Li Jiaojiao felt both contempt and regret.

I shouldn't have agreed so quickly. If I had said fifty taels, perhaps the Ye family would have been willing to sell.

But there's no turning back now. If I were to go back on my word, given Ye's cunning nature, she would definitely not agree.

All she wants now is to get that jade as soon as possible!

"Auntie, have you made up your minds yet? Hurry up!"

“Okay.” Ye Caiping immediately took off the jade pendant from her neck.

The moment it landed in her palm, the jade pendant was quickly stored in her spatial storage, and a fake appeared in her hand at the same time.

Although the space has already recognized its owner and the jade tablet has become an empty shell, it is still impossible to give it to Li Jiaojiao.

When she learned that Li Jiaojiao had her eye on her jade pendant, she made preparations.

The last time she went to the city, after selling all the bottles, she found an old jade craftsman and asked him to polish and carve the jade plaque according to this model.

The jade pendant is of extremely poor quality, and it's incredibly easy to find something similar; you can get a whole bunch for fifty coins.

The expensive part was the imitation and the aging process, which cost her a full five taels of silver.

Even now, Ye Caiping still remembers the way the old jade craftsman looked at her, as if he were looking at a complete idiot.

Originally, she hadn't intended to use the imitation jade from Li Jiaojiao.

He only wanted to smash the imitation jade when Li Jiaojiao came to ask for it back, thus ending Li Jiaojiao's hopes.

Unexpectedly, Li Zhiyuan actually provoked them!

And Li Jiaojiao...

If nothing unexpected happens, it was Li Jiaojiao who caused the oxcart to overturn.

A cold glint flashed in Ye Caiping's eyes; it wasn't just Li Jiaojiao who was vindictive!

Ye Caiping is one of them!

Ye Caiping picked up the imitation jade: "Li Jiaojiao, I need to make this clear to you before we make the deal. We both know the value of this jade. Its value is not in the jade itself, but in the emotions we have invested in it."

"We can't let you buy it and then feel like you got ripped off, and then come back and keep arguing. Fellow villagers, please be witnesses."

As he spoke, he raised the jade in his hand.

Li Jiaojiao was almost frantic, her hands clenched tightly: "Don't worry, I, Li Jiaojiao, keep my word."

"Okay, here you go." With that, he walked over.

Ye Caiping took the silver note, and Li Jiaojiao immediately snatched the jade away, her face full of excitement.

She was also cautious, and handed the jade to Li Zhiyuan: "Father, take a look, is this the one?"

Li Zhiyuan was almost suffocated by his own stench, and glanced at it, saying, "Yes, yes, yes."

Putting aside his current state, even if he were perfectly fine, he would only remember that the jade pendant was white with a slight yellow tinge and the words "Endless" were engraved on it; he wouldn't remember anything more.

Li Jiaojiao also felt that it couldn't be fake.

Buying the jade was a last-minute suggestion from her. Before that, Madam Ye had always worn it, unaware of her true purpose for the trip. Even if she really wanted to fake it, it was too late.

Ye Caiping put the money away: "The transaction is settled, hurry up and leave."

Li Jiaojiao quickly put the jade pendant around her neck, helped Li Zhiyuan, and left amidst a chorus of boos.

After the Li family of three left, the villagers immediately covered their noses and scattered.

If it weren't for watching a show, who would want to smell this shit?

...

It took Ye Caiping's family a full hour to clean the doorway.

Then, it took another half hour to take a shower and change clothes.

The men, on the other hand, had it easy; they went straight to the river to wash and haven't come back yet.

In the main room, Old Mrs. Ye sighed, "Although it sold for two hundred taels, it was a jade pendant... alas..."

Ye Caiping wouldn't tell her it was fake; she'd keep it to herself: "I'm fine. If Mother is really worried, why don't you go to a temple or Taoist monastery and ask her to get me another one?"

"Yes, how come I didn't think of that! We can ask for another one!" Old Mrs. Ye's eyes lit up. "That two hundred taels, we might as well make a profit."

Ye Caiping looked at Madam Du: "Now we have the money. Tomorrow I'll go to the money exchange and exchange it for silver, then I'll return it to my sister-in-law immediately."

She already had money; she earned one hundred taels from selling bottles a few days ago.

However, the money she earned from her business was less than thirty taels on the surface, so she couldn't easily take it out.

"Really? Really?" Madam Du was beaming with excitement. Soon, she would have thirty taels of silver! "Then I must hurry and find a husband for Yong'er!"

Just then, Old Man Ye and the other men, including Daquan and Erquan, returned from the river, draping their tattered coats over their shoulders as they spoke:

"That river is freezing cold."

Ye Caiping looked at their tattered clothes: "The weather is getting colder and colder, it's time to buy some fabric and make new clothes. I had the idea a few days ago, but I was too busy to remember."

Ye Daquan said, "No need, the clothes are warm enough."

“We don’t need them anymore, they’re all drafty.” Ye Caiping laughed. “I’ll go to town tomorrow and make two sets of clothes for everyone.”

Jin Hua, Yin Hua, and Jin'er, the sisters, all had their eyes light up; no woman doesn't love clothes.

With a mixture of anticipation and timidity, Madam Wei asked, "Little sister, did you send this to us?"

“Yes,” Ye Caiping smiled, “My parents and older brothers used to buy me fabric every year, and now I’m buying clothes for my parents and you, my brothers and sisters-in-law.”

Ye Daquan, who was reluctant to let Ye Caiping spend money and wanted to refuse, swallowed his words. For some reason, he suddenly felt spoiled by his little sister!

Grandma Ye and her husband were also very touched. They felt a little sorry for the money, but when they thought that Cai Ping had just earned two hundred taels, they didn't feel so bad.

"Let's go to town together to buy clothes tomorrow," Ye Caiping said.

Old Man Ye smiled and said, "You women can go, we men won't go."

"good."

Ye Jin'er looked worried: "We're going to set up a stall tomorrow..."

Ye Caiping said, "Let's not set it up for now, let's rest for three days."

Grandma Ye said, "You can rest in the county town, but the business in the town can't stop. Tomorrow you should take your two sisters-in-law and the girl with you. I'll make the soup. Jin'er can't go; she should stay home and recover from her injuries."

Whether it's seasoning or controlling the heat, Grandma Ye has perfectly replicated Ye Caiping's culinary skills.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mother."

Ye Jin'er pouted with regret, sighing, "Why did it have to happen now of all times?"

The Ye family was enjoying a harmonious atmosphere, while the Li family was in complete chaos.

...

After Li Zhiyuan and his two companions escaped from Qinghe Village, they wanted to get in the car and go home.

The oxcart driver covered his nose and refused to let him get on the cart, telling him to wash off the excrement first.

Li Zhiyuan had been proud for half his life and had never suffered such humiliation, but the excrement on his body was indeed extremely pungent.

Li Zhiyuan had no choice but to jump into the river to wash his dirty clothes.

Soaking in the icy river water, Li Zhiyuan's eyes were filled with resentment.

Only at this moment did he truly see that the Ye family had actually let him go!

Li Zhiyuan felt humiliated!

He should have abandoned her and divorced her! And yet she still can't forget him and longs to be back by his side every day—that's what's really going on!

That bitch, what right does she have...?

Hmph! You lowly woman! You ignorant, coarse peasant woman who can't recognize true value!

When Li Zhiyuan passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, then a high-ranking official, she will regret it!

He will repay her a thousandfold for the humiliation she suffered today!