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

"Second sister, thank you for your concern. I'm back. I'm used to staying at home. My parents, older brother, and younger brother all treat me well. Although fine clothes and delicacies are nice, I'm happier with simple meals and family."

Yu Cuicui was taken aback. She wasn't just concerned... no, she was concerned in a way.

They worried that their younger sister, who had just returned from the Duke's mansion, might cause trouble for her family because she wasn't used to the place. Their mother had suffered so much, and their father was an honest and simple man; they feared that Yu Wanran's return would disrupt the peace of the household.

Upon hearing the news about the real and fake heiresses, she had long wanted to return to her parents' home. Unfortunately, her husband's profession was subject to many taboos, which not only displeased the villagers but also her parents.

What if something happens to her mother when she runs back, and it's said that her husband brought bad luck to her?

So she endured it all. Only when she heard that her mother's injuries had healed and it was time to go home for the New Year did she dare to bring the child back.

Even so, her husband still had to hide in the bushes at the village entrance, afraid of being seen and scolded by the villagers of Qingping Village. During the Lunar New Year, who wants to see Erpijiang (a notorious cobbler)?

Faced with Yu Wanran's calm demeanor, Yu Cuicui touched her temples, momentarily speechless. After a moment, she said awkwardly, "I'm relieved you can get used to it! Mother has suffered greatly this time; we'll need your help to take care of the family from now on..."

"I know, Second Sister, don't worry."

Yu Wanran noticed that Yu Cuicui was wearing a new dress made of coarse cotton, which was of much better quality than the linen she was wearing. It seemed that her second sister's family was indeed living a comfortable life.

Although her brother-in-law's status wasn't well-received, these days, filling one's stomach is more important than reputation. In her previous life, she was a businessman and still faced discrimination.

Among the four classes of people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants held the lowest social status, ranking last.

But money makes the world go round!

Later, she strategized and infiltrated the officialdom with great force. Even nobles and royalty who looked down on merchants vied to curry favor with her.

Moreover, she knew that overseas, there was a much wider world for businessmen to develop.

The two sisters remained silent for a moment, awkwardly finding nothing to talk about. After a short while, Yu Cuicui smiled and brought up a new topic: "Um... Third Sister, thank you for the gift you gave Yangyang, he really likes it."

She didn't hear Yu Wenrong and Zhou Haoyang's voices outside, so she guessed the uncle and nephew had taken the new slingshot she'd given them and gone out to cause trouble. Yu Wanran smiled broadly.

"I'm glad you like it. I came back in such a hurry that I couldn't prepare a decent gift for your family, Second Sister. I'll definitely make it up to you when I have the chance!"

"Third sister, you're too kind."

Finally finding a way to chat casually, Yu Cuicui breathed a sigh of relief: "We're family, not outsiders, why give a gift?"

She smiled knowingly.

"Third sister, you're sixteen this year, aren't you? As your older sister, I should prepare a gift for you as soon as possible to include in your dowry!"

She waited to see Yu Wanran blush and blush. However, Yu Wanran's lips curled up, and her smiling expression was faint.

How could she possibly get married so easily?

Neither she nor certain people will allow her to get married properly.

"Second sister, you're joking."

Receiving such a bland and unimpressive answer left Yu Cuicui stunned. Wait, they weren't even a little uncomfortable discussing her marriage? Was this the kind of upbringing only found in wealthy families…?

Finding herself unable to connect with her third sister, who had returned from the Duke's mansion, Yu Cuicui felt a persistent sense of unease and self-consciousness. Without hesitation, she stood up.

"Third sister, I'll go to the kitchen to see what I can do to help my sister-in-law. Please have a seat..."

Yu Wanran stood up and pressed down on Yu Cuicui: "Second sister, you've finally come home, spend more time talking with Mother."

Yu Cuicui watched her walk towards the kitchen, reaching out in vain and grabbing nothing.

