Yuan Bufei was about to say more when his stool was kicked over, and he landed on his backside on the ground.
"Your sister-in-law could come back any moment. If she heard you say that, I'll kill you!"
This was bad. His older brother seemed to have truly fallen into self-delusion.
"Brother, I've noticed you seem to have gotten a bit paler."
Had he stayed indoors more during winter and gotten fairer? But he went out every day. He had only managed to catch him after two visits.
"Mm."
"Brother, want to go explore Biancheng with me?"
"No, your sister-in-law will worry if she can't find me when she gets back."
Yuan Bufei: "..." "Brother, the war is over. Old Wu is bored and spends all day making formations with that broken stone, messing with us brothers. Can you give me an idea on how to deal with him?"
Stone?
Right, Wu Zhoubai still had three stones. Xue Niang needed that energy. He had to get his two back.
"Go back and tell him to return my two stones to me."
Yuan Bufei: "..."
As expected of his brother, he always struck at the enemy's weakness, cutting off their supply line.
He could already imagine Wu Zhoubai cursing.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, villagers were visiting each other to exchange New Year greetings.
Yutou, with his hands behind his back, led his subordinate soldier. When he saw someone approaching, he turned and lectured his soldier.
"In your daily work, observe and watch more. Even things that seem insignificant might hold great secrets. As scouts, we need to have more eyes than others."
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Captain." The soldier nodded repeatedly.
"Oh, Yutou, no, Brother Wang Meng, Happy New Year!"
The villager, with a smile, warmly invited, "Why don't you come sit at my place? My wife has prepared some tea."
"Ah, it's Brother Liu Xiang. I'm looking for Brother Haizi, so I can't stop by today. Another time, another time, haha!" Yutou responded skillfully, showing no outward emotion but feeling extremely smug inside.
This fellow had never paid him proper attention before, treating him like a pest in the village. Now, he was smiling like a blooming flower.
Alas, people were truly so sycophantic.
Liu Xiang watched Yutou's sturdy back, sighing, "Yutou has truly changed from before. The transformation is immense. He's no longer that disliked young servant boy who stole from one shop and ate from another."
Liu Xiang withdrew his gaze and saw Xu Dafu's second daughter passing by.
"Ah, Er Niu, where are you going?"
"I went to visit my maternal grandmother's house."
Xu Er Niu lowered her head, not wanting to say much.
But Liu Xiang followed her, walking alongside her.
"Er Niu, I heard your elder sister is back? That drunkard she married earlier fell into the river and drowned, so no one is causing trouble anymore. Your father said he's going to find another one for her? My brother-in-law has a friend..." Hey, hey, why are you running? Forget it, I'll talk to your father about it later."
Xu Er Niu, holding her breath, ran to her doorstep and saw Xu Da Niu standing at the door, cracking melon seeds.
Looking at her prominent cheekbones and her thin, dark appearance, Xu Er Niu felt both hatred and heartache.
"You're truly foolish. Why did you come back?"
Anywhere was better than this home. She had lived like an animal before, and she was married off only because the betrothal gifts were high. Her father was essentially selling his daughters, and he had already sold her twice. There might even be a third time soon.
"You're the foolish one. I can't have children anymore, so of course, I have to come back to rely on my brothers. Mother said she wants me to help raise my younger brother, and he'll be close to me and support me in my old age."
Xu Da Niu spat out a melon seed shell and looked at Xu Er Niu unpleasantly.
"Before you get married, just focus on doing the chores. I need to rest and recover my health."
"Fool! Do you think Mother can make decisions?" Xu Er Niu felt her sister's mind was becoming increasingly muddled.
"Do you know that Father..."
"Enough, Xu Er Niu. Don't act like we're good sisters. When I was beaten before, you often fanned the flames. I'd be foolish to listen to you!"
Xu Da Niu clapped her hands and turned into the house.
Xu Er Niu was speechless. She had indeed been ignorant before, but ever since Xu Da Niu got married, all the household chores had fallen upon her. She had slowly come to understand.
Her father only cared about his son. He sold his daughter, who had worked for him for so many years, without batting an eye. Where was the father-daughter affection?
After selling his sister, it would be her turn.
Xu Er Niu shivered at the thought of her sister's previous drunkard husband.
She didn't want to be sold.
She ran into the house and, before Xu Da Niu could enter the room, quietly said again, "If you want to stay, you can, but don't be foolish enough to hand over the money you have."
Once all the money in her hands was coaxed away by their father, it would be completely useless.
She had already warned her. If she listened, fine. If not, so be it.
Meanwhile, Yutou continued to wander with his soldier.
As soon as he turned into an alleyway, someone rushed into his arms.
A round face, a floral jacket, big eyes, and small dimples. Hey! Wasn't this the little girl Yanzi?
Yutou was about to pretend to be angry and scare her, but then he saw the little girl wipe her eyes and run off from the side.
"Hey! You stop right there, you little rascal!"
The soldier, quick-eyed and agile, dashed forward and blocked Yanzi.
"Let go!" Yanzi shouted at the top of her lungs.
Well, she hadn't grown much, but her voice was getting louder.
Yutou stepped forward, about to mock her, but then he saw her red eyes, tear-stained eyelashes, and a face full of grievance.
His expression immediately turned serious. "Who bullied you? I'll get revenge for you!"
"You don't need to worry about it. Who do you think you are to be my brother!"
Yanzi looked at the tall, strong, and dark Yutou and almost didn't recognize him.
Her mother's calls came from behind, and Yanzi darted away again.
Yutou commanded his soldier, "Quick, follow her and bring her back!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Yutou, on the other hand, stopped Yanzi's mother.
"Grandma, it's okay. My man is following her. What's going on? Who bullied her?"
"Alas!" Yanzi's mother sighed heavily, her eyes also turning red. "Yutou, no, Wang Meng, something happened at home, and Yanzi suffered some injustice."
"Come, it's a good opportunity to see Grandpa. Tell me what happened."
"This..."
Yanzi's mother's expression was troubled. What was there to say about such matters to an outsider?
But this Wang Meng was now a minor official and reportedly doing very well in the army. She didn't dare to offend him easily.
When they arrived at home, Yutou still managed to get the reason out of her through persistent questioning.
It turned out Yanzi's father had made a friend while working outside. Over time, they got to know each other well and got along very nicely. That friend had a son, three years older than Yanzi, who had been sickly since childhood and often fell ill.
The friend had seen Yanzi and was very fond of her, saying she had a naturally lucky appearance and would bring fortune and prosperity to her husband and family.
A few days ago, the two of them were drinking together, and after having a bit too much, the conversation somehow turned to arranging a marriage between their children.
When Yanzi's father sobered up, he thought he had been talking nonsense. But when the friend produced a marriage agreement with his thumbprint on it, he was stunned.
Upon further inquiry, he learned that his son wasn't just simply unwell. He had just been rescued from the brink of death a few days ago. He was frail from birth and might pass away at any moment.
He had been tricked!
He went to confront the man, but he was met with a cold shoulder. The man accused him of going back on his word and being untrustworthy, and refused to return the marriage agreement.
He also said that once Yanzi came of age, they would come to pick her up.
"What the hell! Treacherous!" Yutou cursed.