Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

With a "snap," the stick in Yu Wanran's hand suddenly broke, and everyone came to their senses.

Yu Wenrong rushed to Yu Wanran, whose forehead was covered in sweat and who was frowning at the tree branch in her hand. He clenched his fists and was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently.

"Third Sister, you're amazing! Is this the Dog-Beating Stick Technique? Can you teach me?"

"Beating a dog...that's right, it's a dog-beating stick!"

Yu Wanran opened her eyes and looked at her younger brother. After a moment, she chuckled softly.

"The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts. Young man, you want to learn martial arts, are you sure you can endure the hardships?"

He glanced at Yu Wenrong, touched and patted his limbs, actually to check his bone growth, and then shook his head inwardly.

Martial arts training requires building a foundation in childhood. I'm fifteen now, and my bones are almost fully developed. Moreover, I've lived a poor life since I was young, so I haven't been able to build up my physique and have missed the golden period for martial arts training.

But she couldn't say this cruel truth. She just looked into Yu Wenrong's hopeful eyes and said, "I can teach you some basics to strengthen your body, but you must persevere!"

Yu Wenrong was overjoyed and didn't realize the hidden meaning in her third sister's words.

"Third Sister, don't worry, I'll learn from you, I promise I'll study hard and persevere!"

He longed for the day when he could take on ten men. After that, in Qingping Village, no one dared to bully the Yu family. His father and eldest brother were meek; they could argue for ages without uttering a word, let alone fight. So, in the end, he had to step in himself!

"There's no time like the present, so start practicing today."

Yu Wanran smiled and said, "First, practice the horse stance. Get up an hour early every day to practice."

After saying that, he asked Yu Wenrong to move his arms and legs and taught him a squatting posture for a horse stance.

Don't underestimate this horse stance; it's the most basic movement in martial arts. She practiced it for three years straight. Only after three years did her master gradually teach her other basic fist and foot techniques. She only started learning swordsmanship after she turned ten.

Even her eldest brother, the heir apparent, couldn't hold on during this period.

Her sixteen years living in the Duke's mansion were actually very busy and boring.

Reading and martial arts practice occupied most of her time. She even avoided all social events and had no close friends. The Duchess often criticized her, but fortunately, the Duke appreciated this extraordinary daughter and always supported her.

Looking back now, I realize that my efforts back then were absolutely the right thing to do.

The status and wealth bestowed upon her by the Duke's mansion cannot be taken away, but what she has learned will forever belong to her.

Seeing Yu Xiaoxiang leaning against the wall, she had an idea. She picked up her little niece and put her together with her older brother, Yu Wenbin.

"Big brother, Xiao Xiang, do you want to learn martial arts?"

Yu Xiaoxiang shook her head like a rattle drum, whether out of shyness or fear, she hid in the kitchen like her mother.

Yu Wenbin glanced at Yu Wenrong, who was making strange movements, and only after taking a short break in his "horse stance" did his younger brother's face turn pale, his legs tremble like leaves, and he was about to collapse.

He quickly shook his head and gave a dry laugh.

"Third sister, after we eat, Dad and I still need to go to work in the fields!"

He seriously doubted whether his younger brother would be able to get out of bed after all that trouble.

Yu Wanran watched the two figures disappear quickly, and sighed helplessly.

Yu Wenrong kept calling her.

"Third sister, how long do you need to practice the horse stance?"

"Third sister, can I rest now?"

"Third sister..."

"Shut up!"

Yu Wanran hit him on the leg with a stick.

"Hold this position for at least fifteen minutes, and gradually increase the time later. You've only just begun, and you can't even handle it? Learning martial arts is a hundred times harder than learning literature. If you can't persevere, give up as soon as possible!"

Yu Wenrong pouted, but could only continue to force herself to stay focused. She was torn between her inner conflict and whether to study or not.

