I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Li Ayu, hearing Li Xiang's words implying that he had been busy for half a year but returned empty-handed, without earning a single penny, immediately lost interest in him and said with a smile:

“Brother Xiangzi, I’m doing quite well staying with this family now. At least I have enough to eat and wear, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

Upon hearing Li Ayu's words, Li Xiang immediately said:

"No, I can't let my child be born into someone else's family."

Li Ayu said coldly:

"At least here is a home to shelter you from the wind and rain. Otherwise, do you want your child to be homeless with you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying:

"Ayu, wait for me. I'm making quite a bit of money as a peddler now, it's just hard work, and I won't be able to take care of you."

Li Ayu turned her head to the side.

“I don’t believe you can provide a good life for me and the children right now. You’re telling me to come back and take me with you when you’ve earned enough money. I’m not going with you now, which is also easing your burden.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang lowered his head, pondered for a long while, and then asked in a hoarse voice:

“Ayu, tell me which house you live in. Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any trouble. I just want to visit you more often in the future.”

Li Ayu lowered her head and pondered for a while, then pointed to the Su family's courtyard.

"You can come to see me, but you can't let the people in this courtyard know, otherwise you'll be cutting off my way to survival."

Li Xiang gritted his teeth and said:

"Alright, I won't bother you until I've saved up enough money. I just want to bring you some food and supplies so that I won't feel so bad."

Li Ayu smiled and nodded at Li Xiang.

Li Xiang slapped his forehead and said:

"Look, I was so busy talking to you that I forgot to get you some sweet cake."

As he spoke, Li Xiang opened the box he was carrying, took out some sweet cakes, carefully wrapped them up for Li Ayu, and handed them to her, glancing reluctantly at her belly.

"As long as you and the child are doing well, I'm content. Is there anything else you'd like to eat? I'll go to the city and buy it for you later."

Li Ayu smiled, gently touching her belly, and said softly:

"I don't know what's wrong with me lately, but I keep thinking about eating a few bites of Lianxianglou's braised pork hock. Last night I even dreamed about the last time you took me to Lianxianglou. I never expected to see you today."

Li Xiang nodded in agreement.

"Okay, now that I know you're doing well, I feel much better. I'll buy you some pig's trotters and bring them over later."

Li Ayu smiled and nodded, then waved to Li Xiang.

"You should leave quickly, don't stand here for too long and arouse suspicion."

Li Xiang looked back at Li Ayu several times with lingering reluctance before leaving with heavy steps. He had thought that meeting Li Ayu this time was a fate arranged by heaven.

He had intended to take Li Ayu back to the city, but then he thought about how he himself had nowhere to stay, and he couldn't bear to let Li Ayu suffer with him.

After all, she's pregnant right now, and I can't very well let her live with me in that leaky, dilapidated temple.

Right now, Li Xiang was relieved to know that Li Ayu was safe. Although he couldn't be with Ayu right now, he had something to look forward to. With that thought, Li Xiang quickly left.

Li Ayu entered the house with the sweet cakes, just in time to bump into Su Tao, who was about to leave.

Seeing the food in her hand, Su Tao felt a pang of sadness. Her own father had never bought her a single bite to eat, yet now he was willing to spend money on this vixen from outside.

Thinking this, Su Tao deliberately teased:

"Where did you get this sweet cake? Did you steal some of my money to buy it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ayu's eyes widened immediately.

"How can you speak so cruelly, young lady? I bought this with my own money, hmph!"

After saying that, he went into the house without looking back.

Su Tao watched Li Ayu's retreating figure and couldn't help but spit on the ground.

"Pah! You heartless vixen, you think you're so great!"

After saying that, Su Tao walked out.

After Li Ayu returned to her room, she locked the door and began to eat the sweet cake in small bites. As she ate, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Li Ayu and Li Xiang were from the same village and grew up together. Later, Li Ayu's family became poor, so her parents sold her to a brothel.

Upon learning of this, Li Xiang pursued the matter all the way to Fuping County, working tirelessly to earn money. He finally saved enough to redeem Li Ayu from her servitude, and used it all to do so. Li Ayu never forgot this act.

Therefore, no matter how many other women she was with outside, she always reserved a place for Li Xiang in her heart; otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant with his child.

When Li Xiang disappeared, she considered the worst-case scenario: that he had died out there. If he was dead, she was determined to give birth to the child in her womb to give him an heir.

Now that Li Xiang has returned safely, Li Ayu's thoughts have started to stir again.

Right now, she just hopes that Li Xiang can make something of himself and take her away from Sujia Village as soon as possible. She has long been fed up with the faces of Granny Liu and Qin Shi, as well as the strange looks she gets from the villagers around her.

Outside Aunt Cai's house,

Aunt Sun was urged by Su Feng to go to Aunt Cai's house early this morning to discuss marriage, and she's already standing at the door knocking.

Is Aunt Cai home?

Aunt Sun brought some mountain produce she had grown herself today. When Aunt Cai saw that Aunt Sun had brought food, she quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) with a smile to greet her.

"Oh, I remember you! Aren't you so-and-so from so-and-so's family?!"

Aunt Sun quickly handed over the things she was holding.

"Aunt Cai, I need your help today, so I thought I'd come and see if you're home."

"You, you're here, why did you bring anything? Come in and sit down for a while!"

Seeing how warmly Aunt Cai was welcoming her, Aunt Sun smiled and went inside.

"Take off your shoes and get on the kang (heated brick bed). You must be exhausted from walking all this way. You've come at just the right time. I was just getting ready to go and discuss the marriage between Old Zhang's son and Su Tao with him when you arrived."

Aunt Sun held Aunt Cai's hand and smiled:

"Isn't this just fate that brings us sisters together? I'm sure this trip won't be in vain. The matter I'm asking you to do today is related to the Su family!"

Seeing this, Aunt Cai quickly took off her shoes and got onto the kang (heated brick bed).

"Okay, tell me what's up?"

Aunt Sun straightened her clothes and said with a smile:

"Look, my son has taken a fancy to Su Mo from the second branch of the Su family. I figured you're quite capable, so I asked you to help me put in a good word for him."

After hearing this, Aunt Cai pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped her thigh.

"Oh dear, look at my memory! I remember now, aren't you Su Feng's mother?!"