Qin Xiaozhou returned home as if he had won a battle. During dinner, Zhao Fang was still shaken and couldn't help but comfort him, "Xiaozhou, those people said some nasty things, don't take it to heart."

These days, Zhao Fang has come to understand her daughter-in-law's personality better. She would never do anything like having an affair with another man; perhaps in her heart, making money is the most important thing.

Qin Xiaozhou picked up a piece of stir-fried pork for Qin Jinxiu, then turned around and saw Lu Yan also holding a bowl and looking at her expectantly. Helplessly, she picked up a piece for Lu Yan as well. Lu Yan then smiled and started eating. "Don't worry, although I'm not afraid of gossip, I don't like to cause any trouble."

She has always been very discreet in her actions, never going to narrow, secluded alleys, nor easily spending time alone with other men. She often lets Lu Yunfeng handle things, which is why she is dragging her feet and doesn't want a divorce now.

Lu Yunfeng is very useful, and there's no doubt he won't have any ulterior motives, which will save me a lot of trouble.

After thinking for a moment, she recounted the events of the day, along with their pros and cons, at the dinner table. Her main purpose was to educate Lu Yan and Qin Jinxiu, saying, "You two girls are growing up. You must think things through before you act. Remember not to easily come into contact with men outside your family. Men outside your family include anyone other than your own brothers and parents."

She doesn't care about gossip, but that doesn't mean everyone can get rid of it; staying away from it is the best approach.

Lu Yan tilted her head, "Can't my cousin or uncles do it?"

Qin Xiaozhou said firmly, "No, absolutely no intimate contact with other men. You can't hold hands, and you can't let them take off their clothes or hug you..."

"Oh dear!" Lu Yan exclaimed, blushing. Although she was still a bit confused, she vaguely knew some things that only adults did. At this moment, she wished she could drop her bowl and run away.

Zhao Fang blushed as well. Fortunately, it was just her family eating, while the employees were eating on the other side. Otherwise, she would have been mortified.

Qin Xiaozhou, however, did not let Qin Jinxiu and Lu Yan off easily, insisting that they say they remembered before releasing them.

"Why are you here so early? It's not even dark yet. Be careful not to be seen." Jinghe was hiding at the entrance to the side of Yifanfengshun store, very nervous. Fortunately, Qin Xiaozhou had planted two clumps of roses outside the entrance, which completely blocked the view inside.

"What are you afraid of? That Qin woman is a slut, the whole county knows about her. I'm warning you, don't you dare follow her example and seduce men everywhere, or I'll beat you to death." The skinny man snatched the oil paper package from her hand, very dissatisfied. "Why is there so little today? Did you sneak some? You damn woman, I'll teach you to be greedy."

Gousheng was Jinghe's ex-husband. He had sold his wife because of gambling, but unexpectedly, she was lucky enough to be bought back by Qin Xiaozhou. She ate and dressed well every day, so Gousheng set his sights on Jinghe, making her steal some leftover desserts and milk from the shop for him every day. This had gone undetected for three or four months, and Gousheng had become bolder. "You must remember, you are a slave now, but you still have children at home. If you try to fool me with this again tomorrow..."

Jinghe repeatedly dodged the question, saying, "No, I didn't steal any. Business was good today, so there shouldn't have been any left over. I secretly hid these after the shopkeeper went to the yamen."

"Then you can steal eggs and flour." Gou Sheng went too far. "I saw several bags of flour in the kitchen. You can scoop out a bowl of it for me every day, and no one will notice."

"No, Jingyue and the shopkeeper do all the kneading, I can't get involved..."

Gou Sheng slapped her across the face, yelling, "You filthy woman, you're living the high life in there while I and your son starve to death!"

Jinghe covered her face, thinking of the child. Yes, the Lu family was so rich. With just this one dessert shop, money came in like snow every day. Not to mention the clothing shop, the barbecue shop, the embroidery shop, and the trading market. They had more money than they could spend. A bowl of white noodles only cost a few coins. What was wrong with her taking a few coins a day?

"Okay, but you can only have one bowl of white flour a day, nothing else..."

"Can't what?" Qin Xiaozhou lay sprawled on the north wall, looking down at the two of them. This passage was originally used by carriages to cross between the two residences. Since the Lu family got a boat, they no longer used it. Qin Xiaozhou planted flowers there, but unexpectedly, it became a convenient hiding place for filth.

Jinghe's face turned deathly pale. "The shopkeeper? You, how could you..."

Qin Xiaozhou stretched out her hand and plucked a rose. "Hey, we've known about your petty theft for a while now. But since you usually only steal the leftover food from the shops, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. After all, it's only natural for a mother to want her son to eat his fill and not go hungry. But you're too greedy and don't know when to stop. That's not a good thing."

“I provide you with food and clothing and give you four hundred coins a month. Although four hundred coins is not much, it is barely enough to support two children. But you are greedy and want a bowl of white flour every day. Do you want to be a leech and suck my blood?”

Gou Sheng retorted, "You're so rich, what's wrong with giving us a bowl of flour? You can sell it to other people for 500 coins a month, but your family only gave my wife 400 coins last month. You're really heartless."

Jinghe originally wanted to stop them, but after hearing this, she fell silent. If making a scene could earn her an extra hundred coins a month, she would naturally be happy.

Jingyue stood at the entrance of the passageway, filled with righteous indignation. Although she and Jinghe were not from the same place, they had also suffered together for more than half a month in Zhang Yazi's hands before being sold back by Qin Xiaozhou. During those half a month, they were starving every day, always had endless work, and could be beaten if they were not careful. They originally thought they would die like that. It was Qin Xiaozhou who bought them. She never beat or scolded them, never made a fuss. They were well-fed and warmly dressed. She never dared to dream of such a peaceful life before.

But she never expected that the life-saving grace she thought she should repay with the rest of her life would turn out to be, in Jinghe's eyes, not a place to settle down and make a living, but merely a place to make money.

“Jinghe, you’re such an ingrate! Your husband sold you to pay off your gambling debts, and you’re still devoted to him. But the shopkeeper bought you and gave you food, drink and lodging, and you stole from her. People who can’t judge people well will never have a good ending.”

Jinghe hesitated for a moment, then weakly retorted, "This is my man, and I have a child. You have nothing, no man will marry you, you're a pitiful person, you don't understand."

Jingyue was so angry she almost vomited blood. Qin Xiaozhou wasn't much better off. Was someone who didn't have a man to marry pitiful? What kind of nonsense was that? "Fine, fine, you have a man to marry. Who in this world could be happier than you? I can't bear to stop you from pursuing happiness. Xiaoyan, return her indenture to her husband. Don't block others from pursuing happiness."

Lu Yan arrived quickly with the indenture, pouting and rolling her eyes, "Here, let's go."