Ling Feng, who was driving the horse carriage outside, couldn’t help but frown when he heard the sharp and harsh scolding, but he still said, "It’s here."
The fence around the yard was very low, only about one meter high. From his position on the carriage, Mu Houchu could see into the yard. His gaze swept across, and he saw a girl stopping at the door of a thatched house in the corner of the yard. Her agile eyes were flashing with a familiar cunning, like a little fox who had just gotten away with something.
Unconsciously smiling, Mu Houchu recognized her as Ji Xinhe.
Just as Ji Xinhe was about to push the door and enter, she suddenly sensed a gaze from behind and turned her head. Mu Houchu had already lowered the curtain before she could see him, and all she saw was a slowly passing carriage making creaking noises on the muddy country path.
Ji Xinhe frowned with suspicion, as no one in their village seemed wealthy enough to afford a horse carriage.
However, she had no time to guess who it was and went directly into the house.
"Sister, I’m so glad you’re back. I was so scared by their yelling that I was just about to go look for you!" Ji Xiaobei dashed to Ji Xinhe the moment she entered the house, looking extremely worried.
"Don’t worry, she can’t do anything to me! We won’t have to send them any more food in the future. She herself said she didn’t want it. If she ever tries to pressure us with filial piety again, we won’t be afraid of her!" Ji Xinhe snorted.
Ji Xinhe’s goal was to teach Lady Ding a lesson and be more assertive this time. If she didn’t, Lady Ding would keep coming to cause trouble. Ji Xinhe couldn’t afford to waste her time on people like her.
What’s most important now is making money!
It was not a long-term solution to live in poverty. Ji Xinhe couldn’t bear to see her younger brother’s skinny frame and decided to go up the mountain that afternoon.
Upon hearing this, Ji Dong immediately disapproved, "No way! You want to go hunting alone in the mountains again? You were lucky last time and weren’t hurt, but this is not a joke. Girls like you shouldn’t be doing such things; it won’t be good for when you get married."
Since his sister was fifteen, Ji Dong had been thinking about making money to prepare her dowry and find her a good husband. If she engaged in hunting, who would want a bold and aggressive wife?
Ji Xinhe knew Ji Dong’s attitude, and she had no plans to go hunting again. It was late autumn, and there were fewer wild animals on the cold mountain. Besides, hunting was not a stable source of income. She needed another way to make money.
"Don’t worry, brother. I was scared half to death when I hunted the wild boar last time. I won’t take that risk again. I just want to see if there are any wild vegetables to dig up on the mountain." Ji Xinhe said with a smile.
Ji Dong finally agreed, "Alright, I’ll go buy bricks and tiles to prepare for the heating mattress pad repair tomorrow. You, go with Xiaobei to the back mountain, and don’t venture too far."
"Alright!" Ji Xinhe eagerly ran off with Xiaobei.
It was the afternoon, and most villagers were idle at home since the busy farm season had just ended. Many took advantage of the warm sun and were enjoying the outdoors.
"Hey, Xinhe, what are you doing?" Aunt Lin, their neighbor, called out warmly.
"Aunt Lin, I’m going up the mountain to dig some wild vegetables." Ji Xinhe pinched Xiaobei’s hand and told him to call out.
Then, Xiaobei shyly whispered, "Auntie Lin."
Due to being bullied when he was young, Xiaobei was very introverted and afraid of strangers. Ji Xinhe still wanted to make him more outgoing, and even planned to send him to school if she could make some money by next year. With his introverted personality, he would not fit in well with the group and be easily bullied.
Aunt Lin smiled and patted Xiaobei’s head, "This child used to be so quiet and didn’t like to speak. Now he can call people. Are you going up the mountain now? I heard you are repairing your house today."
"Yes, it’s almost done. Jin Bao and others came to help. Since there’s nothing else to do this afternoon, I’m going to the mountain to dig for wild vegetables." Ji Xinhe replied with a smile.
Aunt Lin hesitated for a moment before lowering her voice and asking, "I heard your mother’s shouting from far away earlier. You... "
Ji Xinhe knew that once the villagers had some free time, they became extremely curious.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t annoyed by it. Who doesn’t have some curiosity in their hearts?
Ji Xinhe sighed, "Aunt Lin, you know my mother’s temper. She’s easily angered, and even my dad can’t control her." Ji Xinhe wouldn’t defend Lady Ding in this favorable situation.
Aunt Lin frowned and nodded, "That’s true, she has a terrible temper. No one in the village dares to provoke her. But today, she seemed angrier than usual."
"It’s because I wanted to show filial piety to the family even after separating from them. So I sent two pancakes to them after eating. My mother said she didn’t like those messy things and threw them away. She was really angry. I’m thinking that we won’t send anything over in the future, so as not to make them angry." Ji Xinhe said, her expression turning sad.
Aunt Lin’s eyes widened in anger, "I’ve never seen such unkind parents!"
Feeling her words were too harsh, she awkwardly laughed, "Well, Xinhe, don’t take it to heart. I was just talking." She probably thought that despite being their parents, it was inappropriate to criticize them in front of the children.
Ji Xinhe didn’t mind at all. She accomplished her goal by making everyone aware that Lady Ding and Ji Dashan had lost the people’s favor in the village. They couldn’t use filial piety to pressure her in the future.
"It’s okay, Aunt Lin just wants the best for me." Ji Xinhe said obediently, eliciting a sympathetic look from Aunt Lin and causing her to curse Lady Ding and Ji Dashan under her breath.
Ji Xinhe chuckled secretly before hearing people discussing something not too far away.
"Have you heard? A wealthy family moved into our village, and they bought the long-vacant mansion in the east. Who knows who they are? Such a big event and there wasn’t even a whisper—so strange."
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