She frowned, a bitter expression on her face. What could she say to her mother? Her mother despised her, utterly despised her. In recent years, the two of them would argue after only a few words when they met.

She both wanted to go back to her parents' home and was afraid to go back.

Yu Wanran entered the kitchen and saw Zhu Xiaozhen cutting meat. The two pounds of meat that Yu Man brought back before the New Year had been eaten in several meals, and now there was still a small piece of meat, about half a pound, left. It would be perfect to use it to entertain Yu Cuicui's family.

Zhu Xiaozhen cut the meat into large, thin slices, ensuring that each person could have at least two slices.

Yu Xiaoxiang sat on a small stool tending the fire. Afraid of getting her clothes dirty, she lifted up her skirt, wrapped it up, and hugged it to her chest.

Yu Wanran gently patted the top of her head.

"Xiao Xiang, let your third aunt come. Go play with the girls in the village, and come back when it's time to eat."

This is the happiest time of the year for children.

Yu Xiaoxiang stood up, head bowed before her like a child who had made a mistake. Zhu Xiaozhen turned back and smiled at Yu Wanran: "Third Sister, don't mind her. Where did she get her girlfriends... who's always following me around?"

Yu Wanran realized she had misunderstood. The way a farm girl is raised is completely different from that of a rich family's daughter.

She sat down apologetically, taking over the fire- tending work while pulling Yu Xiaoxiang close to her chest. The child was so well-behaved; she couldn't help but dote on her a little more.

"Then Xiao Xiang can stay here and talk with your mother and third aunt."

Zhu Xiaozhen was pleased to see her third sister-in-law treating her daughter well. However, farmers can't just sit idly by. Before long, Yu Xiaoxiang was sent by her to pick vegetables.

The three of them each did their own thing, chatting occasionally, and seemed to be having a good time. Unfortunately, their good mood didn't last long, as they heard arguing coming from the inner room. Ji Chunhua was yelling at Yu Cuicui.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhu Xiaozhen and her daughter lost their smiles and buried their heads in their chests. Yu Wanran was about to go inside to check when the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar and stopped near the fence.

Looking through the half-wall without windows, one could see a young guard dressed in blue with a long sword at his waist, jumping off his horse and knocking on the half-closed wooden door of his house.

Yu Wanran's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly went out to meet them.

"Yanqing, it's you?"

The Duke's mansion had few heirs. The Duke had one son and three daughters. Under the strict control of the Duchess, the inner quarters were relatively clean. Despite having numerous concubines and maids, only two illegitimate daughters were born in over ten years.

The eldest daughter, born of a concubine, was arranged by the Duchess to marry the magistrate of a neighboring county. Although she was a second wife, she was still considered the principal wife. The younger daughter, only a few years old, was still raised in the inner quarters.

While at the Duke's mansion, the Duchess strictly forbade Yu Wanran from having close relationships with her two illegitimate daughters, fearing that her child would be harmed by the intrigues of the inner quarters. To this end, she even assigned her two bodyguards, one of whom was Yan Qing.

I thought that once I left the Duke's mansion, we would have no further connection, but I never expected that we would meet again one day.

Looking at his former master, Yan Qing was overwhelmed with emotions, as if it were a lifetime ago.

He paused for a moment before remembering to kneel down and say, "This humble servant greets the county magistrate... greets Miss Yu."

Yu Wanran quickly helped him up, her emotions from both lifetimes welling up in her heart, and she couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Her bodyguards, Yanqing and Yanbai, had accompanied and protected her since she was ten years old. They were not brothers, but they were more than brothers to her. However, after her accident in her previous life, she heard that the two of them had been assigned to Xiao Yao by the Duke's mansion.

Xiao Yao hated her and took her anger out on the guards, deliberately accusing them of disloyalty and injustice. She heard that Yan Qing had been beaten to death and that Yan Bai had fled the Duke's mansion and disappeared without a trace.

She owes not only to the Yu family, but also to those who were once loyal to her.