Chen Yuezhi laughed, "What nonsense is that? Even though Qiao Xiu has joined the family, she's just a young bride, how much can she help with the chores?"
"Hongye, if you don't have any new tasks, I still hope you can stay and continue to help. A'luo is due to give birth in a little over a month, and I can't rest easy leaving Qiao Xiu to look after her."
Wang Hongye quickly nodded, "As long as sister-in-law trusts me, I'll stay."
Chen Yuezhi smiled and patted her arm, "Then it's settled."
She was very satisfied with Wang Hongye as a helper. She was efficient, clean, and not talkative, with a tight tongue.
After seeing Chen Yuezhi off, Wang Hongye went back to pack her things, and Zhang Qiao Xiu also came to help.
Da Lang called Er Lang to the fields. Jiang Wan, seeing nothing else to do, took her horse and went to the county.
Along the way, she was very vigilant, asking the little horse to constantly watch her surroundings.
She was afraid of those men in black following her in secret.
Fortunately, everything was normal, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Gu Chenzhou had been lying in the inn for several days. He couldn't stand it anymore, so he asked Yuan Bao to help him up and place him on a chair by the window. He opened the window to look outside.
As soon as Jiang Wan arrived, she sent Yuan Bao away.
"Last night, a group of men in black burned down your and your master's house, and then searched every household in the village. They were probably looking for you."
Gu Chenzhou's heart tightened, "No one got hurt, right?"
Jiang Wan shook her head, "Those people probably didn't want to alarm anyone. After finding nothing, they left. Gu Chenzhou, where do you think is the safest place? I want to move you."
This inn was bustling with people. If those men in black discovered his whereabouts, and then traced them back to her, it would be a big trouble.
Gu Chenzhou said, "I don't know where the safest place is either. In this world, where is there a truly safe place? Even the Emperor's residence is not impregnable."
Jiang Wan was a little worried, "If I had known it was so dangerous, I wouldn't have agreed even if your master had begged me. Do you know how dangerous it was last night? The sword of that man in black was right at my face!"
Just thinking about the terrifying night made Jiang Wan feel lingering fear.
Her abilities were too limited now, and this feeling of helplessness was truly maddening.
Gu Chenzhou thought for a moment, "Actually, this inn is quite safe. Although there are people coming and going, my master never brought me to stay in an inn before, so those people probably wouldn't think I'd be hiding here. In a few more days, the effects of the Soft Muscle Pill will wear off, and I'll find a way myself, so I won't implicate you."
Jiang Wan shook her head, "That won't do. I promised your master that I would look after you for a month. Until the time is up, I definitely won't let you go."
Gu Chenzhou raised his eyebrows, "Are you really that trustworthy?"
Jiang Wan lifted her chin, "Of course!"
She was a practitioner of integrity.
Gu Chenzhou felt that this was not like her usual behavior, and he scanned him with his eyes several times.
Jiang Wan glared at him, "What are you looking at!"
Gu Chenzhou pulled at the corner of his mouth, "I always feel like you're not such a good person."
Jiang Wan rolled her eyes at him, "If you don't know what to say, just shut your mouth."
After speaking, she picked up Gu Chenzhou and put him back on the bed. Then she climbed onto the bed herself, lay down beside him, and held his hand, preparing to absorb energy while sleeping.
She had been so scared last night that she hadn't slept at all, and now she was really exhausted.
Gu Chenzhou felt uncomfortable all over, "Jiang Wan, you're a young lady. It's not appropriate for you to lie next to me like this."
Jiang Wan tutted, "Little brother, I'm only five and a half years old, I'm a child, there's nothing inappropriate about it."
After speaking, she closed her eyes.
Gu Chenzhou looked at her helplessly, strongly suspecting that her family was hiding her true age. This little girl's actions and words had nothing to do with a five-year-old child.
The only things that could be related were her height and appearance.
Jiang Wan didn't care what he thought. After last night, she had made up her mind. Once the month was up, she would immediately cut ties with him and never interact with him again.
Before that, she had to quickly upgrade her abilities.
Relying on herself, it would take ages. Since she was taking such a big risk, she should make reasonable use of resources to upgrade her abilities.
Jiang Wan slept at Gu Chenzhou's place until the afternoon. In the meantime, Yuan Bao brought food, and she got up to eat lunch.
After absorbing energy and replenishing her spirits, Jiang Wan waved her hand, said "See you tomorrow," and went home.
When she got home, her mother had already returned.
"Where did you go playing? Your sister-in-law said you didn't come back for lunch, which made them very worried."
Jiang Wan smiled and released Xiao Hong's reins, letting it return to the stable on its own. "I went to the county to listen to the storyteller tell stories. I got hungry and bought some steamed buns in the county to eat, they were delicious."
Chen Yuezhi was not worried about her traveling alone, as the old immortal was following her, and ordinary villains could not harm her.
"Mom is going to talk to your eldest sister-in-law. You go play by yourself."
Hearing this, Jiang Wan knew that Chen Yuezhi was going to have a heart-to-heart talk with Su Shi, so she didn't follow.
Chen Yuezhi entered Su Shi's room, and Su Shi was still embroidering.
This embroidery piece would be completed in another half a month, and Su Shi was working very diligently.
Chen Yuezhi looked at her embroidery for a while and praised, "It's so beautifully embroidered. With such needlework, I couldn't achieve it even with ten years of practice."
Su Shi was a little embarrassed by the praise, "Mother's embroidery is also top-notch."
Chen Yuezhi smiled lightly, "You're speaking too insincerely. Your mother's needlework is so poor that she struggles to even sew clothes."
Saying that, she pulled Su Shi to sit by the bed.
"The day before yesterday, I heard Wan'er say that you hid in your room and cried by yourself. Tell me, is there anything that's bothering you?"
Su Shi was startled and quickly denied it, "No, Mother, I feel that everything is going smoothly."
"If everything is smooth, why are you crying?"
Chen Yuezhi looked into her eyes, "A'luo, you've been married for two years, and we've gotten to know each other. You and I both know what kind of mother-in-law I am and what kind of daughter-in-law you are."
"Your little thoughts can't be hidden from me."
Su Shi's face turned pale, and she dared not look at her, "Mother, I... I..."
Chen Yuezhi patted her hand, "I'm not here to blame you, don't be so nervous."
"I've been a daughter-in-law too, so I understand what you're thinking. It's natural to feel unbalanced, but you have to know that times have changed. The Jiang family put in their best effort when marrying you back then, so we, your father-in-law and I, don't feel that you were wronged in the marriage."
Su Shi quickly said, "Your daughter-in-law knows, and your daughter-in-law has never felt wronged."
Chen Yuezhi remained noncommittal, "Your father-in-law and I have never been biased people. The money spent on Er Lang's wedding was indeed more than what was spent when you joined the family. In addition, you are about to give birth, so your father and I have discussed it and decided to give you a sum of money based on the expenses of Er Lang's wedding."