Yu Wanran ignored him. She touched the handkerchief hanging under the eaves, which was now dry, took it to wipe her sweat, and went into the kitchen to help Zhu Xiaozhen cook.

She figured she'd have to buy another one at the market, otherwise she wouldn't be able to get a replacement. It wasn't that she disliked her little niece, but thinking about how much snot had gotten on that one, it was really…

It really is time to separate, isn't it?

This breakfast, Yu Wanran received far less porridge than yesterday. Food had to be given priority to the men who worked in the fields. Like Ji Chunhua, she had more than half a bowl of thin porridge, while Zhu Xiaozhen and Yu Xiaoxiang had even less.

Yu Wenrong finally finished practicing his horse stance and came over, swaying as he sat down to pick up his bowl. He muttered to himself, "My dad actually gave all those good snacks to the eldest son's family next door. Looks like I'll be going to go hungry in the fields again today."

Yu Wenbin glanced at him.

"You have way more food in your bowl than Mom and Third Sister do, aren't you satisfied? If Dad hears this when he gets back, he'll beat you again!"

Yu Man was gentle by nature, but when it came to raising his children, he believed in the saying "spare the rod and spoil the child." Xiao Yao misbehaved as a child and was beaten just like him. Unlike the Yu brothers, Xiao Yao was vengeful and didn't hold grudges; she wasn't close to her father.

Fortunately, out of consideration for her reputation, she dared to hit her nominal aunt when she came back, but she didn't dare to touch a hair on Yu's father's head.

Yu Man returned empty-handed. The flush on his face, dark and agitated, hadn't faded yet; he must have been scolded by his sister-in-law again. The siblings pretended not to notice, and Yu Wanran handed him a pair of clean chopsticks.

"Dad, eat quickly, it'll get cold."

"Ai!"

Yu Man took the chopsticks, calmed himself down a bit, and sat down to watch his children eating.

"Has your mother eaten?"

"Ate."

Zhu Xiaozhen answered softly.

She brought in half a bowl of porridge, and her mother gulped it down in a few mouthfuls—it wouldn't take much time. She watched her mother finish it before taking out the empty bowl.

"Father, how is Aunt?"

Yu Wenbin asked casually.

It's a miracle that he survived such a severe injury.

"What else?"

Yu Man touched the still-warm face and said irritably, "You were cursing with great force, so you should be fine now."

He rushed to offer snacks, only to be met with a cold shoulder.

Liu Yan blamed the beating on his failure to properly raise his adopted daughter. Everyone else, including her mother, remained silent, seemingly acquiescing to this explanation. He was both angry and frustrated, and resolved to avoid that area in the future.

Since we've completely separated, there's really no need for us to get back together.

After finishing their meal, the three members of the Yu family, father and sons, picked up hoes and went to work in the fields.

Although winter has arrived and some farmland has entered its fallow period, some areas are still planted with radishes and cabbages for winter consumption. Before the harvest, they need to be carefully weeded, fertilized, and tended to.

This is crucial for the family's livelihood during the winter.

Yu Wanran tidied up the table and chairs, then went inside to help Ji Chunhua finish her personal business. When she came out, she saw a large basket being moved slowly towards the yard.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Yu Xiaoxiang carrying a basket twice her size, slowly walking towards the gate. She almost thought the basket had come to life!

"Xiao Xiang, where are you going?"

She called out and hurriedly ran to grab the basket on Yu Xiaoxiang's back. Yu Xiaoxiang, basket and all, was lifted off the ground, kicking her short legs in vain.

Zhu Xiaozhen poked her head out of the kitchen: "Third Sister, don't worry about her! I'll send her to the nearby hillside to see if she can pick some wild vegetables."

Even if there are no wild vegetables, grass can be cut, dried, and used as firewood.

Which farm child doesn't work from dawn till dusk like this? Yu Xiaoxiang may look young, but she's actually six years old and knows a lot. Her survival skills in the wild might even surpass her aunt's!