My reborn husband and son are thinking about how to kill me every day.

Gao Lan continued to cry, "If anything happens to him, how will our family survive?"

You are his mother, after all. Aren't you worried about him? Why are you always focused on those little rewards? It's just a few bolts of cloth.

I was thinking of using it as a proper dowry for Da Cong and his brothers when they get married. But you keep pressuring me; are you determined to take it all for yourself?

As soon as Gao Lan finished speaking, the villagers who had previously agreed with Wang Laotai began to look at her with more criticism.

It's really not easy for Gao Lan, a woman, to raise so many children at home all by herself.

Moreover, Wang Erniu is not a high-ranking official, far from being at the point where he could promote the Wang brothers and take the elderly couple to enjoy a comfortable life.

It's really wrong of her to bring the third son's family every day to force Wang Erniu's family to hand over their belongings.

Those watching the commotion all spoke up, saying that what Old Lady Wang was doing was wrong.

Some people advised Old Lady Wang that although Wang Erniu was her son, she shouldn't be too biased and let her son and daughter-in-law be completely heartbroken.

Old Mrs. Wang said anxiously, "I never said I would take those rewards for myself. I only said I would take them back from the Lu family and help keep them safe. How can you give your own things to an outsider for safekeeping?"

"Mother, have you forgotten what happened when the thief broke into our house last time? Do you think it's safer to leave the house with us than with the Lu family?"

Gao Lan said, "Last time thieves broke into our house, if it weren't for the Lu family's help, my daughters and I would probably be buried with the grass growing tall by now. What did you do back then?"

When Gao Lan mentioned that she had almost been killed by thieves last time, the villagers all nodded in agreement, saying that it was still more reliable to leave the things with the Lu family, since the Lu family had two strong men guarding the house.

He's much better than Wang Dazhi and Wang Xiaofeng, those two cowards who are afraid of death.

Seeing that the villagers all agreed with Gao Lan and didn't seem to think at all that the Lu family would swallow the second son's reward, Old Lady Wang was furious.

Little He was extremely unwilling to accept this.

Why does that fool Ji Shi always look up to the second son's family? And all these fools in the village, they believe everything Gao Shi says, do they even have brains? They're just useless opportunists...

She cursed them inwardly, but not a single villager helped the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Instead, many villagers went to Ji Yunshuang to curry favor with her.

Ji Yunshuang wasn't particularly close to the villagers, but she wasn't as cold towards Old Lady Wang and Xiao He Shi either.

Seeing this, Xiao He was so angry that her fingernails almost dug into her flesh.

Ji Yunshuang responded to the villagers verbally, but her eyes were constantly observing Yan Shi without leaving a trace.

If it weren't for her special attention, Yan would be someone who is easily overlooked in a crowd.

She seemed to have no presence, blending in with the villagers. But Ji Yunshuang's senses were extraordinary; she could sense that Yan Shi, like herself, was silently watching over her.

The ability to constantly monitor one's every move and blend into the crowd suggests that the spy has been specially trained.

Whose person is this?

As Ji Yunshuang was thinking, Gao Lan, carrying a small bamboo basket, said to her, "Sister Ji, I've picked a lot of wild berries. Would you like to come in and sit for a while and have some?"

Ji Yunshuang smiled and said, "Okay!"

She and Gao Lan went to Wang Erniu's house, and the villagers who had been surrounding them dispersed in twos and threes.

However, when they left, many villagers marveled at Gao Lan's good fortune in managing to get close to the Lu family.

Amidst the envious gazes of the villagers, Gao Lan led Ji Yunshuang back to her own courtyard.

She took the thorns out of the basket, washed them clean, and handed them to Ji Yunshuang, saying apologetically, "Sister Ji, I'm sorry to have troubled your family."

Ji Yunshuang picked up a thorny berry and put it in her mouth, laughing, "This is no trouble at all, just a small matter."

Despite Ji Yunshuang's words, Gao Lan still felt extremely guilty. Ever since she met Ji Yunshuang, it seemed like she had always been the one helping them.

But she had nothing to repay her with...

"It's no small matter. If it weren't for you last time, my daughter and I would have lost our lives."

The old woman and the first and third wives have been causing us trouble... It wasn't enough that they only bothered us, they came after you too. Sister Ji, I truly feel ashamed towards you..."

As she spoke, she was about to kneel down with Ji Yunshuang.

Ji Yunshuang stopped her, saying, "Sister Gao, please don't do this."

"Sister Ji, you have helped me so much." Gao Lan said, "I am useless and have only caused trouble for you. I have nothing to repay you with. I really feel bad about it."

Ji Yunshuang looked at her and said, "Do you really want to repay me?"

Gao Lan nodded repeatedly: "Really, Sister Ji, is there anything I can do for you? I will do my best to help you get things done."

Ji Yunshuang said, "I want you to move out of here and manage my business full-time. Are you willing?"

She now holds a position in the military and has too many things to do, leaving her with very limited energy.

But she didn't want to give up making money and hoard more supplies.

She needs someone to help her.

She trusts Gao Lan's character and has a certain talent for business, making her a very suitable candidate.

Gao Lan was still a little confused. She said, "What did you say? You want me to move out of here? To help you manage your business?"

Ji Yunshuang nodded and said, "That's right, you don't need to answer me right away, think about it carefully—"

Before she could finish speaking, Gao Lan interrupted her, saying, "No need to think about it, I'm willing."

Ji Yunshuang smiled helplessly and said, "Sister Gao, don't rush to answer. The place I'm talking about isn't in Jiangzhou. It's quite far away. Think about it first and then we'll talk."

Gao Lan said, "I'm fine with going anywhere, as long as you allow me to bring a few children with me."

In the village, that old woman watches over us all day long, making a fuss every day over those meager rewards. I've had enough. Going elsewhere at least allows me to avoid her. You're helping me.”

Ji Yunshuang said, "Then I won't try to persuade you anymore. You think about how to arrange your things at home, and I'll arrange for someone to send you to Ningxing Prefecture later."

Gao Lan didn't ask any further questions about why she was going to Ningxing Prefecture instead of staying in Jiang Prefecture.

She didn't ask her what she was doing in Ningxing Prefecture.

She completely trusted Ji Yunshuang and believed she wouldn't harm her. She was certain Ji Yunshuang would instruct her on what to do once they arrived in Ningxing Prefecture.

Her only worry was that she wouldn't be able to do the job well.

Ji Yunshuang noticed her concerns, comforted her, and then asked about the tenant who was staying at the Wang family's house.

Gao Lan disliked the Wang family very much. Logically speaking, she would not want to have much contact with the tenants who rented rooms in the Wang family's house.

But after meeting Yan a few times, she couldn't bring herself to dislike her. She felt that Yan was just a pitiful woman whose husband had died, and that she shouldn't take her anger out on her because of her in-laws' affairs.

Therefore, she did not stop Yan Cui from coming to play with her little girl.

When Ji Yunshuang asked about the two of them, she quickly asked, "What happened? Did I cause you any trouble?"

Ji Yunshuang smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. I just wanted to find out about her family situation. I saw that Yuzhu and her daughter got along quite well."

Gao Lan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly told him everything she knew.

Ji Yunshuang was already 80% certain that the Yan family was a spy.

Now, after hearing Gao Lan's account, it can be said with absolute certainty that the identities these two used in the village were fake.

As for whose people they are, don't worry, just cast a bait and see.