Remarrying Chun Yuan

When Liu Musheng heard that his two uncles had taken the rice and grain and only given him IOUs, he was furious.

"Liu Yuechu, you're so stupid! You didn't even consult me ​​before signing the agreement with them, and now you're letting them take advantage of you. You're such an idiot!" Even the deepest family ties are fragile in the face of money, let alone the fact that the third and fourth wives are just bullying people.

Liu Yuechu feigned helplessness, "Are we really supposed to just watch them line up for porridge? No matter how right we are, we're still the younger generation. Wouldn't people be talking behind our backs?"

She carefully placed the two IOUs aside; this was her trump card for snapping up the Liu family's antique shop at rock-bottom prices. Only after the heavy snow stopped did her two uncles realize that no one was paying attention to the calligraphy and paintings by famous artists. By then, the Liu family's business had plummeted, and they might not even be able to sell for ten thousand taels of silver.

It's probably impossible to get the two uncles to pay up the money, but it's possible to completely kick them out of the business and sever all ties with them.

Liu Musheng, unaware of Liu Yuechu's ulterior motives, was furious. "Does being an elder give you the right to bully people? No way, I have to go and reason with them!"

"What's the use of saying this now? Can you still get the food and heating coals back?"

"So you're just going to forgo the ten thousand taels?" Liu Musheng rubbed his chest, feeling a pang of heartache.

“Flying is impossible, but I have my own ways. I’m just reminding you, brother, if they don’t want to pay, they’ll try every means to erase this debt. The best way is to arrange a marriage for you, or help me choose a wife… Maybe they’ll use even more despicable methods, like taking you out to eat, drink, gamble, and whore, letting you squander money as much as you want. If you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet.” Liu Yuechu was very confident.

My two uncles used this tactic even when they didn't owe money, let alone now that there's an IOU.

Liu Musheng's face stiffened, embarrassed yet bluffing, "You little brat, how dare you say such things!" He had complained last night that there was nowhere to drink and brothels after the snow.

"You did it, so why can't I say anything? Besides, it's just the two of us here, no need to put on airs. I've said what I needed to say, just be careful... Also, we're short-handed, can you help out? There are gifts prepared for Princess Chen's residence outside, can you go and deliver them yourself?"

Princess Chen was a close friend of her mother when she was alive. Liu Yuechu found an opportunity for her elder brother to set his sights on higher goals.

In his past life, he was bewitched by his fourth uncle and married the illegitimate daughter of the Prefect of the Capital. That sister-in-law not only emptied the Liu family's coffers for her own family, but also cuckolded his elder brother...

Although Liu Musheng was lazy, he was happy to go to Princess Chen's residence.

After all, it was a timely act of kindness, and Princess Chen was so moved that she had to reward him with something. But he was still upset about the affairs of the third and fourth wives, so he had to go to his grandmother to complain first.

Liu Musheng, having calculated his options, strode away.

Liu Yuechu instructed Bai Shao to select some tonics, as she was going to the scholar's residence.

She had been sending out helping people around the country recently, and naturally, her best friends Li Shu and Lin Mengyu's families were among those who received her help. But when the people who returned came back, they told her that Lin Mengyu's mother had fallen ill.

At that time, she was too busy to go, and the roads were difficult to travel. Now that the people who had drunk the porridge were helping to clear the snow from the city, and horse-drawn carriages could travel on the roads, she should go and visit them.

Moreover, her two uncles would definitely inquire about the shop if they knew that outsiders had invested in it. Among the gifts she gave to Princess Chen was a contract for a 10% stake. She also wanted to bring in another person and asked Lin Mengyu to help with this.

Lin Mengyu was not at home at the time; she had gone with her elder brother to the narrow alley in the south of the city to deliver a thank-you gift.

Madam Lin fell seriously ill, and Grand Secretary Lin invited the imperial physicians to treat her. However, the prescription contained a rare ingredient that could not be found anywhere in the capital.

In the past, we could send people out of the capital to search, but at this critical juncture, leaving the city? Even the birds dare not perch on the branches of trees in the capital.

So Scholar Lin inquired if there was a substitute for the medicinal ingredient, but the Imperial Medical Academy initially shook their heads. However, the old physician suddenly mentioned Yuan Cuo's travelogue, which recorded a plant that had the same effect as that rare medicinal ingredient.

