After what happened before, the reputation of the second branch of the Han family in the village became increasingly distrusted, and even scholars like Han An became unpopular.
However, this family did not learn their lesson after their imprisonment, especially Han Quan, who even colluded with Lu Silong, a human trafficker who came out with them.
On this day, Cui Yulu turned 18, which meant that her relationship with Han Yu'an could develop further. However, Han Yu'an seemed to have made some kind of decision. These days, he actually moved Cui Yulu's bedding to his grandmother's room, saying that it would affect his studies.
The family was also puzzled by this.
However, this aroused Cui Yulu's inferiority complex. Han Yu'an was naturally a dragon among men and was more likely to become a key minister in the court in the future, while she was just a maid who was brought here to bring good luck. She wondered where she would have a place in the future. So she worked even harder to earn money.
Having money to spare would be great, and becoming the richest person in the future wouldn't be bad either.
"Yu'an, what do you mean by this? Yulu is already an adult, don't you plan to have her?"
Grandma Liu Xiuying pulled him into her room for a heart-to-heart talk.
"Grandma, all I want to do now is study hard and pass the imperial examinations. Isn't that Father's wish?"
"Passing the imperial examinations is important, of course, but you still need a wife. What's the meaning of the two of you acting like this?"
Liu Xiuying asked in bewilderment, "Many people only passed the imperial examinations after they had children, and that didn't prevent them from becoming officials."
“Grandma, what I want is to be on equal footing with Yulu. I want to protect her with my own hands, instead of always having her protect me.”
Liu Xiuying finally understood her grandson's idea and had no choice but to nod in agreement. However, a bad feeling was rising in her heart, and she didn't know how to tell her grandson.
"Grandma, if there's nothing else, I'm going to study."
Han Yu'an got up to say goodbye to his grandmother and returned to his room. Cui Yulu was not there, and the room was quiet.
Before they knew it, the first heavy snow of the winter arrived in Linshui Village. Lin Yun had visited several more times, each time bringing Cui Yulu some new gadgets. Each time, Cui Yulu would bring back some of her self-developed antidote to slow down the onset of Fu Xiaoyu's poisoning, but she had never seen Fu Xiaoyu.
"Sister-in-law, have you heard? Many livestock have frozen to death in the foreign lands because of the heavy snow. They have no food to eat and have declared war on our border. I guess our good days are over."
Han Chunying pulled a roasted sweet potato out of the fire and blew on it repeatedly.
Upon hearing this news, Cui Yulu felt a bit annoyed. She regretted saving Tuoba Xuan in the first place. She guessed that Fu Xiaoyu was probably at the border these days, and she wondered how he was doing.
"And there's something even more interesting. The men from the second branch of the Han family were attacked by wolves while chopping wood on the mountain. They were seriously injured. If you ask me, they deserved it. They've been bullying us all these years. Now it's finally their turn to suffer. It's truly gratifying."
Cui Yulu glanced at the sleeping meat bun on the ground. How could it be such a coincidence? Perhaps it had something to do with the meat bun.
The little bun sensed its owner watching it, simply opened one wise, silver-gray eye, yawned at her, and turned its head back to continue sleeping.
That seemed to mean, "Yes, I told my father and the others, and they did it. They were just trying to teach their family a lesson for bullying their master."
Because of the heavy snow, the family didn't go out; they just sat around the stove drinking tea, eating melon seeds, and chatting.
"Sister-in-law, are you really going to open a clinic in town next spring? How about I help you out?"
"Of course, but I don't know if your aunt will let them go."
Liu Meie glanced at Han Chunying without saying a word. A daughter is meant to stay at home when she grows up, and she's had enough of this village. It would be nice if she could go to the city.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, my mother won't object. I'll help you out. You can teach me about herbs, and the two of us sisters will make the clinic thrive."
"Hmph, you two can't even read a single word, you'll still get swindled to death."
Liu Meie's words were a wake-up call, finally bringing the two dazed people to their senses.
"Sister-in-law, didn't you ask your third brother to teach you to read? Why haven't I seen you studying?"
Liu Meie nudged her daughter, who was unaware of their affair, so it was best not to bring up such painful memories.
"Because I'm stupid, and your brother doesn't want to teach me. It's okay, we'll find a tutor to teach us later."
Han Chunying nodded in agreement, then suddenly looked up and saw that the snow outside had stopped, so she got up and ran outside.
"You brat, where are you going again? Why are you running around in this snowy weather?"
"Mother, I'm going to go see Dujuan and check on her little nephew. I'll be back in a bit."
Han Chunying ran out as she spoke, but Liu Meie stopped her.
"Wait a moment. It's cold outside, and they probably don't have much food. Take these things with them so the children won't go hungry."
Han Chunying looked at the steamed buns, pork, roasted chestnuts, and melon seeds in her hand. Which of these was suitable for a child to eat?
However, she didn't care about any of that and skipped and hopped towards Dujuan's house.
The snow had fallen overnight and for half a day, and was already ankle-deep. Han Chunying trudged forward through the snow, her steps uneven.
Just as they were about to reach Dujuan's house, they suddenly heard a string of curses.
"Get out, get out, you stinking beggar! I don't know you at all, get out of here right now!"
The voice belonged to none other than Han Jinling, though no one knew who she was cursing.
Han Chunying was curious about who had made Han Jinling curse like that, so she secretly hid behind the woodpile to peek.
A thinly dressed man with a pale face was being driven away by Han Jinling.
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