CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143: SPEAKING OUT (2)

With nothing more to hear, Li Yuzhu quietly headed back.

She still needed to ask Liu Da Niu about some matters.

Mu Yuanxiu looked into the wild grass, his eyes flickering slightly, then turned towards the short man.

He said coldly, "Short Legs Zhao, it’s settled then. When you finish cutting all the wild grass around this house, you can leave. Otherwise, we’ll meet at the county government!"

Li Xing’an chimed in from the side, "I remember the laws of this dynasty dictate that molesting a virtuous woman earns you a hundred lashes, not to mention a fine of a hundred taels of silver and a hundred days of hard labor."

Short Legs Zhao was so frightened that his legs trembled.

His family was so poor they couldn’t even afford windows, and the door was broken—how could he afford the fine?

If he had those hundred taels of silver, he would have already repaired his house, got a wife, and wouldn’t be stealing anything!

"Heroes, you two heroes, rest assured, I will definitely finish cutting the grass." Short Legs Zhao forced a smile, continuously bowing.

"Alright then, go and cut the grass now." Li Xing’an walked over and untied the rope on Short Legs Zhao, "Follow me, I’ll assign today’s task for you."

"Coming, coming." Short Legs Zhao followed, crestfallen.

.

Li Yuzhu returned to the kitchen at home.

The Second Princess and Liu Da Niu hadn’t made the cakes; the two sat on small stools, looking worried.

The Great Princess standing beside them was indignantly cursing someone.

Li Yuzhu walked in and, seeing them, asked in surprise, "What’s going on? What happened?"

"What’s going on? Hmph! It’s truly an eye-opener. Just now, Da Niu’s sister, Er Niu, came by, saying that the Hu family’s wicked woman sent a rejection letter to Da Niu’s mother’s house." The Great Princess cursed indignantly, "She actually had the nerve to send a rejection letter?"

This news really was quite astonishing.

Li Yuzhu was also shocked.

She never expected the Hu family to dare serve a rejection letter first.

"Da Niu, don’t feel sad. Think about how your arm was broken, and you won’t be troubled by this matter." Li Yuzhu walked over to comfort Liu Da Niu.

Liu Da Niu lowered her head, tears streaming down, "How could he do this... how could he do this..."

"It’s outrageous, I’ll go find that Hu mother and son!" The Great Princess was furious, preparing to leave.

Li Yuzhu held her back, "Eldest Sister, come back!"

"Too much bullying, just let it go like this?" The Great Princess shouted, "They beat people and then send a rejection letter. I’ve never heard of such shameless people before!"

Li Yuzhu thought of what Short Legs Zhao said, smiled slightly, and said, "The clear are always clear, the turbid are always turbid. I believe it won’t be long before the Hu mother and son come begging to Da Niu."

The Great Princess looked at her, half-believing, half-doubting.

"Are you sure?"

Li Yuzhu nodded seriously, "If they don’t come begging, I’ll take orders from you."

"You’ll always take orders from me?" The Great Princess’s eyes brightened.

"Of course." Li Yuzhu replied very affirmatively.

"Good, good, good, then I’ll look forward to what’s coming next." The Great Princess laughed mischievously, rubbing her small hands together.

.

Although Li Yuzhu and her sisters tried hard to comfort Liu Da Niu, Liu Da Niu still cried bitterly.

The Second Princess sighed, looking at a pile of half-formed dough, "Da Niu, stop crying. I’ll try to make it myself."

If it’s cooked and edible, that would be enough; she no longer cared about the appearance.

The Great Princess, afraid Liu Da Niu might do something impulsive, did not go out to dig herbs, but sat in the kitchen, keeping an eye on Liu Da Niu.

Li Yuzhu was still thinking about Short Legs Zhao’s matter.

She walked out of the kitchen, intending to find Mu Yuanxiu to ask about it, when she saw Li Xing’an cheerfully running over, as if he’d found money.

"Third Sister, Third Sister, let me tell you!" He ran over happily.

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "What’s going on, Third Brother?"

"Just now, that thief was punished by Mu Yuanxiu and me. He was so scared he kept begging for mercy. Now he’s honestly helping our family cut the wild grass." Li Xing’an boasted, shaking his sleeves proudly, "I and Second Brother don’t need to cut grass anymore, it’s really great."

Li Yuzhu had already overheard this.

Mu Yuanxiu’s move was indeed brilliant.

It not only punished the thief but also saved her family a lot of trouble.

Unexpectedly, despite his young age, he was full of clever ideas.

Someone with so many clever ideas should be able to help her with a matter, right?

Li Yuzhu’s eyes shifted slightly, asking Li Xing’an, "Third Brother, where is Mu Yuanxiu? I have something to ask him."

Li Xing’an immediately raised an eyebrow, "Why are you asking him? Ask me instead, I know more than he does."

