he mountain.“By now, you should know how rare a person like Li Jia is. They could have easily passed through the city gate, but because they're with us, they choose to climb mountains and endure hards...The midwife sneered inwardly, her expression growing even more contemptuous.

Truly a humble abode, a few words were enough to frighten them.

This time, perhaps the madam will get her wish and profit handsomely as well!

Thinking this over, the midwife pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Our mistress's meaning is, walls have ears, no one can guarantee that this matter won't spread. In case we let your son go, this matter might also leak out. Our young lady's future marriage would be difficult, so the mistress wants to prepare more dowry for our young lady."

Although your shop is small and not doing well, it's right across from the academy and conveniently located. So we'll give this shop to our young lady. Of course, you have to bring along your recipes for buns, pastries, and stir-fries. Also, give our young lady six hundred taels of silver to purchase clothes and jewelry.

"If you can manage to do all these things, your son will be released immediately and won't have to face any legal consequences. Otherwise, our mistress will inform the master, and then your son will not only end up in a big prison cell, but your two scholarly grandsons will likely be expelled from the academy as well."

Before Old Madam Li could speak, Old Third Li jumped in. "That won't do! You're taking advantage of the situation! You want both the shop and the recipe, and still demand six hundred taels of silver Why don't you just go be bandits"

The midwife jumped up and down as she was scolded, "Who let your son seduce our young lady You have to give us something! If you don't, we'll go to the officials!"

Li Laosan's eyes were bloodshot with rage. This honest man was driven to the brink of madness.

Their family of three had worked tirelessly for so long, earning only a few hundred taels of silver from their stall. Now, they were not only going to give it all away, but also the recipes and techniques.

If you don't comply, your son will end up in jail and your nephew will ruin his future. This is simply too much!

Old Li stopped her son and asked the midwife, "Is that all there is Nothing else"

The midwife listened to his tone, which didn't seem right, but she couldn't figure out what was wrong. So she just replied: "Yes, that's all."

"Well then," the old woman pulled her granddaughter back a few steps, then said, "Old Third, tie her up and stuff her mouth!"

Li Lao San was taken aback, and then he kicked the midwife hard in the leg, sending her sprawling to the ground.

The midwife still cried out, but was stuffed with a rag and then her hands were tied behind her back.

Jia Yin ran to the corner of the yard and pulled a piece of rope. Li Lao San took it and skillfully tied the woman up tight.

After he was finished with all that, he asked his mother, "Mother, why did you tie her up"

The old lady started to laugh. There wasn't much going on anyway, Mr. Wen hadn't arrived yet, and Zhao Yuru hadn't come back. She might as well say a few more words, break down the story, and let her son learn some lessons so that he would be more careful in the future.

She pulled her son to the front room and instructed Jia Yin, “Fu Niuer, go sit by the door for a while.”

"Okay, Grandma," Jiayin scurried off to guard the gate.

At noon in autumn, the sun is still very strong.

There weren't many people walking on the street, but all the shops were already bustling with activity because school was about to let out.

The Qing Shi Street was swept very clean, with ancient and quaint houses lining both sides. Occasionally, vendors would hoarsely shout out their wares with little energy.

If you have nothing on your mind, this is a great place to daydream.

Jia Yin chin rested on her hand, glancing frequently at the street corner. Alas, their family carriage did not appear.

Instead, Old Third Li, having eaten the reassurance pills fed to him by his mother, actually started busying himself with making buns and porridge, intending to continue doing business.

"Funiua, come inside and keep your grandma company. Sanbo has to work."

Jia Yin blinked her big eyes twice and quickly ran into the yard.

The old woman was helping to pick vegetables when she saw her granddaughter come in. Before the granddaughter could even ask a question, she said directly: "Don't worry, your third uncle isn't crazy! Your father doesn't know when he can get Mr. Wen here, so our family has to stay stable. We should continue doing business as usual and not let others see that there's a problem. Ideally, we should make the other side lose their footing first, so our family can have an even better position."

Jia Yin felt relieved, but she pouted and started to worry about her older brother, "Grandma, will they hurt my brother I'm afraid he'll be in pain!"

The old woman let out a cold snort and scolded, "If he has the guts to cause trouble, he should have the guts to take responsibility. Getting beaten is what he deserves. I thought he was the most honest child, but he just caused trouble without saying a word!"

"What kind of place is the academy How dare he do this Didn't he think about his family, didn't he think about his older brothers who are studying at the academy!"

Though she said so, the old woman picked the greens and threw the tender leaves into the broken basket, while the wilted ones went into the water basin. This showed that she also had her grandson in mind.

At this moment, Zhao Yuru hurried back. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Mother, I found out!"

"Quiet down! Come over here," Old Lady Li beckoned her daughter-in-law closer, and whispered, "Is this Mrs. Peng a second wife Or does she just not like the girls"

Zhao Yuru nodded and shook her head, so anxiously that Jia Yin grabbed her sleeve.

She casually hugged Jiayin and excitedly said, "Mother, the Peng family doesn't have a mistress at all! Mr. Peng's legal wife passed away seven or eight years ago, leaving behind a daughter. Mr. Peng took in a young woman from a restaurant as a concubine two years ago, and she just gave birth to a boy. It is said that the concubine manages everything in the back garden of the Peng family."

The old woman also laughed and threw the vegetables in her hand, scolding: "No wonder that woman has a mouthful of seduction and adultery! Whose daughter would have done this but hide it She's afraid to say it isn't ugly enough, clearly showing that she doesn't respect her own young mistress on weekdays."

"All the maidservants are watching the mistress's every move, I reckon this concubine sees the legitimate daughter as a thorn in her side! And that woman even dared to call herself madam A mere concubine worthy of such a title Our son might have been found out long ago and has just been waiting for today!"

“Are we still going to give our shop and recipes as dowry for the girl Bah, this concubine is using her own husband's legitimate daughter to draw things from her maiden family!”

Zhao Yuru was confused and quickly looked at Li Laosan who was walking over. Li Laosan just said a few words simply.

Zhao Yuru gritted her teeth in anger, "What a toad bragging about its size!"

The old woman waved her hand. "Alright, everyone calm down. Let's do business first. Mr. Wen and Mr. Peng are classmates and good friends. This matter today shouldn't be difficult to resolve."

“Our son doesn’t know proper etiquette, and their family is also plotting against the legitimate daughter with a concubine. They both made mistakes. When Jia Huan is brought back, we'll ask him carefully about what happened and then discuss how to proceed.”

"We listen to mother!" Li Lao San and Zhao Yu Ru found their backbone. Though they missed their son, they also tied on their aprons and began to work busily.

Soon, the academy was dismissed for lunch break, and students rushed out, immediately filling the stalls.

Li Ge'er skipped over to the shop, beaming when he saw his grandmother and younger sister. He was so happy!

The old woman accompanied her grandson to dinner, inquired about his school affairs, and then personally sent him to the academy gate.

Hearing that grandma was staying overnight, Li Ge'er reluctantly went inside.

As the old woman walked back, she saw a little girl peeking her head in and out of a shop nearby. "Little girl," she asked, "is something the matter"

As a result, the little girl was so frightened she bolted like a rabbit.

An icy glint flashed across the old woman's eyes, but she didn't pay it much mind and went back.

After the last student had left, the academy closed its doors soon after, and the street returned to quiet.

Li Laosan's husband and wife were washing dishes while thinking about their son. At this time, Li Laosi and Mr. Wen finally arrived.t the villagers to unload the grain and said, "For this period of time, we need to open up wasteland and build valleys. Everyone will still eat together. When everything is done, we'll distribute the...