She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

Lu Huan pointed behind Zhou Shi: "We've bought four servants, and your sister-in-law brought two maids with her as part of her dowry. Isn't that enough? Or should I go to town tomorrow and buy a few more people to serve you?"

"What are you buying! Don't you need to eat? You've only been married in for two or three days, and you're already trying to run away every day. What kind of daughter-in-law are you! I, as your mother-in-law, don't even live as carefree a life as you!"

Zhou felt angry just looking at those large wooden crates. Before leaving, she kicked one of them and left cursing.

Lu Huan added, "Mother-in-law, we need to replant potatoes in the fields soon. I'll hire a few people from the village to help, so my husband won't have to go to the fields!"

Zhou walked even faster, afraid that Lu Huan would ask her for money, while inwardly cursing Lu Ruyi.

She said Lu Huan brought back some good things, and she definitely had to treat them to something, so she eagerly came over to wait.

Now that it's clear, those two little brats have torn off all pretense of civility, and it turns out Lu Ruyi was using her as a pawn to get ahead!

Gao Yan, along with the Shi family father and son, carried all three boxes back to the west wing in just a couple of trips. Upon hearing Lu Huan's words, his face burned with embarrassment.

He didn't even bother to deliver the mule cart to his fourth aunt's house. He quickly closed the courtyard gate and complained in a low voice, "Huan'er, it's not as serious as you make it out to be! You... you shouldn't keep bringing it up. Otherwise, believe me, there will be some unpleasant rumors circulating in the village tomorrow."

Lu Huan didn't take these rumors to heart. Whether the shoe fits or not, only he knows; there's no need to announce it to the whole village.

"What, is there anyone in the village you still care about?"

Seeing Lu Huan's teasing expression, Gao Yan retorted, "Don't talk nonsense! Besides you, who else do I care about?"

puff-

Lu Huan laughed out loud and glared at him, "Alright, go return the mule cart! I'll let you off the hook!"

Unexpectedly, Gao Yan took it seriously. He first sent Shi Dong to return the mule cart, while he followed Lu Huan into the house.

"Huan'er, what do you mean by 'let me go'! You can't not believe me!"

Lu Huan turned around, stared at Gao Yan's handsome face, and asked seriously, "On your wedding day, many young women and newlyweds blushed when they saw you. Didn't any young women talk to you or give you a purse or handkerchief before?"

Gao Yan was taken aback by the sudden question and for a moment forgot to deny it.

Lu Huan mistakenly thought he had tacitly agreed: "You're already hesitating, so I think it's definitely true!" She turned around and almost bumped into the wooden box in the middle of the room.

For some reason, Lu Huan felt a little uneasy, and her eyes stung.

She shoved aside the wooden crate blocking her way: "Even you're bullying me!"

She was referring to the wooden crate on the ground, but Gao Yan thought Lu Huan was talking about him. Ignoring whether it was true or not, he hurriedly apologized, "Huan'er, it's all my fault! I wasn't hesitant, I was just stupid and didn't realize it. You know what I used to be like; no young lady would want to talk to me! I always avoid them on the street!"

As Gao Yan spoke, he turned Lu Huan around, pulled her into his arms, and gently stroked her back, smoothing her fur bit by bit.

The warmth of her hand slowly spread across Lu Huan's shoulder. Gradually, her whole body warmed up.

She shifted restlessly in Gao Yan's arms, murmuring, "I'm sorry..."

"If you feel this way, it must be because I did something wrong. Just tell me directly, don't be suspicious of me, okay?"

Lu Huan's tears flowed even more fiercely, which broke Gao Yan's heart. He hurriedly wiped away her tears.

Well, now Gao Yan's sleeves were also stained with tears, not only on his chest.

"Huan'er, stop crying! Tell me what happened!" Even Gao Yan, who was slow to react, realized that Lu Huan's sadness was not entirely his fault.

How could Lu Huan respond?

She couldn't possibly tell Gao Yan that she had been reborn, nor could she reveal the future fate of the Qin couple. She couldn't even confide in her three friends in the trading system. She worried that telling them would taint their past friendship.

She could only bury herself in Gao Yan's arms again, seeking a sliver of warmth.

"I...I miss my mother and grandfather so much."

Gao Yan's hand paused slightly, then wrapped around Lu Huan's waist: "I've never even met my biological parents..."

Lu Huan's sobs stopped abruptly. How could she have forgotten about this!

Gao Yan quickly adjusted his tone, making it lighter: "Huan'er, don't be sad. Their spirits in heaven would surely want to see you living happily."

These words were also Gao Yan's way of comforting himself. As long as he was alive, there was a glimmer of hope that one day they would be reunited.

Lu Huan gave a heavy nasal "Mmm" and then asked, "Have you looked for your parents all these years?"

“Back then, the dynasty was newly established. The year I was born, the nomadic people hadn’t even been driven out of Yanjing City yet. Who knew what their identities were, or where they had gone?” Gao Yan became more and more desperate as he spoke.

Lu Huan looked up and carefully examined Gao Yan's features: "You don't look like a grassland person! When we found you back then, were you wrapped in any blankets or something? Maybe we can find some clues!"

"That's right! Although Uncle Qin didn't take over the silk business, his father was once a trusted aide to my maternal grandfather. He can tell the origin of any silk just by seeing it."

Gao Yan looked troubled: "I once heard the aunties in the village say that when they found me, the swaddling blanket was indeed quite special. But my mother kept it, and even though I asked for it back, she wouldn't give it to me..."

Lu Huan confidently assured him, "Leave this to me! I can definitely get your things back!"

Gao Yan, remembering her extravagant spending these past few days, hurriedly reminded her, "Don't do anything reckless! You know what kind of person Mother is..."

"I understand, I understand!" Lu Huan didn't know Zhou Shi too well.

She's a money-grubber, and her sister-in-law, Gao Manting, is practically a carbon copy of her!

After they talked things out, they realized that they had been hugging each other like this for quite a while.

Lu Huan blushed and pushed Gao Yan away. Seeing the wet patch on his chest made her even more embarrassed.

"Take off your clothes quickly, I'll wash them for you!"

Gao Yan chuckled and quickly stripped himself down to his undergarments.

Lu Huan blushed and carried his clothes into the inner room, not forgetting to remind him, "Put your clothes on quickly, don't catch a cold!"

"Alright!" Gao Yan put on his usual linen clothes and walked out with a smile.

Seeing the still sealed opening of the heated kang outside the west wing, he remembered that Lu Huan had complained that morning that it was too cold and the room felt like it was about to freeze over.

He picked up the pliers from the corner and began cleaning the chimney.

In previous years, we would have had to do these things a while later, but my wife is sensitive to the cold!

Hearing the door close, Lu Huan peeked out from the inner room and secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she confirmed that she was alone in the room.

Gao Yan was right. His grandfather had gone to great lengths to plan so that his mother and he could live happily. Uncle Qin and his wife were still alive and well; they hadn't been killed by those rioters. Everything was still possible.

Soon it was time for dinner.

Although Lu Huan didn't want to eat with Zhou Shi and Lu Ruyi, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the main hall.