CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175 SHE IS NOT IN THE MOOD TO MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT FOR YOU (1)

Actually, her jewelry isn’t much; just a few pairs of earrings, and one set for the head.

This poorly made jade hairpin, she bought it for her coming of age ceremony at a roadside stall on her way to the county town.

The only headpiece she owns isn’t expensive either, just a single step shake, a pair of small golden hairpins, and a matching pair of earrings.

...

Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an didn’t head back immediately, instead, they went into the mountains on the other side of Taohua River Village.

This mountain is taller than Niu Tou Mountain, situated at the ends of Taohua River Village.

Li Yuzhu was digging for herbs, while Li Xing’an was searching for wild rabbits nearby.

He was lucky today; as soon as he entered the forest, he spotted a wild rabbit.

Moreover, the rabbit was quite plump.

"Third Sister, you dig for herbs here, I’ll chase after that rabbit! Don’t wander off," he said excitedly.

Li Xing’an had recently made a bow and arrows and was eager to try them out.

Li Yuzhu waved at him, "Go on, I’m staying right here."

Li Xing’an rushed off enthusiastically.

His figure weaved flexibly through the woods.

Li Yuzhu wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve and continued digging for herbs.

After a while, she saw a woman hurriedly passing in front of her on the slope.

Li Yuzhu’s eyes flickered—wasn’t that Liu Da Niu’s cousin?

Why was she running in such a hurry?

Li Yuzhu shrugged, thinking, what business is it of mine? Digging herbs is more important.

But after a short time, a large man in his thirties also ran hurriedly in the direction Liu Da Niu’s cousin had gone.

In this wilderness, what are these two sneaky people up to?

Li Yuzhu pondered for a moment and decided to go see what’s happening.

She walked down the slope, parted the wild grass, and quietly followed where the two had left.

After about a hundred steps, Li Yuzhu saw Liu Da Niu’s cousin and that large man, entering a cave one after another.

They didn’t look like they were up to anything good; both had sneaky expressions.

What mischief are they planning? Li Yuzhu’s eyes flickered as she quietly approached the mouth of the cave to watch.

Inside the cave, the middle-aged man hugged Liu Da Niu’s cousin and said with excitement, "I saw the mark you left and came without even drinking water. Come on, give me a kiss."

The man’s mouth sought out Liu Da Niu’s cousin’s lips, his hands mischievously reaching for her waistband.

"Chen Yao, stop joking around."

The middle-aged man got upset, "You asked me to the cave but won’t let me touch you. What’s that supposed to mean? Got yourself a new lover?"

Liu Da Niu’s cousin looked at her own belly, irritably saying, "I might be pregnant. What do you think we should do?"

The middle-aged man paused and yelled, "How’s that possible? It can’t be mine, right?"

Liu Da Niu’s cousin angrily retorted, "Damn your mother, if not yours, then whose is it? Chen Xingwang has been away for almost three months, I only slept with you this month, so if not yours, then whose?"

The middle-aged man scratched his head, "Is it really mine?" After a moment, he laughed, "My seeds are potent, only three times and it took, hahaha!"

"What’s there to laugh about? Laughing? What should we do now? If Chen Xingwang finds out, he’ll kill me!" Liu Da Niu’s cousin knocked her own belly in frustration.

"Of course there’s a way!" The middle-aged man stroked his chin and chuckled.

"What way?"

"First, let me sleep with you, then I’ll tell you."

"Shameless!" cursed Liu Da Niu’s cousin.

"I’m shameless? Aren’t you the same? Alright, we’re here already, don’t hesitate like some blushing bride, you’re not an 18-year-old maiden," the middle-aged man laughed.

And so the two engaged in their sordid business in the cave.

Outside, Li Yuzhu was speechless.

So, this was an affair between that kind of husband and wife.

Inside the cave, Liu Da Niu’s cousin urged the man for a solution again.

The middle-aged man said to Liu Da Niu’s cousin, "There’s a simple way: one, abort it; two, go to Chen Xingwang immediately, sleep with him, and in a month, say it’s his child."

Liu Da Niu’s cousin said, "You’ll have to give me some money. Ending a pregnancy and buying medicine costs money, even convalescing requires money. Going to the county town to find Chen Xingwang will cost travel expenses too. Give me ten taels!"

"What? You wretched woman, you’re trying to extort me?" The middle-aged man angrily pushed Liu Da Niu’s cousin away, "Damn it, who knows if that’s really my child you’re carrying, asking for ten taels just like that! Even visiting brothels doesn’t cost me that much, do you think your fat waist can beat the slender waist of them? Get lost!"

