A farmer has a shrewish wife; he's busy making money every day.

Chapter 35 Cleaning the Body

Chen stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Ye Qingxue for a moment.

Then he lowered his head again.

"Qingxue, you probably don't understand how much more food it takes to feed two people. We'd better not be a burden to you. I've been in the Liu family for decades and I know how to survive. Thank you for your kindness."

Ye Qingxue was anxious.

Indeed, it is difficult to get a woman who has endured for decades to suddenly rebel.

Chen has too many concerns; it would be better to maintain the status quo.

Looks like we need to take some drastic measures.

"Aunt Chen, let me take you somewhere first, then you can consider whether you want to refuse me."

Mrs. Chen was somewhat surprised: "Where to?"

"Please get on the donkey."

In the end, Chen compromised. After giving Xiaoshan some instructions, she climbed onto the donkey and followed Ye Qingxue.

Ye Qingxue rode Debao towards the lake.

As the surrounding scenery became increasingly unfamiliar, Chen felt uneasy.

"Qingxue, where are you taking me?"

Ye Qingxue stopped and looked up ahead: "We've arrived."

Chen looked ahead.

Amidst the misty air, a man and a woman were entangled in the water.

"It itches! Stop it!"

"Hua'er, are the Liu brothers really that nice? You go to their house for dinner every day?"

"Aunt Zhang is too enthusiastic; I've already refused many times."

"I'm going to punish you properly today!"

"Brother Liu, it hurts—is this how you usually treat that Chen woman?"

"Tch, that old hag, how can she compare to you? Her son is a good-for-nothing, he won't amount to anything even if I send him to school. Once we have a son, I'll dump her and live with you, okay?"

"Brother Liu, you're so mean."

"Haha, I'm so good to you."

The sounds of the two playing around were bolder than even Ye Qingxue had imagined.

When she turned around and saw Chen, she was already in tears.

Before Ye Qingxue could say anything, Madam Chen spoke first, her voice trembling: "Qingxue, if we really have to leave the Liu family... what can I do?"

Chen originally thought that no matter how bad Liu Baode was, he must have some feelings for their son.

But little did anyone know, he had already planned to have another child with someone else...

Since she was going to be abandoned sooner or later, she might as well leave on her own. She could suffer the injustice herself, but her son couldn't!

Ye Qingxue knew that Chen had wanted to escape for a long time, but she had been unable to make up her mind. Today, however, she had been given an opportunity.

"Aunt Chen, what's your specialty for cooking?"

"Well... when I first married into the Liu family, I cooked noodles for a few years. Later, when the family couldn't afford noodles anymore, we started making porridge."

Ye Qingxue rolled her eyes after hearing this: "Okay, I'm thinking of opening a noodle shop in the county. Would you like to work with me?"

Upon hearing this, Chen was greatly alarmed and quickly waved her hand, saying, "I can't do it. Opening a noodle shop in the county costs a lot of money, and besides, my skills... aren't up to par."

Ye Qingxue sighed, "I'll pay for it! How do you know it won't work if you don't try? This is the first step for us to leave that jerk! Let's give it a try."

"I don't have the money to pay back..."

"Consider it a loan from me, please don't refuse me anymore."

"Ok."

Seeing that Ye Qingxue insisted, Chen no longer declined.

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, a faint sense of excitement still lingering in her heart.

She has loved cooking and researching delicious food since she was a child. Opening a restaurant has always been her dream, and she never thought that she would have the opportunity to realize it now that she is over halfway through her life.

"Then, I'll definitely do my best!"

Ye Qingxue smiled and said, "That's right. Get your spirits up. I'll find you a place to stay tonight, so you don't have to go back to the Liu family."

Ms. Chen blinked: "No need...it's too much trouble..."

Ye Qingxue pulled Chen Shi onto the donkey, turned around, and headed towards the village: "Don't worry, consider all of this as my investment in you. If it fails, it's on me."

What is investment?

"...Never mind that!"

"Oh."

Then came silence.

Ye Qingxue knew that Chen was still feeling down, so she didn't disturb her.

After picking up Xiaoshan from the Liu family home, Ye Qingxue led them towards Aunt Lu's house.

knock knock.

I knocked lightly on the door twice.

The door opened, and Aunt Lu's expression was clearly one of shock.

"Mommy, what's going on?"

Ye Qingxue stated her purpose directly: "Aunt Chen and Xiaoshan are here to stay at your house for a few days."

Aunt Lu was about to close the door immediately.

"Hey, hey, don't close the door yet! Aunt Lu, I'll take care of their daily meals. You just need to provide a place to stay. I'll also give you ten eggs every month. How about that?"

The force with which the door was closed loosened, and Aunt Lu was clearly tempted: "Give us the grain first."

Ye Qingxue took out a bag of millet from her pocket: "I'll give you the eggs tomorrow."

"Okay, come in."

Ye Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief.

She originally came to see Aunt Lu with a gambler's mentality.

Aunt Lu showed her kindness several times, so she must be a good person.

She was right.

"Aunt Chen, we're leaving at dawn tomorrow. Go to bed early tonight."

Ye Qingxue said goodbye to Aunt Lu and then left.

Before leaving, Xiaoshan gently tugged at her sleeve: "Thank you."

Xiaoshan has bright eyes and looks to be about ten years old, but he already has a mature mind and doesn't seem to be the useless person Liu Baode described.

It's just that there aren't good learning resources.

Ye Qingxue smiled at him and then returned to the Lu family.

She jumped into the room through the familiar window and found Lu Chuci playing with Hao'er.

Lu Chuci sat on the bed, playing a game of lifting Hao'er up high.

"Giggle, giggle!" Hao'er waved her arms, laughing happily.

Ye Qingxue was somewhat surprised that Lu Chuci could actually coax children.

Or perhaps he's looking for playmates.

"Sister!" Ye Hao'er reached out her little hand to Ye Qingxue when she saw her.

Ye Qingxue hugged him and coaxed him, "You missed your sister, right? Sister will take you out to eat."

Ye Hao'er kept burying his head in Ye Qingxue's arms.

This made Ye Qingxue laugh out loud.

Lu Chuci looked at them, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.