Li Yuzhu asked him, "So do you know how many people live in Qingshui River Village? How many relatives does the Hu family have?"

Li Xing’an, "..." This he indeed didn’t know, and he frowned, "Third Sister, why are you asking all this?"

"It’s for Liu Da Niu." Li Yuzhu said, "Her family’s matters, Mu Yuanxiu can speak on them, so I need to find him."

"I’ll go with you, you young girl can’t talk to a man alone!" Li Xing’an insisted on following.

Li Yuzhu was speechless; if she knew this, she wouldn’t have told him.

Outside the yard, Li Yuzhu indeed saw that Short Legs Zhao was working hard cutting weeds.

Mu Yuanxiu was sitting on a fallen tree root, fixing a fish basket.

Li Yuzhu walked over, "Mu Yuanxiu, I need to talk to you."

"Whatever it is, say it here." Li Xing’an stood nearby them.

Li Yuzhu’s face turned dark; with him standing there, how could she say anything?

With Li Xing’an’s temper, wouldn’t he lock her up?

"How can I talk with you here? Stand further away." Li Yuzhu pushed Li Xing’an aside.

Li Xing’an looked at Mu Yuanxiu, then at Li Yuzhu, "Well, Third Sister, then I’ll stand further away, quickly say your piece so we can go back."

He examined the distance between the two, insisting they stand three steps apart just to be safe.

Li Yuzhu was almost amused.

"Go quickly, Third Brother, I’m just asking him a few things." Li Yuzhu waved him away.

Li Xing’an retreated step by step with reluctance.

Mu Yuanxiu watched his cautious manner, unable to hold back a chuckle.

"What is it, Li Yuzhu?" he looked at the young girl before him.

Despite her young age, she had the wisdom and calmness of an adult, becoming more and more inscrutable.

Li Yuzhu glanced back at Li Xing’an, that guy was more than twenty steps away, speaking softly should prevent him from hearing, right?

"Did you know that Hu Shuangcheng has divorced Da Niu?" Li Yuzhu said.

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "I saw Er Niu coming out of your house, stopped her and asked the reason, I already know."

"Don’t you think what the Hu family did is a bit excessive?" Li Yuzhu snorted, "They broke the wife’s arm and then divorced her! They are really unreasonable!"

"What do you plan to do?" Mu Yuanxiu looked at her.

The little girl’s angry look was quite... adorable.

However, Mu Yuanxiu decided it would be best not to make her angry in the future.

"Hu Shuangcheng and Da Niu haven’t consummated their marriage, this can’t be hidden, Da Niu covering for Hu Shuangcheng only harms herself. But Da Niu is unwilling to say anything, I think we should help, help her let it out, we can’t let her suffer in silence." Li Yuzhu said softly.

Mu Yuanxiu realized Li Yuzhu wasn’t so cute anymore.

"You want to tell? You, a young girl, discussing such matters?" Mu Yuanxiu stared at her with a somber expression.

Li Yuzhu was speechless, if she were going to say it herself, revealing Hu Shuangcheng’s inadequacy, why would she come to Mu Yuanxiu?

With the family rules of the Lu Ling Royal Mansion, she wouldn’t dare do anything so scandalous.

She would be whipped on the calves by the Princess Consort Luling!

"I came to you for help, it’s better if you say it than me." Li Yuzhu looked at him, "Hey, Mu Yuanxiu, you won’t refuse such a small favor, right?"

That’s more like it.

Mu Yuanxiu breathed a sigh of relief, "You want me to go to the Hu family? To spread the information about Hu Shuangcheng?"

Li Yuzhu shook her head, said, "Don’t spread it yet, you go find Big Girl’s Father first, tell him only about Hu Shuangcheng, if he does nothing, then go talk to Big Girl’s Grandpa, Grandpa Liu."

"..."

"I believe that once they know about Hu Shuangcheng, they won’t stand by and do nothing for Da Niu. Once they know, they will definitely go to the Hu family."

"..."

"The only unreasonable one in the Hu family is Hu Niangzi, Hu Shuangcheng himself doesn’t seem too bad, Da Niu doesn’t seem to dislike Hu Shuangcheng much, we shouldn’t make things too extreme, give the couple some face."

Mu Yuanxiu looked at Li Yuzhu, she arranged this very reasonably.

By not embarrassing Hu Shuangcheng, she also considered Da Niu’s feelings.

"Alright, I’ll head to the Liu Family right away." Mu Yuanxiu nodded.

After their conversation, they each went their separate ways.

Li Xing’an approached Li Yuzhu immediately, "Third Sister, what were you talking about? Took so long?"

"It’s about Da Niu, Third Brother, what else did you think it was?" Li Yuzhu found it amusing in her heart, was Li Xing’an that nervous?

As if Mu Yuanxiu would dare lay a finger on her?

"So it was about Da Niu." Li Xing’an didn’t ask anything more.