After dinner, Shi Lan made the bed and turned to see Mo Yun sitting at the table as if writing something. She asked, "What are you doing?"
Mo Yun carefully collected the last two strokes, dried them, and then folded them up.
"It's nothing, just letting my old brothers know I'm safe so they won't worry."
Shi Lan nodded nonchalantly, smoothed out the bedding, and said, "Should I still invite Granny Liu to the Yuan family?"
Mo Yun said, "Yu Xiu is determined to marry into the Yuan family, so it's good to go and ask. However, it's best not to make a big fuss and to test the Yuan family's attitude first."
Shi Lan nodded and straightened the bedding. "Then I'll talk to Aunt Liu tomorrow and see what she says."
Mo Yun climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), leaned over the oil lamp, and its light flickered twice before plunging the room into darkness. Shi Lan had been running around outside all afternoon and was so tired that she closed her eyes. Soon, she was overcome with sleepiness. She vaguely heard Mo Yun ask her in a low voice, "Wife, do you regret marrying me?"
Shi Lan, her eyes still covered, asked, "What did you say?"
Mo Yun paused for a moment, then said, "It's nothing."
Shi Lan was so sleepy that she didn't think much about it and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, Mo Yun took Uncle Wang out. Shi Lan tidied up the house, told Aunt Wang, and went to Aunt Liu's house to tell her about Zhou Yuxiu's decision and ask her to help tell Granny Liu to cancel the marriage with that other family.
Aunt Liu was very surprised to hear that Zhou Yuxiu had chosen Yuan Lang.
The young scholar from the Yuan family was praised by his teacher and was destined for great things. How could Zhou Yuxiu, an orphan, be worthy of him?
She really dares to think outside the box.
Shi Lan also felt that Zhou Yuxiu was deliberately making things difficult for her. Her sixth aunt said, "Does this Zhou family girl have any other relatives? If not, let's send her somewhere else. It's not that we don't care about her, but if we really can't take care of her, then there's nothing we can do."
Shi Lan didn't speak. Mo Yun had mentioned this before, but it was just to appease her. If Zhou Yuxiu were to move far away, Mo Yun probably wouldn't feel at ease. In that case, it would be better to marry her off and get it over with once and for all.
Sixth Aunt only mentioned it briefly. Seeing that Shi Lan didn't respond, she thought to herself that this niece-in-law was really a kind person. But thinking of how difficult that girl was, she sighed again, "Alright, then I'll go to the Yuan family first to sound them out and see what Yuan Lang's mother thinks."
Shi Lan nodded and thanked her repeatedly.
After seeing off Shi Lan, who felt extremely apologetic, Aunt Liu rubbed her face.
Everyone in the surrounding villages knows how formidable Yuan's mother is, but what can they do? They owe Mo Yun a debt, and she always tries to make up for it in any way she can. She can only endure these grievances.
By passing the difficult problem to her sixth aunt, Shi Lan felt much more at ease. After all, she had taken the matter seriously, so if it didn't work out, she couldn't be blamed.
If Zhou Yuxiu dares to cause any trouble, she shouldn't blame her for being impolite.
A ruthless glint flashed in Shi Lan's eyes. At this point, although there was no concrete evidence, the only one who could ignore other well-off families and single-mindedly pursue Mo Yun was that evil creature.
Back home, Shi Lan glanced at the quiet east wing and went to the kitchen to find Aunt Wang.
"Has Yuxiu had breakfast yet?"
Aunt Wang pursed her lips, "I used it, and I ate quite a bit of it."
Shi Lan felt a bit frustrated. She had been busy with her affairs, while Shi Lan was eating and drinking well and living a carefree life.
"Go and call her over. She's always so idle. When she gets married, she won't know anything and will only make people complain about me."
Aunt Wang had long disliked Zhou Yuxiu's pretentious manner, which was even more arrogant than Shi Lan's. Upon receiving Shi Lan's order, she went to the east wing and knocked loudly on the door.
Shi Lan moved a small stool, sat down to pick vegetables, and vaguely heard two people talking. After a while, she saw Zhou Yuxiu stomping her feet as she walked in.
"Sister-in-law, aren't you two doing these chores quite well? Why do I have to do them?"
Shi Lan forcefully tore the vegetable leaves in her hand in half and threw them into the basin beside her, saying, "Yu Xiu, these things shouldn't be taught to me, but since your elder brother has entrusted you to your husband, then as his wife, I can't help but say a few words to you."
Yu Xiu pursed her lips when she heard Shi Lan's long speech.
Shi Lan continued calmly, "You're not young anymore, and you're determined to marry Yuan Lang. The Yuan family's financial situation is what it is; they can't possibly hire anyone to help with housework. And you're so incapable of doing any housework. If you marry into their family, we, as your maternal family, will certainly be ridiculed by others, and you yourself will not be liked by your mother-in-law. Your life will be difficult then."
Yu Xiu stood there lazily, arms crossed.
Shi Lan narrowed her eyes as she looked at Yu Xiu, who was tilting her head and remained unmoved.
Knowing that her mother-in-law doesn't like her, she still doesn't care. Does she have something to rely on?
Shi Lan thought about it for a moment and suddenly understood. She probably thought that the Yuan family would not agree to marry her into the family.
Shi Lan pursed her lips, then changed the subject: "Of course, we haven't gone to the Yuan family to discuss it yet, so it's uncertain whether it will work out. Even if it doesn't, my husband and I have already discussed it, and we'll buy a small courtyard in the village, and you can move there before winter..."
“I’m not moving out,” Zhou Yuxiu interrupted before Shi Lan could finish speaking.
Shi Lan felt certain that she had guessed correctly; that was indeed her plan. She felt even more disgusted.
Seeing Shi Lan's impatient expression, Zhou Yuxiu realized that her trick might have been seen through. Thinking about Shi Lan's actions these past few days, she couldn't help but feel a sense of despair, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Why do you always try to separate me and Brother Mo? I didn't mean to possess him. During this time, I've made concessions step by step, just wanting to stay by his side and be able to see him every day. Is that not even allowed?"
Shi Lan slowly stood up, her elegant face showing a calm and resolute expression. "No, I can help you find a wealthy family, help you prepare your dowry, and help you have a grand wedding. But this is absolutely not allowed. There can only be one person standing by his side, and that person is me."
Although Shi Lan was slender, she was not short. She stood there calmly, exuding an aura of unwavering composure, as if she could withstand any wind or rain.
Zhou Yuxiu was so overwhelmed that she couldn't help but take a half step back, and finally covered her mouth and ran back.
Aunt Wang, who had been standing by the door, sighed and said, "Why would such a good girl be so foolish as to want to become a concubine?"
Shi Lan sat down again and slowly picked up the vegetable leaves, saying, "Everyone has different thoughts. We can't stop others from thinking. All we can do is believe. I believe in my husband's heart for me. As long as he doesn't leave me, I won't abandon him."
Shi Lan was picking vegetables with her head down when she looked up when Aunt Wang didn't respond. She saw a tall, strong figure standing by the door, with deep black eyes and a faint starlight in them.
Shi Lan was instantly embarrassed, wondering how long he had been standing there and whether he had heard what he had just said.
Mo Yun took a deep breath, strode forward, and pulled her into his arms.
"Lan Niang, as long as I have a breath left, I will never leave you," he hugged Shi Lan tightly, as if he wanted to embed her into his body, "You must also keep your word and not abandon me."
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