can't make me do such lowly work! Treating me like a slave."

Li Jiaojiao's face darkened: "Then what do you want?"

Gu Hanjun's face tightened: "..."

"Hmph!" Li Jiaojiao sneered. "I'll only ask you, is your surname Li? Are you family?"

“I rescued you from the street! Go ask around the street, who would be willing to take a beggar home? And even treat his illness and take care of him!”

“I’ve always protected you and treated you like an honored guest, never letting you do any work. Now Grandma is making a huge fuss with us, and if you don’t do any work, our family will fall apart!”

"What, I saved you, so you think you can act like a king in my house? I asked you to do something, and you're giving me attitude?"

Gu Hanjun's face turned pale: "I...I will repay you."

"How will you repay me? You have neither money nor ability, how will you repay me?"

Gu Han felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Yes, he was now penniless and powerless...

He always considered himself the heir apparent to the Marquis of Ningguo, but he no longer was...

Now, he's nothing but a stray dog.

"Fine, if you really don't want to do it, then leave my house." Li Jiaojiao angrily snatched the basin of clothes from his hands.

"You don't need to pay the medical bills. Since I, Li Jiaojiao, saved you, I never expected anything in return. You can leave now!"

Gu Han's expression changed: "Jiaojiao, I..."

"What? I saved you, so I have to be responsible for you for the rest of my life? I have to support you for the rest of my life? Our Li family doesn't have the spare money to support people!"

Gu Han's face turned pale and then red, and he finally realized his predicament.

Suddenly, I remembered my former servants.

There were men to lead the horses, men to run errands for him, men to grind ink for him... they all had jobs. Even the Marquis's mansion wouldn't spend money to support idle people.

Moreover, the Li family had no spare money.

He really was just a freeloader to the Li family!

He only has value if he works; otherwise, why would anyone support him for nothing?

"I'm sorry, Jiaojiao... I didn't understand..." Gu Han said softly.

Li Jiaojiao snorted, but the corners of her lips curled up slightly: "Gu Han, I hope you stay in my house. Stay with us forever."

Gu Han's heart skipped a beat, and he stared at her blankly.

He's nothing now, just a "rotten beggar" with a limp.

But she didn't mind that he was a burden; she still accepted him and cherished him.

This kindness was something he had never seen before in his life.

If before he only felt goodwill and gratitude towards her, now he is deeply impressed by her personal charm.

Li Jiaojiao took in the adoration in his eyes, shoved the basin of clothes into his arms, twirled around, and skipped away like an elf.

She knew Gu Han liked her, but he was a cripple with no future, and she would never marry him.

But that doesn’t stop her from enjoying the feeling of conquering someone who falls at her feet.

She will marry a high-ranking official in the future, and Gu Han, just like her father before, will always protect her!

If anything happens to her, he will be her strong support.

Well, we've gotten a bit off-topic.

At least now he's willingly serving her family, and the risk of her and her mother having to do housework has been eliminated!

...

After being scolded awake by Li Jiaojiao, Gu Han's mindset changed.

She no longer complains about doing laundry.

Li Jiaojiao was still squatting to the side, watching him wash, and occasionally teasing him with foxtail grass.

He didn't laugh, but she giggled happily.

Gu Han's lips curled up slightly. This kind of leisurely life was actually quite blissful. It gave off a sense of husband and wife working in perfect harmony.

After washing the clothes, the two went home.

They also hung clothes out to dry in the yard.

Granny Li lay on the rocking chair, cracking sunflower seeds.

Li Zhiyuan was reading in his study when he glanced out the window and saw that his home had returned to its usual peace and happiness, which made him feel happy.

But he didn't realize that his mood would immediately turn sour.

"Oh my, is Scholar Li home? Let me tell you something!" A loud laugh rang out, and Granny Zhao swayed her body as she walked in.

Li Zhiyuan's brow twitched, and he stepped forward, saying, "I don't know you. Get out of here."

"Why don't you learn your lesson?" Granny Zhao exclaimed in astonishment. "Didn't I tell you last time? I'm your ex-wife's neighbor!"

"So what do you need?" Zhang Shuiniang, who was taking a nap, also came out and stood next to Li Zhiyuan, trying her best to maintain a noble and dignified smile.

“Li Xiucai, let me tell you, Caiping’s workshop is amazing. The first time, she hired twenty-five people. Everyone said the workshop wouldn’t survive, but just a few days ago she sold three thousand catties of raw materials. She even partnered with Baiweilou.”

"Do you know Baiweilou? It's the biggest restaurant in our town, and it even has two branches in the city! I heard it has branches all over the Great Zhou. They all order their goods from Caiping."

"The workshop has hired fifteen more people now. My son and grandson both work there! They earn about one or two taels of silver a month!"

He said this with a proud look on his face.

Li Zhiyuan's entire family stared at him in a daze.

Li Zhiyuan's face turned pale and then red: "What are you doing here?"

"Are you deaf? Didn't I just say? Cai Ping's workshop is amazing! They've hired a lot of people and made a lot of money! That's exactly why I'm telling you this!"

Li Zhiyuan naturally understood, and his heart was in turmoil.

Zhang Shuiniang and Li Jiaojiao were so angry they gritted their teeth. How could this be!

How could Ye Caiping, a divorced woman, possibly support a workshop?

If Zhang Shuiniang couldn't do it, how could Ye Caiping possibly accomplish it?

Not to mention Zhang Shuiniang, even her family...

No, that's impossible, there must be something fishy going on...

“I bet Caiping earns at least one or two hundred taels a month, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to support so many of us, right?” Granny Zhao said with pride, feeling a surge of satisfaction as she looked at Li Zhiyuan’s disgusted expression.

"You are not welcome here, please leave!" Li Zhiyuan said through gritted teeth.

"Why?" Granny Zhao looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Li Zhiyuan choked.

Why aren't you welcoming me?

Li Zhiyuan was cursing in his heart, but he couldn't very well say that he couldn't stand seeing his ex-wife doing well, could he? Wouldn't that make him seem narrow-minded?

"You can't possibly be unable to bear hearing Cai Ping's voice, can you? No way!" Granny Zhao looked at him seriously.

Li Zhiyuan nearly vomited blood: "How could I be such a petty person! Of course not!"