Chapter 41: A Stroke of Luck

have one more leg than them. What's there to be proud of"Once you enter the forest, it's our territory. Don't expect your brothers to look after you anymore!Three old men spoke in hoarse voices, but..."Yes, yes, my son even wrote my name yesterday and taught me how to read it. I can't write well, so he scolded me behind my hand, saying I was stupid!"

“This way, when it comes to the New Year and I go sell eggs again, I'll have someone to help me, so I won't be afraid of being cheated.”

Li Lao Er blushed with praise, coughed twice, mumbled a few polite words, and quickly retreated into the house, causing everyone to laugh again.

It was Wu Cuiflower who knocked the earthenware basin in the kitchen, making a clattering sound. In her eyes, sending children to school without giving silver and pork as a gift was taking advantage of the Li family.

The women outside didn't pay any attention, the village wasn't big and there weren't many people. Everyone knew what was going on in every household.

This Li family is good in everything, only this second daughter-in-law is a troublemaker and a thorn in the flesh...

Life was passing by at a leisurely pace, and soon someone came to invite Tao Hongying to cook.

This time the employer was a small wealthy family in a county town. They wanted to celebrate their mother's 66th birthday with a banquet for relatives and friends.

In this era where the average life expectancy exceeds fifty years, if someone's elderly relative can live to that age, it's a cause for great joy!

As usual, Old Li inquired around before agreeing.

Then, Tao Hongying settled Jia Yin and packed her belongings. She called on Li Lao San's family to hurry to the county town.

After another night and half a day of work, the birthday feast was successfully completed. The host was very satisfied and gave the workers their pay, plus a bag of pastries, a roasted chicken, and a bag of fried cakes.

This is all manageable, Tao Hongying just remembers the family at the academy.

The old woman has been muttering at home these days, wondering what her grandson, Jaren, is like at the academy. She worries if he's eating well.

These things, if sent over, Jia Ren could simply heat them up and eat. At the very least, it would improve their food situation.

As expected, she mentioned it, and Zhao Yuru and the others all nodded in agreement.

"That's right! We were thinking the same thing. Since we're working in the county town this time, it's convenient to go to the academy. Jiaren studies hard and is used to being frugal, so he must not be eating well."

"Great, let's go see Big Brother!" Jiahuan clapped his hands excitedly.

Although Jiarren returned home a few days ago, the two brothers hadn't had much time to get close before Big Brother went back to the academy. He was quite regretful about it.

The four of them instantly agreed and hurried towards the academy.

Who knew that as soon as they rounded the corner, a commotion could be heard coming from down the alley.

"Uncle, I really don't have any silver! The academy covers food and lodging with a monthly payment, and all I have in my hands is a few coins of pocket money. It's not even enough for five taels!"

"Hmph, you say you're not filial if you aren't, what are you making a fuss about Everyone knows your family has silver, and your grandmother is good to you, so how could she possibly not give you any money!"

Tao Hongying heard the familiar voice and hurried her pace.

As expected, at the back door of the academy not far away, Wu Ergou was pulling Jiaren's collar and arguing loudly. Standing beside them was Liu Laifu, looking on with malicious glee.

Without Tao Hongying needing to speak, Li Laosan and Jiahuan ran over and pulled open Wu Erdog's shirt, scolding him.

"Wu Erdog, are you crazy What are you doing pulling on our child"

Wu Erdog bullies his nephew and isn't afraid of anything, but when the Li family suddenly appears, he becomes a little uneasy.

He took two steps back and put on a theatrical performance, raising his voice.

"Who bullied him I'm his uncle, can't I come to the academy to see him"

Seeing his family arrive, Jia Ren'er's eyes welled up with tears.

After I tried to get up, I saw that there were so many classmates watching the commotion from behind the back door. It was even more embarrassing.

He couldn't even bother to spare his uncle any face, and said.

"Uncle Three, my uncle asked me for five taels of silver, but I don't have it. He wants to hit me!"