The Lin family then searched everywhere for this travelogue, and after confirming that it contained records, they searched everywhere for the author, Yuan Cuo.

Fortunately, Yuan Cuo actually dug up a plant when he saw it and has been cultivating it ever since.

His unintentional act actually helped a lot.

Lin Mengjun sent a cartload of rice, grain, and charcoal. At the moment, the most precious gift is food and warmth; nothing can compare to gold or silver treasures.

When the two arrived at Yuan Cuo's small courtyard, they found that although he seemed poor, he lacked nothing.

The walls are made of peppercorn mud, and the floor is covered with earthen beams, making it as warm as spring.

Even their academy wasn't this extravagant, after all, Sichuan peppercorns are very expensive.

"Brother Yuan, you're amazing! Though your courtyard is small, it has everything you need. No wonder the snow could provide my mother with such a precious and rare medicinal ingredient. I'm truly impressed!" Lin Mengjun noticed that instead of peach or pear trees, his courtyard was planted with Sichuan pepper trees.

“I dare not take credit. The mud walls alone could not withstand the blizzard. Fortunately, the earthen fire never went out, otherwise the medicinal plants would not have survived.” Yuan Cuo couldn’t help but think of Liu Yuechu.

When it first snowed, she sent him food, charcoal, thick cotton and linen clothes to keep warm, and a lot of tonics.

Why would a young woman pay so much attention to health and wellness?

He thought of the wild Ganoderma lucidum from last time, and how seriously she told him to nourish his body... He couldn't help but compare himself to Lin Mengjun in front of him, as if he were half a head taller. He wondered if there were any tonics in the "warmth" that Liu Yuechu gave to Lin Mengjun.

Lin Mengjun had no idea what he was thinking, and was still mocking himself, "It was my brother and I who were being presumptuous. We thought that Brother Yuan was also short of charcoal and rice, and that we had brought some mundane things."

Lin Mengyu noticed the straw basket filled with charcoal in the corner and thought it looked familiar. "This looks like the same basket that Yue Niang gave to our family?"

"It was Lady Liu who came to our aid in the snow, which saved the medicinal ingredient. In fact, you two should be grateful to her." Yuan Cuo mentioned her name, his indifferent tone now tinged with admiration.

The ability to use relics to save all sentient beings and alleviate disasters demonstrates a chivalrous spirit that is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"So you know Yue Niang? How come I've never heard her mention her before?" Lin Mengyu was very surprised. She and Liu Yuechu were very close friends and always talked about everything.

Yuan Cuo just smiled, seemingly unable to say that she was looking for him to get Suzhou paper to make fake kites.

The siblings didn't pry, only feeling that their friend seemed familiar and their relationship had become closer.

“I must thank Yue Niang, but I must thank Young Master Yuan even more. If it weren’t for your travelogue, which happened to be seen by the old physician, my mother would probably be beyond saving. You are a benefactor of the Lin family, and we will always remember this kindness.” Lin Mengjun clasped his hands together and bowed to express his gratitude.

Lin Mengyu nodded: "Yes, yes, yes, you can ask for anything you need anytime. The Academy will do its utmost to help." What the Academy cannot do, other residences probably cannot do either.

Yuan Cuo didn't stand on ceremony and, after some consideration, brought up the Lin family's library, saying, "I only intend to browse through it and not take it with me. Is that alright?"

Lin Mengjun was caught off guard. He hadn't expected him to bring this up. The Lin family library was filled with rare and ancient books, and outsiders had never been allowed to enter. "...Let me go back and ask my father. Wait for my news."

Yuan Cuo bowed in thanks and saw the two off.

When the Lin siblings returned to the mansion, they saw Liu Yuechu chatting with Madam Lin.

But Madam Lin looked displeased, her face was pale and haggard, and she seemed disgusted and dissatisfied.

"...A woman's word must be law. How can she promise a man she will marry in public, only to renege on her promise after he is chosen?"

"It's only because the Zhenning Marquis's mansion has fallen on hard times that they've had to swallow their anger. Otherwise, if they took it seriously and filed a complaint with the imperial court, your Liu family would be facing legal trouble."