Thinking about it, I just blurted it out.

"That's great, it would be so comfortable to make a mattress on it. I've been sleeping on this kang (heated brick bed) for the past few days and it's been so uncomfortable, my whole body aches!"

Upon hearing this, the Liu brothers looked at her as if she were a monster, then at Xiao Yi.

Xie Yushu was also puzzled

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Xiao Yi hurriedly said

"No problem, women are naturally sensitive to the cold, so this will be perfect as a mattress!"

The Liu brothers' faces contorted in pain.

"Girl, this tiger skin is worth quite a bit! Selling it and buying a few acres of land is the best way to make a living. Otherwise, with only this tiny plot of land in your yard, what will you eat all year round? We country folk only have land to rely on!"

Xie Yushu then realized that the two brothers were annoyed by her spending money too much, and waved her hand dismissively.

“There’s no need to sell the tiger skin. I’ve collected some medicinal herbs, which can be exchanged for several acres of land! Besides, Xiao Yi’s legs aren’t good, so he can’t farm much land. Buying two or three acres will be enough for him to grow! And enough to eat!”

"If we can't plant it ourselves, we can hire someone to plant it! If all else fails, we brothers will lend a hand! As long as we have land in our hands, we'll feel more at ease!"

The Liu brothers grew anxious when Xie Yushu wouldn't listen. Knowing that the two brothers genuinely cared for her, Xie Yushu explained...

"Third and fourth brothers of the Liu family, I know you mean well, but you also know that my parents-in-law, Xiao Yi's parents, are extremely biased. Xiao Yi had ten acres of land before, didn't they all take it and give it to the fourth brother?"

You think I can keep all the land I buy? It'll just benefit someone else! Three or five acres are enough for us to eat!

"Well, sigh! It's true, no matter how capable we are, we really can't do anything with an old woman! Fine, whatever you want!"

Xie Yushu wasn't helpless against them; she just wanted some peace and quiet!

Moreover, she prefers practicing medicine to farming!

"By the way, besides sending the hides, my brother also asked me to inquire about our plans to go to Jinyang City the day after tomorrow to sell the things we brought from the mountains for money and buy some rice and grain!"

The entire Tai'an Prefecture is suffering from a severe drought. If we want to sell our goods at a high price and buy some cheap grain, we can only go to Jinyang City in the neighboring prefecture! That's the closest city to Tai'an Prefecture! If that doesn't work, we'll have to go south! Are you going or not?”

"go!"

Xie Yushu answered without the slightest hesitation.

Xiao Yi wanted to stop him, but considering their current situation, how would they survive the winter if they didn't exchange for some food? He had no choice but to change his mind and say...

"On this journey, we will inevitably encounter disaster victims and even bandits. Although it has rained, we still have no food! We must send more people and bring weapons for self-defense, just in case!"

“My dad and older brother said the same thing, which is why they asked us brothers to come out and make contacts! We also need to visit other families to let them know. By the way, ask Uncle Xie and Brother Tianqi if they want to go. It would be best if they went together, so we can all look out for each other!”

"Okay, I'll go back and ask in a bit! Where's the meeting point?"

"The day after tomorrow, at 5:15 AM, the journey will take about seven or eight days, and the round trip will probably take twenty days! Bring food and water! And things for self-defense!"

"OK!"

After the Liu brothers left, Xiao Yi spoke somewhat hesitantly.

"You've suffered because of my parents' situation!"

"Your parents? They favor your fourth brother?"

What grievances have I suffered?

They're not my parents, and I don't need their things! If anyone's feeling wronged, it's you! After all, they don't like you! Without you, what do I have to do with them?

Xiao Yi was first surprised, then said dejectedly.

"I don't want anything from them! There's nothing wrong with me!"

Noticing Xiao Yi's low spirits, Xie Yushu wondered if she had been too harsh with her words!

But what she said was true, and she didn't want to apologize, so she changed the subject.

"I'm going home to ask my father if he's going to Jinyang. You go and tell your older brother and the others!"

Oh, and make sure you put my tiger skin away safely. If someone takes it, I'll hold you accountable!

"Don't worry, no one can take what I don't want anyone to take!"

After Xiao Yi finished speaking, he took the tiger skin and went back into the house. Xie Yushu cut a piece of honeycomb, put it in her basket, and carried it back to Xie Family Village!

Guided by memory, they found the original owner's house, but before even entering the gate, they heard sharp, reprimanding voices coming from within.

"No wonder the widow has no manners!"

The brat she raised is just like that!

Beating up the elder sister, being an insubordinate, daring to steal our Yu Jiao's water, and then turning around and biting us—this vicious thing should be beaten to death according to the clan rules!

"You two are just as bad, raised without any manners! You've disgraced the Xie family!"

Xie Yushu, who was about to enter the house, stopped outside the door. This was the clan chief's wife, the original owner's eldest grandmother, Ma, who often scolded their family!

Just as Xie Yujiao was about to push the door open, someone else spoke.

"That's right! Don't blame my mother for scolding you, you're all just too outrageous. Xie Yushu bullied Yujiao, and you two uncles, Xie Baotian and Xie Baoshu, are so cruel! In such hot weather, Yujiao was so hot in the mountains that she was dizzy, and she asked you for a drink of water, but you wouldn't even give her one. Yujiao is your own niece! How could you be so heartless! Waaah..."

This is Xie Yujiao's mother, Zhu Shi.

"Alas! I have failed our ancestors! The second son is gone, and I failed to raise his children well! It is my fault! My uncles, I will go to the ancestral hall to kneel as punishment later."

However, these people cannot be ignored. They are already so ruthless and disregard brotherhood. If left unchecked, who knows what heinous things they might do!

According to clan rules, Xie Baotian and Xie Baoshu shall each receive twenty strokes of the cane! Madam Lu has failed in her duty to discipline her daughter; she shall be slapped twenty times!

This is clan chief Xie Dafu.

After Da Fu finished speaking, the room fell silent. After a few breaths, Zhu Shi spoke again.

“Father, uncles, I have no say in men’s affairs. In this clan, I have always been the one to punish women who make mistakes!”

Although Madam Lu was at fault, she is still a woman and easily embarrassed, so let's not drag her to the ancestral hall! As her cousin-in-law, I can't bear to see her go out and be laughed at, so let's just beat her here!

Having received a signal from Madam Ma, Madam Zhu rolled up her sleeves, grabbed Madam Lu, and slapped her hard across the face! With a loud crack, blood appeared at the corner of Madam Lu's mouth!

Zhu was already angry that they dared to bully her daughter. Now that she had finally caught Lu, she beat her with all her might!

"mother!

"The child's mother!"

Xie Yushu originally wanted to see just how shameless the clan leader's family was, but she didn't expect Zhu Shi to be so unscrupulous, resorting to violence without warning! She immediately kicked open the door!

The people in the courtyard were stunned! They all looked towards the main gate!

Xie Yushu also saw the situation in the courtyard. Her mother, Lu Shi, was knocked to the ground, and her father, brothers, and younger brothers were all surrounding her, pulling Zhu Shi away! Her grandmother and her second uncle's family stood with their heads bowed below Xie Dafu, looking at Lu Shi with concern and pleading.

In stark contrast to them were Xie Dafu, Ma Shi, and several clan elders, who sat calmly in the middle of the courtyard, with their children, grandchildren, and daughters-in-law standing behind them. Their entourage was far more impressive than that of a county magistrate presiding over a case!