The Shen Residence.
Lately, Shen Cheng Cai had been leaving early every morning to earn money copying books in town, only returning before dark.
Thus, when Aunt Zhao arrived at the Shen residence, she only found Shen Mother and Shen Wang.
"Elder sister Shen, you're home and idle? I just saw your third branch couple heading to the Sun family!"
Shen Mother, worried about the lack of rice at home, replied impatiently, "Don't mention those two to me. What Sun..."
Shen Mother suddenly paused and turned around in surprise, "What did you say? They went to the Sun family? Is it Sun Ming Da's home?"
"Which other Sun family could it be!" Aunt Zhao slapped her thigh, "I saw the third branch's wife carrying a large basket of things, including meat! But the Sun family didn't accept it and directly drove them out. Zhou Shi was pointing at Li Shi's nose and scolding her!"
Her demeanor was as if she had witnessed it herself.
Shen Mother didn't doubt it at all. After all, when Zhou Shi had come to ask for money, if it hadn't been for the eldest daughter-in-law's idea of pretending to commit suicide, she feared she would have truly been stripped bare by that little shrew Zhou Shi.
"Serves them right! That ungrateful, wicked woman, finally someone is dealing with her!" Shen Mother felt greatly relieved.
Shen Wang, overhearing the conversation, rushed over, "Mother, did that wicked woman Li Yue Shu go to the Sun family because of Sun Ming Da's broken leg?"
"What else could it be!" Shen Mother shot him a glare.
She said it with certainty, but Aunt Zhao remarked, "That's not necessarily true. I heard that the village chief mentioned something earlier, and I heard the Sun family was the only one that agreed."
"How could Zhou Shi agree?" Shen Mother was shocked.
Aunt Zhao was the most gossipy person in the village and the most well-informed, so Shen Mother naturally didn't suspect her.
Aunt Zhao pursed her lips, "That's what the village chief said. But looking at today, this matter seems unlikely."
"Whether she agrees or not! Mother, how could we forget such an important matter?" Shen Wang's eyes gleamed, his smooth chin pulled into a smile that looked somewhat frightening.
Aunt Zhao shivered and unconsciously took two steps back.
Shen Wang didn't notice her movement and smiled coldly, "Sun Ming Da's leg was broken because of third brother. Now that the third branch has separated, and Li Yue Shu is earning money, she should compensate the Sun family!"
Although Shen Mother agreed with this sentiment, she knew Li Yue Shu would never agree.
She frowned, "Zhou Shi is a stubborn person. She hasn't approached Li Yue Shu for over half a year. Would she be willing to go now?"
Shen Wang fell silent.
They were from the same village, and he clearly knew Zhou Shi's temperament.
But thinking of his own experiences, which were all fundamentally caused by that wicked woman Li Yue Shu, Shen Wang could not let it go.
"If Zhou Shi is unwilling, what about that old man from the Sun family?" Shen Wang chuckled sinisterly, "Old man Sun has always felt he was a burden to his son and daughter-in-law, and even said that if Zhou Shi remarried, he would send her off as a father."
"Now that there's an opportunity to help Zhou Shi, how could he possibly disagree!"
As if this plan was highly feasible, Shen Wang's eyes lit up, "Mother, I remember Father had a good relationship with old man Sun when he was alive. This matter still requires your involvement."
Aunt Zhao, listening to the mother and son's plotting, felt a chill down her spine.
"You... you two must not act foolishly. That Li Yue Shu is not easy to deal with."
She had only run to the Shen family because she had suddenly learned about Li Yue Shu and couldn't help but spread the news. She never intended to provoke discord within the Shen family, nor did she want Shen Wang and his mother to cause trouble for Li Yue Shu.
If Li Yue Shu were that easy to deal with, how could she have gone from having no money for a few coppers to opening a pharmacy and a restaurant now?
But Shen Wang and his mother had finally come up with a way to deal with Li Yue Shu and were not about to give up.
"Sister-in-law, if you have nothing else, you should go back. It's almost New Year, and everyone is busy," Shen Mother directly asked her to leave.
If it were usual, Aunt Zhao would have chatted a while longer before leaving. But at this moment, she didn't hesitate. Without even saying goodbye, she turned and left.
The mother and son paid no attention and continued to discuss their strategy.
Aunt Zhao ran home with a pounding heart, feeling that the Shen family people had all gone mad.
No matter how much a family argued, they wouldn't have the viciousness of Shen Wang and his mother, who seemed to wish for the other's life.
This family would undoubtedly cause many more troubles later.
Thinking of this, Aunt Zhao, whose emotions had gradually calmed down, suddenly became intrigued.
Oh, this was a grand drama! She had to share it with everyone quickly!
With this thought, before her backside had even warmed the stool, she immediately ran out again.
...
Li Yue Shu was completely unaware of these events. Upon returning home, she quickly retreated to her room and locked the door.
Seeing the untouched basket brought back, Aunt Liu guessed that the visit to the Sun family had not gone well.
Worried that Li Yue Shu had been wronged but afraid to ask, she could only inquire from Shen Wei.
Although Shen Wei couldn't articulate the entire event clearly, after spending a long time with him, one could understand his words.
However, after listening to Shen Wei's account, Yue Shu was not angry about Zhou Shi's malicious attitude. But her behavior of locking herself in her room upon returning clearly indicated otherwise.
Aunt Liu glanced at Shen Wei with a helpless sigh, "If I had known, I should have gone along. At least I could have seen exactly what happened."
Shen Wei, clearly sensing her lack of trust: "..."
It was quite tiring to pretend to be foolish and recount something in a jumbled mess while still making it understandable.
...
Li Yue Shu had been shut in her room with no signs of movement, but in reality, she had entered her space.
It wasn't until Mother Mo came to knock on her door to call her for dinner that she finally opened her room.
Because of Aunt Liu's reminder, Mother Mo had prepared herself to see Li Yue Shu in a low mood.
But the moment the door opened, she saw Li Yue Shu beaming with a smile, looking even a bit excited, and was stunned.
Li Yue Shu, not noticing her expression, happily went to eat.
At the dinner table, Aunt Liu was hesitating about how to speak when Li Yue Shu suddenly said, "Aunt Liu, Aunt Mo, let's go shopping a little every day for the next few days and buy all the things needed for the New Year in advance."
"Uncle Liu, you and Aunt Liu will spend the New Year with us this year!"
She remembered Aunt Liu mentioning that they only had one daughter who had married far away. Because she was doing business elsewhere, she couldn't come back once or twice a year, and usually just sent some money back.
New Year was a time for family reunion. It would be too lonely for just the couple at home.
Old Man Liu and his wife hadn't expected her to suddenly bring this up, and their noses felt slightly sore.
They knew that Yue Shu genuinely considered them family.
As the couple ate here for more than twenty days a month, they naturally didn't refuse.
Aunt Liu even patted her chest, "The New Year's Eve dinner will be my responsibility. I guarantee everyone will eat well!"