Li Laosan raised his fist and rushed towards Wu Erdog, punching him.

What are you, coming to our house to ask for money from our children! What's yours is yours, and what's owed to you is owed. Don't even say we don't have it, even if we did, we wouldn't give it to you, not even to feed a dog!

Wu Erdog was thin like a monkey, no match for Li Laosan. He put up a fight for two moves and got beaten up.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru pretended to be peacemakers, but their subordinates also beat up Wu Erdog.

Wu Erdog was in so much pain that he jumped around wildly. He seized an opportunity and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.

But Liu Laifu was nowhere to be seen...

Li Laosan spat fiercely, and cursed Wu Ergou fiercely.

"Dare to come to the academy and cause trouble again, I'll break your legs!"

Whether or not Wu Erdog heard them, the Li family felt a sense of great satisfaction.

Tao Hong patted Jia Ren's back, comforting him like her own son.

"Jiarren, your uncle is just like this, without any formality. Don't worry, his family will naturally resolve it. Just study and don't worry about it."

Li Laosan usually spoke little and rarely showed his emotions. This time, however, he was surprisingly talkative.

"Yes, Jiaren, there's Uncle Three, who will surely beat him up every time he comes. Even if Uncle Three can't handle him, wait until Uncle Four returns; with one hand, he'll clean him up."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Jia Huan quickly stuffed the food he brought to Jia Ren.

"Big brother, we have some snacks here—fried dough sticks and roasted chicken. Warm them up and share them with your classmates. They were sent by our employer. Auntie Four is a good cook, and we earned another two taels of silver today. It's easy for us to support you studying at home, so don't worry."

Jiarren forced back the tears stinging his eyes, he wanted to refuse, but in the end, he accepted.

"Today was a mess, I really do need these, but please don't bring them next time, take them home for Grandma and your younger brothers to eat."

"Good child, don't dwell on these things, go back to studying. Let's hurry out of town and head home. On the way, we can buy some sesame candy for Jia Anjiaxi."

Li Laosan pushed Jiaren into the house. Seeing him go in, everyone else hurried out of the city.

When I returned to Qingxi Village, the sky was already darkening.

As expected, Old Lady Li had wrapped Jia Yin in a thick padded jacket and was peering out the gate.

Upon seeing everyone return, both the old and young wore smiles.

Tao Hongying wanted to take her daughter, but she was afraid of being cold, so she could only hold her mother-in-law and walk inside.

Jiā'ān Jiāxǐ hearing the noise, also dropped his slingshot and ran out of the house, but seeing everyone empty-handed, he was a little disappointed.

"The host this time is really stingy, didn't even bring any good food."

Tao Hongying shoved the sesame candy over, glancing at Wu Cuifang who was peering around curiously behind her. She was feeling annoyed, so she purposely said,

"I originally brought some roasted chicken, snacks, and fried cakes, but I encountered something on the way and had to give them all away."

As expected, before they could even express their joy, Wu Cuiflower scoffed and started talking.

"Hongying, it's not me, your sister-in-law, saying this, but our family isn't rich. You may be earning money now, but you can't spend so freely. So many good things, just giving them away

You don't feel bad for others, and you can't even feel bad for our mother She hasn't stopped day and night taking care of your daughter!

Li Laotai frowned, displeased that Wu Cuifang was using her as an excuse. Just as she was about to speak, Tao Hongying secretly tugged at her sleeve.

"Second sister-in-law, I didn't want to say it, but since you're so unhappy, I'll tell you why I sent the things away." Tao Hongying snorted coldly.

"You're still not a true brother, Wu Erdog! I don't know who told him that our family is wealthy and that my mother gave Jiaren a lot of silver. So he went to the academy to ask Jiaren for money, demanding five taels right off the bat." months until summer ends, you can't be like this every day."Liu Zhiheng was also worried, just about to speak when the gatekeeper from the front yard ran over to report."Master, a maidservant from th...