Re-embroidering life

Shui Qinghua watched the young man in fancy clothes walking away, her heart full of doubts.

She didn't understand other things, but she could see the fabric and embroidery on the boy's body. He was wearing a blue brocade robe with hidden flowers. The hidden flowers were faintly visible as golden cloud patterns. Rubies, sapphires, corals, and turquoises were inlaid on the belt. For ordinary people, a gem would be worth a fortune, but he had inlaid the whole belt with gems.

Shen Yi seemed to know the identity of the boy, but he had no intention of making friends with him. Shui Qinghua couldn't help but laugh at herself. She didn't even understand Shen Yi's identity. How could he be just the owner of an embroidery workshop with such strong martial arts? As for the boy, it was not something she should know.

Seeing Shui Qinghua's uncertain expression, Shen Yi offered to help: "Mrs. Shui, I think your brother is frightened. Why don't I help take him home to rest?"

Shui Qinghua came back to her senses and looked at Shen Yi gratefully: "Mr. Shen, today is really thanks to you."

Shui Yongming still had a look of fear on his face, and his steps were a little unsteady. Shen Yi and the driver helped Shui Yongming into the carriage and sat with the sisters. Shen Yi sat on the shaft outside.

After turning two streets, we arrived at the Shui family's yard. The Shui family's yard was not big, but it was tidy and clean.

Shui Qinghua's parents heard the sound of the carriage and hurried out, just in time to see Shen Yi and the coachman helping Shui Yongming out of the carriage.

"Yongming, what's wrong with you?" Aunt Li looked worried and her voice trembled slightly.

Before Shui Yongming could speak, Shui Xiucai noticed Shui Qinghua next to him and frowned: "Qinghua, what happened to your brother? Why don't you protect him as his sister?"

Shui Qinghua rolled her eyes in her heart. In her past and present lives, her parents always had this attitude towards her: if no one was doing the work, it must be because Qinghua was lazy; if her younger siblings got hurt, it must be because Qinghua didn't take good care of them; if the family had no money to spend, they would ask Qinghua to take on more embroidery work.

She worked like a slave for her family, but when she got married, her only dowry was a few sets of clothes she embroidered. The betrothal gifts from the Ji family were neither generous nor meager. Her parents did not let her take a penny with them, leaving all for her younger brother to marry. She entered the Ji family naked, and her eldest sister-in-law laughed at her behind her back. The maids pointed and criticized her, making her feel ashamed.

She pursed her lips, said nothing, and there was a coldness in her eyes.

Shui Yongming saw this and quickly spoke up: "Dad, Mom, I'm fine. It was my second sister and Master Shen who saved me today."

Only then did Shui Fu and Shui Jellyfish notice Shen Yi's presence and hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, Mr. Shen, for saving us."

Shen Yi nodded slightly: "Uncle Shui, Aunt Shui, you're welcome."

At this time, Shui Minghua, the eldest sister of the Shui family, came out. There was a hint of surprise in her eyes, and she obviously recognized Shen Yi.

Shen Yi's brows relaxed, and a smile spread across his eyes: "Madam Shui, we meet again."

Shui Minghua didn't expect to see Shen Yi at home. After learning the whole story, she thanked him repeatedly.

Shui Minghua turned to Shui Fu and Shui Mu: "Dad, Mom, Yongming is fine, don't blame my second sister. If it weren't for her today, who knows what would have happened to my brother."

Shui Xiucai's expression eased a little, but Aunt Li was still grumbling, "She only has Yongming as her brother, isn't it normal for her to worry about him? When Yongming passes the imperial examination, it will also bring her honor, and she won't have to feel ashamed in the Ji family!"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Shui Yongming's face. He used his second sister's betrothal gift to marry his wife, and today his second sister saved his life. He knew that his parents were partial to his second sister and treated her badly. He felt guilty, but he couldn't say anything in front of so many people, otherwise it would only embarrass the two elders.

Shen Yi watched the scene and sensed the undercurrents in the Shui family, so he said goodbye. Shui Xiucai and his wife could not persuade him to stay, so they hurriedly prepared some thank-you gifts and sent Shen Yi out together.

Shen Yi bowed to everyone, glanced at Madam Shui out of the corner of his eye, turned around and strode away.

After Shen Yi left, Shui Qinghua also lost interest. Her brother's leg was saved, and her father would not die of depression. She had done everything she could, and how they would live in the future was up to them. She had originally planned to stay at her mother's house for a few days and help Aunt Li prepare for the wedding, but now she was in no mood, so she told Huixin to pack up and go home.

Aunt Li was unhappy: "You finally get to go back to your mother's home, but you don't even help your mother with some work. You are lucky, your sister helps you take care of the children, but now you even have to use a maid, and you can only watch your own mother suffer!" After she said this, she was about to cry.

Shui Qinghua was controlled by her mother in her previous life. Whenever Aunt Li cried, she would take whatever she wanted. But she had already repaid the kindness of giving birth to her and raising her in her previous life, and now Shui Qinghua didn't want to be controlled. She winked at Yuhua, who understood and immediately went up to hold Aunt Li's arm, saying, "Mother also knows that my second sister has three children at home. Wei'er is only a few months old, how can she leave me? Let my second sister go back, I will help me with the housework!"

"And me!" Minghua walked over with a smile.

The eldest and youngest daughters both helped to speak up, so Aunt Li had no choice but to give in. But she still reminded him: "You must come back the day before your brother's wedding, and bring your maid with you, because there are a lot of things to do at home!"

Shui Qinghua naturally agreed.

When she was leaving, Aunt Li followed her mysteriously. As soon as Shui Qinghua saw her behavior, she knew what she wanted to say. This was the case in her previous life. Aunt Li searched for folk remedies for having children, and when she returned to her parents' home, she boiled them and forced her to drink them. She always suspected that her early death was related to these strange remedies.

As expected, Aunt Li stuffed a note into her hand. "I asked the mother-in-law of your second aunt's neighbor next door for this. I heard it's very effective!"

Shui Qinghua rudely stuffed the note back: "Mom, please stop wasting time. I won't have any children anymore."

"What?" Aunt Li jumped up eight feet high. "You said you don't want to have a baby? Will your mother-in-law and husband tolerate you? I don't know when you will be divorced!"

"It doesn't matter if you come back. With mom around, I'll always have something to eat." Qinghua deliberately provoked her.

"Don't even think about it!" Aunt Li was angry and panicked. She lowered her voice and said, "Once your sister-in-law comes home, your mother will have no say. Even if your mother tolerates you, your sister-in-law will still see you as a thorn in her side! You must give birth to a son, do you hear me?"

Shui Qinghua didn't want to say any more to her confused mother. It was pointless to say anything. She just responded perfunctorily and got on the car to go home.