Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

At the foot of the mountain, Ding Zhen finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him from the beginning.

"Red Fish, have you really received any favor from that family on the mountain?"

Liang Hongyu said calmly, "Why? Do you suspect I'm lying?"

Ding Zhen hurriedly shook her head and said, "No, I just asked casually."

Liang Hongyu said, "You're so smart, you should have guessed who the original owner of the house on the mountain was. Are you worried that I might be involved with them and affect you?"

Ding Zhen's voice crackled with anxiety, and she swore, "Hongyu, please don't think that. I really didn't mean that."

"I know this is the fief of Li Shirong, the former governor of Qinzhou Road, and I also know that the house on the mountain is Li Shirong's former residence, but that's all I know."

"Don't say you have nothing to do with Li Shirong. Even if you really have received Li Shirong's favor, I won't have any other thoughts."

Seeing Ding Zhen's flushed face, Liang Hongyu smiled calmly and said, "Okay, I believe you."

Ding Zhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"But I have indeed received favors from General Li." Liang Hongyu continued.

Ding Zhen's expression changed slightly, and she said, "Your age is wrong. Li Shirong was convicted 25 years ago. You weren't even born then."

Liang Hongyu said, "Without General Li, I might not have had the chance to be born. He was very kind to my parents. Before they passed away, they told me that if I ever met any of General Li's descendants, I must repay their kindness."

Ding Zhen said, "Li Shirong probably has no descendants left in this world. I'm afraid I can never repay this favor."

Liang Hongyu looked up at the mountain and said, "I made a detour to Linshui just to get this matter over with."

"That mother and son on the mountain must know something, otherwise they wouldn't have come to clean up this old house that nominally belongs to a traitor."

Ding Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? In the next few days, I'll ask someone about the identities of the mother and son on the mountain. If they really are related to Li Shirong, I'll hold a banquet and invite him to be a guest. At the banquet, I'll ask him about it indirectly."

Liang Hongyu said, "No need. If they really have a relationship with General Li, they wouldn't tell strangers like us. After all, General Li is still..."

"What about this favor?" Ding Zhen asked cautiously.

Liang Hongyu sighed and said, "Let's leave it to fate."

After that, Liang Hongyu stopped talking and returned to Linshui County in silence.

She rented a small courtyard on Donglou Street as a temporary residence. After Ding Zhen sent her to the gate of the courtyard, she wanted to follow her in, but after being glared at by the old maid guarding the door, Ding Zhen immediately left in shame.

Liang Hongyu smiled and said, "Mom scared me."

The old woman snorted, "Go in and change your clothes first. I'm getting angry just looking at you."

Liang Hongyu pulled the old woman's arm and said coquettishly, "Good mother, don't be angry, I'm back safely."

The old woman said, "Hongyu, this isn't the capital. This is a border market, a place where good and bad people mingle. If you go out alone and something happens to you, how will I survive?"

"Okay, okay, go change your clothes first."

Liang Hongyu laughed like a silver bell and trotted into the house.

After about a cup of tea, the old woman opened the door and came in, asking, "Where have you been?"

Liang Hongyu, who had changed back into women's clothing, was putting on her makeup in front of the mirror. Looking at the angry old woman in the mirror, she smiled and said, "Mom, I'm not going out alone. I have Young Master Ding with me."

"I'm angry because you have him by your side." The old woman put her hands on her hips and said, "I admit that his father is somewhat capable, he is a member of the Ministry of Personnel, but a capable father doesn't mean his son will be capable too. Ding Zhen is just an embroidered pillow, good-looking but useless."

Liang Hongyu curled her lips and said, "Young Master Ding isn't as... despicable as Mom says he is."

The old woman sighed and said, "You don't like this? Then let me change it. Ding Zhen isn't strong enough. If you continue to interact with him like this, you'll bring him huge trouble."

"If that really happens, not to mention that his father is only a Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, even if he is a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he may not be able to protect him. You know that what Mom said is not an exaggeration. After all, there are many young men in the capital who like you and whose family backgrounds are more powerful than Ding Zhen's."

"If you really want to do this for his own good, you should have made it clear to him earlier."

Liang Hongyu put down the comb and stood up. After walking to the desk, she began to grind the ink carefully. As she did so, she said, "Mom, among those young men in the capital, how many of them are truly in love with me?"

"It's just a casual affair. Isn't it better to find someone who is willing to coax you than someone who needs me to coax her?"

The old woman's hands were shaking with anger. She asked, "Are you going to humiliate yourself like this?"

Liang Hongyu picked up the brush, bit the tip of it, and said, "A woman in our profession, who isn't humiliating herself?"

The old woman said angrily, "You are different from others."

Liang Hongyu picked up her pen and dipped it in ink. "My daughter doesn't think she's any different from others."

"And mother should also know that among those sisters who married into wealthy families, how many of them had a good ending? Those who could live out their old age in peace were considered lucky. Most of them didn't even live to see old age, and were beaten to death by the mistress of the house in their prime."

"Instead of living in fear all your life, it's better to find someone who obeys you in everything."

The old woman was unable to refute for a moment. After being stunned for a long time, she said uncertainly: "But that Ding guy also fell in love with your looks, didn't he? When you are no longer good-looking, he will kick you out."

"If that day ever comes, I'll just die," Liang Hongyu said nonchalantly. "Besides, at least this way, I can live a happy life while I'm still pretty."

The old woman covered her chest and sat down on the chair, gasping for breath: "You, you, you...you are really going to piss me off to death."

"Fortunately, I insisted on coming with you this time. If I hadn't come, you might have really run away with that Ding guy."

Liang Hongyu glanced at the old maid and said, "Mom, I'm just saying that. I'm not really going to pledge myself to Mr. Ding."

"Don't act anymore. Hasn't anyone told you that you're a terrible actor?"

The old woman laughed angrily, "Having such an outstanding daughter like you, I, your mother, will have to live at least ten years less."

"Okay, I won't talk to you about this for now. Tell me where you went today."

Liang Hongyu picked up her brush and wrote, "Qiu Shan."

The old woman stood up immediately in shock: "Where?"

Liang Hongyu continued painting and answered again: "Qiu Shan."

"Liang Hongyu, are you crazy?!" the old woman roared angrily.