Zhang Shuiniang gave a soft snort:

“I’m not an unreasonable person. Before you go to settle accounts with her, tell me first. Do you think I can stop you?”

Li Zhiyuan was taken aback, feeling flattered and overwhelmed.

Who would have thought that the usually proud and aloof Shui Niang would have such an understanding side?

He couldn't help but recall the scene when he first met her.

He was thirteen years old that year, just an ordinary farm boy in the village.

One day, a family of outsiders, surnamed Zhang, suddenly moved into the village.

It is said that the Zhang family owned 50 mu of land, 30 pigs, 2 cows, and 3 servants. They also had a shop in the county and were extremely wealthy.

The brick and tile house was built very tall and was divided into two sections.

Once the gate closed, it locked their view, concealing a wealth they could never reach.

The entire Zhang family was shrouded in mystery and nobility.

Li Zhiyuan first met Zhang Shuiniang one afternoon.

I still remember that the Zhang family's gate was wide open and a twelve-year-old girl walked out from inside.

She wore an exquisite and gorgeous pink dress, adorned with pearl flowers in her hair, and her pretty face was slightly tilted up, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, exuding an air of haughtiness and aloofness.

She walked out of the gate, twirling her handkerchief.

A maid followed behind her, and the two of them walked in one after the other, exuding an air of grandeur.

The little girl walking along the village road was the most beautiful scenery and scene he had ever seen.

At that moment, he froze, along with the other boys from his village who were with him, all staring blankly at her.

But the next moment, something even more astonishing happened.

Because her maid called her!

Guess what the maid called her?

The maid actually called her "Miss"!

Miss, what a beautiful and lovely word!

He had previously read some picture books about talented men and beautiful women, which often mentioned rich young ladies.

Now, he has actually met someone who can be called "Miss".

She was so noble and beautiful, as high and unattainable as the moon in the sky or the sun in the clouds, leaving him only able to worship her.

She was the young lady of the maidservant, the young lady of the Zhang family, and the young lady of the entire Li family village.

Everyone who sees her respectfully addresses her as "Miss".

She was the goddess in the dreams of every boy in the village; no one could resist her charm.

Li Zhiyuan was the same; he was madly infatuated with her.

She was proud and aloof, never saying a word to them.

He knew she looked down on them, but he was happy to be looked down upon by her.

At the age of sixteen, he even dared to ask the Zhang family for a marriage proposal, but in the end, the matchmaker he hired couldn't even get through the Zhang family's door.

She later got married and disappeared from his sight forever.

After despair, he could only accept his fate.

He needed someone to serve him, so he reluctantly married Ye.

But his heart always held that little girl, his mistress, his goddess.

A few years ago, he learned that she was not doing well after getting married, and that her husband's family had fallen into ruin.

The little girl in his heart was living a life worse than pigs and dogs; it was like stabbing him in the heart.

He rushed over to her like a madman, constantly helping her.

Later, she finally got rid of the Sun family, and coincidentally, he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar!

This is truly a double celebration!

He thought, this is God's blessing! It finally gave him the confidence to ask her for her hand in marriage.

He even felt a little smug, thankful that she had been married before, otherwise he would never have been good enough for her and would never have had the chance to marry her.

After the marriage, his mistress returned!

So arrogant, noble, and aloof, and then there's his little quirk that we only find out about later!

They are all so charming and lovely.

As if hearing his innermost thoughts, Zhang Shuiniang's soft voice rang in his ear:

"Zhiyuan, before Futou Mountain, I never knew you existed."

Futou Mountain was the first place where he helped her.

Li Zhiyuan said urgently, "I know there are too many people who are obsessed with you. You have no idea how insignificant I am. Shui Niang, I know you don't love me or care about me. As long as you stay by my side, that will be my greatest happiness."

Zhang Shuiniang curled the corners of her lips: "Who said that? Actually... I still care about you a little. After all, you've helped me so much, Jiaojiao and Zimo like you, and we're still husband and wife."

Li Zhiyuan was secretly disappointed. Only the bond between husband and wife? However, he was already quite satisfied with this.

How could an ordinary mortal like him possibly expect the love of a goddess!

Li Zhiyuan felt a surge of infatuation and passion, and he picked up Zhang Shuiniang and carried her to the bedside.

"What are you doing in broad daylight?" Zhang Shuiniang asked, both angry and annoyed.

"Perform the rites of husband and wife!"

Li Jiaojiao and Li Ziming had already left, leaving only the two of them in the room, getting intimate.

Li Jiaojiao returned to her room and quietly looked at the jade.

What's wrong? I just don't feel like she's that attractive anymore.

Wear it for now, and I believe her opportunity will come in a few days.

She carefully put on the jade pendant and looked out the window toward Qinghe Village.

The two families keep to themselves and let bygones be bygones.

Ha, how could that be!

Although her father was wrong about what happened today, it was just a momentary lapse in judgment.

The Li sisters are, after all, their father's biological daughters. If they are unwilling to give him the prescription, they can simply appease the group of scholars first and then explain the situation to their father in private.

They're not unreasonable people!

Why be so aggressive and cause such a scene, ruining Dad's reputation?

This matter could even affect my father's imperial examination, which is a life-altering event!

Even strangers wouldn't do such a thing. Those two sisters are your own daughters, how could you be so cruel!

And that Ye woman, last time when we were digging for ginseng, I thought she was a reasonable person!

Who would have thought, he was just as clueless! Not only did he not teach the sisters a lesson, he even helped them fight against them!

In the end, they even swindled her out of two hundred taels of silver!

Hmph, she won't let this go so easily!

When she becomes rich and powerful, that will be the time she crushes the Ye family into dust!

...

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Ye Caiping, Du Shi, Wei Shi, Jin Hua, Yin Hua, Jin Er, and Huan Er stood neatly at the crossroads waiting for the oxcart.

"Sister, are your legs okay?" Ye Huan'er asked.

Ye Jin'er moved her legs: "It's fine, just a little sore, but it's okay."

Ye Caiping glared at her: "I told you not to come, but you insisted."

"Mother..." Ye Jin'er tugged at her sleeve with a grin, "This is about choosing fabric and buying clothes, I must go."

God knows how appealing buying clothes is to girls. And her legs are really much better; there's only a slight pain.

Soon, Ye Bajin's oxcart arrived, with Ye Daquan still sitting on it.

This is from the town; I just delivered the spicy soup to the town.

"Sister Caiping, where are you going..."

"Let's go to town and buy some things."

Seeing that no one in the village was riding in an oxcart anymore, Ye Bajin smiled and said, "Get in the cart quickly."

Ye Daquan waved to the oxcart that was gradually disappearing into the distance. He couldn't go; he still had to fetch water and make soup for his mother.