s, one pancake, and one soup. The dishes were stir-fried cabbage wood ear with cured pork belly and cold mixed vegetables. The pancake was made from the five-flower pork that Li Laoer bought back the..."Alright, alright," Old Madam Li saw her son was getting agitated, so she quickly patted his arm to comfort him. "It's just Mother overthinking things. It's good you haven't fallen for her. Miss Gong isn't a suitable match!"

And with the Gong family in this state, young Gong Yu still depends on his sister. No matter who Gong Jiu marries, she will always be thinking about pulling her younger brother up.

"It's not that we don't want our daughter-in-law to help her family, but Jiaren's mother set a precedent here. We can't fall into the same dirty water again, right"

Li Laoer nodded and replied, "Mother, don't worry. Because Jia Ren is my mother-in-law, I have suffered the most hardship and owe the family a lot. I don't want to remarry for now. When I meet someone who suits me, I will definitely tell you."

"Oh, that's right!" Lao Li smiled, her heart aching for her son.

Back then, the eldest left home and never returned. Only the second child was there to help her out. The work was hard, and her heart ached even more.

I never expected that after getting married, things would only get worse.

She was also afraid that her son would have a knot in his heart, and if he didn't marry for the rest of his life, he would be so lonely.

Now that there are many children in the family, all four brothers live together, making it lively and bustling.

After the family was divided, and the children married, that's when it truly became pitiful...

At night, she occasionally thought of these things, and couldn't sleep because of worry.

At this point, she decided to just come clean.

"Second child, you're such a good boy. Over all these years, the family has relied on you so much. What your mother hopes for most is that you can have a good life. After I'm gone, I hope you also have someone by your side who understands and cares for you.

"

"So, whenever you like someone, Mother definitely won't stop you. Mother and the whole family will be happy. Understand"

"Understood," Li Lao Er's eyes turned red, he knelt down and pressed his forehead against his mother's knee, replying, "Mother, don't worry. I will live a good life and not trouble you."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Old Li touched her son's head and said reproachfully, "Even when you reach eighty years old, I, your mother, as long as I am alive, have to worry about you. You're flesh that fell off my body!"

Li Lao'er secretly wiped away a tear. Years of hard work and grievance, under his mother's touch, suddenly all dissipated...

When the village head and Uncle Zhao heard that the Li family was back, they all came over to sit around, wanting to ask about Gong siblings' affairs and also inquire about how things were at the gambling den.

Although the Wang family matter hasn't been fully resolved, this is a behind-the-scenes power struggle. For now, things seem settled on the surface level.

So, Li Laoer invited Liu Biaotou and Zhang Shini among others, intending to make things clear.

In this room, there were all trustworthy people. Li Laoer didn't hide anything and everyone listened with gritted teeth.

The village head slapped the table with his hand, but forgot that half of his arm was gone. The wooden carved prosthetic hit the table and flew right off.

Jia Yin was leaning against her grandmother, secretly eating fruit and listening to the commotion.

Suddenly, a hand flew over and pressed directly on the fruit, startling her. The fruit in her mouth wouldn't go down, nor could she cough it up, leaving her face flushed with effort.

Lao Li was quick-eyed and nimble, slapping her granddaughter on the back with a swift palm!

Jiayin's voice finally came out with the fruit from her throat!

The crowd was also taken aback and started clamoring.

"Is Funiu alright"

"Yeah, cough a couple more times, careful you don't have another piece of fruit stuck in your throat!"

"This is a fuss, how did it scare the child!"

Master Zhang also stepped forward, carefully examined it, and waved his hand saying, "It's nothing, just take it easy."

Jia Yin opened her mouth to speak, but another bit of fruit crumbs came out of her nose. Li Lao Tai felt both heartbroken and amused, "See if you dare steal any more next time"

Jia Yin is so wronged. There are no potato chips, rice crackers, chocolate, or jelly here.

She's just eating a piece of fruit, healthy and hydrating, she even has to endure such "hardships"!

The village head put on the fake hand in a few moves and looked at Jia Yin carefully, his face full of guilt. "I'm really sorry. I scared Fu Niuer, and this child doesn't even dare to eat!"

Old Li waved her hand, "Don't be afraid, if this child changes his greedy eating habits, our whole family will have to thank you!"

Although she said so, she still picked up her granddaughter and hugged her tightly in her arms, clearly afraid of scaring her again.

This unexpected interruption somewhat eased the anger towards the Wang family among the crowd.

Li Laoer said directly, “Bao Guan Shi and Liu Sanzi will still be kept hidden for a while. As for Wangjia, my elder brother will take care of that. Right now, our village just needs to keep an eye on these two people. Once things are settled, we’ll send them and Zhang Jin to work as laborers in Quanzhou!”

"Alright, that Zhang Jin is no good. He even came to see Wei Dajun today. He really thinks our village is easy to bully and doesn't know what he's up to!" The village head nodded and said, "From now on, we can't just look after our own village. We have to take care of the other three villages as well."

"Indeed," Liu Biaotou also said, "after all, they are all Fu Niuer's territory. Our village can bring them along to make a fortune and live a good life. But they also have to be obedient and not cause trouble."

Everyone nodded in agreement, saying, "Someone like Zhang Jin needs to be removed. Otherwise, a good pot of soup will be ruined by a single mouse dropping—it would be too wasteful!"

After a few more words, the crowd was about to disperse.

However, Shui Ling came in to report, "Old Madam, Master, the Gong family is here."

The Gong family

Li Laotai frowned, glanced at her son, and said, "Let them come in."

Soon, Gong Yunshu and Gong Yu brought in a midwife with quite a few things in her hands.

Gong Yunshu and her brother knelt directly, kowtowing. "Elder Madam, Master, previously my siblings were down on our luck, thank you Master for saving us, and also for the care from your esteemed family. For this life-saving grace, we have nothing to repay you. Today, we specially prepared some humble offerings, please accept them, Elder Madam and Master."

Having said that, the siblings bowed their heads and then got up to offer the woman something in her hand.

But Old Lady Li waved her hand to stop him, “No need. Miss Gong is a smart woman, she should understand that when you siblings went to Suijin Beach back then, it was all part of your plan. So there's no such thing as saving lives.”

Gong Yunshu blushed and hurriedly defended, "Old Madam, we had no choice..."

Li Laotai didn't want to hear this, and once again interrupted her, "In this world, there are too many people who find it difficult to live. It's not just you. Does that mean everyone with a hardship can calculate others and save themselves"

Gong Yunshu was speechless and subconsciously looked towards Li Lao'er. Seeing his nonchalant expression, she lowered her head.

Seeing this, Old Li became even more unhappy and drove them away, saying, “You guys planned ahead of us, being honest at the back. Now you’ve gotten what you wanted. Our family doesn't want to hold a grudge, but we don't want to see you again in the future!”

"Take these gifts, we don't want them in our house. However, you've stayed here for three days, eating, drinking, wearing clothes, and receiving money for medical treatment and recuperation. You must calculate that."

Having said that, she looked at Zhang Shini. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Shini said, “My consultation fee is ten taels of silver, and the medicine cost will also be enough with ten taels!”essed Xiao Lv, it was ingrained in Xiao Lv's bones. After all, being locked in a cage for ten years, playing the Ferris wheel every day, she had lost all her temper.So, with three chirps and a few tri...