Inside the shop, Brother Qin stood steadily on a stool, skillfully building a wall.

Su Li stood below and handed him bricks. The two worked together seamlessly, and soon the wall began to take shape.

Zhao Ji moved nimbly, carrying heavy logs in and out, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, but he never complained of being tired.

Zhao's mother was not idle either. Although she moved slowly, her hands never stopped tidying up the miscellaneous items on the side, arranging all kinds of tools in an orderly manner.

After working until noon, everyone's stomachs were rumbling with hunger, and they were discussing going to a nearby shop to buy some food.

Then Qin's wife stepped in with a smile, carrying two large baskets steadily in her hands.

"Oh dear, you must be exhausted!" Sister Qin called out loudly. "I made some dumpling soup, come down and rest quickly. Old Qin, look at your face, you look like a cat with a smeared face, hurry up and eat first."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter and gathered around.

Holding a steaming bowl of dumpling soup, Su Li watched as the shop gradually transformed, her spirits soaring.

In the afternoon, Brother Qin and Zhao Ji went straight to the backyard.

The two worked together seamlessly and soon built half of the shed. In this way, the mule cart could be parked there safely in rainy or snowy weather.

Next, they built a feeding trough in the corner of the yard to make it easier for the mules to eat.

The front gate has also been renovated, with the rotten wooden beam replaced by a thick and sturdy new log, firmly supporting the space.

After two busy days, the shop finally began to show results, which surprised and delighted Su Li.

This seemingly inconspicuous little shop actually has a larger area than you might imagine.

The front is bright and spacious, perfect for placing kitchen utensils and building a stove to entertain guests; the back is surprisingly a small space, simply partitioned by a few wooden planks, which can be used for storage and is more than enough to sleep two or three people.

Su Li happily considered that it would be convenient to stay here if any unexpected situation arose in the future!

She secretly decided that she would definitely ask Manager Yu another day if she could buy the vacant land behind the shop and build a few rooms to truly transform it into a cozy little home that combines business and living...

However, these past two days, whenever Peach Blossom had a chance to be alone with Su Li, she couldn't help but bring up that scholar.

"Li'er, I have something to tell you,"

Peach Blossom lowered her head slightly, her voice soft and gentle, tinged with shyness.

"That day I went to deliver medicine to Young Master Tang. As soon as I entered the temple, I saw him sitting there reading a book by the window, looking very focused. Hearing me, he looked up, his eyes smiling, and asked me gently if I was tired. I asked him, however, why he was sitting by the window reading, wasn't it cold in the wind?"

He said that it had snowed heavily these past few days, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the snow, the light reflecting off it clear and bright, just the right amount of light to read. You tell me, how can he be so diligent and studious…”

Su Li raised an eyebrow: "It seems that this Young Master Tang is not only studious and hardworking, but also quite considerate."

Peach Blossom blushed and muttered softly:

"And another thing, when I was changing his dressing, I accidentally hurt him, but he comforted me and said it was nothing and I shouldn't worry. He's really a good person, not as bad as you think, you don't need to worry about me."

Su Li's heart skipped a beat, her expression darkened slightly, and she couldn't help but remind her:

“Peach Blossom, I don’t mean to discourage you. You’re naturally full of love for him right now, but have you ever thought about whether his family will approve of your relationship?”

"He's been injured for so long, why haven't his family members come looking for him yet?"

"If he waits until his injuries heal and then goes home, will he ever return?"

Have you even thought about these things?

Peach Blossom was stunned, as if struck by lightning. "I...I didn't think about these things..."

The light in her eyes gradually dimmed, and the hem of her clothes that she had been tightly clutching loosened.

Su Li sighed inwardly as she looked at Tao Hua's appearance.

Peach Blossom lost her mother at a young age, and her father was so harsh on her that even though I was her friend, the care I could give her was always limited.

As human beings, we naturally crave love and warmth.

Therefore, she understood Tao Hua and would not blame her.

All of this is the fault of that damned scholar; all those classic texts he read have gone to waste!

This time, Su Li didn't intend to entrust anyone with the task. She wanted to go to Tangjia Village in the neighboring county herself to gather information and see if this young master Tang still had a single word of truth in his mouth...

Back home, Su Li stepped into the courtyard, her mind heavy with worries.

Lost in thought, Su Qingfeng approached with dragging steps, his eyes darting around, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

After a long while, Su Qingfeng finally spoke hesitantly: "Li'er, I know you work very hard for the family and the shop. But there's something I can't keep to myself and need to discuss with you."

As he spoke, he glanced at Su Li, then quickly lowered his eyes again.

"Your uncle came to see me again today, talking about that marriage with the Wang family. The Wang family is a prominent family in the village, with a lot of wealth. That young man from the Wang family is reliable and capable, and we know him well. If you follow him, you will definitely have no worries about food and clothing in the future."

You've been busy with business at the docks these past few days, so exhausted you can barely speak. Your father sees it all and is very worried. Even though you've kept it from me and your mother, who doesn't experience hardship when working out there? If someone could protect you and stay by your side, it would put your father's mind at ease."

As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, filled with helplessness and guilt.

Although it was somewhat unfair to have their daughter marry in place of them, the Wang family was indeed well-off. This way, they could preserve the reputation of the Su family and the friendship between the two families, while also giving their daughter someone to rely on.

Isn't this a win-win-win situation?

"So, Father, you mean I should marry Wang Yong'an in place of Su Yao?"

Su Qingfeng looked up at her, nodded, and remained silent.

Su Li frowned, feeling utterly absurd. She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, thinking that her father was really confused, being schemed against and still helping the schemer count the money.

She squinted, and said incredulously, "Dad, what are you thinking? Making me marry in place of my cousin? Is this reasonable? Is marriage something to be taken lightly?"

Su Qingfeng looked troubled and lowered his head, muttering:

“Li’er, your father doesn’t want this either, but our family is in such a difficult situation. It’s just that your cousin’s health is weak right now, and she needs to rest and recuperate…”

Su Li sneered in anger, her eyes red but without a single tear, and shouted:

"Ha, she's frail? Father, do you know what my sister-in-law and I saw in town that day? Su Yao was chatting and laughing with a rich young man as they went into a restaurant! If you don't believe me, ask my sister-in-law. We saw it with our own eyes. If you really can't believe me, you can go directly to my uncle and ask him."

"Is she really that frail, or is she trying to marry into a wealthy family? Father, you should think about it yourself. If it were really a good thing, would it be possible for our family to get it?"

"This time, you have truly disappointed me terribly!"

Su Li originally didn't want to get involved in her uncle's family's messy affairs, but they kept bullying her. If Su Li continued to tolerate it, she would probably be tied up and sent to the Wang family tonight.

Upon hearing this, Su Qingfeng felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt, and he froze on the spot.

He stood there blankly, his eyes vacant, as if his soul had been ripped away. He couldn't come back to his senses for a long time, his face turning pale and then red.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her lips trembling, "You... are you telling the truth?"

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