"Damn it, you shameless thing! How can you say that? You shameless person!"

"Go ahead and report me."

The middle-aged man shoved Liu Dan妞堂姑 aside, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the cave with large strides, leaving.

"Shameless thing! Why doesn’t lightning strike you?" Liu Dan妞堂姑 jumped up and cursed.

She cursed for a while but found it uninteresting.

She also tidied her clothes and walked out of the cave, heading down the mountain.

Li Yuzhu emerged from the bushes, dusted off her sleeves, and chuckled, "What’s this called? Playing with fire and getting burned?"

She continued to dig herbs.

After digging a few herbs, Li Xing’an returned.

He was carrying a fat wild rabbit, with two arrows stuck in its neck, and from a distance, he shouted happily to Li Yuzhu.

"Third sister, look, I caught a fat rabbit!"

Li Yuzhu stood up and smiled, "Indeed, it’s a fat rabbit!"

"Come on, let’s go home and stew the rabbit for a meal," Li Xing’an cheerfully shook the fat rabbit.

Li Yuzhu glanced at her basket, "I haven’t dug up many herbs yet; I’ll dig some more before we go back. It’s still early, after all."

Li Xing’an looked at Li Yuzhu’s basket and asked puzzled, "Why did you only dig so few herbs? Aren’t there a lot around here?"

Li Yuzhu dared not say the shocking news she just saw.

She made up an excuse and said with a smile, "I saw a beautiful butterfly earlier, got distracted watching it."

Li Xing’an laughed, "Third sister, you just focus on digging herbs, and I’ll help you catch butterflies. Let me catch some beautiful ones for you."

"Okay, thanks, third brother," Li Yuzhu said happily.

Sure enough, Li Xing’an went to catch butterflies.

Li Yuzhu diligently dug herbs, and by the time Li Xing’an caught a large blue-tailed butterfly, Li Yuzhu’s basket was already filled with herbs.

The two happily went back.

Upon returning home, after putting down the herb basket, Li Yuzhu immediately went to find Princess Consort Luling to inform her about Miss Chai’s agreement to visit tomorrow.

Princess Consort Luling was delighted, "Yuzhu, go tell your second sister to prepare more snacks to entertain Miss Chai tomorrow."

"Okay, mother."

Li Yuzhu went to the kitchen, where she saw Li Xing’an proudly bragging to the Second Princess about catching a fat wild rabbit today.

The Second Princess was uninterested, "Oh."

"Buzzkill!" Li Xing’an turned away and left. Seeing Li Yuzhu, he enthusiastically said again, "Come, third sister, watch me kill the rabbit."

"No, I need to talk to Second Sister about making pastries," Li Yuzhu waved her hand.

"Alright, I’ll kill the rabbit by myself," Li Xing’an sighed and took the rabbit outside the kitchen.

The Second Princess was kneading dough, and Li Yuzhu conveyed the Princess Consort’s instructions, adding, "Second Sister, don’t worry, we can continue selling pastries in Taohua River Village."

"But I’m afraid of running into that wicked woman," the Second Princess frowned and sighed.

Li Yuzhu smiled slightly, "No, she has no time to bother with you now."

The Second Princess looked surprised, "Oh? Really?"

Li Yuzhu nodded, "It’s true!"

"Odd, why doesn’t she have time to bother me now?" The Second Princess curiously asked.

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "I heard from the village that her husband wants to beat her, and she’s been hiding everywhere in fear, so would she have time to trouble you about selling pastries?"

The Second Princess laughed, "Haha! She’s so fierce; I hope her husband gives her a few more knocks."

Li Yuzhu’s words gave the Second Princess confidence again.

Her enthusiasm for making pastries was revived.

In the morning, she made several new flavored pastries, and everyone said they were delicious after tasting them.

Princess Consort Luling even picked a few varieties, asking the Second Princess to make more to entertain Miss Chai.

Lady Xue was very dissatisfied, "Mother, for a countryside orphan girl, is it worth the trouble to invite her like this? Does she even deserve to come to the Lu Ling Royal Mansion?"

Princess Consort Luling said sternly, "She sent a ewe to Guoguo and also sent people to help with farming; why shouldn’t we invite her?"

Lady Xue remained dissatisfied, "Third sister cured her illness, so she sent a sheep; she sent people to farm, and we paid for it, 180 coins a day. We don’t owe her anything."

Princess Consort Luling’s face darkened, "Our family doesn’t know many people in the village. Making more connections is always a good thing, and it might be helpful to us in the future."

"We are the Royal Mansion, and she is an orphan. Mother, if thanks are needed, let Third Sister thank her in person; there’s no need to invite her here," Lady Xue added.