Also, my older brother is going to work today. Should we tell him before we go back?

He didn't have a key, lest he come back and be unable to get into his own home.

"Yes, he'll definitely be back today. Later I'll sort out his clothes and talk to him about it."

Xiaoyu, if you don't have anything to do right now, go and bring in the oilcloth, and cook some food while you're at it.

I'll sort out how to manage these people, and also wake them up, get to know them, and familiarize them with each other.

Oh, and give me fifty jin each of coarse grains and coarse flour, and also get me a big iron pot.

Besides, if we can buy some stones, we should buy a few too, so we can build a makeshift stove later, like for a picnic.

"Okay! I'll go out and get busy then. I won't cook. You can eat whatever you like when it's time."

I'll go wander around and see what's available for sale on the street.

"Um!"

Before leaving the space, Chi Yu went back to her room to check on her son.

Seeing that he was sitting on the ground having fun and that there was no danger to him, he left with peace of mind.

With so many people in the space ahead, and so many older brothers and sisters, the little one shouldn't be lonely!

Chi Dahu returned in the evening.

When he returned, Chi Yu had not yet come back, so he could only sit outside the door and wait.

He waited and waited, and when he finally saw the person return, he saw Chi Yu with a stern face.

"Little Fish, what's wrong?"

Chi Yu took two deep breaths and opened the door.

After going inside, she closed the door and waited until she reached the eaves before saying:

"Today, my second and third brothers both said they wanted to buy some incense, candles, and paper money to burn for our ancestors."

Tell them that you've made something of yourself, brother.

I figured the store didn't have many of these things left, so I wanted to buy more to take home.

Little did I know that when I entered the incense shop, finished negotiating with the shopkeeper, and was about to pay, that idiot Qi Mingyu showed up.

I don't know what got into him, but whenever he saw me, he would subtly or overtly make sarcastic remarks about me.

Seeing that I ignored him, he got even more aggressive and told the shopkeeper not to sell me anything.

Her words implied that I was unfaithful, that while he was focused on the imperial examinations and trying to secure a title for me, I was having an affair.

Hearing this, Chi Dahu was furious. His face darkened, and he grabbed Chi Yu and started walking out.

"Come on, I'll get revenge for you."

"That guy surnamed Qi, how dare he slander you like that! I'll beat him to a pulp!"

Chi Yu grabbed his hand and said, "Brother, by the time we get to the east of the city, the city gates will probably be closed."

Chi Dahu gritted his teeth and said, "Are we just going to let them go like this?"

“Of course not! He said I was having an affair with another man. I said he was despicable for having an affair with my deceased sister-in-law.”

He said his sister-in-law had died, and I just blurted it out; I don't even spare the dead.

Then I didn't want to waste any more words with him.

If that shop won't sell me anything, I simply won't buy it.

Qi Mingyu, I will never let him get away with this!

Before I came back, I went to the government office.

Chi Dahu was taken aback: "Go to the yamen? You went to file a complaint with the authorities?"

"Of course not! Why bother taking this kind of verbal sparring to the authorities?"

I went to find the yamen runners to find out who the local thugs and ruffians were in Anping County, and who was reliable.

Since ancient times, money has always made things easier.

Why don't I spend some money to have someone stand up for me?

Qi Mingyu was just a mere scholar, yet he thought he was something special.

I'm determined to cut off his path.

What he relied on was passing the imperial examination to become a scholar.

I need to call him, but he can't participate!

So, I spent five taels of silver to buy one of his hands, his right hand, no less!